Life List | Still Living The Dream

Getting Some Sleep With Technogel

May 21, 2013

The evening hangs beneath the moon
A silver thread on darkened dune
With closing eyes and resting head
I know that sleep is coming soon

Upon my pillow, safe in bed
A thousand pictures fill my head
I cannot sleep, my mind’s a-flight
And yet my limbs seem made of lead

If there are noises in the night
A frightening shadow, flickering light
Then I surrender unto sleep
Where clouds of dream give second sight

What dreams may come, both dark and deep
Of flying wings and soaring leap
As I surrender unto sleep,
As I surrender unto sleep.

Sleep by Charles Anthony Silvestri

Leaving Pop Century to catch the Magic Express back to the airport to go home.

I’m still in denial that my trip to Disney is over.

I keep waking up wondering why there’s no bus outside my room ready to whisk me away to the Magic Kingdom and perplexed because no one in Houston refers to me as princess. I also have the strange urge to trade pins with shop owners but all I get are blank stares from the folks at Barnes and Noble when I show them my laynard and ask them if they have any “Cindy’s” to trade.

Also – there needs to be a fast pass at the grocery store check-out line on Sunday.

Just saying.

One thing that IS good about being home is getting back to sleep with my Technogel pillow.

technogel pillow without cover

For the last month or so I’ve been sleeping on a Anatomic Technogel pillow for side/back sleepers. (They also offer three other types of pillows as well as a pillow and collar for travel.)

Before that…for longer than I care to admit, I had been sleeping on this “pillow”.

Very un-pillow looking, right?

Gee. I wonder why I wasn’t get a good night’s rest?

Weird. Doesn’t look very supportive, does it?

Sometimes you have to get to the point where you are almost never able to sleep to step away from the scenerio and see what you are doing wrong. This pillow is all kinds of wrong. It was inexpensive…but not even worth the little money I spent on it.

The secret to Technogel is their patented gel that molds itself to each person’s different body structure. Unlike foam or memory foam, Technogel doesn’t get warm from the heat your body generates while you sleep. In fact, it actually feels cool due to its because unique thermal properties.

With my old pillow, I used to squash and fold my pillow a billion times throughout the night to try to get it to support my neck.

My technogel with cover

With Technogel I just lie down and relax. My neck is supported and feels so comfortable whether I’m on my back or side (I switch positions fairly often during the night). It’s crazy what a difference it makes!

Technogel is extremely durable and lasts much longer than the average pillow on the market. Covered by a three-year warranty, Technogel pillows aren’t ones you have to replace often.

Take the pillow challenge!

Are you sleeping on a pillow that is past it’s expiration date? Take this simple test; fold your pillow in half and see if it springs back to its original shape. If not, it’s time to get a new one.

I’m not sure what the original shape of my old pillow was. But there was no “springing” action of any kind when I folded it. It kind of just sat there. So sad!

Getting a comfortable pillow that supports the way I sleep has been a crucial component to my fight with insomnia. As I mentioned in previous posts, I’ve started to change many things about my bedtime routine and behavior, the set-up of my room and the inclusion of items that help me sleep (and removal of things that don’t). In my first post, I shared information about the Dohm White Noise Maker that helps lull me to sleep by blocking irritating noises. (I hope it’s also helping the two lucky Still Living The Dream readers who recently won one to try themselves!) I can’t wait to hear how they are doing with it!

My new Technogel pillow is the second reason why I’m beginning to get a good night’s rest. While it’s disappointing (but understandable) that no one calls me princess since I got back from Disney, because of Technogel…at least I’m sleeping like one!

Do you sleep like a princess? What kind of pillow do you use and are you happy with the support it provides? If not, you should be! To find out where you can purchase a Technogel pillow, visit their store locator .

I received a Technogel pillow to review. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: good things, Health and Fitness, Life List, Life List in Progress, review Leave a Comment

We Are Doing The 2013 Summer Bucket List Challenge! (Happy Family Movement)

May 4, 2013

Last year when I heard about the Summer Family Bucket List Challenge by The Happy Family Movement, I immediately signed up. We sat down together as a family and brainstormed things we wanted to do during summer vacation. (You can see my list here)

The challenge is back this summer and you can sign up here. We did! It officially begins on May 20, 2013 and you can enter to win prizes, get inspired by other family’s bucket lists, view adventure guides as well as have access to other travel resources. There’s even a facebook community you can join!

