Tuesday 30 April 2013

walt disney world orlando 2013



Finally getting around to doing a post about our trip over Easter break to Disney World in Orlando.  We all had such a great time even though we were completely exhausted at the end of each day and I seriously think I'm still recovering!  But it was definitely worth it seeing the looks on those two little faces.

Because the little monster is a complete train fanatic we promised him that we would stay at the Contemporary Resort where the monorail runs right through the middle of the hotel all day long.  I'm still not sure why we paid for park passes because the kid seriously could not get enough of the monorails.  After a short but stressful flight from NJ to Orlando it was such a breath of fresh air to walk into to Contemporary Resort.  This is not the Disney World experience I remember from when I was a kid.  The hotel has had an incredible face lift and is now stylish, sophisticated and modern while being 110% kid friendly.  The hotel room are all done with dark wood furniture with lovely neutral colors and definitely not what you would expect when one hears Disney.  Our room was not in the main building but in one of the side buildings but we still had a great view of the monorail driving in and out of the hotel.  The sofa in the room cleverly turns into a comfy twin bed (not one of those standard springy pull out beds) which is great for multiple children.  The bathroom is nice and spacious with a spa feel to it.  There is an enormous pool, waterslide, and sandy beach area outside that is great for cooling down and just relaxing.  The only negative from the hotel experience is that the rooms could be cleaner.  It was quite dusty and some of the corners clearly had not been cleaned for a long time.  I did say something to the concierge but it was not sorted out after the complaint.

The main building of the hotel is definitely the main attraction and so entertaining for the kids.  There is plenty of shopping up there from toys, clothing, souvenirs, and even a shop that sells practical things like milk, bread, toiletries, snacks and loads more.  There is a quick cafeteria style restaurant where it's easy to grab a quick bite without waiting on a huge line and tons of table to sit down at.  And of course the character dining at Chef Mickeys where there is a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner is a major attraction.  My children absolutely love interacting with the characters and the dining experience is great because Mickey and his friends come to your table and eliminates waiting on even more lines.  I recommend making reservations early for the character dining because they fill up quite quickly at the hotel and in the parks.  The best part of all of this is that the monorail literally runs just above your head every couple of minutes and you can only imagine how exciting this is for a 3 year old boy!

It was super easy to travel to the theme parks using the monorail.  Buggies/strollers can be rolled on board without being folded down which works really will with sleeping children not having to be disturbed.  This also makes it convenient to pop back to the hotel room at any point during the day.  Of course we hit Magic Kingdom on the first day.  If you go all the way to Disney World you can't miss out on the castle, Dumbo, teacups, parade, and all of the classic Disney rides.  We spoke to the concierge and they told us that we should go to Animal Kingdom because it was really great for young children.  When I saw Dinoland on the map I knew it would be a hit.  I actually think the Little Monster preferred Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom.  Getting to Animal Kingdom involved a bus ride and the buggies to be folded up which isn't ideal.  Animal Kingdom has a really nice feel to it and there are amazing trees and greenery everywhere.  It's insane the amount of time that is spent on the little details all over the park.  We spent most of the day in Dinoland on the dinosaur rides and playarea.  The biggest hit of the trip was for sure the safari ride.  The kids absolutely loved seeing all the animals up close.

We drove the next day to Downtown Disney which was a lot of fun and the best part is that you don't need park passes to go there!  The Disney bus also goes there from the hotel but we felt that it was easier to just drive.  There are loads of restaurants and Disney shops and more than enough to entertain the kids for hours and hours and hours.  It's great if you want the Disney experience but don't want to spend the whole day in one of the parks.  Perfect for grabbing souvenirs and I don't think I've ever seen so much Disney merchandise before.

If we do go back to Disney World I would definitely stay at the Contemporary again.  I love the modern feel of the hotel and everything that it has to offer.  The convenience factor is major for us traveling with two young children with different sleep schedules.  It's amazing that just the hotel itself has so much to offer that the kids can have loads of fun just hanging out at the hotel!




