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Best Day to Visit Each Park

July 24, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

It’s so exciting to plan for Walt Disney World, though it can be a little overwhelming if you’re going for the first time, because there’s just so much. When you feel overloaded, it’s tempting to take a step back and just leave it to fate. You may even think of planning your trip as too rigid. That’s totally understandable; but at Disney World, the more you plan, the more freedom it gets you. If everything is riding on this one vacation, then it’s even more important to plan it out ahead of time. The good news is that it’s really simple and stretched out over months – so it can be really fun. One of the most important things you have to decide early on is your Disney World park days. You’ll need this as the foundation for making dining and Fastpass+ reservations down the road – so here’s our thoughts on the best day to visit each park!

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Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom offers extra magic hours in the evening on Wednesday and in the morning before the park opens on Friday. These are great opportunities to get some extra time in the parks if you’re a Disney Resort hotel guest or staying at a participating hotel in Disney World. Although there’s usually more people in the parks that have extra magic hours, with proper planning, the extra time outweighs the increase in attendance. Remember, whenever Disney introduces an incentive, it’s meant to level things out, so the other parks will likely be busy as well.

Park Hopping

I know people say the best day to visit each park is NOT when they have Morning Extra Magic hours, but if you plan correctly they’re a great way to beat the crowds – because many guests find it difficult to hurry over to the parks so early. If you’re park hopping, starting at Magic Kingdom on Friday and hopping to Epcot for the Evening is a convenient way to spend the day, because you have monorail transportation between the parks. If you’re hopping to Magic Kingdom on a Wednesday, Epcot is still a good choice as the first park, but you may consider hopping from Animal Kingdom on Wednesdays, as well.

Epcot

Epcot has Extra Magic Hours on Tuesday and Thursday. It’s open later on Tuesday and earlier on Thursday. The same concepts apply to Epcot during Extra Magic hours as they do to Magic Kingdom. The only notable difference is that Epcot has two parts. One that traditionally opens at 9:00 am and one that opens at 11:00 am. Therefore the night time Extra Magic Hours are more beneficial if you want more time in the World Showcase (all the tasty food during Food & Wine festival!). However, the extra hour in the morning can really help if you’re intent to do everything in Future World.

Park Hopping

When hopping to or from Epcot, the two best parks are Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Hollywood Studios is just a short trip from Epcot, which you can take by boat, walking trail, or (soon) Skyliner. However, I recommend Epcot as a park to hop to rather than from, because once you get there, there is so much to do. Hollywood Studios has morning Extra Magic Hours on Sundays. This is a great time to get an early start on the attractions and you can duck out a little earlier if park hopping – or you can enjoy a more leisurely pace for the rest of the day.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has morning Extra Magic Hours on Sundays – though it seems that once Galaxy’s Edge opens, it’s EVERY day at 6am for awhile! This is a great time to get an early start on the attractions and you can duck out a little earlier if park hopping, or you can enjoy a more leisurely pace for the rest of the day. While I’m not sure how things will go once Galaxy’s Edge is available, I think it’s safe to say that at least the first while, the weekends are NOT the best day to visit this park!

Park Hopping

Epcot is the number one place you should hop to from Hollywood Studios on an Extra Magic Hours day, or any day for that matter. Even if you’ve already been to Epcot during your stay, it warrants the extra time. It’s a good partner for Hollywood Studios because they’re relatively close to each other and Epcot can take multiple days, whereas Hollywood Studios can be done to satisfaction in less than a day – though this can vary once Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens! Don’t miss out on our tips for trading with Jawas!

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Animal Kingdom

There’s two Extra Magic Hours during the week for Animal Kingdom – however, they’re both only in the morning time. These days are Monday and Saturday, which puts the order of what parks to visit and when at Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom. I honestly don’t think there’s too much of a wrong time to visit this land as it’s seemed to mellow since the Pandora Land opening, but these are our picks for the best day to visit.

Park Hopping

Always start at Animal Kingdom since the extra hours are only offered in the morning. Animal Kingdom isn’t well connected to the other parks, but by default I recommend heading to Magic Kingdom if you plan to park hop. If you purchased park hopper plus tickets, these days are great to use on Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon.

