I love a good mask from time to time.

While I love the control of a homemade mask, sometimes it’s nice to have the convenience of a store bought mask. I’m always trying to be cognizant of what I’m putting on my skin though, so I try to choose companies that use natural ingredients and have cruelty-free practices (vegan products are a plus!).

Enter Pacifica Beauty.

I actually first became aware of Pacifica in an Ipsy bag I received many years ago, but I’ve used a few of their products since then. When I was looking around for a sheet mask to try, I was intrigued by their Stress Rehab mask. With coconut and caffeine, it was supposed to help calm skin, minimize redness, and reduce puffiness. With how red my skin is, I was down.

Some of the reviews mentioned feeling a burning sensation, and at first I was worried that’s what I was first feeling, but it was actually a cooling, tingling sensation. The mask itself smelled amazing, and the heart cutouts for the eye holes were adorable. After I took it off, my skin felt smoother, and it definitely felt refreshed. I may have been hallucinating, but my face looked less red; the only redness I saw was the apples of my cheeks, which are ALWAYS red (it seems to be genetic).

Overall, I enjoyed this mask, and plan to use it again sometime!

Today has been five years that the boys have lived with us.

It’s weird, because it feels like not nearly that long, but also much longer at the same time.

Five years of being parents.

Five years of being a family of four.

Five years of navigating the ups and downs of raising kids with a kind of trauma that most people will never understand.

And when I say ups and downs, I do mean ups and downs.

I LOVE being the boys’ mom. Being a mom was my biggest dream for years. But it’s HARD. But between the trauma, the diagnoses, the various therapy appointments, and the attitudes I wasn’t expecting until the teen years, the one thing that remains unchanging is the love we have for one another.

Watching them grow, change, and become their own people over the past five years has been amazing, and I feel blessed to have had a front row seat. I can’t wait to see what the next five years (not to mention all the rest!) hold for these sweet boys!

One of our favorite things to do at Disney is EAT! And while some people turn their nose up at the idea of "theme park food", Disney food is definitely in a tier all its own! I will concede that you can generally find better food at the resorts than in the parks themselves, but the parks have their own delicious hidden gems!

So let's talk Magic Kingdom!

Walt Disney World's signature park isn't my favorite to eat at, but there are definitely places worth seeking out!

Favorite Snack Stand: Sunshine Tree Terrace

photo from Disney Parks

When I did my four parks, one day challenge, I finally got to try a Citrus Swirl, and it was love at first bite. Unfortunately, the only place to find it is Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland. The menu is extremely limited (ice cream, floats, and beverages), so if you're looking for a Mickey pretzel or something, this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for a unique frosty treat, this is DEFINITELY the place to go. I know the Dole Whip gets more attention, and it's definitely worth trying (I love them, and get one every trip), but I actually think the Citrus Swirl is better. This is definitely one stop you're going to want to make!

Favorite Counter Service Restaurant: Columbia Harbour House

photo from Disney Parks

Columbia Harbour House is a bit of a hidden gem. It's definitely busier now than it used to be, but when everyone else is flocking to Cosmic Ray's, Casey's, or Pecos Bill, you'll enjoy the more relaxed environment CHH offers (particularly on the often overlooked second floor, where we love to eat). You can find some lighter fare here, like salads, grilled salmon, or the Lighthouse Sandwich, a hummus-filled vegetarian option. My personal favorite is the lobster roll, though for full disclosure, I've only had lobster rolls at Disney World and have never eaten seafood on the east coast, so take that how you will.

Favorite Table Service Restaurant: Crystal Palace

This one wins by default, because we don't often eat table service meals at Magic Kingdom. We've eaten at Be Our Guest several times, but only for quick service (the one time we did dinner, the reservation was so late that we just got dessert), and we haven't been since they revamped it into a signature restaurant. So that leaves Crystal Palace, the buffet (when we're not in a pandemic) featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends. I absolutely love the atmosphere, and the characters are wonderful (not gonna lie, I definitely had a tiny fangirl moment meeting Eeyore for the first time!), but we really enjoy the food too (at least at breakfast, which is the only meal we've eaten there). As with the other buffets that are open right now, service is currently family style, and they aren't offering breakfast right now. But if you want a meal that feels quintessentially Main Street, Crystal Palace is a great place to check out!

What's your favorite place to eat at Magic Kingdom?