Manic Panic Ultra Violet on Brown Hair

So, in case anyone has noticed, I have not posted in awhile!! We have lost my charging cord for the camera and I think we are about to give up and buy either a new charger or a new camera. For this post I am using my iPhone pics :)

I had been wanting to post about my hair adventures for some time now. You see, my hair has been black for YEARS. I had tried to highlight it back to brown a few times...but it always ended up "back in black". 

Since I work from home now, I was able to go through a miriad of processes to get my hair not only back to brown but I went a step further with golden highlights. Unfortunately, the gold made my complexion look very washed out (at least I thought so). 

I went to cosmetology in high school, and while I don't remember much, I do remember the color wheel used for color corrections. What combats gold? Purple!!

I had been buying Ion's Color Brilliance Brights in Lavendar for awhile. I would color my hair and it would look better for a week or so....then the gold would push it's way back through. 

I needed something....more.

I wasn't always a Disney lovin', coupon cuttin', diaper bag totin' mommy type. At one time I was a metal chick. Yep. I wore knee high boots and colored my hair crazy colors. I know the brand Manic Panic well from my high school days! I had used colors like Dark Tulip and Plum...and the cool colors suited my complexion well! 

To Hot Topic I go!!!

I was hoping to get a color called Mystic Amethyst, which they didn't have. I bought a bottle of Ultra Violet and a bottle of Virgin Snow in hopes to make a substitute. I'm not sure it did that, but I am sure that I liked the results! 

Here is what I used:

I also slathered my hairline and ears with Vaseline...I knew from experience that this stuff stains. Everything. You may need the drop cloth skills of Dexter. And don't forget an old tee to wear!!

I applied it in sections and let it sit for an hour under a target bag (a shower cap would work just fine). And here is the results...

The highlighted parts picked up more color as to be expected, and it will fade in time to a hopefully non-golden shade of brown...which was ultimately my goal, but I am loving the fun shade it is now!!

I hope this will help some of you. I searched and searched for pics of the lighter shades of purple on brown hair and there was very little (or in some cases none) out there!

Disney Countdown - 30 Days of FUN

I love planning Disney trips. I mean I REALLY love it! That is why I am a travel agent and a Disney Specialist...it is a true passion for me! Every year since my son was old enough for "activities" we have done a countdown calendar. Each day for 30 days we pull down a Mickey and do an activity to get us (even more) amped up for our upcoming trip. 

Today I will show you how I design our countdown calendar and give you some ideas for activities for your family to do the same!

First thing you will want to do is to buy/gather some crafting materials. You will need: 

Poster board

Colored Card Stock

Sharpies

Stickers

Glue

Mounting Squares

Scissors

 

I like to get stuff that is themed towards the resort we will be staying at. This year is Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge!

In previous years I had used the "paint sample Mickey heads", however those are a thing of the past. This year I was able to find some colored Mickey heads just about the right size. Instead of getting enough for the whole project, I got two of them and ended up using them as tracers. I suppose, if time is an issue for you and money is not, buying a bunch of these would be MUCH easier! On the other hand, you really don't have to buy them at all! You could use something else to trace/stencil a Mickey head or print one from the internet!

 

 

I traced all of my Mickey heads out and began cutting. And cutting. And then I cut some more. I made more than I really needed in case of errors. 

Once I was done, I placed them onto the poster board to figure out the color pattern I wanted. 

 

I then took a scrap piece of paper and jotted out the dates and countdown days, working my way back from the day we leave for Florida. This bit is important. Too many times I had to re-do dates in the past because I assumed it would be easy to just figure it out as I go. Live and learn :)

 

After you get it hashed out, go ahead and number the Mickeys. The number will be in the front and the date will be on the top of the back. Leave room for your fun activities...that is the next step!

Here are some ideas:

Watch Disney World youtube videos

Look at scrapbooks from past trips

Watch Disney movies

Listen to Disney park music 

Disney dance party (anything upbeat)

Draw a picture of your favorite ride

Color a Disney picture

Pack car travel bag

Pack outfits for a specified park
Explore park and resort maps
On the 1st of the month - Pull up resort activities and movie line-up!

 

I live to variate them, but the movies are typically on a day when we will all be home as a family. I have also done Dinner and a Movie. An example of this would be watching Lady and the Tramp and eating pasta...or Toy Story and pizza! 

