Top Ten Extraneous Walt Disney World Vacation Items

I haven't done a Disney post in a while and whenever I talk to people about their upcoming Walt Disney World vacation, I am always naming off these extraneous (aka items that are not included in other WDW planning blogs) items for them not to forget. With that being said, I thought I would make a top ten list of items that mustn't be forgotten on your next Walt Disney World vacation.

1. Ear Planes - If you are anything like me, the plane is the biggest obstacle that stands in between you and any vacation that is not drive-able. I not only have an extreme plane phobia (hello, Xanex) but I also have inner ear issues that cause my head to be clogged up for days after a plane trip. Enter the best little things ever invented - Ear Planes! Ear Planes are little ear plugs that regulate the inner ear pressure being 50,000 feet above the ground causes. In my case, I always need the children's size because my ears are so small (the bigger ones don't work for me so keep that in mind when you are purchasing) so I always have to order them on Amazon. You can also find them at your local CVS. I will never fly without my Ear Planes ever again. As a matter of fact, my usual pre-flight nightmares are riddled with forgetting my Ear Planes and Xanex...that's how important those things are to my vacation experience!

2. Heavy Duty Straps - This one will be most popular among the "parents of kids under 5" set. When we went to WDW last October we knew we needed Cy's car seat and stroller. Both of these things were going to be gate checked which meant The Mister and I had a whole lot to carry to the airplane that would be shipping us off to vacation paradise. This is where having an Engineer as a husband comes in handy as The Mister had the amazing idea to purchase heavy duty straps with a handle. This made it so the car seat and stroller weren't so awkward to carry and also made it so the air plane staff that were gate checking our stuff were *extra* careful as they weren't moving around awkward to carry items. 

3. Garbage Bags - I think this applies to any and all vacations that you are staying in a hotel. IMO those tiny garbage bags that they give you never supply enough room (especially if you still have a little one in diapers). So bringing along a few extra regular sized garbage bags is always a good idea.

4. Child Proofing - Since WDW has yet to provide already child proofed rooms (you heard it here first) bringing your own child proofing is the way to go. Luckily I already have a blog devoted to child proofing in hotel rooms. Take a lookie, cookie. 

5. An in-depth food shopping list/meal plan - Everyone knows that most of what you are spending your money on with a WDW vacation (if you plan properly) is your meals. Knowing this, The Mister and I always plan to have breakfast and lunch in our hotel room when we are visiting 'The World in order to save money for nicer, sit down meals. Now, that doesn't mean that the meals you have in your room should be boring. Even though you aren't necessarily "cooking" anything, you can still make your meals fun and exciting. That will also entice you to WANT to go back to your room to eat. So, with a little planning before your trip you can have great meals in your room for half the price of a Quick Service hot dog. Not to mention that going shopping in the beginning of the week greatly reduces your food budget and allows for nicer dining experiences a few times during your trip.

6. Decorations For Your Hotel Room - If you are planning to visit 'The World around any major holiday, I encourage you to bring decorations to theme out your room. It will just make it so you are constantly surrounded by theming. Not to mention, it makes your room way more inviting and fun! 

7. A Folder - Whether it be an accordion folder or a regular cardboard two fold, you are going to be collecting so many "paper-type" items on your trip. Having a folder with you allows everything to be in one place and organized for when you get home and want to throw a scrap book together!

8. Detachable Stroller Organizer/Cup Holder (preferable soft sided) - Although we had a stroller with a cup holder already built into it, our detachable cup holder/organizer came in such handy while traipsing around 'The World. Not only did it offer a larger cup holder but it also offered a place to put things such as a PhotoPass, or some cash. The reason why I say you should probably get a soft sided one is because it's easier to transport. Since you will most likely be gate checking your stroller, you will want to make sure any removable pieces of the stroller are easy to store and lay flat in your suitcase. 

9. Gum - This is a pretty well known one but I thought I would add it any way - In order to keep the ground of WDW sparkling, you can not buy gum anywhere on the WDW resort so be sure to BYOG (bring your own gum) if you are used to smacking your day away. 

10. Christmas Ornaments - One of the best ideas I have ever seen in regards to a character autograph "book" is bringing a pack of cheap glass bulb shaped Christmas ornaments and a colored marker that will show up on the ornament. Instead of having the characters sign an expensive autograph book, have them each sign an ornament. It's perfect if you are looking to have a Disney themed Christmas tree in the future (cough cough, me) or if you just want to add a little spark to your existing Christmas tree flair. 

