Brynn's Second Birthday Lemon Party!

We had Brynn's party the day before her actual birthday over at The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. All week the weather was showing rain during her party but luckily it was clear and sunny (and HOT...sorry guests) during her party. We served BBQ pulled chicken sliders, grilled hot dogs, pasta salad, and veggies to our guests. I had lemonade, french berry lemonade, limeade, and water for our guest to enjoy. Instead of serving a traditional cake/cupcakes I went for mini cupcakes, mini lemon cakes, and mini cookie sandwiches which were a HUGE hit with our guests so I'll make sure to keep that in mind for years to come.

We ate, mingled, Brynn {but mostly me} opened presents, and then we let her smash her little cake. So many people raved about her cake and could not believe it when I told them at it was a vanilla mini cake from...Publix that I decorated myself! It turned out so great and the birthday girl snacked on it all day.

I originally picked a citrus theme for the party but then Target came out with the most adorable lemon/lemonade things in their dollar spot so I fully committed to lemons lol! I arranged flowers from Traders Joe's and Publix for the centerpieces and then placed fresh limes, lemons, greenery, and baby's breath in berry baskets to go on the sides of the arrangements. I also shoot for low cost items that I can reuse when entertaining so I'll make sure to provide links for the most asked about items.

We all had a great time and only had one casualty...Brynn's bestie, Nora took a tumble from the new princess carriage and got two bad skinned knees. Now I know to always have a first aid kit at kid's parties! Good news is that Nora is on the mend because she's literally the toughest toddler this side of the Mississippi! The other lesson I took away from this party is that next year I don't care how cheesy and un-Pinterest worthy it is...we're having an indoor, air conditioned...possibly Chuck-E-Cheese party! Here's the photo drop....

Party Supplies:

Tablecloths
Centerpiece Vases
Kid's Picnic Table (Early Birthday Gift from Aunt Maggie)
Entry Table
Yellow Gingham Paper Plates (Used a 40% off coupon on each pack)
2-Tier Cake Stand

Thanks for stopping by and please comment if you have any other questions about the party!

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Lessons Learned from the Half Marathon I Didn't Finish

May 2017 I had the brilliant idea to sign up for the 2018 Disney Princess Half Marathon. I was still battling post pardum depression and so badly needed something that made me feel superhuman, something to work towards. I felt like I was failing as a wife, mother, daughter, sister...the list went on and on. I wanted something to feel proud of and more than anything I wanted to set the example for Brynn that it’s okay to try something out of your comfort zone. I wanted her to know that as long as she tried she was braver than most. So with good intentions, persuasion, and a $200 entry fee...my sister and I were signed up for our first half marathon.

My sweet husband got himself and Brynn up at the crack of dawn to cheer me on at MK

Nine months seemed like such a long time to train...but then life got in the way. If you follow along with my life you know that in July 2017 we made the decision to move {back} to Orlando. I took time getting adjusted to my new role at work, our new house, and having a social life again. Then before I knew it the holidays snuck up on me. All the fun parties and celebrations further more clouded the reality of training for the race. I had printed off the Galloway training schedule and it stayed pinned to the bulletin board. Before I could come to my senses it was already February and I was weeks away from the race.

My sister had started training and everyone else I knew that was running had trained and was in great shape. I began to start doubting myself and rightfully so. A part of me wanted to not even attempt it but then I remember that I shelled out $200 for this damn thing so I might as well give it a try.

Race week was upon me and the nerves fell to the wayside because I was so excited to see my sister and everyone else who was coming to visit. In our calls leading up to the race she was truly dreading it and had no problem voicing that...I couldn’t get too sensitive because I’m the same way when it comes to things but I started to feel incredible guilt for pretty much making her do this race with me knowing that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with her. Brynn’s race and the expo were a great distractions but when the time came to go to sleep I was restless. I eventually, with the help of some sleeping aides, fell asleep.

