We have just booked our flights to Florida for our summer holiday, and if I don’t blog something about it, I honestly think I will internally combust.  Excitement, is building and it really is a few weeks away yet.  So, getting myself into the Florida frame of mind, I’ve been looking at holiday snaps and thinking about all of the amazing places we have eaten in.

So if you are planning a trip to Orlando, or interested in what’s available,  this post is all about The Ana Mum Diary’s top 5 of  favourite places to eat in Orlando.  Each time we go, we find new places to eat, but we also have old favourites that we visit every year. So in a Top of the Pops fashion, counting down from 5:

5 Ohana  (Polynesian) $$$

This is such a fun Disney dinner experience, and the food very different to anything I had tried before.  Not a great selection for a veggie (or pescatarian )  like myself, but Tall Dad raved about the meat skewers that were cooked in the 18ft oak fire pit.

However, this is so much more than the food, and that is why I included it in the top 5.  I have two very lasting memories of The Ohana, the first being the atmosphere.  Throughout the meal children were encouraged to get involved coconut racing and listening to stories told by the Ohana staff, in a  family style Polynesian dinner, there is dancing and hula hoops racing. The second memory is that when the meal is finished, you can sit down and listen to the music piped into the restaurant, as you watch the fireworks over the castle.  Truly magical!

4 Olive Garden $$

This is a huge American chain, but the service and quality of the food really make up for this, it’s also very reasonably priced too.  They often have offers and specials, so you also need to look out for those on the site if you are doing your holiday planing, or on the menu if you are there.  Its known as the home of the never ending pasta bowl, so great after a hard day at the parks, or shopping.  As the name suggests, it is Italian, and is also very  family friendly.  If your family is anything like mine, Italian food means, everyone even the youngest in the group are going to enjoy it.  There is a great children’s menu, but I would also recommend the flat breads and pasta dishes which are delicious.

3. Bahama Breeze $$

This is always on our list of places to eat.  It has a Caribbean feel, with island-inspired seafood, chicken & steaks, and an excellent selection of cocktails, both alcoholic and non.   This would be a place we would have a slow leisurely evening meal, as it has a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.  If you eat here and love fish, you simply must try the firecracker shrimp – buttermilk battered and crispy fried with a spicy red pepper sauce…simply amazing! Great also if you love rum, as it has a huge selection.

2 Sweet Tomatoes $

This is our go to place, when we are tired, hungry, and want a tasty but healthy meal.  As you enter it has a huge long counter full of gorgeous salads and dressings. Everything from prepared salads to spinach, beetroot, eggs, seeds, nuts and dressings to make your own.  Probably over 50 different salads and extras. It is self-serve, and once you have filled your plate, at the end of the salad area you pay for your meals. You can choose to drink water, or for a little extra, add never-ending beakers. Root beer bring a favourite of Miss N’s. But that’s not all, you can refill your plate with more of the fresh salads, which are constantly replenished. But also there are bays, with servers behind, that have other things available – made from scratch soups, speciality breads, and pasta.  All of which are included in the price.  To complete the meal, there is an area where you can help yourself to fruit, and ice cream, including a fat-free frozen yoghurt, which is my favourite!

We also love that each month has a theme, you still tend to have a lot of old favourites there, but they also add things to the menu. So it may be a cuisine from a particular country, or this month for example, it is ‘Berry Berry’ month so they have added new salads – Strawberry Fields Salad, with caramelised walnuts, as well as raspberry lemonade to the drinks and raspberry muffins to the deserts.

1 **Seasons 52** $$$

The winner in my eyes when eating out in Florida is Seasons 52. We usually eat in the bar area, in what we call a funky booth, and listen to the pianist, who actually plays a piano which is behind the bar. The restaurant has apparently been extended though, my hubby (Tall Dad) was there recently with work, and ate in an outside area, so I can’t wait to check this out next time we are there.

They don’t have a specific children’s menu, but are happy to make anything from the menu, into a child’s portion.  I do think children would need to be used to eating out in a restaurant, as its not the kind of restaurant that particularly caters for children, we have never has a problem though.

The food is seasonal, fresh, and healthy.  It often has unusual things to try.  The wine is incredible, some of the nicest I have ever tasted. The staff, are exceptionally knowledgeable, and the service is fabulous.  We tend to only go there once on a holiday, usually our wedding anniversary, or a birthday. Its the kind of place, that feels like a you are being wined and dined, I love that it also has valet parking.

We once went on a Friday in the evening, and the restaurant was very busy.  I soon found out, after a visit to the powder room, that it was ‘date night’ as I inadvertently heard women calling their friends with updates on dates.  It seems to be the place that the locals eat, and know about.

If you go, I would recommend that you leave room for the deserts, they come in shot glasses, and are miniature versions of traditional ones such as Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie and Rocky Road.  Leave room for two or three!

We have never been disappointed at Seasons 52 and that is why it is my top place to eat in Orlando!

I also thought it would be fun to add some fellow bloggers favourite places to eat, just so I could illustrate the diversity of food in Orlando.

