#Cinderella – Rooting to Rise

Changing the Equation to get the Right Answer~

Posted on October 30, 2016March 31, 2022 by twomomsadmin

“You can’t hold onto a fairytale just because you think you can change the ending of the story.”

What?! Of course I can change the ending of the story- Love will conquer all, Love will save the day, and Fairytales really do come true. At least they did in all my favorite Disney classics.

Unfortunately, so far this notion hasn’t quite worked out that way in my life. I have tried to change the ending of more fairytale stories than I can count, but each one ended in a not so enchanted way. Where did I go wrong? It is always the usual- Boy meets girl- sparks fly- then somewhere along the lines certain key components were missing and instead of moving on I chose to battle for that fairytale ending. As someone once said to me, “I guess I like happy endings.” But at what point in a relationship is it time to realize certain stories are not meant for happy endings? I don’t want to give up on my ideals about what love is capable of doing, do I have to? Has this notion been the reason my equation keeps coming up with the wrong answer? Does X +Y not = LOVE?

Here I am at the lovely age of 45 and I think I have finally come to a true understanding of how to get the right answer to the equation of fairytale love. Here it comes, “You must first love yourself before someone else can.” How many times have we all heard this saying, even agreed with it, but do we truly grasp the understanding of it?

What does loving yourself really mean?

Through trial and error, I have learned that loving me means making better choices that produce better results. It takes time, patience, strength, and a lot of self –forgiveness. Rewinding and re-recording over old messages, learning from past blunders, searching and seeking the inner consciousness, and hearing God speak, and allowing him to heal.

Learning to love you is the key to the future success of a fairytale ending.

I still believe in true love that lasts the test of time, I just changed the equation around a bit. This time I will hold onto me first, instead of the fairytale and by doing this, I am able to change the ending of the story-

Live well~ xo

First Stop! runDisney Health and Fitness Expo ~ and more Jeff Galloway Tips

Posted on March 20, 2015May 1, 2016 by twomomsadmin

I have so much to share from my 2015 Princess Marathon Weekend. It was more than four princesses running three races. It became a time of enlightenment, new beginnings, many firsts, and new friendships.

In the upcoming articles I will talk about my journey as well as the journey of my fellow princess teammates. Our love and joy for not only runDisney, tiaras, and tutus but for new seasons in life, new achievements and new goals we made after this amazing and successful trip.

The anticipated runDisney weekend quickly became captioned, “Our Race-cation” and would be the primary focus for the coming months ahead. I was clueless to what awaited me, the phrase “Girl Power” comes to mind but does not quite encompass the sentiment wholly.

Fast forward from July 2014 registration to February 2015 – I left for this anticipated weekend at 5am on a frigid New York morning with excitement, a little nervousness, and a luminous spirit.

Packed in one suitcase were the usual essentials for a Disney vacation, but in my carry on were things I have never brought to Disney or anywhere for that matter. A huge red tutu, a hairband embellished with little birds, Jaq – Cinderella’s mouse friend, and a pair of running sneakers that have become a significant part of my life.

Nicole and two of her friends that I had never met were meeting me at the Orlando airport. As I walked off the plane and made my way to baggage claim, I felt as if I should pinch myself. I was really here, in my beloved Florida, going to my Happy Place – Walt Disney World, meeting my dearest friend for a runDisney event. Life has certainly changed since last July when I stepped out of my door for my very first run – a new season of life for me.

With luggage in hand I headed for the passenger pick-up area. The doors opened and I stepped out into the lovely warm Florida sunshine – WAIT! Where was the warm Florida sunshine? Nicole warned me about it being chilly, but come on, I’m a New Yorker! I know what cold is, I have been living in it for the last five months. Sadly she was right, it was chilly and my jacket remained on for much of the race-cation. Little did I realize I would have a frozen tutu the next morning.

My teammates arrived and there was no guessing where this vehicle was heading! It was decorated with phrases that I had become accustomed to reading on social media for months. The girls jumped out and greeted me with hugs (I tear up now as I remember our initial greeting). Nicole introduced me to her best friend Julia and Julia’s sister Christy and from that moment on any lingering nerves I had …. disappeared. Off to the Expo!

