Break time!!!

Nothing exciting to report, just an ordinary day.
Which, by Disney standards, there is a lot going on. Just not for me.
Tour group season is over, along with the peak season. Things are starting to get slower, and the lines are getting shorter.
Which means that it is almost time for my family to arrive!!!! It's still over a month away, but each passing day gets us closer and closer. It's going to be their first visit. And I'm telling anyone who has two seconds to hear it.
There have been roommate squabbles... which is something I try to ignore as much as possible. But it's there and it's happening.
I'm still a little sick. Mostly a cough. We have all been sick at least once this summer. We keep passing it back and forth. Somehow I got it, even with my determination not to.
Eh. That's enough for now.  Break time is over.

Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog.

How many pictures do you take in a....

As a Photopass Photographer, you can easily take thousands of pictures on any given day.
Seriously. Given the right circumstances, one could easily take well over a thousand pictures in a 6-10 hour work day.
Or, like I did today at Epcot, you could take around 50. Yup, I know I did not even hit 100 today.
That's because we can also work at one of the rides (Test Track). And our print stations.
Weather plays a huge part in things. And guest attendance. And how I'm feeling.
How inspired am I? The guests play a huge part in this. The more into it the guests are, the more contagious that feeling is.
It matters if I'm on tripod. It matters what park I'm at. It matters if I'm with a character. It matters what age the guests are.
Now ask me how many pictures I have taken in my off time....

Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog. 

Behind again...

I really do want to be a better Blogger. I feel like I have so much to say that I'll never be able to say it all now.
Maybe I should just try.
The longer that I am here, the longer I want to stay. I've been working on my resume.... I really want to be an Adventures by Disney tour guide. And I really do think I'm qualified. I just have to make my resume read that way.
Well, my break is over now. Now I'm off to take a thousand pictures.... Hopefully....

Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog.

Just another day....

Yeah, much overall to talk about....  It felt like just another day.
worked at mk, parade changes
mickey issues- blah
closed the view-new system

Do you Photopass?

Yes I do!

I think I have one of the best jobs ever.

What's better than taking pictures and getting paid for it?
Getting to use a higher end camera and getting paid for it?
What's better than sharing in a families precious memories.... and getting paid for it?

I can't think of much at all.

So where should I get started?
First we started training with icon shooting.
Since I work at Epcot, this meant taking pictures with families with Spaceship Earth (yes, the big ball) in the background.
Training was pretty easy for me, since I do have camera experience.  How to focus lock, how to format, change settings....  All I had to do is learn where to do that on a Nikon D90- and the kickass D800 flash.  It was more of what settings they want things set to.  And what type of pictures they want us to take as Disney Photopass Photographers.

With icons it's as follows:
Primary: the whole icons with the family from the knees up.
Secondary: a close up of the family, no icon.
Creative: the family in a different pose from the original.  Almost anything can be considered a creative shot.
Magic shots: super awesome shots that aren't always required.  Aka: "special" shots.


At first I was working in the mornings....  night training was next.  And since I'm a college program participant, I receive all the hours no one else wants.  Therefore, I get to work nights.
There's actually a few things that are great about working nights: it's not so hot outside, for one.
Also, when I received night training, we were also trained work in the kiosk.  Now I get to print your pictures too!

Finally, there's character training.  With most characters, there's a Photopass Photographer with them (but not for all).  We try to keep a certain flow with the meet and greets.

Definitely more to come on how awesome being a Photopass Photographer is!

Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog. 

Magical Moments!

Walt Disney World (which from here on in will be WDW) is known for magical moments.  There are thousands that happen with your own families, and some that are planned by the cast members (Disney employees).

Tonight I got to photograph an official Disney planned Magical Moment.  See, at the end of the night, at Character Spot (in Epcot), the last family through may get to see all five characters (Mickey, Pluto, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy) at the same time.  Normally, you wait in line just to see each of them separately.  Tonight the last family was a newly wed couple.  They were just so excited and they told me it had made their entire trip!

Even though I didn't get to see it, I was told about a Magical Moment that happened at Magic Kingdom at the Town Square Theater with Mickey and Minnie.  A father just got home from Iraq.  His wife and children did not know he had returned to the States.....  I'm sure you can see where this is heading....  The theme in the Mickey room at Town Square Theater is Mickey the Magician.  "Do you guys want to see some magic?"  Oh to be in that room!!!

