It’s 8:45 am on Saturday morning. As soon as I started writing, my son woke up, my husband and the dogs came trampling down the stairs, and my quiet dream ended. I finished up a walk, planted a few seeds in the garden, and now I have some time to myself to write while the dogs get groomed, and Kyle takes over with Bugs. With starting a new business and being a full-time mom, finding the time to blog has been super tough, but I’m going to keep on trying to hop on here as much as I can, even if it’s a few times a month, or a few times a week. I appreciate all of you who have given me grace during this time!

Today, I’m sharing some photos of our summer and pictures from our trip down to Florida! This was our first family trip together since becoming parents!
 
We are in the toddler phase, where we want to run all over the place and never sit still (unless we are eating or drinking), and it’s hard to keep finding things to do. He does not like to be in the playpen anymore, and I can’t blame him. Thank goodness it’s summer because we spend much of our time at the pool now. 

My mom joined us for a pool day a few weeks ago, and we kicked off the summer season with Chick-Fil-A.
The best thing about Saturdays in the summertime is the farmer’s markets. 

I met up with a friend and went to the Farmers Market in Matthews. It’s one of the best ones in the Charlotte area! They have all kinds of dessert vendors, fresh flowers, fresh produce, and coffee! I can’t wait to attend another one. 

I had an apricot bun from Bun Appetit and a honey wildflower oat milk latte from Good Cup Coffee Co. 
After popping into several antique stores, we headed to Collective Cafe for lunch. I had the oat milk cortado and a chicken Caesar salad. This spot had so many things on its menu! The food was delicious.

When I got home, I helped put Bugs to bed, and when he woke up, we headed to the pool and then VooDoo Wings for dinner. I had their chicken house salad, and Kyle ordered the spicy peanut butter and jelly wings. I was skeptical at first, but OMG, they were so good!

Right next to VooDoo Wings is an ice cream shop called “Whits.” We wanted a sweet treat, so we bought a peanut butter Whittie. OH MY GOODNESS! This was one of the best-tasting ice cream sandwiches I have ever had. It had the biggest chunks of Nutella in the ice cream, and the peanut butter cookie was soft and flaky. I give it a 10 out of 10!

I still love adding my favorite Amazon items to my storefront, and this singing bubble crab is one of the best bathtime toys I’ve purchased! He is obsessed with it, and bathtime has been a game-changer! It sings songs, spills out bubble bath, and he knows how to turn it on and off. They even make one that looks like a dinosaur. I may have to get that one, too!

I knew waking up and checking the garden would be my favorite part about these garden beds. It’s so exciting watching all of my seedlings turn into big beautiful plants. I can’t wait for all the juicy tomatoes, peppers, and squash! It’s lettuce season, and I’ve been getting all the fantastic lettuce from my garden this past week. 
 
I had a cookie order the day before heading out on our trip! The little Bug was playing fetch in the yard with Leo, and it’s so cute to watch this relationship blossom! Leo usually ignores him, but now that he’s up and walking, he finds him to be a little human he can play with.

Last Tuesday, we left at 4 am to head down to Florida. We wanted to go early, hoping we’d have a sleeper for the first few hours of the drive. He slept for about 45 minutes but then woke up. Luckily, he was pretty good in the car! We played with cups, straws, string, tape, and toys he had never seen. Toward the end, I put on Ms. Rachel, and she seemed to be a hit. 

Since Savannah was on our way, we stopped for a play in the park and breakfast! It has been a while since visiting Savannah, and it made me so happy to be there, even if it was just for a few hours. I need to plan a trip back soon. 
 
Taking a few breaks on the trip helped. Savannah was perfect since it was on the way and had so many cute parks to play or walk in.

After getting all the morning zoomies out at Forsyth Park, we stopped at Collins Quarter for breakfast. Collins Quarter has always been one of my favorite spots to eat in Savannah, but we always went to a different location. I loved that this one was right in the park, and the food was absolutely delicious. I have several Savannah travel guides on my blog if you plan to visit. 
I always order something I can share with Bugs for my meals. I had the avocado toast with eggs, and he helped me devour it. I also had an oat milk cortado, but my only mistake was not ordering one for the road!

This mini-stop has me excited about planning a trip here soon! My little explorer loved it.

We stopped at Mod Pizza for the little one’s dinner in Tampa. He was a big fan of the pesto pizza! We made it to Kyle’s mom’s house around 5 pm! We had dinner (she made my Italian chicken crockpot dish!), and we bathed bugs and put him to bed after a long walk around the neighborhood. We hadn’t visited her house in Florida in almost five years, so we were so excited to be back for the week!

The following day, we had coffee at Black and Gold Coffee! It’s one of my favorites. I ordered an oat milk latte, and it was delicious!

He loves waving at the trash trucks!

It turns out I love pickleball. I’m already a big tennis fan, but pickleball is going to be my new thing. We had so much fun playing, and I want to start playing here! It’s a lot easier than tennis, but the scoring and rules are complicated to catch on to since I’m used to how tennis goes. I’m sure I’ll catch on soon.

We took Bugs to the beach for the first time! He was a big fan, especially of the birds!

He would laugh so loud whenever a wave came to his feet.

Such a special moment

My little surfer baby!

Before heading back, we stopped at Sharky’s for a plate of nachos. 
Kyle’s mom wanted me to give her a sourdough lesson, so I brought my starter and taught her how to make bread and cinnamon rolls.

Pool day! 
 I could get used to a morning view like this! 
On Saturday morning, we headed to the Venice Farmer’s Market. We first started with a delicious almond croissant.

A Nutella beignet from Croissant & Co!
 We stopped at our favorite Mission Organic Coffee & Cafe for lunch! We come here every time we are in Florida. Bugs got a banana, strawberry, and spinach smoothie!  I had a chicken Caesar Salad wrap and a cold brew!

After Bug went for a nap, I went on a 5-mile bike ride with Kyle!

After playing a long game of pickleball in the morning, we had brunch at Plantation Country Club.

For dinner, we had Crisp and Green! This spot was so good. I had their chicken Caesar salad.

In the morning, I finished the sourdough lessons by teaching Kyle’s mom how to make the famous cinnamon rolls!
 These were the best ones I have ever made! I think making them earlier in the evening made a difference since I wake up so early. They had more time to rise at night. I will try that again today for tomorrow morning’s cinnamon rolls.  YUM!!!!! They were oozing with cinnamon goodness.  We were in a bit of a hurry, so we put the icing on while they were hot, and OMG, what a game-changer. Totally doing this tomorrow as well. It glazed over the top. 
On Memorial Day morning, we headed to the beach before it got too hot and crowded.
 This makes me want to move to the beach since he had so much fun digging in the sand and running around. 
My perfect little beach boy!
YUM!!! We brought our breakfast to the beach.  My entire world! 
After packing up, we grabbed one last dinner at Urban Taco. I had a chicken salad with rice, corn, guacamole, cheese, and tomatoes. Everything was so fresh and delicious.

We left Florida at 5 am and got a three-hour sleeper.
 We stopped in historic Avondale, Jacksonville, Florida, to grab breakfast and play at a park.  We ordered cheese grits, a bagel, an omelet, and coffees at Southern Grounds and Co! Everything was delicious. My son loves grits, so I have to order them whenever they are on the menu.  After breakfast, we headed down the street to play at the park. It’s wild to see him running around. It literally just happened overnight. We headed to Florida with him taking maybe five to ten steps, but now he can walk alone. It’s fun but a bit scary. We grabbed food for dinner at Fresh Market and then headed home! I was proud of how good he was in the car, making me want to do more trips with him in the future!

We jumped right back into our routine the following day. We did a morning walk and then stopped for coffee at the Greenway.

I made a delicious taco chicken dish in the crock pot for dinner. It’s so good over salad with all of the taco toppings!
 I had a pool and coffee date with Bugs the following morning. He tried to steal my oat milk latte from Humblecup, and that’s when I knew he was 100 % my son. The blonde hair throws me off sometimes, but the love for my coffee makes it make sense. 
And when we got tired of the pool, we headed home to swing! Between 7 am and noon, it’s a battle trying to find things to entertain him. He changes daily regarding interests, but he’s happiest when he’s not contained and can walk all over by himself. We plan to do a lot of park trips this week so he can get all his little energy out. 
All the fresh salad from my garden!
 My happy boy!!!!  On Friday morning, I made a Tuscan sourdough bread with herbs from my garden and a Tuscan herb olive oil from Venice Olive Oil Company. This herb olive oil tastes like the Pizza Hut breadstick seasoning. It is amazing! I am going to use it for dressings, marinades, and breads! 
I made a loaf for our house and one for my parents!
 We visited my mom yesterday morning, and Buggy had so much fun exploring their massive garden!
After Bug’s bedtime, we dove into the homemade cookie sandwiches and watched an episode of Love & Death! 

I hope you all have the best weekend. Thanks for stopping by to catch up! This is a big week for me and my new business adventure, so stay tuned on social media & my TikTok!

Questions for you!

1. If you have kids, when did you first travel with them?
2. What are some fun things to do with a 13-month-old? 
3. What are some excellent crockpot recipes? 

