the Magikrull Life

a whole lot of Disney with some life sprinkled in

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The Proposal

Last week, Lucas and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. We did crafts with the kids, exchanged gifts, visited Epcot, and at ate our favorite restaurant. It was a good day.

In honor of four years, I wanted to share our proposal story {spoiler alert: It’s pretty epic.}. Here’s a quick, couple of hints: dinner, Disney resort, private boat, fireworks, and Tangled lanterns. Hooked yet? Well, keep on reading to hear the whole story!

1. The Story

First, let’s set the scene…

The Date: March 11, 2017

The Place: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The Time: 6:00pm EST

Lucas and I were visiting Orlando that weekend, and he told me that he had a special date planned. Of course, I was on super high alert after the words “special date”, so to be honest, I thought this was the night. We began our evening with dinner at Artist Point. This is now Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, but at the time, it was Midwestern themed with a similar menu to boot. Now, the restaurant {and pretty much the entire resort’s staff} knew what was going to happen, so the hostess seated us at the best table in the house {overlooking the waterfall} and a complimentary champagne toast was waiting for us when we arrived at the table. I honestly don’t remember what I ordered, but it was great, especially the bread {you know, the important part haha}.

After dinner, Lucas said that we needed to hustle over to Fort Wilderness for the second part of the surprise. We headed to the boats but found that there was a SUPER long line. Lucas started to get concerned that we were going to be late and miss the boat {at this point, I was assuming we were doing a group fireworks tour and if we were late, they would leave without us}, so we beelined for the car. We head to Fort Wilderness, which was only allowing guests with reservations enter. Again, another SUPER long line to get in, and this security guard was not letting us enter. His words were, “You need to go to the end of the line” {which was easily 10 cars long}. Lucas kept pressing him and said “We have a confirmation number. We have plans right now and are going to miss it.” Finally, that perked him up, and he said, “Oh, let me see this confirmation number.” He called the front desk and came back and said, “Next time, you need to show the confirmation number. It’s not my job to know everything going on at the resort.” So not only was he a security guard that didn’t know events happening at the resort he was stationed at, he proceeded to blame Lucas {a Guest} for his mistake of not letting us in. Worst Cast Member experience ever. I still remember his name. Thank goodness Lucas finally said the magic words of “I have a confirmation number.” So, if you are ever in a bind and have a confirmation number, mention the confirmation number.

ANYWAY, we are finally in and now the time crunch is dire, and where we needed to go doesn’t have parking. If you have never been to Fort Wilderness, you need to know that Fort Wilderness is HUGE. They have golf cart rentals, which are extremely popular, due to the size of this resort. So I tell Lucas, go to the marina, start driving around, and I’ll just ask someone if we can park at their camp spot for a couple of hours. We find someone sitting outside their RV, and they are so nice and let us park at their site. I never got their name, but they were the heroes of the night. Seriously, the best. We’re running to the marina, and Lucas gets a call asking where we are. The CM says he’ll wait for us, and we get there……and it’s a boat for just us. A private Wishes fireworks cruise. It was the best surprise.

A little backstory. Wishes is my favorite Disney fireworks show of all time. **gasp** I know, I know. What about Happily Ever After? Illuminations? Okay, Illuminations is also pretty great, but I just am not a huge fan of Happily Ever After. I prefer watching fireworks at Magic Kingdom without the projections because then you can watch it from anywhere in the park. Anyway, I digress. Wishes is extremely special to me. I watched Wishes every night from the Country Bear Jamboree porch during my CP, and that show just gives me the all the feels. Lucas knew this and knew he wanted to incorporate it into our proposal. Okay, time back in.

We are on the boat and making our way to the center of the Seven Seas Lagoon. First off, I have to say that this cruise was awesome. It just your party with one CM, and the first part of the cruise is them driving around the lagoon and sharing fun facts and Disney history. Plus, there are complimentary snacks, and they were like legit snacks. At the end of the cruise, we were encouraged to take whatever we wanted, and I grabbed two Mickey-shaped Rice Krispies {yeah, those were part of the snacks} to thank the couple that let us park on their lot. And of course, you have AMAZING seats for the fireworks show.

So here we are, on the water by ourselves, watching the best fireworks show ever, and then Lucas….does nothing. WHAT?!? I definitely thought he was going to propose on that boat, so when he didn’t, all hopes of a proposal kind of dropped from my mind and I thought it was just a really cool date.

Then….the boat docked at Wilderness Lodge and not Fort Wilderness….

We get off the boat, and I see these people staring and then running off in the distance. I thought it was my friend Karin {turns out it wasn’t}, but instantly, my antennae went up. Lucas takes my hand and we start walking the boardwalk at the Lodge, and we come to a single lantern with the first line of “At Last I See the Light” chorus. As we continue to walk, we pass another lantern with the second line, with the number of lanterns continuing the grow as we reach each lantern. We pass the final line and then turn the corner to see this:

At the end of the aisle is a lantern with our initials and the magic, golden flower. Lucas gets down on one knee and proposes.

Our friends and my family {mom and sister} all come out, and the celebration begins. We take pictures, eat cake {with the best cake topper – we actually ended up using it on our wedding cake}, and celebrate the promise of the marriage to come.

Of course, our amazing friends didn’t let the magic stop there. While we ate cake, they snuck all the lanterns into the room Lucas got for the night for one last surprise, bringing that last bit of pixie dust to a perfect proposal.

2. The Resort

Wilderness Lodge. Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort. Obviously, I’m a smidge biased, but this place has some really great offerings. First off, the food. There is Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, which is a character dining experience {obviously Snow White and the Evil Queen}. I have not eaten there since the retheming, but the reviews rave about it. It is top on my list to try once it reopens {closed due to COVID}. The other dining options are Whispering Canyon, Roaring Fork {indoor quick serve}, and Geyser Point Bar & Grill {outdoor quick serve}. All three are truly great and are in our frequent rotation for resort dining.

You know I love a good theme, and Wilderness Lodge’s “lodgey” {yeah, I said it} feel is so fun. They really bring the midwestern theme to life in the best way possible, and it has such beautiful grounds to explore full of fun sites and beautiful views.