 

 

 

 

Once they are all numbered and the activities are filled out, you can start to sticky tab them! I use one tab on each ear. Using tabs will make it easier to pull them down each day (as opposed to glue).

 

 

After all of the Mickey's are tabbed and stuck to the poster board, you may begin decorating with stickers and whatever else you may want to use! We have had holiday themes in the past. One year we even did a 90 day countdown with three boards and each board's corner had a different activity highlighted. For instance, one corner had the water park and another may have had something about a character meal. The sky is the limit to what theme you could use!

Your countdown calendar looks beautiful, doesn't it?? And I always get butterflies in my tummy when I hang ours up! You will, too...I'm sure of it!


I use 3M wall hanging tabs to stick ours up...

There....let the countdown BEGIN!!

 

One Day Juice Cleanse

Have you ever had a stretch of days where your tummy just felt...for lack of a better description, blah? Maybe you had too much to eat over a holiday or it was nearing that time of the month. You wake up puffy and your rings don't budge, and your favorite jeans are tight in the belly. No matter if you try to eat healthy and get enough water, sometimes it just isn't good enough, right??

You just need a quick fix. But how?

I was in this predicament a week ago. I had read a bit about juicing and my mother had an old juicer for me to borrow. Why not? I figured I'd try it for one day. I can do anything for one day!

The Juiceman Jr.

After looking at some plans on Pinterest, I found this one. It had a plan for a one day cleanse although most of the produce was to be bought for two people. I got it all (thinking that I would do it for a second day, if I liked it). The recipes and grocery list can be found on the page that I linked to. I couldn't have been easier!

I woke up on my "juice day" desperate for some black coffee. I had my minimal two cups. I know they say to avoid caffeine, however coffee has been proven to be a powerful antioxidant itself! They also say to avoid strenuous activity. I ran 4 miles after my coffee. *shrugs*

About an hour later, I decided it was time to get my first drink ready. I gathered my veggies and used Fit produce wash to clean them. I precut them into chunks that would fit into the juicer. It was bright green and smelled of kale. I took a sip. Blech. Not good. I drank it up, although it never got any better. At this point, I was looking forward to my second drink.

About an hour later I realized I was a bit hungry. I had been up for four hours and this was the first hunger pang I have had. Not too shabby, I thought! I figured I would start prepping my next drink in about a half an hour so I would at least be keeping myself busy.

Time for drink two! It was about 11:00 am when I had my second drink. Better than the first drink, but still kid of yucky. I'm looking forward to the last drink of the day. Already. And the next drink is another "green" like the first one. About a half an hour after my second drink I had some sharp stomach pains, but they passed quickly. Not sure what it was...the cause never presented itself.

After six waking hours, I am feeling good and am not hungry a bit. Two drinks down...four to go! I prep and drink my third drink. It tastes the same as the first with a slight heat from the ginger. Pretty gross, but I know this is my last green green one of the day, so I feel a relief. It is now 1:30 pm and I feel great!

The fourth drink is called "The Roots" and my assumption is that it will be a sweeter drink since it has beets, carrots and apple in it. Cutting them down was a messy task. Raw beets are tough to cut and stain everything, so be forewarned! Juicing the roots down was a little tough on my borrowed 20 year old machine. Next time, I will cut them into smaller pieces. Oh yeah...and about my assumption? No, it wasn't that sweet and it wasn't that good. Tolerable though, and one drink closer to the milky drink that I am now craving. I have a feeling the next drink will be pretty decent since it is pineapple. It's is now 3:30 pm and still no hunger...

 

Ding ding ding...round 5! By this point I have gotten a bit better at prepping my veggies. I get the drink prepared in no time and to be honest...this one is pretty good! It is light and refreshing. The best part is that I am feeling great and almost done!

The sixth drink is by far the best. No prep to speak of and not a lot of clean up. I used a aerator to get the spices churned up into the almond milk. I relaxed on the couch and savored this one with an episode of Mad Men. Ahhh.....I felt pretty darn good about the whole thing...

Day one was a success. My body was flushing sodium and toxins out and I had to pee a TON...all day...and all night...and the next morning. I honestly don't remember having to use the bathroom that much even when I was pregnant! Oh and speaking of bathroom stuff. I really don't like to discuss bathroom habits, however I would like to post a link to something that you may want to be aware of before you juice beets. I don't want anyone to have the scare that I did. Beet tip HERE.