What’s your absolute favorite Disney World park?

Back to School Printable Checklists

July 22, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central forOshKosh B’Gosh. I received an OshKoshB’Gosh gift card to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #backtobgosh #bgoshjeanius #IC

I knew the transition from 1 child in school to 3 all at once was going to be rough – but oh my gosh it’s only a few days into the new year and I’m going crazy! With school starting at 7:45am, it’s a mad rush in the morning – then they’re so eager to play after they get home that nothing is getting done. Luckily we’re all set with awesome new clothes thanks to OshKosh B’Gosh, and now these Back to School Printable Checklists should fix the other hassles! originally shared August 2015

Even my kindergarten boys find it much easier, and more fun for some reason, to get everything done in the morning when they have a list to check off. After school they know to get it all done before asking to go play so I don’t have to keep asking ‘did you remember to do XY or Z?’ There’s even a sheet for bedtime to help with that busy time!

Each printable includes a filled out one with general tasks for each time of day, but also a blank one you can fill in your own things for them to do with a white market, if desired. Download each one here:

Good Morning Sheet Good Afternoon Sheet Good Night Sheet

Then just cut out, laminate so they’re reusable, and even add a ring to hang it neatly for them to access!

Getting dressed is one of the kids’ favorite parts of day right now because they’re SUPER excited about their new clothes! I let them pick them out (mostly on their own) last time we swung by OshKosh B’Gosh. I loved the prices – they loved the selection. I mean, what kid wouldn’t be off-the-walls THRILLED about glow in the dark shirts?!

No, I don’t know what this ‘pose’ of Thor’s was – but he wanted to make sure I got his shirt AND jeans in the photo. I was so glad we could nab the quality jeans at a great price – and they have the adjustable waist that my skinny-minny kids need!

Even Hulk, our preschooler this year, got some fun new items for his closet – and he looks so much older in these, don’t you think? Too cute!

Since it can get expensive outfitting FOUR kiddos, I’m always grateful for additional savings like this coupon!

Our school has a bit of a dress code, so we have to be careful to adhere to their policies while still letting our kids pick fun designs and pieces to show their own personalities, like Thor showing off his love of green that still glows in the dark. Jeans are always acceptable, and so easy to match with anything really – just add a bold print or a touch of the neat glow and you can send them out the door in style!

Black Widow even found sparkly leggings! Of course we had to grab a bunch because…they’re SPARKLY!

Want to make a difference while checking ‘back to school clothes’ off your shopping list? OshKosh B’gosh, in partnership with K.I.D.S./ Fashion Delivers, Inc., and DonorsChoose.org are offering the opportunity for you to donate a new pair of jeans or make a cash donation to a students in need this school year.

Now through September 16th 2015, all denim donated will be delivered to local children in need through K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers. Cash donations will be dispersed to local DonorsChooose.org. The Carters Charitable foundation will match all the denim donations with a new piece of clothing, and all cash donations up to $50,000! Check out more on the ‘B’gosh Jeanius Campaign here.

Why Extracurricular Activities are Good for Kids

July 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We received complimentary lessons to help facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Parenthood is exhausting, especially with multiple kids and all of their additional events. We already have so much going on each day, so fitting in their dance, karate, music lessons or whatever else can seem daunting. Sometimes, we may even wonder why the heck we’re allowing anything more, when even school and homework can be overwhelming! While I’m a firm believer that children shouldn’t be OVERLY scheduled, here’s some reasons Why Extracurricular Activities are Good for Kids.

Now, in our house we limit each of our kids to just one extracurricular activity at a time (with a few very rare exceptions). Three of my kiddos have been taking latin ballroom classes for a few years now, and two of my boys just started doing music lessons at School of Rock for the summer semester – and that’s been a huge blessing! When those two had nothing to do, they felt left out – they didn’t know WHAT they wanted, but knew they were missing out on something. Once they started learning their drum/guitar skills, though, they’ve really blossomed and their daily attitude is much happier and more positive. It truly shows that extracurricular activities are good for kids!

