Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

At our church we have bible study groups called D-Groups. They are small groups of 3-6 girls and a leader. During the year we meet together every week to go through a bible study and just hang out. We’ve done a bunch of great books, so I thought I’d share them with you in Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls. Summer is a great time to do a bible study because you have more time and can really slow down to spend time with God. I hope you find these books helpful in digging in and immersing yourself in the love of God.

1. HANNAH’S ONE WISH

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

I am kinda weird in that I find learning about people in the Old Testament more interesting than learning about people from the New Testament. When I saw this Bible study on Hannah, I knew it would be great! I really enjoyed learning about Hannah and the trust in God that she displays. This study can be used for a group, but I just did it on my own. It is easy to divide into sections depending on how much time you have that day.

2. LIKED

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

This book by Kari Kampakis would be a great one to read! I read it in the fall and loved it! It talks about how our social status doesn’t determine our worth or how much God loves us. It is in more of a book/chapter form with questions at the end of each chapter. It is a great one for groups, but reading it by itself is great too!

3. ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

I didn’t have a picture of this one because we got the ebook, but it is probably my favorite one out of all of these. It’s the true life story of a girl named Edie who struggles her whole life to find her Jesus. She sees what Jesus does or doesn’t mean to others and struggles through life’s ups and downs to find Him. It is an amazing story and I HIGHLY recommend. I thought it was just a book originally, but in the back there are discussion questions, so you can do it with a group.

4. BEAUTIFUL ENCOUNTERS

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

This book has been through some controversy. You can ask anyone else in my D-Group and they will say that they don’t like this book. I, however, loved it!! I loved learning about different women in the Bible and their encounters with Jesus. It really taught me a lot about them! I did this in a group format, but I’m sure that you can just get the student guide and be perfectly fine.

5. WE SAVED YOU A SEAT

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

Being homeschooled a lot of friends don’t just come to you. Since you’re not sitting in class with them everyday, working on group projects, and eating with them at lunch you have to make an extra effort to be their friend. You’ll have those few rare ones that will want to be friends with you, but most of the time you have to want to be friends with them first. This book looks really good for teaching you how to start friendships and keep them. I am thinking about doing this study this summer, so join along if you’d like better friendships too!

That wraps up our talk abut Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls! I hope you’ll start a Bible study this summer and dig in to God’s good Word. If you’d like to check out more from me click here. Follow our social channels @TheHillHangout to see what we’re up to this summer.
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Summer Bible Studies for Teen Girls from TheHillHangout.com

Beginner’s Calligraphy

Calligraphy is an art that I have fallen in love with. I always have been interested in writing letters in different sizes, fonts, and styles. Calligraphy was one of the things I loved even before I knew about it. It is an art that we are seeing more often on cards, paintings, and envelopes. Whether you’re looking to teach a calligraphy class or just address your christmas cards, I’m here to help you get started. I’m starting Beginner’s Calligraphy so I thought we could learn together.

STEP 1. GET GOOD SUPPLIES

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

My mom got me these pens off of Amazon for Christmas. They are amazing! You have a lot of control with them (even if it doesn’t seem like it at first) and they come in 10 vibrant colors. They have the brush end that you use for what we’re doing, but they also have a small marker end that is perfect for addressing the street name on an envelope or changing up the fonts on a piece of art. For paper, I just used some scrap paper we had left over from when Patterson was learning to write her letters. It was the perfect size! It’s probably not what you’re supposed to use, but we already owned it so I’m going with it.

STEP 2. START PRACTICING

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

Calligraphy requires a lot of practice. It is hard at first, but I promise it’s not just you. Everyone struggles at times, and this is one of those times. The goal of this step is just to get a feel for how the pens write. When you bring the pen up, it should be a thinner line, and the down stroke should be thicker. Just zig-zag your heart away.

STEP 3. PRACTICE SOME MORE

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

You didn’t think I was going to let you off the hook with one line did you? Nope! Make lines and lines of zig-zags. Fill up pages and pages of them until you’re comfortable with the pen and you like how the lines are looking.

STEP 4. PRACTICE CIRCLES

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

Now that you’re comfortable with lines, we’ll start to do some circles. Many letters have circles in them, so this is a great thing to practice. Make sure to do just like the lines and fill up pages with Os. Get a smooth transition from the thick-to-thin lines before you move on. This is also a great time to practice writing letters over and over again.

