The Hair Jeanie

Update

2019-10-22T11:48:00.001-04:00

Hi my wonderful readers! I have been MIA due to some serious health issues and the passing of my father-in-law, but I wanted to check in and let you know that I am back! I look forward to bringing you some awesome travel review blogs, RV DIYs (as we recently purchased our first travel trailer), camping hacks, and of course hair and makeup blogs! Thanks for your patience and support! See ya soon!

Consolidated Gold Mine of Dahlonega, Ga

2018-04-30T14:27:00.002-04:00

On our latest family adventure we traveled to Helen, Ga and the surrounding areas for some hiking, rest, and relaxation. During my research of the area and some fun things to do, I stumbled across Consolidated Gold Mine located in Dahlonega, Ga. My 7 year old has a fascination for all things gems, rocks, and just about anything found underground, so I knew this would be perfect for him, but I never could have anticipated the joy all of us got from this adventure! In our group were all ages, ranging from 61 down to my 7 year old, and there were definitely fun things for each of us to do. When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful location and surroundings. My son and 9 year old daughter were immediately ready to start mining! When you arrive you let them know what all you will be participating in, they offer guided mine tours, panning for gold and gemstones. We decided to do the mine tour, which includes a sample pan of dirt to mine for gold which you get to keep, and the gemstone mining.

First up was the panning for gold. When you purchase a mine tour you receive a sample pan of dirt to pan for gold. There is a short video to watch to help you figure out the best technique to find the gold flakes in your pan. After that, you get to try your hand at panning for gold! We had a blast doing this, and even though you will only get about 2-3 gold flakes at the end of your panning, they give you your flakes in a little vile of water to keep, and my kids, and their grandma, loved this part!

Next up was the mine tour. It is started out by a 7 minute video about the mine's history. I liked this part because it also helps to get your eyes adjusted to less light since you will be going down into a dimly lit mine. I will say that my mother who has mobility issues did decide to sit this part of the day out since there are some stairs and a slippery slope down into the mine. Even though she didn't do this part of the tour, she was busy and entertained in the jewelry and gemstone cutting area of the gift shop! Once down in the mine, you will be in awe at the views, history and even some tools left down in the mine! My son was truly in his element! Our tour guide CJ was great at keeping us all entertained and laughing the whole way through! I do suffer slightly from claustrophobia, and had a few moments where I thought maybe I should turn back, but honestly, CJ kept my mind off of it with his witty banter and tunes he sang through the mine.

Next, and the last activity, was the gemstone mining. We were given the Super Gem Bucket for our family of 6, and it was jam packed with awesome gemstones, some valuable and some just awesome rocks! I will say, this was the part that the whole family enjoyed the most. Sifting through this 5 gallon bucket full of dirt to find treasures was a lot of fun. At the end, each person gets to take their bag of gems and rocks to find out which of them are valuable and which are just "cool rocks." There were quite a few valuable gems found throughout our group, the best being my father's find of a pretty large Sapphire! When you are finished, you can choose to have one, or all of your gems cut and polished and put into beautiful jewelry right there in the shop. They did tell us that they have a couple day turn around so if you wont be in the area long, they can ship it back to you. We didn't take advantage of this service this time, but it is such a neat way to turn your treasure into something you can treasure forever!

Overall, this was a unique, interesting, and downright fun way for our whole family to spend an afternoon!!The kids are already asking when we get to go back!

Although I received a discount rate for the tour and the Super Bucket for free, all of the opinions and this review are 100% honest! We had a great time and cannot wait to return!

Maxi Dress Try On and Review- Amazon and Pinkblush

2018-02-14T10:29:00.000-05:00

I had fun trying on and showing some of the maxi dresses I have been loving lately. I show you some of the ones I purchased on Amazon, as well as some I received from Pinkblush. Enjoy!

Boutique 511 Goody-Bag

2018-02-14T10:23:00.001-05:00

Have you seen my Boutique 511 goody bag unboxing video?

ShopPinkBlush Maxi Dress Review

2017-08-24T11:31:00.001-04:00

This is my sister rocking her ShopPinkBlush.com maxi dress! We love their dresses because not only are they super comfortable and wrinkle free, but they also look good on different body types. I have reviewed 2 maxi dresses from ShopPinkBlush.com already, click here to read my review, and I wanted to show you one of their dresses on a different body type. My sister is about 5' 4" and as you can see in this picture, even in heels, it is grazing the floor. Be aware of the sizing and length on their site, because even at my height of 5' 9" some have grazed the floor for me as well. She said that even though this is long, it is one of her favorite dresses! The belt really helps emphasize the natural waist and gives definition to the smallest part. These dresses are great to look "put together" with very little to no effort. They wear easily and the lightweight, but still nice quality material make them a dream for busy ladies! We both are very different in our styles and body types, but have found that these dresses are some of our favorite cuts and styles. They have a wide variety of prints, so you are sure to find the right style for you. There are also some shorter versions and some short sleeved options as well.

Although these dresses were sent to us for review, the opinions are all our own HONEST thoughts!

Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm and Davy Crockett Mini Golf Gatlinburg, Tennessee

2017-07-13T14:47:00.003-04:00

Our next two stops on our family adventure were something the kids had been asking to do since we passed them on our way into Gatlinburg, the Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm and Davy Crockett Mini Golf attractions!! If you missed my review of the Aquarium of the Smokies click here, and the Guinness World Records and 5D Moving Theater click here! Let us check out Old MacDonald's Farm first!

The website says:

With 54 holes of “down on the farm” family fun, this mini-golf course features animated barnyard characters, water features, and interactive elements at every turn. We’re just outside of Gatlinburg, in nearby Sevierville.

The kids enjoyed all of the fun animals all around the course! You can choose what level of course you want to do, and even the easiest has some difficult holes. We had such a blast keeping score and having a friendly competition.

They also have an arcade for when it gets too hot, score!! :)

On a separate day we decided to visit the Davy Crockett Mini Golf course. This was the one we noticed on our arrival into Gatlinburg.

The website says:

With the Great Smoky Mountains as the backdrop, this fun-themed course replicates the “old days” when a Tennessee hero named Davy Crockett roamed “them thar hills”. Family and friends will enjoy spending a day with Ripley’s.

We enjoyed all of the animals and characters all throughout the course. As with the Old MacDonald's course, you can choose which course you take, and even the easiest has challenging holes. This was a fun experience as a family! Be sure to wear your sunscreen, I nursed a minor sunburn after not realizing I hadn't slathered myself before! The hubby and kids wore some and were just fine!

These both were your typical Mini Golf experiences, just with fun Farm and Country themes!

Oh, and they both offered free games if you made it into the right hole on the last hole. My hubby actually won a free game! Both kids agreed that the Davy Crockett course was their favorite.

Although I received tickets in exchange for a review, all of the opinions and experiences are true and all mine! :)

Guinness World Records Adventure and Ripley's Moving Theater 5D Gatlinburg Tennessee Review

2017-07-13T13:57:00.001-04:00

Our next stop on our fun family trip was the Guinness World Records Adventure in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! If you haven't seen the review of the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, click here! My kids were so excited to try and attempt to break some records! They are open 365 days a year and have 100's of exhibits as well as over 20 interactive games and challenges. This was a fun way to burn off some extra energy for the kids, and my husband and I really enjoyed competing with each other on some of the games! In the beginning you create an avatar and it is linked to a special bracelet you wear and scan at each of the games and exhibits. Ours did not always work, but when it did it kept track of our record and score.

Here are some of our family's favorites:

My 8 year old daughter loved the Most Hula Hoops.

My 7 year old son loved the Lumberjack challenge and PacMan.

My husband and I enjoyed some of the "old school" challenges like the football "kick." And we both loved the PacMan as well.

I don't think this attraction would take a full day, an hour or 2 at the most, but we all loved getting out of the heat and getting some energy out! And as a mom to 2 rambunctious kids, that was a great bonus!! :)

Because it only took us about an hour and a half to go through this attraction, we decided to visit the Ripleys Moving Theater 5D the same day.

We watched two short movies, lasting about 4-7 minutes each, in moving seats. It was like one of those ride simulators where you get strapped in and the seats move. The movies were a Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote film, which was very jerky and both kids agreed it was not their favorite, and an Angry Birds film which the whole family enjoyed. The Angry Birds film and ride were way smoother and the kids enjoyed the "story" a lot more. It was a fun and quick break from walking in the heat in Gatlinburg. :)

Although I received tickets in exchange for a review, all of the thoughts and opinions are all my own and completely true!!

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Attractions Review

2017-07-13T13:26:00.000-04:00

My husband, 2 children, and I all went on an amazing vacation a few months ago to North Carolina and Tennessee. As a family who normally vacations in Orlando/DisneyWorld, we wanted to do something a little different this year. Not that there is anything wrong with DisneyWorld, we just wanted a different type of adventure this time! And boy did we get it!! We decided to do nature trails and state parks, and they did not disappoint, we even got to see a momma bear with her two baby bears foraging for food, something you do NOT get to see where we live in Florida! Along with the nature trails we wanted to do some things the kids would enjoy, so when we got the chance to work with Ripley's Attractions Tennessee we decided to visit the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies as well as some of their other attractions. I will break each one down for you in separate posts and let you know what we all thought, including my 8 and 7 year old!

First stop: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

This aquarium is such a fun break from the heat! There was so much to do inside, some included in your ticket and some you had to purchase separately. One of those things was the Glass Bottom Boat ride which takes you over the Shark Lagoon. We opted not to do this, but here is a look at a picture I snapped of it.

One of the things my kids loved was the Create a Jelly kiosk next to the Touch a Jellyfish area. They were too timid to touch one, but enjoyed creating their own digital one!

They did work up the courage to touch the Horseshoe Crabs and loved it!

Another favorite was the Penguin Play area. You are able to get up close to see them, and even go through a glass tunnel and poke your head up through the actual exhibit so that you feel like you are right in there with them! There is also a little penguin nursery area which was neat to see.

Along with all of the extras, even a giant playground, there are tons of amazing tanks with different sea creatures! Even a Shark Lagoon that gets you up close to these majestic and kind of terrifying creatures!!

There was also a snack bar as well as a gift shop, which had quite reasonably priced items!

