Happy New Year!!! ✨🥂🐭✨

Hello friends!  I wanted to wish you all a very happy new year.

I know that 2025 is only a few hours old... but I feel full of hope for this new beginning.  I've been feeling the winds of change lately... and I'm hoping and wishing that means wonderful things are heading my way.  May this next chapter be a beautiful one.

Cheers, Ears, & Happy New Year!!! ✨🥂🐭✨ °o°

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, 2024 was a year of major adjustment for me.  I’ve experienced a lot of extreme highs and extreme lows this year.  But for the first time in forever… I feel good about the future and where I’m at right now.  The girl right here has returned to me, and this is what I want to take into the new year.

She’s happy, smiling, and a bright rainbow of sunshine.

I'll admit, she hasn't gotten the best treatment from me lately.  (And in reality, she hasn't gotten the best treatment from a lot of people through the years.)  She's put herself and a lot of her needs on the back-burner for far too long.  But she matters.  So going forward, my new motto is that "everything I do, I do it for you…" 

I do it for this girl, who lost most of her sparkle over the last two difficult years of her life.  The girl who thought she had everything… only to have the illusion ripped away from her.  The girl who at times felt like she’d lost absolutely everything… and she had, because she lost herself.  I do it for the girl who finally got her sparkle back when she was sprinkled with two weeks of magic and pixie dust.  I do it for the girl who left Maine a caterpillar and returned home from Florida a butterfly.

The biggest thing that I've learned this year is that you can't pump water from a dried up well.  I've been trying to pull from something that wasn't there... and this girl took the brunt of a lot of heat for it.  But still she tried to, and in the process, she learned better.

If I'm not nourishing myself and my own garden, I won't have the energy to tend to anyone else's garden.  And everyone is going to have to accept that.  I massively burnt myself out... so much so that I completely lost myself.  And now that my sparkle is back, I'm not going to let anyone or anything take it away from me.

Moving forward, this girl is who I want to be.  She's the most important person in my life.  She's the only person who will be with me from the day I was born until the day that I die.  She's the person who I do everything for... because she deserves it.  

May 2025 be her best year yet... filled with more happiness, smiles, and bright rainbows of sunshine.  Because "There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, just a dream away!" °o°

Fun Find: 2023 New Year's Eve at the Magic Kingdom Videos

Happy Fri-Yay!!!  There's nothing better than a Friday... especially when you are spending it at Walt Disney World!  Eliot and I are wrapping up the first full week of our fabulous 15 day Disney adventure.  In fact, by the time this is posting, we should also have just wrapped up our 10K (6.2 mile) race around Epcot and the World Showcase!

I thought I'd pop in with a quick post about one of my favorite parts of our trip so far... New Year's Eve.  Celebrating "NYE" at Walt Disney World is the best.  My favorite NYE memories have pretty much been at Disney.  There's something magical about it!

Naturally, the best part of the entire evening is the fireworks at midnight!  Eliot and I didn't have the greatest view for them, but I was able to find a few videos over on YouTube of people who had a much more central location than we did.  I thought that I'd share them with you today so you can see what we experienced live!

I did tape a little bit of the fireworks from our view, but these are so much better.  Plus, I knew there would be so many other bloggers and people recording the show.  I really wanted to be in the moment and enjoy it.  I even got my midnight kiss from Eliot!

The funniest part is that while we were there, I was so enamored with the view of Cinderella Castle, the soundtrack, the countdown projected on the castle and the fireworks... that I didn't even realize they were shooting off the 360° fireworks around the Magic Kingdom!  It wasn't until I heard someone else in line talking about it that I even knew they'd gone off!  Those are always a favorite and incredible to see!

It certainly was a spectacular show, and I'm so glad that Eliot and I were both able to witness it in person.  We haven't been back at Walt Disney World for New Year's Eve since Eliot's first trip there, during our Mylen Family Reunion in 2009.  Eliot and I flew down a few days earlier than everyone else because I really wanted to be there for NYE.  We did the entire thing... hats, matching 2009 sweatshirts and blow horns.  But we haven't been able to get back for New Years since then.  I hope we're able to go back for another New Year's Eve at the Magic Kingdom much sooner this time around!