Lastly, the location is pretty fantastic. It’s not one of the “Big Three” on the monorail track, but it is just across the bridge from Magic Kingdom and only a quick boat ride away. Bonus, the boats also go to Fort Wilderness, which has a plethora of activity options.

3. The Extras

“So what about all the super cool things, Jasmine?!” Well, let me tell ya.

The Private Fireworks Cruise. Right now, they aren’t running due to no fireworks with COVID protocols in place, but normally, you can book your own fireworks cruise via this link. There are a couple of different options, depending on your desired price range.

The Lanterns. So for the proposal, Lucas played art director, but there were some really good friends that printed and created every single one of those lanterns. Y’all, there were over a hundred lanterns. We have some really awesome friends.

The Cake. Here is the delightful cake that our friends purchased for us to celebrate.

The Toast. Here is the little extra toast that our friends added to our room to toast to our future.

4. The Magic

I’ll say it. Our proposal was epic. And memorable. And magical. And simply perfect.

But behind the scenes, it was definitely a labor of love. We will always be grateful for the friends that put in the hours to make this amazing proposal, specifically:

  • Karin
  • Ryan A.
  • Ryan H.
  • Thomas
  • Kim
  • Jenn
  • Steven

Beyond our friends, there were numerous Cast Members at the resort that went above and beyond to help out, and if you are reading this, thank you .

Lastly, if you are reading this and debating whether a Disney proposal or wedding is worth it, I will always say yes. Disney Weddings is the most magical branch of Disney {and that saying something!}, so if you are leaning towards it, reach out to the team. They are simply the best and will work so hard to make your dreams come true.

That’s all for today!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Mermaid Party

Happy Mermaid Monday! April is such a special month for Lucas and I because both our birthdays and our anniversary are in the first two weeks of the month. {Fun Fact: Our birthdays added together equal our anniversary 🙂 }The kids’ birthdays are in the summer and fall, so we really get to claim this month all to ourselves and celebrate us.

In light of both of our birthdays just passing, I thought this was the perfect time to share one of my favorite themed parties – L’s Little Mermaid Party. This was for her third birthday this past year {so COVID-precautioned party} and even with 2020, it was such a fun party! Today, I wanted to share all the inspiration, planning, and detail that went into this day, so let’s dive in!

1. The Inspiration

Y’all know me. I can’t have a full party post without a book recommendation, and today, it’s right from the get go.

Entertaining with Disney | Amazon | $19

Entertaining with Disney makes all of my Disney party planning dreams come true. This book has such fabulous Disney party inspiration! Not only does it give that douse of magic, it presents such elegant and truly stunning alternatives to the cheapish-looking party décor you often find at party stores. I also love that it touches on a wide range of celebrations from holiday soirees to baby showers to brunches to, of course, birthday parties. So if you are like me and love planning parties {especially Disney ones}, I cannot recommend this book enough.

I used the Little Mermaid bridal shower brunch party as the inspiration for the party and added birthday touches to give it more of that birthday party feel.

Side Note: A personal goal of mine is to recreate every party in this book. I currently have one in the works. Any guesses as to which one?

2. The Planning

Since this was the year of COVID, I planned a special, family breakfast and then a drive by/driveway party. The Little Mermaid brunch was perfect for this because I was able to use the majority of the recipes for the breakfast and then adapt and expand the overall theme/vibe for the rest of the party. Typically, for the kids’ birthday parties, I try to plan a main table display, a dessert table display, a themed menu, and a photo op, and this year was no exception {Note: If this list seems daunting, I would focus on one photo op and the dessert table, which can often double as an additional photo op – will show more below}. Now that I had a theme and a general idea of what areas I wanted to create for the party, it was time to hit up good, ole Pinterest .

Pinterest is my best friend when it comes to planning. I spend a lot of time pinning and contemplating before making concrete moves and buying supplies. I wanted to share some of the additional inspiration that I used to help expand upon the Entertaining with Disney party.

Dessert Table

This was the overall look that I wanted to create for the dessert table: a sweet sign or two in the appropriate color scheme, a balloon arch, and of course, the desserts {i.e. the cake}. Note that this can be used as an additional photo op if you want to try to reign in the scope of the party.

Birthday Cake

Since I was using a wedding brunch as inspiration, no birthday cake recipe was listed, so I found this cute cake option in my feed and baked it myself. This was something I was extremely proud of because I am not the cook in our family. haha.

Photo Op

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would go so great with the party. This definitely had it’s own challenges {which I’ll touch on later} but was a fun addition.

*Note: For the Main Table Display and Menu {excluding the cake}, I kept fairly close to the Entertaining with Disney inspiration.

Another aspect of the Entertaining with Disney book that I adore and want to point out is the planning section. It lays out how far in advance you should start working on the details for the big day, including when to send out invites, when to start those crafts, and when to prep the food. Of course, there is a good amount of procrastinator in me…{wah wah}, so a lot of these pieces were completed the day before {s/o to Karin for always being my partner in crafting and staying up into the wee hours the night before! Going strong on 3 years! lol}. However, I wanted to show what “main ticket” items I planned from either the inspiration book, Pinterest, or the crazy confines of my brain that could be completed in advanced.

3. The Menu

WE CAN’T FORGET THE FOOD.

It is very important. Most important. The noms.

Okay, so the food. As I mentioned, I did a family breakfast, which was mainly just the bridal shower brunch menu {all recipes provided in Entertaining with Disney}, as well as a birthday cake. {There was so much sugar consumed that day, but there were zero complaints from the kids. hah.} The recipes that I focused on were:

  • Smoothie Bowls
  • English Muffins
  • Sand Dollar Cookies
  • Fruit
  • Juice
  • Birthday Cake

L was a HUGE fan of the chocolate mermaid tails, which were so much easier to make than I expected! Highly recommend doing chocolate mold items for a low cost, high reward when it comes to labor required to theming gained. As for the menu itself, all the food items were prepared the day before or morning of and took a couple hours in total.

