Oh, hai there.

Hello, friends. It kind of feels like I fell off the face of the blog world. My last post was just photos and it was four days ago or something. I realize that all bloggers don't have to post every day, but I strive for at least 3-5 good content posts a week...and right now, I've been averaging none.

It's one of those busy seasons of life, I guess, where some things swoop in to take over my hours for a little while. So, here's hoping that I'll get back to normal stuff around here soon, but in the meantime, here's a little of what we've been up to in the past few weeks.

I made Addie's Easter dress this year and was so pleased with how it turned out! Ultimately, I want to list dresses in the shop.

The kids are obsessed with building things right now. And Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

We bought Addie a big girl bed. I didn't even realize it was missing a slat until we got it home and Andrew said "um, did you see this?" Whoops. Hopefully it's an easy fix because the bed was only $15 and I was pleased! Currently, it's sitting in the basement because we haven't had time to take the crib down yet.

For some reason, I decided that the week before drama productions of my own would be a great time to squeeze in an audition so I can try to knock an item off my Thirty by 30 list and perform in a show again. I rounded up my second best friend whom I met in a theatre bathroom and convinced her that the best way to spend our evening was belting our hearts out and then laughing until we cried in my minivan afterwards. It was amay-zing.

We're still waiting to hear if we got parts in the show. It's pretty doubtful, since we didn't go to callbacks, but we had the grandest time ever, regardless.

Did you catch the part about how it's almost production week? Yeah. A week from now, I have five plays performing. Thirty-seven girls to put onstage for their own moments to shine. I really have the best job EVER. But production week is flat out exhausting, so I may be around just a little less than average until the craziness winds down.

Don't give up on me, though! Lots of good stuff on my blog post to-do list. Have the happiest of weekends, okay?

Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Pajama Party // #DisneySide

Disclosure: I received party supplies and samples to facilitate hosting this event. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

It's not a secret that I'm a huge Disney fan, so I was incredibly excited to be selected as a host for a Disney Side @Home Celebration this winter! My friend Stephanie, who blogs over at Moments That Take My Breath Away, was given the chance to host a party too, and the two of us decided to combine our efforts for an epic Disney bash.

After a lot of late night Facebook chat brainstorming, we decided that we would host a preschool Pajama Party, featuring breakfast snack foods, crafts and activities, and even a special guest visitor. We gathered up every Disney toy we own (and let's just say that's A LOT), invited lots of young Disney fans, turned up some Disney tunes, and partied the day away! We didn't send formal invitations in the mail, but it would have been really simple to adapt my DIY Mickey Mouse Party Invitations with a dreamy touch!

Since we were throwing an enchanted pajama bash, we carried the sleep/dream theme throughout the party. Our front door sign (above) featured a famous quote from Walt Disney, and the sentiment was echoed in the Mickey Mouse themed banner we displayed (below).

Stephanie is a food artist far more talented than I (have you seen the owl cake we she made for Addie's first birthday?), and she put together an impressive display of Disney themed snacks for everyone to munch on. Between Mickey and Minnie Cinnamon Rolls, Fairy Godmother (Fruit) Wands, and Luigi's Leaning Tower of (Donut) Tires, the table display was downright adorable.

The kids were more than happy to grab some snacks and devour them!

For entertainment, we had three main stations for the kids to cycle through: Cozy Cone Motel's Moonlit Raceway, Sweet Dreams Station, and Every Princess Needs Her Beauty Sleep (a princess makeover station - you can find that one on Stephanie's blog).

The Cozy Cone Motel's Moonlit Raceway featured lots of Cars themed plush toys, a giant Cozy Cone (still on hand from the theatrical release when my husband worked at a movie theater), and a race track so the kids could test out their racing skills!

The track was a big hit and the kids returned to it many times throughout the party to send some cars flying down the road!

The Sweet Dream Station featured plain white pillowcases, fabric markers, and Mickey Mouse stencils to allow each child to design their own Mickey Mouse pillow! Some of the sweetest dreams are Disney dreams, right? I know I dream about returning to Disney World someday!

This ended up being a really fun station, and the kids (especially the girls...and the moms!) were all very excited to create their own personalized Mickey pillowcases. This station held Lincoln's interest for about thirty seconds, and then he was back to playing with Cars.

Since there were a lot of little princesses in attendance at our bash, we thought it only appropriate to have a Princess Storytime. The preschoolers got to meet Princess Belle live and in person, and this crazy theatre lady got to portray a pretty epic role. Dreams were coming true all over the place!

Princess Belle read a story about being as polite as a princess first, then followed up with some Disney bedtime stories.

It's actually really difficult to read books while wearing gloves. You heard it here first, friends!

Storytime was a great success...at least, I thought so. Maybe I'm biased, though. Okay, I am...I admit it. But I'll let you all judge how the kids liked it, based on the photo below.

We kept the fun right on going after Belle went back to being just a mama helping to host a party and played "Pin the Sorcerer's Hat on Mickey." It sort of looks like a nightcap, so it fit the theme perfectly! The kids got a big kick out of closing their eyes for the game. Most of them cheated, but most of them couldn't figure out how to keep their eyes closed and move at the same time. It was cute.

We ended the party by asking everyone to join in a dance party to earn their favors!

I keep cracking up looking at these photos of Lincoln. He was having the BEST time. All of the kids loved dancing themselves silly!

We had the best time at our Disney Side party! Lincoln and Addie talked about it for days on end, and kept wanting to know when we would have another party. The good news is...with Disney, you never run out of party ideas!

Disclosure: Thanks to Disney Side @Home Celebrations for providing many elements of our party. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Kansas City SEA LIFE Aquarium & LEGOLAND Discovery Center Ticket Giveaway

Disclosure: I received passes to visit these attractions. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 
 

Kansas City is a pretty awesome place to raise kids - especially at Christmas. There are so many things to see and do...so many places to visit. We've barely hit a handful of the Christmas-themed spots around town, but we've had so many fun adventures already!

If there's one place you don't want to miss at Christmas around here, it would have to be Crown Center. From the Mayor's Christmas tree to skating at the Ice Terrace to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (playing right now at the Coterie Theatre), there is enough to keep a family entertained for days on end.

My kids thought that the wooden toys on Crown Center Square were pretty awesome, but it was cold outside and we wanted to warm up - so we only spent a few minutes playing there. Our main entertainment for the day was to visit SEA LIFE Kansas City and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City - and we were so excited!

 We've had the chance to visit these attractions several times, and my kids love them.

SEA LIFE Kansas City boasts thousands of sea creatures and one of our favorite ways to see them is in the Interactive Rockpool exhibit. My kids are obsessed with The Octonauts these days (and were excited when they met Captain Barnacles and Kwazii at SEA LIFE back in August), so the study of sea creatures is extremely fascinating to them.

The kids stopped at each tank and attentively pointed out all the creatures they could find. Lincoln was a little rambunctious, but when I got him to pay attention and slow down, he did a great job finding new ocean animals at every turn.

I love being able to take my children on adventures that entertain them while also educating their minds and enhancing their curiosity. SEA LIFE is a perfect mix of those things!

What's your favorite sea creature? Chances are, you'll find it on display here at SEA LIFE. 

 The aquarium is currently all decked out for the holidays, and seeing the Christmas lights reflecting in the ocean displays is pretty neat!

I pretty much had to drag my kids out of the aquarium to get them to head upstairs to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center next! 

We had to make a pit stop at the bathroom when we first arrived, which meant we were right by LEGO® Racers Build & Test when we were ready to start exploring. And that meant that we stayed right in that very spot for quite some time. Lincoln loves many things about LEGOLAND, but building race cars and racing them down huge tracks is definitely a highlight for him. 

I have to admit: I need to ramp up my LEGO® building skills, because I was a little bit lost on where to start with constructing a car for Lincoln. That didn't stop him for a minute - he wanted to run wheels down the track by themselves.

After a lot of playtime and energy exertion in the LEGO® City Play Zone, Lincoln and I took a little tour of MINILAND® in all of its holiday glory! Lincoln's favorite part is racing the cars from the Kansas Speedway around and around the track, but he got a kick out of helping with some construction in downtown Kansas City, as well. 

I never tire of looking at MINILAND® and if my kids would let me stay in one room for more than ten minutes, I would definitely be checking out every single inch. There were even Christmas lights up on the Plaza - definite attention to Kansas City detail there.

If you have family in town for the holidays and need a warm place for little ones to let off some steam this weekend after your holiday celebrations, head down to Crown Center, soak up some awesome Christmas decor, and visit all the fish and all the LEGO® toys. Because it's all awesome.

 
Now through January 3, Annual Passes to each of these attractions are on sale for just $35! Annual passes include unlimited admission, priority entrance, special events, a shop discount, and much more. 

Follow both attractions for all the latest updates:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center website | Facebook | Twitter
SEA LIFE Kansas City website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a family 4-pack of tickets to visit SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Kansas City! This giveaway will end on January 5 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Thank you to SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND for providing my review passes and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

It Started with HELLO...In A Bathroom

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lindt HELLO, but my love for chocolate and all opinions expressed are my own.

