The Body Oil I'm Using Everyday (+ a Giveaway for you!)

As many of you know, I've been on a green beauty journey over the past 6 months or so. I've been testing everything from mascara and shampoo to serums and toners. It's a lot to take on at once! But I've just gotten to the point where I want to decrease the toxic load in my home (and on my body!), so the research and trial-and-error is all worth it. While I've found some face oils that I am loving lately (which I will include in a separate post, because I didn't want to overwhelm with too much information here), I kept striking out when I was looking for a premium body oil. I wanted it to smell good (duh), be super moisturizing but not greasy, free of toxic ingredients and instead made with safe botanicals and essential oils. You all know how much I love my Doterra oils... so, the bar for a stellar-performing body oil was set rather high.

Which brings me to Little Barn Apothecary.

The Discovery.
I discovered Little Barn when I was celebrating my 30th birthday at Serenbe this past September. They have locations at Serenbe, Westside Provisions in Atlanta and down in Watersound, Florida at The Hub on 30A. Shannon took great care of me in the store, explaining the LBA philosophy (which totally resounds with me) and proceeded to load me up with some incredible samples. I went home to try the body oil and I was honestly overwhelmed. I had found the one! I ran out of this remarkable sample oil in like 3 days because I couldn't stop basically bathing in it. Even Stevie came home from work and said, "Whoa, you smell really good. Like really, really good... what is that?" I tried to pass it off as my naturally alluring scent, but we've known each other far too long for that to work on him. He was like, "no for real - what is that??"

So let me just tell you a little about this heavenly Honeysuckle + Grapefruit Body Oil. Formulated for all skin types, this oil is best used just after you get out of the shower, when your skin is still damp. It is a daily moisturizer that is non-greasy and quickly absorbs into the skin to give you an all-day glow. It also smells super indulgent, like you've been bathing inside the nectar of a flower and then spritzed with a squeeze of citrus juice. Which is #lifegoals, am I right? I imagine this is what Tinker Bell smelled like, that lucky lass.

I love that Little Barn Apothecary believes in the power and healing of all-natural ingredients, centering each of their products around the simple focus of being a safe, pure alternative to the chemical-laden self care products in today’s market. This has been my mission with my Green Beauty Trials, to find companies just like this one! Score!

The Story Behind the Brand.
Little Barn Apothecary founders Joshua and Brad started the brand in their kitchen after realizing there was a void in the market for handmade, uncomplicated self-care products. The beauty market is flooded with chemical-laden products that wreak havoc on the body, and they were passionate about creating alternatives. After sharing some of the items with friends and family, they were met with enthusiastic requests for more and decided to expand their line. In 2015, Little Barn Apothecary was debuted to the public with the promise that the product line is “simply simple”, meaning that the botanical ingredients in each product is 100% natural and selected by hand. All products are hand crafted in small-batch apothecary tradition and sold in recycled glass bottles with minimal packaging. Every product is 100% vegan and organic, containing wild-harvested ingredients whenever possible. All the products are free of synthetic ingredients, artificial colors, parabens or any sort of “fillers”. Little Barn takes inspiration from the earth to provide hand made formulations designed to evoke a simple feeling of well-being.

Discount for YOU!
Well, whatever they're doing, it's working. Stevie keeps trying to steal my body oil, that rascal. If you want to snag your own, you can shop here and receive 15% off any purchase by using the code KRISTENH at checkout. Stock up on Christmas gifts, my friends! I am also a huge fan of the Ginger + Rosemary Hand and Body Wash and the Lavender + Frankincense Original Oil (amazing essential oils for supporting overall skin health!) I love dropping an extra drop or two of my Doterra essential oils in these products for added potency. Hurray for all the oils!

Giveaway!
I'm super excited to partner with LBA to give away a "Glow For It" kit to one of you! This amazing set contains contains my beloved Honeysuckle + Grapefruit Body Oil, the Sweetgrass + Lavender soap and the Jasmine + Geranium Polishing Scrub. Jump over to my Instagram (@oykristen) for your chance to enter! Winner will be selected and notified on 11/22, Thanksgiving eve!