Friday 26 April 2013

dream wardrobe friday x saks friends and family


I have been stuck at home all week with a sick Little Monster and flu ridden hubby so haven't been getting that much done.  I almost forgot about the Saks Fifth Avenue Friends and Family event where a huge selection of goodies is 25% off online and in stores.  There is still time left to shop and the offer ends on 28 April 2013 so hurry into the stores or start clicking away online!

Here are my picks from the Friends and Family Event:

1. Current/Elliott * The Stiletto Star Print Jeans - How adorable are the little gold stars printed on these jeans?  They are not your average mom jeans for sure.

2.  Soft Joie * Temira Cotton Dress - Such an easy dress to have in the wardrobe for the warm days that looks so effortless and chic

3.  IRO * Deven Leather Sleeve Jacket - I absolutely love this little jacket!  I love how the leather sleeves make this jacket very edgy and will look great over a mini dress or leggings.

4.  Milly * Evey Chunky Knit Sweater - This is definitely something I would wear to death!  It's so simple to throw on over some jeans or leggings and run out of the house looking stylish without trying too hard.  Can you tell I'm a little obsessed with neon?

5.  Maison Martin Margiela MM6 * Bicolor Leather Ankle Strap Sandal - These sandals look super comfy and I love the touch of the neon yellow mixed with the nude.

6.  Joie * Hemlock Canvas Espadrille Sneakers - I live in espadrilles all summer and they are definitely part of my uniform.  I love the laces on these and will look very cool this summer.

7.  girl. by Band of Outsiders * Little Iris Pintuck Top - This is such a sweet little top that looks so fresh and will go with so many items in my closet.

8.  7 for All Man Kind * The Skinny Jeans/Apricot - I seriously cannot own enough skinny jeans!  I love this apricot color and will really freshen up any outfit.

9.  Diane von Furstenberg * Marcy Silk Colorblock Shirtdress - I'm so loving the mint and navy color combination.  I love wearing shirtdresses in the summer and would happily toss this on with the Joie espadrilles and dash out the door on the school run looking very stylish.

Here is the code for the discount and happy shopping!
xox



Tuesday 23 April 2013

my guest post for the lilac pages


And click here to see my guest post for the Lilac Pages, a must read blog for fellow fashionista mummies!

guest post by lilac pages

I am thrilled to be bringing you a guest post by Little S from one of my absolute favorite mummy blogs The Lilac Pages.  Little S is so insanely chic and is seriously one of the most fashionable mummy around!  Hope you enjoy her top spring picks for the working mummy.




A few weeks ago, the lovely A. at Lattes & Juice was kind enough to suggest we write twin guest posts on each other’s blog, and I was incredibly flattered… Lattes and Juice is one of my go-to reads when it comes to checking on the latest trends for kids fashion, cool mummy and me activities, and fabulous family vacations. I love A.’s clean and ever so elegant blog design and each post is a joy to read. So of course I jumped at the opportunity, but then as always life got in the way, and I was only able to deliver my guest post today…  Hopefully this is good enough to make up for my lateness!
I’ve been thinking about my Top 5 Picks for Spring 2013, and it was easy really. I tend to gravitate towards similar outfits when the sun is out… A dress, some fabulous accessories, easy!

1.  Diane Von Furstenberg dress
I love DVF for work, her dresses are fabulous for day to evening, and so easy to dress up or down. And they don’t get wrinkled in airplanes! 

