Why I'm a Disney Girl

I like Disney. I've taken a Disney Cruise and I've been to Walt Disney World. In fact, Disneyland in California is on my to-do list for late 2012. (They're opening a new Cars themed park area there.) But I'm no princess.

I'm certainly no Cinderella. Though we have the work ethic in common... LOL, I haven't been to a ball in ages. I don't have any really special shoes and I don't have any mean step-sisters.

Belle, is my 6 year-old's favourite princess. She's lovely in that yellow dress (and I look terrible in yellow), but we've never even seen Beauty and the Beast, so I can't be Belle.

Sleeping Beauty... nope. I get five or six hours sleep a night. I'm more likely to be steam-rolled or woken by a crying child or a barking dog than a kiss.

Jasmine. Hmm, I really don't know much about her but I've never worn mid-riff shirts or been on a magic carpet. I just can't relate.

Snow White is considered one of the original princesses. She is worshipped by the seven dwarfs, so that's pretty nice for her. They seem to look out for her. It is one of my favourite movies and I can whistle while I work, so there are some similarities. I have won trivia contests by naming the seven dwarfs.... Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy, Dopey, Sneezy, Bashful and Doc... and I DO wear a Grumpy t-shirt to bed, but still no. I'm no Snow White.

There are some "new princesses" or wannabes, but I don't count them. Tiana? Rapunzel? Those movies are still too new to be classics or universally known.

Why do I love Disney? As an organization they prove there is still magic. So many things are instant, and "good enough" and generic and discount now-a-days, but Disney is still first class. They hold themselves to a higher standard. They endeavour to put a smile on every child and every adult's face. They make movies you can take your kids to. Movies like Cars, that I could see over and over and over with my kids and still enjoy.

Disney is preserving that little bit of 'kid' in all of us. Yes, their marketing, their merchandising, their parks and their offerings are scientific. They have studied the consumer and refined their organization to deliver what we expect and when we expect it, but with a dash of magic.

I will not forget how my kids absolutely lit up to see Chip and Dale characters in the park. The smiles were pure and genuine.  On every corner there were characters the kids recognized and wanted to meet. They were always greeted with open arms and animated joy.  My kids loved the characters. Genuinely loved it.

For me, the magic touched my heart when I stood on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and saw THE CASTLE for the first time in real life. There it was, the castle from every Sunday night at 6PM on TV. I grew up on Disney movies on Sunday nights after dinner. If our family had a tradition, that was it.

I stood in awe of the castle, its iconic form, in 3D just as it was in 2D at the beginning of every Disney feature. It brought tears to my eyes. I never saw it in person or visited a Disney Park as a child, but was absolutely moved and satisfied to be able to bring my own children to the place I'd dreamt about. Even as an adult seeing the castle, just the castle, moved me and stirred happy emotions.

Disney represents quality to me. It represents dreams and it represents magic. Corny as some of it is, as predictable as their movies can be, it sets the standard and has spanned generations. And while I am surely no princess, I am a fan and will continue to enjoy each and every Disney moment I can share with my kids. Disney has the magic I just can't create on my own.

Winter ready

I may never truly be ready for the harsh winter blast of reality, but at least my vehicle will be. Though there's no snow on the ground, there really is no time like the present to get the car fixed up and stocked with the right supplies.

I made a trip to the dealership today for winter oil, transmission fluid and even winter windshield wiper fluid. Nobody needs the grief of having their windshield wiper fluid freeze solid and crack the reservoir. That's unnecessary and costly.

While getting your oil change, make sure to have your tires evaluated. Are they the right tires for the conditions? Is there sufficient tread? Are they properly inflated?

Every young driver I know personally has had to suffer through my "don't buy cheap tires" speech. I think it's self-explanatory... discount tires or summer performance tires just may mean your life on icy winter roads. It may not be the most exciting speech, but I do feel strongly about tires. Buy the right tires!!