Throw Back Thursday - Disney World 2013

Since it's #TBT and I never did a full run down of our WDW trip in October of 2013, I thought I would take the opportunity to share the deets AND give some tips and tricks to bringing a toddler (and/or any child deemed "too young to visit 'The World by the general population) to Disney.

When we went, Cy was 14 months old. I used to love telling people just to see what kind of reaction I would get out of them. With all of that being said, I would have never taken Cy if we didn't have my parents (Nana and Grandpa) with us to take over some of the responsibility. Cy was very active at that age and we needed all hands on deck to ensure that everyone had a good time. So that is my first tip, if at all possible, be sure to grossly out number any children you may bring. Cy got into the parks for free, so if he didn't go on any rides, there was no money lost there. The Mister and I on the other hand have to obviously pay for our park hoppers and wanted to get the most for our money. That's where Nana and Grandpa came in. They helped us be able to enjoy the parks.

The Deets - 

Magic Kingdom - MK is obviously the most kid friendly of the 4 gates. Most of the rides here (besides the Mountains) have no height requirement. Because Cy was too wiggly to wait in line, the only rides we went on with him was The Little Mermaid, Dumbo and It's A Small World. He mostly enjoyed frolicking around New Fantasyland. There is an awesome splash zone there that he loved. We never stayed for the parades because A- he was too young to care and B- You should ALWAYS take a mid day break. I don't want to be anywhere near any of the parks from the time of noon - 3/4. It's too hot and too crowded as that is when the late risers finally mosey on into the parks. My advice - Get there for rope drop, stay until about 11:30ish, head back to the hotel for a siesta and then head back for night time (4:00). And always watch Wishes (MK's fireworks show) it's a gorgeous show, very Disney!

#SplishSplash

Animal Kingdom - I have to say, AK is probably my least favorite park. Although the safari is awesome (Cy loved that) and Expedition Everest is also great, I just don't see this as a "full day" destination. I will also admit that I am not really a "sit and watch a show at an amusement park" type of person so if you enjoy that you will probably enjoy AK. The way I like to visit AK is to go for right when they open, head straight to the safari as the animals are most active during morning hours, get in a few more things before 11:30 and then park hop to another park after your siesta. AK must do's - Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Festival of the Lion King (now that it's open again), It's Tough to be a Bug, and Dinosaur. I have also heard of some great restaurants in AK (Yak & Yeti being one of them) but have never personally experienced them. They are definitely on the list for next time though! Also, the latest AK closes is 7pm during the busy season (6pm during the off season). I have heard rumors that this will change once Avatar Land opens up.

This photo really shows how close you can get to the animals on the Kilimanjaro Safari!

Hollywood Studios - HS is probably my favorite park of the 4. Tower of Terror is my favorite ride in 'The World, so walking in to HS and seeing the Hollywood Tower Hotel menacingly standing towards that back of the park always gives me goosebumps! I also love the Rock n' Roller coaster too. And, one of my favorite restaurants on the Disney World Resort is in Hollywood Studios, The 50's Prime Time Cafe, which is themed as a 1950's sitcom. The lobby/waiting area of this restaurant is "mom's living room" complete with bar, of course. All the waiters and waitresses act like they are your parents and really get into their roles. That means no elbows on the table, no hats on at dinner AND you have to eat all of your vegetables. Since I love to always be immersed in themeing, this is absolutely my kind of restaurant. When we visited in October we went with a large group and had an amazing time. My favorite dish is the pot roast, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Admittedly there is not a whole lot for the under 3 set to do at HS but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities for wonderful pictures and great memories! I will say this though - Fantasmic (HS fireworks show) is a pretty great show for the little ones. Fantasmic actually started in Disneyland and was brought to HS in 1996. They have a huge amphitheater for the show which allows for great seating, something the fireworks shows in the other parks do not offer.

