So, lets see. A lot has changed and a lot has me thinking.

I am considering grad school down at University of Central Florida. I NEVER in a million years would have thought this would be a possibility, but it is.

Crazy how God works. I am just trying to make sure this is really what he wants me to do. Prayers please.

Coupon Sites

These are the sites that I visit the most.

www.coupons.com - you can print off a number of really awesome coupons that can only be found online!

www.southernsavers.com (for those southern readers) - This site goes store by store telling you the best deals and showing you coupons just for the store that is closest to you.

www.couponmom.com (you do have to register, but it is free)- This site is a lot like Southern Savers, but more on the national level.

Target has and will always be a favorite of mine and lately I have found some really awesome coupons for their store on their website. Most of them you have to use in their store, but you can also find coupons to use anywhere. Click here!

I also frequent smartsource.com and redplum.com. These are the same coupons as in the Sunday ads in the newspapers, but sometimes, they will have extra coupons or different ones. You can also subscribe to these to have more ads delivered to your mailbox.

I have also heard of people calling the newspapers businesses and asking for the extra inserts that they don't use every week. I haven't investigated this, but it sounds like a smart idea!

And heres a freebie of the day! John Frieda is giving away free samples of their new Root Awakening shampoo! I love John Frieda, so I already signed up for mine! Did you? :) http://womanfreebies.com/samples-and-trials/john-freida-sample/

Happy Savings!

Woahh!

Well, I failed keeping track of this thing at Disney...I had fun, but my second program utterly sucked in comparison to the first. My work location, my coworkers, my roommates, everything was different. I am so glad to be done with that phase of my life. I still love Disney, but I never want to work there again.

I am now going to devote this blog to...God, my steady and at times unstable life, AND helping my readers(if there are any) to save some money whenever I find good deals!

I am currently living up here in the north Georgia moutains with my mama and daddy, our 3 dogs, and lets not forget the 6 cats that my mother has adopted. Its very relaxing and I love being a full time nanny. Of course this is not what I will do for the rest of my life, but it is certainly a job and I am not going to complain about any kind of job at this point.

I have recently gotten into couponing and trying to save my family money! I blame it on that TV show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing." That show is awesome, but I am not that extreme. If that is how you are then by all means go for it! But, I have found A LOT of good websites and deals online lately and I am ready to share them with you! I will post my finds daily or weekly, whatever works best and I am positive there will be a little Disney magic sprinkled in every now and then. :)

Oh and if yall know of any sites, please let me know!!

ONE

In exactly one month I will be driving down to Florida with my mom, dad (hopefully), Uncle Don, Lilah and Chase.

I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Its crazy.

I had a dream last night about checking in to the DCP and them not giving me any of the stuff they are supposed to give me. I had no clue where I was working or what time any of my meetings were. hah. Good thing I kind of know whats going on this time around. Check-in will hopefully be a breeze!

I just hope and pray Christine and I get normal roommates....eek.

Right now I am in the process of trying to go through all my stuff. Its really time consuming and annoying because I have had to move out of my apartment so now I have all this stuff that I cant use in disney but probably will use at some point in my life. ugh

more later...

It takes 2 to tango....

wow. In exactly 2 months I will be starting my second Disney college program.

Its crazy to me that its not that far away!

This program is already so different from the last. I really haven't talked to that many people who are doing this program. Its definitely not going to be the same, but I know it will still be fun.

Its just another new phase of life, that once again I will have to grow accustomed to. What an adventure!

4 days...

In 4 days I will have my life back. only 4. 4 whole days. I can do this. can't I?

4...

There are 4 parks at Disney World.

I have lived in 4 different towns in the past year.

I have 4 pages done on my section of the paper...only 11 more to go.

4...

ah.

Social life? hah.

as soon as Maymester no longer consumes my life, I will update update update and it will be DISNEY DISNEY DISNEY!! woo!

see ya REAL soon!

Thought of the day!

If I were in Disney celebrating Cinco de Mayo,

I would be at EPCOT visiting the Mexico pavilion.
ohhh how I miss this & that tan....

Random

Hmmm...

I really cannot wait to get back to Disney and start in on the Disney diet and work on my tan.

:)

Blah Blah Blah

sooo I guess I suck at updating this thing....

I turned 23. ah. Luckily I have been able to celebrate my birthday in the mountains, Disney World, Athens, and Milly. so I guess its been an okay birthday.

Next weekend I am going camping with MFB and BAJ so its not over yet! :)

I graduate in 15 days! oh my gosh!!! I will be completely done FOREVER on May 28th!!!!! AHHHH!!! I can hardly stand it!

