My New Favorite "Get Away From The Crowds" Spot at Disneyland, and another place to see the Galaxy's Edge contruction

I love Disneyland.  It seems no matter how many times I visit it just never gets old.  But, as much as I love this place, crowds are synonymous with all Disney parks.  Every now and then it's nice, while in the parks, to get away and take in what Disney does best: atmosphere.  When you enter Disneyland you truly are transported, and there's so many ways to escape.  And there's also little nooks and crannies to explore.

I found a new favorite place at Disneyland to go to when I want to get away from the crowds, sit down, kick my feet up, and enjoy a break: The Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country.

The restaurant itself is standard burger fare.  Regardless, if you need a place to sit there's plenty of seating upstairs and down, much of which is in the shade.

I grabbed a far spot on the top deck looking over the Rivers of America.  This spot is far enough away that you can't hear people in the main parts of Critter Country.  You can hear nature bird effects for the river, a native American flute, the Columbia sailing ship passing by, those exploring Tom Sawyer Island, and the passing train.  It's away from everything, yet it feels like you're in the middle of the magic.  If Walt Disney was alive I think he would enjoy this little nook.

For now this restaurant is quiet.  I wonder what it will be like when Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opens, as Critter Country is one of the entry points into this new land opening up next year.  By the way, you can get a view of the construction for Galaxy's Edge at the restaurant.

Want to know one of the best ways to see Galaxy's Edge?  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, right when you take the first big drop at the top.  You see the new land in full panorama, and man is it big.

Watching Columbia pass by.

I grabbed a drink and a ginger bread cookie inspired by the Haunted Mansion.  The day before I tried getting a ginger bread cookie at the Beauty of the Beast restaurant in Fantasyland, Red Rose Taverne, but it was sold out.  Holiday Ginger Bread cookies sale out early.  You can also try the "grey stuff" at Red Rose as well, which is interesting with fruit stuff in the middle.

View of the river from the top deck.

How Latter-Day Saints Like to Party

My sister-in-law Lindsay and I had a little laugh when we saw how much Sparkling Cider, and other variants, were stored in the fridge for Thanksgiving.  Honestly, it's nice that there's such a good variety.  Thank you Martinelli and Welch's.  Having options make it easier for those of us who don't drink alcohol.

As I was just getting over a mild case of the flu last Thursday I could only muster a little drink and tried the Rosé.  Tasty.  A little different, but good.

It's funny, though, living in Utah Valley.  You know Holiday season is just around the corner because grocery stores will suddenly get in carts of sparkling cider.  There was a huge section, cartons of sparkling drinks, at Winco a few weeks ago, in preparation.  A funny sight.  I can't remember if I ever saw such a thing in California growing up.

Living With Gratitude

"When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

This morning I watched Thomas S. Monson's talk "The Divine Gift of Gratitude," which is where the two quotes in this blog post came.  A wonderful talk.  If I could copy and paste the whole thing I would.

We live in a World where so much is taken for granted.  There's tragedy, we all endure trials, but for the most part we have so much to be thankful, even in the hardest of times.  I get caught up with the "glass half empty" mantra.  When times are tough it's easy to view life through micro moments, instead of taking a step back and viewing everything as a whole, seeing the little things all together.

It seems lately I've been very blessed.  Blessed in that I've been given opportunities to travel.  This last year has been filled with highs and lows.  I've really struggled.  But overall I shouldn't complain.  I'm thankful.

So I hope this day, Thanksgiving, you can find all the many ways to be thankful.  That you're with family, and if not, you're with friends.

Happy Thanksgiving.

“The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.  Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!” ~ Joseph F. Smith

ZenPop November 2018, Japanese Stationery Subscription Box

ZenPop November Stationery Box 2018, Winter Magic Pack

This box actually made really good time this month getting here, arriving early last week, but I was in California.  It arrived around the 12th, which is really good.

ZenPop Japanese Stationery Pack has 10 or more stationary items per box.  You can make a one time purchase, or select a subscription plan of 3 or 6 months.  One box per month and those who get a subscription receive a bonus item.  A single box is $29.50, 3 months is $28x3 = $84, and 6 months is $27.50x6 = $165.  Shipping is free (boxes come from Osaka Japan so this is a great deal) and plans don't automatically renew (which is fantastic).

All quotations throughout this post come from the info paper.

November 2018: Winter Magic Pack

"2019 is a special year for Japan because the current emperor will abdicate in May.  The abdication will mark the end of the Heisei era, and the government will announce the name of the next imperial era in April 1, 2019.  We are so excited to welcome this special year with you.  We hope you like the adorable stationery in this pack.  And we hope your new year will be filled with peace and positive growth!"

I actually really like this box.

I'm starting with my favorite item.

It's so cool.

 Kokuyo Harinacs No Staple Stapler

"This is one of our most unique stationery items we have ever included.  You can staple papers without any staples!  Can you guess how it works?  This works great for about 5 sheets of paper or less.  It punches a hole and folds in on itself.  Perfect for keeping notes or receipts together.  And there are no staples if you have children around or you need to shred stuff.  Cool, right!?"

I'm constantly trying to find staples when I staple things together, and have since just resolved to folding paper in various ways to keep them together, which never works.  This little paper-less stapler does the job well and easily.  I'm so glad this was included in the box.  This will probably get the most use.

It's neat how the paper is punched out and then tucked back in.

 Doggy One Point Markers

"2018 was the year of the dog.  But dogs are cute no matter what year it is, so use these adorable sticky notes when you need a smile or for a little extra boost in your life."

Being a 1982 babe, I was born in the year of the dog.  This box is nice because they're celebrating the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019, having both dog and boar items.  I love these cute little doggies.  So adorable.

Otoshidama Pochi-bukuro

"Pochi-bukuro is a special envelope used to give Otoshidama.  Otoshidama is a custom where money is given from Parents and relatives to children on new year's day.  Children in Japan really look forward to getting their Otoshidama every year.  Make someone smile and give them something nice in these gorgeous little envelopes."

I've heard of this tradition, giving money in small envelopes.  I'm trying to figure our how to use them.  This pack comes with 3, and 2 of my nieces and my nephew are old enough to get excited by small amounts of money, so I should practice this tradition with them.  Or maybe I'll get gift cards or something.  Just the right size for that.  We'll see.

Winter Ippitsusen

"Ippitsusen literally translates as "one stroke paper," and it's meant to be used to write a quick note to yourself or someone else.  Of course you can use this pretty pad of paper any way you wish!"

This is really pretty paper.  These are suppose to be Winter themed, but with polar bears being in the north, and the nice constellation theme, I can use this all year long.  Sample pages are shown a few images below.

Kokuyo Beetle Tip Highlighter

"This highlighter has a tip that looks like a beetle horn, and you can use it 3 ways!  Make thin strokes, make double lines using two tips at once, or use the fat tip to highlight normally.  I'm sure there are more creative ways to use it as well, just gotta try it and see!"

This is an interesting highlighter.  Never seen one like it.  With the different shaped tip you do have to look before you mark, but getting different types of lines from a single tip is a neat feature.

Sakura Knock Ball Pen - Lamé

"This ball point pen has sparkly colored ink.  It's not lame it's lamé!  It has a translucent body, a unique shape and a handy little clip.  Use this pen anytime you need to add some color or sparkles to your day."

A nice sparkly pink pen.  I'll have fun using this.

Winter Washi Tape

"You'll get one of 8 different possible winter patterns of washi tape in this pack.  Cozy crafting time is coming!"

This washi tape is very pretty.  I love the deer with the simple Winter backdrop.

2019 Desk Calender

"In Japan, it is said that the animal of the year (from the twelve zodiac signs) will bring the luck to your family and prosperous business if you have the zodiac animal with you.  2019 is the year of the boar, so this desk calendar might bring good luck to you."