The morning of the race was filled with nerves and self doubt. I had talked with Brian the day before and had set the realistic goal to make it to the castle (about 5.5 miles) and he decided to get up early to be there in Magic Kingdom to see me run through. My sister and I got to our corral and got closer and closer to the starting line and as soon as we started running I felt like I was a lost cause. Around mile 1 I told her to go ahead with my friend Alexis because I couldn’t keep up and didn’t want to slow her down. She tried to stay but after I assured her it was okay she went on. At that moment I realized that I was the only person that was going to get me through this race. It was both terrifying and empowering. I called Brian as I got closer to Magic Kingdom and he kept saying “we” are almost there. Looking back I thought it was weird because there was no way that he woke up Brynn early to get there. In Fantasyland I met up with my friend Faison and took some pics before we made our way through the castle. I knew where to look for Brian and as I ran down the castle walkway I saw the greatest thing...the man I love holding our daughter who was absolutely beaming when she saw me. I know it was probably the fact that she hadn’t seen me in a few hours but the look on her face looked like pure excitement and pride. I ran through the crowd and hugged them both. We took pictures and talked quickly. I had every intention to stop there but decided to keep going. The second half of the course is rough filled with congested roadways and my own false sense of pace. I decided to walk with the crowd wihich completely killed my pace and before I knew it I was behind pace. As the dreaded balloon ladies passed me I called Brian and let him know that I would be swept soon. I thought just saying it out loud would make me cry but I was so damn proud of pushing myself. I wanted to make it to the castle (about 5.5 miles in) and I made it just shy of mile 10. I know I’m going to go the race again and I will cross the finish line. Even though I still got a medal the true prize was seeing my husband and daughter so proud of me and my sister thanking me for pushing her  to do this because she would have never done it on her own. This was her first race ever and she finished in under 3 hours! I’m so proud of her and am glad she wants to do another race so we can cross the finish line together. At the end of the day I made it 10 miles with no training at the heaviest I’ve been in my life and that’s something to be proud of and it truly has been a jumping point to get back to a healthy lifestyle.

So glad I stopped at every mile marker!

My sister crossing the finish line!

A photo with all our medals and Donald

So here is what I learned from my first Disney half marathon:

• Really break in your shoes. I thought I had broken mine in but my blood blisters proved otherwise.

• Do a trial run or two in the outfit (down to the undergarments lol) you plan on wearing. I'm so glad I did because I saw so many uncomfortable people on the course. 

• Skin Glide is gold...don't skip putting it everywhere you think you might chaff. 

• Getting to your corral early really does help. I had a 10 minute head start from my friend who was at the back of the same corral.

• Get water/Gatorade at every station and use the Biofreeze at the medical tents.

• Make sure your race bib is visible on the front for race photos...we learned the hard way with the kids races...no bib, no pictures.

• No matter what stop for a photo in front of Cinderella Castle...I had cast members and spectators take photos for me to save time. 

• The course route back to Epcot is the damn devil (and was my demise) keep running even though everyone else is walking so you don’t fall behind pace like I did.

• Take a picture with each mile marker. It’s a great way to document your race!

• Bring sandals or flips flops in your post race bag and if you want to hit the parks right after a change of clothes. It took us over an hour to get out of the Epcot parking lot so not having to run home to change would have been great. 

• If you get swept it's okay. You did 100% better than all the people who never tried.

If you're wondering if I'm going to try again know that I am! I'm going to train and learn from my failures to make sure I cross the finish line next year! And yes...my sister is doing it again too...but on her own accord this time :)

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Ten Months of Brynn

So many fun things this month so let's jump right in!

You are using anything and everything as a "walker" and on the move! You are so quick and brave. When you fall down you get right back up and keep going...which all of us could learn from. We finally ditched our big coffee table and traded it in for a tuffed storage ottoman for your safety and our sanity.

