Couple Visits Disneyland Every Day in 2012

At the end of 2012 I came across an interesting post on the official Disney Parks blog: a couple visited Disneyland every single day in 2012.  On December 31, Jeff Reitz and Tonya Mickesh received special gifts personally from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.  It was a typical fancy Disney ceremony: as the two made their way down Main Street, Staggs was waiting for them to present their honors in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Their honors included being made honorary citizens of Disneyland, and a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, a luxury apartment off the … Continue reading

Can Your Homeschool Blog Earn Money? {Part 1}

The homeschool cup runneth over with homeschool blogs.  Many frazzled homeschool moms and those at a loss for inspiration have found restoration in many of the amazing homeschool blogs on the net today.    My experiences blogging about homeschooling has opened up a world that I may have otherwise missed; both as a homeschooling mom and as one who profits from blogging.  Many homeschool moms have also discovered this opportunity and desire to learn more about profiting from their blogs. Since most homeschool homes balance on the tip of one income this potential source of support or business is becoming more … Continue reading

Figuring Out Transportation at Disney World

One of the erroneous assumptions I always made growing up was thinking that Disney World worked just like the small local amusement parks I’d been to. Pay one fee, get access to everything on the site, and get around the park easily. We know for sure the former isn’t true, and neither is the latter. Disney World is huge. It’s basically a city unto itself. So any family doing a Disney World vacation that wants to see more than one park has to figure out transportation from one park to another, plus how to get on and off the site … Continue reading

Four Seasons to Open at Disney World

I’ve always thought one couldn’t take a much more luxurious vacation than a Disney vacation, and if one stayed at a fancy hotel in the Disney parks, one could have everything one might possibly want. It’s probably because I’ve never stayed in anything close to a luxury hotel, but apparently none of the options are quite fancy enough. That’s the only reason I can think that Disney World’s letting an outside hotel chain into its premises, even if it is a Four Seasons. USA Today reports that the “ultraluxury” hotel chain has reached a deal with Disney World to build … Continue reading

Mini Mickey: The Ultimate Disney World Travel Guide

Learn how to avoid the crowds This weekend my family and I engaged in an activity along with many others across the country: raiding the clearance sales at Borders. I’m devastated at the mega-bookstore’s demise, but that didn’t stop me from seeing what books I could obtain. Before I made a separate trip to the store with my mother, she gifted me with three books she’d bought there earlier in the day (thanks, Mom!) They’re all unofficial guides to Disney World. Between them the three contain myriad tips on taking a Disney vacation: how to find the best savings, how … Continue reading

It’s the Small Things That Sometimes Mean the Most

Photo by w1n → in Flowers There are moments in a marriage where a very small thing means so much. This past Wednesday I attended a Bible study at my church. It’s a new series on how to stay in love in marriage. The pastor who was leading it shared a story about what may seem to us an insignificant moment, but to him deepened his love for his wife even greater. I had the same kind of moment as well. It was on Monday when my husband and I spent the day at Children’s Hospital. Our 12-year-old son had … Continue reading

How Small Businesses Are Helping Relief Efforts In Japan

The ongoing tragedy in Japan has given the rest of the world many things to think about. From preparedness for natural disasters to planning and preparing for emergencies involving nuclear power plants, the list of questions that have come up over the past few weeks continues to grow. One question that many of us are probably asking as we learn about the devastation in Japan is “How can I help?” Large-scale tragedies like last year’s earthquake in Haiti and the current events unfolding in Japan often inspire massive relief efforts from governments and large corporations all over the world. While … Continue reading

Health Benefits and Claims of Tea

The potential health benefits of tea have been circulating for quite some time. While there has been no conclusive evidence there is enough reason to take a second look at how drinking tea may benefit your health. Tea is the most consumed liquid aside from water in the world. So if even a small fraction of those people are experiencing health benefits that could affect a large number. Or, it could simply mean that tea is a coincidental factor in the diet of the masses. For real answers, we need to look to scientific research. While the research is not … Continue reading

Benefits of Being a Small Town Mom

I grew up in a small town on an island floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. To say that I lived an isolated existence would not be far from the truth. Popular trends, such as MC Hammer pants, jelly shoes and Members Only jackets took a while to catch on in Hilo, Hawaii. Fast-forward 25 years. As fate would have it, I happen to live in another small town, roughly 5,000 miles away from the one where I grew up. Only now I am the parent of 6-year-old daughter and I no longer have winged hair ala Farrah … Continue reading

Monthly Payment Plan for Disney World in Works

Disney World Annual pass holders get all sorts of perks: constant easy entry into the park, parking benefits, admission into special exhibits like the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and more. Now Disney might add another bonus to that list: a monthly payment plan. A monthly payment plan would allow pass holders to pay their fees in smaller installments, rather than having to pay the full amount all at one time. This opens up the benefits of the annual pass to more people, those who may not have been able to pay the total cost all at once. For current pass … Continue reading