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!

Block Island 2014

I have always wanted to spend some time visiting my two female cousins on my mom's side of the family (my Uncle Teddy's two daughters). They both live in Massachusetts so they mentioned they were doing a ladies weekend in Block Island (which is actually in Rhode Island...never knew that!). I decided it would be fun to join and explore someplace new.

Thursday I drove up to my cousin Fran's house. After buying a GPS that morning at Best Buy (I am so geographically challenged), it only took me about 4 hours. The worst part was the traffic getting out of New York (oddly enough, the worst part coming home was the traffic in Connecticut and NOT New York for once!). I stayed at Fran's house and we drank wine, I helped her pack and we went to bed early(ish) for me to be on the 10:30 ferry Friday morning.

Fran and I made it on the 10:30 ferry. My cousin Chantal (Fran's sister) and her two friends plus Fran's two friends all missed it by 5 minutes. Chantal and her friends ended up taking a high speed ferry over so they arrived shortly after us. We stored our things in a luggage room (apparently that is what you're suppose to do) and then went to lunch at this restaurant Ballards. After lunch, we hit the beach! It was GORGEOUS weather and probably the best we had all weekend.

Me, Chantal and Fran at Lunch!

View from the ferry when we pulled in. To me, there is just something so calm and peaceful about being near water. (Although I did not have that feeling come Sunday afternoon when I wanted to get off the rocky ferry because I thought I was going to be sick).

Friday night we spent a good portion finding a place to eat. I don't do seafood but most places obviously have other options. We ended up splitting off after we ate dinner. Chantal & her two friends went and partied at this bar Captain Nick's and I went with Fran and her two friends for flaming coffee! It's this whole presentation thing but it was REALLY different and for someone who LOVES her coffee (even my students know), I enjoyed this experience.

Saturday morning, we were going to take mopeds around the island. Block Island is suppose to be about 10 miles around but it definitely felt bigger in a way! Wendy & Allison (Fran's two friends) had rented the mopeds but Wendy backed out at the last minute. They make you "test drive" them before they let you go off. Fran was going to drive and I was going to go on the back of her bike & Chantal on the back of Allison's bike. Well, joke is on Fran because she and Allison BOTH failed. They were both shocked. We ended up renting bikes for $16 for about 4 hours to bike around the island. Y'all, I did NOT sign up for athletics on this vacation. I didn't even pack sneakers. 

I think they need to inspect their bikes because my brakes sucked and it was difficult! We biked up to a lighthouse and took a break.

Then we biked to the Mohegan Bluffs. We all kind of got lost getting there because there is NO direct sign that indicated where they were. It was a 130+ steps down to a rocky beach (which we did not walk on) but it was a beautiful view.

Me, Chantal and Fran

Allison, Me, Chantal, Fran

Sidenote: We all have matching neon shirts. Fran saw them in the window of a store and we all bought them to wear. I think the most we got in a picture of a group was 5.

Later, Chantal and I were going to the beach when these guys were like "Come have a shot on our boat!" I was hesitant but Chantal has such a bubbly personality she was like "SURE!" So we sat on this boat for awhile talking with these guys. And opted for a group photo:

Me, Allison, Fran and Chantal

On Saturday night, we went out to dinner. Chantal, Leana and Missy all opted for pizza/tacos so the rest of us had a sit-down dinner. It wasn't the best restaurant but I now have seen how picky some people are from both sides (serving and sitting). I am pretty easy when it comes to eating out...as long as my food comes out right I am happy! Allison's bass had to be cooked again because it wasn't cooked all the way through (I wouldnt have been happy either). But before dinner, we had a photoshoot on the beach!

Me, Leaiana, Missy, Chantal

 Like how we alternated colors of our shirts?!

When we went out on Saturday, we went to Captain Nick's. I wish I had more energy in me because the band was awesome! They played a mix of stuff on the radio today, oldies, 80's, country. I ended up leaving early with Missy to go sleep but it was fun!

Overall, it was a fun weekend and so great to see my cousins!!! I enjoyed getting to explore a new part of the East Coast and look forward to seeing my cousins again soon.

