In Defense of Talking on the Phone

Caution: Old Lady Rant Ahead

I frequently see friends post on Facebook in frustration with the people who still call them instead of simply texting like normal human beings do. I get it. I feel the same way most of the time. But when I stopped to think about it, I realized how important it is to talk on the phone.
 Social Media connects us. That's a fact. We ooh and awwwwe at our friends photos. Those photos of babies, or pets, or of your latest trip, or even of what you had for lunch are all important. I mean, how am I going to know what dish I want to make next if you aren't posting your latest triumph or the latest video from Tasty. I might be unique in that if you're my friend, I love seeing the minutiae of your life. If you are someone I love, and my friends I do love you, then I don't care if you post 3,000 selfies or photos of your feet, or videos of rollercoasters I will never ever ride. That's ultimately a large part of what friendship is to me, knowing who you are and being known by you.
But no matter how much we share online, there is no replacement for talking on the phone. There is no replacement for hearing absolute joy in someone's voice nor is there a replacement for when someone honors you by sharing their pain as their voice breaks into nothingness. There is a vast space between those two feelings where we are able to share who we are. I love the moments when friends are trying to find a quiet place in their home to talk, you hear their kids and possibly their dog but they are carving out time and space in their chaos to connect to you. I've been known to hide in my closet while on the phone to secure a few moments of privacy.
When I think about talking on the phone, I think about my family first. When I'm out of town without my husband we end any evening phone calls with "Good night" instead of "Goodbye." My son calls from college to check in and talk through possible plans for his life with us. I think about my husband talking to his mother and hearing the love for him in her voice. I think about my mom, who calls from next door to ask me how to do something on her computer. (That usually ends with a quick visit to her house- Parental IT specialist at your service.)
I think about hearing my friend's voices from across town and across the miles. I think about the number of times I've laughed until I could not breathe while on the phone with a friend. I think about the different voices in my life. I think about the accents, oh Lord, the accents. The sharp Northern accent and the slow Southern drawl. My friends from the Midwest and West who insist they do not have an accent. (newsflash: you do.) I think about the many different type of laughs that bring light to my life. You can't get all of this without a phone call.
Now I'm not saying I haven't let my share of phone calls roll on over to voicemail. That happens. Probably a little too frequently. But I always try to find a time to make the phone call happen. I hope you'll try, too.

Sidenote: I thought about mentioning that I wanted to set a good example for my daughter but then I'd also have to write about FaceTime and Skype and video chat features on Facebook and Snapchat which would devolve into something not pretty involving whippersnappers and me eventually resorting to shouting "GET OFF MY LAWN."

Be kind to yourselves and one another.
It's important.

Sweet Andy's Cookies Review

When my friends at MomTV asked if I would like to review Sweet Andy's cookies, I had to check my hearing. Is that actually a question? OF COURSE I would try Sweet Andy's! They sent us a fabulous box of cookies and one night my daughter and I settled in to try the cookies. Watch the video to see what we thought! (hint: the cookies *might* be on my daughter's birthday wish list)

Disclosure: Sweet Andy's provided the cookies and MomTV compensated me for time and work to create a video. My opinions remain my very own. 

Hexbug Spider XL Review Fun

I love Hexbugs. I particularly love to give them as gifts. I have given away more Hexbug Nanobugs than I care to mention. I was thrilled when MomTV sent me a Hexbug Spider XL to review. Check out the video to see the Spider XL (and some of its Hexbug friends) in action.

Why Disney World AGAIN?

My family and I enjoy traveling to Walt Disney World in Florida. In fact, that might be an understatement. We enjoy it so much we have made several trips to Disney World over the last few years. I frequently am on the receiving end of the question, "Why Disney?" Watch the video for my answer!

Christmas Lights (Our very Griswold yard!)

I come by it honestly. It's in my blood. My family has always decorated the yard for Christmas. We rarely put lights on the actual house, something about ladders being too risky, but everything else was fair game. My favorite thing was our Santa. He was plastic, somewhere between 5.5 and 6 feet tall, and brilliantly lit. From the time I was very small, the holidays began when Santa appeared in the front yard.

photo by Amy Hodges

(I wish I had a better picture of him. I think I need to raid my mom's pictures to see if I can find one. This is a year we happened to have a white Christmas. It's the only one I remember, we do live in very southeast, coastal, North Carolina.)

Eventually, I was drafted to help with the outdoor lights. Trees, bushes, fences were all covered in lights. Bushes got smaller lights and trees got the enormous C9 lights. Fences got artfully draped white lights. 

