1L: Month One

So, I’m on week five of law school. So far so good. I’ve survived being cold called a few times, I’ve dug through hundreds of pages of cases and statutes and rules, and I love every minute of it. Weird, right?

Things I love about school: free lunches, speakers, tons of activities and groups, new friends, library time, yoga, fitness classes and how nice everyone is. Almost every lunch period I’ve had somewhere to go listen to someone talk about an area of the law or something pertaining to school in general. Usually these talks include food of some sort, which is an added bonus! I’ve gotten to listen to a couple visiting speakers, the most interesting to me so far being the visitors from West Africa. I loved learning about how the law works in that part of the world and how they are trying to develop something like the EU in Africa. I have also noticed how there is never ending activities, so I’m never at a loss for what to do weeknights or weekends. Whether it be a football game, trivia night, or the upcoming barrister’s ball- I love the endless activities that I can choose to attend. I also love our library. Up to this point I’ve never used a library really and I enjoy using a few hours at the end of each school day to try to wrap up a bulk of my work there in that serene setting surrounded by my peers all doing similar work. Also, I love how genuine this school is, everyone really does care about how you are doing and if you are enjoying school. I’ve also had the benefit of taking advantage of the fitness classes and brand new facilities on east campus for much needed late-afternoon study breaks.

I’ve found a great rhythm already and I’m starting to get in the groove of everything, I’m awaiting the return of my first practice test and we’ve just been assigned our first graded legal writing assignment. So time to start working even harder.

This post is mainly for me to organize my thoughts, but I figured I might add some notes for people perhaps considering law school.

What to expect:

• you are going to work harder in law school then you ever have in undergrad
• the professors are there to help you, don’t be afraid to approach them with questions or ask questions in class
• being cold called sucks, but no one will judge you if you don’t give a brilliant answer
• make a schedule for reading and life in general, it really helps, trust me
• don’t waste time sitting doing silly things unless you are purposefully unwinding
• make sure you take breaks from school, burnout is a real thing
• exercise, law school requires lots of sitting, but staying healthy is key to getting everything done, so be sure to get in a workout- I paid for a workout class membership to encourage me to workout at a scheduled time each day, so far it is working pretty well!
• set goals and make sure you reach them
• try out a study group, talking things out helps you understand
• ask silly questions (simple questions) if you have them
• start outlining when you start to have an idea what is going on, keep outlining once you start
• read the case once before you attack it with the highlighters
• color coding highlighters helps me pick out the different parts of cases and helps when cold called in class (ex. green = facts of the case)
• be a human, take a day off once in a while when you can to help relieve stress and come back more prepared to start work again

Overall, so far I love school. I’ve found the reading long but interesting, so I think I’m in the right place. Keep looking here for more updates as I have time to write them, this blog is serving as an unwinding tool for me- but feel free to comment if you have any questions about law school, or any tips for me as a 1L if you’ve finished or are further along in law school than I am!

1L over and out.

Be a Traveler not a Tourist: Part 1

go somewhere

So many people go on trips every year (sometimes more) and really don’t get anything out of it. Although I know that everyone has different ways of wanting to go on vacation, I hope that this post can give people an idea of how they can travel, let’s just say “better” than before. Not forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to do, just wanting people to think about what happens in places where tourism is such a big part of that place. So many people go somewhere typical (which is fine) and just check off the things one should see in that location. Example, I’m going to Rome so I’ll see the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps. Then I’ll go have some pasta and some gelato and perhaps some wine. Check, Rome is done, I’ve seen enough- maybe some day I’ll come back when I have more time. FALSE. Try something different, go outside your comfort zone.

I’ve been on a lot of cruises (which by the way are very cool and a great way to get a taste of so many different places in a very short time) and it is really hard not to just be a tourist on these trips. You are drug around in a group of individuals clad in walking shoes, D-SLRs around everyone’s neck, and of course the lovely walkie talkie contraptions or “whispers” as some guides call them also draped around one’s neck. You look foolish, but you get to see a lot this way. The problem is the only thing you are doing is SEEING a lot, you aren’t diving into the culture head first. The first time I went overseas I just spent a lot of time looking at the sights and I didn’t really get a lot out of the trip other than I saw a lot of cool things, basically all I was doing was following the tour group and seeing what was in front of me. I wanted my next trip to be something I got a lot out of both educationally and emotionally, but I’m different like that, I use travel as a way to express myself and learn more about myself. That isn’t how everyone likes to do things, but I’ve found I really come back from trips feeling overall better about myself if I really immerse myself into the locations I visit.

