visiting the four kingdoms: day 1

I left my heart in Disney World. I am not saying this to be poetic or sweet or anything. It is just the truth! I was spoiled getting to spend every moment of every day with Tison. This morning I threw a pillow over my alarm clock to stifle the radio so I could keep sleeping. I have done more morning grumpy-grumbling than ever since our return. Who would have thought that coming back from an amazing vacation would have such negative effects on my work ethic! Don't get me wrong, I am extremely thankful to have a job, but I just want to play all day! Anyone else experiencing a bad case of senioritis this summer?

In an effort to relive the experience, I am going to walk you through our days spent at the four kingdoms at Walt Disney World, park by park. It is truly the happiest place on earth! Leaving bright and early (4:00 am) we drove from Shreveport, Louisiana to Sandestin Beach Resort, Florida - then left Sandestin the next morning for Orlando. We arrived around 3:00 pm, just as it was beginning to rain. A quick stop in a gift shop for ponchos began our first evening which we spent at Downtown Disney. I highly recommend Downtown Disney for adults as an evening activity. There are tons of restaurants and live outdoor music to choose from.

This is how we spent our first full day at Walt Disney World:

{Hitting the ground running, Tison and I started the day at the educational ride, Spaceship Earth. This is the ride in the Epcot dome. It cracked me up when the computer screen in front of us displayed our future if we keep recycling. I didn't even know they had snapped our picture- Tison's face so hilarious.}

 {I thought I was going to pass out after this ride. The G-force from this ride creates a pressure in your head that made me feel like my head might explode if it didn't release "into space." Why I thought I could handle the "More Intense" version of the ride is beyond me! It literally took us about 4 hours afterwards to feel normal again.}

{Tequila shots in Mexico are a must do!}

 {We enjoyed Bratwurst and Oktoberfest beer for lunch in Germany.}

{I absolutely loved visiting all of the countries! Everything was done with so much attention to detail. Norway, Canada, and the United Kingdom were also visited, but I guess I was still feeling the effects of the Mission: Space ride and didn't take any pictures!}

{Captain EO aka Michael Jackson was amazing. It is a 1986 3D film that follows Captain EO and his crew on a mission to rescue the planet through the gift of music, dance, and light. Need I say more?}

{I was more than impressed with the way Disney grows their own vegetables and distributes it to the resort restaurants. That Tomato "tree" right there produces 36,000 tomatoes a year!}

{After our fun at Epcot, Tison and I rode the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. We really squeezed every minute out of this day!}

{We walked around the Magic Kingdom beginning in the area called Adventureland where I wanted to ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Ali, Matt, Mrs. Chris and Mr. Tim met up with us there for the Disney classics, It's a Small World and Mad Tea Party; as well as riding Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and race cars! The fireworks display began while we were on the racetrack and it gave us a perfect view of the show. What a happy accident!}

{My favorite things from day 1: The World Showcase at Epcot, seeing Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom for the first time since I was 9, the Space Mountain ride, and the fireworks of course!}

they say it's your birthday...

Here are a few bits & pieces from Tison's birthday weekend :) I really love this man. We have so much fun together!

 After spending the afternoon at the Querbes Golf Course, we went to

then to the Robinson Film Center for

I hope you had a wonderful, fun-filled birthday, babe. You are my favorite :) Enjoy the last year of your 20s!

{see last year's birthday celebration here and here}

no time like the present...

Isn't the week before Christmas just glorious!? I feel like everyone is walking around with a smile on their face. There is a steady rush of traffic searching for the perfect gift, festive holiday cards in the mailbox, neighborhoods lit with twinkle lights, delicious gift baskets filled with more sweets than should be allowed in my presence... the collective intent of goodwill to all is palpable. The Christmas parties ain't bad either...

(I have so many pictures of me making faces at Ty while he snaps away...ah, don't i look pleased?!)

(I am full of faces-awkward, silly, big teeth grin... I really need to start practicing in the mirror.)

Gold & Purple Reign...

Justin T. and I met during football season five years ago. I was introduced to him as Tison, as that is what all his friends call him, and I have called him that ever since. I have tried to change it and call him Justin, but I always forget and go back to "Tison" or "Taylor" (his middle name), "T" or "Hey, you!" He has always been a die hard LSU fan (something he and his father share) and whenever I see the Tigas on tv, it makes me think of when we first met. As the weather changes into fall I can't help but recall college-turned-adult game day get-togethers with crock pot dips, a keg, and a fire. Football season is so exciting...

...The Tison's invited us to Arlington/Dallas for the LSU vs Oregon game this past weekend. When I first saw "Jerry's World" I swear I thought it was an alien ship! It is so big I can't even explain it. The surrounding grounds were a sea of purple and gold! I saw a handful of Oregon fans which were only recognizable due to the "Tiger Bait" chants as they passed tailgate after tailgate.

{There was an hour wait just to get on the waiting list at Buffalo Wild Wings, so we went to El Chicos for Tecate!}

Here we are surrounded by 87,711 fans!



last of the New Orleans pics...

 {Lauren was Maid of Honor for Catherine and Will's wedding at The Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. I love that the gentlemen wore tails and white gloves. So fancy! Catherine looked stunning, of course.}

 {The reception was held at the Audubon Tea Room. They passed out Mardi Gras masks and had a kickin' band!}

 {On Sunday we met the folks, Mrs. Mary and Mr. Roy, Laef and Sarah at The Ruby Slipper for brunch.}

 {Who doesn't love brunch!?}

{It has been a long time since I have been in a small independent bookstore. Aren't they magical? I am pretty sure Tison and I could have spent the whole day in the Garden District Book Shop if we didn't have to drive back to Shreveport. We picked up the audio book Bossypants read by the author herself, Tina Fey. It is hilarious! A must read/listen.}

cochon de lait birthday...

When I woke up Saturday morning, there was no sign or warning, I was overjoyed to see the sun...I let out a big sigh of relief and pushed up my sleeve for I was expecting friends over for birthday fun. Tison's birthday pig roast was the reason to toast and all gather in the backyard. We set up the tables and started the coals, brought out the flowers, and tied up the bows... friends started to arrive and everything was going great, until the sky fell out before we even ate! As it started to rain, although it was a pain, everyone grabbed something and headed indoors. Drinking games called THUNDER put us all in a blunder, and the party continued on course. Some might call backyard parties relaxing, but I find them taxing.... so glad the downpour stopped for a spell. Entertaining line dancing and flip cup got us all ready for sup. I don't want to dwell, but honey what the hell, that suckling pig was the bomb-dot-com! While indulging in pork roast, the neighbors must have nearly crocked as the volume level escalated to an extreme. What's that you say? It's a cochon de lait! C'est la vie, let it be and so it seems I'll have another drink off the keg :)

Thanks for coming everyone!

-xo-