Disney World goes way out for the holidays.  Obviously, they're Disney, they do everything big.  There are some really beautiful and extravagant gingerbread houses at the parks and the hotels too.  I've seen some in person and it's incredible.  The Grand Floridian has the most extravagant one standing at 17 ft tall and its celebrating it's 25th year.  But what happens to it after the holidays? Disney World's gingerbread houses are recycled for local bees to eat. The process includes: 

Well well well.  Here we are, another year and this is the year that we're getting in shape right?  Maybe.  But even if it's not, you can still make great choices while eating out.  I know the Whopper is absolutely delicious, but have you tried the Impossible Whopper?  Plant based instead of beef?  I think you might be surprised at how far they've come with the tastiness of 'not quite meat' meat.  I will most always opt for a burrito bowl if I'm looking for fast and not terrible for me but this list makes me want to branch out a bit.  Find your favorite now, and let's get healthier together this year! https://fortune.com/well/article/healthy-fast-food-picks/ 

For the last 7 years Starbucks has had an open door policy, meaning that you can always stop to use the potty, or just have a break in the cool air if you're incredibly hot at Disney and the sbux line is hella long, but you just stay for a few minutes and nope absolutely not for their free wifi anymore.  Here's the story on why they started the open door policy 7 years ago and if you don't know the story, I definitely suggest you take a quick peak. https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/us/starbucks-arrest-agreements/index.html  Starbucks just told us you have to buy something or leave.  Periodt. They put this official statement out to USA Today "Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is something most retailers already have... This means our cafes, patios, and restrooms are for customers and partners. By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone."  BTW let me spill a bit of chai tea before I get out of here, allegedly they're in the midst of some bargaining plans with the workers who claim that the CEO makes 10000 times more than the average barista. 

Savor Fort Wayne is right around the corner and it's the best time to eat in the city.  From January 15-26 you can dine at 60 different restaurants.  I remember when Savor was just barely 20 restaurants and to see the growth is awesome.  It truly gets better every year too.  Its Restaurant Week in FW, 12 Delicious Days of Savor Fort Wayne, is how they position it but it should really be called Greatest Week Ever.  The places you can choose from have all created a special menu or have special menu pricing or bogo deals.  This is the time for you to try all those super pricey joints you've been dying to try but your pocketbook puts the car in reverse before you can even put your car in park.  Ruth's Chris, Eddie Merlot and The Oyster Bar are on the list this year and on my must have list. The Oh-Five Scoop Shop and even YLNI Farmers Market will have a Savor popup this year.  Here's the Savor website and its from my friends at Visit Fort Wayne. https://www.visitfortwayne.com/savor/ 

There is snow all over the ground and its still coming down in some places.  What are we going to do with all this snow? Put it all in a straight line! Just kidding, we're going to eat it! You may or may not have ever had snow ice cream but its nasty and delish all in one bite.  Here's what you'll need for Snow Ice Cream:

The Super Bowl is coming up and not only is that big business for the strip clubs in NOLA but also the food and beverage industry will see a major uptick.  Stadiums have really changed over the years in the way that they feed us. Where it used to be mainly only peanuts, hotdogs, beer and ice cream, we now see many major sports stadiums with a pretty extensive menu and most even include some fine dining options.  The price of a 'regular beer' at NFL stadiums varies vastly across the country with the West Coast having the most expensive on average. The two teams in Los Angeles, the Rams and the Chargers, both play their home games at SoFi Stadium, where a beer and a hot dog costs $19.49. That is followed by the Chicago Bears’ home, Soldier Field, which charges $19, and the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where it’ll run Saints fans $18.99.  Best "Basic” beer prices are found in New Orleans and San Francisco, where both stadium’s cheapest brews still cost $12. Nine other teams charge between $11 and $11.99 for one beer. The least expensive beers are in Atlanta, Detroit, Miami, and at the New York Jets’ MetLife Stadium, where the bargain brews are $5.49 each. So where do our beloved Indianapolis Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium rank?  We are number 5 on the list of most inexpensive football beers at just around $8. If you're looking for fine and fun dining at Caesar Superdome stadium this year during the Super Bowl, look no further than the Alligator Sausage at Crescent City Cuisine on level 104.  https://nola.eater.com/2023/9/8/23861825/what-to-eat-where-superdome-saints-games-stadium-dining Back home at Lucas Oil Stadium the dining isn't as massive but it is equally delicious however for me at an Indianapolis Colts game its got to be The Ringer- a footlong corndog and the BBQ Brisket Nachos at Section 513.  If you want some random trivia to impress your friends with on Super Bowl Sunday here is a list of the price of beer at every NFL stadium this year. https://vinepair.com/booze-news/nfl-stadium-beer-prices-2024/ Cheers and Go Taylors Boyfriends Team! 

"Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the others gold"  If you know that line from that song you were probably a Girl Scout or Brownie at some point in your life.  At least when I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout we sang that song.  I don't even remember the amount of years that I was in the organization, but I do remember that I do not look back on it fondly.  That being said, I love Girl Scout Cookie Season!  It's just around the corner but I just found out that they're discontinuing 2 flavors this year.  Don't worry though, they weren't anyones favorite anyway.  This year they're 86'ing the Toast-Yay! and Girl Scout S'mores.  You can get while they last and then its over for those guys.  The Girl Scouts sell around 200 million boxes of cookies each year. This is a big business, generating about $800 million in revenue.  If you're new to earth and don't have any idea what I am even talking about, here's the rundown. Every year from January until about April girls from all over the country will be pushing their goods on us and every year I tell myself I will only buy 1 box of each of my favorites each season, but I fail completely every time I see the girls outside the supermarket or at the mall or the girls who set up outside a dispensary and sold completely out of 300 boxes in less than 6 hours.  That is that go getter spirit that The Girl Scouts are trying to instill in the troops.  The Girl Scout cookie program is designed to raise money and improve the financial literacy of girls. It's also considered "the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world".  Girl Scout cookies are on Grub Hub but also you can order direct from a girl too.  This year with the loss of the Toast-Yay! and Smores the list is shorter but all your favorites are still there.  I am forever a Tagalong, Thin Mint and Samoa kind of girl. Did you know that there are actually 2 bakeries that make the cookies?  It depends on what side of the country you live on and depending on who bakes the cookies, some of them even have different names ie; Samoas = Caramel Delights  https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/cookie-flavors.html 

I am still using skim milk.  From a cow.  I like it better for cooking and its superior for dunking cookies. And I know everyone is nutty for nut milks now, but I do buy and use almond milk and soy milk too.  I drink chocolate almond milk alone, it is a perfect snacky poo and a great pick me up in the afternoon.  Soy milk is good in my coffee and if anyone has milk allergies in your home, almond or soy is better option than a cow.  But does it expire? Do nuts even expire? Read this before you drink that almond milk! https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/kitchen-secrets/a63106467/does-almond-milk-go-bad/