go somewhere and don’t just follow the leader

Let’s make this silly situation better! Let’s say you ARE on one of these tours and you aren’t off on your own (which I find is always the best way to see anywhere if you have more time and aren’t on a time constraint- if you are on something like a cruise I do think the shore excursions are the best way to get the most bang for your buck ), there are plenty of ways you can still discover what your destination is all about. Most trips give you some free time to eat or shop, take advantage of that! Find a map, wander down some side streets, get kinda lost and then figure out your way back to where you came from- it really gives you a sense of accomplishment to be able to find your way around somewhere completely foreign to you. It also makes you figure out what makes that place tick. Do the places to eat/drink get cheaper as you walk down side streets and get further away from tourist traps and closer to where people actually live? Usually it does. These are also AMAZING places to eat because it is where the locals eat, so usually a more reasonable price and you get the chance to talk to people who aren’t used to having THOUSANDS of tourists encroaching on their space every single day. From personal experience this is when I’ve really learned the most about cultures elsewhere is just by doing this little trick, going off the beaten path. Sometimes you don’t even have to go that far to find places with menus only in the local language (MOST of the time you can get by with English, but I find that it is polite to try to communicate in the local language first before going to English). Remembering you are a visitor to someone else’s home, be polite and be willing to try new things and talk to new people. You never know who will be willing to talk to you or what you will encounter. That is truly the beauty of traveling.

The times that I’ve strayed off the beaten path have been fantastic. I’ve found great hidden places to eat, lovely shops, and amazing people. I’ve wandered around places in Italy, France, Spain, Scotland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Monaco, Alaska, Canada, New York, Turkey, Malta, and so many more places. Each destination has something to teach you, my goal each time I travel is to discover what exactly I’m learning from that place. Holland taught me that I CAN find my way around a city I’ve only been in for literally minutes, Greece taught me to see the beauty in simplicity, Scotland taught me to appreciate the beauty of the world around me and England taught me that I can be so much more than I ever thought I could. Traveling really has helped me find direction and meaning to my life and traveling alone has helped even more.

go somewhere ready to try to “fit in”

Do research before you visit another country, learn how to say hello and thank you at the very least. I know so many people that complain about people who visit America or even move to America not being able to speak any English, give other countries the experience you want to have with foreigners, or at least try! Learning languages can be fun and a great family activity to do before embarking on a cruise or going on a trip if you are going somewhere as a family. Duolingo is a great little app that gets you started with the basics  Look into customs such as dress and body language. For examples there are cultures where one finger pointing not something you should do. Always be aware of things like that. Walk with a purpose, don’t feel bad about stopping to take photos, but be respectful of the people around you. Don’t stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk, go off out of the way so the people who live there can continue to go about their daily business.  Always carry currency of the country you are in, don’t expect places to “just take” the dollar because you think they should. (I’ve seen this happen in a few different countries, the end result was never a friendly exchange…).

This blog has mainly covered the basics of how to turn what would have been a straightforward tourist experience into something where you become a traveler and really start to learn about other cultures and places in a more personal and in depth way. Remembering everyone has their preferred way of traveling and I’m not looking to boss people around into changing how they vacation, this is purely food for thought and a reflection on how I like to travel.

Look for more in this series of posts, I hope it helps others prepare for travel abroad (and even in their own country). I’m aiming to help others grow through travel the way I have, it really is a way of life and once that travel bug bites you there really is no better way to learn more about yourself or relax.

Tour of Epot: Featuring World Showcase

Until recently EPCOT had not been on my list of favorite places to visit. After this last visit when I had tons of free time to do research about what all to do in EPCOT I have decided this is one of the coolest places, like anywhere. Basically if you can’t decide what kind of food you want to eat, go to EPCOT. You can sample everything and anything.

EPCOT: future world

Start the journey around EPCOT by trying soda from around the world.

In future world, right behind Spaceship Earth, Coca-Cola has a storefront that not only sells coca-cola products but has a soda station that lets you sample crazy concoctions from around the world. Some taste awesome, others not so much! It’s a great place to get a free drink too.

My favorite ride in EPCOT? Hands down Test Track!

What about the rides? My favorite in EPCOT has to be Test Track. We hadn’t been able to ride this attraction in almost four years so it was really fun to be able to see what they changed. I think this is one of the most well done rides in all the parks.

Sponsored by Chevy!

