Today is going to be a long post, but I hope it's worth it because we are talking DISNEY today!
Mom and I went out west to hang out at Disneyland over Mother's Day. We participated in the Tinkerbell Half Marathon as well as checked out all the new stuff they had for Star Wars and the 60th anniversary.
First off, we used The Mouse for Less Travel Agency to help us book this trip. Since we are normally Disney WORLD goers, it was so helpful to have someone give us an idea on what to expect for Disneyland. Jeannette Cona-Larock is our agent and she is FANTASTIC! When it came to restaurant recommendations and photo pass questions, she was able to help us out with all of it. Definitely check them out next time you are looking to go to Disney. Their services do not cost you ANYTHING and it's so helpful to have someone help you with all the questions you may have.
We headed out early on Friday morning. With the time change, it was like we time warped. We arrived "shortly" after we had left!
After getting to the hotel and unpacking, first item on the list was to get to the expo to pick up our race packets. Then came our favorite, shopping! After visiting all the vendors we made our way down Downtown Disney to shop in all the fun stores they have there.
At the expo!
There are several fun vendors at the expo and we always love the photo ops they have available with the photo pass photographers!
Look mom! I got wings!
All the swag!
Dinner that night was at Napa Rose. It was seriously one of the best meals I have ever had!
My tomato-bell pepper soup with shrimp!
The following morning, we rope-dropped California Adventure and rode several rides!
Hello Cars Land!
Going down Route 66!
I got to see Red! He's my favorite!
While out and about we got to see Chip and Dale! They were so excited to see us!
Happy Chipmunks!
Lots of love from Dale!
We dropped into the Twilight Zone!
Toy Story is our favorite! I actually got the high score for our car!
We pretty much did everything in California Adventure we wanted to do by noon, so we headed over to Disneyland and checked out the new Star Wars stuff they had! The Launch Bay ended up being one of our favorite things on the trip. They had a great small film talking about the impact the past Star Wars films had on movie making and where they were going in the future.
Then we got to meet Kylo Ren! They had us stand in a hallway to wait and so we started chatting. Then suddenly, he appeared from around the corner and just stared us down! He finally invited us in and said "I sense you sympathize with the resistance." I said he was correct. He told me that was unfortunate...he could teach me about the dark side of the force. After our picture he told us to give his condolences to those in the resistance. It was one of the BEST character interactions I have ever had!
Kylo Ren trying to use Jedi mind tricks on me.
I guess it isn't appropriate to side hug Kylo Ren??? I didn't feel like it at all!
Outside the exit they had a place for you to take photos with a lightsaber! Haha.
I'm feeling it. Just need the robe!
The force run strong in my family!
We then checked out the Blue Bayou for lunch...one of my other favorite meals!
The menus lit up!
Before we left the park we ended up stopping to get mom her Mother's Day present...a silhouette of her with my brother and I (who sent me a picture before we left!).
Hand cut. Saying hi to Walt as he looks over the town square!
That night we "carb loaded" at PCH Grill before going to bed early because the next day...we raced!
I could write a whole review about the Tinkerbell race, but I don't think I would be able to add any more than others have already written on other blogs. I enjoyed the course immensely. It was a little weird running down Main Street "backwards" away from the castle and not going down the main street for Cars Land. But the out and back nature of going through Anaheim helped the "non Disney" miles go by quicker. I am THRILLED that they switched to having Photopass photographers on the course because we were able to get awesome pictures like these!
About to run through the castle!
So awesome!
I don't know what we are smiling at, but we are apparently having a good time!
Finish line!
We did it!
My mother (who runs much faster than me) really pushed me on my pace this race. Not to mention we had just a great time chatting as we ticked off the miles. It was such a great race and we finished in pretty much 2:30 on the dot!
After the race we headed back to Disneyland. We got done so quick (and were able to walk back to our hotel) that we pretty much walked into the part shortly after it opened!
It's tradition...gotta take our pictures with our medals in front of the castle!
We rode our E ticket attractions today! Indiana Jones and Hyperspace Mountain galore! We also made our way to the Launch Bay again and we ran into Boba Fett!