We used a Disney Park Hopper Plus pass for the week, which made everything convenient. It allows you to make a theme park reservation, and then you can park hop after 2 pm at any of the other Disney World parks. So if you can’t get a reservation for a park during your trip, no worries, you can go after 2 pm! We had a reservation for all the parks early in the mornings and then hopped over to other parks later in the day.

Purchasing Tickets and Passes at Walt Disney World

Reservations are easy to make on the My Disney Experience App (and from your computer if you’re signed in). After making reservations, they’ll be linked to your Disney magic bands. When making reservations for your family, you can also link the plans to theirs. If you don’t have a magic band, you can use your phone as one. The magic bands are the best things in the world! If you don’t want to bring a purse to the parks, you can swipe your watch for payment and passes!

No matter how often I visit The Animal Kingdom, I’m always running into new foods, attractions, and things I’ve missed out on. Check out my other Animal Kingdom blog posts so you don’t miss out on some of my other favorites. 

The Ultimate Day at The Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World | What to Eat | What to Do

We were at the park a few years ago when a massive rainstorm hit. Almost everyone left, and we ended up having no lines on some of my favorite rides! We sat on Expedition Everest ten times in a row without getting off. Honestly, I could ride that rollercoaster all day. I love going to Disney with people who love thrill as much as I do. If the rollercoaster is fast, goes upside down, backwards, drops low, or is pitch black, count me in! Hopefully, my son will think I’m the cool mom one day and get on all the rides with me! 

Plan your Disney World Trip!

After 2020, everyone is making their way to Disney World. As soon as you book your trip, start making those reservations. Give yourself atleast two months out to start planning. You can go last-minute, but you may not be able to experience everything you hoped to. Even if you’re unsure, you want to dine somewhere, book, and cancel later if necessary. You can also refresh your My Disney Experience App to see if reservations open up. We had a few spots open up last minute that we had wanted to dine at. And if you can’t make your Disney reservation, make sure to cancel in advance to give someone else the chance to take it.

The Tree of Life is the most well-known attraction at the Animal Kingdom. There are so many spots while walking Discovery Island Trails in the park where you can get a great view and a perfect picture. The Tree of Life represents the Circle of Life by honoring the animals. 

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is around 145 feet tall and has over 300 animals carved into the tree. And don’t forget to look for the hidden mouse in the branches!

What to wear to The Animal Kingdom 

You want to dress comfortably for the park! There is one water ride that has the potential to get you completely soaked, so bring a poncho or something you don’t mind getting wet. We spent most of the time outdoors, so we planned according to the weather. 

Here’s what I wore: Shoes| Leopard Leggings | White Oversized Crop Top | Mini Green Backpack | Sun Hat
 

The Best Food at The Animal Kingdom

Eight Spoon Café
Order the pulled pork jelly doughnut sandwich

Flame Tree Barbecue
Order baked macaroni & cheese with pulled pork with an island breeze with a glow cube.

Harambe Fruit Market
Go with the grilled corn on the cobb.

Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery
Start your day with a cup of coffee and a pistachio honey croissant.

Pizzaffari
The perfect place in the park for a personal pan-sized pizza and a caesar salad.

Nomad Lounge & Cocktail Bar
Choose a vegetarian option like the Impossible Slider with Chipotle aioli and yucca fries. Wash it down with the Hightower Rocks!

Pongu Pongu Lounge
Order a pineapple-cream cheese spring roll with a fun boba drink!

Thirsty River Bar
Celebrate the Expedition Everest Ride with a Khumbu Icefall!

Tiffins Restaurant
You won’t regret anything you order at Tiffins! I fell in love with the salmon.

Trilo-Bites
Grab a quick bite to eat to hold you over for dinner. Highly recommend the buffalo chicken chips!

Tusker House
One of the tastiest buffets I’ve ever had! I have been dreaming of roasted carrots and their dessert bar since I left!

Yak & Yeti
Eggs rolls, honey sesame chicken, and fried rice. Order it all! 

I’ve been to The Animal Kingdom more times than my one hand can count, and I love trying out new spots to eat! It’s best to go with someone who likes to split meals and snacks throughout the day. That allows you to try more options! 

Buffalo Chicken Chips Trilo Bites

I’m not a huge Buffalo flavor fan, but I’ll still eat it. We tried the Buffalo chicken chips at Trilo-Bites DinoLand U.S.A. and they were so good! They’re a great snack with protein and carbs to kickstart the afternoon!

 

Rides at The Animal Kingdom

Avatar Flight of Passage 
This is one of my top five favorite rides in Walt Disney World. I’m a big Avatar fan, so this was right up my alley.

Kali River Rapids 
Prepare to get soaked!

Expedition Everest 
I will go on this rollercoaster over and over again! We got lucky one year when it rained, and almost everyone left the park. We were able to sit on the rollercoaster and ride it as many times as we’d like and not get off because no one was in line!

Na’vi River Journey
This is a relaxing ride and a great way to get out of the heat!

Kilimanjaro Safaris
I loved the Safari and learning about the animals.

Hat Mickey Mouse | Pink Mickey Mouse Hat
 
You will DEFINITELY want to save room for Yak & Yeti!

Yak & Yeti | The Animal Kingdom

We were looking forward to having Yak & Yeti all day! After working up an appetite, we ordered the pork egg rolls, honey sesame chicken with fresh vegetables and white rice, chicken fried rice, and a mini mango pie! 

IT WAS DELICIOUS! This meal is among my top favorites for Disney World.

Don’t ask how we did it, but we saved room for Mr. Kamals. How can you pass up chicken dumplings and seasoned ranch fries? Again, it’s best to go with a group of people who like to split everything so you can try all the delicious foods. 

Mr. Kamals | The Animal Kingdom 

What’s better than seasoned french fries on a hot day? Mr. Kamal’s fries were crispy, seasoned to perfection, and served hot! I hate when you get french fries, and they are cold and soggy. I’m not an experienced dumpling eater, but these were sooooooooo good. 

Disney Skyliner |Transportation at Disney Parks Disney World

Getting around the Disney parks is a breeze with the busses, the monorail, and the Skyliner! The Skyliner lines go so fast! If you see a line with many people, your wait time may be up to fifteen minutes. They’re constantly getting people on and off the Skyliner. 

Best Photo Spots in The Animal Kingdom

You better dress your best because The Animal Kingdom has the most magical backdrops for photos throughout the park! 

• The Tree of Life
• The Valley of Mo’ara at Pandora: World of Avatar
• The Village of Anandapur
• Harambe Market Wall
• You Are Most Beautiful Wall
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Maharajah Jungle Trek 
• The Moss Wall 
• The Broken Claws
• Dinoland USA Midway 
• The Floating Mountains of Pandora 
• Expedition Everest

And don’t forget to look for the hidden Mickeys throughout the park!

Harambe Fruit Market | Healthy Options Walt Disney World

And it’s tradition to order grilled corn on the cob at Harambe Fruit Market! If you are looking for healthy bites, they offer fresh pineapple, watermelon, grilled corn on the cob, pickles, and more! I have written several posts about healthy options at Disney World!

The best way to start Pandora is by stopping at Pongu Pongu for refreshing beverages and a Pongu Lumpia! 

Pongu Pongu | Pandora The World of Avatar

The most refreshing beverages at The Animal Kingdom! They are also the prettiest. 

Mo’ara Margarita
Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo tequila and Bols Blue Curaçao with lime juice topped with boba balls.

Rum Blossom
Bacardi Superior rum with layers of apple and desert pear limeade topped with boba balls.
 As if we hadn’t had enough food, we were spoiled with a private dinner in the park before closing.    Somehow I managed to fit in even more delicious bites of food!  
Giving the Cheeta Girls a run for their money!
We had an opportunity to explore Pandora after the park closed to watch the sunset over the floating mountains!
This is one of my favorite parts about visiting The Animal Kingdom! The backdrops are absolutely stunning, and you feel like you’re in a completely different world. 

Flight of Passage! 

It’s amazing how a ride can make you feel like you’re on top of the world!
 

I cannot wait to get back to Disney World soon. The best part is that I get to take my son next time! We will be a Disney family for sure!

Questions for you!

1. Have you been to the Animal Kingdom?
2. Which food do you want to try from my post?
3. Have you ever brought your kids to Disney World? How did that go!?

All travel expenses were covered by Disney! All opinions are my own! 

What to do at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It’s time to continue the Walt Disney World content this morning! Getting up at 6 am to walk around Galaxy’s Edge before the park opened was one of the most incredible experiences ever! Star Wars fan or not, Galaxy’s Edge is so cool.

After exploring the empty walkways of Galaxy’s Edge, we had a group breakfast at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.

Where to Eat Galaxy’s Edge Walt Disney World:

In-park dining requires a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date for each person in your party ages 3 and up

Where to Shop Galaxy’s Edge Hollywood Studios, Disney World

Savi’s Workshop
Build your custom lightsaber at this secret workshop and continue the way of the Force.

Droid Depo
Build your droid at Black Spire Outpost’s industrial depot.

Disney Park Hopper Plus Pass

We used a Disney Park Hopper Plus pass for the week and made everything convenient. It allows you to make a theme park reservation, and then you can park hop after 2 pm at any of the other Disney World parks. So if you can’t get a reservation for a park during your trip, no worries, you can go after 2 pm! We had a reservation for all the parks early in the mornings and then hopped over to other parks later in the day.