Winter safety kits should include a cell phone charger, a blanket, flares, bottled water, gloves, toque, matches, an empty can, and something to eat. Try to stay away from the "emergency" chocolate bar in the car. Seems I have to replace those weekly... somebody in my life is always having a chocolate emergency!  It's also a great idea to have a shovel and some (ugly) winter boots. Why ugly? They are generally warm and if someone sees you wearing them on the side of the road and waving, they should instantly recognize, by your ugly boots, that you need help.  Even if the only thing they do is drive you to a shopping mall to buy nicer boots, you'll be safe and warm. You can even call a tow truck from a mall.

If you live on the Canadian prairies I would strongly recommend heated car seats. In winter, you must protect your assets. I also can't live without Starbucks. If I didn't have Starbucks and heated seats I probably would not live through a Canadian prairie winter. I AM that sucky. However... my vehicle is good and ready. But that being said.... winter can take it's sweet time getting here. No rush. Seriously.

I want to remember

There are people that pass through your life. Some are here for a short while, others remain close for decades and others still, share a lifetime, if you're lucky. There are wonderful moments and vignettes that stay with you even after a person has moved or left your life for whatever reason.

I randomly remember birthdays of childhood friends. I remember eating blue "daquiri ice" sorbet at the Baskin Robbins at the shopping mall before I worked there.  I remember being so exhausted from working 16 straight hours (2 jobs) that I fell asleep at the Def Leppard concert.  And I remember impulsively buying a little bunny from Petland and naming him Gizmo.

I remember throwing an apple core up to the sky as Val and I drove to Grand Beach in my convertible. I remember how that felt... being without a roof and being young.  Having nothing but blue sky above us was an awesome feeling.  Val and I had other adventures in that convertible. We discovered you really can drive in the rain without getting wet. (It's the stopping part that's miserable.) We discovered that the very nice RCMP officer at Maple Creek really didn't know how fast we had been going or was too polite to say.  I remember he wrote us a warning.... on a piece of pink paper and we taped it to the wall of the apartment like it was art. I'd like to thank him for that warning. To this day, I have an unblemished driving record!

I remember a Saturday afternoon at Lee River when a friend uttered "this day is perfect. It just doesn't get any better than this."

I remember my dad pacing and tapping his watch on my wedding day. "Are we going to do this? I thought we were supposed to start at 6:30?"

I remember finding the perfect wedding dress with Val, Paula & Tessa in tow.

I remember Lenore in her yard with her fuzzy slippers on and sipping coffee. I remember the first time we met. That was Christmas eve. She blew me away with her kindness and preparation.

I remember how Jason used to be my best shopping buddy. I remember the time we went to Folklorama.
I remember the time that he and Rick got me drunk on stupid Old Stock beer and that car ride home took "like... forever!"

I remember my Grandpa's teasing at cribbage and my grandma's love of TV ice skating.

I remember walking Leroy the dog, when I was a child.

I remember Jeff bubbling with excitement at the release of a new collector comic book and timing his walk to the store so he could make it there on a work break. I remember laughing so hard I cried when Jeff pointed out my typo, telling gardeners to plant their carrot seeds 3-6 feet deep.

I remember taking my first MS Kenora cruise as the Captain's wife and I remember the first time Harry tried to take me on an island picnic.

I remember dancing under the tent at Tracy and Chris' wedding. And being so nervous about making that wedding cake!

I remember being scared to cook at the restaurant I'd newly purchased. I remember being so grateful that I'd inherited an employee (Tiffany!) that knew what she was doing... and could show me. I remember the first time she & I made a milestone sales mark and celebrated with pedicures.

I'll never forget my childhood pen pal's first address.

I remember family reunions and laughing all night.

What I don't remember is anything about the last time we argued, the gifts we may have exchanged or whether or not you had new shoes. I can't ever remember what the grocery bill was or who spilled what on the carpet. Some days, I'm lucky to remember an appointment, an address or my store loyalty card.

Life is just a sequence of events, a billion numbers and a never ending to do list. So much data is coming at us constantly. Information is in.... and information is out. Lucky for me, there are still vignettes that stick. Memories I cherish. Happy memories I want more of.

Cheap Getaways with Allegiant

Allegiant Air has made an impact on the Canadian and Northern USA travel market with its border town getaways. All along the US/Canadian border Allegiant Air has been popping up and establishing themselves at secondary or small market airports. For example, the Grand Forks airport in North Dakota, or the Bellingham Airport in Washington state.

