The Blue Bayou's Magical Monte Cristo

Last year I wrote this Disney guest post for Cathy at A Peek Into My Paradise.
I wanted to share it with you on my blog this year since it's my birthday
& for the second year in a row I will not be enjoying a Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou...
You can find the original post here.

You see, I'm having major Disneyland withdrawals...

We recently moved from the SoCal desert to Northern Indiana.
This is the first year in what seems like a looong time that I won't be going to Disneyland for my birthday
& eating at the Blue Bayou.
It is going to be a very hard day.

We were a little spoiled living so close to Disneyland.
and by close I mean an hour-and-a-half away...
We would go every other week before we had kids,
and we tried to go at least once a month after they were born.
We had Premium Annual Passes up until a couple months before our move.
But with ticket prices going up so much,
we weren't sure if we would be able to renew the passes even if we stayed in SoCal.
So we moved away...
Taking away the temptation of spending more money to renew,
but also taking away the ease of visiting the parks.

We bought a house in Indiana,
but had to wait to close on it for almost a month due to delays in closing our CA house.
We were fortunate enough to stay at a friend's cozy little lake house while waiting to close on our new home.

While we were staying at said lake house,

we enjoyed many beautiful sunsets

and were able to enjoy not only the glisten of the calm moonlit lake,

but also the twinkling of fireflies at twilight.
It was magical.

Now I don't know about you,

but when I see fireflies near water,
and get this magical feeling,

I can't help but think of my favorite restaurant at Disneyland...

The Blue Bayou.

Yes, the same Blue Bayou that I will not get to eat at on my birthday this year.
Yep, you know the one...
It's that nice restaurant with the nighttime outdoorsy feel that you pass while you're on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

If you've never eaten at the Blue Bayou
I encourage you to call ahead to make a reservation the next time you're at Disneyland.
Ask for waterside seating while you get checked in...
You may have to wait a little longer if you want to sit waterside,
but to me - it's definitely worth it.

Fireflies are flickering above the water.
Frogs & crickets are singing their nighttime serenade.
You can even hear someone playing the banjo from the little house across the water while you eat.
It's kind of enchanting in a way.
Sitting waterside is definitely the way to go.
Especially if you have kids...
Waving to everyone riding the boats can be a great distraction while waiting for the food to arrive.

We always go during the lunch hours for two reasons...
1) It's slightly cheaper than the dinner hours
2) The menu is different for lunch than it is for dinner

We order Le Special de Monte Cristo Sandwich
every. single. time.
and it is only served during the lunch hours.
It's my favorite.
It never disappoints.

photo credit: Adrea in Wonderland

Imagine this...
A battered & deep fried sandwich
filled with Turkey, Ham, & Swiss Cheese
sprinkled with powdered sugar
and served with a side of blackberry preserves to dip it in.
It's amazing.

The Blue Bayou has such generous portions of everything that we always split the order.
They do have a split plate charge,
but you can avoid the extra cost by splitting the salad as well.
They just bring out an extra plate & let you divide it yourself.
It ends up being the perfect amount of food for each of us!
Besides, walking around Disneyland when you're stuffed is no fun.

photo credit: Chip & Co

The ambiance is relaxing,
the food is delicious,
the service is impeccable,
& it doesn't feel busy like so many other restaurants at Disneyland.
It is a truly wonderful place.

I would also recommend trying their Mint Julep at least once.
It's non-alcoholic & is one of those love-it-or-hate-it kind of drinks.
You'll never know if you like it or not until you try it.
I happen to find it refreshing.

Because I knew I would be missing out on my birthday Monte Cristo this year,
we decided to make our own,
but with a twist...
Monte Cristo French Toast

It's not deep-fried like the one at the Blue Bayou,
but more like a mix between French Toast,
a grilled cheese sandwich,
and of course,
the Disneyland Monte Cristo.
Not the same, but not too shabby!

I love comments & would love to know if you've ever been to the Blue Bayou or had a Monte Cristo!

Hopefully you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!
If you're new around here...
check out my About Me section,
see what we have in common,
& enjoy surfing my blog!

xoxo

Sneaking Suspicions by Jan Hinds - Book Review & Giveaway

I have another great book to share with you today!
"Sneaking Suspicions" by Jan Hinds
is the first book in the Tharon Trace Mysteries.

"Sneaking Suspicions" occurs in the year 2056
after a flu pandemic killed off almost half of the world's population 5 years prior.
It takes place in Northeastern Indiana in the Fort Wayne vicinity
which made the story much more real to me
since I knew many of the locations mentioned in the book after having lived there.
It's a somewhat plausible future which gives it an eerie feel.

Eleven (almost twelve) year old Tharon Trace & her friends are kidnapped after witnessing a murder
& overhear a conversation while abducted that unveils a much bigger plot within the plot.
They have to escape & let someone know what they heard
but don't know who they can trust.
Their parents & local police are risking their own lives
while doing everything they can to find the missing children.

The children in the book are at that awkward stage in life that I absolutely loathed.
I remember it all too well & connected to Tharon instantly.
Middle school.
Wanting to fit in with the cool kids & grow up,
but also wanting to keep your childhood life & friends.
I wish I could go back in time & give myself some extra guidance...

