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A Much-Needed Staycation at The Anaheim Marriot!

July 20, 2015 / California, Disney, Travel

I recently escaped my everyday life for a quick getaway at the Anaheim Marriot. You should never pass up an opportunity for a staycation because staycations are the best! The Anaheim Marriot is conveniently located in the hub of Anaheim, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, within walking distance to the Anaheim GardenWalk and just a hop, skip & a jump away from the Disneyland Resort.

The Anaheim Marriot is a great property to stay at whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, and when I say “pleasure” I’m most referring to Disneyland®, although there are a bunch of restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and even a bowling alley, all within walking distance of this hotel! Other popular places to visit within a short driving distance include Knott’s Berry Farm and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

After checking into the hotel, my daughter was immediately enamored by the uber cool elevator call button. It’s more like a computer and takes the guessing out of your wait for an elevator. You key in the floor you’re going to, the screen tells you which elevator you’ll be getting in, and then you head over to wait for it. Watch how it works!

Our guest room was absolutely perfect! With a modern decor throughout, it had 2 very comfortable beds with luxurious bedding, a nice sized desk, a giant LCD TV, and a cozy sitting area. My daughter was especially excited by the Minnie Mouse surprise that was awaiting her in the room! You can call ahead of time and arrange for a surprise of your own to be there for your child(ren).

The bathroom was very clean (that’s always a biggie for me) with marble countertops and there were premium toiletries set out for us to enjoy. I love hotel toiletries, especially when they’re aromatherapy! I always appreciate when hotels do their part to care for our planet, don’ t you?

Some other in-room amenities included a single cup coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, and High speed Wi-Fi (available for a fee). You have the option of ordering your breakfast to be delivered to the room when you wake up, as well as traditional room service any time of day.

The balcony area has a gorgeous view of the city of Anaheim and a bird’s-eye view of the pool area down below. It was relaxing to sit out there with a drink and take it all in. That’s what a staycation is for!

We’re very fortunate to have such great weather in Southern California, which makes it possible to enjoy the pool area of the hotel almost any day of the year.

The Oasis pool offers both an indoor, semi-covered area and an outdoor area. There’s also a jacuzzi. Both the pool and jacuzzi are equipped with an aquatic wheelchair to provide access for any guests with those needs.

There are lounge chairs for sunbathing all around the pool area, as well as tables where guests can enjoy food and drinks from the Oasis Pool Menu, and even some fire pits.

I couldn’t get enough of the food at the Marriot! They offer quick take away service inside the hotel from Pizza Hut and a Starbucks. However, my favorite spot to hit up for a meal was nFuse Bar and Kitchen, the main restaurant in the hotel. We actually ate there twice, once for dinner and another time for breakfast!

The restaurant was recently renovated and is beautiful! There’s a variety of seating areas for guests who are dining. When you walk into the restaurant, you notice several different intimate tables or “social lounges” available for guests to sit at and enjoy a drink or small plates if they wish.

We sat in the main dining area. I started with one of their handcrafted cocktails called the “California Love“. It came highly recommended by our server and as soon as I took the first sip, I knew why! It was delicious!

While I looked over the menu, I thoroughly enjoyed the homemade bread served with butter. I think you can tell what that was like by looking as this picture, right?

The menu had so many delicious plates to choose from! I decided to order the nFuse “Prime” Tenderloin Filet. It pretty much melted in my mouth. I also sampled some of my daughter’s Rigatoni with broccoli. The food was truly delicious and prepared just right. I would love to go back and try some of the other creations on the dinner menu.

Luckily it wasn’t long before we returned to nFuse for breakfast the next morning. NFuse offers a traditional breakfast menu with several gourmet creations on it, as well as an All American breakfast buffet. I can’t resist buffets so that’s what I chose.

Breakfast buffets always seem to be the most ideal when you have children in your party mostly because of all the choices. There was so much delicious fruit on the buffet. I also enjoyed the freshly baked pastries.

I think there are very few people who can walk by bacon that looks this good without stacking it high on their plate! Can you tell I’m a bacon lover?