More about the Kit:
The “Glow For It” Body Kit comes in a limited edition box, complete with three items to help you achieve a natural, healthy glow, even in the dead of winter. First, cleanse skin with the Sweetgrass + Lavender Soap Bar, an organic, gentle soap made for all over body cleansing with essential oils to create the perfect aroma in your shower. Next, exfoliate with the Jasmine + Geranium Polishing Body Scrub, perfect for dry skin. This scrub uses pure, organic cane sugar and organic, skin loving oils to scrub away dead skin and reveal a softer, more youthful glow. After stepping out of the shower, pump a small amount of the Honeysuckle + Grapefruit Body Oil, and massage over still damp skin. This luxurious daily moisturizer is non-greasy and formulated for all skin types. It quickly absorbs deep into the skin to give you an all-day, glistening glow while sending you on an indulgent journey of sun-drenched blossoms, lightly kissed by delicate pink citrus. The “Glow For It” Body Kit is priced at $70 with a retail value of $80 and is available online at littlebarnapothecary.com and at select retailers.

7 Natural Tools that Helped Me Overcome Anxiety.

Last week I shared with you a very personal journey that I've taken with postpartum anxiety. Whether you're a new parent like me or not, anxiety is a very real thing and is not to be pushed down or ignored. One of the healthiest, most therapeutic measures that I took in getting help with my anxiety is actually talking out loud to someone about it. Once I spoke the truth out loud, it felt like I wasn't harboring a big secret anymore. I was free to talk to anyone and everyone and get the appropriate help.

As I mentioned in the last post, taking a prescription medication made a huge difference for me, and truly worked as a bridge in bringing me back to my best self. However, that wasn't "the fix". For me, there were many natural solutions involved in helping diminish my anxiety completely and getting to a place where I no longer felt like I was coping, but thriving. Today I want to share these with you!

1. Exercising.
Getting into an exercise routine was essential for me to get out my stress and focus on "me" for a dedicated time every day. It was really hard to find the time with a nursing newborn and busy toddler (and my husband's crazy travel schedule for work!), but each workout felt like a victory for my own personal health. Feeling my body heal and strengthen with each workout was absolute therapy. I'm so grateful to Pure Barre, and my sister-in-law Lauren, for keeping me accountable and motivated in my workouts, especially those dreaded 6am-ers!

2. Journaling.
I kept a log in my journal of everything I was feeling. This really helped me track my personal progression, especially the shifts in my emotions and the situations that triggered them. Then I could go back and see the differences as I was coming out of the anxiety. It's super helpful to look back on it now and see how far I've come!

3. Counseling.
Seeing a counselor and talking through my feelings helped me identify that I needed more help at home than I had. This was a hard reality to swallow. I often feel like I have so much support and help, and I feel guilty when I feel like I need more, especially because I know others who have much less immediate support than I have. But counseling has helped me realize that I can't compare my needs to other's needs. I just have to get my needs met, whatever that looks like.

4. Blogging.
I kept doing all the things I loved, like writing this blog! This place is such a healthy practice for me, and a space to exert my creativity and discipline into something that is my own. I also love the community that gathers here, making comments, sharing their stories and connecting. Instagram has become an active extension of that, and all of you who read here and interact have truly been a huge part of my recovery! Thank you for reading and sharing your heart here, it means the world to me and keeps me motivated and inspired to dream up new content to share!

5. Essential Oils.
It was around the time of my son Daxton's birth that I really dove into the world of essential oils. Learning about the power of these oils and how they can aid in everything from headaches to digestion to anxiety and everything in between has truly been a game changer for me and my family. Implementing a series of routines with the oils has helped keep me in a place of calm and peace and I am so grateful that I have found a natural line of defense in these precious plants. Because of my overwhelmingly amazing experience with these precious oils, I shared here this week that I have decided to join Doterra as an essential oils advocate + educator! Hurray for hidden opportunities that emerge out of a dark season!

6. Unplugging and playing.
I started taking intentional time away from my phone and computer, and instead focusing on my kids. That probably sounds like such a line - but I really did! I realized that the constant scroll was keeping me in a place of always feeling like I needed to brainstorm new blog content or immediately respond to an email when it came in. But then I remembered - no, my first and most important job is raising my kids. I don't want them to always see mommy with a phone in her hand. So I started leaving my phone in my bedroom for certain parts of the day. This allowed me to take intentional time to actually play (this gets harder with two kids versus one, because there is always *something else* I should be doing, like folding laundry or cleaning up in the kitchen.) But there is nothing like getting on the floor and playing with blocks or pretending to be super heroes. It really did give me more energy and helped burn off the constant need to be plugged in.