STEP 5. START WRITING WORDS

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

At this point you’re probably getting pretty good with individual letters, but you haven’t started connecting them. The next step is to start writing words. You can do Bible verses, names of friends, random words you think of, anything! The goal of this step is to get comfortable with writing words.

STEP 6. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

The only way you’re ever going to get any better at this skill is by practicing. You have to write words over and over to get them just the way you want them. In the picture above, I’ve used different fonts to add to the beauty of the verse. Calligraphy is a tedious task, but well worth it in the end.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Beginner’s Calligraphy with me today! I hope you learned something! I by all means am not a pro at this, but I gave ya what I got. If you’d like more tutorials on anything artsy, let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do! Thanks for reading today!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Beginner's Calligraphy from TheHillHangout.com

Summer Dresses for Teens

I don’t know about you, but summer is one of my favorite seasons! I love being out of school (that’s no surprise), and I love being able to go outside. I go to a lot of church events, baby showers, and meetings with my mom that require a little dressier appearance than shorts. I’ve put together some of my favorite summer dresses that’ll keep you cool and dressy this summer. Now I bring you Summer Dresses for Teens…

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

1. This cute find from Target is a great summer choice! It has pastel pinks and purples with bell sleeves and tassels. It would be a great option for any summer Sunday, especially if the morning is a little chilly.

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

2. I found this cutie at Lizard Thicket. It is a minty green dress with bright red floral accents. It is a great dress and the style of it is super trendy. If you’re looking for a bright and colorful dress, then ding-ding-ding! You’ve found one!

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

3. This dress from Altar’d State is a super fun pastel pink color. I love the detailed lace around the sleeves and down the middle. This one also looks like a great “spin-y dress” 😉 (As my cousin Kiley Page likes to call them)

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

4. This fun dress is bright blue with vibrant pink flowers. This dress is so cute that I got it for my Easter dress this spring. If you’d like to match with me this summer, you now know what to wear. I got this one at Lizard Thicket.

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

5. This pastel dress is a great one! It has white embroidery on it and little white puff-balls along the ruffled trim. It has the cold shoulder style which is super popular right now. I found this one at Francscas.

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

6. Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores and so when I saw this dress online, I snatched up the chance to show y’all. It is a little more of a casual look, but a great short sleeved dress that can look great all summer long. It’s a great dress that I would highly recommend.

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

7. I love this pink dress from Anthropologie! It is a soft pink color with a thick, white border around the bottom. If you want to keep things simple this summer, this one’s a good one.

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

8. This creme dress from Altar’d State is another cutie! It is light and bright and gets you in the mood for summer.

I hope this gives you an idea of something to wear this summer! If you like my fashion posts, be sure to let me know in the comments below! Also, don’t forget to follow our social channels @TheHillHangout.
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Summer Dresses for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama

Here at The Hill Hangout everything’s a family affair. We all go to each others soccer tournaments, dance recitals, work events and so on. We love love love travel, and we also love the food that comes along with it. We’ve been to many places that are great for weekend trips and we thought that we’d share them with ya. We’ve come up with a series of different states and cities that we love going to and we thought you might to. They are all going to be included in our new series Fun Weekend Trips for the Family. Today we’re kickin’ it off with our own sweet home, Alabama. Stay tuned to see if your state is featured in this fun new series.

CITY 1: BIRMINGHAM

It’s no surprise that the largest city in the state, as well as our home town, is the first to be introduced. We love Birmingham and it’s a town that is passionate about their sports, food, and fun. We hope you’ll give our town a visit sometime and check out some of the great places listed below.

1. MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

The Mcwane Center is one of our family’s favorites. It is an amazing place for kiddos to play, while still learning something. They cover tons of science projects and theories from weather to athletics. Once you get in, all activities are free and you can stay from open until close. They have many different floors filled with unique learning. They also have an IMAX Theatre that shows many science/educational movies.

2. SAW’S SOUL KITCHEN

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This local joint is a great place to grab a quick bite before you head to your next Birmingham stop. It is a teeny-tiny restaurant with only about four tables inside. They have picnic tables outside, or you can pop your trunk and chow down. Even though seating is tight, the bar-b-que is worth it!

3. THE SUMMIT

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

If you’re looking for a great shopping district, then the Summit is my recommendation. They have lots of really good stores and restaurants. It is a very clean and safe environment, and they carry several different kinds of clothing, books, home decor, and gifts. This is a really great place to go and spend the afternoon and grab some dinner before heading back to the hotel.