My most favorite item at the buffet though were the fresh, made-to-0rder Belgium waffles. It’s fun to add toppings and create it just the way you like it.

My staycation at the Anaheim Marriot ended way too soon but I’m happy to say that it was a wonderful experience overall. The rooms are top-notch, the location is prime, the food is excellent, and I was well-rested after getting to escape from reality for a short time. I can’t wait to back for another stay!

Connect with the Anaheim Marriot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A sincere thank you to the general manager and entire staff at the Anaheim Marriot for your hospitality. You truly made my family and I feel welcomed.

2015 Mickey’s Halloween Party Dates Released! We Can’t Wait! #HalloweenTime

July 16, 2015 / Disney, Disneyland Resort, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel

Guess what’s returning to the Disneyland Resort on September 11? Halloween Time! We are SO excited for it’s return too! If you’ve never been to the parks during Halloween Time, it’s something you’ll want to make happen this year.

With the Disneyland Resort’s Diamond Celebration already happening in the parks this year, guests will get to enjoy extra sparkly Halloween decorations this year. There are also seasonal attractions to experience such as Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain’s “Ghost Galaxy”.

One of the biggest events of the year at the Disneyland Resort is Mickey’s Halloween Party! This is an after-hours Halloween party that requires the purchase of a separate ticket. (don’t worry, it’s totally worth it!) The party is held inside Disneyland and guests of all ages are invited to wear their favorite costumes for the occasion. There is plenty of trick or treating throughout the park and the characters will be out and about in their own Halloween costumes.

This year, guests in attendance at Mickey’s Halloween party will be able to watch a special “Halloween Screams” fireworks show, in addition to the “Paint the Night” parade. It’s truly a party not to be missed!

With your Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket you get:

Admission to Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event’s start time.
Parking for one standard-size vehicle. (Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.)

Here are the dates for Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015:

Friday, Sept. 25
Monday, Sept. 28
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Friday, Oct. 2
Monday, Oct. 5
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Friday, Oct. 9
Monday, Oct. 12
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Friday, Oct. 16
Monday, Oct. 19
Thursday, Oct. 22
Friday, Oct. 23
Sunday, Oct. 25
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Thursday, Oct. 29
Saturday, Oct. 31

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party sell out every year and you’ll want to plan now for your date and grab a ticket as soon as they go on sale. This year, you’ll also be able to purchase your Mickey’s Halloween party tickets early on your mobile device. How cool is that?

Here are the dates for ticket sales:

July 22: Ticket sales to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Rewards Visa card holders and Disney Vacation Club members.
July 29: Ticket sales begin for the general public.

The hours for each day of Mickey’s Halloween Party vary slightly from day to day. The prices also vary. For more information about times and ticket prices, visit the official Disney site here.

Mickey’s Beach Bash at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration #DisneySMMC

July 7, 2015 / Conferences, Disney, Technology/Social Media, Travel

As if staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration wasn’t amazing enough, we were invited to attend a private family party on the shore of the Beach & Yacht Clubs on one of the nights. As our family walked together towards the beach, we could hear relaxing steel drum music playing in the distance. The beautiful sunset that evening reflected off Disney’s Boardwalk and the lake in the background. I loved the casual vibe in the air and how relaxed everyone was. It was so fun to see Mickey & his friends dressed in “beachy” attire for the occasion, I was also in awe of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration sand sculpture that must have taken quite some time to carefully construct.

Everywhere we turned, there were mini buffets set up for guests to enjoy delicious salads, gourmet main dishes and delectable desserts. The chefs at Disney really took the time to put together a menu that offered something for everyone in a family, even including adults and children with dietary restrictions and food allergies. There was also an bar set up along the beach, serving all kinds of drinks, including some refreshing tropical libations for the adults. It’s much more fun to drink Rum Punch through a Mickey straw, don’t you agree? The kids had a blast playing on the sand and dancing with the Mickey and his frends, as well as some of the young, energetic Disney dancers. My daughter adores Teen Beach Movie, so this kind of dancing and entertainment was right up her alley! I enjoyed myself immensely and took advantage of the time to connect with other social media Disney friends like Flowers Croon and her daughter. Mickey’s Beach Bash was a blast and definitely a night our family will always remember!