7. Dating my Husband.
Who needs to go on a date? Probably everyone reading this! Stevie and I aren't amazing when it comes to frequency of dates, but we really have been making an effort to go on a date outside of the house at least 1-2 times per month. That connection is just so necessary. Just the other night we went to have fish tacos at this little restaurant around the corner from us, and it was just so good to get out and not cook dinner. It was nothing fancy, we were both wearing sweats and I was wrapped up in his windbreaker, and we sat outside and drank red wine and laughed. If the whole world were to fall away, I know I could count on the good, loving heart of that man, and that makes me the happiest, luckiest girl in this world.

So there you have it, friends. My two cents on the matter. Anxiety is a bear, but its not unstoppable. If you are dealing with anxiety, please please talk to someone close to you and get some help in your life. Ain't no shame in airing your pain! Whatever is going to bring you back to your best self is absolutely worth the effort it takes to get there. All my love to you, friends. xx

My 3 Favorite Autumn Diffuser Recipes.

This is an exciting week for me! I've launched my own Doterra business and I am so thrilled to share my ecstatic passion for essential oils with everyone! Once upon a time, I rolled my eyes at "those crazy oil people" who claimed that oils could fix anything and everything. It just goes to show that you should neverrrrr judge people, because you might become just like them! #currentlycrazyforoils

This journey has been such a wonderful one as I have come to experience the incredible healing properties of these essential oils in my own personal life. I will continue to share on this blog about the different ways that oils have been implemented into my family's routine, but today I want to share a few fun diffuser recipes that will make you want to bake 10 pies and body slam into a pile of leaves ;)

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My diffuser is cranking every day. It's a sad day when I forget to do things like take my vitamins or get my diffuser going with something that will set the tone for my day. Sometimes I choose to diffuse something because it smells really good, and sometimes I have a specific reason why I am diffusing a certain blend. If someone in my family is under the weather, or if I'm feeling really tired that day, I will diffuse something specific for those reasons. But when it comes to diffusing a blend just for fun, autumn scents are just my favorite! Here are a few that I love and have had going in my house for the past several weeks.

Recipe 1 - Bake me a Pie.
- 3 drops Clove bud
- 3 drops Ginger
- 3 drops Wild Orange

Recipe 2 - No Sneezing Up in Here!
- 4 drops On Guard
- 4 drops Citrus Bliss

Recipe 3 - Living that Leaf Life.
- 2 drops Frankincense
- 2 drops Wild Orange
- 2 drops Cedarwood

I love trying out different blends and it is honestly one of the many ways I love being creative with my oils. Do you have a favorite seasonal blend? If so, I'd love to hear about it and try it out!

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If you're If you're interested in learning more about Doterra's essential oils, I would love to introduce you to them! I am hosting a few in-person educational classes this month and next month, along with several Facebook classes. I would be honored if you joined in! Please email me - oykristen AT gmail DOT COM - and I will make sure to get you on the invite list!

For those of you who are interested in purchasing some essential oils, this month Doterra is offering 20% off several enrollment kits. And for anyone who chooses to become a Wholesale Member (it's basically a Costco membership for oils), I am giving an extra-fanciful welcome gift including: a 5ml bottle of Wild Orange, a luxe roller ball of my own custom calming blend, a premium sample pack from Doterra's personal care line and some of my favorite oil resources. If you would like to go ahead and learn more or make a purchase, click here and hit "JOIN AND SAVE".

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Introducing My New Business!

Drumroll please... I have an announcement! Today I'm excited to shed some background about my new business venture!

I have something to tell you. But let me first tell you why.

I grew up in a household that was health-conscious and active. My mom was having home births before they were trendy, she was buying organic groceries back when it was just plain weird and she was pouring over skincare ingredient labels before anyone else even knew that was a thing. She was always ahead of the curve, so far ahead that my immediate family often rolled our eyes at her crunchy-granola ways. Except for when we were sick - then we would let her anoint us with those hocus pocus essential oils, pray for our boo boos to be healed and cart us over to the chiropractor to get "re-set". She has always been a proponent of preventative healthcare measures, and even though I still like to tease her for being a quadruple-filtered water snob, I have to admit - my mom was right. That woman is always right! (We call her Mary Poppins - practically perfect in every way.)