Colorado Summer Road Trip

Last year I made a garland with each activity listed on a separate index card attached with a mini clothespin. After we did the activity, we’d put up something from the activity by the card (like a program, ticket stub, photo or brochure) and by the end of the summer we had a very fun, visual way to remember our summer vacation! I decided to do something similar this year as well.

The year before last, without a plan in place, the summer ended in a blink of an eye and all those things we had in our brains that we wanted to do, never got done. While we didn’t accomplish EVERYTHING on our bucket list last summer, we did most of them and I really have the Summer Bucket List Challenge to thank.

We are so excited about this year and my kids (my 7-year-old daughter, Annie, and 11-year-old son, Jackson), my husband and I are already thinking about fun things to do with the extra time off. We are crossing a BIG bucket list item off our list before summer even starts. We have a trip to DisneyWorld planned in May! We’ve never been and we are so excited! I also have a bucket list trip to Paris in June planned with my mom and two sisters. It’s always been my mom’s dream to go. She is retiring this year and we are taking her abroad to celebrate the beginning of the new journey in her life!

But the bucket list challenge isn’t just about big vacations and high-dollar trips. In fact, it’s more about the little things that we feel we’ll always have time to do so we never really do them…like taking a picnic in the park, a bike ride on the beach… or a neighborhood walk to feed the ducks! You can in this post see we crossed this one off our list right as summer started (and you can get a glimpse of the my index card garland)!

Some of the items we didn’t get to like fishing and visiting the observatory have made it on this year’s list. Annie has been bugging me since last summer to learn to sew and I keep telling her “when we have more time”. So, you guessed it, it’s on our 2013 summer bucket list and we plan to take a class together in July.

Since I work from home full-time and my husband works from home part-time, we have more flexibility to do things like take a family bike ride or a short swim at the neighborhood pool. Our lives have changed a bit since last summer, too. I lost 55 pounds and embarked on a healthier lifestyle which we have all embraced. We ran our first fun run together last weekend and we have many items on our list this year that are more physically challenging then ever before (like participating in a mud run, going water skiing and trying to parasail).

Really though, the items on the list aren’t the most important things about the summer bucket list. Whether or not we go fishing this year (although we hope to!) isn’t what it’s really about (at least to us). What it means to us is to make time to do things together as a family. So many times during the school year we get going in a million directions with homework and after-school activities like scouts and sports… we don’t have time to really visit. Carving out time to do things together during the summer months when time is more on our side is a great way to re-connect. Even planning the outing or trip together can be a fun time in itself!

(If a visit to Aquatica or SeaWorld is on your Summer Bucket List, visit about our trip last year here when we crossed it off our list. We included tips that might help you plan your visit!)

The Patrick Family’s 2013 Summer Bucket List

Ice Cream Cone free printable tag artwork by Amy Moss

Go to the beach
Go fishing
Visit the observatory to see the stars
Go water skiing
Go bird watching
Do a mud run
Go parasailing
Participate in 2 family fun runs
Learn to sew
Sculpt with clay
Keep a journal
Have “date nights” both time for mom and dad to go out alone, plus time for each parent to spend time with each child doing something fun
See a concert with lawn seats at The Woodlands Pavilion
Invite a different family over for dinner every couple of weeks
Have a talent show
Pitch a tent in the backyard and “go camping” Make smores and tell ghost stories.
Face our Fears – pick a thing we each have always wanted to do but were afraid to … and try it
Go snorkeling
Go to Aquatica and try out some new adventures in San Antonio while we are in town
Go to the Drive-In Movies

I was not compensated for this post. I’m just sharing great summer resources available because I love the program and want you to have the best summer ever!

Filed Under: Family Summer Bucket List, Life List, summer, things to do, things to do with your kids, traditions, Travel Leave a Comment

Getting Relief From Spring Allergies (Giveaway)

April 26, 2013

Ah, Spring time in Houston….it can be a beautiful thing.

The sun is shining, the weather is nice (not too hot, not too cold) … perfect for enjoying the outdoors with my family.

Or is it?!

Unfortunately my favorite time of the year brings along some of the worst allergens and my big, beautiful Oak tree in my front yard is one of the biggest culprits!