A nice simple desktop calendar.

Each sheet is double sided and features an image tied to that month.

Winter Letter Set

"In East Asia, there is a traditional way to think of "seasons", which we divide one year into 24 seasons.  Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are all divided into 6 micro seasons."  There's some good info of each micro Winter season on the information paper: Rittou, Shousetsu, Taisetsu, Shoukan, and Daikan.  Right now where I live we're in Shousetsu: It begins to get colder and colder.  It starts to snow, although it won't lay at this period."

I'm so glad this stationery set is large enough to send in the mailing system.  Deer again, a theme I don't mind repeating, and the little chickens are cute, too.  Really like this item.

Shibanban Flake Stickers

"Shibanban's washi new year stickers!  Let's say goodbye to the year of the dog.  All the designs of the stickers are something to bring you luck, such as noshi (folded paper), daruma (good luck doll) or inuhariko (papier-mashe dog)."

More cute dogs.  I really like these stickers.

Fun designs, especially the dog on top of Mount Fuji.

BONUS ITEM

Only received by those who subscribe to a 3 or 6 month plan.

Kiguru - Me Eraser

"A cute addition to your pencil case, this eraser comes in black or white and features a costume wearing bird!"

A simple, but nice easier.

Tiptoeing on Route 66 and Driving through the Desert

I just got back from a short trip to California.  With the passing of my Grandfather we had some stuff to finish up, one of which involved his RV which is registered in CA and required an in person visit to the DMV.

Yay!  A trip to California just to visit the DMV.  Sounds like fun, right?  Well, my Mom decided a side trip to Disneyland for just us two was in order, like old times when we would visit my Grandpa in Ventura and do a day trip to the Disney parks.  All those early mornings getting back to Ventura around 3:00 am.  Ah man.

Which DMV would be the best to visit?  I was assigned research duty, as it's something I actually enjoy, and found Needles CA to be the best bet.  The town where Snoopy's brother Spike lives.  That's the only reason I even know about Needles, good ol' Spike.  This DMV had good ratings compared to Barstow and other locations I looked up.  And the ratings and reviews held up as this DMV was such an easy visit, with a portion of the time my Mom and I being the only ones there along with the employees.

From previous trips through the desert I knew Route 66 ran through Barstow, but I didn't know there's a strip of it in Needles.  One of my bucket list items is to drive down as much of Route 66 that remains from Chicago to Santa Monica.  The whole notion just feels so romantic.  Unfortunately much of it is destroyed or changed.

My Great-Grandparents and Grandparents traveled down 66 in its heyday.  My Grandma was telling me that she remembers going down Route 66 when she was a kid on a trip from Riverside CA to Iowa and back, in the 1940's I believe.  Which means that little strip of Route 66 in Needles that I got out to walk on was traveled on by my family long ago.  It was a really cool feeling trying to imagine what they may have been thinking and seeing.

To get back home we traveled down route 95 to Las Vegas, and parts of it reminded me what it must have been like traveling down Route 66 way back when.  Single lane roads.  Trains going this way and that, and even stopping for a train.  Desert mountains on either side.

When we went through Searchlight Nevada the time of day was somewhere between dusk and twilight, the lights of the city advertising gambling, saloons, restaurants, and whatnot's.  It felt like a step in time.  As we approached Las Vegas I put on classic Frank Sinatra, completing the affect of the evening.

Such a pleasant little trip.

Cute Paris Alleyways, Shops, and Yummy Treats

After visiting the Grevin wax museum in Paris, 2016, my Mom, Tata Patou, and I exited into this enclosed alleyway of shops.  There's probably a technical definition for what this type of place is called.  We don't have them here in this corner of the States, at least from what I've seen.  It's charming.  So many cute shops.  And a nice pastry cafe called Le Valentin.

So Yummy.

Such a cute shop.

On to the Sacré-Coeur.

 Photos by Sarah and Robin Stufflebeam