It's no surprise that since becoming a mother myself, I have gravitated towards taking those same holistic measures with my own family. Last November (exactly a year ago this month!), I purchased this Family Essentials kit from Doterra and I began my own journey into the world of essential oils. I was mystified at the difference these particular oils made in my family and myself - and the more I learned about Doterra's amazing commitment to purity in its products and transparency in its testing, the more passionate I became about these precious oils and sharing their profound impact on my life.

Over the course of the past year, I have been using and loving my oils, while simultaneously learning about the science behind why they are so powerful. Over the past six months, I have found myself mixing up oil concoctions for my friends and family as they have mentioned ailments that they struggle with. It has simply been a joy to easily share these goodies with my loved ones and see their lives touched by a natural solution.

Last week I shared about my own postpartum journey as I have navigated the murky path of dealing with Postpartum Anxiety. I honestly believe that these oils came into my life just in the nick of time, as they have been a major player in keeping my physical and emotional state supported while I have walked an unsure postpartum road. The truth is that I have fallen absolutely in love with these fascinating little bottles of life-changing elixirs. Since we have implemented a daily household routine with our oils, they have supported my family's immunity, aided in my skin's recovery from having a c-section, supported and uplifted my emotional health, and met a myriad of my family's needs. Everything from bug bites, scrapes and stretch marks to headaches, anxiety and non-toxic household cleaning has been addressed by our essential oils collection.

Because of all of this, I am so excited to be launching my own Doterra essential oils business! This is my official launch week (!!!) and I am sharing all of this with you first because this blog community is where my heart is at! Every day this week on the blog I will be sharing snippets of my favorite uses for essential oils, so if you're interested in learning more, make sure to check back here often!

THANK YOU!!!
I want to say an extra big thank all of you for following along this blog and being such kind, loyal readers. I wish I could hug every single one of you, truly. I really love this space and I feel grateful that this community has grown so richly in the 5 years since I started writing this blog. The content and direction of this blog will remain the same, although I will be sharing more wellness and essential oil-related content as I discover new uses for these products that I love. I just want you to know that the direction of this blog will continue to grow and evolve with me just as it has done in my previous adventures from Boston to New York to Atlanta, punctuated with motherhood & family shenanigans and peppered with fashion & beauty content. All the good stuff, along with an extra helping of my favorite wellness super heroes.
 

Want to Learn More?
And now for the good stuff! If you're interested in learning more about Doterra's essential oils, I would love to introduce you to them! I am hosting a few in-person educational classes this month and next month, along with several Facebook classes (for those of you who live far away or just love sitting in your jammies and learning the techy way!) I would be honored if you tuned in! Please email me - oykristen AT gmail DOT COM - and I will make sure to get you on the invite list! And for those of you who are interested in purchasing some essential oils, this month Doterra is offering 20% off several enrollment kits (I've never seen a promo this good - I like to think it's because this is the month I'm joining the company!!!) Along with that promo, this month I'm offering anyone who enrolls with me as a Wholesale Member an extra-fanciful welcome gift designed by yours truly, including: a 5ml bottle of Wild Orange, a luxe roller ball of my own custom calming blend, a premium sample pack from Doterra's personal care line and some of my favorite oil resources. If you would like to go ahead and learn more or make a purchase, click here and hit "JOIN AND SAVE".

Thanks again for all your support, friends!

P.S. - If you want to read up a bit more, check out the posts 3 Ways I Use Essential Oils Everyday and 5 Ways to Use Essential Oils in Your Home.

Our Disney World Itinerary.

I'll be honest with you -  a LOT of planning went into making our Disney trip as magical as it was. If I didn't have a plan for each day of our trip, I'm certain that my whole family would have been exhausted and I would have been stressed. Disney World is serious business - it's so huge and it can feel overwhelming to try to understand how to take the most advantage of the experience. And since I'm a planner by nature, I knew that I would be happiest if I made a plan for each day of our trip. This included planning our meals (and making reservations for character meals), planning in nap times for my kids (okay, for myself too), and for strategizing how to visit each section of the parks. This also included adding in extra rest days! If you're a planner like me, I wanted to share how we structured our trip and what we actually did while we were at Disney World.