You and I went to Missouri to see your Aunt Riss graduate from college and had a great time. A few days later you and Daddy went up to Cleveland to visit Grandma Lo, Poppa B, and Uncle Jay for a few days. You were a huge fan of their new golf cart and Poppa B took you out on it quite a few times. When you were in Ohio you said "Dada" and "Papa" for the first time and melted the hearts of Brian Sr. and Jr.

You have learned to clap and I have to say i think it's the cutest thing you do. All of Mim's hard {patty cake} work paid off and we love to see you clap. the only thing that may be cuter is you shaking your head when we say, "no no no." You're squatting and standing back up which the doctor said is very good and advanced for your age. You can stand by yourself for a long time and I just know that someday soon you're going to take off running. You are so over baby food and want the real thing and we are doing our best to ease you into real food as safely as possible.

We traveled down to Orlando for the long Memorial Day weekend to see our friends and to have an early birthday celebration with your bestie, Stella. We took you girls to Epcot and you met your first character which was Daisy Duck! The weekend could not have gone better and we had so much fun!

No time to slow down...we're on to the next month! We love you so much Mouse!

This month's favorites: zebra walker // stacking rings // old navy bubble rompers

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WDW Tips and Tricks: Q&A Round 1

I get asked questions about WDW all the time so I started to keep track of them and want to answer some of them every so often here on the blog so here goes round one!

Baby Minnie Ears and Adult Ballcap made by yours truly available at Brave Bow Co

Where can I get cheap tickets to Disney?

There's honestly no such thing as cheap Disney tickets. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Don't ruin your vacation by purchasing illegally resold tickets that won't work for you and your family when you get to the gate. Instead opt for booking a vacation package where your tickets are included or buy {lightly} discounted tickets from AAA if you have a membership with them. Disney offers ticket specials throughout the year to FL residents and active/retired military so make sure to keep a watch out for those. 

Should we stay at a Disney hotel or off property?

This completely depends on what you want out of your trip. I personally LOVE staying in Disney hotels. It makes everything so convenient. Being able to bundle your hotel, dining, and tickets it great and not having to worry about airport transportation is wonderful. You might think that staying off property is cheaper but we found out the hard way that once they add the daily resort fee and parking charge it's not much cheaper and then you have to pay to park at the theme parks as well, when you stay at Disney you get a parking pass included in your stay. So in my opinion if you are staying for more than a couple days and really want to experience Disney go with a Disney resort.

Do you think we should do one park per day or park hop?

If you would have asked me this question two years ago I would have said park hop for sure! Now that I have to tote a stroller, baby, diaper bag, and everything else I say if you have kids in strollers do one park per day. If your kids will be walking park hop away! I want my days in the park to be as relaxed as possible and for me personally that means not having to take everything out of the stroller, fold it up for the car or bus, and then have to unpack everything again. Nope, not feeling that. 

The food there is so expensive...any tips on how to save some cash while eating in the parks?

If you want/need to be mindful of your food budget eating at quick service locations are your best option. The entrees can be ordered a la carte so you don't have to purchase the side item if you don't want to. Opt for a large cup of ice water instead of soda because it free and because FL is hot. Bring some snacks with you that won't melt in the hot FL sun to tide you over between meals along with a bottles water that you can refill throughout the day. If you still want to enjoy some treats and snacks in the park share it with someone so you have to buy one. 

What is your best Disney advice?

I get this one all the time and here is what my answer ALWAYS is...when something goes, wrong be nice to the person who is helping you. I can't stress this enough. There's a strong possibility that something will go wrong during your vacation. I know you've spent a lot of money on this trip. I know you've spent a lot of time planning this trip. I know you have high exceptions for The Most Magical Place on Earth but please show kindness and patience to the person helping to fix your issue. It's like my grandma always told me...you get more flies with honey than vinegar. 

Have other questions you'd love to have answered? Comment below and you might see it on round 2!

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WDW Tips & Tricks: Let Me Upgrade Your Souvenir Game

Trust me...I once to was the big eyed Disney fan buying up all the t-shirts, character plush animals, and random knickknacks in the parks but now I'm older and wiser to the Disney game. Today I want to share with you my favorite Disney souvenirs that are anything but basic...

