Thanksgiving Week

So now that I only have 23 days left here I am trying to get as much done as possible and let me tell you there is a lot of stuff on my to do list coming up over the next few weeks. I have been trying to go to the parks as much as possible also.

On Monday I started late that night so I went to the dine in movie theatre at Downtown Disney. It was the best thing I have ever gone to! They had a full bar, tables in front of your seat where you pressed a button and your server came. It was amazing and I got a little crazy and spent way too much money on food but I guess why not just enjoy it?

On Tuesday I had the day off as well as some of my best friends from work. We decided to go to Epcot to ride the Figment ride (for some reason we have been dying to do this) it was the worst and weirdest ride I have ever been on. Sometimes when you get off of a ride at Disney World you wonder what kind of drugs they were feeding the Imagineers who designed the ride. This was definitely my first thought. We also went on Captain EO its a show from the 80s starring Michael Jackson that was brought back recently. It was interesting but the entire time I thought about how much my mom would probably love this.

We then went to Downtown Disney to go to Disney Quest. Its a 5 story arcade and it was pretty fun. They had a lot of interactive activities and we did almost everything. They had Buzz Lightyear bumper cars, a river rafting simulator ride, make your own rollercoaster, and other activities. Overall it was cool but I wouldnt go again. After we did some shopping and of course stopped to see Santa. After all I need to make sure he gets my christmas list in time since I will be home for Christmas this year.

On Wednesday I baked cookies with my friends from work for our Thanksgiving party. It was a lot of fun and it was nice to get into the holiday spirit. We made gingerbread men, ginger snaps, sugar cut out cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, and pumpkin pie bars.

Thursday was Thanksgiving and it wasnt as sad as I thought it was going to be. Honestly I really just forgot it was Thanksgiving because it didnt feel like it at all. I went to the ESPN Sports complex for the Old Spice Basketball Tournament. My friend Lauren from work really wanted to go since her school was playing in it. It was actually a lot of fun to see the complex it was absolutely gorgeous! And we even got on TV too!  Afterward I went to work and we had a potluck. One word to describe it... INTERESTING. The food was just weird because it was people from all over the world making different dishes. There was rice and beans even. I wasnt that impressed and either were my friends from Australia. They couldnt figure out why we liked the holiday so much.

I got off work at 11 and went home to change then ventured off to the mall at midnight. It was actually a lot of fun and we stayed until after 4 before finally venturing home. I came home passed out and now I am about to leave to go to work.

There is a lot of exciting things coming up over the next few weeks... our Winter Formal, Graduation from the program, my mom and sister are coming, and just spending my last days at the parks. Even though I didnt love the program it wasnt the worst thing ever. I really love all my friends I have made here and cant wait to visit them after the program.

Still waiting to hear back about the internship so keep your fingers crossed!

Heres some pictures from work when we are waiting to go home.

Christmas!!!

Well it looks like everyone's favorite little angel will be home for Christmas!!! I applied for an approved early release from the program and was granted one today. It basically means I still complete my program but I get to leave for whatever reason. I will be coming home on December 15th! I am really excited but I have just now realized its 28 days away and I still have so much on my list of things I want to do before I leave.

My life right now is completely up in the air. I am waiting to hear back from the Professional Internship I applied for. I made it through the final interview round and then 2 weeks ago I received an email asking for a background check on me. I have heard this is a really good sign and usually the step before the offer. I hope I hear back soon but the deadline is December 7th. If offered the internship I have decided I am going to take it. If this happens I will be heading back to Orlando around New Years to move into a new apartment and get settled before my internship begins.

I will keep everyone updated as soon as I hear anything!

Parents Visit

Sorry I havent been posting as much I literally never have any free time anymore especially since we are getting into our busy season. This past weekend my parents and Becky and Jim came to visit me! It was a lot of fun and they actually wore me out.

Friday
I had class and then I eagerly awaited my parents arrival. They got in around 5:30 and picked me up at my apartment we went and checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Pop Century for the first night. Its a little value resort on the Disney Property but its actually pretty cute. We got settled in and left for the Polynesian Hotel where we had dinner reservations at Ohanas. I have been waiting to eat here for weeks and it was definitely worth the wait. Probably one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I wanted to take my parents to the little beach they have there that is on the same lake as Magic Kingdom so you can see the entire castle and the fireworks show, but my dad said no way I need to get to the bar. (I mean are you surprised by this) so we got drinks while we waited. Ohana's is family style buffet served to your table. The first thing we had was salad which was a lime ginger dressing I think, then we had dumplings and chicken wings. Next was peanut noodles (which were hands down the best noodles I have ever ever had... seriously) and some vegetables. Then the server comes around with this giant skewer of meat and put its on your plate. There is chicken, pork, steak, and shrimp. The pork and shrimp were our favorites. and lastly DESSERT! it was a bread pudding with vanilla ice cream then topped with caramel bananas and it was delicious! After we no longer could take a second bite we headed back to our hotel.