Helps Build Their Passion

Many adults nowadays don’t even know what they’re passionate about – they just focus on getting a good-paying job. Not that that’s BAD, necessarily, but even outside of work they don’t know what they really enjoy. By letting kids try different things as they’re growing up, they can learn what they’re really excited about, what makes them eager to put in the practice/work for. This can help them decide not only what to do later in life, but also leave the option for an ‘extra hobby’ as an adult, too.

Future Benefits

Along with that, they can build up their skills in whatever their hobby is – such as my boys’ guitar or drums – and use that to provide a living for their family when they’re older. Their instructors at School of Rock really enjoy their ‘work’ teaching kids music, and I can almost guarantee they grew up building their knowledge and experience so that they COULD do that. Not only do they get to share what they love, but get to earn a living spreading those skills. Likewise, one of my girls has a dream of being a dance instructor on the side when she’s an adult, and is working hard to make sure she has the skills and experience necessary for that. Think long-term!

Teaches Them Responsibility

We all know that school homework can be a struggle – big time! But when your kids have something fun to do, especially something that they CHOSE to do, it can be a whole different story. I fight with some of my kids about school daily, but never have to nag about practicing – they just do it every morning like clockwork! With my two boys doing instruments, since they have only been working on this for a little over a month, they’re still learning HOW to practice more productively – such as dividing their practice time between their different songs for band, or knowing to spend more time on a certain skill their struggling with. If they don’t practice, they learn to be accountable for that with their class or fellow band members.

Also check out the Benefits of Music Lessons for Kids!

Gives Them an Outlet

One of my boys has SPD (sensory processing disorder), so he’s always bouncing and needing movement. Some days it’s hard to make sure he gets enough of that stimulation he needs, but once he started playing the drums – getting to bob his head to the beat, hit the drums with sticks and the foot kicker, and move back and forth between the different drum/cymbal pieces, you could really tell a difference. It’s been great not only for that motion he needs, but also all that extra energy that kids can get! When my other son is driving me bonkers because he has too much built-up energy in the house, I suggest he goes and does a few dance rounds – works like a charm!

Healthy Social Environments

My kids have been both public schooled and now homeschooled, and in both situations I can honestly say that I’m super grateful for the friends they have during their outside activities! Friends at school (or in homeschool groups, or whatever) are great, but they don’t seem to be quite as close. I think part of that is within the class or band, they share that same passion and are working on it together, already giving them something to connect with. I’m not saying our kids are friends with EVERYONE in their activities, but their best friends have certainly come from their extracurricular activities. They learn to get along better, work together and to help each other progress in their skills, which is such a blessing for kids.

How else are extracurricular activities good for kids?

Essentials to Pack for a Disney Trip

July 17, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

When you go on a big trip, especially to a place like Walt Disney World, it’s easy to overpack. It’s a terrible feeling when you’re away from home and you don’t have some of the things you might take for granted – it’s even worse when you have to pay for essentials at way more than what they’re worth. When it comes to spending a day in one of the Disney Parks, you might also be tempted to pack too much, then regret it when your shoulders start complaining. In this circumstance, it’s way better to travel light. There aren’t many things you actually need to pack for Disney. Here’s a short list of top essentials to pack for a Disney trip. Beyond your normal clothes, of course 😉

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If someone asked me for 5 essentials items to pack for Disney that many people seem to either forget or just not deem important, these are my top picks. If you want a bit more substantial/specific of a list, check our other list here.

Sunglasses

Whether you always have them on your head, or always forgetting them someplace, it’s very important to remember to bring these along when you pack for Disney. Florida is frequently sunny, and even overcast has a reflective nature that will glare in your eyes and make you feel uncomfortable. Even if you’re not used to sunglasses, wearing them in the parks will make you happier. Constantly squinting and fighting the glare takes a toll, even if it’s not top of mind. Just don’t forget to keep a hand on them on rides, or remember to nab them out of the bag when it’s done!

