Disney Update

So, as some may know I work for Walt Disney World. I started last year and I'll be ending my journey with this wonderful company in August of this year. I have loved my time here but it's time to move on and in my case grow up... I'm transfering schools for the Fall semester so I have to say goodbye to my home and my family to persure bigger things.

This year has been absolutely crazy though! I started out in a specialty location in the most famous park across the street (literally) from where I did my college program in 2012. I imagined my experience to be just like my program and I was so sad when that wasn't the case. I kept trying to get back to the magic that I fell in love with but for some reason just couldn't get there. I refused to pick up a shift across the street until recently for fear of disappointment. Was I wrong? Yes! I had a blast and quickly remembered how amazing it felt to work in that store. My life changed the first day I stepped foot through the backdoor (get it? cause the front door isn't where we enter the store from). I met my best friend, I fell in love, I fell out of love, I formed long distance best friendships that I still have, I was betrayed and got in trouble for wearing a bright pink bra, and found a close family that I will forever be connected to. I am grateful for that time and though I can't bring it back I can cherish every moment I get to spend in that store over the next 4ish months!!

I touched on not being able to find the magic of Disney again and because of that I grew bored and frustrated in my store. I decided in January to transfer to a brand new position. I now work for the Shop Disney Parks App! I get to learn the ins and outs of the backstage areas of each and every park while I run as fast as my little legs will take me to find all of the products the guests have purchased off of the app. It a fun job and I love it. Unfortunately I transfered at the exact WRONG time. Has anyone heard of the Disney budget cuts?

So, Shanghi Disney is set to open in February 2016!! YAY! Wait... that has passed and it's not open. Yeah. Well, it's taking a lot longer to open a brand new resort than what was originally planned. The new Shanghi Disney resort will open in June and we are all awaiting the opening! No, really, we are counting down the days. This is how poo hit the fan. Disney did NOT fail at budgeting. Remember, this is a multibillion dollar company. They didn't just up and fail at budgeting. They did fail at expectation. The Shanghi Disney resort should have been open just over a month ago and that was all budgeted. Because of the set back, Disney now has to rebudget for a June open date and time.

Let me explain this in a way that makes sense. Lets say you own one store and are paying the wages of five employees. They are part time so they aren't legally obligated to recieve a specific number of hours but you may not schedule them over 40 hours a week. You were expecting a new beautiful store to open this week so you budgeted enough money to pay your employees wages until then. Once the store can stand on it's own, you can pay those new employees with that money and your current with the money you make on the current store and the extra would be profit. BUT your contractor seems to have run into an issue with the deadline and is infact three months late in progress. What do you do to stay afloat? Well, you have enough to pay your employees their hourly wages and continue the work on the new store for one month. So how are you going to stretch that for two additional months? You're going to have to cut a few hours here and there. Instead of each employee getting 36 hours a week they will now get 24. Also, you're eating ramen until the new store opens.

Essentially this is what is happening. Domestic employees including full time employees are getting the minimum number of hours which in my case is 0. Luckily for me I can pick up hours at whatever store I want to. Unlucky for me some weeks are harder than others for picking up based on the number of hours needed for the business. Lately it's been pretty slow but just this weekend we're suppose to see a 13% increase since last year. Hopefully this means more hours.

This has absolutely nothing to do with my reason for wanting to move on. I was accepted to transfer school before the budget changes. I do feel bad for those castmembers who desperately need the hours.

That was a large update but I did have a lot to say I guess considering I haven't updated since the start of this blog!

If there are any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments!

XOXO Kait

40 for 40

Happy Lent everyone! Yes, I know lent started almost two weeks ago but sometimes I get busy so here we are. In celebration of the season of lent not only have I given something up (online shopping) and added something good (2 family dinners per week) I have also decided to start a 40 for 40. What's a 40 for 40? I'm so glad you asked! It's where I get rid of 40 things I don't use for 40 days. Now there are some rules.

No repeat items | For example I cannot give away one tee shirt each day for 40 days. I can revisit the items so get rid of the tee shirts I don't wear on monday and then go through them again on friday and get rid of more.

No getting rid of things I actually use | I'm not getting rid of things I actually use.

Reorganize things I decide to keep | This is a double edged sword for me because I convince myself that I need 6 pandora boxes because I can easily fit them in a drawer. No. Not okay. But I can reorganize the drawer and get rid of the boxes.

Donate | Things that are able to be donated should be. Why trash it if I don't have to?

Learn something | So far I've learned that I don't need to buy a ton of decorative things. I tend to get tired of them and throw them out. But why did I buy them? Because they were cheap and cute. No more! I've also learned that I don't need too much stuff. I like having things that remind me of different life events but I only need one or two items. Like my trip to India is very well remembered through pictures but also the beautiful blue coasters that I use everyday are a great reminder. Instead of getting a bunch of knick knacks I got these hand made coasters that I actually use.

