Universal Studios

During our winter break in Orlando, Florida, we went to three theme parks. The first day was spent at Universal Studios. I had never been there before and had heard some mixed reviews. However, it was a lot of fun, for both adults and kids. Compared to the Disney theme parks, the lines wer much shorter, and the waiting time was designed to entertain you so the waits did not seem that long. Most of the rides were 3D simulation rides, which I actually really liked, since I am not much for the roller coasters anymore...

Entrance to the Universal Studios theme park

The "movie sets" were cool - this one was New York, the Public Library.  

There was a Mardi Gras parade at night, complete with floats and throwing the beads. 

The transformers ride was a big hit the man of the house.. 

I liked the Disaster "movie production" where you took part in making the movie

You can also audition for a live Fear Factor show...

Fear Factor competitors drinking a smoothie made out of all kinds of gross stuff...
they also had to complete pretty difficult tasks being suspended from the ceiling on wires, etc. 

The park was beautifully made!

My artsy shots...

Lots of food options both inside the theme park, as well as right outside...

All in all, if you're going to Orlando, I would definitely recommend visiting the Universal Studios. You don't have to be a big movie buff to enjoy it.

Wang & Next Fall

I have a feeling that next fall we will all be wanting gray wool with utilitarian pockets, thick turtleneck sweaters with inventive textures, sporty style with big statement zippers, maybe even leather sweatpants, statement coats, utilitarian bags, slim shopping bags in luxe materials like croc, over the knee boots, and the mule that has the front boot but is open from the back.

Or, at least, that's what Alexander Wang showed in both his own collection, as well as the one he designed for Balenciaga.

The first five looks are from Wang's own line:

And these five beauties are what Wang designed for Balenciaga:

The hardest thing about this post was picking the looks from Wang's collections. So many good looks to choose from. And even though in high fashion, it may not be a good thing to call the looks wearable, I feel that these looks are very wearable and I predict that they will be copied for all the fast fashion stores. I can't afford to buy the originals, so I am HOPING they'll be copied for Zara, H&M & the like...

Life is a Journey

So the deep question before last week's vacation was... what do you wear when...

you go from this ...

to this ... ? 

Since I did not want to wear a bulky coat, I opted for layers with a North Face fleece, Banana cashmere cardigan and running tights.. With three kids in tow, I also need handsfree accessories! The Missoni scarf is actually a poncho which I've folded into a scarf, and it's perfect for travel due to its dual purpose - I can then wear it as a poncho during any cool evenings during the vacation. 

And, of course, you never ever wear anything but absolutely comfortable shoes when traveling. My Nike airmax sneakers fit the bill (and provide a bit of color!)

Travelgram II

We have been so lucky with this weather in Florida - it's been nothing but beautiful sunshine and clear blur skies. Just LOVING it after the horrendous winter of New York. I take a deep breath in of that beautiful balmy air in total happiness every morning I step outside of our hotel apartment. I used to think I couldn't live in a place with no real seasons, but am starting to change my mind. Maybe retiring in Florida is the answer after all....

Palm trees make me happy!

So does the new Porter magazine.

And of course these three treasures! Mwah!

And yes, my accessories make me happy too! 

Travelgram

Here are a few instashots of our trip to Orlando, visiting family and going to theme parks. Yesterday we went to Universal Studios. What a great place for a person who can't do roller coasters anymore. Most of the rides are 3D simulation rides, meaning you get on the car, it moves and shakes and there's a screen so it looks like you're riding off the cliff but you're not really going anywhere. Very realistic and the best thing is that the whole family can ride together.

yes, the crazy man behind me is part of the family :-)

Haaste 11

Apologies for any non-Finnish speakers out there, I just had to do this one in Finnish...

Sain Amerikantadilta haasteen vastata 11:een kysymykseen, joten tassa vastaukseni: 

1. Paras dieetti? South Beach Diet - toimii mutta vaatii aika kovaa itsekuria. Toisaalta, mika dieetti ei vaatisi itsekuria? Jos olisi sita itsekuria ei ehka tarvitsisi alunperinkaan olla dieetilla... 

2. TOP 3 kosmetiikkatuotetta tai ihonhoitovinkki? Peter Thomas Rothin CC cream, YSL Rouge Pur Couture huulikiilto / Buxom Lips huulikiilto, Amlactin kosteusvoide (taivaanlahja psoriaattiselle iholleni!). Ihonhoitovinkki: Tietyssa iassa ihon kuoriminen kannattaa lopettaa. Mina en enaa nain yli 40-kymppisena kuori ihoani juuri ollenkaan. 

3. Unelmiesi matkakohde - Maailmanymparysmatka, puoli vuotta hitaasti nautiskellen, ykkosluokassa ja luksushotelleissa. 

4. Teitkö Uuden Vuoden lupauksia, jos niin mitä ja pitävätkö ne? Teen joka vuosi saman lupauksen, eli lupaan nukkua enemman, siis menna aikaisemmin nukkumaan. Tana vuonna lupaus on pitanyt paremmin kuin aikaisempina vuosina. Tai sitten olen vaan niin vasynyt iltaisin etten kerta kaikkia jaksa pitaa silmiani auki. 

