Tag: Disney World

I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive.

Sara Mazariegos

Figure Skating obsession. The Winter Olympics have ended. I always enjoy them every 4 years and wish I could watch more figure skating. When I was little (around 7 years old) I loved Oksana Baiul. I remember pretending to figure skate around the kitchen in my socks, which was actually quite dangerous and I’m glad I didn’t give myself further injury*. It’s one of few sports I actually feel excited about, the other being soccer.

When we first started watching this year, I was drawn to Alysa Liu because of her style and because she seems to genuinely have fun while she’s skating. She seems really cool. I hope we can maybe see her on a tour sometime. My family took me to see figure skaters on a tour when I was little.

For my birthday this year, we’re going ice skating with our friends. I took lessons a long time ago, with my sister. We learned how to twizzle and get up if we fall. I doubt I remember how to do either thing. But I’ll probably hold onto the wall a lot anyway. Becoming a figure skating pro will be something my Sim does, not me. Alas.

Haircut and enjoyable laidback weekends. I finally got a haircut last weekend, after about a year of long-hairedness. My hair style is usually a long bob with side bangs, so I went back to that. I saw my reflection and thought I looked normal again, which is always a good thing when it comes to haircuts. I enjoy wearing my hair up when it’s long, but it’s nicer to have it short and easier to manage.

Aside from going to the salon, we had a nice, laidback weekend without any big plans. It’s good to do that sometimes; it’s more relaxing. We watched some winter sports themed movies. I chose Ice Castles, starring Robbie Benson, for some more figure skating. Luis chose Sudden Death, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which has some hockey in it but isn’t really a hockey movie. And then I got the silly song in my head.

Excitement about Disney/Universal trip. I’m so excited about our anniversary vacation to Disney World and Epic Universe, even though it’s still seven months away! Luis did all of the Disney planning already, for Christmas, so pretty much all I can do is wait. My cousin is going to help us get tickets to Universal, and we’re planning our first trip to their new park, but it’s too far away to really plan plan. I love looking forward to things, but waiting is also so frustrating.

We watched videos of the Jaws ride and the original King Kong ride the other night. Those rides were so cool! The King Kong animatronics were impressive and cute. The new version is quite sad in comparison. I wish they’d stop relying on screens. They’re cheap, sure, but they’re also dull.

I can’t wait to go see the new stuff at Epic Universe. I just wanna skip to October. Spoiled, first-world problems for sure. There’s just so much unpleasantness happening from all sides at all times, so it’s nice to have something to look forward to.

Farragut isn’t on a horse. The other day, I wrote about a statue close to my office and described the guy being on a horse, but then when I walked by after work I took the time to look at him and realized he’s not on a horse at all. And I realized that we’re all unreliable narrators, in a way. We don’t all remember things exactly as they happened.

I edited out the horse so my story is accurate. I want my narrators to be trust-worthy, even if they still don’t have all the correct information. They might have some fun misunderstandings along the way, but the least they can do is know what a statue they’re talking about looks like.

Observantly yours,

* When I was around 2 years old, I spun around while dancing to Star Search and hit my head against the family’s wooden TV stand. I have a lovely eyebrow scar to prove it.

This will be our year. Took a long time to come.

Sara Mazariegos

Christmastime. We had a really great Christmas this year. We were so organized, it never felt like we were rushed. In fact, everyone showed up a little late on Christmas Eve, which was fine. We forgot eggs for our sweet potato casserole, so Luis’s mom brought us eggs and we put it in the oven once his parents arrived. I also drank probably too much egg nog over the last week, but ’tis the season!

We played a fun card game Luis invented and then it was midnight and we opened presents. I got a snuggly “Biscuit Bandit” hoodie with Meeko the raccoon on it. I’m wearing it even as I type. Luis’s sister gave me a martini glass and a bottle of fancy espresso so I can make my own espresso martinis at home, since I like them so much. My dad gave me not one but TWO Beatles calendars this year. That’s his silly tradition. My sister got me an ice skating Barbie and Ken doll from the early 90s. I haven’t seen them since I was little. So Luis and I might have to make them skate around our dining room table once the table cloth has been removed. All of the presents were very nice and fun. One thing that’s good about being older is there’s less of a disappointed, “Aww, I wanted x” feeling after the presents have all been opened… Mostly because I’m already spoiled.