Fast forward to now. My husband fortunately indulges my need to create a spectacle of the yard. Lights, wreaths, and inflatables grace our yard every Christmas.   We make a plan of where to place everything. My daughter wanted to help this year but gave up after one strand of lights. (I'll give her a break, she started on a very prickly holly)

photo by Amy Hodges

The Santa on the left isn't quite inflated, and Santa Mickey isn't up on the right (YET!)

photo by Amy Hodges

Our front porch Christmas tree and flashing Mickey lights. The only thing missing is our Moravian Star. The light burned out and of course it takes a special bulb!

photo by Amy Hodges

This is looking down the front of our house. Can you guess that I love colored lights?

photo by Amy Hodges

This is a new addition this year, the Reindeer Barn inflatable.

photo by Amy Hodges

Can you guess which one is my favorite?

Photo by Amy Hodges

This is actually my favorite. You'll never see if from the front. It's in a little side courtyard. I typically work at our kitchen table and this is just outside the bay window next to the table. I enjoy these every single night. 

Now I'm curious about you. Do you decorate your yard for the holidays? Colored lights or white? Twinkling or always on? Inflatables or tasteful wreaths with ribbons? Let me know in the comments below!

New Fantasyland Vlog

I couldn't help myself, I have too much to say about the New Fantasyland expansion! This is long, so grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine if you stop by later in the day) and let me tell you about New Fantasyland. If you're short on time, skip to the last minute where I have some more pictures of the lovely new area. Let me know if you have any questions!

New Fantasyland at Disney World

In less than a week, New Fantasyland will have it's Grand Opening in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. At the end of October, I was invited to visit Disney World and preview the attractions in New Fantasyland. I jumped at the chance to see what the new section of the park was going to look like. The New Fantasyland project is the biggest expansion the Magic Kingdom has seen in its forty years. (Seems like 40 is the age to look at getting a little work done!) The project doubled the size of Fantasyland and in my opinion, completed it. I couldn't see it before, but now, having seen the new area, the old Fantasyland seems not quite done.

photo by Amy Hodges

We were fortunate enough to have two Imagineers with us when we toured. (Walt Disney Imagineering focuses on concept, design, and the ever important story) Chris Kelly and Diego Parras shared some of the process behind developing the story for New Fantasyland. One of the many things that separates Disney Parks from other theme parks is the story that weaves throughout the parks. Everything has a story. It was a gift to walk through the expansion and be able to see it through their eyes.

Imagineers Chris Kelly and Diego Parras, photo by Amy Hodges

But let's get down to it. Let's answer the questions I know you're asking. What did I think? What about the attractions? What about the food? There must be shopping! Where are the characters? What does it all meannnnnn?
Ahem, before I get too carried away, let's get to it. I will do a more in depth post about all of these but I'll hit the highlights today.

Attractions New Fantasyland opens with several new and reimagined attractions in two distinct areas.
In the Enchanted Forest, you will find Enchanted Tales with Belle and Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid. The aptly named Enchanted Tales with Belle was a delight.  It's hard to give too much detail because there is an audience participation component that puts everyone into the story. The experience takes character interaction to an exciting new level. Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid is a beautiful, classic Disney dark ride. You ride in a clamshell (similar to the Finding Nemo attraction in Epcot) to the bottom of the sea and experience highlights of The Little Mermaid's story.

photo by Amy Hodges

In Storybook Circus, The Barnstormer rollercoaster now stars the Great Goofini, Dumbo the Flying Elephant has doubled its capacity with a second ride and an amazing indoor waiting area, and you will find the new Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station. The Barnstormer is a great introductory rollercoaster. It was the first my daughter would ride and she still insists on riding it at least once a visit. (We all enjoy it, too!) The changes to the Dumbo attraction are brilliant and so very welcome. Doubling the capacity AND giving families an interactive, inside waiting area? Genius. We all know how hot Florida can be. The Casey Jr. area is a great place to cool off.

photo by Amy Hodges

Food In the Enchanted Forest you will find Gaston's Tavern, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Maurice's Amazing Popping Machine. Gaston's Tavern is a counter service restaurant with inside seating. Gaston's is exactly what you would expect from the movie (he does use antlers in all of his decorating!) It has a menu that includes a new pork shank, delicious cinnamon roll, and the new beverage, Lafou's Brew. Be Our Guest is a clever new addition. For lunch the restaurant is a quick service location and it changes to table service for the evenings. There is so much to share about Be Our Guest, it will truly require it's own post. The restaurant is insanely beautiful and every detail is so well thought out. (The food was incredible, too!) Maurice's Amazing Popping Machine is a stand in the village to get that wonderful Disney popcorn. Sharp eyes might see the plans for the popping machine when they walk through Maurice's cottage!

