This year's Advent Calendars are a little different! They have regular ones, sent from their Grandmother in Texas, but we also stumbled across these Star Wars ones at Target. There were a few different designs, and they were $3.50 each, a little more than a regular advent calendar, but they were Star Wars! 

Every day's chocolates are the same, it says Star Wars, though there are two different shapes, oval (shown below) and rectangular, more of the classic look, which at first made the boys sad, but I'm thinking after Christmas I'll save the candy mold, so that I can reuse them (maybe?) to make my own Star Wars chocolates, or mold candy melts for cupcakes in the future. Makes me want to find some Disney ones now, too! 

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When you think about Disney, you think the castle, Mickey, the theme parks, maybe even how expensive it all is, but do you think about philanthropy? I'm a firm believer that giving should be year round, and Walt was too.


Walt was very concerned with helping others to build a better world, and that attitude hasn't stopped, even though he is gone.


Did you know, last year Disney gave over 400 MILLION to non profit organizations that helped communities, kids and families! In addition to the financial gifts, they've done a lot of other really neat things to give to the communities. Disney has played a huge part in all of the hurricane disaster releif efforts in 2017, donating millions to that. They’ve also been longtime partners with Feeding America, and this year teamed up with a cosmetic line for Disney products where 100% of the proceeds go to Feeding America but that’s only the tip of the iceberg! Here are a few of my personal favorite things that Disney has done to help others!


In 2014, Disney illustrators designed comic books that also folded into posters to be delivered to almost 450 hospitals, and have kept up that annual tradition! This year's comic is going to be Guardians of the Galaxy! These comics are not just your usual comic you'll find on the comic store wall, but are specially designed just for these kids. Way to go, Disney! That's just awesome.


Click the photo below, to read the original article! At the end of the article, you can even read the digital comic, yourself.  

Childhood literacy is so important to me, just ask Mr. Disney who just might tune me out when I get on my soapbox about school budget cuts, and reductions in products with Boxtops for Education that have make the school library suffer. While I don't do all of the fundraisers that come home, simply because we can't, I always, always do library fundraisers.


The importance of reading is so important to Disney too, they have donated over 34 MILLION books in 5 years. That's a lot of awesome stories out there for kids who might not otherwise get exposed to books. In this digital age, a lot is lost in translation without the feel of a real book, and the experience of turning the pages. I'm so excited Disney feels the same!


This next one makes me smile. You can click the photo below to read the article! 
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In November, Disney hosts the Holiday Share Joy Campaign. They partner with Feeding America, Toys for Tots, and their VolunteEARS do a day of community service, and make holiday comfort kits helping to make the holidays brighter for many children!


I learned, and was quite surprised (So yup, I'll be throwing this one around a lot this Christmas, all excited!) Disney's connection with Toys for Tots began in 1948, when Walt Disney and his animators designed the Toys for Tots logo, that is still in use today!! How amazing is that?! Maybe that's why that's always been my favorite charity to donate toys to, it was subconsciously sending those Disney vibes!

Mr. Disney Magic would be sad if I didn't mention Disney's Force For Change charity. The super, Star Wars themed fundtraiser, but Disney has done so many other amazing things for youth and adults, including recently supporting the opening of the New Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and partnering with the American Red Cross and Doc McStuffins herself, for the Pillowcase Project, preparing third through fifth graders for emergencies. I could go on and on, but I'm going to give you the main link so you can read some of these wonderful articles yourself so you too can be inspired to make a change in your community! It takes a village, but like Mother Teresa said, “If you can't feed a thousand people, feed one.” This year my goal was to loom knit 12 hats for our local Salvation Army seniors, but I'm feeling so inspired right now, I'm going to see if I can get that number a little higher! Let's all see if we can do just one thing this week to make things better for someone else!


For some reason, Disney doesn’t update everything they do on this particular website. I read many of the things that they do in their Disney Parks blog, so I’ve included a few of those links as well.


https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/


https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/philanthropy/#charitable-giving


https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/philanthropy/#volunteering


https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/philanthropy/#be-inspired


http://citizenship.disney.com/?cds


https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/09/walt-disney-company-commits-2-5-million-to-hurricane-irma-recovery-efforts/


https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-donates-500000-humanitarian-aid-support-mexican-communities-impacted-recent-earthquakes/


While there are many, many companies who give to their communities and disaster relief, I really think that Disney goes above and beyond, and in doing so, perfectly captures the way Walt would want it done. 

This year, add a little of that Disney Magic to your holidays by helping someone. Grab a name or two off the Salvation Army tree, put a few toys in a shoebox, or the Toys for Tots bin that you see, and make someone experience the joy and warmth of knowing that they were remembered this Christmas. 

​We were  out Black Friday-ing and happened across Lowes. I'm not sure what Mr. Disney Magic was looking for, it's all a blur when I get Disney on the brain but my head turned and out of the corner of my eye in the garden section I spotted these... And the rest is awesome. Yup. If I weren't on the committee giving away the prize for best decorated house (and thus, excluded) in our neighborhood, chances are good I'd be bringing home the prize!

The mouse himself turned 89 yesterday! Can you believe that? I want to look that good at 89! 

For 89 years Mickey has been bringing laughs, tears, heart warming moments and a lot of happiness to millions. Without him, so much Disney wouldn't exist. I think Walt's quote carries a lot of weight on this wonderful birthday. 

"...I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing. It was all started by a mouse." -- Walt Disney

​Happy birthday Mickey. 

The holiday season is approaching faster than the 7:30am double bus crowd dashing towards Magic Kingdom Security during Extra Magic Hours. 

If you are hoping that Mickey Claus will put something special in your stocking, or maybe you'd like to share a little Disney magic, there are some AWESOME but CHEAP was to do that this year! 

Both Target and Walmart had some awesome $1 and $3 items in their stores, so I snapped a few pictures to share some of my favorites with you. You can still have that Disney Magic this Christmas, without having to dip into your Disney fund to pay for it! 

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This year both Target and Walmart have cute Disney chapsticks! They are character shaped, and and also regular tube shaped, and all of them are adorable! They are also only $1. Walmart also has Disney Princess PERFUME for $1! The Snow White is a perfume. 
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These are actually packs of 4 candy filled ornaments at Walmart, for just $1. Give them all to one person, or split them up! As you can see, there are lots of other designs, not just Disney. 
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Everyone need's Yoda ears! Or Minnie, or Mickey! These are just $3 at Walmart! 
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Don't forget to stop by the gift wrap. There were sooo many Disney rolls, but these are the ones that came home with me! $3 at both Target and Walmart. These ones are from Target. 
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Princess bows for just $1! These are at Walmart. 
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Disney bathtime fun, also at Walmart! Turn the water colored, or play while you wash! Yep, also just a dollar! 
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The old Christmas standby... socks! $1 at Target!

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​Cool stationary sets for $3 at Target
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Super awesome Star Wars mug for $3 at Target


There was so much more stuff! There's no reason why not to fill your stocking with Disney Cheer, and put a little Disney into your holidays! 

Stop by, then tell me what Disney you ended up buying! 

Need more Disney? Planning a trip over the holidays? 

Click here to read about how to stay SANE during your Disney Holiday Trip! 

Click here for more ideas on managing the crowds during your holiday! 

Need to save a little more jingle before your trip? We've got that too! Click here for the one simple tip to save hundreds!