Destination Disney: Disney in Red

 While trying to come up with what I wanted to do for this, our first post in Disney in Color on Destination Disney, I noticed that almost all of my Disney cookbooks incorporate red in them somehow.

Every time we go to Disney I look for a new cookbook I don't already have.  I've even looked on eBay for out of print ones.  I love trying out the recipes (which I've yet to have one fail me), and enjoying the taste of Disney at home.  Even if that taste may come from a restaurant I've never dined at or one that has gone into the everafter of memories to be replaced by a new one (whose recipes are sure to be a winner as well).  So this week, Disney in RED means my Disney Cookbooks!

Join in the fun and share what Disney in COLOR means to you!

Wordless Wednesday - "A"

A is for  Agrabah

(or Aladdin, or Adventureland .... take your pick!)

Destination Disney: 1 FAVORITE PARK

Well, we've made it to week 10 of our 10 week Destination Disney countdown.  I did miss the last few weeks along the way -- a couple of little things called BEING AT DISNEY and SETTLING BACK INTO REAL LIFE interfered.  But, I'm very happy to be able to participate in the final installment -- 1 Favorite Park.

I have visited all 4 Walt Disney World parks, the original Disneyland, and both parks at Disneyland Paris, and without any hesitation, I can say that my favorite park is

The Magic Kingdom

Yes, there's just something magical for me about coming up on the Main Street Train Station,

 

 then passing underneath to emerge in small town Victorian/turn of the century America with the iconic Cinderella Castle waiting at the end of the street.

From the central hub, you can follow whatever type of adventure delights you best.  Explore the magic of Fantasyland, head into the sci-fi future in Tomorrowland, find your inner swashbuckler in Adventureland, delight in the history (and haunts) of Liberty Square, or head west into Frontierland.  Each land has its own gems, both hidden and overt (the Mountain Range of Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, or Big Thunder Mountain, anyone?).  You can rush from attraction to attraction, or take your time and absorb the incredible attention to detail in the entire park.

And let's not forget the nighttime spectacular, Wishes!

This park just brings out my inner child, brings a tear to my eye, and magic to my heart.  And for this reason, the Magic Kingdom is hands-down my favorite park!

Why not link up and join in the fun?



And next week, we start a whole new theme-- DISNEY IN COLOR

Wordless Wednesday -- Cinderella Castle

This week on Focused On the Magic's Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop, we're sharing pictures of Cinderella Castle.  I hope you enjoy this one from our most recent trip (also to blame for my lack of current postings):

Join in the fun!!!  (Wednesday's not over yet!)

Unplugging from FB (for good)?

I recently got contacted by a high school friend that I reconnected with through Facebook.  She wanted to let me know she was deleting her account and to give me her email address if I wanted to stay in touch.  I replied and asked her what drove her to the decision, as I myself have been questioning Facebook for most of the year (I even went the entire month of February without Facebook and now only get on Fridays as a rule).  Without violating her privacy, suffice it to say that her reasons were in tune with the reasons I question keeping my Facebook account.

At the very least, this Friday I plan on "unliking" a ton of pages and re-evaluating my friends list, as well as deleting a lot of photos.  Of the line that marks having a Facebook and not having a Facebook, I pretty much have one foot across the line into Facebook-free territory.

What about you?  What are your feelings about Facebook?

Back from the World, Back to the Grind

We're back from our magical Disney vacation, May 2 - 9!  We've edited pictures and ordered our PhotoPass CD, and I can't wait to start working on trip reports.  Now I'm still trying to recover from vacation since the hallmark of a great Disney vacation is the need for a do-nothing vacation the following week.  However, with two birthdays, a graduation, and Mother's Day all happening the weekend after we returned, (for which I baked and decorated cookies and a cake for my brother's birthday), unpacking is hardly done, laundry is not anywhere near complete, and my house is, well, trashed.  And we have my Father in Law coming for 15 days starting this weekend.  Time to get cracking on my house--which means any trip reporting is on hold a little long.  At least I can get back in the magical mindset with WDW Today and Live365.

How do you hold on to the magic when the daily grind is reaching out to grab you?

In other news, Bill and I are officially registered for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January 2013!  We took our first training run last night.  Can I just say my husband is a taskmaster?  (And thank you, honey!)  I know I'll be feeling it today, but I'm so proud of how far and how often we ran.  Not bad since I haven't run since early April, just before I broke my toe, and before that I hadn't run since getting sick in February.  We've decided we want to raise money for Team Gleason, and are coming up with ideas on how to do that.  Right now, we're just putting out a plea for donations.  If you feel led to supporting The Gleason Initiative Foundation for ALS patients (Lou Gehrig's Disease), please go to their page and make a donation.  If you wouldn't mind letting me know if you make a donation just so I can keep track of our efforts.  I could have done a fundraising page, but the operating company wanted to keep 9.3% of the donations and I didn't like that.  You can leave a comment or email me at mouseandhome-halfmarathon@yahoo.com  Thank you!!!

Destination Disney: 5 Favorite Snacks

Yep, I'm late to the party once again.  Can I blame the fact that we're going to Disney soon and I've been in full-bore trip prep mode?  Not quite "I'm Too Excited to Sleep" soon, but pretty close!

Anyway, here are my 5 Favorite Snacks for "last" week's Destination Disney blog hop!

1. Of course DOLE WHIP must be at the top of my list.  Did you know you can get Dole Whip at Captain Cook's in the Polynesian resort in addition to Aloha Isle in Adventureland?

2. No Disney trip is complete without a MICKEY BAR (unless, of course, you're like my mom and brother and can't have chocolate!).

Okay, I'll be honest, Dole Whip and Mickey Bar, what else does a girl need?  This is a list of 5 Snacks, though, so I'll press on....

3.  I haven't gotten one at Disney World, but at Disneyland, I really enjoyed a CHURRO.

4.  Totally gross to me, but my hubby has had a TURKEY LEG.

5. At the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you can't beat the "free" HOT CHOCOLATE AND SNICKERDOODLES. 

Maybe you can come up with a better list than I did.  Join in the fun!