Keys to My Life

30 giveaways in 30 days! Day 1: Jasmine POP Vinyl

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 23:24:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Popping on today to help my good blogging friend Becky celebrate her upcoming birthday and share one of her giveaways for the month!

I'm helping out with Day 1, but she has a giveaway EVERY DAY this month! I've linked this this giveaway below, but be sure to visit Disney In Your Day each day this month to see all of her fun giveaways!

To enter Day 1's giveaway for this Jasmine POP Vinyl, enter the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why I Did a Second Disney College Program

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hi guys! As I mentioned briefly yesterday, this week has been a rough week for me. I've been having lots of personal issues and struggling with friendships and work life. One of the biggest questions I get asked about the Disney College Program is why do a second one? If there are so many struggles and issues I go through with it, what makes it worth it? Today I'm sharing my reasons why doing a second college program was a step I had to take.

The opportunity to experience both coasts //

In my first program, I participated in Disneyland for a couple of reasons. For one, I had been there before so I was familiar with the parks, and felt more comfortable there. Also, it was closer to home so it was less of move and change for me. When Nick and I made the decision to apply for a second program, we knew we wanted to apply to Walt Disney World instead. Neither of us have been here before this program, and the likelihood that we would be visiting soon for any other reason was not realistic. Both programs are hosted very differently, and we wanted to be able to experience both of them.

Disney is a company I always want to work for //

One of the biggest reasons we decided to return was the fact that we both missed the atmosphere of the parks and the people we saw everyday, as well as being completely immersed in the Disney world. Both of us are big Disney fans, and after our first program Disney became a permanent part of our life. A second program gives us a chance to move towards a career within the Disney company.

Having married housing //

One thing that the Disneyland program does not offer, but Disney World does, is the option for married housing. If we chose to return to Disneyland, we would either have to live off-site, or not be roommates. While that was an option, it didn't make sense for us to get married and then move into separate apartments only a few months later. Being able to have our own one bedroom apartment has been a great experience for us, and eliminated the roommate issues we dealt with during our last programs.

A chance to make new friends //

Because I struggled so much with losing friend from my last program, I was determined to make friends this program. After applying we quickly connected with a group of applicants that we met through a GroupMe, and we all became fast friends. Ride Or Die, as we cal ourselves, has been the best support group for me that I could have imagined while here. They are all vastly different, but each of them has something different to offer and we all fit together so wonderfully, We even created a family tree because we all feel so connected. I don't want to think about the pain we will go through when we have to say goodbye!

A program that will change your life forever //

I cannot stress this enough. The Disney College Program really is a life changing experience. While yes, it is a great internship to have on your resume, the friendships you can gain and experiences you go through during the program make it a program that cannot be forgotten. Even if we decide to not continue with the company after this program, the time we spent in both programs is valuable enough that we won't stop talking about it.

If you are someone who has considered the program before, but isn't sure if it is for you, I encourage you to apply. This is an experience that you don't want to pass up, even if it means moving all the way across the country like we did. The Disney College Program changed me life, and I want it to change yours too.

Have you ever considered the Disney College Program? Do you know anyone who has participated?

Book Review: The Stone Bearers

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Hi friends! It's a been a rough weekend for me, so getting these posts out this week has taken a lot of effort. I promised myself I would keep up with my two days a week schedule, as well as get this review completed on time. The review is actually less of an issue, as this book was amazing and I didn't want to put it down! The bigger issue came when I sat down to draft my posts on Sunday amidst a raging migraine. Blogger problems, am I right?! Anyway, here I am with another week of posts for you! Today I'm finishing the last book review for this blog, before moving them back to The Librarian's Bookshelf, as I mentioned last week.

I don't typically get pulled into self-published books often, but when I do it's because the author knows how to write compelling twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat. From the first chapter I was drawn in, and as the book reaches the climax you are left breathless with anticipation as each new layer of mystery is added to the previous one. By the time you finish the book, you are blown away by the masterful writing she uses to tie everything together.

The author also uses such deep descriptions of the characters, and creates genuine interactions between them so that you grow to care for them, despite their quirks or the dark sides they may have. If you are a fan of fantasy, or of any book that will keep you guessing, this is a book for you to read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Have you heard of The Stone Bearers? Is fantasy a genre you typically read?

My Top 5 Favorite Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hi guys! Before I became a lifestyle blogger, I used my blog mainly as a journal. Along with that, I didn't read practically ANY other bloggers, because I didn't care, and I wasn't learning anything from them! Now that I do blog regularly, I read quite a few bloggers that I learn so much from with every post they right. Today, in no particular order, I'm sharing my five favorite bloggers I read!

Becky @ Disney in Your Day //

Becky has guest posted before, so she is not new to my blog! I met Becky a few month ago now, through a blog buddy sign up we participated in. Being the only two Disney bloggers, we were matched, and it was perfect! We hit it off right away and have been supporting each other since. She is currently my biggest blog supporter (other than Nick, of course!) and we even got to meet up a few weeks back when she came to Orlando for the Disney Parks Princess Half Marathon Weekend! It was a highlight of my week and we're hoping to meet up again when she visits for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival soon!

As I mentioned above, she is primarily a Disney blogger, but she also blogs about travel and her travel business, and her training goals for the marathons she runs! She also shares different Disney content than myself, so if you crave that Disney fix, she's another great option! Becky is just super sweet and down to earth, and her support has made it one of the reasons why she is one of my favorite bloggers.

Summer @ Coffee With Summer //

Summer was not the first lifestyle blogger I followed when I starting seriously blogging, but she has quickly become one of my favorites! She is authentic, and is consistently sharing posts that are raw but very relevant to many people. One of the main reasons I read her so much now, is she has begun branching out and sharing her tips and successes in blog growth, which I'm finding invaluable as I continue blogging less as a hobby and more as a regular thing. Summer is also largely encouraging - sending her a message asking for advice or even a simple prayer and she is happy to step in.

Chelsie @ Hey There, Chelsie //

I first discovered Chelsie through Summer, and quickly fell in love with her blog as well. Chelsie has a different focus and tone than Summer, but creates just as valuable content. She recently rebranded, so before she shared more often about Rosie, her puppy that her and her husband Dustin adopted to help with her knee replacement. While I love her Rosie stories, I love that lately she has been sharing her journey into full-time blogging, as that is a goal I'm striving for as well, and I love hearing other bloggers' struggle and successes! Chelsie also shares both beauty and fashion, and since I fail at being fashionable, I live my beauty desires through her blog.