Apparently I look like a spy that he needs to take back to Jabba the Hut.
Our second way through Hyperspace Mountain!
Let me say, Hyperspace Mountain was our favorite ride the whole trip! We loved the Star Wars overlay. Going up the hill and hearing the main title theme gave me goosebumps!
The rest of the evening we relaxed and saw the last things on our list.
Dole Whip while watching the Enchanted Tiki Room? Perfection!
Then we capped off the night with watching the Paint the Night Parade and the Disneyland Forever Fireworks!
We ended up snagging a spot on Main Street right before the parade started!
These shows were my fondest memories. Watching everyone interact together with the floats (which were spectacular in themselves) was hilarious. And then we all moved into the street together to watch the fireworks. Everyone was singing and dancing together as they moved from song to song. It literally feels like you are there with thousands of your best friends!
The following morning we had to leave, but we didn't leave before hanging out with our favorite characters at Goofy's Kitchen!
Chef Pluto!!!
The character interactions took the "waffle" (get it? It's breakfast so not cake...). Dale recognized my ears to be like Pluto and he refused to take a photo with me until I took them off!
Of course, Pluto loved them!
Did I mention my favorite, gluten-free Mickey Waffles?????
Last goodbye!
Disneyland has such a special place in my heart. It was my first park as a baby and the history behind it strikes a chord in my heart. I actually like it being a smaller park. It does not lack for things to do and it feels more immersive due to the compactness of it. I prefer the Disneyland version of several rides (like Haunted Mansion, Pirates, It's a Small World, etc) as well.
It was such a fun vacation. A whirlwind for sure...and I'm fairly certain I am still on California time. But we had such a wonderful time and lots of precious memories together. I know I will certainly cherish the fun Mom and I had together for a long, long time.
But the fun doesn't have to stop here! If you want a more in depth look you can check out all the Go Pro video I got from the trip! You can watch us on Radiator Racers, going upside down on California Screamin', hanging out in Tower of Terror, our awesome Jungle Cruise Skipper and more!
Have a great rest of the day and see you real soon!
Jared and I have talked about redoing our garden for a long time now. We finally made it happen on Monday!
The first thing we had to do was change out our sprinkler heads. The old ones wouldn't have cleared the new bed. Plus, these are directional so we won't be watering the fence any more!
Next we built the planter box. Jared made it out of cedar and it smelled incredible!
Then we dug our trench for the underground hose that would lead from the house to the planter box. We are putting in a subterranean soaker hose to the garden so that even if we are out of town, the plants will still get watered. Once the trench was built, we put the box in place on top of some landscaping netting to keep any future weeds out!
Once that was done we filled in our trench and added dirt! We found a local place that had massive piles of dirt you can buy in bulk instead of the 1 cubic foot bags at Lowes. We got half and half for filler and organic garden dirt for the top. I had some sweet peppers going already along with some jalapeños, green bell peppers, strawberries and three kinds of tomatoes. Then, my blueberry came back after dying last year! So I was super excited to put it back in the garden, this time with some more shade.
One of the most frustrating things last year was that I got one tomato and a bird took a big chunk out of it. So this year, we are adding a cage around the garden to protect it from birds and any other animals that might want to help themselves.
Test fitting the cage
All done!
I'm super excited about my garden and can't wait to see what it can produce this year! I'm getting more and more knowledge about how to grow things and I want it to pay off so bad! I guess we will have to wait a few more months to know!
I had the amazing opportunity to take dance lessons growing up. It kept me active and socially involved even though my body frame wasn't an "ideal" for a dancer. One of my teachers, Ms. Jennie, was my favorite. Instead of telling us to "tuck our butts in" and keep our back straight, she would refer to it as our "Gluteus Maximus" as the word "Butt" was not appropriate for a lady to say.
I think of her often now as the word "Gluteous" sounds similar to my made up word "Glutinous," which I now use to describe to the main diet of many Americans today.
