Basically a food blog.

Disneyland

Just an updated photo of my house. Check back on the blog for interior design tips;)

Disneyland. Where a musical surprise will breakout in the middle of the street.

I'll give it to you straight. One of my main goals when I travel is to try alllll the food. It's totally unhealthy...but someone's gotta do it??? I figure I might as well put all the calories to use and let you know the DL on Disney foods. If things don't work out for me in the mainstream working world, I'll gladly transform into a food blogger. 

I did not expect this macaroon to really speak to me, but it was so good I downed the thing for brekkie. That snow up top is melt-in-your-mouth white chocolate & you better believe it was fresh. 

Location: Jolly HolidayBlogger and Internet users alike, meet Maddie. I know, she's beautiful. Maddie (or as I call her, Clyde) is my cousin, but she's even more of a little sister. Besides being 100% lovable, she is stubborn, she is sassy and she is hilarious. Maddie has suffered from Cystic Fibrosis (a life-threatening genetic disease that damages the lungs and digestive system) her whole life and to be honest, it sucks. This little firecracker spends hours everyday on medicine & treatments just to be healthy enough to go to school or hang with friends. I've known Maddie since she was born, but spending 30 min on my makeup in the morning while she sits strapped to a nebulizer (breathing treatment) and sets out her medication for the day is an eye opener to say the least. 

Everyone could stand to learn from Maddie and the way she lets people love her. She doesn't create distance or set up emotional blocks with those she cares about. She talks about her inner circle with so much confidence and a willingness to let it grow; never questioning other's motives, just loving them for their effort. Clyde, thanks for being my friend, showing me how to love myself and trying not to scream at me while I bossed you around at Disneyland for 5 days.

It's the one and only, Dole Whip. Not being super hip on pineapple, I'm not this ice cream's #1 fan. Maddie wasn't either, but did we eat it? Well, duh. Of course we did.

Location: Tikki Room - Adventureland

Chatted her marriage to Mickey, favorite cheeses, fame and her clothing designers. Find all these deets next on the blog;)

Nothing fake here. Genuine smiles.

Duck face.

Guys I don't know what it is, but I feel like this picture of me is a great depiction of what I'll look like as a young mom. haha. I'm keeping this on file so I can compare when the time comes. Anyways, Princess Tiana and Maddie looking on point.

(Non-Alcoholic) Mint Julep. Good, but probably not a future priority for me. However, the Monte Cristo sandwich is the quickest, most delicious way to diabetes. It's turkey, ham and swiss cheese deep fried and served with berry jam. I didn't get a picture, but it can be found at the Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans.

California Adventures

Maddie got this cool coin from an amazing friend who shares her same disease and we definitely wanted to be sure we took a picture with it in the magical kingdom. Watch this video to learn more about the tokens and the girl who made them. Definitely balled my eyes out when I watched it. Bless my tender heart. 

The coin reads, "Keep it. Pass it. Hold it close. Whatever you choose to do, love will follow it through."

Okay, the Cozy Cone Motel was my fave food joint in all of California Adventures. I got some pretzel bites that I drowned in fake cheese sauce and it was awesome. Also downed a refreshing Red's Apple Freeze (pictured in all it's glory below).

Feeling a bit Goofy.

Laguna Beach. It's a looker, super artsy and only 35 min from the Magical Kingdom.

Not only was it Maddie's first time at Disneyland, but it was also her first time at the beach! Lot's of big steps. Her only complaint, not many big shells and medical equipment doesn't allow her to swim. My complaint. Too bloody cold to swim.

Model.

Seeing as I fell for the ocean in Australia, I couldn't help but miss the place. Don't you worry for my well-being though because I'm already making plans to go back. I'm actually really poor rn, but it's #1 on my imaginary priorities list. It comes right before moving to Disneyland to get a job as a Disney princess. 

Much love, Cass

Melbourne + Whitsundays ft. Gramsy

Melbourne

Grams Dar walking Hozier Lane in the heart of Melbs, looking super hip and trendy as per usual. Is it possible for your grandma to be cooler than you? I think after you scroll this post you'll decide the answer is definitely yes. 

CHIN CHIN. Eat your heart out, fellow foodies.

I talked this popular eating establishment up and up until Grandma Dar agreed to eat here. In Grams' top 3 choices of eats is probably Maccas (Aussie nick-name for McDonalds) so you can imagine her dismay when the menu only included things like, "Seared yellow fin tuna w. Thai basil, pink grapefruit & ginger salad, chilli jam & coconut" and, "Isaan-style crazy hot BBQ chicken w. smoked chilli & roasted shallot nam prik". Slightly different than a Big Mac, I suppose. Bad news? She was not plesased + it may have been $25 a plate. Good news? I got two plates of pure deliciousness. mmmm.