I could not wait to get to the Expo! I remember seeing Nicole’s photos from her first Expo experience and I was pumped! Here is where I would receive my 5K and 10K race bibs and see my new favorite vendors and run wear. We parked the car and jumped out to get prepared. This was our runDisney Princess Weekend so we must all dress accordingly. Nicole had made us matching T-shirts and surprised us with embroidered draw string bags. Last but not least, on went the tiaras.

This was actually my first visit to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and this may sound funny, but I was a bit starry eyed as we approached the WWOS globe. The red carpet was rolled out to “welcome all who have come to this happy place” and helped to make our tiaras sit just a bit taller atop our heads.

As we approached the Expo doors at the Jostens Center, I was tickled princess pink to be greeted by Cinderella’s very own footmen, might there be a pumpkin carriage just ahead?

WOW it was a runDisney dream! There was so much to take in for a newcomer like me; I was so glad to have Nicole leading the way. The energy was electric and I felt an immediate pull drawing me down those stairs and into the mix.

We made a beeline toward the back because Nicole and Julia were running the half marathon and were in search of particular items. We moseyed around the expo checking out what was new, what was cool, and what we thought we couldn’t live without. I even got a glimpse of Jeff Galloway! I was too shy to take a picture with him, but next time I won’t pass up that opportunity!

My purchases of the day were a green sparkle skirt from Sparkle Athletics, some really cute sneaker charms from BeeCause Charms, and a buddy pouch from Running Buddy.

It was time to get those running bibs! Packet pick up was held in the HP Field House, so we crossed over the walkway……. to finally become official. Each small step starting with registration day to actually running this race felt as if they were milestones, and picking up my runDisney race packet was no exception. We found our appropriate booth by alphabetic order of last name and signed away.

Along with our race bibs we were handed a clear drawstring bag that would hold the contents of a race shirt, 2 Luna Bars, a 2015 Princess ½ Marathon guide and any purchased merchandise along the way. This bag was for Gear Check at the race if any additional items were to be brought in.

After Nicole and Julia received their half marathon packets they were instructed to get their photos taken so there would not be an issue of mistaken/stolen identity with their half marathon bib# and it’s owner.

Hunger and fatigue was beginning to settle in from the early morning wake-up and all the days excitement. We all decided it was time to end our expo excursion, but not before capturing a few more photos!

I loved the expo! It was vibrant, not just in color but in energy. It was filled with ladies (and some gentlemen) of all ages, and all stages of their run journeys . As I passed fellow runDisney princesses, I wondered if this was their first or fifth Princess Marathon Weekend, how long they’ve been running and why they continued on their journey. Yes, journey – best described in a quote I recently read,

“So often we can get caught up in the rankings, times, personal bests, and competitions that we forget about the true joy and life changing experiences that our sport provides. Running is about a journey, a journey that engages an entire community and culture, yet inwardly transforms the mind, spirit, and body.” found on flotrack.org

It was time to move on and check into our resort …….. which one you ask? Port Orleans Riverside, the Princess Room of course! We were on our way to our next royal experience!

Do you have dreams of entering in a runDisney event but are afraid running will injure your body? Everyone can experience the awesome thrill of this sport with Jeff’s principles and methods. Read below and start your run journey today!

Most injuries experienced by my runners are due to:

1) pacing long runs too fast,

2) increasing the weekly mileage too quickly,

3)lengthening stride and

4) stretching.

The principle in staying injury free is to balance gentle stress with the right recovery periods-allowing for rebuilding. (for more information, see my book RUNNING INJURIES)

Finding the right Run Walk Run strategy from the beginning of a run has been the best way I’ve found to stay injury free, come back from an injury and in some cases, continue to run while the injury heals. (See my book RUN WALK RUN)

As long as you stay below the threshold of irritation you can often continue to run while the injury heals.