Overall this was a great way to see some beautiful creatures and keep everyone in our family entertained and happy!

Although I received tickets in exchange for a review, all of the thoughts and opinions are all my own and completely true!!

ShopPinkBlush.com Maxi Dresses Review

2017-07-13T12:11:00.000-04:00

I had a very special convention over the weekend, and I wanted to look stylish, pulled together, and still be comfortable. So, when I had the opportunity to work with ShopPinkBlush.com I jumped at the chance! This trendy online boutique offers clothing for women of all shapes and sizes, as well as those expecting. As a plus sized women, it can often be hard to find a maxi dress that is flattering as well as long enough for my 5' 9" height. I decided to test out 2 of their maxi dresses to see if they would meet my basic needs, while still being stylish.

My first choice was this Pink Floral Draped Maxi Dress. I got it in an XL in the Women's section of the website. In the description it is described as a maternity dress, but I didn't realize this until after I got it. It could work as a maternity dress, but it definitely does not look like I was wearing one, like when the front is longer than back. I loved the length on this dress and how it cinched in around the smallest part of my waist. The fabric was soft and comfortable and wrinkle free, which was great since I would be sitting for a major portion of the day. The pink in this dress is so bright and vibrant, something that the website's picture didn't truly do justice to. I received many compliments on the day I wore this dress!

My next choice was this teal and dark blue short sleeved maxi. I got a large in this style because it seemed a little more flowy through the waist and not as snug as the pink maxi, and it worked perfectly for me. This dress was so comfortable! The material was a little heavier than the first dress, but it was still completely doable, even in this 90+ degree Florida heat! I opted for short sleeves on this one, and I love how flattering they are on my broad arms. I managed to stay cool, comfortable, and still look stylish. This dress also was wrinkle free! This dress was a tad longer than the other, but still perfect for me while wearing flat sandals, but if you are a little shorter than me you will probably have to wear some sort of heel of wedge with this one. I got a lot of compliments on this one too! I think the contrast of the bright teal flowers against the dark blue background was stunning!

Both of these dresses feel like great quality pieces that I know I will get tons of use out of! So there you have it, my opinion of the 2 maxi dresses I tried out from ShopPinkBlush.com! Although I was sent these dresses for review, all of the thoughts and opinions are 100% mine and true! I will be doing a maxi dress try on haul on my Youtube channel soon, so look out for that!

LEGOLAND Orlando Fun and Review

2017-04-06T12:47:00.000-04:00

As part of our "Family Anniversary" this year, we decided to take the kids to LEGOLAND. My 6 year old son is pretty much obsessed with all forms of Legos, so this was a no brainier. My 8 year old daughter likes them as well, so we knew this would be a hit. We stayed at the LegoLand Hotel the night previous to our park visit, keep an eye out for my complete review of the resort soon, so we were able to get in early to the park and walk directly from our room to the park entrance. The amount of Lego sculptures throughout the park is astounding, and my kids couldn't get enough! In fact, they asked for a picture next to almost every sculpture we passed, so be ready to take lots of pictures. Miniland USA was filled with cities and famous buildings made out of, you guessed it, Legos! They also had some pretty awesome Star Wars scenes and characters as well. This was a family favorite, as we are definitely Star Wars fans.

I was told by some people that the park is more geared towards little children, so I must admit that I was worried about my daughter and husband having a good time. This was NEVER an issue. Yes, there were some tamer rides for little ones, but we also enjoyed the more "wild" ones as well. The whole family's favorite ride was Mia's Riding Adventure, even my husband who is a die-hard roller coaster fan screamed on this ride!! I do see how some would say this park is more for little ones, but there is truly something for everyone in the family. They have coasters, carousels, and even a little jeep safari ride. There are different "Lands" set up throughout the park with different themes. This was fun and enjoyable to explore.

They have a water park area, but because we visited in November, it was closed. We were able to see the Pirate's Cove Live Water Ski Show, and it was fun! The kids loved the dancing Lego men, and all the ski tricks they were doing on the water. The show was silly and entertaining. Don't sit in the splash zone unless you want to get wet!!

We decided to eat at the park, as there isn't much around in the area outside the park, and it was pretty much what you would expect to pay at a theme park for food. It was good and kept us going. There is a lot of construction for things coming soon, so that is something to look forward to in the future. After going and experiencing the park first hand, I do believe we have a few more years to enjoy this park with our children. I don't see them loving it as much when they are teens, but we will definitely return soon so they can enjoy it now!

Although I was given tickets for my family in return for my HONEST review, I aim to always give my thoughts, both negative and positive, in every experience.

Pirate's Dinner Adventure Experience and Review (Orlando)

2017-04-06T12:14:00.002-04:00

My family, well my 6 year old son and 8 year old daughter that is, loves pirates! So, when the chance to see the show in Orlando came up, we were so excited. My husband and I were celebrating our 12 year wedding anniversary and due to ill family and friends not being able to help out with the kiddos, we decided to do a "family anniversary!" We surprised the kids with the news that we were going to the show the night before, and they couldn't have been more excited. When you drive up, you cannot miss the big pirate ship out in front, the kids spotted it immediately. This was a great place to take some photos! Along with some extra pirate details throughout the front of the building.

