Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

How to Remember Loved Ones at the Holidays

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Long time readers know that I lost my father near Christmas 10 years ago. Since that time, I’ve gotten better at dealing with the loss (and unfortunately, other losses as well). I also have several tips to remember loved ones at the holidays, in case anyone is looking for ideas to help this holiday season.

Remember Loved Ones at the Holidays

Seeing as how this will be my tenth holiday season without my dad, I’ve encountered several ideas to remember loved ones at the holidays from a variety of sources. However, allow me to stress this piece of advice for anyone reading this: do what feels right for you. If these ideas make it harder, then don’t do them! Over time, you can find what works for you and your family.

Remember Loved Ones at the Holidays

  • Make Family Recipes – Back in 2019, my father-in-law passed away and we started hosting the holidays. Now, my husband and I tend to mix family traditions by making recipes from both sides of the family! We’ll have his family’s fruit cake at Christmas and his family’s cheesepie at Thanksgiving! I make my grandma’s zucchini bread at Christmas and casseroles either at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas! Regardless, eating some of those foods help make the holidays seem jolly while giving a nod to those we miss.
  • Hang a special decoration/ornament – I have several pieces of Christmas decor that either my grandma gave me before she died or just reminds me of her. It feels extra special to put those pieces out and it makes me feel closer to her!
  • Light a candle – My extended family lights a candle for every person who has passed when they have a family reunion. Then, they have a moment of silence to remember them by after a lighting ceremony. It’s very touching.
  • Start new family traditions – Sometimes, doing the same old things is comforting. Other times, it’s just too painful. Rather than driving to the Bristol Motor Speedway in Lights (like we used to do when I was young), my mom and I typically take the time to look at lights whenever we visit theme parks at Christmas. My mom and I also started the tradition of taking a trip around the time of the anniversary of my father’s death. It gives us something to look forward each year.

These are just some of the ways I remember loved ones at the holidays. What do you do?

Christmas at Dollywood: What to Expect

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It’s hard to believe it, but it’s already Christmas at Dollywood! So, here’s a look at all of the things you can expect to see, do, and eat at the yearly festival!

Christmas at Dollywood

Christmas at Dollywood

From now until the end of the 2022 season (January 1, 2023), you can experience Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood! This festival includes seasonal foods, millions of lights, a weekend fireworks show and festive shows! It’s easy to make a full day at the park during this time of the year!

The Decorations

You can’t talk about Christmas at Dollywood without talking about the lights, so I will start there. Similar to my recommendations for experiencing fall at Dollywood, I suggest walking around the park at least once during the day and then again at night. This way, you can really experience the gorgeous decor! It’s nice to see all of the trees during the day and then again with the lights on! The same can be said for the other decor as well.

Another neat thing to know about the holiday decorations, is that each part of the park has a different color/theme! Santa’s Village is red and green. Glacier Ridge is blues and white. Craftman’s Valley has clear lights.

Additionally, new this year is the Dollywood Express Light Experience! You will be able to ride the train (something I recommend doing anytime of the year) and see new lights flickering by as seasonal music plays! This sounds like a fun experience for sure! Although, it tends to be cold on the train in the winter. So, make sure you bundle up and grab some hot chocolate!

The Food

Once again, the park is bringing back the tasting pass for the festival. In my opinion, this can be a great way to try several seasonal foods on a budget. However, you have to make sure you choose items that are worth over $6 to get your money’s worth. Otherwise, I recommend just buying items out of pocket. I can’t recommend a stop by the Spotlight Bakery enough. Everything I’ve ever had there is delicious!

Beyond the Gingerbread People Cookies, it appears that most of this year’s Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood menu is new. However, I am looking forward to trying the Chicken Pot Pie Bread Cone and Hot Chocolate Cupcake when I visit later this month! Keep an eye on my Instagram to see what I end up trying.