I’ve suffered from them for as long as I’ve lived here. Getting them under control is on my life list and I’ve blogged about my experience with getting tested. For about a year and half I’ve been getting weekly shots in order to prevent suffering from symptoms related to allergies and I’m really happy to report that things are getting better. This spring has been less severe for me, but I still have some symptoms that cause me problems.

I talked with VSP Vision Care optometrist, Dr. Jing Han, who is based in Folsom, California, at Healthy Eyes Optometry to find out how seasonal allergies can impact eyes and what people can do to help them through the Spring allergy season.

Jenn: What symptoms do most patients experience from allergies regarding eyes

Dr. Han: Symptoms include itching, watery eyes, swelling and redness. They are generally not dangerous to the eyes but can be extremely uncomfortable if left untreated. There are some bacterial infections that can be mistaken as an allergic reaction that are very dangerous, like pre-septal cellulitis and orbital cellulitis, which need immediate attention. This is why it is important to have your eyes checked by an optometrist in order to rule out any symptoms that could be a sign of a more serious condition.

Jenn: Is there anything that people should be mindful of when thinking about over-the-counter allergy remedies/treatments in relation to eye health?

Dr. Han: Although there are many over-the-counter irritation “relief” eye drops to choose from, not all are meant to serve as an allergy remedy. I love it when my patients just call or e-mail me to ask what over-the-counter remedies is best for them specially. My response typically is one or two different brands that you can get over-the-counter, but I also take that opportunity to let them know that there are prescription allergy eye drops that are usually more effective. Ask your optometrist before you start using any eye medications.

Jenn: What can we do to protect our eyes during allergy season this spring?

Dr. Han: Be mindful of what you may be allergic to and try to avoid those things, always wash your hands to remove allergens before handling contacts or touching near your eyes and wear sunglasses! Sunglasses provide a barrier from allergens while also blocking harmful UV light.

Personally, I don’t ever go outside without sunglasses on. My eyes have always been a bit sensitive to sunlight. Dr. Han said that light-colored eyes allow more light rays to reach the retina, because there is less pigment in the iris to absorb them. As a result people (like me) experience more brightness from the same amount of sunlight. Interesting!

Do you need a stylish way to protect your eyes during allergy season? A lucky Still Living The Dream reader can follow Dr. Han’s advice AND look great doing it with a free pair of designer sunglasses valued at $110.00! Just leave a comment about how you deal with seasonal allergies. A winner will be selected at random May 2, 2013, at 11:59 CST.

Want more chances to win? Just leave a separate comment for EACH that you do below!

Follow Still Living The Dream on Pinterest
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Tweet this: “I want to win a pair of $110 designer sunglasses to protect my eyes from allergens http://tinyurl.com/bwua8vl @VSPvisioncare @jpatrickcomm”

I did not receive any compensation for this post. I appreciate VSP Vision Care for providing valuable information about seasonal allergies and for providing a pair of sunglasses for a lucky Still Living The Dream reader.

Filed Under: giveaways, Health and Fitness, Life List, Life List in Progress 15 Comments

Easter and Mantels and Disney…Oh My!

April 10, 2013

Happy Easter! Yes, I know it’s a little late – but I wanted to share my Easter mantel with you before I take it down.

Remember that Robin’s Egg Blue paint/ 4-alarm crafting emergency I talked about in this post? There’s the finished product in the photo to the left. All glittery and tied up with a bow!

Annie made the blue glove bunny in the photo on the right. So cute!

And see those green, blue and purple “bowls”/baskets? Here’s the skinny on those. They are doilies that I bought at Michael’s and were on sale for 50 cents a piece. I used a solution of sugar and water and shaped them over a small blown up balloon until they dried. Presto – a cute little basket. The best part? Now that Easter’s over all I have to do it rinse them out in the sink then wash them and I have cloth doilies to use for another project or decoration. Seriously – brilliant!

I have a feeling the white coffee filter wreath I made at Christmas is going to be around for awhile. I’ve changed out the bow three times to fit the holiday/season. It’s such an easy decoration.

I can’t wait to modify it for my next mantel display theme….Disney!

I was invited to attend this year’s Disney Social Media Moms conference in Orlando. I am so excited I can’t stand it. It is such an honor to be able to go and I can’t wait to meet the speakers and participants. I’ve already had the awesome opportunity to be a guest on Disney Mentor Moms and to share my life lessons on the fabulous Rene Syler’s blog, Good Enough Mother.