Making Reservations with My Disney Experience App

Reservations are easy to make on the My Disney Experience App (and from your computer if you’re signed in). After making reservations, they’ll be linked to your Disney magic bands. When making reservations for your family, you can also link the plans to theirs. If you don’t have a magic band, you can use your phone as one. The magic bands are the best things in the world! If you don’t want to bring a purse to the parks, you can swipe your watch for payment and passes!

Transportation at Disney Parks Disney World

Disney Skyliner

After spending the morning and early afternoon at Hollywood Studios, we headed to the resort to spend the day at the pool and then headed back later when the crowds settled down and the temps got cooler!

Getting around the Disney parks is a breeze with the busses, the monorail, and the Skyliner! The Skyliner lines go so fast! If you see a line with many people, your wait time may be fifteen minutes. They’re constantly getting people on and off the Skyliner.

Galaxy’s Edge Walt Disney World Attractions:

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run:

Ride in the famous cockpit of the Millennium Falcon on a daring flight—and whether you’re a pilot, engineer or gunner, every role is crucial.

The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats when you jump into hyperspace towards adventure. Along the way you’ll face danger at every turn.

Will your mission succeed or fail? It’s up to you—find out if you have what it takes to outmaneuver the odds aboard the Millennium Falcon.

Get ready to punch it!

Milk Stand at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Walt Disney World

You cannot visit Galaxy’s Edge without trying the Blue Milk and the Green Milk!

Disney Springs Travel Blog

There’s no better way to start your evening than by enrolling in Sangria University!
Who would have thought that Disney World was a place where you could get your Sangria Diploma!? Disney is not just for the kiddos. Make sure to sign up for the afternoon Sangria class before heading out on your Disney vacation. Professionals teach this class, and they share the recipes used to make the four varieties of sangrias served at Three Bridges Bar & Grill, where the course takes place. It’s a stunning view and perfect for a hot summer day with the breeze hitting you by the water.

What’s better than fresh guacamole and chips to go with your Sangria!? 

What you should know about Sangria University!

Sangria University Walt Disney World

The classes are on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Plan to be there for approximately 90-minutes.

You must be 21 years of age or older to participate

If you are younger than 21, you must be accompanied by an adult and will be allowed to join with non-alcoholic flights.

You will need to make your reservation in advance.

Sangria University is located at Three Bridges Bar and Grill, and you should check in 15-minutes before your course.

Indicate your allergies before booking!
I wish I could remember what I put into this Sangria, but I know it was TASTY! I used the fruity flavors like raspberry, peach, and a white wine base. These are so fun and pretty to make.


I’m sure I made my mom so proud when I sent her my sangria diploma
The best part is sitting around when you’re done enjoying the view, eating the appetizer, and sipping on your custom sangria! 
Next on the agenda, I had the opportunity to decorate cupcakes at Erin McKenna’s Bakery! You all know how much of a dream this was for me. I am obsessed with cake decorating and have loved decorating cupcakes since I was a little girl.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC at Disney Springs

When I got there, I was welcomed with my very own apron, “body made by Erin McKenna hat, and thrown straight into the decorating station!
  
Erin McKenna’s Bakery at Disney Springs is a blessing for those with allergies. There is no need to tell your kid they can’t have the cupcake because Erin McKenna’s bakery’s treats are vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free. They taste incredible, and you’d never even know they were allergy-friendly. They have more than cupcakes, too! Make sure to check out their full menu!



I had way too much fun decorating these cupcakes! I was even lucky enough to box them up and take them back to the rest of the group for everyone to try.
 Thank you, Disney and Erin McKenna’s for making my cupcake dreams come true! 
It’s official, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is the absolute best restaurant I have ever been to. I’m tempted to hop on a flight to get dinner there and return. It is THAT good. We headed to our 6 pm reservation right after making delicious cupcakes.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs

Don’t think twice; get yourself on that reservation list asap!
We started with a Chardonnay and a Malbec. 
If there is one place to splurge, it’s here.

Starting your meal with grilled bruschetta on ciabatta bread topped with soft mozzarella, pesto, and marinated tomatoes is necessary. It’s a crime not to! There wasn’t a bite left of this starter. We also went with the Waterkist farm heirloom tomato salad as a starter. It had local burrata, basil pesto, and aged balsamic over the top. The poached fruit added to this salad was like a fresh dessert! They change up the ingredients to make them seasonal.

We did one of those things where we both ordered something and just split our entrees up. You can’t go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs, and let me tell you, Wolfgang Puck knows how to do spaghetti and meatballs! The freshly made pasta noodles were topped with tomato sauce, parmesan Reggiano, and the most flavorful meatballs! We also had the mouthwatering pan-seared Scottish salmon. It was served over a chard salad, vegetables, and herb cream sauce. I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten salmon that tasted so good in my entire life. This restaurant is rated 100 stars!

As if the restaurant couldn’t get any closer to heaven, we had the sweetest little service dog with the cutest butt sitting next to us.
  We didn’t request it, but I’m glad they surprised us anyways!

I was shocked when the waiter brought over a cinnamon roll & caramel spiked milkshake and two espresso martinis. We had a lady come to our table asking if she could take a photo of it. It was an eye-catcher for sure! He said we weren’t allowed to leave the restaurant without trying, and I get it. I 100% get it. These were some of the best drinks I’ve ever had and the cinnamon roll? INCREDIBLE!
We had one of the BEST experiences at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs. I cannot wait to go back. This will be the first thing I do on my itinerary. 
We spent the rest of the night listening to live music, walking around the shops with stuffed bellies, and enjoying the light shows. Disney Springs is one of the best parts about visiting Walt Disney World!

I hope you all enjoyed today’s Disney Travel Blog! I’ll be back with another one real soon

Thank you so much, Walt Disney World, for giving me the most incredible experience.

Questions for you!

1. Have you ever been to Disney Springs?
2. If you could choose any workplace (just for one day!), where would it be?
3. Do you ever split meals so that you can try more foods?

The resort is absolutely breathtaking, and the food was unforgettable.
We took the monorail from our hotel and arrived at the Grand Floridian for breakfast at 8 am. We had a fun day planned for Hollywood Studios and The Animal Kingdom right after! I love how easy the transportation is at Walt Disney World. It makes everything stress-free while park hopping or resort hopping.

Disney Park Hopper Plus Pass

We used a Disney Park Hopper Plus pass for the week and made everything so convenient. It allows you to make a theme park reservation, and then you can park hop after 2 pm at any of the other Disney World parks. So if you can’t get a reservation for a park during your trip, no worries, you can go after 2 pm! We had a reservation for all the parks early in the mornings and then hopped over to other parks later in the day.

Transportation at Disney Parks Disney World – Disney Skyliner

Getting around the Disney parks is a breeze with the busses, the monorail, and the Skyliner! The Skyliner lines go so fast! If you see a line with many people, your wait time may be up to fifteen minutes. They’re constantly getting people on and off the Skyliner.
 

Breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe

The food at the Grand Floridian Cafe was absolutely delicious and one of the best breakfasts spots! I am totally adding this to the top three. It’s up there with Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe and the breakfast buffet at Boma.

Let’s talk about the coffee!

I don’t know if it was all the park-hopping and lack of sleep, but that coffee was amazing!
 
We didn’t hold back with our order.

First, they bring out biscuits and butter to go with your coffee while waiting for your food.

We ordered:

Avocado Toast

Bacon and eggs on the side! Every time we took a bit of something, we couldn’t stop raving about it!

We picked out a few things at the gift shop and then headed to Hollywood Studios for the afternoon! 
As if breakfast wasn’t enough! When you’re at Disney World, you do SO MUCH walking that it works up an appetite, and we always shared our meals to help save room for the next.

Totchos Woody’s Lunch Box

We tried the Totchos at Woody’s Lunch Box. I WAS SO EXCITED about these! I plan to make them this weekend for fun. The totchos are tater tots coated with beef and bean chili, shredded cheese, signature queso, tomatoes, corn chips, sour cream, and green onions! Highly recommend adding ketchup, too Make sure to order these as soon as they open; otherwise, the wait time to pick them up could be hours! I placed the order as soon as Woody’s Lunch Box opened up.

Blue Milk Star War’s Galaxy’s Edge

after riding the Rise of Resistance and the Smugglers Run. Even if you’re not a fan of Star Wars, it’s still so much fun! Oh, and the verdict on the blue milk? Not that bad, actually!

Cream Cheese Pretzel Rock n Roll Roller Coaster

I am a cream cheese pretzel first-timer, and wow, am I a BIG FAN! We tried the cream cheese pretzel while waiting in line at the Rock n Roll Rollercoaster. It was absolutely delicious, and I’m not even into cream cheese desserts. If you plan to ride Tower of Terror or the Rock n Roll Rollercoaster, grab one of these pretzels while waiting in line!

Carrot Cake Cookie Trolley Car Cafe 

We picked up some desserts on our way out of Hollywood Studios. I had about 50 messages telling me to try the famous carrot cake cookie at Trolley Car Cafe! It was so delicious that I even packed a few in my suitcase for my dad  We had the best morning and afternoon at Hollywood Studios! Coming up next is my Animal Kingdom blog!

Questions for you!

