4 Years of Adventures

Disney Adventures

I don't usually get to do "new" adventures with Disney. But so far this year, we've had 4!

 First was D23. D23 stands for Disney 1923, which is when the company started. They call themselves the "official" Disney fan club. http://d23.disney.go.com/ For a few years now, D23 has been hosting expos. If you take ComicCon and add Disney, it equals the D23 Expo. Something like that. Anyway, we were living in PA the first year they had it, so we missed out. But this time, we got to go! It was pretty insane. I think they sold a little too many tickets since we missed out on quite a lot due to lack of seating. We mainly missed all the panel discussions and a lot of meet and greets. The two days that we were there though, we made it in to the "Once Upon a Time" screening (show coming to ABC), Vintage Disneyland (watched old, newly discovered footage of building Disneyland) and a panel discussion about Marvel (Disney purchased Marvel a few years ago). We saw a few celebrities here and there (got far away pics LOL). They had a ton of Disney costumes/props and stuff from their archives around. We got to see the new changes coming to Disneyland and Disney World. Met a few Disney artists. Saw a ton of new products (and purchased a few LOL). They handed out goodie bags and gave away free "loot". There were a lot of people who dressed up like characters, which was really fun. But the all time high of the whole expo, for me, was meeting Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle from Beauty and the Beast! Best. Day. Ever.




Dapper Day
http://www.dapperday.com/
Sometimes, there are events that are NOT sponsored or advertised by Disneyland. However, enough people can spread the word and create a day to celebrate at the parks. This is one example. Dapper Day is fairly new. It was definitely not around when I worked at Disneyland. Infact, I think this was the 2nd time they've ever had it. Thank you to Nathan and Dana for inviting us and telling us all about it! It was pretty fun getting dressed up just to go to Disneyland! And I have to say, our pictures are amazing.

Annual Passholder Appreciation Event
Disneyland opened it's doors to passholders ONLY! It was like a mini-party! On top of that, they brought out the parade floats to take pictures with! Something I've definitely never done, even when I was a Cast Member!







Mickey's Halloween Party
A few friends of ours told us that the Halloween event Disneyland does is totally worth the extra ticket price. So, this year, we thought we'd check it out! The great thing about attending the party is dressing up! Adults are included! You can even dress up as a Disney character... and then take a picture WITH that character. They also have special Halloween fireworks and a Halloween parade that they do not have during normal park hours. Then they make special trick or treat lanes all throughout the park. Each lane has about 5-8 trick or treat stops! Adults get to trick or treat too! Although they give you a bag when you come in for trick or treating, we had to keep dumping the candy in a back pack! We got TONS of candy! Don't worry, there were also fruit/vegie options too LOL. I loved seeing everyone's costumes. There were some great family units- this one Dad even dressed up like King Triton so his daughter could be Ariel! So cute!! Jan and I had a blast, even though we didn't have costumes ourselves. I'm glad we went so we know what it's all about. I will definitely take our kids someday.

Well that's it for Disneyland...... I did not renew my annual pass. But I think we have had enough Disney adventures to last a while though!

September Adventure: San Diego

Although I'm like a month and a half late posting this, we really did have a nice new adventure in September over Labor Day weekend!
We have been to San Diego before, but hadn't ever stayed on Coronado Island. Plus, we stayed at a Navy base! Yep, it was a good adventure.
My Dad decided that once a year, we should stay on Coronado Island. And this was the first year! It would give the AZ folks a break from the heat and Jan-Michael & I a break from driving to AZ! I thought it was a pretty good plan and can't wait to go annually!
This particular weekend also happened to be my Dad's birthday weekend as well. Happy Birthday Dad!
It was also the first weekend we have ever put our dog, Sparkles, in doggie boarding! She stayed 2 nights at Golden Paw "Resort".  I'm sure she had a great time, but I was missing her and feeling guilty LOL!
Some of the things we did:
Ferry to Sea Port Village
Toured the USS Midway
Rented a boat and went boating
Visited Hotel del Coronado quite often
Ate, shopped, and had a merry time!

