Disney Vacation Recap Day 1: Hollywood Studios

Back in July 2015 (wow, crazy to write that!), I spent a week in Disney with my brother, sister-in-law, their three kids and my mom. We went once before all together in August 2011 so the heat was something we were expecting. And frankly, we weren't even escaping it at home in NY so it doesn't matter!

So since I *just* got around to uploading pictures on my vacation from school, I guess I can get around to updating this.

The first day we went to Hollywood Studios. No one in my family is really a rollercoaster person so we did not go on Tower of Terror or Aerosmith's Rockin Rollercoaster. I haven't been on those since my friends made me go on them during our trip in January 2011.

So sad with no Sorcerer's hat! :(

My niece Emma & I in line for The Voyage of the Little Mermaid. One of my favorites! 

 My brother Mark & nephew Steven decided to go on Toy Story Mania one more time so we waited to meet Buzz and Woody. I wanted a picture by myself and then the nieces jumped in! 

I think I was in 4th grade when Toy Story came out. When my nephew was 3-4, he was obsessed with it. Now they are making a Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios and I can't wait to go back when it is done!

We also saw the Frozen show they have at Hollywood Studios. The day we were there, it was SO HOT! Dripping in sweat could've been a term used multiple items that day! So the Frozen Show was a nice time to cool off!

 

We had dinner reservations at Mama Melrose's and did the Fantasmic dining package. I highly recommend it! We got great seats of the Fantasmic show on the water (which they didn't see last time) and it is always one of my favorites!

Despite the heat, it was a great day! Next up, Magic Kingdom!

Welcome 2016!

It kind of blows my mind that we are in 2016. It grosses me out because that means I have been out of college for almost 7 years, high school for almost 11 years and my goddaughter is going to graduate elementary school this year. WHERE DOES TIME GO?! 

2015 seems like it was a blur. I almost feel like I did not do anything spectacular! I was looking back at previous posts to see what fun things I did and in comparison to other blogger recaps, I apparently had a boring 2015. But you know what? I am quite okay with that! Everyone is so individual and sometimes, a laid back year is just what is needed! What on Earth happened in 2015?

{January}
-Made it to the half way point of my first year of teaching. I think I drank a lot of wine at this point. Compared to where I was LAST year at this time and where I am now are TWO completely different spots. I feel *somewhat* more prepared this year (even though I am changing stuff around).

{February}
-We had a lot of snow. Not cool.

-My best friend from college, Stephanie, got engaged! 

-I saw Aladdin on Broadway with my mom! It was fantastic!

-I also chopped off my hair really short! I miss it this length!

{March}
-Nothing exciting apparently happened. This always happens in March. This year will be different with April & Tim's wedding!

{April}
-My best friend April got engaged!!! Tim proposed in front of the castle at Magic Kingdom and it is fitting because they both love Disney & they exchanged their first I Love Yous in Disney. Now this year they're getting married and I am the maid of honor!!!

 

-We also celebrated my niece Emma & mom's birthdays! Plus Easter, all of which I don't have any pictures from. Oh yeah, because I worked on EASTER! #whoeatspizzaoneastersunday

 

{May}

-Went to my friend Anjelica's son's christening!! We work together in the restaurant so little Mikey is like everyone's little nephew.

 

{June}
-Finished my first year of teaching! It was such an overwhelming year but also I learned so much about myself as a person and as a teacher.

-Celebrated Cheree's retirement! Cheree was like a "work" mom. I shared a room with her. Pictured with us below is Ilana, who was Cheree's TA and replaced her! Ilana is just a doll!

{July}
-Went to Disney! I am *finally* getting around to uploading my pictures [and plan on recapping them so so so late] but here's a taste:

I also saw Taylor Swift in concert at Met Life Stadium the same day I took the French CST for the second time (yeah...gotta take that AGAIN)

My niece's also had their dance recital (and I just recapped this month backwards...haha)

{August}
-I got to go to Georgia to see my best friend Stephanie! 

{September}
-Started year 2 of teaching! 