2.  Nicholas Kirkwood sandals
In my view, a pair of fabulous shoes can totally transform life, from a drab day in the office to drinks with the girls, from a basic dress to a sassy outfit… 

3.  Milli Millu Zurich handbag
I’m obsessed with Milli Millu lately, who knew it was possible to combine functionality and style?  http://www.millimillu.com/shoulder-bags/the-zurich-neon-orange.html

4.  Mango jacket
It’s always better to have a little jacket to rely on in the office, where the air con blasts regardless of the weather outside, and lately I’ve been lusting after white jackets, it must be the warmer days! http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/mango/clothing/jackets/tailored-fitted-blazer/?id=81100781_OW&n=1&s=prendas.americanas&ie=0&m=&ts=1366664755720

5.  Louis Vuitton Monogram shawl
I take a cashmere and silk shawl almost everywhere I go, it’s one of my year-round essentials. It doubles as a plane blanket, a cover for chillier evenings, every girl needs one. http://www.louisvuitton.co.uk/front/#/eng_GB/Collections/Women/Accessories/Scarves-and-more/products/Monogram-Shawl-WO-AESTHETIC-LINE-M72412





Thursday 18 April 2013

the so dior exhibition


Before we left for the States I had a chance to sneak into Harrods quickly and check out the pop-up So Dior Exhibition.  So glad I remembered to go as the exhibition ended on 14 April so sorry for all those who didn't get to catch it.  We whizzed around pretty quickly as both kids were with us but to my surprise they both actually seem to enjoy all the lights and glamour.

When you first walk into the exhibition you enter into a room with a miniature House of Dior and it is absolutely stunning and so Parisian.  The little windows are filled with sweet little displays of perfume and fashion accessories.  I absolutely loved the stage filled with all of the miniature replica dresses of all of Dior's most iconic dresses.  It's amazing the amount of detail that went into creating all of the pieces.  My other favourites are the exquisite strapless Miss Dior dress worn by Natalie Portman, the gorgeous beaded gown worn by Charlize Theron in J'Adore commercial, and the absolutely stunning beaded mini dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1969.

Still a bit upset I didn't get to have tea and Dior cupcakes in the Dior Cafe.  Luckily there is a Laduree downstairs to make up for it and still get to feel like you are in Paris.  

The Exhibition was just so beautifully done and it was really such a treat to get to view all those gorgeous and famous gowns!


So more lovely images:

Tuesday 16 April 2013

back from holiday and lots of drama


We've made it back to London from our lovely little break in the States.  It's so nice to be home again especially since the sun is out and it's not freezing cold outside!

I will fill you in on our adventure in Orlando and the kids really did have a fantastic time.  I don't think my kids can ever have enough Disney magic.  The Little Monster is still talking about it constantly.  Have lots of photos to share :)

The second part of the trip was supposed to be hanging out at my mom's house in New Jersey and getting in some retail therapy.  That totally did not happen!  I ended up with the worst stomach flu ever and spent a lovely evening in the emergency room getting replenished with 3 bags of iv fluid.  The rest of the week was spent in bed with my poor mom wrangling both kids on her own as I was completely useless.  On top of it all I seem to have the normal flu mixed in will all of this.  So back in London and still congested and coughing but hopefully on the mend now.

Hopefully will kick this jet lag quickly and write more about the fun part of our Easter break!

Monday 1 April 2013

heading to warmer climate


We have just landed at my mom's house in New Jersey and starting to repack our summer wardrobe for our Orlando adventure!  I cannot express how excited again I am about seeing the sunshine again and not to wear a thousand layers everyday.  It will be so nice not to have to fight the hat, scarf, and gloves battle x2 kids daily.  We are staying in Disneyworld for a couple of days and then heading to a resort in Orlando and will be sure to post all about our trip.
 
How adorable are these Bonpoint sandals I received as a gift when Baby Girl was born exactly one year ago!  They look so cute on her chubby feet and thrilled that we can finally wear them.
 
I'm not sure what our internet situation is going to be for the next 2 weeks so will try to post as much as I can.  Hopefully we can kick this jetlag quickly and be able to maximize our time in the parks.  Apologies for the appearance of the posts as I haven't lugged my laptop with me this time and won't be able to do the usual layout.  All will be back to normal in about 2.5 weeks.
 
Off to catch some zzzzz's before the fun really starts!