1. Have you had the Totchos at Hollywood Studios?
2. Have you ever packed a baked good in your suitcase to take home?
3. What is your favorite ride at Hollywood Studios?

Spending the day at Magic Kingdom | Walt Disney World Travel. 

2022 is the perfect time to pack your bags and head to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World! You deserve it. Back in May, I was invited down to Orlando to explore some of the most popular Walt Disney World Parks. This trip was one of the most incredible experiences, and I’ll be sharing more blogs on my trip to Disney throughout the rest of the summer! We ate so much food, went on many rides, and experienced many fun Disney World attractions!

Walt Disney World  – The Magic Kingdom

If you want to get on all the rides, I recommend getting there right when the park opens! We were able to sprint over to rides that had long lines like Splash Mountain and Space Mountain. Our wait time was about fifteen minutes, but the wait times were much higher later in the day. Plus, the weather is always better in the morning.

We used a Disney Park Hopper Plus pass for the week and made everything convenient. It allows you to make a theme park reservation, and then you can park hop after 2 pm at any of the other Disney World parks. So if you can’t get a reservation for a park during your trip, no worries, you can go after 2 pm! We had a reservation for all the parks early in the mornings and then hopped over to other parks later in the day.

Reservations are super easy to make on the My Disney Experience App (and from your computer if you’re signed in). After making reservations, they’ll be linked to your Disney magic bands. When making reservations for your family, you can also link the plans to theirs. If you don’t have a magic band, you can use your phone as one. The magic bands are the best things in the world! If you don’t want to bring a purse to the parks, you can swipe your watch for payment and passes!

Plan your Disney World Trip!

After 2020, everyone is making their way to Disney World. As soon as you book your trip, start making those reservations. Give yourself atleast two months out to start planning. You can go last-minute, but you may not be able to experience everything you hoped to. Even if you’re unsure, you want to dine somewhere, book, and cancel later if necessary. You can also refresh your My Disney Experience App to see if reservations open up. We had a few spots open up last minute that we had wanted to dine at. And if you can’t make your Disney reservation, make sure to cancel in advance to give someone else the chance to take it.

Breakfast at Tomorrowland Terrace Magic Kingdom

You can get breakfast before heading to the parks at any Walt Disney World Resort. It’s a tradition to get the Mickey waffles at least once while visiting. One of my favorite places to grab breakfast was at the Grand Floridian. Oh, and the Tonga Toast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!

We met our group at the Tomorrowland Terrace for breakfast at 8 am. It was like a dream come true to have coffee overlooking the Cinderella Castle. I love Disney so much because I never got to go when I was little. I’m just living out those childhood dreams right now.

Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service style restaurant with a delicious New England/American style menu. You can find foods like lobster rolls, fried shrimp, and chicken nuggets. It’s a large open area to sit down and cool off while enjoying the best view of the Cinderella Castle. It’s open from 11 am to 4 pm and makes for the perfect early lunch and dinner. 

Spring Rolls at Adventureland Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 

The best plan you can have at Disney World is to share food. That way you can try a little bit of everything! I took a poll on Instagram to see which foods I should try, and the Pepperoni pizza spring rolls and cheeseburger spring rolls at Adventureland came up the most. I thought it sounded nuts, but it skyrocketed to the top three favorite foods at Magic Kingdom after the first bite! Actually, maybe even in the top three of all the parks combined.

Now, you can expect me to try and recreate this on the blog soon! They were incredible.

You’ll want to swim in the sauce if you’re a marinara sauce lover. It was the BEST flavor! I couldn’t choose which one I liked better because they were equally good. Play it safe and get them both!

The Spring Roll Cart at Adventureland is located right outside the entrance! 

Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow

The next food item we tried was another popular suggestion, the fresh fruit waffle sandwich at Sleepy Hollow! It’s the cute and quaint brick cottage by Cinderella Castle. The waffle is filled with fresh fruit and Nutella. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Sleepy Hollow is where you can find funnel cakes and Mickey-shaped waffles.

Can we start making waffle sandwiches a thing?

Character Cavalcades and Magic Kingdom Entertainment 

• Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Main Street Confectionary

Citrus Swirl Sunshine Tree Terrace

If you’ve already had the Dolewhip, try something new!

Repeat after me, “I will not leave the Magic Kingdom without trying the Citrus Swirl at the Sunshine Tree Terrace.” I’m here to tell you that it’s even better than Dolewhip.  It’s frozen orange juice with vanilla soft serve. Next time, I may get that for breakfast.  

Cinderella’s Castle Magic Kingdom

One of the best parts about Disney World is that the flowers and decorations are forever changing! The flowers during this trip were breathtaking. I talked more about the flowers in my last Disney World Travel Blog at Epcot! When you squat down by the gated area of flowers, you can take a photo that makes it look like Cinderella’s Castle is far away in a flower field. It’s fun to get creative with photos at The Magic Kingdom!
 

Mickey Pretzel With Cheese at Liberty Square Market 

It’s tradition to get the Mickey Pretzel! Although, I may have tried THE BEST Mickey Pretzel you could ever have! It’s at Hollywood Studios near the Rock n Roll Rollercoaster. It’s a sweet cream cheese pretzel, and it’s worth every bite! We waited in a long line, but it went by fast with the help of the pretzel. Ok, this isn’t a Hollywood studios blog (that’s coming later!)

So if you’re not going to Hollywood Studios and you want a Mickey Pretzel, grab one at the Liberty Square Market! They have dill pickles, hot dogs, snack foods, beverages, and fresh fruit. The line was so short, so perfect if you’re super hungry and need a quick bite to eat.

 
 

Open Rides and Attractions at Magic Kingdom 

We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Astro Orbiter, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and the Carousel.

There are some rides at Magic Kingdom that you ride once, and that’s just enough (unless you’re under the age of 8.) So if I didn’t go on a certain ride or attraction, it might be because I did it years before, and that was good enough…if you know what I mean. Like, no one needs to go into the Tiki Room more than once  

Transportation at Disney Parks Disney World

Disney Skyliner

After spending the morning and early afternoon at Magic Kingdom, we headed to the resort to spend the day at the pool and then headed back to Magic Kingdom later in the evening when the crowds settled down, and the temps got cooler!

Getting around the Disney parks is a breeze with the busses, the monorail, and the Skyliner! The Skyliner lines go so fast! If you see a line with many people, your wait time may be up to fifteen minutes. They’re constantly getting people on and off the Skyliner. I had such a blast at Disney World! I cannot wait to go back in the Fall

Questions for you!

1. Which Disney blog should I share next? (Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, or Hollywood Studios)
2. What is your favorite and your least favorite ride at Magic Kingdom?
3. Best Disney World food you’ve ever had?

Disclosure: Walt Disney World covered all my travel expenses, but all opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting Simply Taralynn! 

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A week ago, I was invited down to Walt Disney World to experience one of the happiest places on earth! #happyplace We spent the week eating our way through Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival, drinking Blue Milk with Storm Troopers at Galaxy’s Edge, eating Nutella waffles from Sleepy Hollow and getting soaked on Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, drinking Boba Rum Blossoms with the monkeys at Animal Kingdom, frosting cupcakes and shopping at Disney Springs, and soaking up the sun at our Walt Disney resort! If I were to write about the entire trip in one post, you would be here all day, so I’m breaking it all up into each park and then writing a final itinerary with travel tips to top it all off! The Walt Disney travel guides are my favorite to write! I love being able to live it all over again.
Today, I’m sharing our experience at Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival! I was in pure bliss. What is better than flowers and food?

What to do at Epcot Summer 

Epcot is such an underrated park, in my opinion. I feel like it doesn’t get the hype as much as the other parks! It has some of the best foods, gorgeous landscapes and architecture, and one of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World – Sourin! If you’re a flower and food lover like myself, it’s important to dedicate at least one day to Walt Disney World’s Epcot! Getting to experience the International Flower & Garden Festival was such a blast.

When you’re visiting during the International Flower & Garden Festival, make sure to look out for all the topiary sculptures!

Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie – Showcase Plaza

We filled up the most delicious breakfast with some new food highlights from the Taste of Epcot Flower & Garden Festival!

EPCOT Sunshine Griddle (Future World East)

• Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon

• Avocado Toast with Marinated Toybox Tomatoes and Fresh Goat Cheese on Toasted Ciabatta

• Froot Loops Shake (non-alcoholic)

• Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew Cocktail with Milk, Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur, and Vanilla Vodka

Can you guess what these floating plants are? Prepare to be shocked!

Sweet potatoes!

Our goal for the day was to visit all of the countries in Epcot! This is why it’s important to plan a full day here (even if you have to take a mid-day nap break back at the hotel for a few hours.) Epcot showcases Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada! The architecture replicates popular spots from those countries, and you actually feel like you’re traveling to them.

The good thing about the food is that it comes in smaller portions, so you can experience more food in different countries instead of filling it up in one spot. We also split all of the food to help save room for the next cuisine.
I think Miss Piggy was one of my favorite topiary sculptures. When designing the details of these sculptures, they use plants and colors that are on-trend. There was a lot of rose gold throughout the parks.

