Hey, it’s another vacation recap! Crap.
I know I said I wasn’t going to do these the rest of the time I’m in Florida, but there is just too much I want to tell you all about our adventures… At least there was a vlog to break things up a bit on Wednesday?
I’ll keep this post as short and sweet as possible by doing it Thinking Out Loud style (i.e. a numbered list)!
1) A few days ago, coming back from the outlet mall, we came across this little guy struggling on the side of the road in our neighborhood:
I’ll name him Squirt in honor of Finding Nemo.
We pulled over to take a picture of him, but we didn’t know what to do with him. Then a dude in sunglasses drove up, picked up the turtle, and put him back into the lake without saying anything, even though we were trying to ask questions. Then he drove back to where he came from. #iGuessSo.
2) Daliza and I went mini-golfing on Wednesday evening!
I won, but that’s not saying too much since that was Daliza’s first time playing. I’ve even played at this course before and I got a double bogey (two more strokes than par) on the FIRST HOLE.
I also fell on my butt somewhere, somehow during our game, but that’s not important…
3) Wednesday night was lovely and relaxing with a dinner of pork/veggie spring rolls made by mom and movie night. Daliza and I watched Heaven is For Real (the movie based off of my favorite book) finally, and it was pretty good! The book was better though, of course.
Parcels of goodness
4) Daliza and I spent a whopping 13 hours in Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure yesterday. My feet hated me. But we knocked out more than 12 rides and attractions, I believe! Go hard or go home (literally). Now, for all you Harry Potter fans (ARMAN):
Hogwarts
Diagon Alley
Surprisingly very delicious ice cream in Diagon Alley! I had strawberries and peanut butter + sticky toffee pudding. Daliza had butterbeer soft serve!
5) Daliza was totally awe-inspired by the Harry Potter sections of the parks, and I thought it was pretty fantastic too. But I’ve never read Harry Potter, and I’ve only watched a couple of the movies, so I wasn’t quite as ecstatic as she was. This is why:
Is he not so scary?
6) There was never a moment in the day during which I didn’t feel soaked. It was either water from a ride or just plain sweat. So nasty. It’s all a part of the experience though, right?
7) The lines were not terribly long! Glad we didn’t waste $100 on an express pass. Oof.
8) I was in a breakfast rut during this vacation until this morning. I was in the mood for some doughy, creamy grains, but I didn’t make overnight oats last night. So I used the brown rice mom had made earlier this week for a peanut butter banana rice pudding of sorts.
Hallelujah!!!
Wow, it was delicious. I hadn’t made a breakfast rice bowl like this in a while. I tweaked this recipe a bit:
- ¾ cup cooked brown rice
- ¼ cup almond milk
- 1 huge tablespoon of peanut butter
- 1 baby banana/half a banana
Put all these ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1-1.5 minutes. Mix well until the peanut butter and banana are combined with the rice and the milk is absorbed. Top with dollops of plain Greek yogurt and maple syrup. DIG IN.
Do it, please.
9) We’re going to a concert tonight! It’s a husband and wife duo called Us The Duo. Daliza actually introduced me to the group just two days ago, but I’ve been doing my job as a fangirl by listening to their music nonstop. If you like Colbie Caillat, Tori Kelly, Ingrid Michaelson or any other singer-songwriters like that, you’ll love these two. They’re adorable.
10) I think I’m gonna do some yoga now. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
So tell me:
Are you good at mini-golf?
Are you a Harry Potter fan?
Ever eaten rice for breakfast?
Ever heard of Us The Duo?
Daily Moves and Grooves 
I’m loving these recaps!
Harry potter land!!🙌🙌🙌 so lucky! It looks awesome even in pics!
And that brown rice pudding?! Wowsers I need to try this…now!😳
Never heard of that duo but I like all those artists you mentioned so I’m definitely going to check them out!
Mini golf? Ehh it’s a hit or miss for me. I like it but it all depends if I’m lucky that day! Lol #nogolfingskillswhatsoever
And it’s funny you mentioned that movie bc me and my just rented that for tonight! Movie night with my mom I’m so cool right 🙈🙈🙈 don’t answer that lol
Have a great day you two and a great time at the concert!
Us the Duo is so wonderful! I think you would love them 🙂 Did you like the movie??
OMG I LOVE Us the Duo!!!! I am obsessed with them, haha!
And I can’t believe you haven’t read the Harry Potter series….for shame. 😉
I am so glad you’re having such a good time!! You’re just helping me add to my bucket list…Have a wonderful weekend!!
Do you really?! I am now a huge fan of them too 😀
Hope you have a great weekend too, Jess!
Ahhhh Harry Potter World!! They have been working on it the past like 5 times I’ve gone to Florida. I can’t believe it’s finally open! And Alison? Yeah, you need to read HP. That rice bowl sounds SO good. I would never imagine eating rice for breakfast but I’m not against it. Did you try butterbeer?!
I know, I know…I should probably read it sometime in my life!
I tried butterbeer the last time I went, and it was really good! It tastes like cream soda to me, except a little more creamy 🙂
Omg! You’re so lucky to go to Harry Potter World. It’s on my bucketlist. lol. I’m glad you’re having a great time. =)
Okay that’s so weird, but we found a turtle in our backyard yesterday. We live no where near water though, so it was really strange and slightly amusing. That’s sort of shady how that guy just came and went. I’m a major Harry Potter fan. Like it’s somewhat embarrassing how much of a fan I am. The books and movies are so flawless. (Meaning you need to read them! They’re so good. For reals.) And Us the Duo is so so so good. Not many people here in Texas know about them aka this is why I love the blog world. You guys are so cool.
The turtles must have been partying it up! I might just read the books if you insist… 😉 And hey, bloggers are the real hipsters.
I’ve never tried sweet rice, only ever made it salty!
You should definitely try it sweet! It’s a whole new world of delicious.
I live in fear of harry potter. Voldemort is my arch nemesis. You basically just lived out my nightmare lol
Yeah, I might have been a little scared the whole time I was there.
FACT: Harry Potter owns my heart (I have the collectors edition of all the movies…!!) I never read the books, but probably have watched each movie at least 3 times lol.
Rice for breakfast? Girrrrrl. Great idea~ especially since sista is on a budget and running low on oats’!
So much love for you little lady 🙂
Oh man, that’s hardcore HP lovin’! 😉
Definitely do the rice for breakfast! Dare I say…I like it better than hot oats??
Love you, girl!
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