Mommy Octopus

Guest post by my friend Tanya

It is that time of year again! Time to pull out those pumpkin recipes and the scarecrows…and of course carve a bewitching pumpkin! This is something our family looks forward to every year and this year my son is finally old enough to pick out a pattern that he wants!! There are tons of FREE, spooktacular patterns to choose from, anywhere between beginners, kid-friendly, to more difficult pumpkins!

Below is a list of my lucky 13 favorite sites that gave us plenty of inspiration, including the SpiderMan pattern my son HAS to have!

First off, Better Homes and Gardens created a step by step of beginner basics. This site shows you all the tools you will need to do a beginner pumpkin up to tackling that more complex pumpkin! Be sure to browse their website for plenty of FREE templates and ideas.

• Reader’s Digest-this site offers 27 free stencils that are more on a beginner level.
• Pumpkin Pile – This site has EVERYTHING, hundreds of ideas including: classics, sports, superheroes (here is my little guy’s SpiderMan), animals and even celebrities and more!
• Martha Stewart-everyone knows this is the go-to lady for all of your decorating needs—she provides 46 templates and directions and tools needed to complete that pattern.
• Disney-for all my Disney lovers
• Nick Jr-this site literally has all of your Nick Jr. favorites, Dora, Umizoomy, The Backyardigans, Yo Gabba Gabba and much much more!! My son got a little excited when he saw this site!
• Beginners-here are 8 stencils for easy for the beginner or kid (supervision advised)
• Complex Pumpkins-for those experts or brave souls, this site has some pretty difficult ones to try out! (they also have a few easier ones to try)
• 100 free-this site offers 100 free stencils…some seem a little complex but different from other sites!
• Kid friendly-here are some kid friendly stencils…these are some really cute ones to do as a family
• HERSHEY’S-now you can have your chocolate and eat it too!
• 10 Midwest stencils-this has some of your, Midwest needs, lighthouse, barn, maple leaf, deer, etc.
• 28 Cat stencils-for all my cat lovers
• 26 Dog stencils-I did not forget the dog lovers…this site has stencils for your favorite dog breed. And if you are a pit-bull rescuer there is one for you too

For my pumpkin this year, I will be trying the drilling idea…you can create some BOO’tiful designs by drilling holes into the pumpkin, below is an example of what I want!
 

Every-batty have a fang-tastic time and don’t forget, there is no such thing as too much candy!

 

This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.   Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

We discussed Disney cupcakes on both the Top 10 Walt Disney World Snacks list and the Top 10 Walt Disney World Desserts list, so it’s only natural that we needed a Top 10 Walt Disney World cupcakes list too, right? Seriously, cupcakes are something that Disney does well! One thing to note, Disney cupcakes are huge! Plan on sharing!

1. Butterfinger Cupcake: I honestly have yet to meet someone who said that they do not like this cupcake. This deliciousness consists of chocolate cake, vanilla frosting, chocolate shell coating, and real Butterfinger crumbles. The Butterfinger Cupcake can be found at Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
2. The King Cupcake: A tribute to Elvis Presley, this cupcake features all of the flavors from The King’s favorite sandwich: a chocolate cupcake with banana custard filling and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate drizzle, and candied bacon. Yep, you read that correctly, candied bacon. The King Cupcake can be found at Everything Pop food court at Pop Century.
3. Zebra Cupcake: This goodie features a vanilla cake piled high with sweet buttercream frosting and white and dark chocolate striped shavings. The Zebra Cupcake can be found at Kusafiri Bakery at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
4. Red Velvet Cupcake: There is something about taking a plain chocolate cupcake and adding red food coloring that makes it extra delicious. Add a cheesecake center, and you have absolute heaven. Red sugar crystals are also incorporated into the vanilla frosting, and there’s a border of red sprinkles around the edge. The Red Velvet Cupcake can be found at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
5. Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake: A yellow vanilla cake thick, rich cookies and cream filling topped with vanilla frosting. A ribbon of Oreo crumbs coats the bottom of the frosting, and two little Oreos make a Mickey Mouse out of the whole thing. The Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake can be found at the Boardwalk Bakery at Disney’s Boardwalk.
6. S’mores Cupcake: A chocolate cake base is filled with chocolate chunk filling, topped with a vanilla buttercream and marshmallow frosting, dusted with graham cracker crumbs, and topped with a few toasted marshmallows. The S’mores cupcake can be found at Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
7. Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcake: A moist chocolate cake topped with coffee flavored frosting and crumbled toffee and chocolate bits. This cupcake is a must for any coffee fan. The Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcake can be found at the Boardwalk Bakery at Disney’s Boardwalk.
8. Carrot Cake Cupcake: A moist carrot cake topped with sweet can creamy cream cheese frosting, a true treat for any carrot cake fan! The Carrot Cake Cupcake can be found at Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
9. Pineapple Coconut Cupcake: Pineapple Upside Down Cake fans will love this cupcake! A vanilla cupcake with pineapple bits topped with a pineapple buttercream frosting and toasted coconut. The Pineapple Coconut Cupcake can be found at Sunshine Seasons at Epcot.
10. Triple Chocolate Cupcake: A chocolate sponge cake with a chocolate mousse filling and topped with chocolate ganache. This dessert is very rich, but a must for any chocoholic. The Triple Chocolate Cupcake can be found at Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom.