Saturday
We slept in then ate at our hotel before checking out. We then went to Walmart and did a shopping trip! I hadnt gone grocery shopping in almost a month so I desperately needed some food. After that we went back to my apartment to drop everything off and give a tour of the apartment complex. Then we went to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping. My dad left to pick up Becky and Jim at the airport and my mom and I stayed and just walked around and also do a little pin trading. When they all got back we went to Earl of Sandwich for dinner. It is really one of the best sandwich places in the world. After that we went to my store so they could meet my friends and see where I work.

Sunday
We got up early and went to Hollywood Studios for the day. We went on Rockin Rollercoaster, saw the American Idol Experience Show, Star Tours ride, Animation Academy where we learned how to draw Jiminy Cricket, shopped and then went and saw Fantasmic. It is by far my favorite show at Disney World and it was also my first time seeing it. After that we went to the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights show which was also the coolest thing I have ever seen. We then took the boat over to Epcot to do Food and Wine but were only able to go for the last half hour. I was so excited to take them there but then they decided to go to the American Pavillion to the quick service restaurant for a hamburger... so that was a fail. We also were able to see Illuminations (the show at Epcot). We then went home because we were all exhausted.

Monday
We went to Animal Kingdom first and it was the first time for all of them. We went on Kilimanjari Safari first which is my favorite. We then headed over to Expedition Everest (its kind of like the Matterhorn). After then we went on the ride Dinosaur (its like Indiana Jones). then it was lunch time. Becky and my dad got Turkey legs while we got hamburgers. We then went to the Lion King show which was really cool. It has music, singing, acrobats, and dancing all in one. Then we went to Magic Kingdom for Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. We were able to get into the new Fantasyland which doesnt open until December 6th. We did everything there and they all loved it! We then went on the people mover, space mountain, then watched the Christmas Parade. After that we headed over to watch the firework show which was really cool. We went on Pirates last and then headed home to beat the crowds.

Tuesday
This was their last day here and I stayed at my apartment last night so I could get everything settled before work. They stopped by to say bye on their way out, then it was back to reality and get to work. It was long and exhausting. I was ready to just go home and when I finally got off and went home I came home to a fire. The apartment below me caught fire. Thankfully everyone is ok and my apartment is fine. We will probably know more tomorrow.

Thats all Goodnight!

Happy Halloween

The most horrifying thing about Halloween... there are only 54 shopping days left until Christmas!

My Halloween was... interesting I should say. I am really not a huge fan of Halloween but I figured soon enough I wont be able to really celebrate like a college kid so why not. I had the day off which was nice and I was busy. I woke up early and went to Downtown Disney for the Cake Off Contest. There were 3 teams that had 4 hours to decorate a cake Haunted Mansion theme. It was just like the show on the Food Network and was so interesting to watch especially since I am really into baking. And the best part... after judging we got to eat the cake! So of course I was there.

this cake was decorated by one of the ladies at my work and her mom. It was a puerto rican cake with brandy syrup

 This is Jared he is also in the College Program with me and he was the host of the contest

This cake was made by one of the managers at my store. it was a black velvet cake

this cake was made by a lady who works at the disney store at the airport

Afterward I went shopping to get a Halloween costume. Of course I chose Rapunzel! And thanks to my Grandma and Jim who sent me a little Halloween money and I used it towards my costume.

So last night I went on the party bus that takes you to downtown Orlando with my friends from work and my roommate. It was interesting. We got there at like 12:45 and it was basically a giant party in the street. All the roads are blocked off and theres music and then you can go into all the different bars. It was fun but I was ready to go home. I got on the first bus that left at 2:30 and I was like awesome Ill get home soon and get to bed. There was an accident on the freeway probabaly about 3 cars in front of us. We were stopped for over an hour before we had to make a u-turn (yes on the freeway) and go backwards to the next exit to take an alternative route. And let me just say being on a party bus with twice as many people then there should be and drunk college kids who cant handle their alcohol so they are puking everywhere is probably the worst thing I have ever had to sit through. By the time I got home it was after 4 and I was ready to pass out.

on the bright side, I made it home in one piece with all of my belongings and I looked pretty cute as Rapunzel.

With my roommate Juliette