We can all use a few more hands
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.
I hate being that person that always brings the cheese and cracker platter to a party (come on, we all have done it)! But you don’t have to be! Here are some ideas that are sure to get you invited to all the parties and is as easy as arranging all the cheese and cracker assortments onto a platter.
DIPS and SPREADS
FINGER FOODS
CROCK POT SNACKS
What are your favorite quick and easy party snack ideas?
My son has been struggling with getting the letters b and d confused while he’s learning to read and write. I googled and didn’t come up with any worksheets that he wouldn’t have completed in less than a minute. I wanted some smaller print where he’d actually have to decipher it as he would in a book. The giant letters just weren’t cutting it.
I put together this worksheet for him to work on this morning and it has definitely helped him to slow down and think about which is which. I decided to offer it up for free for my readers!
To get it, simply click for the word document: b Or d Differential Worksheet
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. P.S – My favorite quick service is Wolfgang Puck at Downtown Disney YUM!
Over the past two weeks we discussed the top ten character meals and the top ten non-character table service meals. Today we will discuss the top ten quick service meals. Because these restaurants do not accept reservations, most people just eat at whichever restaurant is close by when they are hungry. If you are like me though and like to try new restaurants and plan ahead, here are my top ten quick service meals at Walt Disney World:
1. Be Our Guest: This restaurant is unique in that it is quick service for lunch and table service for dinner. If you are not lucky enough to get a dinner reservation, why not try the lunch menu? Located in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom, guests order with a touch-screen terminal and food magically appears at their table. Menu includes choices such as fresh tuna Niçoise salad, béchamel-smothered croque-monsieur sandwich, turkey baguette, vegetable quiche, 8-hour-braised pork, Mickey meatloaf, whole-grain macaroni and more. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
2. Capt. Cook’s: Located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Capt. Cook’s is home to Tonga Toast for breakfast, and self-serve Dole Whip with lunch and dinner. Other menu items include sandwiches, burgers, salads, stir-fries, flatbreads, sushi and grab ’n’ go items. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
3. Casey’s Corner: American baseball favorites such as hot dogs, nachos, corn dog nuggets, French fries, cotton candy and Cracker Jack located on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. Casey’s is famous for its hot dogs, which do not disappoint. Throughout the day, a ragtime pianist will entertain Casey’s guests from the bright white piano outside the restaurant. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
4. Columbia Harbour House: In a quiet corner of the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square, the Columbia Harbour House sets the scene for traditional Americana in a colonial village. Fan favorites include fried fish, shrimp or chicken baskets, lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, grilled salmon, vegetarian chili and salads. Specialty sandwiches include the Anchors Aweigh, made with white tuna, and the Lighthouse, made with hummus and broccoli slaw. Kids can enjoy macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and more. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
5. Contempo Café: Just a monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom, Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is most famous for its cupcakes. Hot breakfasts, bakery items, fresh salads, hot and cold sandwiches, flatbreads and pasta entrées are also served. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
6. Earl of Sandwich: If you are looking for a quick bite at Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich is always a crowd pleaser. Try the signature roast beef sandwich on hearth-baked bread or any of number of hot or cold gourmet sandwiches. Soups, salads, wraps and desserts are also served. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
7. Flame Tree Barbecue: Chicken, St. Louis ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, all served with beans and coleslaw at the signature dishes at Flame Tree Barbecue located in Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
8. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café: Another fan favorite located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. Selections include barbecue pork sandwiches, Angus burgers, taco salad, chili and more. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
9. Studio Catering Co.: Located on the Streets of America in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Studio Catering Co. is a surprising family favorite. We were expecting the food to be okay, but it was actually amazing! Try the pressed Tuscan deli or the Buffalo chicken sandwich. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
10. Sunshine Seasons: Believe it or not, the best quick service restaurant in Epcot is actually located in Future World, not the World Showcase. Most of the food is grown in The Land’s greenhouses. Food doesn’t get fresher than that! Choose from stations featuring Asian fare, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and wood-fired entrées. Try the ginger Mongolian beef or the grilled salmon. Price is $14.99 and under per adult or one quick service credit.
What are your favorite quick service meals at Walt Disney World?
It’s time to start buckling down and working hard. This year I have a 5th Grader, 1st Grader, Pre-K, and a wild 2 year old. Honestly I wasn’t planning to start until September but the kids were getting tired of the heat and mosquitoes so we went ahead and started. I’d rather take more breaks through the school year anyways!
What grades are your kids in this year? Have you started school yet?
My 2 year old’s shirt says it all!
Do you have a Wordless Wednesday post? Link up!
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. P.S – My favorite table service is The Wave at the Contemporary! YUM!
Last week we discussed the top ten character meals at Walt Disney World. This week we will go over the top ten table service (non-character) meals.
