#MeAndMine - A Family Portrait (May 2015) The Orlando Edition!

Last month was the first time I've missed a Me and Mine in the last couple of years and you can't believe how upset I was.

To cut a very long story short, MC broke out with chicken pox exactly a week before we were due to fly out to Orlando, Florida for a months holiday! A holiday we'd been planning for over a year. Incase you don't know, until every spot has scabbed over airlines won't let you fly so it was a race against time and 2-3 bicarbonate of soda and sea salt baths a day. We also had to race TC to be vaccinated.

Thankfully all our hard work (and tears) paid off and MC was certified fit to fly at the last minute. It was so touch and go though and Matt and I lost a lot of sleep over it…so we were ready for a holiday.

As this post goes live we will have landed back in the UK. We usually spend 3 weeks in Orlando but we decided to extend it and my parents also joined us for the first week. I won't lie, there were moments when it was tough with two small kids - one recovering from illness and the other one fighting illness off - but it was a fantastic holiday again and none of us want to leave our second home.

I'll be blogging about our trip, in full, as soon as I find the time to pull everything together…and got over the jet lag. We also covered Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure this trip which was all new to us - was amazing though, especially the brand new Wizarding World of Harry Potter...and I'm not really a fan!

I haven't had time to sort all my photos but I have grabbed quite a few (!) of the Disney Memory Maker ones. As you can see, TC has a bit of an aversion to Ariel haha!

#MeAndMine - A Family Portrait (March 2015)

Phew! March has been a hectic month.

It always is.

I have both children's birthdays falling within 17 days of each other in March. It means planning birthday days and planning parties that just takes up a lot of my time.

We've also been stepping up the Orlando holiday planning and have, today, told the kids the secret that we've been keeping for a year - we are taking them back to our 'second home'. The excitement in our house is building to fever point...and that's just Matt and I!

In amongst the excitement Matt and I have been consuming Breaking Bad episodes like they are, literally, drugs. It was something we never even looked at when it originally aired and so it's been great to just watch them all. One night we watched 3 back to back! As of today we are 4 episodes away from the very end of the last season - tense and exciting is an understatement. Part of me is wanting it to be over though so I get my evenings back. I don't think I've been so into a television series since Game Of Thrones...and that starts again soon. Argh!

Sorry, I'm digressing. My photo...

Back on March 11th it was MC's 6th birthday and she chose Pizza Express as her birthday restaurant. We had a lovely meal and, as always, the children were impeccably behaved. I guess it comes from eating out a lot but they are always great in restaurants. So, I asked the Manager to take a family photo of us. It turned out quite nice.

Here's to another month passing and getting closer to our amazing holiday!

Works Of Heart - A Bit Of Disney Magic In Our Home

Every now and again you discover something amazing. Something that you know you will love and you will want to treasure forever.

It's like this a lot of the time when MC brings home her artwork from school or sits down to draw something at home. She loves drawing and I have a large folder full of her work that I just have to keep.

The thing is, apart from the ones I display on our 'This week at school' board and the ones I have framed in the play room, they do just that, they sit in a folder never really to see the light of day.

This makes me sad.

Luckily my wonderful artist friend Minty has created something very special that every parent of young children should know about. I remember Minty testing the idea on Facebook and quite a few of us thought it was wonderful….

Take a piece of your children's precious artwork and bring it to life!

How amazing does that sound?

Well, wait until you see the actual work from 'Works Of Heart'. It's even more amazing.

Minty has a very special creative talent. She didn't demand I wrote this blog post but her work deserves to be shared.

As soon as I saw Minty's new 'Works Of Heart'' venture I knew immediately which piece of artwork that I wanted re-created. Regular readers of my blog will know how much we adore Orlando, Florida and our love for The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. We first went in 2012 when I was heavily pregnant - it was meant to be a last big holiday before or baby boy was born. We loved it so much we returned in 2013 with a 4 year old and a 13 month old and we are going back next year too. We are all completely hooked.

MC often draws pictures of Disney characters and earlier this year she drew Mickey and Minnie Mouse and I loved it.