I’ll probably do an in depth post about this ride at some point, but I’ll do just a quick overview of the ride right now. There are three lines: standby, single rider and fastpass. Single rider is always a great way to get on this ride with a little less wait time (but you may be split up from your group). You get to design your own car and then compare how your car did against the other riders in the car. Then after the ride you can do all sorts of activities with your car that is saved onto your magic band or park pass. Things like making a commercial and taking your photo with your car, really fun and you can spend lots of time designing more cars and looking around in the showroom- even checking out the latest line-up of Chevrolet cars!

Character Spot in Epcot

The character spot in EPCOT is a great place to see three main characters- usually Mickey, Minnie and Goofy! Wait in line once and see all three instead of hunting each one down! There is also a fastpass available for the Character Spot.

There is also a large gift shop in future world that has lots of both EPCOT themed and WDW themed gifts and keepsakes. I found a few cool things in here and left with a great long sleeved EPCOT shirt!

Other spots to visit would be Soarin’, Captain EO (featuring Michael Jackson), and the Refreshment Port to grab a cronut!

EPCOT: world showcase

Now onto my favorite part: world showcase! If you’ve never been it is a must see! Imagine the giant tourist draws from each country shoved around one little lagoon, one after another. Featuring food and entertainment from each country that is represented it really is a great place to try new food and drink as well as be entertained. There is at least one major restaurant in each country and plenty of table service as well as quick service and cart options. Be sure to make reservations in advance at the table service options though! I’ll take you through a quick “tour” via some of my photos I took while I was recently there! Let’s start with Canada, ‘eh!

Canada- World Showcase in EPCOT

There is merchandise in each country- here’s a shirt from Canada!

If there is any type of show in that part of the “world” there will be a schedule of the times they will be appearing!

We were lucky enough to catch some of the lumberjack show as we were walking around world showcase- very entertaining!

Rose and Crown pub in the Britain part of world showcase. There is also a place to get fish and chips that is quick service, the rest of the eating establishments are table service.

Oh-la-la, Paris in Florida! France has some spectacular table service options as well as a quick service cart that serves crepes!

Set up in France to look just like it does in Paris, very realistic!

Morocco is very vibrant and the windy paths make it feel like you could actually be in Morocco!

A live music performance in Morocco

Restaurant Marrakesh- table service meal, excellent quality food, fast service and live music and performances! (Located in the VERY back of Morocco)

The little details everywhere really make these places feel like you are in the actual location instead of the middle of Florida!

One last shot from Morocco, I loved the design on this fountain.

Torii Gate in Japan

Lantern in Japan.

Koi pond in Japan- be sure to check out the stores and places to eat in Japan, there is lots of great food and things to see- watching the pearls in the gift shop was fantastic!

Italy! They have gelato- we’ve had it before but not on this last trip- it was pretty yummy! Be sure to venture all the way into Italy, it is almost like being there!

The decoration for a food cart in Italy- looks like a little donkey is pulling a load around town!

Fountain (also in Italy).

Germany! The land of beer and delicious food! Be sure to check out the Werther’s caramel store full of delightfully delicious snacks including fresh caramel corn!

In the little square there are giant cuckoo clocks that put on little shows!

Be sure to check out the specialty beer from the beer stand in Germany!

The grapefruit beer is my favorite!

Germany is also a great spot to stop if you are “drinking around the world”. My “drinking around the world” consisted of me carrying my one beer around world showcase! 😉

Try the food in Norway, the sandwiches are great and there are great deserts as well- try the Troll’s Horn!

China! Be sure to stop by and see the acrobats that often perform in front of China!

Be sure to stick around and watch Illuminations if you can! It’s a great show and is pretty early (9pm) so the kiddos can easily stay up for that fireworks show!

I ran out of willpower by the time we got to Mexico, so this isn’t a complete tour- but I hope you got the taste for what is available at EPCOT! I can’t wait to come back soon and try more food and drinks and take more photos, Epcot truly is different from all of the other park experiences and if you choose to go to one other park other than Magic Kingdom I would pick EPCOT- especially if you have older kids or mostly adults!

Also- in the gift shop they have passports you can buy and you can have proof that you visited every country in World Showcase!

What I learned during my unexpected “gap” year

things don’t always go according to plan

And for me after graduating from college, things certainly did NOT go according to my life plan I had plotted out for myself in my head. I had always pictured myself graduating from undergrad and then either going right on to law school with no problem or accepting a fantastic job in my chosen career field.

