They say money can't buy happiness

This week I had a night out with the girls from work, where there was a long conversation about a Mulberry handbag which my boss had (well spotted Nicola Claire - now all you've got to do is read this to know I mentioned you again!) - half of the room was saying it was worth every penny and the other half thought it was an incredible amount of money to spend on what they considered to be just a bag

My views on it, it was gorgeous and if spending all your hard earned cash on a handbag makes you happy then good on you; personally I would rather spend all my money going on holiday (well not all of it but I will do what I have to, to make it happen)

Every year I hear the same thing from people at work, "you must earn loads to be able to go to Disney every year". Well no actually but I obviously have different priorities in life than you and would rather save my money and have a really nice holiday than go out every weekend and have nothing to show for my hard earned cash.

So can money really buy you happiness? I would say yes and I have the evidence to prove it.....I hate having my photo taken with a passion and have spent years avoiding it with great skill; but every year I have my photo taken in WDW (and there doesn't always have to be a character involved and I don't mean James in the annual amusing hat photo) and in each one I can see genuine happiness

See what I mean......smiling happy me (and the camera lens is still in one peice); I have had a thought though yes WDW is my happy place but is my happiness rating affected by things that are within my control? I mean would I be happier if I had planned my holiday to within an inch of its life so that I could tick off everything I wanted to do or am I just as happy taking my time enjoying the sights and sounds and doing half of the things I planned to?

I guess that is the advantage of being a UK visitor that we usually go for longer than the average US guest so we have the option of going back for the things we missed and can even make return trips to our favourite attractions. 

My opinion if you haven't already guessed is that money can buy happiness as long as you know what makes you happy and mine just happens to be this view (the picture below)......I'm off to count the pennies in my piggy bank until next week  xxxxx

Funny how time flies.....

This week has definitely been a game of two halves, on one hand there has been the day to day stuff and then something just a little out of the ordinary....

Lets start with the day to day stuff, work has been full on this week what with a trip to head office but I also had to attend a course; now I am sure you may remember I blogged a couple of weeks ago about how to avoid the heat and listening to your body well through no fault of my own I think I ended up with a bit of heat stroke and owe a lot of thanks to my lovely sister Emmie Lou for rescuing me (love you Emmie  Lou)

The course was run in a vintage village hall, you know the type basically made of tin so with this glorious weather we are having I might have well have just wrapped myself in tinfoil and popped myself in the oven and it would have been cooler but after lots of fluids, a cold bath and a little snooze I began to feel normal again (well normal for me).....anyway enough of that and on to the good stuff

This week I decided to treat myself so bagged myself some very nice Swarovski hotfix crystals, I am sure James would tell you I have enough crystals to bling up nearly everything at home but you can't beat the real thing to add that extra bit of sparkle - so this evening there is a heat gun with my name on it ready to make a t-shirt sparkle (I promise I will also work my magic on your bracelet Em)

Then today I nabbed an absolute bargain; while we were in Florida earlier this year Disney released a line of makeup. There are 2 versions beautifully disney or wickedly disney and every time I saw it in the shops I said I was going to buy it; but there was always something else to do with the money especially as the nail varnish set was around $20. So, as you do we popped into the Disney store at Bluewater today and in the sale section was my makeup and it was an absolute steal so it had to come home with me; at lunch I painted each nail a different colour or combination and don't want to take it off but I would get told off at work so know I must........I am now sitting here pondering how I can get some more

Anyway the highlight of my week has been meeting my Aussie pen friend for the first time; we started as pen friends back in 1986 when she posted an add in No1 magazine looking for fellow A-ha fans to write to her. Leo is currently over here for the cricket (she is sitting at Lord's as I type waiting for England to thrash the Aussies in the second test), and decided she would stay in Tunbridge Wells.

We have had 2 amazing evenings out this week and it has been great to finally meet her and put a face to the name; it seems strange to think that I have known her longer than I have known James and even though this is the first time we have ever met it didn't feel like it (you were right Nic and Emma)

I do wonder what impression Leo must have of me after I told her the reason I want a new tattoo of fairy wings is because I can't grow my own! Actually she probably has me figured out, I am special and proud of it.....until next week

xxxx

I'm melting....