Are you concerned that running will damage joints, and other body parts ? I was told this regularly, from my first week of running over 50 years ago but the research shows the opposite result: Runners have healthier joints, etc. than non runners as the decades go by.
While researching for my book RUNNING UNTIL YOU’RE 100, I reviewed dozens of studies and could not find one showing that running harms legs, feet, joints, etc.It may surprise you to know that many studies show that runners have fewer orthopedic issues compared with non-runners as the years go by.
It may surprise you to know that many studies show that runners have fewer orthopedic issues compared with non-runners as the years go by.
A respected and large population study out of Stanford following thousands of runners over 50 who had run for more than 20 years concluded that runners had less than 25% of orthopedic issues compared with non runners of the same age.

A Little Spring in the Midst of Winter ~ and a Big Surprise at Check-In

Posted on February 16, 2015May 1, 2016 by twomomsadmin

There is always something special going on at Walt Disney World; each season bringing that extra magical touch. My favorite time to visit Walt Disney Resort has always been September. I love the carved Jack -O- Lanterns that line the top of Main Street’s buildings and the fall garlands and wreaths that adorn the lamp posts, with the added bonus of the park attendance being at a low capacity.

One year I decided to take an impromptu trip in May. I was really excited to see Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival, the online pictures were just breathtaking! Going in May was not the only change that was happening during that particular Walt Disney World vacation. This time Rebekah and I were traveling with my sister-in-law Jackie who had not been to the resort since she was sixteen, she was beyond eager for our travels to commence!

Before I share some of the gorgeous topiaries I reveled in, let me share with you a couple highlights of my Walt Disney World vacation with my sister in law.

We had the absolute pleasure of staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort; this happens to be one of my top three favorite resorts on WDW property.

Upon checking in we were informed that we had been upgraded from a standard view room to a Junior Suit with Concierge service. I guess at the time I was a bit uninformed because I had no idea what this entailed, but I quickly became informed and just couldn’t believe the extra Magic we were receiving! I asked the Cast Member why we were receiving these upgrades and he replied, “Just because we wanted to make your time extra special.”

After settling ourselves in the room, we made our way up, up, up to Old Faithful Club on the concierge level which was located on the 7th floor. Our Key to the World card gave us special access to this club level. When we loaded onto the elevator, in order to enter onto this floor we had to insert our card into the slot provided.

We enjoyed free continental breakfast in the morning and in the evening it was so wonderful to have a complimentary cocktail! During the day they also offer an afternoon tea that includes yummy treats and in the evening they have a small buffet of dinner foods. This was an amazing experience and one that I was completely grateful to have!

That evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner and dessert at T-Rex in Downtown Disney. I LOVE this restaurant for it’s prehistoric atmosphere. Even if you are not able to stop in for a bite, I suggest you pop in just to take a peek.

The following morning we bee-lined it to the Magic Kingdom. Our first stop was to get Jackie her first pair of Ears where we happened upon another wonderful surprise. She received her name embroidered on her Ears free of charge; they said because we were the first guests of the day! Next onto meet my favorite Mouse…. he needs no introduction!

The next day we visited Epcot and I was so excited to see the International Flower and Garden Festival! During our time there we enjoyed another delicious meal at the Coral Reef in the Living Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion. This is another restaurant I just LOVE because of it’s unique setting. It is as if you are dining under the sea with all the beautiful creatures of the ocean. The lower wall is an open view into the Living Sea tanks and it promises to be great view from any table!

NOW …. onto Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival!

Entering the walkway that leads to World Showcase we were greeted by Peter Pan, Captain Hook and tick tock – tick tock, hooks greatest fear!

Coming upon International Gateway we found my favorite fellow and his best girl along with Donald and Daisy.

Starting first with Canada and their beautiful Victoria Gardens~

I adored the tea cups in the United Kingdom where we also met Alice. Along the route we Pooh and friends and here we also found the infamous Captain Hook and both his nemesis’ Peter Pan and tick tock the Alligator!

Moving on toward France we saw gorgeous topiaries of Aurora and Cinderella dancing with their Princes~

Onto Italy we found the most adorable couple, Lady and Tramp. They look beautiful surrounded by all the colorful flowers and plants!

Germany was in great company with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

Along our travels we came across the cutest Mickey Heads, I would so love to place these in my front yard so I could share my #Disneyside with all my neighbors!