Refillable Water Bottle

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s important to stay hydrated. Since Disney charges quite a bit for bottled water, just take a reliable refillable water bottle (especially if it’s collapsable for easy storage and transport!). Since you can get free water at quick service locations, just use that to refill it for some refreshing hydration without the cost. We’ve used these ones for a few years now and they’re still working fantastic!

Portable Battery

If you use your phone for camera and video while in the parks – or that constant social media – include a portable battery. Especially since using the My Disney Experience app and the Disney Play app (particularly with it’s new Galaxy’s Edge functions when that opens!) will be keeping your phone’s battery busy. It’s always good to have a backup since you don’t want your phone out of commission in case of emergencies. This one has been super reliable (and charges fast) for 3-4 years now for us and it is one of the first things we pack for a Disney trip!

Poncho

One thing I learned about vacationing in Florida is always pack a poncho. It’s important to be aware of the weather, but you should also be prepared for the forecast to change. When you pack for Disney, adding a cheap poncho won’t take up much room and it can potentially save you a big chunk of cash. Not to mention, by the time you buy a poncho in the parks, you’re most likely already wet.

Fun Shirts

I know we all sometimes tease about the crazy ‘matching’ shirts at Disney – but let’s be honest, it’s way fun and my family totally does it! Not every day, since they each have other Disney/Marvel/Star Wars shirts they want to wear, but we do designate a few days for awesome matching shirts. Not only can it help you find your family in a crowd – but cast members notice! Last year my family went on ahead to the Star Wars Launch Bay and I was several minutes behind (can’t remember why – probably a snack, knowing me). I get to the front and the cast member was like ‘looking for your party? they went to the right!’ – just because he recognized the matching shirts 🙂

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Bonus: Light Jacket

Again, weather. Although for much of the year the night stays hot, the best times to go to Disney World are when the weather is more mild (when people are in school). On those occasions, it’s good to have a jacket handy as the sun sets. It’s also a good tool for feeling more comfortable in air conditioned environments for long periods of time, like some of the restaurants. The initial blast of cold air on a hot day may be welcome – but over a period of time, it’s favorable to add another layer so you can stay longer.

Have you ever forgotten something important to pack for a Disney trip?

Learning & Building with Circuit Blox

July 15, 2019 by Danielle 1 Comment

We received a free kit to facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Y’all know how much kids love building – creating figures, robots, towers, castles, vehicles and so much more with their wonderful imaginations. Now what if they could also learn about electricity, radio waves and more while playing? Now they can have a blast Learning & Building with Circuit Blox! I couldn’t wait to see how much they enjoyed this kit, and wasn’t disappointed – they’re already begging to try some of the other hundreds of projects it can do!

First of all, let me tell you what Circuit Blox even are: they’re interactive building blocks made with patented technology by E-Blox, making it possible for electricity to flow safely through the pieces. It’s even been named Stem.org AuthenticatedTM! We tried out the Circuit Blox™ 395 – E-Blox® Circuit Board Building Blocks Toys Coding Kit for Kids to get a good feel of the variety of these kits. You can get smaller, more specific ones – or get a few and mix and match for all new projects. Our particular set contains 68 pieces that can make a whopping 395 different projects!

Our girls (13 and 12) enjoyed it, as well as our boys (youngest 8), so I think they’re good for a wide range of ages. Hubby was just as excited as the kids, and helped teach them about how the flow of power works, what happens if you switch certain pieces, and all sorts of fun STEM themed topics. They had fun making a fan spin…

…and lights switch between different parts of the build…

…and the girls even made a basic FM radio!

Some projects take longer than others, so you can pick and choose either what type of thing you want to learn or base it on how much time you have to focus on it. It’s fantastic for homeschool, supplemental STEM education or just for a cool, interactive playtime. The pieces are sturdy, which I appreciated, and the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. It shows the colors, layouts and even the numbers of the pieces so all the kids could follow along with issue. The girls did theirs entirely on their own (we just stayed by to discuss some of it), and the boys needed minimal supervision on theirs.

Check out Circuit Blox for amazing interactive STEM learning!