One wall in our dining room was still blank. Awaiting the perfect picture or photo to sit opposite the family gallery on the other wall. I wanted Minty to re-create MC's Disney picture larger than the original so I asked for A3.

I sent over a digital photo of MC's creation and simply told Minty that I wanted it to show our love for Walt Disney World, Florida. That was it. She did the rest.

What I received was beautiful.

You can't really tell from the photograph of the artwork but Mickey and Minnie, all the flags and hearts actually stand out from the background. There is also so much sparkle on the artwork too and I love the fact Cinderella's Castle is the backdrop. It's amazing and I love it so much.

I knew I wanted to pay to have it professionally framed immediately. I took both MC's and Minty's artwork to the framers and they said it was incredible - asking who had done it. The framer put a large mount around it and, with some left over paint from our kitchen and dining room, painted the perfect frame. He even mounted MC's original drawing on the back so the two will always be together and I want to pass this picture down through the family over the years.

It looks absolutely amazing - far better than the photographs show.

It's now a fantastic talking point over dinner in our house!

Please head over to Minty's Works Of Heart Facebook page and see all the other incredible children's artwork she has recreated.

Please contact Minty at Works Of Heart for all size options and prices

#MeAndMine - A Family Portrait (May 2014)

This month has been a little hectic for various reasons but it's been a good one.

I can now share some news!

The month started off with lots of exciting holiday planning. A break away over half term (which ends today) and a third trip to Orlando, Florida! It's not until next year and we aren't going for 3 weeks this time.

No, this time we are going for a whole month!

To say I'm excited is an understatement.

For the first week of our holiday we will be staying on-site at Disney for the first time. Not only that, we will be joined by my parents, Matt's parents and my brother-in-law for that week too. Then we will be retreating to the condo, just the four of us, for the remaining three weeks.

Those of you who know me know just how much Matt and I have fallen in love with Orlando. If it wasn't for my family I'd happily move out there. We both would. We often talk about it.

The last two trips have been booked within 4 months of departure so this is quite a long wait for us but it means we have plenty of time to plan it all properly and I'm already very excited about our plans.

Anyway, back to this years break away! Oops. *shakes off the desire to waffle on about Orlando love*

We have just spent the half term week down in East Sussex. Camber to be exact. We booked a lovely cottage just a 5 minute walk from the beach. We've been really lucky with the weather as it's only rained one afternoon and that didn't spoil our fun.

We've been to the beach a couple of days enjoying some periods of sunshine. We've explored pretty towns and villages. We've been to Drusilla's Park which was great fun. We've also explored some great historic sites. One of my new favourites in fact.

Bodiam Castle.

It's a 14th century moated castle, now owned by The National Trust.

It is, quite simply, stunning.

Just look at these photos of the castle.

If you ever get the chance to visit. Go!

This is where I finally asked someone to take our photo yesterday.

It's not a perfect picture as TC had just fallen over and hurt his knee (at the exact moment I handed the camera to the lovely gentleman who was to take our photo). I then had to pick him up. TC that is, not the gentleman! So I'm very much striking that 'hip stuck out propping a child up' pose. TC had a really bad tummy bug at the start of the holiday which hasn't helped and he's not been himself all week. Plus, I got a touch of it too.

Also, Matt is full of a cold and neither of us had a great nights sleep the night before. Actually, if I'm honest, I'm looking forward to getting home to our lovely super-king bed at our own house. This week we've been in a double so it's been a little snug. We've also been woken by mating marsh frogs in the night and disturbed by noisy sheep at our front door at 6.30am!

Still, it's been a lovely break and despite illness (and wildlife) we've had plenty of fun and special memories.

As you read this we will be packing up to leave our holiday cottage but stopping at the Baby Tilda Barn Dance on the way back home. The perfect way to end a great week away. If you're coming along, we will look forward to seeing you there.

For those of you who remember my Me and Mine post last month. I quote myself…

"My homework for May is to try and get at least three photos" 

Well, before you say anything. I did! I did!

They are iPhone selfies. The first when we just arrived at the cottage after a mammoth 7 hours in the car and the second riding Thomas The Tank Engine at the fabulous Drusilla's Park the other day.

