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7 Tips to Make your Road Trip to Disney Magical

Making Your Road Trip to Disney Magical- Growing up, one of my favorite things about family vacations was the road trip to our destination. We would load up our van with all our suitcases, snacks and games and head to places like Oklahoma, Michigan or Florida. Disney World was the most exciting trip because we could hardly wait to get there! I’ve got ten great tips on road trips to Disney.

7 tips to make your disney road trip magical

7 Tips to Make Your Road Trip to Disney Magical

  1. Let the kids choose their snacks. Have them decorate a paper bag before heading on the road trip or filling a bento box with their favorite snacks. You could also re-name your food with Disney names such as Peter Pan PB&J, Minnie Muffins or Jiminy Crickets on a Log (raisins on a celery with peanut butter).
  2. Bring along Disney games. Print out some Disney trivia and jokes for the ride. Try some Disney themed games like this UNO Disney Game or World of Disney Eye Found It Card Game.
  3. Create character prize bags (Tinkerbell, Mickey or your child’s favorite character). Pack prize bags for good behavior on the way.  The dollar store has lots of Disney items that are very inexpensive; add a few to a prize bag for a fun surprise.
  4. Find Hidden Mickeys. Before you leave, hide a few Mickey shapes in the car (and your food) and have kids search for them along the way. You could even add one of these Mickey Mouse ears car decal on your car!
  5. Night Time Extravaganza. Purchase some new Disney character pajamas and pull them out for a surprise if you are going to be traveling at night. Add some glow necklaces and bracelets from the dollar store and then you can pretend you are part of the Happily Ever After Fireworks Show.
  6. Picture This. Grab a couple disposable cameras or an Instax camera for your kids to capture Disney through their eyes. Start by having them take some photos of your road trip!
  7. Listen Up. Everyone needs a little down time during a road trip. Get a few Disney podcasts or audio books that each family member can listen to on their own or as a family. Some of my favorites are WDW Radio and WDW Prep To Go Podcast. You can also find tons of free Disney audio books through your local library.

What are your favorite ways to pass the time while on a road trip? Any special ways I’ve missed to make your road trip to Disney magical?

disney_resort

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Road trip to Disney Tips

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Party Ideas- we’ve rounded up lots of fun July 4th food recipes and Fourth of July decorations so you can celebrate America in style!

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Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Food Ideas

Nothing says ‘America Rocks’ more than good food with good friends. Cooking in the backyard, Barbecues, sweets and drinks are all necessary for a great July 4th celebration. Here are a few classic crowd pleasing recipes:

  1. This fresh BLT pasta salad has my mouth watering.
  2. You’ve got to get the American flag in with the apps! This Taco Salad Flag is the perfect addition!
  3. How about a DIY Burger bar where guests can customize their burgers exactly how they’d like?
  4. These Firecracker Hotdogs will be a huge hit with the kids (and myself to be honest)!
  5. In the midwest, July 4th is not complete without corn on the cob. Try this Mexican Street Corn for a way to spice things up!

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Fourth of July Dessert Ideas

Desserts are always my way of contributing. I love making sweet treats with my daughter and who can say no to a dessert made by a little girl?!

  1. This Red, White and Blue M&M’s Cookie Bar is at the top of our list this year for our Fourth of July party.
  2. No-bake is always a favorite in our family. Having it layered with pretty colors and topped with berries makes it even better! We’ll definitely be trying this No Bake Summer Berry Lasagna.
  3. If you want to look like you worked really hard but actually did hardly anything, make a chocolate bark! I love the swirls in this Red White and Blue Bark!
  4. Again, can’t go wrong with the flag themed foods. Bring something a little healthier with this Easy Flag Fruit Dessert.
  5. Dips in the dessert world are highly underrated. I’m dying over how cute this Chocolate Chip Cookie Flag Dip looks!

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Fourth of July Cocktail Ideas

Salute to Summer Sangria Recipe

  • 1 (750-mL.) bottle white wine (I like to use Sauvignon blanc, but any wine you choose will work)
  • 1 (12-oz.) can seltzer
  • 1 c. Pineapple juice
  • 1/2 c. brandy
  • 1/4 c. granulated sugar
  • 2 cups of strawberries, sliced
  • 1 pineapple cut into shapes
  • 1 c. blueberries
  • 2 apples cut into shapes or diced

 

July 4th Decorations

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Fourth of July Party Ideas

Pin these ideas to save for later, and be sure to follow @shellybergman on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Summer Schedule for Your Preschooler

Summer schedule for your preschooler- This summer I wanted to try something different with my 4 year old Sophia. Because there will be a lot of change in our schedule with not going to school and the new baby being born in July, I wanted to have a weekly calendar we could loosely follow so she understands what to expect. During the school year she did well with knowing which days we were going to the YMCA (my work) vs. which days she had school so I had a simple calendar up on the fridge that she could check each morning. I do believe summers are for more freedom and play but I know that our daughter does very well with routine. She feels more confident when she knows what to expect throughout the week without having to ask us.