5 Reasons to see The Lion King Remake

July 11, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I remember when I first saw the animated Lion King in theaters – the movie glitched at a very tense part with Scar, so we sat there for several minutes just like ‘uh….’ before finally getting to finish the incredible story. All these years later, I’ve been nervous if the new version would live up to the high bar set by the original – but it seriously blew away all my expectations! It’s the same, but not – I can’t even decide which version I like better because they’re both amazing! If you’re debating, here are 5 Reasons to see The Lion King Remake when it hits theaters July 19, 2019.

The Voice Cast

Once they announced the cast brought on board for this film, I had high hopes for it – and it was absolute perfection! I loved the voices in the original, but it seems that this crew was born to voice these roles – from Donald Glover as Simba and Beyoncé as Nala, to John Oliver as Zazu and Alfre Woodard as Sarabi. My favorites were Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon – as much as I loved these two crazy characters before, they’re even more hilarious and lovable now!

Visually Draw-Dropping

I was quite a bit younger when the original hit theaters, and I remember how beautiful the animation looked – it was quite amazing for that time. We all know how far technology has come, so the skill put into every single scene and moment is incredible. There were moments you could almost think that the team was just showing off their skills with CG and making it look so real, but we weren’t at all complaining because HOLY COW it’s worth seeing even just to see the details, movements and everything. STUNNING!

Trip Down Memory Lane

Here’s the thing – a lot of the movie matches the classic exactly, or at least very close to. Some may think they don’t need to see it because of that, but oh you’d be wrong – it’s still the story we grew up knowing and loving, but that doesn’t make this one any less worth watching because it gives you such a warming sense of nostalgia. It doesn’t feel repetitive or like a copy-cat in any way, it’s more of a ‘remember how you felt at this part’ memory sparking time.

New Surprises

I know I said a lot matches the classic – but there’s still plenty of surprises! It almost makes it more fun, because you’ll be going along enjoying the same lines as the movie you’ve seen before…the WHAM something new, unexpected and absolutely hilarious ensues. I think that made it a million times better, because it comes as SUCH a surprise since the rest is the same. I’m impressed with the perfect balance of same, similar, and completely different they managed to do!

Laugh-out-Loud

Y’all know I love my comedy in films, and The Lion King didn’t disappoint at all! What’s more – even though so much was the same, those surprises I mentioned are even more hilarious because you can’t predict it. You don’t see them coming AT ALL, meaning an audience busting-out laughing out loud throughout the movie. I’d even dare say this new film is even funnier than the original – you’ll see what I mean when you run out to see it this month!

Hurry to see The Lion King remake in theaters July 19th!

Lion King Printable Maze

July 10, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

As many of you know – especially parents – Disney’s live-action remake of The Lion King hits theaters soon. While we’re waiting, why not let your kids enjoy a movie-themed activity with this fun Free Lion King Printable Maze? Not only will it buy you a few minutes (depending on the kid, of course) of peace, but it’ll give their brains some exercise without them even realizing it!

This file is designed to print beautifully on 8.5×11 size paper, but you can go smaller if you want (based on your own printer, of course). If you’re planning a movie night for it’s release, want to surprise the kids with a trip to the theater, or are having a lion themed party – this is perfect for a simple, yet cute, activity for the kids.

It’s more geared for younger kids, as it’s not that tricky (as my older kids pointed out), but for the lower grades and kindergarten ages it’s perfect – just the right amount of thinking involved, without being overly challenging. Besides, I know this movie will likely be one to add to our ‘Movies to Watch Before Visiting Walt Disney World‘ list!

Download your Lion King printable HERE then print as desired!

Who’s your favorite Lion King character? Mine’s probably Rafiki!

Craft Lightning: Ladybug Bird Feeder Summer Camp Craft

July 8, 2019 by Danielle 8 Comments

Wow, what an insane couple of months it’s been! I’d say time has flown by…but even that’s an understatement! In just a month, Wonder Woman will be heading to 3rd grade and ALL of my boys will be going to preschool three days a week. Am I excited? Heck Yeah!!!! But there is still a little sadness that the summertime fun is over. Until then, though, here’s a super fun activity for Craft Lightning: Ladybug Bird Feeder Summer Camp Craft! originally shared July 2014

As part of Craft Lightning with The Country Chic Cottage and 30 Minute Crafts, this month’s theme is Summer Camp Crafts. What could be more fun that a super-simple, totally adorable Ladybug Bird Feeder?!

