Christmas at Walt Disney World

Welcome to the second post of my Christmas vacation! This next set of photos are from Walt Disney World right before Christmas Eve. I live near Orlando, so I am lucky enough to go there pretty often.  We went to the Osborne Family Lights at Hollywood Studios. If you have the chance, go to it. It is amazing!

Indiana Jones at Hollywood Studios. One of my favorite attractions because I love the Indiana Jones films and the whole behind the scenes thing. 

The Christmas tree at the hotel we were staying at, Port Orleans Riverside. 

Pretty scenery at the hotel. This part of the hotel is styled after Southern plantations, the other part is styled after the bayou. 

Blurry picture (sorry) of the Christmas tree at Hollywood Studios.

Here is the start of the pictures of the Osborne Family Lights. Hope you enjoy! 

Snow in Florida? Only at Disney!

Christmas Eve morning we went to the Grand Floridian for breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. It is a character restaurant and buffet. We were visited by the Mad Hatter, Alice, Mary Poppins, Pooh Bear and Tigger. But the most fantastic thing at the the hotel were the Christmas decorations. There is a life size gingerbread house and a beautiful tree. Here are some pictures:

Made entirely out of edible products! 

Cast members sell gingerbread from inside the house!! 

Santa Claus! 

Huge Christmas tree in the middle of the lobby

Another view of the tree

Pretty picture from the second floor at the Grand Floridian! I like the symmetry. 

I didn't take any pictures at breakfast, but it was really yummy with lots of choices. I love breakfast and I love buffets, so it was perfect. After we finished, we drove home. The last post will be pictures from EPCOT on New Years Eve. See you then!

Christmas Cookies!

Happy New Year! Sorry that I haven't been on lately, it has been a busy few weeks with finals and then the holidays. But here are some pictures of Christmas cookies that I baked and trips to Walt Disney World. I hope that you all had a great holiday season and new year. I cannot wait for 2014!

I'm splitting my Christmas vacation into three posts because I took so many pictures. This post will be about the Christmas cookies. The next post will be about our Disney trip at Christmas and the last post will be about our trip on New Years Eve. Without further ado, Christmas cookies!

My family and I baked these cookies for school, work and family. I love baking, so this was a lot of fun. The recipes are in the captions if you want them. They all tasted delicious, my favorite being Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

My favorite cookies! Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

M&M Cookies. We used the recipe from the back of the packet, but here is link to one like it.

Cranberry Bars. This one was very popular! 

These are the Ginger Cookies. It calls for sanding sugar, but we used pearl sugar instead and it worked really well. It also looks really pretty! 

All three of the cookies together!

Christmas Decorations!

Hello Everyone!
As it is December, I thought that it would be a good idea to show you the Christmas decorations in my room and house. In my room I have a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments.

My Christmas Tree! 

One of my oldest ornaments, and my favorite!

Harry Potter ornament

Dalek ornament

Another one of my favorites. There are about six of them, in different candy shapes.

This is the wreath hanging on my door that I made with my mom. (Ignore the Hobbit poster beneath it)

A nice Christmas tree smelling candle in my room!

We also have the family tree in the living room with all of our family ornaments. For my little sister, we have an "Elf on a Shelf."

The family Christmas Tree! 

One of my personal favorites, I got it at EPCOT in Walt Disney World

Cute ornament from Salem, Mass. I think that it is nice and simplistic and pretty. 

Our Elf on a Shelf, "Changey," hiding amidst the nutcrackers. 

I hope you guys are enjoying the Christmas season! What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Mine is seeing the sunset from the beach on Christmas Eve?

Happy (Late) Thanksgiving!

Happy late Thanksgiving! Hope everyone had a great day and an even greater dinner. Here is our Thanksgiving table and my Thanksgiving plate:

We had turkey (obviously), my mom's homemade cranberry sauce, green beans, cornbread and sausage stuffing, biscuits and gravy. My favorite thing was my mom's cranberry sauce which she uses two bags of fresh cranberries, some orange juice, some cinnamon and she lets that cook until it is the consistency of a loose jam. It is then put into the fridge until dinner time. My contribution was a Spiced Apple-Cranberry Pie from William Sonoma. I unfortunately did not take a picture, but it was very good! 

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving and happy December! I will post pictures of my Christmas decorations soon. 

Bye!

Fun in Massachusetts

For the past few days my family and I have been in Massachusetts before Thanksgiving. On Sunday we visited Plimoth Plantation which consists of the Wampanoag Homesite, the recreated Plymouth from the 17th century, a craft building and a barn. It was really interesting to hear the opinions of the role players from the 17th century. They spoke in old English accents and they are really in character. I would recommend Plimoth Plantation to anyone. Afterwards, we went to a local restaurant for lunch where I got delicious Arancini (Italian rice balls) with a side of spinach. Here are some pictures from Plimoth and lunch:

The Entrance Gate 

Duck Stew being made at the Wampanoag Homesite

A great view from the walkway between the Wampanoag Homesite and Plymouth village

The recreated village

A woman making lace in the craft area. Amazing!

One last beautiful view!

A nice mug of tea on a chilly day!

The Arancini with mozzarella and parmesan

On Wednesday we went into Boston, even though it was rainy and chilly. We wandered around Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market doing Christmas shopping and exploring. For lunch, we met up with one of my dad's friends and ate at Wagamama. I first went to Wagamama in Covent Garden in London this past summer, and I loved it! It was the perfect place to go on a rainy day. Lots of soups, noodle bowls, curries, etc. The best thing to warm you up. After that we went on Newbury Street to do more shopping and go to a little coffee shop called Pavements which I absolutely love. I got the pumpkin cupcake and a hot apple cider. Yum!

Pretty Christmas Tree in Quincy Market!

Faneuil Hall in the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Decorations in Quincy Market

Pretty stars in the Rotunda of Quincy Market

Dad's Firecracker Chicken at Wagamama

My Chicken Ramen

Mom's Yaki Soba

My sister's red velvet cupcake and my pumpkin cupcake

Mom's latte with a pretty design on top

A happy face on my apple cider!

For dinner, we went to the Legal C Bar on Market Street in Lynnfield where I got the steamed lobster. I only get this when I am up north and I wasn't disappointed.

Now back home for me!