PACKING LIST!!

Some of this stuff is optional, but this is a pretty concise list that I've compiled from SEVERAL other blogs :) Enjoy and hope this helps you!

Bedroom
- Comforter
- Sheet Set x 2(Twin, NOT twin XL! Make sure pillowcases are included!)
- Throw blankets/pillows (optional)
- Bed Pillows
- Egg Crate Mattress Pad (I suggest memory foam)
- Mattress Cover/Pad (one that zips will keep your mattress dry and bug free)
- Bed Risers??
- Over-the-door hangers for towels, clothes, whatever
- Under Bed Storage (ones with drawers work best!)
- Decorations and Personal Items (just make sure everything complies with housing rules, especially for inspections!)
- Extension Cord (1-2)
- Lamp (I suggest a small one that fits on your nightstand)
- Alarm clock
- Hangers
- Closet organizer (to maximize space; there are ones for clothes and ones for shoes)
- Lock (for lockers) need 2- work and apartment
- TV & DVD player
- Fan is helpful to drown out noise from other roommates ... and to cool of during the HOT summer months!!
- White board and markers (for roommate messages, etc)
- Garbage can/bags
- Shoe Rack
- Plastic Storage box
- Ferdinand! ☺


Bathroom
- Shower Curtain
- Shower Curtain Liner
- Shower Curtain Rings
- Shower Organizer (one that hangs over the shower head to store toiletries) optional
- Air Freshener
- Over-the-Door Hooks (to hang towels, clothing, bathrobes, etc.)
- Bath Towels (2-4)
- Hand Towels and Washcloths (2-4)
- Night light
- Soap Dispenser (with soap)/Tumbler
- 3 bin storage box thing where we stored toilet paper and other items
- Toilet seat cover/ Floor mat
- Towel Rack
- Toothbrush holder
- Full length Mirror
- Tub nonslip clingy things
- Toilet paper

Toiletries
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Hair Care Products (including brush, hair ties/headbands, bobby pins hair dryer, straightener, curling iron)
- Hair Styling Products
- Sunscreen
- Shower Gel/Body Wash
- Face Wash/Cream
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Q-tips & Cotton Pads/Makeup Sponges/Make-Up remover
- Make-Up products
- Chapstick
- Razors & Shaving Cream
- Kleenex
- Nail Clippers
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Perfume
- Bug Spray
- Extra Hand Soap
- Loofah
- Medicine box
- Neutrogena SPF 35 oil free moisturizer for under makeup EVERY DAY!

Kitchen/Living Room
- Dish Towels (2-4)
- Pot Holders
- Tupperware Containers
- Ziploc Bags (snack size, sandwich size, quart size and gallon size)
- Paper Plates
- Plastic Silverware
- Plastic Cups
- Napkins
- Paper Towels
- Paper Towel Holder
- Travel Coffee Mug
- Refillable Water Bottle
- Reusable Lunch Bag
- Coffee Maker
- Cookie Cutters
- Toaster??
- Dish Soap
- Dish Sponges
- Brita Water Pitcher
- Filters for Pitcher
- Filters for Coffee Maker (or k-cups for Keurig)
- Magnets for Fridge (magnet calendar are great for tracking everyone’s schedule!)
- my roommates and I bought a couple board games
- bean bag chairs were found cheap at target and added extra seating options / pillow options for late night movie nights
- a couple extra pots/pans
- muffin tins
- George Foreman
- pizza pans
- Lawn chairs for patio/deck (optional)
- Measuring Cups/Spoons
- Can Opener
- reusuable grocery bags (great for runs to walmart on the bus),


Cleaning
- Febreeze
- Clorox Wipes
- Kitchen Trash Bags
- Windex
- Handheld Vacuum
- Swiffer
- Swiffer Refills
- Tile Cleaner
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner (scrubbing bubbles toilet wand is suggested?)
- Sponges
- Magic Erasers
- Laundry soap
- Broom
- Dish Washing Detergent

Electronics
- Laptop/Computer
- Power strip
- Printer w/paper & ink (optional)
- Digital Camera and Power Cord/Batteries/Charger and Extra Memory Cards
- Cell Phone & Charger
- Headphones
- Surge Protector (2-3)
- Extra Batteries
- Wireless Router (go in with roommates on this)
- DVDs
- Ethernet Cable (back up for wireless router)
- Ipod/headphones

Miscellaneous
- Backpack
- Disney Travel Books
- Notebooks & Folders
- Pens & Pencils
- Stapler & Staples
- Post-It Notes
- Mini Tool Set
- Check-In Paperwork (helps to keep in folders)
- Insurance & Car Registration (car, health, dental)
- Drivers license, birth certificate
- Flashlight
- Chargers
- Pin Trading Necklace & Pins
- Mickey Ears
- Umbrella
- Poncho
- Money
- Masking tape/duct tape/sharpies to help label food
- A bag to bring with you when you go to the parks.
- Sunglasses in the Disney Look
- Games - Entertainment on nights when the parks close early or you work so late that the parks are closed
- Books
- Jewelry Box
- Beach Bag/Supplies
- Walmart Gift cards
- Space Saving bags

24 days!