Can't wait to go next year and do NEW things =)

Gee, I really love you and we're gonna get married

 My brother Kyle proposed to his girlfriend, Stefanie, last month. I think it's still kind of a secret, but oh well! I'm excited!!!!!!!!!! They met their freshman year of college, last year. Stef is a CHEERLEADER! Hello, I love her already =)

Summer & Mats
OMG my best friend is married!!!
She returned from Japan to marry this handsome guy, who is from Sweden. They met while living in Australia. He is a musician (please listen to his songs, you will fall in love! iTunes baby!). I feel like they are an international couple. They have both lived in several countries, are from completely different countries, and are living in Japan now! Hello! That's amazing!
Anyway, this is just a little post to say CONGRATULATIONS to the most beautiful couple in the world!
And now, some photos from their Vegas wedding weekend:

Lingerie Bridal Shower

 Ceremony at Mandalay Bay

 

Dinner at Roys

There are tons more on my Facebook. But the most beautiful part of the whole evening is here:

http://youtu.be/CMTo3JvVG8I 

 

So, that's one wedding down....... 7 more to go!

Kyle & Stef

Angela & Rusty

Domonique & Gene

Greg & Mona

Katie & Robert

Whitney & Matt

(and one secret wedding hehe)

I love weddings =)

Update (Yes I Am A Bad Blogger)

I am the worst blogger ever.

I constantly get on here to check everyone else's sites and forget to put anything up on my own. I guess it's because we haven't had any "adventures" since my last post. Life just got crazy and busy. We will have a fun adventure in San Diego to blog about in September..... but until then, here's a quick and boring update LOL!

May

Midnight showing of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 at El Capitan Theatre! We went with our friends Danielle and Justin. In true El Cap style, there was a pre-show and costumes/props from the movie downstairs. Because it was a special midnight showing, the news was there and they had a pirate costume contest. I have to say, I think we are getting "too old" for midnight showings. It was really hard trying to stay awake, even for an exciting movie!

My step-dad, Charlie, was sent to CA to work on a project in Riverside. His company was thinking about signing a contract with the military that would allow my parents to move here! So, when he came, besides doing touristy stuff as show here, we also looked at possible houses. However, his company decided not to sign the contract deal, so they are now buying a new house in Indiana. Sad =(

Our new friend, Jenny Rae, had a one year anniversary party for her company Lil' Rae Cakes (amazing cake balls!). She had a costume contest, which is why we look so adorable =)

June

Scottie and I at Disneyland Resort! Disney's California Adventure opened it's newest attraction- The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure. Disneyland also reopened it's newly designed/refurbished Star Tours. Both were amazing (although ST gives me motion sickness!). I got super burned at Disney that day though!

Our dear friend Nathan decided to celebrate his birthday at the Disney Studios! The day ended with us going to Disney's Imagineering and getting a special peek at original artwork by Mary Blair! Awesome!

Jan-Michael went to a special 20th anniversary party for The Rocketeer. Believe it or not, but Nathan got to BE the Rocketeer for the D23 event! Here they are together, after the festivities!

July

In July, we found ourselves in Arizona, during record heat! Go figure! I know better than to go to AZ in the summer, but my parents were traveling from Indiana. How can you say no to family time? Especially because we were celebrating my baby brother's 16th birthday!! So, 4th of July weekend, we had some quality family time in AZ. We spent a whole day hanging out with my Dad, including visiting Kokopelli winery for the first time. Farmers Market shopping with my Grandpa and Grandma Klassen. Dinner with

Becky, Gabe and Steven. A family birthday celebration for CJ. Watching my other brother Kyle, sing in a 4th of July church special and my sister Kara at one of her concerts. The best part of all- family photos of course! LOL Jan-Michael and I drove back to CA on the actual 4th in time to make it to a client event for my company at the Hollywood Bowl. Whew.

Tea time with Danielle. We love Groupon!

Cruise Night in our neighborhood! They shut down one of the main roads so that all these old cars could be parked for people to see. It was pretty cool!

Jane Austen Tea Party

This gets it's own section, incase anyone wants to throw a similar party!

