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American Girl Wellie Wishers Teach Little Girls Empathy
Have you heard of the Wellie Wishers? This summer has been full of hectic crazy fun; packed with sunshine and the great outdoors. We’ve traveled, seen the beach and watched movies outside under the stars. But what do you do when it rains, right in the middle of summer? We made lemonade out of those lemons. The girls invited a few of their friends over for a movie play date. I work with American Girl so they sent us the newest American Girl Movie Lea to the Rescue. The girls were more than happy to watch it at our house together.
I popped some popcorn, made some actual lemonade and ordered pizzas. Meanwhile, the girls and their favorite American Girl dolls “watched” Lea to the Rescue. I’m not going to lie, it was the perfect rainy day activity for a group of girls in the 5 to 13-year-old age range. To be honest, I am more than a little past a teenager and I thoroughly enjoyed it too.
Speaking of rainy days and little girls, have you heard of American Girl’s latest line of dolls? They are called Wellie Wishers and they spread the message to today’s little girls everywhere that we should all consider what it means to “stand in another person’s wellies.”
The Wellie Wishers, a line of five fun-loving characters, Willa, Kendall, Ashlyn, Emerson, and Camille are out to make the world a kinder and friendlier place.
It’s the golden rule in full effect. Treat others how you would like to be treated (or for you more modern day moms) to have a good friend you’ve got to be a good friend. Either way you slice it, the message is don’t judge others. Always consider what it might be like to stand in their wellies.
American Girl created Wellie Wishers to help younger girls, ages 5-7, discover the social and emotional skills they need to become empathetic, compassionate, and thoughtfully motivated individuals. Timeless life lessons on sharing, cooperation, respecting feelings, and making things right are passed along to girls through each Wellie Wishers character, who navigates the ins and outs of friendship through play, songs, and imagination.
The Wellie Wishers celebrate an amazing time in a little girl’s life when she’s learning about herself through the world around her. Through their stories, the Wellie Wishers help our daughters make good choices today defining the person she’ll become tomorrow.
The beautiful, whimsically illustrated early chapter books about the Wellie Wishers’ fun and fanciful outdoor adventures are written with humor and heart by American Girl author Valerie Tripp. The stories will delight girls and their mothers as they celebrate the promise and potential of young readers and gently model the life skills that help build strength of character and confidence.
The Wellie Wishers’ adventures and lessons further unfold in American Girl’s first-ever animated series, airing in fall 2016. Each 11-minute episode follows the fun-filled exploits of the five smart and lively six-year-olds, who have limitless imaginations and the same big wish: to be a good friend. When the Wellie Wishers step into their colorful rain boots, they are ready for anything in their aunt’s whimsical backyard garden. Young viewers are entertained through stories, humor, and catchy songs as the Wellie Wishers work, dream, and play together—feeding birds, making mud pies, creating art, and putting on shows—all while imparting valuable lessons in friendship.
To further engage girls and bring the characters to life, American Girl is debuting a free Wellie Wishers app, where players can explore the interactive garden world through three mini games—Carrot Care, Mud Pie Maker, and Garden Harmony. Little girls will delight in the sweet, silly, and unexpected surprises that get unlocked the more they play. The free app is available through play.americangirl.com.
Rounding out the play experience is a line of adorable 14½-inch dolls (retail $60) and garden-themed accessories, including a magical theater stage and a premium wooden playhouse with over 30 pieces. Young girls can even dress like their favorite character with a selection of dress-like-your-doll clothing, like enchanted garden PJs or a pair of peek-a-boo wellies.
My girls love their Wellie Wishers and thanks to the generosity of American Girl, we would like to give away a doll to one lucky reader. Enter below! Mandatory entries include subscribing to The TRUTH newsletter, following The TRUTH about Motherhood on Facebook and leaving a comment below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

2016/08/09
How to Celebrate El Dia Del Nino
This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Nabisco and Latina Bloggers Connect in celebration of El Dia Del Nino .