Nothing new with Disney yet, just class, work, class, work, dog, class, work, dog, sleep with a little family and friends sprinkled in every now and then.

Anyways Ill update when I have more exciting things to update on.

All about Me :)

Disney Survey thingy
p.s.- thats my niece in the picture

1. Your name?: Kari
2. Are you legal (over 21)?: Yes
3. Male or female?: Female
4. Gay, straight, bi (optional): Straight
5. Where do you live?: Right now... Milledgeville, Georgia.... but I am from Conyers, GA
6. What role will you have at Disney?: Recreation
7. What are your arrival/departure dates/program (fall, fall advantage, fall quarter)?: Fall, August 18th

8. Which apartment complex would you prefer to live at? Patterson or Chatham 9. How many roommates/rooms would you like? (1-7 roommates, 1-4 rooms)?: 5 roommates is good for me.
10. Do you like to party? Will you be hosting parties in your apartment?: I like to go out and hang with people occasionally, but I also like to stay in and have movie and pizza night with my friends! As far as hosting goes: I plan on not having the money for all that.
11. What's your favorite food, and more importantly, can you cook well?: My favorite food is anything Mexican. I can cook if I put my mind to it and have the time...
12. If your friends could describe you in three words what would they be?: happy, energetic, and stubborn

13. What kind of music/movies do you like?: I seriously like all music. Maybe not screamo scary stuff, but everything else. As far as movies go, I like to watch Romantic Comedies and Adventure movies.
14. Do you smoke, and if so, inside or outside?: No, I have asthma. Me and smoke don't mix
15. Are you a night person or a morning person?: Eh as much as I try to be a morning person, Im definitely a night owl. But if I have to get up in the morning I can do it and be happy. It just depends. haha
16. Are you driving or flying down?: Driving
17. What do you do for fun?: Spend time with friends, go out to eat, watch tv/movies, read, shop, exercise
18. What is your favorite quote?: "His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts." Isaiah 55:8
19. What are you most excited about in being in the WDWCP?: how completely different and exciting this CP is going to be than my last one. :)
20. Favorite things to do when not working: Sleeping and hanging out with my friends!
21. Name one good quality about yourself: I smile and laugh at anything and everything.
22. Name one bad quality about yourself: I get really nervous and worked up about the silliest little things and it takes a special person to know how to calm me down. MOM :)

23: Your college: Georgia College & State University
24: Your major: Business Management
25. Any medical conditions (optional): Asthma
26. Are you messy/tidy?: I try to be tidy when living with others. I can let my space get cluttered, but I always know where everything is.
27. Anything else you want to state: I like the beach and my family, especially my mom mean the whole world to me.
28. Favorite Disney movie? Peter Pan
29. How many times have you been to Disney? Multiple times every year since I was one month old
30. Favorite park? EPCOT. Studios close behind. I LOVE Magic Kingdom and it will always have a very special and loving place in my heart, but sometimes its way to crazy there for me. Maybe since I won't be working there this time around I'll let it move back up to second place. EPCOT is still the bomb.com
31. Favorite ride? Tower of Terror
32. Favorite show? The Bachelor and America's Next Top Model

33. Favorite resort? Polynesian
34. Favorite dining? at Disney....Kona Cafe and Earl of Sandwhich. Off property...Chilis and Qdoba
35. Favorite character? Tinkerbell
36. I prefer to sleep in a room that: DARK with cool air. I hate being hot when I sleep
37. I like to go to bed: Whenever I am tired
38. I sleep better when the room is: Dark, cool, and quiet...but I do like some noise like a fan or something b/c when its like completely silent it drives me crazy
39. I would prefer guests: That don't yell at me on Christmas Day or New Years.
40. I absolutely could not live with a roommate that: yells all the time or smokes inside
41. Do you snore: No, but I do talk in my sleep. If Im stressed or worried about something I tend to talk a lot. oopsy.
42. On your day off..what time would you wake up: 10 or 11. depending on how late I worked the day before.

"I do not like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other things." -Walt Disney

My list of things that I didn't get to do on my first program that I would like to accomplish this time around :)

1) Universal Studios...I know blasphemy, but I would like to go once!

2) ICE

3) Fireworks Cruise...but maybe I will be working on the Fireworks cruises....*fingers crossed*

4) Holy Land Experience

5) Eat in the France, Italy, & Japan Pavilions at EPCOT

6) Go to more housing events if I can...at least to get the food. haha

7) Keep up with my blog more. Luckily this time I won't be taking any classes, so hopefully that will be easier.

8) Go to the beach more than once. Seems strange to say it, but I only went once in the entire 5 months I was there.