Mermaid Tail Mold | Amazon | $8
Mermaid Tails Mold | Amazon | $9

4. The Details

I know I’ve shown the inspiration behind all of the details, but I wanted to showcase the pieces created for the party and provide some tips if you want to create some yourself.

Lily Sign {1-2 hours}

This was another low labor, high reward item. This sign is just painted cardboard. Karin did background ombre which took 30 min to an hour, and I freehanded the details, which took about an additional hour. I love how it turned out and actually ended up keeping this piece to potentially make another appearance in the future.

Shell Sign {1 hour}

This was a simple, cardboard sign. It added the sweet touch of her age for the party but was a flat, easy design that could be produced quickly.

Dessert Table {2 hours}

I loved how this turned out. With a couple of balloon arches, signs, and a cake, we were in business. For the balloon arches, we used balloon tape, balloon dots {to stick the balloons to each other for volume}, different sized balloons, and a balloon compressor. I highly recommend all four to create an awesome balloon arch as painlessly as possible {all linked below}.

Balloon Air Pump, Balloon Tape, & Balloon Dots | Amazon | $21
Large Turquoise Balloons | Amazon | $17
5″ Mini Party Balloons | Amazon | $10

Main Table {0.5-1 hour}

This was created by sifting through my mom’s, Karin’s, and my beach decor collections to pull out pieces that went with the vibe. I did buy a couple of things specifically for the party, specifically the table runner and the drift wood on the table.

Porch Display {1 hour}

This one was a little bit of a bear. Karin and I had done one before and had some learning, which definitely helped, bit it was still a little tricky. I think the look is great {obviously, I was willing to create it again haha}, but I highly recommend following these tips:

  • Buy a light net {weight-wise}
  • Have extra balloons handy {some will pop, just be ready for it}
  • Place a sign on top {banners, balloons, etc. they all fit the bill}
  • Make sure to have extra Command Strips {you’ll need them}
  • Bring some extra patience {this requires some trial and error, be prepared for it}

Photo Wall {3-4 hours}

The Photo Wall…Oh, this photo wall. So I saw the inspiration and really wanted to create this. Looking at pictures, I felt I could make it with tissue paper, thread, and a hot glue gun, which we did. I cut out pieces; Karin and I threaded them, and then, we used the glue gun to keep them in place. However, I would not make it that way again. First off, I originally wanted this outside…those of you two steps ahead of me are already laughing. So there is wind outside and that does jive well with tissue paper. We moved it inside and taped it to the top of L’s closet door frame, which worked just fine for our purposes. If I were to do it again, though, I would use cardstock or some heavier material for the circles, actually buy a backdrop stand, and just plan on it being inside from the start.

5. The Party

Oh, COVID. How I truly hate you and cannot wait until you are gone for good {can’t wait to get my second dose of the vaccine this weekend!}. Due to COVID, we had a drive by/drive way party. We {plus Karin, who, along with our family, self-isolated for 2 weeks and got tested prior to entering our home} hung out on the porch, and friends and family came by to wave, say hi, show signs, and jam to some music with us. It rained for the majority of the party. Masks were required. Physical distancing was maintained. Zoom calls were made for our friends and family far, far away. And even with COVID, I think L had a really fun birthday.

Here are some pictures to document the fun:

Side Note: We did do self-grab goodie bags, which had bubbles {the big kind, which were freaking awesome}, sand dollar cookies, and gogoSqueeze applesauce {for those not comfortable eating homemade cookies or just because squeezable applesauce is the bomb.com}.

Extra Side Note: Why, yes, we did Disneybound. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. 🙂

6. The Memories

I couldn’t end without sharing more pictures! This was such a fun day, and to make it even more memorable, we were able to celebrate at Epcot the next day. We did the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Search and Find, rode L’s favorite rides, and simply had the best time. Here are some more pictures from all the celebrations:

Thanks for joining me on this walk down memory lane. I hope you enjoyed seeing our under the sea party, and fingers crossed that it can help you with your next mermaid adventure!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tip & Tricks: Easter

Why, hello there! It’s been a long time. I have had some family stuff going on, which has kept me away, but I am back now. And what is better than spring and Easter to pull me out of my hibernation? That’s right. Easter is just ONE WEEK away, so I wanted to share some Easter basket ideas in case you find yourself basketless with T-7 days. So let’s dive in!

1. The Baskets: Flower Power

For L’s basket {3yo girl}, we went with a flower theme. L loves admiring and collecting flowers, so I thought a flower-themed basket would fit the Easter basket bill. The other “big item” is a water bottle. I have a Nalgene that I decorated with stickers {from Wish Upon Magic – LOVE their Disney stickers}. L seemed interested in decorating one too, so I got her some water bottles and Disney stickers to decorate it. Here is what she will find from the Easter Bunny this year:

  • The Big Book of Blooms
  • Flower Seeds {assorted mix from Target}
  • Toysmith Root Viewer {Thank you, Mimzy! 🙂 }
  • CamelBak Eddy + Kids Water Bottle with Straw {2-Pack}
  • Wish Upon Magic stickers, assortment
  • My Friend is Sad {An Elephant and Piggie Book}
  • Vintage, Kawaii Winnie the Pooh {Thank you, Aunt Caitlin! 🙂 }
The Big Book of Blooms | Amazon | $18
Burpee 12ct Annual & Perennial Seeds | Target | $24 {Note: can buy individually}
Toysmith Root Viewer | Amazon | $16
CamelBak Water Bottles, Grapefruit/Dusty Lavendar | Amazon | $19
Disneyland Sticker | Wish Upon Magic via Etsy | $4.40
My Friend is Sad | Amazon | $7
Kawaii Winnie the Pooh | Vintage, Aunt Caitlin

2. The Easter Baskets: Transportation Station

For W’s Easter basket {1.5yo boy}, we went for a transportation theme. W loves all things with wheels {his Cars die cast cars collection is quite extensive…haha}, so I knew going with cars, trains, or planes would be a home run. Here is what he will find in his basket on Easter Sunday:

  • Disney Pixar Cars: 5-Minute Racing Stories {Note: Target is doing buy 2 kids books, get one free 🙂 }
  • Good Night, Lightning {Note: Second Target book 🙂 }
  • Duplo Construction Truck & Tracked Excavator
  • CamelBak Eddy + Kids Water Bottle with Straw {2-Pack}
  • Cars Sticker Bundle
  • Yoga Bunny {Note: FREE Target book 🙂 }
  • Pastel Rainbow Mickey Plush
Disney Pixar: 5-Minute Racing Stories | Target | $11
Good Night, Lightning | Target | $8
Lego Duplo Construction Truck & Tracked Excavator Set | Target | $20
CamelBak Water Bottles, True Blue/Palm | Amazon | $19
Cars Sticker Bundle | Creations by Jay and Ash via Etsy | $15
Yoga Bunny | Target | $16
Pastel Rainbow Mickey Plush | World of Disney, Disney Springs | $30

3. The Easter Essentials

I’ll be honest. Easter kind of snuck up on me. We all feel it. It’s super early this year. So…the Easter decorations are sparse in the Krull household this year. However, I did snag a couple of essentials from Target that I wanted to share. First, Easter baskets. I used colored organization cubes for the kids last year {which do work great, btw, if you don’t want to buy a basket}, but the kids found an old basket and have loved playing with it. Plus, I want to do some Easter egg hunting this year. Because of all that, I decided it was time to buy some baskets. I found the two cuties below {and they have a few other cloth pattern options}, and the price was right.

Spritz Easter Basket, Cool Blue Plaid | Target | $9
Spritz Easter Basket, Warm Pink Flowers | Target | $9

Speaking of Easter egg hunting, turns out, I don’t have that many…or in the color scheme I like…or in different sizes…so Easter eggs were also a must this year. Target has a bunch of different colors. I preferred this muted, pastel color palette, and I found it in both small and large sizes, which I was hoping for because I want large for W and small for L to make sure everyone enjoys the hunt.

Plastic Easter Eggs, 48 Count | Target | $3
Plastic Easter Eggs, Large, 6 Count | Target | $1
Plastic Easter Eggs, Large, 6 Count | Target | $1

Lastly, Easter bunny ears. You can’t forget the ears! I have a blue pair for W from years past {and I did have pink/flower crown one for L too, but it recently broke…wah wah}, and I got this yellow pair for L. It matches perfectly with W’s, and you truly cannot beat that price!

Bunny Ears, White & Yellow | Target | $3

4. The Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Craft time! You know I can’t go an entire holiday without sharing some form of craft or at-home, theming tip/trick. So for Easter this year…

*drum roll, please*

…we are creating our own Disney-themed Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt!

*crowd goes wild* *much applause* *hooray* hooray 🙂

If you are not aware, Disney does an Easter Egg Scavenger hunt every year. In Disney World, the hunt is at Epcot, and in Disneyland, the hunt is at Downtown Disney. It’s very similar to all of Epcot’s scavenger hunts where you are given a sticker map and once completed, you earn a prize. The prize is a character-themed egg, and you get to pick from a selection of 6.

I wanted to do this at home, so I painted and cut out 5 Disney-character Easter eggs, scanned them in to create a “map”, and then laminated everything to create a Scavenger hunt at home!

The night before Easter, I’ll hide them around the house and in the morning, the kids can go hunting. When they find one, they can either mark them or place a sticker to identify that egg has been found.

Now, here is the egg-citing part…I made everything printable, so you can join along too! All of the eggs can be found here:

And here is the tracker sheet {recommend printing front & back}:

Please tag me on Instagram {@the_magikrull_life} if you share any photos!

5. The Easter Baskets: The Fillers

One last thing before I wrap up the Easter talk. I wanted to share a couple more Easter basket ideas in case you are still stuck on how to fill those baskets. Here are some items that I love and we already own or that I love but just didn’t quite make the cut this year:

  • Beach towels {This was a tradition in my Easter basket growing up & I loved it!}
  • Swimsuits
  • Swim Shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Bubbles {WE LOVE BUBBLES| Go for the bubbles}
  • Sidewalk Chalk
  • Paint with Water DIY Kit – Paint Cup + Foam Brushes
  • Stickers
  • Popsicle Trays
  • Watering Can
  • Spray Bottle
Winnie the Pooh Beach Towel | Shop Disney | $14
Lightning McQueen Beach Towel | Shop Disney | $14
Winnie the Pooh Swimsuit | Shop Disney | $27
Mickey Mouse Tropical Swim Trunks | Shop Disney | $23
Lightning McQueen Water Shoes | Shop Disney | $17
Colorblocked Sunglasses, Red Dodgeball | Janie & Jack | $15
Sorcerer Mickey Bubble Wand | Shop Disney | $23
Sidewalk Chalk | Amazon | $10
Kootek Popsicle Molds Set | Amazon | $11
Watering Can | Amazon | $22

That is all for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you and your family have the most wonderful Easter!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Wishables

I get it. You are probably thinking: ‘Wishables? What on earth is a Wishable? A another stuffed thing to clutter my house? Is this really what you want to talk about?’

I won’t lie. I was like that at first, but then I found they are extremely cute and I could no longer resist. However, I also didn’t want just another stuffed critter(s) cluttering my house and space {trust me, we have plenty…haha…but I still buy more…I have problem…but that’s for another day}, so I put on my thinking cap on how these adorable little stuffies could make an appearance in our home and provide educational purpose.

1. The Wishables Line

So, what is a Wishable? It is a micro plush that comes in a mystery blind bag, and each is part of a 4-piece, limited release series. They can be bought from shopDisney or at the Disney parks and resorts. Here is an example of a release, specifically the Aladdin collection:

Beyond the blind bags, each release also provides an “out of bag” character that you can also buy. That way, there is at least one character that you know you can get. For the Aladdin collection, the additional Wishable was the Genie.