Last night, though it was not an official planned magical moment, I thoroughly enjoyed myself with little girl who was deathly afraid of Pluto.
You tend to get many kids that are afraid of the characters- some parents let them be and just pass on.  Others force them to get closer.
Last night, I was the one that talked this little girl into getting closer to Pluto.  At first she would barely get close enough to touch his nose.  I asked her to stand right there so I could get a picture of her with Pluto.  Slowly I got her to actually touch his nose.  Scratch his muzzle.  He's such a good dog, isn't he?  Yeah!  He likes that.  Finally we worked our way- all the way- to a hug!  She was such a cutie!

That's it for this post!  Have a Magical Day!!!
  
Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog. 

It's Never Too Late To Start

TWO MONTHS.

Two frickin' months.

I have now worked for Disney for two months.

But it's never to late to start telling the world about my adventures here.

But where to start?

Originally posted on WDW Summer 2011 Blog. 

WEEK OF ARRIVAL AND SETTLING Thursday May 19th

Low key day
· Housing meeting at 1pm
· Internet not working correctly
· Set up and organizing
· Went to WalMart again

First roommate outing
· Flippers pizza
o Delicious
No Amber (networking)

WEEK OF ARRIVAL AND SETTLING Wednesday May 18th

Welcome to College Program housing

·      Roommate assignment on website

o   Didn’t want to live in Vista Way- no rooms open

o   Wanted Chatham or Patterson

o   Patterson 14105

·      Pictures taken, cards, keys, etc

·      Lines, lines, lines

·      Bus to Chatham, walk to Patterson

o   Saw room, no one in, choose room

Welcome to Casting

·      Return to Vista Way to catch bus to casting

o   Bus actually stopped at Chatham too

·      Got park assignment

o   Photopass in EPCOT!

·      Casting with papers, signed life away to Disney

·      Lines, lines lines

o   Fingerprints, W2s, etc

Welcome to Roommates

·      Ordered in pizza from Dominos

·      Amber, Rebecca, Julie-Ann, Richette (RoRo), Nurele

·      Went to WalMart with Amber and Rebecca

Roommate meeting to set down ground rules

WEEK OF ARRIVAL AND SETTLING Tuesday May 17th

TUESDAY MAY 17^TH 2011

·      Magic Kingdom

o   FIRST TIME EVER IN A DISNEY PARK

o   Did not know, four separate parks

§  Movies, shows don’t show it

o   Laura dropped me off (she had to work)

§  8am, doors open at 9am (there were early hours)

o   Opening dancing show

o   Cried (describe)

o   Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland

§  Name rides rode, attractions saw

o   Ate at Casey’s Corner- corndog nuggets, Sprite

o   Watched “Dream Along With Mickey”

o   Watched 3pm parade- “Wishes”

o   Ice cream in Tomorrowland, Sprite

o   Waited for Laura, really tired

o   Rode Splash Mountain

·      Dinner at the Polynesian Resort

o   Rode monorail to get there

o   Confusing menu w/no details

·      Stayed at Laura’s friend ______ apt, slightly out of town

o   Shower, slept soundly

WEEK OF ARRIVAL AND SETTLING Monday May 16th

· Flight to Orlando with stop in Atlanta
     o Flint Airport
        § Flight delay
        § Check in, of course overweight
        § Mom waited there with me
        § Small airport, no wait time
        § Smooth flight
    o Atlanta airport
        § Larger
        § Met with Aunt Chris
           ú Keep missing when she’s north
        § Had lunch, sandwich and a smoothie, chips
        § Through security, little wait to board
        § Sat in plane for awhile, but fell asleep
    o Orlando airport
        § Laura picked me up
           ú Laura’s roommate issue just happened
· Details or no??
· Dinner at Chick-Fil-A for first time
· Stayed at Laura’s friend Lauren’s apt.
    o Empty, everyone moving

Last day in Germany

4.3.2011

All in all, an okay day.  There's a few things I didn't get to, but I guess that means I'll have to come back.  Never a bad thing, really....

The rest of the house went to Dachau- I had no interest in going back (and to top it off, my ankle was swollen....  yay tendonitis :/).  Going to a concentration camp is something you only need to do once in your life.  Perhaps I'd go back, like if Casey and I go on a trip together, but large group stuff doesn't interest me. 

In general, I think this will be my last large group trip.  Next time it's only going to be family or one or two friends.  I really hope that this trip with my sister turns out- I think she would be awesome to travel with.  The only way I'll be on a large group trip is if I'm leading it, which I don't see happening anytime soon.  I mean, really. 