Us Brits are obsessed with the weather but we are never happy with what we have; when its cold we want the sun and when we get it we complain its too warm.....I love the heat while we are on holiday because there is always (well apart from seaworld) somewhere to take a break in the air conditioning.

Over here doing the day to day stuff is not so easy - its too warm to eat and definitely too warm to get a decent nights sleep; and what happens when I get tired I get the munchies and want to eat everything and anything (well stuff that I like that is). But I have been resisting the temptation and eating loads of salad and fruit; so was very miffed that I am not dropping pounds at a rate of knots

So I have been sitting here and thinking of all the yummy food I could have eaten instead and maybe I might not have minded no weight loss. First thing on my list would be an Earl of Sandwich brownie; now it just so happens that this week I have got to go to head office which is within walking distance of the London store (would have been better if our head office was in Florida) but I might just have to pop in and pick one up (then it will be rabbit food for the next 2 weeks to make up for the heavenly naughtiness that it is)

As for work every day seems to have turned into casual Friday for me (I don't have to wear the standard uniform), with cropped trousers the norm....but with the temperature only going to go up soon I am going to run out of suitable clothing and although I will wear shorts in Florida I really don't think work is ready for that sight - or is it that I'm not ready for them to see it and the only reason I wear them on holiday is because I'm not going to  bump into anyone that knows me?

Do other people feel like this? The reason I ask is because of the sights you see while you are on holiday; well not even on holiday whenever the weather is warm....last week we had a young lady come in to do her food shopping in a bikini with a sarong over it?!?!?  I mean, what is that all about?

Whether I get the answer he thinks I want to hear I will always check with James if what I am wearing looks ok and is appropriate for where we are going but I am sure some people lose their modesty radar when it gets warm; so think of me tomorrow when I am on a course where the dress code is casual and budgie smugglers have been mentioned - I'm scared

With that thought in my mind I think I need to hit the kalms to get me through the day

Until next week xxxx

Warm enough for you?

English strawberries are in season, Andy Murray has won Wimbledon and I have seen so much sunburn its unreal.....which can mean only one thing; the longed for summer has finally arrived  and us Brits and that includes me will now spend our time complaining that its too warm

Which makes no sense considering we spend (ok not every one just us WDW addicts)  counting down the days until we can step off the plane and feel the heat of the Florida sun again. So the trick is how to enjoy the sun but stay cool????

I will say I am much better at this these days after a bout of sun stroke which totally came out of no where and probably wasn't helped by the lovely lemon drink James got me to try and cool me down; even the thought of drinking cloudy lemonade now makes me come over all a bit funny (more than normal that is)

So first things first drink loads preferably clear liquids most counter service restaurants in WDW will give you a glass of iced water; I really hate the taste of Florida water so we take flavour sachets to the park or even better a mini and I mean mini flavour bottle ( Walmart has a great range of these, other major supermarkets are available)

Or you could always grab a frozen coke or 2

There are so many other tips out there:

- take advantage of the air conditioned shops for a quick cool down

- take a damp flannel in a zip lock bag and place it on the back of your neck

- take ride on Kali River rapids if you fancy getting soaking wet

- apparently wearing 2 tops works, first you wear a vest like top and then your normal one; the vest top should absorb the moisture from your body which in turn will keep you cool

If none of that works, what about one of these?

Another good tip is to go to the parks early, hit all of the major rides then take a trip back to the hotel for a dip in the pool or just time to relax before heading back to the park in the evening.

But I think the best tip ever is listen to your body, if it all feels like its getting a bit too much take a time out. I totally get that people have been planning their holiday for what seems like forever and it could derail your plans for a little while but not taking a break could mean you are out of action for a whole lot longer (god I actually sound like a grown up)

In the past we have done the 4 parks in one day thing and although I wouldn't rule out doing it again I   now know when to give in; hmmmm I just remembered my temper tantrum that I had on our first day this year be cause we were both shattered and decided we weren't going to see Wishes......it's the law you have to go so go we did!

Well I'm off for a cold shower, until next time xxx