9) Go to see a shuttle launch. I watched one from my porch, but I want to be up close!

10)Ride TOT at least 1000 times...Its totally going to happen

11) Sea World

12) Busch Gardens

13) Visit Celebration

14) Volunteer with Give Kids the World

15) Go to the water parks more. Went to Typhoon once. Blizzard once. Completely unacceptable.

16) Attend more concerts/shows at HOB.

17) Two words. Pasta parties. That is all.

18) Stop at the sunglass shop on Vineland Ave. where the people are always waving and smiling.

19) Parasailing

20) Horseback Riding

21) Putt Putt at Winter Summerland

There will be more added to this list as I think of things. :)

Its all coming together...kind of?

Soooo Midterms are over. Thank God! Now all I need is for my dad to miraculously stand up tomorrow and be waiting at home for me. :( One day it will happen...one day.

I have decided to live in CP housing because it is like a 10 page document you have to fill out to even be considered to live in another apartment. Kind of ridiculous if you ask me. I would also have to pay the $100 assessment fee or whatever its called and not get to go to any housing events, so I just decided to suck it up and live in CP housing. Delilah will have to live at Meemaw's house until I can get a routine and figure out where I'll move after the program. I feel horrible leaving her and I feel horrible asking my mom to take care of her, but I don't know what else to do and I know its whats best for her. I just hope she doesn't forget who I am. :/

On another note, I do have a roommate for CP housing. She was a camp counselor with me and she is graduating from UGA. I am really excited about the fun we will have sharing a room! It will be like camp all over again. haha :) I hope we have some equally cool apartment mates, but I don't know if anyone is going to compare to my roommates from the first program....Megan and I sure were blessed with some awesome girls.

Hopefully AMANDA will be back down in Florida....SHE BETTER BE!

Maria will be there and I plan on hanging out with her during every breathing moment. Yes, that is right Maria, you will want to call me boo boo. :)

My next blog will be a list of things that I would like to do during this next CP that I didn't get to do on my last CP, so GET EXCITED!!!

This isnt letting put the pictures where I want so I give up. I tried to have a picture with Maria, but its not cooperating. LAME

TODAY TODAY TODAY!!!

SOOOO today I got an email that read...

Dear Kari,

Congratulations! You have been selected to participate as a Recreation Cast Member on the Disney College Program in the Fall 2010 Season.

We look forward to the magic you will bring to the Walt Disney World® Resort and are thrilled about the opportunity we have to include you in our Disney family!

Sincerely,
Disney College Recruiting

AHHHH!!! This was my number one choice!! I am beyond excited!!! I cannot wait to see where this journey is going to take me! I could hardly breathe as I read the email and I re-read it like 6 times to make sure I had read it correctly! I am soooo thrilled to be working in a completely different area of Walt Disney World!!!! Now I have to decide whether or not to live in CP housing or to find a different place...I have a dog now so shes a big factor in that decision. Anyways I can worry about all that later! I am just ecstatic at the moment.

Yes I know I slacked on the blog, but I will try to be better! More updates coming soon! :)

Peace, Love, and Mickey Mouse :)

Tomorrow shall be a day of updates...

dear blog,

I have not forgotten you. Life got in the way. I am in desperate need of you. See you soon.

love,
me :)

Oh hello there world!

Wellllll lots has happened since August. haha! I promise I haven't forgotten about this thing, but by the time I am done with work, classes, sleeping, laundry, other random things I barely have two seconds. I have had to journal everyday for my internship credit through GCSU so I have been keeping up with the work aspect of this experience through that, but I haven't posted it on here...maybe I will start....haha.

Anyways here are some highlights and I will try to be better at this thing!

• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party- AWESOME! I have been to two. One with my family and one with Megan. I might be going to another one next week with a girl from work, but I don't have a costume and she wants to dress up, so we will see.
• I got to see my Uncle Don and Aunt Karen for the first time in 19 or so years. It was so wonderful and they are so fun! My uncle is JUST like my dad. Kinda scary, but Megan totally agreed. Oh those Mateling genes. ;)
• Food and Wine Festival- Absolutely incredible. I love this festival. Just trying all the foods from all the different countries and lets not forget those "slushies" in France. ooh boy! Those are my favorite! It lasts until November 5th so hopefully I will get to go a lot!
• Working in Fantasyland at Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, and Teacups. Sometimes its rough, but the good things definitely outway the bad things. I have met a lot of friends and a lot of my fellow castmembers are super nice. Of course Magic Kingdom has LATE LATE hours a lot of times and I never get to see Megan, but oh well what can ya do?
• Labor Day with the parents and boyfriend :) Fun times. More to come :)
• My favorite places to eat so far: Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Tijuana(spelling?) Flats, Earl of Sandwich(thanks to my aunt and uncle), Chili's (duh), and EPCOT F&W fest! haha
• Walking in the tunnels everyday is still really cool to me. It is just crazy to think that I am UNDER the Magic Kingdom. haha! how many people can say they have walked UNDER the castle? not many! I also like walking side by side with Cinderella or Snow White or any of the characters. That is so cool to me!
• Getting a real dose of the real world. It is crazy and overwhelming sometimes, but I think I might be starting to get the swing of things. I feel like I have already grown a lot and have become more independent. I still need my parents for things and I still get homesick, but that is normal. I miss my family so much but I know they will be here soon. I just have to take it one day at a time and when I start to feel down I remember that I am at the Happiest Place on Earth and I go to a park. haha. Usually EPCOT because it is so chill there.
• Losing 20 pounds! weee! That is a real confidence booster. I am almost back down to the weight I was my freshman year. I like where I am right now so I am not intentionally losing weight. It is just all the work and heat.
• Living with Megan has been great too. I am glad we are here together! I also like all my roommates they are all so friendly and fun!

Well that is all for now. I will put pictures up later! love, peace and mickey mouse!

Disney Dreams coming true :)

Oh my gosh! I am here in Disney World. Tomorrow I will check-in. AHHHHH! soooo many emotions going through my mind right now. It's crazy. Am I prepared? will I make friends? Will megan and I get to hang out or will we have total opposite schedules? Will I even have time for a social life between classes and work? Is hurricane season going to be scary? personally I am kinda excited about it...weird I know.

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge right now. I look around at all these "guests" and think to myself...soon I will be the one they see telling them how to get around and telling them where to sit on rides. It's just all so surreal to me!

I left all my paperwork at home though and my insurance stuff so I am real idiot, but luckily it all worked out. :)

I am waiting on Megan and her mom to get her. Both my parents are sleeping. "too much Disney for them" hahaha!

This update is boring. I am hungry. Going over to Coronado to get some grub. Peace & Love!

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." -Walt Disney

well hello there blogging world!!

Its been about 3 months since my last update. CRAZY!

Summer camp has come and gone and left me with a ton of memories and new camper friends. I loved the campers! Their happiness and love kept me going all summer. Even when my counselors were mad at me, the adults were mad at me, and whoever else was mad at me, those kids would run up to me, yelling "CCK, CCK!! we LOVE you!" and those few words were enough to get me through the day! Not that everyone was mad at me ALL the time, but I am only human and I can't make EVERYONE happy ALL the time. ya know? For those who don't know, I was called "Crew Chief Kari" this summer at camp because our camp is a NASCAR themed camp. It is located right beside the Atlanta Motor Speedway so the theme fits. I had a great summer, but it went by super quick! I may write a longer blog about camp later, but for now I am trying to keep this "Disney-fied."

I can hardly believe that there are ONLY 17 DAYS until I move to FLORIDA!! ahh!!

I have SOOOOOOOOOO much to do before then, but for some reason I am not worried! haha

I went "business attire" shopping on Friday. I got a lot of stuff. Still gotta get some closed toed shoes and a cute business suit/jacket and I'll be set! I also bought some casual everyday clothes too. yay! :) I found a pair of sperrys that ended up only being $12 marked down from $60!! sweet!!

OK, sorry back on track...I also have to fill out about a bazillion pages of paperwork and I hear its basically like signing your soul away to the Disney company...YAY! Megan and I finally did the whole roommate confirmation thing so we are officially living together! double yay!! Still not sure where we are going to live, but neither one of us really cares...God will put us where he wants us! As I said a lot this summer, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans." I have gotten to the point in this whole process where I just let God place me where He wants. I think that is the best way to be.

My parents will be visiting every month but October...:) i love them!

If youd like to come along, just let them know! haha :) The more the merrier!

Thats all the Disney updates for now! See ya REAL soon!!

Shout out to Nick! Happy Birthday!! Can't wait to hang out with you and Cordi VERY soon!!!

So No One Told You Life was Gonna Be this Way...

I haven't updated in AWHILE!! whew! SO much has been going on. It's crazy! Since the last time I updated this is what has happened:

-My birthday...22...cool? Not really. But I am a young lady in my early twenties who has a lot going for her, so I can't complain much!

-Disney College Program Send-off Party: FUN! Free lunch and the meeting of other people who are going down there from GCSU for the DCP as well! I was the only attractions person there...pretty cool I think!

