Pin #550: LAFD 84

Yet another pin from the 1984 Olympics, this one features the Olympic torch sponsored by the LA Fire Department.  It's a cool pin with the fireman's axes coming out of the side.

Pin #549: LA Olympics ABC

This is another pin from the 1984 Olympics in LA.  I like this one because it has the ABC logo interwoven in the Olympic Rings.  Other than that, it's a fairly nondescript pin.

Pin #548: 1980 Winter Olympics

This is a pin from the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.  This is really my only link to the Miracle on Ice.  I got this pin with a bunch of others that my mom found for me at a client's, I think.  It's a simple pin, which I like.

Pin #547: FDR Home

This is a pin representing the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  It is copper in color with some green, dangling things on the bottom.  I don't recall where I got this pin, but I think either my parents or friends of my parents went there and got it for me.

Pins #542-546: Phillies 2008 Playoffs

This is a pin set I bought to commemorate the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship.  Each pin represents a step along the path to the championship.  In the top left, the pin celebrates the NL East Championship.  Then in the top right we recognize the NLDS victory over the Brewers.  On the bottom left, we see the NLCS victory over the Dodgers.  I went to two games during that series, including the Matt Stairs homerun game.  The pin on the bottom right celebrates the World Series victory over the Rays.  And in the center, there is a World Champions pin featuring the World Series trophy.  This is one of my favorite pin sets because it represents such a happy sports memory for me.

Pins #539-541: Alabama Crimson Tide

This is a pin set representing the Alabama Crimson Tide.  I am by no means an Alabama fan, but this set was a gift from someone so I keep it.  The three different pins showcase the school logo and mascot, which is an elephant for some reason.  It's a simple, classy set.

Pins #535-538: US Olympic Team 1992

This is a set of pins representing the 1992 USA Olympic team.  It's a nice set of pins, but pretty generic when it comes to Olympic pins.  I don't remember where I got it, though.  But I do want to look into the set more to see if I can find out where it came from.

Pins #528-534: Celebrate the Mountains Disneyland Set

This set celebrates the Disneyland mountain range.  It has pins representing all the mountains in both parks, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Grizzly Mountain, and the Matterhorn.  Three of the mountains were celebrating anniversaries when this set was released.  I first saw the set while I was on a field trip with my students.  It was rather expensive so I was unsure about buying it.  But I really wanted it.  I went back to Disneyland three weeks later for my birthday and I kept seeing it, calling to me.  I decided that it would have to be my birthday gift to myself, so I sucked it up and bought it.  It is one of the prize sets in my collection and I have it on display in my living room.

Pin #527: Everyone Needs Deadlines

This is a jumbo pin featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto.  The pin is shaped like gears and even includes moving parts.  And it showcases the Walt Disney quote, "Everyone needs Deadlines."  It was a gift from my mom.  I think it is really cool!

Pin #526: 2011 MLB All Star Game - Chase Field

This is another limited edition All Star Game pin I found at the Fan Fest.  This one features Chase Field with the All Star Game and Diamondbacks logos in front.  I thought it was a cool looking pin.

Pins #522-525: 2011 MLB All Star Game Set

I bought this set when I went to the 2011 MLB All Star Game.  At the Fan Fest there were a lot of vendors selling all kinds of merchandise, pins included.  I saw this set and really liked it.  Plus, it said it was limited edition, which I thought made it even better.  The pins feature a taste of Arizona with the state flag and cactus, one with Chase Field, and another with the All Star Game logo.  All in all, a really cool set.

Pin #521: Piece of Disneyland History - Muppet Vision 3D

The Piece of History pins feature an actual physical piece of the attraction that is featured on the pin.  When I first heard about these pins, I got really excited.  They are released periodically and in limited numbers.  I make sure to look for them whenever I go to the park.  During a recent visit I found this one, featuring Muppet Vision 3D.  I love the Muppets and that show, so I had to buy it.  The pin contains a piece of the Swedish Chef's costume.

Pin #520: Official Conscience

There is quite a story behind this pin.  I saw it the last time I was at Disneyland at the Westward Ho Trading Company, which is a big pin trading outpost at the park.  I really liked it, but I didn't buy it at the time for some reason.  Later that night I went to buy a bunch of pins at a different store, but couldn't find this one.  So I went to another store on Main Street and they didn't have it either.  They told me to check back at Westward Ho, but when I went over there it was closed.  I checked at least three other stores in the park and asked countless employees, all with no luck.  That was the only place I could get that pin and I missed my chance.  I half expected an employee to walk over there and just get it for me, but they didn't.  I told myself I would get it next time I was there or try to find it online.  Once again, I had no luck online, and gave up my search.  Then recently I got a surprise package in the mail.  One of my friends who was there with me during my frantic search found it online and bought it for me!  It was such a nice surprise!  I will cherish this pin forever.