Photo by Faison Anne Photography

Guided Tours 

I'll go ahead and admit that I'm totally biased when it comes to this one because I was a tour guide at Walt Disney World but I promise you'll love this alternative souvenir. Clearly you're a fan of Disney otherwise you wouldn't be spending your hard earned money on a trip there so why not ditch the $80 sweatshirt and coffee mug in The Emporium for a behind the scenes look at a place you love.

Yours truly giving the UnDiscovered Future World Tour

If you're a big Magic Kingdom fan and have always dreamed about walking through those famous Disney tunnels Disney's Keys to the Kingdom  is the tour for you...find more details on it HERE.

If Epcot is your park of choice I highly suggest The UnDiscovered Future World Tour because it was my favorite tour to give. You learn about the history of why Epcot is designed the way it is and why if Walt didn't have the dream of Epcot the Walt Disney World you know and love today might not exist....you can find more details on it HERE.

Caring for Giants is a great option for families (with kids age 4 and over) over at Disney's Animal Kingdom and you can get all the details HERE because who doesn't want a behind the scenes look at the amazing animals.

I had the pleasure of experiencing the fun and interactive Disney's Family Magic Tour a few years ago with my younger cousin, Will, and my mom. All the kids on the tour had a blast and us adults didn't stop laughing...mostly at each other acting like kids. You can get more information about that tour HERE.

Throwback to Segway tours at Epcot that I also gave that unfortunately are no longer offered at Epcot

Silhouettes

This is something I only started doing once I had my daughter but it's quickly become a must-do for us every visit. At various locations around The Walt Disney World Resort you can have an incredibly talented artist cut a silhouette for you. The fee is practically free compared to how much hand cut silhouettes are anywhere else in the world. So here are the details on the prices...a single is $12, for two people it's $20, for three people it's $24, and for a group of four it's $27. You get two "copies" of each silhouette done (oh hey gifts for grandparents) and you can purchase a frame for a mere $8.95 so you don't have to hunt down one at your local Hobby Lobby. If you have children GET THIS DONE EACH TRIP and I promise you'll love seeing how much they change.

Locations:

Magic Kingdom- Outside the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square by the bridge

Epcot- The French Pavilion in World Showcase across from Chefs de France (i.e. the pics above)

Disney Springs- A small kiosk by the carousel near Earl of Sandwich and Once Upon a Toy

Our framed silhouette of Brynn (4 months old)

Professional Photo Session 

You are spending a small fortune on a trip to WDW so why not have some amazing tangible memories captured of you and your crew.

A few years ago (2011) I booked a session with Disney Fine Art Photography for my mom and I for Mother's Day and they were good but the quality has come a long way since then. I'm such a picture person that I want professional photos taken as much as I can. I love having a beautiful memory captured with EVERYONE in the photo.

Photo by Disney Fine Art Photography

My favorite "Disney Family" The Brankamps (I met them when I was working at Disney and we have stayed in touch for several years) had a session taken by them during their stay last year and even got a few senior shots for their oldest, Meg.

Photos by Disney Fine Art Photography

If you want more custom tailored family portraits check out Faison Anne Photography for an amazing session! I recently stumbled across this central Florida local on IG (you can follow her HERE) and she knows the parks well and is able to capture the most beautiful "in park" photos I have ever seen. She's a mom who takes her adorable son to the parks often so she understands more than anyone on how to capture the magic children have while at Disney. Her sessions provide way more options as far as location and style than the DFAP and you're supporting a small business! To be honest I'm surprised someone from the WDW Media team hasn't snatched her up for some campaign shoots. I for one can't wait for my personal session with her and when you book your session tell her I sent ya! Here are some of my favorite shots of her photography.

Photos by Faison Anne Photography

So there are my two cents on my favorite Disney souvenirs. Have you done any of these? What are your favorite Disney souvenirs? Comment below! 

