June, 2012 | The Angel Forever

Monthly Archives June 2012

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Tuesday Tales – Walter Foster Disney Drawing Books

Posted on June 5, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Summer is almost here and while I hope to spend a lot of time outside with the boys, the weather can be unpredictable. We love to read and explore location destinations, but I also want to let my little artists express their creativity. I love to have art supplies and items to use inside the house for just this reason. NHL and JSL both adore drawing. For Chanukah, we bought NHL a Walter Foster book that teaches how to draw Phineas and Ferb characters. He adored it and it made us pull out another book that we had purchased while visiting Walt Disney World before that.

My post about NHL drawing caught the attention of the social media team at Walter Foster. They wanted to send him some more items to work on his new found love. It was an absolutely sweet gesture, with no strings attached. A bounty of new Disney drawing books arrived.

One of the items was a Learn to Draw Disney Mickey Mouse and His Friends Drawing Book & Kit. This kit had everything that you need to draw favorite Disney characters. This book would make a great gift for a child that likes to draw because of the items included. Of course, the book is also fantastic with great step-by-step instructions to help budding artists.

NHL wanted to dive right into this book. He decided to start with Mickey Mouse of course.

While NHL was busy with this, I checked out the other books that came. They included (links to the Amazon affiliate page with these books):

One of NHL’s favorite characters is Piglet. On a past trip to Walt Disney World, he bought a little stuffed Piglet doll. Thanks to this, I jumped right to the Piglet page in the Winnie the Pooh book.

Of course, once JSL saw that I made something for his big brother, he had a request. He immediately picked a character from the same book (I wasn’t up to trying Buzz Lightyear just yet). So here is the bouncy friend that I made:

I know I am looking forward to more drawing time with the two boys. We have colored pencils, crayons, markers, and other items to make our Disney friends come alive. No doubt, we will be adding more Walter Foster books to our collection. Do you have any drawing books from Walter Foster?

What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: My kids received these four books complimentary of Walter Foster with no strings attached. No compensation was given and no review expected. We enjoy these books and wanted to share them with others. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Four Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for the books mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links.

Categories:
arts and crafts books Disney fun jsl nhl Product review Tuesday Tales

Preparing for Another Pirate Party

Posted on June 4, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last year, while at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, my almost four year old son fell in love with Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Sure, he liked it before we left for Disney. However, dancing around with Sharky and Bones, Mr. Smee, Captain Hook, and Jake sealed the deal. When we got home, he announced that he wanted a Jake and the Never Land Pirates fourth birthday party. Unfortunately, they did not have those items to buy so we improvised with what we had on hand.

For Chanukah, we were able to get JSL some Jake and the Never Land Pirate shirts from The Disney Store. He wore this shirt under his pirate costume for the Disney Junior Swashbuckler Soiree the first evening of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

His love for all things pirates continued and grew. While at Disney World for the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, JSL declared that he wanted another pirate party. I think meeting Jake again and having him write a special birthday wish in your autograph book may have something to do with it.

For his actual birthday, we found another new Jake shirt for JSL. Then we noticed that The Disney Store had Jake and the Never Land Pirate twin sized sheets. This was perfect for the new bunk beds. In addition to that, we splurged and got him the little Jake doll to go with the theme.

Now, less than a week away from the party, we are trying to figure out how to make it different. I have new pirate crafts, found a few Jake and the Never Land Pirate party items (not enough), and will be making the cupcakes the same since JSL requested them.

If you have had a pirate party, or have ideas, I would love to know suggestions on items that we may want to add to our second. Leave comments, links, or other items that you think would be helpful. Thanks so much!

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we were given an incredible deal from Disney. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

Categories:
arts and crafts birthday brothers decisions Disney DisneySMMoms food glorious food fun jsl photos travel vacation yummy

A Different Point of View

Posted on June 3, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There are days when you have to tilt your head a little differently. You know what I mean. Some scenarios require you to put on a “new hat” and tilt your head to observe something in a different way. Let’s be honest, what you observe one moment may not look the same a short while later.

Like I said, you may just need to look a little more closely at the item or situation at hand. If you allow yourself to do this, you never know what you may find around the corner or right in front of your face. It is at this point that the magic may appear before your eyes.

This is a reminder to be flexible. Remember, it is okay to think outside of the box. Sometimes leaving your comfort zone will reveal a new and rewarding opportunity for you.

It's Me

Categories:
Disney interesting me moments photos

To the Magic Kingdom and Beyond with Nana and Papa

Posted on June 2, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

The other day, I was finally able to get to see the photos that Papa and Nana took with their camera while at Disney World. I saw some of the PhotoPass pictures, but wanted to see more of the candid shots from around the Yacht Club Resort and Disney parks. I have to say, it looks like the four of you had an amazing time exploring things together.

Without the two of you, I am not sure if Nana and Papa would have gone to have photos taken with Buzz Lightyear. Thanks to you being fans, we have the some Nana and Papa took of you alone and some with the four of you. These are priceless memories that I know will last.

They also captured the two of you chilling out on the bus. I think you were likely looking at the ads up above. Most of the time you would point out Doc McStuffins and other familiar characters.

I love seeing your smiles and knowing what a magical time we all had together, even if we were not always with you.

Love,

Mommy

Categories:
brothers Dear Kid Saturday Disney family jsl looking back nhl photos travel vacation

My Disney Dooney Confession

Posted on June 1, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Let’s be honest, we all have something in the back of our mind that we really, really, really want. I’m not talking a new car, house, or vacation. I’m talking something more in our immediate reach. I suppose you could put a tablet/iPad into this category. Even that is often something that many of us would use for professional needs, not just a desire.

Disney fans will likely be familiar with the Dooney & Bourke collection that are made for the parks.

Originally, they were only available at Disney parks and cruises, but now some can be ordered from The Disney Store. I once wrote about saving Pluto thanks to a Dooney. Alas, I did not win, but it was fun trying. While at Walt Disney World, I would stop and swoon over the bags. I could have, maybe should have gotten one, but I was being practical. Of course, I kept taking photos and sharing with my friends on Twitter that often talk about their Disney Dooney & Bourke purchases.

Yes, I even asked Ellen stop in the hall at the Yacht Club to model her cute new bag. It goes so well with her ears don’t you think?

So my question to you is inspired by Disney Dooney & Bourke:

If you were able to splurge on an item you really want, but may not be practical, what is it and why? Remember no house, car, vacation, or item that would be for professional gain.

It's Me

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.