Day 1 - "Off" Day.
Checked into our hotel. Explored the grounds and found our beloved restaurant on-site where we did a lot of meals. Bless that meal plan, I'll share more about that later!

Our hotel, Port Orleans French Quarter, is a southern-style hotel with a New Orleans vibe. I loved our hotel because there were old-fashioned water fountains, miniture parks and fenced-in manicured green space between each building, so we could sit on a bench and sip coffee while Everett ran around and Daxton crawled. It felt kind of European in the sense that they made the most of every bit of space. Along the side of the buildings was a beautiful river. There was also a great playground with turf, which we visited on both of our non-park days. The room was very comfortable and felt like a Holiday or Hampton Inn. It wasn't dazzling, but worked wonderfully for what we needed - to bathe and sleep :)

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom!
The park opens at different times every day, but it's a safe bet to try to arrive at the park at least 1 hour before the park opens. Does that sound insane? Why yes it does. But trust me on this one. It takes a lot of time to park, unload the car, load up the stroller, walk to the park, get your magic bands activated, go through security... etc. etc. It's a lot. But when you allow for tons of time then you can actually get into the park and walk around Main Street before the park officially opens, which is so nice. Main Street is one of the most magical experiences at Magic Kingdom, so you want to enjoy the stroll through this whimsical area. The rides won't begin until the park opening time, but you can actually be on-site inside the park and in line for your first ride right as it officially opens. And believe me, you want to take advantage of every cool moment of the morning, because things get very humid very quickly.

We stayed at the park all day on this particular day, because it was closing early at 7pm for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party (which you need a separate ticket for, and we chose not to do this.) So we bypassed naptimes on the first day, banking on the fact that we would be running on adrenaline (and Starbucks, which is included in the meal plan, HOLLA.)

Magic Kingdom (Day 1) Park Itinerary:

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant - The most perfect ride to begin with at Disney with little kids. It's so peaceful and both of my boys loved feeling like they were flying! It's a gentle, soothing ride, the perfect way to warm up for the day!
• The Barnstormer - This was maybe Everett's favorite ride, a roller coaster! It's a small one, perfect for little kids, but I couldn't believe how much he loved it! We rode this one several times because it was so much fun with him! I tried to get him to put his hands up, but he wouldn't do it ;)
• Mickey's PhilharMagic - this is a show, kind of forgettable in my opinion. But Everett loves all things Mickey so it was great.
• The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh - kind of a sad ride, in my opinion. I love these stories a lot, but this ride wasn't my fave.
• Be Our Guest Restaurant - If you're planning a trip, make sure to have brunch here! I feel like lunch didn't seem as special (just normal sandwiches and salads), but we had a yummy brunch of croque monsieur and french toast and an omelet and pastries AND got to explore Belle's castle a bit. You can even visit a part of the castle that is still "under the spell" - it's dark and the tapestries are shredded and there is the wilting rose in the corner of one of the rooms! It was a super fun experience and yummy. Really pricey if you're not on a meal plan, though. I'll go into details about the meal plan in my upcoming "tips and tricks" post!
• Casey's Corner - Get the corn dog nuggets! I'm serious here. It's the best tasting corn dog I've ever had. Plus, it's a beautiful view of Main Street and Cinderella's Castle!
• Swiss Family Tree House - A fun little walk through the tree house. I wish I knew more about the story, it's made me want to go back and read it!
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - This feels exactly the same at the Dumbo ride, but so fun. Perfect for Daxton's age.
• Sleepy Hollow - Get the waffle crepe sandwich! Yum yum yum.
• Its a Small World - the boat ride for babies. It's such an odd ride but its really air conditioned and perfect for babies. Daxton and Everett both adored it... it's just really hard to get that song out of your head. For pretty much the rest of the trip.

Day 3 - Pool Day!

In an ideal world, I wanted to build in a day to sleep in and rest. But you're probably laughing reading this, because you know that I HAVE KIDS. And they have no concept of sleeping in. But it was really nice to wake up much more slowly than the previous park day and have a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, followed by playing outside at the playground and then going to the pool for the afternoon. After running so hard the day before hand, this was the perfect way to recharge. And prepare for the next day :)

This was also the day that we went to dinner at 1900 Park Fare at The Grand Floridian hotel, which is a character buffet with Cinderella, Prince Charming, her evil stepmother and step sisters. The hotel is absolutely stunning and is in my #disneygoals to stay at one day.

