Trying to win a Silhouette Cameo

Totally blatant title there.
I have wanted one of these for quite awhile so I'm doing all I can to try and win it.
What is a Silhouette Cameo you ask? Check out this video on YouTube

I bought a Cricut a couple years ago and it has sat mostly unused since. I borrowed several cartridges from a friend once and was able to do some pretty neat things for a mini album about our trip to Maui in 2010 but that was the most it was used. Every now and then I cut a title for a layout but since I only have the one cartridge and buying more is pretty prohibitive due to the cost of each cartridge, it has become a dust gatherer.

So what do I think makes this better than my Cricut? First off, it cuts 12" x 12" paper!! This means you can cut an image into a piece of card stock and use the whole thing on your layout. Hello lacy back grounds! Awesome!! It can cut any graphic from your computer. That My Digital Studio that languishes on my laptop may actually get used! I can use my Stampin' Up! images (especially their alphabets) and create gorgeous hybrid layouts.

So, if you want to try and win one too (and if you do, you'll have to put up with me coming over to "share" it with you!) just go here and enter. Good luck to you. Good luck to me!

Last Disneyland Post

Almost finished recapping our trip ... grab a cup o' something and get comfy for this PHOTO HEAVY post.

Thursday May 10, 2012:

It was Greg's Birthday (42 ... shh, don't tell!) so I made him get a Birthday Button from City Hall and all day long people were wishing him Happy Birthday. It was awesome!

Grandma and Grandpa missed the bus so while we were waiting for them we got more autographs in the main square from Donald and Daisy Duck.

Alice and the Mad Hatter were there too but for some reason we didn't get their autographs. Weird.

This day was our last day at the park so we made it a "Greatest Hits Day".

First off were the Tea Cups - I rode in the "fast one" with Marley and Paige while Grandpa took Christine in the "slow one".

Then Autopia. Greg drove with Paige and Christine ...

... while I had the dubious pleasure of riding with Marley.

This is pretty much how I looked for the whole ride!! Let's just say, she's got a lot to learn before I let her get a real license!!

Then it was time for a little Jedi Training academy. None of the girls wanted to participate (or even watch really) so this was mainly for Greg's (and my) enjoyment!

Darth Vadar and Darth Mol (not pictured here) made their appearance with a couple of Storm Troopers but the Younglings defeated them! Phew!

LOL!

It was about 11am when the Jedi show ended so we headed to Fantasy Land to make good on a promise to Paige to see Rapunzel. Only the line up was already 90 minutes long when we got there so we decided to do more rides and check back later.

On our way to Splash Mountain we ran into Winnie the Pooh. Christine was asleep (see below) and Marley was saving pages in her book for Rapunzel so only Paige got his autograph.

Aww!

While Christine slept, Greg took the other two girls on Splash Mountain while I got fast passes for later and then waited to capture this.

We went back to Rapunzel's line which was only 45 minutes at this point so I held our spots and Greg took the girls to see Snow White and the Evil Queen.

Finally!! Rapunzel and Flynn!! The little girl in front of us in line had hair below her bum!! No joke! She and Rapunzel had a LOT to talk about!!

Then after lunch we used our fast passes ... with Grandma. Apparently Greg was a little tuckered out by this point. LOL!!

I snapped this as we were walking towards Big thunder. For the most part, the 3 girls looked out for each other! So sweet!

Riding Big Thunder.

Then we skedaddled over to California Adventure to catch the Fineas and Ferb Live Dance Party Show.

Marley and Paige enjoyed dancing with the characters but Christine got a bit overwhelmed so I eventually had to rescue her. 

Then we did the Grizzly River Raft ride again.

Greg lost the "who will get the wettest" contest!!

Since it was his birthday, we went to his choice of restaurant which was The Crab Shack. Greg and I both got Crab feasts (I had lobster too! yum!) and even Marley got into the spirit with a kids crab legs feast! Love that she is getting more adventurous as she gets older!

Well, there you have it. Our trip to Disneyland.