In the Mexican culture, family is everything. We are taught this from very early on, as children. We are taught to respect our elders as part of our history and to adore our children because they are our future. In life’s fickleness, we know that there is only one thing that we can truly count on and that is family.
We’ve all heard of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and even Grandparent’s day. They are big deals in our house. We earned it. I mean, 10 and 13 hours of labor, one open-wide Pitocin inducement and an unmedicated labor, definitely earned me one-day off a year. I look forward to it every single year. The Big Guy handles all the “mom” duties and nary an argument between children do I have to endure. I simply walk away and let daddy handle it. It is glorious.
On Father’s Day, the same goes for him. He gets to sleep in and I field all bickering children. We’ve got a good system and it truly is the one thing we want more than anything; peace and quiet.
April 30^th is a Mexican holiday called El Día Del Niño (children’s day). Children are a very important part of our culture and society so the day focuses on the importance of loving, accepting and appreciating children.
To celebrate, there are many things you can do. Basically, we make it a day about our girls so that they know they are loved (so pretty much like every other day but we do all the things they like to do). It’s more about celebrating having them in our lives. Letting them know they are blessings to our family and us. It’s a day of crafts, play and treats of their choice.
In Mexico, special events with clowns, magicians, music, shows and balloons take place. Amusement parks as well as zoos and children’s museums usually offer discounts or special deals for children on this day. It’s the perfect day to take the kids to see one of their favorite movies in the theater, go on a family picnic in the park or just unplug for the day and give your little ones your full-undivided attention.
This unique celebration is full of laughter and play, when adults are reminded of the importance of childhood and children teach us how joyful and simple life can be.
For our snack this year, I’m making this fun and delicious Latino-Inspired treat Chips Ahoy! Plantain Quesadillas. It’s a sweet new twist on a family standby.
Chips Ahoy! Sweet Plantain Quesadillas.
- 10 min prep
- 20 min total
- Makes 8 servings, 1 wedge each.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. brick cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 4 flour tortillas (8 inch)
- 7 CHIPS AHOY! Cookies, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 lb. frozen ripe plantains, cooked, cut into 16 slices
- 1/3 cup thawed frozen whipped topping
- 6 strawberries, each cut into 6 slices
Instructions
- Mix first 3 ingredients until blended; spread onto tortillas to within 1/2 inch of edges.
- Reserve 2 Tbsp. cookies. Top half of each tortilla with remaining cookies and plantains; fold in half.
- Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium heat. Cook each quesadilla 1-1/2 min. on each side or until heated through and lightly browned on both sides.
- Cut each quesadilla into 3 wedges. Serve topped with whipped topping, strawberries and reserved chopped cookies.
I’ve made this for my family before and they loved it. It’s a very decadent and rich dessert so we only have it on special occasions and only one serving. I know your family will love it as much as my family did.
You can find other great recipe spins on traditional favorites on the Nabisco Pinterest page. If you’d like to try this recipe, here’s a coupon for $1.00 off your favorite Nabisco products.
What’s your favorite treat to make for your children on special occasions like Dia Del Nino?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nabisco. The opinions and text about El Dia Del Nino are all mine.
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2016/04/22
What the Romance of Marriage Really Looks Like
The romance of marriage might not look anything like what you thought it would when you first fell in love. Then again, nothing ever does. Hell, I was the best parent in the world before I gave birth and I had a very specific vision of what my romantic life with the man I loved would look like. I didn’t know shit.
If you are a fan of love stories you definitely have to see this blog post about romance novels at AnyStories that will melt your heart.
In the beginning, romance meant not being able to keep our hands off of one another. It was every minute of every day being together, or at least wanting to be together. It meant nights sitting on rooftops, snuggled together watching the stars and kissing. In the beginning, it was sitting in his lap, long walks late at night talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. We were in college and on that first night, we met and neither of us was particularly interested in the other but by the end of that night, something unexpected happened; he was everything I never knew I always wanted.