For those that have checked out the Craft Lightning posts before, you know that the rule is they must be able to be completed in 15 minutes or less (not including drying time, of course). So as busy as the summertime is, I’m sure anyone can fit in 15 minutes of fun craft time to make this Ladybug Bird Feeder with their kiddos!

Ladybug Bird Feeder Supplies

Can (#10 works great, or you can do smaller if that’s what you have), cleaned out
Lid to can
Red paper
Black paint
Large googly eyes
Wood stick/peg
Scissors, tape and/or glue
Plastic foam-mesh pieces
Bird seed

Directions

Use your black paint to add dots onto the red paper. When dry, tape or glue it around your can sides.
Cut a large hole in the lid, and put it on the can. Cut or poke a hole in the lid for the wood stick/peg and attach it. Glue the googly eyes onto the top of the face (lid) part.
Cut the foam-mesh pieces into rounded wings for your Ladybug. Attach one to each side.
Fill with bird feed, and enjoy watching the birds come munch!

To check out the other awesome ideas based on this month’s Craft Lightning theme: Summer Camp Crafts….be sure to head over to check them out!!!

Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip

July 5, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PackSnacksTheyLove #CollectiveBias

We started school this week – crazy! It’s such a mad-dash to get them all ready and out the door in time in the mornings, and I’m eager for when we get it to a smoother routine. After school isn’t much better yet, as we need to find a good groove for homework, rinsing out lunch boxes, signing their folders and hopefully some play time. Luckily, I have some awesome recipes I can rely on to make the afternoon a little easier, like these Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip! I just whip them up when I have time, then store them in the fridge so they’re ready to go when the kids are. originally shared August 2016

These snack dips are perfect to go with crackers, cookies, even fruits for a variety of tasty things! I made sure to stock up on our favorite snack packs from Kroger when I was doing our weekly grocery shopping there – I can rely on them to have the variety I need, and do well to keep their shelves full so I’m not missing anything from my list. I found some awesome (and convenient – yay!) snacks for the kids’ lunches and after school snacks – NABISCO Multipacks like RITZ, Teddy Grahams, OREO, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Barnum’s Animal Crackers and even Honey Maid crackers are perfect! Not only do my kids love the taste, but the portable packs make it SUPER easy to just toss in a lunch bag, or pull out when they get home from school. Even when we’re racing to dance lessons, we just grab some packs and go.

As I was filling my cart with these, determined to stay prepared for several weeks of back-to-school adjustment ahead, one of their friendly workers asked if I wanted him to grab more from the back. We laughed a bit (you should’ve seen how many I already had in my cart) and he totally understood how crazy this time of year is. I was tempted to say ‘yes’ to his offer just to see if his eyes would get big 🙂

Another great benefit of these snacks are that they’re easy for my kiddos to open, plus bite-sized. Definitely a bonus for my younger ones! They go great with our snack dip recipes, which are already REALLY simple to whip up! Just grab your ingredients next time you’re at Kroger, mix them together, and you’re all set for snacks!

S’mores Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Marshmallow Creme
1 cup Chocolate Pudding
8 oz. Whipped Topping
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

Beat the marshmallow creme, chocolate pudding and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the remaining ingredients and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cookie Dough Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 – 2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Chocolate Chips, as desired

Directions

Beat the butter, brown sugar, salt and vanilla until creamy. Whip in the milk until smooth.
Slowly add in the flour until desired consistency (I did about 1 1/2 cups). Stir in chocolate chips and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

It was a mix in our family as to which of these dips were the favorite. Personally, I prefer the cookie dough dip – but really enjoyed the s’mores one, too. Dang, can’t really choose!

Which snack packs and dip would YOUR kids enjoy the most?