4. LA PAZ

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

If you want some good Mexican food, you’ve come to the right place. Yes, this is the capital of Bolivia, but the restaurant is located in Crestline Village. They have great Mexican food, and it’s one of our favorite places. If you go at dinner time, you might have to wait. Lunch is normally less crowded though.

5. BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a great place to go and learn about the historic movement. Being in the deep south, Birmingham had a big part in the historic 1960s. It was a city full of turmoil and judgement that is all showcased in this museum. It is a great family field trip that is neat to go through, as well as a great family experience.

CITY 2: HUNTSVILLE

This city is a great one! It’s in northern Alabama, so you Tennessee folks won’t have to drive too far. We have been here for soccer tournaments countless times and have found some fun things to do in the city, so we thought we’d share them with you.

1. ROSIE’S MEXICAN CANTINA

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This restaurant is on the tippy top of our list when we go to Huntsville. It is an amazing Mexican restaurant that is super family friendly. It is a great place to go when you want a substantial amount of food, and some homemade tortillas. We go there almost every time we go to Huntsville, so it’s one of our faves.

2. U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

If you’ve never been to this joint, you need to go. It is an amazing museum that houses some of America’s most watched air crafts. It is fascinating and a great place to spend the day learning. It is very kid-friendly and enjoyable for parents too. We have been countless times as a field trip and have loved it every time.

3. GERMAN FOOD

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

During the Space Race many scientists and mathematicians were brought into Huntsville to work on the rockets. Many of those people were German because, well, Germans are really smart. This created a vast population of Germans in the Huntsville area. They have since created many authentic German restaurants. Hildegard’s German Cuisine and Ol’ Heidelberg Cafe are just a few that we’ve heard are the bomb.

4. BRIDGE STREET TOWN CENTER

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

If you’re looking for a great place to shop in Huntsville, this is your jam. They have great stores and many of them. They sell everything from climbing gear, to clothes, to accessories. We love going there because they have a different selection of what we might be able to buy in Birmingham. They also have great restaurants so you can grab a meal while you’re there.

5. ALABAMA CONSTITUTION VILLAGE

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

I’ve never been to this place, but I did a little digging and it looks fantastic! This museum/village is a living display of what life was like in 1819. The village is on the very spot where the constitution was signed that made Alabama a state. They have actors that reenact various life tasks from 1819. It looks like a great display, and if you’ve been before, let us know in the comments below how it was!

CITY 3: GULF SHORES/ORANGE BEACH

This city is very near and dear to our heart. My grandparents lived there as from long as I could remember until just 3 years ago. We loved going with them to the local joints and get out of all of the tourist-y part of town. We thought we’d share them with you so that next time you’re on the coast, you’d have some suggestions.

1. DOC’S SEAFOOD SHACK AND OYSTER BAR

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This fun joint was right down the street from my grandparents’ house, so we ate there almost every visit. We’re pretty big gumbo critics and this is the best we’ve found at a restaurant. It’s a great seafood place, but if you’re going around meal time, be prepared to wait a little while.

2. TANGER OUTLETS

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This place is a great place to shop! They have so many outlet stores that you can find just about anything. We go there almost every time we are at the beach and it’s a great place to find a bunch of stores in one place. We’ve gone there for years and it’s always been a great experience.

3. BRAVO TACOS

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This place is delish! It is a small taco shack on the side of a gas station across the street from Doc’s. They have super yummy tacos and it is a great break from all the seafood you’ve been eating. They’re never really crowded, so you shouldn’t have to worry about waiting too long. Aren’t I making you want to go to the beach right now?

4. COSMOS RESTAURANT AND BAR

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

This place is a little more fancy than all the other places I’ve mentioned. It is a great place to go on a date night and leave the kids. They have fantabulous food and the atmosphere is great. Make sure to add this one to your list next time you’re on vacation.