Posing in "Mom's Kitchen" at 50's Prime Time! *Grandpa not pictured

Epcot - Epcot is my second favorite park and that's because you can drink in copious amounts here. (#SorryNotSorry). As far as the little ones go, there are a few rides here that they can go on. With Cy, we took him on the Finding Nemo ride (which is actually a super cool ride) and we also took him on the Living with the Land ride which takes you behind the scenes of Disney's horticultural division. And, once you are done seeing where everything is grown, you can eat at the restaurant (Garden Grill) in The Land pavilion. This is where all the food that is grown is served. When we went, it was during Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival (IMO, the greatest time to visit WDW) so of course we had an amazing time tasting and sampling food from around the world. As far as the rides in Epcot - Soarin - Great ride! Disney brought this ride over from Disneyland and it has been a popular attraction ever since. Test Track - I personally only needed to go on this ride once in my life time because it's not super exciting to me. Although they have recently refurbished it with a new sponsor so it may be worth checking out if you are curious. Mission Space - puke. Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball) - great ride for a little break from the heat during the day and very educational! Maelstrom - This is a water ride in the Norway pavilion in the World Showcase. It is an awesome ride and has a great drop in it. There are rumblings that this may be turned into a Frozen themed ride soon. My best advice - Head to Epcot in the morning, do all of Future World - take your midday break - and then head back in around 4 to drink and eat your way around the World Showcase for the rest of the night. And be sure to catch Illuminations (Epcot's firework show) it is amazing and one of the best shows on Disney property. It will mostly likely make you cry.

Just trollin' around the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow 

PS - Places like Disney's Boardwalk and Downtown Disney as well as both water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) are great for the under 3 set. The Boardwalk and DD are both free and both have areas for the little ones to run around. And, both water parks have extensive baby areas for the littlest of Mousejunkies.

Homemade By A Housewife {Skin Care}

Although I am a product junkie, there is something to be said about simple, homemade body care "products." My skin is always on the drier side in the colder temps so I use a homemade scrub every time I shower. The ingredients consist of olive oil and brown sugar. And that's it...ingredients you can easily find at the dollar store! Disclaimer - If you do use this in the shower, be careful! The oil makes the tub very slippery!

Another thing that is not really a product but more of an at home DIY, is the way I steam my face. I boil a pot of water, put it on a flat surface, put my face over the pot and then put a towel over my head. I haven't done this in a while, so I think I am due for a treatment soon! You can also add essential oils to the water for more of a spa like feel. Disclaimer - BE CAREFUL WITH THE HOT WATER AND HOT POT. 

My mom shared this next tip with me. I believe she saw this on The Talk. Step 1 - Cut a tomato, rub all the juice on your face for and leave it for 1 minute then wash off. Step two - Cut a grape fruit, rub it on you face and leave it on for 3 minutes and then wash off. When I was doing this, my skin looked brighter and more even...for pennies on the dollar!

I also like to rest warm green tea bags on my eyes sometimes...it brings down the puffiness and extracts toxins from your skin.

What are some of your favorite at home skin care remedies?

The Ultimate Walt Disney World Planning List

Why yes blog readers..this is yet another Disney post! Seeing as how I think about WDW multiple times a day, there is bound to be a once a week (minimum) blog post about the Happiest Place on Earth.

Here are a few tips and tricks to planning the perfect WDW vacation.

1. Try to plan your trip AT LEAST one year in advance. - Obviously airfare is impossible to plan this far in advance, but everything else Disney related can accommodate your plan ahead attitude! This is especially important for those ADRs (advanced dining reservations) that you need to make exactly 180 days in advance. The dining possibilities are endless and research needs to be done before you start calling 'The World to make your reservations.

 

2. If you are bringing children be sure to grossly outnumber them with adults - This is especially important if your children are under the age of 10 (ish). WDW offers many activities and fun things for adults to do. Since you are paying so much money make sure to plan some adult time, you will not regret it. Not to mention that the parks are much easier to handle when there are more adults than children.

3. If you choose not to stay on property, at least make sure that your hotel is within one mile of the WDW resort. - Orlando traffic is brutal. It's very much like LA in that no one walks there. The closer you are to 'The World, the better your commute and the less time everyone spends in the car getting cranky.

4. Do not expect to do everything all in a one week trip. - This is where people go majorly wrong. You have to go in there with a bit of perspective. Even the person that goes once a year never gets everything done in a one week trip. There is just way too much to do. Make a list of "must dos" and let everything else come as it may. You want to enjoy your vacation, not rush around like a crazy person.

