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All things Disneyland! My Disneyland family vacation recap, plus great tips and tricks to make your next Disney trip pure magic!

ALL THINGS DISNEY – OUR 1ST DISNEYLAND FAMILY VACATION + TIPS & TRICKS

Disneyland, Wow! Where do I begin? Everything about Disney is dreamy and we fell in love with the magic of it all.
We had been planning an all-out trip to Disney for years now and it did not disappoint! I wanted to share all of my favorite photos and ALL.THE.THINGS. we did, saw and ate because truth be told, we had the best time. And I also wanted to document it all for my forever memories, it was by far the best family trip to date.

We knew we wanted to visit Disneyland in February because LOVE is in the air at the park and this AZ girl loves cold weather! The weather was chilly and the crowds were smaller, both wins in my book! Continue Reading

February 23, 2019 by Jenna

Anniversary STAYcation - Phoenix, Arizona - JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

LIFESTYLE, Travel

You Had Me At STAYcation – Phoenix, Arizona

STAYcation: [vacation close to home]

My husband and I recently celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary with a STAYcation at one of our favorites! When you live in a state that offers some of the most beautiful resort options available, why leave town to have a good time!? As you already know from my previous posts, we are big fans of STAYcations and constantly promote the idea of staying nearby and enjoying all of the amenities that your city and state have to offer! We selected the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa because it holds a special place in our hearts and is filled with sweet memories over the last 9 years of our relationship. Plus, it is beyond fabulous!

The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona is simply stunning! From the second you walk in, you feel like you’re at a desert oasis. The pool area is magnificent with different areas to lounge and delight in their decadent drinks and poolside food. You can also jump on a raft and float along the lazy river. With several different pools to chose from, our personal favorite is the waterfall pool because you get an awesome experience of a tranquil waterfall with a nearby DJ providing musical glory!

The JW Marriott Desert Ridge offers a fabulous grand entrance, and the rooms are so accomodating; once you arrive, there is no reason to leave. They have everything you could possibly need, want or desire on site: an incredible spa, a full service Starbucks, a large store/souvenir shop, nightly live music, top notch restaurants, kids activities, golf course and unbelievable views in every direction you look.

Don’t just take my word for it, enjoy a few photos from our amazing weekend away and trust me you, too, will want to stay here!

August 8, 2017 by Jenna

Camping With Kids - Tips & Tricks To Make It Enjoyable For All

Family, LIFESTYLE, Travel

Camping With Kids – Tips & Tricks To Ensure Happy Campers

We took our girls out to the woods of Prescott, Arizona for their first camping weekend as a family of four. To give you a little perspective, our girls are 4.5 and 2.5 years old and this was our first time all sleeping together in one small space… without a pack n’ play! My husband was raised camping and in the outdoors so he had been dreaming of the day that our girls would be old enough to enjoy a trip like this, and this was our first attempt. To say it went well is an understatement… much to my surprise it went great! But don’t get me wrong, with any trip you come across a few hiccups here and there. But, it was so much fun to take the girls off the grid, push everyday rules to the side and just let them enjoy being kids for the trip… and I know that we made memories as a family they will not forget.

If you are like me, and questioning whether or not your family is ready for a camping trip, I say go for it! You will never know until you try. And to help you out, here are a few of my ‘camping with kids’ recommendations. I hope these ideas help make your trip extra enjoyable for all – we all want happy campers!

Continue Reading

July 5, 2017 by Jenna

LIFESTYLE, Travel

Sedona: Where We Stayed – What We Did – Where We Ate

This trip came at the perfect time. It’s amazing how you don’t realize you need a break from reality until you finally get one! My hubby had a work trip in Sedona, AZ, and so with the help of my parents, we were able to turn it into a kid-free getaway as well. April is a fabulous time to visit Sedona as it offers cooler temps and fabulous outdoor activities!

While my husband spent half days at a work conference, I was extremely blessed with a refreshing few days filled with beautiful hikes, relaxing pool-side quiet time and taking in the incredible 70° Sedona weather. I was also able to enjoy some much-appreciated pampering, quality time with my hubby, and time to reflect and work on me.

As you all requested here is the scoop on our trip, a little Sedona Recap for you! If you are planning an upcoming Sedona vacay you will love these recommendations! Continue Reading

May 30, 2017 by Jenna

Fashion, Holidays, LIFESTYLE, Travel

Mother’s Day Gift Guide – For the Mom Who Has It All [Blog Hop]

Welcome to our special Mother’s Day Gift Guide Blog Hop!!! Thank you Jenn over at The Body Type Stylist for sharing all of your stylish Mother’s Day gifts ideas. So many pretty things!!! If you are joining me here at Espresso Ever After for the first time, WELCOME and let me tell you a little about myself.