Yes. I'm one of those people that has to eat gluten free. And yes, when I tell you that at Pie Five, I really do need you to change your gloves because it really could make me sick and I really appreciate it when you do! I was crushed when I had to start my gluten free diet cold turkey. I instantly (relatively, over the course of a few days) felt better and had more energy. But I was depressed because (believe it or not) I couldn't have Oreos.
More than the fact that I couldn't have oreos, I was depressed because I didn't know what I could eat. All I knew was I got a huge list from the doctor of things I couldn't eat and I was living like a rabbit for a week or so...munching lettuce and drinking smoothies. Thankfully, after a couple of tearful episodes of self pity, my husband and I took to the internet and found some great gluten free recipes and products that we could find at our local HEB.
So if you are thinking of going gluten free for whatever reason, think about these things:
1. The price. Going gluten free can be expensive. This was the hardest for my husband as he don't like spending more than $2.00 a unit on any food product. But, if you stick to non-processed food (aka...things that are naturally gluten free) it can actually be quite affordable. When you start buying gluten free bread and pizza crusts and cookies, it will get much more pricey. Stick to corn and rice as your grains as they are much more affordable and readily found!
2. Gluten is found everywhere! While the obvious source is wheat, there is gluten in a ton of chemically processed foods. It is basically like "edible glue" that food manufacturers use to add different flavors to food. You can find it in deli meats, canned food, candy coatings, cereal and pretty much anything that says "Natural and/or Artificial Flavor." When in doubt, I use my new favorite app called Fooducate! It's $5.00 but it has saved me several headaches when I was about to buy that Kraft cheese or canned chicken broth!
3. Keep it sustainable. I preach that these things are meant to be a marathon and not a sprint. I have been gluten free for almost three years now and in those three years, I have had lots of chocolate, bread and candy...things not normally found on a gluten free diet! But thankfully, we now have lots of options for people that have to eat gluten free (including Oreos!). Even if they are a little pricey, they make their way into my shopping cart every once in a while as my treat for the month. 80/20 rule is crucial...eat 80% of what is good for you and 20% of what makes you happy, even if it might cost a little more. The other side of that is make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need. I keep a food log not just for the calories, but also for the nutrient info. It's a tendency for people who eat gluten free to not get all their needed nutrients. So, I try to keep track of what I'm deficient in and adjust accordingly week to week.
I hope this helps you start thinking about how to start and maintain your gluten free lifestyles. Feel free to ask questions if you need help! I'm not a doctor, but I've figured out how to make this work for me and my family!
Do you have any great tips for eating gluten free?
Hi everyone! I hope you are as excited as I am about the coming Fourth of July holiday!
The Fourth of July has looked very different over the years for me. Some years it was rainy. Some years it was too dry to do fireworks. Some years I wasn't even home! But one thing that has always seemed to be the same is there has ALWAYS been a McBrayer in the parade! From my dad, brother and I doing Indian Princess/Guides floats (with dad in full Indian headdress!) to marching in the band, we seem to have always had someone walking by our house the morning of the Fourth of July. It's only been a year where that streak has ended, but I have so many fond memories of waving to the people, throwing candy, celebrating the fact that I was in AMERICA and sometimes, riding my bike through thunderstorms.
This weekend however, I heard a story from my brother. It's been on my mind for days now and it makes me appreciate those Fourth of July moments so much more.
My brother is studying abroad in Shanghai this summer. He's truly hard core! He was sitting in the library on campus this past week when suddenly, a Chinese student came and started talking to him. I mean come on, my brother is as white as white can be and the kid wanted to know more about the study abroad group of kids. He's not hard to find!
Little did my brother know however, that God had appointed this meeting as suddenly, the kid asked if any of the international students were Christian. My brother of course responded that he was Christian. The Chinese kid then confessed to him that he had just become a Christian five days ago! Hallelujah! But because he is Chinese, the government does not allow him to go to the international Christian churches. He has no way of learning more about God. If he wants to join a church or speak to others about Christ, he basically has to go underground and risk everything to do so. I'm sure his family ties will be strained. His friends will think he's crazy. He might even end up in jail. But this Chinese student was so determined to learn more about Christ, he is risking everything and sought out my brother to find out more.