5. Soak in the sites. - The Disney Company is a stickler for details. So when you are waiting in an hour line, take a look around...soak up your surroundings..even find some hidden Mickeys! My favorite part of WDW is the details and that there is always something to look at.

Hidden Mickey

6. People watch! - People watching is one of my absolute favorite things to do at WDW. So many people from so many walks of life all decked out in their Disney finest! I actually plan my outfits for the people watchers...gotta give them something to look at!

7. Eat at 50's Prime Time Cafe in Disney's Hollywood Studios. - Seriously, you will not be disappointed by this dining choice!

8. Drink your way around the world in Epcot. - This is where having a baby sitter comes in handy!

9. Early Fall (after the kids go back to school) is the best time of year to go. - Late September/Early October = Prime Disney visiting time.

10. Get a free personalized map. - Disney has a free service (shocking, I know) that offers you a free, personalized map of the whole resort. Go here for more details.

11. Dining Plan - This topic really requires a whole 'nother blog post but here is the gist of it - If you plan on not renting a car and spending all your time on property, then the dining plan is probably for you. If you are renting a car and plan on venturing off the reservation at all, the dining plan is NOT for you. I will explain more in a future post...

12. Don't get fooled when Disney offers a "free dining plan." - Nothing is free in Disney..NOTHING!

13. Do not be afraid to ask a cast member for help with ANYTHING. - CM's go through extensive training to answer to your every whim. They are extremely knowledgeable. Not to mention that each and every one of them has a unique story as to why they started working for 'The Mouse. Some of my favorite Disney books to read are the ones written by former CM's.

14. Be prepared to walk A LOT. - Not just in the parks..but in the parking lots and all over the resorts. Although the area isn't really a "walking" area. The separate resorts are huge and require a lot of walking within them. Not to mention that Epcot has the biggest parking lot in the world. There are trams for the lots to whisk you from your car to the main gates, but there is still a lot of walking involved.

15. Start early and always (ALWAYS) take a mid day break. - This is the single most important Disney World tip I can give you. Even if you don't have children, take the break! That Florida sun is hot hot hot and by 12-1pm everyone deserves a mid day siesta. It will make your trip so much more enjoyable!

16. Take advantage of Disney's PhotoPass. - Disney's PhotoPass is a great system. WDW has photographers posted up at various photo hot spots to take your picture. Once they take the picture they scan it onto a gift card type thing and you go on your merry way. Once you get home, you log onto Disney's PhotoPass system and see what pictures you want to buy and which ones you never want to see again. Now, of course this is expensive so my tip to you would be this - Take as many pictures as you possibly can, and buy the CD/digital download package. It's a flat rate of $165 and it gives you every picture on your PhotoPass card. The reason why I say to take as many pictures as possible is because this rate is the same if you have three pictures or if you have 103 pictures. This is actually one of Disney's better deals.

PhotoPass!

17. You can not go wrong staying on the Disney property. - I will admit that I was one of those people that didn't think it mattered if you stayed on property...until we stayed at Disney's Old Key West when we went in October. Let me tell you, the experience is unlike any other.

18. Rent DVC points. - Okay, so this is one of Disney's best kept secrets and sort of hard to explain so try to stay with me. As some of you may know Disney has the Disney Vacation Club. What this is, is sort of like a timeshare. You can only buy "stock" at their most deluxe level resorts. Obviously this is tres expensive. BUT there is a loophole. The way the DVC works is on a points system. Every year, DVC members receive a certain number of points and if at the end of the allotted time period they don't use their points, they loose them. So DVC members can go through legit third party business to sell their points to non DVC members. (Still with me?) That's where you can benefit. For example a room for the week at Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas through the Disney website will cost you $2196. The same room through a DVC points rental agency will cost you $1218 for the week. It's almost too good to be true, but I can attest that this is a legit thing. It's how The Mister and I were able to afford such a deluxe resort for the week. The catch is this - You have to book VERY early. Sometimes as early as 11 months for the better resorts around the busy time of year. It is non-refundable AND you have to pay in cash upfront. Sorry for the wall of words. It's just so hard to explain. We used DVCrequest.com and had absolutely no problems with it. It is even certified by the Better Business Bureau!

Happy Planning!

Does anyone have any other planning tips they would like to share?

