Disney World Recap Part 3: Disney Dining

Mickey Waffles 

For my final Disney recap post, I've decided to share a bit about one more thing in Disney that I absolutely cannot get enough of...the food! I should preface this by saying that, if I tried to write about every single amazing restaurant, and dish, that I've had in Disney, this post would be WAY to long! I can't possibly get to all of it without Paddling In Pearls becoming a Disney food blog. That being said, I'm going to tell you a little about the Disney Dining Plan, and A FEW of my favorite food spots that I visited on my trip last week.  I could see how there might be a misconception among first timers about Disney food being "park food." But take my word for it, Disney has world class dining, and the food is some of the best I've ever had. That's saying a lot for a person who is a vegetarian, and newly gluten free. Since going gluten free, I have found it extremely difficult to eat out. As a result, I've taken to cooking, and I've gotten really, really good at it. Disney makes gluten free eating so easy, and so delicious, that it's one of the very few places, where I prefer their gluten free meals, to my own. They will pretty much modify any meal to make it gluten free. As I mentioned last week in my post about Disney's California Grille, they just make it SO easy!

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar

Dole Whip

The Disney Dining Plan is an option for guests staying on property. There are some different options, but my family has always opted for the standard dining plan. At $60 per person per day, you get 1 snack credit, 1 quick service credit, and 1 table service credit, for each day of your trip. You can distribute your meal credits as you please throughout your visit (in other words, you can have 2 snacks on one day, and none on another day).  We have found that with this dining plan, we literally never get hungry. It's SO MUCH FOOD! If you are wise about how you use your credits, you can really get a lot for your money. Snacks for example; a water bottle is a snack. However, any restaurant in Disney will give you a cup of water for free, and your quick service meals come with a beverage. So using a snack credit on a water bottle would be kind of a waste. Instead, I like to use my snack credits on snacks that are unique to Disney. Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, and Dole Whip Floats are a couple of my favorite Disney treats. Also, select items in the Disney candy stores, like the Confectionary on Main Street, are considered to be snacks. One day at Hollywood Studios, Alyssa had chocolate covered marshmallows, and I had a chocolate covered pineapple. Both were quite large, filling, and oh my goodness, were they delicious! There are so many wonderful snack items to choose from!

Pecos Bill

 

Hurricane Hanna's

A quick service meal, is basically a counter service, where you order your food, pick it up, and bring it back to a table. These menus commonly consist of things like burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, etc.  But each quick service location is a little bit different, with food that is unique to that spot. Every Disney resort has at least one quick service location, and the parks have many. On the Disney Dining Plan, a quick service breakfast consists of an entree and a beverage. A quick service lunch/dinner consists of an entree, a side, a dessert and beverage. I like to vary how I use my quick service credits, using them for different meals on different days. Last week, while in the Magic Kingdom, we had dinner at one of my favorite quick service spots, Pecos Bill, in Frontierland. The old fashioned saloon vibe is so much fun! I also had a few quick service lunches at Hurricane Hanna's at the Yacht Club. This was not only a delicious meal, but I loved that I could bring my food back to my lounge chair, and eat it poolside! 

Cape May Cafe 

Table service meals are either where you sit down, a waiter or waitress comes to take your order, and brings it to your table, OR, buffets. On the Disney Dining Plan, at a sit down restaurant, you get an entree, a dessert and a beverage.  At a buffet, it's all you can eat. One of my favorite ways to use a table service credit, is dinner at Cape May Cafe, at the Beach Club. This is a seafood buffet, which is funny, because I don't even eat seafood. However, there are SO MANY other options, salads, soups, side dishes, etc. that I always leave full to the max! Cape May Cafe also has a wonderful character breakfast buffet. 