Pardon the language.

Melbs is spilling over with artistic spark and creativity. Not sure what the story is behind this piece, but I believe that to be a beautiful aboriginal boy and I love it. 

Because it's always time for...

St. Paul's Cathedral in the CBD. The last time I hopped off the train and walked out to see this sight I was so proud to be a wannabe Aussie. Jeeze I love this place. This street is full of thousands of people going to work, grabbing a bite to eat, playing instruments in the street and giving me something Ben Franklins can't buy, that city buzz. You may have also noticed that sign hanging on the front of the cathedral. It reads, "Let's fully welcome refugees." Good on you Oz.

Flinders Street Station in all its old-school glory. If buildings could talk...

Just have a moment for yourself to take this all in. IT'S A DONUT ON TOP OF MY SHAKE. WHAT IS THIS WIZARDRY?! 

Melbourne, Victoria's parliament building. It's a looker.

Cairns/The Great Barrier Reef

Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were all like "whoa", and we were like "whoa", and you were like "whoa..." Finding Nemo in real life folks.

lolololol. When did my grandma get so cool?! We had to wear these Gucci wet suits because it was stinger season and no one wants to get peed on. For those of you who aren't in the know, apparently pee and vinegar help jelly fish stings. Glad I didn't ever need to test it out.

These scenes brought to you by the Great Barrier Reef.

I had to...

Millaa Millaa Falls

OKAY. This has got to be the cutest grandma you've ever seen. Oh my heck. 

"Want a thing-a-ma-bob? I got twenty!" Little treasures brought to you by Hideaway Bay. Had the whole beach to ourselves. 

We got stumbled upon this shack on an almost completely vacant beach and a random dude said we could borrow it. I didn't ask questions. Pretty sure we only saw maybe 5 other people the entire time we were on this beach. One of them had a dog that he claimed was the most expensive dog in all of Australia because it could sniff out termites. hahaha gotta love the human race.

While I don't have an "insta-husband", I do have an insta-gramma and I think that might be better.

Airlie Beach/The Whitsunday Islands

If you're seeing this and your over the age of 60, don't get ahead of yourself. She's taken..

I think besides getting adopted into a sea turtle family and swimming just inches over the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands were my favorite. There are 74 small islands that were once believed to have been mountain tops until the end of the ice-age when the sea levels rose and turned the tips into islands. Our tour guide taught me that. Not sure how valid that explanation is, so do your research people. Despite how these little peanuts came to be, they are sure to bring out your inner adventurer. 

I know you're not going to believe this, but #nofilter, no editing . Pinky promise. View from our hotel in Airlie Beach.

Hill Inlet lookout ft. Whitehaven Beach: Ranked in the top 5 beaches in the world.

Crazy hair, don't care.

Whitehaven Beach ft. a yoga pose and a super model insta gramma.

Grams Dar and I took a boat from where we were staying in Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island. The island is so small it was probably made for ants and can be crossed by golf cart in about 10 minutes. Love this pic of grandma Dar. She's looking so glamorous. I think she's got this whole blogger thing down.

Typical tourist photo.

Excuse me while I purposefully bury myself in all Oz feelings. Honestly, been putting this post off for a bit now. For starters, I don't like to do much unless I can put my whole heart in it and it's tiring giving your heart away. Secondly, this will be my last post of Oz photos for the next while and I know I'm a bit dramatic, but the thought of that sends my heart into panic mode. When I think of my little beans (Lu, Finn and Jeebs) getting bigger without me and all the birthdays/ weddings/gatherings and squeezes I'm sure to miss out on, I can't help but feel all sorts happy-sadness. You know, the kind that makes you cry and smile at the same time. Cry because you miss it, but smile because you had it and you know somehow you always will. Missing mi amigos Australian & that includes you, Chartres clan. 

And I'd be super ungrateful if I didn't thank my Gramsy here. Who else's grandma volunteers to fly across the globe and get forced into the activities of a 23 year old for two weeks? No one else's grandma. That's who. I googled it. Thank you for the laughs, the snorkeling, helping distract me from reality (leaving half my heart on that massive island) and being such an example and future #grandmagoals. Love you.

Also, you know how sometimes in Relief Society they do a "good news minute"? hahaha. This is like that. So I'd like to raise my hand and announce that I have taken a job offer and will be teaching 5th grade next year for Granite School District! Sometimes I wonder what the devil I've gotten myself into, but even during those times a hushed peace can be felt. Here comes my next life adventure, exploring the human minds of 10-11 year olds and making about 30 new best friends (assuming they all like me). Bring it.