DIY Disney Autograph Book

We're leaving for Walt Disney World in three days. THREE DAYS!! Some days I think I'm more excited than the kids. I can.not.wait!

One souvenir that was always a favorite when I was a kid was an autograph book. I can remember getting one each time my mom and I would go to Disney World. Standing in line with my book and pen in hand waiting to meet the characters was THE BEST! {of course, the rides were great, too!} I figured I would pass that tradition along to my kids. But, being the crafty gal that I am, I needed a DIY version of the autograph book. And, it needed to be personalized. Because, well, you know, everything is cuter when it's adorned with your name!

The first page has our family name and the date.

There's a section for each theme park we'll be visiting on this trip. {I also included a couple of pages with the resort name, just in case there's a character sighting there.}

The back cover has Mickey's famous saying, "See ya real soon!"

Since McKinley is a girly-girl, I added bunches of ribbon to hers. Just as I suspected, she LOVES it!

These were really simple to make. An added bonus, there's enough extra pages inside that the kids can later add pictures of themselves with the characters that signed their books!

With a little knowledge in Microsoft Word and having a printing shop nearby, you can make these, too!

Here's how:

1. Create your pages in Microsoft Word or similar program. I downloaded Waltograph and Brady Bunch fonts for my words. {The Mickey heads were added later with a black Sharpie pen. The Mickey and Minnie stickers were purchased at Michael's Crafts.}

2. Email your pages to your local print shop to be printed. Be sure to send them as a PDF file. I made the mistake of not doing that the first time and the font was way off.

3. Cut your pages to size. I learned after asking the gal to trim my pages to 5x7 inches that EACH cut is $1.10. Cutting each sheet was going to cost $4.40. For real. So, I made sure to bring my own cutter to the shop and used the great big table they had available and cut my own pages to size.

4. Laminate your front and back cover sheets. {This is something that the print shop will also do. It's like a one-stop-shop!} I think laminating the covers are going to make this keepsake something they can actually keep. :o)

5. Have your book spiral bound. OfficeMax also does binding. Ask if your shop does this.

Total cost of each of my books was under $10. Maybe the same cost as the one you can purchase at the park gift shops...but, way cuter!

This idea was adapted from Dixie Delights.

3 Souvenirs You MUST Get While at Walt Disney World Resort

Our family has been to the Walt Disney World Resort a time or two...or twenty, in our 14 years of togetherness. {We had seasonal passes for a few years and would take weekend or day trips.} Over those years, we haven't bought a whole lot of toys or gifts. We kind of pride ourselves on not bringing home souvenirs that will be tossed aside or left at the wayside. When we DO let the kids pick a souvenir we have them think about it and come back to it. If it's something they really want, they'll still be thinking about it hours later, after they've seen other things. 

We've come home with Glow with the Show Mickey Ears, a Rapunzel princess dress from Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique, a stuffed animal snake and leopard for my animal lovers.

When I make my way back down to the MAGIC that is in Walt Disney World, I have a short list of souvenirs that I would love to bring home with me, for me. After all, adults love bringing home fun things, too!

I shared with you in my 2014 Holiday Gifts Wish List that I would love more Alex and Ani bracelets. It's been a few months and I would still love to have more of these fun bracelets! I was lucky enough to snag my one and only Alex and Ani while in Disneyland last year. This year, I'm hoping to add Walt Disney World, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot to my collection!

My husband has a coffee cup collection. He has collected mugs from just about every location he went to an Army training for, we have mugs from when we lived in Fort Campbell and I've made him a few mugs with the kids pictures on them. Recently, we started buying mugs from places we visit. Our most recent mug is from Portland, ME. {We LOVE Maine! Especially a select group of people there that we now call family!} His collection has become our collection and I like to add one or two here and there, too! I mean, we both drink coffee...I should be able to drink from a mug I like. :)

I've heard these You Are Here Starbucks mugs are hard to find, but that's not going to stop me from putting it on my list and looking. First stop when we walk into Magic Kingdom? Starbucks!

{photo credit - huffmans on flickr}

I dream of having a pair of Mickey Ears with my Instagram and Twitter handle, @jonahbonah, embroidered on them. Okay, maybe I don't really dream about them, but I've been talking about them for a couple of years now. The last time I was at the Parks, I was told they couldn't embroider the @ symbol. Hmmpph. That spoiled my plans. But, I asked a few of my Disney pals, and even a few folks employed with Disney, and turns out they CAN do the @ symbol...it just depends on who you ask. Second stop after walking into Magic Kingdom? Le Chapeau on Main Street, USA!