5. THE HANGOUT

Fun Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

I know what you’re thinking, “Mary Anneliese, why another restaurant???” Well, when you go to the beach, the activity to do, is go on the beach. I thought you’d much rather do that then have me tell you about some not-so-fun place you could go instead. So, I decided to include another restaurant because people, you gotta eat! This place not only has great food, but the atmosphere is amazing! You get that beach-y vibe as soon as you walk in the door.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed traveling around Alabama with me today! Let me know below if you’ve ever been to any of these fun places or plan to go! Tune in soon for the next post in our series, Fun Weekend Trips for the Family. See you there!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

un Weekend Trips for the Family- Alabama from TheHillHangout.com

Summer Swimsuits for Teens

Summer is just around the corner, (Hallelujah!) so that means it’s swimsuit season!!! I don’t know about y’all, but I for one am super pumped that it’s here! Below I have linked some great swimsuits to help you get some cute finds. I decided just to look them up on the internet, because I am better as a soccer player, not a swimsuit model. 😊 So without further ado I bring you Summer Swimsuits for Teens…

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

1. This rust-colored top from Target is a great find! I actually bought this one a few weeks ago and love it! It is different than any other swimsuit I’ve had before because of the crochet fabric. It has a very durable feel, so this one will probably last a few years. It is really cute on and the color is amazing!!

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

2. Let’s face it, we all have those church camps that we go to that require a one-piece. It is so hard to find one-pieces that are actually cute! (can I get an Amen?) So, I thought I should include one so that you’d have an option when you need one. This cute one from Kingdom & State is a great option!

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

3. This floral beauty is from Cupshe and it is adorable! It is so bright and fun! I don’t know about y’all, but this one makes me want to go to the beach right now! I’m in love with the pink and purple color scheme and y’all, it’s $20!

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

4. Another great find at Altar’d State! This swim top reminds me of summer exactly! With the bright oranges, blues, and reds, how could you not love this one? Only the top is linked, but the matching bottoms are on their website as well.

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

5. This coral swimsuit is from Francesca’s. It is covered in turquoise leaves that will make you thing of palm trees all summer long! The matching bottoms are on the site as well.

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

6. I have another one from Cupshe! This one is a adorable floral-y print on a forest green backing. It is high necked, which is trending this year. It would be a great addition to anyone’s closet, and for $19! I’ll take it!

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

7. This swim top from American Eagle is so cute! It has a denim look, which is something I haven’t seen very much. It is a high-necked swimsuit which is super flattering on anyone! It has matching bottoms too, but only the top is linked.

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

8. I found a great one at Urban Outfitters! It is a simple top that would go great with any patterned bottoms you might have. They have it in 7 different colors, so you can match it with anything! I linked the white one because it is so versatile and could be worn with anything else already in your closet.

That wraps up our Summer Swimsuits for Teens! If you’d like to check out any of MY other fashion blog posts, you can click here or here. Stay tuned! We have more fashion suggestions to help get you ready for summer! Happy shopping!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Summer Swimsuits for Teens from TheHillHangout.com

Best of The Best Disney Rides

Here at The Hill Hangout we’re all about some travel. Between my parents jobs, my soccer tournaments, my sister’s soccer tournaments, and all the little weekend getaways we do a lot of traveling. Disney is somewhere we’ve been before and loved it! Along the way we’ve ridden a lot of rides, so we thought today we’d share with you some of our favorites. Welcome to the Best of The Best Disney- Rides Edition.

1. BEST 1ST TIME ROLLERCOASTER

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

The Barnstormer- Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom- This rollercoaster is perfect for those who are new to the whole jig. Those smaller kids, grandparents, or unsure adults on your trip can figure out whether or not they like rollercoasters as much as you do. Its a small coaster so it won’t be too traumatizing if its not enjoyable. 😉

2. BEST NON-MOVING ATTRACTION

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor- Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom- This attraction is one of our family’s favorites. It is good, clean jokes that make your kids laugh so hard they might wet their pants. It is a great thing for the whole family to enjoy and it’s a different show every time, so you can go back again and again.

3. BEST BIG KID ROLLERCOASTER

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Rock-N-Rollercoaster- Hollywood Studios- This coaster is the grandaddy of them all. It is only for those who think they can go the distance and really ride. It’s in the dark, but you do get to sit by your friends! If you’re single, or hate waiting in lines, then the single rider line is available for this ride.

4. BEST DISNEY PLAY

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

The Circle of Life- Animal Kingdom- This show is a really great one! It’s a spin-off of the crazy popular movie, The Lion King. It encompasses life-size puppets, amazing singers, and yes, even trampoline “monkeys”. It is a fun show for all ages and is great for large groups.