I know I’m going to learn so much and I’m beyond thrilled to be able to take my family along with me to experience Disney World (Life List Number 19!)

We shared our big news to the kids on Easter through a scavenger hunt. Clues led them to a big poster, Mickey Mouse t-shirts, signs for their bedroom doors and a countdown display. They were completely surprised and are so excited to be going to Disney World for the first time. It’s been a blessing to have this to look forward to as we have faced some challenges this season we’ve struggled with at school.

Annie is in awe of Cinderella and can’t wait to meet her “at her own house!” – the castle at Magic Kingdom! She’s already written her a letter to tell her we are coming to see her!

We’ve been pouring over information about visiting each of the four parks at Disney World. It can be a bit overwhelming to plan a visit – there is so much to see and do!!

Have you been to Disney World? What is your best advice for planning a vacation at the happiest place on earth? Anything we have to see or do? Do you have tips to making the most of each day at each park? What is your favorite memory of your Disney vacation? Come on, share! I want to hear it all!!

I paid a conference fee to attend Disney’s Social Media Moms Conference in May. I was not asked to post about the trip nor have I received any compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Craft projects, Disney, Life List, mantels, things to do with your kids 1 Comment

Meeting A Goal and Moving Forward

February 26, 2013

I Did It!

That’s me jumping for joy. I’m a happy girl because after 7 months, I reached my goal weight!

54.4 pounds.

Gone.

Which is a pretty big deal for a short gal like me.

And I feel so much better. I have more energy. My joints and back don’t hurt. I can breathe better at night.

(Although I will never own up to snoring. Ever. Even though Ed said he has proof. Which kinda freaks me out.)

I know that my hard work and lifestyle changes which have included making better food choice and daily exercise have gotten me to where I am now but that really, this is just the beginning. Even though I’ve reached my goal, I want this to mark the beginning of a life that is active, healthful and fun. While I still have a sweet tooth and I struggle with stress eating…I will continue to strive to eat well and enjoy treats in moderation.

But exercise is something I actually love to do now! I’m excited about making plans to do things that push me physically and keep me active. In April I want to do a 5K with my entire family and in May I plan to do a 10K mud run with my friends. I’m also thinking about a local tri-atholon and I am definitely going to run the Princess half-marathon at Disney in February 2014!

(Jennifer, you lost 55 pounds….where are you going now? DISNEY WORLD!)

Since I dropped 6 dress sizes (yikes!!) I’ve needed to add some new things to my wardrobe. While this is extremely exciting (new clothes… YAY!) and shopping for clothes now that I’m healthier is more fun, it’s also expensive. So I’ve been spacing out my spending and doing a lot of online shopping to catch great looking clothes at a good price.

Here are some things I have my eye on right now:

I love this red tankini from Spiegel. It’s been a long time since I got excited about swim suit weather and (at least in Houston), it’s just around the corner. This is such a fun and flattering suit at a great price! I’m loving the gold accents.

This copper metallic dress is so cool. I love the 50s/60s vibe and the clean look. This would be fun for a summer party and a great way to show off my arms that I’ve been working hard toning up!

This pant suit is all kinds of awesome. I always wanted to wear something like this and I’m thinking now’s the time. I love the built-in Power Mesh bodysuit that keeps everything “put” because while I may have lost weight, I still have some serious toning to do in the middle. I love that this piece is both bold but forgiving! I’m guessing I’ll have to hem the pants about 6 inches, though!!

Check out Spiegel for some good deals on swim suits, dresses and other fun pieces to build your spring wardrobe. And if you are in between sizes because you are losing weight or just need to keep things “together!” like me….check out their Shape FX line with power mesh in all the right places (like the disco-era pant suit above) so you’ll look awesome!

What clothes are on your radar right now for Spring?

How do you find good deals on line and in stores?

Disclosure: Thank you to Spiegel for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: good things, Life List, review, Weight Loss 2 Comments

Mamavation Monday – A Pledge

December 31, 2012

In my last post I talked about celebrating my weight loss successes in 2012. I’ve lost about 47 pounds since starting to eat healthfully and exercise regularly. It’s been quite a commitment and I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I have more to loose and goals to meet in 2013.

I’ve found that if I set goals that are realistic and clearly defined, I’m more likely to meet them. But I can’t do it alone. I need tools and resources and a supportive community in order to be successful. This is especially true at this point in my journey. In the beginning, it was enough to just limit my calorie intake and eliminate things like soft drinks and fried foods from my diet. Then I started to exercise. I started walking, then running a little and adding Jazzercise classes to my weekly routine.