Helene @ Helene in Between //

My last two bloggers are more well known, but no less valuable! Helene is a blogger I look to as a multi-topiced lifestyle blogger. What does that mean? For me, I'm primarily a lifestyle blogger, but I blog under four specific topics: Disney, marriage, faith and mental illness. For Helene, she shares blogging tips, travel adventures, and fashion posts. Many bloggers will tell you to focus on one topic alone, and that multiple topics hurt your audience. Helene is an example that you don't have to limit yourself to one topic, and I love that! All of her topics have a steady following and don't hurt her views in any way! Along with that, she has been a successful professional blogger for awhile and often shares her income reports, which is eye opening for smaller bloggers like myself,

Melyssa @ The Nectar Collective //

Melyssa is another well-known blogger! Like Helene, she shares monthly income reports and has shared her success, primarily coming from her e-mail list and ecourses. She also shares blogging advice, but since that is her main topic she shares more content that is relevant to bloggers and helpful on growing views and social media. She is also down-to-earth, and if you take the time to follow her various social media (especially Snapchat!) you'll see she's a normal blogger with just a larger following than others,

If you are a blogger, no matter your content or niche, it's important to be reading other bloggers and supporting each other. Find a good mix of smaller and larger bloggers and start reading and commenting! You'd be surprised to support you can get just from other bloggers.

Do you read any of my favorite bloggers? Who are some of your favorites, and why?

Why Taking a Blog Break is a Good Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hi friends! You'll remember that through the month of February and half of March, I disappeared from the blog. This was not a planned blog break, but it was one I desperately needed. While I did feel guilty during the break, I've come to realize it was a great thing for me! Here's a few reasons why you should consider your own blogging break.

Your blog does not rule your life //

What?! You mean my blog isn't something I should be thinking about 24/7?? Seriously though, don't let your blog rule your life. There needs to be a balance for everything in life, and that includes blogging and personal free time.

Even full-time bloggers can't be tied down to their blogs //

Bloggers who blog as a profession naturally put a lot of time into their blogs. However, even they need blog breaks too! Just as people with office professions get tired of the same thing over and over, bloggers do too! Which leads me to my next point...

Blogger burnout is a real thing //

It definitely is an issue, even for part-time bloggers. This was a major factor into why my blog break was so long! While I was busy and adjusting to my new schedule here in Florida, honestly my biggest concern was that I didn't feel like blogging. I genuinely didn't feel like taking the time to sit down and pump out even one post. Blogger burnout is a real thing, and that's okay! You need to be able to relax once in awhile.

Self-care is a real thing //

I've seen many bloggers emphasize the importance of self-care (I love Summer's blog!), and it's so true! Many bloggers get so wrapped up in their blogs that they forget to step back, relax, and just take some time to recharge. A blogging break is one of the best times to do that, because you're not forced to go back to blogging any sooner than you want to.

Blogging is actual work //

Many non-bloggers don't understand the time and effort that goes into blogging. Even part-time blogging has many elements to it! With cutting my schedule down to two posts a week, there are still at least three or four days a week when I have to spend multiple hours on blog work to keep my posts consistent and worthy of the quality I want on my blog. Blogging is so much more than writing and publishing posts!

While taking a blog break can feel like you're giving up on your blog, it's really a chance for your to grow and bring better content to your blog in the future. If you're feeling burnout or just don't feel like you're putting your best content out there, I highly encourage considering a blog break of your own.

Have you ever taken a blog break? What did you learn from it? How do you feel about bloggers who take planned or unplanned breaks?

Book Review: The Subtle Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 01:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I have a quick surprise post for you today. I normally don't post book reviews to this blog, as I have The Librarian's Bookshelf for that I try to keep my blogs separate. However recently I accepted a couple of review specifically for Keys to My Life, so I'm following through with that! I will have one more book review coming sometime next week or the week after, and then I will continue to separate my blogs. For now, enjoy a quick change from the norm!

The Subtle Beauty (Crowns of the Twelve #1) by Ann Hunter

Release Date: January 2, 2014

Publisher: Afterglow Productions

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Crowns of the Twelve

Format: eBook
Pages; 170

Buy It: Amazon

A cursed prince. A vain beauty. Glory is the seventh daughter of Balthazar, High King of the Twelve Kingdoms. Glory hopes that - of all her sisters - she can escape the fate of a loveless marriage. But on the night she plans to elope with the royal falconer, her world comes crashing down: Her father announces Glory's betrothal to Eoghan of the Blood Realm - a prince no one has ever seen. The prince is said to be a recluse, cursed and deformed by the gods for the sins of his power-hungry father. Yet when Glory is trapped in Blackthorn Keep she discovers that not everything is what she expected. An insulting gryphon, a persistent ghost, and a secret plan to usurp the prince keep Glory reeling. Can she overcome her vanity to learn that what you want isn’t necessarily what you need—and save the cursed prince?

I had a hard time getting into this book at first, because the backstory seemed out of place and hard to follow. Once the backstory was in place, the novel picks up quickly and you're pulled into the adventures of Glory and Colin, and their quest to find each other despite Glory's royal duties. There is not one, but two, unexpected twists towards the end of the story, that had me literally gasping while frantically reaching the end of the story. This story is a unique but well thought out retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I'm excited to see where the rest of the series leads us.

I received this book free for review through Tomoson and the book publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Have you read this series yet? How do you feel about fairytale retellings?

March Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Yes, I know it's halfway through March. But hey, never too late for monthly goals right? Because it is so late in the month, I am going to trim it down a little. Have to keep it realistic!

February Re-Cap

Blog and Social Media Goals:

1. Create my e-mail opt-in. Fail. I now know what I want to do, but it will take some time.

2. Finish cleaning out Instagram follows. Again, fail.

3. Continue cleaning up Pinterest. This partially happened. I'm using Boardbooster now so that will help a little.

4. Work on scheduling blog weeks ahead of time to avoid cramming the night before. So obviously this didn't happen. Depression got the best of me and I couldn't get myself to blog. I'm putting myself on a regular schedule for this month so that should help!

