A Pirates Adventure - Legend of the Seven Seas

Hello Lovely Readers,

I've walked past the A Pirates Adventure - Treasure of the Seven Seas building dozens of times...Remember, I became a passholder in May 2024. The other day, I decided to go on a little scavenger/treasure hunt around Adventureland

You grab a talisman and go to the kiosk, where it will set you up on your first adventure. There are five maps, and you go all over Adventureland following the clues as you seek the treasure for each map.

When you get to a destination, you activate it with your talisman. Be forewarned, you never know what you'll activate...

A few of the destinations, I'm not going to tell you where they are, or what map they correspond to; 

You'll have to figure that out on your own.

The themed decor all around Adventureland is actually part of the five treasure maps. You really go all over the place! At the end of each adventure, you "collect" a treasure, and after finishing the fifth and final map, there's a whole story that activates.

It was a fun way to run around Adventureland and entertain myself for a couple of hours. However, by the time I finished, the shop was closed, so I'm not sure if there is a prize. I'll find out next time

Have you completed this?

Stay 🌞

Eggstravaganza

Hello Lovely Readers,

I participated in Epcot's paid Easter egg scavenger hunt, Eggstravaganza, this year. You buy the "map" and then look for Eggs throughout the pavilions. I started in Canada, then made my way through. They're about 3 feet or so high with the ears, so they do stand out, mostly...

In the order I found them, where I found them & what Disney movie or short they're from:

Canada

Jackalope

Boundin'

United Kingdom

White Rabbit

Alice in Wonderland

France

Rabbit

Winnie the Pooh

Japan

Ducky & Bunny

Toy Story 4

American

Bean Bunny

The Tale of Bunny Picnic

Italy

March Hare

Alice in Wonderland

Germany

Skippy

Robin Hood

China

Judy Hopps

Zootopia

Norway

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Trolley Troubles

Mexico

Miss Bunny

Bambi

Morrocco

Alec Azam

Presto

This one was tricky. You had to come from a certain direction

The Odyssey

Thumper

Bambi

My favorite bunny. 

He was inside The Odyssey, and the building was closed. He was up in the rafters, so it was hard to get a good shot from outside

The completed Basket

My prize, The White Rabbit Easter Egg

This was a fun activity to kick off the Easter season

Until next time

Stay 🌞

Minnie Ear Collection

 Hello Lovely Readers,

So when I was growing up, Minnie Mouse earbands were not a thing! Of course, the classic cap with ears, on which you can have your name embroidered on the back in yellow. Although I can't remember if I got mine as a child or an adult. I really didn't have a desire to buy them until I became a passholder at Walt Disney World. Now, I feel naked going to the parks without them

And I do know I bought my first Minnie ears in 2024 on my second visit as a passholder. I purchased them at Animal Kingdom. They were less than $20 with any purchase. 

My first pair!

Mickey is embossed on the ears, and the bow is pink snake skin

Borrowed these

& these

Princess Ears

My 2nd pair. 

Their silhouettes are imprinted all over the ears 

Haunted Mansion ears

The Medusa portrait is in the center of the bow

 Cinderella's 70th Anniversary ears

They are SUPER heavy. The ears are hard plastic

These were less than $20, how could I not?

 Red sequin ears

EPCOT ears

The Epcot symbol is the center of the bow, and Mickey is dressed in clothes that match all the pavilions in EPCOT. This is the only selfie, because the Photo Pass photos did not capture enough detail

Yes, I'm eyeing a few more, but I can't have them all!

Do you have Minnie ears? How big is your collection?

Until next time

40 over 40

Hello Lovely Readers,

Last year, I saw an Instagram post from

a photographer putting together a project of photographing 40 women over 40. 

The "model" photoshoot consisted of a hair & makeup session, plus a stylist. She also used a wind machine,  and different sets.

I'm on the cover of a magazine with 39 gorgeous ladies, and have a two-page inside.

My dream job as a kid was model, so this was a complete pinch me moment.

 

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend a gala to celebrate all of us, plus see myself hung on a wall in a gallery {top photo}

xo,

Steph

The F • R • I • E • N • D • S Experience

Hi lovely readers,

I don't know about you, but I was and still am a HUGE Friends fan. I was 27 in 1994, the year it started, and just like the path of the Central Perk crew~I went through more than one relationship, had many ups and downs in my life, finally found my forever person, and became a mom {the day before the last episode}. 

I saw an ad on IG earlier in the year about the Long Beach, CA arrival of Friends Experience. I of course had to join.

I took my favorite person, the one born on May 5, 2004. He's watched the series at least once in order, and humored me this summer by watching it almost nightly. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, his last day of being in Southern California before going back to school.  

It was billed as the one near Long Beach since it was in the city of Lakewood, in the mall that my first job was at. Driving up to the former Joanne's/Nordstrom Rack/Dick's that had turned into an experience was weird. Once we entered the door the ghosts of retail past disappeared. 