5. BEST ANIMAL ATTRACTION

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Kilimanjaro Safaris- Animal Kingdom- This ride is so amazing! You get to ride through the african safari on an open-air car and see live safari animals. it is great for all ages and especially the animal lovers in your crew. It isn’t intense like a rollercoaster, so don’t worry about crying kids.

6. BEST RIDE IN EPCOT

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Soarin’- Epcot- This ride really is neat. It takes you on a hang-gliding tour through some of the most well-known attractions in the world. See the Great Wall, the Sidney Oprah House, and many other famous destinations. This is a popular ride in Epcot, so it’s a good idea to get fast-passes ahead of time.

7. BEST WATER RIDE

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Splash Mountain- Fronteirland in Magic Kingdom- We’ve never been to the Disney water parks, but we’ve heard great things. Our favorite water-like ride is Splash Mountain. You might want to bring out the ponchos for this one folks because you might get a little wet. We have been so pleased with this mountain along with its sister rides, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

8. BEST CHARACTER MEET-UP

Best of The Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Epcot Character Spot- Epcot- For those kiddos who love to get their autograph books signed, this it the place to go. You get to see several classic Mickey Mouse Disney characters all at one time here! It is inside so a great break form the heat if you’re struggling. When we went, the lines weren’t too long, but that could have just been the time of day. Epcot is a great park to meet other characters as well, such as Belle, Mulan, Jasmine, and Snow White in their corresponding countries.

I hope you enjoyed reading about our favorite Disney rides! If you’re hungry for more, check out Best of the Best Disney Food and 5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Trip . See y’all next time!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Best of the Best Disney Rides from TheHillHangout.com

Best of the Best Disney Food

As you’ve probably figured out by now, our family loves food. We don’t love all food though. We have been to disney twice as a family and eaten in a lot of restaurants. Some restaurants are really yummy, some are not so good, and some are good just for the experience. Below, we have put together a list of our family’s favorite food to eat in the magical place.

BEST EXPERIENCE

Best of the Best Disney Food

1. Rainforest Cafe- Outside Animal Kingdom- The Rainforest Cafe is such a fun restaurant! It feels exactly like you are in a rainforest all throughout the place. The food is good, but the scenery and experience is even better. Your kids that thrill over animals will be ecstatic about this place. Be sure to note that this is outside Animal Kingdom and not accessible through the park, but is right next door to the Animal Kingdom entrance.

BEST BREAK RESTAURANT

Best of the Best Disney Food

2. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre Restaurant- Hollywood Studios- This eatery is a super great one! What I mean by break restaurant is that this is a place where your gonna want to stop for a while to have fun. It’s not the place to grab a quick bite before your next fastpass, but is rather a fun experience in itself. You get to eat in retro convertible car booths and watch old movies while you’re there.

BEST BUFFET

Best of the Best Disney Food

3. Tusker House- Animal Kingdom- This place is so yummy!! We ate there for lunch on Thanksgiving Day and it was amazing! It is a buffet that has all kinds of fresh, great food and if ya go on Thanksgiving, they serve traditional turkey and dressing.

BEST SNACK FOOD

Best of the Best Disney Food

4. Golden Oak Outpost- Frontier Land in Magic kingdom- This place is a great one to grab something at before you hit your next stop. They have chicken fingers and waffle fries. We didn’t have the chicken, but the waffle fries were delicious and came in so many different flavors. You can get ’em plain, but you can also get them piled high with BBQ, lettuce, sour cream, and more!

BEST ETHNIC FOOD

Best of the Best Disney Food

5. San Angel Inn Restaurante- Mexico in Epcot- This restaurant is a super cool experience. If you’re looking for fantastic tex-mex, this isn’t your place, but the cool scenery and fun times made it worth it for us to go. It is inside, but is painted to make you feel like you’re outdoors in Mexico with all your Mexican friends.

BEST SWEET TREAT

Best of the Best Disney Food

6. Aloha Isle- Adventure Land in Magic kingdom- This is called a Dole Whip. It is one of Disney Park’s most iconic desserts and is super yummy. It is a vanilla ice-cream/pineapple-y dream boat. You can find it at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom, but it is also available in many other venues throughout the parks and resorts.

BEST NON-PARK FOOD

Best of the Best Disney Food

7. Wolfgang Pucks- Downtown Disney- This restaurant is so fantabulous! It isn’t in the parks, but is a fantastic place for dinner one night, or lunch before ya leave town. The food is crazy good and we all loved what we got when we went.