Defending Disney

I found this lovely article today titled "13 Reasons Not to Go to Disney." Of course I clicked on it immediately...read every reason and disagreed with every one. (Duh, what kind of Mousejunkie would I be if I agreed with it?) And now, here I am blogging about it. I have heard some of these a million times from people that don't like Disney. Now, don't get me wrong...lack of planning will make someone fall victim to every single one of these points. You can't just "go" to Disney. You have to plan for this type of trip. So, I am here to tell you why you shouldn't believe a word this article says and to pass along some planning tips along the way.

13. The tickets are insanely expensive

If you think going to an amusement park and paying $60 a person is steep, wait until you pay the price of admission for Disney. You’ll be looking at well above $100 per person, depending on the type of tickets you get and the time of the year.

Rebuttal - Yes, the tickets are expensive. And there are not many discounts (save for AAA and work related discounts) that you can get on a Disney ticket. However, the parks and resorts are immaculately clean and kept up. (Fun Fact - There is a trash can every 30 steps because when Walt was doing research for the parks he observed that people would walk approximately 30 steps before throwing trash on the ground) Not to mention that the high ticket prices keep the riff raff out. And Disney has some of the best customer service in the world. I am willing to pay a premium for that.

12. There is constant construction

You might see this as a positive, but Disney is always under construction. If you see a ride that looks way cool but it’s not complete, that means the kiddos will be bugging you to death to go back so you can endure even more Disney in the near future. Joy.

Rebuttal - I am one of those people that sees this as a positive. This is what makes Disney magical. They are constantly evolving with the times. Every time you visit there is something new to see and do. This was Walt's vision...something that will grow with families. 

11. The crowds are insane

So you’re going to go to Disney when it’s vacation time, but so is everyone else who happens to have time off work and school at the same time. Unless you can go during the off-season, you’re going to be enjoying the park with thousands and thousands of strangers.

Rebuttal - He who goes to Disney during the busy times is the insane one. Now, this may not be for everyone, but I have no problem taking kids out of school for a Disney trip. Like we established before, this is an expensive trip. It's well worth your hard earned dollars to go during a slow time. You WILL NOT I repeat WILL NOT have as good of a time if you go during a busy time. You will fall victim to a MM (Magical Meltdown). 

10. The princesses are snobby

If your kids (or you, for some sick reason) really want to meet the princesses, you have to stand in a long line for more time than even the hottest rides. Once you get up there, you get the crap shoot as far as which princesses are there. To top it off, most of them think they’re pretty hot stuff because nobody told them they aren't real princesses.

Disclaimer - I know Alice is not a *technically* a princess

Rebuttal - With the exception of Elsa and Anna from Frozen who are very popular right now, you can see most of the other princesses during character dining experiences. Again, this is where planning comes in. You have to make dining reservations 180 days in advance. Some reservations are so hard to get that if you call even a half hour after 7am exactly 180 days in advance, you may not get the reservation. The early bird gets the worm when it comes to ADRs (advanced dining reservations.) Anyone waiting in like to see a character (unless said character is not part of a dining experience) is an amateur. Not to mention that through the new FastPass+ system, you can get FastPasses for meeting characters...duh.

9. The lines are insane
With the big crowds come big lines. The better the ride, the longer the line. Want to go on Space Mountain? Be prepared to wait well over an hour. The most insulting part is the ride is over in 5 minutes, making you question how worth it the wait really was.

Rebuttal - Yes, when you go to Disney, you have to expect to wait in some lines...as with any theme park. Again, going during the busy season will not help. And FastPasses are your friend. 

8. Seeing your favorite character means more lines

You don’t have to wait in crazy lines just to see the princesses. Disney has decided to not let the characters really roam free in the park. Instead, there are designated areas where you can wait to meet various characters. The newer the character, the longer the line can be, with the hot new ones commanding a 4 hour-plus wait.

Rebuttal - See # 10

7. Rides are shut down all the time

Disney is careful about maintaining rides and keeping them safe, but the flip side is that your favorite ride might not even be open the whole time you’re at the park. Some rides seem to be especially prone to breaking, or always shut down when there’s even the slightest hint of rain. Of course this means you can go back again and hope the ride is open, or you could just go to the beach.

Rebuttal - Disney is constantly evolving and making their current rides better and safer. With that, there are refurbishments. It's just the nature of the beast. You can find a list of refurbs here. 

