Florida!

(WARNING: picture overload!)

Yes, we were gone for 9 days and like I said in my last post, we had something planned for each day. So here's a synopsis.

Day 1: Jungle Adventures
Sophie has had an obsession with alligators for as long as I remember so my mom wanted to take her to this funky little place. I guess it's more like a zoo than like a theme park. They don't have any rides, except for the one that takes you around this foul-smelling swamp on a pontoon boat to see where the gators dwell. Here's a view of a dilapidated Spanish fort we saw during the swamp ride:



Sophie & Jon smile for a picture during the swamp ride despite the foul sulfur smell emerging from the green waters...



They also have shows, the most popular of them being the one where a young *brave* girl gets IN THE WATER WITH THE ALLIGATORS and feeds them, practically shoving pieces of meat in their mouths. There is not enough money you could pay me to do this! Although I was more than willing to do this.



AH, and then there's the show where they tell you about the jungle critters and let you pet them. You already saw me get up close & personal with the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula. She was so soft & gentle! Sydney petted her from afar...



Here are Sophie & Sydney with a rather large ball python (I was so proud of my brave girls!)





We also all got to hold a baby alligator but they wouldn't let us take our own pictures. If we wanted to record the moment we had to buy the pricey pictures they took with a far less awesome camera and far less experienced photographer (haha) so we opted against it.

All in all it was a great time... bit too hot, humid & smelly for my taste but just watching the girls' reactions was totally worth the sacrifice! ;)

DAY 2: The Beach
Can't go to Florida without visiting the beach at least once, can you? Here are some of my favorite shots from that day...









Day 3: Disney's Magic Kingdom

Again, we can't visit FL without at least one day with Mickey & friends. The girls had an absolute BLAST that day. They got to meet and chat with their favorite princesses, Cinderella, Belle and Aurora. Here they are with Belle:



Then they spent some quality time with Mickey & Minnie...



And even more quality time with grandma...



They explored the set after Pirates of The Caribbean ride...



And even did some modeling for one of my upcoming patterns, Isabel. Not sure if I can use these photos for the booklet, though. Her bangs were so sweaty! Did I mention it was crazy hot & humid in FL?!?



We even caught a glimpse of Cinderella's Castle at night on our way out...



It was so pretty the way it changes colors every few seconds...





Then decided at the last moment to stay a few minutes longer for the Parade of Lights...







We got home at midnight that night but the memories will be unforgettable!

Days 4, 5, 6 & 7: Port St. Lucie and South Beach

Jon & I left the kids with my parents and drove South for some grown up time with my sister and her husband. We had more fun than I could even describe and decided not to lug our big 'ole camera around so we could truly enjoy our time.

We had our waitress take this picture of us with my iPhone... not too shabby, eh? If you've ever had breakfast on Ocean Drive in South Beach, Miami, you are probably dying laughing at this typical picture. For those of you who have never been... they give you these GINORMOUS drinks, like the size of your head! Caty & Jason got the Mimosas, Jon got a Bloody Mary and I opted for the Sangria, which was delicious but I couldn't even finish it. Fun times!



We shopped, drank, ate like pigs and took in the sights, which really, in South Beach, it's enough to keep you entertained for 4 days!

Day 8: The Beach... again!

Yep, we had to squeeze in another trip to the beach before we left and this time we brought my sweet niece, Asja, with us. The girls had a blast!



Day 9 was travel back home day and it was a tough one. Our first flight was delayed, the we had a layover in Atlanta. That next flight was delayed too. It's funny how tiring it can be to just wait around in airports. Must be those uncomfortable seats. By the time we got home Sydney was sick to her tummy... she threw up on her bed almost immediately after coming home. As I was changing her bedding, she threw up on the couch. And as I was wiping down the leather on the couch she threw up on the stairs. I gave up on cleaning this time and just sat with her. She didn't want to talk or eat or sleep... just sit. So we did. For a while. She slept like a baby that night and woke up the next morning happy & hungry like nothing had happened. PHEW! I wish I was as resilient as my kids!

Anyway, thank you to anyone who sat through my Vacation Album. I know it was long and wordy. I am still going through all the names. Give me a little more time. I want to make sure I don't miss any... and the entries are still coming in. haha

Bye!

Two Birds with One Stone

This will be a multi-purpose posting. I wanted to share a few more pictures from our FL vacation. But these also just happen to be sneak peeks of two custom sets that I will be listing next week on eBay (March 22nd, to be exact, for the Beatlemania launch).

We had a blast at Animal Kingdom last week and of course the girls were the center of attention in their MODKID. I had never had that many people come up to me in one single day to ask "where I buy my kids' clothes at"... "well, let me tell ya!" LOL! Thank goodness I came loaded with business cards. Since we've returned, I have had a dozen or so new subscriptions to my mailing list, so I'd like to think it was my Disney fans. :)

The set Sydney is wearing (above, below and to the right) has got to be the most playful set I've ever designed. The skirt is a "poof" style (or is it a "puff"?). It has a drop waist (it doesn't show in any of these pictures, but it's there) and it is slightly gathered at the bottom to create that fun "poofy" look. It is made with this cool European circus fabric that features a parade of hand drawn whimsical characters (wizards, clowns, circus animals. etc.)... very unique. The shirred top is light, airy and fun... the black fabric you see is a Robert Kaufman crepe gauze so it is not too heavy and can be worn comfortably all through the Summer. And as you may have noticed already, I am just wild about dots this season... they just look so adorable on the girls! :)