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy – Between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions

She was surrounded by beautiful dahlias that made my heart melt. Miss Piggy deserves only the best.
The Outdoor Escapes presented by OFF!® Repellents was so cool, and it got pretty creative. I’ve seen people with bathtubs in their yards, but none that looked as gorgeous as this. If you’re more of a succulent lover, you would have swooned over the huge planters of them. I’ve never been a succulent lover (mostly because I hold a grudge against them since every succulent I’ve owned chose death), but even I fell in love with the displays. The Goodness Garden Butterfly House was like walking into a fairytale land. Imagine walking into a Disney movie with all of the butterflies swarming around you; well, this was almost just like that. 

The Goodness Garden Butterfly House is Presented by GoGo squeeZ® at Future World West. There were so many different kinds of butterflies, and my favorite was the blue and brown ones. Seeing the chrysalis hanging was such a breathtaking experience. If you’re lucky, you may even see one emerge! This whole garden was unreal. Please do not skip out on stopping in there! You’ll also be able to learn about the types of plants that attract butterflies so you can plant some in your own garden! Some of this gorgeous topiary was made from dried plants and handpainted. It’s absolutely unbelievable!

Simba and Friends (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa and Sarabi) – Future World West

I wonder what my neighbors would think if I replicated this in my garden.You do not want to miss the awesome photo-op with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy!

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy – Between Future World & World Showcase

After our walking tour, we headed to Soarin!

Ride Soarin at Epcot 

Soarin is one of my FAVORITE attractions at Walt Disney World. You get to experience hang gliding (without actually hang gliding) around the world in just a few minutes. You feel the wind, experience the smells and the sounds of breathtaking wonders around the world. It’s for all ages, and I could ride that ride over and over again and never get sick of it. 

Here is what we ate at the Honey Bee-Stro!

Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Whipped Cream, Whipped Honey, Crystalized Honey, Honeycomb, Dehydrated Honey, and Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses.

This is one of our top picks for the day! Every bite was pure heaven. My only regret was not getting two!

The Citrus Blossom was our next stop! 

We had the

Meyer Lemon-poached Lobster Salad with Grapefruit-Rosé Vinaigrette, Yuzu-marinated Hearts of Palm, and Avocado-Yuzu Panna Cotta (gluten/wheat friendly)

and the

Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy (amazing!)

Sneakers // Dress // Hat // Bag Listen up…YOU HAVE TO GET THE LARGE CHOCOLATE MACARON LOLLIPOP IN FRANCE! I put that in caps + bold just in case you didn’t know how serious I am about this treat. This was hands down the best bite I had all day. It tasted as if there was a half-cooked brownie inside of it. OMG, I need to go back and get this asap!

Fleur de Lys (France) & Everything we ate from here! 

Macaron au Chocolate en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop.

Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel: Caramelized Beignet filled with Vanilla Cream and Glazed with Caramel Fleur de Sel

La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Vodka, Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice.

I highly recommend getting everything above! It was absolutely out of this world, and your tastebuds will thank you! And look how gorgeous the Rose Frozen Slushy.Just in case you needed to see the insides of this delicious Macaron! Something to look forward to this October at Epcot!

English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London® – Unearth the history and art of tea blending at this elegant English Tea Garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion, featuring plants used in some of Twinings’ finest tea blends.

I had so many people asking me! Are their plant-based food items at Epcot?
The answer is YES!!

Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible Foods 

Plant-Based Food Items:

Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread (gluten/wheat friendly; plant-based).

Impossible Sausage and Kale Soup

Boneless Impossible Korean Short Rib with Cilantro-Lime Rice, Danmuji Slaw, and Kimchee Mayonnaise

Lavender Pot de Crème with Blueberry Cake, Pink Peppercorn, and Lime Whipped Cream This is one of the most beautiful topiaries!

Beauty and the Beast – France Pavilion

Again with the gorgeous pink dahlias!  Just me hanging out in Italy! I was obsessed with the geraniums on this beautiful staircase. 
It got so hot later in the day, so we found a shaded spot under an umbrella in Italy to hang out in. We didn’t dine alone though, we had traditional Sicilian cannoli and refreshing drinks to keep us company (for a short while if you know what I mean.) The frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and tequila is one of my favorite drinks from the day!

Primavera Kitchen (Italy)

Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila.

Traditional Sicilian Cannoli: Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange.

Pinot Grigio.
We fit one last outdoor kitchen before heading back for some pool time at the resort (i will be writing all about the resort/travel tips in a separate blog post.)

Flavor Full Kitchen Hosted by AdventHealth (Future World West)

The Flavor Full Kitchen had healthier options with a farm-to-table feel. There’s a gorgeous grass area with flowers and lawn chairs to enjoy your food at.

Here is what we ate at the Flavor Full Kitchen! 

Grilled Baby Vegetables with Hummus Cream and Red Pepper Coulis (gluten/wheat friendly; plant-based; Garden Graze).

Seared Verlasso Salmon with Farro Risotto and Micro Herbs.

Cookie Butter Worms and Dirt (non-alcoholic)

Everything tasted so fresh and FLAVOR FULL (see what I did there.) Around 1:30 pm, we took the Skyliner from Epcot back to our Walt Disney World Resort!

You can still catch the bus or the monorail depending on where you’re headed, but experiencing the Skyliner for the first time was so FUN! It was convenient and super quick; even at the end of the night, when the line looked long, it only lasted about twenty minutes before we got a seat on the Skyliner. It has gorgeous views going over the parks and resorts.

We got our swimsuits on and took a good two-hour nap by the pool before heading back to Epcot for more food and fun around the world.  When we got back, the first thing we did was cheers with two pinot grigios from La Bottega Italiana in Italy! I’m not sure if you noticed, but I put my stretchy pants on to fit more food in. I also love the food in Canada! I knew it wouldn’t disappoint.

Northern Bloom (Canada)

Here’s what we got!

Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Apple-wood-smoked Bacon (gluten/wheat friendly).

Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, and Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables.

Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato.

The maple pound cake was top-notch, and I loved how unique the sweet corn gelato was. Everything was totally worth it in Canada!While taking a walk with the horticulturist, we learned that they try to plant produce that matches the outdoor kitchen’s cuisine. I love the amount of detail that goes into everything at Epcot. We grabbed some festival favorites from the World Showplace! Festival Favorites (World Showplace)

Fried Green Tomatoes with Blue Crab-Fennel Salad, Remoulade, and Smoked Paprika Oil.

Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue.

House-made Potato and Cheddar Biscuit with Salmon Tartare.

Strawberry Pound Cake with Whipped Topping

The two desserts were my favorite of the four! You absolutely have to get the delicious food from Lotus House! It will not disappoint, and because it’s such a popular choice, everything is hot out of the kitchen!

Lotus House (China)

Bon Bon Chicken Skewer with Sesame and Peanut Sauce.

House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons.

Pork & Veggie Egg Roll

All three dishes were equally mouthwatering.  Soooo many of you recommended the Frushi from Japan! It was definitely something to experience, and although it wasn’t my favorite, so many people rave about it, so definitely try it out for yourself!

Hanami (Japan)

What we ate in Japan

Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Cantaloupe wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce, and Toasted Coconut.

Blood Orange Sour with Fresh Mint

La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)

Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut-Lime Sauce (gluten/wheat friendly).

We took a break from stuffing our faces to ride Frozen Ever After! The line was longer during the day but cut in half for a wait time during the evening.

This was such a cute ride, especially for Frozen fans. The wintery snow effect towards the ending was so neat! More beautiful topiaries:

Troll – Norway Pavilion

Snow White and Dopey – Germany Pavilion

Topiary Butterflies – Future World WestWe took the Skyliner back to the resort and headed straight to bed with the happiest bellies. I can’t wait to share our time at the Magic Kingdom in the next Walt Disney World blog!

I hope you all love these Disney blogs as much as I do!

Questions for you!

1. Any questions about Walt Disney World travels in?
2. Have you ever been to Epcot?
3. Which food item from my blog post do you want to try?

A HUGE thank you to Walt Disney World for hosting me!!

A couple of weeks ago, I opened up my email and saw an invite to go glamping in Florida at Westgate River Ranch. Without looking at my schedule or thinking about it for more than a minute, I immediately replied with a big “YES.” Glamping has been on my bucket list for years, and this trip did not disappoint. I am so excited to share all of the photos from my weekend at the ranch, and I hope it inspires you to make a trip to experience it for yourself.
Westgate River Ranch is a luxurious resort and one of the coolest dude ranches in Florida! It has a lot of its historic charm from the days when it was used as an old cattle trail by the real cowboys. It lays on 1700 acres of waterways and green space. I have never been to a place quite like it, and it’s suitable for just about anyone or any occasion!

WESTGATE RIVER RANCH

In today’s blog, I will share everything we did on the ranch! The cool thing is that you never have to leave. They have everything available to you, and you’ll never get bored when activities surround you. I lived out my childhood dreams. This is the perfect place to escape your electronics and spend time outdoors on bikes, horseback riding, golfing, roasting marshmallows by the fire, playing tennis, swimming, trap, skeet shooting, archery, ziplining, and so much more. 
There are so many options for accommodations at Westgate River Ranch. There are cottages, cabins, glamping tents, lodges, and even an—RV site.

Glamping Teepees at Westgate River Ranch

It was so fun to experience Glamping (Glamorous camping!). The Luxe teepee hotel had everything you needed and more. I had the outdoor experience while getting the luxurious one from inside the teepee. Every teepee has air conditioning and heat, private bathrooms and showers, a grill, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and an open patio with a deck. I loved sitting outside with my coffee on the rocking chairs. It’s so quiet in the mornings at the ranch, and it’s relaxing listening to the animals wake up. This was such a cozy spot.