As you can see in the title, only 24 days until check-in!! Which means only 22 days till I leave! I can't wait!!!! Honestly, I'm getting really tired of being in Mississippi...I'm just ready to leave and be out on my own again! (well college isn't technically "on my own" but it's as close as I'm getting for another 2 years lol) I really need to get away again and I also can't WAIT to hang out with my Ohana!!

I just looked back at my posts and realized that I haven't introduced the Ohana!
As many of you know, the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch takes place in Hawaii, and
one of the quotes from that movie is "Ohana means family, and family means that
nobody gets left behind or forgotten." That's what we focus on. Basically I met
all of the Ohana in the facebook group back when it only had 100 members (there
are 2,219 members now) Anyways, we video chatted all through the summer and now
we have all become really close. I am so ready to meet them face to face!

SOOOO :) I started packing the other day! YES I know it's a bit early, but I'm just really excited. And I needed to start moving the pile of stuff for Disney out of my room so I could separate everything. The only things I have ready though are the things I don't use on an everyday basis. (kitchen stuff, decorations, etc.) Now there's starting to be a big pile in the living room corner :) Next week I have to start getting my clothes in order (summer stuff that I'm also not using a the moment..ya know, cause it's winter and all :p haha) I'm going back to work at the bookstore at school from Jan 7th to the 14th to earn a bit more extra cash and say goodbye to everyone there. On the plus side, like I just mentioned, it's extra money...on the down side, it cuts back on my preparation/packing time a whole week! Which is another reason why I started so early. I actually have a pretty extensive packing list from all of the research that I did over the summer. I'll post it separately. Because I like making lists, I started my packing my inventorying everything I had in my pile on a word document and I also put which bag I packed it in (just in case I start looking for something) I know, I'm a nerd, but hey, it'll save me some trouble in the future! lol

On a side note, I had a FANTASTIC Christmas! I am so blessed to have such an awesome family! I got an ipod touch (to replace the one I lost a while back), a digital camera (which I already knew about because I paid for half of it!), some pj pants, a Nancy Drew computer game(HUGE FAN), and a few other apartment things! Santa also got the family the Sue Thomas, F.B.I/Eye DVD series!! Everyone in the family used to watch Sue Thomas EVERY time it came on! It was such a great show...unfortunately it was discontinued in 2005, and they JUST NOW came out with the seasons on DVDs. So I am really excited about that! Unfortunately, I haven't gotten ANYTHING Disney but since I WILL be living there for almost 7 months, I'm sure I can stock up them :) ALSO, my college roomie (also one of my best friends) got TWO One Direction tickets for Christmas! and guess who she's taking!!!!?????!!!!! that's right..THIS GIRL! :) I shall love her forever ;) lol

So tomorrow my mom's side of the family is meeting up and we are having one more Christmas! I can't wait to see all of them (we usually only get together 2 or 3 times a year). We are gonna have a blast!!!!!! Talk to you soon friends!

Have a magical day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. ^^ I'm practicing for Disney! <3

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Exams are OVER!!!! Hallelujah!! Christmas break has finally started and I'm SOOOO pumped! Christmas is my absolute FAVORITE holiday! We have so many family traditions and I can't wait to get started on them! We always bake sugar cookies from scratch and decorate them, and we decorate the tree, and put all the decorations up and go shopping and cook all the time, and it's gonna be fabulous! I still have TONS more presents to buy for family and friends, and only 12 days till Christmas! WOW, just counted that up...I've been so focused on my countdown for Disney that I haven't even thought about the countdown to Christmas! YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!

SO I am officially moved out of the dorm at school and all of my stuff is at home, where I'll be until January 21st! (well actually the 19th when I leave, but that's beside the point lol) I have a pile in my room of all the stuff I'm taking to Disney...right now I don't have any clothes packed up or anything (I'm saving that till after the holidays are over) but all my kitchen stuff and dorm stuff that I know I'm not gonna use till Disney are in this HUGE pile...I don't even know how I'm gonna fit everything in my car! OH by the way! I got a new car! I did have a 1999 Acura, but first of all, it wouldn't near hold all of my stuff, and second, it prolly wouldn't make it all the way to Orlando! SO I got a 2004 Toyota 4Runner! Oh it's SO pretty. I really like it!!!