-Took my mom to see Billy Joel at MSG. He was FANTASTIC!!! So proud to call him a fellow Long Islander!

-We also unexpectedly welcomed my cousin David's son Lincoln into the world at 23 weeks and 6 days. Lincoln is a NICU miracle...he came home yesterday! (Even though he is on oxygen). That little baby is a fighter!

{October}
-Started looking at cars because I was determined to NOT have the same issues I had the previous winter. 

-Worked as usual. March and October tend to be boring months!

{November}
-Picked up my new car, Holly the Honda! Its a 2015 Honda CR-V. I am leasing with the option to buy and even though I wish I had done more than 10,000 miles per year on the lease, I am not worried since I am buying it out at the end. It was my first ADULT purchase. 

-I also did a Paint Nite with my friend Marisa for my birthday. This is why I teach Spanish & French....NOT art! 

{December}
-My niece Sara turned 11. Cue the water works because she will FOREVER be my bald niece! 

-My grandma turned 92!

-I did another Paint Nite with Marisa for HER birthday.

-Celebrated Christmas! Again, I am behind in updating my pictures. Maybe 2016 will be a productive year.


I am really looking forward to 2016. FOUR of my friends are getting married!! (April on March 6, Heather on June 4, Stephanie on October 15 in Miami, FL and Olivia on October 21!). It is going to be such an amazing, yet chaotic year. And somewhere, in this craziness, I would like to fall in love. I've been single for over three years. Maybe I am picky. Maybe my standards are too high. I don't wanna go for guys younger than me because I've been down that road. 

But who knows what 2016 will bring or hold! I am going into it with an optimistic mind, my friends! And you know, maybe blog a little more. ;)

{Blogtember Challenge - Days 1 &2)

So I saw a few of my fellow bloggers/the blogs I follow participating in this challenge for blogging this month. I thought this was something different I wanted to try because I really liked the topics for each day! So, I am a little late getting in on the bandwagon on this so I will be combining Tuesday & Wednesday's posts today and then today's & tomorrow's together. Then I should be good!


Day 1: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make you who you are.

Wow. What a loaded question/statement!

I was born on November 18, 1986. I was the 5th baby and finally, my mom's first girl! I was also a welcomed surprise because my father unfortunately died before I was born and even before my mother knew she was expecting me. Many people told her she should not have had me because she was going to be a single mother and she already had her hands full with my handicapped brother. My mom is a strong-willed lady and she refused to listen to them. And she chose to name me Kristin Elizabeth, because Kristin was the name my dad always wanted for a little girl. Thank god she did not name me MaryLou like she wanted me to. I loved my name growing up because I was the only Kristin in my graduating class!

 You can see my obsession with Disney started young!

I grew up in a relatively small town. We had three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. My graduating class was about 250+, small compared to some other districts near us! I grew up in Sayville, which was dubbed as "America's friendliest town." My friends and I growing up always joked it should be called "The town that know's everyone else's business." I liked living in a small town and my small circle of friends. I didn't run with the "popular" crowd in high school but my circle of friends and I had a lot of fun. Plus, I loved my teachers in school. The district I went to is known to be one of the best districts and the effort the teachers put in is truly seen. My middle school foreign language teacher, Mrs.Reith, is the reason I became a teacher. Without her and the influence from all my other teachers, I wouldn't be where I am today.

My family, no matter how much we fight, is always there for each other. I have four older brothers and let me just say, if I ever had someone break my heart, they would probably be waiting outside their house ready to rough them up. 

There is no one I probably admire more than my mother. She raised five kids on her own and while times were tough, she did her best to make sure we had the best childhood and memories. She always feels she was dealt a crappy hand in life by having to raise us on her own (not by choice) but she has shown me what it takes to truly be a mother. She is so selfless and always thinks of herself last. I hope one day I can be half as good of a mother as she is to my children in a town like where I grew up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 2: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

Hands down go back to Europe. I was so scared the first week I was in Spain because it was the first time I had flown out of the country but honestly, I don't regret anything that happened in Spain while I was abroad. I would want to go visit more countries....Italy, France, Greece.

Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

Paris, France

Isle of Crete, Greece...now that's breathtaking! 

Link up here! 

Anchors Away! - Lisa & Bryce tie the knot!

My July 4th was special this year. I was in a wedding! My cousin Lisa & her now husband Bryce tied the knot on the patriotic holiday. They got married at a local place called Danfords Hotel & Marina...right on the water. It was really nice except for the HEAT. That was absolutely brutal during pictures.

I snapped a ton of photographs before the wedding & during the reception. The ones from the ceremony were from friends on facebook.  

My friend Amanda's hairdresser Jess did my hair. Lisa, my cousin, was probably the most NON BRIDEZILLA bride I have ever met. She was like "Whatever makes everyone happy!" Seriously, what bride normally says that? I love how it came out! Here's a shot:

 

We had the bridal suite at Danfords to hang in as we got ready, hold our stuff during the wedding/reception, etc. Nicole, a friend of Lisa's from middle school, did her hair, one of the bridesmaids Jenna's hair and my Aunt's hair. Some glamour shots :)

 

My cousin Lisa, the bride :)

Jenna, another bridesmaid getting her hair done

As we were getting ready, the photographers arrived and were taking some shots of her dress, shoes, programs, etc. He also took a shot of Lisa holding her dress on the hanger I had made for her :)

 

This picture also cracks me up. My Aunt Betsy was not sure if she was going to have something done to her hair for the wedding (she ended up having Nicole do it). And you'd figure the day her only daughter got married she would be nervous or excited or busy doing something. Nope....she relaxed playing Candy Crush on her iPad.

 

The bride & groom were suppose to do their reveal at 1:30 and do all (well, most) of the pictures beforehand so they could actually enjoy their cocktail hour & reception. But that went out the window because it took awhile for us to get ready. Whoops! But soon, it was time to get into the dress!

After Lisa & Bryce did their reveal and saw each other, we took bridal party photos. OH MY GOD was it HOT!! It was a big joke that every time they went to Danfords, it rained so naturally, they assumed it would on their wedding day....Nope, it was sweltering hot but a beautiful day! And sunny! After we took photos outside, we hung out in the lobby taking more pictures:

 Steven, the ringbearer (my nephew), Lisa, Elliot (the flower girl/bride's niece)

Lisa with my nieces & nephew

 

My grandma and me

My mom, me and Grandma

Soon, it was time to walk down that aisle!

My Uncle Bill walking Lisa down the aisle

Their vows were so sweet...it was hard not to cry!! 

Mr & Mrs. Westervelt!

Then, it was time to PARTAY!! I kept joking to Bryce via text about the awesome partay (yes, spelled that way) they were going to have...well, my phone now AUTOCORRECTS "party" to partay everytime I write it!

Their first dance was to "Close Your Eyes" by Michael Buble. Such a sweet song!

My Aunt & Uncle let me invite two-three friends to the wedding since I was a big help with the shower and all. My friends Shannon, Amanda, and Pete came. It was nice to have them there!

 

 

 Of course, the father/daughter dance & mother/son dance made me cry. My uncle & cousin danced to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland and Bryce & his mom danced to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.

 

I must tell you, many elements of their wedding were hand-made! Lisa did not buy ONE magazine while engaged....most of her ideas were a spin off of things she pinned on Pinterest! They made their own invitations, thank you cards, programs, favors, etc. 

Placecards! Each person had an individual boat! 

Card box

 

Bryce made the knots himself. How cool!

It was an absolute honor to stand besides Lisa & Bryce on their wedding day as they pledged their love to each other! Lisa is my only female cousin on my dad's side of the family so it means alot she included me in the big day. Bryce and I have gotten along from the moment I met him and I feel like he is the missing puzzle piece from Lisa's life. He fits in so well with our family and I couldn't be happier for Mr & Mrs. Westervelt! Love them both!

It was a fantastic 4th of July. I can't wait to see the pictures from the photographer!!