To All Who Come to This Happy Blog...
Welcome! Magic, Memories, Mayhem is your blog. Here we relive fond memories of trips past, and here you may savor the challenge and promise of your next Disney vacation. We’re dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard-to-get reservations that create a fantastic trip…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to our Disney guests all over the world!
Hey y’all! I’m Jess, and that’s me over there. Your resident Disney destinations aficionado and the go-to gal for all my friends planning Disney getaways. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it! Literally, it’s my job. I’m the travel agency manager and senior vacation planner at Story Time Travel! I adore helping families and friends plan magical jaunts to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, aboard Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.
And that’s part of the reason Magic, Memories, Mayhem is here. I adore being “that Disney girl,” but it can get a little crazy typing everything I know in messages, texts and emails. Over and over. And over. This sparkly little blog is the perfect way to get planning points to my friends who’ve become clients (and, of course, clients who’ve become friends), chock full of visuals and available anytime.
If you’re here for Disney planning fun (and not because we’re friends, and I made you poke around our site) you’ll want to start here: Disney 101. Unless you want to know more about little ol’ me and my crew. In that case, keep reading.
When we’re not running off to Disney (as often as possible), I do actually hold down a full-time job and a half between trips in addition to being a travel agent. 😉 I spend my days teaching third graders to be global citizens. I absolutely can’t wait to get into my classroom each day and see what adventures (or misadventures) we’ll have while trying to navigate multiplication, writing and recess. Life in our classroom (and any classroom!) is always a journey, so keep your eyes peeled as I am slowly building my teacher blog, which will, no doubt, have some magical touches, as well.
In addition to teaching elementary, I’ve also stayed involved in academia as a guest speaker and adjunct professor after graduating with my M. Ed. from the University of Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner! It’s been so much fun working with future teachers in my research area: diversity, social justice and culturally sustaining pedagogy. I have so much hope for the future of education based on what I see in my university classroom.
So, back to travel! As I mentioned, the pages here, especially when Disney-focused, will be filled to the brim with photo and video because I am never anywhere without camera in hand. Or, as you can see, sometimes two! Ya know, so I can take pictures of the other camera, obviously. 😂 Photography runs in the blood, and I’m no exception. A Canon 70D is my weapon of choice, but more and more, I tend to snap with my iPhone as that tech evolves.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I really try to be in every moment, but I love seeing the world through a lens. And, hello, Disney was made for pictures!! And if you’re the kind of planner I am, you’ll love the visuals. Speaking of visual content, you can also check us out on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube! We’d appreciate a follow, and be sure to drop a message or comment to let us know you came over from the blog!
In addition to being an outlet for my photography hobby, you’ll also find some tidbits from our home and family life, projects, parties and stuff that’s just magical! The MMM family is always out and about doing something, and we’re always glad to let you in on the fun. And that brings us to the crew!
A couple of my favorite photography subjects are these two doll babies (now “big kids”) who’ve practically grown up on the blog and in the parks. Stitchy, the character fiend turned Disney foodie, is a too cool for just about anything young adult these days, but he still loves a Disney vacation and has even started bringing his buddies into the fray. HBelle is a…grown-up! Yep, this princess is in college adulting it up these days and has blessed us with a new baby boy! We can’t wait to get him in his first pair of ears and strolling down Main Street USA. New in front of the lens is a another team ready to learn the magical ropes of mommy’s magical job! Maui is a raucous, hysterical charmer who’s a bit cautious when it comes to rides. Mo’ is our all-out sparkle lover who has yet to meet an attraction she didn’t love!
Family and friends-who’ve-become-family are so important to us and will pop up here and there on the blog, so here’s a sneak peek at some of our crazy crew comprised of moms, dads, grandparents, friends, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and more! Basically everyone we could convince to hang out with us on vacation.
We’re so glad you stopped by the blog and hope you’ll hang out for a bit! Please feel free to comment with any questions on any of the posts and pages, or contact us here. And while you’re soaking in some Magic, Memories and Mayhem, we’d love if you checked us out and give a follow (or four!) on social:
Don’t forget to subscribe to get our updates in your email!
Again, thanks so much for coming to play!