Anyways, short post because not much is happening...I still haven't gotten my new hire paperwork yet but I checked today and my dashboard went back to "in progress" so from what I've seen from others, I might get it today or tomorrow! EXCITEMENT! Lol...mostly just paperwork and tax information. Talk to you all soon! And good luck on your exams!

NEWS NEWS NEWS! :)

I am WWWWWAAAAAYYYYY overdue for a post and I am SO sorry!I have been crazy busy with school and getting ready for exams and all that jazz. Now that check in is closer and exams are almost over (only 1 week of school left! Hallelujah!), I'll have more free time! only 49 more days!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

My second piece of news is.......I have roommates now!! My immediate roomie's (the one I'll be sharing a room with) name is Jaclyn, but she goes by Jac. She is from Ohio and she is so sweet! We met on the Jan 21st arrival date page through the roommate surveys. We have skyped a couple of times too which I highly recommend to future CPs...We have found a lot in common and now have started talked about what each of us is planning to bring to the apartment! I also have a suitemate! Her name is Raegan, and she is from Texas. She goes by Rae...so in the future when you see me post about Jac and Rae, I'm talking about my roomies! I am so excited! Rae has been talking to one more girl to be her immediate roommate, but as far as I know, they haven't made it official yet. I am so excited about these girls! We all have so much in common....none of us drink, smoke, or party; we all want a Chatham 2 bedroom; we love Disney...It's just gonna be great!

I went Black Friday shopping after Thanksgiving and started buying apartment stuff! After finals, I'll start posting more, and I'll put a packing list on here. I do recommend talking to your roomies ahead of time so you don't have 4 TVs in your apartment! I think Jac may be bring the TV..not completely sure...I know I'm bringing most of the kitchen stuff (the apartment comes with bowls and pots and pans and other essentials, but I heard they might not be in good condition, so I'm bringing some just in case). And I'm bringing a vacuum and some other cleaning stuff. The rest is yet to be determined.

So...updates on my life...well finals start this Friday..eeek! Unfortunately almost all I can think about is Disney! I started studying today though, so it should be good. I have a Cost Accounting final on Friday, Business Finance on Saturday, Management on Monday, and Intermediate Accounting on Wednesday...I know that sounds so horrible doesn't it? That's what I get for being an Accounting major I guess. HAHA! It's ok though because the light at the end of the tunnel is DISNEY!
On a side note, I've been getting kinda sentimental (I think because I'm leaving MC and my friends for a while) so I'm gonna share what's on my mind. That's what a blog is for right? lol

OK here it goes! I'm getting kind of nervous about leaving...I mean this will be my first time out of the "Christian bubble" and I'll be surrounded by the world. I've always gone to church and my church friends have been my friends at school. Then I've come to a Christian college. I'm surrounded by genuine people who love me and want me to succeed...I mean yes, I've had my downfalls and stuff, I've always had that support group behind me. It really made me realize this at the Swannanoa meeting the other night (if I haven't mentioned it before, I am in a tribe..at MC,instead of sororities and fraternities we have social clubs and tribes..our mascot is a Choctaw so it goes with the theme. There are 4 tribes: Swannanoa, Kissimee, Laguna, and Neenamoosha) Anyways, at the ST (our abbreviation) meeting, I got up and shared a little bit about me going to Disney and things to pray for and I realized that I'm really starting to get scared. What if I'm not prepared enough to share the gospel? What if I'm all alone? What if I'm not as strong as I need to be? WELL right when all of those thoughts were going through my head, Hanna (our president) asked all the girls (135 of them) to gather around me and another girl going on a mission trip for the semester and pray out loud for us. I'm telling you I've never been more blessed in my life! Hearing all of those voices praying for me and supporting me was amazing. I know that no matter what, God is going to be with me in Disney World and even if I can't feel him or see him doing His work, He is there and he IS working! One of the girls told me, "Even if you don't think you are doing or saying anything to share the gospel, His light is ALWAYS shining, even when I think it's not." SO...I'm ready for all that God has for me! I know it will be hard and tiring and I'll have temptation everywhere, but God will get me through because he is ALWAYS there and His will will be accomplished...and that is such a comfort :) I'm gonna miss everyone at home and at school, but I know that they are supportive of what I am doing and I KNOW they are praying for me!

Sorry for the long post BUT I will try to post more often when exams are through so all of the posts won't be this long. Let me know if you have any questions or comments! :) Love ya'll