6. The food is insanely expensive

You know it’s bad when movie theater concessions look like a bargain in comparison. Have you ever paid $8 for a hot dog? At Disneyland you can have that privilege.

Food and Wine Festival - Greece! Grilled and marinated calamari, htipiti, eggplant dip, olives and pita bread and griddled Greek cheese with pistachios & honey. And to drink - Ouzo

Rebuttal - Yes, food at Disney is expensive, I will not argue that. But, this is the precise reason why the best time to go to Disney is during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. This is also the exact reason why I am not a fan of the dining plan (that's a whole 'nother blog) AND why you need to rent a car even though Disney has transportation. If you eat all your meals on property, you will go broke. I go to WDW for the food. So to me, the price is worth the divine food. The best way to eat at Disney - Go during the Food and Wine Festival, make 2-3 dining reservations (180 days in advance) and rent a car so you can go off site for some meals.

5. The mouse ears and other hats are embarrassing.

Even though it’s a tradition, the little mouse ears sold at the park are embarrassing, not only to wear but to also see others wearing. Of course, if you don’t want to wear those you can put on a Goofy or Peter Pan hat like you’re a hyperactive 5 year-old.

Rebuttal - Well, those of you that have hung around my blog and Facebook know that I do not find wearing Disney apparel at Disney or not at Disney embarrassing. Evidence - 

And there is certainly more where that came from...

4. The nightly parades shut everything down
Just try to get to the other side of the park for that one last ride during the nightly parades, the ones that are the same thing over and over. You can’t, so hope you like being stuck in Fantasy Land, because you’re not going anywhere else until the procession ends.

Rebuttal - This one is kind of true. Magic Kingdom is the only park with an electrical parade though (not sure about Disneyland). And, WDW has two other parks to enjoy during this time. (AK closes at 5 or 6 every day) Or, you can plan around this and end up in a "land" that has the rides you want to ride while everyone else is watching the parade. (Have I mentioned how important planning is to a Disney Vacation?)

3. The souvenir shops are designed to make you take out a second mortgage

See that cute little Mickey knickknack, the one that would look just perfect on your mantle next to your Tinker Bell spoon collection? That’ll be $80. Any decent shirts are about the same price. If you don’t watch it, you’ll blow through your savings in no time.

Rebuttal -  Every souvenir shop every where is expensive. There are tons of fun ideas on Pinterest that require hitting up the dollar store before you leave to stock up on Disney themed stuff so your kids won't keep asking for things. Children should just be appreciative that they are there. If they keep asking for things after being told no maybe your parenting is to blame and not Disney. #sorrynotsorry

2. The Jungle Cruise skippers' jokes are abysmal

Ah the Jungle Cruise ride, where you go around in a boat and see robot animals. It’s a boring, horribly outdated ride. Instead of updating it, Disney has decided to hire all of the failed stand up comedians in the area to be the boats’ skippers, and you are their captive audience.

Rebuttal - This one may actually be true. I have actually never been on the Jungle Cruise! And what can I say, sometimes Disney can be cheesy..And I love every second of it.

1. You hate Disney

Nothing is worse than being completely surrounded by the thing you despise. If you hate Disney, even a little, then going there is hell. They serve Mickey-shaped pancakes, everything is cute and covered in Disney branding, even the wine bottles, making it so you can’t just enjoy a good drink without the Mouse getting his hands into it.

Rebuttal - Seeing as how my cat's name is Minnie Mouse and I look at houses for sale in the Orlando area every day (Celebration, FL to be exact. But again, that is a whole 'nother blog post) there is no hating Disney that goes on in the C house. But, if in fact you are not a fan of The Mouse you may not like a Disney vacation. I assure you though, if you vacation with me and/or have me plan your Disney vacation for you...you will be a Mousejunkie in no time!

*Not a face of someone that hates Disney.

Closet Essentials

One of my friends had a blog request last weekend. She requested that I offer some tips on closet organization, what to keep/what to throw out, wardrobe staples etc..

So, I got right to work figuring out how to convey what my technique is...and then I realized..I don't really have one! To be honest, I look at myself like a drag queen...meaning, I only get dressed up when I get paid to...meaning, I really only wear cute outfits when there is a meal and drinks involved!(#StayAtHomeMomProblems) When I know I have an event coming up, I usually start thinking about my outfit close to a month in advance. I usually start with shoes and work my way up. Once I wear said outfit, it doesn't really get worn again. This is why I shop so cheaply. There is no way I can spend over $50 on a dress that I will only wear once.

