life in surround sound and process color.

LISTENING TO: OneRepublic - Rescue Me So as I sit here back at home on my couch, I'm going to squeeze out the last remaining minutes of vacation. It seems strange to already be back; it's just another reminder that I really need to be doing this more often - time is too precious to not take some of it for yourself. Our last meal of the vacation was back at the Grand Floridian - Citricos. I had a lot of overlapping memories of this hotel as I mentioned earlier; one of my favorite meals as a kid was at Narcoossee's, which is one of the first times I can remember being really impressed by a meal. With most of the resort under construction while we were there (including Narcoosee's), we were happy to be able to try Citricos. While I wasn't disappointed, it's entirely possible that my view of this meal was glossed over by the fact that it was the last real thing we had planned. Although I enjoyed it, there was something just so final about everything. I should have k...

LISTENING TO: The Avalanches - The Divine Chord (featuring MGMT, Johnny Marr) Disney Springs, Boardwalk Disney - I keep flipping back and forth between the two. The last time I was at Walt Disney World, Boardwalk Disney was the last place I visited, so I guess it's been the most clear of my memories since then. The re-branding to Disney Springs still hasn't really stuck in my mind, but it really hasn't changed all that much, which was nice to see. If we had had more time, I would have pulled a full-day of shopping and eating here, but we still got to hit a bunch of stores and enjoy the sunshine (and shade) before our reservation at Wine Bar George. Brunch here was lovely, although I really want to come back and spend more time at their bar downstairs, which reminded me a lot of an upperclass shore spot. It had a really fun atmosphere that made everything more enjoyable. We were once again thwarted by the rain on our way home, but I can't help but see it as some sort of...

LISTENING TO: Neon Trees - Text Me In The Morning So my premonitions yesterday afternoon were correct - we did end up at the Enchanted Rose last night for dinner and drinks. One of the last times I was at Disney before this trip we stayed at the Grand Floridian, and entering that hotel off the monorail is still absolutely breathtaking. It never fails to amaze me (or give me "Rose entertaining the dining room down the stairs" vibes from Titanic), and the Enchanted Rose has become one of my favorite cocktail bars in just a single night. It was still raining so we weren't able to eat on the porch outside, but the atmosphere was super inviting and intimate, and I had one of the best tequila cocktails I've had in a very long time, so I can't complain. The other thing I had forgotten was the water light parade that happens after dark - we had a perfect view of it off our balcony right as we got back from dinner. The last time I had seen it so up close was when we staye...

LISTENING TO: Never Land Orchestra - So This Is Love So before I start deep-diving the Epcot Food & Wine Festival (which I seem to have forgotten to even briefly mention yesterday), I guess I should start by mentioning last night's... food. We started the night at the Outer Rim and some glow in the dark cocktails - which seemed only appropriate, for the start of vacation. The bar itself is perfect for people watching at the hotel, which I always enjoy, and we had a fun time catching up before dinner. Where was dinner, you ask? The California Grill. For this, I have to give my sister all the credit - she was the mastermind behind all of our reservations this food-filled week, and she did not disappoint. I love the fact that in order to get to the restaurant all the way on the top floor of the Contemporary, you first have to go down to the conference center/basement. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but dinner absolutely blew me away after that inauspicious start. ...

LISTENING TO: Aunty Social - Crack A Deal       It's been too long since I've been on a plane in a small airport, and I can't believe how much I've missed it. For those of you who have never had the absolute joy of experiencing the Trenton Airport (that was not said sarcastically, either, it really has become one of my new favorite airports after one flight), I would highly recommend it. Less people, less hassle through security, the world's smallest airport bar open in the wee hours of the morning - what more could you want? A trip to Walt Disney World, you say? Well, it can do that too. Trenton Airport was the first stop on my way to the House of Mouse in over a decade, and it honestly couldn't have come at a better time. You know when you just know you need a vacation? This is exactly where I'm at right now, and I couldn't think of a better place to spend a week off. So besides it being a very early start this morning, traveling into Orlando was a pre...