Narcoossee's 

Alyssa and I, on the deck at Narcoosse's, with Cinderella's Castle in the background

My Dress / Alyssa's Dress

On the Disney Dining Plan, there are some restaurants that are 2 table service credits. These are the more expensive, and a little fancier, restaurants on Disney property. The food at these restaurants can simply not be topped, and the ambiance is on point. Two of my top three Disney restaurants fall into this category. One is California Grille, which I talked about in this post.  The other is Narcoossee's, at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort (which, by the way, is so beautiful! I could literally spend hours in the Grand Floridian lobby, shopping, taking in the sights, and listening to the live pianist and band). Besides having an incredible meal, Narcoossee's is located right on the Seven Seas Lagoon, across from the Magic Kingdom, with an amazing view of Cinderealla's Castle. In my opinion, the view alone is reason enough to eat there! At night, this is a great spot to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks, as well as the Electrical Water Pageant. Hollywood Studios fireworks can also be seen in the distance. Eatting at Narcoosee's has become a tradition in my family. We have dinner, and then sit outside on the deck to watch the fireworks. It's always a special night. I usually make it a point to eat at Narcoosee's at least once during each visit.

So, are you hungry yet? I am! Since I've been home I have been having major Disney food withdrawel!   I know that these Disney Recap posts have been longer than most, but, for anyone planning a trip to Disney in the future, I hope you found them to be fun informative! Or, maybe I've inspired you to start planning a trip of your own! I've had a blast reflecting upon my vacation, and sharing my magical memories with all of you! Next week, it's back to talking fashion, and outfit posts! Until then, have a magical weekend!

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Disney World Recap Part 2: Disney's Yacht Club Resort

I've stayed at several Disney resorts, but last week my family stayed at the Yacht Club, and it's definitely one of my favorites, if not my top Disney resort choice.  The Yacht Club is one of Disney's deluxe resorts, so it's on the pricier side, but for so many reasons, it's worth the splurge. One of the major perks of staying at the Yacht Club is location. The Yacht Club, as well as The Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Swan and Dolphin Resorts, are all located in the EPCOT resort area. At any of these resorts you are in between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and are within walking distance of both parks. These resorts also offer boat transportation to both parks, as well as bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and Disney's water parks. I absolutely loved being so close to the parks! We were able to spend the morning in the park, come back and take a swim, or rest, before heading back into the park later in the day. My family loves to watch the fireworks, and one of our favorite things about the Yacht Club is that at night you can stand on the dock, and have a GREAT view of both the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios fireworks! Being at the Yacht Club, we were also within walking distance of the Boardwalk, which is one of my favorite spots in Disney. The Boardwalk is a super fun place to walk around in the evening, with street performers, carnival type games, shopping, great food, the Atlantic Dance Hall, and of course my new favorite spot, Jellyrolls! 

The Yacht Club is decorated to make you feel like you are on a ship, and during the day, there is even a Captain that greets you at the door! I love the nautical vibe that surrounds Yacht Club guests, from the resort lobby, to guest rooms. A little fun fact...I actually used the decor in the rooms at the Yacht Club as inspiration, when I was decorating my own bedroom at home! The Yacht Club has a shop that carries some of my favorite brands, like Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, and Tommy Bahama. Between the Yacht and Beach Club, there are also plenty of great restaurants at the resort.

Another highlight of the Yacht Club, is the amazing pool! In my opinion, this is the best pool on Disney property. It is exclusively for Yacht and Beach Club guests. The pool features a lazy river, whirlpools, a sandy bottom in some spots, hot tubs, and a water park worthy water slide, that comes off of a giant pirate ship on the beach! I am normally the girl who grabs a tube and floats around in the sun, but this pool had me playing around like a kid again...Isn't that what Disney is all about?! I LOVED zipping down the water slide, spinning around in the whirlpool, and of course, relaxing in the lazy river! 