My name is Jenna Wodiske and I’m the mommy/lifestyle blogger behind Espresso Ever After. I am having way too much fun living this mommy-hood life in sunny Arizona!! I am a Jesus lover, wifey to a fantastic husband, & a mommy to two beautiful little girls. I am a topknot-wearing, photo-obsessing, latte-loving mama … enjoying this thing called real life!

I started this blog to share all of my adventures in mommyhood & to creatively inspire others. I strive to produce quality content coupled with beautiful photos and creative delivery, and I hope you taste the supportive and encouraging flavor of Espresso Ever After. I’m glad you’re here, and hope you’ll enjoy this journey with me!

This Mother’s Day… what do you get a mom who has it all??? That is a great question, here are a few of my favorite ideas!

April 25, 2017 by Jenna

Family, LIFESTYLE, Travel

San Diego Family Vacation : Where To Eat

One of the best parts about going on vacation is trying out new restaurants and not having to cook, can I get an AMEN?! But, when you are a visitor in a new city, it can be challenging to find the best restaurants. Thankfully we were in great hands at The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, because of their incredible Concierge, Gordon. I seriously can’t say enough wonderful things about Gordon, he ensured a tasty success for every meal we ate on our San Diego family vacation. Thanks to his recommendations we were able to not just enjoy, but absolutely LOVE our dining experiences in San Diego! Gordon listened to our palatal aspirations and was able to provide us with family-friendly locations to eat and explore. He embraced the fact that we were foodies traveling with kids and provided us with unique and memorable dining experiences that were also family-friendly environments. Here is a recap of some of our favorite restaurants that we discovered on our San Diego family vacation. Continue Reading

November 20, 2016 by Jenna

Family, LIFESTYLE, Travel

SeaWorld : How To SEA It All In One Day | San Diego Family Vacation

Where do I even begin?!… Our day at SeaWorld San Diego truly was one of the most wonderful family days we have ever shared together. My husband and I surprised our two daughters with a long weekend getaway to San Diego and SeaWorld. My husband and I both LOVED visiting SeaWorld as a kid, so it was a no-brainer to take our girls as soon as the opportunity arose! Looking back on our day at SeaWorld, I wouldn’t have done anything different: we saw and did everything we wanted! So I thought it would be helpful to share our day of adventures below, plus 10 tips and tricks!

:: Our Day At SeaWorld: How to SEA it all in one day ::

November 10, 2016 by Jenna

LIFESTYLE, Travel

San Diego Family Vacation – Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa

My husband and I decided it was time for an official SeaWorld and San Diego vacation with our girls. We were both raised with great memories at Sea World and visiting the beach, so now that our girls are 4.5 and 1.5 years old, it was time to start making memories of our own. When I started researching San Diego hotels, I realized that not a lot of properties promoted luxury and a family friendly environment, until I discovered Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa. It is a gorgeous property on Misson Bay and it had everything we were looking for, not to mention it is less than a 5-minute drive from SeaWorld which was definitely a plus for us.

The Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa is conveniently located on Mission Bay, and the views of the water are absolutely stunning. It is a 10-minute drive from the San Diego Airport or a quick 5.5-hour drive from Arizona.

November 3, 2016 by Jenna

Prescott Adventures - Weekend GetawayPrescott Adventures - Weekend Getaway

Family, LIFESTYLE, Travel

Fall In Prescott

When you live in the valley of the sun, escaping to the mountains is always a welcomed retreat. We were able to spend the weekend in Prescott, Arizona to get some much needed time in the great outdoors. Cooler weather and pine trees did not disappoint!

:: Here is a RECAP of our outdoorsy weekend escape to enjoy the fall in Prescott, Arizona :: Continue Reading

October 15, 2016 by Jenna

Family, LIFESTYLE, Travel

Go Take A Hike | Devil’s Bridge – Sedona, Arizona

If you haven’t visited Sedona, Arizona … YOU MUST! As a Phoenician (aka – born and raised Phoenix, Arizona), I love exploring my fabulous state. Hands down, Sedona is one of my favorite cities… by a long shot! As a little girl, we vacationed in Sedona every summer to beat the Phoenix heat, so I have countless memories and happy moments forever engrained in my mind. Sedona was also the city in which my husband proposed to me, along the majestic Oak Creek to be exact. And now it is one of our favorite places to take our girls for a weekend getaway. Sedona is only about a 2 hour drive from our city life in Phoenix, so it makes for the perfect getaway location. The weather, the stunning beauty (famous for the red rocks) and the “small town” feel are just too fabulous not to visit.

On our last holiday weekend adventure, my husband and I decided it was time to take our 4 year old and 1 year old daughters on their first hike in the red rocks. We loaded up the girls in our fabulous backpack carriers, and off we went!

September 2, 2016 by Jenna

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