As I'm sure you can tell from the pictures, we had a lot of fun! It truly was a trip to remember! I was expecting to be exhausted when I got back and while I was tired every night there, when we returned I was strangely energized. So much so that the garage sale the morning after we got back which morphed into a block party that we reluctantly left to attend a surprise 40th birthday party, didn't seem too tiring or overwhelming. 

Anyway, it's back to reality now. School. Field hockey. Swimming lessons. Ballet. Gymnastics. All the usual routines! This long weekend is appreciated. We finally checked out the new Super IKEA in Richmond yesterday (REALLY need to win the lotto or something!) Today was swimming lessons and clean up time. And serious potty training for Christine. Some success, some accidents. Sigh. Wish us luck!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Even more Disneyland!!

We are back home now - almost a week actually - and I can't believe I haven't finished sharing our Disneyland trip with you. In my defense, the evening we returned home was the Spring Fair at Marley and Paige's school (which Greg took the girls to), the next morning was our neighbourhood garage sale (what I was prepping while Greg took the girls to the fair!) and that night was the surprise birthday party for a friend who is turning 40. Then of course was Mother's Day, field hockey x2, getting the girls back into the school routine, grocery shopping, laundry ... I think I need a vacation!!

I will attempt to be brief but be warned, this will be PHOTO HEAVY!!

Tuesday May 8th:

Hugs for Dale.

Tears during Peter Pan (on LC's part that is! Sigh)

I kind of thought these girls were something created just for TV shows but ... apparently they like to meet the Disney Princesses too!

After a shift change (grr! missed out on the Big 3 - Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty by literally inches!!) we met Belle ...

Ariel ..

... and Tiana (Frog Princess for those of you confused - or is that just me?) Marley had the foresight to lie and say yes, of course we've seen your movie!! 

Greg's favourite character - Goofy.

On the Go Go Gadget Coaster in Toontown - with Paige!

Star Tours.

Once Paige decided to try the Toontown roller coaster she was good for all of them. Here we are on the Big Thunder ride.

She loved it so we did Splash Mountain too!

And then we went over to California Adventure again so we could ride the bigger rides over there.

Since we were hot and since we loved Splash Mountain, we rode the Grizzly River Run. 

And got soaked! I laughed so hard I cried!!

Paige was quite eager to ride California Screamer but was an inch too short (phew!) so while Greg and Marley rode it, she and I had a frozen treat and I let her get her face painted.

Which of course led to getting Marley's face painted!

Jessie from Toy Story.

Giant Swings.

Wednesday May 9th:

Mary Poppins and Bert.

The Queen of Hearts (LC wanted to have nothing to do with her!)

Pinocchio.

Off to California Adventure.

LC loved Bug's Land so we stayed there for a bit and did the Bumper Cars ...

And the Lady Bug ride (basically a smaller version of the Tea Cups).

Christine saw her favourite Character from Disney Junior - Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. As you can see she was quite taken by him! It was so cute!!

Then we watched the Disney Junior Live show.

Had a yummy lunch.

Rode a Sea Horse.

And California Screamer ... again ...

That evening we came back to watch World of Colour (AWESOME!!! Don't miss this if you are going to Disneyland!) and had a chance to wander the Hollywood back lot for a bit.

Another few rides in Bug's Land and then Greg and Marley wanted to pose in front of the Tower of Terror ride - to prove they did it! She is so brave!!

The Ferris Wheel looked so cool all lit up in the twilight.

I didn't bother trying to take photos of the show - just trust me that it is AWESOME!!! Check out this YouTube video and this Disney promotional video to get a better idea of what I mean. Paige got a little freaked out by the loud music and Christine was so terrified she tried to crawl back into my body (the Pirates of the Caribean music was pretty loud and all the flame throwers got a bit much for her) but I would see it every night if I could!

And on the way home both of them fell asleep on the bus. Aww!

I think I'll stop for now and show you pictures from our last day another time. Hope you enjoyed this!