Personal Goals:

1. ~~Continue reading books, especially blog tour books.~~ This actually happened! I finished a couple of books this last month, although I haven't done any reviews. But more books are coming!

2. ~~Participate in as many housing and program events that my schedule allows.~~ I did a lot of fun events this month! We had the welcome party event, where we had pizza and a dance party and all seven dwarves visited. We also got to do grocery bingo where we got two big bags of food!

3. Create a bucket list for my time here. This hasn't been started yet, but I'm working on it!

March Goals

Blog and Social Media Goals:

1. Set up my daily social media and blogging schedule, and stick to it. Now that I'm back into regular blogging, I also want to extend that to using all my social media regularly and interacting with my followers and other bloggers!

2. Actually finish cleaning up Instagram. I've been putting this off for how many months now?! I need to buckle down and do it.

3. Work on my opt-in/secret project. Yes! So my opt-in is connected to a project that I am keeping secret for now. (If you want a sneak peek, subscribe to my newsletter!) I hope to have it down by the end of next month!

Personal Goals:

1. Get caught up on my devotional and Bible reading. I'm not too far behind, so it shouldn't take much to catch up!

2. Find more park buddies for my days off. Because I spend my days off at home doing nothing but Netflix and Facebook, it really affects my moods. I just need to invite people!

What do you think of this months goals? Are they realistic considering March is half over?

How I Celebrated My 25th Birthday at Walt Disney World

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! As promised, I'm back! I will be tweaking my posting schedule, and only posting twice a week. Even with only around 33 hours a week, I'm often busy and exhausted which makes blogging hard. I definitely miss it though, so I'm trying to keep it up from here!

A couple of weeks ago, I turned 25! Nick and I both got the day off, and we spent all day in the parks doing whatever I wanted to do. We have lots of adventures, so here is a fun highlight!

We started off the day in EPCOT, trying to meet a few characters I hadn't seen yet. I was dressed head to toe as Anna, because she is my favorite, and who doesn't want to be their favorite princess on their birthday?! We ended up meeting with Mary Poppins and Belle, but who were perfect and were very genuine in their interactions! Belle was also excited to hear we were dining with the Beast for dinner and trying the "Grey Stuff", which is quite delicious. More on that later!

After walking around EPCOT for awhile, we headed to Magic Kingdom so Nick could finally see the day parade, Festival of Fantasy. I didn't take any pictures of the parade, but I will be vlogging it soon! After the parade we saw even more characters, including Marie, Mickey Mouse, Elsa, and of course, Anna. Anna was the BEST meet and greet I have had so far! She was super bubbly and personable, and she loved my dress so much that she suggested a picture with just her, as well as one with Nick added. She made my entire day!

Mickey was also great! When you meet Magician Mickey in Town Square Theater, he gains some of Tinkerbell's pixie dust and is able to talk to the guests that visit him. I was expecting him to talk, but I was not expecting him to SING Happy Birthday to me! That's right, Mickey can sing Happy Birthday! It was such a special surprise that I started tearing up. If you haven't had the chance to visit Magician Mickey, make it a priority!

Mickey singing me Happy Birthday took me by surprise - cue the tears!

Finally, we were headed to the one place I had been looking forward to for months - Be Our Guest restaurant. I had booked dinner reservations for my birthday the day they opened, because I have always wanted to celebrate my birthday there!

I wish I had taken pictures of the outside, because it truly is amazing. Beast and Belle's castle sits high upon the hill overlooking Fantasyland, and you walk across a beautiful bridge and wait in the courtyard until you are ready to be seated. At this point, I was already crying a ridiculous amount! I just couldn't believe we were finally doing something I had to have on my Disney bucket list.

Once inside, the view takes your breath away. It looks just as if you had stepped into the movie - there is no other comparison. We were seated in the Grand Ballroom, which I mistakenly took no pictures of! Trust me when I say, it's far more perfect that you could imagine.

The neat thing about Be Our Guest is that they allow you, and even encourage you, to walk around the castle and explore! The other rooms we got to see were the West Wing and the Rose Courtyard. The Rose Courtyard was an extra room, like a lounge of sorts, and wasn't directly designed from the movie, however still beautiful. The West Wing was dark and mysterious and was exactly as you would expect. The detail everywhere was amazing! Even our napkins were roses.

Nick and I decided to share a meal, which was a great idea because dessert was delicious and took over our appetites. The food was good, but I'm a picky eater and I don't think it is something I would order again. Dessert was scrumptious though! Nick chose the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, which he loved, and I, of course, chose the Grey Stuff. It really is delicious, you can ask the dishes! It tastes like cookies and cream mousse, and is served on a chocolate brownie bar. Definitely worth it!

At the end we were fortunate enough to meet Beast, who is quite the gentleman, and take a few pictures with him. Afterwards I was so overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn't even stay for the fireworks! It was a more perfect birthday than I could have imagined.

I was hoping to vlog for my birthday adventures, but I'm still not 100% comfortable vlogging on my iPhone. I did vlog one day so far, but it may be awhile before I edit that vlog and upload it. I do hope to vlog more of my adventures, but for now I might just stick to blogging. I would love suggestions of what sorts of things you would like to see! I love having my own adventures, but I like trying new things too! Leave a comment or send me a message with your suggestions.

Have you visited some of these characters? Do you think Be Our Guest is worth it to you? How would you celebrate your birthday in the parks?

What to Expect From Keys to My Life in the Coming Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 17:10:00 +0000

Hi friends! You may have noticed the absence of my vlog for Monday, and the delayed post for today. I have some important news about Keys to My Life for the next few months while I'm in Florida, which I'm sharing today.

I've only been in Florida for a week and a half now, but it's been busy. For the last five days I've been working 6-8 hour shifts which requires lots of walking and not a lot of sleep. I thought that based on my last program I would be able to continue balancing my blog with work and play. Unfortunately I've had no time to vlog, or even edit the little vlogging I've done, or research the blog posts I have planned.

On top of that, I've dealing with one of the worst bouts of depression in awhile - one that is causing me to doubt all of my friendships. Many of my friends are spending their days off in the parks - as they should - but it's often on days I am working so I feel lonely when I'm not able to go. My friends from back home don't have much communication with me, even the friends I would consider to be best friends, so when I'm home alone on days like today, the lonliness gets even worse.

