The last update to my "closet room" was back in 2020 when I added a couch and reorganized the shelving to be all white, vs a mismatch of black and white. You can also the original layout in this wardrobe update post. It's come a long way since we moved in in May 2018, right?

This latest update was a necessity but I used it to my advantage to get something I've wanted for a while. Before we left on our trip to Missouri earlier this year, one of my inexpensive clothing racks fully collapsed while I was packing. The other one had also been broken for some time but was still usable. I decided to replace them both with a single unit white metal clothing rack with three sections, two for long items and the middle section has a double rack for shirts and bottoms. It also has two shelves on the top for more storage.

Now the only non-white piece is my dresser/old baby changing table. It feels wrong to paint it white, but I may do it someday.

Products:  

Angelica 70.08" Metal Clothes Rack

Dikoaina white Faux Fur Rug

KALLAX Shelf unit, white 30 3/8x57 7/8"

KALLAX Insert for bottles, white 13x13 " (used for shoes)

BILLY Bookcase, white 31 1/2x11x79 1/2"

Target 31" Stackable Shoe Shelf, white

Shoe Slotz Storage Units in Ivory

Peryman Velvet 71.6" Square Arm Sofa in Eggplant (similar)

I think this is the longest I've gone without adding to my closet, crazy! I guess that's what happens when you get older, have more self control and less need of clothes (especially if you work from home, ha ha.) 

I did receive a pair of sandals in exchange for a post on Instagram and they're already a workhorse. Any time I have to run outside quickly I'll throw them on, I even wear them while cooking dinner for extra support because they're orthotics.

I started this post before I went on my annual camping trip in Vermont and technically I did buy a sweatshirt. Even though it's a "souvenir," I'm going to add it because I'll probably wear it around the house and occasionally on cool Summer evenings.

THE (modified) RULES

1. Be mindful of purchases 
2. Quality over quantity
3. Basics are best

MY PROGRESS

 

Clothes:

1. *NEW!* VERMONT Sweatshirt in light gray via the Weston Village Store ($20, retail $50)
   

1. None yet

Shoes:

1. None yet

Handbags:

1. None yet

1. Apple Watch 8 Midnight Aluminum Case with Elderberry Sport Band (gift from Christian)
   

Activewear/Swimwear:

1. None yet

Gifted from Brands:

• *NEW!* Aetrex Maui Orthotic Flip Flops in Matte Black
  

Spent in June: $20

Spent in 2023: $20

Spent in 2023 - counting ad money: $20

Now that I've shared my few quick tips for a Disneyland trip, here are all the tasty treats and meals we had on our trip! Since we only had 2 days and 3 nights we had to be very strategic about where we ate. While I would have loved to do 3 sit-down meals a day to try as much food as possible we also wanted to prioritize all the rides that we don't have over in Disney World.  

Disneyland Eats

Disneyland Popcorn Carts

 

Mickey Beignets

Normally the Mickey-shaped Beignets with powdered sugar are found at Mint Julep Bar but it is currently closed to make way for Tiana's Restaurant so we picked ours up at their temporary location - Hungry Bear Restaurant. They're messy, but oh so good! The perfect snack to have while you sit in the shade and rest. I wish Disney World had the Mickey beignets in-park too so we didn't have to take a special trip over to Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter.

Cafe Orleans

When choosing our Disneyland sit-down restaurant we were torn between Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou. Blue Bayou is definitely the more popular of the two, but it's also more expensive so we opted for Cafe Orleans because the menus are very similar. I really enjoyed it, especially sitting outside with a nice breeze. 

I had the Roasted Chicken and a Mint Julep while Christian & Caleb had the Battered & Fried Monte Cristo. Caleb had the Triple Cheese version and Christian went for the classic.

 

My Ratatouille Dooney & Bourke bag featuring Remy & Emile was ready for tasty food!

Mint Julep

Battered & Fried Monte Cristo - Sliced Turkey, Ham and Swiss with Seasonal Preserves and choice of Pommes Frites or Petite Salad

Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Citron-Orange Salad and Coq Au Vin Jus

 

Ronto Roasters - Galaxy's Edge

A friend had posted about the Meiloorun Juice (Pineapple Juice, Minute Maid Lemonade, with Blueberry, Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice, and Desert Pear) a couple weeks before our trip so we had to try it out! We picked it up on our way to get our Mickey Beignets. They don't have this in Disney World (at least not yet) so it was fun to try an "exclusive" drink.  It's not my usual flavors but I enjoyed it for a change.

Café Daisy - ToonTown

WE had a super quick snack/lunch at Cafe Daisy on day 1 when my friend Caleb joined us. Christian and I shared the Pepperoni Pizza Flop-Over (Pepperoni, Mozzarella, Provolone with Tomato Sauce) and I stole a Daisy's Goody-Goody Donuts (House-made Mini-Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar) from Caleb. (didn't snag a picture because we ate super fast, ha ha.