I hope you had a magical New Year's Eve and that you enjoy these videos!  °o°

Happy New Year 2023!!!

It's officially 2023 and Eliot and I are ringing in the New Year with Mickey!!!

Walt Disney World is my absolute favorite place to ring in the new year.  There is always something extra special about ending one chapter and beginning a new one in my absolute favorite place.  When the fireworks go off at midnight, it's so magical.  

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.  The parks are always extremely crowded, but the atmosphere is electric with magic and possibility.  I always feel so inspired.

Last night was no exception.  Eliot and I were treated to a wonderful first day back at Walt Disney World.  We hadn't stepped foot inside a WDW theme park in 1078 days... and we have had a rough time lately, so it was like a shot of espresso that reawakened my soul.  I desperately needed that pixie dust... more than I ever could have imagined.

So now, we celebrate the beginning of another chapter from the most magical place in the entire world.  My heart and soul are dancing with excitement right now.

Happy New Year!!!  May 2023 be filled with lots of love, laughter and glee!!!  °o°

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!! 

Today is the first day of the beginning of another year and a fresh start!  The slate is clean.  The calendars have been flipped and this chapter has yet to be written.

Over the past few weeks, I've seen a lot of posts on social media about coming into the new year quietly so as not to disturb anything.  I've also seen quite a few posts about how 2022 is literally pronounced "2020 too".  (Yikes!!!)

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I for one, am ready to look ahead to the future.  The past is the past, but let's not forget it.  Let's work together to make this year better than the past two years.  While the pandemic still rages on, we can fight against this common enemy together.  We can make this year better than the last two years.  I know we have the power to do it. 

I'm feeling optimistic about where this year will take us... so let's do this!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22!  Welcome 2022!!!  °o°

Happy New Year!!!

Hello 2021... may you be infinitely better than your predecessor.

Well friends, we did it.  We survived 2020 and made it into the new year.  Hopefully, 2021 will be much kinder to us than last year was.  I'm feeling optimistic about this fresh start.  We're at the beginning of another chapter that's yet to be written.

If you're here looking for my free calendars, I'm still working on it.  The copy/paste fix I thought might be the solution isn't going to work.  Eliot and I are trying to get my old laptop to start up, but our efforts may be futile.  This might be the end of the calendars until I can get new software to re-create them from scratch.

But I'm not going to let that get me down.  It's a new year and it's time to focus on the positive!  We're gearing up for a busy weekend working on house projects and I'm excited to say out with the old and in with the new!

Happy New Year!!!  °o°

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone!!!  I hope your 2020 is going well so far!  I've had a nice relaxing day watching the NHL Winter Classic and Descendants at our resort in Reno, Nevada.  Eliot and his family have been up in the mountains near Lake Tahoe skiing at Alpine Meadows.  I'm not 100% sure of our plans for later on today, but I think we're going out to dinner and heading to the movies tonight!

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I know many of you are probably here looking for my printable Mickey and Minnie calendars.  Unfortunately, for the first time in six years, I won't be able to post them.  As I mentioned back in September, my laptop that I made the calendars on crashed.  I've got a new laptop, but the software that I need is on my college laptop.  We're not in the financial position to get the software right at the moment, so I have no way to edit the calendars to the correct dates, months and holidays.

I haven't given up yet... but it's going to take some creativity.  I might be able to copy paste them, but I don't have the files that I need to do that right now.  I'm going to try to see if I can get them all figured out when we're home again.  Send good thoughts my way.  Hopefully, I'll be able to find a way to make the monthly calendars for 2020!

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In the meantime, I'm going to work on a few other things to get the year off on the right foot!  I'm feeling really good about 2020!  Happy New Year!!!  °o°

My 2017 Disney Goals

Hello 2017.  I'm so excited for this year.  Each new year presents a chance for a fresh start, another blank slate, and the opportunity to write another 365 pages in the next chapter of my life.  Of course, the start of the new year also means another set of goals!

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The past few years, I've started a tradition of publicly posting some of my goals here on my blog.  At the end of the year, I write a recap where I see what I accomplished.  I've never completed a full list, but it's something to aspire to.  I've been making myself goal lists for about 10 years now.  It's something that I genuinely look forward to each year.  (Here are my past posts: 2014 goals, 2014 recap, 2015 goals, 2015 recap, 2016 goals, 2016 recap.)