Fridge Stocked with produce!

I chose not to continue with day two. It took a ton of time to prep the veggies and clean the machine after each juice. Think about it this way; I drank a juice every two hours. It took about 20-30 minutes to clean and prep the produce and about 15-20 minutes afterwards for cleanup. I spent the entire day in the kitchen and not with my kids. I felt great and I had gotten what I wanted out of the one day experience. I used up the veggies in other recipes and continued to eat healthy!

Final thought: Would I do it again? Yes. Would I do a three day cleanse? Ehh...maybe?

Have you done a cleanse? If you have please share your thoughts in a comment!

5 Superfoods for Health

When I was in my twenties, I was far from healthy. I went tanning, I smoked, I went out drinking way too often and my idea of a good diet included not eating and just substituting coffee and more cigarettes for meals. Then I had a wake up call in the form of a lump. I went in for my allergy check-up and my doctor felt something that she "didn't like". Next thing I knew, I was going through a myriad of tests, including a second biopsy after the first one came back unclear. Talk about scary!!

This was the turning point for my life and I made some major changes for my health. I had to.

Fast forward to now. Most importantly, I quit smoking! I continue to struggle with my weight, however I now am a member of Weight Watchers, which is a VERY healthy way to drop the pounds. I have ran two marathons and a half a dozen half marathons. I am not the picture of health, but it is an active daily effort! There are 5 foods that I have added to my every day eating to maintain health. Since I have added these items, I have noticed that I feel better. I have more energy. My thyroid meds have even been decreased...and I think my healthy diet played a role!

What are these 5 things?!?

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

I make a drink with raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar most mornings. I mix half a tablespoon of the vinegar with half a tablespoon of honey and a bit of warm water just to mix it well. Once the honey is dissolved into the warm water I add about a cup of cold water to it and drink it up. The water is needed to dilute it enough that it won't harm the enamel on your teeth. It isn't the most tasty thing in the world, but there are so many health benefits to it! ACV is alkaline and it balances your pH, which can help with food absorption and has even been linked to preventing cancer. It has antifungal and antibacterial qualities to it, which can help balance your natural flora in your gut. Apple cider vinegar "juice" has been something that I grew up on. My father used it as a cure all for everything while I was growing up. I remember him saying that it was good for joint function, turns out that is just one of the numerous things that I have read that ACV helps!

 

 

Coconut Oil

 

 

 Coconut oil is quite possibly my favorite on the list. I eat coconut oil every day!! I usually spread onto my wheat toast and cook with it instead of butter. Don't be scared of the flavor...I don't even like coconut and I love the taste! I have also made popcorn with it and have drizzled it ON my popcorn. You can also mix it with melted chocolate chips to make your very own magic shell ice cream topping! I have read that the recommended amount of coconut oil should be about 3 tablespoons for somebody my size, however I cannot use all of my points on oil. I usually just use about 1/2 or 1 table spoon a day and even with that amount I have seen the benefit. It is good for energy and thyroid function, which is why I started eating it. I have since gotten my synthetic thyroid meds lowered! It is also antibacterial and antifungal, so once again...it helps the tummy feel better! Coconut oil is a saturated fat and was once thought to be bad for you, however further research showed that the medium chain fatty acids in it are beneficial to your healthy cholesterol levels. The same fatty acids are also known to help prevent and slow Alzheimer's and epilepsy! Super food indeed!

Chia Seeds

Yes, they are the same Chia seeds that were once found inside of a clay Homer Simpson to give him a lovely green head of hair. Cha Cha Cha Chia! They are now what I use to keep my daily fiber intake up and to get more Omega 3's in my diet! I sprinkle it on top of my eggs in the morning, or salad for lunch and I mix it with my yogurt. Chia seeds are rich in protein and antioxidants...these little guys pack a powerful punch! The word Chia itself means "strength" and the Aztec and Mayan empires thrived on them. They are well known in the running community as a great energy source for long distance races and some ultra athletes have been know to race 100 miles with them as fuel! I always think of that when I eat them. I need enough energy to get me through the day...a teaspoon should do the trick ;)

Plain Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt has less lactose and twice as much protein as regular yogurt, which means it is easier on the stomach and keeps you full longer! Plain Greek yogurt is so versatile. It can be used in place of sour cream or as a base for a frozen yogurt treat. My favorite way to eat my Greek yogurt is as a midday snack with honey, Chia seeds, PB2 and a small amount of mini chocolate morsels. YUM! It is my favorite treat of the day! Even the sweetened versions of Greek yogurt are lower in carbs than traditional yogurts, which is a bonus when I track my WW points. It also has 50% less sodium than traditional yogurts. Seeing the trend here? Less "stuff" and more GOOD!

