The Food, The Glorious Food

Just as I lamented that my camera wasn't great for candid WDW shots, it wasn't particularly great for food shots either. I snagged a couple decent ones, but it was just too hard to get far enough away to get them all like I'd planned. I didn't want to leave you without mouth-watering images of some of the great stuff we tried though, so here's some photos of mine and some photos I found out there on the web.


Our first major meal was dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney. It was so delicious that we headed back for breakfast later in the week. Neither meal is to be missed!! A great use of a quick service credit if you're on the dining plan. I got the bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Delish!

A few days later we stopped by Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco pavilion of Epcot. We'd never eaten there before and were thoroughly stuffed after trying their feasts. My favorites were the harira soup and beef brewat roll. Not everyone appreciates sweet and savory flavors together, but they're right up my alley!


Our first signature meal (Disney-speak for uber-fancy and uber-expensive) was at the California Grill atop the Contemporary Resort. We always use a couple of our meal credits to try a new signature restaurant since we'd never go to them otherwise. The bison and truffled mac & cheese here were really awesome! And the view of the fireworks that we got couldn't be beat.

Magic Kingdom is a busy day for us, so we only had time for a quick service restaurant when we went there - Columbia Harbour House. This is a must for us each trip. I always get the Anchors Aweigh sandwich (tuna salad), which we enjoy upstairs, where it's nice and quiet, even during busy times of year.


Our final dinner was at another signature restaurant - The Flying Fish at the Boardwalk. I was worried about eating here since I don't do seafood, but their Pepperberry-Grilled Pork Tenderloin was fantastic. So flavorful! So was the seasonal salad that I ordered as an appetizer, complete with produce grown in Epcot.

But nothing can compare to the brownie my sister got for dessert. Here's the description: "apple-wood smoked bacon praline crunch, smokey salt-scented chocolate sorbet and raspberry coulis". Sounds gross, right?! But I assure you, it was epic. As a lover of bacon she's always said that everything is better with it, except maybe brownies. Which is why she had to order this brownie for dessert. She said it's changed her world forever.

I'm glad we stretched our proverbial wings and tried some new things this trip. Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge had long been my favorite restaurant in all the World, but I've now got two more signature venues that I really like, not to mention the awesomeness that is Wolfgang Puck's. Now, to think about next year's trip...



P.S. A big thanks to Tracy over at Dollars and Sense Decor who gave me a Liebster award. The idea of it is to feature blogs you love with readerships of less than 200. Quite neat if you think about it - recognizing those who are just starting out, or who are blogging simply as a way to document their lives (like me). I read a pretty healthy mix of big name blogs and small journal-type blogs, and here are a few of my faves who I'd like to bestow the Liebster award too. These folks all have readerships of less than 200 according to their sidebar. Who knows how many others are catching their awesomeness on the sly!?! And if you ladies are game, go ahead and feature five other bloggers that you love! Thanks again Tracy!!


Bungalow960
Free People
Lansdowne Life
Quite Contrary*
*ok, so her stats show 202 readers, but I couldn't resist linking up - she's hilarious
Tales From a Leakey Faucet

For the Love of Blogs: December 2011

Wow! Have I really just skipped over my For the Love of Blogs posts for October and November?! Oops. I do love sharing some of my favorite reads so here's the last three for this year:

Make It and Love It is where Ashley writes about all her crafty endeavors. From sewing to painting, she's got tutorials for just about everything you could want! If you're ever feeling crafty and need a little inspiration her site is the place to go. At the very least, check out her kids' Halloween costumes - the cutest things ever!

Up next, IHeart Organizing. Jen's site is full of tips and tricks for organizing all aspects of your life. She shares printables, both freebies on her blog and others for sale in her shop, as well as product recommendations and the occasional giveaway. I can use all the organizational tips I can get, so her blog is a daily read for me. She'll definitely inspire you too, so take a look!

And finally, a blog that is new to me - Visual Vocabulary. This is where artist and designer Jesyka shares all the wonderful things that are in her *ahem* visual vocabulary. I love everything she posts about from her daughter's first birthday party to her birdcage chandelier. But my absolute favorite has to be the vintage library baby shower that she just shared. So great!

Hope there are some new finds for you! Enjoy!!

For the Love of Blogs: September 2011

I'm not quite sure how the middle of the month has arrived so quickly. But I feel like I say that every month. Work has been beyond busy the past few weeks and I haven't had a ton of time to read many posts, but here are a few blogs you should check out:


First up, My Paper Crane. Heidi is a crafter extraordinaire and she's got post after post (not to mention published books) to prove it. She's got a cute, whimsical style that I really love. Lately I've been totally enamored with all her Halloween crafting. Go give her blog a look - there's lots of great stuff going on over there!


Next up, Melissa from 320 Sycamore. She's a stay at home mom of 5 (my head hurts just thinking about that many kids!) and blogs about her home. I love that she shares tips and tricks of what worked for her along with hints on where to find some fantastic savings. I am cheap to the core, so her heads up are much appreciated. Go see them for yourself!