This year, I've decided to change it up a bit.  I've decided to nix the blog goals as part of my official list.  I found that I was too focused on getting the blog goals done.  Of course, I still have goals for my blog, but I think those should be separate from my Disney goals.   Plus, last year I conquered some of the ones that had been plaguing me.  Now, I want to focus on some of the creative goals that I haven't had a chance to accomplish!

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I'm really excited about my Disney goals for this year.  A few of these have been on my list since I started making these public.  This year, I'd really like to dive headfirst into a few of the more creative ones.  I'm sure it'll be a challenge, but I'm ready for it!  Bring it on 2017!!!

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Melissa's Blog and Disney Goals for 2017

1.)  Go to Walt Disney World- This is always my first goal of every new year.  Walt Disney World is my happy place, and it's always a goal to go back!

2.)  Go to Disneyland- Walt Disney World might be my home away from home, but in the past few years, Disneyland has stolen my heart.  I definitely want to go back this year!

3.)  Attend the D23 Expo- This is a new addition to my list!  Eliot went to the D23 Expo in 2015 and had a blast.  This year, I want to go for my first time!!!

4.) Go to Disney at Christmas Time- We've been at Walt Disney World for many Halloween celebrations.  In fact, since 2010, I've been to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party seven times.  I really miss visiting the parks at Christmas time.  This year, I want to go to Disney during the Christmas celebrations.  Decorations, parades, music, specialty foods- yes!!!

5.) Participate in the Glass Slipper Challenge- It's hard to believe this is only a few weeks away!  I'm not as prepared as I'd hoped to be, but I'm optimistic.  I'm going to try my hardest!

6.) Participate in the Pixie Dust Challenge- I'm less terrified of this goal.  Hopefully, I'll have learned a thing or two at the Princess Half Weekend and I'll feel prepared for this one!

7.) Earn my Pink Coast to Coast Medal- If #5 and #6 go well, I'll have finally earned a Coast to Coast medal, and it'll be the pink one I've always wanted!

8.) Sign up for a 2018 RunDisney Race- Eliot and I are hoping to continue our RunDisney journey in 2018.  I haven't decided which one I'm going to do, but he's got a few he plans on participating in.  I'll see how Princess and Tink go before making up my mind on which one!

9.) Have Disney Movie Nights- There are certain Disney movies I've seen over and over again.  Others, I haven't seen in years.  This year, I want to watch as many as I can.  Not only do I enjoy them, but they give me inspiration for new product designs!

10.) Have Disney Board Game Nights- Eliot and I have so many board games.  I love playing them.  This year, I want to unpack them and break a few out to play!

11.)  Have a Disney Themed Party- I love throwing parties.  This year, I'm hoping that we'll finally get the house ready for our housewarming party!

12.) Read Disney Books- I have so many wonderful books.  I'd like to take some time to read through my Imagineering books.  I also have art books, leadership books and more.

13.) Disneybound/Themed Outfit Challenge- Last year, I had a goal to wear 25 character or attraction Disneybound or themed outfits, and I'm going to do that again.  Last year, I didn't get to Disneybound as much as I wanted to, so I'm going to focus more on that this year!

14.) Make Disney Accessories- I really enjoying creating accessories to wear.  This year, I'd like to learn to make infinity scarves.  I'd also like to work on some more custom dresses, skirts, jewelry, hair accessories and handbags.

15.) Take Online Storyboard Class and Art Class- This is one of those goals that keeps getting rolled over to the next year.  I'd really like to check this one off in 2017!

16.) Design a Miniature Scene- I love things in miniature.  I've got a few ideas of scenes to make and I'd really like to make more complex one this year!

17.) Design an Imagineering Project- Eliot and I love brainstorming about new attractions, restaurants, stores, and hotel resorts.  This year, I'd like to actually start doing some design work on a fantasy Imagineering project!

18.) Paint Disney Art- I have so many fun ideas!  This year, I'd like to make a few pieces, especially since we're trying to get our house organized!  I've got plans for artwork in our kitchen/living/dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms.  Hopefully, I'll have plenty of pictures of my artwork to share by the end of 2017!