I’ve kind of hit a plateau recently and am struggling to continue losing weight. I’ve exhausted my expertise and need some additional help going forward. When I heard about the online Mamavation Sistahood community, I was immediately interested in joining.

The Sistahood is a community weight loss support group for moms in social media. Moms like me can learn and support one another in weight loss and fitness goals while learning to share healthy habits with their families. They have an online forum where moms can network and help each other and they sponsor challenges (I applied for the #iheartOmron Challenge and am crossing my fingers that I’m selected next month!).

I love that they accept women at all stages of the journey and encourage them to stay active by participating in weekly blog updates and a Monday night online TV chat show. It’s just the accountability I need mixed with the support I know is necessary in order to make healthy living a commitment for a lifetime.

I’ve started a list of goals for the first quarter 2013 and I hope that as a member of the Sistahood, I’ll reach them all and be motivated to continue adding to my list for the rest of the year:

Participate in a 5K with my family by February 2013
Take body measurements by January 7, 2013
Sign up for and begin training for a 10K by March 2013
Lose 10 pounds by February 15, 2013
Run at least 2 times a week
Take a Jazzercise class at least 3 times a week
Blog weekly about my weight loss journey, my goals and tools that have helped me achieve success including healthy recipes

So I’m pledging to join the Sistahood. For me and my family. What about you? Do you have goals for 2013? Is getting healthy on your list? Join me!

Filed Under: Life List, Life List in Progress, Mamavation Sistahood, Weight Loss 9 Comments

Celebrating Success in 2012 – Setting Goals for 2013

December 31, 2012

It’s New Year’s Eve and after a week of eating foods I shouldn’t (oh sugar cookies with frosting, how can you be so sweet and so evil at the same time?!) and less frequent workouts, I hit the gym early this morning. I have been feeling so bad about neglecting my healthy eating habits and not working out as much as I should lately. It felt good to get back to it with an hour of Jazzercise before the first of the year.

My New Year’s Resolution, for sure, is to continue on the road to good health that I started last July. I need to lose more weight and get in better physical shape but also work on my state of mind. When I stumble, I need to get back up…not beat myself up. And I want to set realistic goals and involve my family in more healthy adventures like participating in a 5K together.

And I need to celebrate my successes along the way.

That’s hard for me because I’m afraid of getting too comfortable and not being able to continue losing weight or maintain my weight loss when I finally reach my ultimate goal. I’ve lost weight before and gained in back. I don’t want it to be temporary this time.

A good start for me has been to surround myself with people who are supportive. Friends with similar good health/weight loss goals to eat and exercise with and online groups with folks who can answer a question, give advice or just lend support have been so helpful. I continue to seek out tools and resources that can help me along the way. And I want to share things I find with you so that if you are on a similar journey, you can find inspiration and be successful as well.

I’m looking forward to what 2013 will bring and what I can accomplish. But before that, I’m going to reflect on how far I’ve come. I carry this photo of me in my wallet. It was taken about a month or two before I started my journey last summer and when I was at my heaviest.

And this is me now.

Not there yet, but stronger then before and I’m progressing…which is a big thing. Will you join me? I hope so!

Happy New Year, friends.

Be safe and be happy and set goals for 2013.

But be sure to also celebrate a success from 2012 and feel good about yourself.

Filed Under: Life List, Life List in Progress, Weight Loss 2 Comments

Firefly 5K – We Did It!

November 5, 2012

My Couch to 5K running buddies and I got suited up and went to Reliant Stadium Saturday night for the Firefly Night 5K that we have been training for over the last eight weeks. I had a great time with my friends and accomplished my goal by running the entire race! It was a bit emotional to realize how far I’ve come along my road to good health since July.

Does this tutu make me look fast?!!

Now I’m ready for the next one!

What about you?

Have you accomplished a goal today? This week? This month?

No matter how big or how small, be sure to celebrate your success!

Filed Under: Life List, Life List in Progress, Weight Loss 2 Comments

NeriumAD Age-Defying Night Cream Review and Giveaway

November 5, 2012

Life List item #49 – Get on a skin care regimen.