A not to miss experience is the Butterfly Tent, this particular year it was themed with Bambi and his friends~

This event has become one of my favorite times to visit Epcot. If you are planning a vacation anytime from March to May please make sure to enhance your experience by taking time to meander around World Showcase.

My Wintry Day Valentine Challenge

Posted on February 2, 2015April 24, 2016 by twomomsadmin

Welcome to the next stop on Blogorail Yellow. Today we are discussing creating a #Disneyside Valentine’s party from odds and ends found around the house!

It is a blustery, wintry day here in the Empire State and I am trapped indoors. I have lots I could do to keep busy, but doing dishes and cleaning out closets doesn’t sound like much fun. I was thinking how my family and I could celebrate Valentine’s Day, when I received a phone call from my parents inviting us to their house for a small gathering. Now…. how can I sneak a little Disney flair into the party without completely taking it over, not everyone is as enthused with the Mouse as I am. Going out to the store to purchase party items is out of the question with this weather, so I started gathering craft items, scraps from previous projects and party supplies I had lying around the house. Here is my challenge, to create a #Disneyside Valentine’s party fit for adults and children with only the items I have available in my house……. and without completely annoying my family. One day they will all come around and enjoy the Magical Mouse as much as I do!

Onto the finished product~

Before we get to the decor first let me share a couple games I put together to enhance my family’s evening of fun. I Disneyfied the Left/Right game using Cinderella’s story and a small plastic shoe (glass slipper) as the item to be passed around. Here is my Cinderella Left/Right tale:

Cinderella LEFT for the ball…… the coachman knew the RIGHT directions and turned LEFT onto the RIGHT road. Prince Charming was RIGHT in the middle of the room and asked for Cinderella’s LEFT hand and led her RIGHT to the dance floor. She knew he was the RIGHT guy for her as he danced with her RIGHT around the room. The hands of the clock moved to the RIGHT and struck mid-night, so she LEFT the castle running down the stairs and LEFT her shoe behind. The carriage LEFT the castle in a hurry and went RIGHT down the path and into the woods. Prince Charming’s soldiers LEFT the castle and stormed RIGHT into the woods after the carriage. Midnight struck and the carriage turned RIGHT into a pumpkin and LEFT Cinderella behind. The Prince sent the Duke RIGHT out to find Cinderella. Cinderella had run RIGHT up to her room and her stepmother locked her door and LEFT the key in her pocket. The Duke knocked RIGHT on Lady Tremaine’s door. The stepsister’s sat RIGHT down and put their LEFT foot out for their shoe fitting. Their feet were too big and the shoe flew RIGHT across the room. The mice got the key RIGHT out of Lady Tremaine’s pocket and raced RIGHT up to Cinderella’s room. Cinderella LEFT down the stairs and called to the Duke. He slipped the shoe RIGHT on her foot then they raced her RIGHT back to the prince. They were married RIGHT in the castle and LEFT , RIGHT away to for their honeymoon.

Our next Valentine’s amusement will be Famous Disney Couples. I wrote questions regarding Disney Duos on slips of paper and placed them in a glass jar adorned with Mickey and Minnie. Here are some of the questions:

What couple enjoys eating spaghetti together?

What couple enjoys building snowmen?

What couple has a pair of ducks as their best friends?

Onto the Disneyfied Valentine Décor, I went for a Mickey Head theme. I sought out a pattern online and printed it out to trace on construction paper. I also found these adorable little Cuties, the template is found here: Mickey and Minnie Cutie Printouts

I had red Chinese take-out party boxes left over from another gathering; at first glance they reminded me of Mickey’s pants so I drew two black ovals on them for buttons. I will fill them with pink heart shaped marshmallows and Valentine’s chocolates I have in the pantry.

Next I took a bundle of tulle saved from Rebekah’s past Princess parties to use as a swag over the doorway. I placed Mickey heads at each tied knot. Then taking strips of red streamers I taped Mickey heads vertically along the length, they can be hung on the wall in varied heights. I had a pink Chinese lantern from a past Under-the-Sea party, I attached two black construction paper ovals, making it into a Minnie head. The Valentine’s banner is alternating red and pink Mickey heads with black punch out letters spelling Happy Valentine’s Day.