 

Raw Local Honey

This one is quite important to me and my family...you see we are riddled with seasonal allergies. My poor kids get it from both sides of the family! Eating raw local honey is a form of immunotherapy. What's that? Do you remember every knowing somebody who went to the doctor to get shots of allergens to help their allergies? It is the same idea. You ingest small amounts of what you are allergic to and then your body knows how to fight it off! It is important to get honey that is made as close to your house as possible. The bees will be pollinating off of the same types of flowers that are in your area which is great news for your sniffly nose. Raw honey is just that...untreated and unpasteurized. There has been some disputes about raw honey being solid or liquid. I asked a local bee keeper and he said that all honey is liquid when it is fresh and just poured into the jar. It has to be liquid to pour it! True raw honey turns solid faster than treated honey. If it is fresh and raw you can expect it to be liquid. There has also been some speculation that some of the online companies selling raw honey have added crystal sugars to the honey to make it go solid faster. I don't really know about the online companies...I always buy local. The local bit is key! I eat honey every day on my yogurt and in my ACV drink. I have REALLY noticed a difference in my allergies since I've started and *knock on wood* I haven't had a major sinus infection in a long time as a result!

Well, there you have it. Some, maybe all, of these products have been said to help with weight loss. I don't have any idea if that is true. What I do know, is that I feel great and have more energy as a result of them. Weight loss at this point is an added bonus to feeling good!! If you haven't tried these products, I encourage you to. I truly feel that they are SUPER!! :)

A Day Out With Thomas - Review

My son loves Thomas the Train. I tried to fight it at first. My being a Disney addict and all. I bought him Chuggington, but it just didn't cut it. Thomas is where it's at for little ones!

This is my first year at home with the kids for the summer, so I was excited when I realized I would be able to take them to see Thomas when he came to the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad. Then I saw the price. At first it didn't seem like a lot, but then I though about it..three tickets at $18 a piece...$54 AND processing fees to ride a train back and forth for 20 minutes?!? But we did it...and here I am. I figured I'd write a review to help those of you who are trying to decide if it is worth it.

My husband had wanted to go and because he works weekends, we had to plan for the first ride of the day on a Sunday. This actually worked out perfect because there was less of a crowd! Easier parking and less kids playing in the areas before the ride. I would recommend this strategy if you want to beat the crowds and the heat!

We pulled in and used the porta potties(which there were plenty of), then headed inside. Everyone we came in contact with had bright smiles and looked genuinely happy to be there. They give you a sheet to stamp at each "station". Once the sheet is filled you return it for s surprise. We found this to be a nice way to make sure you don't miss anything!

First stop...the model trains! We watched a small Thomas chug around for a minute or two and then headed over to get a photo with Thomas!

Next it was on to the toy train area. This was a nice spot to let both of our kids down to play for a bit. A couple of minutes passed an we heard an announcement to board the train!! Here we go!

During the down and back ride they played music, which was the same song...over and over. I wish they had mixed it up some. It didn't seem to bother the kids, of course, but I heard more than one parent comment about the music. There was a conductor that came around and punched tickets and they also took a picture on board which can be bought online after the fact. Our 18 month old was squirmish on board. If you bring a toddler, you might want to bring something for them to do. She had no interest in the actual ride. Our 4 year old loved it, but I think he would have enjoyed it more if we had just taken him to the scenic railroad for a "real" ride. The down and back was just kind...meh.

It was nice to spend the morning together as a family. We don't get enough of that!!

After we got back, we headed over to meet Sir Topham Hatt. He hadn't been there prior to the ride. My little guy has plenty of experience with meeting "fur characters". That is a Disney term for those characters that do not speak; as opposed to a "face character", like Snow White or Peter Pan would be. He had a blast with Sir Topham, however my little girl was unsure and a little freaked out.

After we left this area we did the bouncy houses and wrapped up our day! All in all it was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. I'm glad we went, however I do not think we would do it again.

I hope my review has helped you understand what to expect from the event...and as always feel free to comment with any questions, or email me at eva.baker382@gmail.com!!