Luis’s big surprises. We were already planning to go to Disney World for our anniversary in 2026, and I was eagerly waiting for December 27th to book things with Luis. He told me we would wait until then. Nevertheless, his big present for me, which he put in a McDonald’s Happy Meal box (along with a toy Mirabel from Encanto and Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles), was a print-out confirming our one night in the Contemporary Resort, plus four nights in the Art of Animation Resort, plus four days of park tickets!! He booked all of it himself, using our loose plans document and calendar!

He said he booked it all so I wouldn’t worry about it. 💖 I told you I was spoiled.

Now we just have to worry about getting good dining reservations, but why worry?

Luis also got me a big update for my Sims 4 so I have all the game packs I didn’t already have. He’s been busy this Christmas. I got him some Guardians of the Galaxy figures he asked me for, and when I asked him what he wants for his anniversary gift, he told me we could just use the money toward booking another nice dinner at Disney. 🥹 He’s the best and I love him.

John Green told me not to. Anyway, enough gushing about my husband. Time to gush about John Green. This weekend I had a dream that we were hanging out with John and his brother Hank, and I told them I wanted to adopt a raccoon. Dream John and Dream Hank were very supportive of the idea, which is amusing because in real life they wouldn’t be. So I shared it on Threads, and who to my wondering brain should write back?

As much as I love raccoons, I know it would be crazy for me to adopt one. They are not pets. The fact that he wrote back to me at all – during the holiday break, no less! – makes me happy. I laughed out loud when I saw his comment. And I’ve been getting tons of comments and likes ever since. I didn’t think my silly little post would get so much attention. I even got a comment from Mychal Threets!

Like I said: I’m spoiled. 😊

New Years Plans. At my job, we work a half-day on New Years Eve, so Luis is going to meet me at my office and we’ll go out for a nice lunch. I found a fun-sounding English bar and made a reservation so we wouldn’t lose out like we often do. It’s hard to make New Years Eve plans in DC if you don’t like staying out late and you’re not looking for a big crowd. We usually go to the zoo, but this year is a change of pace. We’ll probably be home by five p.m. and watch a New Years-themed movie. And of course check in later on Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen to see how drunk they already are.

I can’t believe the year is at an end. 2025 has been a rough one. I’m looking forward to a better 2026. *crosses fingers* I certainly have a lot of things to be excited about!

Ahaha, I just remembered we saw John Green twice this year. That was a highlight for sure! And our amazing trip to California. Wow. Luis definitely makes my life happy. Everyone should be so lucky as to have their own Luis.

Happy New Year! 🎉

Who shot the hole in my sombrero?

Sara Mazariegos

I don’t have to tell YOU folks about scuba diving. So that’ll save some time.

-Emo Philips

To say my vacation didn’t entirely go as planned would be putting it mildly. I didn’t make a video this week because there’s a lot to try to parce down into a short video and I also feel too blah to want to appear on camera.

Disney World was great! The Grand Floridian spoiled us and I want to stay there again someday. (Darn it, Disney.) We rode the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean three times, then dined with princesses in the castle as the fireworks went off right by our window seat. The Magic Kingdom day was certainly magical.

The rest of it was also great. Mid-April is a good time to go, because the crowds aren’t as big and the temperatures aren’t as hot.

Universal was also fun, though it really does pale in comparison with Disney. My favorite part was The Simpsons, and they’re probably going to replace it soon with Nintendo stuff. I like Nintendo, but… I wish they could just have both. Or Disney would literally take the Simpsons stuff over to Hollywood Studios.

Anyway. Enough theme park stuff.

My husband caught something by the time we were in Guatemala for the wedding. Then I caught it from him literally the evening of the wedding reception. I fell asleep at nine and slept TWELVE HOURS. At first, I thought it was just my body trying to catch up on lost sleep over the past few days, but then my stomach started feeling sick.

The wedding was so nice and it was great to see everyone in Luis’s family there, but it was a bit of a blur because we were both so sick. I think now, today, I’m finally starting to be better. *fingers crossed*

I had a Grand Plan to work on rereading and plotting a novel this week, but that’s out the window. I’ve barely gotten any of my day job work done, between taking a sick day on Tuesday and working (slightly) from home today. But next week! I have faith in next week.

Don’t let this make you think I don’t still love Disney, though. If anything, I blame Universal for getting us sick. 😉

I’m already lightly planning our next trip to a Disney park.

Vladimir collects ceramic unicorns.

Sara Mazariegos


I both won and lost my personal book game for my birthday. I got so many new books. Ah, loopholes. If I was really serious about not getting any books for a while, I wouldn’t ask for them for my birthday. 😇

You can see my excitement about one of them in the video above. I will take it to Disney World and Guatemala, not that I foresee having much extra time to read it while on vacation. Perhaps during the flights, while I’m awake. One of my flights will land at 4 something in the morning!