I was invited to The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration as media and received a media rate for our accommodations. All opinions are 100% my own.

4 Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Merchandise Items I WILL Be Buying For My Daughter! #Disneyland60

June 23, 2015 / Disney, Disney, SoCal Fun, Travel

Raise your hand if you’re really excited about the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration! (raises hand) Me!!!! I’m actually more than excited for It! Although I didn’t have a chance to attend the 24-Hour Kickoff Party at Disneyland Resort this year, I did sneak over to the parks for a few hours the following weekend. I don’t even think I saw a quarter of the special merchandise availalble during this glorious time at Disneyland Resort and yet, I’ve already managed to make a list of the first 4 Diamond Celebration Merchandise items I WILL be buying the for my daughter! I say “the first 4” because I know there will be so many other things I’ll want to buy aside from these 4.

This special sequin Minnie Mouse headband with a jeweled bow is a must-have for every Disney girl! The way these ears were displayed in this box made them look extra fancy, too! What girl doesn’t dream about getting their hands on a pair of these? I need a pair of these to wear to the parks. Oh wait, I mean my daughter needs some. Ok maybe we’ll both get a pair of these ears.

One of my favorite merchandise items, normally available in white (and a couple of pastel colors), are the giant Mickey mitts because whenever we make it into Disneyland at Rope Drop, we love to walk down Main Street and give all of the Cast Members “a High Four”! When I saw the sequin version, I immediately added them to the shopping list!

This precious doll is dressed for a day in the parks! I love everything about her, especially her tiny set of EARs! She’s ready to celebrate this joyous occasion!

Oh, I saved the best, and my most favorite item, for last! This castle play set is beautiful and hardly compares to the regular castle play set we bought when my daughter was 3! This Limited Edition castle is blinged out, just like the real Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and it lights up! I NEED IT!

So, what are YOU most excited for at the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration? Do you have any favorite merchandise that you’re hoping to grab, or perhaps already have? Do tell!

To see more of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Merchandise, take a peek at this video from the Disney Parks Blog! Warning: You’re going to want it all, too!

See What’s New at Knott’s This Summer! #KnottsIronReef #NewAtKnotts

June 2, 2015 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun

The opinions in this article are 100% my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them. I have a relationship with GigaSavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.

Summertime is my favorite time of year! (Although it’s hard to really ever complain about the Southern California weather here) I love the relaxed feeling of summer, especially the slower pace of life since I’m off work (I teach school). Summer is when I get to enjoy extra time with my family! One of our favorite things to do together is go to Knott’s! We can’t get enough of the attractions, the food, and all the entertainment.

If you haven’t already heard, one of the biggest things to hit Knott’s this summer is the opening of the latest attraction, Voyage to the Iron Reef™! This brand-new attraction opened on May 15, 2015 and is a spectacular, interactive 4-D ride for the entire family.

Inside the attraction, you’ll help save Knott’s from mysterious creatures emerging from the seas beneath the Boardwalk in a cutting edge media-based battle. Through enchanting underwater forests, disorienting ocean current tunnels, and mysterious mechanical wreckage, high definition 3-D animation will surround guests at every turn.

Take a look at the action inside the Iron Reef:
Not only am I am anxious to get to Knott’s this summer to go on my own Voyage to the Iron Reef™, but there are also 2 new exciting shows to see! I love the shows at Knott’s! The first new show features some of my childhood favorites, The Peanuts Gang. Watch Snoopy and his friends appear in the newest production to hit the Charles M. Schultz Theatre, Blockbuster Beagle!…on ice.

You can join Snoopy and his Peanuts buddies “go Hollywood” bringing Walk of Fame glamour, dazzling movie lot escapades and California excitement to a brand new ice show adventure. Join Snoopy and our World-class ice skating stars at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre for this amazing new production! Blockbuster Beagle!…on ice runs June 13 – August 23 and is dark on Wednesdays.