So what’s the appeal? First off, mystery! The blind bags are just really fun! I think it adds a level of excitement to the buying experience. Plus, if you do want to get a specific character, buying the bags in person {i.e. the parks, Disney Springs, Downtown Disney, or the resorts} allows for squeezing/feeling the bags {and as you can see on the Aladdin bag, is encouraged}.

Second, the limited release. The first Wednesday of every month is Wishable Wednesday and is when Disney releases a brand new series! It keeps it so fun and fresh, and to be honest, I’ve started to get so excited for that first Wednesday of the month. For 2021, the series so far have been Alice in Wonderland {Jan 2021}, Disney Transportation {also Jan 2021 – it got two! EEEEPPP!}, and Small World {Feb 2021}.

2. The Craft

‘Okay, Jasmine. I see they are cute, but how can they be educational?’

With a little magic, of course. Mom magic, that is.

I really wanted these in my house, but I needed the justification. So my solution was matching cards!

I pulled out our Windows Surface and created 4″ X 4″, printable cards on Google Slides. To start, I made a 4″ X 4″ square on the slide with an outlined, text box below it and then added the picture of the Wishable that I wanted to create. I found that the shopDisney Wishables pictures are literally PERFECT for this craft because they are nicely photographed and have a white background. Once I had the one created, I just copied and pasted to the number that I needed. From there, it was just print, cut and then laminate. So easy! I literally did all of ours in a night while chatting with my girlfriends on a zoom call.

The matching game has been something both L {age 3} and W {age 1} can play, and it helps with all those key skills they need to work on. The words are also nice, especially with L, who is starting to work on sight word and letter recognition.

If sight words aren’t what you are looking for, there are some really easy alternatives. The one that a friend shared with me {hi, Kenny!} is that instead of sight words and labeling the item, letters could be used instead to work on alphabet recognition. Colors could be another option too. So many possibilites!

To help make it a little easier for you, I’ve added a template below, just follow the link to get started!

3. The Laminator

So let’s talk about laminators….

I got one based on an account I follow on Instagram {@brbgoingtodisney – highly recommend following her if you have littles and love Disney} and let it sit for MONTHS because I didn’t want to install/read the instructions lol. Then, one morning Lucas decided he was going to print and laminate a sheet with a bunch of Cars characters on it for W and did all of the set up {1. thanks, honey! 2. it was so easy. It’s laughable how easy it was. Plug in. Turn on. lololol}. Then, the crafts began…and OH MY GOODNESS. It has been a GAME CHANGER. If you love crafts and especially if you have littles, do yourself a favor and get a laminator. I’ve linked the one I bought below {which I LOVE}, but there are a ton out there!

Amazon Basics 9-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine | $25
Amazon Basics Letter Size Sheets Laminating Pouches 9 Inches x 11.5 Inches, 100-pack | $14

Another fun, laminator craft that I want to showcase quickly is the family flip book I made. I also used the 4″ X 4″ template from the Wishables to make this but instead of Wishables pictures, I glued 4″ X 4″ pictures of our family members {ordered from Shutterfly app – unlimited free prints of 4 X 4 and 4 X 6 pictures} and put the family title {aunt, cousin, grandparent, etc.} in the title section. We gave to W as part of his Valentine’s gift, as well as to my niece for her first birthday, and it’s been a great, fun learning toy!

4. The Tips

Lastly, a few random tips to make your Wishables journey more enjoyable:

  • Resorts are the best spots to go for Wishables, in my opinion {Contemporary has been our go to}. They get the new ones the same day as the rest of property; it’s often less crowded, and you can usually find older releases there too {bonus!}.
  • Squeezing a mystery blind bag + Covid = probably not the best combination. I like to take disposable, latex gloves to minimize what I touch as well as not contaminate bags further with my germs. I do love knowing that the plush inside has not been touched by other guests, though. Hooray!
  • Wishables are great gifts for holiday baskets {especially with the matching cards 😉 }. We gave the kids Wishables for Valentine’s Day, and it was a big hit! Easter is right around the corner, and these could be great basket stuffers if you are looking for ideas.

That’s all for today! I cannot wait for Wishables Wednesday next week! Will you be joining in on the fun?!?

Until next week…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: A Valentine’s “Sundae” Picnic

This is one that I have been thinking about and planning for awhile, so I am SO EXCITED to finally get to share it with you! First, it’s my first blog post about something I am extremely passionate about – a good theme {coupled with some party planning 😉 }. Theme above all else is my motto {just kidding, the fun is always first, but theme is a close second}. And second, it was such a fun Valentine’s Day celebration that can easily be adapted to any holiday or quite frankly, any day you want to spruce up with some extra pixie dust and magic. So let’s dive in!

1. The Inspiration

A good theme always starts with a little spark, and this was no exception. It all started with a pair of ears and blossomed from there…

The Ears. Mid-January, Disney released these Valentine’s Day Minnie Mouse Ears. I thought they were adorable but debated on buying them. They did, however, get my wheels turning on a fun Valentine’s Day photo shoot {maybe a cute, critter photo}. Then, I saw the dress {see below}, and I had a clear vision. I had decided. I would buy the ears. I went to Disney Springs to purchase and found….them gone. Sold Out. Thus, my quest began. I tried EVERYWHERE – Springs {multiple days}, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and even Polynesian. Nothing. In the Wind. Vanished. A failed quest. ‘Twas a sad day. But then, a ray of hope. A shining light. A coworker to the rescue. So, Julia, if you’re reading this, thanks for letting me borrow your ears. 😉

All of this to say: 1. Don’t regret it. Buy the merch. 2. Julia saved the day.

The Dress. I saw this dress on Janie & Jack and immediately knew I wanted to pair it with the ears. Same colors. Quilted material. Little hearts. YES. PLEASE.

The Book. I had the outfit, now I just needed some decorations and a fun theme…So where to go when in need of inspiration? A book, of course! Disney books has some AMAZING options to help inspire and guide for all your Disney theming needs. I have a handful of books that I often turn to when I’m looking for some inspiration, especially recipes. I found this Mickey Split and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries in my Disney Eats book {linked below} and felt it all fall into place.