Now head over to Dear Beautiful to check out all the other fabulous family portraits this month.

Waiting Until The Kids Are 'Old Enough' For Walt Disney World?

If you are then I have one question for you...

Why, exactly?

Now, before I get into this blog post I just have to say that I know for a lot of people that going to Walt Disney World (that's 'world', not to be confused with the smaller - by a miles - Disney'Land's' across the globe) is a once in a lifetime experience.

I get that.

Flights out to Orlando, Florida are very expensive. We're lucky that we get practically free accommodation out there which makes up for it. I also understand that tickets for Disney and the other theme parks out there are very expensive for children over the age of 3 and adults. The first time we went, last year, was just before MC's 3rd birthday. This year we had to pay for her, as she was 4, and her tickets weren't much less than adult prices. Ouch. Thankfully though, TC was only 13.5 months old so he was free. I know next time we go (there will be a next time - we love it too much) it will be very expensive as we'll be paying for both children.

If you are going as a once in a lifetime trip then I would say wait*. Wait until your children are old enough to remember the holiday. Wait until they can go on all the rides. Wait until they are old enough to entertain themselves on the flight.

I have to admit, I was a little worried about taking TC over there. Those of you who read my pre-trip blog posts will know. However, I needn't have worried at all.

He absolutely loved it.

I mean really loved it.

Some people were a little shocked we were taking him over there. All of those people, however, are people who have never ever been there before.

Until you experience Walt Disney World, Orlando you can't even begin to understand just how utterly amazing it is. You can't understand just how immense it is and you certainly can't understand how it caters for all ages. From the very tiny to the very old.

It is, in our opinion, the happiest place on earth.

Sounds cheesy but it's true.

We knew it was going to be a good holiday when TC managed the 9.5 hour flight (without his own seat) by only sleeping 2 hours and managing to entertain himself for the remaining 7.5 hours without so much as a whimper.

With the flight over with I was worried about the heat. We left a pretty grim UK in mid-May and headed to heat that was to be an average of 30 degrees celsius everyday (with a heatwave of mid to high-30's to follow).

He coped amazingly. Although I have to say that taking a great pushchair and the awesome SnoozeShade helped. We also purchased a Mickey fan that clipped onto his pushchair. I won't say he didn't get incredibly hot and sweaty when he had his naps, he was dripping sometimes, but it didn't bother him.

We are lucky that (usually) TC is a happy little boy. He's really chilled, loves his sleep and his food and absolutely loves people. Walt Disney World was a real amazing experience for his senses.

He loved all the sights, sounds and smells. I don't think he stopped smiling for the 3 weeks we were there. It was such a great experience for him and he even started walking over there. He loved the characters (some more than others, admittedly - it seems Wreck-It-Ralph and Chip 'n Dale were his favourites) and they loved him. In fact, everyone loved him and commented on how cute he was. I know I'm totally biased but he is. He has one of the cheekiest grins ever.

When I say Disney caters for all ages, I'm not lying. There are so many family orientated rides there - especially at The Magic Kingdom - which even the tiniest of babies can go on. He absolutely loved all of them. His eyes were wide open and his smile like he'd slept with a coat hanger in his mouth.

I know he won't remember the holiday but we all will.

We have some absolutely incredible memories.

Memories that will be with us forever.

My advice if you are waiting to take the kids to Walt Disney World?

Don't.

Want a little bit of proof? I'll let a few of my photos (and these are just the ones from my iPhone) speak for themselves...

If you're planning a first time visit to Orlando then please make sure you check out my 'Beginners Guide To Orlando' post I wrote last year which is my most visited blog post of all time.




*Part of me wants to scream 'don't wait even if it will be a once in a lifetime trip'. You never know what life will throw at you and my 'Life's Too Short' post is testament to that. Today is a year ago that Kerry (aka MultipleMummy) fell ill. She was one of the loveliest and happiest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Her blog comment from last year still sits at the forefront of my mind. What has happened to beautiful Matilda Mae (daughter of Jennie at Edspire) also weighs heavy on my mind as well as Tamsyn's (Anecdotes of a Manic Mum) husband, Alex. You really never know what life will send your way so make the most of it before it's too late.