The second new show at Knott’s this summer is the Vertical Impact & Vertical Impact Geared Up Show. This show is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat as you witness the ultimate blend of extreme stunts with high flying acrobats performing a one of a kind performance perfect for the entire family! The fun continues after dark with Vertical Impact, Geared Up! This high energy show is set to the most popular songs of today, combining everything from trampoline stunts, bmx bikes, skaters, dancers, and aerialists. Every show ends with an informal meet & greet for the guests with the entire cast on stage. The cast pumps up the volume with the latest hits, the biggest tricks and awesome special effects. The pace is intensified, the stunts are electrified, and the cast is breaking down the walls, defying gravity, and taking it all to the next level. Watch the show for the amazing aerial acrobatics, and crazy trampoline & vertical wall stunts, then stay for the after party and be a part of the show! Our own “DJ Nytemadness” will keep the party going mixing all the best of current EDM, dance & pop hits after each show while the cast joins the guests of all ages to dance, party, take selfies, and just be a part of it all. The show runs June 13 – August 23 and is dark on Mondays & Tuesdays.

In addition to these 2 brand-new shows at Knott’s this summer, there’s a TON of other entertainment going on at the park this summer too. This is where I feel like I should stop and talk about Knott’s Season Passes because there is WAY more than one day’s worth of fun to take in at Knott’s. You’re going to want to come back to Knott’s (and Knott’s Soak City Water Park) a bunch of times! Especially during the summertime!

Do you know how awesome a Knott’s Season Pass is? Not only is it the most affordable ticket in town, Knott’s also offers the option of payments to make it even more do-able for your family. The passes pay for themselves within a few visits too.

Knott’s offers the following variations of their Regular Season Pass:

You can also upgrade to a Gold Season Pass! The Gold Season Pass allows you to enjoy all the cool waterslides and fun in the sun at Knott’s Soak City Water Park, in addition to all the thrilling rides at Knott’s Berry Farm! The Gold Season Pass pays for itself in less than 2 visits!

Charlie Brown’s Happy Campers – Camp Snoopy Theatre: Join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and the world’s most popular beagle, Snoopy in a show that’s sure to make an outdoorsman out of anybody! The show runs daily from June 14 through September 1.

Big Band Swingin’ Sundays: Jump, Jive & Swing to the sounds of Orange County’s best local Big Bands. Catch them on Sunday evenings from June14 – August 30.

Boardwalk Dance Party – Boardwalk Circle Stage: Dance ‘til you drop and wave your hands in the air until you just don’t care with DJ Howly, one of Orange County’s most requested “mixers & spinners”. Catch the Boardwalk Dance Party on Monday & Tuesday evenings from June 15 – August 25. (Plus September 7)

Ghost Town Streetmosphere: Ghost Town is alive with townsfolk who will put you smack dab in the middle of the Wild West. New residents have put down stakes recently… Clem Culpepper, the ever hopeful gold miner, Ma & Pa Shine, our resident moonshiners & Nathan Quickly, the Pony Express Agent. And as you mosey on through Ghost Town, say “Howdy” to returning favorites, Dusty Trail, who’s never without her six-shooter, Miss Ruby, the purtiest Saloon Gal in town, Miss Apple the School Teacher, and the rest of the Calico townsfolk. The Ghost Town Streetmosphere runs daily from June 13 – September 7.

Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – Birdcage Theatre: Things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies perform their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, side splittin’ country comedy show that has Knott’s audiences clamoring for more! It’s the perfectly krazy way to spend some time at Knott’s Berry Farm! Come out to watch Fridays through Mondays from June 13 – August 23. (except 6/19 and 8/6 & 29)

Salsa Bands – Fiesta Plaza Stage: Nothing says a party at the Fiesta Plaza stage better than the energy created by some of Orange County’s most popular salsa bands. Enjoy the salsa bands on Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings from June 13 through August 23, Plus August 29, 30 and September 5, 6, & 7.