This was far from what happened…very far. I accepted an unpaid internship in marketing and was rejected from the two law schools I applied to. I applied to thousands of jobs- and I mean thousands and only got responses from three employers. One was a part time opportunity over 1,000 miles from me that required me to relocate and the others were either pyramid scheme jobs in disguise or a “build your client list” type job…neither was anything I wanted to commit to.

the feeling that things will surely never go your way again

Around let’s say the beginning of October after I graduated I started to feel defeated, like things would never look up. Nothing was going my way. My horse was unrideable, I had been rejected from my grad school choices, I couldn’t find a job that would allow me to move out of my childhood home and I had very little motivation to keep trying. It was disheartening, I had never had this kind of experience before, actual failure. I graduated with honors from a pretty good university, but that didn’t seem to matter, I was still not successful.

Seeing everyone else seem to have success on their facebook pages was disheartening, but one thing to keep in mind during tough times is that no one ever glorifies the hard times in their lives, they only want to share the positives. So I started to look at the positives and think about what I could do to change my life so I could get back on track.

Regrouping

After being able to show a friend’s horse at a horse show in KC, I regrouped and got back on track with what I needed to be doing. My parents encouraged me to take a LSAT prep course and I signed up and began taking it. Just the idea of having a schedule again really helped me. Even though I worked two jobs and did photography jobs on the side, I still really hadn’t gotten into a groove since everything was very flexible and subject to change.

I put my heart and soul into studying for that silly test, after lots of terrible practice scores and going through thousands of pages of workbooks and hours of class, I got my LSAT score back in January and happily was able to apply to law schools with the confidence that THIS time would be different.

and it was different

I got accepted. Not to just one school but to seven! It was thrilling, even though I got rejected from my dream/goal school, I got offered scholarships, sent bumper stickers and tons of emails telling me I was the perfect candidate for their school. It was uplifting and fantastic to finally have something turn positive. I had a future, I was going to law school. This is my chance to have a second chance at doing things correctly. I know what I need to do to be successful now, and if I fail this time I have no one to blame but myself- but I know I have what it takes, I have the drive and the will to make being a lawyer something that can be a reality. I have a plan and I’ve promised myself I have to make good on at least most of that plan.

how i would have handled this differently

My advice to everyone who is going into college, is in college, or is facing an unexpected gap year is this. If you are going to college now- a new freshman- please remember to take school seriously, this is a time to discover yourself and find out what you  are good at and what you want to do with the rest of your life. Try new things, meet new people, join a group, go greek, play sports, get involved, and go to class.

If you are in college, be sure that you are taking advantage of your opportunities. Ask for help finding internships because those internships will lead to a job somewhere. Network, make business cards and give them to potential employers. Keep your social media something you are proud that people will find when they google your name. Be smart and finish strong.

Unexpected gap year headed your way? Find a job that will keep you above water, any job, it can literally be anything that makes you money. Pet sit, house sit, baby sit, drive for lyft, do something. Don’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself that your life isn’t going according to plan. It happens to a lot more people than you think. Find something that you live and get immersed in it- this will help you re-prioritize and find out what direction you want to go, what way you really want to go, not what people have been telling you for your entire life. Once you’ve found that direction, start running that way and don’t stop until you’ve reached your goal whatever it may be. You can do it.

recap

Surround yourself with people who support you, or who have your best interest in mind. These people will help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Stay away from negativity.

Travel. See something new that inspires you to think. Travel is more inspirational than you think. It allows you to find yourself in a new place, you realize what is important to you and who are the people that will allow you to be yourself. It helps you grow and become a better person. Solo travel is even better, it can be scary at first, but it is worth every second of fear. You will prove to yourself that you are stronger than you ever thought you could be.

Disconnect from social media and technology for a bit. Re-prioritize your life and remember what is important. Don’t do things just because you’ll get a cool instagram photo. Do things because you want to, a cool photo is just an added bonus sometimes.

Set goals and make sure you meet them, give yourself rewards when you make it. This helps keep you on track and moving forward. Moving forward is key.

Don’t be afraid to have a little fun, let loose and go out with friends. Don’t forget where you came from but know where you want to go, or at least go try to figure out where you want to go. (And I’m not talking about bar hopping, I’m talking about life lol).

Never give up friends. You are strong and can turn your life into whatever you want it to be. Be open to new things, be flexible. Be willing to make a change or start from the bottom if you have to. You can do it.

