My Happy Place

This week I am visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida with my mom and brother.  This is without a doubt my favorite place on the planet, and there's nothing I'd rather do than spend my days surrounded by this magic.

We arrived at our hotel, Disney's Pop Century, around noon on Friday.  We have stayed here for each of our trips and I love the decade theme.  We've stayed in a different decade each time, and Pop has never disappointed us.  One day before we leave I plan to walk around our hotel, as well as Art of Animation across the lake, and take pictures of it all.

For lunch on Friday we walked over to brand new Art of Animation and ate at Landscape of Flavors.  This is my first Disney trip since becoming aware of my gluten-intolerance so I was a bit nervous about the food.  I did my research and heard that Disney is the best place to travel for food allergies, but I still didn't really know what to expect.  My first gluten-free dining experience with Disney was AMAZING.  The chef came out to explain every item on the menu I could eat and every item he could modify for me.  He took my order, showed me a binder that listed every ingredient in the food I chose, went back to cook it, and personally brought it to me so there was no chance of cross contamination.  He took his time explaining everything and did it with a smile, so I didn't have to feel guilty for inconveniencing anyone like I usually do when I dine out.  I had a chicken burger on a gluten-free bun with fries and chocolate gelato that was really delicious. 

That afternoon we went to Epcot.  We went on Soarin', which is my mom's all-time favorite ride, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land.  It was raining for awhile so Test Track was down, unfortunately. 

We ate at Sunshine Seasons for dinner and I discovered that their grill section is dedicated gluten-free!  I had salmon topped with a yummy tomato concoction and served with green beans and roasted potatoes.  My dessert options were creme brulee or rice pudding.  I couldn't wait to try the creme brulee but they had just run out, so I tried the rice pudding.  I don't think I'd get it again, but everything else was excellent. 

We crashed early that night because we had taken the red eye from Oregon, but our trip was off to a great start.  I haven't had time yet to journal everything yet, but it'll have to wait.  It's getting very late and tomorrow is HARRY POTTER!!!  Tomorrow we are off to Universal Studios!  Goodnight friends and Disney fans, see ya real soon!

Warming Our House

After two months of trying to get settled in our new house, last weekend we had our housewarming party.  I lived in Stressville for two weeks and probably focused on way too many details, but I think it ended up turning out really well.  My mom drove up from Coos Bay and she and Tyler's mom were a huge help with preparing food. 

I made a non-alcoholic sparkling pineapple lemonade that I didn't even have a chance to try but it was a hit.  I also made a triple berry white sangria that was pretty amazing.

I used orange and aqua card stock to match the theme colors and sprayed one side with chalkboard paint, then wrote on them with a chalk pen to make signs for all the food and beverages.  I think they turned out so cute!  For party favors I made lavender-eucalyptus soap with shea butter that smells SO good.  I seriously love this soap so much.  I used a heart shaped rubber ice cube tray from Ikea for the molds.

Two of my best friends, Amy and Julie, were able to make the drive up from Salem to see the house.  Amy brought her 8-month-old daughter, my goddaughter, Charlotte.  Charlotte had fun playing with our friends' baby Lila who just turned one.  It was adorable watching them learn to play together!

Once most of the guests left we finally had a chance to relax with a couple close friends.  I hadn't sat down or eaten all day, so it felt amazing to stop playing hostess.  We started up the fire pit and turned on the garden lights for a wonderful, warm summer night.  

 

Of course, the pineapple...

 And I just love this captured moment at the end of the night.

A New Beginning

I started this blog as a way to talk about my exciting and less-exciting life adventures.  I've neglected it, but I decided it's time I make more room in my life for writing.  So far, this has been an amazing summer.  I spent Memorial Day weekend in Sunriver again with three other couples.  It was a really amazing weekend with some of the people I love best.

 
















For 4th of July, Tyler and I went to visit friends in Denver.  We got to sit on Coors Field to watch the fireworks on the 4th.  It was really incredible.  It was our first plane trip together(and we survived!), and it was a lot of fun to explore a new city.  Denver is not so unlike Portland.  I'd love to go back for another visit someday.

A couple weeks ago we went rafting on the Deschutes River with some friends.  It was great to be off the grid for three whole days and live off of what we could fit into one raft.  I love Oregon, and the great outdoors. 

So far, this summer has been full of great times and even greater people.  But the most amazing thing that has happened to me in a long time happened two months ago.  In June, Tyler and I bought our first house together!  It was a stressful process, but we found an amazing house that we are beyond in love with. 

It's perfect for our first place together and we've been having fun doing a ton of projects.  I love the process of turning this house into a home, and I would like to include that in this blog.  I'll be talking about my traveling and domestic adventures, so welcome to my world and enjoy!