We’ve been married now for almost 17 years now, which comes as a shock to everyone, especially since we got engaged after only 4 months of knowing one another. He said he just knew. I was a little less rash in the beginning but I knew I loved him and I couldn’t imagine spending my life without him.
The romance of marriage evolves as it goes on.
Over time, the definition of romance has changed as we have grown and changed. Before children, it meant long weekends together, eating at 5-star restaurants, dancing and laughing until out legs couldn’t support us any longer. Then it meant making our way back to our hotel room through a fog of alcohol and lust and making love until we collapsed in one another’s arms. Those were the days when everything was ahead of us.
Then on one particularly special weekend spent celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary in New Orleans and life took a pleasantly unexpected turn, we were “blessed” with the conception of our first child. Then, weekends away were no more. Date nights went into retirement for 5 long years but it didn’t matter, we were too tired and too broke to go out anyways. To be honest those first few “date nights” and most after that for a couple years, we spent eating take out in our pajamas in quiet and going to bed at a reasonable hour; sometimes sex happened and sometimes it didn’t and we were both okay with that because anyone who has ever been a parent knows that sleep is way more important for everyone involved. It’s not like we’ve forgotten that “sex” is what got us into this predicament in the first damn place.
Not that I’m bitter about parenthood. I love my children, as much as anyone can love children that are awake. They are my favorite children in the world. I can tolerate their whining almost constantly but we’ve come to a point in our lives where we fully recognize, with the help of some sleep, that our children are only a temporary situation. Parenting little kids is not a permanent status, not in the way it is today or yesterday or will be tomorrow. It is ever changing and evolving. It is amazing, terrible and fantastic all at the same time and I wouldn’t change a second of it (not even the colicky ones or the night terrors or the endless nights of sleeplessness). It’s the best thing I will ever do.
These days date nights are still pretty few and far between for the Big Guy and I. Not that we don’t enjoy a night on the town, it’s just that date night for us means kids sleeping over at Grandma’s and that means a whole lot of coordinating of dates and times because Grandma and Grandpa have a life (more than the Big Guy and I apparently). But sometimes, a couple just needs a date night; a minute to remember whom you were before babies. A second to remember why you used to forgo sleep and food just to devour this other person literally and metaphorically; why they were your everything. They are still there and you need to recognize that, out loud, at least occasionally. A little slap on the ass, deep kiss in the middle of the afternoon or a text that says, ” I can’t stop thinking about you sexy!” can go a long way in reminding them that you still find them to be an attractive sexual being, even if it’s buried under spit up and stains and a hangry attitude.
The romance of marriage is about loving someone so much that you can still see them, even when they feel like they have begun to disappear.
So we jumped through all the hoops, signed all the necessary documents and voila, 3 weeks later we got a date night approved and it was glorious. First, he took me to see a horror movie in.the.theater. That never happens. We are all about the Netflix and Chill situation. In return, I chose a restaurant that he had been wanting to try; a microbrewery in an old warehouse. It was by no stretch of the imagination 5-star but it was quaint and it was nice to be there with him. Hell, I was having such a good time sitting at our chalkboard table, sampling my flight of craft beers (totally out of my comfort zone) that I barely even noticed the herd of hipsters with handlebar mustaches playing chutes and ladders or some shit at the next table. Barely but obviously a little bit. Who the hell cannot stare at a handlebar mustache with a man bun and a Member’s Only jacket playing Chutes and Ladders? Seriously.
We ordered off of the very limited (as if it were secret) menu. My choices were a Nutella hotdog or a BLT with Gouda or some other 3 pub specialties. I chose the BLT because I was starving and needed something to fill my empty stomach that was fighting what I found out the next morning to be the flu. The Big Guy chose some sort of beef sandwich. But none of that was important, what was important was that there we were talking, drinking, laughing and being “us” with no one calling us mommy or daddy for miles.