Anywho, I really enjoyed the close friendships throughout the story,
as well as the faith, love, & dedication the families have in finding their children.

Here's a little bit of insight from the author as to how the story came about...

I thought I'd share with you a little bit about how the process started.

I used to work in the window coverings department at JCPenney and one day I had a customer whose first name was Tharon. As soon as I saw the name I told her I was going to use that name for a character in a book.

Tharon started as a medieval huntress and evolved to the tween of the not too distant future. Current events played a major role in the evolution of the story as well, to shape a frighteningly plausible future. Some of the current events that influenced the story have to remain a secret to prevent too much of a spoiler.

I actually wrote Book 3 first but when it was finished, I decided to write two books to span the time leading up to it, otherwise, too much of the story would be told as a flashback.

I am hoping to have Book 2 available in September and Book 3 in the early part of 2015. The final book in the series will be in the latter part of 2015. I have two or three short stories or novellas planned as well.

- Jan Hinds

"Sneaking Suspicions" is available on Amazon
in both Kindle & Paperback formats.
If you're interested in purchasing the Kindle version,
there will be a Kindle countdown deal running from Friday, July 25th until August 1st.
During that time you can buy it for .99 cents in the Kindle format!

Remember that you can always download the free Kindle app on your smartphone or tablet
to read the eBook even if you don't own a Kindle!

I am hosting a giveaway
for a signed paperback copy of "Sneaking Suspicions"
& a $10 Amazon gift card
so make sure you enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to follow Jan Hinds on:

Facebook

xoxo

eNKSPOTy

I've done a couple book reviews in the past so as you may already know,
I love to read.
Do you love to read?

There's this awesome new site called eNKSPOTy

that hosts constant YA eBook giveaways, freebies, & deals!

Right now they are hosting 3 giveaways:

"A Memory Apart" by Daniel Elijah

"Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Series)" by Lisa T. Bergren

"The Hunger Games Trilogy" by Suzanne Collins

Don't forget to check out the awesome freebies & deals section...
The deals range anywhere from .99 cents to $3.99, but there are a lot of free ones as well.

There's even deals on classics like "The Anne of Green Gables Collection"!

A sister site is in the works called eNKSPOTc.

It will be geared specifically towards Clean fiction & Christian fiction.

There aren't any giveaways, freebies, or deals listed on there yet

but it will work the same as eNKSPOTy from my understanding...

IF YOU ARE AN AUTHOR:

If you are a young teen fiction or young adult fiction author

and are looking for some extra exposure for your Kindle eBook,

check out eNKSPOTy's current author promotions.

Right now they are offering FREE giveaway, freebie, & deal promotion opportunities to authors.

These FREE promotion opportunities will end on Feb 28, 2014 so act fast!

If you miss that, from March 1, 2014 until June 1, 2014 eNKSPOTy will be offering 1/2 off

to any authors who participate in any giveaway, freebie, or deals promotion.
Pretty sweet, huh?

Seriously though...

What a great site for readers & authors alike!

If you want to check out my book reviews:
"A Memory Apart" by Daniel Elijah
(chapter 1) "Love.Loss.&Oh.My.Heck." by Maryn Hillman

This is not a sponsored post & I was not compensated for this review.
I just wanted to let you know about eNKSPOTy because reading is marvelous.

xoxo

A Memory Apart - Kindle eBook giveaway

So as I mentioned a couple weeks ago
in my "Love.Loss.&Oh.My.Heck." chapter 1 review...
(speaking of which, Chapter 2 is now up on Maryn's blog for you to read)
I finished reading my cousin Daniel Elijah's first published book,
"A Memory Apart"
& I absolutely loved it!
(I promise I'm not just saying that because we're related!)

Here's a quick summary in my words:
"A Memory Apart" is a clean love story from the perspective of a teenage boy named Joshua.
The kind of love Joshua & Hayden had for each other was special
& it had been that way for as long as he could remember.
But with a very unexpected turn of events,
he finds himself torn, confused,
& in the middle of a love triangle
that he never would have anticipated.

I loved Daniel's use of descriptive words throughout the book.
It made it really easy to get a feel for each of the characters' distinct personalities.
At first I thought that Joshua was a little too obsessed with Hayden,
but thinking back to when I first fell in love with Hubby
I realized that he pretty much nailed how I felt.
I was obsessed.
Once I remembered what it's like to be a love-struck teenager
it was much easier for me to get into the book.
I enjoyed it more & more as I read on.
As the plot continued to unfold,
I got so into the story
that I had a hard time putting it down.
Don't believe me?
Ask Hubby.

I asked Daniel to write a special message to you readers,
& am more than pleased with his inspiring words...

Dear reader,

When I set out to write "A Memory Apart," I wanted to write an enduring love story that readers of all ages would find enjoyable, but more importantly, I wanted to craft a tale about living life in a way that creates lasting memories. I have always believed life is the total of our experiences, good and bad. Each of these experiences, and the people we experience them with, create who we are. It's my hope that as you read about Joshua Freemont you will come to better appreciate every moment you have in your life. And hopefully when you're old, and when I'm old, we'll look back and realize that our lives have been monumental blessings.

