Disney World Recap

(Magic Kingdom-Main Street USA)

(Magic Kingdom- Confectionary)

(Magic Kingdom-Confectionary)

(Hippy Dippy Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Hippy Dippy Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Pop Century Resort)

(Animal Kingdom)

(Animal Kingdom-Dinosaur)

(Epcot-Flower & Garden Festival)

(Cape May Cafe-Beach Club Resort)

(Bowling Pool- Pop Century Resort)

(Bowling Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Bowling Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Bowling Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Bowling Pool-Pop Century Resort)

(Pop Century Resort)

(Magic Kingdom-Frontierland)

(Magic Kingdom-Frontierland)

So excited about today's post because I get to share a little of my spring break fun with you! Evan and I took a short little trip to Disney World over Easter. We had a wonderful time and I've been looking forward to sharing it with you.


Where We Stayed:
Evan and I stayed at the Pop Century Resort on Disney property. It was our first time staying there, so I was a little nervous about the quality of the resort. However, we both LOVED it! It was such a fun little place themed with the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. How could I not love a place that played Hootie and the Blowfish? We stayed in the 1950s area of the resort. The resort has three large pools, a buffet area (we ate breakfast there everyday), shop, arcade, ping-pong tables, and all kinds of fun activities. Everything was brightly colored too which I loved. The more color the better in my opinion. The resort was so "kid-friendly" too. On Easter, the Easter bunny was hanging out by the pool taking pictures with all the kids. They also sold Easter baskets which I thought was awesome for those traveling Easter bunnies. The resort was also really enjoyable for adults. I honestly wish we could have spent more time enjoying the resort. We only made it to two pools.

Where We Ate:
Cape May Cafe: We ate here for Easter Dinner. They serve an array of seafood especially, crab legs. I ate my weight in crab legs, no joke. One of my favorite foods. This cafe is located at the Beach Club Resort. The Beach Club is so gorgeous. I had a hard time pulling Evan away. It's all boat and beach themed.

Margaritaville: We ate lunch at Margaritaville at Universal Studios. This was on Evan's to-do list. He loves everything Margartitaville and he loves Jimmy Buffet's music. I on the other hand, do not. But I vowed (seriously in our wedding vows) that I would do my best to put up with Jimmy Buffet's music. It turned out to not be so hard at Margaritaville because the food was so good. We both got cheeseburgers (cheeseburgers in paradise). They had a really great gluten-free menu with a lot of options.

Everything Pop: This restaurant was located at the Pop Century Resort. Perfect for a breakfast buffet before the parks or a quick dinner. We ate breakfast at this location almost every morning. They had a wide variety of foods.

What We Did: 

Magic Kingdom:

On Saturday night, we skirted over to Magic Kingdom. It was storming and pouring rain but I had my rain jacket! By the time we made it to Magic Kingdom it was drizzling and eventually stopped. We rode our three favorites rides: The Seven Dwarf Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Evan's favorite, Pirates of the Caribbean. Magic Kingdom is my favorite park. There is something about walking down Main Street USA that makes me feel right at home. I just love walking around all the lands and eating all the unhealthy but super good food. If you have small children, my favorite ride suggestions are: Peter Pans Flight, Adventures of the Little Mermaid, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We watched the fireworks our last night and ate ice cream (I had rice dream ice cream). It was honestly so nice to take a break and get to enjoy time with Evan. I know he enjoyed the get-a-away. It is not always easy living with a full-time law student and a law student who also works.

Animal Kingdom:

Sunday morning we headed to Animal Kingdom. It was pretty warm that day! I ended up wearing my little beach cover-up as a dress because it kept me cool. We rode my favorite Disney ride: Mt. Everest.  We rode a few other rides and did the African Safari. We saw lots of animals.  I feel like I’ve watched half the animals there grow up because we go to Disney so often.  We walked through the animal exhibits which is Evan’s favorite part.

Epcot:

On Sunday, we spent the evening walking around Epcot. Epcot was having it’s annual Flower & Garden Festival. It’s absolutely stunning. They do creative statues made of all flowers.  Within the park, they had a butterfly sanctuary you could walk inside. Super cool! Finally, we made our way to the Beach Club but not before meeting up with the Village People (see earlier post). Finally, after dinner, we watched fireworks from the pier and then nearly got locked out of Epcot.

