Disney World

Oh friends.

I know it has been far too long.

What can I say?

Life.

Anyhoo...

WE WENT TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

Again :)

Main Street at Magic Kingdom

I love it so much there.

Maybe even more than my children.

Faith (being silly) and I 

Lots of folks have been asking lots of questions about any tips I might have and things I like/don't like.

So here are a few thoughts:

-We booked directly through the Disney World website this time.  It worked out fine and we got a great deal (free Disney Dining Plan!).  I *never* go to Disney without getting a great deal.  Right now they have a few deals for winter that are decent.  You can check them out here

My girls and Minnie

-As usual, I used All Ears to help plan most of our vacation.  They always have up-to-date info. and the amount of knowledge all things Disney is beyond amazing!

Princess elf ears 

 -We stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort this time.  If I'm honest, it wasn't my fave.  It is HUGE and sprawled out.  If we had gone in summer, I think we would have enjoyed it more because the pool looked fun.  But it seems a little older than the others and just not as nice.  I must say that the staff was wonderful, though, and since you don't spend a lot of time in the room, it was fine.

Addy learning some archery

• We have stayed at Port Orleans (Riverside), and All Star Movies and liked those as well.  We have also stayed off property and enjoyed that (but staying on property is ALWAYS better!)

Pocahantas and the girls at Animal Kingdom

• Next time, I want to stay at The Wilderness Lodge.  It's my new favorite location.  Unless it's summer.  Then my favorite would be The Yacht and Beach Club.  And The Boardwalk is fun, too!

The BEAUTIFUL tree at the Wilderness Lodge, (sorry it's a little out of focus...camera phone...)

-This time, we had groceries delivered to our room which helps in eating better and saving money!  We had bananas, water bottles, Gatorade, juice boxes, and crackers in the room and to take to the parks with us.  MUCH cheaper than buying those items at Disney World and we didn't have to pack them, (which is great because the airlines are strict on the 50 lbs. and it is very expensive to pay the overage fee!).  The grocery service we used was Garden Grocer and while it does have a delivery fee and a $40 minimum purchase, it was still worth it when you consider a single bottle of water is about $3 at Disney.  (And I drink A LOT of water these days!).

My hubby and girls at Hollywood Studios

-We also had one of our girls get sick while on the trip.  (Unfortunately, this isn't our first Disney trip that involved an illness).  But this time she had a fever, and I forgot to bring a thermometer :(  Bad Mommy!!

The fireworks at Magic Kingdom

• Plus she had a sore throat.  Since we weren't sure if it was strep or just a viral thing, I started researching our options.  Here's what I found out:  

Addy at The Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios

• Disney will arrange a ride for you to a near by Urgent Care, if you don't have a car (which we didn't).  BUT, chances are, the wait at that Urgent Care is about 3 hours long.  

Snow White and her prince

• I don't know about you, but I had no interest in spending my Disney vacation waiting in an Urgent Care while we picked up some other little illness to take back to the fam.  Our other option was to pay for a doctor to come to the room.  

• You read that right.

The girls and Belle at The Story Book Princess lunch in Norway at Epcot

• At Disney, a doctor will make house calls!!!  (or hotel calls if you will...)

• But just like every other thing at Disney, it will cost you.

• About $300 to be exact.

The girls and Merida from Brave.  I think this is who they were most excited to see this time!

• But if you've saved your money, spent a gazillion hours planning your perfect vacation, and don't want to see that all slip away, sometimes you're willing to just pony up the cash and get on with it.

The Castle at night during the show.  SO COOL!!

• Which is what we did.

Minnie and Mickey during the Once Upon a Christmas Parade

• And I'm glad we did because the doctor came right away, dispensed an antibiotic right in the room, and we were out at the parks within 2 hours!

the girls and Donald in Mexico at Epcot

• The Magic of Disney!!

Ahhh yes....Let the Memories Begin

-As usual, we did the Disney Dining plan.  I am a BIG fan of this plan if you have a family and know that you'll want to do sit-down or character meals etc.  BUT, if you don't care about any of that, then the dining plan probably won't save you much, if any, money.

