More Projects

This past week I've been busy with more projects.  I really seem to be getting in the groove.  But I also would like to have my dining room table functioning again at some point, so I guess I have ulterior motives?  Either way, I might as well finish the projects!  Here's what I accomplished:


Picture Frame- I sealed the frame and added the red Mickey Mouse rhinestone "bling" to the corners.  It is now hanging back up in the bathroom!  I just need to add a picture to it… 

Mickey Mouse picture frame.

Shelf for Bathroom- This week I put a few more coats on my shelf for the bathroom.  I just have to finish sealing it and then add one more detail to it and it will be done!  It's going to be awesome.  Yay!

Painting more layers on the shelf.  Almost finished!

Flowerpots- I've been working on my second batch of flowerpots this week.  I've been having such a good time with them, that I bought even more pots last weekend.  Home Depot got a fresh supply, so Eliot and I bought two small 4.25" pots and one 10" flowerpot.  And I plan to buy more.  My name is Melissa and I have a problem... ;-)  

I've finished painting my mini Mickey and Minnie pots as well as a second set of large ones.  I also worked on painting the details on my Sorcerer Mickey pot that I've been putting off.  The stars and the moon for the hat were a little bit tricky.  And his belt wasn't exactly a walk in the park either, but I finished it!  Now they all just have to get sealed.  My other works in progress still need their details painted.  I'll probably finish that next week!

My original flowerpots are displayed on our front steps.  Sadly, when we went to try to buy flowers for them, Home Depot had run out of the kinds we were looking for.  So, no flowers right now.  But we're planning to go back to try again!  (And I'll try not to buy more flowerpots... maybe?)

Flowerpots everywhere!

Sign- This week, I also wanted to start working on a sign for our front porch.  We have a random nail that's already inserted in the brick front of the house, so of course I saw it as a signal that we needed a sign to put on it!  I bought a wood sign from Michael's a few months ago.  I've painted it in our wedding colors since I thought that it would be a nice reminder of our wedding and because there are lime and pink accents all over our house anyways!

Working on our new address sign.

I used InDesign to create a template for the sign.  I used the "Minnie" font for the text.  I also wanted to add the Mickey Mouse heart hands detail because I thought it was a cute way to incorporate our love of all things Disney.  I think that it's going to look great on the porch next to all of my flowerpots!

Planning the approximate location of our new sign.

Tray for Living Room- My favorite project from this week was my tray for our living room.  I've also had a tray for our living room for months.  I found the perfect one at ACMoore and it's been sitting unfinished on our side table.  I've known what I wanted to do with it for a while now, but I was holding back because I needed to use a technique that I've never tried before!  After a few attempts of different methods, I got the hang of it and my paint splatter tray was created!  After I finished the splattering, I added three "hidden Mickeys" for fun.  (Can you find them?)  I absolutely LOVE how it came out!  So much so, that I'll probably do a tutorial on it!  

Paint Splatter Tray with Hidden Mickeys for our living room.

I'm sure next week will probably be another crafty one.  I still have that 10" flowerpot to paint!  °o°

Graduation 5 Years Ago Today

Five years ago today I graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology.  I can't believe that it's been 5 years already!

Wentworth Commencement August 17, 2008.

You're probably wondering how on earth this relates to Disney.  I went to school for interior design, and when I graduated I had big dreams of becoming an Interior Designer for Disney Imagineering.  Throughout the past five years, I've decided that I want to run my own business someday since I need a creative outlet with few boundaries.  Instead of becoming an actual Imagineer, my husband and I dream up our own designs for rides and attractions at Disney.  (It's more fun when the sky is the limit and there are absolutely no budgets involved right?)  Maybe I'll share some designs in the future!  ;-)

Wentworth Institute of Technology Interior Design Graduate!

Wentworth felt like home away from home, plus it's school colors are black, gold and red… sound familiar?  They're pretty much the same colors as my favorite Mouse!  So that worked out nicely for Eliot and me.  (I bought Eliot and myself Mickey Mouse colored tie dye shirts and it doubled as his WIT graduation present.)

Wentworth Commencement August 17, 2008.

I also have an amazing print that I ordered from SomethingPrintable on Etsy.  Victoria Ann makes beautiful prints and I had to have one to match my husband's (he got one as a gift from our friends BJ and Katie).  So I also have this awesome Mickey Graduation Print to proudly display on our wall!