Now, let me talk for a bit about Sophia's set (to the left). About a week or so before our vacation, she came to me and out of the blue asked me if I would make her a pretty dress to wear to Disney. THUNK! (that was the sound my butt made as I fell off my sewing chair). Of course, I immediately grabbed her hand and we ran together to my fabric stash (I think I was actually skipping!). She had already eyed what she wanted... she didn't hesitate one bit. "I want the one that looks like Sailor Moon, mommy." It was this gorgeous Alexander Henry "japanimation" fabric that I had received in the mail a few days prior. Now, let's pick a coordinating fabric. Of course, she went for the Pink Ta Dots, being that red and pink are her "favorite colors in the whole wide world". And, guess what? I just found out that Michael Miller has finally retired the Pink Ta Dot, so now it will be in high demand (the girl has expensive taste, I tell ya!) Next, we sat down together at my cutting table and I sketched out a few rough ideas until she pointed and smiled at one. A Sophia Creation was born! (she loved it so much that she wore it to both Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom... ahhhh, makes a mommy proud!)

Now, how do these relate to Beatlemania, you ask? Yes, I know you've been wondering. Well, Sydney's Euro circus set represents the song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", which happens to be one of my all time favorite Beatles' songs. Sophia's japanimation set is a tribute to Yoko Ono. Look for these next Thursday, March 22nd, on eBay. The search term will be "theFab4".

I Told You There'd Be Pictures

How much can you pack into a 7-day vacation? If you are the Young family, you can go to 2 Disney parks, several ethnic restaurants, the bars, the beach, sailing and still have enough time left over for some good ol' R&R.

I promise I won't post all 583 pictures shot during this trip, but here are a few highlights. Here is my family (grandparents included) in front of Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom:

Here is Sophia meeting a few of her favorite princesses (and getting their autographs):


Here are a couple of shots on my dad's sailboat. We took it out on Sunday around Port Canaveral...
Sydney had a blast at the Beach on Monday morning (a little boutique sneak peek too!):

Jon and I even had a chance to escape and meet up with a few friends (a.k.a. my "Design Team") for some awesome German beer and food. Here are the highlights of that evening:


I'll leave you now with a nice and wholesome German "beer-drinking song"... we sang it so many times that night that I can't get it out of my head!

Ein Prosit! Ein Prosit! Der Gemütlichkeit! Ein Prosit! Ein Prosit! Der Gemütlichkeit! Eins! Zwei! Drei! G'Suffa! Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke Hoi! Hoi! Hoi! The Willow Tree Ist Wunderbar!

Modkidboutique meets FleurL'Enfant

It was my first "boutique encounter" so I'm pretty psyched about it, and it couldn't have been more fun! I met the fabulous Andrea of fleur*lenfant (a fellow LimeVine designer and super-sweet chick) at the Magic Kingdom on Friday. We chatted for a while, took pictures in front of Cinderella's castle and even got chosen to participate in the Main Street Family Fun Parade. All in all, it was an awesome experience!


Here we are with all of our kiddos in front of the castle:
And here we are at the parade:

Boutique Invasion at Disney!

Seems like March is the month to travel to Disney (World or Land) and the fabulous designers of the eBay boutique community are sure taking advantage of the gorgeous weather down here! We are here already... staying at my parents' house in Cocoa and looking forward to a couple of Disney-filled days. But are you curious as to who else is, has been, will be here? Well, as far as I know: Ronda of sundarose (a fellow LimeViner) just got back and her family even got to ride in a Disney limo! How cool is that?!? Andrea of fleurl'enfant (another fellow Viner) has been down here for a couple of days... they've visited Magic Kigdom & Animal Kingdom already. Sandi, of portabellopixie was headed to DisneyLand in CA today... how fun! She even made her daughter a darling Cinderella dress for her dinner with the princess. Sarah of marvellousmouse is coming down at the end of the month and she is very excited to meet up with her family! I'm sure there's a few more I'm not aware of... so if you re coming down or have just been here, please feel free to leave a comment and make the others jealous! hee hee

We arrived here yesterday evening and immediately headed to our favorite Cuban eatery in downtown Orlando, Numero Uno. We feasted on lots of garlic-infused yummy food and delicious desserts. Today we took it easy and hung around my parents' house in Cocoa all day. The girls played for hours in the little purple playhouse in the backyard. Temperatures hovered around the mid 70's with low humidity! AHHHHHHHH! :)

Tomorrow we are headed to Animal Kindgom and Friday, it's Magic Kingdom until the late evening (gotta catch the awesome fireworks display, of course!). Saturday, we'll be taking my dad's sailboat out and we cannot wait. He has been refurbishing it for the past 3 months and it looks absolutely gorgeous! We took a little tour of it today as he put in the finishing touches.

Saturday night, Jon & I are taking off to Orlando to meet some old friends for lotsa beer drinking at our favosite Irish pub, The Emerald Hen, and delicious German food at our favorite "schnitzel haus", The Willow Tree Cafe . My mouth is watering already!

Not sure what we have planned for Sunday or Monday but I'm sure it'll involve good eatin', gorgeous temperatures and lots of picture takin'. ;)

When I get back get ready for picture overload!!! LOL!