Festival of the Arts, 2026

Hello Lovely Readers,

Here's my recap of the 2026 Epcot International  Festival of the Arts. I went twice this year. The firstMonday that I wasn't blacked out, and the very last day of the festival. Thankfully, I didn't get rained on this year. I went with a friend during the first visit, so I sampled a lot more food and drinks.  I also did a couple of "interactive" activities.

It is an Art Festival...

Animation Academy.  

This is the beginning of Edna from "The Incredibles".  I didn't finish her.

It was raining last year, so I didn't get to paint the mural↓

A portion of the completed Mural on the last day of the festival

They have many step into the painting photo ops.  

This one is Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze

A non-festival drink, but a really tasty Strawberry Hard Cider!

The Food & Drinks
That I consumed

The Artisits Table

The American Adventure

Peppercorn-crusted Striploin

with Grilled Asparagus, Potatoes au Gratin & Au Poivré Butter

The Artisits Table

The American Adventure

Dark Chocolate Torte

Flourless Chocolate Cake, Whipped Cream & Raspberries

Pastoral Palate

Germany

A Play on Rose Flight

Frozen Rose, Rose Blond Ale, Rose Hard Cider

Pop Eats!

Inspired by Pop Art

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

Croque Monsieur-Inspired Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

with Black Forest Ham, Gruyere & Bechamel Sauce

El Artista Hambriento

Mexico

Pear-fect Maragrita

Calenda Mezcal Jove, Prickly Pear Puree, Passion Fruit Puree & LeJay Creme de Cassis with a Potpourri Salt Rim

Fictional Victuals

Dishes inspired by books

Chapter 2: Plate of Impossible Bites

Roasted Turkey Breast, Onion & Bacon Custard Tart, Cherry Gel, 

Brown Butter Toast Milk Foam, and Pineapple-Toffee Butter

Deco Delights

Inspired by Art Deco

Sparkling Sepcatacle Gateau

Vanilla Bean Mousse with a Golden Caramel Center and Apricot Jam on a Hazelnut Cookie

This was so good, I forgot to get a pic of the inside, which was pretty cool

Craftsman's Courtyard

Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Movement

Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail

Cold Brew Coffee, Simple Syrup, Orange Bitters & Jim Beam Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Craftsman's Courtyard

Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Movement

Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels

with Sauteed Tomatoes, Garlic & Fresh Herbs

L'Art De La Cuisine Francaise

France

Creme de Brie en Petit Pain

Warm Cramy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl

L'Art De La Cuisine Francaise

France

Frozen French Martini

Grey Goose Vodka, Chambord, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, and Grape Juice with a Lemon-Lime Foam

The Painted Panda

China

Char Siu Pork Bun

Sweet &Savory Cantonese-style BBQ Pork in a Steamed Bun

Goshiki

Japan

Tokyo Kawaii Roll

Chripsy Shrimp Tempura Wrapped in Multicolor Sushi Rice with Yellow Yuzu Sauce & Tangy Plum Sauce

with Plum Wine {not part of the festival} 

Gourmet Landscapes

Canada

Wild Mushroom Risotto

with Aged Parmesan, Traffle Savings & Zinfandel Reduction

How cool is this? 

It was on the marquee in New York's Amsterdam Theatre, where ALADDIN on Broadway is playing. It is 1200 pounds and 14 feet tall. And smoke comes out of it!!

Below are some of the Art Festival Magic Shots

It's their shortest festival, but it packs a punch. I really like the food & drinks at this one. Maybe better than Food & Wine. 

Have you been to this festival?

Until next time

Stay 🌞 

Lunar New Year

Hello Lovely Readers,

It's the year of the Fire Horse!

Every 60 years, or five cycles of the Chinese zodiac, the regular year of the horse becomes a rare, violate, high-energy Fire 

Symbolizing intense passion, rapid change, independent spirit, and potential disruption, favoring bold, action-oriented, and transformative pursuits. Historically, these years are associated with significant societal shifts. 

🔥The Fire element intensifies the Horse’s natural traits, leading to a dynamic, fast-paced, and sometimes chaotic year

🔥It is considered a time to break old patterns, embrace, and take risks. 

🔥 Encouraging confidence and speaking up for one's desires

The Fire 🐎 Woman

 @ China Pavilion, Epcot

A Fire Horse woman (born 1966, 2026) is characterized by a bold, independent, and passionate personality, often described as fiercely self-reliant, intelligent, and rebellious.

