Halloween is Here!

With only a couple of days left to get your costume in order I thought I would talk about some of my favorite Halloween costumes this year.  Luckily, we like to keep the celebration going on for a couple of days so I actually have a couple of costumes this year.  In the last few years we have been Charlie Brown and Lucy, Cinderella and Prince Charming, and Tinkerbell and a Jedi just to name a few.

I won't revel my actual costume until Friday, but I will throw out some inspiration outfits I considered this year.  There are so many choices that it is so hard to narrow it down to just one!  Also, Daniel and I have a hard time deciding on couples costumes so we like to exercise our individuality and just go as whatever we want!  

What will you be this Halloween?

1. Despicable Me Minion

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2. Audrey Hepburn

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3. Guess Who?

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4. Scarecrow

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Traveling Tuesday: Myrtle Beach

This weekend Daniel and I planned a little getaway.  We never got around to celebrating our anniversary (back in August), so we thought better late than never.  We headed down the Carolina coast to Myrtle Beach for three days of relaxation.  Surprisingly, we had way more things planned than we ever got around to doing.  It just turned out to be nicer to relax and take it easy.  A few of the highlights included a surprise dinner to a new favorite restaurant and a night full of Disney movies.

We stayed at the Bay View Resort.  I think Myrtle Beach is one of the hardest places to find a quality hotel by shopping online, because so many look wonderful on the outside, but the inside is a nightmare.  We took a risk with Bay View and were pleasantly surprised.  The rooms were by no means large, but the bed was comfortable (a king-size for the couple who typically sleeps on a full!), the bathroom was nicely renovated, and the view from the balcony was gorgeous!  Another perk was that there was a full service Starbucks located on the ground level along with a great indoor swimming facility.  We didn't use the pool, but we certainly enjoyed the Starbucks!

 Shopping is one of the primary draws of visiting Myrtle Beach.  They have two great outlet malls along with a traditional mall and countless other places to do all the shopping your heart desires.  We enjoyed the outlets, because they have many great stores like an ADIDAS, Nike, and of course JCREW!  I was able to make a few purchases off of my want list and sadly crossed off a few from my currently craving list.  The polka dot blouse I posted about recently ran astronomically large and the XXS was too large for me!  I got some other cuties though!

Bag (Lauren by Ralph Lauren via Marshalls), Chambray Dot Button Up: Old Navy, T-Shirt: J. Crew Factory, Gingham Button Up: J. Crew Factory 

I mentioned earlier that Daniel surprised me with a special dinner.  He took me to a place I had recently been talking about and it lived up to the hype.  Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is the place to go for an amazing steak.  I had the Mixed Grill and Daniel had the New York Strip.  We left there feeling delightfully stuffed.  The steak was so tender that it melted in my mouth and the chicken and crab cake on my plate were equally as good.  I loved the atmosphere and it was a nice, quiet place to dine and enjoy each others company.  I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the salad or dessert, but they were amazing as well.  The dessert was a Whiskey Bread Pudding and I dare say it was almost as good as the Bread Pudding at Raglan Road in Disney World.  Almost.  

We spent the rest of the weekend shopping and exploring.  We went to Broadway at the Beach, enjoyed a morning jog by the water, and ended the weekend with a trip to Barefoot Landing.  All in all it was the relaxing weekend that we both needed.  ABC Family was even running a Disney movie marathon Sunday night and we sat on our bed for hours enjoying the Lion King, Cinderella, and Hercules.  Who says you have to stay on the go the entire time your on vacation?  The only thing I stressed over this entire weekend was being able to watch Downton Abbey on Sunday night, but no worries we were able to find it! 

You guys know the drill.  If you want to participate in Traveling Tuesday, just blog about an amazing location you have been to and link up your post in the comments below.  Happy Tuesday and Happy Travels!

Traveling Tuesday- Disney World Part 4

Hey Hey!  It's back again.  Round 4 of Traveling Tuesday is in full swing.  Today, I am going to wrap up our trip to Disney World from August 2011.  It truly was an amazing trip and I couldn't condense it in to just one post.  Today we are wrapping up our tour of Disney at EPCOT.  EPCOT is truly the place for kids of all ages.  This park offers the best of both worlds for kids and adults.  For the young at heart you can enjoy the half of the park dedicated to Future World and Disney friends like Nemo and the Lion King.  The vast majority of the park though pays homage to the countries around the world.  The World Showcase was a showstopper in my mind.  Disney recreates all the elements of these countries including food, architecture, and even people.  Through Disney's work program people from all over the world can come to Orlando and work in their "country" at EPCOT.  We met some of the nicest people from all over the world!