The Ghost Town Miners – Spurs Stage: For a “Yeehaw” of a good time you won’t want to miss the Ghost Town Miners sing and play some of the best bluegrass this side of the Rio Grande! The show runs Tuesday through Thursday from June 16 – August 20.

The Marshal Purdy Show – Birdcage Theatre: Come on in for some old fashioned, homespun fun that’s sure to tickle your fancy and bust your gut on Tuesday & Wednesday from June 17 – August 21.

The Big Fat Steve Band – Boardwalk Circle Stage: Back by popular demand, The Big Fat Steve Band-The Kings of Kool is a fun, exciting dance band with a swingin’ beat. Enjoy the live musicality of rockabilly, swing and classic sounds. The only thing missing is your dance moves. Come on out Wednesday through Saturday from June 13 – August 29 Plus September 5 & 6.

The Peanuts Gang – Camp Snoopy: Meet and hug one of your favorite Peanuts characters!
Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder, Franklin, Woodstock, or Peppermint Patty. The characters are available in the park year round and vary daily. Calico Saloon Cancan Show – Calico Saloon: What’s a Saloon without a show? Don’t miss the Calico Saloon Show for some good old’ fashioned bar room fun. We heard that the dancin’ girls even perform that new fandangled dance from Paree, France, the Cancan! You might even want to cool off with a tall cool bottle of the hard stuff…Sarsaparilla! Enjoy the Calico Saloon Cancan Show daily from June 13 – September 30, Plus September 5 – 7.

Fool’s Gold Stunt Show – Wagon Camp: Will the bad guys manage to re route and steal the gold? Find out in this rowdy, comical, western stunt show presented on Knott’s legendary Wagon Camp stage. Watch the show year round.

Indian Trails: You won’t want to miss the beautiful music, authentic costumes and historically rich traditions presented at the Indian Trails Stage. The Indian Trails are presented Thursday through Monday on a year round schedule.

Mystery Lodge: Sit back and let this award winning, one of a kind attraction mesmerize you as our Native American Storyteller shares stories of his rich history and culture. The special effects of Mystery Lodge will amaze you daily, and is open year round.

So, raise your hand if YOU’RE ready for some summer fun at Knott’s? I know you can’t see me right now, but I”m raising mine! Hope to see you in the park this summer!

Connect with Knott’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

LEGO Friends Heartlake City Is Now Open at LEGOLAND California Resort and It’s Adorable!

May 23, 2015 / SoCal Fun, Travel

Have you heard the exciting news? LEGO Friends Heartlake City is now open at LEGOLAND California Resort! The newest area at the resort is a must-see for all LEGO fans of all ages! As soon as you walk through the entrance to the city brought to life straight out of the “LEGO Friends” TV show, you can meet your favorite LEGO friends, Mia, Olivia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma and get a glimpse inside of their LEGO lives!

Throughout Heartlake City there are several clever LEGO brick creations and life-sized figures of each of the LEGO friends. There are lots of great photo opportunities there.

Mia’s Riding Camp: Guests can experience an adventure on a carousel that’s perfect for riders of all ages and heights. Take a horseback ride atop one of 60 carousel horses (both moving and non-moving. Guests can also opt to sit inside one of the stationary jeeps on the carousel.
Heartlake Stables: Inside of this shaded stable area, guests can enjoy LEGO brick building activities and learn a little bit about horses. There’s plenty of seating here for adults to rest their legs while watching their little ones play. You’ll also want to take advantage of the cute photo opportunity to sit on one of the horses in the front area of the stable! (As a convenience, your photos are available for purchase inside the park)
Heartlake Fountain: This heart-shaped fountain is a focal point in the center of the city. Guests are welcome to play in the water, which is especially perfect on warm days. If you plan to have “splash time” on your visit, you might want to bring an extra change of clothes.
Friends Forever Stage: Mia, Olivia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma perform their “LEGO Friends to the Rescue” show live on stage. Guests can sing and dance along with them. There are also opportunities to meet the LEGO Friends sometimes, if you hang around after the show. To check for showtimes, click here.
Heartlake City Boutique: Guests can shop til they drop here for LEGO Friends toys and a bunch of adorable items. Once you head into this boutique, I can guarantee you won’t come out empty handed! You’ll also find the LEGO Friends Hot Air Balloon in the center of the store.
The LEGO Movie Experience: Experience a bit of movie magic as you get a behind-the-scenes look at a real movie set! Step onto the LEGO Movie soundstage, check out movie footage and explore some of the awesome models which helped inspire the new and completely original 3D animated adventure THE LEGO MOVIE. You can even find characters from the LEGO Movie to take pictures with!

