Win Tickets to Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic at The Q Arena!

I have received tickets to facilitate this post and sweepstakes. Opinions are my own. 

Get your Micky ears ready!

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic is coming to Quicken Loans Arena January 8 - 17!

Join Mickey and Minnie Mouse and over 50 stars from Cinderella, Disney’s Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, and many more! Quicken Loans Arena will be filled with Disney magic when these amazing performers skate into Cleveland!

Look back at last year's Disney on Ice - Frozen when it came to Cleveland!

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for a Frozen Princess Party

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I love celebrating the kid's birthdays with a party and sometimes a follow up dinner with family. 

I enjoy the planning and executing, and yes, praise for the job well done. I also have a formula for party planning, be it princess or tornado.

What's fitting for a five year old? A Frozen themed birthday party, of course.

Very similar to the generic princess theme we did last year but different in the sense that it is Elsa and Anna. That is a very important distinction (or so I'm told).

I put more effort into last year's party than probably any other party we've done for the kids and not because it was a princess party but, it was the first party, not in our home, that did not have built in entertainment like jumping on inflatables or trampolines.

This year I planned to make it easy, breezy and take Elsa's advice and "Let It Go." It being any and all expectations.

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for a Frozen Princess Party  (or any party really)

1. Location

My ideal location is anywhere that is not my house. Sure, I've had two parties at my house for my son and it was fun but I don't feel my house will ever be clean enough for other moms.

I like locations that clean-up and serve. Yes, there is more of a price tag, but it saves me time in the long run that I can enjoy the party. Plus, we have a small house and want the kids to enjoy themselves.

photo credit: Picturologist

Our choice is the same as last year. Not only do the kids love it, it's a neighborhood staple, and it's cheap to host a party. Plus, ice cream! We just bring the cake.

2. Invites

Free printable! Edit it, print it, or use it to make your own.

6 Tips for Hosting a #DisneySide Potluck {plus free printables} #sponsored

I have received products from Disney Side at Home Celebrations to facilitate this post. I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own.

I love hosting potlucks!

Sure, dinner parties are fun but there is so much pressure to cook all the dishes, plus clean the house. Hosting a potluck gives you the best of both worlds - a chance to gather friends and family for dinner in a low stress setting.

The first potluck I hosted, I was a bit of a wreck. First of all, would the group of moms that I barely know go for the idea? Secondly, would we be stuck with a bunch of food no one will eat or worse, all desserts. Well, all desserts is not such bad idea.

Needless to say, the party went off without a hitch and we started meeting on a regular basis, sometimes with the men and sometimes just us while the kids play. With that in mind, when I found out that I would be hosting a Disney Side Multi-Generational @Home Celebration I knew exactly who I would share it with - the mom group or as the Husband calls us The Hens.

As soon as I got the email, I started pinning.  There are so many brilliant ideas and I was determined to do as much as I could but Disney Side made party planning so easy that it was not hard to throw together a great potluck with fun games and decorations!

After hosting several potlucks, this one was by far the easiest! Who doesn't love Disney? Here are six tips I have found helpful planning not only this potluck, but any potluck.

1. Have a theme

Having a theme makes it easy for guests to narrow down their favorite recipes and bring something they really want to share.

Frozen Inspired Personalized Valentine Idea

Valentine's Day is so much fun when you have little ones. As my oldest gets, well, older, helping with the class party and making valentines is just not as cool as when he was younger. Sure I can make treats and they have a party but Valentines are pretty boring, and usually store bought. Now that RD is in preschool, you better believe that I am doing something cute!

I have done some pretty darling things in the past for my oldest. One year, I made the "Write" kind of Valentines.

printables for this here

For The First Time in Forever, Disney on Ice's #Frozen is in Cleveland #disneyoniceinsider

I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and a whole slew of Disney's favorite couples open Disney On Ice presents Frozen at The Q Arena and we were there on opening night to see the magic happen.

As Disney fans, and especially as Frozen fans, the kids have been looking forward to see Disney on Ice since we told them on Christmas that we would be going.

The Simplest Ways to Make the Best Princess Party {with free printables!}

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It is so hard to believe that my baby girl is four because she acts like she is fourteen!

From wanting to wear heels and makeup to being a pretty princess she has my job cut out for me! When she requested her birthday party have a princess theme, I cringed a little. Just a little. Who doesn't want to be a princess?

I was worried about pulling it off.

She also informed me that she was to have a rainbow cake covered in butterflies and flowers. I accomplished the rainbow. The butterflies and flowers was replaced with her adding her own touch of pizzazz with sprinkles and "fairy dust."

Since this will be the first party that she got to invite friends and her birthday falls in a month with unfavorable weather conditions we opted to have the party someplace other than our house.

Besides, we were planning to have a family dinner the following evening so having another location makes it a true party weekend with less for me to clean up.

Why @DisneyLive is Better Than a Magic Carpet Ride

 

Disclosure: We received tickets to attend this event in order to facilitate this post.  

This is not a paid post. Opinions are my own.

The family went to see Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival on Sunday and the kids had a blast!  I was a little worried that my eight year old would not have fun but even he was singing along with some of his favorite Disney tunes.  Baby girl on the other hand could hardly contain her excitement and she was so upset when it ended she cried all the way to the car declaring that she must stay to see the second showing.

This is the first time taking the kids to a concert for kids.  Sure, Baby Girl has been to Lilith Fair but that hardly counts as a concert meant for kids.  I am not sure why we have not taken the kids to something like this before but this production made me feel like I was at a rock concert and hearing baby girl shout, "I LOVE YOU MICKEY!!!" at the top of her lungs makes me think we should go again.

I know that nothing would really beat a flying carpet ride but since we will more then likely go again then actually take a magic carpet ride here is my list of:

Reasons Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival is Better Than a Magic Carpet Ride

The costumes

Sure the costumes on stage were pretty fantastic and lifelike but where else can you wear your princess costume and not have people stop to ask why.