You never know when you might meet someone amazing who will end up being a friend that sticks with you all through life. I've shared many times before that I met my husband at a community theatre, but the truth is - he's not the only theatre person who has made a big impression on my life.

There's also my friend, Kayte. I met her at the theatre, too - in a bathroom.

Once Upon a Mattress, 2006

It's true. The first time I ever spoke to this girl was when we somewhat awkwardly had our first encounter in a restroom during the run of my first community theatre endeavor, Fiddler on the Roof. She was playing the violin in the orchestra pit. I was playing a Russian peasant.

We went on to have many amazing theatre adventures together. We were cast as lead (her) and understudy (me) in a show the next spring - that was when our friendship really unfolded, as we both learned the role and relied on each other for hair and makeup help, while inventing many ridiculous backstage inside jokes. The next thing we knew, we had developed this amazing friendship. I talked her into doing hairstyles for my drama student performances (which she's still doing, 2-3 times a year.... over eight years later). We spent hours lying on top of my car in the theatre parking lot talking about boys. We auditioned for another show together and happily played a quirky bird and a sassy kangaroo opposite each other (and it was during that show that my hubby Andrew came along).

Seussical the Musical, 2007.

We found each other through the theatre, but our friendship has way outlasted the time when we were constantly performing in shows together. We were bridesmaids in each other's weddings (that's your cue to say "awwwww").

My wedding, 2008.

Kayte's wedding, 2011.

We might not see each other as often as we like, but we do try to make it a habit to see each other every now and then - whether it's when Lincoln needs a haircut (she's awesome and cuts it for me regularly), or a drama performance, or when I coerce her into being in another show with me (the last time was 2011...we're about due). She also reads my blog, so *wave* HI KAYTE!!!! I WROTE ABOUT YOU ON THE INTERNET. Hehe.

And all of this, you guys? Was because I said hi to this girl in a bathroom. A BATHROOM. So unexpected...yet so awesome.

Have you ever been afraid to make a connection with someone or something new because you're not sure how it might turn out? Next time that happens to you, I want you to remember my story. If I met one of my best friends in the world in a bathroom, anything's possible. I even have an idea for you that will almost certainly not fail: go out and buy some of this new chocolate from Lindt and give it to someone new you meet. If we had had chocolate in that bathroom, who knows, we may have just skipped the rest of the show and chatted the night away.

Writing about delicious chocolate is maybe the best job I've ever been given, and it's not at all a ploy when I tell you that this stuff is seriously divine. Available in sticks, bars, and mini-stick (individually wrapped) bags, you can use it to make a connection with just about anyone you encounter. I can't decide which is my favorite - I think it's a toss-up between Caramel Brownie and Strawberry Cheesecake, but the Crunchy Nougat and Cookies & Cream are out of this world, too. It's just darn good chocolate. The surprising fillings are just an added bonus.

Lindt HELLO is the hip, trendy brand in premium chocolate, that inspires connections and conversations everywhere it goes. Believe me, if somebody asks for a chocolate recommendation, this is what I'm suggesting. It's available nationwide (I found mine at Target)!

You can celebrate the awesomeness without even tasting the chocolate (though that sounds way less awesome than eating all the Lindt chocolate) by entering the Lindt HELLO Sweet Connections Sweepstakes! All you have to do is enter your email address for a chance at great prizes. The sweeps are already in progress, but here are the current and upcoming prizes!

Week 3: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (9/24 – 9/30)
Enjoy a shopping spree with the girls + yummy Lindt HELLO Chocolate!

Week 4: Sweet Staycation (10/1 – 10/7)
Lindt HELLO treats you to a pampered night in – movies, books + chocolate!

Week 5: Besties Reunion (10/8 – 10/14)
Reconnect with your bestie at the spa for a day + Lindt HELLO chocolate to sweeten the deal.

You can find all the rules and submit your entries on the Sweepstakes page.

Kayte! I has chocolate! Come eat it with me!

You can also catch a fun, cheeky "It Started with HELLO" romantic comedy web series on Youtube, with new episodes airing between now and October 9! The series is in partnership with Ashley Tisdale and features couples as they make their first connections - inspired, of course, by the personalities of the new Lindt HELLO chocolates!

Have you tried Lindt HELLO yet? If not....why not? Go grab some, and share it with a stranger. I don't know if I recommend searching for your new best friend in a bathroom, though. I think I got super lucky in that department. 

Many thanks to Lindt HELLO for sponsoring today’s story, and giving my readers a chance to win really sweet prizes! For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.