Healthy Elvis Froyo

Awhile back, I was laying in bed before falling asleep and I was looking at the app "shopkick" and saw a Cuisinart ice cream machine on there. With excitement, I showed my hubby. "Look at this thing...we totally need that!". To which he replied, "You have that. It's in the basement."

No. Way.

I guess we got it a couple of years ago and since we had no room in our condo, it went to the storage locker...and there it sat. I got it out the next day and have been looking for ideas for ice cream ever since.

I was thinking of a Greek yogurt idea after eating a yummy, honey yogurt bar the other day. I started to brainstorm what goes with honey? As a runner, I frequently top my toast with honey, peanut butter and bananas. Seems logical to me...it's a great combo! But you see...we have a "mix in" feature to our machine. What can we mix into this treat?? Chocolate chips seem like they would be yummy, but kind of expected and normal. I wanted something fun. I opened up my fridge and bacon popped right out at me. ELVIS LIVES!

After experimenting with this, it turns out the bacon is better sprinkled on top. And the mini chips are a welcomed addition (but feel free to omit them if you want...Elvis didn't add chocolate chips to his sandwiches).

This recipe is weight watcher friendly, too! It is 4 points per a half cup serving. I honestly think it tastes better than Ben and Jerry's Banana Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt, which weighs in at 6 points (and doesn't have chocolate or peanut butter). Gotta love that!

Ingredients

	3 large banana(s)
	1 cup(s) fat-free plain Greek yogurt
	1/2 cup(s) fat-free half-and-half
	1 tsp vanilla extract
	2 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon
	1/3 cup(s) honey
	3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips, optional
	4 Tbsp PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients, besides bacon and chocolate chips, with a blender and pour into a ice cream machine and follow machine instructions. Either use a "mix in" setting for chocolate, or hand mix then in right after the froyo sets (about 2 minutes before it will be done). Sprinkle bacon bits on top.

 

 Our lovely newish machine!

 

 

 Put all the gooey goods in the blender....

 Liquefy the stuff...shouldn't have any banana lumps in it!

 Your bacon should be EXTRA crispy!

 Pour the liquefied stuff into the ice cream maker.

 My machine takes 12-15 minutes, but I start checking at 10!!

 There you have it...Healthy Elvis Froyo!

 

How Does Your Garden Grow

I'm sure, at some point, you have heard that adding kitchen scraps to your soil can help your plants. Now that we have a back yard, I am anxious to get my garden going...and feeding it right to ensure I have healthy, happy plants!

Below are some tips for easy, household items that you can add to your garden to help feed and nourish your plants!


Bananas

Banana peels (and bananas) are good for roses. There are many ways to feed your roses the sweet snack, but the easiest is to just bury the peel, or the whole banana, about 1 inch near the base of the plant. If you are transplanting your rose, throw a whole banana down into the hole after you dig and before you place the rose in. The potassium will soak into the soil and give them a boost!


Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds work as a balancing agent for the soils pH levels. Save as much of the grounds as you can (or get them from a local coffee shop) and add them directly to your soil. Most outdoor plants with get assistance from the grounds, however some plants such as geraniums do not take as well to them. Another plus about adding the grounds to you soil? Worms love them! And everyone knows...worms are GREAT for the garden!


Egg Shells

Egg shells are a good source of calcium for your plants, especially tomatoes. Egg shells do take some prep work before you toss them into the garden, however. The egg that came out of the shell leaves behind some clime and that slime can and will create bacteria, which is harmful to the plants. If you choose to use egg shells, make sure you wash them thoroughly and break them down by crushing them in a baggy before adding them to your soil. You can also place a circle of prepped egg shells are plants as a slug deterrent. Bonus!


Pennies

Copper helps to control slugs and can add essential minerals to your soil to assist with plants such as tomatoes, helping to control blight. Again, it works to help the pH level of the soil. Using pennies that are dated 1982 or earlier will give the most benefit to the soil, however the newer ones will work too. There is also an old wives tale that says that if you place pennies near a hydrangea that it will make the flowers blue...and those are my favorites!

I'm looking forward to trying our these tips on our garden this year. Maybe some day I can get my gardens as nice as Disney's!

Do you have any other garden wives tales or tips to share?