19.) Make Disney Decor for the Holidays- I love making customized holiday decor!  I've got a list that's super long, and I'd like to cross a few more of those off the list!  However, I'm not holding myself to a specific number.  I'd rather just let my creativity flow!

20.) Decorate House with Disney Touches- Eliot's and my main goal of 2017 is to get settled in our house.  Along with the artwork and holiday decor, I'd like to add some little Disney touches throughout our house.  We've bought a bunch of items to display, and I've also got a few more handmade designs in mind.  Hopefully, we'll be able to get our house painted, everything unpacked and organized so I can work on this!

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Just like every other year, I've certainly got my work cut out for me.  But, like always, I am really excited about the possibilities!  I'm going to make 2017's word of the year DREAM.  In the past, I've focused on creating, growth, and blossoming.  This year, the sky is the limit and I want to go wherever my dreams take me.  I want to focus less on hitting numbers and more on achieving my creative potential, my goals and my dreams.

So let's do this 2017.  Let this be the year that more dreams come true.  °o°

Final Recap of 2016 Goals

Another year is coming to a close.  I've got to admit, 2016 has been quite a rollercoaster.  For me, it's actually been a pretty good year overall.  But I think it's safe to say the world is ready for a do-over.  Thankfully, we only have a few more hours until we can start anew!

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As always, I set some goals for myself this year.  I posted my 2016 Disney and Blog Goals on January 2nd.  Now, as the year winds down, the time has come to recap the results of those goals.  I've never actually completed a full list, (spoiler alert: that hasn't changed!) but it's something to aspire to.  I love making goals for each year and seeing how many of them I can achieve!  The past few years, I've made a new tradition to publicly post some of my blog and Disney goals here for you all to read!  (You can read my other goal posts at these links: 2014 goals, 2014 recap, 2015 goals, 2015 recap.)

For those of you who are new, or for those who need a refresh, here is a short version:

Melissa's Blog and Disney Goals for 2016

1.)  Go to Walt Disney World
2.)  Go to Disneyland
3.)  Go on my first Disney Cruise
4.)  Sign Up and Train for the 2017 Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathons
5.)  Participate in a few Blog Hops

6.)  Achieve Monthly Blog Goals
7.)  Make Disney Décor for the Holidays
8.)  Have a Few Friends as Guest Bloggers
9.)  Make Disney Accessories
10.)  Have Disney Movie Nights and Disney Board Game Nights

11.)  Disneybound Themed Outfit Challenge

12.)  Continue Happily Ever Hatter's Growth

13.)  Have a Disney Themed Party
14.)  Take an Online Storyboard Class, Online Art Class

15.)  Design an Imagineering Project
16.)  Read Disney Books

17.)  Paint Disney Art

18.)  Prep for D23 Expo 2017

19.)  Design a Miniature Scene
20.)  Work on Top Secret Blog Ideas

I think it was a pretty impressive list.  I added five more goals than I had for 2015.  And I knew when I made it that it was a pretty lofty list of goals.  But, I like a challenge.  So, without further ado, here's how the results of my 2016 goals stacked up:

1.)  Go to Walt Disney World- Goal Met

This is always one of my main goals every single year.  I'm pleased to report that I went to Walt Disney World in September/October and I had a marvelous time at my happy place!!!

2.)  Go to Disneyland- Goal Met

Last year, we went to Disneyland for the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration and my goal was to go one more time before it ended this year.  Not only did I get to go once for Elissa's graduation, but I got to go with two of my girl friends for a mini vacation weekend!

3.)  Go on my first Disney Cruise- Goal Met 

This was a new addition to my goal list, although it's always been a goal of mine.  2016 was finally the year I was able to cross this off my personal bucket list!!!  Our Disney Cruise was amazing and I can't wait to go on another one!!!  I think it's safe to say I'm addicted!!!

4.)  Sign Up/Train for the 2017 Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathons- Goal Met

This goal has plagued me for a few years.  In 2014, I didn't complete the WDW half, and in 2015 I had severe foot problems and was unable to complete the WDW 10K.  Eliot and I have signed up for both Princess and Tinker Bell.  I haven't trained for Princess as much as I'd hoped to, but that's basically my #1 goal between now and then.

