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Rookie Mistakes NOT to Make at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

So, if you are like us, you may have moved your spring break Disney trip to the fall because of Covid-19 and the stay-at-home orders. Even though we were disappointed to lose out on the beautiful spring weather and the gorgeous, EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, visiting Walt Disney World during the autumn  also has its own perks. In addition to the Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT, guests who are visiting the Walt Disney World resort during August, September, or October have the option of buying a special after-hours ticket for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If you’ve never been to the Halloween party, it’s a lot of fun, but there are some rookie Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party mistakes to avoid.

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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Due to Covid-19, I’ve been spending almost all my time at home lately, teaching from the kitchen table. Because of this, I have time to think about meals in the mornings, preparing them early in the day so that we always have something good to eat when Dennis gets home from work. As I was flipping through my recipe box, I came across my favorite old-fashioned sugar cookie recipe. It had been a while since I had made them, but since these cookies bring back such awesome memories, I decided to make a batch.

 

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Disney’s Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner Review

Looking for a delicious dinner at Walt Disney World? Check out the Liberty Tree Tavern, located in the Liberty Square section of Disney’s Magic Kingdom park.  We’ve had dinner there several times over the years, and it never disappoints.  Our latest feast was on Christmas Eve, during the busiest time of year. Being a party of two on this trip, our experience may vary somewhat from that of larger groups.  If you are deciding whether to choose this restaurant for your upcoming trip, please keep reading to learn more about our visit.

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Easy Homemade Play Dough

When J.R. was staying here recently, this Grammy was out of ideas for fun things to do. He wanted to play with Play Doh, but we didn’t have any. However, I remembered that I used to make easy homemade play dough for my own children when they were young. And, even though I was out of practice (after all, it had been at least fifteen years since I’d made play dough), I decided that making play dough would be a fun and memorable activity for a four-year-old to try.

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Oga’s Cantina at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Our Review

On Christmas Day, Dennis and I stumbled across a line for Oga’s Cantina in the Black Spire Outpost of Disney Hollywood Studios Star Wars Land. Not being huge Star Wars fans (blasphemy to some, I know–especially our boys), we weren’t sure what the line was actually for at first. After talking to a cast member, we learned that Oga’s Cantina was a bar that served fun drinks and snacks. Despite the fact that it wasn’t even 10 a.m., it was Christmas, so we decided to try the cantina out.

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Disney FastPass+ Reservations: Eight Tips for the Best Vacation Ever

Today was the day I’d been waiting for–Disney FastPass+ Reservation Day! I was up early, ready to schedule, and was able to get everything I wanted. Does it always happen that way? Of course not. However, I’ve become somewhat of a pro at scheduling Walt Disney World fast passes over the past few years.  If you are new at scheduling fast passes, I have eight helpful tips to help you increase your chances of getting the perfect Disney FastPass+ reservations for your dream trip.

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EPCOT’s Artisan Cotton Candy

Visiting the World Showcase at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center is always an interesting and enjoyable experience. If you look beyond the obvious souvenir shops, you will find amazing artists and entertainment.  And, while tradition forms of art do prevail, there are also more unique creations out there. One such creation is EPCOT’s artisan cotton candy

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Twelve Tips for Visiting a Christmas Tree Farm

The Christmas tree is the central decoration in many homes this time of year.  Although the real vs. artificial debate reigns supreme each year, I admit to being a fan of the real tree–I’ve never had or wanted anything else. A real tree, if cut fresh and kept watered, will last the entire season, filling your home with a wonderful aroma. Visiting a Christmas tree farm is a fun activity for family members of all ages. With  30+ years experience working on family-owned tree farm, I’d love to give you some tips for visiting a Christmas tree farm.

Photo credit: Tracey Demsey, 2017.

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Dad’s Famous No Cook Refrigerator Pickles

The end of summer marks a special time of year, No, I don’t mean back to school, although I’ve got that covered  for you here in Nine Ways to Make the First Day of School Special .  For many people with backyard gardens, it’s harvest time. And, while I don’t have a garden due to amount of trees in my yard, my parents do. Luckily for me, they gift me with plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers, and other goodies.  When I’m really lucky, Dad will give me a big jar of his homemade no cook refrigerator pickles.

About two years ago, I finally asked for the “secret” recipe so I could make my own pickles. When I did, I was amazed to learn how easy it was to make no cook refrigerator pickles. First, I didn’t even realize that you didn’t have to cook anything. Nothing. Nada. Plus, I learned that the pickles really don’t take that much time to make.

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Nine Ways to Make the First Day of School Special

The first day of school has always been a big deal in our house. It could be because I’m a teacher, or it could just be because my mom always made it a special day when my brothers and I were young. Regardless, each school year is a new beginning and deserves to be celebrated. Most children will only have 13-15 first days of school, preschool through grade 12.  Luckily, there are some great ways to make the first day of school special for them each year.

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