The teepees are 651 sqft, which is pretty ginormous for a teepee. They are big enough for the whole family. And to top it off, the teepee hotel comes with a personal concierge who assists you with anything you need from the moment you arrive!

The perks of staying in a luxe teepee hotel are that you’ll have exclusive benefits like complimentary resort activities. You’ll get breakfast delivered each morning, a golf cart for commuting around the grounds, nightly campfires, VIP rodeo tickets, horseback riding, trap and skeet shooting, archery, access to the adventure park, airboat rides, and more.
The glamping site is called “The Takoda Village.” The glamping teepee hotel is private and gated. No one can enter the glamping site besides the glampers. You’ll be given a code that opens the gates, and you’ll be able to drive around in your golf cart.

In the middle of the village, there’s a Chickee hut where we gathered for most of our meals. It was built by the Seminole Indian tribe for the Takoda Village. Chicken is the word the Seminoles use for “house.” One of my favorite parts about the village was the old trees covered in Spanish moss. The way they light up at night was magical.

Roasting Marshmallows & Stargazing

On night one, we ended dinner with s’mores by the campfire and then laid a giant blanket out to stargaze. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a sky so clear. We saw several shooting stars, an excellent reminder to put the phone down now and then and get outside. Waking up and going outside to grab breakfast was so nice.

The village is so quiet in the morning, and you can only hear the farm animals. I recommend waking up early and catching the sunrise by the horses.

Breakfast Basket and Coffee Delivered Each Morning

Each morning, you get to select what you’d like for breakfast. You can choose from pastries, breakfast sandwiches, yogurts, fruits, cereals, and more! Around 8 am, it’s delivered to the porch with your own pot of coffee! The coffee was fantastic and was the perfect way to start the day before jumping into all the activities.
There are so many activities at the Westgate River Ranch! You’ll find something for yourself no matter what kind of traveler you are!

Activities at Westgate River Ranch

Full-service marina: 40 boat slips with hook-ups, 100-seat restaurant, airboat rides, swamp buggy rides, and fishing!
Rodeo arena
Catch & Release Pond
Nine-Hole Golf Course w/ Pro Shop
Trap & Skeet Range
Archery
Equestrian Center: Horseback Riding & Stables
Chapel 
Petting Farm
Village Shops: General store with snack bar (& coffee shop!) post office, fitness center, saloon & restaurant, western store, and more.
Adventure Park: 300 ft zip line, rock climbing, mechanical bull, bungee jumpers, miniature golf, dance hall, and game room!
Saloon
More: pool, tennis courts, basketball, bike riding, and pony rides.

Horseback riding was so much fun and included in the Luxe teepee hotel package. You’ll take a 45-minute train ride around the resort, with breathtaking views!

Horseback Riding

A guide will take you through the trails, and you can schedule your times with your concierge. They even offer riding lessons and a few other services. If you’re a horse lover, this place will be your heaven!

Where is Westgate River Ranch Located?

Westgate River Ranch is located one hour south of Orlando and one hour and a half from the Orlando International Airport.
I love that the activities here take me out of the same old life routine. When will I ever go skeet and trap shooting or do archery in Charlotte? I would never have known how fun it is!

Archery and Skeet & Trap Shooting

There is a Trap and Skeet shooting range by the archery. If you want to learn how to be a real cowboy or cowgirl, this is where you’ll test your skills! I was shocked when I hit the bullseye and cracked a few targets. This is a great place to start if you’re a beginner because the expert marksman will teach you shotgun safety and shooting techniques before you begin.
I think one of the best parts of the trip was meeting Ray. He runs this place and has been here before most of you reading this blog were even born. He’s a man of ALL trades and was just about everywhere we went during our trip. He is the star of the rodeo on Saturdays, enjoys being out on the trails with the horses, preaches at the church on Sundays, and is the REAL cowboy. He also has a work ethic that is unheard of. He’s filled with amazing ideas and continuously upgrades the ranch to make it exciting.

We all wanted to see the longhorns and take photos of them, so Ray hopped over to the other side of the fence and got their attention. They all started running towards him, and Ray didn’t even flinch. He just casually walked back! It was so funny and scary, but Ray is a seasoned cowboy and has spent many years facing bigger bulls at the rodeo. The general store is a great spot for all the essentials.

General Store at Village Shops

This is where you can pick up extra snacks, coffee drinks, ice cream, and gifts, and it’s where I got my cowgirl hat! This is the spot to stop if you need a quick bite to eat or extra ingredients for your cookout.    
There are plenty of options for food at the ranch!

The food at the Westgate River Ranch

You can pick up snacks and meals at the General Store for a quick go-to, or enjoy dinner at Westgate Smokehouse Grill, River Ranch Saloon, Dinner Hayride and Deli, and the catering services.

We experienced a Catering service, and it’s worth it! Holy moly, did the meals NOT disappoint over the weekend? The smoked bbq style food at the Hayride dinner was probably one of my favorite weekend meals!

The teepee hotel also comes with a grill and refrigerator, so if you want to bring food to cook by the campfire, you can also do that. 
One of the most exciting activities was the swamp buggy. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did!

SWAMP BUGGY RIDE

You’ll take a 40-minute ride through the wooded trail and view wildlife in the most natural setting. The views are breathtaking, so I highly remind taking it early in the morning. I’ve never done anything like it! We drove through water, mud, tall grass, and logs. This is a good time to look out for alligators and other Florida wildlife. It’s a bumpy ride but unbelievably fun.

The real party is at the River Ranch Saloon. I am no dancer, but I had the time of my life!

Line Dancing at River Ranch Saloon

Every weekend, you can experience a wild crowd of line dancers. If you’ve never lined dance before, jump in and try it. Watching some of the dancers made my mouth drop because of how talented they were!
These baby goats were the cutest!
I could spend all day with the animals. The petting farm is a free activity and a great place to bring the kids.

PETTING FARM

You’ll find horses, cows, ponies, mules, goats, sheep, deer, turkeys, rabbits, pigs, llamas, emus, peacocks, and other exotic creatures. They also have pony rides for the littles. Another activity offered at the ranch is the airboat ride. This was such a unique experience!

Airboat Rides on the Kissimmee River

You’ll be given noise-blocking headphones (definitely needed) for the relaxing 40-minute guided Florida Airport ride along the Kissimmee River. This is another great opportunity to see the gators. And if you’re fortunate, you may spot a bald eagle. It goes super fast, and it’s quite an adventure!

The hayride dinner is a must! You will not regret the post-ride food.

Hayride Dinner 

You’ll get to ride on a 45-minute old-fashioned, tractor-pulled hayride through the 7,000-acre Kissimmee Island Cattle Company Wildlife Management Area. You’ll see more wildlife, and if it’s a Saturday, you may be lucky enough to see Ray bringing in the bulls for the rodeo (yes, Ray does that too!)

We had live music, making the ride more enjoyable and relaxing. Thanks, Vic, for serenading us!

The food was sooooo good. If I could have taken leftovers home, I would have. Most of us went back for seconds because we couldn’t get enough. We had grilled chicken, smoked ribs, hot dogs, corn on the cob, mac & cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, apple cobbler and washed it all down with lemonade.
Grab your boots and get ready for the rodeo!!
We ended our night at the rodeo because that’s where everyone is on Saturday night. And yes, that’s also Ray on the horse! I’m not a big fan of bull riding, but I enjoyed the patriotic tribute to the armed forces, which made me into tears several times.

Your Saturday Night at The Rodeo

It’s cool to see extremely talented and hard-working kids with their horses! It’s rare nowadays. The fun doesn’t stop after the rodeo is over! The party goes on over at the Saloon. And if you’re feeling inspired to ride a bull, definitely try out their new mechanical bull. It’s hilarious to watch people fling off.
I did NOT want to leave! Staying cozy with coffee in a hammock, eating all the delicious food, and spending hours with horses was my dream glamping vacation. And I can’t forget to mention all the fantastic new friends I made on this trip. All of us strangers clicked within minutes, and it was truly one of the most unforgettable times! This is the perfect place to plan a retreat or a team-building weekend. I cannot wait to go back! 
When I saw this mug, I knew I had to grab it for a travel giveaway! I love bringing a piece of my trip back to my readers! All you have to do is leave a comment answering one of the questions below. 

The winner will be announced Friday, Nov 8th!

Questions for you!

1. Have you ever been glamping?
2. What is one activity you’d love to try at Westgate River Ranch?
3. Are you a line dancing pro!?

Welcome to the Miami Beach travel guide. I hope this blog post helps you find new places to eat, stay, and explore while visiting beautiful Miami Beach, Florida!
I’m back with a new travel guide, and I’m so excited to share everything my best friend and I did in Miami! Miami Beach has been on my bucket list for years, and after making the trip, I can confidently say, “it did not disappoint!” Miami is colorful, relaxing but also has a wild side. No matter what kind of traveler you are, you’ll be able to find things you enjoy, whether it’s trying new restaurants, relaxing at the spa, exploring art galleries, sippin’ sangrias on the beach, or dancing all night long! We even went ice skating in Miami! How bizarre, but for us!