Allegiant has very select routes, but does them well. They have negotiated excellent package rates with hotels at their destinations. I'll use the Phoenix/Mesa Arizona example. Allegiant flies into the Mesa Williams Gateway Airport, rather than the area's major PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbour). It is a super easy airport to navigate and is an ideal jumping off point for a relaxing desert vacation.

Depending on the season, Allegiant will fly between 2 and 4 times a week between Grand Forks, and Phoenix/Mesa. I've seen one way flights as low as $39.99, but they do go up in price to around the $300 mark.   It just depends on supply and demand. Remember, around school and traditional calendar holidays, flights will always be more expensive.

One current example (Oct 27th)  is for a mini vacation in early December. Two adults can travel from Grand Forks, to Phoenix/Mesa for $775. That's all taxes included, airfare and hotel for 4 nights at the Arizona Resort & Conference Centre. It's not a 4 star  hotel, but Allegiant does recommend it and it certainly does have a good location and pool. However, if you would prefer to go high end. The iconic Arizona Biltmore (A Waldorf Astoria Hotel) is just $500 per person or $1037 per couple, all in.
Yup, $500 for a quick trip or sanity saver as I call them.

Allegiant flies to Orlando FL, Phoenix/Mesa AZ and Las Vegas NV pir of Grand Forks.  I should note that in Florida they use the secondary airport at Sanford which is over an hour from Disneyworld, but still a substantial savings over flying into MCO (Orlando International) with a bigger airline.

In Las Vegas Allegiant has space on the tarmac at THE Las Vegas airport. (LAS - McCarran International.) So with this destination and Allegiant, you're already a winner because you will save money over the bigger airlines and arrive in exactly the same spot.

As a matter of fact, you could take your sweetheart to Vegas February 11-16th, 2012 for $950 a couple (all in) and stay at the fabulous Monte Carlo. For just a few more dollars you could stay at Paris, Planet Hollywood or TI (Treasure Island).

Allegiant flies modern, first class planes. Depending on the model, they hold between 80 & 120 passengers, so popular dates/flights tend to fill up quick.

Florida is the newest destination for flights originating in Grand Forks. Minot does not yet offer Florida as a destination. However, as Allegiant has so far committed to fly the GF to Sanford/Orlando route from November 17th 2011 to May 15, 2012 with the possibility of becoming a permanent route. This is AMAZING news for area residents who may wish to take the family to Disneyworld.  It could save you 20 percent or more over the current cost of a Disney vacation.  I will follow up and write a column on this soon.

One quick example. Grand Forks to Sanford/Orlando November 24th to December 1st 2011, for 2 adults $984 all in. That's a whole week in Florida for less than $500 per person, including air, hotel and taxes. That would be to stay at the Wyndham Lake Buena Visa Resort in the Downtown Disney area. This hotel is a Disney partner hotel (but not on-site) and does indeed offer Disney character breakfasts, and shuttles to the park. It is also newly renovated. To stay the aforementioned dates, as a family of 4 with 2 children under 10 would cost $1425 all in.  Now, of course park passes, food etc would be an extra charge, but this is an EXCELLENT start to an inexpensive family vacation in sunny Florida.

I personally have flown Allegiant and would do it again. (Allegiant.com)  I just wouldn't check any bags. They have big time add on costs at Allegiant for checked bags, priority seating etc.  But a savvy traveller can save money with Allegiant and get to the popular destination quicker than  originally thought possible.

Save 25% at Old Navy

If you're inclined to do a little on-line shopping at Old Navy Canada in the next 2 days, use this code "ONHARVEST"  on the checkout page for 25% off most everything you buy.

I like their long sleeve boys' shirts and some of the fleece. Shipping is free over $50. Old Navy often offers deals if you are on their e-mailing list.

6 Reasons I like Delta Airlines

I have flown with West Jet, Air Canada, Delta and Allegiant in the last 2 years. None of these fine airlines has ever left me stranded. None have disappointed me. I would recommend any of them. But today I feel inspired to write about Delta.

