Fun with Picnik

In an effort to curb my longing for warm weather, tonight I'm revisiting some of my favourite pics taken last May while we were in California, and having a little fun using Picnik to edit them.

(click on any pic to make it larger)


Disney Candy (cross process)


Santa Monica Pier (film grain & 1960's)


The Roosevelt (cross process)


Matterhorn Mtn (lomoish)


Balboa Pier (cross process)


The Hills (ortonish)


Santa Monica Pier (cross process)


Newport Beach, CA (focal soften)

I gotta say, the cross process effect is my favourite.

Love This

I would love to fill this with our Disney pics, keepsakes and memorabilia.

Stuff like day passes, pressed coins, etc.

It's a new kit from Cocoa Daisy.

I have too many pictures from our trip to scrapbook,
so something like this could capture the main highlights nicely.

It's pricey for my budget, though.

I may simply create a single scrapbook page and frame it
for each of the kids' rooms.

I'm feeling quite creative lately!

First to clean out the scrapbooking room,
which has sadly become a catch-all for the house.

I need my "creative mojo" to give my "cleaning mojo"
a kickstart in the pants.

Maybe I'll clean it out over the weekend.

I said, maybe!

Disneyland Rides

Not sure if it was the time of the year or the days in the week that we chose to go, but we never had to wait in line longer than 15 minutes
(most were 10, if that).

We never used any of the fast-passes, although I can see how they would be a great thing if it was a super-busy day.

Here is a brief summary and pics of some of the rides we went on.

(Note: I realized on this trip that I am not as thrill-seeking as I once was!)






This was the very first ride we went on. Cruise dude was very funny and the animals along the banks were very life-like. Nice and calm.






Indiana Jones

Pretty much scarred Blaise for the remainder of our trip. We (Jas, Bria and I) thought it was amazing! However, had we known how life-like it would be (remember the scene in one of the movies where the giant boulder is barreling towards him? Ya, that happens in this ride...), we would never had brought him on it. It has sparked an interest in Indiana Jones for him, though.
Go figure! LOL


Splash Mountain

First Jason and Bria went on while I rode some trippy Winnie-the-Pooh ride with Blaise (still traumatized from Indiana Jones). Later, I went on it with Bria. I wish I had a picture of my afterwards! I spent the rest of the day looking like a drowned rat while everyone else on the flume walked away dust-dry! LOL Worth it for that 50-foot drop, tho. Great ride.




It's a Small World

These are for Grandma. Her favourite ride. Actually quite beautiful! Blaise LOVED it. The rumours were true - we could not get the song out of our heads for a good hour afterwards.




Dumbo


Space Mountain

I braved this one with Bria. INSANE!!! If you Google a picture of what it looks like inside, you'll know why. I haven't been on a ride that intense in well over a decade. Glad I did, but would never again. Bria, however (the daredevil) went on it 2 more times with her Dad.

I hope to post a few more from Disney's California Adventure on another post.

California Trip Highlights

I've decided to take the next few weeks and pepper my posts with some highlights from our recent trip.

Simply WAY too much info and pics to share in one post.

The Hotel





Great hotel. Room decor was dated, but the convenience of having an onsite store, pool, kids' splash park and Disneyland right across the street more than made up for it. Beds were comfy. Showers were hot. It was so nice to come home to clean rooms, fancy soaps and fresh fluffy towels each night. Grounds were filled with beautiful flowers. We booked a rental car right at the front desk and could have purchased theme park tickets there as well. Lots of restaurants along the 10 minute walk to Disney's main gate.

We give it 4 Mickey white-gloved thumbs up outta 5.

Bubba Gump's Restaurant for Supper








We'd never been, saw it and had to go. Great service, atmosphere and food. We highly recommend the cajun peel 'n' eat shrimp. Lots of Gump novelties including Forrest trivia at every table and a giant shrimp walking around out front who kindly had its picture taken with the kids. Very sunny that day!

Swear Jar?

Well, no.

The kids have consolidated all their piggy bank funds into this jar
for our upcoming trip.

It's provided great lessons on savings and sacrifice,
especially when out shopping.

"Do you really want to buy that HUGE gumball - the flavour of which will last you all of 1/2 a minute, nevermind turning your entire mouth blue
- OR -
do you want to put that money towards visiting the happiest place
on earth?
It's your choice."

See? Great learning opp!

Disney, Finally!

When we moved to AB, one of the things we aimed to accomplish one day is a trip to Disneyland since it would now be much closer to fly to than when Ontario was our home.

2 and 1/2 years later, the trip has finally been booked, for this coming May.

Now to save for spending money. ;)

We ended up going through a local travel agent and saved a lot more than we would have, had we booked it all ourselves (i.e. Expedia, etc.).

We researched it A LOT, believe you/me.

We'll fly West Jet (non-stop flight) and here's a peek at what our hotel has to offer:


I've already started compiling a booklet of park maps, coupons for local restaurants and other tips. I know of a few friends who are also planning a trip and promised to post my findings.

Here are some of the websites I've found helpful:

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Vacation Tips

About Visiting Disneyland

Mouse Planet - Tons of Links

For the kids:

Colouring Pages & Games

Mickey Mouse Printables

I hope to put together individual pre-made scrapbooks (nothing fancy) for each of our children, and encourage them to fill them up with momento's while we're there. I hope it will make a greater keepsake than anything they could buy.

We welcome any suggestions from folks who have visited Disneyland in the past and hope readers won't tire of our insane excitement over the whole ordeal! LOL