Finally Getting the Mickey Mouse Memories May Plush

 Mickey Mouse Memories is a series of monthly collectible Mickey Mouse Plushes, Mugs, Pins, and Christmas Ornaments.  There will be one new plush each month along with the other items, and this started last January.

I only found out about them a few weeks ago!  It's probably a good thing, because I would have wanted to collect all of them.  The Ebay prices are insane.  I contemplated getting all the pins, but decided against that as well.  The mugs and ornaments don't interest me in the slightest.

This plush is so popular I was afraid I wasn't going to get it.  For the April Mickey, the local Disney store only got 12 plushes.  There were 13 people waiting in line.  Then I heard that there were many who tried to buy the plush online, only for it to sell out within the hour.

To play it safe I took the online route.  If that didn't work I could show up to the mall two hours early for the 10 a.m. store opening.  Seems ridiculous, right?  Out of all the pictures I've seen of past and future Mickey plushes, this is the one I wanted.  (The Disney Store has only released images for future Mickey's up through September.  I'm thinking about getting the Sept. plush as I do like that design and it's 90's theme).  May is my birthday month.  I love the May color scheme of aquamarine and pink.  The 50's inspired space theme is really cool.  Each plush represents a different decade.

In the U.S. the Mickey's go on sale the third Saturday of each month, which was May 19th, Midnight morning Pacific time.  That's 1:00 am Mountain time.  I already planned on staying up for the Royal Wedding (I lasted till 3:30 before heading to bed).  That night I did a bunch of research, mainly reading old posts on Facebook about the April launch, getting tips.  There are Facebook groups, and some groups post links to the plushes if the link isn't popping up on ShopDisney.com through page refreshes.  I joined Mickey Mouse Memories Monthly Magic Collectors USA.  Thankfully they accepted me around midnight.

When the clock stroke 1:00 am I couldn't believe how crazy nervous I got!  My fingers were tingling and I was slightly hyperventilating.  Man, I wanted the plush, but that much?  On my browser three pages were open: 2 on the ShopDisney page and one for the FB group.  I started refreshing, over and over, and it wasn't until 20 minutes or so after 1:00 when someone posted the links on the group.  The items weren't showing up when I refreshed ShopDisney.

In April people could order 2 plushes per account.  This month, to fight scalpers, each account was limited to one plush.  I quickly snagged two pin sets and a plush.  And then my Mom wanted me to get her a plush.  With her account I quickly bought a Mickey.  And then, all of a sudden, the plushes were SOLD OUT!  I went back to the plush link on the FB page; it was only 16 minutes old.  

The plush sold out online within 16-20 minutes.  

The next day I started reading FB posts about people getting their order canceled due to the 1 per account rule.  One person had adult children who ordered and used her shipping address, and both their orders got canceled.  Some people were having a second order canceled, or both.  Some ordered one and thought it went through, only to get an "order canceled" email due to ordering right when it sold out.  Others couldn't get the plush online and went to the store, unable to get one there as well.  Scalpers will have someone stand at the front of the line and when the Disney Store opens its doors, suddenly 10 people will show up out of nowhere.  (Read quite a few of these stories on the FB group).  Even though the online rules are strict, at the store each costumer gets a plush.  Some stores reportedly got 6 or 8 plushes.  My local store got 12 again.  The London flagship store got 98, I believe.

I was crazy nervous about my Mom and my orders getting canceled, because we had it shipped to the same address.  I was super happy Sunday night when we both got shipping notices.

The orders arrived yesterday and Mickey is gorgeous.

 I LOVE the May pin set.

 When I found out a few weeks ago about the Mickey Mouse Memory series at the Disney Store, there was only one April pin set left.  I got it!  Love the 1940's theme.  I would have liked the April plush, but not going to fight those Ebay prices.

This pin is my favorite.  Mickey looks so happy.

Last Saturday I wanted to get another pin set (as the second I ordered online was for my Mom), because I want to keep one in the package and take the other one out.  Around 8pm I showed up to the store and got the very last May pin set.  Sold out at the store within the day!  And I got the last April set early this month.  Huge contrast.

As a note, the June plush is going to be equally insane.  From January to June only a certain amount were produced.  Due to the series popularity there will be more plushes available for July though December.  June is 1960's themed.  Dark periwinkle with bright colorful tie died shorts, "Love" written on one ear and "Peace" with flowers on the other.  So many people online are excited!  So if you want June hopefully my story will help you get one.

I'm not going to get June as I'm very happy and in love with May.  July is a bright burnt orange disco theme, ugly.  August is black and shiny gold 1980's theme, again ugly.  (and I was born in the 80's; was going to try for it until I saw the picture).  But I really like September, which is more classic Mickey in bright blue shorts and Mickey type symbols.  (All the pictures are small and blurry).  At the very least I'm going to get September's pins.  October through December have yet to be reveled.

I can't believe how popular these Mickey's are!  Again I feel lucky to have gotten May, as this month is special, my birthday, and having gone to Disneyland a couple weeks ago.  Two weeks ago I went on the "Walk in Walt's Disneyland Footsteps" guided tour for the first time. May 12th.  And the May Mickey items either say 5/12 or 5 of 12.  Cool, right?