A really fun, kind of hidden gem, at the Yacht Club is the Pearl Factory. This is a little hut where you can culture your own pearl, and have it put into a piece of jewelry. I LOVE pearls (as you might have guessed by the name of my blog), so of course this was an activity I needed to partake in! I picked a clam...Not to worry, the clams are already dead. They have lived out their lives, and died naturally before being used at the Pearl Factory...Once I picked a clam, it was opened up to reveal my pearl! (Hint: Pick the ugliest clam, as it is most likely to have the most beautiful pearl!) Now, everyone is guarenteed to find at least one pearl inside of their clam, but it could be any kind of pearl. Of course a white or ivory pearl would be the most common.  My clam had a very unique silver/blue pearl. According to the lady working in the hut, this kind of pearl is very rare, so that was neat. I had my pearl placed in a ring. The experience of culturing my own pearl was a lot of fun, and definitely something that I look forward to doing again, on my next visit! Who knows? Maybe next time my clam will reveal the most rare, black pearl!

I had such an amazing time staying at Disney's Yacht Club, and I would highly recommend it! Some other Disney resorts that I have visited, and really love, are the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Beach Club. These are all deluxe resorts, but I personally feel that the amenities offered at these resorts make staying there worth every penny.  There are lots of Disney resorts that I haven't stayed at yet, and I'm sure have a lot of offer as well, these are just my personal favorites! I do think that staying on property is a MUST for a Disney vacation. Disney offers complimentary transportation to and from the airport, as well as to and from all of the parks during your stay. This saves money, because you don't have to rent a car. It saves time, because you don't have to drive to and from the parks, park your car, etc. It also saves stress, because really, who wants to drive around when they're on vacation?! Disney makes transportation SO easy, it's a no brainer! You can also always rely on Disney to have a clean environment, and incredible, friendly cast members, who will do anything possible to make your trip more magical. No matter where you are on Disney property, you have access to delicious food, which I'll be talking about more in my final Disney World recap post tomorrow! Until then, as they say in Disney, have a magical day!

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Disney World Recap Part 1: Jellyrolls

If you follow me on Snapchat or Instagram, then you already know that one of the major highlights of my trip to Disney World was Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar on the Boardwalk. We stayed at Disney's Yacht Club, and Jellyrolls was very conveniently located in walking distance, right across the boardwalk. This was excellent, because Alyssa and I ended every single night of our trip there!

Jellyrolls really took me by surprise, because I thought I knew EVERYTHING about Disney World. Having grown up going to Disney, and as adult, going multiple times a year, I thought I knew it all. I knew that Jellyrolls existed, because I've walked by it on the boardwalk. But I really had no idea what it was. To be honest, I was always so concerned with waking up bright and early to be at the the parks for opening, Disney night life had never been something that I'd even considered. Well, let me tell you, it is SO worth going to the parks a little later in the day, and staying out late at Jellyrolls! 

Alyssa and I were taking a walk on the boardwalk with our dad on our first night at Disney, and we heard some music that caught our attention. A friendly bouncer invited us in to take a peek, and it looked fun, so we decided to stick around for a bit. We ended up spending three hours there that night, and proceeded to go back every night that week, each night, having the time of our lives! Seriously, my face hurt from smiling and laughing so much, and each morning I woke up with like, no voice, from singing along!

So basically, how Jellyrolls works is that there are two grand pianos on stage, and two guys play at a time, taking turns every other set, with another two guys. In between sets, sometimes the four guys perform a song together. The audience gets involved by writing song requests on cocktail napkins, and bringing them up to the stage, placing them on the pianos. Throughout the night, the guys play all requests. What's amazing is that these guys know, like EVERY SONG! They play AND sing, every single verse, of every song without ANY music, and it is AMAZING!!! When we first got there, Alyssa and I literally sat there for about an hour with our jaws dropped, before we started making requests of our own. We requested boy band songs, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Grease, Wicked, One Direction, Andy Grammer, and our favorite, Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, to name a few. Some of our other favorite songs that the guys performed were Bohemian Rhapsody, Beatles, Michael Jackson, Spice Girls, Rainbow Connection, and the "classic" Baby Got Back. Honestly, I can't even begin to scratch the surface, but what I can say is that, from Rainbow Connection, to Bohemian Rhapsody, and everything in between, it was ALL incredible! My mind was blown. Aside from being unbelievably talented musicians, these guys are a blast. They are so funny, and they keep the audience involved and singing along all night. 