The Fairy Godmother and Faith

• And if you ARE doing sit-down or character meals, make your reservations early!!!  Pretty much everything books up fast, but especially Cinderella's Royal Table, Be Our Guest, Princess Story Book, and Chef Mickey's.

Faith and I at the 50's Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios.  Such a great restaurant!  Just like home!  (Well, if you grew up in the 50's I guess...)

• Quick Note: Be Our Guest (the restaurant in the new Fantasyland area), is quick service dining for lunch.  Which means, no reservation required!  We did this option and it's what we will do again!  No wasting a table service credit and still get great food and the experience of eating in the Beast's Castle!

The enchanted rose in The Beast's Castle

• Oh!  And another thing we discovered at Magic Kingdom: the Dole Whip!!  How in THE WORLD had I never tried this before???  I have no idea.  But this time, we did try it, and it will be the first thing I get when I go again!!  You can grab one in MK at Aloha Isle in Adventureland!

-I used a great app this time on our trip and it really did work out well!  It's called WDW Touring and you can subscribe at TouringPlans.com

Cinderella and her prince in their carriage

• It cost $11.95 for a one year subscription and you can download park plans, or create your own.  Just choose which attractions you want to see, breaks, meals etc. and then it will optimize it for you, based on wait times etc., and tell you which order you should ride/get fast passes etc.  It also has menu's for all the restaurants, wait times, park hours, which parks are most crowded, and where characters are located in the park!  It was a lifesaver for us and I will definitely use it again when we go.

the girls and Tinker Bell

-As it was right after Thanksgiving, we were able to enjoy all the Disney Christmas decorations that were up.  It was BEAUTIFUL!!!  We did the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (which, by the way, is not included in admission and requires an extra ticket!).  It was totally worth it and our family loved it.

Faith at a dance party with Pluto and friends during the Christmas Party

• BUT, if you don't want to pay the extra fee, just hop over to Hollywood Studios and see the Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights!  It IS included in admission and it really is magical.

Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios

-One of the fun things we did this time is visit some of the resorts we hadn't been to yet, and eat at their on-site restaurants!

Little girl in a Big chair at the Wilderness Lodge

• At The Wilderness Lodge, I would *highly* recommend Whispering Canyons Cafe!  Servers are lots of fun, they have all-you-can-drink milkshakes (included with your meal!), and the food is yummy!  After you're done, walk around the beautiful resort and then take a boat ride back to Magic Kingdom!

he swore never to wear a Mickey shirt...until I made him :)

• We also ate at Beaches and Cream at the Yacht and Beach club.  It's like a true 50's style Diner...jukebox and all!  We sat at the counter, which the girls thought was fab!  And while dinner was good, the stars at this restaurant are the desserts!!  My hubby and I shared the Milky Way sundae and it was worth every single calorie.  

The Milky Way Sundae at Beaches and Cream

• (And while I have no idea how many calories there were, I'm sure it was about 3 days worth.  And it was still worth it!)

Expedition Everest at Epcot!  I even got Addy to ride with me this time!

Hmmm, that's about all I can think of for now.  But if you have specific questions, fire them off!  I LOVE to talk about Disney and would be happy to share :)

Disney Disney Disney

My little Princesses

Ya'll know how much I love Disney World!

It's my real life happy place.

Nothing bad happens at Disney, right?!

(Oh yeah, except when my kid got the stomach flu there the last time and we spent 3 days of our vacation in the hotel room with her puking her guts out.)

But never mind all that.

I am excited to tell you that we will be going to Disney World again this November, and OHHH how excited I am!!

We'll get to try lots of new things this time because 1. ) they are opening a whole load of new stuff like the Be Our Guest Restaurant from Beauty and The Beast, Celebrate The Magic, Enchanted Tales With Belle, and Under The Sea- Journey of The Little Mermaid, (click here to find out about all the new stuff!) and 2.) because both girls are tall enough to ride almost every ride at every park now!!

