Happy Holidays!

Sharing Magical Memories...

The talented proprietress of Mouse on the Mind has been running a stellar series this holiday season- Magical Memories. She invited a group of bloggers to share Disney holiday memories, and I was excited and honored when she asked me to participate. I wasn't sure I could do it, though- after all, I have never been to the parks during holiday time. There was an important Disney-related memory that had been tickling the back of my mind for a while, though, and I decided this was an apropos time to share it.

Click here to head over and read my contribution to the Magical Memories series...


Have you been to the parks & resorts during the holiday season? What holiday-related memories do you have? Share with us over on Mouse on the Mind, or right here in the comments...

Plussing the tree...

Christmas: I'm a sucker for the nostalgia, the sentimentality, the childhood memories. I'm one of those decorate-early/leave-the-tree-up-late people. I've always wanted to put up a tree the day after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the rest of my family does not share this early enthusiasm. 

Last year, in the midst of post-holiday clearance sales, they bought me a little artificial tree for my office. It was a perfect idea! I could put it up as early as I wanted, and the big family tree downstairs could wait until the rest of the crew was ready. 

I put up my tree shortly after Thanksgiving, but I forgot that I would need special decorations. Small ones. 

Then, it hit me! 

PINS. This was quite the stroke of genius for me- it was a perfect solution. I have piles and bins and lanyards of pins, and I'm always trying to find something fun to do with them. By myself. (The sad life of a pin trader living far from WDW...) 

They are the ideal size for my tree, I can switch them up at will, and I get to actually look at them brightening my tree all day long!

How do you get your WDW fix for the holidays? Tell us about it in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: October Calendar Shot

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 

the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and 
please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links by clicking below, 
and remember to share some comment love...

New Year's Eve at Plus the Magic...

It's New Year's Eve! Have you ever had the pleasure of ringing in the new year with the mouse? How does Disney plus the magic for New Year's Eve? I have yet to spend any holidays in the parks- if you have, please share a special holiday memory with us, or tell us about a way you've seen or heard that Disney plusses the magic for holidays.

As 2012 draws to a close, thank you for helping me get this little magical endeavor off the ground- it's been great hearing your feedback, and it's been lots of fun having a creative outlet for these magical musings.

A special ornament...

I almost didn't buy the ornament that first year; there was something about shopping for Christmas decorations while it was 95 degrees outside that didn't feel quite right to me. I fell in love with this gorgeous piece of glass, though, so I promptly bought it, stashed it in the attic once we were home, and forgot about it.

Fast forward seven months- I'm getting ready to decorate our tree, and I spot the small white box with a Mickey sticker holding it closed. I smile when I pick up the box, and as I open it, I'm instantly transported back to my favorite place.

Hanging that ornament on our tree prompted my family to reminisce about our favorite trip, and made us long for a return visit. We've returned several times since then- and I make sure to buy a new ornament every time. It's one of the ways we plus the magic at home.

My first one... and it remains my favorite.