Walt Disney World Tips for Babies thru Preschoolers

I recently read a post on Facebook that was asking about the appropriate age for kids at Disney...ie. "...how young is too young?". I have gotten this question a lot when we were planning the trips with my kids. I have also had people tell me, "Your kids won't remember it!". I typically would respond by telling people, "Hey, I went before the kids, why would I NOT go because I have them?". That being said, my four year old knows a ton about Disney and the resorts because he sees pictures in his scrapbooks. He "remembers" being there because he relives it often. So, if you want to take your kids as a baby, toddler or a preschooler, don't let anyone convince you otherwise...it is a GREAT idea!!

Today I will go over some tips that I have found to be helpful while at the Walt Disney World Resort with my little ones! Enjoy!!

1. Baby centers...know them....USE THEM!

 

 

 Baby Center at Epcot's Odyssey Building

 

 

 Each of the four major parks have a baby care center. They are all very clean and provide changing tables, restrooms, microwaves, private nursing rooms, highchairs and merchandise to purchase including diapers, bottles, formula, baby foods and the like. In Epcot, it is found on the Mexico side of the Odyssey building. In Magic Kingdom, it is tucked in between Casey's and The Crystal Palace (this is where you can also find the first aid station). In Animal Kingdom, it is also near the first aid station, which is on Discovery Island close to the bridge to Africa. In Hollywood Studios, you can find it in the Guest Relations Center, which is at the park entrance. This is the only baby care center that doesn't not have items for purchase in the actual center. You will have to visit the gift shop which is located just to the left of Gest Relations. We used the centers very frequently with our son, and less frequently with our daughter. Different children will have different needs. If nothing else, use them for a clean changing table!!

2. Baby Swap or Rider Switch

 

       Do you, your mom, your sister and your husband want to ride Expedition Everest...but who will stay with the baby? Disney has a program called Rider Switch...or as most call it, Baby Swap.  When your group gets to the front of a ride that has height restrictions, ask the cast member about baby swap. They will explain how it works and give you a return pass (which looks like a legacy fastpass). One person will stay with the baby. You can look around the gift shop, which is usually where the riders will exit, or maybe use that time to ride a baby friendly attraction that is nearby. Once the first set of riders exit, you may use the pass for up to three people to get into the fastpass line. Remember though, the whole process can take up some time. If you have a pressing Fastpass+ time or a dining reservation, you may want to just chose one person to sit it out.

3. Just because you don't want to stay at a value doesn't mean you should visit them.

 My little guy with his grandma and grandpa at All Star Movies Resort

        The second time we took my son to WDW he was about 18 months old. We decided to stay at a moderate resort because my husband is tall and likes the queen bed option. We knew that our son would miss out on the larger than life characters and he was really into Toy Story at that age. On our arrival day we took him over to All Star Movies so he could run around the Toy Story area and "meet" the giant Buzz and Woody. It was one of the most memorable days of that whole trip. Best part..it was free! There are a plethora of characters features at the value resorts. If you tot is really into one of them, spend an hour or so visiting there. You'll have a great time!


4. Celebrate the each milestone height restriction.

 My son's first time on Tomorrowland Speedyway

 
   Toddler and preschoolers can feel left out when all you do all day is baby swap and they have to sit and wait. Take time to make them feel super special by making a big deal out of it when they can finally get on a "big kid" ride. Take a picture and maybe even get them a pin to remember it!



5. Naps are your friend.

      Taking a mid-day break can seem like a hassle. Between getting to the front of the park and getting to your room...and then having to do the reverse, it hardly seems worth it. Trust me...it is. This last trip we took was a short one and we only had one day in the park. We just figured we'd ride it out and if the kids were sleepy, they would nap in the stroller. Not only did they not nap (too much to look at and see), but the heat and the lines were ridiculous during the time we would have been gone. I think we did one attraction and then found somewhere to have a snack because it was too unbearable. We will always take that break from here out. The recharge is worth it and missing those crowds and heat would have been welcomed.


6. Use a stroller even if you think your child may be too old.

 

 Double City Mini from Kingdom Strollers

        Preschoolers are full of energy. Most of them don't want to use a stroller anymore, however when you visit a Disney park you will walk. A lot. The average person will walk between 7 and 14 miles in a day in Disney world. Last time I wore a pedometer in Disney, I was walking about 15 miles a day, which included my morning walk to get coffee and a walk to the bus afterwards. We have a Graco double stroller at home for visits to the zoo, however it is bulky and heavy. When we go to Disney World, we take an umbrella stroller for our little one. For the parks, we rent a double City Mini from Kingdom Strollers and we have it delivered to the resort. I have never had a problem with their service. They are friendly and prompt and provide coolers and stroller rain cover free of charge. I highly recommend them!