The BabaSling Lite - The Perfect Travel Companion

In a mad panic before our recent holiday I took took to Twitter (my saviour for advice) wondering if anyone could recommend a great baby wearing sling or carrier for our Florida trip.

You see, I'm not a baby wearer. It just doesn't come that naturally to me. Maybe I've just been unlucky with my carrier choices.

4 years ago, when MC was born, we bought an all-singing, all dancing carrier. It was one that could be worn in many different ways. MC hated it. I hated it. It was difficult to set up and when it was, MC just wasn't happy in it at all. Not on my back, or my front. I ended up selling it unused.

I tried a new one when TC was born last year but neither of us got on with that either.

With the forthcoming holiday I knew a sling would come in really handy though. Anyone who's travelled to Orlando International Airport with a small child will know that the layout of it doesn't favour those with buggies/strollers and, with TC still not able to walk unaided at this point, it made sense to try and find an appropriate sling. Also, I was unsure of what the queue times for the theme park rides would be. We'd have to leave the buggy in the designated 'stroller parks' whilst queuing and I didn't fancy the idea of having to carry TC for a huge amount of time.

Well, as usual, Twitter came to my rescue. There were a few slings and carriers that were mentioned but one that kept being mentioned and looked fabulous - just what I was after. Then, as luck would have it, the people at BabaSling were alerted by tweets from people recommending and asked if we'd like to review the BabaSling Lite.

Hurrah!

It sounded perfect for our holiday so we thought we'd put it to the test. What better test for a sling designed for travel? A 3 week holiday in Florida.

At Orlando International Airport

So, we picked a gorgeous turquoise colour sling (there are 5 more to choose from too) and it arrived super quick so we were able to give it a go before the holiday.

As soon as I opened it I knew it was going to be great. The material (100% breathable cotton) was lovely and the colour was stunning. It also comes in a carry bag too.

Tiny Ched took to it straight away and I loved the simplicity of it. A few adjustments (the tutorial videos are excellent) and we were pros in a matter of minutes. I actually felt like a 'baby wearer' for the first time in over 4 years. The sling has 5 different carry positions but, I have to say, that 'side saddle' works best for both of us given TC's age. It can be used up to 2 years - I just wish I'd found it sooner! As someone who breastfed it would have been brilliant as you can breastfeed discreetly with it too.

Loving the sling in the Florida sun

As the BabaSling Lite is more lightweight than the BabaSling Classic and the BabaSling Cozy it's perfect for doing jobs around the house with a clingy little one. Thankfully TC is happy to just follow me around the house but to test the BabaSling out before the holiday we tried it out. He was more than happy to be in it and I loved having him so close as he loves cuddles.

Queuing at The Magic Kingdom

The sling really came into it's own on holiday though. It was perfect for the airport. We whizzed through immigration and on the trams, up escalators  and to baggage claim with ease with him in the sling. It was a brilliant start and he didn't get too hot even though the weather in Orlando was baking. We also used it a few times at Disney theme parks - although not as much as I thought as the queues for rides were in our favout.

The BabaSling is my ideal sling. We really love it. And, what's more, it goes in the washing machine with ease and still looks brand new.

It's main use now we are home from holiday is when I need to mow the lawns and I can't have TC (who can now walk perfectly) running everywhere in the garden. He really enjoys mowing the lawn with me.

Mowing the lawns with mummy

I think it's a must have for an extensive travel holiday but also it's great for around the house.

We really wish we'd found it sooner.

The BabaSling Lite retails at £39.99* and can be purchased direct from BabaSling or from other retailers.

  

We were sent the BabaSling Lite to review 

but all photographs, words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*prices correct at time of writing

Distant Memories

By the time this post goes live I will have been back in the UK exactly a week.

And what a week it's been!

A week of ups and downs coping with jet lag, solicitor stress and house move packing.

It seems like our 22 nights in Orlando is just distant memories already.

But oh what a memory!