Be Our Guest: Located in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest is Disney’s newest (and most difficult to book reservations for) restaurant. Be Our Guest is French themed food and seats up to 550 guests in three different dining areas: the west wing, the library, or the grand ballroom. Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
50’s Prime Time Café: American comfort food graces the menu at this retro 50’s kitchen themed restaurant located near Echo Lake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Be sure to mind your manner and eat all your veggies because these servers have sass! Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
Coral Reef: This seafood restaurant Future World of Epcot gives guests a view into The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium. See sharks, turtles and stingrays, plus over 85 species of tropical fish, swimming in the living coral reef that surrounds this gourmet restaurant. Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
Jiko: The Cooking Place: Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge this signature dining experience features a delicious blend of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. Watch chefs prepare appetizers in the open show kitchen. Price varies between $30 to $60 per adult or two table service credits per person.
Le Cellier: Savor tender steaks, fresh seafood, cheesy poutine fries and more regional cuisine inspired by the provinces of Canada. Located in the Canada pavilion of Epcot, signature dishes of Le Cellier include the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup and the “Le Cellier” Mushroom Filet Mignon. Price varies between $30 to $60 per adult or two table service credits per person.
Liberty Tree Tavern: Located in Liberty Square of the Magic Kingdom, guests can celebrate our heritage with hearty all-American eats and a traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner. Guest can dine in one of 6 rooms that commemorate a pivotal figure in U.S. history: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Paul Jones, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, and George Washington. Price varies between $30 to $60 per adult or one table service credit per person.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant: Do dinner and a movie retro-style at this eatery done up like a ’50s drive-in, with all-American cuisine to match. You can even watch campy clips as you picnic under the stars in a classic car-shaped booth or table at this unique restaurant located on Commissary Lane in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
Yak & Yeti: At the base of Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, decorated with the souvenirs collected by the proprietor and his family on their travels through Southeast Asia, Yak & Yeti Restaurant serves favorite dishes from regions across Asia. Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
Narcoossee’s: This is a signature dining experience located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Narcoossee’s serves a spectacular, innovative selection of fresh seafood from both local waters and around the globe, including the popular whole-steamed Maine lobster. Guests can also view the Magic Kingdom fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant from the waterfront verandah. Price varies between $30 to $60 per adult or two table service credits per person.
Rose & Crown Pub: This family-friendly British pub located in the United Kingdom pavilion of Epcot features traditional favorites, waterfront dining and lively evening entertainment. Delight in such specialties as fish and chips, bangers and mash, vegetable curry and cottage pie. Price varies between $15 to $30 per adult or one table service credit per person.
What are your favorite non-character table service restaurants at Walt Disney World?
Guest Post by Tanya…
My cousin plants a garden every year and every year without fail she is left with an abundance of…something! This year…CUCUMBERS! “What am I going to do with all of these cucumbers?” Like any good cousin, I started researching what she could do with these things…and I found several ways to use up a perfectly good cucumber…or more like cucumberS!
Of course, there is pickling!
My ultimate favorite thing in the world…
Few people know you can also cook cucumbers!
There are an array of salads that can be made with cucumbers…here is a great site that gives tons of healthy ideas!
Stuffed!!! Let’s face it…anything stuffed with well…stuff is amazing!
Here is a great site with tons of stuff to stuff the stuffing out of a cucumber! (Say that three times!)
And then to wash to wash all that down make a refreshing cucumber drink…watermelon is a great pair with cucumbers (be light on the cucumber though, it has a very strong test!) and if you need a nice adult beverage after all of those creations…feel free to add your favorite spirit!
If my cousin doesn’t appreciate the cucumber after all of this, she may not want to plant so many cucumbers next year! But, I think after trying some of these delicious uses, she may plant even more!
Last weekend was a fun weekend for us, celebrating my oldest child’s 10th birthday. It was also very frightening.
We had a cookout and invited friends over. We enjoyed food on the grill, roasted marshmallows, and had a great time together. Many of the kids started bug/creature hunting. The kids had found some fun bugs, lizards and even a few garter snakes. They were having a blast being kids and exploring nature. Unfortunately, this changed very fast. One of the children found a copperhead and was bitten. Copperhead snakes are poisonous.
I found the following instructions from the Mayo Clinic on what to do in this emergency situation.
If a snake bites you
Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention, especially if the area changes color, begins to swell or is painful.
Another thing to remember is that even if the snake is caught and killed, it can still move AND can still bite. This probably freaked me out the most of the whole ordeal. This video I posted below from YouTube proves that :
NOTE: This is NOT my video. A friend sent it to me after the ordeal to show the dangers of even a dead snake.
My daughter’s friend was rushed to the hospital. We decided to not wait for an ambulance since where our house is, it would probably take 20 precious minutes at least for help to arrive. At the hospital in Athens, they are unable to treat snake bite victims so he was sent on to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. He received the 4 vials of anti-venom and really did much better than any of us expected and he came home the next evening. We praise God for his quick healing.
How to Prevent a Snake Bite:
Hope this post helps you be prepared and hopefully you will never find yourself in that situation. It was very frightening for all involved.
I’ve just been given the opportunity to review the Make A Plate Art Project and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you. If you want to follow along, my readers save 30% on their Prepaid Art Plate Kit (that’s a savings of over $5!) – USE PROMO CODE: USFAMILY at Makit.com.
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