I am SO happy that Alyssa and I stumbled upon Jellyrolls last Sunday night. It was such a joyful addition to our trip, and has become a "must go" spot for all future Disney vacations!  I'm looking forward to going back and seeing our new friends at Jellyrolls soon!

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Sea World Recap

As I ease back on into reality, I've been reflecting on my wonderful two weeks in Florida, and I thought that over the next couple of days it'd be fun to share some of the highlights of my vacation, here on the blog!

Before heading over to Disney World, Alyssa and I decided to spend a day visiting Sea World! It ended up being a very rainy day, but we got really lucky, and still got to see all of the shows. The rain even stopped long enough for us to hop on a roller coaster ride! I've mentioned in previous posts how much I love marine animals, so being able to see so many of these beautiful creatures up close, was very exciting for me!  

Our first stop of the day was Shamu Stadium, to see One Ocean, a show featuring the killer whales. This was a beautiful performance, with a really excellent message about the importance of protecting the world's oceans, and the environment. The whales were so beautiful and graceful, and it was so cool to see how they interact with their trainers! It was very evident that each whale had a strong bond with their trainer, and it was so cute how they followed them around so playfully! 

Our next stop was the Dolphin show, which featured, you guessed it, dolphins, as well as beluga whales, and some different types of birds. This was really neat because the trainers actually went into the water to interact with the animals.  It reminded me of a trip that my family took to the Bahamas, for my Sweet 16, where we swam with dolphins. It's something that I've always wanted to do again. On a future trip to Florida, I might have to visit Sea World's neighboring park, Discovery Cove, and play with the dolphins! Dolphins are very social animals, and they love interracting with humans. I thought it was absolutely fascinating how much they clearly enjoyed the applause from the audience!

We also checked out the sea lion show, featuring two sea lions, Clyde and Seymor, on a mission to grauduate from "sea lion high." This show was really interesting, because in addition to having a humorous storyline, the trainers shared some of the techniques that they use to train the sea lions. Each sea lion has such a unique personality, and they each have different positive reinforcements that are used as rewards, when they complete a task. Alyssa and I were joking that we should try some of the techniques that the trainers shared with our younger pup, Sophie. Sophie is a wonderful little girl, but she tends to have a mind of her own, when it comes to being "trained."  

Our last stop of the day was the Penguin exhibit, which was so much fun! This is definitely a popular spot in Sea World, and we had to wait about 40 minutes to get inside. Once we did, it was so much fun...And SO COLD! Because penguins live in a cold, arctic environment, their home at Sea World is kept very, very cold to accomodate them.  So we went from the Florida heat, in shorts and tank tops, into the Penguin exhibit, which I think someone said is about 32 degrees...Yikes! But it was so worth braving the frigid temperature to see these cute little guys! I loved seeing them waddle around the iceburgs, and swim through the icy water. Fun fact; Penguins swim super fast! They also playfully leap out of the water mid swim, which can take some human visitors, like myself, by surprise!

All of the marine animals that we saw at Sea World were so cute, and it was really amazing to see how they intereact with their human trainers. I really loved seeing the bond that exists between each animal and their trainer. Many of the animals that you see at Sea World have been rescued from various injuries in the ocean, and were unable to rehabilitate to a point where it would be safe for them to return to the ocean. These animals are given a home at Sea World, where humans give them food, fun, and love. The bond that can exist between humans and animals, is a beautiful thing. As humans, it is so important for us to do our part in protecting the environment, and keep it clean for these amazing animals!