We had a truly amazing time. It was just full of sun and fun. Matt and I celebrated our 6th Wedding Anniversary inside The Magic Kingdom with our two children - it doesn't get much better than that! I can honestly say that I feel like it's the happiest place on earth. The enormity of what Orlando has to offer is incredible. In total now, we've spent just over 6 weeks out there and we've still only just scratched the surface of it.

We can't wait to go back already.

Remember I was a little apprehensive about taking Tiny Ched with us at only 13.5 months?

Well, I needn't have worried a bit. In fact, I think he enjoyed it the most out of all of us. He even finally learnt how to walk, the lazy little monkey.

I plan on writing about our trip in a lot more detail over a few posts but we are due to move house in just 2 weeks so time is something I don't have right now. Remind me never to move house on the back of a holiday again! I have already shared a few of our family photos on my recent Me And Mine post if you missed it.

I also have the amazing BabaSling to review which was a lifesaver on holiday. It's so lightweight and comfortable and was just what we needed, especially at the airport. Full review on this to follow.

In addition to this we took our Cosatto Yo!, which I've reviewed previously, away with us and it was brilliant! One of my major pieces of advice, if you are planning on visiting Orlando, is take a really good pushchair with you. 

We also used the brand new Snoozeshade Plus Deluxe which was fantastic - another lifesaver. TC slept so soundly even at busy and noisy theme parks in 35°C+ temperature! This is another piece of 'must have' advice for summer travelling with little ones.

Anyway, I digress (as usual).

I just wanted to churn out a blog post to announce my arrival back in the UK.

Ta-da! 

*waves*

I am also going to BritMums Live the weekend after next. Let me know if you'll be there and come say "hi". I still can't believe that I'm going down to London in the middle of moving house too! If I'm totally honest, I could do without it but I am so looking forward to seeing old friends (and hugging them tightly) and meeting new ones. I haven't even thought about clothes or even looked at the schedule yet and I don't think I will have time to.

*takes deep breaths and swigs wine*

I'd also like to thank my lovely guest posters who wrote awesome posts for my blog whilst I was away. They are all brand new bloggers so, if you haven't already done so, go have a look and show them some support. 

I also want to apologise for not being on my blog, other blogs or social media much at the moment. I really miss reading and commenting on my friends blogs but that has to take a back seat for now until things calm down. I'm sorry. I will be back! I promise.

I'd also like to say...wait for it...

*passes sick bucket in advance*

...yes this post should come with a boak alert...

I'd like to say that... although I'm busy and stressed to the eyeballs at the moment (and suffering the "why can't I live in Florida?" syndrome) and *breathes sharply* not sleeping properly due to jet lag and stress ... I am happy.

Very happy.

I know I'm one blummin' lucky lady. 

I have one gorgeous and amazing husband who I love even more than the day I married him (and I didn't think it was possible) and two gorgeous, happy and healthy kids. We have just been on, what many would call, the holiday of a lifetime and we are soon to be moving into a big brand new house.

With everything that's happened in the last 6 months (can't believe it's 6 months since the beautiful MultipleMummy passed away), it's really made me appreciate everything so much more and I am trying my best to just be positive and happy that I'm truly blessed. Kerry's comment on my blog in 2012 was on my mind a lot during our holiday. How I wish things were so different.  

Oh yes, how I wish things were so so SO different.

Friends who are going through hard times right now are always in my thoughts and always will be. That's blogger friends and a couple of my very close real life friends (they know who they are). I shed tears of happiness on holiday but I also found myself shedding tears of sadness occasionally. Jennie, especially, has never been far away from my thoughts during our trip. Every bubble I saw blown into the sky at Disney I thought of Matilda Mae and how she would have loved it. I also thought of Tamsin and all that she is going through. I wore my 'Making Waves For Alex T-Shirt' which Mickey Mouse thought was awesome!

Yes, this holiday has made me appreciate everything so much more.

I have the post-holiday blues and feel like our holiday is just distant memories but that's what they are.

Memories.

Amazing memories to cherish. Forever.

I'll always be thankful for them and so much more.

#SilentSunday 99