I was pretty surprised how easy and quickly it all came together. At first looking at the pile of mish-mosh I felt overwhelmed but I swiftly overcame that after my first Mickey head was printed, traced and cut. I encourage you to challenge yourself next time a celebration takes place, instead of purchasing all your decorations take a look around your house and get creative!

Thank you for joining Blogorail Yellow this month. We will be back in next month with all new loops and themes. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with newest posts, photos and stories. If you are looking for Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

1st Stop – Disney with Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers – Valentine’s Day Crafts for Toddlers

2nd Stop – For the Love of Disney – Our Favorite Classroom Valentines for Preschool and Early Elementary

3rd Stop – Capturing Magical Memories – Valentine Gift Bag Toppers

4th Stop – Two Moms and a Mouse – My Wintry Day Valentine Challenge ~ How do you think I did?

Into the Woods We Went!

Posted on January 27, 2015April 24, 2016 by twomomsadmin

This past weekend Rebekah and I took an impromptu trip to the movie theater, what did we see….. Into the Woods!

We hurried into the theater and found our seats just as the movie trailers were ending. I had no idea what to expect from this movie. I hadn’t read or heard the reviews, with one exception. Right before entering the theater Nicole informed me that her friends had walked out during the movie; oh boy what was I in for?

The movie began, I quickly realized it was a musical, I had no idea! As we began to travel into the woods with the characters, it took me a while to truly realize why “we” were going into the woods. At first I was solely focused on these strange intertwined fairytales. Each fairytale character was traveling into the woods for a particular purpose – to break a spell, to go to the Festival, to sell the cow, to Grandmother’s house, to see the King. As the movie rolled on I realized there was a deeper meaning and an actual plot. ‘Into the Woods’ is a metaphor for taking a journey outside of the boundaries one has set for themselves, taking chances to experience more of what life may have to offer. While the initial reason these characters took the journey into the woods was to find something that was so enticing and important to them, they learned unexpected lessons along the path of the wood and what their true desires may have been after all. The path that appeared so straight and definitive became twisted and questionable.

The wood appears in many fairytales; it’s a place of the unknown and it’s full of mystery. The Woods are not thought to be “safe”, they have unexpected twists and turns. Stepping into the Woods could change one’s life; it’s a journey that could bring about a new ending to one’s story. And so we see this in many of Disney’s fairytale stories, just this time these happy endings were more similar to what you and I might experience in our own lives. In hindsight I wished I had read the movie commentary so I would have been more focused on the song lyrics. These stories told through song were in direct reflection to personal struggles many of us go through in life.

What did Rebekah think of the movie? I was really worried that she was not enjoying the movie, but I didn’t breathe a word until we were walking out of the theater and back to the car. She thought it was a bit strange; she was not use to seeing Disney fairytales in any other light than the animated version. But then she began to tell me how she loved that everyone was singing and she thought it was all rather funny. Her favorite characters were Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Baker and his wife. She added that she would not recommend anyone under the age of eight to see the movie, well maybe a seven year old if they were mature for their age.

I would absolutely like to see the movie again. I am sure that I missed many details that I would enjoy witnessing the second time around. The cast I thought were magnificent and made each roll very believable. There was some adult content but it definitely went over Rebekah’s head. I do think it is important to understand the rhythm of the movie before viewing it; it will enhance the experience and allow you to connect and identify with the characters on a deeper level.

A New Take on a Dream Come True ~

Posted on January 12, 2015April 29, 2016 by twomomsadmin

Welcome to the next stop on Magical Blogorail Red. Today we are discussing runDisney.

To begin a journey, first you must be inspired. My rundisney journey began just that way.

As most little girls, I dreamt of becoming a Disney princess, Cinderella encouraged that inspiration at age 2. But life settled in and the realization of becoming a princess was washed away with another more realistic career choice. But that dream stayed tucked away in my heart along with Cinderella’s word’s, “If you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true”

(My 1988 Junior Prom, I was channeling Cinderella)

Fast forward to the present where that dream has evolved into a new outlook ~ A runDisney Princess!