There were so many details throughout the maze of rooms. Every corner we turned was a new discovery. I took lots of photos, plus paid for a digital photo pass the supplemented some of our photos taken by other fans.

We had a great time hanging out in Central Perk, chatting in Monica's kitchen and relaxing in Joey & Chandler's recliners. Plus, trying to get the couch up the stairs, and revisiting the famous couch in the intro. 

Here's a video recap of our experience~ @stephanieleonacross IG Reel

Try and check it out if you're a fan and it comes to your town.

Until next time...

It's a Barbie World

Hello lovely readers,

I grew up in the 70's, a proud Gen-Xer. One of my favorite toys was Barbie. I received a new one each Christmas and I had all of her accessories, too. My favorite was  the 1977 Superstar Barbie. My outfit for the day was inspired by her. I've always been a pink loving girl, and thought I would be too much in a hot pink jumpsuit but I fit right in...

So besides the movie, which was fantastic, and very empowering, Los Angeles, or more specifically Santa Monica had a fun, fan experience. It's a Barbie World included a life-size dreamhouse living room, kitchen & closet. We were able to "swim" in her pool that was full of bubbles. Then we ventured over to her camper. Her first one came out when I was kid, and they had one that we could "drive." There was also a beach, a campfire & "fountain."

There were human-sized boxes that we could pose in, and a cute wall of shoes. Upstairs was a museum, runway, recording studio, newsroom and airplane/spacecraft. It was so fun stepping into Barbie's world for an afternoon.

Check out the 4 part series first posted on my IG reels @stephanieleonacross

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Until next time...

First posted on @stephanieleonacross

Lunar New Year

It’s the Year of the Tiger! 

But why am I posting today instead of February 1st? Well, the celebration is for 15 days, and when I was a Cub Scout Leader, I would celebrate with my boys on the first Monday after the Lunar New Year started.

I started doing a Chinese New Year Celebration 10 years ago. At the time there was a Language and Culture Belt Loop and Pin that they could earn. We lived in a predominantly Spanish-speaking area, so most of the boys either knew Spanish or Latin American cultures and I thought it would be interesting for them to learn some things about a completely different culture. 

 The first year, 2012 was the Year of the Dragon, and that first year I only had a den of six boys. They colored dragon masks and we put streamers on them plus, I read the Story of the Zodiac and worked through the requirements which included teaching them some words.

Through the years, it evolved. The belt loop and pin were discontinued however, I always read the Zodiac Story, and they always made a dragon mask. I also included coloring pages with that year’s Zodiac animal, and the last few years my husband either made plain chow mein noodles, potstickers, or we brought some in. Of course, the boys had fortune cookies, too.

I updated the “calendar” so the boys knew what animal they were (caution for late January and early February birthdays, the New Year is based on the Lunar year, so it rotates around, just like Easter, so you need to actually look it up, to see what year/animal you fall under). 

The boys always looked forward to the night and enjoyed making the masks since it was one of our “fun” nights where we all hung out together. Of course, all the siblings could participate, too. 

Since I started in 2012, and there are twelve animals in the Zodiac, and I am no longer a Cub Scout Leader, we didn’t get through all twelve~ 🐭 🐮 🐯 🐰🐲🐍🐎🐑🐒🐔 🐶 & 🐷. 

This year we would have celebrated my husband since those born in 1974 are Tigers! Which has always been one of my favorite animals😁

According to Chinese lore, Tigers are, “Brave, competitive, unpredictable, and confident. They are very charming and well-liked by others. But sometimes they are likely to be impetuous, irritable, and overindulgent. They have stubborn personalities and tough judgment, Tigers work actively and express themselves boldly, doing things in a high-handed manner. They are authoritative and never go back on what they have said.” 

My husband in a nutshell! Do you know what Year you were born under?

 FYI, I'm a 🐴

Going down the aisle

Ok I don't usually prowl You Tube, but this was emailed to me. It surely is a different way to go down the aisle! You usually see choreographed dances when the bridal party is introduced, but not going down the aisle!

I'm Tweeting

Ok, I finally did it and signed up for Twitter.

You can follow me @ajoyeuxday.

What are you up to?

Beverage Monday.

Mirassou Wine

For Beverage Monday this week we are featuring a winery that is having an I DO contest. Go to their website and write 250 words about your Mirassou Moment. The winner will recieve $10,000; a trip to New York City for a 4-hour dream wedding consultation with a Brides.com editor; and a Reed & Barton 5-piece dinner service for eight, 5-piece flatware for eight, and 3-piece crystal stemware for eight.

They have a pretty informative web site. You can even download wine tasting material to have your own wine tasting. ( A great Couples Shower idea) Their wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Grigio.

So pick up some Mirassou Wine, have your Mirassou moment and then write about it for you chance at a great prize.

Cheers,