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show Review

Have you ever wanted to experience a luau while staying stateside? Planning on visiting Walt Disney World anytime soon? Look no further than Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Village.

Check in for the shows begins an hour prior to your seating time. Ours was 5:15 so we could start checking in at 4:15 in the lobby of the Polynesian Resort. You will be given a slip of paper with your server’s name on it and you bring that to luau cove after you check in.

Shows are held Tuesdays through Saturdays with show times at 5:15 and 8:15. Price of the show includes an all you care to eat meal with all you care to drink beer and wine as well as soft drinks as well as a dinner show featuring dances from the different Polynesian islands.

Signs direct you to luau cove after you leave the lobby, you go left outside the main lobby and follow the signs, it is a bit of a walk so if you are unable to walk distances well be sure to give yourself ample time or ask a cast member for a golf cart ride perhaps.

Upon checking in each member of your party will receive a lei. Something both the kids and adults alike enjoy! It is yours to keep as a souvenir of the show!

The menu for the dinner show

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show- Strawberry Daiquiri, the cup is yours to keep

When making reservations you can pick what tier seating you would like to be seated at the price range is not significant, so I think it was worth it to pay a little bit extra per person to get the front seating so you can enjoy the show better.

Salad portion, delicious salad and pineapple and noodle salad as a starter

Main meal, chicken, ribs, brisket and veggies. The brisket was my favorite.

Pineapple bread pudding- delicious! Be sure to ask for seconds!

The meal was pretty good, I especially enjoyed the salad, the brisket and the bread pudding! Now for the fun part- the show!

Dancers come out before you finish your meal as a sort of teaser- invite the kids up to learn a dance and then leave you to finish your meal before they come back for the rest of the show.

The second part of the show is dedicated to the different styles of dance from the different parts of Polynesia- it is both interesting and fun to watch! I’m not sure which dance was from which area but I got some fun photos to share!

Loved the outfit that went with this dance

Fire dance was by far my favorite and for sure the crowd favorite as well!

Overall, I really think this is worth the money and it is a great experience. Both kids and adults will love this- our group was all adults and we all enjoyed the food and the show. If you have any allergies they will tailor the meal to fit your needs- so no worries on that side of things!

Disney Vacation Club: Tricks and Tips

Introduction to vacation club

If you’ve never heard of Disney Vacation Club and are curious to learn more, please start reading here, if you know a bit about DVC feel free to skip this intro section and move on to the “tips and tricks sections”.

There are a variety of different resorts to choose from when you buy into Disney Vacation Club. There are currently 9 resorts at WDW (I’m sure more will be built in the future), they include: Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Villas at Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, and the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. In Disneyland there is the Villas at the Grand Californian. In addition to the park resorts there are three beach resorts that are destinations within themselves: Aulani in Hawaii, Vero Beach in Florida, and Hilton Head in South Carolina.

DVC operates on a point system. You buy a certain number of points and each year in your predetermined month you are rewarded that amount of points to use. You can use these points at the DVC resorts but they can also be exchanged for Disney Cruises, Adventures by Disney and partner hotel rooms around the globe. However, the most bang for your buck is to use them at the DVC resorts, if you want to do a different kind of vacation other than what the resorts offer, your best bet may be to rent out your points for that year and then use that money towards the vacation you wish to do.

Another bonus of having DVC is that when you go to the parks your room is larger than a regular studio and includes a microwave and a mini fridge and if there is no washer/dryer in your room you get tokens for free laundry! The one bedrooms and up have a full kitchen so you can make your own meals and save some money in the parks!

The initial cost to join is rather large, but continues to get larger each year so if you think this might be for you and you have the ability to join go ahead and do so before prices go up, you can always sell your contract if you find DVC is not for you. Keep in mind you will have to pay annual dues/maintenance every year so keep that in mind when you pick which resort to buy into.

Mickey Ice Cream bar

best ways to use points

There are plenty of options when it comes to using DVC points, but there are ways to get more bang for your buck! I’ve compiled a list of things to do to ensure you can go on more vacations- if that is indeed your goal!

1. Stay during the less busy season. This means the point chart will be in your favor and you can stay at all of the resorts for less points. This also means you can stay longer, or stay in a bigger room or even at a nicer resort if that is what you are looking for.
2. Stay in studios instead of one or two bedrooms. Sometimes it ends up being cheaper point wise to stay in a bunch of studios instead of the larger suites, be sure to check the point chart so you are getting the most for your points!
3. Rent points out and use the money toward cruising, or do half points/half cash to pay for the cruise so you can stretch the points as long as you can- the same applies to adventures by Disney.
4. Don’t be afraid to resort hop- stay a few nights at a monorail resort and then spend the rest of the time at a cheaper point resort for different experiences and point savings!
5. Try to use points for DVC resorts, not for exchange programs or cruise and adventures by Disney, the points go so much further at the resorts, but if you really want to use points for these things go ahead.