Last year my bestest Disney pal Nicole ran her first runDisney event, The Royal Family 5K 2014. As I watched for her race updates on that cold dreary New York winter day, seeds of inspiration were instilled in my innermost thoughts ~ Disney ~ Princess ~ runDisney ~ runDisney Princess!

When Nicole crossed that finish line she knew right then and there this would not be a one-time event for her; runDisney inspired her to become very focused on her training. She later went on to run 5 other races, 3 of which were runDisney events.

(Royal Family 5K 2014) (Everest Challenge 2014 )

(Tower of Terror 10 Miler)

Inspirited by her accomplishments, achieved goals, my insane love of Disney, Mickey and of course, the chance to become a PRINCESS, I too decided to become a runDisney princess! I set out to train for the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, (minus the half marathon). My focus would be the Disney Princess 5K and the Disney Enchanted 10K.

Having an opportunity to run through a Disney park dressed as a princess alongside my best pal was the initial fuel to motivate me to suit up and run in the mornings. But as I set personal goals and pushed myself to achieve them I began to run for other reasons as well. Pushing myself through limitations I unknowingly set became intoxicating. Along the way I entered a few local races for some experience, adorning my Mickey ears at each one, proudly representing my Disneyside.

But it was not until my first local race that I had the chance to feel the exhilaration of crossing a Finish Line. Pushing myself “to Infinity and Beyond!” helped me to realize how strong a person I really was, physically and mentally, it renewed my sense of confidence and zeal in life.

We can pass that inspiration ~

That first race I ran, Rebekah watched me cross the finish line; I believe she gained much more than the inspiration to run. She has watched me challenge and push myself and succeed in my runDisney goals. It has shown her that when you put your mind to something, you can achieve it.

She asked to sign up for a program called Girls on the Run, which taught them much more than how to train for a 5K; they learned the importance of being joyful, healthy and confident. The program concluded with a 5K and I got to cross another finish line, this time with my Rebekah. She was so proud of herself and of course – so was I!

Nicole passed along a little inspiration as well. She and Jordan entered a local Turkey trot race.

All these accomplishments were inspired by runDisney~

I believe runDisney has given people hope. Hope that they can weather a storm, persevere through life’s challenges, and make a positive change for a happier ending to their story. After all that is what Disney represents, hope. Hope for triumphs in life no matter what the circumstances. Turning an “I can’t” into “I can”, and challenges into victories.

My coronation day is coming soon, February 20^th-21^st are my race dates for the 2015 Princess Half Marathon Weekend. My love for Disney, Mickey and a deep desire to become a Princess has carried me through to this point. Inspiration is the key to a successful journey and runDisney has fulfilled every bit of that and I haven’t even reached the end!

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Red this month. We will be back in next month with all new loops and themes. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with newest posts, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

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A Classic Fairytale with a Modern Twist ~ Cinderella and her Running Shoes

Posted on August 6, 2014April 29, 2016 by twomomsadmin

Welcome to those of you joining me from Frontierland Station and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail.”

This is a story of a classic fairytale with a modern twist ~

She slid on her finest pair of running shoes, the new 2014 New Balance Cinderella sneakers. Though she bought them nearly six months ago they were in mint condition, no princess would ever be caught with disheveled shoes! She was on her way to Central Park for her longest run yet – 8 miles. She had a whole 7 months to work up to 13.1 miles for the Glass Slipper Challenge; it wasn’t going to be easy but she was more than determined.

It was a rather brisk morning, the chill in the air and the bright orange hues across the tree tops suggested fall was settling in. It wouldn’t be long before a blanket of white would cover the city; she shook the chilly thought out of her head and set off to achieve her new goal.

She loved to run, it was the only time she felt free, free from the constraints of her tiny apartment. It was as if she could conquer the world when she was running. She picked up her pace, feeling extra ambitious this particular morning. Something felt different, good different; she lifted her head higher as the chilly air pinched her cheeks. Her thoughts wandered through her past relationships. She thought to herself, when would she find her “Prince Charming”?

The next thing she knew she was on the ground. Some how she had tripped, What just happened?, she thought. “My shoe! Where is my shoe?!” she said frantically.