My Mickey Graduation Print from Something Printable.

Finally, the most meaningful tie in to Disney was with a photo of me and my dog Lucky.  Lucky was 13 when he went to my graduation ceremony.  I wanted a photo with my puppy and it wasn't until after graduation when I put the pictures on my laptop that I noticed a familiar outline hidden in the sunlight behind our heads.  (Can you find the Hidden Mickey?)

Lucky and me after the ceremony.  Can you find the Hidden Mickey?

We lost Lucky a little over a year after this photo was taken.  But it's my absolute favorite picture of the two of us.  It's almost like someone was trying to send me a message on my graduation day.  I may not ever become a "real" Imagineer, but the possibilities are endless, and I'll find the right path for me.  After all "if you can dream it, you can do it."  °o°

My interior design classmates, friends and family.

Fun Find: Wonderland Headbands

My next fun Disney find is from Wonderland Headbands.  

My friend Kathleen recently started her new company Wonderland Headbands.  She is also a diehard Disney fan like myself, so of course we get along really great!  (We birds of a feather tend to flock together right?)  Another thing that Kathleen and I have in common is that we love to craft and to make things!  This girl made a killer Snow White Halloween costume a few years ago and she's definitely one of my crafty sole sisters!

Merida Princess Ribbon.

Kathleen found the idea to make ribbon princesses on Pinterest and decided that would be a great way to make something to wear on her next trip to Disney, which will be her 10th visit!  What better way to celebrate a milestone like that then with some new Disney accessories?  She wanted to make the trip special, so she decided to dive in to see if she could make some.

Belle Princess Ribbon.

Kathleen came up with her own designs on how to create the characters, and most of her recent designs have come straight out of her imagination.  She's made most of the princesses, and has plans to make more of them in the future, as well as a Minnie Mouse design!

Cinderella Princess Ribbon.

The princesses can be made into headbands or small hair clips.  All you have to do is let Kathleen know which style you prefer.  The princesses will be the same size whether they are on headbands or clips.  Headbands/Clips are $8.00 each, or $10.00 with shipping to the continental United States. 

Jasmine and Snow White Princess Ribbon Headbands.

To order one of Kathleen's amazing creations, message her on Wonderland Headband's Facebook page.  There you can discuss your order details and exchange addresses for payment and shipment.  I definitely give my stamp of approval that she'll make you a beautifully handcrafted product!

Rapunzel Princess Ribbon.

These are the perfect accessories for the princess in your life!  I know this Disney princess certainly has her eye on a few.  Now I just have to figure out which ones to order!  °o°

Ariel Princess Ribbon.

Note: I believe in honesty, so if I'm ever writing a post in the future where I'm getting paid to do a review, or if I receive free merchandise in exchange for a review on my blog, I'll let you know!  Honesty is always the best policy.  °o°

New Facebook Page

Hey everyone!

I wanted to let you know that I started a new Facebook fan page for my blog!

I've been thinking about making one since I started my blog, and I finally caved last night!   By having a Facebook page, I'll be able to:

Add More Photos and Videos!  I can post more photos and videos without completely overwhelming my blog posts.  So you can see more of my project photos, tutorials, events, and trips.

Meet and Connect with Myself and Other Disney Fans.  This gives you all an opportunity to connect with me, my friends and other Disney fans on my page.

Make my Blog More Interactive.  It will make my blog more interactive!  Come say hi and tell me what you would like to see more of on my blog!  °o°

Become a fan!  °o°

Jodi Benson (Voice of Ariel) in Concert!

As you all know, the Jodi Benson concert was Friday night!  Oh.  My.  Gosh!  It was SO amazing!  I couldn't even believe that we got to see her in concert!  She was so nice and so talented!  I still feel like it was all a dream.  

Jodi Benson and me!  Ahh!  :-)

I wanted to make the night special, so before I even left my house, I put on my pre-planned outfit.  I decided to try my first Disneybound as Kiss the Girl Ariel.  I also had music note earrings, a dinglehopper and shell for my hair, and an Ariel scarf that I bought from the New Fantasyland while Eliot and I were on our honeymoon this past March.  I was pretty pumped.  (I don't think anyone got my Kiss the Girl reference, but I know that I'm just that cool.  That counts for something… right?)