When we arrived we gave our reservation name and were given our color for our seating section. We were the green section. Once we entered the venue we were asked to take a photo, they provided pirate hats and posed us around a ship's wheel. The picture came out amazing, and we couldn't help but to purchase it at the end of the night. We took along our own pirate costumes, which is encouraged, and I did a little face painting at the hotel with makeup. I was not aware that this was actually an option at the venue, they had a face painting area in the main waiting area. Also in the main waiting area was a gift shop and bar.

You are encouraged to come at least 90 minutes early to the show, as seating is first come first served and there is pre-show entertainment and appetizers served. I will say we were disappointed in the appetizers, it was fried mac n cheese bites and fried mozzarella sticks, which were tasty. However, we were never approached with the appetizers in our area and had to run to flag down one of the servers to try one. By the time we reached one, there was only 1-2 left, so we all 4 split the two we managed to get.

The entertainment before the show was good, it set the story and mood for the rest of the show. The gentleman who played Mr. Magee the night we were there was hilarious and made our whole family laugh the entire night. He was the one that came out and called each seating area by color to enter the main auditorium. When your pirate was called you would follow him in. Once inside our pirate started to pick "volunteers" for different jobs throughout the show. I was chosen, and no, I did NOT volunteer, he picked myself and 3 other women to help out with different tasks. I was our sections "cheerleader" and had to wave our color flag and get our section loud and cheering. I was also in charge of tossing loot bags during a fast paced game during the show. It was nerve wracking but ultimately fun. Oh, and we WON!!! :) My husband and children were also chosen at different parts of the show. It was nice because everyone in our family got to participate at some point.

The show itself was fun and entertaining. There was a good story, acrobatic acts, and singing. They even invited all the children in the audience onto the ship during the show. Imagine our surprise when all the children exited the ship and our two were the only ones left standing up there! They were in full costume, so they were used in a funny little joke with the Capt. After exiting the stage, all children received a Pirate Certificate. My kids loved that detail!

The food was delicious. We were served a salad or soup to start. I chose soup and the rest of my family had salad. The soup was a delicious tortilla soup, and my daughter polished off 2 plates of salad (her brother didn't want his). This was followed by the main course. We chose chicken, but you can also choose pot roast. The chicken was well seasoned and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. The kids had chicken nuggets and mac n cheese. We all enjoyed dinner very much, and my son can be kind of picky about his mac n cheese. :) After dinner we were served a delightful sponge cake with ice cream. It was rich, so I couldn't finish my whole desert. We all had sprite, except for my husband who was enjoying his complementary beer.

After the show there is a Pirate's Bash Dance Party which is held right outside the auditorium where you wait before the show. Here the pirates dance with the young and old alike. My daughter loved dancing next to Treasure, the main female pirate. Overall, we had a great night with tons of action and entertainment! My kids can't wait to go back.

Although I was given tickets to the show in exchange for my HONEST review, I always write the good, bad, and ugly of my experiences. We truly enjoyed the show and look forward to taking our extended family in the future.

Ninja Coffee Bar Review

2016-07-06T12:44:00.001-04:00

To say that I love coffee is an understatement! But as a stay at home mom, homeschool teacher, and one income family, I simply cannot afford to indulge my coffee addiction by frequenting the big chain coffee houses and paying about $5 per cup! Our family is no stranger to the different coffee machines available. We have tried so many, from Kuerig to Tassimo, and while we enjoy the ease of use and quick nature of these types of machines, the costs for the pods and cups was becoming pricey for us "multiple cups a day" drinkers. So, when I had the oppurtunity to test out the new Ninja Coffee Bar, I jumped at the chance! So, here goes, what I really think about the Ninja Coffee Bar.

First of all, upon receiving my Coffee Bar and unboxing it, I couldn't help but notice all the extras that came with it! Not only do you get the machine itself, but also a carafe, tumbler, coffee measuring scoop, milk frother, and a recipe book filled with so many yummy coffee creations!

The set up and getting started were super simple, and I loved how easy it was to read the directions and manual.

Now let us talk about the features and performance of this machine. You can brew a cup, travel mug, half carafe, and full carafe, all by the twist of the dial on the front of the machine! So easy! I love this function, because I can control how much or how little coffee I make, and can make enough for company or just myself. All you need to do is lower the attached "stand" for mugs, and then fold it up when you want to use a travel mug or carafe. Another feature that I love, and that you wont find in many of the other pod/cup type machines, is the "drip stop" button. This allows you to stop the machine mid brew, even if only brewing a cup. Which was great for me because I didn't know quite what to expect from the first cup I brewed and needed a larger mug, so I simply used the stop drip function and was able to replace the mug and continue brewing with no problems. And this machine is fast. Did I mention it is fast? Because it is, and to coffee lovers like me, that is priceless!