At one particularly romantic moment of the night, I excused myself to the restroom only to return to my seat to find the words “SEXY!” with an arrow pointing to my seat scribbled in chalk on the table. Sounds simple, right? But it made me feel sexy. It made me feel like he saw me, for the first time in a long time. Of course, he soon followed that message up with his own message on his side of the table, directed toward the waitress, “ Check Please. I’m going home to have SEX!” It made me laugh. It made me feel wanted and we left the hipsters to their chutes and ladders. Sure, it was only 10 p.m. but that was really f*cking adorable.
On the way home I told him that I really wanted something sweet. Obviously, the hipster brew worx didn’t serve dessert unless you count the Nutella on the all beef hotdog. I didn’t. So he stopped by a grocery store, ran in, and returned the sexiest man alive with a box of fudge pop tarts and a giant bouquet of wild flowers from an anniversary floral arrangement shop, just because…my favorite kind of flowers in the world. Apparently, I’m cheap and easy.
It wasn’t a five star date night by any stretch of the imagination but it had the same effect and ended the same way, minus the dancing until our legs gave out because since I broke my leg, it doesn’t work like it used to. Of course, leave it to him to make even that sexy because I’ll be damned if he didn’t give that ugly scar a little kiss while he massaged my leg that night, like he’s done for months while I’ve been recovering from this broken leg.
That’s what the romance of marriage is really about, falling in love with the same person over and over again throughout time. Choosing to love them every day.
What is your definition of the romance of marriage?
2016/02/22
Hottest Father’s Day Tech Gifts
Can you believe that Father’s Day is in 4 days? Me, neither. The Big Guy is hard to buy for. He’s easy in the way that he is a complete tech nerd and loves all things gadget and tech related, especially if he doesn’t need it and especially if it’s out of the ordinary, extremely small or completely unnecessary. Don’t ask me why, he just likes things that are definitely out of the box. I’m pretty sure if he could pick any time period to live in, it would be the time of the Jetsons.
I made a list of all of the really cool tech that dad might like this Father’s Day.
From the obvious to the obscure, if you have a hard to buy for dad in your life who just loves to always have the latest and greatest tech gadgets, boy have I got a list for you for this Father’s Day.
For the Golfer Dad:
OptiShot2 Golf Simulator
OptiShot® Golf allows golfers from around the world to compete against each other on any of the 43 To-the-Tee™ exclusive and private championship course replicas in the OptiShot Golf Course library. Each course provides a realistic and fully immersive 3D environment for play or practice. With OptiShot2, users have the ability to play the same championship holes the top PGA pros are playing on TV, as well as compete in a tournament of their own with OptiShot Live.
With the new OptiShot Live feature, users can play 18 holes on the world’s most famous courses with friends, family and competitors all over the world without ever leaving the comfort of their home or office. This award-winning golf simulator uses the latest in analytic and shot tracer technology with an easy to use interface to create the ultimate real-world golf experience. Compact in size and cost, the OptiShot2 requires no elaborate setup, works with every club in your bag and is compatible with Mac and Windows. With the goal of providing the best real golf experience, OptiShot2 provides technology consistent with professional simulators in a package designed for consumers.
Optishot has launched the OptiShot Tour featuring weekly events and on-going competitions all played on To-the-Tee™ replicas of PGA Tour courses. The PLAYERS Championship course is this week’s tour stop. Just login in to your OptiShot and play the corresponding course anytime from Thursday 12:00am EST – Monday 3:00am EST to be automatically entered for a chance to win free OptiShot Courses for life!
OptiShot Golf Simulator is available at premium golf retailers and online at store.optishotgolf.com.
Zepp 3D Multi-Sport Motion Sensor and Platform
The Zepp 3D Multi-Sport Motion Sensor is wearable sensor that allows dad to review and replay his swing in 360º and HD video, while providing detailed analysis and trend reports sent straight to any iOS® or Android device so he can improve.
Users can review and replay their swing in 360 degrees and see their swing in HD Video.