City Park Crêperie: Enjoy sweet, delicious crêpes at this pop-up crêperie located in the center of Heartlake City. The menu features a sugar crêpe, a Nutella crêpe, a Nutella & bananas crêpe, and a berries crêpe. We tried a Nutella crêpe this time but need to go back soon and try a different one. What a treat!
Wok n’ Bowl Ramen: This gourmet Japanese style Ramen House features freshly prepared stir-fry dishes such as orange chicken and teriyaki and ramen noodles with pork belly, chicken, or vegetables. Kids meals are also offered here.

We had such a fun day visiting Heartlake City! When I asked my daughter what her favorite part about the day was, she told me it was getting to talk to Stephanie and Emma and seeing them perform on stage with the other LEGO Friends.

My heart melts when I see her so happy. She also asked if we could return to LEGOLAND tomorrow. For me, it’s all about spending time together and creating new memories. In LEGO Friends Heartlake City there’s the opportunity to do just that!

For more information and to purchase tickets to LEGOLAND California Resort, click here. *Heartlake City is included in the cost of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. Connect with LEGOLAND California on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

A very special thank you to LEGOLAND California for inviting us to attend a special media day in the park and providing us with lunch. All opinions are 100% my own.

When a Cast Member Makes a Magical First Impression on You! Meet One of My Favorites: Ronna From Disney’s Yacht Club! #DisneySMMC

May 15, 2015 / Disney, Orange County, SoCal Fun, Travel

They say that first impressions are everything and I completely agree with that statement. You never truly get a chance to re-do a first impression. This is especially true in businesses such as restaurants, stores, and hotels. When a guest walks into an establishment for some type of service, they start to form an opinion about that place of business based on the way they were treated by the first person they encountered who was working there.

My family and I recently took our first trip to Walt Disney World Resort for the 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. We were so excited to be all booked at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort during our trip! After taking the red-eye from Southern California to Orlando, Florida, we finally arrived at our destination around 6:30 a.m. on a very minimal amount of sleep. I may, or may not, have entered the lobby of Disney’s Yacht Club while sleep walking. As I entered the check-in line, I was immediately greeted at the front desk by one of the sweetest cast members in the place! Talk about making a lasting first impression! Even as I sit here writing this post, I miss that sweet lady.

Her name was Ronna and she was just beginning her shift that day. As I glanced over the counter, into her work area, I noticed she had a few personal items, such as pens and a paper pad, that were purple! I love purple! I didn’t even need to ask if purple was her favorite color because it was so obvious.

My asking her immediately sparked such a pleasant conversation between us, as she proceeded to check me (and my family that was sleeping on a couch in the hotel lobby at that moment) into our room. I also noticed that Ronna was from Chicago, specifically from the same area that I have family. Again, we hit it off talking about Chicago.

I appreciated how much time Ronna took to thoroughly explain everything I needed to know about the hotel to me. There was a lot to take in and get to know about this giant resort hotel, as well as the parks. I could see why Disney had hired Ronna to work for them…because she’s a magical person who makes magic for guests….which is exactly what a cast member is supposed to do!

For the duration of our stay, I kept checking the front desk, each time we’d walk by, to see if Ronna was working. I finally learned that she also works next door at the front desk at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (it’s an adjacent property to the Yacht Club). On our last day, just before leaving on The Magical Express for the airport, we finally found her working again. I re-introduced myself (but of course she remembered me) and told her that I wanted to thank her again for being so kind. I think she was a little surprised that I came back to tell her that.