This machine also offers a variety of brewing options. There is Classic Brew which gives a smooth rich flavor, Rich Brew which is richer than the Classic and gives more intense flavor so you can add you favorite flavorings or milk and not lose the flavor of the coffee. Then you have Over Ice Brew which gives even more richness by increasing the coffee concentration to make up for melting ice so you don't get that watered down iced coffee mess! And lastly you have the Specialty Brew setting which gives the highest concentration of coffee. It is like a coffee extract that you can use much like espresso to make layered drinks like the coffee house ones. My favorite is the Rich Brew, and this tends to be my daily brewing setting. I find it is the perfect amount of boldness to match with my cream and sugar without being overly bitter or strong.

Another feature is the Delay Brew setting. This allows you to set a time for your machine to brew and is perfect if you are short on time in the mornings. You just load it with the necessary amount of ground coffee and set the timer, that's it! It will be ready for you when you programmed it for. And the Stay Warm function keeps the bottom plate warm for the carafe so that your coffee stays warm until you can get to it.

So, what is my favorite feature of this machine? The fact that I can use my favorite ground coffee and still have quick, easy, delicious coffee! No more wasted money on pods and cups that can only be used for their designated machine. Not to mention the amount of waste I am saving from the pods and cups that are left over. This machine has truly made my mornings quicker, more time efficient, and yummier!!! I recommend this Ninja Coffee Bar to anyone who likes quick and delicious coffee!

And while I received this product for free in exchange for my HONEST review, that does not change any of my opinions of this machine. I have enjoyed this machine, and look forward to using the book of recipes to make some awesome "coffee house" inspired drinks!

DIY Jewelry Holder Out of a Salad Bowl!!

2016-05-12T21:30:00.000-04:00

When I got the chance to try the new Spicy Southwest Salad from Chick-fil-A I was excited because I LOVE spicy food! This salad was the perfect combo of spicy, crunchy, tangy, and just plain satisfying! I actually had to split the salad with my husband because it was so substantial. But, this post is NOT about that amazing salad! I want to show you how I upcycled the salad container into a "snazzy" jewelry holder/tower. I started out with the container and a paper towel roll that I cut in half.

I started by hot gluing the half of the paper towel tube to the bottom inside of the bottom of the bowl in the center. Then, I hot glued the lid upside down to the top of the tube, trying to get it as close to center as I could. After that, I sprayed the entire thing with white spray paint. I added some embellishments with white ribbon around the tube and crystal beads along the bottom of the tube. I also took the other half of the paper towel tube and cut it in half length wise to have a rounded area to display my bracelets. I hot glued that into the center of the "Chick-fil-A" square on the lid. I painted this part gold and also the rims of both the bottom and top. I also added gold and pearl/crystal bead embellishments along the top and bottom parts of the bowl. Then, I just filled it with my favorite jewelry, draping the bracelets on top of the new display and hanging my long earrings on the outer rim of the lid. This is a fun and functional way to personalize and organize your jewelry! I hope you enjoyed my DIY! :) #chickfilamomsDIY

Medieval Times Orlando

2016-03-03T12:56:00.002-05:00

When I was given the opportunity to attend the Medieval Times dinner show in Orlando, Fl I was ecstatic! My husband and I were celebrating our 11th anniversary and our first ever weekend away from our two small children. I have had a love for dinner shows and theater my whole life, so to be able to share this type of experience with my husband was priceless! I am going to take you through my whole experience, beginning to end, so you can experience it with me. But don't worry, I wont give away all the surprises!

On arriving to the location of the show, you can't help but be overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of the castle themed building:

Inside the castle is just as unique and true to theme as the outside! We arrived about an hour and a half early, as suggested, and were able to move freely around and look at all the beautiful decor without too much crowd.

Also upon arrival, you check in and find out where you are sitting, which is determined by a specific color. That is also the color of the knight you will be cheering for. At check in they will also give you a paper crown to represent your color and knight. Most were happy to wear their crown with pride, which we absolutely did!! We were in the green section, so you guessed it, we were cheering for the Green Knight!

After check in you can have your picture taken with some of the characters, which they will take for you. We opted not to purchase that picture because we chose a different photo later in the night, which I will show you soon.

Another reason to arrive early is to take advantage of the village outside the back of the castle. Here you will find a Torture Museum, as well as many rooms and buildings set up to replicate the Medieval era.

One last advantage to being early is to watch the Knighting Ceremony. People with special events or occasions can arrange to be "knighted" by the King himself!

Now, lets go into the main arena!! They will call in each section by color, and when yours is announced you go to your seat. It is set up by color and in rows:

At your seat you will see a place setting with a plate, bowl, and cup.

That is it, there is NO SILVERWARE! But don't let that scare you, it is actually fun to eat with your hands, and surprisingly easy with the food they serve! I was too excited and forgot to snap a picture of the food, but I will tell you it was very good! Here is a pic from their site to give you an idea:

The King's feast included garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, sweet buttered corn, herb-basted potato, pastry of the Castle (which was an apple turnover) and beverages. The food is brought out to you in "waves," first the soup then the bread and so on. The amount of food was surprising and we actually couldn't finish all of it.

While enjoying the feast, you will experience almost two hours of jousting, swordsmanship, thrilling hand-to-hand combat, displays of extraordinary horsemanship and falconry as part of an exciting story. Remember to cheer loudly for your knight, it is encouraged!