So far so good and clean! I hope someone out there tries this challenge! It feels great to declutter!

XOXO Kait

Window Shopping: Beauty

I am a shopper. Without a doubt a shopper. I love shopping so much that sometimes I will online window shop to relieve stress. I also have many many many wish lists. As a natural organizer I like to keep my wish lists organized into categories. Recently I've been working on my beauty routine and I've started to really go through all of my products and dicsover the products that I use the most and get rid of the products I don't use at all. Based on that I've come up with a list of products that I would really like to own that would aid in my everyday regemine. Here are my top picks!

Face Masks | I really enjoy using a fabric face mask every once in a while. Though they are pretty expensive I think, especially when you're traveling, they are essential. They not only help add moisture to your skin but they also relax you. This set from sephora is really nice and it provides you with some options. I'm currently out :( but I will for sure be buying more of these soon!

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush | I love love love Sigma brushes. I recently bought the Mrs. Bunny Essential set which I will be doing a review for here soon but this is the one brush I really wish it had. I am currently using an Eco Tools flat kabuki brush for blending out contour but after using the Sigma brushes I'm convinced I need this one!

Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Powder | This stuff... Oh my goodness. My mom recently bought this powder and she absolutely loves it. So of course I decided to try hers and I'm officially hooked. If I hadn't of just bought a powder by MAC (not that I don't love it) I would have bought this one. It really makes your makeup last and hides ALL pores.

Nars O Powder | We all know what the O stands for and Oh my goodness I forgot how much I love this powder. I got a sample of this not too long ago and I've used it everyday. I love my chubby stick blush by Clinique but this one is just a classic. Its absolutely beautiful on everyone.

Z Pallette | Don't ask me why I need this. In my mind I'm a professional make up artist apparently. I just love the idea of these Z Pallettes! I need one to at least try, right?

Well that's my beauty wish list right now. Let me know in the comments if there is anything I should add to my list.

XOXO Kait

City Guide | Food in Williamsburg, Virginia

I've lived many places and though they all have key aspects that are the same they are all very different. My favorite place that I've lived is Williamsburg, VA. Part of the historic triangle (Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg) Colonial Williamsburg has a special aesthetic that I've never found any place else. What makes this little town so unique is the colonial area that has been preserved to look and feel as if you were stepping back in time to the colonial era (although once you see Benjamin Franklin filling his prescriptions at Walgreens the magic is a little bent).

Yes, Washington DC, Charlottesville, and Alexandria have colonial areas nothing compares to the beautiful town square in Williamsburg. Another thing that makes Williamsbug to special is the University William and Mary. William and Mary is one of eight public Ivy League school which in itself brings a vast variety of people. A liberal arts school, William and Mary has a lot to offer students who wish to attend.

The absolute best part of living in Williamsburg in my opinion is the vast array of restaurant options. The one thing they're missing is a good sushi place but that's an easy drive to Richmond for a day trip of shopping and sushi. Here are my absolute favorite places that you must try if you're traveling to Williamsburg.

1 | Blue Talon Bistro: This is a gem, and absolute gem. Blue Talon Bistro is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot (no really, they're all amazing) nestled in historic Williamsburg. This french inspired bistro offers foodies delightful options from escargot, to macaroni and cheese with diced ham (heavy on the cheese and cream!), duck confit salads with the freshest greens, to boeuf bourguignon. Complete with Julia Child playing on the TV all day everyday this place is a must if you're in the town for any amount of time.  

2 | Aromas: Located across the street from Blue Talon Bistro, Aromas is the ultimate breakfast place. I'm going to be honest, their lunch is good but the true star of the show is breakfast. Try the breakfast burrito, its amazing!

3 | Food for Thought: Not located in historic Williamsburg but closer to the outlet mall, this place is sure to amaze! Their menu would make Gordon Ramsey throw an absolute fit but it's great for a wide variety of people. They even have a vegetarian menu. I recommend the pad thai!

4 | The Cheese Shop: DO NOT leave Williamsburg without trying The Cheese Shop. The store is huge and the lines are confusing but it is way more than worth it. Get the parcuttio sandwich. Don't change a thing and don't think about it just get it. Amazing. And take home the House Dressing. You won't regret a thing!

5 | Bangkok Garden: Not as well known but so SO amazing. Do not sit down in the restaurant though. Order take out. You're welcome. The wait if you sit down is crazy. Get anything coconut curry, pad thai, green, the spring rolls, anything. Everything is amazing.

6 | Plaza Azteca: I've been to a lot of these chains but the one in Williamsburg is by far my favorite. The food is better here, I don't know why but it is.

7 | La Yaca: This is an authentic french bistro complete with french people! Many of the servers are french and in my opinion that just makes it better! But the real star here is the onion soup. Creamy and salty, this soup should come in 5 gallon tubs. I would eat it all. Seriously just try it.

I love eating out so much so if anyone has any recommendations for me please leave them in the comments!

XOXO Kait