Good to Know Information about Disney Cruise Line

July 3, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

When you go on a Disney Vacation, it’s a premium experience filled with entertainment and lots of fun – but it may be hard to picture what a Disney vacation is like without the parks. What makes Disney Cruise Line different from other cruises, and why should you take this year’s family vacation out to sea? Everything you wanted to know about Disney Cruise Line is right here, from the meals to the port adventures and the fun Disney on-board youth clubs.

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Y’all know how much I love cruise vacations, and I’m hopeful one day I can take my family on a Disney one! We’ve heard of all the magic and wonder that you’re use to finding in the parks is well alive on sea, as well, and can’t wait to try it for ourselves.

The Fleet

First of all, the Disney Cruise Line has four ships in its fleet. The Magic and The Wonder are the two smaller ships, and the Fantasy and the Dream are the bigger and newer ships. Each pair offers similar venues on board. The Dream and Fantasy are more similar to each other and a more modern feel; and Magic and Wonder feel just a little bit more quirky and dated, but only by comparison. Which ship you take depends largely on where you plan to take your cruise. Although the newer ships have a couple of updated features that are really desirable, the older ships are still great and have the benefit of being less crowded, due to fewer staterooms on board.

The Food

As with most cruises, the food is mostly included in your price, whether you go to the buffet or to the rotating restaurants. There are two dinner services each night and you will be assigned seating, this is so your server can consistently wait on you throughout your cruise. You’ll have the same crew assigned to you for the whole trip, making it more customized & familiar service. Even at regular table service restaurants, you can order as much as you like of anything on the menu – I love that this allows you to be more bold and try new things without much worry! Room service is likewise complementary, and is available 24 hours. Palo and Remy are two fine dining restaurants that require you to pay more to dine there (there’s other available, as well) – this is why it’s ‘mostly’ included in your price, but that’s ultimately up to you.

The Activities

There are amazing excursions and adventures to sign up for, and you should try to do this in advance of your trip because space is limited on most port activities. Depending on where your Disney cruise takes you, you can take amazing sight seeing tours, go snorkeling and even take fishing and boating excursions. Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas and it’s mostly undeveloped, ecologically protected land cared for by Disney scientific researchers and conservationists. Kids and teens can enjoy age specific activities, as well.

The Clubs

On board there is plenty of family fun and entertainment to keep everybody busy. However, for those moments when everybody needs a break, there are age appropriate sections of the ship where adults can have fun and so can the kids in special clubs for kids, tweens and teens. These clubs feature imaginative play areas, video games, dancing, karaoke and more. It’s a great way to make unexpected friends, too!

The Fun

There are so many Disney elements on Disney Cruise Line, from the hidden details of the decor to the Characters bustling around in nautical attire. Themed days for Marvel, Star Wars, and Pirates keep things interesting. The outdoor live shows and fireworks are just a small part of the magic. There are also broadway caliber productions and Disney movies in other on board theaters….not to mention character dining, which I still really enjoy as an adult.

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If you’ve been, what’s your favorite part about Disney Cruise Line?

Best Epcot Snacks to Try

June 26, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

One of the most undeniably satisfying elements of visiting Epcot’s World Showcase is the accessibility of authentic international cuisine. Where you plan to have lunch and dinner at Epcot could impact the course of your entire day. Even if you don’t make reservations for one of the many signature restaurants around world showcase, your choice of quick service has implications just as dramatic. The whole southern hemisphere of Epcot is a veritable smorgasbord of culturally specific foods. How will you decide where you eat and what countries to skip? The best solution is to snack as often as possible, so you can get a taste of every country – and here’s our thoughts on the best Epcot snacks to try!

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Bavarian Pretzel

If you’re looking for a meal on the east end of World Showcase, you have a lot of options to choose from – one of them being the buffet in the Biergarten at Germany; but all you can eat food at any World Showcase restaurant precludes any further enjoyment of the other international flavors. Instead, go to Sommerfest and have a Bavarian pretzel. It is way better than a Mickey Pretzel and more rare.