So how am I going to deal with this, and keep my blog running? I'm not. I am taking a break from consistent 3x weekly blogging. Now that doesn't mean I won't continue to blog about my experiences in Florida, or do the occasional update. I definitely will, and I plan to continue vlogging during my adventures! But for now, I can't continue full-time blogging. It's mentally exhausting me and I can't add any other stress to what I'm already dealing with.

I could use some prayers and support. I'm going back and forth between sitting in my room watching Netflix alone all day, to working 8 hour shifts at a location that isn't what I was hoping for. (More on that later.) I just need to know there are people out there that still care about me and are thinking about me. I know I'm oversensitive right now, but any support I get helps. Thanks for continuing to follow my life and adventures!

How Depression and Anxiety Hamper Goal-Setting

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

I've mentioned before that my depression and anxiety can severely affect many aspects of my life, from personal, to work, to my faith. Today I'm going to talk a little bit about how my depression and anxiety affect goal-setting, but especially goal-setting for larger goals and projects.

It's only been the last few months that I've seriously started working on my blog as more than a hobby, and as a potential stream of income. However, with that focus has come a lot of extra goals to work towards. Those goals are often lofty goals, and I can get easily overwhelmed just thinking about them.

The biggest goal that my mental illnesses are currently affecting is our goal to get out of debt using Dave Ramsey's debt snowball method. We currently have almost $100,000 in debt from student loans, and for two 20-somethings with low-paying jobs, that's a lot of money we're throwing away each year in payments. How do I keep myself from becoming overwhelmed with these big goals? Here are some of my tips.

1. Break the goal into smaller chunks

It's easier to tackle a lofty goal if you break it into smaller chunks. For example, we're working on paying off the smallest loan first and moving forward from there, rather than putting a lot of extra money towards all of our loans at once.

2. Set a timeline for when certain benchmarks are completed

One of my blogging goals is to continue and grow my social media and blog following. In order to keep from getting overwhelmed by all the accounts I manage, I choose one or two a month to work on, and choose a number or percentage to grow by at the end of that month. It gives me something to work towards and keeps me from working at one goal for too long.

3. Have someone to keep you accountable on working towards those goals

One of the reasons I post my monthly goals each month is not only to have it written in front of me, but also so you, my readers, can keep me accountable with my goals each month! It keeps from me slacking, as well as getting to overwhelmed with the goals I set for myself.

My depression and anxiety can really kick me in the butt when it comes to getting stuff accomplished. That doesn't mean goal-setting is impossible, it just means I have to have a plan for my goals and work towards those goals each month.

How do you tackle goals? Do you find certain techniques work for you in goal-setting?

February Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:07:00 +0000

Sorry for the late post today! We're officially in Florida and getting used to the weather and spending time with friends, and we got back fairly late last night. I will continue to keep posting, however!

January Re-Cap

Blog and Social Media Goals:

1. Grow my e-mail list. This didn't work as well as I'd hoped. I grew my list by 6 subscribers reaching 16 total subscribers, but I didn't hit the 30 I was hoping for.

2. ~~Post 3x weekly.~~ Done!

3. Clean up my Pinterest. This was an nightmare. I was cleaning up my blogging board one day at work and accidentally deleted THE ENTIRE BOARD. I seriously cried. So no, this isn't done. But it's in progress.

4. Clean up Instagram follows. I started the process of this, and am down about 200 follows. Still working on it though!

Personal Goals:

1. Continue reading in my spare time. I didn't do too much of this.

2. Finish purging and packing for Florida. Done, since we're in Florida!

3. ~~Read our couple's devotional daily.~~ While we didn't read it daily due to traveling, we are caught up and staying caught up!

February Goals

Blogging and Social Media Goals:

1. Create my e-mail opt-in. In order to continue to grow my list and send out exclusive additional content, I've been doing various e-mail list webinars for ideas. One big thing I hear everywhere is using an e-mail opt-in. I have a couple ideas in progress, I just need to work on them!

2. Finish cleaning out Instagram follows. I just need to do it.

3. Continue cleaning up Pinterest. I don't think I will finish going through it, but I want to continue.

4. Work on scheduling blog weeks ahead of time to avoid cramming the night before. Since my work schedule here will be all over the place, I don't want to be skimping on sleep or fun. I want to balance the blog and my life here!

Personal Goals:

1. Continue reading books, especially blog tour books. I have been accepting a couple of books for review back on The Librarian's Bookshelf, so I need to continue reading those books.

2. Participate in as many housing and program events that my schedule allows. I didn't do many events in my last program, and I want to change that!

3. Create a bucket list for my time here. It's started, but I need to finish it.

What do you think about this month's goals? Do you have any similar goals?

DCP Series Part 5: What to Have on Check-In Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hello friends! Welcome to the last video in our series that is pre-arrival day for myself and Nick! As you're reading this post, Nick and I are already in Florida and we're checking in and getting our casting assignments! Next week we will be sharing a little bit of our check-in day adventures, but this week we're wrapping up the application series with what the have on check-in day!

For this installment, we cover what documents and items to have on check-in day so you won't be turned away as soon as you get there! You'll need your I-9 documents, your DORMs paperwork and barcode, your check-in day itinerary, yourself of course, and all of your stuff!
Do you have any last questions about the application series as we wrap up this part of our vlogs? What are you most looking forward to seeing in our adventures in Florida?

How a Spender and a Saver Create a Working Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

As many of you know, I recently got married to the love of my life, Nick. Now one of the big things we've had to work on since being married is a budget. Let me tell you, that isn't easy.

I'm a chronic spender. I always have been. My book obsession alone is enough to wipe my bank account! It's hard for me to see something I want, and not be able to get it simply because it's not in the budget.

Nick, however, is a chronic saver. He hates seeing the number in the checking account go down. He tends to not consider himself a saver, because he also likes to spend money on fun things, but compared to me he's definitely better about saving the money we need.

So how do we make a budget that works if we're both so different when it comes to spending? We sit down, and budget together. Yes, you read that right. Together. If you're going to use the same budget, both people have to have input as to where the money is going. Otherwise you're going to run into the issue where the save doesn't budget for things like free spending, or the spender budgets too much for free spending! There has to be a balance.

