Disney College Program Up Themed Countdown!!!

So I decided that I really wanted to do a count down calendar for my Disney College Program. Finally after weeks of wanting to make one I finally buckled down and made one. I looked to Pinterest for ideas and came across a lot of great ones but none that I really loved until I came across this idea by Kawaii Jess. You can find her pin here and if you want to pin my idea there is a button at the bottom of this post that allows you to or you can find the pin I have for it here.

Everyday her boys would pop balloons and inside would be a paper that had a different activity on the inside for them to do. I LOVED the Up theme of the countdown but I HATE to pop balloons. I decided that instead of popping balloons to count down I would add balloons to Mr. Fredricksen's house to help me fly away to my destination. So each day I will attach a new balloon to Mr. Fredricksen's house and reveal how many days I have left before I have enough balloons to "take off" to my Disney College Program!!!

The countdown calendar took me about a day to complete, mainly due to all the balloons I had to make. It was actually easier than I ever thought it was going to be. The supplies I used was very minimal and cheap due to having everything at my house. All I used was colored copy paper, white printer paper, sharpie, scissors, stick glue, tape, and a number/alphabet stencil I had around my house.

For the house I based my design off of the original pin that I found, because I liked how simplistic it was and how it still resembles Mr. Fredricken's house. For someone like me who is not the most artistic person in the world this house was very easy to do.

As for the balloons I made them by tracing a balloon shape from a post-it-note type paper in a balloon shape and making a paper stencil to use. I then folded each piece of paper in half and traced the balloon shape on one side. I then would cut two balloons out at once. For the numbers I traced them using stencils I had around the house, and after tracing the numbers I filled them in using sharpie.  For the strings I just cut strips of the paper.

 

  For the balloon holder that tells me how many days I have to go, I just took two sheets of paper and taped them together in an envelope fashion. Then I used the same stencils that I used for the numbers to do the letters on the balloon holder.

*I am really excited to see the balloons grow and grow as my DCP grows nearer!!! This countdown calendar can be reused for future countdowns, but I think that I am going to keep mine all together when I am done with the countdown and turn it into a mural type wall art. Also I can finally say that I marked one thing off my DCP bucketlist so far!!!

Disney Vera Bradley Purchase!!!

     So yesterday I got in my Disney Vera Bradley "Midnight With Mickey" Print Mini Hipster Bag! If you aren't familiar with the Disney Vera Bradley Prints let me tell you some about them. Every season Vera Bradley puts out new prints for their products. Their products are mostly purses, bags, and wallets along with similar items such as id cases, lunch bags, and office supplies. Vera Bradley is a popular brand among both adults and teenagers, therefore Disney paired up with the company to make Disney exclusive prints. The prints debuted at the 2013 Disney Flower and Garden Festival and went on sale last fall. Disney started off with two prints: "Just Mousing Around" and "Midnight with Mickey".

"Just Mousing Around"(left) and "Midnight with Mickey"(right)

     I was originally going to order the smartphone wallet in "Just Mousing Around", but before I could make up my mind on if I wanted the wallet or possibly a bag everything was sold out online. So I decided that I would just wait and see if they restock online, because the only other option for me would have been to buy one that was waaayy over priced on ebay.



     Disney did not restock the "Just Mousing Around" online, and I have no idea if they still have that print in the parks. Disney and Vera Bradley have since released at least two more prints "Where's Mickey" and "Perfect Petals". On top of that they announced a new print called "Bouncing Bouquet" that is being released soon or just has in the parks (I'm not sure about it's release).




"Perfect Petals"

"Bouncing Bouquets"



"Mousing Around"

     As of right now disneystore.com has the print "Midnight with Mickey" in stock in the Smartphone Wallet, Zip ID Case, Hipster Bag, Large Duffel Bag, Backpack, and Mini Hipster Bag items. When these items came back in stock online I was looking for a small cross-body bag that I could carry around the parks this fall with ease. Normally all I carry around on a daily bases is a Vera Bradley All-in-One Wallet that I have had for like four years now. Therefore, I decided that the Mini Hipster Bag would be the perfect size for me to carry around the parks this fall while I am on the DCP. It easily stores all of the stuff I had in my wallet in the built in card slots, and there will be plenty of room for me to carry around a camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, and other things I might want like my pin lanyard.

     Now when it comes to the Disney Vera Bradley Prints the layout of the pattern on your item varies and can turn out all sorts of ways when you receive it. There have been numerous people who have had to order their item, then sell the item on ebay, then order another one of the items sometimes multiple times to get a pattern layout on their item that they liked. I however think I got really lucky for I got the perfect pattern layout for me!

     I really did not want too big or too many Mickey and Minnies on my bag because I really like the other parts of the pattern! So having Mickey and Minnie right in the center of the flap is perfect! It shows them off all while letting the rest of the pretty colors and design shine as well.

     With Disney Store orders you have to pay shipping unless the order is over $75. This bag was $65, and shipping would have been a little over $10. So instead of wasting $10 on shipping, I just bought $10 worth of stuff and got free shipping! What I got were these awesome cups, one for me and one for my sister. They are soo cute and I love them!!

 

 

     So this might not have been completely Disney College Program related, but in a way it is because it is items I will use during my program all the time!! If I wind up vloging as well as blogging (which I hope to do because it seems like a ton of fun!) I will try to remember to do a what is in my bag vlog to show what all the Mini Hipster can hold and what all it has in terms of pockets and things. If you have any questions about anything just comment on this post or any other and I will answer them to the best of my ability. Oh and I hope all of the CPs that checked in this past Monday are having a blast so far with check-in and traditions!! Also that those that will be checking in during these up coming weeks will have an awesome time as well!!