I wont give all the surprises of the show away, just know you will be very entertained! This was so much fun for my husband and I, so we decided to purchase the photo they took during the show (they come around and snap a photo at your seat) to remember it forever!

We cannot wait to take our kids the next time we go, they will LOVE it!

OH, I almost forgot to tell you, OUR KNIGHT WON!!!

I received the tickets to Medieval Times Tournament for free in exchange for my HONEST opinion. All thoughts are my own, and I really had an amazing time!

Our Time4Learning Experience

2015-04-29T13:03:00.001-04:00

My daughter (6 years old and in 1st grade) loves to learn! But, she also loves to be "self-taught," which can bring up some issues if we are not using the right curriculum in our homeschooling. We are a part of our local counties' homeschool program, which means we still have testing, field trips, and criteria that the rest of our county has, we just get to do our lessons from home. This has been great, but the curriculum they use is basically tons of book work for me, the mom/teacher, that I have to in turn teach her. This became a problem since my daughter doesn't like to be "taught at." She enjoys one on one time, but really thrives when she is able to lead herself in lessons and reading. When the opportunity came about for my family to try Time4Learning.com, we jumped at the chance!

We were able to set her up for 1st grade in math, which is one of her more difficult subjects, but the areas where she thrives and is advanced in, like reading, we could let her do lessons in 2nd grade. This was great for us because we were able to really customize her schooling experience. She loved the animated and interactive lessons. They drew her in and really made learning fun! I loved the fact that in order for her to play games on the site (still semi-educational games) she had to really work on her lessons for at least 15 minutes. This gave her incentive to finish her lessons, and that made us both happy. I loved being able to see her progress and how she was doing in the parent's section. This type of learning really worked well for her independent nature.

I was also able to sign my son (4 years old) up for pre-k. He loved the games and songs, and they really helped him to retain what he was learning. The pre-k area is much more animated and silly, but at 4 years of age, it was perfect for him! He loved being able to go onto his "big boy school" just like big sis!

The system for Time4Learning is easy to navigate. I like that it keeps all the progress for you, so when it comes time for the yearly assessments, you simply print off what is needed. This experience was an eye-opening one for our family, and we can't wait to see where else Time4Learning takes us!

I was able to try out Time4Learning at no charge to bring you this review, but all the opinions are my own and completely honest. Thanks for learning.

Super Hero Party

2015-04-28T12:06:00.001-04:00

Here is a breakdown of our Super Hero Training Party!

The Decor:
I wrote all about the decor and crafting I did over here!

The Costume:
I was so excited to throw my son and his cousins and friends one of the best "Super Hero Training" parties ever! I spent months crafting and creating fun decor and games, but wasn't sure exactly what we were going to do about his costume. While I love to sew and craft, I felt that he would want the "real deal" costume. I was able to work with Costumes4Less.com and get my son an awesome Superman costume! I was worried because some of the reviews of this costume were less than favorable, but we were pleasantly surprised! The chest was a hard type plastic chest molded to look like muscles, and since it is the "Man of Steel," I thought this was perfect. My son enjoyed having his buddies punch his chest just to say "That didn't hurt at all!" The costume also had lights around the "S" symbol, and this was a nice extra. The cape had velcro to attach it, but there was no part to actually velcro it to the suit, we solved this issue with safety pins.

Costumes4less was a pleasure to work with. We ordered my son the size we thought was going to work for him, since he is a bigger 4 year old, but quickly realized it was way to big! With only a week until the big party, I was worried we wouldn't get the new one in time. I was wrong! We were issued a refund to order the correct size as soon as we generated a return label for the one that was too big, and the new one arrived well before the party. Costumer service was a joy to work with, even when I was having a "crazy mommy moment!"

My son still enjoys dressing up and running around the house like Superman!

The Food:
My sister and I love to have good food at any party we throw, so this was no exception! We wanted to combine our children's favorite foods, while still offering healthy options. AND meanwhile, keeping with the hero theme.

*Hero Cupcakes- Cupcakes with candy melt symbols (I made them) on top
*Thor's Hammers- sharp white cheddar cubes with pretzel rods
*Wolverine's Kabobs- pineapple and grape skewers
*Wonder Dogs- hotdogs
*"CRUNCH!"- chips
*"POP!"- popcorn
*Apple Crisps- Brothers-All-Natural bags of apple chips
*Apple Slices- Crunch Pak Apples
*Iron Man Punch- fruit punch and pineapple juice
*Captain America Energy Drink- fruit punch and blue Mnt. Dew

We were honored to have Brothers-All-Natural send us some goodies for our boys! The adults loved these!! They also offered a 15% discount coupon code for you guys! Just use DisneyParty15 and get free shipping anywhere in the Continental US!!

Crunch Pak was also gracious enough to send us some awesome coupons to pick up some healthy superhero snacks!!! The boys and moms loved having this sweet and healthy treat! We love the caramel that comes in the apple packs, it makes you feel like you are indulging while still being healthy!