Then they can compare their swings to pro athletes. The 3D motion sensor easily attaches to any bat, club, or racket using innovative sport-specific mounts. Sensor wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth after every swing.
Your guys not into golf? No problem. The Zepp 3-D Multi-Sport motion sensor is for everyone.
Baseball: track bat speed, path, timing, angles at impact, trends and more
- Golf:track speed, tempo, club plane, hand path, backswing position, hip rotation and more
- Tennis:track shot type mix (serve, forehand, backhand, smash), power and spin (topspin, slice, flat) and more
- Able to compare swings to pros and friends and share your swing data with others
- Zeppapplication records critical data and provides analysis, personalized tips, drills and coaching
For the Audiophile Dad:

Cambridge Audio: TV5 – TV Speaker Base
We bought an awesome 55-inch television last Christmas to hang above our mantle, the only thing is the sound quality is awful. The picture is amazing but the sound is like it’s coming through a tunnel. If you have this situation going on why not have the best of both worlds?
Get room-filling home theater sound all from one cabinet and Bluetooth streaming speaker, the Cambridge Audio TV5 speaker base? It’s suitable for use with most flat-panel TVs up to 55 – 60”
It has 100 watt Class D digital amplifier with less than 0.5 watt standby power consumption.
The TV5 also features multiple audio modes for ultra-clear voice reproduction with movies and music and two 2.25” Balanced Mode Radiators (BMR) provide clear sound plus dual 6.5″ powered subwoofers are built-in for deep bass.
Torque Audio’s t103z Headphones
For the music lover looking for something new check out the t103z from Torque Audio. These fully customizable ear buds feature Passive Acoustic Valve Technology so you can swap out TorqueValves™ for a totally individualized listening experience. Use the deep valve for thumping lows, clear valve for crisp highs or the reference valve for a balanced sound. If he likes playing videogames, you can give him the best under $100 gaming headset.
SOUL Electronics: Run Free Pro
Bluetooth headphones appeal to fitness-enthusiasts with comfort and wireless fit. My husband is not a runner but he does walk and move around his office quite frequently and with these he canmove around without worrying about getting hung up or knocking stuff over with the cord.
The Run Free Pro headphones are guaranteed to stay on when active with the first interchangeable ear lock system for custom size and fit, so no more inconvenience of headphones popping out on the run. Wind noise reduction technology allows listeners to listen to music without wind interference while on the go. It also features a sporty and fashionable waterproof design with up to 8 hours of battery life.
The ergonomic remote control with integrated mic for music control and hands free taking make life super easy for dads on the go.
Grace Digital: aptX™ Bluetooth 4.0 Bookshelf Speakers
The aptX Bluetooth 4.0 Bookshelf Speakers are perfect for the dad who just wants to rock out in his office while he “gets some work done.” Sure there may be some air guitar happening but these speakers are crafted with a sleek leatherette casing, modern, compact and lightweight Bluetooth bookshelf speakers that seamlessly stream room filling sound from any Bluetooth compatible device. Simply put, they are awesome.
Engineered for in-home use with full range, CD quality audio, providing a high-quality indoor music experience where portable/outdoor speakers typically fall short. You can pair up to 8 devices via Bluetooth 4.0, with a range of 30 ft
Bonus, while dad’s rocking out he can conveniently use the USB jack on the speakers to charge his mobile device, while still rocking out. It’s the perfect gift for the dad who loves music.
For the Photographer Dad:
Large Power CapXule by Xsories
Summer is the perfect time for the photo-centric dad to get out and start shooting again. But who wants to have to cut their day short because of lost power? Not only will the Large Power CapXule from XSORIES comfortably hold and organize all your gear, the clever case comes with an on-board 2800mAh power bank to get your camera or phone charged in a pinch.

The New Dad:
Izon View Cam
Do you know a new papa who can’t stand being away from the little one while he is at work all day? Keep Dad connected to what matters most with the Izon View an app controlled home video monitor that enables dad to check in on the little ones from anywhere in the world. The Izon View is a great gift for fur parents too!
