Happy Halloween!

Hello Ghosts and Ghouls!  I just wanted to pop in to wish you all a Happy Halloween!

This is also a little bit of a Throwback Thursday post.  This time last year, Eliot and I were actually down at Walt Disney World with my mother and brother for Halloween.  I bought our tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party months in advance so we could celebrate Halloween Night with Mickey Mouse and friends.

It was obviously a bittersweet trip for all of us since my Dad was supposed to be with us.  We debated cancelling the entire thing after he died, but we all knew that we would probably need a little bit of magic at that point.  It was a pretty good night overall.  We missed Daddy so much, but we knew he would want us to have fun.

The photo from above was from when we first entered the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Eliot and I made new mouse ears specifically for the event.  I wore my new Torrid candy corn dress and the light up Mickey pumpkin earrings I ordered from another small shop.  We spent the evening getting a little candy, taking photos with some of the characters, and watching the parade and fireworks!

This year we don't have any big plans, but I'm sure I'll still find a way to celebrete!

Happy Halloween!!! 🎃🦇👻🕷 I hope you have a spooktacular day!!! °o°

Fun Find: 2022 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Videos

It's still only August, but Halloween is already in full swing at the Magic Kingdom.  In fact, they've already hosted two Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties... and the third party is scheduled for tonight!  It feels a little early to be celebrating; but that's also coming from the girl who has been hunting for spooky merchandise for a few weeks... and she had her first pumpkin iced coffee this past Wednesday when Dunkin officially brought pumpkin everything back.  So I guess I have no room to judge!

All of the Halloween merchandise and social media posts from the party have put me more into the spooky spirit though, and I caught myself watching quite a few Youtube videos this week.  Eliot and I watched a few recaps of the first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party over the weekend.  And I watched a few more during my lunch break on Wednesday.  (I had already had drank the pumpkin coffee and it was raining out... so I leaned hard into pretending it was fall for the afternoon.)  So today, I thought that I'd share a few of those videos so you could get into the Halloween spirit too!

After two years of the pandemic version of the party replacement, After Hours Boo Bash, I was so excited to have Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party back in it's full glory.  And Disney did not disappoint.  In fact, they also had a surprise for us that was announced a few days before the first party... that Max dressed up as Powerline would be joining the festivities!  Eliot and I thought he was going to have a meet and greet, but Disney was smart enough to put him in his own pre-parade dance party... and it's probably a good thing because the line would have been so long to see him i2i... hehe.

After Max's dance party, Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade made it's way down Main Street.  They're lucky they were able to pull it off because the first parade of the opening party had to be cancelled due to rain.  (It was unsafe for the performers.)

The Cadaver Dans are always a favorite.  Eliot and I love listening to the Dapper Dans and I'm so glad that they're included in the Halloween festivities!

Due to the rain the first night, they were only able to perform a modified version of the Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular.  So this video is of the shorter version of the show.

During the second Halloween Party, they were able to do the Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular in it's entirety.  I like how they added a new introduction to acknowledge the Hocus Pocus 2 sequel that's coming out at the end of September to Disney+.

We all know that there is no better way to end a magical day than with fireworks.  The Halloween party always ends with special fireworks.  Eliot and I absolutely loved the old version- Hallowishes; it might even be our favorite Disney fireworks period.  But Disney's Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fireworks Spectacular is also a great show!

As you can see, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is back as it was always intended to be.  And if you ask me, it's glorious.  I'm definitely daydreaming about going again.  Obviously, Eliot and I won't be going to the Halloween Party this year now that we cancelled our anniversary trip... but I definitely want to try to go down next year, even if that's pretty much the main reason we're going to Florida!  Boo to You!!!  °o°

Fun Find: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

Happy Friday friends!  Halloween weekend is here and it's time to get our spook on!  

One of my favorite ways to celebrate is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  I have to admit that I'm missing it a bit.  I haven't been in two years, and that's also the last time that Walt Disney World hosted a traditional Halloween party versus the simpler version (Boo Bash) that they're doing this year due to the ongoing pandemic.

Today, I thought that I'd have my own Halloween party to get into the spirit!  I have gathered a bunch of videos from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2019 so we can have our own virtual Halloween party!  Get dressed in your costume, grab some tasty treats and sweets and sit back as we travel to the Magic Kingdom!