“Excuse me, does this belong to you?” She looked up where she saw her Cinderella sneaker held gently within a pair of masculine hands. As she slowly raised her eyes her jaw dropped open. She had never seen this beautiful creature in the park before.

“Are you ok?” he asked. “Let me help you up. My name is Alto, well Al- you can call me Al,” he said as he helped her to her feet. “Lean on my shoulder,” he slipped her royal sneaker back onto her foot.

She had yet to speak a word. She thought, where is my voice? She took a deep breath, “ Thank you. My name is Ella, you can call me…… Ella,” she said with a smirk hoping he had a sense of humor.

They began walking together; she forgot all about her 8 mile run. As time seemed to stand still she glanced down at her armband that was still velcro’d securely around her upper arm.

“OH NO! I have to run, I’m late! I’m so sorry. It was so nice to meet you, thank you for your help!” she called back as she sprinted down the park’s walkway.

For a moment Alto stood still in disbelief, he couldn’t believe she was gone. He continued along the walkway that they had just indulged in deep conversation, his thoughts completely focused on her. There is something different about Ella, he thought. He just couldn’t get her out of his mind. As he shuffled his feet along the walkway he came across a blue satin ribbon.

“That’s the ribbon from Ella’s sneaker,” he said out loud to himself. He began to feel an excitement in which he didn’t quite understand and without another clear thought he began to run. He assumed he was running to find Ella, but how was that possible when she had left him over fifteen minutes ago? He didn’t care, he continued to run without reason. As he rounded the corner, there coming toward him in the same fashion was Ella. Relief washed across him as if he had just found a long lost heirloom. She ran straight to him smiling so brightly that it made him feel as if her smile was meant solely for him.

“I found your ribbon after you ran off,” he said as he once again knelt down to assist her with her royal sneaker.

“Al?” she said as if she had something very important to ask him.

He gazed up at her longing for her to speak her next words just so he could hear her voice again.

“I am on my way to a ball room dance class, would you care to join me?”

He slowly rose from his kneeling position, though his heart felt as if it were beating faster and harder than a horse galloping through a field. “I would be honored to accompany you to your dance class Ella.” How he loved the way her name sounded as it rolled off his tongue. He put his crooked arm out and she intertwined her arm with his. Off they went arm and arm with boundless possibilities surrounding them. Both knew there was something different about the other, a good different.

As their dance lesson came to an end, neither was ready to say goodbye. They found themselves sitting in a diner a block down the street. Both Alto and Ella talked how this was their favorite place to eat and each one claimed to frequent the restaurant, yet neither had ever seen the other there. The evening progressed from dinner to dessert and still neither was ready for it to end.

As they walked out into the starry night, this time hand in hand, a horse and carriage stopped in front of them. Alto turned his head toward Ella and once again she smiled at him with that incredibly bright smile that he now knew was made just for him.

“Your carriage awaits my lady”, he said as he gestured his hand toward the open aired entry. She stepped into her future with Alto right behind her. As the horse and carriage journeyed down the street, off in the distance the faint sound of church bells could be heard ringing.

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Red this month. We will be back on September 4th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts – The Princess and the Frog

2nd Stop ~ Magical Mouse School House – Lady and the Tramp

3rd Stop ~ The Disney Point – Up

4th Stop ~ Frontierland Station – The Little Mermaid

Final Stop ~ Two Moms and A Mouse – Cinderella

What does Cinderella Castle mean to you?

Posted on March 11, 2014May 1, 2016 by twomomsadmin

I can’t tell you my initial thoughts or feelings when I first laid eyes on Cinderella Castle at age four (I think). But it must have left quite an impression; it has called me back for 36 years, each time being as breathtaking as the last.
I have heard these same expressions from others alike, the castle evokes an emotion deep within, not always explainable. Gasps, tears, laughter and sighs are all sentiments used to describe effects people have had when those blue spirals come into sight. What is it about this castle in particular that heightens such emotion? Is it Cinderella who we are connecting with; is it a fairytale come to life before our eyes? For me… I think I hear it saying “keep dreaming, keep reaching, life is fun and full of possibilities”.
What do you see, hear or feel when you see Cinderella Castle soaring before you?

~Maureen