Day 4 - Magic Kingdom!

Magic Kingdom (Day 2) Park Itinerary:

• Peter Pan's flight (we reserved a Fast Pass) - What a wondrous ride! It's so sweet and makes you feel like you're flying through moments of the movie. Daxton especially enjoyed this one, and I think this is the ride where he learned how to clap his hands in excitement. OH THE DISNEY MEMORIES.
• Enchanted Tales with Belle ((we reserved a Fast Pass) - Everett's face meeting Belle! It was priceless. I feel like I'm using that word to describe a lot of our Disney experiences, but they really were priceless!
• Lunch at The Crystal Palace - This is where we met Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet & Eyore! Also, we visited The Crystal Palace in Madrid's Retiro Park a few years ago when we took Everett on his first trip abroad, so I especially wanted to eat here because it felt special and nostalgic. And Pooh was so so cute.
• Town Square Theater to meet Mickey Mouse! (we reserved a Fast Pass) - This was a mega experience. This particular version of Mickey is the only one in all of Disney World that actually talks, and his voice sounds exactly like how you imagine it should! And he says cute things like, "Hiya friend, I've been waiting for you!"
• Snacked at Aloha Isle - GET THE DOLE WHIP. Best treat at Disney. Yes, you can quote me on that.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - I am so glad I rode this last minute! I went by myself and howled with joy the whole time. There's something really awesome and empowering about being alone and being happily LOUD.
• Tomorrowland Speedway - Everett loved driving his own race car! Such a big moment for a little boy. We did this one twice so that we could each ride it with him.
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover - This is essentially a big train, but it was super relaxing to ride in the middle of the day. Daxton actually fell asleep. Stevie might have, too?
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - You can't miss this show. It's so so cute and funny. I was actually nursing Daxton right when we sat down in our seats and this man almost sat down next to me, realized what I was doing, and then got up and found another seat with his son. It's still so funny to be how freaked out people are about breastfeeding! C'mon people. Everyone likes boobs, for one reason or another. Just relax.
• Country Bear Jamboree - One of the strangest, funniest shows ever. Very air conditioned, so it's a good spot to take a break when it gets hot mid-day. But truly, you feel like you're getting entertained in Pigeon Forge.
• Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - We had to cover Everett's eyes during a part of this ride that features Ursula, so you might want to skip this one unless your kids are older and have seen the movie. He asked us for the rest of the evening why we had to cover his eyes, which was hard to explain without using fear-inducing words. See, there were a few things that I didn't love about Disney. But only a few ;)
• The Fireworks show! It's not just any run of the mill fireworks show - it's incredible!!! I've never been so impressed with fireworks. Disney, you're awesome at EVERYTHING.
• Columbia Harbour House - If you're burned out on park food, this is the right place to go for something pretty darn healthy. There is a dinner meal that consists of salmon, grilled vegetables and quinoa and it is seriously SO good. It made us feel better about the frosted lemonades we pounded immediately after ;)

Day 5 - Pool Day!

Another day to relax and enjoy the hotel amenities. On this particular day we braved going to dinner at one of the fanciest Disney restaurants (because this was me trying to milk that meal plan for all it's goodness!) We went to Jiko at The Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was honestly such a memorable experience. For a few reasons:
1.) The food is spectacular. Truly, truly. It's exotic, all African-inspired and gorgeously creative in presentation. The wine pairings were spot-on and they brought out extra appetizers to keep my kids occupied while we attempted to entertain them.
2.) My kids decided they wanted other people to remember them too, so they decided to make all the loud noises they could muster. At one point I had pulled out the Kindle for one child, the iPhone for another, and propped up their respective screens for them to just watch Netflix shows while we attempted to dine. Stevie and I laughed in embarrassment at the fact that we were those people - those awful parents who pacify their children with screens. I promise, if you judge those people in restaurants, one day you will find yourself being those people!

Day 6 - Animal Kingdom!
The final day of glory, and we seriously went out with a bang. Animal Kingdom is SO different from Magic Kingdom - it's like the fanciest, most impressive exotic zoo you've ever been to! The lands are much more spread out, so it takes longer to walk between ths different parts of the parks. But the walks are truly inspiring - you're trekking through Africa and Asia and it really feels like you're walking through different countries. Although I admit, I've actually trekked through Nairobi in Kenya, and I prefer Disney's safe version. JUST SAYING. Our day's itinerary (and my recs!)