In Storybook Circus you can find Big Top Treats inside the new Big Top Souvenirs which brings us to..

Shopping Big Top Souvenirs is a circus themed shop. You can find an assortment of merchandise, especially of the flying elephant variety! Bonjour Village Gifts has opened in the Enchanted Forest. This shop is carrying Beauty and the Beast themed gifts. There are some lovely gifts including specialty china and glassware.

Characters Ariel has taken up residence in her new grotto. Fans young and old will appreciate the queue with great seaside details. Although it isn't a traditional character experience, you will meet Belle at her Enchanted Tales. Gaston has been making appearances by his tavern. The Beast has been seen near Be Our Guest. In Storybook Circus, Pete's Silly Sideshow has opened with appearances by Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, and Goofy.

What does it all mean? There is a whole new area to explore and love!

I'll be writing more, but I wanted to include this link to a video from the Disney Parks Blog. We were able to help make Magic Kingdom history!!!

I attended this New Fantasyland preview at the invitation of Disney Parks. My travel, hotel, park tickets and some meals and experiences were provided.  I was not required to post but cannot help blogging about one of my very favorite subjects. My opinions, as always, are my very own. 

Happy Thanksgiving from President Lincoln

courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

I'm hoping to go see Lincoln over the holiday weekend, seems appropriate! Have you seen it? I'd love to hear what you thought!

Smart Rinse Challenge Results

At the beginning of October my family started the Smart Rinse Challenge. Listerine challenged us to change our families' dental routine by incorporating Listerine Smart Rinse. I always knew we needed to do more than just brush our teeth, but I had no idea how much difference a mouth rinse would make. I've always brushed and flossed. My children brush their teeth well, but I wouldn't call them champion flossers. From Listerine, "Brushing, Flossing and rinsing with a mouthrinse like Listerine Smart Rinse is an essential combination for maintaining a healthy mouth and protecting your child's teeth against cavities. It is especially designed for kids, provides 12-hour cavity protection, and strengthens teeth 99 percent better than brushing alone."

Did you know that on average it takes about 66 days to form a habit? (I think it takes less time if the habit involves chocolate.) There was a moment when I realized I had developed a habit of using the Smart Rinse mouth rinse. I had to travel out of town for a short trip. I packed my carryon bag and completely forgot to pack a travel bottle of Smart Rinse. When I brushed and flossed my teeth before bed I felt incomplete. I missed the Smart Rinse. My teeth didn't feel as clean. I tried to use the mouth rinse available in the hotel gift shop, but it didn't feel the same. I had been hooked. My Smart Rinse habit has been formed.

My children have also been hooked. Mouth rinse is an easy sell for them. They might not be excellent flossers yet, but I think the Smart Rinse is making a difference. So many products in the dental care area only appeal to children or adults. Smart Rinse appealed to my tween and my teenager.  I can help my children develop healthier habits, I call it a win. Fortunately for us, Smart Rinse made a difference for my whole family.

Disclosure: I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE SMART RINSE Sweet Smart Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

Maple Pumpkin Custard from Spoonful.com

I like to think I'm adventurous in the kitchen as far as what I will try to cook, but custard is one of those dishes I've always shied away from. I'm not sure why, but it always seemed a little fiddly and complicated. This week I noticed a recipe from Spoonful.com that seemed yummy, Maple Pumpkin Custard. (If you haven't checked out Spoonful.com, you should. They feature family friendly activities, including cooking and crafting.)

photo by Amy Hodges

By some minor miracle, I had all of the ingredients at hand. I'm not sure at all why I had both Heavy Cream and Light Cream? The custard was easy to prepare and the recipe was easy to follow. In a short time I had some lovely custards. Some of us weren't patient and tasted them as soon as they cooled to room temperature. My husband held out and waited until they had cooled in the refrigerator. They were super yummy. I love pumpkin, and who doesn't love maple? It's one of the first recipes I've tried from Spoonful and it won't be the last! 

photo by Amy Hodges

I was not compensated in any way for this post! (except with yummy custards and a renewed confidence in the kitchen.)

Wreck It Ralph ~ Contest and Clip

Great news from the world of Wreck It Ralph! Disney is having a contest on Facebook and the Grand Prize is a trip from Adventures by Disney! Once you choose your avatar you can complete missions for more entries. 

And as a little treat, here is the latest clip from Wreck It Ralph featuring one of my favorites, Jane Lynch. Wreck It Ralph opens nationwide November 2nd.