5. Mikä on kaunein ääni tai sana? Lapsen nauru, ja sana on aiti. 

6. Uskotko kohtaloon, eli oletko fatalisti vai uskotko siihen, että omat päätöksesi päättävät pitkälti elämäsi kulun? Hmmm, tassa olen hieman kahtia jakautunut..uskon tietylla tavalla kohtaloon, mutta myos ehdottomasti siihen etta omat paatokset ja teot vaikuttavat elamankulkuun. Emme ole tahdottomia satkynukkeja, vaan voimme muokata elamaamme haluamaamme suuntaan. Joskus saatamme olla olposuhteiden vankeja, mutta olosuhteitakin pystyy pikkuhiljaa muuttamaan...

7. Kissa vai Koira? No tietysti, koira. Vaikka tykkaan kylla kissoistakin. 

8. Mottosi? Fake it 'til you make it. Luja tahto vie lapi harmaan kiven.

9. Paras vaatteiden nettikauppa - En juurikaan tilaa vaatteita netista, mutta tykkaan surffata ja kuolata Net a Porterissa.

10. Maukkain jälkiruokaherkku, saa laittaa reseptin? Olen erittain perso makealle, joten vaikea valita mika olisi maukkain..suklaa vie aina voiton..talla hetkella parhaiten maistuisi hyva tumma suklaa ja lasi punaviinia. 

11. Ja loppuun pakollinen Kumman kaa: Matti Nykänen vai Jussi Parviainen? Apua mika kysymys! Molemmat ovat pelottavia. Ei siis kumpikaan. 


Lisaksi piti kertoa itsestaan 11 faktaa: 

1. Rakastan lehtia ja minulle tulee niita aivan liikaa. Mieheni vihaa joka nurkassa ajalehtivia lehtia. 
2. Olen kirjaston vakkari asiakas
3. Olen hulluna Vitamix blenderiini. Heidan pitaisi maksaa minulle provikkaa siita miten pajon olen mainostanut sita ystavilleni. 
4. Suunnittelen ompelevani kaikenlaista, mutta toteuttaminen jaa kiireiden ja laiskuuden jalkoihin. Suunnitteleminenkin on nautinnollista. Ehka jopa nautinnollisempaa kuin toteuttaminen. 
5. Osaisin kylla ommella, teinina ompelin melkein kaikki vaatteeni itse. 
6. Lemppariohjelmani on Project Runway. Kerran suutuin miehelleni oikein kunnolla kun han pilaili innostukseni kustannuksella.  "You don't like my designs?" on vielakin lentava lause meidan perheessa...
7. Teen kotona outoa taukojumppaa, heiluttelen kasiani ja teen jalkapotkuja. Melkein mika tahansa liike alkaa tuntumaan kun tekee tarpeeksi toistoa. Kuvittelen etta tama pitaa minut paremmassa kunnossa...Viime aikoina olen googlannut seisoen tehtavia vatsaliikkeita. 
8. Olen hirvean ylpea lapsistani mutta koitan pysytella coolina enka ikina lahde mukaan vertailuihin joissa pitaa kehuskella lapsen saavutuksilla. Mutta jos lapsi sitten itse ihan viattomana tulee keskusteluun mukaan ja selittaa omia saavutuksiaan, tai sattuu muuten vain tekemaan jotain hirvean fiksua, pakahdun onnesta ja ylpeydesta. 
9.  Saan raivarin jos pitaa heittaa ruokaa pois. 
10. Olen aika mestari kayttamaan edellisen paivan tahteet uuteen ruokaan. 
11. Vihaan vaatteiden lajittelua ja poislaittoa. Minulla taitaa olla pieni vaatteiden ja laukkujen hoarding ongelma.

Sitten piti viela keksia 11 uutta kysymysta laittaa ne eteenpain 11:lle bloggaajalle: 

1. Lukevatko perheen jasenesi blogiasi? 

2. Paras huulipunasi ja sen savy? 

3. Jos saisit vaihtaa nyt ammattia ja menestys olisi uudessa ammatissasi taattu, mita haluaisit tehda? 

4. Jos saisit tunnin lisaa paivassa, mihin sen kayttaisit? 

5. Mika on tarkein tapa jolla huolehdit terveydestasi? 

6. Yksi Chanelin laukku vai 10 Furlaa? 

7. Mita vaatekappaletta et ikina kayttaisi? 

8. Paras kirja jonka olet lukenut vuoden sisaan? 

9. Jos voisit muuttaa ihan mihin tahansa maailmassa, missa haluaisit asua? 

10. Jarkevat ja mukavat alusvaatteet, vai pienet pitsiunelmat? 

11. Mita haluaisit tehda mutta et uskalla? 

Mutta koska olen laiska, haasteen saavat vain seuraavat 4 bloggaajaa: 

Sara S. 

Tibs

Anniina

Jaana / Akaasian Alta 

Collage

Making collages has been the "thing" to do in my house lately. It's artsy and fun, and the kids enjoy it.

My oldest daughter made a collage for school to go with her report on Archimedes, you know, the Greek scientist and mathematician. I'm not sure how many times Archimedes' picture was combined with neon pink and silver glitter, but hey, it worked here, right?

Then my lovely au pair made an inspirational collage for me. How sweet is that? This is a support collage to inspire me to stay on the South Beach Diet until the Florida vacation. And you know what? It really worked. I had the collage in my bedroom, next to my bed where I saw it first thing in the morning, and it did give me a boost to stay away from carbs and sugar. By the way, the South Beach Diet really works for me when I need to drop a few pounds. The first couple of weeks are really tough, but once you get the sugar out of your system it gets easier.