5.)  Participate in a few Blog Hops- Goal Met

Before this year, I'd only participated in one blog hop in 2014, and then I didn't do any in 2015.  This year, I participated in every single Disney Pixar Blog Hop that was hosted!  Not only did I have a blast, but I'm very proud of all of the projects I created too!  Here they are:

Blog Hops

February- Gimme Tsum Lovin' Wreath

April- Mickey Button Flower Vase

June- Tinker Bell Fairy Garden Lantern

August- Tinker Bell Pop Purse Charm

October- Pink Polka Dot Minnie Mouse Sun Hat

December- Olaf's Winter Snow Sign

6.)  Achieve Monthly Blog Goals- Goal Met
This has always been a difficult goal for me.  It's hard to set aside enough time to complete these tasks each month.  This year, my goal was to do at least one tutorial each month, one fun find a month, and to have 150 blog posts for the year.  While I didn't get 12 DIY tutorials done each month, I did more than I have in any other year and I'm so proud of that.  Plus, I crushed my fun find goal and finished the year with 160+ posts!!!  Cross this one off of the list... this goal is (finally!) outta here!!!  But before I move on, here's a recap of my fun finds:

Fun Find Fridays
Genie's Jokes from Aladdin
Disney Medley
Wonderful World of Disney- Disneyland 60
Share Your Ears
Disneyland Paris St. Patrick's Day
March Magic
Retro Disney Easter Parade Videos
WDW Spring Dapper Day 2016
The Little Mermaid Live in Concert
Brian Hull
Grand Opening of Shanghai Disney Resort
Elephant & Mouse
Disney Puppies Video
Walt Disney Family Museum
Shop Disney Parks App
Black Friday Deals
Disney Magic Holiday

7.)  Make Disney Décor for the Holidays- Goal Met
As you know, I absolutely love the holidays.  I have a list a mile long of Disney holiday decorations to create.  This year, I tried to focus on getting a few done for our house!  I didn't make as many as I'd originally hoped to, but I'm so proud of all the ones I did make: 

DIY Projects
Mickey Candy Heart Valentine's Day Sign
Gimme Tsum Lovin' Wreath
Mickey Button Flower Vase
Tinker Bell Fairy Garden Lantern
Olaf's Winter Snow Sign

8.)  Have a Few Friends as Guest Bloggers- Goal Not Met
I didn't have any guest bloggers this year, and I am a little bummed out about it.  I really need to get a few more friends and family members on board for some posts.  Everyone is always so busy, but I'm determined.  Plus, I think it's time you heard from Eliot again!

9.)  Make Disney Accessories- Goal Met

I had a ton of ideas for Disney inspired accessories that I wanted to make.  While I wasn't able to tackle circle skirts or infinity scarves, I did get a few other things done.  (Plus, I bought way too much fabric for future scarves...)  I'm really proud of my original dress designs.  I can't wait to make more of them.  Plus, I did tackle a few in the form of DIY projects: 

DIY Projects
Tinker Bell Pop Purse Charm
Pink Polka Dot Minnie Mouse Sun Hat

10.)  Have Disney Movie Nights and Disney Board Game Nights- Goal (sort of) Met
I absolutely love watching Disney movies.  Lately, Eliot and I have been trying to watch more of them- especially the ones we haven't watched in forever.  I'm happy to report that we watched a ton of Disney movies this year.  We didn't have specific movie nights, but we still were able to watch Aladdin, Hercules, Mulan, Big Hero 6, Brave, The Little Mermaid and more.  I even got him to watch all of Tangled without falling asleep (finally!!!).  On the board game front, we still haven't even unpacked them.  So, we'll have to do that next year!

11.)  Disneybound Themed Outfit Challege- Goal Met
This is a new goal for my Disney list, but I had a ton of fun with it so it stays!  I originally wanted to do more Disneybounds, but I need to work on my single color wardrobe pieces for that.  However, I definitely had at least 25 Disney themed outfits throughout the year.  I always wear Disney outfits to the theme parks, and I've started to wear more of them at home.  My favorite of all my outfits was definitely my Diamond Celebration Minnie outfit from Spring Dapper Day at Disneyland!

