Vacation Specialist with Dream Come True Vacations

One of the first books I ever read was “Peter Pan.” Throughout my life, I have reread this book at least a hundred times. In this book, at the age of two, Wendy is heartbroken to learn that she must grow up. Because you see “you always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.”

I must have realized this at a young age as well because once I discovered Disney, I knew that this was my Neverland; the one place in this world where I never had to grow up.

As a child, I searched every shelf in the library and bookstores for any information I could find about Disney World. I reread articles endlessly and would try to remember every detail on the few trips that my parents were able to afford. As I grew older (on the outside), I discovered that trips to the Disney parks were much more attainable with proper planning and budgeting. Every decision in college and my career have been centered around how can I spend more time in Disney.

As a result of my love for Disney, my children have lived charmed lives going to Disney World at least twice a year their entire life. When my daughter was five, I bought her a princess hat, that hat was magic!! Every cast member in the park treated her like royalty. This one memory had such a lasting impression on her life that, this fall, she will be attending the University of Central Florida to obtain a degree in Hospitality and Event Management with a specialty in Theme Park and Resort Management!

In our family we have a few simple Disney Park rules:

1. There is no crying in Disney World

2. Never Grow Up!

3. You must act a little silly

4. You are never too old for Disney (see rule 2)

One of the best things about Disney is having the opportunity to watch others experience the magic. The look on a child’s face the first time they see Tinkerbell’s flight is priceless! I love to show others why I love Disney so much. This is why it was a natural choice for me to become an
Independent Consultant with Dream Come True Vacations.

One of my favorite “share the magic” memories was when I took one of my best friends to Disney World for her very first time. I insisted that we get up early so that we could be at the Magic Kingdom in time for the rope drop ceremony. She stood there, hugging her coffee cup and grumbling under her breath, while I was like a bubble that was about to burst! When the rope dropped, I skipped under the train station while dragging her behind me. At the end of the day, she grabbed my hand and we skipped out together. She looked at me with the biggest grin on her face and said “my face is hurting because I’ve been smiling so much!” The next week, she took her children on their first trip to Disney World! 

I want to share this magic with everyone! 

jana at dreamcometruevacations.com 

(888) MICKEY8 ext 753 

(888) 642-5398 ext 753

Be sure to Like my Facebook page for all of the latest Disney News and Offers!

Disneyland and the new Carsland

I couldn't take it anymore, I had to see Carsland for myself!

Disneyland resort in California just completed a massive 

overhaul of Disney's California Adventure park.

And all I can say is 

WOW

Radiator Springs

And the Cozy Cone Motel was AWESOME

but I managed to not take a single picture!

Think Orange Road Cones of Awesomeness!

Goofy's Instant Concert

(just add water)

World of Color

Minnie's Fly Girls 

LOVED THIS!

Storytellers

Five and Dime

Mad-T Party

Carthay Circle Restuarant

Cavatelli Pasta with Tuscan style Braised Lamb

Seriously... worth the trip for this alone!!

The Golden Horseshoe Review

Steelcut Oatmeal Cakes from the Carnation Cafe

Mona Monorail

Davy Crockett Canoes - So fun!!!

I even found time to relax by the pool at

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel!!

Off to my next adventure!!

Spinning For Your Life

This week I received a huge honor from Natalie of NamasteFarms

who has a BlogTalk Radio show!

She asked if I would do an interview about

the Most Amazing Sweater EVER EVer ever!!

I typically do not share a lot of personal information online

so I was a little nervous to do a live recorded show

because certainly I would say something terribly stupid!

But in the end it was a lot of fun and was 

just like hanging out with friends!

If you would like to listen to the show you can listen online 

or you can download it to your computer.

Ankara, Turkey - An interesting trip...

I had an opportunity recently to visit Turkey. 

I decided to take my new Holiday Wheel, River, with me 

since I anticipated having lots of time spin...

That was not the case. 

But I did get to do some spinning in the airport in D.C.

I also worked on another Walnut Whip by Ysolda

in handspun Hobbledehoy! With my awesome 4-leaf clover
stitch marker that a friend gave me!

AND I was lucky enough to have a 10 hour layover

in Munich, Germany on a day that Wollmeise was open!!

So I stopped in and picked up a skein of dark purple lace

to make Nuvem with. ALL of the girls there were working

on the same pattern and rushed over to show me their progress.