What is on your short list for Disney Souvenirs? Tell me in the comments or tweet me!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. 

Disneynature's Monkey Kindgom Coming Soon!

Last year, I had the privilege of seeing Disneynature's Bears while at Disney Social Media Moms in Disneyland before it came out in theatres. It was magical. I knew instantly that I needed to have this movie in my family's video library, because my animal-loving son, Jett, would adore watching the bears and gaining new knowledge of these great animals. In fact, I need to have ALL of the Disneynature movies in my collection. I have a feeling they would get watched all.of.the.time!

This year, on Earth Day, Disneynature is releasing a new movie, Monkey Kingdom. This time it's about monkeys! {in case you didn't get that from the title. LOL} Who doesn't love the cute little faces of monkeys? Even those seemingly grumpy gorillas are cute!

Watch the short videos below and then make your plans! Earth Day is April 17, 2015. 

Life is an adventure for Maya, the clever and resourceful blonde-bobbed monkey in “Monkey Kingdom,”

Disneynature’s new feature film set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya’s world is

forever changed when she welcomes her son, Kip, into her complicated extended family. Like all families, Maya’s

has more than its share of colorful personalities—and she’s determined to give her son a leg up in the world. When

their longtime home at Castle Rock is taken over by powerful neighboring monkeys, Maya's whole family retreats,

and she uses her street smarts and ingenuity to uncover untapped resources amidst strange new creatures and

unsettling surroundings. Ultimately, they will all have to work together to reclaim Castle Rock, where Maya can

hopefully realize her dreams for her son’s future.

Featuring a rich variety of characters, including a mischievous mongoose, simple-minded langur monkeys,

predatory leopards and monitor lizards, “Monkey Kingdom” is narrated by Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), directed by Mark

Linfield (“Chimpanzee,” “Earth”) and co-directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Chimpanzee,” “Bears”). With music from

award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams ("The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the

Wardrobe," “Shrek” movies), Disneynature’s eighth True Life Adventure—the follow-up to 2014’s “Bears”—swings

into theaters April 17, 2015.

Set in the storied jungles of South Asia, “Monkey Kingdom” showcases the adventures of new mom Maya, a clever

and resourceful blonde-bobbed monkey who’s determined to give her son a leg up in the world.

From Oscar, Sita, Scout, and the countless wild creatures we share this planet with, thank you! Disneynature is making a difference. With every ticket purchased for Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opening week (4/17 – 4/23), Disney will donate to benefit Conservation International to help benefit monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitat.

To read my post on Disneynature's Bears click here. 

Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links are used in my post. This simply means, when you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I get a small percentage of the sale. Thanks in advance for supporting jonahbonah.com!

Mickey's Fun Wheel and More {in Disneyland}

I've been home from Disney Social Media Moms for four days. There were so many amazing speakers and so much great information...I'm still processing it all. I hope to be writing a bunch of my thoughts in the coming days. Stick with me.

In the meantime, I've been looking through my photos and finding ones that jump out to me. My favorites. I have a few to share with you today. Having never been to Disneyland, I took pictures of the Mickey Fun Wheel, of course! And Sleeping Beauty Castle.











Day and night, Disneyland is beautiful.





Have you ever been to Disneyland? In all of my years, I've only ever been to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. Heading to the opposite coast was such a treat! Tell me, what's your favorite part of Disneyland.

10 Essentials to Pack for Disney

If you know me in real life then you know I'm not the most prepared person for any situation. I've been known to be "that mom" with a baby with a full diaper and not a diaper bag in sight. Or, 25 minutes into my 30 minute drive to the beach I realize I forgot the sunscreen at home. It's just who I am, guys. I forget stuff...not my little people, though, so there's that. :o)

When preparing to pack for the Type-A Parent Boot Camp being held in Walt Disney World last week I actually made a list. And as I remembered things to add to it I stopped what I was doing and added them. I was NOT going to be unprepared for this conference or spending days with my family in the theme parks. I wanted a smooth trip for all of us!

Once I started to pack my new American Tourister suitcases, I marked things off of the list. People do this everyday...why is it so hard for me? Marking things off of the list helps when I get distracted, as I so easily do {SQUIRREL!}, and I can look back later and know what's already in the suitcase. It's the little things.