Plus, that feeling, when you walk into the Magic Kingdom, is indescribable.

The first time we took Addy, I cried.

Why?

Because I'm an emotional basket case.

But also because I think taking your kids to Disney World is something that almost every parent dreams of.

I never got to go as a kid and I always felt like I was missing out on a kind of right of passage.

And I just knew that when I became a parent, I wouldn't let them miss out on that opportunity.

(BTW, don't feel too sorry for me.  I got to do lots of other fun vacations as a kid, and even go to Italy when I was in High School.  Rough life, I know).

So when we walked into The Magic Kingdom with her, it was as if I had fulfilled that promise to myself and was able to make one of her very first dreams come true.

Our first visit with Addy when she was 4

And that's what Disney is about.

Making dreams come true.

You want to be a princess?

Then that's what you are!

How about a Pirate?

Yep!

And you want to spin in a saucer, fly on an elephant and ride a magic carpet?

You can do all that, too.

It truly is Magical.

And also, we are getting a great deal.

Which makes it Magical for our bank account, also.

If you are interested in planing a Disney trip of your own, check out their site here.

(And I am NOT an affiliate or making any money off of this recommendation!  I just REALLY love Disney!)

So tell me, have you been to Disney World?  Are you a Disney freak like me?  What's your favorite part?  

For The Love of Reading: Sophie Kinsella

I have shared my love of reading before. 

And often, I am asked which Authors I like to read.

So today, I want to tell you about one of my favorites: Sophie Kinsella.

You may have already heard of her, as she wrote the book, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" which was made into a fun movie starring Hugh Dancy.

And while the movie was cute, the book was soooooo much better!

{Which, in my opinion, is almost always true...}

And, in fact, she has an entire series devoted to 'Shopaholic'.

The reason I love Sophie Kinsella's books are that they are always light hearted, spirited and fun to read. 

The main character is usually a young woman who has the best of intentions, but always finds herself in some hilarious, crazy circumstance.

And her witty, irreverent, British humor cracks me up.

Often, I find myself laughing out loud while reading.

And for a time, I can just relax, forget the serious stuff in life, and enjoy a story that is zany and fun.

I have read several of her books, including:

I've Got Your Number

Twenties Girl (my favorite!)

The Undomestic Goddess

Can You Keep A Secret?

AND, I'm getting ready to start Remember Me?

So tell me, have you read any Sophie Kinsella books?  Which is your favorite?  What are some of your other favorite Authors?

10 food Blogs Every Mom Needs To Read!

Meal planning is one of the toughest things for me.

And it's not because I don't like to cook.

It's because I have four different people to please, and I hate making the same things all the time.

AND because the crazier our schedules get, the harder it is to think of healthy, fast, and tasty meals.

So I rely heavily on the food blogs I read for new ideas and recipes.

Here are the Top Ten Food Blogs I think every mom should be using as a resource!

1.  Once A Month Mom:  This is a GREAT site for freezer meals.  (And I am NOT just saying that because she is a real life friend!).  I would use her site even if I didn't know her, (but I'm glad I do!!), because of the HUGE variety on her site.  Everything from Whole foods, Diet menus, Gluten and Dairy Free, and Traditional foods.  And don't get scared by the words freezer cooking...she breaks everything down for you into simple and easy steps.  Believe me when I say that if I can do it, anyone can do it!

2.  The Pioneer Woman:  If you haven't heard of Ree Drummond by now, you probably are living under a rock.  She has taken the world by storm, and for good reason!  While she's not just a "food blogger", her recipes are fabulous, and generally easy to make.  I use her site often!

3.  Eat At Home:  I met this gal at Blissdom last year, and after I got back, I decided to check out her blog.  Sooo glad I did!  Easy Peasy recipes that my kids like and are budget friendly.  Plus, she has menu lists that has printable grocery lists too!

