Friday Fun: Family Celebrations, Epcot Adventures, and Finding My Blogging Balance
Oh, Friday! What a wonderful feeling after another incredibly full and fulfilling week. It truly feels like time is just flying by, especially when you have little ones growing up before your very eyes. This past week was particularly special as we celebrated my amazing baby girl’s 9th birthday! Nine years old – can you believe how quickly those years have vanished? It feels like just yesterday I was starting this blog when she was a mere one-year-old. Looking back at posts from her second and fifth birthdays truly brings a tear to my eye. There’s a unique sense of time acceleration that comes with parenthood, watching your children evolve and blossom. It’s a phenomenon I don’t think I’ll ever fully get used to, but one I cherish deeply.
So, what exactly did my imaginative nine-year-old wish for on her special day? A trip to Paris, of course! While a spontaneous flight across the Atlantic wasn’t quite on the cards, we found the next best thing – a delightful journey to the France Pavilion at Epcot! Being fortunate enough to have annual passes to Disney World means we get to immerse ourselves in these magical experiences regularly. Epcot holds a special place in our hearts; my kids absolutely adore exploring the diverse countries of the World Showcase. France, surprisingly, isn’t a pavilion we’ve spent extensive time in before, making this birthday excursion all the more exciting and memorable. We savored authentic croissants, indulged in delicious baguette sandwiches, and treated ourselves to decadent napoleons and rich chocolate mousse for dessert. Every single bite was simply heavenly, creating a truly Parisian culinary experience right here in Florida.
Adding to our good fortune, the renowned Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was just beginning to unfurl its beauty during our visit. We were incredibly lucky to catch a glimpse of several magnificent topiaries being put into place last week, transforming the park into a vibrant tapestry of floral artistry. This festival is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite event at Epcot – yes, even more so than the Food & Wine Festival! I’m already eagerly anticipating my next visit, yearning to stroll leisurely through the blooming gardens on a sunny day and take in all the intricate details. Over the years, the festival has significantly expanded its food and beverage booths, evolving into the perfect fusion of natural beauty, horticultural wonder, and culinary delights. It’s truly a feast for all the senses, combining all the things I adore into one spectacular experience.
Pooh!
My daughter’s recent birthday marked the grand finale of what I affectionately call our “first wave of birthdays.” January and February are always bustling months for our family, packed to the brim with back-to-back birthday and anniversary celebrations. While these moments are filled with immense joy and delicious food, it’s safe to say that those celebratory calories tend to accumulate rather quickly! Consequently, I’ve found myself carrying a few extra pounds that I’m now actively working to shed. Those indulgent feasts, while wonderful, definitely add up on the scale. To tackle these uncomfortable extra pounds, especially now that the weather is warming up and shorts are making their annual reappearance, I’m back on my personal wellness trifecta. This includes diligently tracking my intake on My Fitness Pal (you can find me there as aggiegoodman if you’d like to connect and share motivation!), consistently hitting the gym for invigorating workouts, and keeping my trusty Fitbit strapped to my wrist to monitor my activity and sleep. This integrated approach helps me stay accountable and motivated on my journey back to feeling my best.
To further reinforce my commitment and keep myself accountable, I’ve made a conscious effort to share more of my healthy meals on my Instagram account. It’s amazing how much a little public accountability can motivate you to make smarter choices! Here are a couple of my delicious and healthy eats from this past week that kept me on track:
A comforting bowl of leftover Chipotle Chicken Chili, which I was delighted to discover waiting for me in the freezer, perfectly paired with crispy toasted corn tortillas. Simple, quick, and incredibly satisfying!
This wholesome and delicious breakfast was a true winner: sprouted toast from Trader Joe’s, generously spread with creamy whipped chive cream cheese, topped with fresh spinach, savory chicken breakfast sausage, and a perfectly cooked egg. The best part? This entire plate of deliciousness came in at only about 250 calories – making it an ideal way to start the day feeling nourished and energized!
If you’re seeking a spiritual pick-me-up or simply a way to invite more calm and contentment into your daily life, I cannot recommend these two books highly enough. I purchased them a couple of weeks ago and have been reading and writing in them regularly, finding immense value. They are The Simple Abundance Daybook of Comfort and Joy and The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude. For Lent this year, I made a conscious decision to actively involve more gratitude into my days. While I’ve always considered myself a grateful person, I realized that I wasn’t consistently *living* with gratitude on a daily basis in a truly intentional way. It’s one thing to acknowledge blessings, but another entirely to actively seek them out and document them. You certainly don’t need a fancy journal to embark on this practice; simply try writing down five things you are grateful for each day and observe the profound shift it creates in your perspective and overall mood. It’s a powerful reminder and a wonderfully enriching activity that I sincerely hope to continue long after Lent concludes.
In case you’ve been wondering why my blog posts have been a little less frequent lately, dear friends, this image right here offers a glimpse into my current reality. I’m going to be honest and open with you: I am genuinely struggling to figure out how much time to dedicate to all the various passions and responsibilities in my life. I’ve intentionally pulled back from blogging a bit recently because I’m trying to carve out more time for my studies, which are demanding but deeply rewarding. As a result, I’m also cooking significantly less than usual, which naturally makes sharing new recipes here a challenge. While I do have quite a few recipes photographed and patiently waiting in the wings, I often find myself lacking the energy or the mental bandwidth to sit down and write the accompanying posts. This morning, however, I woke up with a profound sense of missing my blog, missing the creative outlet, and missing the act of writing. So, here I am, writing quickly, spontaneously, and from the heart, and it feels absolutely wonderful – exactly the way I like it. I truly hope you’ll be patient and understanding with me as I navigate the remainder of my first semester and strive to find that elusive “balance” thing. Does anyone ever truly figure it out completely? It feels like a perpetual work in progress, but I’m committed to finding a rhythm that works for me and allows me to continue sharing my journey with all of you.
Before I leave you to enjoy your wonderful weekend, let me share a little bit of vibrant sunshine on a plate – some absolutely stunning citrus salads that have recently caught my eye and are perfect for brighter days:
This refreshing Citrus Salad with Orange Poppyseed Dressing comes from my talented friend, A Farmgirl Dabbles. It’s a burst of flavor and color!
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Another vibrant option is this beautiful Orange Beet Fennel Salad, shared by my wonderful friend, Reluctant Entertainer. The colors alone are inspiring!
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And finally, this nutritious and flavorful Kale, Toasted Almond and Orange Salad comes from my fantastic friend, Cookin’ Canuck. A perfect blend of textures and tastes!
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