What are your favorite Disney cupcakes?

Well we like to keep things lively around here.  Yesterday I got a phone call that my mom was on her way to urgent care.  She had gotten tripped up walking her dog and took a great fall.  She ended up fracturing her right wrist and her left elbow, took a shiner to her eye, and lots of scrapes and scratches.  Needless to say, she needs all the king’s horses and all the king’s men to put her back together again.

So the kids and I are going to be helping out Grandma some since everyday things such as teeth brushing, cooking, and walking the dog will be a little more difficult to do.  She is scheduled to see a surgeon on Monday and then we will see if she needs surgery.  Prayers for little pain and a quick recovery would be appreciated!

 

Below is another article by my friend Alexia.  If you are planning on taking a Disney vacation or just want to dream, contact her for some awesome rates and maybe a few little pixie dust surprises along the way.  There are also some current great free Disney dining deals that she can hook you up with!  They are ending SOON!  P.S – My favorite things to do at Downtown Disney are Rainforest or T-Rex Cafe.  We also really love Wolfgang Puck!  The LEGO store is absolutely amazing!  You can fill a cup of legos for a set price.  That’s a ton of fun!

As much as I love the Disney theme parks, sometimes you need a break from them.  Downtown Disney is a waterfront property divided into three sections:  Downtown Disney Westside, Downtown Disney Marketplace, and Pleasure Island.  Parking and admission is free.  Here is an overview of the three sections:

Downtown Disney Westside:  

Things to do:  Disney Quest (an indoor interactive theme park where price varies between $33 to $46 per person), Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba (price varies between $60 to $134 per person), Splitsville Bowling Alley (price varies between $15 to $20 per person), Characters in Flight Hot Air Balloon Ride (price varies between $12 to $18 per person), and AMC Downtown Disney 24 movie theater (price varies between $6 to $13 per person).

Where to shop:  Blink by Wet Seal, Candy Cauldron, Cirque du Soleil Boutique, Curl by Sammy Duvall, D Street, Disney Quest Emporium, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, House of Blues Company Store, Hoypoloi, Pop Gallery, Something Silver, Sosa Family Cigars, and Sunglass Icon by Sunglass Hut

Where to eat:

• Quick Service: Bongo’s Cuban Café Window, FoodQuest and Wolfgang Puck Express – West Side
• Table Service:  Bongo’s Cuban Café, Crossroads at House of Blues, Splitsville, Planet Hollywood, and Wolfgang Puck Grand Café (first floor only)

Downtown Disney Marketplace:

Things to do:  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (Price varies between $55 to $190 per child.  Side note:  This location also has a Sofia the First package available for $65 that is currently not available at the Magic Kingdom location), Boat Rentals, and Classic Carousel

Where to shop:  Disney’s Days of Christmas, Disney Design-A-Tee, Disney’s Pin Traders, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, Goofy’s Candy Company, Lefty’s, LEGO Imagination Center (Side note: Do not miss this LEGO store!  The Disney LEGO statues are amazing!), little miss matched, Marketplace Fun Finds, Mickey’s Pantry, Once Upon a Toy Store, Rainforest Cafe Shop, RIDEMAKERZ, Team Mickey Athletic Club, Tren-D, Wonderful World of Memories, World of Disney (the world’s largest Disney store), and World of Disney KIDS

Where to eat:

• Quick Service:  Marketplace Snacks, Pollo Campero, Wolfgang Puck Express Marketplace, and Earl of Sandwich
• Table Service:  Rainforest Café

Pleasure Island:

Things to do:  Several bands perform at multiple locations on Pleasure Island.  Guests can now pick up a Times Guide to see which bands are performing and where.  You can also take your picture with one of several human statues, located on Pleasure Island at the West End Plaza.