Get Unreal ~ Candy Tasting Party

photo by Amy Hodges

Want to know how to get your friends and family to stop by? Tell them you're having a candy tasting. That's right, Candy Tasting. Last weekend I was thrilled to host a candy tasting for Unreal Candy. If you haven't heard about Unreal, get ready to. They actually have a mission with their candy. "We believe that all junk food can be made differently, with better ingredients, without the junk, with great taste, and at the same price." I don't know about you, but when I hear that something is "all-natural," or "healthier" I become wary. The six year old inside of me thinks there is no way it can taste anything close to the alternative. Unreal candy is, well, unreal. All of the candies are tasty and healthier than the leading brand. 

It was fun to hear what my friends had to say about Unreal. Some of us are of a certain age, and the fiber and protein benefits from Unreal are almost too good to be true. We still want to treat ourselves and our families occasionally. It's incredible to have a "healthier" candy. One of my friends works with law enforcement trainees. She was taking some candy back for them to try because they have to count every calorie while they are training. Candy with protein? BONUS!! 

If you want to learn more about Unreal, including where you can purchase it, please check out their website Get Unreal, their Facebook page, or their YouTube channel. 

photo by Amy Hodges

I was sent candy samples from Unreal for the tasting and compensated by Global Influence for this post. All opinions remain firmly mine. 

Amazing Race Recap 1014 Blame The Edit

My recap from the October 14th episode of The Amazing Race. Find my "Blame the Edit" recaps here and on MomTV!

Corgi Cuteness ~ Who needs thumbs?

Sandy gets desperate and entertains herself! She does this every day, usually after the kids go to school.

Wreck It Ralph ~ New Clip

I am so excited about Wreck It Ralph, the latest offering from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The movie opens November 2nd, see you there!

Listerine Smart Rinse Challenge

photo by Amy Hodges

I'm about to give you some startling information so prepare yourself. (not kidding!) "Oral disease has become the number one chronic childhood illness in the U. S. " Number one. Oral disease. Just like most of you, I grew up brushing my teeth and going to the dentist. It was what everyone I knew did. My mother harped on our dental health and it wasn't until I was older that I knew why. When my mom was a child, her family was poor. Her parents never took her to the dentist. (My mom has a beautiful smile.) She was determined that we would not worry about our teeth like she always had.
Flash forward a few more years to when my children were in elementary school. The school had asked for a volunteer to accompany a dental hygienist as she examined children in the lower grades (kindergarden through second grade.) I was sadly shocked at the number of children who had never been to a dentist and how many of them were suffering from oral disease. Some of the children had cavities that even I could see. It is so important to have a good dental care routine.
At the heart of most dental care routines is brushing. We can't ever forget the importance of brushing your teeth, but "brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth!" I'm thrilled to be taking part in the #SweetSmart challenge sponsored by Listerine Smart Rinse. It's a perfect time of year to focus on our dental routine. We've gotten back into the swing of things with school and homework and I have been on a fall cleaning rampage. For the next month we are going to try to refine our habits and see if we can make our dental routine even healthier. Since it's October and Halloween is looming, I can't think of a better time to make sure we are taking care of our teeth well!
We are looking at our whole routine, but especially incorporating Listerine Smart Rinse mouthrinse. A little more information about Smart Rinse: "Brushing, Flossing and rinsing with a mouthrinse like Listerine Smart Rinse is an essential combination for maintaining a healthy mouth and protecting your child's teeth against cavities. It is especially designed for kids, provides 12-hour cavity protection, and strengthens teeth 99 percent better than brushing alone."
I'll be posting more about the challenge to let you know how it's going!

Disclosure: I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE SMART RINSE Sweet Smart Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

Retirement from Vlogtober

It was inevitable. I have decided to retire from daily vlogging in the Vlogtober challenge. (You're welcome!) Desiree from Mommy Reporter is hosting Vlogtober. Check out the video for my retirement announcement!

Blame the Edit Survivor Recap

Over at the beautiful new Mom TV, I've started a new webisode series, Blame the Edit. I'll be posting recaps of some of my favorite reality television shows. Tonight I'm talking about Survivor. Fortunately, this will also serve as my Vlogtober post of the day. (3 days y'all, I'm on a roll!!)

Vlogtober Day Two

The second day of participating in Vlogtober and I almost forgot to upload a video.  Forgive the lack of make-up and the fact that I got back out of bed to record this! Be sure to visit Mommy Reporter to find the other Vlogtober videos.

Vlogtober Day One

For the month of October, I'm joining Desiree from Mommy Reporter for Vlogtober.  The premise is simple, post a vlog every day for the whole month. I hope you'll follow along, or you can join in by linking up on Desiree's site! I'm also posting at the new Mom TV. They just relaunched and the new site is beautiful. Check it out. There are lots of videos to choose from, or you can add your own! Be sure to check back tomorrow for another vlog!