Last up, Kayla Aimee and her only slightly neurotic life. Her little Scarlette is to cutest Yoda-lookalike I've ever seen and I really enjoy hearing her ridiculous stories of ants in irons, accidental stripping and the like. Seriously, she's hilarious, so don't have any beverages around when you go take a look cause I can't be held accountable if your computer screen ends up covered in said beverage.

For the Love of Blogs: August 2011

It feels like the middle of the month came really, really quickly. So here I am, back to share a few of my favorite reads:


I mentioned ooh moon a while back, when it first got started, but had to bring it up again. It's the brainchild of graphic designer Katie Moon. On this site she shares one illustration each day, which is available for free download for just 24 hours. After that period, a new illustration goes up and the previous day's now costs a small fee. Her images are really fantastic! Fun, bright and funky. Perfect for anyone working on decorating a kids' room!! Go take a look.


Post Secret was an experiment done by Frank Warren several years ago. He handed out a few postcards and asked people to mail their secrets back to him. Since then it's morphed into a huge phenomenon that involves live events, multiple books and the weekly updates he gives on his website. Some of the secrets are strange and totally off the wall, while others are dramatic and really compelling. I've actually mentioned this site before, back when I shared a secret of mine. Head that way and see if you can relate to any of the secrets shared.



Rubyellen writes over at Cakies. Amongst other things, she shares photos of her adorable kids (can't wait to see #4 - due soon), tells tales of the start of her and her husband's romance (so sweet) and tons of great ideas. My most recent fave is of Brave's birthday party - a camp out in the backyard. I can't get over how cute that party was!! Click on over and check out all the wonderful stuff she shares about!

For the Love of Blogs: July

We're midway through the month, so it's time for me to share a few of my favorite blogs. I did a lot of blog reading last week during my blog writing break, and here are a few of my faves:


First up, Bower Power. Katie's blog is awesome and not just because she's got a great name! On any given day, you can go there to get some photography tips, see makeovers of her new house and giggle at the photos of her cutie pie Will. She's a bacon lover and corny joke maker. Basically she's just hilarious!! And I'm excited because I'll be meeting up with her during our vacation in October to get some family photos (part of my 30 Before Thirty list). Definitely give her blog a look, and check out her photography website while you're at it!



This next blog, The Modern Marigold, is one I've found just recently. The tagline is "vintage deliciousness every day" and I can attest that Amanda's posts live up to it. She posts her Etsy favorites, thrifting finds, clothing patterns and more! She even posted about, what's a nice way to describe it, her over-blackened chicken dinner. Sounds like my kitchen! I spent a ridiculous amount of time recently reading through her archives, and you should too. Here's the link.


Last up is Hooked on Houses, the blog that has the potential to suck me in for hours. Here you can find celebrity houses that are on the market, homes for sale that were used in movies and tv shows and, my favorite of all, bad MLS photos. That section is like the Fail Blog, or People of Walmart, but house-related. So hilarious! If you've got a good chunk of time of time to kill (because you won't be able to stop reading, it's so good), check it out.

I've shared mine, now it's your turn. What are some of your favorite reads lately?

For the Love of Blogs: June

Here we go again with another round of fantastic blogs I've found. Click here for the blogs featured in previous months' posts.


First up is Cozy Little Cave. Tess is an artist (with a great Etsy shop) who blogs about her home, her favorite finds and her baby (due in August). I really love the bright, bold colors she decorates with. If you're a fan of every color of the rainbow, which I am, make sure to check out her attic stairs. Or her library. Aw heck, just go check out everything she's done!


Then there's How About Orange, the blog where Jessica Jones, the designer of some awesome fabrics, posts daily. She'll share tutorials of her own making or from guest posters (check out Monday's post about bookstraps), as well as internet finds like wallpapers and quizzes (you must check out this movie title one). This blog is a daily read for sure. Have a look!



Last up this month is Johanna of Hanna Mac Photography. She just shared that she and her husband are expecting their second baby, so congrats to them! As expected from the title, she's a photographer and a fantastic one at that! I love the style of her photos, not to mention the crisp, bright colors. And her little girl Mia is the cutest thing around, with a nursery to match. Definitely head her way!


P.S. Happy Birthday Dad and Morgan!!

For the Love of Blogs: May

May is more than halfway done, which means it's time for another For the Love of Blogs installment. Here are some more of my favorites:


Dana chronicled how she tweaked her boring builder home into something stylish over at House*Tweaking. And the great news for us? She just down-sized to a new place and will soon have new before and afters to share! I love her style and am a big fan of her You Hue series, where she picks a paint color and shows how it works with several different palettes. Definitely go check her out!


You also must visit Crystal over at Little Bit Funky. If you like crafts, particularly sewing, bright colors, and, dare I say it, things that are a little bit funky, she's your girl. She has some great 20 minute crafts as well as an Etsy shop chock full of awesome goodies. Run, don't walk, to check out some of the great things she's doing! Here's the link.