This party was a thrill to throw, and the boys are still talking about it! :)

Super Hero Training Party Ideas and Decor- Disney Side @Home Celebration

2015-03-17T11:41:00.003-04:00

For our second Disney Side @Home Celebration this year we decided to throw the special boys in our lives a Super Hero Training Party! This being because our Disney Side is all about Super Heroes with a 4 and 6 year old in the house, and Papi of course! We have had to postpone the party many times due to illness making its rounds through our family and friends lately, but are so excited to finally be throwing it this weekend! Here are some of the things we have worked on and have ready to go! I did receive a box full of amazing things to throw the perfect party, see the contents here, but for this party most of the things were handmade by me. :)

These are some old jars that I decoupaged some tissue paper to the inside of. I painted the outsides to represent different heroes. I used a big pickle jar for Hulk since he is the biggest.

For one of our training activities, the boys will throw Thor's Hammer as far as they can. This was super easy to make. I used a floral block, purchased at Dollar Tree, and carved a little of the ends to give it the shape of Thor's hammer and painted it grey. I also painted a paper towel roll brown and inserted it into the block with some hot glue as well. I don't have a picture, but I ended up wrapping some ribbon around the "handle" to give it a leather looking effect.

These are favors for the boys to take home. We will be taking group photos of the boys in their Hero costumes with a Polaroid which will fit perfectly in the frame! These were wooden frames bought for $1 and then I used old comic books (which I got for .50 at a local comic book store) and Mod Podged them to the frames! So easy and a true keepsake!

This is the cupcake tower I made from cardboard boxes wrapped in tissue paper and then decorated with construction paper buildings, spider, and Superman symbol.

This "Phone booth" was made from an old refrigerator box, thanks to my dad, and painted red. I just cut out some windows on the door and painted on some fake windows as well. The heroes will enter this box dressed in their "regular" clothing and emerge in their Hero outfit!

This was my attempt at free handing a Spiderman. Once cut out and put on the wall, he actually looked kind of cool!

Here is one of the Training Kits each boy will receive. They contain notebooks and crayons, for taking top secret notes, a can of silly string, for our Web Slinging challenge, a light saber flashlight, hero dog tags, and much more!

This is our city scape, made from old cardboard boxes and a table cloth, for taking some awesome photos of the Heroes in action! The yellow lantern will have a Batman symbol on it soon! :)

These are the cupcake toppers that I am still trying to perfect! I am outlining them in melted candy melts, remember the smoother side is better, but the Superman will only be able to be used right side up unless you flip the image!

I used Dollar Tree boxes that I just hot glued some felt pieces on to make hero symbols. These will hold party favors and odds and ends for the party.

Here are some felt pillows I "threw" together to decorate the lounging area of our party!

These are some wooden pegs I bought at Hobby Lobby, remember to always check for the 40% off coupon before going, and then I just hand painted them. I actually used clear finger nail polish to seal them and give them a nice shine!

We used the HP packs I received to create the invites. The invitations for the party went out in an envelope with this stamped across the front to make it more "authentic!" All the boys really loved these invites!

I can't wait to see all the boy's faces when they see what we have in store! I will follow up with some pictures of the actual party as soon as it is over! :)

Big Hero 6 Viewing Party- Disney Side @Home Celebration!

2015-03-17T11:05:00.001-04:00

I was so excited to be chosen to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration again this year and receive a box full of awesome things to throw a great party! If you missed the post about all the contents of the box just click here. This year we decided to throw not just one party, but 2!!! The first of which was a Big Hero 6 viewing party for the release of the movie. Here are some of the things we did to celebrate one our family's favorite Disney movies!

I printed out some Baymax faces and laid plastic wrap over them and traced his eyes in melted chocolate and then used royal icing to fill in his face.

Then I transferred the royal icing faces to some yummy sugar cookies to get the perfect Baymax cookies! :)

This was my first attempt at cake "carving" and decorating. I printed a template of Suited up Baymax and cut my cake to the shape. I used Twizzlers and some melted chocolate for the details.

The menu was very laid back and casual, a BBQ!! We enjoyed grilling out in the beautiful weather and then after dinner we were all set for the main event, the MOVIE!

We snacked on cake and cookies while enjoying Big Hero 6 on the big screen!

Oh, and we had fresh popped popcorn as well! Honey Lemon couldn't resist!!! :)

Disney Side @Home Celebration

2015-03-17T10:38:00.000-04:00

I was so excited to learn that my family was selected to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration again this year! We were so honored to participate last year and this year is no different! What this involves is throwing a party for friends and family that showcases your own personal Disney Side. I was sent a box full of goodies to help out with the party! We received the Cars Preschool party kit and my 4 year old couldn't have been more thrilled! We are still in the process of throwing the party, due to some family illness, but are hoping to have it this weekend! :)

Here is a picture of the contents of the kit I received for throwing a Disney Side @Home Celebration.

Here is a close up of the goodies for the grown ups! I received delicious Twinnings Tea, Wisk Laundry detergent, HP photo packs, chore charts, Pin The Smile on Mickey, luggage tags, planning info, and much more!

Here are some of the goodies for the boys and to help throw the perfect party! Cupcake tower, decorations, cups, plates, napkins, table cloth, treat boxes, sandwich bags, sprinkles, cake mix, cake pan, place mats, coloring book, crayons, stickers, bingo game, puzzle, watch, and my son's very favorite thing the Mega Bloks Hot Wheels truck!!