Pin #519: Disneyland Diamond Celebration - Disney's Original Theme Park

This is probably my favorite of the Disneyland 60 pins that my friends got me.  It features classic Mickey with Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the background.  And the inscription on top reads, "Walt Disney's Original Theme Park" which I think is really cool.  I just love the look and feel of this pin!

Pin #518: Vanderbilt

A friend of mine sent me a text showing that he was at a basketball game at Vanderbilt.  It's quite a unique arena at which to watch a game.  I was a little jealous.  During the course of our conversation I mentioned that he should look for a pin for me.  And he did!  This is what he got.  It's a no frills pin, but it has the school logo, which is cool.

Pin #517: Disneyland 60 - Opening Day

Here is another pin from the Disneyland 60 celebration that my friends got for me.  This one celebrates Opening Day and features Sleeping Beauty's Castle.  It's a really beautiful pin.

Pin #516: Star Wars Force Friday Pin

I got this pin on Force Friday, which is the day that all the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise was released.  The Disney Store gave away this pin to the first 100 customers who made a purchase.  I got up early and went to the store to buy something just to get it.  I'm so happy I did!

Pin #515: Germany

This is another pin that my coworker got me from her trip to Europe.  She spent most of her time in Germany and found this pin for me.  It features the colors of the German flag and some sort of crest.  It's kind of cool, and I appreciate that she thought of me.

Pin #514: Disneyland 60 - Mickey Ears Prism

This is another Disneyland 60 pin that a friend got me.  It's the classic Mickey ears with Mickey and Minnie and a picture of the castle featured throughout.  And it's hard to tell in the picture, but the pin is like a prism, which I actually think is supposed to resemble the facets of a diamond because it's the diamond anniversary.  It's another good looking pin.

Pin #513: Partysaurus Rex

This pin was a surprise gift from a friend.  I had no idea she was going to get me anything and it was a wonderful surprise.  It really means a lot to me that she thought of me, and this is now one of my favorite pins.  It doesn't hurt that I love dinosaurs, too!

Pin #512: Disneyland 60 - Space Mountain

This is another pin that a friend got me from the Disneyland 60 celebration.  It's part of a series of pins featuring popular attractions and milestones.  This one features the opening of Space Mountain.  It shows Space Mountain sitting on top of a diamond.  I love Space Mountain pins!

Pin #511: Tomorrowland

This is a pin from the movie, Tomorrowland.  The movie itself was a little underwhelming, but maybe I was too excited to see it.  But the pin played a major role, so I was really excited when I had the opportunity to cash in Disney Movie Rewards points in order to get one.  Part of me wants to wear it on It's a Small World just like in the movie.

Pin #510: Disneyland 60 - Fancy Mickey

This is another Disneyland 60 pin that a friend got me.  This one features the outline of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the background with a diamond-studded 60 and fancily dressed Mickey up front.  It's a very classy, well designed pin.  I like it.

Pin #509: Olaf Chillin'

This pin was a gift from a very good friend.  She surprised me with this one and told me that she really wanted to get me a pin that I didn't already have.  She took a shot with a Frozen pin and nailed it.  I think this pin is really cute, and it means so much more to me coming from her.

Pin #508: Disneyland 60 - Disney 'D'

This pin was released as part of Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration.  While I haven't been able to go myself and participate in the fun, many of my friends have.  And they have been very generous with getting pins for me.  This is one of the pins they got me.  It features the classic Disney 'D' encrusted with 'diamonds' because 60 years is the diamond anniversary, and it also includes a bold, blue 60.  It is a very classy pin.

Pin #507: Austria

This pin was a gift from a coworker who took a trip to Germany and Austria.  When she told me about her trip I sort of guilt tripped her into getting me a pin while she was out there.  So she got me this one from Austria.  I like it.  It's a cool looking flag.

Pin #506: Grand Canyon Railway - Gold Train

This is another pin I bought when I rode the Grand Canyon Railway.  It's a cool pin on pin overlay with the gold train coming right at you.  It really stands out and the gold on silver is just cool.