First, we're stopping at the castle show, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular!!!

You can't go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party without watching Mickey's Boo to You Parade.  Be prepared to sing this song all weekend while it's stuck in your head!

Finally, we're ending the evening the best way possible, with some Disney Halloween fireworks!   I have to admit, I'm still a little salty about them getting rid of HalloWishes since that was Eliot's and my favorite fireworks show, but Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular was pretty good.  Even I have to admit that the projections on Cinderella Castle are ridiculously crisp and top notch.

I hope you enjoyed this fun and festive kickoff to Halloween weekend!  I know I also did this back in 2015, but I thought I'd do another one with some updated videos!!!

Have a wonderful Halloween weekend everyone!!! 

Happy Halloween!!!  °o°

#tbt Our First MNSSHP

Today, I thought I'd take a quick walk down memory lane to Eliot's and my first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties.  We went on our first solo trip to Walt Disney World in 2010.  That trip happened to fall over the week of Halloween and during that trip we went to two parties- the first was on Halloween night and the second was on 11/1.

I remember being so excited to go to the Magic Kingdom on Halloween night.  I could barely contain my excitement!  Our first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party being on Halloween made the whole thing that much more magical.  

I went all out with Eliot's and my Halloween themed outfits.  I had special candy corn colored tie-dye Mickey shirts made for us from a small shop on Etsy.  I made myself a Halloween ring to wear.  I painted my nails Halloween colors with my thumbs having candy corn colors.  I did Halloween make up with candy corn eyeshadow and a little Mickey head.  I even found a black and orange Mickey bracelet at the parks the day before!  (Sorry the picture of my hand is so blurry.  We were on the bus and this was 2010... phone cameras weren't that good back then!)

When we arrived, I was totally geeking out about everything- the cast costumes, the food, the decorations, the signs, the music, the lighting and more. 

I was so excited to see the signs and the special decorations everywhere.  There were giant inflatable pumpkins on the entrance gate to the Magic Kingdom (where you pay for parking).  They also had them right at the entrance turnstiles.

It was overwhelming, but we tried to take everything in and do as much as possible.

We took photos in front of the Magic Kingdom Train Station before going into the park.

Each step we walked down Main Street lead to more Halloween magic.

Eliot and I took pictures in front of the castle.

We got pictures with the Seven Dwarfs.  We waited quite a while for this experience, but since you can only get photos with all seven of them at MNSSHP or MVMCP, it was something we really wanted to do.  It was so cool and definitely worth the wait!

The Haunted Mansion was really cool.  They had it lit up with green and purple lighting and there were fog machines everywhere outside.  Both of those effects really added to the creepy ambiance!  Plus, they had a cool PhotoPass location with the hearse!

We had to get a photo with Cinderella Carriage!!!

We also took photos with Cinderella Castle after it got dark out.

Eliot and I both really loved the Boo To You Parade!!!!  The song is so catchy!

We were both completely blown away by the HalloWishes Fireworks!

We also made sure to get photos with Donald and Daisy outside Toontown.

We ended the evening with a few more photos at Cinderella Castle.

Eliot and I both had so much fun that we wanted to go back to experience it again!  We hadn't planned on going a second time, but when we found out that tickets were still available, we jumped at the opportunity.  This second time, was the last Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party of the year on November 1st.  

Eliot and I hadn't planned on going a second time, so we just wore the same thing that night.  (I just switched my purple leggings out for gray ones!)  When we entered the park, we took more photos at the Train Station.

This time, we made sure to prioritize meeting Mickey and Minnie.

We took more photos at Cinderella Castle.

And we watched the parade and fireworks again!

We both had so much fun at our first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties!  We've gone to many more since then and we always enjoy them.  The HalloWishes fireworks are our favorite WDW fireworks.  And the parade music is always stuck in my head every year at this time!  The Halloween Parties are definitely a favorite of ours!  °o°

Back from WDW and DCL

Hello friends!  I am back from my nine day trip to Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship!!!  I had a wonderful time but it is really good to be home!