I like Delta because:

1. They fly regional commuter planes from several cities in my area.  All the commuter planes in this area lead to Minneapolis/St Paul airport. (MSP). This one one of Delta's major hubs. From MSP you can go anywhere in the world.  Commuter planes are smaller and seat anywhere from 50-100 people.  (see photo) Flights to MSP from this area take about an hour. Approx 6 flights a day go from Minot North Dakota to MSP.  Talk about convenient! They also fly out of Devil's Lake, Grand Forks & Winnipeg.

2. They know how to have a seat sale!  Last summer I stumbled upon a seat sale of approx 70% off the normal holiday price to Maui. That was the best airfare bargain I'd ever seen. I pounced on it and we had a fabulous Hawaiian holiday last Christmas.  Thank you Delta!

3. I find their fashions amusing.  Their flight attendants wear at least a dozen different forms of the uniform. It is my guess that they wear the uniform from the decade they were hired. I've seen everything from pill box hats and stilettos, to Wal-mart-ish smocks, turtlenecks and crisp button-down shirts.

4. The food in first class rocks! Airline food has a bad reputation. However, on our Maui flight we had breakfast served on china plates. There were warm croissants, toasted bagels, fancy omelettes, fruit cups and really good coffee.  Score points for Delta!

5. Skymiles reward program. Delta rewards passengers with "airmiles", free trips and upgrades. They are even offering new credit cards to earn miles with. These are indeed available to both US & Canadian citizens. I don't have one, but it looks like a pretty good deal.

6. FREE FLIGHTS!!  Delta still overbooks their flights. Typically, they will overbook up to 6 seats. At the check in kiosk, or staff desk you might be asked to consider waiting for their next flight. Should you volunteer to take the next flight, they typically offer a $400 travel voucher per person. $400!!! That could  pay for your next entire round trip flight in the US.  Sometimes they ask for volunteers to take the next flight.... but it's just a bluff.... in these cases you'll get the upgrade to First Class. I've heard them use this one and say "thank you for volunteering, we just wanted to reward the nicest folks on this flight." It pays to be flexible... literally!

In summary, thought there are no direct Delta flights from my regional airport, the commute to MSP is worth it. Delta can take you anywhere you want to go. The planes, the staff and the service has been excellent. The prices have been very competitive, and flight times convenient. I would not hesitate to fly Delta again.

Why can't I take a compliment?

"Why can't you just take a compliment?" was recently uttered in my direction, out of frustration. A valid point really. What IS my problem?

Someone might say, "Cathie, you look healthy." And I hear "Cathie, you look fat, what happened?"  Someone might say, "You look great in those jeans." And I think "why are you looking at my ass?"
Someone might say, "You have beautiful eyes." And I instantly retort "no I don't, I'm tired, look at the crow's feet. I should really invest in better wrinkle cream."

So there's truly no winning with me. I have a sarcastic remark or thought for every innocent or well-meaning compliment.

"That's a pretty ring." And I reveal "Not really, I got it at the discount counter at JCPenny. It was too much of a bargain to resist."  And yet, in reality the ring is a sparkly and attractive 3/4 ct and has beautiful and trendy champagne diamonds as accents. So, really, by all accounts a pretty ring, but I have to open up my negative attitude and let it all spill out.

Is this a girl thing?  Am I that suspicious in nature that I think that each person who offers me a compliment is trying to mock me or bargain something from me?  Do I have such a negative self-image that I can't accept a compliment from people who are my friends, or even my own husband?

Young girls, I believe, are taught to refuse compliments in a coy and flirtatious way, in hopes of receive more delicious compliments.  However, there comes a point where everyone needs to grow up, shut up and say "thank you." Apparently I'm not there.

Young girls are constantly measured against perfection in magazines, on television and yes, (gasp) even amongst their peers.

And yet, all this being said, I am NOT critical of others in the same way. I can genuinely give compliments "I love your hair. It looks amazing!" Or, "I love that top on you." I genuinely mean these things. Though if I hear them directed at me, I go completely in the other direction.

What's the solution? I have no idea. Maybe I should shut up, smile and nod. Though, I'd probably somehow nod sarcastically... if that's possible.

What if this teflon coating keeps reflecting my bad attitude and the compliments cease? Where would my self image be then? Why is it so fragile? Damn. I should do something about this.