School Bread

The second pavilion in, on the left hand side of the lagoon, is Norway. This pavilion may seem to have been taken over by Frozen, so I’m sure many little kids can point it out quickly. However, the Norway identity in this pavilion is still very much alive. The first snack you have to try when you come to Norway is the School Bread in Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe – it’s a sweet custard-filled roll topped with coconut shavings. While my hubby is anti-coconut, this is definitely delicious if you do!

Kakigori

The next place you should stop for a unique snack is at the Kabuki Cafe at the entrance to the Japan Pavilion. Here you will find a refreshing shaved ice treat that is topped with sweet milk. The best flavor is melon, but you can also get it in rainbow, tangerine, cherry and raspberry.

Cheese Plate

Most of the really great World Showcase snacks require you to venture deeper into the pavilion, despite several kiosks planted right on the edge or even across from the pavilion. France requires you to go all the way to the back of the pavilion and rewards you with a massive boulangerie called Les Halles. Les Halles opens before the rest of World Showcase and it’s a great place for breakfast. It’s also perfect for a savory cheese plate, especially after snacking on sweets. Or nab one of their sweets – there’s lots to choose from to add to your Epcot snacks list!

Maple Popcorn

Finally, you can end your trip around World Showcase and you’ve most likely had more to eat and drink then what is mentioned on this list. The only thing left to do is make sure you save some room. When you get to Canada, where maple is infused with everything, you must have some Maple Popcorn to end your journey around the world with.

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Birthday Invitations the Way YOU Want Them!

June 24, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post about totally customizable birthday invitations is sponsored by Basic Invite. Photos courtesy of Basic Invite. All opinions are mine alone.

Is it just me, or is one of the most frustrating parts about planning a party the invitations? I mean, I don’t have much time anymore to design exactly what we want, yet most sites you’re stuck with the one option – maybe a couple variations – but that’s it. Luckily I found out about Basic Invite, where you can completely customize your invitations – colors, designs, envelopes and more! Now you can get Birthday Invitations the Way YOU Want Them with hardly any hassle!

Because I know the first thing many of you will wonder is what type of invites they have – there’s tons! Not just awesome birthday ones, but also for weddings, baby, holidays and more. Being busy moms, though, I think the birthday ones are probably are biggest focus year-round. They have plenty of simple party invitations, but also awesome ones your kiddos will go crazy for – such as space themed, circus, candy land, sports, monsters, watermelon, and so many others!

So how can you customize your invite? After you’ve selected which awesome one you want – perhaps like these cute mustache birthday invitations – the real fun begins. Change the color – and not just from a handful of choices. You have over 180 different color options, so you can make the card exactly the way you want it – and since you can change colors on each element on your card, even the littlest detail is your choice!

Another great thing – especially for us moms who really want to see EXACTLY how things will print out, and how they feel (paper quality is hard to tell without having it in your hands, right?) – is that Basic Invite gives customers the ability or order an actual printed sample of the invitation before placing their final order. That means you get to see and feel YOUR invitation, that you customize – so you have no doubt it’s the way you want it.

Once you have your incredible invitation – whether it’s a fun shark themed one or one of their more classy birthday invitations – you also get to customize it even more by choosing from over 40 different colors of envelopes. That’s right, Basic Invite is as colorful with their envelopes as with their invitations! With this, you can set your card to stand apart even before it’s opened! Plus, an extra bonus for us parents, all of the envelopes are peel and seal, making it quick to close them securely.

I don’t typically invite a ton of kids because – well, sanity – but I still appreciate their address capturing service. With this, you can simply share a link on social media to request friends and family’s addresses. It’ll then store them in your account, and you can select which ones to include during the design process. Basic Invite even offers recipient address printing at no cost on all Christmas card orders, which can save a bundle during the holidays!

If you like to get fancy or make your invitation stand out even more, foil cards are an option in gold, silver and rose gold. Plus, all of their foil designs have the choice of flat or raised foil!

Since we parents LOVE saving money (and parties are expensive, anyway) you can save an extra 15% on Basic Invite with Coupon Code: 15FF51

Be sure to ceck out Basic Invite on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter for more invitation ideas and fun!

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If you’ve been, what’s your favorite part about Disney Cruise Line?

Bavarian Pretzel

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