The Date. Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday. Sunday Picnic. “Sundae” Picnic. You get it. 😉

2. The Details

After scavenging my leftover, birthday decoration supplies, I decided that I wanted to set the scene in our backyard {picnic vibes} with our patio furniture {cozy, picnic vibes} and add some cute, Valentine-centered touches, specifically a balloon arch with a pastel, Valentine palette {read: what color balloons I had in the pantry that were Valentine acceptable} and Valentine-feeling foods {pink smoothies, chocolate covered Mickey strawberries, and Mickey sundaes}.

To recreate the scene, what you’ll need:

  • balloons
  • balloon tape
  • command strips
  • patio furniture {or anything you have! A couch would look cute too or even a dining room table}
  • recipe ingredients
  • outfits that inspire you {go for the bold 😉 }

3. The Prep

The Night Before:

Balloons. Do yourself a favor. Do the balloons the night before. I waited to do the day of during the kids’ nap and definitely regretted it. I would wait to hang the balloons until day of but setting up the arch and getting the balloons arranged the way you want can be done the night before.

The Day Of:

Food Prepping, Furniture Staging, & Tablescaping {looking at you, Lisa 😉 }

Food Prep. If you plan on doing the same recipes {strawberries, smoothies, and sundaes}, I recommend doing the strawberries first. I had a two hour window to prep, and that was enough time for them to harden before I pulled them out {placed in freezer}. This could also be done in the morning and placed in the fridge instead. Then, smoothie {either earlier and place in fridge or right before}. And lastly, the sundaes {do this right before you are ready to take pictures}.

Furniture Staging. Arrange the furniture however speaks to you. For me, this was how it sang:

Table Scaping. Add the little details to the table to tie in the theme. For this shoot, it was the food. Unfortunately, I ran out of time to make the pink smoothies {those balloons…again, seriously recommend doing the night before}, but I planned to add two of those in mason jars with red and white striped paper straws to fill in the remaining space.

4. The Final Look

Viola! It is time! Pull out that camera, let the kids at that chocolate, and soak up the fun!

5. The Tips

I want to add a couple of tips that I learned the hard way {wah wah}. Hopefully, these will help make your sundae picnic planning even easier.

Balloon Compressor. I bought this to prep for my daughter’s birthday party. Best. {Party-Planning} Purchase. Ever. I have this one. I wouldn’t say it’s the best quality, but it gets the job done and the price was right. Bonus: it came with balloon tape {use this to make the balloon arch} and balloon dots.

Light Matters. Apparently, the sun moves throughout the day…? Who knew, right? I got everything set up and realized that half of the set up was in the shadows and half was in the light. Keep this in mind and work to have everything in either all shadow or all light {recommend light}. If this does happen to you, you can work around it by angling your camera to capture the subject matter all in one side. For ours, I came in from the top right to get the kids all in the shadows {example below}.

Balloons + FL Grass. Apparently, balloons and Florida grass do not mix together well…upon contact, the balloons pop. That was a super fun discovery. Essentially, half popped while I was putting the balloon arch up. Recommend using a party planning buddy when hanging balloon arches up outside and waiting until the last minute to hang outside {wind can also be tricky}.

Sundae Secrets. I got these bowls from Amazon. I LOVE the look they gave the sundaes, but they were deeper than I realized so make sure to pay attention to your scoops and fruit for the Mickey ears. I ended up adding another of layer of fruit to push the scoop up so the ears cleared the top rim.

Smoothie Tip. As I mentioned, I ran out of time to add the strawberry smoothies. I wanted to add that extra pink and red to pull some more Valentine theming in, but alas, here we are. This is what I planned to use to make that happen, in case you would like to add it.

And there you have it! All the details necessary to have your very own sundae picnic. Happy picnicking!

Until next time…Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Epcot Festival of the Arts. With Littles.

I know what you’re thinking. ‘Epcot with littles? Are you sure…? Isn’t that park meant for adults? Drinking around the world, right?’

Yes, Epcot is an AMAZING park if you want to have some “adult fun” {read: drinking and tasting all the food}. I know I have definitely had a great time at Epcot {if you know, you know 😉 }. While those days are behind me {mostly…}, I have come to find that Epcot has so much more to offer, especially for littles and even more so during a festival.

Nowadays, you’re pretty hard-pressed to visit Epcot without a festival. In calendar order, there is Festival of the Arts {Jan 8 – Feb 22}, Flower & Garden {March 3 – July 5}, Food & Wine {TBD for 2021 but usually around fall time}, and Festival of the Holidays {TBD for 2021 but usually around Christmastime}. Kicking off the year and what I am going to talk about today is the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

Festival of the Arts is centered around, you guessed it, art! At this festival, you get to appreciate, make, become, enhance, and taste the art. So let’s dive into what you can do and experience with your littles!

Side Note: Epcot is currently not opening until 11AM. I know this is a tricky opening time for littles, but they have been opening parking at 10AM and opening some rides early. I recommend going early and hitting all those fun things while the kids are fresh.

1. The Scavenger Hunt

Our favorite part of the festivals is the scavenger hunt. Lately, each festival has debuted a new, character-themed scavenger hunt that takes you through every country around the World Showcase, and the Festival of the Arts is no different.

Figment’s Brush with the Masters takes you around the World Showcase looking for famous works of arts that Figment has painted himself into. To fully participate, it does require purchasing a scavenger hunt map at one of the festival locations {$8 before any discounts}, which includes a sticker map and a prize upon completion {you can choose to pick out the prize when you purchase, if preferred}. Each pavilion contains a different masterpiece, and once you and your littles have located it, there is a corresponding sticker to place on your artist’s palette. At the end, you get to pick a 3D character puzzle that you get to build yourself.

Our kids absolutely LOVE doing these. They enjoy the exploration, love playing with the stickers, and feel accomplished at the end when they’ve earned their prize. I really appreciate getting to walk around the world showcase {my favorite part of Epcot} and enjoy it with my littles.

Side Note: I get sometimes you want to move a little faster and “guide” towards the pictures. The Disney Food Blog has all the portraits listed in their report on Figment’s Brush with the Masters.