For the Dad who Loves the Newest and Coolest Tech Toys:
XSORIES: X-Project Wi-Fi
The X-Project WiFi Projector is a Wi-Fi enabled Pocket Projector that shares and displays HD Video from anywhere. It is a portable projector that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s perfect for summer outdoor movie nights because you can wirelessly share HD videos and images directly from online sources, SD cards and/or USB sticks. With it’s 100-lumen LED it projects brilliant color and high-contrast images. Xsories took compact tech to the next level because the X-Project is certainly small but mighty and will bring a smile to your outdoorsy family man.
There are so many cool high tech gifts for dad this Father’s day but these are my tops for the Big Guy!
What will you getting the Fathers in your life this Father’s Day?
Disclosure: I was provided some of the product for review purposes but all opinions and love of tech for Father’s Day are my own.
2015/06/18
Help! I Spoiled my Children
Okay, it’s about time I admit something to you guys; something I am deeply embarrassed about and have been in denial about for some time…my children are spoiled. Hi, my name is Debi and my children are more spoiled than expired milk left in a Sippy cup in your minivan for 2 years. (more…)
2013/06/24
Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns is the Perfect Family Holiday Movie
Today is the day that we’ve all been waiting for Mary Poppins Returns hits theaters! I mean who doesn’t remember growing up watching Mary Poppins nanny the Banks children and secretly wishing we all had a Mary, of our own, to use a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down? I can’t wait to see Mary Poppins float into the scene with her iconic umbrella.
And who didn’t want to take a jolly holiday with Mary and Bert? I’m pretty sure that I’ve known all the words to the entire soundtrack since I was a small child. If we’re being completely honest, I’m halfway through learning all the lyrics to the Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack.
READ ALSO: Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms
When I became a mom myself, Mary Poppins was one of the first Disney movies that I wanted to share with my little girls. I can still hear tiny toddler voices singing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious at the top of their lungs, as they penguin walked all around the living room.
Mary has always been a part of our family. So you can only imagine how excited we are for the latest installment of the Mary Poppins series, Mary Poppins Returns. Did I mention that it stars Emily Blunt, one of my favorite actresses, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the Hit Broadway musical Hamilton.
In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.
READ ALSO: Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms Review
I’m excited just from the trailers. I know grown women aren’t supposed to squee but I can’t help but get excited. Maybe it has something to do with how excited my girls are to see it or maybe it’s just the little girl in me peeking through. Either way, the Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack has been downloaded and playing on repeat on car rides to school and home. We’ll be the ones singing along in the theater. Also, if you love Mary Poppins Returns as much as we do, check out these awesome coloring pages!
MARY POPPINS RETURNS is directed by Rob Marshall. The screenplay is by David Magee and the screen story is by Magee & Rob Marshall & John DeLuca based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are John DeLuca, p.g.a., Rob Marshall, p.g.a. and Marc Platt, p.g.a. with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer. The music score is by Marc Shaiman and the film features all-new original songs with music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman.
READ ALSO: Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms Experience
The film also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes, Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character. With an all-star cast like this, it’s got to be amazing.
Like MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marypoppinsreturns/
Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios
Follow MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marypoppinsreturns/
MARY POPPINS RETURNS arrives in theatres everywhere on December 19th!
Y’all know that Disney is our jam and I am in need of a Disney fix so we will definitely be seeing Mary Poppins Returns over Christmas break. I’ll be sure to pop up a review after we see it. I’ll get the girls to chime in too. But if you need one right now, I hear good things about Mary Poppins Returns.
Who else will be seeing Mary Poppins Returns over break?
2018/12/19
Easter: Do This in Memory of Me
Easter is one of the few times you will read a religious post on here. My religion is the one thing I feel is very personal but being that my faith in God is so strong, I feel it would be remiss if I did not write a post about Easter. To purposely avoid it, would just be weird for me. I believe in a risen Christ so yesterday was our big holiday. If you are not into Easter and don’t celebrate, feel free to stop reading. I won’t be offended. This post is not for you. This post is for my children to someday read.