My Kiss the Girl Ariel Disneybound!

The show was a few towns over from us at the Seaside Pavilion.  It was an outdoor covered venue surrounded by white pines.  The weather wasn't so great, but it stopped raining shortly before the show started.  Eliot and I got there a little over an hour before the show started and got center seats 8 rows from the stage, right in front of the sound booth.  I was very impressed with the stadium seating, sound system and the pavilion… but I digress.

At 7:05, Jodi made her way on stage singing "Rain on my Parade" from Broadway's Funny Girl.  She then proceeded to thank the Salvation Army for having her and by letting all of us "Old Orchard Beachians" know that she and her family enjoyed going to the carnival on the beach.

The first half of her show was all Broadway songs, and she told us all great stories in between each song.  I really enjoyed the story about how she sang a song called "Disneyland" in the short run Broadway show Smile and how it was before she got the part of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.  I guess it was fate!

The Set List from the first half of Jodi's Concert.

The other amazing part of the first half, was when she announced that her 12-year old daughter, Delaney, was going to perform for us.  She and her husband had decided that this was a great small venue and a good family show for her kids to have their first stage performances.  I was completely blown away!  Delaney sang Amazing Grace.  Her voice was incredible and she played the song on the piano as well.  It was a remarkable thing to watch.

Jodi's daughter Delaney playing piano and singing.

Jodi finished up her first half with a song from Wicked and then we were treated to a quick 15 minute intermission.  This was the perfect opportunity for our friends to join us since they arrived to the show a few minutes late and we had saved them seats.  Once we were all reunited, we were ready to begin our Disney musical journey!

The Set List from the second half of Jodi's Concert

Jodi came back on stage singing a medley of songs from Beauty and the Beast.  She followed up by telling us about how she and Paige O'Hara (voice of Belle) both were at the final callbacks for the role of Belle.  The night before the callbacks, Paige had called Jodi to tell her that they wanted her to sound like Jodi did.  (We all got a chuckle of Jodi singing Paige's Beauty and the Beast songs trying to sound like herself.)

Next, she sang two Pocahontas songs, Just Around the Riverbend followed by Colors of the Wind.  She then asked all of the kids to come up on stage and my friend Katie and I wanted to go.  Luckily for us, Jodi reminded us that she never specified an age, and that there could be many "kids at heart in" attendance.  So the next thing I know, Katie and I are ON STAGE singing the Circle of Life with Jodi Benson and a ton of other children who didn't even know the words.  Our husbands both got a kick out of it, and there are photos and video footage to prove it!  That was an experience I'll never forget!  The best part was probably when Jodi lifted a small baby boy at the end of the song just like Rafiki with Simba.  Too funny!

Singing on stage with Jodi Benson!  (We're in the middle in back on either side of Jodi's head.)

Jodi then asked her 14-year old son McKinley to join her on stage.  He accompanied her on the piano while she sang When She Loved Me from Toy Story 2.  He played very well and it was a special moment for mother and son.  

Jodi accompanied by her son McKinley on piano.

Jodi showed us a sneak peek video of the making of The Little Mermaid with her in the studio preparing to sing Part of Your World.  It was a short clip from the movie "Waking Sleeping Beauty."

A short clip about Part of Your World from "Waking Sleeping Beauty."

After that, of course Jodi had to sing "her song" which she told us she never gets tired of doing.  It was a truly magical experience to see her perform Part of Your World live.  I could almost picture being in the studio with her when she recorded it so many years ago.  If you closed your eyes, you really thought Ariel was under the sea singing it right in front of you.

A short clip about Part of Your World from "Waking Sleeping Beauty."

She finished the concert by introducing her husband Ray, and showing us a video of their family in the Dominican Republic working for World Vision.  Then they sang The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli) to finish the concert.  Our friend BJ also loves Celine Dion.  So when they started to sing, BJ, his wife Katie, and his sister-in-law Jenn all jumped to record it.  

Finally, the Benson Family all took one final bow together.  It was a beautiful way to end the night.  

Jodi, Delaney, Ray and McKinley take a final bow.

But we quickly found out that the night wasn't over yet!  They announced that Jodi would be doing a meet and greet!  Ahh!!!  So we all stood in line for about 30-40 minutes to meet her.  Of course we were a little rushed since there were so many people in line to meet her, but it was well worth the wait!