Fountain in Toontown

Travel hints and General tips

When you buy into DVC it comes with some perks- be sure that you utilize them! For example there are member get-togethers on board DCL and in the parks, just call member services or ask when you get to your destination for what is offered for members- and usually we get lanyards and sometimes hats when we ask what is going on for members. There are also special events that go on from time to time like the Typhoon Lagoon beach party that are going on later this summer.

Remember you get discounts throughout downtown Disney and in all of the parks and some of the resorts, a list can be found on line, but be sure to carry your membership card around with you and ask everywhere you go if there is a DVC discount- it never hurts to ask and many locations offer a discount!

At DVC resorts your self-service laundry is free! Even if you don’t stay in a unit with a washer and dryer you can ask for tokens to use in the laundry rooms!

Member lockers are a great way to leave stuff that you need at the park and not have to drag it back in forth, another good thing to look into if you visit the parks frequently!

Dining plans are available for DVC members and their guests while staying at a DVC resort- an opportunity only offered to those staying on packages if you are just the general public.

You aren’t charged extra when two or more adults (+18) are staying in a room, if you are not in DVC the resorts charge extra!

Conclusion

Overall, if you are planning on vacationing at Disney for at least the next 15-20 years (if not longer) DVC is a great idea for you! Even better if you have the cash to pay for the points at hand and you are wanting to stay at deluxe resorts and for sometimes extended periods of time, or a few shorter vacations a year. DVC isn’t for everyone, so if you aren’t a Disney die-hard, it is not recommended- but if you love all things Disney and think that you will continue to vacation at Disney, this is the program for you!

Family Trips: Kiawah Island, SC

Looking for a relaxing family vacation spot that is a little bit off the beaten track and is sure to please the whole family? Look no further than Kiawah Island, SC just outside of Charleston.

There are a few different ways to stay on Kiawah- this gated community has lots of rental properties and there is also a hotel on property for shorter stays. We rent a house for a week and tend to share it with our extended family as to make the price more reasonable- there are houses in every price range and the upper end homes even have pools and beach views!

Things to do

• Golf- Kiawah is a world class golf resort with plenty of challenging courses for the avid golfer

Osprey Point Golf Course

• Tennis- beautiful tennis facilities, kids camps, clinics and lessons are available
• Kids Camps- Camp Kiawah has great activities for kids and a great way to keep your child busy during vacation and keep them learning and being creative!
• Family activities- fireworks at forth of July, tie-dying t-shirts and more! Check the schedule upon arrival!
• Boating/Fishing- plenty of opportunities to fish, crab, shrimp, kayak, canoe and more! Outings and rentals are available

• Beach- just rent some umbrellas and chairs and sit back and enjoy the peaceful sound of the ocean on this miles long beach with lovely dunes.

The seagulls love eating leftover lunch!

Look for beautiful shells at low tide

• Wildlife viewing- look for the beautiful wildlife that calls the island home as well as view beautiful sunsets over the marsh looking for dolphins!

Gators are easy to find at Osprey Point Golf Club!

Ghost Crab on the beach

Shells of horseshoe crabs

Sunsets at Rhetts Bluff

Beautiful sunsets

• Biking is a great way to see the island as well as get a little bit of a workout in!

Biking on the beach is a great way to ride to the point of the island where dolphins are often there!

• Day trip to Charleston

A trip to the Tea Plantation is a great rainy day activity

A tea plant!

Firefly Distillery is a great adult activity- also they have a petting zoo area for the kids.

Tasting the goods at Firefly!

Petting zoo area at Firefly

Pralines in Charleston

Carriage ride in downtown Charleston is a great way to see the city!

The city market is a great place to browse.

There also are so many wonderful places to eat on the island and in the surrounding areas- some of our favorites include Jasmine Porch at the Sanctuary Hotel, Cherrywood BBQ on the island, and Charleston Crab house!

Hope you enjoyed this post- links for more information on Kiawah Island can be found below.

http://www.kiawahresort.com/

Disney Dilemma: Cruise or Park?