Ponytail Hacks- Pinterest Try Out

2015-02-04T11:55:00.001-05:00

So, I decided to give these Pinterest ponytail hacks a try! I hope you enjoy!

How To Find a New Hairdresser and NOT Have a Bad Haircut!!

2014-09-19T22:22:00.003-04:00

We have all been there before, your hairdresser is moving/quitting/not doing hair anymore. What do you do?! Or maybe you have never had your hair done in a salon or by a professional before. Have no fear, I give you my best tips on how to find a new hairdresser, and how to not have a bad salon visit, in my new video.

Bombay Hair Extensions "Unboxing"

2014-04-29T11:57:00.001-04:00

I was so excited to receive my Bombay 20" Ash Blonde (60) set in 160 grams! Here are my initial thoughts!

Our Disney Side @Home Celebration!!

2014-03-04T15:53:00.002-05:00

When I found out that I was chosen to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration, hosted by (you guessed it) DISNEY, I was ecstatic! That excitement was heightened when I found out my sister/best friend also was chosen! We have had some illnesses running through our families, like most people right now, and it was just going to be too difficult to throw 2 separately amazing parties, so we decided to join forces for one amazing celebration. *We were sent these things by Disney so we could throw a party showing our Disney Side, but all the opinions are my own!!

First of all, lets discuss decorations. We were sent everything we would need to throw an amazing party, balloons, tablecloths, plates, napkins, and decorations. Being the party people we are though, we decided to add a little more flare to the party! We used the Run Disney posters they sent us to make signs directing guests which way to go:

First, and most importantly, the bathroom!

That way to the Ping-Pong table!!

Make your own Mickey Pizza that way!

We then decided to add a backdrop for fun picture taking! We had props, and a small Olaf for everyone to take pics with!

Mickey backdrop was bought at our local party store for $6.

The props were printed from online and taped to skewers.

Some of the adults were even caught taking "selfies" in front of the photo spot!! :)

All in all the props and photo spot were a great success! I am not showing the kids pics out of respect for all the parents' wishes, but they had even more fun than the adults!

Now, lets talk about food and goodies!!! Disney sent us some Craisins. We decided to stick with the healthy theme, only a little bit ;) so when we were sent some amazing product coupons from Crunch Pak we decided to use those as well. The kids loved the apples and caramel sauce! Plus, Crunch Pak offers the cutest healthiest little Mickey Mouse shaped pack of apples, grapes, and cheese. We love to get these for the little ones when we go to Disney! We also had chicken rollups, deviled eggs, chocolate covered strawberries and salad. And of course we had some Mickey and Minnie inspired cupcakes and flan for the more "grown up" tastes.

Close up of the cupcake table.

Cupcake table!

Yummy craisins, apples, salad, and chicken rollups!

Chips, chocolate strawberries, deviled eggs, and flan! Oh my!!

But, the main event and dish was the "make your own" Mickey shaped pizzas. The kids were able to customize their own individual pizza at our Pizza Planet Kitchen! The kids loved being able to get messy and control what went on their pizza!

Making their own pizza!

Going into the oven.

Decorating their pizza box while they cook!

We ended the night with a movie under the stars! We watched Frozen from my brother-in-laws projector, and the kids loved seeing it so big on the side of the house! It felt like a drive in, right in our backyard. And then, there were gifts and goodies handed out from the "Mike Gift Bag!"

Mike brought goodies for everyone!!

So, as you can see, we had an amazing Disney Side @Home Celebration! I would love to thank all the sponsors, Disney, HP, American Tourister, Crunch Pak, and Maria Bailey!!! Thanks for making our party such a success!

Disney Side @Home Celebration Package!!

2014-01-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be hosting a Disney Side @Home Celebration! I received this package free from Disney to host a party letting my Disney Side show!!! I couldn't wait for the package to arrive, and once it did, I was so happy!! Here are the pictures I snapped right after opening.

One of the party sponsors is American Tourister, so the hostess gift is amazing!!

At Skate 20" luggage

Craisins, cupcake wrappers, recipe card, cookie cutters, and measuring cups

Cups, plates, napkins, balloons, bracelets, decorations, and a tablecloth

Tattoos, face painting guide, luggage tag, and planning dvd

HP is another sponsor so I received 10 packs of HP Photo Card Pack.

"So this is love" lithographs for guests, RunDisney signs, Muppets calendars, Games and Trivia

Here is the video of the "unboxing." Be warned, you will hear gasps and giggles from my little ones watching on as we open our surprise!

Unboxing Video

I am so excited to have this party with my family and friends and to let all of our Disney Sides show!!!!

My First Year on Youtube!!

2013-12-27T12:41:00.002-05:00

Before I even realized it, 1 year has passed since I started my youtube channel. I am having such a good time putting up videos and interacting with my subbies. Thanks to all those who watch my videos and who have subscribed! I know I don't have a huge following, YET, but I truly appreciate every single one of you who watch, comment, and subscribe. I made a really fun video to "celebrate." I think if you can't laugh at yourself, you are taking yourself too seriously. So, here is a fun video for us all to laugh at! Hope you will stick around and see what next year will bring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzWvZIlaSWs