Happy New Year!

I cannot believe that 2014 is already over. So much happened in the past 12 months to my family and me. I went to France (Perigueux to be exact) in March, Playlist Live a week later, graduated from high school in May, drove up and down the East Coast in May then in July, went to LeakyCon in Orlando in July/August, started college in Washington D.C in August, spent my last Thanksgiving in Florida, helped my family move from Florida to Massachusetts three weeks ago, and then we celebrated our first Christmas in our new house last week. I want to thank everyone that has been a part of my life this year. I had a great 2014, and I have every hope that 2015 will hold even more adventure and fun. Here are some of my favorite photos from this year!

Taken during my amazing trip to Perigueux, France 

Last spring break in WDW for a while! Glad to have spent it with my parents, sister, and Aunt Linda. 

Graduation! Can't believe that high school is over!

Beginning of the road trip to Boston. And South of the Border was an experience to say the least. 

Pit stop in D.C., exploring the new home!

First day of the summer in Boston, one of my all time favorite cities. 

Duck face and new ombré hair. 

From the Met in NYC. One of my favorite museums!

Chocolate gelato on a hot day in the city, need I say more? 

The beautiful Leighton Meester after the fantastic play adaptation of Of Mice and Men

Taken after a delicious meal at Jean Georges with my Aunt Kathleen. A meal I will never forget. 

Gorgeous tea with Mom at the Taj in Boston

A few days before orientation for college!

Spending time with my sister is always fun!

One of my favorite restaurants in D.C.: Jaleo!

Connecting with my inner kid in a park this summer

Revisiting my old camp, Camp Bernadette, while dropping Emma off for her first year there!

Leaving Boston (through New York) to go back home to Tampa

A beautiful shot of Charleston, SC from the top floor of a parking garage.

Impromptu trip to EPCOT and meeting up with Dale!

When Mom and I prepared an afternoon tea for my friends and their mothers. So much fun!

Meeting Hannah Hart (My Drunk Kitchen) was definitely a highlight! 

Mary Kate Wiles and Matthew Glick (from The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) was another highpoint of LeakyCon!

Nick Lang (member of Starkid) and I at LeakyCon. Cannot believe I met him!

Emma and I at the One Direction concert in MA! 

Start of my Freshman year at college!

Had a great day at the American Girl Place with my roommate and her sister!

Beautiful sunset from the Capitol!

Christmas tree on Christmas Day. I had a great Christmas! How was yours?

Trying to ice skate this past Monday. Started off shaky, but ended strong!

And that was my year! I hope you had a great 2014! Thank you so much for reading my blog this year, it really means the world to me. I hope that I will keep writing in the coming year. Is there anything that you guys want to see me write about?

Have a great new year!

Love,

Kara

Walt Disney World | Mary Poppins, Moroccan Food, and Flowers

Hello guys! On Saturday Mom, Dad and I went to Walt Disney World (WDW) in Orlando. For those of you who don’t know, I am in love with WDW. When I was a child my parents and I would go every Spring Break and since we moved a lot back then, Disney was a constant in my life. For the first few years, we would go to Tony’s Town Square Restaurant on the first night and Liberty Tree Tavern on the last night. It was a nice routine when we were moving around. We have now mixed up that restaurant routine, but Disney is still one of my favorite places. I hope to work there one summer, as it has been a lifelong dream of mine. Now, as a Florida resident, we have Annual Passes so we can go whenever we want. So on Saturday we took advantage of this, and drove up to Orlando.

We left the house around 7:15, to get to EPCOT early. As we were driving we saw a beautiful sunrise. I think that my favorite things to take pictures of sunrises, sunsets, flowers and water.

We also saw that Hidden Mickey by the exit for WDW. In all of the Disney parks, cruises and some of the movies, there are Hidden Mickeys. It all started when a few of the Imagineers wanted to hide a few Mickeys in the planned Mickey-free EPCOT. Now, there are books and websites dedicated to the cataloging and finding of the Mouse.

Surprisingly, EPCOT was pretty empty so I got to take a few pictures with some of my favorite characters: Dale and Mary Poppins. I’m not sure where Chip was, but Dale was more than happy to take a couple shots.

Mary Poppins and I talked about the many uses of a carpetbag and we agreed that everyone should carry a lamp and chair with them so that you could sit and read anywhere.

My parents and I went on some of our favorite rides including Test Track, Soarin’ and Maelstrom. In Norway I was hoping to meet Ana and Elsa from Frozen, but sadly they are now meeting fans in the Magic Kingdom.

For lunch, we went to the newest restaurant in EPCOT called Spice Roads Table in Morocco. It’s like a tapas restaurant, but with Mediterranean dishes. We got a variety of dishes to try and we agreed that this place was amazing.

Hummus, olives and flatbread

Spicy garlic shrimp

Mussels Tagine 

Harissa Chicken Roll

Moroccan Merguez Sausage 

Chicken and Beef Skewers  

My favorite was the chicken kabob or the harissa chicken roll. Our view from the table would be perfect for EPCOT’s firework show Illuminations. (See what I mean about taking pictures of water?)

While walking through the park, I couldn’t resist taking pictures of the many flowers in EPCOT. Every year from March to May, EPCOT has the Flower and Garden Festival, which is fabulous. They also have a Food and Wine Festival in the fall, which is delicious, as you would expect.

Dessert was spent in France, where we saw Impression de France. It is a twenty-something minute film of the landscapes and peoples of France. Since Dad and I have been there before, we have seen some of these sights up close and personal. It is truly a beautiful country.

Chocolate éclair, Mousse au Chocolat, Napoleon

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed!

Bye!