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Walt Disney World Ice Cream Treats You Won't Want to Miss

Anyone who knows me will quickly confirm that I have quite the sweet tooth. I don't discriminant against treats but I have to admit ice cream is my favorite! When I'm at home I stick with Halo Top to keep my calories in check but everyone knows that when you're at Disney calories don't count! So here are some of my favorite ice cream treats available at the Walt Disney World Resort...

Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom in Adventureland 

A Disney Parks staple and beloved classic Dole pineapple soft serve. You can get a cup of this tangy and sweet treat or make it a float with Dole pineapple juice. Either way it's sure to please. This treat can also be found at Disney's Polynesian Village and Disney's Animal Kingdom (where you can get dark or coconut rum in it!) but is original to MK.

Croque Glace at L'Artisan des Glaces in the French pavillon at Epcot

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Now hear me out...this sounds like a weird combination but it's honestly beyond amazing! First they cut a fresh brioche in half, place a scoop of ice cream (your selection) inside, drizzle your choice of caramel or chocolate sauce on top of the ice cream, put the top have of the brioche back on, and then press it in a warm panini style press. The result being the most heavenly hot/cold and sweet/savory treat you never knew you needed.

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Hollywood Scoops in Disney's Hollywood Studios

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No need for much explanation here...except that you should get it after you go on Rockin' Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror for the sake of your tummy!

Chocolate Waffle Sundae at Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Disney's Animal Kingdom

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If you need a break from the animals stop for this chocolate waffle that can be topped with vanilla ice cream or chocolate mousse. This little spot is where you can get those rum Dole Whips I told you about earlier.

We can't forget about the classics that you can find all over the Walt Disney World property because did you really go to Disney if you don't have at least one of these?

Mickey's Premium Bar

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Mickey's Ice Cream Sandwich

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Have you tried some of these? What's your favorite ice cream treat at Disney? Have a question about one I missed? Comment below!

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Walt Disney World...with a Baby

The title of this post is enough to scare any sane person but I'm here to tell you that YOU CAN GO TO DISNEY WITH A BABY and have a damn good time! My family is WDW spoiled. They have never had to plan an itinerary, book a dining reservation, look at a park map, or question where the closest ice cream cart is and it's 100% my fault and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Working at The Most Magical Place on Earth (not the Happiest...that's DisneyLAND people!) for five years made me a professional Disney tourist. I mean how cool is it that I get to tell Brynn that her bae, Mickey Mouse, was my boss?! So let me share with you some of my tips for conquering Walt Disney World with a baby.

The pace of the park is going to be much different for you now

The sooner you come to grips with the fact that you're not going to be sprinting from attraction to attraction the better. Getting through the crowds in the parks is hard enough so when you add a stroller it becomes a bit more challenging. Enjoy the things that other wise you might blaze past like street performances, parades, and the general beauty that the parks offer. My brother-in-law, Jay, noticed so many more details on our most recent trip because we were taking our time getting around and he loved it.

Plan out what attractions are most important to you

Obviously babies can't go on all the attractions but they can go on more than you think. You can see what they can and can't go on in your park map or My Disney Experience app. If there is a height requirement it's a no go for your little prince or princess. The great thing is Disney offers something called a rider switch pass that you can get the details on HERE. Pretty much one person waits with the baby while the other goes on the ride and when they are finished the other person gets to go through the Fastpass line and experience the attraction too. We did this with a couple rides and it worked out wonderfully, instead of just waiting on a bench I used my time waiting to feed Brynn.

Speaking of feeding...

It's so easy to feed your baby at Disney. There are a ton of tucked away and quiet spaces for feeding that are great for both nursing and bottle feeding. In the state of Florida you can nurse anywhere you please but I'm not one that likes to do that out in the open. Each park has a Baby Care Center that offers a wonderful spot for you and your baby. I used the centers for pumping (when I was on a girls trip without Brynn) and for nursing when I had her. They are insanely clean and have rooms for feeding, changing, and relaxing equipped with Disney movies! Are you terrified that you are going to forget a baby essential?! Don't worry! The Baby Care Centers have everything you need for sale (at VERY reasonable prices) from pacifiers to bottles, diapers to formula, bibs to baby food. I can't say enough good things about the Baby Care Centers....use them!