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My Spotify

I love music, and I love how technology is constantly finding new ways to for us to listen to and discover new tunes! Lately, it's been all about the apps. I love having music apps on my phone, because when I'm on the go, I'm always listening to music, whether I'm in the car, at the gym, or getting things done around the house. In the past I have always been a Pandora girl. However, I've recently started using Spotify as well, and it's pretty darn awesome. Don't get me wrong, I still use Pandora, when I'm looking to listen to a broader genre of music. But, I really love how Spotify allows you to choose a specific artist to listen to. If you are looking for a specific song, by a particular artist, you can even look it up directly, and add it to your personal song list, or a playlist that you've created. With the basic version of Spotify, you can shuffle around your songs, or your playlists, but I recently upgraded to the premium version, which allows you go directly to a specific song, and play your music offline. I'm still getting familiar with the perks of Spotify Premium, but so far, I like what I see (and hear)!

 

Something that has been getting A LOT of play time on my Spotify lately, is One Direction. Now, I've always had a thing for the boy bands. I was a die hard NSYNC fan, and I loved the Jonas Brothers. I even love some of the earlier "boy bands" like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. However, I was really late to get on the 1D train. Now that I'm on board, it's full steam ahead! It all started about a month ago, when my sister, Alyssa, played the song Night Changes, and said "you've got to hear this key change!" She was right, killer key change, and a great song. I kind of forgot about it, until a few days later when I was out with my friend. Somehow we got on the topic of One Direction, and I told her how Alyssa played night changes for me, and how I really liked. Then my friend told me about the music video for Night Changes.  Ok, is this video not every fan girls dream? I mean, they make it feel like you are on a date with each guy! How cute is that?! So at this point, my inner fan girl was resurfacing. Cue Spotify! I started to listening to more of their songs, and um, they're awesome! Some of my favorite songs of theirs, so far, are Does He Know, Act My Age, and Last First Kiss. But honestly, I like them all. Their music is really fun, and brings back so many memories from my boy

 band fan girl days!

Here's a little throwback to one of my favorite fan girl moments, meeting Lance Bass from NSYNC, back when he was in Hairspray on Braodway. Please bear in mind that this photo was taken several years ago, and that doofy look on my face is due to extreme excitement! 

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California Grille

Dress (on sale!) / Shoes

I had been eyeing this maxi dress from Calypso St. Barth for a while, and picked it up during a sale at the West Hampton store. I had been saving it for something special. Last week my family went to California Grille at Disney's Contemporary Resort, for an early celebration of my birthday, and it was the perfect occasion to take it out. I don't wear maxi dresses all that often, because I like to show some leg in the summer, but this one I am in love with. It is so beautifully flowy, and the material is so soft and smooth. It also has a couple tassels that tie in just the right places to make this dress super flattering. It's such a versatile piece and could easily be dressed up or down. Since I'm in Disney, of course I had to give it a few good twirls, and really felt like a princess!

California Grille is an amazing restaurant in Disney, and while it is definitely one of the pricier places to eat on property, it is so worth every penny. First of all, the view can't be beat. This restaurant is located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort, giving you a birds eye view of Cinderella's Castle.  Second...The. Food. Is. AMAZING!!! And third, the service in impeccable.  I shared with our waiter my specific dietary needs, and he told me about this plate, that is basically a vegetarian sampler. The chef was able to make it gluten free for me as well. I got four different dishes, one of which was better than the last. Other exciting highlights were gluten free rolls (anyone else who eats a GF diet, knows how rare it is be able to have rolls with dinner when eating out), and an AMAZING chocolate cake for dessert. To top it all off, after dinner we went outside on the viewing deck to watch the fireworks over at the Magic Kingdom. They even play the music from the park, so that you get the full experience! We had a wonderful night, and it was the perfect way to kick off my birthday week!

I mentioned in a post last week that Disney is a wonderful place to eat if you have any dietary restrictions. It really is amazing how easy they make it. If you specify to your waiter that you have any dietary needs, at any restaurant, the chef will come out and talk to you about your options. No matter what your needs are, they are always able to create something delicious. Like I've mentioned before, following a gluten free diet is new to me, and it hasn't always been easy. Here at Disney, I have yet to feel like I'm missing out on anything, when we eat out.  I often joke that I come to Disney just for the food. It's the best of the best. This week we really have been enjoying so many amazing dining experiences, here at the happiest place on earth!