And last, but not least, is the blog of Ana White. Ana is an Alaskan mom who has taken DIY to a totally new level. She's posted tons and tons of furniture building tutorials all categorized by cost, skill level or type of furniture. As someone who has just gotten comfortable with a drill, hammer and saw, this site is extra-fantastic. If you're looking to make something yourself, head her way.


There's my list for this month. Who are your favorites lately?

For the Love of Blogs: April

We're nearing the end of the month and that means I'm ready to share a few more blogs I love.



First up is The Yvestown Blog. Yvonne blogs from Belgium and as she says it, she's busy changing her house to an old ladies home replacing a lot of brown with pink and white. Her whole place, but especially her kitchen, is beyond belief gorgeous. As is her photography. So sunny and bright! Her style seems too perfect for words, but is something I aspire to achieve one day. Check out her blog and you're bound to feel the same way!



If Yvonne's blog shows my goal for photography, Rachel's blog shows my goal for decorating my home. On Smile and Wave she shows room after room of loveliness! She's recently moved and so is sharing fresh, new spaces yet again. Yay! I love that she mixes old family pieces and thrifted, vintage finds to create a look that is granny chic. And she just released a new e-course called "Style Your Space" that I'm dying to get (coughcoughMother'sDaycough). Definitely head on over and take a look!

This last blog is one I've just recently discovered. The Artful Parent is all about instilling creativity in your children. Jean is a momma to two girls and seems to have a never-ending flow of artsy ideas to share with the world. From painting with wheels (what kid, boy especially, wouldn't love this?) to doily t-shirts, I've gotten more ideas for kid crafts than I could ever have asked for. Read more to find some inspiration of your own.

For the Love of Blogs: March

I mentioned before that I follow tons and tons of blogs. I'm back to share three more of my favorites:


Shawni blogs about her life over at 71 Toes. I really love her photography and how she seems to capture images of everything, while still enjoying her time with her family. And the fact that she's keeping track of 5 kids' schedules, posting something new and interesting to read just about every day, and keeping up with her I Love Lucy Project blows my mind. Click on over to see more.


I love a good project (even though I don't get around to doing them as often as I'd like) and Jen has devoted her Vintage Sheet Blog to projects involving just that, vintage sheets. I discovered her blog when she featured my pants become skirt tutorial back in July of last year and have been on the edge of my seat to see what else she links to (and what giveaways she has) ever since. Go check it out!



Benita over at Chez Larsson has a big following. And for good reason. She's got awesome style and is a master at DIY. Furniture, accessories, pillows. If it's home-related, she's got a how-to for it. As of late she's been sharing the plans for her new home. I can't wait to see what she has in the works! Follow along here.

That's it for this month. Check back towards the end of April as I focus on some more of my favorites.

For the Love of Blogs: February

I'm back by popular demand with a few more of my favorite blogs. Click here if you missed last month's post, and be sure to check back towards the end of March for another list of bloggy goodness!


First up, the blog I go to any time I need a little pick me up. Color Me Katie never ceases to bring a smile to my face! Between her crazy friends, lovable cat and awesome photography, there's just no way you can read one of her posts without feeling a little happier (and without wanting to be a part of a flash mob). Go check her out!


And now, a place to check out if you've got a sweet tooth. Amanda of I Am Baker makes some really amazing things, from mouth-watering iced cookies to perfectly frosted cakes. She even decorates the insides of her cakes! Makes me wish I knew how to bake anything other than brownies. Visit her to see her beautiful goodies!


And last, but not least, Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day. I've been thinking up plans for Charlotte's third birthday party lately (yes, I realize it's still 3 months away) and Jordan's blog has all sorts of wonderful inspiration! Check it out for ideas for themes, tutorials for decor, and just all-around happy stuff.

And now it's your turn... share some of your favorite blogs!

For the Love of Blogs: January

I desperately need to update my Link Love page. Hard to believe, but there's tons more than the 60 or so blogs I have listed that I actually follow. I'll get around to that soon! In the meantime, I plan to take my mom's lead and spend some time each month showcasing a couple of my favorites. Here we go...



One of the first blogs I started reading with any regularity was A Thousand Words. Jen is a native of South Africa, currently living in England, planning her family's move to New Zealand. Makes me tired just thinking about it! Her beautiful photography (especially of food - yum!) and her organizational skills are to be coveted, and her Inspiration for Decoration blog was what motivated me to create my Droolworthy Decor blog. If you haven't happened upon her blog before, definitely give it a look. It's sure to be one that you add to your list of everday reads!



Daily Drop Cap is just that - a blog where each day designer and illustrator Jessica Hische showcases another letter graphic that you can use as a drop cap on your blog. She's working on the 12th alphabet now, so there's tons of letters to choose from. Go check it out!



Rounding out this month's favorites is the first blog I go to each day - Under the Sycamore. Ashley is a momma of four little ones and is crafty to the core. She's a regular contributor over at Design*Sponge and Design Aglow, but I think her real claim to fame (aside from her loving heart, as is showcased in post after post) is how she's designed her own house with vintage, thrifted pieces and good old creativity. Definitely head her way for some good reading!

Be sure to check back towards the end of next month, when I'll be highlighting some more of my favorites!