• Pandora Flight of Passage - If you watched on my insta stories, you might have seen that the line for this brand new ride was 3.5 hours long. We had no fast pass for this, so I knew we weren't going to be riding it. However, Stevie SOMEHOW charmed his way into getting us fast passes. Please don't ask me how, I'm still baffled by it. I think he just explained that we had two babies and there was no possible way that we could each wait 3.5 hours to actually ride it, and those Disney cast members are so kind, so her response was something like, "Alright sir, we will make an exception this one time..." FYI THIS RIDE WAS AWESOME. It's a virtual reality experience 3D thrill ride where you are flying on top of an actual banshee, you can feel it breathing beneath you and your stomach actually drops as if you are thousands of feet in the air, peeling around waterfalls and freefalling over cliffs. Its completely extraordinary. But Stevie has a particularly weak stomach, so he was kind of done with rides after this one. Good thing that Animal Kingdom is more like a zoo and we walked and saw stuff for the rest of the day ;)
• Pandora Na'vi River Journey - Such a peaceful ride along the bio-luminescent river and through caves. Daxton particularly loved this one.
• Pongu Pongu - This is the spot where I had a 9am margarita (#vacation) while Stevie rode the Flight of Passage. Everett enjoyed a bubble tea smoothie situation and Daxton yelped a lot. FYI Disney margaritas taste like Minnie Mouse mixed them up - they actually taste pink and I'd make a bet with you that there's no alcohol in them at all.
• Festival of The Lion King - Absolutely phenomenal. This one show is worth your entry ticket alone. This show is as good as a Broadway extravaganza but perhaps even better because we were able to sit so close to the action. There are acrobats, stilt walkers, enormous animals, singing and dancing and incredible sets. One of the monkeys came and gave Everett a high-5 during the show twice. He was completely enamored, we all were! It was spectacular.
• Tusker House - This was our last character meal, a buffet (again, the African-inspired food was incredible!) with Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy. Once again, Daxton lost his mind at the characters but Everett was overjoyed. You win some, you lose some.
• Kilimanjaro Safari - I went on a safari in Kenya once, in the Masai Mara. We rode for three days in an open-top van through the mud, enduring nightly torrential rains, slept in a tent with blankets from who knows where and we actually got stuck out there in the bush for an extra day, because #mudslides. With lions. There are no fences in the middle of the pride lands in Africa. I just want to say that this Disney safari was 20 minutes long and I saw all the exact same animals that I saw in Kenya. You understand what I'm saying? Okay good. So go ahead and ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR LIST.
• Expedition Everest - Okay, Stevie's stomach could not handle another ride, so I took up my cross and rode this one alone, because I'm selfless like that. MUAHAHA. It was freaking amazing - the roller coaster goes backward and upside down at the same time. I screamed so hard.
• Finding Nemo The Musical - So great! Another amazing show, although perhaps 10 minutes too long, in my opinion. Everett fell asleep during this one.
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail - This is where I got my exotic bird fix. I wish I could bring them all home with me and set them free in my yard. I loved them so much!

And there you have it, friends! Our trip itinerary. We flew out the afternoon after the Animal Kingdom day. It was the most fantastic trip! I would be negligent if I didn't mention that we had an amazing trip planner, Alyson Pitzer of Magical Moments Vacations, who tailored the trip entirely to the needs and desires of our family. She made our dining reservations for us, snagged all the fast passes we wanted as early as 3 months prior to our trip (yes, Disney is serious business), booked our hotel reservations, changed out hotel reservations multiple times (due to my pregnancy and Stevie's work schedule) and created this comprehensive itinerary for us so that we could just implement it and enjoy our time as a family, without the added stress of figuring everything out as we went. She did all the figuring for us - and it didn't cost us anything extra! She is compensated by Disney World, so there is absolutely no reason under the sun that you shouldn't use her services if you are planning to visit Disney. Her help is a must - I will never do anything Disney related without her guidance and help. You can reach out to her at apitzer AT mmvagent DOT COM. Or you can reach out to her on her Facebook page messenger for more information on planning a Disney trip. Happy planning to you, my friends!

P.S. - Our Disney trip in photos and snippets.