I hope you'll be inspired to live your life to the fullest, just like I was inspired by Joshua. He let me into his world, and I'm happy to share his story with you. 

Enjoy,

Daniel Elijah

Such great advice (:
I completely agree with Daniel
& think it's important to appreciate every moment of our lives.
Like he said above...
Our lives are molded by not just our good experiences, but also our trials.
So why not live our lives to the fullest,
enjoy the good times,
& learn from the hard times?


"A Memory Apart" was a quick & easy read,
but very enjoyable nonetheless.
Because I enjoyed the book so much,
& because we both enjoy the support of all you wonderful readers out there,
I am going to be hosting a fun little giveaway!

The winner will receive
a copy of the "A Memory Apart" eBook
& a $25 Amazon giftcard!

"A Memory Apart" is currently available in the Kindle format.
Don't have a Kindle?
No worries!
You can download the free Kindle app on your smartphone or tablet to enjoy the eBook.

Enter below via Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
xoxo

Love.Loss.&Oh.My.Heck. - review of chapter 1

So, one of my favorite roommates from college,

Maryn Hillman
is doing something absolutely amazing with her life right now.
She is chasing her dreams to become an author!
Let me rephrase that...
She is acting on her dreams & becoming an author!
When you act on a dream it becomes a goal.
We all know the wonderful feeling we get by achieving our goals,
so to help her achieve this goal I am letting all of you readers know about it!

Here's a summary from my dear friend, the author:
The story of a teenage girl finding herself through the friendship of two country boys.

In my words,
& without giving too much away
here's a little bit about the first chapter of her novel,
"Love.Loss.&Oh.My.Heck."
Nicolette had to move across the country with her family
right before her senior year of high school
from California to a small town in Georgia.
This change is extremely difficult for her.
She doesn't like being the 'new girl' in town with no friends,
& she desperately wants to go back 'home' to California.
Chapter 1 follows Nicolette on her first day at her new school
where she meets a couple of Southern boys that just won't leave her alone.
I would love to tell you more,
but why give too much away when you can read it yourself? (:
I loved chapter one & can't wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds!

I was able to relate to Nicolette in a sense during this first chapter.
You see, I know how hard it is moving to a new area,
especially during the last year of high school.
I moved from Wisconsin to Arizona right before my senior year.
It wasn't easy by any means,
but I feel like I had a completely different attitude towards our move.
That may have been because I had moved before,
or possibly because I was raised differently.
Perhaps it was because my high school status was very different from Nicolette's.
No matter the reason,
it's hard to leave friends.
It's hard to readjust to a new area.
It's hard to be the 'new kid' when everyone has their cliques.
It's hard enough as an adult,
but when you're still in school I think it's more difficult.

I encourage you to swing by her blog & read the first chapter when you have the time.
She is sharing it there first so that we can all have a sneak peek at the book before it's published!
Awesome, right?
Chapter two will be up on her blog this weekend for you to enjoy.
I'll post a full review of her novel once I finish it...
Meanwhile, give the first couple chapters a chance
& let Maryn or myself know how you liked it!
Thanks for helping her follow her dreams (:

By the way...
If you're curious about the Oh. My. Heck. in the title,
you can read a summary of why written by the author herself.

Here's the excerpt from the back cover:

Everyone was gone. Only Cordin's truck remained as I sat on it. The fire was huge, reaching towards the sky. The stars came closer to be within its reach. The orange color in front of me was absolutely brilliant. Even if I wanted to think about a care in the world, I couldn't. The fire danced around itself, captivating me into its world. I felt no gravity. I felt no weight. I felt free. I felt completely whole. The silence was the most wonderful sound I had ever heard. The fire reached to the stars and danced. The embers flew among the stars, teasing them, joining them. The sky opened to welcome the fire. I felt as if I could let go of the truck and I would fly into the heavens above. My mind had clarity. A clarity that human kind climb mountains for. A clarity that is searched for in books. A clarity that not many find because it is in the most simple of acts. I've felt it before in my surfing, but here, on a tailgate, in the middle of the woods, watching a fire, I found it again. I looked through the fire and saw Brocker, his kind, calming eyes looking back at me and suddenly I felt gravity; gravity that held me safely to where I was in Layton, safely to life, safely  to who I was meant to be. I was supposed to be here. I was solid. He was solid. My rock. I was safe because of him. He disappeared into the fire and it danced around me, keeping me safe and warm. Cordin. Cordin was on the other side with his intense, soulful eyes looking straight through me. No one could look through me like he did, not even Brocker. He knew who I was meant to be. He knew where I was supposed to be. Here. I was supposed  to be here with them. Without knowing Cordin knew everything about me. I quickly looked to the sky. The stars smiled and laughed. The fire grew. He knew everything because he was everything. Brocker and Cordin. My rock. My everything.

Don't forget to follow Maryn Hillman on:
Twitter
& Facebook (coming soon)

While I'm on this whole book review subject...
I just finished reading my cousin's book,
"A Memory Apart"
& will have a review of that up soon!

xoxo