One of the greatest things about staying at a Disney Resort is that each night a different park has extended hours.  This allows guest at the resort to remain in the park after hours, sometimes until 1 or 2 am!  One night after dinner we made our way over to EPCOT and stayed until midnight.  The rides still run for the most part and the crowds are much thinner during this time.  We caught the Seas with Nemo and Friends during this visit and it is a cute ride through the ocean with Crush and Nemo!

On our last couple of days we paced ourselves through EPCOT.  The entire park cannot be done in one day if you want to gain the whole experience.  Of all the places that we ate during the trip the taco stand in Mexico was by far the most amazing food I have ever had!  The chicken tacos and churros were absolutely divine!  We also caught the segway tour and Test Track.  They are both great and Test Track is a must.  I warn you though, get a fast pass as soon as you arrive in the park for Test Track, otherwise be prepared to wait in line for hours!

After exploring the countries for the day we met back up with Daniel's parents for dinner at Les Chefs de France.  It was a good dining experience and really neat to talk to our French waiter, but I'm not sure it will be my top pick for our next Disney vacation.  However, the French Onion soup is worth the stop.

The American Adventure show is a great one to catch if you have time.  They talk a lot about the great founders and inventors of our country.  Daniel and I really enjoyed it, because when we arrived they saw our "Honeymoon" buttons and quickly began to pamper us Disney style.  An older gentleman told us that there was a phone call for us, to which we were both a little taken aback.  When we picked up the phone though, it was Mickey and Minnie congratulating us on our marriage.  Then we received an official Disney World marriage certificate and our choice of seating in the show.  It was pretty special and that's what makes Disney so incredible.  With thousands of visitors a day they still manage to make you feel like the only one celebrating something!

I won't bore you with all the details of our flight home, but we did have a fun experience the night before we left.  While walking around in Downtown Disney, Daniel and I actually saw Danny Devito and Jack Nicholson!  It was so neat and I am a giant compared to Danny.  We didn't get any pictures with them, but I did snap this one as they were walking by.  

Thanks for tuning in to Traveling Tuesday.  Next week we will head to a different location.  Feel free to join in and link up your Traveling Tuesday post in the comments section below!  Come back tomorrow for an amazing recipe!

Traveling Tuesday- Disney World (Part Three)

Welcome back to Traveling Tuesday!  Your one stop shop for all types of travel advice and ideas.  Today we are journeying yet again to Disney World.  Today we are heading to the Magic Kingdom! We briefly went to the Magic Kingdom on our first day at Disney, but there is so much more to see!

Day Five- Magic Kingdom

How does a princess start her day?  Why by visiting other princesses of course!  Daniel and I spent in a little on the morning of day five, but we timed our arrival perfectly.  As we walked into the Magic Kingdom I realized the wait time to see the princesses was 0 minutes and I knew this was my chance.  I ran through the roped off area as if someone may jump in front of me and I anxiously awaited my chance with the princesses.  Whether your 4 years old or 24 years old it doesn't matter, the princesses talk to everyone like they are the most special people they have ever met.  Cinderella asked me what kingdom did I come from, Belle told me my beast wasn't nearly as hairy as hers, and Aurora complimented my ball gown.  Best day ever!

After catching up with the princesses that morning, we headed into the wilderness to explore the Swiss Family treehouse and Tom Sawyer Island.  Disney does a phenomenal job of taking you back into time as you climb the steps of the treehouse and ride the log raft across the river to the island.  Tom Sawyer Island was a place I would have really liked to have spent more time exploring.  It was getting close to lunch time though and I was getting a little light headed.  On the island you will find caves, paths, bridges, and all kinds of things to explore.  You almost feel like Tom Sawyer himself, because you rarely run into other families.  

Little girls of all ages MUST eat at Cinderella's Royal Table at least once in their life.  The magical dining experience starts out with you entering Cinderella's Castle and you are immediately direct to your meeting with the princess herself.  After meeting Cinderella and having your photo taken you are escorted into the dining room.  Throughout your meal announcements are made as the various princesses enter the room.  Belle, Aurora, Ariel, and Snow White travel to each table to chat and take photos with all of the guest.  The food is delicious as well.  I had the "fried" chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and broccolini.  It was really good, but not the fried chicken we know and love in the south.

I cannot rave enough about the quality of the firework shows at Disney.  You can find a show that will light up the sky on a nightly basis and it is always spectacular!  The show at the Magic Kingdom is especially magical, because Tinkerbell "flies" out of the top of the tower before the show and they illuminate the castle with different color lights throughout the show.