I’ve been blessed with pretty good facial skin, especially since I’ve never really done much to take care of it. As I age (gracefully, I hope!) I’ve become more aware that I’m pushing my luck vis a vis healthy skin. Then I turned 40 (almost two years ago) and wrinkles, discoloration and lines started to appear. UGH!

So I started looking for a product that would help. But there are SO many on the market – it overwhelmed me. And to be honest, I’m pretty lazy when it comes to primping. I can’t seem to “stay on” regimens that require several steps. So while I tried several products, I never stayed with one.

Then I heard about NeriumAD.

Relatively new on the market, NeriumAD Age-Defying Treatment was formulated after more than 10 years of scientific research and clinical testing by scientists and medical professionals for Nerium SkinCare, Inc.

I like the fact that the company uses “evidence-based” product development to insure safety and efficacy. And that the company’s Scientific Advisor, Robert A. Newman, has worked at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the past 24 years as the Founder and Co-Director of the Pharmaceutical Development Center.

And people who use it, LOVE it. Look at this person’s results.

So I vowed to give it the “old college try” for one month. After two weeks (for many people, results are seen much quicker) I noticed a difference in the way my skin both looked and felt. Lines have faded, my skin feels firmer and healthier and my color is more even.

The best part? It’s easy peasy to use. Just four or five squirts from the bottle (which lasts about one month) massaged into damp skin at night.

Done.

In the morning, I rinse off my face and then apply a light moisturizer with sun protection in it.

What do you think? My photos aren’t as dramatic as the results shown above, but I can tell a difference.

Photos taken before I started using Nerium about a month ago are on the left, photos taken today are on the right.

While certainly not inexpensive, compared to other skin care products on the market, Nerium is competatively priced. A single bottles retail for $110.00 but customers who purchase Nerium on a monthly auto-ship basis can purchase the product for $80.00. The company originally considered selling this product in spas and dermatologist offices, but would have had to charge about $250-$300 a bottle. So they took a relationship marketing approach to selling Nerium (through brand partners) which helps keep the price point down for consumers.

A Giveaway!

Would you like to give Nerium a try? How about for free? One lucky Still Living The Dream reader will be chosen at random on November 12, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. CST to receive a complimentary bottle of NeriumAD, valued at $110.00.

All you have to do is leave a comment below about why you want to try Nerium.

Want more chances to win? I know you do! Leave a separate comment for each of the following you do below as well.

Follow me on Pinterest
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Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
Tweet this: “I want to win NeriumAD anti-aging skin care for healthy and young looking skin! @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/neriumad-age-defying-night-cream-review-and-giveaway.html”

I was given a complimentary bottle of Nerium for the purposes of this review but received no other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This giveaway is sponsored by Kimberly Simmons, NeriumAD Brand Partner. For more information about Nerium and how to order, visit http://www.kimsimmons.nerium.com/. Kimberly will be holding a separate drawing (run entirely by her) for another free bottle of Nerium for Still Living The Dream readers who purchase a bottle from her by the end of November 2012. Be sure to tell her Jennifer sent you so you can be entered!

Filed Under: giveaways, good things, Life List, Life List in Progress, review 136 Comments

Remembering The Magic – Top 10 Moments During Our Disney Cruise

November 1, 2012

I was completely unplugged for over a week while my family and I took a cruise on The Disney Magic last week. While I thought it would be tough to be “off the grid” (and I certainly did miss connecting with my Facebook, Twitter and Still Living The Dream friends), it turned out to be one of the most magical weeks I have ever spent with my husband and children on vacation.

This was our first time on a cruise ship and we had a lot of questions before we boarded like what to pack, what excursions to sign up for while in the Caribbean and what to expect regarding activities on the ship. (These will all be topics that I will cover in future posts about the Disney Magic, by the way!)

But as soon as we stepped on the ship and a crew member announced over the loudspeaker, “Please help me welcome aboard The Patrick family,” we knew we were going to be in for a wonderful ride no matter what ended up in our suitcases or whether we selected a snorkeling or beach tour excursion in Cozumel.

My Top 10 Magical Moments on The Disney Magic (in no particular order!):

Running on Deck 4 in the morning and watching the sunrise. Runners can choose between looking over the water while on a treadmill in the ship’s exercise facility (which I also took advantage of several times during our trip) or running the entire length of deck four…three times around equals a mile.