I've actually been home since Monday afternoon, but the past few days have passed in a blur.  Eliot and I both did an all-nighter Sunday to Monday.  (Once he picked me up from the airport Monday, we both crashed and took a 5 hour nap as soon as we got home.)  The rest of this week has been a mix of sleeping, napping, catching up on Etsy messages, getting back into the groove with working on ears, and trying to get back into the swing of everyday life in the Cady household.  I've also been feeling a bit under the weather while fighting a head cold, so that hasn't helped matters.

But, I had such a wonderful time on my trip that I had to write something up about it.  I'll dive into it more over the next few weeks but for now some of the highlights included:

- My solo days at Walt Disney World before and after the trip- I had four solo Walt Disney World days- two before and two after my Disney Cruise.  These have become something that I really enjoy.  Instead of being lonely, I'm really able to soak in the magic.  I had a good time wandering through the parks a leisurely pace.

- Rooming with Stephanie- I had so much fun visiting with and catching up with my Key to the World travel agent friend Stephanie!  We laughed so hard together!

- KeyCon Conference, seeing friends and meeting new ones- I learned so much at our annual travel agent conference!  I always get really inspired at our conferences.  It was great to see all of my Key to the World friends and to make new ones!  When we get together it's like a huge family reunion.  We have so much fun together!

- Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise- The Disney Cruise was the highlight of my nine day trip.  The service was impeccable as always.  We had a lot more time to explore the ship this trip since it was a 4 night instead of a 3 night.  We watched a movie in the theater, two Broadway style shows, and enjoyed the Halloween decor.

- Castaway Cay- We were actually the first guests allowed to disembark on Castaway Cay after Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas a few weeks ago.  The cast members and crew worked extra hard to make the island ready for us.  While it was clear that there were damages, the island looked like it was in pretty decent shape considering the severity of the storm.  We enjoyed our time at Serenity Bay- the part for adults only.  The water was still crystal clear and it was beautiful and sunny.

- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party- Stephanie and I went to the Halloween Party last Friday together.  We got a ton of candy, went on our favorite rides, watched the parade and saw the fireworks.  I also went a second time the last night of my trip so I could go on my favorite Magic Kingdom rides one more time.  I got a little bit of candy in between rides.  I also took a few Photopass photos.  I ended the night with front row seats to the parade after I enjoyed the fireworks one more time.

The only downside of my trip was that my cell phone was a casualty.  (It needs to be completely restored.)  It broke when I tried to update it so I could get the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to download and my phone crashed when I did it.  I couldn't use the cellular service on the ship anyways, but it really stunk to not have my own phone to take pictures or to use when I got back to Walt Disney World.  

Thankfully, I have an old phone (not a smart phone) that Eliot was able to charge and send to me along with a charger.  It was waiting for me at my resort when we got back to WDW.  Stephanie also let me use her phone to call Eliot and my Mom before and after the cruise and to take a few photos of my ears on the ship.  Hopefully, I can get my phone fixed soon so I'll be back up and running!  At least now I have my computer!

As you can see, I had a great time!  This trip makes me so excited to go back down to Walt Disney World with Eliot's family in November and my family in December.  I'm also really looking forward to our Christmas Disney Cruises in December!  °o°

Happy Halloween!

A Boo to you and you and you and you and you and you... Happy Halloween friends!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written.  (10 days have passed?!?  Ugh!!!)  We've been incredibly busy the past few weeks.  My job is in the process of switching back to our five day work schedule again after a year of having limited office hours.  Eliot has been very busy with soap orders and with working on new ear designs.  And I just got back from a weekend trip out of state with my cousin Kaitlin and her three boys: ages 5, 3, and 9 months.  (So much fun, but I'm exhausted!)  Today, I'm planning to lay low at home and to catch up on rest before I go back to work tomorrow!

Of course, it's also Halloween- which basically means that I'll be humming "This is Halloween" all afternoon.  I might even pop my Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party music in so I can jam out to "Boo To You" and "HalloWishes".  Last night, Eliot and I watched Hocus Pocus before bed.  And I wore my candy corn shirt to bed!

As you know, I absolutely love the holidays.  However, this year seems like October flew by and Halloween came so fast.  Yet, at the same time, I've been celebrating it for a month now.  We went to Mickey's No So Scary Halloween Party during our Walt Disney World vacation.  And our Disney Cruise was a Halloween on the High Seas themed cruise so we also went to a few Halloween events on that.

Honestly, I'm excited for today, but when it's over, I'm SO ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I love the holiday season and I've been itching to get my Christmas music out.  Eliot and I were moving into our new house this time last year, so we missed out on all of our holiday decorating.  We usually go all out decorating for the holidays.  This year, we didn't do anything for Halloween, we'll also probably skip Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, but I'd love to get a few of our Christmas decorations out!  At the very least, I'd love to have our Christmas tree set up in the living room!

So, cheers to another Happy Halloween!  I hope you have a wonderful evening filled with tricks, treats and sweets.  And when the clock strikes midnight tonight, I'll be that crazy person with my Christmas music at the ready.  °o°

Fun Find: MNSSHP Halloween Videos

I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween!  It seems like just yesterday Eliot and I were running around the Magic Kingdom at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! (MNSSHP)  Today's Fun Find Friday is in honor of the spookiest time of the year!  I've found a few videos taken from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party this year.

The Boo To You Parade is one of Eliot's of my favorites.  I love the catchy music.  They have a Haunted Mansion section with Madame Leota's tombstone, the hitchhiking ghosts, dancing ghosts and the always popular gravediggers!  (I love them!)

The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular was new this 2015 season.  I loved the movie Hocus Pocus growing up.  I'm at that age where I associate Halloween with Hocus Pocus.  One does not seem complete without another.  I really enjoyed this show!  It seems to be pretty popular, so I'm hoping Disney will keep it around for a while!

Finally, no Halloween Party is complete without watching HalloWishes!  These are Eliot's and my favorite fireworks.  Both the music and show are incredible!

I hope you enjoy these Halloween videos!  I'm really thankful we already had some Halloween fun at MNSSHP!  Eliot and I aren't doing much celebrating this year since we'll be right in the middle of our move to the new house.  I'll probably be quiet this weekend with our move taking place.  Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!

Happy Halloween!!! °o°

Free Halloween Printables

Today we're all about the treats- no tricks!  I'm bringing back a few of my Halloween printables from when I started my blog back in 2013!  I had a blast making printable designs- back when I was less terrified that my laptop was going to spontaneously combust at any second.  (I think I'm going to need a new one soon!)  In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I'd re-share those since so many of you are new to my blog!

My favorite design is my Halloween Activity Sheet!  It's perfect to keep little ones busy while waiting for the Boo to You Parade at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

My next favorite is my Mickey Candy Corn design.  I used this printable for everything from scrapbooking, paper ornaments hanging from the chandelier, kitchen cupboard decorations, gift tags and garland!  The possibilities are endless!

Finally, I made a "Boo to You" and "Trick or Treat" design.  (Can you tell the Boo to You parade music was stuck in my head?)  I cut these out and put them on the wall above our kitchen cabinets using rolled tape.  I created the design in a few different versions.

Boo to You and Trick or Treat - Black

Boo to You and Trick or Treat - Color Yourself and Printer Friendly!

Boo to You and Trick or Treat - Orange and Purple (shown here)

I had a blast making all of these designs.  I can't wait to decorate with them next year when we're not busy moving!  I'm also hoping I can make more for other holidays in the future!  In the meantime, enjoy these not so spooky treats!  °o°

Flashback Friday- MNSSHP

This time next week, I'll be running around the Magic Kingdom at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!  I can't wait!  To celebrate, I thought I'd share a few memories from the other two Halloween parties I went to for Flashback Friday!

Here's a quick video of the Train Station that I took from 2012 when Eliot and I went a few days after our wedding!  I love the Haunted Mansion Music in the background!

Here's me with Duffy and Mini Halloween Duffy.  (Mini Halloween Duffy lives on the shelf next to our bed.  I love him!)

Here Eliot and I are with the Seven Dwarfs in 2010.

Here we are in front of the train station in 2010.

We finally got our pictures taken with our Winnie the Pooh friends in 2012.

Here we are in front of the castle in 2010.  Check out my awesome candy corn eyeshadow complete with a Mickey Mouse!

I can't wait to see what's in store for this year!  I'm hoping to cross a few more characters off of my photo list!  I'm still working on what I'm going to wear… I think it's time to dig out the crazy socks and to hit up JoAnn Fabrics over the weekend!  °o°