Harry Potter World-Universal:

So it turns out, I truly am a Disney girl at heart. Evan said we cheated on Mickey by going to Harry Potter World (haha). Even so, I have to say that I was less than impressed. I know I’m going against the grain on this one. But, I really do like Harry Potter. I grew up reading the books and watching the movies. However,  I found it over crowded, over-priced (you have to buy an extra $50 pass to get a fast-pass), and we couldn’t even walk in a shop due to the throngs of people. The shops were so small that people were lined out the door just to look. Forget actually shopping.  We were there about two hours and we both looked at each other and said “I miss Mickey. Let’s go to Magic Kingdom.” Although, I wasn’t impressed, I did enjoy a butter beer,  a chocolate frog, and Bertie’s beans! The butter beer was amazing!

Overall, the trip was magical. A perfect spring break trip! We listened to the podcast “Serial” on the way down. Loved it! My hairdresser got me hooked. We ate lots of yummy food but we walked it off. Trust me. My feet were thankful to be home. Although the trip was shorter than I would have liked (I’d probably stay forever, if Disney would keep me), we had a wonderful stay in Disney! I’m already ready for my next Disney adventure. I hope you had a wonderful Easter and spring break!

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White Lace Romper

     So happy I can finally break out all my white! I am super old fashioned and will not wear white before Easter. I'm working on it. As a true southerner, old habits die hard. Anyway, I've been holding on to this cute romper. I decided our Spring Break Disney trip would be the ideal place to wear it. It's super comfortable.  I wore it out for an afternoon and dinner outing. You can style it by wearing a bright necklace, earrings, or shoes for that extra color pop. 

     Speaking of color, Epcot is having it's annual "Flower & Garden Festival". I absolutely love flowers so this is a dream for me. No one does flowers quite like Disney. They have gorgeous statues of Cinderella, Mickey, and all your Disney favorites made of all flowers! It's absolutely stunning. 

     On our walk over to dinner at Cape May Cafe, the Village People were playing in the American Pavilion. Yes, we stopped for some good old Y-M-C-A. I broke out a few dance moves, too. We also learned the correct way to do the Y-M-C-A from the actual Village People. We've all being doing it wrong, apparently. Doing the Y-M-C-A with the Village People was pretty awesome. A highlight of the trip. 

     I'll be sharing much, much more of our Disney trip on Friday's post. I hope you check back to see all the magical fun we've shared on this trip! But for now, I'm going to go and enjoy the last day of our trip!

[Romper]: Francescas, [Necklace]: Francescas, [Sandals]: Tory Burch, [Bracelets]: Alex & Ani

** For any additional questions, post right here or email me at diamondsonhersoul@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Instagram at themeganwhite for additional photos. Click on photos to links of outfit details. 

Spring Break Off-the-Shoulder Dress

   

       Falling in love with the off-the-shoulder trend. This dress is going to perfect for those little date nights, shopping trips, and cool summer nights. What I love most about this dress? It's $25 from Target. There are several prints to this dress but I fell in love with this boho look. I'd seriously dress like this everyday if I didn't have to be professional for my career. This dress is super fun and flirty. I'm wearing a small and it's perfect for a loose fit. I have slender shoulders and typically have trouble wearing "off-the-shoulder" dresses but this one fits extremely well. If you are a little uncomfortable with off-the-shoulder dresses, try pairing it with large earrings. It makes you feel a little more secure.
     Another boho trend I love... embellished sandals. I've seen some pairs of these beauties costing $900.00 but these are much, much cheeper. They are called "Santorini Soul Sandals"-- certainly perfect for Diamonds on Her Soul girls. They are really great sandals. You can actually pair them with more than you think. These would be ideal for a spring-summer festival or concert.
     The other essential is my Kate Spade bag. I've had this cross-body for a while and thought I'll never be able to link it but turns out this bag is still around. Although an upgraded version, it's nearly the exact bag. Although expensive, it is a quality bag for traveling. A perfect gift to you soon-to-be graduates. The color is a fun "pop" color, as well.
   I hope some of you get to enjoy the pool over this holiday weekend. I was tempted to jump in during this shoot. However, maybe I'll get a little pool time in Disney but for now, I have to finish packing. I'm so last minute with packing. I hope you all have a wonderful Good Friday and very Happy Easter!


"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:6 KJV

** Click photos to see links to outfit. If you have any questions contact me at diamondsonhersoul@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram at: themeganwhite and on twitter at: meganwhite25. If you would love to see something on the blog, let me know via email! 