4.  Crcokpot365.blogspot.com:   This is a great site for slow cooking.  I use my crock pot at least once a week, so this site has come in handy more than a few times when I want to make something different than the usual.  They even have slow cooker dessert recipes!

5.  KevinandAmanda: Speaking of desserts, this is one of the VERY best dessert sites I have ever seen!!  Again, not just a food blog, but my favorite recipes are these fabulous desserts that are sure to raise your cholesterol and increase your weight, but oh so worth it!

6.  Our Best Bites: This is a great site for a little bit of everything.  Plus, they always have really great kitchen tips!  For example, if you want to know how to pick out and cut a watermelon...Check it out here!

7.  Real Mom Kitchen:  This is another great site for those of us who need normal, every day, no nonsense recipes.  Everything on her site is pretty simple and easy to understand.  It quickly became one of my favorites!

8.  Plain Chicken: The name might suggest that it's just a chicken recipe site, but that's not the case. They have lots of other good recipes. BUT, I must admit that I use it mostly for the chicken recipes, (because we eat a lot of chicken around here..cluck cluck!). They are tried and true

9.  Skinny Taste:  This is a blog I found via Pinterest.  I realized that i was pinning a lot of the recipes/ideas and decided to start following the blog.  She has a lot of great recipes that are low fat and healthy.  And she also has a lot of great switchout ideas using better/healthier ingredients in traditional recipes.

10.  Cooking With My Kid:  The title is pretty self explanatory.  This site has great recipes that are also kid assistant friendly.  I use this one on days that the girls want to help me in the kitchen and I want to keep them busy!

I will be linking up with Many Little Blessings for Top Ten Tuesday and We Are THAT Family for WFMW.  Check em' out!



My Sweet Independence

The 4th of July is upon us.

It's a time to celebrate our Nation's Independence, but maybe also some of our own.

Heaven knows I could use a little independence from...well, a lot of stuff.

Like:

-A certain 8-year-old who *never* stops asking questions.  It's like she actually needs to learn stuff.

And

-My cell phone.  It is constantly ringing because I am just soooo important and everyone needs to get ahold of me.

And

-Cooking.  This family of mine wants a meal every single night.  Seriosuly!

And

-Being a chauffer to a gazillion activities.  When will my five and eight year old finally learn to drive?

And

-Answering emails.  I think I'm going to put an automantic reply that says something to the effect of: "I broke up with email a long time ago.  Please text me if you want a reply."

And

-Cleaning...oh wait.  I still haven't actually started that yet.

And

-Dieting.

Ahhhh yes, the BIG D-word.

I have longed for independence from dieting for, oh let's see, about all my life now. 

Let's face it, for most of us, dieting never works.  Mostly because we want to enjoy the good things in life, and the truth is that the good things are almost always the things that are off limits.

Like chocolate. 

If it weren't for my husband, chocolate would be the love of my life.

But because I'm always trying to lose weight, I am always feeling guilty about my love affair with it.

Or should I say, WAS feeling guilty?

BECAUSE....

Now I don't have to anymore!!!!!!!!!!

Hershey's has new chocolates, called Simple Pleasures, and they are Crazy Good!

When I was asked to sample these yummy little bites of heaven and blog about them, it was a no brainer! 

They have Dark Chocolates with Chocolate Creme (my fave!), Milk Chocolates with White Creme, and Milk Chocolates with Chocolate Creme.  They are individually wrapped and they taste just like expensive little creams that you find at those specialty chocolate shops!

BUT...

Hershey’s Simple Pleasures chocolates have 30 percent less fat than the average leading milk chocolates. 

Ummm, did you read what I just wrote?!

Chocolate.  With 30 percent less fat.  That tastes as good as specialty chocolate.

NO MORE GUILT!!

I'm ALL IN on this one folks.

You want in too?

Of course you do!

Then get on over to the Hershey's Simple Pleasures Facebook Page and sign the Decleration of Sweet Independence!  You could win some SWEET prizes including a $100 Gift Card or

Free Chocolate!!