Now one thing Nick and I are working through right now is Financial Peace University. (This post is not sponsored.) FPU is a lifestyle thought up by Dave Ramsey, based on biblical principles and ideas. As we work through FPU and the Baby Steps and get our finances on track, I was thinking it might be fun to chronicle our journey as well as give a brief overview of what the Baby Steps are. Feel free to leave a comment if that's something you want to read!

What are your tips for making a working budget with your spouse? What do you struggle with on a budget? Have you ever heard of Financial Peace University?

How I Keep My Hands Beautiful in Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

I received the Cetaphil Moisturizer and the Pure Ice nail polish free from Influenster. I was not compensated to write a review, and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, it's not secret that it gets cold and dry up here in winter. I mean cold, and dry. My hands are constantly red and cracked! I may not be a beauty blogger, but like any girl, I like to look beautiful! So when my hands are an ugly red and look like I was attacked by my cat, it's time to do something about it.

That's where Cetaphil moisturizing cream and Pure Ice nail polish come in. These two products are huge problem solvers for a girl like me! I had not even heard of Cetaphil before receiving the moisturizing cream, and I've tried a lot of moisturizing creams. I was surprised that it came in such a small container, but I figured I would give it a shot. I was amazed at how little it took to keep my hands soft and smooth all day! It's so good, I've even started using it on my dry elbows as well!

And let's not forget the gorgeous purple Pure Ice nail polish. I'm not usually one to put bright colors on my nails, but this purple is just muted enough to work with my style. It dries quickly and easily, and only took a couple of coats to cover my nails! It's a great color for wearing on a date night out, or simply to spice things up at work.

Together, the moisturizing cream and nail polish made my tired hands look like new. For someone in Washington in January, that's no small feat! These two products have quickly become my winter beauty staples, and I don't see myself replacing them anytime soon. I highly recommend you check them both out! The Cetaphil comes in different varieties, like if you have sensitive skin, and Pure Ice has tons of different colors to choose from! Both can be picked up at any local drugstore, or somewhere like Wal-Mart or Target.

Have you tried Cetaphil or Pure Ice polish before? What did you think? Is this the kind of nail polish color you would choose for your nails?

DCP Series Part 4: What to Expect Before Check-In Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome back everyone! I just want to thank you all for showing this series so much support and love the last few weeks. Next week we will have the last video before we check-in officially! We are getting more and more excited and the week goes by, and we couldn't be more ready for this next adventure in our lives. For this week's video we cover what to expect between the phone interview and arriving at check-in day!

We start by talking about what e-mails to watch for when looking for the acceptance e-mail. From there, we cover the main important e-mails Disney will send over the course of the months leading up to check-in: acceptance fees, class enrollment, new hire paperwork, housing, and check-in itinerary.
Have you applied for the Fall program? Did you participate in a past program? What other e-mails do you wish Disney would send?

OreIda Breakfast Totchos

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Influenster and OreIda for providing the tater tots for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

A couple nights ago, we stumbled upon this simple, yet delicious recipe for a breakfast casserole. It totally reminded Nick of times he had been to the local diner, when everything eventually gets mixed together on the plate as the last scrumptious bites are being devoured. (I personally hate mixing foods.) With a tater tot base stepping in for hashbrowns, eggs, cheese, and breakfast meats, this is great for any time of day. It also makes great leftovers! Prep doesn’t take long either so you don’t need to stress time constraints. The recipe came from Kraft and we used OreIda frozen tater tots, which turned out really well. We made one slight alteration from the original recipe, which is the inclusion of sharp cheddar cheese. In the Kraft version, they used heated Cheez Whiz. We both don’t like that stuff and it was so easy to just sprinkle the 2 cups of cheddar over the mix and tossing it in for a few more minutes. Melty goodness!

You Need:

1 package OreIda tator tots
Sausage patties or links (your preference)
Bacon
Shredded cheese
Butter
Eggs

We didn't measure any of the ingredients, so just eyeball what you think you will need for your family, and the amount you want to make!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Bake tater tots as directed on package.
Microwave the sausage and bacon as directed on the packages. Cut the sausages into fourths, and the bacon into halves.
Melt a little butter in a skillet. Beat eggs, then add to pan and cook until done.
Top baked tater tots with the meat and eggs. Add shredded cheese, and bake for a remaining few minutes until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

We loved that this recipe was an easy cook-everything-up-and-toss-together kind of meal, and it made plenty for lunches later. When Nick was eating it for the first time, he drizzled a little syrup over the top for a hint of sweet and that tied the experience all together, so that’s a great optional choice if that’s what you’re into.

Make this for yourself and let us know how it goes! We’d love to see some opinions in the comments, and if you decide to change it up, feel free to let us know what you did and how it went. Have any similar recipes? We’re definitely looking for great ones for our time in Florida so leave those down in the comments too!

Have you tried any of the new OreIda totchos recipes? Is this one you would try?

Depression: The Silent Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I just want to thank you all for the continued support these last few weeks, especially on our Disney College Program series. Today I'm changing it up pretty drastically with something that's been on my mind quite a bit lately.

It's no secret that I have depression. It's something I've mentioned a few times, from my diagnosis, to my connection with the movie Inside Out. Depression is a part of who I am. Sometimes though, I get so used to it, that I don't always recognize when it rears its ugly head.

Depression comes in different severities, and it can change over different seasons of life. Currently I live in the Pacific Northwest in January, which means lots and lots of rain. Very little sun peeks through the clouds for months. Not only that, but my job is rough and there are a lot of hard days. Nick and I are getting ready to move across the country, so there's just a lot going on.

This would be the worst time to get hit with even a mild bout of depression, right? It happened anyway. These last few nights I've been getting tired by 7 pm or so and then getting emotional and whiny for the amount of time I stay up after that. I wake up nauseous and tired, yet jet off to work for nine hours. It's a vicious cycle, and it keeps getting worse.

Thankfully I only have three more days of work here, and less than two weeks until we're in sunny Florida. I don't think this bout will completely go away once we move, but I do think the change and the warmth will be a big help. I may not always notice my depression, but it's there. Always.

Depression is one of the quietest things I have to deal with. I don't often hear it until its too late; it's become my silent friend.

Do you know anyone who struggles with depression? How do they cope with the easier seasons of depression?