2. “Chalk Full of Character”

This is a new addition this year, and I love it! Each pavilion now showcases little chalk drawings of Disney characters that are hidden throughout the space. The kids and I enjoy searching throughout each pavilion and getting so excited when we find them. I mean, just look at them, how precious are they?!?

Side Note: Again, if you’re trying to save some time {and maybe some toddler frustration}, Disney Food Blog has got you covered with their “Chalk Full of Character” report.

3. Expression Section: Paint by Numbers

This is such a fun way for the kids to help make the art and be apart of something that shows a bigger picture. The Expression Section is a complimentary {yay! free!} experience where you are given a color and told to paint a set number of squares that correspond to its number. At the end, you are given a postcard that shows the finished mural as a fun memento of what you helped create. Every couple of days, a mural is completed and then changed out for a new one.

4. The Food

I CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE FOOD!!!

Each festival brings it’s own menu of amazing food, and the Festival of the Art is no exception. This festival brings a truly exciting and vibrant palette of food that is as good as it looks. All food is detailed in the Festival Passport, which can be picked up at any festival food location in World Showcase. If you’re like me and want to plan before you go, the Disney Parks Blog’s Foodie Guide outlines all the options, and all menus can be found on the Disney Mobile App, as well.

The downside is that buying all the food can add up really quickly. Wah wah… My preference is to bring lunch for the kids and we get one, maaayyybee two, dessert options that we share. This festival has some really enticing and delicious dessert options, so this option has been perfect for us. See below for some of the dishes we have tried.

5. Become the Art: Photo Spots

This is one of my favorite aspects of the festival – the photo spots! {#doItForTheGram haha} This festival has so many fun photos ops where you can become part of the art. My personal favorite are the butterfly wings. There is a full row of wings along the construction walls at the entrance of the World Showcase, as well as different wings within the pavilions. The Tiana-styled wings in America is at the top of my list.

Next are the Artful Photo Ops. These are photo ops set up throughout the park where you can enter and be part of the masterpiece. It’s such a fun way to see and learn about famous works of art, as well as get some really cool photos.

Lastly, I wanted to mention the Chalk Art. This is also at the entrance to the World Showcase and is an alley of chalk art for you to appreciate and interact with. Each side of the entrance has a row of chalk art, and there is also a larger mural that you can pose with and have it seem that you are part of the work of art. This changes often, and when we went, it was Soul-themed {eep! We love Mr. Mittens in this house and the movie Soul in general 🙂 }.

6. The Old Faithfuls

Last, but certainly not least, are the old faithfuls. Even without a festival, Ecpot has some really great options for kids. Our must-hit is The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Not only is it a ride that both of our kids enjoy, it ends in a HUGE aquarium. I mean, that’s pretty awesome. If we aren’t feeling walking around Epcot, we will spend hours walking around the aquarium and observing all of the fish and marine animals.

Pro Tip: At the end of The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a little scavenger hunt book called Finding Dory’s Friends. It’s free and has a sticker scavenger hunt that will take you all over the aquarium. I like to always grab one or two every time we go, whether we do the hunt in the park, play with them in the stroller, or save the stickers for another day when a distraction is needed, its always a kid-pleaser.

Other rides that we love {and quite frankly usually have a lower wait time} are Journey into Imagination with Figment {Bonus: perfectly themed with the Festival of the Arts}, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land. Of course, Frozen is also a favorite and great for kids, but that wait time is often a deterrent for us. We will occasionally wait if we get to Epcot right at opening and go straight there.

So there you have it. The Festival of the Arts with a focus on littles. I do want to mention that the Festival offers more than what I have discussed above {Festival Markets, Performance Art options, etc.}, but I wanted to share what I have enjoyed most with the kids and what they have been most engaged in when visiting. I hope this helps plan your Festival visit and makes it more magical than ever!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: A Valentine Mailbox.

With Valentine’s Day just a few day away, I wanted share a little craft to help get excited for the love-filled day. We did this craft this past weekend, and it’s a quick and easy set up with a lasting product that can be used for the big day.

1. The Set Up

What you’ll need:

  • Box(es)
  • Wrapping or Packaging paper
  • Tape
  • Glue Stick
  • Craft paper
  • Craft pieces or Stickers
  • Scissors

For the boxes, I used a mix of store-bought boxes and boxes I currently had. The store bought one was from Target {see below} and comes in red and white.

Valentine’s Box Red | $3

2. The Prep

Once you have all the essentials, this is the time to make any custom decorations and wrap any non-premade boxes.

I cut out Minnie and Mickey ears, hearts, and a special truck for W {because he loves cars/anything with wheels}, as well as their names for them to decorate and personalize their box. This step can be skipped if you want to use stickers or other ready-to-go decorations {pom poms, glitter, etc.} . For younger toddlers, I actually recommend stickers. W was not a big fan of working with glue on craft day, and I wish I had stickers as an alternative to keep his attention longer.

3. The Craft

At this point, you can let the kids select their box and decorations, give them a glue stick, and let them have at it. For L, it held her attention for about 15 minutes, and I think with a little adjustments in the future, it could have done the same with W.

4. The Results

And voila! That’s it! Your kiddos are all ready for those Valentines. 🙂

Until next time…

Stay Magical!
Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Visiting Disney World During a Pandemic. With Littles.

You have decided. You are going to Walt Disney World in 2021, so what now? How do you prepare? What should you expect?

Well, first off, I understand wanting to visit. The four months the parks were closed were rough for us {and life in general, as I’m sure you can relate…}. When they reopened in July, we were skeptical of going with the kids, but after scoping it out for ourselves {and months of being stir crazy}, we decided to take the kids. And I’m so glad that we did.

It feels slightly different than before {no character meet and greets, less interactions, face masks, hand sanitizer galore, fewer people…no complaints on that one from me}, but the magic is alive and well. Navigating the parks with the COVID protocols in place initially felt daunting {but I am so glad that Disney has them in place! Stay safe, friends!}, but after visiting, I can honestly say that with a few pointers, it’s no big deal and a normal{ish}, magic-filled trip is 1000% possible.