Pin #505: Roadrunner

This is a roadrunner pin.  I don't remember exactly where I got it, but I think it might have been somewhere at or near the Grand Canyon.  I like roadrunners.  They are fun to watch.

Pin #504: Donald Duck Phillies

This is another pin my mom gave my for Christmas.  She found it somewhere.  It features my favorite baseball team, the Phillies, and Donald Duck.  As I mentioned before with my other Disney baseball pins, I love Disney, so the combination of baseball and Disney is perfect for me.

Pin #503: The White House

I went a little overboard with the pins the last time I was in Washington DC.  I bought this one because I felt like I had to get a White House pin.  This just shows the front of the house and the lawn.  It's nothing really special or different, but it is a White House pin.

Pin #502: Steampunk Mickey

This pin was a gift from a friend.  It's a steampunk Mickey and it is unlike any other pin I've ever seen.  It's really cool!  I'm not sure how else to describe it other than that, and I am thankful that my friend thought it was unique enough to get it for me.

Pin #501: Grand Canyon Rim to Rim

This is yet another pin from the Grand Canyon.  This one celebrates the rim to rim hike and features the Kaibab Suspension Bridge over the Colorado River.  You can see this bridge from a few spots along the rim.  It's cool to be able to point it out.  So I felt like I should buy the pin that featured it.

Pin #500: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

This pin represents the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which took the place of the 20000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage.  They are basically the same ride except now there are Finding Nemo characters projected throughout the ride.  I'm not sure how I feel about the changes.  My mom found this pin somewhere and got it for me.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the porthole is actually in 3D.  I probably wouldn't have bought this pin myself, but I still like it.

Pin #499: Arizona Cactus

This is another pin sent to camp from Arizona Tourism.  At least, I think it is.  I might have got it somewhere else.  I don't really remember.  Because I live in Arizona, I come across random Arizona pins from time to time.  This one has a saguaro cactus, which is a staple of the state.  It's a bit of a cheap looking pin, but you can still tell it's a cactus.

Pin #498: Mississippi

This is another pin that I got during camp when we had our Road Trip theme year.  Mississippi sent us some stuff to give away, including these pins.  It features the state flag and the nickname, The Magnolia State.

Pins #496-497: Wall-E and Eve

These two pins were sold as one at Disneyland.  I have seen them for a couple years now, and always wanted them, but didn't buy them until recently.  The more I've seen Wall-E, the more I fall in love with the movie and with him.  I'm convinced that he is my spirit robot.  And I think the relationship that blossoms between Wall-E and Eve throughout the movie is absolutely beautiful.  So I decided I really needed these pins, and they make me smile every time I look at them.

Pin #495: The Bluebird Cafe

This is another pin that I believe my dad got me in Nashville.  It's from the Bluebird Cafe, which I don't really know anything about.  I assume it must be significant for something.  I do like the pin, though, with the flying bluebird and the script font.  It looks cool.

Pin #494: CNN

This is a CNN pin.  The Earth behind the CNN logo moves too!  I have no idea where I got this pin, though.  I've never been to Atlanta or the CNN headquarters, and I don't remember knowing anyone who has.  I assume someone gave this to me, but it would be a pin I would buy if I saw it at CNN.

Pin #493: Grand Canyon Railway

I bought this pin when I rode the Grand Canyon Railway.  It is a really great train ride and I recommend everyone trying it once.  I bought a lot of pins and souvenirs when I went.  This one is simple and understated, but well-designed nonetheless.  The gold font on red background really looks good.

Pin #492: Spokane Clock Tower

This is another pin I bought during my trip to Spokane.  It shows the Spokane Clock Tower that is a prominent feature in town.  I felt compelled to buy the pin because the site is significant to the town.  And it is represented quite nicely on the pin, also.

Pin #491: Another Grand Canyon Pin

This is another pin I bought at the Grand Canyon.  It's a nice looking pin, but I pretty much bought it because I had bought all the other pins already.  Over a two year span I think I bought all the pins that were sold at the Grand Canyon.  Yea, sometimes I go a little nuts.

Pin #490: Tomorrowland

This is another Disneyland pin representing one of the different lands.  This one is for Tomorrowland, and it might just be my favorite.  It has the retro spaceman and font and is reminiscent of the beginning days of Tomorrowland in the late 50s and early 60s.  I love that retro era stuff.  Plus, Space Mountain is in the background!