See you guys next Tuesday for another edition of Traveling Tuesday!  If you blogged about your travels today, share the link to your blog post in the comments section below.  I can't wait to see what you guys have to say!

Traveling Tuesday- Disney World (Part Two)

Over the weekend, I started brainstorming some ideas for trends that I could try to start on my blog.  Since traveling is on the top of my list, I thought why not start "Traveling Tuesday."  I am by no means a world traveler, but I think its awesome to share travel stories, because insider tips are the best to have when traveling to new places.

Each week I will feature information on trips I have taken in the past.  Once I run out of travel stories, I guess I will have to convince Mr. Pennington to take me somewhere new.  I would absolutely love to include some guest post on here, so if your interested in sharing information about traveling and great tips please let me know!  Also, if you want to participate on your own blog just post the link to your blog post about your travel experience in the comment section below!  Happy Traveling!

This week we will resume with recapping our Disney World vacation from last summer.  If you missed part one, check it out here.  Today, we will be going to the Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney.

Day Three- Animal Kingdom

So if your really just not into the Disney-thing, but find yourself there on vacation, Animal Kingdom is a great place to be!  Of course there is Disney-themed memorabilia everywhere, but its also an accredited animal conservatory.  It's the largest of all the Disney theme parks around the world and you can spend days exploring the wilds of Africa, Asia, and the Americas from the comforts of central Florida.

Every guest begins their journey through the Animal Kingdom at the Tree of Life, it is truly a spectacular piece.  We spent the day seeing some amazing shows (The Lion King), animal watching, and riding the best ride Disney has to offer... Expedition Everest.  We rode it 6 times!

The roller coaster is in the mountain!

The Safari is absolutely amazing.  They load you up on a "jeep" and set out to capture some animal poachers.  Along the way you see zebras, elephants, giraffes, flamingos, gazelle, hippos, and much more.  The way Disney has create a wildlife perserve for these animals, yet still allowed the public to experience the wild of nature is truly breathtaking.

The Nemo show, A Bug's Life (in the Tree of Life), and Mickey's Jungle Parade are all must sees as well.  In case you have never been to Disney, when you arrive each day at a park they have maps for the park with times listed for all the events going on at the park that day.  Its a good idea to find the more popular attractions (the one's listed above) and make a plan for when you are going to see each one.  For the shows, arrive early and take that time to rest.  The seating area fills up fast and in August air conditioning is much needed.

We rounded out our day at the Animal Kingdom with dinner at the Yak and the Yeti.  Its a great restaurant  especially if you like Asian inspired food.  It was not my favorite place we ate, simple because Asian cuisine is not at the top of my list, but it truly was delicious.

The very last ride of the night was the Dinosaur ride.  I knew something scary was in store for me when Daniel and Mr. Rex nearly broke my hip trying to jump on the ride before me so I could have a certain seat.  I won't spoil the ride for you, but just know that its not for the faint of heart.

Day Four- Blizzard Beach/Downtown Disney

Water parks at Disney World can go one of two ways- you love them or you hate them.  I enjoyed a brief love affair with Blizzard Beach on the day that we went, but that only lasted for about an hour.  Water parks in Disney World in August are some of the most crowded places that you will ever go.  My tip for Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon is GO EARLY!  The only way that you will enjoy the rides at the park without waiting in line for over an hour is to get there when the gates open.

We arrived at Blizzard Beach as early as possible and moved from slide to slide as quickly as possible.  By lunchtime the lines were so long and the beach chairs were completely full so we decided to call it a day and head back to the resort.  I don't have any pictures to share, because we didn't take our camera to the park.  Using the Disney Photo Pass though is a great way to get pictures all around the park without having to worry about your camera, especially at a water park.  But just remember, much like everything else at Disney the photos are not cheap.

After a short nap and showers, we were ready to head out again.  The agenda for the evening was dinner and shopping at Downtown Disney.  Now if you are not familiar with Disney World, you may be surprised to find out that Disney is way more than an amusement park.  One of the most common questions that I get asked is, "What is there to do there besides ride a few rides?"  Oh how much you have to learn about Disney World!  Downtown Disney is a restaurant and shopping center created by Disney that caters to kids of all ages.  At nighttime it becomes the scene of Orlando nightlife with bars, clubs, and shows like Cirque du Soleil.  There are more restaurants than you can imagine with almost every type of cuisine being represented.  Stores range from Disney themed merchandise to ESPN, Lego, Little Miss Matches, and so much more.