The Entertainment

One of the things Dollywood is known for is their entertainment. I just love being able to walk around the park and catch a performance. There are always loads of musicians around the park. However, Christmas at Dollywood brings special holiday shows too! I really enjoy “Appalachian Christmas” but I know there are super fans of “Christmas in the Smokies”. Heidi Parton’s show is great too!

Lastly, if you are attending on a Friday or Saturday night after Thanksgiving, then you can catch the holiday fireworks show. I’ve yet to be able watch these thanks to the scheduling of them. So, that’s a huge bummer. That being said, I’m sure they are great fireworks and the perfect way to end the day.

So, there you have it! An overview of everything you can expect to see, hear, and taste at Christmas at Dollywood! Have you ever been? What was your favorite part?

If you are planning a trip to the park during a different season, here are my posts on those seasonal events:

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show Review

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I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee several times over the past couple of years. In that time, I’ve been able to enjoy all three of the dinner shows. I’ve previously reviewed the Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show and the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show. Today, I’m highlighting the third and final one, Dolly Parton Stampede!

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas

Dolly Parton Stampede

The Dolly Parton Stampede dinner show typically features a rivalry between the north and south. Personally, harkening back to the Civil War doesn’t exactly make me hungry. However, beginning in early November, the show gets a Christmas makeover! It then becomes a battle between the North and South Poles! My mom and I enjoyed a showing of the Christmas version last year and thought it was great!

The Dolly Parton Stampede show itself is very good. We were entertained by the fast horse riding and tricks! The injection of Christmas songs and costumes really put us in the Christmas spirit! We also enjoyed some of the friendly competitions between the North and South Poles. Similar to other dinner shows I’ve reviewed, I don’t think it truly matters which side you sit on in the end.

This was actually our first dinner show and we weren’t sure what to expect. While we enjoyed the food, we didn’t like that the meal was served during the show. Attempting to eat while trying to watch the show made me feel like I missed parts of the show. This is a big reason why we prefer the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show as they serve food before the show. I guess this way does add to its repeatability though. Plus, I’m sure different seats provide different views of the show as there is so much to see!

The Food

One of the neat things about eating at Dolly Parton Stampede is that every person is given their own small chicken! It’s probably a Cornish hen, but it’s very tasty nonetheless! I like that you start the meal just like at the other dinner shows with the creamy vegetable soup and a biscuit. The corn on the cob was pretty good too. Admittedly, my potato was really dry, as it was at the Pirates show. The pork was just ok. I enjoyed dessert – a flaky apple turnover! Overall, it was a pretty good meal. I would say it’s second place in terms of food at dinner shows in Pigeon Forge. You can’t beat Hatfield and McCoy’s food!

Overall, a meal at Dolly Parton Stampede is an experience you won’t forget. It’s a great show, especially at Christmas time! However, it is pricey and I recommend looking for a coupon (code) before purchasing tickets to save some money.

Pumpkin Fluff Pie Recipe – Easy and Healthier

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When we started hosting the holidays back in 2019, I became responsible for the desserts. One of the non-negotiable Thanksgiving treats I have to make is this pumpkin fluff pie. It’s stupid easy to make and tastes great! Plus, it’s easy to adapt for a variety of diets.

Pumpkin Fluff Pie

Pumpkin Fluff Pie

Years ago, on my first visit to Dollywood at Fall, I tried some pumpkin fluff. I had never heard of it before, but I was instantly in love! So, I looked into what exactly it was and decided to make it into a pie! So, here’s my super easy and quick recipe for pumpkin fluff pie.

Diet Friendly

Since this recipe uses a graham cracker crust, it’s healthier than a regular pie. Traditional pie crust has lots of butter and/or shortening in it to make it flaky. Using graham cracker cuts out lots of fat and calories! I took this to a family gathering last year and someone trying to watch their sugar/fat intake was pleased to have an option on the dessert table. If you use sugar free Cool Whip, this dessert has very little sugar in it. It’s also just a great way to have a seasonal treat without the guilt, even if you aren’t on a diet.