Can't wait to share the exciting news I have!

Girl's Weekend in Atlantic City

This past weekend, I went to Atlantic City for the weekend with two of my girls, Shannon & Olivia. Originally, it was suppose to be the three of us and our friend Amanda but she had to back out at the last minute. :(

As soon as I got out of school on Friday (the last day!!!!) I went to pick up Shannon. We drove up to Olivia's and it was pretty much smooth sailing the whole way....until we were about 20 minutes away and sat in traffic on a road that we just needed to go 1.8 miles for an HOUR!!! As soon as we could get on the exit, I did a happy dance because I was READY to get out of the car and stretch my legs as soon as we got to Olivia's.

This time around, we decided to stay at the Tropicana. Last time we stayed at Bally's. What a difference of hotels! I will say that the Tropicana is a lot nicer but the navigation in that place is TOTALLY confusing! We ended up only going to places within our hotel both nights we went out, which is what happened last time.

The first night we started off at Cuba Libre and then ended up at Tango's. We had so much more fun at Tango's because they were playing music we loved!

Shannon & I before going out

Olivia & I before going out

Olivia & Shannon

I somehow ended up going to bed at 4am which AMAZES me because I had been up since 5am getting ready for the last day of school! Maybe it has something to do with the Starbucks we got at a reststop and I asked for 3 shots of espresso in my coffee. 

On Saturday, we slept in late (we only left at midnight to go out!) and eventually made our way to the beach. Poor Olivia did not feel so good so she ended up going back to the hotel. It was SO nice to have my toes in the sand, feel that beachy breeze and just lay out in the sun. Only one part of my hip got burnt (I guess I missed putting sunblock there) so I am super happy about that.

On Saturday night we were going to do dinner at the Rainforest Cafe but the wait was an hour and a half! So not worth it. We decided to go to Chickie & Pete's in our hotel and save Rainforest for lunch on Sunday.  After dinner, Shannon and I got ready to go out. Olivia decided to stay in which was totally understandable because she didn't feel good.

We went back to Tango's and had a few drinks. And also danced this time! Some guy asked us where we were from and we said Long Island. He thought we were from Florida..... Maybe I should've specified New York but generally when you say Long Island, most people know it is in New York. Olivia ended up coming to meet us for froyo because that's what you get at 2am! We kinda called it an early night the second night but that was totally fine. We all said we were happy with it because we were just content being with each other.

Loved this dress! I got it for $13 at H&M and it was so comfy. Plus it is a perfect little black dress. 

Shannon in her outfit in our hotel.

It was such a fun weekend to have with two of my best friends and very much needed after a hectic school year! It was the perfect way to kick off summer and I cannot wait to go back. Maybe next time I will actually gamble more. I played two slot machines and lost a total of $6. Oh well. At least I gambled this time!

{Disney World 2014 - Epcot!!}

The other day I finally go to posting about my trip to visit my BFF April during my spring break. We had gone to Magic Kingdom for a day and then went to Epcot the next day. I wish that I could have stayed longer but I flew home on Easter since I had to go to school on Tuesday and Monday I was babysitting. Oh well...next time!!

When we went, the Flower & Garden festival was going on. I can now cross that off my "bucket list." It was so cool to see! 

Chip & Dale

Buzz Lightyear

We hit up the Epcot character spot. 

Minnie! 

I am so glad we went during the flower & garden festival. The details were just amazing! 

Later in the evening, we went to a concert by a group April liked near the American pavillion in Epcot. It was pretty neat.

Mary Poppins

I am proud of the fact that I am 27 and still take character pictures! 

 Loved these!

Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie when I was little (and still is one of my favorites!). Chip is my favorite character.

Another thing I love about Epcot is going around the World Showcase! It's the language teacher in me. 

 Lady & the Tramp in Italy

 

Part of the Dwarfs

Overall, I had an awesome two days at Disney World with my best friend April! It was so good to finally see her after not seeing her for months. I wish I could have spent more time visiting her but maybe next time!