I’m already feeling grateful for taking a recovery day after our trip. I’m mostly going to use it for sleeping.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m going to jump right into reading the draft of my other novel as soon as I’m back and conscious. I have so many ideas, but I’m pacing myself and being organized about them this go-around. Because “Write all the things!” leads to a mess and/or burnout.

See? I’m learning!

This trip may just fill me with further inspiration. Isn’t that always the way, for authors? Inspiration can be found everywhere.

Until next time,

Cinderelly, Cinderelly.

Sara Mazariegos


There’s a lot to look forward to in Saraland™ in the next few months – one of which is actually happening tomorrow! I’m going to Richmond with Luis (husband) to see Poe’s cats and learn some history. I love cats and history.

The other morning, we got up so, so early to get reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Disney World when we’re there in April. We succeeded! It’ll be lunch instead of dinner, but I’m so excited anyway! By the look of things, lunch might be calmer than dinner, which is perhaps better for our purposes.

I say “like” so much when I’m excited. I didn’t realize until I watched my video back while editing.

In writing progress news, I’ve reached the wonderful 40K (halfway) point! 🎉 I’ve incorporated some of my older draft’s scenes because they’re relevant and not in need of big changes. That’s one nice thing about revising: you can go in and take the things you still want.

Since I’ve made a lot of drastic plot changes to my novel — I even changed the title! (That’ll happen more times, I bet.) — I went back into my query draft and updated it as well, to correspond with my updated plot.

My novel is definitely more focused on the romance plot now. I still think “women’s fiction” applies, too. Many contemporary romances involve women’s fiction angles, don’t they? The female lead’s point in life is very tied to everything she does. I’m drawn to novels where the female lead has some growing to do. I doubt I’m the only one.

I also feel, in my heart, that there’s a space on bookshelves for a romance inspired by Nerdfighters. I hope to provide a novel for that space.

That ice is slowly melting.

Sara Mazariegos


As I read through my novel draft, I keep finding things I want to improve and/or cut. It’s eye-opening, even if it is also a bit frustrating. I’m planning to begin work on rewriting it next week. My goal is to basically “wrimo” my way to March 1st* and then take a break to read my other novel, and then trade places, etc.

It’s nice to have multiple projects to work on. Even if I want to scream “Why can’t you be perfect?!” at both of them.

One thing I’ve noticed I do as a writer (I’m sure I’m not the only one) is overexplaining myself. I’ll have my character (the narrator) say something, and then have an aside or sometimes just an additional thought that’s basically the same information, but in a joking way. I’ve crossed off these superfluous sentences more than twice so far. I wonder if I picked up that sort of writing from Marvel movies?

Either way, I’m annoying myself. Ha!

In other non-writing news, Luis and I are going to Disney World in April for my belated birthday, then back to Guatemala for another family wedding! We’re going to stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort for a special resort day to kick things off. To say I’m excited would be a vast understatement. 🥳

Get you a spouse who shares in your enthusiasm for things. It really is the best.

*giving myself about a month and a half to rewrite it since February is a short month, even with Leap Day.

It must be beautiful in Vermont this time of year. All that snow…

Sara Mazariegos

I hope you had a nice holiday season this year. It’s hard to believe 2024 is almost here.

I’m working at the office Wednesday-Friday, which feels very weird. The days feel off and most people aren’t working, so it’s like a skeleton crew and none of the tasks that matter are getting done, so why worry about the other tasks?

Holiday weeks off should be mandatory. If only I was the boss of everyone. 😉

No video this week because I’m giving myself a personal vacation even if I don’t have a work one. I’m also taking a break from writing, and I keep catching myself thinking about the revising I plan to do. “Not yet, brain,” I tell myself.

Luis (husband) and I are planning our next vacation. There’s something about browsing through Airbnb that cheers me up on a cold and rainy December day.

Nevermind that we considered Cleveland, Ohio before people reminded us that snow happens in February. So that’s been added to the autumn anniversary trip list. Hopefully Cleveland’s not bad in October. We’ve only got two anniversaries! (Dating and wedding.) We don’t travel for our birthdays. We’re not that extravagant.

…Okay, so we’re going to Disney World for my birthday next spring, but a) it coincides with another Guatemala wedding and b) it wasn’t my idea.

I’m like a five-year-old; promise me Disney World and I’ll be excited for months.