My original plan was to get up late enough not to go to Dachau, but soon enough to make it to the Glockenspiel show.  Well, that didn't quite happen, since my alarm again didn't go off.  But it all turned out okay.  I got up, showered and was on my way.  I stopped for some breakfast at the little shopping center at the train station around the corner.  Bratwurst mit Semmel.....  and when I wasn't paying attention, I ordered Senf- mustard.  Ewwww....  but it didn't matter, since the Wurst itself tasted disgusting.

I ended up going shopping, then returned to the hostel, then went out again with my film camera in hand.  Hopefully some of these pictures turn out.  I walked around Viktualienmarkt and made it into a bookstore.  There I bought three rubber ducks dressed as the stereotypical bairisch Germans.  And my all surprsises, as I exited the bookstore, the Glockenspiel started playing!!!  I know it's a stereotypical tourist thing to stand and watch for the full time, it was one of those things I needed to cross off my list. 

I slowly made my way back, doing a little more shopping.....  which I didn't complete since I didn't get my family anything....  :/  So far this has been a dull last evening in Germany.  No one wants to go out, which I think is completely lame.  I know, there's logical reasons not to, but come on- it is our last night in Germany....  It's my last night in Europe for awhile, since I don't currently have any plans to make it back here in the next year (though you never know).  Though this year our plane leaves rather late tomorrow afternoon; not like in the past where we've had to leave our hostel at 3 or 4 in the morning....  not asking for a Dane-esque last night.



--other notes:
----delicious almonds
----S. Oliver
----no Gusthof knives
----super sweet juice mix
----Fasching decorations, little kids in crazy make-up

Originally posted in Max Kade München Trip 2011. 

Schlechte Bloggerin

I'm bad at blogging on this trip.  I thought it was going to be easy....  but I'm always tired.
And you must have a group mentality, since it is a group trip....  which is harder than I thought it would be after traveling by myself....  :/

Originally posted in Max Kade München Trip 2011. 

Meiniger Hostel/Hotel Munich Review

Hostels are an interesting thing....  vital to a trip's success or failure.  If it's good, or at least decent, the trip shines and not much talk is given to the hostel.  But when it's poor, or there are a ton of odd people, that's when the hostel can overshadow the trip.

For example, I have to say that the hostel that Max Kade stayed in the last time we were in Munich,  was the worst one I've ever stayed in.  I mean- the room doors didn't even work!  The only one who could open the girls' room door was Yuri....  if she wasn't around- you'd have to try and perhaps be out of luck.  And they didn't even have enough keys for the entire room-- I didn't have a key for most of the week (which was made worse by the fact that after 11 or so you had to show your key to get back in).

I know I need to separate hostels from hotels....  or do I?  I did stay in a pretty shady hotel when I went to Strasbourg this summer.  It was out in the boondocks- tram, bus and stroll later I would get back at night.  Which was kinda sad in itself since Strasbourg is gorgeous at night and I would've loved to stay out later....  okay, I digress.  The sink was broken, the tv didn't work.  The bed was hard- even with two mattresses.  Ugh.

The best hotel I've stayed in was Motel One in Berlin Mitte.  Gorgeous, spacious (except for the shower).  They had a delicious continental breakfast....

Hmm....  maybe I shouldn't forget the hotel I stayed in Frankfurt when MK got stuck in Europe because of a storm (coming home from Vienna).  But that hotel was definitely out of my price range- thank goodness Lufthansa paid for it!  Gorgeous dinner, gorgeous breakfast, gorgeous room!

Motel One was pretty great, especially for the price- only about 50Euros per night (which for a hotel is pretty good).  Internet in room, free of cost.  Helpful staff; overall, just a great hotel.

The two A&O Hostels that I stayed in this summer were decent for the price I paid.  Definitely not shady like the hotel I stayed in Strasbourg, but not the best ever.  But for the price, I couldn't really complain-- the highest I paid for a night was 12Euros, down to 8Euros.  I would estimate that on average, it was closer to 9Euros per night.  The location was great (am Zoo for most of the time) and they even had a kitchen.  They drawback was you had to pay for internet (8Euros per week for wireless).  It was a pretty standard hostel crowd- the good, the bad and the ugly.

So back to the hostel I need to talk about...  Meiniger in Munich.

27.2.2011: A Day in Salzburg

In Salzburg, Austria- day trip

Not too early of a start of the day, relatively speaking.  Especially since I am always at work by 6am.  Why did I sign up for such early shifts??  Crazy me.