DCP Series Part 3: How to Prepare for the WBI and Phone Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi friends! We're back with this week's Disney College Program video. For this week we are helping your prepare for the web-based interview and the phone interview with some tips and tricks to be ready for anything!

In this installment, I cover the best ways to conquer and pass the web-based interview, while Nick covers the basics of the phone interview. I wrap it up by adding some specifics to be ready for in the phone interview! Taking three phone interviews has made me a bit of a pro by now! (Just kidding.)
For those who are looking to apply for the Fall 2016 application season, applications went live almost an entire month early, and are up on the site! Check disneycollegeprogram.com for more info.
As an added side note, you may have noticed I added a custom thumbnail this time! I am going to go back and edit all my previous videos with thumbnails, as well as start editing past blog post photos. I would love opinions on the current layouts for both!
Are you applying for the Disney College Program? Do you have any other advice you would add?

Jingle VoxBox

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

I received these products free for review from Influenster. I was not compensated for this post. This post does contain referral links. At no cost to you, you can join Influenster and try products for yourself.

I love Christmastime, and I love presents. (I'm selfish, I know.) I love having cute things, and I love looking cute myself! So when I was chosen for Influenster's Jingle VoxBox, I could not have been more excited.

If you have not heard of Influenster, it's a program where you are chosen to work with brands and test products based on your life and your interests. I have yet to be disappointed by the voxboxes I have received!

For this voxbox, there was a nice variety of brands and products to test. I don't consider myself a beauty blogger, but I do love trying make-up and beauty products! So I was thrilled to get the new Kiss lashes with aloe, Pure Ice nail polish in a cute color, and NYC's 24 Hour waterproof eyeliner. These items make for a simple day-time look, without too much effort!

Living in the PNW, it gets very cold and dry here. Receiving Cetaphil's hand cream was a life saver. It keeps my hands moisturized, and is small enough to fit perfectly in a purse or coat pocket!

I love all things cute and cuddly, especially Disney related. It's no secret that the Disney princesses are my favorite, so I was thrilled to add the Rapunzel itty bitty by Hallmark to my Disney stuffy collection! She is becoming fast friends with my Frozen Tsum Tsums.

Finally, I love my coffee. Like, LOVE my coffee. I recently got a Keurig as a Christmas present from my husband, and it has become my new addiction. Because it's so easy to make coffee, I'm drinking it more and more! Biscoff cookies are the perfect companion to any flavored coffee drink. Alone the cookies have an amazing cinnamon flavor, but dipped in coffee, the flavor intensifies! Definitely a coffee snack staple.

Overall, the Jingle VoxBox was a great collection of products and brands that I now love. Many of these products have already become staples in my daily routine! Thank you Influenster for giving me the chance to try them out.

Are you a member of Influenster? Did you receive the Jingle VoxBox? Have you tried any of these products?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I wasn't feeling too well this week, so my husband stepped up and offered to post his thoughts on the new movie, Stars Wars Episode VII. We both enjoyed the movie, but he has some interesting insight and theories for the future installments! Enjoy! (Warning: Nick wrote almost four pages single spaced in Microsoft Word. He likes to write.)

Hey everyone! Ariel let me take over the blog for a day to tell you my thoughts on the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie that came out last month. I know that some of you may not have seen the movie yet, but since it has been almost a month since its release, I want to dive in as far as need be so here is your warning now. I’ll let you know when we hit dangerously spoiler-y waters. There will be some spoilers for episodes I through VI, but, let’s be honest, if you haven’t seen them at least once by now, 30-plus years ought to be long enough.

Now that that’s out of the way, I want to preface this with a quick overview of what I think of the movies that came before this one. I’ve seen them all several dozen times I’m sure (I didn’t count), and I know a good deal about them, though I’m not one of those guys that can recite them word-for-word including the alien languages (though if you are, I applaud you and perhaps pity you a little – in only the best ways, I promise).

I don’t have too much to say on the music right now, though I would love to. Obviously the music that was done for all six of the previous films was phenomenal (John Williams, if you ever read this, let’s do lunch sometime! I’m a huge fan), and I’m a total soundtrack music junkie so I would love to talk about the musical styling at some point, how it takes inspiration from Wagnerian opera with the use of leitmotifs and such, but I’m sure Ariel would like her blog back someday so I’ll keep to the point.

The effects are a different story. In the original versions of the first trilogy, George Lucas did a great job with practical effects, as computer animation didn’t exist back then, and if it did, it was still in its infancy and being experimented with, not employed as a reliably good movie making technique. Even so, the effects of the originals were very well done and are a model for many in the industry today. Likewise, the prequel trilogy used more computer-generated effects and effectively so. These movies have always worked to push the boundaries. However, I believe that the artists making these films were a bit overexcited about the medium and overused those effects, which weakened the feel of how these movies presented themselves in comparison with the originals. This will be important in my review of #7.

I personally hated a good chunk of the writing in the prequel trilogy, and I blame the bad acting of Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman mostly on that. I feel that both have acted well in other films and few could have delivered some of those scenes well with such terrible writing (“It’s because I’m so full of love,” “No, it’s because I’m so in love with you!” “So love has blinded you?”…gag me with a spoon). This wasn’t universally true, but that was the big area that I believe the prequels failed in. I’ve heard many, many people complain that the prequels were corny and had a lot of stupid jokes and gags, which I believe is true, however if you look back at the originals, they had arguably just as much if not more. They were just the first to really excel in this genre and are now classics, so we tend to be much more forgiving. Personally I think the fact that George emphasized the stormtrooper hitting his head on the door in episode IV’s later versions just because it was a stupid and funny mistake tells me that his sense of professionalism in regards to those movies went the way of Captain Needa a bit. Sure the movies were supposed to have some lighthearted humor in them and that’s excellent, but there were times in both trilogies where it ventured past funny down to stupid humor.

Obviously there is much more to say on those movies than I want to go over here, but that should give you an idea of where I am coming from. So, without further ado…

Thar be spoilers ahead!