When it comes to planning a Disney Vacation you have endless opportunities to do so many different things, all centered around our favorite mouse!

I’ve had many people ask whether they should spring for a Disney Cruise or if they should go to the park, which was the better way to have a Disney vacation? There of course is no right or wrong answer- it just depends what your budget is and when and where you want to travel and what you want to do. If you just can’t decide- there are always the land and sea packages so you can do both!

So- like anything else I blog about, I usually make a list- if items on the list apply to you for the particular vacation experience you are wanting to have then look further into that destination! I hope this serves as a helpful tool for those who are deciding what kind of vacation to take!

You should cruise if:

• You have a fairly large budget (or if you don’t you are willing to compromise on stateroom or length of cruise)
• You love eating (so many great food options and so much is already included!)
• Your kids will utilize the kids areas (or your over-sized kids will utilize the fantastic adults only areas)
• You are willing to pay more than other cruise lines in exchange for the unforgettable Disney experience
• You enjoy live stage Broadway like performances
• You want a place where your family can all go and do their own thing and/or stick together and do family activities as well
• You want to experience the fantastic rotational dining Disney Cruise Line has to offer
• You don’t mind paying for shore excursions or doing some research on the ports you stop in and doing your own thing (remembering the boat doesn’t wait for you if you are on your own!)
• You want to have an opportunity to have something for every member of your family to do at any given time
• Your kids are more independent and like doing things on their own (kids club activities and teen spaces)
• You want to see different parts of the world with the comfort of knowing Disney is your guide
• You have smaller children (babysitting is available for charge for those children not yet old enough for the kids spaces)
• You want to see fireworks on the high seas and experience open air deck parties and princess gatherings and special character meet and greets
• You want to see the places on the itinerary of the cruise you’ve chosen or you don’t care where the cruise is going and just want time to relax and enjoy the ship

You should go to a Disney Park if:

• You have a smaller budget (you can always just stay in a Disney Resort Hotel and get the Disney experience without even paying to go inside the parks)
• You love rides and want to see the Disney theme parks and all they have to offer
• You want to do more family activities together and less splitting up
• You love sitting by the pool or going to water parks
• You have kids old enough to walk around and not be afraid of characters and rides
• You want to experience Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs in WDW)
• You want to be able to see things like Universal Studios or Sea World as well on your vacation (all are within reach)
• You don’t mind large crowds or waiting in lines
• You don’t mind paying a lot of money for food (or you don’t mind bringing in your own or investing in a meal plan)
• You don’t mind investing a small fortune in park tickets- or if you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for tickets you have something in mind you want to do outside of the parks
• You enjoy staying in interesting hotels and trying different kinds of foods

Overall, cruising is a great way to have a family vacation where everyone gets to do what they want. You can let your kids wander around the ship with no problems or worries and you can sit back and enjoy all the fantastic adult areas and entertainment and activities. Of course you can always do things as a family but cruising is a great way to let everyone do what they want.

A theme park vacation is also a great way to spend those vacation days, and there are many different ways you can enjoy the theme parks and Disney Resorts. There are less opportunities for kids to do their own thing and more opportunities for family activities as I’m sure very few parents are willing to let their young children wander around the park unsupervised. There are plenty of things to do even if you are just enjoying the spas and pools and shopping and not riding the rides and seeing the shows.

Most of the time I find it comes to the budget when it comes time to decide on a destination- cruises in general tend to be much more than a park vacation- but the food is all included (unless you go for Palo or Remy)- also keep in mind alcohol and specialty drinks are additional charge so that is something to keep in mind when budgeting!

I hope this little blog helps some of you determine where you go with Disney next! Enjoy and feel free to share 🙂

Eating at Disneyland: A Food Blog

A visit to Disneyland inevitably means that you will be eating and there are so many choices that sometimes it can be hard to pin point what exactly you want to eat. I’m here to try to make those choices a little easier by telling you where I ate and what I thought. There’s so much to try and everything smells so good it is hard to choose- we got to quite a few places but this blog will only scratch the surface- I’ll add a link to Disneyland’s website at the end of this post so you can look through all your choices.

Our first stop- Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland hotel.

Part of the drink menu at Trader Sam’s

The bar at Trader Sam’s

Sweet and Spicy wings with slaw

Pulled Pork sandwich with sweet potato fries

Flatbread

Next stop- Clarabelle’s in Disney California Adventure (in the Starbucks)

The Oswald Triple Scoop Kitchen Sink Sundae

Clarabelle’s in California Adventure

The Chocolate Mint Chip Triple Scoop Sundae

Some delicious snack options-

The smell wafts from Wetzel’s pretzels around the midsection of Downtown Disney, also a good snack option!