Can you imagine being told what you can and cannot believe? We take religious freedom here so lightly sometimes. I include myself in that statement. Sometimes, we think it's no big deal for people to accept Christ because we are surrounded by Christians and people making that decision every week. At my church, we give them a whole book with the next steps after they make the decision to follow Christ! And yet this kid (because yes, he's my brother's age and they are kids haha) has the door closed in his face when he tries to find out more.
Hearing this story makes me reflect on what I have in America. America, where I can hop on my blog and freely write about what God is teaching me without worrying if I am going to be arrested. But what did it take for me to have that? People fighting for me. People laying down their lives for me literally. In the movie Saving Private Ryan, when Private Ryan learns that people had laid down their lives looking for him, he wanted to know their names. How many of us know the names of those who have fought for us? More importantly, why do we allow people to talk badly of our military and mouth off about how terrible of a country we are? Yea we may have our issues, but we have nothing to complain about compared to countries where their people can't even practice their faith without being arrested!
So as you BBQ this weekend and watch the fireworks, I hope you take time to truly appreciate the fact that you live in America. Then, say a prayer for the families that have lost loved ones, who are rehabilitating after injuries, who are still separated from their husbands, wives and kids. Then please, say a prayer for my brother's Chinese friend, and others like him, who are so desperately looking for Christ.
So today there was no workout. Isn't it funny when you aren't supposed to do something, it's all you think about? So this morning, after Jared and I slept in, all I wanted to do was run. But since I know that my body needs the rest, I just read about running haha. Spent some good time perusing Runner's World magazine, The Marathon Method, and The New Rules of Marathon Nutrition. Great reads so far let me tell ya!
After Jared and I took the dog and went geocaching, but miserably failed finding anything. Duchess loved the walk though. Then we went and ran some errands, which included the grocery store AND the plant store!
I was super excited as my garden has been taking off in some places, and had died in other places. My top half of my lettuce is doing great! The bottom part of the planter, not so much haha. So I replanted some lettuce.
Garlic is doing great. I hardly have to do anything for it!
Then my sunflowers didn't make it, but I realized this last month, what good Texas girl DOESN'T have bluebonnets in her garden? This girl now does! I love them! They are my favorite!
My green bell peppers are growing fast!
And I planted some cilantro today! I'm gonna have to make some sort of shade for them so that they aren't in the heat as long.
Jalapenos are holding on. I keep praying for the one in the back haha.
Then I finally have BASIL! Just the smell makes me hungry!
The last thing that didn't make it was my onions. So I'm re-starting those in little seed starters next to my mint (which of course is thriving).
Waiting for my parents to come in tonight and we are going to do Mexican of course! Can't wait to see them. Brother comes in tomorrow! Yay!
So this morning I was looking at my schedule and figured out that I wasn't going to be able to run this afternoon due to my little sister-in-law's birthday party. Plus it was supposed to rain. So I went ahead and laced up my Nikes and went for my run this morning. However, what I forgot to do was eat! So when I got out to the park I was running much slower than I wanted to.
Lesson for today: you must have fuel in order to perform. I'll have to keep that in mind when I start doing my early morning runs next week.
Ironically this is also what I learned in my Bible study today. Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), Hananiah (also called Shadrach), Mishael (also called Meshach), and Azariah (also called Abednego) (Daniel 1:7 NLT) were all taken into the royal service when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. I affectionally call them Shack, Rack and Benny from my Veggietales days. :)
The king gave them a ration of the king's food and wine but Daniel and the others did not want to eat it. They said that their diet would be much better if they just ate vegetables and water. So the king's servant put them to the test for ten days and sure enough, Daniel and the other boys looked much better at the end of ten days then those who had been drinking the king's food and wine.
What we put in our bodies is what our bodies are going to give us back. I didn't put fuel in my body this morning, therefore my body was not able to go as fast as I wanted it to. We have to take care of the bodies that God has given us. They are miraculous creations and much more capable than what we give them credit for.
So next time you're at the grocery store, think about the produce section instead of your canned vegetable aisle. :)