12.)  Continue Happily Ever Hatter's Growth- Goal Met
This year, I really focused on getting some new designs done.  I've been working on a few of them for years now, and I'm so happy to have brought them to life!  Eliot also dove head first into the world of ear making.  He's been obsessed with creating tons of new designs for our IllusionEars line.  We nailed this goal!  (Now we just have to finish listing them on Etsy!)

13.)  Have a Disney Themed Party- Goal Not Met
This is a goal of mine every year.  I love having friends and family over to visit.  This year, we had planned to have a housewarming party in the spring, but then the house wasn't ready.  I thought we'd still be able to pull off my birthday party, but we were so busy making mouse ears all fall, that didn't go as planned.  However, I'm not too upset about it.  I've got awesome ideas for our housewarming party, so hopefully, it'll happen in spring/summer 2017!

14.)  Take an Online Storyboard Class, Online Art Class- Goal Not Met
I'd love to learn how to storyboard and I've been dying to take a storyboarding class online for a few years now.  (It's been a goal of mine since I started writing these on my blog.)  I still haven't done it.  2017, I'm making time no matter what.  And, I also have a few other art classes I'd like to take.  I'm determined to cross this off in 2017!!!

15.)  Design an Imagineering Project- Goal Not Met

Eliot and I talk about Disney Imagineering projects like we're actual Imagineers.  We love to brainstorm designs for new rides, restaurants, hotels, stores, and hotel resorts.  I'd really like to actually draw something out, make some renderings or even (gasp!) make a model like I did in college.  Now that I'm out of school, not doing it for a grade and on my own time, it sounds like it'd be fun.  So stay tuned...

16.)  Read Disney Books- Goal Not Met

I have so many wonderful books.  I have a large collection of Imagineering books.  Last Christmas, my parents bought us four Art of Disney books and Eliot and I got another one for Christmas this year.  I also have a ton of other Disney books.  And I didn't read a single one this year.  Next year, I'm cracking open some books.

17.)  Paint Disney Art- Goal Not Met
This is also a continuing goal of mine.  I still haven't checked it off the list, and I'm actually glad about that.  We're still finishing our house, but I have started to decide where I'd like to have some artwork.  So hopefully, next year I'll be able to show you some of my own art displayed throughout our house!

18.)  Prep for D23 Expo 2017- Goal Met
Well, I didn't have too many high hopes for this goal.  It was mostly brainstorming.  But, the most important thing is that we have tickets to the D23 Expo next year.  Now, the real fun of finalizing my outfit and making it begins!

19.)  Design a Miniature Scene- Goal (sort of) Met

I specifically kept this goal general since I didn't know what I'd want to make.  In the end, I finished one of the designs I've had floating around in my head for a while now.  My DIY Tinker Bell Fairy Garden Lantern has finally come to life and I'm so happy with how it turned out.  Now, I want to make more of them for different seasons.  And I'm also really inspired to make more complex mini scenes!

20.)  Work on Top Secret Blog Ideas- Goal Met

This is a continuation from my goals from last year.  I have so many business, blog and design ideas that it's insane.  But, the world is competitive and I don't want to spill them all here.  Thankfully, I was able to start checking some of them off the list in the form of completed DIY projects and tutorials, taking the leap and making my customized dresses and making some of the mouse ears I've been wanting to.  There's a lot more in store.  I'm not going to keep this an "official" goal, but you're still going to reap the rewards!

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So, there you have it!  Overall, I think I did pretty good considering how crazy busy Eliot and I have been.  Most of these have made appearances on my 2014 and 2015 lists.  (This is the most blue I have ever seen!!!)  Honestly, I'm ready to set some of these goals aside and to conquer new things... and to finally cross a few more of these fun, creative goals off in 2017!  

2016's word of the year was BLOSSOM and I think I achieved that.  I worked really hard on my blog and my business ideas and I also dove into a few new projects.  Everything was received really well and I definitely felt like I blossomed more as a person too!

