Recent (non-work) accomplishments: got these cute-as-a-button porch rockers like a quintessential North Carolinian.

Last night, when I was drinking my vodka-cran-with-a-lime (or my Vodcram, as I call it) from a mason jar, I said “hey y’all” to the neighbors who passed my house. And sometimes I would fan myself and say things like “Lord have mercy, that there boy ain’t right in his head, bless his heart” (probably after watching the news).

Guys, I’m so southern now. 

Incidentally, when I add a slice of orange to my Vodcram, as one does, it then becomes a Vodcramo.

But I digress.

This front porch, along with the back porch (which I shall photograph for a future post – perhaps with a Vodcramo), is my favorite place to work and write. Otherwise, what was the point of moving to coastal North Carolina? To burrow in an unused bedroom (or “home office” as the kids say)? I think not.

I do declare, that would be sillier than an old June bug.

Because remote work and life as a digital nomad was meant to be experienced from the porch (or the park, or pool, or anyplace that makes your little heart pitter-patter).

by Tryna Fitzpatrick

🎵 “This little light o’ mine, I’m goin’ let it shine…” 🎵 

You might remember this song from your childhood. It’s actually great advice because we successful babes and boys have got to stop dimming our lights to appease others.

What do I mean?

Let me ask you a question…

What do you want right now? 

For me – I want to be healthy and fit. I want to buy a second home. I want to write a book. 

For you – maybe it’s to travel the world or fall in love with the man or woman of your dreams. 

But all too often, we sabotage ourselves because we think we need to justify these desires, especially to those who think we’ve already enjoyed enough success in life. In fact, I’d classify that as one of my principal pet peeves – people who discount my success by telling me that I’m oh-so “lucky” – as if my life has been nothing but a series of winning lotto tickets, four-leaf clovers, and materialized birthday wishes.

As anyone who has experienced success can attest: it has nothing to do with “luck” and everything to do with the blood, sweat, and tears of our sacrifices – our trials and errors – our labor and love and losses that so often piggyback life’s achievements.

Perhaps it is a sense of guilt that compels us to downplay and justify our wants and desires. Because you can’t possibly have a great husband and kids *and* a successful career, or take amazing vacations *and* live in your dream home, right? Out of guilt we (let’s face it – “we” = women) sometimes dim our lights so others are not blinded by the shine of our successes.

It’s how we mask ourselves in order to blend in with the crowd. Well, I’m here to tell ya – blending with the crowd is not how you bedazzle your dreams.

It doesn’t matter WHY you want a thing – a new career, a bikini bod, a diamond ring,  – it only matters that YOU want it.

You don’t need to justify it, apologize for it, or devalue it…

you just need to want it BECAUSE 👏🏼 YOU 👏🏼 WANT 👏🏼 IT 👏🏼 

If you want to be rich, be fit, be successful, or just have the extra whip in your double-caff latte – JUST DO IT! (Thanks Nike ✔️) and don’t look back. Because dimming your light is not an option. 

So, stop playing it small by dressing down your desires and downplaying your life’s dividends. 

Because you never – ever – need justification to shine. 

by Tryna Fitzpatrick

Disneyland Paris is the Best Disney. Fight Me. 

We are a Disney family.

With three daughters, it was inevitable that we would be a Disney family. Over the years, we’ve been to Disney World in Orlando Florida (at least a million times), Disneyland California, tons of Disney Resorts (including Hilton Head, Vero Beach, and almost all of the Disney World Orlando value, moderate, deluxe and even the Disney World campground. We’ve been on 10 (so far) Disney cruises onboard the Wonder, Dream, and Magic – and even spent Christmas on the Fantasy.

A few years ago, we had the opportunity to visit Disneyland Paris – a true dream-come-true opportunity for our girls, and – to be honest – for me too. Plus, it was the perfect opportunity for a real Disney fangirl like myself to compare and contrast the parks so you’ll know the basics before you take the plunge (or, in this case, the international flight).

So, Let’s break this Disney Orlando – California – Paris thing down.

1. Disney Paris is gorgeous. It’s classy and colorful and oh-so complaisant for the kids and the grown ups.

2. The Disney Paris castle is better than Orlando and California and – bonus, there is a moving, snarling dragon beneath it!

3. Pirates of the Caribbean is so much better at Disneyland Paris. Who knew, right? Bonus, Johnny Depp speaking French. Oui, s’il vous plait.

4. Space Mountain is crazy-good! What a wild ride! The best! 

5. Star Tours is a blast. Great experience from the moment you enter the line. (Yes, the LINE is part of the adventure!) Although the whole thing was in French so I have no idea what was happening.

 6. The food… no big surprise – it is much better than Orlando and Disneyland California. Bonus – it’s much cheaper than Disney World Florida and Disneyland California too. 

7. The park guests… they were generally better all around. Polite. Friendly. CLEAN. Perhaps it’s just France’s beautiful summer weather, but everyone has happy, patient, calm and cordial. 

8. The cast members.. okay, let’s face it, it’s almost impossible to beat the amazing Disney staff in Orlando. The Disneyland Paris cast members were great – but not the-most-magical-place-on-earth great like WDW. 

9. The other rides (Peter Pan, Small World, etc) are definitely better in Orlando, but it was fun and interesting to experience them with a French twist.

10. The discount for Military members and their families… Disneyland Paris is the winner by far. You might save a few bucks with a military discount in the states but in Paris you get HALF OFF!! Thank you France for supporting US military members and veterans!  

The common denominator for all Disney parks we’ve been to is this: we always have an incredible family experience. We laugh and joke and scream and cry (if you haven’t cried then have you even been to Disney?) And, yeah, it’s totally fake and frosted and completely excessive, and sometimes filled with hot and testy tourists and screaming kids, but damnit – we had a great time. And that’s all that matters.

Are you on the fence about Disneyland Paris?

Go.

Or just go to any DISNEY park, resort, hotel, cruise ship, movie, store, or restaurant with your family. Seriously, just pick one. They are all little microcosms of magic for you and the kids. 

*this content was produced for The Unofficial Disney Parks Guide