Free Disney Postcard

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Did you know that you can write a letter to a Disney character and get a postcard in return? There are 2 addresses that you can send your letters to.

Disney World will send you an autographed postcard when you write a letter to the following address:

Walt Disney World Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

Disneyland will send you an autographed postcard when you write a letter to the following address:

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

The picture will arrive with 4-6 weeks.

10 Classic Childhood Playground Games

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Photo credit: http://www.funkiplanet.com/

Remember these fun games from childhood? The kiddos will love these!

  1. Hopscotch – All you need for this classic game is a bit of sidewalk chalk, a decently-sized pebble and some coordination. Teaching kids the hopping pattern is almost as much fun as the game itself! If the prospect of skinned knees and the parent-sanctioned throwing of rocks is off-putting, consider an indoor hopscotch mat and a beanbag instead.
  2. Dodgeball – Splitting kids into two equally-sized groups and handing out a few balls can provide for hours of good-natured fun. This is one game that improves with the addition of more players, so there’s no one left out when you’re dealing with a large group. The rubber dodgeballs that were standard 20 years ago are still available in sporting goods stores and from online retailers, but opting for a few foam balls with softer surfaces might be a more safety-conscious move.
  3. Horse – If all you have on hand is a basketball and access to a hoop, you’re not restricted to a few games of one-on-one. Horse is a faithful standby that’s ideally suited for two players. Because there’s no guarding, Horse may also be a safer alternative to traditional basketball for younger children.
  4. Mother May I? – Remember all of the giggles resulting from a successful tag? Share the fun of Mother May I? with your own children, but be sure to explain that it’s not okay to answer every request with a “No, you may not” to avoid losing the game. Use Mother May I? as an example of inevitable loss, and a chance to impart good sportsmanship skills along with proper grammar usage.
  5. Simon Says – Whether you’re on the playground, in the car or in the living room, Simon Says is an infinitely portable game that requires no more equipment than a few players and great listening skills.
  6. Foursquare – Before there was a social networking application called Foursquare, it was a beloved playground game. Relive the days before social media seemed to take over everyone’s life by teaching your child the original meaning of Foursquare!
  7. Tag – Kids sometimes have a larger supply of energy than the patience available to their parents and caregivers, which is why any game that helps them burn off some of that excess energy is a blessing. There’s something timeless and almost perfect about tag, as it’s difficult for kids to claim that another is cheating, so disputes are few and far between. Just be sure that all kids understand the importance of tagging one another gently, as rough tags can happen in the heat of competition.
  8. Red Light, Green Light – Getting caught moving after the traffic light commands everyone to “freeze!” is more funny than frustrating, and the awkward poses borne of freezing in mid-movement are an endless source of humor. Show your kids how to play Red Light, Green Light by participating in a few rounds, then sit back to watch the show!
  9. Freeze Tag – When you have a large group on your hands, a regular game of tag can leave the title of “It” shuffling very quickly. This classic spin leaves everyone frozen after they’re tagged, making for funny sights and longer games as “It” chases down every member of the opposing team.
  10. Red Rover – Kids come hurtling across the playground from one line to another, barreling into the opposing team and either breaking through their defenses or landing squarely on the ground as they’re trounced. Make sure that Red Rover games happen on a patch of lush grass that’s free of debris, and that everyone understands the difference between blocking and throwing someone.

One major difference in the way kids play today and the way that they entertained themselves a few decades ago can be attributed to the advent of the “helicopter parent” culture. Some games, like dodgeball and Red Rover, have fallen from favor with some parents out of fears regarding their safety. The fact that you’re not afraid of a few bumps and bruises doesn’t mean that the parents of your kids’ playmates feel similarly. Before introducing a potentially dangerous game, be sure that your kids know the proper safety precautions and are prepared to have a game or two broken up by an anxious adult.

Article re-printed with permission from http://www.findananny.net/

DIY Sea Glass

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Here's how to make these really pretty sea glass style jars!

Materials needed:

Old vases from Goodwill, Walmart sells canning jars that work well too.

Elmer’s Glue

Food Coloring

Sponge Paint Brushes.

You mix the glue with the food coloring to make your desired color. Add a little coloring to the glue, and then keep adding until you have the color you want. I put on the glue paint on around the lower part of the vase and the upper rim. Then, you do smooth strokes all the way up and down the vase. After it's dry, be sure to do one more coat for a polished finish.

New York Times Best Cookie Recipe

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Thanks Tender Crumb for this amazing Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe!

Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes twenty-six 5-inch cookies or 8 1/2 dozen 1 1/4-inch cookies

Ingredients
1 pound unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
- Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies.
- Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

20 Unique Disney World Photo Ideas

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My husband is a Disney World fanatic. I asked him where some of his favorite photo spots are located. Everyone needs the classic shot standing in front of Cinderella's Castle, but here's his list of some of the more unique photo opportunities.

Magic Kingdom

  • Next to the statue of Goofy in front Cinderella's Castle
  • Along the "Rivers of America" with the Liberty Square Riverboat in the background
  • Pose with one of the many street performers on Main Street U.S.A., such as the Dapper Dans.
  • Take a seat, and a photo, in one of the rocking chairs on Tom Sawyer Island
  • On the front porch of the Crystal Palace

Epcot

  • In front of the Imagination! Pavilion
  • Playing the African drums at The Outpost, between China and Germany.
  • In front of the torii in Japan
  • The gardens along the pathway adjacent to the Imagination! Pavilion
  • On one of the Friendship Boats, as it sails on the World Showcase Lagoon.

Hollywood Studios

  • Instead of filing out with the crowd after the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, walk down to the front and grab a photo with Indiana Jones' stunt double.
  • Take a seat on the speeder bike replica from Return of the Jedi, outside of Star Tours.
  • Have your kids put their hands inside the famous handprints outside the Great Movie Ride.
  • In front of Miss Piggy's Ms. Liberty fountain, outside Muppet*Vision 3D
  • With Gertie The Dinosaur!

Animal Kingdom

  • Pose next to the insect-themed movie posters before entering the theatre to see It's Tough to be a Bug.
  • Stop at the Oasis exhibits and grab a photo with a macaw or anteater.
  • There are many opportunities near Expedition Everest, such as the prayer flags or the Yeti posters.
  • In front of the tigers on the Maharajah Jungle Trek
  • Snap a photo with the cute stuffed dinosaur you'll be sure to win at Disney's Fossil Fun midway games.