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Black, White, and Flash Tattoos

Top (on sale!!) / Shorts (on sale!!) / Shoes

Happy Monday everyone! As you are reading this I am probably running around EPCOT in Disney World, visiting all of the different countries! I am super excited to be back at Disney World. I grew up coming here on vacation, and it's always been a very special place to me. In fact, I think I love coming to Disney as an adult, even more than I did as a kid! That being said, since I will be so busy running around the parks this week, you might notice that things here at Paddling In Pearls will be a little slower than usual. Thee will be posts on the blog during the week, they just might not be as frequent as usual! But, I will be sure to be update my Instagram and Snapchat accounts! Next week, I will be doing a full recap of my entire vacation, and back to my normal posting schedule!

Now, this outfit I wore out to dinner at a super fun, new to me, hibachi restaurant called Benihana.  Apparently this is a chain restaurant, but I've never been! It was so entertaining to watch our food being cooked right there in front of us! And the food was delicious! This is a perfect outfit for such a warm climate, because the open back of this shirt makes it nice and breezy, and the shorts are super light weight. I love this outfit, and the exciting news is that both the top and the bottom are currently super on sale! 

Last week, while hanging at the pool one day, my sister and I noticed that they were selling flash tattoos at one of the hair wrap huts. We had first seen these on some of the girls last summer on Bachelor In Paradise, an we both thought that they looked super cool. All summer long I had been kind of back and forth, as to whether I wanted to buy a pack to try out. I never did, because when it comes to accessories, I really prefer to keep it simple. BUT when we saw them at the resort, and I saw these two super cute palm trees, I had to go for it! I also got two of the arm band designs. Such a fun, tropical, summer look, and I've gotten so many compliments on them! One thing to be careful of with flash tattoos, is that you kind of have to have a nice summer glow in order to pull them off. I think that they look great against a tan, but on paler skin, they tend to look kind of washed out, and they don't really pop. Let's just say, you won't see me wearing these babies during the winter! However, I might have to pick up a pack to last me for the rest of the summer, because, seriously, how cute, right?! 

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Light Blue Stripes

Top (similar) / Shorts  / Bag (similar) / Shoes

I wore this outfit to dinner our first night in Florida. We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista Resort, and there is a golf club at the resort, where we like to go for dinner. They have really great food, and the location is fantastic, with a fabulous view. Because I was already a vegetarian, ever since I've had to start eating gluten free, eating out can be a challenge. Gluten free options usually consist of meat or fish, neither of which I eat. Vegetarian options are almost always pasta dishes. Often times the only thing on the menu that works for me is a salad, and sometimes a girl is looking for something with a little more substance than a salad! When I first looked at the menu, I was thinking it was going to be a salad for me that night. But I figured I'd check what my other options were, and our waiter was nice enough to talk to the chef, who created a delicious vegetarian and gluten free dish for me. It was SO good! I mentioned in my post yesterday that I'll be spending the second part of my trip in Disney World. Disney is an amazing place to be on a gluten free diet...They seriosuly make it so easy! More on that coming to the blog next week.

This outfit was perfect for dinner at the golf club, because it was casual (and cool) enough to wear around a Florida resort in the middle of summer, but still looked put together enough to wear into the restaurant. In case you haven't noticed, my favorite color combination for summer (and most seasons for that matter) is blue and white. I love the nautical vibe that comes with wearing blue and white together, espeically blue and white stripes. It's such a classic and timeless look, in my opinion. Throw on some red lipstick, and you've got instant patriotism! 