Then I asked if we could take a picture together and if I could also photograph her alone. I think she almost cried happy tears from my request, which made me also get happy tears in my eyes! As you can see from the pictures, Ronna is absolutely adorable and I hope we get to go back there someday soon and visit her when we do! She was our first impression of the Walt Disney World Resort and I’d have to say that she made a magical one.

Have YOU had any magical experiences with Disney Cast Members before? If so, where were you and how did they make an impression on you?

4 Intangible Things I Took With Me to The 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration! #DisneySMMC

May 14, 2015 / Conferences, Disney, Technology/Social Media, Travel

In the two years I’ve been blogging, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a few different conferences. I love going to conferences! The more I attend, the more I want to seek out to attend! I take away something new and valuable from each conference and always leave feeling recharged and newly inspired. I’ve also experienced what I like to call “conference regrets“. If you’re not sure what those are, they are the things you wish you’d done at a conference, but either forgot or were too intimidated to do, for whatever reason. I feel like I get brave after the conference is over, except then it’s too late to go back. I’m almost sure that every blogger has experienced “conference regrets” at least once in their career. What I’ve found to be most effective for tackling this problem is to take some time, prior to attending a conference, to set some small personal conference goals for myself.

I was recently invited to attend The 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort. I can still remember how magical it was when I opened that email containing such a special invitation! I think I let out a squeal that was probably heard around the world! It was such an honor to be invited and I really couldn’t believe it had happened for me. I KNEW I had to make every moment of what would be a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” count! So, in the weeks leading up to the conference, I proceeded to jot down notes on post-its until I’d put together a list of my personal goals for this conference.

At first I felt a bit overwhelmed by this goal-setting because I didn’t know what to expect from the conference itself. I’d heard so many stories and read several posts from others who had attended in the past, but I really wanted to focus on what was most important for me to take away from the experience. Finally, I compiled a list of 4 intangible things I’d be bringing with me to The 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, so let me share these things with you!

The first thing I brought to the conference was my love for Disney. I believe each and every one of the invited attendees has a love for Disney that’s unique and special. My own love for Disney stems from my childhood. I grew up in Southern California and our family was fortunate enough to live very close to Disneyland. (It was just Disneyland back then, not Disneyland Resort) As a child, I got to visit the park about once a year, usually during summertime. Visiting Disneyland with my family, as a little girl, is one of those childhood memories I can still actually recall vividly.

My love for Disney has grown by leaps and bounds as I’ve grown up. (Confession: I’ve actually never grown up though) I’m a proud Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder and visit the parks as frequently as I can. As a mom, I’ve had the opportunity to create special Disney memories with my own daughter. My love for Disney also carries over into many other aspects of my life too. I try to live life in “a Disney way”, which is something other lovers of Disney can fully understand. To be in an entire ballroom filled with other Disney-loving moms (and a dad) was an amazing experience.

Optimism was a very important thing to bring with me as well! It’s beyond important to come to a conference with an optimistic attitude. I consider myself a “Glass Half-Full Kind of Girl” and always try my best to see a positive side in every situation. Each conference is an new opportunity to connect with other influencers and often times, brands. If you walk in with a positive attitude and are full of optimism, it’ll draw people towards you and they’ll to want to get to know you. It’s also something that will make brands want to work with you. I’m always optimistic that something good is going to happen. Remember, “If you can dream it, you can do it!” Stay optimistic!

I’ve saved the best for last. I think courage and confidence are the most vital things you can bring to a conference! I am speaking from experience and as someone who has had “conference regrets” in the past for not bringing these with me! As I entered the convention center at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and started to walk down the long hallway, it felt as if my breath had literally been stolen away. (in a good way) Hanging from the boughs were these amazing and enormous banners! It was surreal. I had mixed emotions at the moment before I entered the room for registration. On one hand I felt like royalty, on the other hand, doubt started to set in and I began to second guess myself. You can’t do that! You CAN’T doubt yourself! This is where courage comes into play!