We decided a long time ago that for all the fun traditions associated with the holidays; elves, Santa, Bunnies and Leprechauns, my children would always know the true meaning of why we celebrate these religious holidays and holy days of obligation. This is why on Good Friday, as a family, we watched the Passion of the Christ.
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2013/04/01
Cool Things to Do at Disney World with Kids
We all know that Disney World is a magical place filled with fairy dust and fueled on the laughter and happiness of children. It happens to be one of our favorite places, and when I say our, I mean my husband and I.
For some reason, it seems like since we had children we just haven’t had the time or money to go. Nonetheless, we love Disney and our girls desperately want to go.
We are actually planning on surprising them with a couple days in Disney World in June, as a side trip on a surprise visit to Orlando. I plan on filming them when we tell them. Stay tuned. I am pretty sure that my 7-year-old might just faint on the spot and my 4-year-old, I am fairly positive that she will do a happy dance along with some woohoo! followed by some, ” You’re the best mommy I ever had!” I can’t wait.
But it made me think, with only two days to blow my little girls’ minds, I better figure out what the coolest things to do at Disney World with little kids actually is.
- The Magic Kingdom and the Main Street electrical parade and fireworks
- Explore Cinderella’s castle
- Meet the Princesses and get their autographs
- Go see Cirque du Soleil
- Take a Ride on a Fringe-Topped Surrey, family style
- Sushi and Karaoke at the Swan and Dolphin
- Go to the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater at MGM
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- It’s a Small World
- Mad Tea Party
I am sure there are loads more that I am forgetting, but for right now, these are on my list.
What do you recommend as a must see at Disney World for a 4 and 7 year old?
2013/03/22
Disney’s the Lion King a First Look and Insider Trailer
I remember seeing the animated movie, The Lion King, in theaters in 1994. I was blown away by the story. I’m not ashamed to admit that I wept openly in the theater while young Simba went through some of the most harrowing situations a child, animal or human, ever could; he lost a parent and then lost himself. His life was forever changed. He went from being the proud son of the king of the Jungle; the apple of a pride’s eye to an orphan.
I’ve watched The Lion King movie at list 100 times with my daughters. It’s a family favorite. Hakuna Matata is my 13-year-old’s favorite thing to say. Both girls still laugh their heads off at Timon and Pumba. It’s just one of those heartwarming movies that we love as a family. It’s the kind of movie that you watch together and somehow feel closer after doing so. It’s like magnetized super glue for families; pulling us together and then keeping us there.
READ ALSO: Disney’s the Nutcracker a must see for all Ballerinas
You can imagine our excitement when we heard that they were remaking it into a live action version in 2019. We honestly can’t wait to see how they are going to take such an iconic movie and parlay that into live action. How can you take a story that includes animated animals speaking like humans and remake it with real animals without losing the integrity of the movie of coming across as cheesy? Well, leave it to Disney to do it and you will not be disappointed.
I’ve, obviously, not seen the movie yet but if the trailer is any indication of the quality of the upcoming movie, I am excited…jump up and down, can’t wait to take my girls and the Big Guy to see it, excited.
From Disney Live Action, The Lion King will be a drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, written by Jeff Nathanson, and directed by Jon Favreau. It is a photorealistic computer animated remake of Disney’s traditionally animated 1994 film. The film features the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa.
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Plans for a remake of The Lion King were confirmed in September 2016 following the success of Favreau’s remake of Disney’s 1967 animated film The Jungle Book. Much of the main cast signed on in early 2017 and principal photography began in mid-2017. The film is scheduled to be released on July 19, 2019.
READ ALSO: Disney’s the Nutcracker and the Four Realms Movie Review
Director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Who else is excited to see the new Disney’s the Lion King?
