song #2: Coldplay - Up&Up

Coldplay is definitely one of my all-time favorite bands. In fact, one of my bucket list goals is to see them live in concert!!! 

So when Austin and I took our engagement photos (this time last year!!) at a record shop, we had to buy the new (at the time) Coldplay album, Lately Austin has been playing our records more and this one came on the other day. It's such a happy song (and one of my favorites on this album). Therefore, it's 

making  #2 on the 2017 soundtrack list. 

Hope you enjoy!

xoxoxox, kel

all that disney fun

I'm extremely fortunate that I have girl friends, family, and a husband that love going to Disney. Whether it's a spur of the minute decision or a planned out break, I've enjoyed my multiple trips to Disney this past week. 

And while I shared some photos earlier that I took around Epcot and Hollywood Studios, these are some more personal ones (which you can also see on my instagram feed). 

thankful// vol.8

I am thankful.............

for sunny and cool days (the Florida dream).

for living soooooo close to Disney (2.5 hours). 

for my little family and their love. This husband and these puppies of mine are the absolute best.

date nights. They come so infrequently lately, so we make the best of the ones we get.

hugs from my students. It's almost as if they sense when I need them the most.

coworkers that keep me sane.

weekly dinners with my besties. No one makes me laugh like they do.

cupcakes!!!!

books, books, books!!! Especially history books. 

blogs. I love following other people's stories. The inspiration is also incredibly amazing.

bible study. These women are so incredibly strong and full of faith. Their love of God is incredible and inspires me constantly.

the wonderful world of disney

 Ok, so if you're not a fan of Disney, you may want to avoid this post altogether, because I'm about to get ultra geeky about it...... So don't say I didn't warn you....

 Sadly, our first day (at Animal Kingdom) I realized only once we got to the park that my camera was dead. DEAD. So I only got to take photos on day 2, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. 

 I also learned a crap ton of things about Disney on this trip..... so get ready to geek out with me (or just skip the words for the pictures...).

 Walt actually passed away before the first park was ever opened.

 The neck of the above guitar (in Hollywood Studios) is 32 feet long.

 Rockin'  Roller coaster is a 90 second ride. 

 The Rockin' Roller Coaster goes from 0 to 60 in about 2.8 seconds. 

 Gum isn't sold on the premises. 

 Alcoholic beverages are not sold anywhere in Magic Kingdom (but all other parks do sell them). 

 When asking you to sign your name for a check, cast members always ask for you "autograph". 

 You are never more than a few steps away from a trash can.

 Epcot was originally designed to be lived in.... no freaking way. I'd be all over that!

 While in one part of Magic Kingdom, you cannot see another part of the park, to keep up the magical illusion. So when in Tomorrowland, you cannot see another "world". 

 The Epcot ball weighs about 16 million pounds.

 Around 200 pairs of sunglasses are turned into lost and found every day.

 Disney property in Orlando is as big as San Francisco (or two Manhattans)! Say what?!?

 There are tunnels under property so that cast members and deliveries (food and drinks) can be delivered without being seen and ruining the magic.

 While the Flower and Garden Festival is not as big as the Food and Wine Festival, you can get a passport for the food and drinks all over the countries. The passport also tells you the gardens and different topiaries you can see around the park. 

 United Kingdom has a British Invasion band that plays in the back courtyard. And America also hosts bands in a pavilion. (This past weekend, Simple Plan was one of the bands there).

 Epcot gardens grow over 30 tons of fruit and vegetables.

 About 75 million cokes are sold yearly.

 Disney photographers take hundreds of thousands of photos every day.

 There are 11 countries in Epcot's World Showcase.

 Apparently there is still room for more countries..... oh the possibilities!

 From opening until now, the Disney monorail has logged enough miles to have made 30 round trips to the moon.

 Speaking of Space...... Mission Space (ride) has motion sickness bags- which I wish I known about when I rode it.. because I about died. And poor Alice in Wonderland almost got puked on (consider yourself lucky Alice....). 

 All outfits worn by cast members (which includes anyone working on property) are called costumes. So even our bartender's outfit is a costume....

 The above photo is a legitimate pineapple (and sooo tiny and cute)!

 Main Street (in Magic Kingdom) has streets that pump smells (vanilla, Christmas...etc). 

 I'm pretty sure their hotels also have a specific Disney smell (this is a personal note though, so don't blame me if I'm wrong). 

 Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community for Tomorrow

 Doritos were originally created in Disneyland. 

 There's one "hotel" room in Cinderella's castle, but you can't rent it. It's used for giveaways, or apparently a Jonas wedding gift.....

 The above picture is of gingerbread (and is found in Germany- in Epcot).

 There's a hut in Animal Kingdom's safari that you can rent out for dinner. It even comes with a personal chef.

 Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest and Hollywood Studio's Tower of Terror are the same height (and the tallest parts of Disney World).

 Even though Florida is flat (and therefore has no mountains), Expedition Everest is still not the highest mountain in Florida. 

 In Disney Springs, there is a Sprinkles Cupcake ATM. (I'm sorry, I just find that fascinating, plus cupcakes are my favorite food)!!!

Disney World is the country's largest single site employer (they have about 60,000 employees). 

Thanks for sticking around (that is if you made it this far). HA!

xoxoxoxo, kel