Why I runDisney {2014 #DisneySMMoms Fun Run}

Five years ago if you had asked me if I was a runner I would've laughed at you. Maybe not in your face, but I'd have laughed at you! Running was just not my thing. I would see girls running and WANT to run...but, just didn't.



Before we left Ft Campbell two years ago I started running. Well, I walked first and walking turned into running. Can you believe it? I LOVE to run. I put on my running shoes, grab my iPhone and earbuds and hit the pavement. It's {dare I say it?} relaxing. There's no whining kids. No fighting siblings. No yelling about who "that" belongs to. It's about the only time I get "me time". I should definitely run more often.

On the last morning of Disney Social Media Moms there was an organized Fun Run hosted by the good people at runDisney. I've seen plenty of pictures of runners in Disney races. They all look like they are having so much fun. So, I knew I wanted to participate in this run! And, well, it was only two miles. I can run/walk two miles, for sure!


This was taken at, oh, 5am. If you're gonna run in a race, you're gonna get up EARLY!
{photo credit - Josh Hallett}

Best part? The absolute best part? The run course took us through Downtown Disney, through Disneyland and Sleeping Beauty's Castle, through California Adventure and the Finish Line was in Cars Land. I ran with my good friend Susan and my new friend Gina. {We stopped a LOT along the way to take selfies! We weren't running to finish first. We were running for the experience!}




Lightning McQueen was waiting for us at the Finish Line. So cool!


Best part about NOT finishing in the first group? There's a BIG crowd cheering you on as you cross!


As we crossed the Finish Line.


See me? I'm to the right of Lightning McQueen.

So, why do I run Disney? I run to be a better me. I have weight to lose and a body to get back in shape after having five kids. I run because it's my "me time". And, now I run because I want one of those shiny medals they give you at the end of a race!

Now you want to run a runDisney race, don't you? I do! This Fun Run made me want to run a marathon with the runDisney crew!

There's still space to sign up for the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. But, hurry!

The 2015 Princess Half Marathon Weekend hasn't opened up for registration yet. When it does, I'm registering! Will you be there? Let's do it together!

{all photos, with the exception of my selfie collage, were taken by the talented @hyku.}

When you wish upon a star...

Hubs and I have been saying for months, no YEARS, that we want to take the kids to Disney World. We haven't been as a family since before we left for Ft. Campbell, KY back in 2009. Really though, I don't remember when we last went. Together. I've been a time or two without him while he was deployed or something. It isn't the same without the entire family though, right?

In January, I said I wanted to go ahead and pick out a blogging conference or two to attend in 2014. The first one that caught my eye was the Type-A Parent Boot Camp in Walt Disney World. It was coming fast, though. The dates are March 28-30. I needed to first get on the waiting list since it was sold out and see if I could snag a ticket. Well, I was on the waiting list for maybe two days. I received an email that I had 24 hours to reserve my ticket. Done. I was super excited to be heading to WDW in a couple of months.

Hubs and I decided we would make it a mini-vacay for half of the family. {The older boys have no desire to go to Disney World. They want to go to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and ride the BIG roller coasters! So, that day will come for them soon enough.} We started to plan all of the fun things we would do with Jett, KcKinley and Mabry. {You'll have to wait until we get back to hear about it all!}

Imagine my surprise, though, after planning the mini-vacay to Walt Disney World, I received an invite to the one and only Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in DisneyLAND.

Here's how it happened...

I was on Twitter hanging out, doing what one does on Twitter, when I noticed someone tweet something along the lines of "I got my invite! I'm going to Disneyland for #DisneySMMoms!!!" My first thought was, "Yay!! They've started sending out the invites!!" Now, I was also thinking, "I've checked my email recently and I didn't get an invite. Oh well, maybe next year." And, I probably felt a little disappointed. BUT, then I thought, "hmmm...I didn't check my gmail account." Y'all, I had a mix of emotions from elated to shocked to stressed to you name it! I GOT INVITED!!!

Sitting right there, unopened in my inbox was the exclusive invite to Disney Social Media Moms. 

Disney Social Media Moms is an invite only event. I have no idea who gets invited and why...I just know that I have watched for the past couple of years all of the pictures and videos stream through my social media channels. The bloggers that attended were having an amazing time!! And, this year I get to be a part of the magic!!

So, April 10-13 we are headed to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA! Well, Hubs, Mabry and myself. {airfare prices are no joke for a family of seven!}

I can't wait to share all of the MAGICAL details with you! In the meantime, go follow me @jonahbonah on Twitter and Instagram so you get to journey along with us!!

See ya real soon!