Florida in August... Hot!

Ahoy! The Pennington's own the Black Pearl now!

Dinner that evening was at Raglan Road.  This is an Irish pub style restaurant, but it is very nice.  They have very authentic decor including Irish brews and dancers!  I had the Shepard's pie and it was to die for.  The star of the meal however was dessert.  Bread pudding is without a doubt the most delicious dessert in all of Disney!

(Sorry for lack of pictures... Blogger is being funny... tune back in later for more pics)

BEST DESSERT EVER!
Bread Pudding at Raglan Road

 That wraps up day 3 and 4!  See you guys next week on Traveling Tuesday for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot!  Feel free to join in next week with a travel post and link it in the comment section below!

Disney World (Part One)

There has been a lot of talk about Disney World in the Pennington house lately... there always is.  In August 2011, Daniel and I were able to spend a magnificent week at Disney with his parents and I have been asking to go back almost daily!  I know its such a popular vacation spot for families, so I wanted to share a little about our wonderful week there.  I am not a Disney "expert," but if you have any questions or want some suggestions of places to eat or stay then please leave a comment!


Day One

We started our trip bright and early, hitting the road at 3:30 a.m!  Our plane left at 6:30/7, so we wanted plenty of time to get to the airport, park, and find a little breakfast.  I know this is silly, but nothing makes me feel more alive and excited that going to an airport!  I mean the possibilities are endless at an airport and its so thrilling to head out for a new adventure.  This was my first full vacation to Disney so I was pumped.  We hit the parks for a day and a half when I went on a field trip in 8th grade, but you can't do Disney in a day and a half!

We arrived in Orlando shortly before 10 am and hopped on the Disney Magical Express.  Guys, this is the only way to do the Disney experience!  You feel so taken care of immediately and its so wonderful, because your transportation to the hotel is pre-arranged and they take care of your baggage as well.  We were checking in to Disney's All Star Movies Resort by 10:30 and ready to hit the parks soon after!  I wasn't sure of the schedule for the day, but Mr. Rex and Mrs. Jan told me they wanted to start out at the park they thought I would love--- The Magic Kingdom!!  It's best place to start for a princess!

We're Here!

The day was absolutely wonderful.  We had lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, watched the parade, and rode the Buzz Light-year ride.  It was nice to walk slowly through the park and take our time. Later in the afternoon we visited the Hall of Presidents, rode the Haunted Mansion ride, and had a character dining experience at the Crystal Palace.

Once we arrived back at the hotel, I had the lovely ordeal of handling the situation known as "the damaged luggage affair."  We received a call over lunch saying that my luggage and my mother-in-law's had been damaged at the airport.  Who knew that would mean I would have to say goodbye to my beautiful pink luggage.  I loved that luggage... it travelled to Europe and back with me, so disappointment doesn't even cover it!  Also, my favorite hot air curling iron was destroyed.  The lovely people at Southwest agreed to replace my luggage though and reimbursed me for my curling iron.    

Day Two

Day two was an adventure at Hollywood Studios!  What fun!  Daniel's parents had given us a wedding gift basket the night before at the hotel and so we rocked our bride and groom ears for the day.  Hollywood Studios is such a neat park, because this is the place to see all the movies that you never think about being "Disney."  Day two also happened to coincide with the celebration of the 23rd year of life for one Mr. Daniel Pennington.  We celebrated hard by riding rides, eating lots of food, and goofing off the whole day!  The Honey, I Shrunk The Kids playground was awesome!

The birthday boy chose Pizza Planet for lunch that day and it was just as exciting at Buzz and Woody promised it would be!  Okay, it wasn't quite as cool as the movie made it out to be, but the food was really good.  The Cars and Beauty and the Beast show rounded out our evening.  They are both great shows to see and I highly recommend getting to each show early, because the seats fill up fast.  If you have ever been to Disney, then you know that getting a place to sit, in the shade is a rarity so take advantage of it when you can.  

For dinner we had probably what I would consider to be the best meal of the trip.  Minus the fact that we had to wait an hour plus (past our reservation time), Mamma Melrose is the place to be in Hollywood Studios.  The food was incredible and I will go back there ever time, hands down my favorite!  I had a pasta dish (no surprises there) and homemade pound cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for dessert.  They even sang to the birthday boy!!

 

Check out the rest of our vacay in the days to come!  My mother-in-law and father-in-law are headed down to Disney later this week to celebrate 30 years of marriage!!  Super excited for them (but a little jealous, because I want to go)!