But let's get back to the trip now.  Hmmm....  not really in the writing mode....  I should at least make notizen again...  Ich weiss nicht....  Muede....  glaube ich.

Woke up around 7:30, showered und so weiter
Zuerst-- breakfast at hostel, delicious german continental.  Yum yum.

NOW WRITTEN ON 3.3.2011
10am- at train station, bought ticket
group of 16 MK (or former) and Lee (from UM, not MK)
1)Dan, 2)Daryl, 3)Blair, 4)Theresa, 5)Ryan, 6)Matt, 7)Amanda Stacer, 8)Molly, 9)Alexandra, 10)Mark, 11)Chen, 12)Jo, 13)Albert, 14) Jacob, 15)Nat, 16).....

We arrived in Salzburg around 12:30, more or less, then went to the bus station and bought ein Einzelfaehrtkarte to get to the city center.  From there we split into two groups- one concerned with food and the other going on a tour led by Ryan.  Unfortunately the choice was made for me, since Dan went with the tour group.  Therefore I went with the food group to a restaurant called Restaurant Bologna Zum Mohren.  And just by chance- the other group ended up showing up at the same restaurant!  I had a hard time deciding rather to order a Wiener Schnitzel or Kaesespaetzle.  I ended up going with Kaesespaetzle, but regretted my decision since other people at our table ordered the Wiener Schnitzel and it looked really good (tasted good too- sample from Jo).  At least my Malibu Orange was super tasty.

After we finished eating, the groups split, and then the guys split off from us.  Us girls went to a couple of souvenir shops.  Then Daryl split to get money, and I split to take pictures.  I spent a couple hours walking around and just taking pictures and window shopping.  Fortunately- I found a rubber duck dressed as Mozart!  It was kinda pricey, but definitely is one to add to my collection.

Danach I went to Cafe Bazar (the same one that we went to the last time we went to Salzburg for the day).  I was going to wait there until our meeting time.  By chance I met up with the other group (tourgroup).  I went to the bathroom, and by time I came back it was too late to order- the cafe was closing at 6pm.  Ah!  The perils of traveling in Europe!

Confusion on when we were meeting-- change of times throughout the day.  But made a decision, we waited, other group came, all except for Daryl.  Made it to the train with only a few minutes to spare.  When we got back to the Muenchen Hauptbahnhof, we split, and some of us ate food.  I had my first Doener of the trip (and a Coke Zero).  Went back to hostel and went to bed.

Originally posted in Max Kade München Trip 2011. 

26.2.2011: Nur Notizen

So Munich here we come!  Max Kade is taking over this stereotypical German town by storm!

--private bus to airport-- no MBus!!
    --free high fives outside of the Union, but don't remember anything else during the bus trip til airport
--check in- big bag only 17.5ish kilos- go me!  Carry on, 8.5ish with laptop.
    --hand check film
--bacon cheeseburger and onion rings--- yum yum from Cheeburger Cheeburger (funky name) nice and hot
--slept until flight
--flight relatively smooth
   --no good movies or TV shows
--landed in Frankfurt, through security again.
--waited 3-4 times longer than what flight (Frankfurt-Munich) was
   --only listened to 3 songs before we landed!
--SBahn ride longer auch
--talked in German- go us!
   --have spoken more German on this trip than the entire trip last time in Munich
--slept....  no alarm
--Salzburg- possibly tomorrow

Originally posted in Max Kade München Trip 2011.

Awesome New Bracelets Now Available!

Check it out!  I now have colored bracelets in my Etsy shop!

Simple Hemp Twine Colored Bracelet!

Gorgeous one of a kind homemade hemp twine bracelet!

(This sale is for one bracelet, multiple bracelets are pictured.)

Square-knotted macrame techniques.

Over 6 inches in length.

Colors available:
unpolished-- purple, blue, green, red, orange, yellow, black.
Turquoise is polished.
Please convo me with the color that you would like.

Any questions, just ask!

Want another size- length or width?

Special orders also available, just message me!

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

The Most Sweet Ass Bracelet Ever!

Since this blog is first and foremost for the promotion of my Etsy shop, I'll bring the shop to you!

Isn't it sweet?

Homemade Hemp Twine Beaded Macrame Bracelet with metal clasp

 
Gorgeous one of a kind homemade hemp twine beaded bracelet with metal clasp.

