The other day I shared 3 Valentine's Day Gift Baskets Ideas for him so today I thought I'd share something you both can enjoy, Breakfast in Bed. Who doesn't love breakfast in bed? Honestly I'm not even sure my husband will be home the morning of Valentine's day so I might just do this for myself. It's so cozy and takes me back to my days of sleeping in (whenever that was). 

This year we decided to take the kids to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Florida. It was our first visit and it was just as magical as I had hoped. Before we left I did some research and talked with some friends and family to ensure we made the most of our trip since we were only visiting the park for one day (note, one day is doable but you'll inevitably leave wanting more). In doing my research I got a bit overwhelmed so I thought I'd distill it down and share my top 10 tips for your first visit to Disney World (specifically from a boy mom).


1. Ask Guest Services for a "First Visit" Button
When you arrive, be sure to ask Guest Services for a “First Visit” button. This will let the cast know it's your first visit when they see you in the park and they will do their best to make sure it’s extra special. Plus, the button makes a great souvenir. You can also get a "celebration" button if you're celebrating a birthday or other occasion.


2. Wear your Disney Gear
This is a tip from sister-in-law, thank goodness she reminded me. Everyone wears something Disney related and it really feels like part of the magic. Remember to pack your Disney gear or purchase it as soon as you get on site. Especially the ears!


3. Bring an Autograph Book
Characters are walking around all day or have scheduled meet and greets specifically for photos and autographs. The autographs are special because the are usually specific to the character. For example, we got “Shakey’s” signature and it was all wobbly. One thing we wish we would have done is to book a character dinner at one of the restaurants, this is the best way to get a lot of autographs in a short amount of time plus you need to eat anyway.


4. Download the "My Disney Experience" App
The My Disney Experience app is such a great tool for organizing your day. You can book your fast passes, restaurant reservations, receive notification, see wait times and magic hours (certain days some parks open early or close late). The best thing about the app is the mobile ordering at quick serve restaurants, you can order and pay for your food while enjoying the rides at the park and pick up your food without waiting. Such a great time saver. Download the app ahead of time so you can familiarize yourself with it and plan your day ahead of time.


5. Book your Fast Passes but Don't Panic
We were such rookies at this and it made us feel behind the ball. If this is you all I can say is don't panic. Every guest receives 3 Fast Passes that you book within the app or on park kiosks. If you're staying at a resort you can book them 60 days in advance. We booked our fast passes the morning of our visit because we bought tickets onsight. Once we figured out the Fast Pass booking process there weren't many rides left. This had us feeling a little worried that we wouldn't ride anything but that wasn't the case. The Fast Pass availability changes throughout the day and even if you don't get a Fast Pass on the ride you want the line ups aren't too bad. Disney World does such a great job of crowd management that you never feel like you're wasting your day in line-ups. I suggest booking your Fast Passes for the afternoon of your visit and ride as many rides as you can in the morning before it gets too busy. At Magic Kingdom, my boys (age 4 and 6) enjoyed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Speedway, Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean. Splash Mountain and Space Mountain are also great as well but my little guy wasn't tall enough. (PS - my kids were too scared for the haunted mansion, despite the pic below).



6. Get to the Parade Early and Secure a Good Spot
This one comes from my son's JK teacher and I'm so glad she told me about it. Head down to Main Street early approx 45 min before the parade. Cobb a squat on the curb and get your kids an ice cream while you wait. Aim to get a spot on the right side so you're in the shade. Trust me. The parade is amazing and it's just not the same if your kids can't see. My boys loved the Maleficent dragon.




7. Quick Serve Restaurants have Healthy Options and are Affordable
I was pleasantly surprised that the quick serve restaurants were reasonably priced and offered healthy options like salads. If your kids are like mine and only eat pizza be sure to go to PinocchioVillage Haus in Fantasyland for some delicious flat bread.  If you go during off-hours, hold onto your receipt, sometimes it offers 20% off at souvenir shops. Don't forget you can bring snacks into the park and you can ask for free ice water at almost any quick serve restaurant so bring a water bottle.


8. Phone Charging
Bring your charging cord. You will be taking a lot of photos and video and you don't want to run out of battery. If you need a charge there are outlets in the stumps near the Tangled restrooms in Fantasyland (or you can use any outlet you find in the park).

9. Bring Pennies and Quarters
There are a numerous penny press machines all over Magic Kingdom (locations here) each with their own design and story. These pressed coins make great souvenirs and my kids love it. Each one cost $0.51 so be sure to bring your quarters and pennies.

10. Watch the Fireworks on the Second Floor of the Entrance
The fireworks are hands down the best thing I have ever seen. It gets very crowded and when the fireworks begin many people put their kids on their shoulders so your view might get obstructed. To avoid this head down to the entrance and go to the second level to watch the show. Be sure to leave a few minutes early to avoid a wait at the monorail.


On this trip we only visited the Magic Kingdom as we didn't want to rush it and we also needed to squeeze in a visit to the grand-parents while we were in Florida. While Magic Kingdom is totally doable in one day I highly recommend planning a few days to allow you to visit all the parks and have enough time for down time. I'm already planning our trip back to see Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner I thought I'd share 3 Valentine's Day Gift Basket Ideas for him. Whether you have a boyfriend, a husband or a partner, these custom gift baskets make the perfect gift when paired with a complimentary gift card.