THE LION KING opens in theatres everywhere on July 19th, 2019
2018/11/29
Secrets to Use Disney World Tickets to Experience Magic Kingdom like an Insider
You’ve decided to take your family on the ultimate family vacation to Walt Disney World and your first stop with those Walt Disney World Tickets is going to be the Magic Kingdom. Of course, it is! I have been to Walt Disney World many times and I have to say when I think of the happiest place on earth, my brain immediately goes to the Magic Kingdom. It is the epitome of the spirit of Disney World.
READ ALSO: 25 Top Secret Tips to Rock Your Walt Disney World Family Vacation
If you only had Disney World Tickets for one day at Disney World with kids ( or without) hands down, your first stop to get the full Disney experience is the Magic Kingdom. Honestly, there is so much to do and see that we usually get multi-day park-hopper Disney tickets and plan multiple days just to experience all the magic that the Magic Kingdom has to offer.
If you have never been to Walt Disney World let me give you a brief rundown of the setup. There are 4 parks that make up the magic that is Disney World; The Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom. Each park focuses on a different side of Disney.
READ ALSO: 10 Tips for Maximizing Your Walt Disney World Vacation for Free
The Animal Kingdom is about the animals big and small, real and imagined. It is a zoological park like you’ve never experienced before. This is where you will find the wonder that is Pandora- the land of Avatar. Epcot brings the world to you. Experience the ultimate celebration of food, art and entertainment from around the world. Hollywood Studios allows you to take center stage int he worlds of Disney movies, television, music and theater. This will be home to Toy Story Land opening June 30, 2018! I can’t wait!
Last but not least, the park that makes me feel like an excited 4-year-old experiencing it for the first time (every single time), the Magic Kingdom. It truly is magical and is the place where you can explore lands of endless enchantment and your fantasy becomes reality. I love all the parks but the Magic Kingdom has a special place in my heart.
READ ALSO: The Happiest Place on Earth is Disney’s Magic Kingdom
5 Tips to Use Disney World Tickets to Experience Magic Kingdom like an Insider
1. Get to the staging area for the Happily Ever After fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom at least 1.5 hours before the show begins to get a good spot. You must see this firework show to believe it. If you can, fast pass it and then you don’t have to get there so early because your spot in the staging area will be waiting for you.
2. Ride the Astro Orbitor at night. Honestly, I have been to Walt Disney World at least 20 times before I realized that Astro Orbitor was even a ride. I thought it was décor. Then I rode it at night, with my daughter, and I can honestly say, it was magical and I will never forget the experience. We had a 360-degree view that can’t be seen from anywhere else in the park. Also, for a good time, ride Splash Mountian at night.
3. Be sure to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I recommend getting fast-passes but if you can’t, get there early, so the times are shorter. In fact, I recommend taking advantage of early magic hours to beat the crowds or booking breakfast at the Magic Kingdom before the park opens so that you can get a ride without having to wait in line for a couple hours.
4. If you are looking for good places to eat, and there are a lot, for a quick bite when we’re in a hurry, we love Casey’s Corner Hot Dog Joint. For a sit-down lunch that has great food at a great price and the gray stuff too, we love Be Our Guest Restaurant. And if you are there and you want to eat a large dinner that is sure to satisfy any craving, Liberty Tree Tavern is perfection. Your belly and your heart will be full when you leave.
5. Take a Walt Disney World Tour to really feel like a VIP insider. The Keys to the Kingdom Tour at the Magic Kingdom is affordable and gives you a glimpse of the tunnels and workspaces under the park that only Cast Members get to see. A VIP behind the scenes tour allows you to experience the parks in an exclusive way so you can see how the magic is made. You’ll feel like a celebrity.
If you want to go beyond the magic of your Walt Disney World tickets and be 100% immersed in Disney World magic in the most luxurious way, I recommend checking out the Disney Dream cruise.
What is your tip to use your Walt Disney World tickets to experience the Magic Kingdom like an insider?
2018/04/13