Mixed glass beads and silver clasp. Square-knotted macrame techniques.

Over 6 inches in length.

Any questions, just ask!

Special orders also available, just message me!

I think it's great!  :)

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

Silhouette is kicking Cricut's Butt!

If this was the SuperBowl of electric household cutting machines- I think the Silhouette is kicking the Cricut's butt.
Right now, I'm playing around with the software....  instead of doing homework or watching the SuperBowl.

Later on I will definitely post some of my findings- and maybe some of my designs.  But I must work on my homework!  That Physiology won't study itself....

Glee is on after the SuperBowl!  I'm a huge Gleek!

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

Helpful YouTube Videos for the Silhouette

I thought I'd pass along a couple of videos I've been watching that have been helping me learn how to use the Silhouette.  I hope you found them as useful as I did!

By making this simple card, she teaches us a few tricks about the most recent Silhouette software.

Hmmm.... using Cricut materials in the Silhouette. How clever!

Also, check out some of CustomCrops other videos- they have some great ideas.

Favorite thing of the evening: they have their own housing for mini markers (such as Sharpie Mini's)- sold here!

Last but not least, here's a tutorial from Silhouette Europe. A little dull, but still helpful.

Have any favorite videos on the Silhouette? Let me know!

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

The ABC's of Love Scrapbook

It's that time of year again.  Valentine's.

Whether you're in a relationship or in the market, it's always a time to think about LOVE.

For me, it's always time to think about my future scrapbook:  The ABC's of Love.
I'll finally make it when I have found THE ONE (or, at least, been in a relationship long enough to think he's THE ONE).

This scrapbook came about when I was dating my last boyfriend, and bought two boxes of Twinkle Type Glitter Alphabet Chipboard letter sets.

First of all, my previous bf and I were totally into lists.  All sorts of lists.  Whenever we had a fight, we'd make a list.  If we were bored, we'd make a list.  One of the lists I made was an ABC list of why I loved him.  He was in Colorado for the summer and I missed him sooooo much.  Of course it was all gushy:

A: Always there for me whenever I need you.
B: Beautiful
C: Cuddling
D: Drooling (yes, this was an inside joke!)


Second of all, I had just starting working at the scrapbook store that summer.  And these Twinkle Type letters did not sell so well- they were put on sale- woohoo!  So between missing him and getting my creative juices flowing, my ABC's of Love Scrapbook was born.  Well, at least the idea was (that I would make him write a similar list, so that they could be on opposing sides of the page).  The book itself has not come to fruition- we were not together by the next Valentine's Day.

But I continue to buy Valentine's/Love scrapbook paper in hopes that someday I will make my scrapbook.  So that's why I was excited to see BoBunny's new Crush Collection!

Unfortunately my funds are a little tight right now (thank you tuition!), living in a dorm does not supply the space needed to scrapbook, and I no longer work at a scrapbook store....  no more employee discounts.

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

My Etsy Store

Really, the whole point of this blog is to try and promote my Etsy store.  So I thought I'd bring it straight to you!

Here are a couple things that are currently in stock:

Short Lacy Fingerless Gloves

These short lacy fingerless gloves are just what you need for those upcoming spring days! Just enough to keep the chills away while making your hands look adorable.

About 5 inches long with thumb gusset. Medium width- for ladies of medium hand size. Of course, the stretch of the knit will provide comfort for multiple hand sizes.

This listing is for the set of gloves shown. Any deviations from the pictures would require a made-to-order listing just for you.

 

Green, Purple and Blue Fingerless Gloves

These green, blue and purple striped fingerless gloves are just what you need for those upcoming spring days (or a warm winter)! Just enough to keep the chills away while making your hands look adorable.

About 7 inches long with thumb gusset. Medium to large width- for ladies of medium hand size. Of course, the stretch of the knit will provide comfort for multiple hand sizes.

This listing is for the set of gloves shown. Any deviations from the pictures would require a made-to-order listing just for you.

I sure could have used a pair this afternoon in the snow!  Sometimes regular gloves just are not long enough.  Hope you enjoy!  Let me know what you think are hits, and what are misses!  Have any suggestions?  I will take them!

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.

Baby it's cold outside!

Since I live in Michigan, these are a few scenes from the outdoors:

The rooftops are gorgeous!

 My bike: deserted weeks ago.

 The mail must not stop!

The Bell Tower- University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.

Overall a beautiful snowy day.

Originally posted on Kr8tivity Blog.