Where to shop:  Fuego by Sosa Cigars

Where to eat:

• Quick Service:  Cookes of Dublin
• Table Service:  Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, T-Rex Cafe, Portobello, and Paradiso 37 (Fulton’s Crab House is also a table service restaurant; however, it counts as two credits per person)

A few additional notes:  Downtown Disney becomes very crowded at night, especially after the parks close.  It is best to visit during the day or early evening.  Downtown Disney is also in the process of becoming Disney Springs.  Disney Springs will expand from 75 to more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues, featuring some of the world’s most iconic brands and restaurants.  Disney Springs will be divided into three neighborhoods: The Landing, Marketplace and West Side.  There will also be a Town Center.  The Town Center will offer a sophisticated mix of shopping and dining along with a promenade where guests can relax, refresh and reconnect.  The Landing will be a colorful and thriving commercial district with inspired dining and beautiful waterfront views.  The Marketplace will continue to be family-friendly and delight guests of all ages by combining new experiences, such as an over-the-water pedestrian causeway, along with classic Disney favorites, including an expanded World of Disney store.  The West Side will provide an exuberant atmosphere with lively entertainment, along with a series of new elevated spaces that provide both shade and an overlook to the activity below.  Each neighborhood will open in phases and is expected to be completed in 2016.  Please keep in mind that certain restaurants, stores, and attractions may be closed due to renovation.  I have left out all currently closed restaurants, stores, and attractions from this list; however, renovations are always subject to change.

What are your favorites at Downtown Disney?  Are you looking forward to Disney Springs?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  

Last weekend, we were invited by Funopolis to bring the family and give them a try.  We were happy to check it out!  Having kids ranging from 2-10, I was eager to see if we could keep everyone entertained.

It definitely was worth the trip.  While the big kids rode the Tornado, the littles were able to ride the pirate ship.  While the bigs were in doing laser tag, the littles could jump in the bouncy houses.  There was plenty for everyone to do.  And everyone had fun, including myself.

Funopolis Family Fun center offers an arcade, bumper boats, bumper cars, rock wall, go karts, inflatables, laser tag, max flight, mini bowling, mini golf, mini carousel, pirate ship, roller racers, spider zone, water wars, and tornado.   We had an absolute blast and can’t wait to go back!

I was very pleased at how friendly and well trained their employees were.  We have visited other similar fun places this summer and none of them could compare with Funopolis as far as their employees.  Anytime there wasn’t someone at an attraction, they would immediately call for someone to come let us on the ride.  It was a great experience!

To make it affordable, be sure and checkout the little gray coupon books that you find around town.  Currently in this month’s, there is a buy one get one free wristband coupon.  This worked out great since the kids were able to ride everything they wanted to ride.  The only problem?  Time flies when you’re having fun!! 🙂

For the most value, I’d recommend getting the wristbands and then if the kids want to play in the arcade, getting a play card.  Really, you could do a ton of playing with just the wristbands.

For deals and offers, also check out their coupon page.

 

I was just reading this article about Tooth Fairy Inflation.  I was quite shocked at how much people are paying per tooth now.  Average of $4??? As much as $20?  Wow!

When I was growing up, I remember receiving $.25.  And one time when the tooth fairy didn’t have a quarter left for me, I got $1.  I do remember friends getting higher amounts and I always thought it was strange.  But then again Santa always brought different things as well.

With my children, the tooth fairy skips our house, but my hubby and I pay $1 per tooth and the kids are happy with that.

What is the standard rate at your house?  Is $4 the norm?

This week we celebrated the fact that it had been 13 years since our first date and he brought me a sweet rose.  I still remember the dorky guy that I worked with that got up the courage to ask me out.  And I still am madly in love.  He is still my dork but I couldn’t be happier.