Bring your own stroller

Disney does offer rental strollers but they are suited more for toddlers than babies. You want your little one to be comfy so having the stroller they are used to will help more than you know. Keep in mind that you can't take your stroller into every building and you'll have to park it in a designated area so I highly suggest investing in a stroller cover just in case of rain because those areas are not covered, we have one like THIS. Another thing I did was order an outdoor decal with our last name to put on our stroller. You won't believe how many times as a tour guide I struggled to find my guests strollers because they do get moved around in the stroller parking area sometimes...so relax no one stole your stroller. Balloons don't help because everyone puts balloons on their stroller so if the decal isn't your style try my tour guide trick and tie a distinctive ribbon on your stroller handle to make it easy to spot.                            

                                                 
Stock the bag

I'm not telling you to over pack your diaper bag but make sure you're prepared. I made sure to pack a couple more diapers than I thought I'd need, same with with pacifiers, and had an extra outfit just in case of a disaster. When the sun goes down it might feel great for you but chilly for the baby so make sure to bring a blanket just in case so you don't have to buy one.

Capture all the memories

People will say you are crazy for going to Disney with a baby but it's pure magic in my opinion. Your baby won't remember a thing but guess what...you will! We were lucky enough to have our friend Kathleen on Brynn's first trip to snap a bunch of wonderful pictures but you don't have to have a pro to get good pics. Disney's Photo Pass has you covered with high quality pictures throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort. We also brought along our GoPro and it's our favorite video to date. You can watch it HERE {Brynn's First Trip to WDW}.

Have another question or have another tip? Comment below!

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Brynn's First Trip to Walt Disney World

It's no secret that I LOVE DISNEY! Walt Disney World will always have a special place in my heart because of my five years working there. It's where I made some of my greatest friends and memories. I spent so much time working and playing in the parks that I know them like the back of my hand, which has spoiled my husband and family when we visit. People kept saying to me that they couldn't believe I was going to brave the parks with a four month old but they were forgetting that my job used to be touring families (a lot of the time with babies and toddlers) around the parks so it's second nature to me. With my husband Brian, brother-in-law Jay, and best friend Kathleen in tow we made Brynn's first trip to Walt Disney World at the beginning of December.

You can tell she's my child with that textbook side eye

We opted for a long weekend where we all arrived to Orlando late Thursday night and left Sunday afternoon. We had a bunch of people who wanted to see us and meet Brynn so everything was scheduled around that. Friday we had a lunch date with our friend Leanna at Disney Springs and then headed over to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I had two objectives as soon as we got there...get a Christmas card photo and take her on her first ride while it was still bright outside so we could film it. I was amazed at how well Brynn did being out and about all day in an unfamiliar place. She probably just loved being in constant motion.

Our Saturday was spent at my old stomping grounds, Epcot. Thanks to rider switch we got to experience the new version of Soarin, enjoyed delicious food and drinks, and spent time with some of our favorite people. We started a new tradition at Epcot which was getting Brynn's silhouette crafted, I'll do a full post on that later. Brynn met Santa and Mrs. Claus for the first time and by "met" I really mean she slept but managed to pull off the cutest little yawn you can see in the video below. On our way out we got Brynn her first Disney souvenir, a Belle ragdoll she adores and stopped by the guest relations lobby for old time's sake.

I had thought my best Disney days were behind me but this trip made me realize they are just beginning. I can't wait to share my tips on navigating Disney with a baby soon...until then enjoy the video of our trip below captured with my new obsession our GoPro.

All photos courtesy of my bestie Kathleen Norris at Places I Will Go Blog

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