Downtown Disney Eats

Naples Ristorante e Bar

 

Disney California Adventure Eats

Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums - Pixar Pier

One of our favorite eats of the trip was the famous Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num which is a very large chocolate chip cookie served nice and warm. They have these at Disney World as well but we hadn't gotten around to buying one yet. Next trip to Hollywood Studios we'll be grabbing one to see if they're just as good.

Mickey Pretzels

Can't go to Disneyland without getting something Mickey shaped so I needed a Mickey pretzel! Yes, I know I had Mickey beignets too, shh!  I got mine at Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. in Pacific Wharf (soon to be San Fransokyo) next to Pixar Pier.

Corn Dog Castle - Paradise Gardens Park

We were told we had to have an Original Corn Dog (dipped in Corn Batter and fried to a golden Brown served with Cuties® Mandarin or Small Bag of Chips) so we grabbed one for breakfast on day 2 of the trip. Meal times don't matter at Disney, ha ha! 

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

We're spoiled by EPCOT's food festivals so both of us were a little disappointed in the DCA Food & Wine Festival. I don't like cheese and almost everything on the menus had cheese, so the only thing I got was the Celebration Chocolate Fudge Brownie (Gooey Chocolate Brownie with Pecans, topped with Chocolate Pecan Glaze and finished with Chocolate Pearls and Silver Stars.) Christian got the Carbonara-Garlic Mac & Cheese with Nueske’s Peppered Bacon from the Garlic Kissed booth and loved it. Sadly he was disappointed by the Kenny’s Family Cheesecake topped with mixed berry compote from the Berry Patch booth.

Lamplight Lounge - Pixar Pier

I was very excited to eat at Lamplight Lounge but ended up disappointed.The restaurant is full of Pixar memorabilia on the inside and the outside has a beautiful view of Pixar Pier. Unfortunately we got seated at a shared raised rectangular table in the middle of the patio with a view of the people across the table from us. If we had known we would have asked to wait for a single table. The way we were seated, all next to one another, made it impossible to talk while eating, someone was always left out. The service was also pretty slow.

However, Christian and Caleb did enjoy their meals. They got the Kung Pao Bao and Al Pastor Pork Chop, respectively as well as the Donuts, a special cookies & cream version for the Food & Wine Festival. My Roasted Chicken wasn't as satisfactory, especially after the roast chicken I had the previous evening at Cafe Orleans. It lacked flavor even though it looked like it would be loaded with it.  I would maybe try eating here again but request a normal table and try the pork.

Al Pastor Pork Chop - Marinated Al Pastor Bone-in Pork Chop, Oaxaca Cheese Polenta, Pineapple Relish, Charred Onions, Roasted Red Chili Butter and Green Chili Sauce

Kung Pao-glazed crispy Pork Belly, soft Bao Bun, Red Peppers, toasted Peanuts and Green Onions

Ale and Citrus-brined, Dry-rubbed Half Chicken with Seasoned Couscous, Pickled Red Cabbage and Smoked Almond Romesco

Warm fluffy Donuts with cookies & cream dipping sauce

Finally getting around to doing some posts on our California trip in April! Let's start with something I've been looking forward to for a long time - Disneyland! While I have been to Disney World many times since my first trip in 2011 I had never been to Disneyland, or California for that matter. The parks may both be Disney but they're so different. Different rules, different rides, different sizes. It's a whole new ballgame. Having said that, it was still fairly easy for us to make the most of our trip, even though we were newbies. 

My friend Caleb lives in CA now, so he was able to give us all the locals tips that helped in addition to my own Disney knowledge. (We also got to make use of his Magic Key discount for my souvenir shopping & food, ha ha.) Since we had a large list of to-do's on my first trip to California we only did two days at Disneyland & Disney California Adventure so we had a LOT to pack in to those days.

I'm hoping to start taking more outfit photos again.  Getting tired of this dry spell I've been going through. I might have to go back to shooting with a tripod because I always feel bad having Christian take them for me (even though he's great at it!) 

Here's a simple outfit I wore this weekend. I ended up needing a sweater on top because it was very windy and chilly. It did not feel like June! I haven't worn these floral jeans in a long time, so I figured they deserved a day out. They're actually reversible but I never wear them on the plain denim side. It's also been a while since I've worn this pair of Ancient Greek Sandals. A few years ago a friend borrowed them while we were on vacation and really stretched out the straps. We had them fixed at a cobbler but now they're too tight. Such a shame. Maybe if I get rid of the ankle strap all together they'll be fine.

Tee: Everlane 'Cotton Box-Cut Pocket Tee'

Floral Jeans: Target Flipside Denim 

Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals Clio in Marine Blue

Bag: Tommy Hilfiger bucket bag (won at Clinton Crossing event)