Here is a photo of what this tiny pantry looked like before:


... And here is the after:


Tips for Organizing your Pantry:

Remove Everything and Clean
To start remove everything from your pantry (even if you know you're going to keep it). Throw out or donate unwanted food, consolidate snacks and only keep the essentials. Clean the shelves thoroughly and perhaps think about painting or wallpapering the inside of the panty.


Take Measurements and Plan
Measure the depth, length and height of your shelves. Visit the Kitchen Stuff Plus website and determine which container sizes correspond with your needs. Do you need containers for pasta? spices? Baking confections? Cereal? Other food? Keep in mind not everything will require a new container.


Purchase and Layout Containers
Once you've confirmed your plan it's time to put it into action.  Purchase your containers. Give them a rinse. Place them in your empty pantry as a trial run. Test out different locations. Step back and take a look. Once you've confirmed their placement you can fill them and start setting up your pantry.


Finalize your Pantry and Enjoy
Place the rest of your food back into the pantry. Again adjusting as you go to ensure optimal space is used and it is pleasing to the eye. Enjoy your pantry and have fun cooking!



I'm really happy with the way this turned out. It reminds me of a tiny store in my kitchen. Be sure to check out the other bloggers in the Modern Handmade Home Series Thalita from The Learner Observer, Lindi from Love Create Celebrate and Colleen from Lemon Thistle.  



This post is in partnership with Kitchen Stuff Plus. All expressed opinions are my own.
 

First things first, I'd like to thank our Modern Handmade home series partner Kitchen Stuff Plus for all the organizational storage required for this laundry routine. Specifically the 3-drawer fabric carts which are at the center of the idea.


Disclaimers:
- I don't separate based on colour or fabric. Most of my kids clothes are dark (I rarely buy anything white for my boys).
- I do laundry by person rather than by a big family basket.
- If the clothes are really soiled I wash them completely separate.
- I do not fold pjamamas (and never will).

Okay, so here's the gist, I used two sets of these fabric drawer units from Kitchen Stuff Plus. I assigned one drawer for underwear/socks, one drawer for pjamamas and one for dirty clothes. The rest of the drawers are for folded clean clothes. I told my kids to always place their dirty clothes in the bottom left drawer (the one for dirty clothes). Then once it is filled I simply grab the drawer full of dirty clothes, wash them on a quick cycle, fold the clothes (or don't fold, whatever floats your boat), put them back into the drawer I brought them down in and insert it back into the top of the unit. Then I insert an empty drawer in the bottom left as the new dirty laundry drawer.


I know this sound complicated so I've put together a video to help explain this laundry routine a bit better:
By removing the traditional laundry basket I am able to skip a step and it prevents me from getting lazy. And, in a pinch, I can always just place the unfolded clean clothes drawer directly back into the unit (and live with a few wrinkles). I hope this makes sense. Please feel free to ask any questions below.

Be sure to check out the other bloggers in the Modern Handmade Home Series Thalita from The Learner Observer, Lindi from Love Create Celebrate and Colleen from Lemon Thistle. 

This post is in partnership with Kitchen Stuff Plus. All expressed opinions are my own.

Well the decade has come to an end. It seems like yesterday I was sitting with my parents watching 2020 and now here we are. The 2010's brought us white kitchens, grey, grey and more grey, buffalo plaid and herringbone. I can't wait to see what the 2020's have in store. Today I'm sharing some 2020 Interior Design Trends that could potentially make their mark on the next decade.

1. Rounded Edges:
This trend begin making waves in 2019 and we will really see it reach it’s rounded peak in 2020. Curved edges evoke a sense of calmness to any space which is why we will see these curves in built-ins, doors, furniture and even on island counter tops. Curves and arches are a great way to add calmness and warmth to a space.


2. Textured Wall Treatments:
In 2020 we will see a resurgence of faux wall treatments, yikes I know, but they will come back more subtle and refined less spongy and blotted. We'll see Venetian plaster and stucco skim coats. These frescos will add texture, depth and give any room old world charm.


3. Hickory and Other Brown Tones:
The dark muted tones of the Hickory stain will be a big hit in 2020. Serving as the anti-thesis to the popular light wood of late, the earthy browns of Hickory in a matte finish will add drama and help ground any space.


4. Sustainability:
This will continue to be a big theme in 2020 and beyond. It could be the biggest trend of the next decade. The options and price points for sustainable pieces and textiles have come down in the past few years allowing the most budget conscious consumer to search out sustainable pieces. In 2020, to combat the growing popularity of fast-fashion in interior design, sustainability and reuse will be an increasingly important consideration in home furniture purchase decisions. We will be seeing the popularity of used furniture and accessories, and not just antiques, growing each year.

5. Zellige TerraCotta Tiles:
We caught these tiles making a mark in 2019 and we will continue to see this trend soar in 2020. Zellige TerraCotta Tiles (also known as Moroccan Tiles) have popped up in bathrooms and backsplashes. Their nonuniform shape and colour are the perfectly imperfect compliment to the wabi sabi fad.

Like many people I was in awe of the viral gift wrapping hack going around online. I couldn't believe I had been wrapping gifts wrong this whole time. I attempted the seemingly simple task the other night.  The verdict? It's not so simple. Apparently it's all based on geometry and while I always appreciate a perfectly wrapped Christmas gift I don't have time to break out my protractor. After attempting the viral gift wrapping trick a few times I decided to go back to my old way of wrapping, perfectly imperfect.

Luckily I have my own Viral Gift Wrapping Hack to pass along. Keep reading to find out more.