This is the first Star Wars movie directed by someone other than George Lucas, and this garnered varying opinions from fans. Those of us who thought that George’s movies were awesome were nervous about J.J. Abrams taking the helm, while others thought that Mr. Lucas should have vacated that chair a couple movies ago. I was personally of the mindset that while he had indeed made great movies that had pushed many boundaries of filmmaking, Abrams was likely going to be an excellent choice as a director based on his interpretation of the new Star Trek series. I’m going to excuse Spock yelling “KHAN!!!” in Into Darkness from this statement, but I digress. I heard what he intended to do with the new movies, and I was thrilled. Back to elaborate costumes and practical effects we go! Those are a huge element that made the original trilogy so iconic. When I saw the movie, I was not disappointed. Now that computer animation is more mainstream, mature, and out of the “ooooh, pretty imaginary liiiights” phase, Abrams was able to blend practical and computer-generated effects really well. I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that most of BB-8 was completely practical and that he was a working droid, regardless of the technical complications of having a little droid head sitting on top of a rolling ball. Abrams could have taken the easy route and animated him entirely, but having him physically exist brought a nice sense of reality and quality to the movie. This use of computer animation to enhance practical effects and costuming brought balance to the film (see what I did there? Heh, I’m sorry) that the prequels didn’t have.

Musically, John Williams was at it again with fantastic musical scores and new themes mixed with the old, which made us wonder things like who Rey is; it seems fairly obvious to me that she has something to do with Luke based on the themes surrounding her at crucial moments. Some theorists have even used these themes to guess that Supreme Leader Snoke is actually Darth Plagueis, as Snoke’s theme material was the same as was used during the part of episode III where Palpatine was telling Anakin about Darth Plagueis’s legend. Personally, I would love for that to be true because then we’d have an antagonist we would have at least heard of and could enjoy learning more about rather than a completely new face. Possibly a bit of a stretch but I would not be surprised if that were the case based on how John Williams has used theme material in the past. Nothing like that is an accident with that composer.

The humor in this movie was one of the reasons why I consider it to be one of (if not the) best movies in the series. Where other movies used a ton of slapstick-y comedy, this one took the original feeling and cut the crap so to speak. There was humor present, but I can’t think of any of it that was stupid or made you wonder whether or not it was a mistake. This allowed for a much smoother blend between the lighthearted segments and the more serious parts of the film.

The character development was awesome in this movie. It made me care about the people in this film, even though I had never heard of them before. In the prequels, you knew enough of the main characters that nothing was really a secret so caring about them was based on their ties to the originals in most cases. In this one, they risked making a roster of forgettable characters, which would likely have effectively ruined the series, especially since they seem to be in the process of killing off the old crowd. In that regard, I loved the way that the writers and J.J. Abrams handled the death of Han Solo, even though I hated to see him go. It wasn’t corny and gave a different flavor to the film, and I’m curious how they’ll deal with that in the upcoming entries in the series. I’m not sure what they plan to do with Finn, because he was the one character that I must say I went in and out of enjoying. He seemed like an awesome, heroic person at times and a total chicken other times. His confused character got a bit old, and I can’t really explain why. Maybe it was because he was up against such well-defined characters from the new lineup and the old. I hope they dig into his story and personality much more later. Rey was cast extremely well and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her develop into a budding jedi-to-be. She had her lighthearted humor and a seriously tough attitude, and Daisy Ridley owns that character. I thought that she and the majority of this group was casted perfectly. There was only one character that I didn’t like the actor for, and that was Adam Driver as Kylo Ren (or Ben Solo if you prefer). I thought he did a decent job as Han and Leia’s son, and I get that maybe they were trying to make him resemble Hayden from the prequels, but I personally think that his performances, especially toward the end, were a bit lackluster. When I compare his acting to that of those around him, I hope he really digs into his character next time and not just the script. That being said, I thought he did a good job and what he was able to do still added to the movie significantly. As a last point in this area, Luke could have used a few lines…just saying.

Now, I have a couple questions about this movie that I’m hoping will be answered in the next installments. The first is that of Rey and Snoke’s true identities. I mentioned this above of course, along with my thoughts, but I really hope they don’t drag that out too long. Heck, Darth Vader’s true identity was revealed in the second movie so my hopes are high. Secondly, and I’m really hoping they have a good reason for this, why was it that R2-D2 randomly awoke from his low-power state at the end of the movie? There seemed to be no logical reason for it aside from driving the plot, and Star Wars can do better than that. I hope that they talk about that in the upcoming film. A final group of questions was brought about by the lightsaber that was given to Rey and finally accepted by her in the end. It was said to be Luke’s lightsaber, as well as Anakin’s. Obviously Anakin’s ownership of the saber (along with its color and construction) means that it is not the one that Luke used in episode VI, but is in fact the one that Luke lost when Vader cut of his hand on Bespin. That weapon fell all the way down that chasm-like tube as far as we know. This brings forth a couple questions that need answering. The first is, unless it was caught partway down its fall, how did the lightsaber not break after that great a distance? It may seem a bit trivial but I would think it was dumb if they glossed over that one. Even Star Wars has some semblance of physics and they definitely aren’t indestructible. Secondly, how did Maz get it? They’ve teased that answer in episode VII so I’m sure they’ll follow through there. Lastly, how did Kylo Ren recognize the lightsaber without ever seeing it? Sure it was blue but it was also dark and in a snowstorm, so I don't know how he could have possibly recognized it while gripped in the Finn's hands. How did he even hear about it? I'd think that even if Snoke knew about it, he or Luke would probably not even think to mention it since it had been lost so long and lightsabers could still be made if one was lost. There are many more questions that are of less significance in my mind, but these seemed to be the most pertinent ones to ask. I’d love to know if you have any thoughts or theories so definitely leave a comment if you want to share! Try to include some potential proof toward any theories if you can.

All in all, I thought that episode VII was a fantastic breath of new life to the Star Wars universe. Though some might be angry that they disregarded plot lines in most books that have come out in preceding years and restarting the canon, I find it more engaging that we won’t know what really happens, and ultimately I trust the team behind these movies because of their interactions with George Williams and that they have taken his opinions on the plot lines. It was a fun movie to watch, left me with questions, made me care about what happened to these people that I’d never met just as the original trilogy did, and was faithful to the spirit of the series. I enjoyed it more than pretty much anything in the series thus far, and I’m very excited for what is coming next. Hopefully Luke will even get a line in this time!

Have you seen the new movie yet? Did you enjoy it? What are you hoping for in the rest of the trilogy?

DCP Series Part 2: How to Apply for the Disney College Program

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Welcome back to part 2 of our Disney College Program series. Last week was a big hit , and we really enjoyed filming it! This week we're moving into the application process.