I hope y’all enjoyed reading about all our Disney travels! If you are hungry for more Disney, check out 5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Trip. Thanks for reading!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Best of the Best Disney Food from TheHillHangout.com

Favorite Teen Fashion Stores

Shopping. It is something everyone has to do {unless you’re super crafty and can sew}. I like shopping to some extent, but when I look and look and don’t find anything, I get discouraged and tired. I thought it might be helpful for me to give y’all some of my favorite stores, so you can get some new ideas. Comment below some of your favorites so we can both get ideas!

Favorite Teen Fashion Stores by TheHillHangout.com

1. Altar’d State– Altar’d State is a really cute store! They have super trendy things and I just know y’all love them as much as I do.

2. H&M– This store is definitely hit or miss, but they always have so much content I buy something almost every time I go in there. They have great basics and I get ALL of my pants there. I’m not kidding.

3. Lizard Thicket– A new one of these just opened up a few moths ago near us and I’m in love!! They have great shirts and sweaters, and also great warm hats and headbands.

4. Forever 21– This store is hit or miss as well. I find a bunch of sweaters there that are really cute and I got a new pair of shoes from there that are ADORABLE!

5. Old Navy– I get at least half my wardrobe from Old Navy y’all. They have shorts and tops that are so darn cute. For the amount of clothes vs. the amount I spend there, it ends up being a steal!

6. Kinnucans- This store is so great! They have fantabulous t-shirts and athletic shorts. I get almost all of my t-shirts from there and if you know me well , you know that is a lot of shirts.

7. Target– I love target so much! It ends up being my go-to for swimsuits and I also find a lot of dresses in there as well.

8. American Eagle– I find trendy pieces here as well. I love their summer shorts, but they sometimes can be too short, so be careful. I love their summery tops too!

9. Gap Factory– You might be wondering why in the world I would prefer the Gap Factory Store over the normal Gap,so I’ll tell ya. The normal Gap seems to have an older and more professional generation of clothes and the Factory Store is more casual and I personally like it better. I get tops, pajama pants, and super cute socks here.

10. Nike- Nike isn’t really a fashion store like you’d think, but I do get a lot of stuff here. I get my tennis shoes of course, but I also like getting athletic shorts here as well as soccer cleats.

Thank you all so much for reading! I hope these stores gave y’all some ideas on where to shop for clothes! Don’t forget to tell me your favorite stores below!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

Favorite Teen Fashion Stores by TheHillHangout.com

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation

Our family loves Disney. I’m pretty sure it’s on most kiddos’ bucket list as a thing to do one day. I have personally been three times, but only vividly remember two. In those two we have been once for New Year’s and once for Thanksgiving, and both were super fantabulous. However, before we went we did extensive research on what to take, wear, and pack for the parks. We have made a checklist below of 5 things that will save your Disney vacation.

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation from TheHillHangout.com

1. Cooler Backpack– This backpack will change your Disney experience. If you haven’t ever used one, they are phenomenal! The top part is mesh for all your chips, crackers, and granola bars, and the bottom is a cooler for water, sodas, and juice boxes. This thing will save you so much money at Disney because food is expensive. Even just packing a lunch and some snacks will save you big bucks. We would pack crackers in the top and put cheese, chicken salad, and pimento cheese in the cooler part for a super yummy lunch. One tip is to use Rubbermaid containers with the backpack so that your chips, fruit, etc. don’t get crushed.

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation from TheHillHangout.com

2. Umbrella Stroller– When we went to disney my sister, Patterson, was 5 and then 7. She was really too old for a stroller, but in Disney we used one to keep her legs from getting so tired. We found a great stroller on Amazon, but it has been discontinued. {I’ve linked one that is similar though.} We used our stroller every day in the parks. We put jackets and souvenirs in the bottom compartment and we strapped the cooler bag (listed above) on the back when we didn’t feel like carrying it. Patterson fell asleep every night in this thing and there was no complaining that her legs hurt from walking.

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation from TheHillHangout.com

3. Battery Pack– The second time we went to Disney we discovered this, and it was a life saver!! There aren’t many electrical outlets in Disney, so it can become hard to keep your phone charged with all those family pictures. And if you’re using a Disney Parks app, they take a lot of battery use! One of the most useful things is a battery pack. You can charge it overnight and have it ready for the next day in the park. We got one with 2 outlets so that 2 phones can charge at once. It is an amazing thing to have so you don’t ever have to slow down your Disney adventures.