The idea for this party started when I became friends with my old roomie, Lindsey. She loves Jane Austen and so do I! We thought we should have a "book club party" and talk about her and her books. That idea soon turned in to a tea party! Why of course!

I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally have the party. Or why I waited until we were in a studio apartment... but had the party I did! And it was great!

We had a Jane Austen character quiz, watched a special version of Emma, ate tea sandwiches and mini Crumbs cupcakes, drank tea.... oh it was GIRLY!

There is already talk of doing it again.... maybe next year!

Half Marathon, Adventure Coming Soon

I have officially registered for a Half Marathon! There's no turning back, only running forward. haha!
I'm really excited about this adventure because it will be really hard, but rewarding. Follow me! http://krystaruns.blogspot.com
This blog has had many changes. It used to be Team Believe when my best friend and I were going to do half marathon. It didn't work out. SO I decided to try and organize a group to run... that didn't work either. So now it's just me and my running shoes.... and my tiara... or wings?! I'll be running the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January of 2012! Wahooooooooo!

The Queen Mary Adventure

Jan-Michael and I have actually talked about going to the Queen Mary several times over the past couple of years. We finally went over Easter weekend. I'm a lucky ducky and got Friday off in observance of Good Friday (all brokers closed!)! So we headed down to Long Beach. We opted for the general admission ticket because I had generous coupons that were only good for GA. However, there are tons of options, including those pricey tours. We guided ourselves around the ship for a couple hours and then headed to the haunted tours (included). The haunted tour was pretty cheesy, but we got to go to other parts of the ship that are otherwise off limits (like the boiler room!).

Here is a little history about the Queen Mary (pulled straight from their site).

The Queen Mary’s story is rich with history, elegance and grandeur. From the time her construction began in 1930 in Clydebank, Scotland, she was destined to stand in a class all her own. Upon her Maiden Voyage in 1936 the Queen Mary was considered the grandest ship ever built and the elite of high society considered her the only civilized way to travel. From celebrities like Fred Astaire to dignitaries such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, she carried some of the world’s most renowned personalities and political leaders. In 1939, at the start of the World War II, the Queen Mary was drafted into service and outfitted as a troopship. Deemed the Grey Ghost due to her new camouflaged grey exterior, she joined the Allied Forces and played a crucial role in their success. When the war ended, she was restored to her former glory and continued passenger service. In 1966, with the growing popularity of travel by plane, Cunard announced the Queen Mary for sale and closed bidding began. The winning bid was $3.45 million dollars and thus began the ship’s transition and new journey to her new home in Long Beach, California.

Queen Mary Timeline http://www.queenmary.com/Timeline.aspx

Ghost stories: Many areas are rumoured to be haunted. Reports of hearing children crying in the nursery room, actually used as the third-class playroom, and a mysterious splash noise in the drained first-class swimming pool are cited. In 1966, 18-year-old engineer John Pedder was crushed by a watertight door in the engine room during a fire drill, and his ghost is said to haunt the ship. One of the most haunted spots of the ship is Cabin B340, which is no longer let out due to the extreme paranormal activity, believed to be the result of the murder of an 8 year old girl. There is also said to be the spirit of a young girl named Jackie Korin who drowned in the second class pool and continues to haunt the first class pool room on board the ship. A young woman by the name of Sarah was said to have been murdered in the first class women's change rooms by an unknown man and haunts the first class pool with Jackie. Some visitors say they have seen women wearing early 1930s bathing suits in the pool areas. It is also said that men screaming and the sound of metal crushing against metal can be heard below decks at the extreme front end of the bow. Those who have heard this believe it to be the screams of the sailors aboard HMS Curacoa (D41) at the moment the light cruiser was split in half by the liner.

If we ever go back, I would like to do a guided tour and learn more about the ship's history. There were a few artifacts and plaques with bits of information here and there. It would also be neat to stay in a hotel room! They have a beautiful "ballroom" and a few restaurants. There is also a floor filled with shops. I hear they have some spooky Halloween parties onboard too!

This Memorial Day weekend, the Queen Mary will celebrate it's 75th anniversary!