Genella has some books coming out this next year that I hope we can nudge her to talk about, but I asked if she would tell us a bit about her tenure as a resort decorator for Disney in Anaheim, Ca.
Can you imagine a more fun job? This from a woman who got to go Disney back lot in Orlando with a group of band students performing in the afternoon Main street parade. It's all very tight security and I was just in Disney heaven!
So to honor her chatting about her Disney days and costumes (her other love!)
I've taken liberty of hunting down and dragging in...er, inviting a few live actiion Disney heroes to our cozy kitchen today to help keep our toes warm on this chilly autumn day! See how many you can name(real names) and what DISNEY movie they appeared in. Post your answers in the comment section and I'll pick one winner at random to send a special treat! ( No tricks involved and I can tell you its yummy sweet!)
Come on in here G. and grab a cuppa!
Hi Amanda - happy Autumn everyone!
This is my favorite time of year, for several reasons – Halloween being one of them.
So in honor of the modern way in which we celebrate Halloween, let's talk costumes and decorations!
Do you dress-up every year (whether you have kiddies or not) or only for Halloween parties?
Where do you get your ideas for your costume?
Do you plot and plan your ensemble out or do you head to your local Target and choose from the "what's popular this year" selection?
Do you go all out and do hair and makeup, too or just make it work with a decent hat or wig?
One of my favorite ways to plan a Halloween costume begins all the way back at the beginning of September. (In case you don't know it, I'm a total costume spaz.) I like to "haunt" the local thrift stores way in advance and see what sparks an idea. If I see something I know will likely be snatched up by another costume hunter, I grab it then and there. Thus begins my journey into the perfect costume.
Now for the decorations. Atthe Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, (for the Resort Enhancement Team, anyway) Christmas begins in June/July. Crazy, huh? I worked there in 2003 and thought it jarring at first when we began dragging out the old decorations, refurbishing them and/or bringing new ideas to life. It didn't take me very long to totally fall in love with decorating, no matter the season. (I obviously don't bat an eyelash anymore when Macy*s brings out their Christmas trees in early October. LOL) 2004 was the first year The Disney Resorts began decorating for Halloween. I had the privilege in 2003 of seeing some of their Autumn ideas they would execute the following year. Given my adoration for Disney and my unabashed love of Halloween, I can only imagine I would be salivating all over the place had the position with the Resort Enhancement Team been a permanent one. It must be illegal to love a job so much. :)
Here in Los Angeles over the passed five years or so, I've noticed more and more people are decorating their houses for Halloween – not just by hanging their kids' pictures in the window, but going ALL OUT. Some go spooky and turn their front yards into grave yards with smoke and black light. Others do it up with Jack-o-lanterns and orange or purple light strings hung kind of like traditional Christmas lights. Still others have a harvest theme with scarecrows and tons of uncut pumpkins and strangely twisted gourds and squash. I must confess: I love it all—so much so that it makes me giddy.
However you choose to decorate or for whichever holiday, try putting a theme to your creation. For instance, if you are doing a Christmas wreath and decide that Angels are your theme, (and you could probably go to any dollar store or craft store to find the following items) begin with a pine wreath (faux or real with a bit of gold spray glitter around the edges) try placing white angel feathers, little golden harps, white twinkle lights and anything else you can pull from the theme around the wreath.
See how we jumped from Halloween to Christmas? Another reason I love this season is because it kicks off the holidays.
Thanks for having me, Amanda!
Hugs to everyone –
G.