Watching Jackson become more independent. Disney knows that as much as parents love their kids (and kids love their parents) sometimes grown-ups and little ones want to do different things. So they offer a nursery for infants and three different kid’s activity rooms for older kids (Oceaneer’s Lab and Lounge for Annie’s age group, The Edge for pre-teens like Jackson and The Vibe for teenagers.) My kid’s loved going there to play sports, take cooking classes, do arts and crafts and enjoy special parties with kids their own age. Jackson was able to go with his new friends to play dodge ball or play in the arcade on the top deck. He even explored the ship a bit with permission from us and Wave phone in hand (each stateroom comes with 2 “wavephones” to use while on the ship so that you can get in touch with your family when going in different directions). His confidence and self-esteem grew…and with that – so did my heart!

Seeing Annie meet the Disney Princesses for the first time. We had many opportunities to meet Mickey and the entire Disney character crew while on board. Character meetings were offered often (both spur of the moment and scheduled) and because there are a limited amount of people on the ship – lines weren’t ever that long. Each meeting was special, but the morning we had the chance to meet six princesses in the ship’s lobby really stood out. Seeing Annie’s face light up as Belle gushed about how pretty she was, Aurora spun her around and Cinderella embraced her made ME tear up. It was a beautiful moment.

Relaxing by one of three pools on Deck 9. The Mickey pool with water slide is a favorite with kids (complete with splash pad for even the youngest cruisers), Goofy’s pool is deeper and you can watch movies on a giant screen while you swim and the adult-only pool is a quiet sanctuary complete with the comfiest lounge chairs. Beware – you may fall asleep! I had the chance to enjoy all three pools at different times during our week away.

Getting to know our wait staff while enjoying out of this world cuisine each night. Weird, right? I mean, why would getting to know staff members be a vacation highlight? Because Disney offers unique, rotational dining which meant that we had a reserved seat at one of three restaurants (Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s and Parrot Cay) every night with a different theme (Captain’s Gala, Prince and Princesses, Pirates in the Caribbean) and menu every night. (Hello lobster and chocolate souffle – I love you.) Our servers, Nathan from London and Andrae from Jamaica, served us every night no matter where we dined. By the second night they knew that Annie would probably want milk while Jackson preferred Sprite and would have their drinks waiting for them. We got to know them so well, it was a teary good-bye our last night together.

Enjoying Nightly, Broadway-Style Shows. This is a separate post in itself. But let me just say – the shows were outstanding complete with elaborate costumes and set-design, special effects (fireworks on stage!) and extremely talented actors/singers. Our favorite was the Dreams – An Enchanted Classic and Villains Tonight.

Swimming with the dolphins in Grand Cayman. A excursion worth the splurge. I will never forget Annie’s face when Luna the dolphin pushed Annie’s feet with her nose and sent Annie sailing through the waters.

Towel animal creations in our room every night. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. Coming back to our stateroom every evening after the show, tired from a full day of activities, a towel monkey or swan would greet us on our freshly turned-down bed with chocolates and the itinerary for the next day.

Getting a massage in the Vista Spa. Disney cruises aren’t just for kids. They offer different activities for people of all different ages and interests. In fact, 20 percent of those on board our cruise didn’t even come with kids! Getting a 75-minute massage in the Vista Spa was so relaxing and the spa was so beautiful.

Seeing my family dressed up on formal night. The preparation ahead of time to find and pack dress up clothes for the four of us was so worth it. I mean, Ed and I work from home most days so it’s perpetiual casual day at our “office”! We never get gussied up anymore and seeing my family looking so beautiful made my heart happy.

**Gazing at the ocean water from our stateroom veranda. Here’s a bonus to my top ten….number 11! Breathing in the fresh air (no Houston seasonal allergies at sea!) and watching the ocean water as we glided gently through it from the privacy of my room’s balcony in my jammies was beyond relaxing. Ed enjoyed reading his book out there as well. Such a special way to start and end each day.

You can experience “The Magic”, too!

The Disney Magic will be sailing out of the Port of Galveston in Texas from now until May 2013 and they are offering a special where kids under 17 years old can sail FREE on most six and eight day cruises from January 4, 2013 until March 1, 2013!

Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? What were your magical moments on board?

My family and I were invited as guests of Disney on a 7-Day Caribbean Cruise aboard The Disney Magic. While most of our trip expenses were covered, all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Disney, Dreamy Places, Life List, review, things I love, things to do, things to do with your kids, Travel 20 Comments

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