Thank you 2016, for the lessons you've taught me and for the growth.  Bring on 2017!!!  °o°

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2016 Goals Mid-Year Review

It's hard for me to believe, but 2016 is more than half over already!  I feel like I wrote out my 2016 Blog and Disney Goals just yesterday.  It's crazy how fast time flies!  I thought that since it's mid-year, I should take a peek at how I'm doing on my goals:

Photo Source: Disney Store

Melissa's Blog and Disney Goals for 2016

1.)  Go to Walt Disney World- Eliot and I are scheduled to go in September/October!

2.)  Go to Disneyland- April- check.  June- check.

3.)  Go on my first Disney Cruise- We've booked our first Disney cruise for this fall!

4.)  Sign Up and Train for the 2017 Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathons- Registering for Princess- check.  And Tinker Bell registration opens up in a few more weeks!  Now it's time to finalize my training schedules so I can officially start my training!

5.)  Participate in a few Blog Hops- Check!  I've already participated in three so far this year.  I also have a few more planned for the remainder of the year!

6.)  Achieve Monthly Blog Goals- This is always a difficult one for me.  But this year, I was determined to crush it.  I've already done 12 Fun Finds, and we're only half way through the year.  I've gotten a little bit behind in the DIY projects, but I've got a ton of ideas for the upcoming holidays this fall and winter.  As for the 150 blog posts, I've done 90 and I've only got 60 to go with 175 days left in the year.  I'm on track for a big check!!!  Finally!!!

7.)  Make Disney Décor for the Holidays- I've made a few decorative pieces for Valentine's Day and spring.  I've also got a few things up my sleeve for Halloween and Christmas!

8.)  Have a Few Friends as Guest Bloggers- I'm still working on this.  Stay tuned!

Photo Source: Disney Store

9.)  Make Disney Accessories- This is still a work in progress.  I've ordered a bunch of supplies... so many supplies.  Eliot's got a new toy on order, and that will open up so many possibilities.  I also recently designed a dress for 4th of July!  Stay tuned for more!!!  I have so much planned!  And I'm just getting started!

10.)  Have Disney Movie Nights and Disney Board Game Nights- I've watched quite a few Disney movies so far this year!  Eliot and I haven't played any of our board games yet, but I'm hoping we can now that things are quieting down this summer!

11.)  Disneybound Themed Outfit Challege- I need to figure out how many of these I've actually done.  I attended Dapper Day at Disneyland this spring and that was a dream come true.  I also dressed up for the 4th of July.  Now I need to work on a few more outfits for our upcoming cruise and trip to Walt Disney World!

12.)  Continue Happily Ever Hatter's Growth- I've made a few new designs this year, but I'm working on a lot more!  I've got a ton of supplies.  Now I just need to make them!

13.)  Have a Disney Themed Party- We haven't had a Disney themed party yet, but I'm working on one for our official housewarming party this fall!

Photo Source: Disney Store

14.)  Take an Online Storyboard Class, Online Art Class- I'm still working on this.  I've seriously got to get a move on if I'm going to finish it!  Maybe I can at least start the class!

15.)  Design an Imagineering Project- I've got a few ideas for this project.  I'm hoping to at least start sketching something out soon.

16.)  Read Disney Books- I have a few books I'm getting ready to start.  Now that things are quieting down for the summer, I'm looking forward to curling up and reading a good book!

17.)  Paint Disney Art- I have so many things I want to paint.  Hopefully I can get working on these sooner than later!  We've certainly got plenty of wall space in our new house!

18.)  Prep for D23 Expo 2017- I'm still working on a costume idea... got any suggestions?

19.)  Design a Miniature Scene- I have so many ideas for this!  My list is huge.  I haven't settled on a design, but I'm sure I'll think of something.  Maybe I'll make one for a holiday.

20.)  Work on Top Secret Blog Ideas- The stage has been set... I've got quite a few new business ideas in the works.  I've also got a lot of ideas for my blog.  If I can get my laptop running efficiently, I'm hoping that I can post some of those over the next few months!

I'm feeling really good about this year's goals!  I feel like I've already taken a good chunk out of them.  I'm not half way done the goals, but I feel like I'm in a good position to finish the year strong!  175 days to go!  Time for me to get cracking!!!  °o°