Summer Schedule for Your Preschooler

summer schedule for your preschooler easily made in Google sheets

For this weekly calendar I wanted to use it to work on her learning the order of the days of the week as well as be able to follow a chart with data. It printed on two pages so I cut it and taped it together to make one larger sheet. It was simple to make on Google Sheets and I am not posting this for download because these images are not mine to sell. I wanted to be able to give an example of how you can make your own to fit your family’s needs.

When I introduced this schedule to Sophia I let her know that nothing, other than the YMCA times, are set in stone. I let her know that the breakfast, snacks and activities are suggestions that we can change based on what she’s hungry for or what she wants to do. Of course she got excited to see the smoothie as a breakfast option and said she wanted to have that every morning for breakfast.

No TV During the Week

We are continuing with our ‘no TV’ rule during the week even though it’s summer because she is so creative and imaginative without the crutch of the TV. We have Friday Family Movie Night each week and we often will let her watch cartoons in the morning on Saturday and one more show or movie on Sunday while we work on a project. I did add computer time on this schedule because we bought the ABC Mouse learning game and want her to become familiar with using a mouse and figuring out computer games on her own. Once the school year begins we will add a few more advanced games to help with coding. You’ll notice that I made sure her chores were on the same day as the computer time and she is not allowed to get on the computer until she finishes them.

7 skills your toddler should have

Chores for Your Preschooler

We only have three chores listed on her summer schedule because the other ‘chores’ are expected. Folding and putting away her clean laundry, emptying all the trash bins and cleaning up all toys/books/crafts are the three chores she’s responsible for. She will not get allowance for these chores but will get to do fun activities if she completes them. TIP: schedule your children’s chores around your chores. We do all laundry on Sunday/Monday which is why I have it set for her to put all of her clothes away on Tuesday. I have her picking up all toys/books/crafts on Friday because that is the day I vacuum and need all floors picked up.

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These Beach Essentials Are All Under $25

Beach Essentials and Pool Toys- A day at the beach is not always ‘a day at the beach’. Things can go upside down quickly if you’re not prepared with the right gear. With these beach essentials and pool toys there will be no reason to not hit the waves this summer! Head over quick while prices are under $25.

Beach Essentials and Pool Gear for Summer

Beach Essentials

Beach Toys:

Kites for those windy days at the beach. They also work great as chair markers for when you go on a stroll down the beach. Simply tie them to your chair or umbrella and you’ll be able to spot it from far away.

Sand Molds for the perfect sand castle. Dig a trench from the ocean up to your sand sculpture building area for a constant supply of water at the ready.

Sand Baking Set for making the perfect sand pies and soups for lunchtime!

Beach Gear:

Sand Chair for those afternoon snack times and the perfect way to cool off. Simply place your chair at the base of the waves and feel a refreshing sense of cool water every few seconds.

Sand Coasters to keep drinks from spilling or to use as a little bowl for small hand snacks.

Inflatable Lounge to help encourage kids to get out in the ocean.

Mesh Toy Bag to help keep your home and car sand free. Simply pile in the toys and give it a good shake before heading inside.

Sand Blanket to keep off the sand. Get one with weighted sand pockets so you can fill them while at the beach to hold your blanket down.



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Gear Up for the Disney • PIXAR film Incredibles 2

Incredibles 2, is your family looking forward to Disney Pixar’s Incredibles 2 – in theaters June 15? Download and print FREE Disney Pixar Incredibles 2 Coloring Pages today! 

Disney Incredibles 2 Coloring Sheets and Activities

Are your kids begging to see Incredibles 2 every time they see the trailer or a poster like mine? I can’t lie, I’ll be the first in line for tickets whether she wants to go or not. I’m positive Pixar won’t disappoint. Their movies tend to be some of my all time favorite movies!

In the meantime I’m excited to be able to download and print out these adorable Incredibles 2 Coloring Pages for us– plus there are a couple of bonus activities! Simply CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the coloring pages today!

Incredibles 2 Official Trailer:

Incredibles 2 Storyline:

In INCREDIBLES 2, Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell), Dash (voice of Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose super powers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible.

 

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarTheIncredibles/

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheIncredibles

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theincredibles/

Visit the official website here: http://disney.com/incredibles2

INCREDIBLES 2 opens in theatres everywhere on June 15th!

Incredibles 2 Coloring Pages, Shelly Bergman DIY Mama Disney Activities

For more Disney • PIXAR posts, check these out:

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