Allergy Friendly

Another great thing about this recipe is you can easily modify this pumpkin fluff pie to make it allergy friendly. I used a gluten free graham style crust (NOT a sponsored link or post) from my local Walmart for this picture because I was taking it to a Halloween party where the host has a gluten allergy. You could also use a nut based crust, which I almost used until I found this gluten free graham cracker crust.

Pumpkin Fluff Pie

Pumpkin Fluff Pie

An easy and healthier pumpkin fluff pie.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Refrigeration Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust
  • 1 15 Oz Can Pumpkin
  • 1 Box Fat Free/Sugar Free Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
  • 1 8 Oz Container Cool Whip
  • 1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • ½ Tsp Vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Pour the pumpkin, pudding, Cool Whip, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla into a bowl. Mix until combined.
  • Pour the mixture into a pie crust.
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Keyword Easy, Pumpkin

So, have you ever had a pumpkin fluff pie? Will you be trying my recipe for it?

Discovery Cove Review and Tips

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When I went to the SeaWorld Spooktacular last month in Orlando, I also visited Discovery Cove for the first time! My mom and I were able to swim with dolphins and enjoyed our day here. Keep reading to learn my tips for visiting.

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is a tropical paradise with various marine life to interact with. Admittedly, it is an expensive experience. However, keep an eye out for special deals as they tend to run them frequently. Additionally, the further out you book your day, the cheaper it will be. I also saved money on our passes by using my SeaWorld Orlando passholder discount!

Dolphin Swim

There are a variety of add-on experiences you can do at Discovery Cove. However, the main purpose of our visit here was to do the dolphin swim. In fact, we booked our day here solely because we saw the pictures of it at SeaWorld in February. I guess that marketing worked on us. Ha!

I will say that I’m glad we arrived early (a little after 7 AM). The weather forecast was calling for some afternoon showers prior to the arrival of Hurricane Ian, so we wanted to make sure we got to do what we came for – swim with dolphins! They do have a rainy day guarantee, but we didn’t have extra days in our trip, especially with the approaching hurricane. Thankfully, we got a 8:00 AM swim time and were able to swim right away!

Swimming with dolphins is something I will never forget! My mom and I had so much fun! It was both informative and wildly fun! You learn lots about dolphins while seeing them perform neat tricks. I also realized that each dolphin has their own personality, similar to humans!

Tips

I could write several more hundred words about Discovery Cove. However, I think it would be best to sum everything up with some helpful tips:

  • Arrive early. For starters, this will allow you to get your money’s worth. However, it also ensures you will get an early time slot for any add-on experiences you booked since they assign times on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Buy the photo package. I know that it adds even more to an already expensive day. However, you are going to want those photos. Besides, you aren’t allowed to bring in any devices to the dolphin area to protect the dolphins from eating/swallowing items. Although, I would strongly encourage you to follow the photographer immediately after the swim to pick out the photos. We were told that we didn’t have to and that added some headache to retrieving our pictures later in the day. It was still possible, it just made it more complicated and time-consuming.
  • Come hungry. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included with your ticket! We actually didn’t get to eat breakfast until after our swim and were really hungry by then. Then, we ate lunch just a short while later. I think a 9:00 AM swim may have been more ideal for timing, but I was relieved to have the swim over since the hurricane was approaching.
  • Walk around. There’s so much to see and do at Discovery Cove. Take a walk around and enjoy the beautiful scenery, if nothing else.
  • Bring half of what you think you need. Seriously, I packed way too much stuff for here. They supply sunscreen, swim vests/wetsuits, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and towels. You really only need a swim suit, hair brush, deodorant, sunglasses/hat/cover up, water shoes, and a change of clothes when you visit here.

I highly recommend a visit to Discovery Cove if you can afford it, especially if you are traveling with a dolphin fan! Have you been? What is your favorite thing to do here? Do you have any other tips?