Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation as a member of their Believer Bloggers program. As always, all opinions here are my own.
Last weekend we took a trip to Disney as an early birthday celebration for Cole. It was everything we thought it would be -- busy, full of memories and exhausting! 🙂
While I was wandering the parks with a {slightly overwhelmed} toddler in tow, I couldn't help but notice how many other families were enjoying vacations there, too, and it got me thinking about how expensive it is to spend a weekend at Disney World. Between travel, lodging, park tickets and food alone, we're talking thousands of dollars for a family of four! Some folks spend years saving up to be able to visit The Happiest Place on Earth, which may seem absurd to some. But for others, taking a trip to such an iconic spot filled with childhood wonder and magic makes every penny worthwhile.
I mean, for heaven's sake. <3
On a much bigger scale, saving for college is another one of those labors of love we often take on for our children, with the hope of investing in their future early on. You might remember that I mentioned the Florida Prepaid College Plan in a post I shared a few weeks ago, and how they make that very task manageable for families across the state. {I hope you checked out the giveaway for free tuition!} It's officially the time of year for open enrollment, so I thought I'd share a little more about FPCP and their plans in case you're curious about getting signed up.
Whether you're looking to help fund your child's path to receiving an associates degree at one of 28 Florida colleges {formerly known as "community colleges"} or want to cover all four years at one of 12 State Universities, there's an affordable plan for you! My husband and I chose the 4-Year Florida University Plan for Cole because we figured that growing up listening to the nostalgia about his parents' years at the University of Florida will make Cole want to head straight there as soon as possible.
With this plan, he will be able to start right away {upon acceptance, of course} at a state university of his choosing. {We promise we won't try to sway him, but we can't promise that we won't cross our fingers and toes that we'll have another UF grad in the family.} If, like both my husband and I, he decides to start at a local college instead, the unused funds can be applied to a post-secondary degree, or even refunded {since colleges are typically less expensive than universities}. In the event that he decides to go to school outside of Florida, the amount covered by the plan can be used at schools nationwide. So, no matter what, no money is lost. {Whew!}
Every time I read over the different plans available I learn something new and see the perks of signing up as soon as possible, so I can't help but spread the word to other parents who could benefit as well. You can download a brief overview of the different plans available and what they include and which affordable plan works best with your budget.
Perhaps putting aside money for college will slightly delay saving up for the next epic Disney vacation... but passing up an opportunity like FPCP just seems "Goofy." 😛 {I'm sorry, I had to. } In case you need some more convincing, see how "Starting is Believing" in the video below!
Ready to sign up? Use Promo Code: BLOG1617 to receive 50% off your application fee!
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A stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom is not complete without a visit to the Confectionery, an old-timey candy shop and bakery filled to the brim with all things sugary. My favorite part of stopping by is getting to watch as the treats are made right before your eyes.
During our last visit, I got to see how the ever-popular Mickey Mouse Caramel Apples are made, and it prompted me to want to "Mickey-fy" everything. Though it may take a while to perfect the tricks of the trade, you can easily whip up Mickey treats in your very own kitchen without having to go through the sticker shock of Disney prices. {I mean, they have to charge you a little extra for the Magic.}
Once you're back from vacation, it may be a good idea to lay off of daily caramel apples, so instead, I made some treats that are wholesome enough to be enjoyed almost daily.
Though they look like cake pops, these Mickey-eared goodies are actually made up of simple ingredients on the inside -- an energy ball consisting of gluten free oats, coconut flakes, peanut butter, vanilla and honey!
Some mini marshmallows adhered to each side and a dip in semi-sweet chocolate transform a simple snack into a magical bite that kids {and adults} will love. For a special occasion, deck them out with red sparkling sugar and some edible "buttons" for the full-blown Mickey effect!
Next time you're craving some of Disney's whimsical eats, you don't have to "wish upon a star" -- just whip up these energy bites to hold you over until your next visit!
Mickey Mouse Energy Pops
Ingredients
- ½ cup gluten free oats
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup peanut butter {I used Justin's Honey Peanut Butter Blend}
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
For decoration:
- 10 lollipop sticks {found at the craft store or baking aisle}
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips melted
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon coconut oil
- 20 mini marshmallows
- Red sparkling sugar
- 20 white sprinkles for "buttons"
Instructions
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place oats, honey, peanut butter, coconut flakes and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until combined into a uniform mixture.
- Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture out and roll into a ball, using a pressing motion to pack the mixture into a round shape. Repeat until you've used up all of the mixture.
- Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and insert carefully into the center of each ball. {You may need to squeeze it back around the stick if it cracks.} Place on prepared baking pan.
- Place pops in freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and adhere two mini marshmallows to each energy pop by dipping each marshmallow into the melted chocolate and then pressing it onto the ball in place. {You might need to hold it there for a moment until the chocolate hardens a bit.} Repeat with all marshmallows until each pop has 2 "ears."
- Return pops to freezer. Meanwhile, mix about ½ teaspoon of coconut oil into the remaining melted chocolate. This will help to thin it out and make it more "dipable." If needed, rewarm the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds to help loosen. Put sparkling sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
- Remove pops from freezer once the marshmallows are set and carefully dip into the melted chocolate to fully coat, tapping gently to let excess chocolate drip off.
- Immediately dip into red sparkling sugar, rolling gently to coat from the middle to the bottom. Place on parchchment-lined sheet pan, and continue until all pops are finished.
- Using a toothpick or the tines of a fork, place 2 small dots of chocolate where you want to place the "buttons", then carefully adhere white sprinkles. {You may need to put them in the freezer again to help harden if the chocolate is to "drippy" at any point in the decorating.}
- Allow the chocolate to set completely before serving.
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