Oh, and make sure to look out for the giveaway!
After browsing the internet for the perfect place for us to stay, I came across Loews Miami Beach Hotel and fell in love. It had everything we were hoping for: beachfront, pool, spa, fitness center, restaurant, and a coffee shop that opened as early as we woke up. It’s even more beautiful in person and one of the most conveniently located Miami Beach hotels. You’ll be seeing A LOT of Loews Miami Beach hotels in this post because it’s where we wanted to spend all of our time. Sometimes, it’s nice to travel to a beach hotel and enjoy it rather than explore all over the city. We left this trip feeling rejuvenated, and that was the whole point of us going.

WHERE TO STAY: LOEWS MIAMI BEACH HOTEL

Loews is one of the prettiest hotels, and they never skipped out on the details. I usually leave a place saying, “I wish they offered this or that,” but not here! They’ve thought of everything. Did I mention it’s located in the heart of South Beach, Miami? This meant we could walk to most places! We stayed in the ocean view balcony room, and it was gorgeous! At night, the view of the moon lighting up the ocean was breathtaking. You’ll have to check out my video to see it. If we wanted to hang out at the beach, we just had to take a few steps. If I could describe this hotel in one word, it would be: convenient. The hotel staff was there to help you no matter what you needed! I have to say that the people in Miami were some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met.

** Loews Miami Beach Hotel gave us a media rate for our stay! All opinions are my own! 
We woke up SUPER early on the first day to grab a coffee down in the lobby at Miami Joe’s and catch the sunrise. Loews Miami Beach Hotel loves to bring local businesses into their hotel, so the coffee, ice cream, and some of the food are all sourced from outside local businesses. Oh, and the coffee was DELICIOUS. It’s sourced from Panther Coffee, located in the Wynwood Art District!

It was pretty hot and humid while we visited, so we took advantage of the cooler mornings and walked along the beach and the boardwalk. 
We decided to explore a bit of Miami Beach before parking it at the beach for the afternoon.

WHAT TO DO: WALK AROUND THE ART DECO DISTRICT 

You all know how much I love my colorful things, so Miami was my vibe! The buildings, streets, and sculptures in the Art Deco District were a blast to explore.
We were both super hungry after walking around, so we were hunting to find a quick bite to eat before heading back and getting ready for the beach. We walked passed Chloe’s at the Marseille and decided to give it a try. There wasn’t a wait, and we wanted something quick. I’m happy we tried it out because it ended up being delicious! We ordered peach and orange mimosas to toast our weekend in Miami!

WHERE TO EAT: CHLOE’S FOR BREAKFAST 

I ordered fresh fruit, roasted vegetables, and two eggs over medium for my breakfast. Becca ordered the eggs benedict and said it was outstanding! 
We had to stop by A La Folie Cafe. This place looked like it was transported from the south of France! It was adorable, and the owner was super sweet!

WHERE TO EAT: A LA FOLIE CAFE 

We ordered an americano, cappuccino, and a chocolate croissant. Espanola Way is pretty calm in the mornings but poppin’ at night! I have to admit; the americano was probably the best tasting americano I’ve ever had!
There’s nothing better than spending the day on the beach. Talk about RELAXATION! We spent two of the afternoons there!

WHAT TO DO: HAVE A BEACH DAY

The great thing about staying at Loews Miami Beach hotel is that they have all the beach chairs with umbrellas ready to go at your convenience (again, with that word!) They laid out fresh towels and even came by to wait on us. We spent most of the day eating the tastiest food, sippin’ fruity drinks, and relaxing at the beach. This was exactly what we wanted to do on our weekend trip. The point of visiting Miami together was to celebrate Becca’s wedding and take a break from all the stressful wedding planning.
The hotel offered a lot of fun games for the restless **cough me!!**
You could play cornhole, chest, or Jenga! They even had the cutest set up for sandcastle fun for kids. I don’t have kids, but I would say this is a super kid-friendly hotel if you’re visiting Miami with the family.
Who wouldn’t want to spend more time outside by the pool? When we out-beached ourselves, we headed to the pool to park under the shaded umbrellas. We cooled off while sipping drinks in the water, and I even fell asleep because it was so relaxing!

WHAT TO DO: HAVE A POOL DAY 

The pool also has service for food and drinks, which makes the pool day so much fun! I highly recommend Frose and french fries! They also make skinny drinks, if you ask!
We planned on going to a Greek restaurant the first night, but they didn’t open for a few hours, so we decided to split a dinner at Malibu Farms. This was one of my favorite spots while visiting California, so I was happy to see it in Miami! I love their food.

WHERE TO EAT: MALIBU FARMS

I started with a warm almond milk matcha latte, and we split their organic airline chicken. It was delicious, and I’m so happy we split it because we were stuffed afterward. It came with potatoes, arugula, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, and shallots. 
We popped into Rosetta, the Italian Bakery, trying to escape the heat before our 12:30 pm reservation at the Palace!

WHERE TO EAT: ROSETTA THE ITALIAN BAKERY

We thought it looked cute, and we could use some iced coffee to cool us down. It was a hot one! I have to note; we had the best ice coffee EVER. This spot is a goldmine for iced coffee. All of their pastries smelled heavenly, too!  Brunch at the Palace was the star of the trip. Don’t think twice if you’re visiting Miami Beach; add this to your itinerary.

WHERE TO EAT: THE PALACE FOR BRUNCH

We were there for the show, but even the food blew us away! We had bottomless mimosas and ordered off the special brunch menu. I had their eggs benedict without the hollandaise sauce and bun. The potatoes, avocado, eggs, and flavors were flawless. Beca ordered a frittata and couldn’t believe how good it was.

The show is FANTASTIC! Come prepared to laugh, bring ones for the dancers, and be ready to get called out. We ended up staying for the entire three hours! Ice skating and bowling at the Basement is the perfect thing to do on a rainy evening!

WHAT TO DO: ICE SKATE & BOWL AT THE BASEMENT

We hit up the Basement at the Edition hotel to escape the rain and have fun ice skating. I’ve never seen an ice skating rink this cool. We skated for about an hour before getting exhausted, but we loved it! Other than a few teenagers, it wasn’t crowded at all. When you’re done ice skating, you can hit the bowling alley next to the rink. Call ahead and make reservations for the bowling.
We headed to Taco Taco South Beach to have a quick meal before heading back to the hotel. We wanted to grab wine and hang out by the hot tub later.

WHERE TO EAT: TACO TACO SOUTH BEACH

We are total meal splitters on trips because we are usually not that hungry in the evening, and it’s a great way to save money without having all the leftover food go to waste. Becca and I both LOVE fajitas, so we split chicken fajitas, margaritas, and a basket of tortilla chips. 
We decided to wake up super early on Saturday morning and walk the boardwalk down to Pura Vida for breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT: PURA VIDA

Pura Vida is a healthy spot and super trendy. I’m so happy we stopped at this place because they had exactly what I was craving! I ordered the egg salad toast. It was made with pasture-raised eggs, avocado, mustard aioli (SO YUMMY!), fresh herbs, spices, micro-cilantro, served on arugula, and toasted multigrain sourdough gluten-free bread.

I also ordered a super greens smoothie with spinach, kale, granny smith apple, cucumber, celery, pineapple, cayenne pepper, lemon, and extra ginger.

I picked up a gluten-free guava coconut cookie on the way out, which was the BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. And also the worst because now I’m craving it again, and they don’t ship After spending all Saturday bouncing back and forth between the beach and pool, it was time to get ready for our scheduled photoshoot with Focal Point! We didn’t know what to expect but were super excited about having someone take professional photos for us!

WHAT TO DO: PHOTOSHOOT WITH FOCAL POINT

We signed up for the free session online and set up a time that would work best. We met up with our photographer, Felipe, and shot photos around the resort and on the beach. He had us posing in fun ways, and we honestly had such a blast doing this shoot. This is something we are always going to remember! I was happy with how great the photos turned out. I’m excited that I’ll be able to frame these photos of us as a way to remember our bestie vacation!

You’ll be able to have access to all of the edited photos in an online gallery and pay for the ones you want to keep!
This was my favorite one he took!
After our photoshoot, we headed to Espanola Way to explore it at night. There were so many restaurants and a lot happening down there! Unfortunately, we got rained out, but it’s on my list to go back next time! It’s been around since the 1920s, and I know there’s so much left to see!

WHERE TO STAY: EXPLORE ESPANOLA WAY

We headed back to the hotel to pack and head to sleep because we had to be up at 3 am for our flight!

Questions for you!

1. Have you ever been to Miami?
2. Are you team pool or beach?
3. Where was the last place you traveled to with your best friend?

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I’m two cups of dark roast coffee deep and ready to blog all about my Thanksgiving adventures. I won’t be participating in cyber Monday or any of the crazy shopping days. I refused to watch the news this morning because listening to all the shopping hustle and bustle gives me anxiety. I’ve decided to try buying things I need rather than just things that I want. It’s tempting to buy things because they are on sale, but I hate the rush of it all. But if you are participating, I hope you get some good deals!