Now tell me, what do you need some Sweet Independence from??

I was compensated for this post and provided this product for free from Hershey's,  All opinions are completely true, and completely mine.  I would NEVER recommend a product I didn't like.  You can read my full disclosure here.

Top Ten Brands That Rock!

Yesterday I mentioned that we had some AMAZING Sponsors at Blissdom.  Today, I want to share some of them with you!  Happy Top Ten Tuesday!!

10.  Chobani Champions!  I spoke about these in last week's TILT post, but they also happened to be a sponsor this week.  If you haven't gotten them for your kids yet, you're missing out!

9.  V8!  I got to try some of the V8 Fusion smoothies and also the new V8 Fusion Energy Drinks.  They were delicious and the Energy drinks only have 50 calories!

8.  GoGo Squeez!  Have you seen these super cute pouches of applesauce that kids can eat on the go?  They are perfect for lunch boxes, to store in your purse for emergency snacks and for home.  They have a variety of flavors, are 100% fruit, are gluten, dairy and nut-free, and have no preservatives, artificial flavors or refined sugar!

7.  OWN!  Wondering what happened to Oprah?  She's on her OWN channel.  We got a special preview of one of the new episodes of Oprah's Next Chapter and it was really good.  It's fun to see a different, and more casual side of Oprah outside the studio.

6.  De Wafflebakkers!  I got a chance to try some of the product and they were yummy!  My favorite is the blueberry and they use real Wild Maine Blueberries.  If you see these at the store, be sure to give them a try for a lighter and yummier pancake and waffle.

5.  Lisa Leonard Designs!  I was soooo excited to get to buy one of Lisa Leonared's necklaces while I was at Blissdom!!  They are gorgeous and unique.  Make sure you head over to her site and have a look around.  Her items are perfect for Mother's Day, Birthday's and any other gift giving occasion.

4.  Hallmark!  Everyone needs to hear something from you.  Happy Birthday?  I'm Sorry?  Glad You're My Friend?  No matter what you need to say, Hallmark can help. 

3.  Hershey's!  Ummm, it's chocolate.  The creamiest, yummiest, and most perfect chocolate.  Everyone loves Hershey's and be sure to stay tuned because I will be doing a Hershey's Easter Basket Giveaway soon!

2.  Famous Footwear!  I LOOOOVE shoes, so it's no surprise that this sponsor was one of my favorites.  Plus, they gave each of us a free pair of super cute shoes, so they pretty much have a special place in my heart now.

1.  ConAgra Foods!  ConAgra are the foods you love, like Hunts, Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee, Swiss Miss and More.  Plus, they are helping to stop Child Hunger with the Child Hunger Ends Here Campaign.  You can't NOT love a company that wants to help children in need!!  Be sure to check it out and see how you can help!

PLEASE check out these great sponsors and give them your support! 

I am linking up with OH Amanda and Many Little Blesings  for Top Ten Tuesday.  Be sure to check them out as well!

Things I Love Thursday: Chobani Yogurt!

I have never been much into yogurt.  Something about it always tasted chalky to me, and just wasn't appealing.


But, I know that I should be eating yogurt because it's healthy and it's a great source of calcium, which is something I struggle to get enough of.


I had heard a few people talk about Greek Yogurt and how good it was.  Specifically, they mentioned Chobani.

So, when my local grocery store had it on sale, I decided to pick up a few containers and try it out.


I am SOOOO glad I did!!


This doesn't taste like any yogurt I've had before.  It was so creamy, (not chalky AT ALL!), and the flavor was awesome!


The first one I tried was the new blood orange, and since then I've tried several other flavors and have liked them all.


And they also have Chobani Champions, which is the first greek yogurt made for kids!  And my kids are definitely a fan!

So what are you waiting for?!  If you haven't tried Chobani or Chobani Champions yet, be sure to get some soon!  You won't be sorry!!!

I am linking up with the Diaper Diaries for Things I Love Thursday.  Be sure to visit and see everything else getting Blog Love today!