Need a snack that reminds you that you are at Disney? Look no further than a scrumptious churro from the California Churro cart!

I had to try the churro bites with the chocolate dipping sauce from the Cozy Cone, absolutely fantastic snack!

Cake pops (60th anniversary)

Mickey Ice Cream bar- found at various locations around the park.

Marshmallows dipped in chocolate- look like mickey pants!

Marshmallow Olafs!

Some great Chinese food can be found in California Adventure from Lucky Fortune Cookery-

Beef and teriyaki sauce with rice and fortune cookie. This quick serve has a “build your own” option where you choose your meat and your sauce!

Beef and the orange sauce also from Lucky Fortune.

Award Wieners in California Adventure is also a great option for great food, fast-

Award wiener’s menu

The veggie dog

Sicilian dog!

For somewhere nice to sit down and eat- The Blue Bayou is an excellent choice

The lunch menu at the Blue Bayou

Dark and quiet atmosphere leads you to believe you are dining somewhere remote in the deep south. A great place to stop and grab a delicious bite to eat.

Starter salad, comes with craisins, candied pecans, and blue cheese on it.

The Monte Cristo sandwich- split order.

These are some of my favorite things, here is a link to Disneyland’s dining list.

New Year’s Eve at Sea: Disney Dream

Have you ever wanted to ring in the New Year in shorts and a t-shirt? Or perhaps with free champagne and snacks while you wait for the ball to drop in NYC? All while aboard one of the most amazing cruise ships on the water? Look no further than a New Years Eve Disney Cruise!

Our cruise featured a short itinerary with Castaway Cay and Nassau on the list. We spent most of the day on the ship while docked at Nassau and spent the day on Castaway Cay on the adult beach but mostly we spent a lot of time enjoying what the Disney Dream has to offer. Mostly the Rainforest Room in the spa!

We also tacked on a short trip to WDW before we left for our cruise to make a longer vacation our of the trip!

After a nice dinner at one of the boat’s excellent restaurants, we headed over to the bar district on board for a glass of the pink champagne made specially for the ship, relaxed in one of the lounges, watched the show for the night, and checked out some of the other activities (comedians ect.) before going to the top decks to wait for the clock to hit midnight!

Special Mickey clocks had been placed around the open deck area so we could count down to midnight better and keep track of time (I mean if you really wanted to). The whole crew was decked out in their very finest garb and most of the boat chose to dress up as well, which was pretty fun!

While having a dance party in the Caribbean on the 31st of December, we were served champagne (adults only of course) and fruity beverages for the kids as well as countless appetizers (many which I turned away having just eaten a huge dinner of course), however I did not turn away the delicious little bite sized desserts they were serving!

The champagne flutes we got to keep too!

The big screen showed the activities in NYC and we watched the end of the ball dropping after we did our own countdown and had the best fireworks at sea! The aqua-duck was lit up and of course there was a dance party after the fireworks! In usual DCL style it was a wonderful way to celebrate a new year!

The boat of course was still decorated for Christmas and there was still plenty of Christmas merchandise available. Our fellow cruisers were very friendly and we very much so enjoyed sitting in the sun while our friends at home were stuck inside while it snowed.

Another plus to this particular cruise? A special New Years Eve poster, limited edition, only those on board a Disney ship for a NYE cruise can get them! We had ours framed with some photos from our trip.

My thoughts: if you want to spend New Years with friends and family in a safe and fun environment (also warm) go on a Disney Cruise! Also, you don’t have to worry about who will drive home after a night of celebrating, just crawl back to your stateroom! For those adults worried that they will have to pay an extraordinary amount of money for drinks, don’t worry, you can carry on alcohol with you (however they ask you to consume your own alcohol in your room). There are lots of adult events and of course a lot of kids events, a win-win for everyone, and plus you can do it all in flip flops! This cruise is a bit pricey (we went on vacation club points) but it is a holiday cruise so a large price tag is to be expected, for sure is worth the money!

Tips: bring formal wear and get great photos from the night, bring NYE hats (some are provided but it is fun to bring your own and the kids might take all of the DCL ones)

As always all photos are my property, please leave a comment to purchase a photo, and I’d love to hear comments on what else you would like to see me blog about!

Happy sailing and I hope a cruise director welcomes you “home” soon!