We got to say hello, get her autograph, and get a few photos with her!  Katie, Jenn and I all wanted individual pictures, so Eliot and BJ made sure to take some.  A BIG thank you to BJ!  Eliot's camera phone pictures didn't come out well!

And then we got a group photo!  It was so amazing.  Jodi loved my Ariel scarf and I told her that I got it at the New Fantasyland while on my honeymoon.  She was so nice!  

BJ, me, Katie, Eliot, Jenn and Jodi Benson!

Overall, it was an unbelievable experience and a night that I won't ever forget!   °o°

Little Mermaid Concert!

Tomorrow Eliot and I are going to a free concert a few towns over from us featuring Jodi Benson!!!  For those of you who don't know, Jodi was the voice of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" as well as the voice of Tour Guide Barbie in "Toy Story 2."  I am so excited for this concert!  I literally can't wait!

Photo of Sun Chronicle advertisement from 8/1/13, Volume 9, Issue 16.

As you know, The Little Mermaid had a big influence on my Disney life.  It was the first Disney movie that I ever saw.  (More about that here.)  I've always felt connected with Ariel and her red hair.  We red heads have to stick together right?

The music from the Little Mermaid has always been some of my favorite Disney music.  Who can resist dancing to "Under the Sea?"  And I may or may not have been known to sing "Part of Your World" in the shower on occasion.  (Hopefully I'll keep my mouth shut and won't embarrass myself tomorrow!  I better leave the singing to Jodi...)

Most recently, Ariel had a profound affect on my Disney Wedding.  We decided to have our reception at The Living Seas Pavilion in Epcot.  Of course, the whole reception location lent itself to an "under the sea" theme with the giant aquarium views.  What my groom didn't know, was that when I said "yes" to the dress, it also happened to fall in line with this idea.  My wedding gown was the 2012 Ariel Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Alfred Angelo gown.  I didn't originally have that particular dress on my list, but when I tried it on, we all knew that it was perfect.  With a few slight alterations, we were good to go!  In addition, my tiara and earrings had pearls on them, specifically because I thought that they looked like bubbles floating on them. 

My Ariel Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Dress.

Anyways, I think it's safe to say that I'm pretty excited to go tomorrow!  I've been trying to figure out what to wear to the concert all week.  After searching for a new Ariel top and debating wearing a skirt with my new Ariel leggings from Kohl's, I've finally settled on an outfit!  I'm pretty excited for that too!  (Sorry!  For now, I'm keeping it top secret!)

My new Ariel leggings from Kohl's!

Stay tuned!  I'll be sure to let you all know how it was!  °o°

Busy Week!

Hello Friends!

This has been a very busy week.  I've been busy organizing the house and trying to get all of our craft stuff put away once and for all.  The office is looking pretty good if I do say so myself!

In between my crazy cleaning spree, I've been working on a few more flowerpots to add to my collection.  I also started working on a few projects for our Mickey Mouse themed bathroom.  Eliot insisted that we have a Mickey themed bathroom when we moved into the house.  We bought a few of the Mickey Mouse bathroom items at our local Wal-Mart and I've been working on adding a few more details.

For starters, I took a picture frame that I got from my cousins for my birthday and I painted part of the frame.  The paint on the frame got a little bit dinged up in our move so I decided just to cover it up.  Instead of spray painting it black, I added a yellow and red border so far!  Now it's ready for the "bling" that I plan to add tomorrow.

I also started painting a shelf that we're going to hang our hand towels on.  I decided to paint the shelf black and red.  We plan to paint our bathroom Mickey Mouse yellow once we have a house of our own.  I thought that I'd paint the shelf so it would pop against the yellow.

Finally, I had a great big surprise today when I woke up this morning and was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed.  I came across my Flowerpot Tutorial picture on the Disney World Addicts Facebook Group page!  I think my heart skipped a few beats!  When I first saw it, there were 40 likes and now it's up to 106!  Thank you Disney friends!  I'm so honored that so many people liked my flowerpots!  I made sure to post the link so anyone who wanted to make their own flowerpots could see my tutorial.  (If you're visiting from Facebook, Welcome!)  I'll definitely be making more tutorials on other projects soon!  °o°