[Dress]: Target/ Link is not exact. In-stores though, [Shoes]: Red Dress Boutique, [Bag]: Kate Spade, [Sunglasses]: Francescas, [Choker]: BB&CO, [Earrings]: Belk
   

Packing List: Disney Day Trip

     My very first words were "Minnie Mouse." No joke. So to say I love Disney would be an understatement. I'm really excited because Evan and I are heading to Disney World for a little spring break get-a-way (much needed, if I might add). I am counting down the days. We have been packing and getting ready, as you can see. Our little helpers were more than happy to help us pack--mainly because they think they are going. But, instead they get a little vacation with Pawpaw & Granna (aka spoiling session). Anyway, we are actually annual pass holders and frequent several times a year. I always get asked a lot of questions about what to bring or pack for a trip, so I thought it may be helpful to do a post you can look back at time and time again. After visiting Disney a couple of times and in different seasons, I have found some essentials for your Disney trip.

(1) Bag: Take a bag. Thankfully, Evan always carries a back-pack for us which holds our water bottles, jackets, extra shoes, and anything else we may need. If you don't want to carry anything, you can purchase a locker for the day at customer service (usually located at the front of the park). My family has rented one before when we had heavy coats (one December, it was cold). I have a Disney Dooney & Burke bag that I carry. It's a great bag to put my sunglasses, lipstick, money, and anything else I need. Don't bring more than you need into the park. Smaller bags are best.

(2) Water bottles: Every time we visit, I see kids and parents in desperate need of water. It gets hot in Florida. This past December, we wore shorts everyday. Bring a water bottle. We bought these water bottles at Dick's Sporting Goods last summer. They were 2 for $20. At any Disney restaurant, you can order ice water for free and they will give you a to-go cup. We take that water and fill up our water bottles. Cold, fresh water all day-for free.

(3) Rain Jacket: Rain is always a possibility at Disney. The land on which Disney sits was formally swamp land. Take a rain jacket. The sun may shine one minute and the next minute you are soaking wet. They sell ponchos when it rains but it's better and cheaper to be prepared. This jacket is from Marley Lilly.

(4) Two Pairs of Shoes: Disney requires a lot of walking. It's not the place for high heels or to break in a new pair of shoes. Even shoes that are comfortable can eventually start hurting when your walking all day. One trick I use is to bring two pairs of shoes. I wear one and keep the other in our bag. Half-way through the day, I switch my shoes out. If it's a really long day, I may even want to switch back to my originals at night. Shoes have different levels of support and comfort. Typically, I have a pair of sandals and sneakers on deck. If you like rides like Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids, this tip could save you from blisters from wet shoes.

(5) Layers: I've been to Disney when it's snowing and when it's 103 degrees. You never know. I recommend bringing layers. Even if its hot during the day, it may get cool at night. Bring a light sweatshirt or jacket. Likewise, it may be cool in the morning and hot by the end of the day. If you are venturing to Disneyland, I highly recommend layers. It gets hot there and very cool at night. I learned that one the hard way.

(6) Fastpass: The mydisneyapp is the new way to plan your magical trip. If you haven't been in a few years, this may be new to you. You can download the app from the app store. You can link your reservations, character meetings, and most importantly, you can get fast passes. A fast pass is basically a pre-designated time where you can ride a ride without standing in long lines. You get three a day for you and your family. Make sure you have your fast passes picked prior to your trip via the app. However, you can always change your rides if your plans change. Some rides "book up" faster than others. For example, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Test Track, and Soarin'.

(7) Sunglasses: "Zip-a-dee-doo-da, Zip-a-dee-day, my-oh-my what a wonderful day. Plenty of sunshine heading my way." It's a catchy tune but has some truth to it. Sunglasses are a must. I love my Ray Bans. They are polarized and help further protect my eyes. Bring them but make sure you don't loose or forget them on a ride. I heard the Yeti from Mt. Everest loves sunglasses.

(8) Snacks: Food can and will get expensive. A quick fix is to pack snacks. I'm gluten free so I'm always scared of not having something I can eat. Although Disney is awesome with plenty of gluten free options--pretty much everywhere--snacks can be hard to come by for us gluten-free people. I like to pack snacks just in case and it saves money in the long run. Also, eating is not a bad way to spend time waiting in line either.

(9) Celebration Buttons: Disney is a place to celebrate. I'm celebrating so many things on this trip... law school graduation, spring break, and our anniversary (it's in May but we won't get to celebrate big this year). When you go into the park, don't forget to get your celebration pins. They have pins for birthdays, family reunions, anniversary, and many others! They are usually located at customer service at each park. In Magic Kingdom, go to the Chamber of Commerce to get your button.

(10) Mickey Ears: Don't forget the most important piece of your Disney outfit... Mickey Ears! Don't worry if you don't have some, they have plenty of shapes and sizes at Disney World!


Enjoy your magical trip!  If you have any questions, feel free to send them my way via email: diamondsonhersoul@gmail.com, instagram: themeganwhite, or post right here on the blog. As Mickey Mouse says "See ya real soon!"