Adventure In The Great Wide Somewhere

Here's one of my new favorite blog hops today: Three Things   Thursday! (Be sure to link up on her  blog !) Since I already have a blog (and three blogs preceding this one) what haven't I already shared? Once Upon a Time There Was A Princess Who Was Many Different Things... 1.) Dance Mom Not like on the show, but in a happy wholesome non competitive way. Also I don't own a bedazzler. So there's that.  2.) Shameless Gaming Nerd.  Recently Chris has picked up Kingdom Hearts and that makes me very happy.  Disney + SquareEnix? Yes please! Confession time- when we got married we had two copies of Kingdom Hearts because we each had our own from beforehand.  3.) Spectacularly Terrible at Uno I know. It's a game of luck. How can you be terrible? Well my daughter is too. This hand of Uno lasted almost an hour without anyone winning.  I really didn't know that was possible. 

So the downside (the only one, actually) to the honor of your home state serving as a homeport for the Disney Cruise Line is while you're saving on the airfare to Florida, this means that you aren't going to Florida. Wait, no Florida? Let me repeat myself. You aren't going to Florida. Which means you lose the bonus trip to Walt Disney World "while we're in the neighborhood." Making the most of DCL out of Galveston, we scheduled a week long cruise over Thanksgiving and a six night cruise on May 4, 2013. On August 20, 2012, just before the Magic arrived in Galveston and less than nine months until our May 4 cruise, the DIS-ers who had eight night cruises booked for spring 2013 received one of two emails. Bad news first: Half of the eight night cruises turned into back to back four night cruises with only a single stop in Cozumel, Disney helped move these cruisers to the remaining eight night dates, six night dates, let them stay on the original f...

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! Antipasti, Insalatine & Zuppa And it's super yummy too! Thank you to Focused on the Magic for hosting!   

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! Thank you to Focused on the Magic for hosting!   

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! Goofy Vacation Traditions! Like getting into the panorama on ship once for each cruise. Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee and coffee. Lounging on Deck 4 Grape Gorgonzola Pizza (and the entire dessert spread) at the Palo Brunch And a Well Timed Photobomb. For My Prince Charming...here's to all the little things I love about you! Thank you to Focused on the Magic for hosting!  

#SilentSunday

Today was the last day of the first week of school and TGIF is in full swing! I know, you're thinking didn't we just get out of school? (Or for some of my friends, doesn't school get out in a week or two?)  Last Day of School...ever? Yes, yes we did. However with my kids eagerly chomping at the bit to get started on our fledgling adventures in  homeschooling , we decided to dive right in on last Monday, June 2. It seemed like a really good idea, it really, really did. I somehow totally blocked out the fact that Ben would be on a business trip for the week and Chris needed some midweek blood work (so less than an ideal first week situation), but somehow, we muddled through! I enjoy very ridged structure; work first then play, finish all my chores then take a break, but my kids are happier knowing overall what work is expected and getting it done with some meanderings and rabbit holes and digging in the backyard and climbing trees. So that's what they do. We d...

Welcome Foodie Friday Blog Hoppers! I have one clear favorite snack when I go Walt Disney World and based on this poll released on Disney's pinterest page , I'm not exactly alone. Beating out that Disneyland favorite, churros, and the iconic Mickey Bar, this is the one dessert at Walt Disney World that I really, really miss when I'm on a Disney Cruise. As in, the absence of this snack regularly makes my comment cards. Ah, the humble Dole Whip Float Location: Aloha Isle, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom Cost: $4.99/Dole Whip Float or $3.79 for traditional Dole Whip Is it a nearly perfect snack for indulging and cooling you off or is it breakfast? I mean pineapple is a fruit and fruits are a part of this balanced breakfast, right? Now if you really want to take it over the top, just order a nice Dole Whip Float and you are in business!    "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up." Photo Courtesy of Kuleen from The Disne...

Happy National Running Day! Okay, so in honor of #RunningDay I picked up a new running shirt and guys, I'm in love! I got the White Rabbit "Cadet Equilibrium Tank" and Cheshire Cat as well from Raw Threads because they were doing some sale that popped up on my Facebook feed. I love the pocket watch on the front and the cute bow back too! Now these tops had been on my radar pinterest running wishlist for a while, but having never used an alternative to tech material for a run, I was fairly skeptical about running in bamboo. On sale, I was willing to give the tops a try. This is much more breathable than any of the C9 tops I usually get from Target. I'm thinking about collecting these and I definitely know what I'm wearing next time I do the Castaway Cay 5K. Now to save up for the white rabbit skirt. It's super cute! Side Note: Did you know before I had this Disney blog, I had a running blog? I've run a couple half marathons and my fair share...

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! Thank you to Focused on the Magic for hosting!  

Welcome Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia blog hoppers. Thanks again to Jodi from  +Magical Mouse Schoolhouse , Heidi from  +Heidi's Head , Jenn from Disney Babies Blog  and  +Mike Ellis  for co-hosting! Did You Know... The Disney Wonder and Disney Magic each have a unique piano bar in the adults only entertainment district? Keys is on the Magic while Cadillac Lounge is on the Wonder. If you absolutely need to keep up with your piano practice while onboard, the piano that used to stay in the Royal suites have sadly been removed, but if  you ask at guest services they can often arrange for a time that you can use a keyboard in one of the lounges when it is not in use. On the Magic, Keys even has a real piano rather than a keyboard. If you're really great at playing piano or would like a live audience, sign up for the talent show! They provide the keyboard for you. If you bring headphones so as to not disturb those watching the game, Diversion...

A cruise is plenty incredible in it's own right with a ton of different activities for the whole family to participate in, however for us photography enthusiasts with a bit of a competitive streak, there really isn't anything to compare to a good old fashioned photo scavenger hunt. The rules are simple, each team must stick together and at least one team member must be in the photo with each item. Try to earn as many points as you can in a set amount of time (an hour or two or a whole afternoon if you wish) you lose a point per minute after the cutoff! Spend some time during dinner voting on the bonus points then take a tally and see who wins!   5 Empty deck chairs in a row A cast member with the same name as one of your team member A Chandelier A Giant Letter (Vote for Largest – Two Points) A Miniature Bottle of Shampoo A Permanent Sculpture (Vote for 5 Points – Be Creative!!!) A Piece of Fruit (More Exotic = More Points/Vote for 2 Points) A princess A Ship...

If you wake up super early on your final morning aboard, you can still enjoy a run around the deck, just be aware that the forward end of deck four will be closed off from all passengers even before arrival in the port. You encounter some of the most fascinating people early in the morning on the ship, lovely cast members, smokers, a man sleeping in the lounger on deck complete with a pillow and blanket, a real cross section. As I ran back and forth and watched as we pulled around Galveston island back toward the cruise terminal, I kept passing a lady sitting smoking on one of the loungers. Around the third time I passed her, she stopped to ask me what we were passing. I responded the eastern edge of Galveston island, I think. Next lap, she asked if she could talk to me so I stopped for a bit. She wanted to let me know how much she enjoyed the stage show the previous evening. I replied that Disney Dreams is one of my favorite. Then she said she wanted to thank me for putti...

#SilentSunday