We knitters are of one mind!

Then I arrived in Turkey.

Such a strange new world to be in where I didn't understand

a single word of their language...

Well, except Iplik (thread, yarn, fiber)

I did eventually learn 

"Hello" (Merhaba) and "Thank You" (teşekkürler)

My room overlooked the city and it was such a sight.

But in the end, I had very little time to Spin, Knit, Explore, or shop.

I did take pictures during my short adventures out and about.

One morning, we had a few hours to ourselves,

so a friend and I took a taxi to Ulus,

a Turkish market

Once there, we walked to the top of an old castle.

These are the views from there.

*Click on the pictures to see a larger version.

Leroy enjoyed his first visit to the country of his heritage!

Most of the castle was in ruins, the wall just came to an abrupt

end and there was nothing to stop you from falling off.

I actually found a very old spinning wheel in a shop!

No idea how this one would work

and it was clearly missing pieces.

Lot's of hand made brass stuff in Ulus.

See the hole in the floor on the left side?

There was a narrow set of stairs that went to a basement

and you could hear someone hammering away

at making the bowls, cups, pitchers that were sold in the shop.

And I found wool!

nasty unprocessed wool, but wool just the same.

I "TRIED" to ask the guy in the store if this was

for "Iplik" in other words yarn or spinning.

He told me it was for pillow stuffing.

I'm not sure I would want that in my pillows.

Also it smelled sheepy!

When we first arrived in the market area, 

I showed Leroy to the first person we met

and asked where I could find something like that there.

They took us to this shop and said, here!

The man in the store took one look 

and started digging through stuff.

He came up with 3 original Turkish Spindles

and 2 Top Whorl Spindles!!!!

All prices in Ulus are negotiable, 

which is interesting when you don't speak the same language.

So after a game of charades and swapping a calculator 

back and forth to enter and display numbers,

we decided on a price and I departed as a happy camper!

They are very large spindles but I do intend to try one out. 

At least to say that I have spun on an authentic Turkish Spindle.

I also found some spinning bowls.

A bell for my Aunt.

A little pitcher from the copper store.

A Turkish Coffee cup for a coworker.

A very pretty sugar bowl for someone special.

Some fabric from a fabric shop, boy that was exciting!

Some kitty ear rings and rings.

And a pair of hand knitted house slippers!!!

I believe I paid about 4 Turkish Lira for those,

which converts to about $2.23...

I plan to try to recreate them as they look like a 

great simple, quick knit for gifts!

What a deal!!!

Food in Turkey was extremely disappointing

but I'm fairly certain that that was because of our

tight schedule presenting very few options for food, 

and those options were really not that good.

However, I did have the best ice-cream EVER!

That will be the first thing on my list if I ever make it back.

When I left Ankara, the airport security informed me

that they would not allow me to carry my Holiday Wheel

onto the plane and that it must be put in my checked luggage

(which was already checked...).

I was horrified and I have no idea what they thought I would

do with it. I can just see the news story now "woman bludgeons

man with spinning wheel for having stinky breath and insisting

on talking on 9 hour flight home..."

Anyway, after finding someone who spoke enough English

to understand, I begged them to retrieve my checked bags.

They made an exception for me and took me to baggage claim

to repack. Once I had my bags, I had five minutes to

repack and get back through security.

I was certain that with my frantic last minute, shoving wheel parts

in my suitcase that it would never survive the trip home.

On my way home, I had another layover in Germany.

After having spent a week that felt like being a contestant on Survivor,

(very little sleep, almost no food,

and stuck with 30+ people mostly strangers,

who eventually started bickering about how to cook the rice...)

I was soooooo happy to be able to have a good meal.

And my hero showed up with a bucket of tops

and restored all my Hopes and Dreams!

These were hand made by Heinz Steinacher in Germany.

He also makes wonderful spindles, you should check him out!

When I got home, I was surprised to find that my wheel

survived but I will never go through that again.

I will check it to begin with or it won't go.

River does have a bit of a chatter now when she spins but

as far as I can tell, there is nothing broken and she

still does her job. So I'll just pretend that the sound

is a nervous tick that she has developed

due to her traumatic experience. 

I'm glad I got the chance to go on this adventure, 

but I don't think I have ever been so glad 

to be home at the end of a trip!