I hate to admit this, but my wardrobe organization is less than stellar. Because The Mister and I share a closet, things are kind of chaotic. Once we get a house and I can permanently put up some organization structures, I am sure things will be better.

#WardrobeWishes

With all of that being said, I still managed to gather some key wardrobe tips and essentials that I still follow among the chaos...

1. I always switch my winter and summer wardrobes at the beginning and end of seasons. I can not concentrate on putting outfits together in the summer if I have sweaters in my drawers still.

2. Speaking of seasonal wardrobes, I am always sure to leave some summer sundresses in my winter wardrobe to take advantage to pairing them with tights and a blazer.

3. Invest in good blazers. A blazer is the only article of clothing that I will spend over $30 on (besides shoes). I have a navy one, a black one, two white ones (summer and winter) and a zebra printed one.

4. BLACK FLEECE LINED TIGHTS. Enough said.

5. I am the opposite of a hoarder, I have absolutely no problem getting rid of things, clothes included. So, my rule of thumb is that if I haven't worn something (usually a dress) in 3 months, to the Salvation Army it goes.

 

6. Winter shoe essentials - Suede lace up black wedges, black combat boots, black pumps and a pair of oxfords (nude or black). The two pairs of shoes that I wore the most this winter were my black wedges and combat boots. I can not stress the importance of a good pair of combat boots to get you through the winter in a chic way.

So, I hope this helps. I think once summer rolls around I will be a bit more motivated to really overhaul my wardrobe and get some sort of organization situation happening. Until then, Happy Shopping!!

Packing for Vacation

I put out a request on the Decidedly Delightful Facebook page for blog requests. I got one for packing for vacation. I used to be a chronic over packer. But, when we decided to go to Disney, and I knew we were going to be flying, I made sure that in the year and a half I had to plan, I got my packing act together. Here are my tips and tricks to avoid over packing --

1. Count out exactly how many outfits you will need and only bring those outfits - I know this sounds pretty basic but this was something that took me a long time to figure out. For Disney, I know I needed to pack two outfits per day. We were there for 8 nights and 9 days. For the two days of travel (there and back) I only had one outfit but every other day I had two. This also includes pajamas and bathing suits. Do not second guess yourself and start adding other articles of clothing in the suit case. Add what is on the list and add the exact number of outfits you need...no more, no less.

2. Figure out your outfits ahead of time - If anyone saw my "Disney Wardrobe List" they would have thought I was crazy. All of my outfits were planned out on paper down to the accessory and undies. I did this by using Pinterest, Polyvore and my own creative mind. This was a year and a half in the making. The best way to prevent over packing is to pack on paper first.

3. Consolidate pants/shorts/skirts - For our Disney vacay I only brought two pairs of shorts, 1 pair of leggings and one pair of jeans. I mostly wore sun dresses and switched between my two pairs of shorts and jeans for my other outfits. That was the easiest way for me to plan outfits...Pick out three bottoms and match different shirts/shoes/accessories to them.

#SamePantsDifferentOutfit

4. Be realistic about what shoes you will wear - For me, shoes have always been my downfall when it comes to packing. For Disney, I brought one pair of wedges that I wore on the plane, black sandals, sneakers, and two pairs of Toms. I had to be realistic about the fact that I probably would not have been wearing heels to walk around WDW. When The Mister and I went on our honeymoon (WDW and Puerto Rico) I brought so many pairs of heels with me that I NEVER ended up wearing. This time around, I made sure that I matched every outfit to those three pairs (sandals & Toms) of shoes.

5. Ziploc bags are your friend - All over Disney vacation blogs there is a packing tip that I found the most useful out of all of the tips I came across. Put each and every outfit (down to the accessory) in its own Ziploc bag, label it and pull out one Ziploc bag/pre made outfit a day. This was my most important step to avoid over packing and I will never pack for a vacation again without it. It took the guess work out of "What am I wearing today?" I would simply just pull out an outfit for day or night and I had everything I needed in said bag. This is actually also a stylist tip. All those cool outfits that you see celebs wearing while they are at the grocery store? They were most likely put together by their stylist and sent to their house in separate outfit bags.
                             

What are some of your favorite packing tips?