I am having major withdrawals from our Thanksgiving travels. Kyle and I got home late last night, but I was sad when I woke up and wasn’t in Florida. We love going down there to visit his mom because she always makes us feel right at home, and she’s just one of the best people you’ll ever meet.
Our flight wasn’t until Thanksgiving morning, so I spent Wednesday finishing up my work and getting ready for our trip. I did end up fitting in a two-mile run. I was shooting for three, but I lost my energy somewhere during the first mile. Some things never change. One day you can have the best run, and the next day it’s like you’ve never run a mile in your life. I went ahead and walked the remaining mile while trying to catch my breath walking up the hills. Later in the evening, I dropped off Grumples and Leo at my parent’s house. My parents took them in for the weekend They love spending time out there because my parents take them on long neighborhood walks, car rides, and let them run around like crazy dogs in the backyard all day. We took them to Florida with us last year, but we didn’t want to make the drive again this year, so we left them behind and flew instead (such great parents.)

When I got to Kyle’s, we headed out for a quick Target run and bite to eat at Zoe’s Kitchen. I ordered their tossed Greek salad with extra chicken, no pasta, no feta, and extra cucumber! 
Whenever I have to be somewhere, I make sure to be up about an hour or two before! It takes me a bit to wake up, so I like to make coffee and just reply to blog comments or check emails. Because we had to leave for the airport at 5 am, I was up at 4 am drinking coffee and watching the news. The news reporters were saying that Thanksgiving day was the busiest day for traveling and that the roads and airports were swamped. I was thinking we’d be faced with some trouble getting to and through the airport.

Of course, the news was wrong. There wasn’t a car on the road, and it only took us ten minutes to get through security. I’m sure other cities had some bigger traffic jams and security backups though! 
We boarded the plane at 7:30, but something was wrong with the plane’s system, and they had to refuel, so we ended up sitting on the plain until 8:45 until we finally took off for Florida. Luckily, I picked up a fantastic book and got sucked into it right away.

*I am going to start doing a book review + recipe post every two to three weeks. I want to encourage escaping technology (unless you read on the Kindle) and reading for one hour a day! I love to read, but sometimes I feel like I need to be doing something else. Reading is a great way to work on your focus without the distraction of buttons and beeps. I will be blogging all about the book I’m reading now, plus I’ll be making a recipe inspired by the book! I think it’ll be so fun. The book I picked up was Behind Closed Doors, and it’s one of the first books I’ve finished in two days because I couldn’t put it down. A couple of other books I read this year that were really good were: All The Light We Cannot See, The Perfect Stranger, & Everything We Keep (& I need to read the sequel) 
We landed in Florida at 10:30 am! We were so happy to see Kyle’s mom

When we got to her house, we were so hungry. She made us the sweet potato and egg dish I was raving about last year. She changed it up this year by adding some mozzarella and ground chicken. It was insanely delicious. After breakfast, we all went out for a walk around the neighborhood, and just relaxed and chatted. It felt so good to be back. 
I had been dreaming of this dinner for the past 365 days. The only unfortunate part is that I have to wait another 365 days to do it all over again. It’s funny because I never appreciated Thanksgiving food when I was younger, but now I could eat it for every meal. We all sat around the table for dinner at five. The food was just as I remembered. We even ate on the same cute plates I obsessed over last year. 
We had baked sweet potatoes with an orange cranberry sauce, perfectly cooked turkey, tasty stuffing, and freshly steamed broccoli with a touch of lemon. I must have a stomach of steel because I had about three cups of that broccoli. It was so good.
A special occasion dinner isn’t complete without dessert and coffee! Kyle’s mom made these bars that had brownies on the bottom, peanut butter filling in the middle, and chocolate ganache on top. She is going to send me the recipe because you guys have to try them. Each bite felt like a sin, but the kind of sin that outweighs all the consequences.

We turned on Dateline after dinner, but all of us were fell asleep on the couch at eight. We made our way to bed, and I slept like a baby for the next ten hours. 
Kyle’s mom had coffee made early on Friday morning, and we sat on the couch chatting, and I read a couple more chapters of my book. She loves waking up super early and having (dark roast) coffee too. 
At 10:30, we headed to the tennis courts for a two-hour lesson with his mom’s instructor, Dalton. I was so happy we did this because we learned a lot about form, fixed some footwork, and learned a new technique to serving. We improved so much in the two hours we were there. It’s crazy how fixing a small movement or grip can change up your entire game. 
After tennis, we headed back to have Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch! Kyle wanted to lift weights at the gym, so I tagged along and brought my book to read while riding the bike. Reading and bike riding at the gym maybe my new go-to for incorporating fitness and reading into my winter routine. I also sat in the sauna for a bit. 
Around six, we all got dressed up and headed to dinner! We went to a cute little Italian restaurant, Lunas. It’s in downtown Venice across from the theater. Kyle’s mom got us tickets to see A Christmas Story Musical!
Luna’s is the type of restaurant that is meant for sharing. All of the portions can serve a family of 4-6! We started with an antipasto! It was one of the best-looking antipasti I’ve ever seen.
Kyle and his mom split a chicken and broccoli pasta dish. I can’t remember the name of it! (whooooops.) If we ever go back, I’d like to try their pizza. The aroma of the pizza sitting on the table next to us was incredible. 
We had an hour to spare before the show started, so we walked the town a bit and stopped for an espresso at Kilwins. The downtown area in Venice is so charming, quaint, and filled with fun shops, bakeries, and restaurants. It seems like the perfect happy place to live. 
The Musical ended up being so funny and so entertaining. Musicals can be a hit or miss, but this one was awesome. So many talented kids and younger boy playing Ralphie was nearly identical to the kid in the movie. It was the perfect kick-start to getting into the Christmas spirit.
A beautiful Saturday morning They have the best views! Imagine waking up to those views every day with your morning coffee?

Kyle and I headed to the gym early Saturday morning. He lifted weights and I read my book on the bike. 
After we cleaned up, we headed to walk Siesta Key Beach. It is the #1 beach in the U.S., and I understand why. The sand was cold, even under the blazing sun. It wasn’t the sand that burns your feet and gets stuck in everything. It felt like powdered sugar. The reason the sand is so cold and soft is that it’s made up of 99% quartz. You must experience this. If you’re ever in the area, just go for a walk along the beach. Just don’t forget your sunglasses. 
After exploring the beach, we headed to St. Armands to shop around and explore. This was such a cool area. People who live near Sarasota are so lucky! There are endless things to do and explore. We stopped into Alicia’s dream so Kyle and I could pick out some new sunglasses. I finally found a perfect pair (Ended up buying the first pair I tried on!) The store was awesome and the owner was very kind. 
I was in need of a serious afternoon pick-me-up, so I walked into the Kilwin’s to grab a quick shot of espresso with Kyle’s mom. I’m glad she loves coffee just as much as I do! We did shots together all weekend.
We were all hungry, so we stopped at Green Zebra Cafe for lunch. This place was right up my alley and everyone loved what they ordered. The staff was so friendly, and the girl working came out and did the power shot with me. It had wheatgrass, ginger, lemon, and cayenne pepper. It was so good that I could have ordered a giant glass of it. The shots are good for immune system, energy, circulation and they work as detoxification. Kyle’s mom also ordered a shot! I’m not kidding about the shots all weekend long. 
I ordered an Acai bowl. They had so much to choose from on the menu, but the girl sitting at the table when we walked in had an acai bowl that looked impressive. I was so intrigued and had to give it a try. I went with the Brazilian acai bowl which came with acai berry, blueberries, strawberries, banana, and granola. It was definitely in the top for incredible tasting acai bowls. 
The food didn’t disappoint and we all left satisfied. Take note and definitely stop by there when you can! 
We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping around the cute town. Kyle’s favorite spot is the bench. 
It has now become a tradition to go to the Christmas Parade in Venice on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We headed to the downtown area around six for dinner before the parade. We were all thinking sushi! We headed to Bushido Kyle and I split some different rolls, and I ordered a ginger salad. Everything was good and tasty!
More shots for Kyle’s mom and I. 
We spent the evening watching the parade and spending time together. This is what the holidays are all about! 
I already can’t wait until next year! 
I was sad that Sunday was our last day in Florida.

Kyle’s mom made us freshly squeezed orange juice…because when in Florida…

AND IT WAS GOOOOOOOD!
Our flight wasn’t until the evening, so we had time to fit in a fun game of tennis. We played for about two and a half hours! I could play tennis all day long and never get sick of it. 
After tennis, we headed back to get showered off, packed, and relax a little before heading to the airport. I read a bit more and had some peppermint mocha coffee. This coffee tastes just like the peppermint mocha lattes I order at Starbucks! I’m going to pick up some more today. 
We got to the airport at seven, and Kyle and I decided to have some dinner before getting on the plane. It was going to be near midnight when we got home, so we thought it would be smart to have dinner before boarding. We had some Jamaican Jerk wings to start…oh and they were good!

I ordered a Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich and wrapped it in a lettuce wrap for my meal. We also packed some M&M’s and mixed nuts for plane snacks. 
I sipped on some diet coke (once and a while I treat myself to this crap), and read the rest of my book! It was such an incredible weekend! I’m now off to head to the grocery store, and then go get my pups! I hope you all have a magnificent week!

Questions for you!

1. What was your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
2. Did you travel this Thanksgiving?
3. Do you participate in the black Friday/cyber Monday shopping days?