7. Character meals and kid friendly restaurants
  

 My Daughter at 13 mos at 'Ohana Breakfast

Most of the restaurants in Walt Disney World are kid friendly, however we try to visit the ones that are either highly themed (T-Rex, Biergarten, Sci-fi) or are a character meal for most of our table service meals. The kids will have a great time and you can relax a bit. Character meals are also a good bet because you won't have to wait in line later to get an autograph or a picture.

 My Daughter at 9 mos at Cocoa Beach

There you have it! I hope this ideas help in planning your next trip to Disney with little ones. If you want more information or would like additional help planning, feel free to email me at eva.baker382@yahoo.com. I am a fee free travel agent and would love to help you book and plan your trip!

runDisney.....peeHappy

One of the BEST parts about running in a runDisney event at Walt Disney World is getting to use an actual bathroom! They have plethora of porta-potties, and although you will probably have to use one before the start, you will find that a nice autoflush toilet and a real sink to wash up are ahead on the course. I'm going to outline where you can find them...but shhhhh it's a secret that I have saved for my best running buds and readers! ;)

Now...there is no guarantee that these will be open, but here's the restrooms that are directly on most of the half and full marathon courses. I don't think you want to go off course to find a bathroom, and Disney doesn't want you to for that matter.

Transportation and Ticket Center

The first real bathroom you will come to on course will be at the transportation and ticket center. These bathroom are usually crowded and the area is too, since it is a popular viewing location for friends and family spectators. Fell free to stop here, however if you think you can wait there will be lots of spots to do your business in the Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the first park you will come to, at about mile 5. There are bathrooms located on Main Street, however you will not be able to get to them since that side if the "street" is closed off for spectators to cheer. The next set you will find will be across from Tomorrowland Speedway and there are some near the teacups, as well.  I have not used them, however the Tangled bathrooms do not appear to be too far off course. I don't know if they would have it roped there or not. Magic Kingdom is a little more restrictive because the park is technically not open during the races. In past years, I normally try to get to the bathrooms near Country Bears, it is in the pass-through between Frontierland and Adventureland. You will also be quite close to Pirates and those bathroom may be available to you, before you leave the park.

 

Animal Kingdom

 

If you are running the full, you will be heading into Animal Kingdom at about mile 12. That means maybe an hour or more could have passed by and you may need to stop. I like to hit the bathrooms here to through some water on my face and freshen up. The course has changed a bit since last time I ran a full here, so when I last ran in Animal Kingdom this was about mile 15-17 and the tough stuff was close ahead. With the new course, you will be enter the park in between Africa and Asia and heading towards Expedition Everest. There should be a bathroom near Flights of Wonder, however on the course map I cannot tell. There will be a set of bathrooms near Kali River Rapids those will be your best bet to stay on course. There will also be a restroom near Finding Nemo, however in years past this was also roped off. Before you exit the park, you can hit up the one near Restaurantosaurus.

ESPN Wide World of Sports

This is new to me. I haven't ran a full marathon in Disney since 2012, when I ran Goofy. I was busy having a baby and whatnot. If you are familiar, please leave a comment and I will add in any bathroom info! Please and thanks ;)

Hollywood Studios

You will enter HS from backstage. There are restrooms near Lights, Motor Action that may be available. The one I would go to is near Muppets and Star Tours. There is also one across the way near The American Idol Experience, but I think those are inside and would not be a quick stop. The next best place to stop here would be right at the park entrance. There are bathrooms near where you pick up strollers and wheelchairs.

Epcot

There are plenty of restrooms here in Epcot. The ones that I have found to be the best are the restrooms near Norway and near Spaceship Earth, however you can see that there are some right after you enter in Morocco. The ones in America, but those are tucked away, as are the ones near Germany. If you want, you can head to the back of Innoventions, however those would be a bit off course too, considering you are ALMOST DONE!!!

 

And of course once you finish...you get a big shiny medal...and there are more porta-potties available to you!!

I hope this helps some of you! If you know of any other prime potty stops...PLEASE share your knowledge with us! I will update the blog and give you credit!