-Lifeguard Certification: I am still certified, but I went to help and I got to drown 6 times in a row at the end of the day on Saturday. I was exhausted, but it was a lot of fun too.

-Braves game: We lost to the Mets. Go figure.

-First GCSU Baseball game: We beat Columbus State! yay! :)

-FINALS: UGHHHH! Along with all the papers, projects, and other crap teachers assign at the end of the semester, I had to take multiple tests. I did okay I guess. My classes were all hard this semester.

-This week has been a week of "lasts." The last Bible Study dinner. The last time to eat at El Tequila. The last Thursday night in Milledgeville. Although I will be back here in the spring for one more semester, everything is coming to a end for our group of friends. Brittany and Brittani are moving to Athens. Megan and I are moving to Florida. Vanessa is moving wherever God leads her. Callie is staying in Milledgeville by herself...poor girl. Magen is getting married. Its just all happening so fast and I want it to slow down, but I am not sure how to make it slow down. I have felt this way A LOT lately. Sometimes I feel like I am watching my life happen through a window. Like I am a spectator watching a reality show. There are moments when I want to press pause and live in that exact minute for days and days. Like at El Tequila on Cinco de Mayo. All my girls were there and we were all laughing and just having fun. Sure, we all had stuff to do or work to be turned in, but for a little while we forgot about our stress and it felt like that moment would never end, but it too ended.

College is ending and it's terrifying. I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't know where I will be living in a year. No I am not graduating, but in a sense I feel like I am. I am moving from my comfort zone to a whole different state. I won't be able to drive home every other weekend when I need a mom fix and a hug from my daddy. I won't be able to drive to see my big brother or sister in law when I want to vent about the stupid boy who is being an idiot. I won't be able to watch my niece grow or play peek-a-boo with her. There are so many things that I feel like I am losing and I am going to miss out on. That's the thing with life though. Once you finally get comfortable and gain a sense of normalcy something happens and it is all mixed up and changed. We have to learn to adapt and carry on, no matter how hard it may seem.

Through all the craziness though I can rest assured that there is one thing that never changes; the love my Heavenly Father's has for me. God is my strength. I know He won't let anything happen to me that He and I can't handle together. I know He will be there for me when I need my parents to hug and comfort me but are back in Georgia. He will listen to me and guide me when my best friends are thousands of miles away. God is everlasting and I know He will never leave my side.

Growing up is scary. As much as I try to fight it, it is happening and it isn't slowing down.

I love you ladies. Ya'll are some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for :)

Disney Survey!

I was tagged on Facebook to do this, but I am just going to make it a blog instead. Feel free to fill it out about yourself too!

1. Your name?: Kari
2. Are you legal (over 21)?: yes
3. Male or female?: Female
4. Gay, straight, bi (optional): straight
5. Where do you live?: Georgia
6. What role will you have at Disney?: Attractions
7. What are your arrival/departure dates/program (fall, fall advantage, fall quarter)?: Fall 09 Aug 19th-Jan 8th
8.Which apartment complex would you prefer to live at? Do you prefer wellness or non-wellness (if over 21)?: Dont care. Non-wellness probably
9. How many roommates/rooms would you like? (1-7 roommates, 1-4 rooms)?: 3-4 rooms, 5-7 roommates
10. Do you like to party? Will you be hosting parties in your apartment?: Not really a party-hardy type person, but I like to meet new people. Megan and I are known for our themed parties! :)
11. What's your favorite food, and more importantly, can you cook well?: I like any form of potatoes! Mashed, fried, baked, etc... I can cook well when I feel like it and have time
12. If your friends could describe you in three words what would they be?: happy, funny, friendly
13. What kind of music/movies do you like?: Adventure, Comedy, Chick-Flicks
14. Do you smoke, and if so, inside or outside?: I have asthma. If I smoke I'll die.
15. Are you a night person or a morning person?: Night
16. Are you driving or flying down?: driving
17. What do you do for fun?: sleep, scrapbook, hike, lay-out
18. What is your favorite quote?: "His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts." Isaiah 55:8
19. What are you most excited about in being in the WDWCP?: Working for Disney, meeting new people, being able to call Disney World my "home"
20. Favorite things to do when not working: uhh sleep, scrapbook, hike, and lay-out
21. Name one good quality about yourself: friendly and always smiling
22. Name one bad quality about yourself: very critical of myself
23: Your college: Georgia College & State University
24: Your major: Business Management
25. Any medical conditions (optional): Asthma
26. Are you messy/tidy?: Both
27. Anything else you want to state: I cant wait for this semester to be OVER.