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation from TheHillHangout.com

4. Rain Ponchos– These things are another great thing to have in Disney! They are perfect for those flash showers and water rides. They are a life saver if your kids are dying to go on those water rides, but you don’t want to get soaked. You can also use them to cover your stroller and camera when showers pop up. I’ve linked some they have on Amazon, but you can find them at the dollar store too for about 1/10 the price you would pay in the Disney parks.

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation from TheHillHangout.com

5. Phone Powered Fan– This fan really comes in handy at Disney. It can get so hot, especially if you go in the summer. These fans plug in to the charging outlet on your iPhone and spin using your phone’s battery. The instructions say they only use 4% of your battery life per hour of use, but I can’t swear by that. They are great at Disney, but also for baseball games or swim meets during usual summer days.

I hope this is helpful for your next Disney vacation! Let me know when you’re going so I can tag along!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese

5 Things That Will Save Your Disney Vacation

Favorite Childhood Read Aloud Books

Even though I’m technically still in my childhood, I have books that I remember from years past. I’ve been homeschooled since first grade and one of my favorite subjects has always been reading. I loved reading to myself and being read to by my mom. I thought some of you might want some ideas on what books to read aloud to your kiddos. Below, I’ve linked some of my favorite books that I still remember the storyline of 6-7 years after reading it. All these were read to me by my mother dear and made fun memories for younger me.

1. Little House on the Prairie– This is more of a series than just a book because I enjoyed all of the Little House books just the same. If I had to pick a favorite though, it would probably be Little House on the Prairie. I loved Ma, Pa, Laura, Mary, and baby Carrie just as if they were my own extended family.

Favorite Childhood Read-Aloud books

2.The Borrowers– This book was so, so good! I loved it! It is about a family, who is small, so they live under the floor boards of a normal family’s house. They have to “borrow” things from the normal family in order to make their tiny home and get food. It was the cutest book and there is a movie that is adorable as well.

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3.The Family Under the Bridge– I remember that during summer reading at the library one year, if you read a certain number of pages, you would get to go into the “book room” and pick out any book you wanted to take home with you. Of course I read the pages, I mean who wouldn’t want a free book? I picked out this book and have loved it ever since! It’s also a shorter book for all your short attention-spanded small friends.

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4. Mr. Poppers Penguins– This book was a marvelous one to read and watch. It is about Mr. Popper who gets a package from one of his exploring idols. It’s a crate full of cold weather friends who he quickly has no idea what to do with. He is super funny for little kids and I got a kick out of him. He has a really cute movie too!

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5. The Twenty-One Balloons– This book was so superb that we read it twice! It is about a professor who no longer wants to teach, but fly around the world in a hot-air balloon. He sets sail with 1 and is found in the ocean with twenty-one on the other side of the world. This book is full of imagination and creativity so I’m sure your little readers will love it!

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6. Where the Sidewalk Ends is a fantastic book. It is a poetry book, so that means the entire book is made of poems. You can read as many or as little at a time, so you can basically pick how long you want to read for. The pictures in it are hand drawn and are so diverse compared to other books,which makes it really fun to read.

Favorite Childhood Read-Aloud books

7. The Invention of Hugo Cabret– This book is almost too wonderful to describe! I think our family has read it at LEAST four times. It is the story of a boy who lives in a train station and keeps the clocks running. He is supposed to be living there with his uncle, but when he didn’t come back several days after an outing, Hugo has adjusted to living alone. This book is illustrated, but the illustrations usually cover the entire page, and there are several at a time. It is an enchanting story and I hope everyone has a chance to read it.

Favorite Childhood Read-Aloud books

8. The Moffats– This book is so fun! The characters in it are funny, adventurous, and quite cleaver. There are 4 kids in the family, and they are all unique, but still similar. Only they could get stuck in a breadbox, or “hitch a ride on a boxcar during kindergarten recess,” as Amazon describes it. They’ll have you rooting for them in no time on their fun filled adventure.

Favorite Childhood Read-Aloud books

Thanks so much for reading today!! If you want more book suggestions, check out Books I Want to Read in 2017 and Books I Want to Read in 2017- Teen Edition. Happy reading everybody!
XOXO, Mary Anneliese