So, what essentials did I want to know for certain were in my bags? Aside from the normal clothing and undies and such? I'm gonna give you 10 Essentials to Pack for Disney. These are truly essential items that you would want to have somewhere on your person if you head out to any theme park. Here we go.

1. Sunscreen - seems like a pretty obvious item to have in your bag. Well, I've forgotten it a million times and we've paid out the wah-zoo at whatever place we were at to make sure we weren't fried at the end of the day. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 70 is our favorite for the adults and big kids. It goes on smooth and isn't greasy or oily. For the baby we bought the Neutrogena Baby Lotion SPF 45+. Again, goes on smooth and not greasy or oily. That's my BIGGEST pet-peeve about sunscreen...the greasy feeling after applying. Not at all the case with Neutrogena!
2. Rain Ponchos - I have NO idea what the weather is like in Disneyland, CA, but I can attest to the fact that if you come to Walt Disney World, FL you're going to see a rain shower or two. They're usually over in just a few minutes, but they're there. And without a rain poncho it might ruin your day. Or at least your next couple of hours. Before you leave for your vacay, run into the nearest dollar store and pick up a few. You'll be glad you did!
3. Snacks - Trust me on this one. You are going to want to have something in your bag or backpack to snack on while in the theme parks. Sure, you can buy snacks there. Treat yourself to a Mickey ice cream or an Olaf Caramel Apple! But, when you're standing in line and hunger strikes you'll be glad you have a little something tucked away. These KIND bars are the best. Few calories, high protein, dairy free...I could go on. Try them. You'll like them!
4. Baby Food - I mean, if YOU have a snack, be sure you packed them for the baby, too. Have you seen the new {well, new to me since Mabry is my first baby in five years.} squeeze pouches of baby food. GENIUS! They're {mostly} mess-free and baby loves them! Mabry's favorite right now is made by Plum in the Banana and Pumpkin flavor. 
5. iPhone Charger - You laugh. I see you. I kid you not, I maybe pulled my DSLR from it's bag twice while in Disney this last week. I pulled my phone out for just about every photo op. Of course, I should've taken my own advice here because my phone was completely dead each night that we left the parks. Had I had my charger in my bag I could've found an outlet and recharged for a few minutes here and there. Better yet, if I had a Mophie Juice Pack Plus I wouldn't have even had to worry about my battery life. Now I know.
6. Extra Memory Cards  - If you're going to be using your "big girl" camera more often than your iPhone then you'll not want to get the MEMORY CARD FULL message. Not gonna lie, it's happened to me more than once! Pack extra memory cards.
7. Extra Clothes for the Kids - Before last week I probably wouldn't have done this one. Even though I've been a mom for more than 12 years, I always forget the extra clothes. Always. Boy, am I glad that I had them this time. Don't ask me how, but Jett sat in poo somewhere between the hotel to Animal Kingdom. And it wasn't his own. I was so thankful to have an extra shirt for him!!! Aside from the poo incident though, you'll want extra clothes for drippy ice cream covered tees, a potty accident {of your own child's poo} or coming off of Kali River Rapids drenched!
8. Reusable Zipper Bags - Those extra clothes you're bringing? Put them in a reusable zipper bag to stay dry until you need them. Remember the rain showers I talked about? Well, if you forget the rain ponchos and you and your bag gets wet you'll still have a set of dry clothes if you follow this advice. Pop an empty bag or two in your bag/backpack for just in case reasons. You never know. {I discovered these 2.5 Gallon Hefty bags before our last trip. They were the perfect size! Big enough to fit a few sets of kids clothes!
9. Activity Books and Crayons - Do you love the parades at Disney? I do. I love to find my spot on the curb at least 30 minutes early and people watch. Er, I mean, wait for the parade to begin. My kids liking this?? Not so much. Activity books and crayons keep them busy so I can people watch wait.
10. Refillable Water Bottle - The very last thing you want to do while at a theme park is become dehydrated. Drink lots of water to prevent this. Duh, right?!? Take a refillable water bottle and just refill at any water fountain you run into. {Disney Tip: Did you know you can ask any Quick Service food location for a cup of ice water and they'll give it to you for free? Yep. You can.}

So, there's my list of 10 Essentials to Pack for Disney. What'd I forget? Anything? What would you add? Tell me in the comments.

Disclosure: The links within this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and purchase one or more of these products I will get a small commission. :o)

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!