Once Upon a Happily Ever After: 08/01/14

Week 11:

Howdy, partners!! This week's Disney movie was Toy Story! I haven't watched this movie in a long time (just the two after it), so I was really excited to watch it again!

It, also, was the perfect time to watch Toy Story, because I have recently moved, no I didn't leave behind any toys, and my neighbor is moving this week. Most of this movie is about Woody and Buzz finding a way to get to the new house with all the rest of the toys, so it seemed fitting. Also, I moved for my job (I work for Goodyear) and guess what tires were on the moving van in the movie? Yup, Goodyear tires. Perfect! It happens very quickly, so I don't have a picture of it, but try to look for it next time.

By the way, did you hear what was playing in the car when Molly looks back and sees RC, Woody, Buzz, and Slinky? Hakuna Matata! Seeing as we didn't do the Lion King dinner that long ago, I thought that was pretty neat.

Anyways, I am sure you are wondering what the menu is this time seeing as we already did a Toy Story menu. Will anything be...gulp...repeated?!

You may just have to send the soldiers out...

WHAT IS IT?!

Ok, ok here it is.

Short, sweet, and NO repeats! The pizza is, of course, for when Andy, his mom, and his little sister go to Pizza Planet and, through a series of unfortunate events, Woody and Buzz end up going home with Sid.

We got our pizza from a place in a nearby town that, outside of Chicago (which is deep-dish where this is more New York-style), is the best pizza I think I've ever had. Ya. That good. In case you are wondering, we got half Margherita and half Meat-Lovers.

The next item on the menu was Cosmic Brownies by Little Debbie. I chose these treats, because Andy's birthday present was Buzz who was a SPACE Ranger. Our ever-reliable Wikipeida states, "Buzz Lightyear's name was inspired by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he pulled a Buzz Lightyear doll out during a speech at NASA, to rapturous cheers. A clip of this can be found on the Toy Story 10th Anniversary DVD. His often repeated catchphrase is "To infinity... and beyond!" which is a variation of the line "Beyond the infinite" that appears as a title card in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey as "JUPITER AND BEYOND THE INFINITE"." I, also, chose them to go along with the pizza as something that could be found at Pizza Planet. I added Cosmic Cupcakes, a newer Debbie delight, and a Star Crunch as well.

Since this menu was short and sweet, I had a little more time to think. Dangerous, I know. I wanted to do something special for Andy's birthday, so I got him some Birthday Cake Oreos (which are delicious) and coordinated with all of his favorite toys. The toys outdid me for sure. They got him toy-size gifts and a toy-size cake! Woody organized this, of course, so he influenced the design a bit and this was before Buzz (the alien was included, because I couldn't help myself). In the true Andy's-birthday spirit, I had ice cream with my piece of cake! Sorry, I ate that part before I took the picture. It was melting, ok?!

I saw these candles which I thought a boy would really like. Actually, what isn't cool about color flame candles for anyone? I didn't get them, however, because I was in on the cake plan and knew it'd be too cute to ruin with such things as candles. Plus, plastic/cloth toys and a flame..not good. I am no Sid!

Hey Etch, DRAW! Winner gets to see the full, final result.

...I totally let you win, Etch. Here it is!

Like I said, I have not watched Toy Story in a LONG time, so there were quite a few things I picked up on this time that I never have before. One was in Sid's room when Buzz helps Woody out of the crate. The toolbox on top of the crate says Binford tools which is in Home Improvement. Tim Allen is the star of that show and voices Buzz! O Disney/Pixar, you out-do yourself sometimes.

Justice and I decided, since we had time/it was a "short" Disney dinner, we would do something fun and movie-related. I love the aliens from Toy Story. I even made a pumpkin resembling one for Halloween one year (I typically don't do the whole pumpkin-carving thing). I found the perfect thing to combine both the need for something movie-related and my love of the aliens. THE CLAW.

To the mall we went. I even dressed in my best Sheriff Woody outfit for the occasion (i.e. put on boots and a scarf). Don't worry. I didn't wear the scarf inside.

The mall here has several claw machines, but there was one with Starbucks cups (with gift cards inside) that I gravitated to. An adult claw machine. Is there anything cooler than that? I definitely was more inspired to win than if it had been a bear or something. Justice and I know a couple "pro" claw-machine players, and thought we had a good chance of walking away with a cup. Justice was relaxed, but I might have been a little too into it. I say this because, when I didn't win a prize, I wanted to shake the thing and say, "YOU ARE A TOY! Now give me my cup!".

Yup, it was time to call it a day when I was angry with/talking to an inanimate object.

Another moment I forgot in the first movie was the Christmas scene! The Disneymoon that started this whole blog is going to take place around Christmas time (with Disney World and the cruise decorated for my favorite time of year), so it was perfect! Also, in the scene, Sheriff Woody had Bo (who, sadly, did not appear in the third film), Mr. Potato Head found out he was getting a new Mrs. (perfect again seeing as I will be a new Mrs. then too. Wedding pictures were found online), AND, as if it could get any better, Andy got a puppy which, as I've stated before, Justice and I are looking into getting after we are married. This whole blind drawing thing is really working out for me.