If this starts to happen to you, just do what I did….I gave myself a pep talk (inside of my head of course). I told myself that I needed to remember my courage! I needed to have courage and confidence because I was there for a reason! I needed to have courage to approach people and make those connections that I’d come all this way to make. I needed to have courage and confidence in myself when others would ask me about what it is that drives the passion behind my own blogging. It’s important to remember that you are worth something! You are just as good as anyone else at the conference! If you think for one moment that you aren’t as good as some of the “bigger bloggers” who may also be at the same conference as you, just remember, they were once just like you! Honestly, if you approach most of those women, you’ll find that they aren’t as intimidating as you envision. I’ve become friends with many of the “bigger bloggers” and I can say they are some of the kindest, most uplifiting women in social media and, often times, will even help you out.

I packed all 4 of these intangible things into my suitcase and took them with me to The 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I walked into that conference with all that I needed and I did my best! What’s most important to remember is why you came and what you hope to achieve. As you can see, I took a leap of faith (or should I say a jump of faith). Believe in yourself and don’t ever lose your courage or confidence!

Los Arboles Hotel in Palm Springs: The Perfect Desert Retreat for a Relaxing Weekend!

March 26, 2015 / California, Travel

I am fortunate to live in Southern California for so many reasons, one of which is the beautiful weather. When the temperatures get down into the 50s and 60s, we also have the convenience of packing our stuff up in the car and heading out the to the beautiful Palm Springs area. Just east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs almost always promises its visitors warm desert weather.

I recently took a “Mommy & Me” girls weekend away with my daughter to Palm Springs. I found the most adorable bed and breakfast-style property online called Los Arboles Hotel. The site described the hotel as “rich in old California hospitality traditions and boasting a selection of amenities unmatched for a 21 room boutique hotel. Los Arboles is a desert retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life“, which is exactly what I was looking for. It’s located in the historical Palm Springs Movie Colony District and is within walking distance to Palm Canyon Drive, which offers a variety of shopping and dining.

I honestly fell in love with the property within minutes of parking in the lot. With the front office situated very close to the parking lot, it took practically no time for us to get checked in and shown to our room. Our room was actually a Junior Suite.

The landscaping around the property is kept very well-manicured and features many types of desert plants and cactus. I could smell the rosemary that was growing on the property, each time we stepped outside of our room. It was so fragrant!

The Los Arboles Hotel is a very quaint property with 21 guest rooms. Most of the rooms are situated either (outside a gate) around the perimeter of the pool area or very close to it.

Some of the rooms have their own hammock in the front patio. We had a swing and a hammock, which was where my daughter spent a lot of time relaxing.

The hammock outside of our room was one of her favorite places to hang out over our girls’ weekend!

Here’s a short video of her in the swing outside our room. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get her out of it!

We were so pleased with our room, The El Mirasol Junior Suite! How adorable is our room key?

I loved the cool tile floors and the tiled detailing around the room. Our bed was made up so beautifully and there were so many great amenities in our room. We had an iron and ironing board, an armoire to hang up our clothes and store our things, a bench to sit on, a modern bathroom with a separate vanity and bathing area, and even an in-room sauna! The free Wi-Fi was also convenient.

Since we had the Junior Suite, our room also included a 2nd room attached with its own living room and a pull-out sofa and a separate bathroom with closet area. Both of the rooms in the suite had good-sized flat screen TVs too! We relaxed comfortably inside in the air conditioning!

The Los Arboles Hotel has an on-site restaurant called “El Mirasol at Los Arboles“, which is one of two Palm Springs locations. It promises artfully prepared Mexican regional cuisine and flavorful margaritas! It’s an especially popular place on Friday and Saturday nights and draws quite a crowd!

I enjoyed myself immensely during my visit to Los Arboles Hotel. In fact, I’m looking forward to returning to stay there again sometime in the near future. If you’re looking for a wonderful experience like I had, you’ll want to consider staying at Los Arboles Hotel in Palm Springs! When’s the last time YOU got away from the hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life?

Connect with Los Arboles on Facebook and Instagram!