So if you weren't able to get a May Mickey Plush, hopefully you'll be able to, or maybe hold out for June or another month.  There's at least one Mickey for everyone, and we're not even through half the year.

(As a fun note, I learned this last week that Push/Stuffed Animals in the U.K. are sometimes referred to as Bears or Teddy's, regardless of the represented animal.  Those overseas are referring to the Mickey Plush as Mickey Bears, confusing us Americans.  Interesting stuff, really.)

(As another note, the May plush has hidden Mickey's. The average seems to be 4-6 hidden Mickey's.  One lady happily wrote yesterday she got 3 hidden Mickey's.  My Mom got 1.  Guess what!?  I got . . . . drum roll . . . 9 1/2 hidden Mickey's!)

Celebrating May Day in France

Happy May Day!

In America May 1st is really just another day.  Nothing terribly special.

Last year I was really quite surprised, while staying in France, that May 1st is a popular holiday.  (There's actually quite a few holiday's in France in the beginning of May.  Many days where everything is shut down and people celebrate, but I digress.)

When my Mom and I stayed in France last year, we stayed with her best friend Patou who is like an aunt to me, which is why I call her Tata Patou.  Anyhoo, she was driving us to a castle just outside of Crozant when she suddenly pulled to the side of the rode and parked, getting out, and buying my Mom and I a little bunch of Lily of the Valley from a man selling it at a small table.

This was all quite a surprise.

It's tradition to give Lily of the Valley to loved ones on May first.

There were two really nice elderly woman who ran the gift shop at the castle we visited, and just when we were leaving one of them received a potted Lily of the Valley from a delivery man.  The Lily of the Valley my Mom and I received earlier was nice, but this potted plant was fresh and had the most delightful smell.  I couldn't stop smelling it!!!

 From The Connexion French News and Views website: "The tradition of giving lily of the valley flowers on May 1 is said to have begun in 1560, when knight Louis Girard presented King Charles IX with a bunch of lily-of-the-valley flowers as a token of luck and prosperity for the coming year."

I don't believe I've ever seen Lily of the Valley being sold here in the States.  Maybe there's a nursery somewhere that sells it?  I wish I could buy one now.

I just did a Google search of "Lily of the Valley, Utah" and a University of Utah, Utah Poison Control Center page was the first listed, naming Lily of the Valley poisonous.  Apparently it's the berries that are occasionally produced which are poisonous.  Another website said Lily of the Valley is deer resistant.  Interesting fact.

For now I have the Lily of the Valley eau de toilette (toilet water for short) from Yves Rocher, which I ordered online several months ago.  I love this fragrance!  Smelling it brings me right back to visiting France in May.

May 2014 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review with Spoilers

POPSUGAR is a monthly subscription lifestyle box for gals.  The cost is $39.95 a month, free shipping, but it's cheaper when you subscribe with a 3, 6, or 12 months subscription.  On any month you can receive goodies for home, a book, fitness, snack, makeup, pampering, fashion, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, only that it will be fun and worth around $100, give or take a little.

Coupon code REFER5 saves you $5! 

 Every box comes with a pamphlet detailing the items they choose and why they choose it.

 Zing Anything Citrus Zinger, value at $16.99.  On the MUT forums everyone has been asking for a water infuser for Months.  Since the beginning of the year.  See, Popsugar listens!  I actually like plain, good ol' water, but this will be fun to play with and try new flavors.  Apples and Strawberries?  That could be fun.

 Hi, I’m Skinny Sticks in Multi-Grain Sweet Onion, valued at $4.  I love this snack!  Super good, and the bag is large.  Tastes like a sweet Sun Chip with an onion flavor.

 

Tone It Up One Day Fat Blast, valued at $10.  I've been waiting for an exercise DVD!!  This looks like a good one, and the reviews on Amazon are promising :0)  I read they have a T.V. show or something.  I'll have to check it out.

 Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser, valued at $45.  This is the most expensive item in the box, which is risky considering it's a fragrance.  I was really nervous when I saw this spoiler, reading that it smells like sun tan lotion, coconut, and jasmine, but I love it!!  It smells like Summer.  I'll have to save some of it for Winter when we're getting buried in snow.  

  

Kerry Cassill Eye Mask, valued at $24.  I don't see how this is valued at $24, honestly, but I don't have a sleep mask, so this is nice to have.  This will come in handy when I travel to Iowa for the Odyssey of the Mind World competition!  Must not forget to pack.

 Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Pool Boy, valued at $10.  I haven't tried this yet, but I love the color, and everything I've read about the formula is super positive.  Can't wait to try.

BONUS ITEM!!

Lip Spread Anti-Age Tinting Lip Gloss, by vbeaute, valued at $19.  This is my most favorite item in the box!!  It's clear, and changes color depending on your PH, creating a unique color specific to the wearer.  This turns a pretty pink when I wear it, and the color stays, too.  The lip spread feels nice as well.  Everyone who got the PopSugar Resort box received this.  It was to make up for the shipping issues they had with that box.  Really nice gesture.

Overall, another great box!  I haven't been disappointed yet.