Since that first visit, we have frequented the parks bi-monthly, excluding holidays, and here are the tips & tricks that we have come to live by:

1. Arrive on Time, Preferably Early.

I get it. It is hard to get the kids and the backpacks and the snacks and the stroller and the hand sanitizer {don’t forget it! 😉 } and the masks {these too 😉 } and every other thing you need for a day at the parks with kids into the car and be on your way at a specific time. However…I GUARANTEE that your day will be that much sweeter if you do .

Arriving early means less people {SURPRISE! Everyone struggles getting out the door on time}, more CMs to get you moving to where you want to go, better parking {read: less walking} and shorter wait times. On the days we arrived early, I have found that we can get 3-4 rides in within the first hour. That is AMAZING! Feel that awesomeness and arrive early.

Pro Tip: Try to be at the gate 30 min early, if possible. Lately, I have found that the parks are letting people in a little early and attractions are open {yay! even more rides with short lines!}.

2. Bring Lunch or Leave for Lunch.

Between 10am-2pm, crowds begin to pick up and are at their peak in my opinion, so I recommend taking a break for lunch during this time. We eat lunch at 11am and usually bring food, especially for the kids. First off, Disney can get pricey, so I prefer to bring lunch and then buy a fun specialty snack for all of us to share {got to get that IG pic}. We have our favorite secluded spots to chow down that gets us off the beaten path and to feel safe removing our masks to eat. Some of our favorite spots are:

  • Magic Kingdom: Outdoor tables by Pete’s Silly Side Show in the Big Top Circus Area
  • Epcot: Outdoor tables by Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavillion
  • Animal Kingdom: Outdoor tables at the Harambe Market (when the market is closed) or the lower dining area next to Flame Tree Barbeque
  • Hollywood Studios: We don’t go here often enough to have a good spot, but I would recommend avoiding the Toy Story area and Batuu.

If you want to experience as much Disney as possible, including the food, I recommend leaving to go to a resort for a quick serve lunch. There are walkable/easy transports to resorts from all of the parks, and quick serve can be ordered on the Disney Mobile App. This is also a great option if you just want a break from the hustle and bustle of the park and a more relaxing lunch spot {bonus: more/different merch locations}. Some of our favorite resorts to grab a quick serve lunch at are:

  • Magic Kingdom:
    • Contempo Cafe (Contemporary)
    • Gasparilla Island Grill (Grand Floridian)
    • Capt Cook’s (Polynesian)
  • Epcot/Hollywood Studios:
    • Beach Club Marketplace (Disney’s Beach Club)
    • Boardwalk Bakery (Disney’s Boardwalk)
    • Primo Piatto (Riviera Resort; requires taking the Skyliner, bus, or personal car)
  • Animal Kingdom:
    • The Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge; requires personal car or bus)

3. Take the Break.

I know, I know. You’ve saved and saved, and this is your family vacation for the year, or possibly even years. Every moment possible must be spent in those parks! However…I’ve always found that striving for quality magic over quantity makes for a much more magical experience, and a tired toddler in a theme park simply isn’t quality in my opinion. So take the break. Go early in the morning, hit 3-4 rides, grab a bite to eat, let them run around in the hub grass to get out those wiggles, and then head back to the hotel for a nap. You’ll miss the busiest time of the day {extra bonus} and everyone will be refreshed for a couple more hours in the park {or not – hotels, especially Disney hotels, are extremely fun to explore too}. 

4. Have a {Rough} Plan

Odds are that you won’t hit every single ride, especially if there are toddlers/kids in tow, so I recommend having a priority list of what you want to hit. Hit the more popular, important rides early in the morning or later in the afternoon {avoid those 10am-2pm crowds} and sprinkle in the others in between. The Disney Mobile App is your best friend. Check the wait times and be flexible. The wait times will fluctuate, and it is always more fun to decrease that wait time.

5. “Know Before You Go”

I am a planner. I have a plan A, B, and C for every family outing. Extensive research has been conducted; the bags are packed with all I think we may need {and then some}; I know what we should hit when for optimal family-fun results, and no snack is left behind {…usually}. That is just me {and maybe you too}, but not everyone operates like that. For a family Disney trip, though, I highly recommend doing at least a little planning, especially in the era of COVID. Right now, Disney is constantly updating protocols to keep up with the most current CDC recommendations. I’m so glad that Disney is doing this, but it does mean that as the responsible adult of the family, Disney vacation, some research and planning is required before leaving to visit the Mouse. Some noteworthy protocols to keep in mind are:

  • Park reservations are required in addition to your park ticket.
  • Masks are required for any guest over the age of two.
  • Temperature checks are required prior to entry.
  • Adjustments have been made to facilitate physical distancing (i.e. queue markers, physical barriers, etc.).
  • Capacity limitations have been enacted for all of property.
  • Contactless payments and ordering is now highly encouraged (i.e. the Disney App is a must).

The most up to date protocols can be found on the “Know Before You Go” page Don’t forget to give it a quick perusal before visiting. 

6. Bring Extra {Safety} Gear

We are still in the middle of a pandemic, so safety is a priority and should be considered.  Disney does a good job at making sure there is a basic level of safety for each and every guest amid this pandemic. However, I think with a couple of extra items, you can make your trip even safer. I would recommend bringing the following:

  • Bag for your mask. This can be used to store your mask while eating. Bonus if it is reusable.
  • Extra masks. Rain and heat are common themes here in Florida. You may want to change your mask at some point.
  • Hand sanitizer. This is provided by Disney, but stations can often get crowded, especially when getting off an attraction. I like having my own to use when I feel the need and in my own socially distanced bubble.
  • Extra Baby Wipes. To wipe anything and everything down.
  • Disinfecting Wipes. Again, to wipe anything and everything down, but cleaner.

7. Have a Magical Time

This one is easy. Disney is the Most Magical Place on Earth, so enjoy every minute and have the most magical time!

Until next week…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

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