I would also just like to add that the service at the Marriott Grande Vista Resort has been exceptional. Every single staff member that I have had contact with has been so friendly, and has gone above and beyond to be so welcoming and helpful. Earlier this week I was in the gym, and one of the drivers who recognized me from the day before, saw me and brought over a cold water bottle. Last night my sister and I were having dinner, and our waiter was so sweet, he asked our names, and even brought over an accompaniment that he thought I might like on my gluten free veggie burger! A smile goes a long way, and whether you're vacationing at a resort, or just living your day to day life, those friendly vibes are contagious, and a small gesture can go a long way in making someone else's day. In these two instances, these gestures put a smile on my face, and really made me feel happy. I'm so inspired to try to spread these same kind of friendly vibes, as I go about my everyday life. Just one small gesture can make a difference in someone else's day. 

Happy Friday everyone, and have a lovely weekend!

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Hat Attack Sun Hat

Hat (sold out, similar) / Top (old, similar) / Shorts / Swimsuit /

Bag / Shoes

In anticipation of my trip to Florida, I picked up this super cute sun hat, by Hat Attack, at Club Monaco a few weeks back. I've been to Florida this time of year before, so I knew how hot the Florida sun can be! Let me just tell you, my memory of the Florida heat was spot on...It's REALLY hot!!! Don't get me wrong, I love nothing more than weather that is 90 degrees and sunny, and I love to get my summer glow. But there are points during the day, when my face needs a little break from the sun, and I'm really glad I got this hat, because it does the trick!

This outfit was great for a day of chilling by the pool. These shorts could not be more comfortable, and I get tons of compliments whenever I wear them. This momgrammed swimsuit from Rah Rah Designs has been a favorite of mine all season, and this denim popover just really tied together this relaxed look!  

The first half of our trip has been very laid back, sleeping in, going to the pool, and going out to eat...Super relaxing, which has been wonderful! We couldn't come to Orlando without visiting the happiest place on earth, so we'll be spending the second half of our vacation at Disney World, of course! We'll be staying at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, which is right in EPCOT's backyard...I'm really looking forward to spending some time visiting all the different countries! So, for the next couple of days I'll be logging in the R&R hours while I gear up for running aound the Disney parks!

I'm regularly updating both my Instagram and Snapchat, and you can see what I've been up to here in Florida, by following PaddlingInPearls! Have a lovely day!

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Vineyard Vines Jockey Whale Dayboat and KJP

Top (sold out) / Shorts / Shoes / Bracelet

I ordered this Vineyard Vines Jockey Whale Dayboat ensemble during the friends and family sale, and to be honest, it was a very impulsive purchase for me. My usual online shopping routine goes a little something like this... I scroll through a website, and as things catch my eye, I add them to my shopping cart.  When I feel like I've seen what I need to see, I go to my cart and scroll through the items inside, weeding out anything that I feel kind of 'eh' about. Then I leave it. Sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days, a few weeks, and every now and again, even months. Over this period of time, I'll go back and visit the cart, and I usually end up weeding things out...and sometimes adding an item or two.  Any items that I'm still thinking about, and remain in my cart over some amount of time, 9 times out of 10, I end up purchasing. This might sound like some kind of commitment issue, HOWEVER, I very rarely end up needing to make returns. Like, really, never. Which is good, because I hate the return process! Whatever works, right? 

Anyway, this outfit...Super impulsive, no thought involved whatsoever. I literally put it in my cart, and went stright to checkout. Very rare, and kind of risky for me. BUT, it came, and I love it. Wearing these two pieces together is super matchy, and at first I was a little afraid it might be too much. I'd wear the shorts with a solid top, or the top with a pair of jeans. But then I decided to just go for it, and wore the top and the shorts together, and I think it's a fun look! I love the VV whales, so I think when it comes to those little guys, there is no such thing as too much! Unfortunately the shirt is no longer in stock on the Vineyard Vines website, but the shorts are still there! These shorts paired with a solid top is also a great look. I've recently worn them with a top similar to this one from J Crew. 

This is my first bracelet from Kiel James Patrick, but I'm already a fan! I can tell that there will be more KJP anchor bracelets in my future, for sure! I LOVE the anchor detail, and of course the pearls were just calling out to me! There are so many fun designs, and I've got my eye on a few other KJP anchor bracelets...I'll have to see which ones stand the shopping cart test of time!

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