Due to the intense combination of the fire element and the horse sign, we are considered natural leaders, highly energetic, and driven, though historically criticized for being "too much" or defying traditional gender roles

Key Personality Traits

🔥 Fiercely independent, seeking freedom and rarely backing down from challenges

🔥 A high-energy, fiery, and sometimes volatile temperament

🔥 Sharp intellect & charisma

🔥 Rebellious & non-conformis, often challenging existing norms and societal expectations

🔥 Stubborn & headstrong

Strengths and Challenges 

🔥  Strengths: Courageous, fast-paced, magnetic, and highly productive in pursuing goals

🔥 Challenges: Potential for impatience, recklessness, and burning out due to excessive, fast-paced action.

Cultural Significance and Misconceptions 

🔥 The "Unlucky" Myth: Traditionally, this sign was considered unfavorable for women, with superstitions claiming they would bring bad luck to husbands or be unsuited for traditional marriage. 

🔥 The Reality: Modern interpretations see this as a symbol of power, independence, and strong leadership rather than bad luck. 

I was born at the tale end of the last 🔥 🐎 year. Which does mean I'll be 60 this year! Since I was a baby last time, I didn't realize any of this beforehand. 

And I will say, quite a bit of the Fire Horse Woman description does apply to me 😉 

Do you know your Chinese Zodiac sign?

Until next time

Stay Sunny 🌞 

Zootopia

Hello Lovely Readers,

Today's post is about Zootopia!

Animal Kingdom opened a new Zootopia show under the Tree of Life at the end of 2025. It's a fun 4-D experience in the theatre that formally showed A Bug's Life. 

So, to commemorate that, they're doing some fun tie-ins for passholders

Including the first passholder magnet of 2026 with Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde

And a Zootopia Passholder dessert. A cute little carrot cake sundae with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, pecans, carrot cake crumbles in a waffle bowl, topped with a birthday cake shell and a white chocolate carrot top

I don't think this was only for passholders, but it is a cute magic shot

With just the pawpsicle

Have you seen Zootopia? 

As of this post, I've only seen the first one, but I'll watch the 2nd one when it comes to Disney+

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

Festival of the Holidays

Hello Lovely Readers,

Call me spirited. I love the parks at Christmas! This was my first time going to Walt Disney World during the holidays. First Park I visisited was Epcot.

Epcot's Christmas Tree

Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen

Fire-roasted Chesnuts

Yukon Holiday Kitchen

Canada

Beer Flight

Maple Cookie Blond Ale, Brown Sugar Coffee Porter, Peanut Butter Banana Porter

Los Posadas Holiday Kitchen

Mexico

Tamal de Pollo con Mole

Shredded Chicken and Mole in Corn Massa topped with Mole Negro, Queso Fresco, 

Creama Mexicana, Slivered Almonds & Sesame Seeds

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen

Germany

Cheese Fondue

in a Bread Bowl with Steamed Baby Vegetables and Marble Potatoes

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen

Italy

Montanara

Fried House-made Pizza Dough with Pomodoro Sauce, Parmesan, and Fresh Basil

& Prosecco

Holiday Hearth Desserts

The Odyssey

 Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate
with Twix & Whipped Cream

Until next time

Cookie Stroll

I went to the Epcot International Festival of Holidays Cookie Stroll for the first time

I missed going last year...so I went on the first day I was not blacked out 

There are 13 cookies on this years stroll, although you only need to buy five cookies to get the festival treat/prize!

My choices...

Maple Leaf Shortbread {my fav}

Yukon Holiday Kitchen

Chocolate Snicker Bar

American Holiday Table

Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth

Experimental Prototype

 Cookies of Tomorrow 

Coffee Mocha

Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen

Cranberry-Oatmeal

Holiday Hearth Desserts

The prize was a spatula, mini M & M's, and a peanut butter cookie recipie 

I wasn't quite a glutton, I brought baggies so I could savor them later

I hope to go back, there's a couple I still have my eye on, plus Ill probably get another Maple 🍁 Shortbread

HRT

Hello Lovely Readers,

I started HRT last Monday. I have a twice weekly estrogen patch, and I am taking a progesterone capsule nightly

I was a little apprehensive about it, but I've almost gone a year without a period, and I don't really want to go without those ever so important hormones.

While in the throes of perimenopause I was also grieving the loss of my husband, so some things overlapped, and I couldn't really tell you what was what.

It's been almost five years since I lost him. I'm in a much better place emotionally, so some symptoms I've been experiencing I need to chalk it up to me being perimenopausal, and not grief

So let's see if they help with~

• Sleeping better
• Hot flashes
• Hair loss
• Peeing way too much
• A weird smell, like fryer grease
• Brain fog
• Forgetfulness 
• Mood swings
• Dry eyes
• Itchy skin
• Anxiety 
• Runny nose
• It probably won't solve, but I now have a gut

I'll get back to you about it...

xo,

Steph