For this week, we cover how to fill out the application for the Disney College Program, as well as what information to have on hand. It may seem like an easy enough application, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared! Disney will ask some questions you may not be prepared for.

Next week we will be discussing the web-based interview and the phone interview! We'll let you know how to pass the dreaded WBI, and what questions to be expecting for the phone interview.

What other questions do you have about the application? Do you know anyone who has applied for the Disney College Program?

January Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! This month is becoming one crazy month. I'm keeping up on my posting schedule, getting ready to move to Florida, and planning more blog post series for you guys! Are you ready for some exciting content?

December Re-Cap

Blog and Social Media Goals:

1. ~~Post at least twice a week.~~ Done! I was very successful at scheduling posts which really helped.

2. Get back into regular vlogging. Sort of? I did a few more vlogs than normal, but not too many. With the DCP series moving forward, you'll be seeing more of my face soon!

3. ~~Reach 1000 followers on Twitter.~~ Done! I surpassed that goal by a landslide.

4. Be more active on Instagram. Sort of. I posted more, but I still am not interacting with my feed much.

5. ~~Finish setting up my blogging binder~~. Done! It's been super helpful already.

Personal Goals:

1. Get back into planning. Big fail. Going to try again this month!

2. ~~Spend less time wasting time with Facebook/iPhone games.~~ Success! I cut down on the number of Facebook AND iPhone games I play! It's still a decent amount, but much less time-consuming.

3. ~~Start reading again.~~ Success? I did finish a book and review it, and I'm working through a few more.

January Goals

Blogging and Social Media Goals:

1. Grow my e-mail list. I have been sending out bi-weekly digests as well as minor updates that I don't post on the blog. I am hoping to grow my list to at least 30 subscribers by the end of the month if I can, but even a little growth would be progress! Want to help me out?

2. Post 3x weekly. So far, I have done this. I do have a full editorial calendar filled out for this month, so as long as I stick to it, I'm golden!

3. Clean up my Pinterest. Both my boards and pins need some serious deep-cleaning. Time to purge!

4. Clean up Instagram follows. After reading Summer's post about why the follow for follow method doesn't help your Instagram growth, I realized this was why I had been having such a hard time interacting on Instagram. My feed became so overwhelming, I didn't want to check it! Time to cull some follows.

Personal Goals:

1. Continue reading in my spare time. Now that I've been reading again, I realize how much I've missed it!

2. Finish purging and packing for Florida. This will get done either way, since we fly out the 31st of this month. However, I feel writing it down will help motivate me to do it!

3. Read our couple's devotional daily. We really enjoy spending this personal time together, so I'm looking forward to continuing this!

What do you think of my goals? Did you make any goals this month?

Review: Oasis (The Last Humans #1)

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

I received this book free for review through Tomoson I was not required to post a positive review, and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Oasis (The Last Humans Book 1) by Dima Zales and Anna Zaires

Release Date: January 19, 2016

Publisher: Mozaika Publications

Genre: Sci-Fi

Series: The Last Humans #1

Pages: 368

Format: eBook

Buy It: Amazon

A new dystopian/post-apocalyptic series from a New York Times bestselling author:

My name is Theo, and I'm a resident of Oasis, the last habitable area on Earth. It's meant to be a paradise, a place where we are all content. Vulgarity, violence, insanity, and other ills are but a distant memory, and even death no longer plagues us.

I was once content too, but now I'm different. Now I hear a voice in my head, and she tells me things no imaginary friend should know. Her name is Phoe, and she is my delusion.

Or is she?

Note: This book contains some strong language. We felt it was important for the censorship theme of the novel. If such words offend you, you might not enjoy this book.

I'll admit, it took me awhile to get into this book. There is very little backstory in the beginning, making it hard to follow. Once the main character gives a little backstory to Oasis and why they came to be there, the action picks up quickly after and I was on the edge of my seat from there until the end.

I love a good sci-fi, especially if it's post-apocalyptic focused. This book hit both of those beautifully, and wove them together into a highly interesting story keeping me engaged and ready for the next book. Definitely a great novel!

DCP Series Part 1: What is the Disney College Program?

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Hi friends! Today I'm starting the series that I have been stoked about debuting since I thought about it. As I've mentioned before, Nick and I were accepted into the Disney College Program for Spring 2016. We thought it would be fun to share our experiences from our last program and moving into our new program! That's where this series was born.

In this first installment of our series, Nick and I talk about what the program is, what the basic requirements are for applying, and how we found out about our first programs. We also tease future videos, so check back both here and on my YouTube channel each Monday for more about the Disney College Program!

Have you heard of the Disney College Program before? What are your biggest questions you wanted answered in this series?

One Word for 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Ariel Wilson) — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Hello friends! Can you believe 2016 is finally here? Where did this year go?! In preparing for the new year, I sat down to really think about how I wanted my blog to move forward into the new year. I had a lot of ideas, but not a lot of concrete goals. I decided I needed to focus on one central theme in 2016.

I chose one word to focus all blog related decisions and involvements. I considered many words, but I finally settled on one that made me feel good about myself, and the direction my blog would take.

I chose quality.

While I don't feel like my posts these past few months have been lacking in quality, I don't think that they have been the best quality I can put out. That isn't fair to me and what I'm capable of, and that isn't fair to you, my readers.

I also don't think my blog layout is of the best quality it can be either. You may have already noticed the redesign in the post photo, and that's a hint of things to come. I am planning on redesigning my header and logo, and making my blog layout a better picture of who I am as a person, a writer, and a blogger.

Quality is what you should think of when you visit my blog. I don't think any reader would come to my blog right now and think of Keys to My Life as a quality blog. That's painful to admit, but it's honest. I'm needing this honesty to help fuel me and propel me into 2016 and the greater goals I'm setting for myself and this blog.

So where does that leave you, my readers? I hope it leaves you wanting more. I hope it leaves you excited and eager for the changes coming to the blog. And I hope it leaves you wanting to give me honest feedback if you don't see quality in the future. I deserve honesty, to be the best blogger I can be.

Quality is more than just a word. It's a focus, a word that leads Keys to My Life towards the goals I've set for 2016.

What do you think of the word I've chosen? Do you like this idea? Have you chosen a focus word for yourself in 2016?