Amanda Jane : Cheesecake Factory at Millennia Mall

Mel (Diary of a Jewellery Lover)  :Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht and Beach Club

Kate (Kate Takes 5) Rainforest Cafe

Marrianne (Maris World) : House Of Blues

Jennifer  (Jennifers Little World) California Pizza Factory

Helen (Actually Mummy) : The Longhorn Steakhouse

Thank you for reading

This year feels different though, just as exciting but somehow I feel even more nervous.  Maybe because this is the first bloggy thing I’ve been to this year so far.  But I love a challenge, and somehow I always seem to enjoy things if I have a little bit of nerves too.

I already know what I’ll be wearing (sort of) thanks to my personal stylist session, though I’m still not sure what I’ll be wearing on what day yet – shakes fist at the weather!  I have also treated myself to a biker jacket, as recommended by Lucy, which I love so much, I may never take it off!

So in this post, I thought I would announce who is sponsoring me to attend the event as well as tell you a little about myself.

Name : Amanda, but I answer to Gidders (my twitter name) just don’t call me Mandy!

Blog : The Ana Mum Diary

Twitter : @gidders1

Height : 5 ft 9

Hair : Very blonde – I should point out I started going grey at 13 so I am actually nearly white in places!

Eyes : Blue

Is this your first blogging conference? : No this will be my 3rd!

What are you most looking forward to at Britmums Live 2013? : The whole experience, I honestly couldn’t pick one!

What are you wearing : THIS  I am more than a little obsessed with satchels, it rare to see me without one, so I will be carrying one of those….oh and my new biker jacket of course.

What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2013: I can’t wait to meet more of my blogging friends, as well building relationships with brands.  There are also some great workshops that I cant wait to attend!

Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows : Hmm…. I was once crowned ‘Strawberry Queen’  that is both embarrassing  and bizarre!  I wanted the prize money to buy a tennis racket to impress a boy I liked at school. I may have revealed a little bit too much about myself there!

What’s your tipple?: I am really not choosy, a glass of prosecco is lovely, but anything apart from gin, that’s the work of the devil!

And so this year I have been really lucky to have been offered a sponsor for the event, who have kindly paid for my train, ticket and hotel. So I would like to announce my sponsor is…..

excited pause…..

Look Again! (twitter @lookagainUK)

Look Again, are a new online home and fashion site. What I love about the site is, fashion wise you can shop by your body shape as well as the trend.  So if you are looking for something with a  pop of colour, you can filter your search that way. Or if you are, like me pear shaped, you can find items that will suit you. I LOVE this!  The home section has everything from Range Cookers to Graham and Brown wall paper, excuse me while I lose a couple of hours browsing!

So I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to Look Again, and I look forward to working with you!

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Now amongst my loves, I have a penchant for leather bags, and shoes. I like them to be good quality, and reflect me. Even in my childhood I loved good shoes, and bags.   I remember pleading with my Mum, to buy me a pair of beautiful patent red shoes (with matching bag) when I must have been 7 or 8 years old, like my life depended on it.  I love a slightly vintage but classic style, this is reflected I think even in the way I style my home.

I was asked if I would like to review some shoes from  Hotter Shoes - Carly  ‘Live, Love, Comfort and Style‘.  It was a new range on me, but I was intrigued to find out if they really were as comfortable as they claimed. The shoes I chose, I think have the kind of vintage, classic look to them I like, and I absolutely loved them when they arrived.

I’ve been wanting to use the Vine app for a while for a review, so here are my shoes on the move!

I do really struggle with shoes, I’m a size 8 and it looks like my girls have both inherited my large feet, as well as a high instep.  It takes me days of wearing, to break shoes in, and this always seems to result in blisters.  Don’t let on I told you, but when I lived at home, I used to ask my Dad, who was a size 9 to wear my shoes to break them in a little for me….

This is, hand on heart first pair of shoes that have not needed me to break them in.  I wore them for the first time on Saturday night, whist partaking in a glass of Prosecco with Penny from Alexander Residence, Jen from Love Chic Living and Annie from Mammasaurus, and the next day, I was blister free, and they hadn’t hurt me at all during the night. They are lovely soft leather, and have comfortable cushioning inside of them. It sounds dramatic but Hotter shoes, as a bit of a revelation to me, and I cant wait to buy another pair, I’m thinking heels or wedges next time.

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I am linking up to :

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However, I wanted to see if I could find a few different ideas for all of the Dads out there, as they really do deserve a treat!

First up by Jonny’s Sister: Tall Dad is a bit of a biscuit addict, so when I saw this I thought it was a great idea.

My current husband is not however called Simon.  In fact, I’d like one for myself for chocolate.  Its £38 and you can have up to 20 characters printed on it.

Or how about for the music loving Dad, a Sonos system.  I know that Tall Dad has been coveting one of these for a long time.  There are lots of different system available at varying prices. Yes an investment, but something the whole family will enjoy.

The Future of Music, is a great site to get you started if you are looking for a music system like this. Fathers day, is a great excuse I think to treat the man of the house to something he really loves, and these system are actually attractive to look at too.

The Sonos Wireless HiFi System delivers all the music on earth, in every room, with deep, richly textured sound.  Sonos is the only system that combines HiFi sound with high-performance wireless.  Plus it’s simple to set-up, control and expand so you can easily fill your home with music.

And finally, here is something we have bought Tall Dad previously and he was so thrilled with it.

Available from Kutuu, for just £10 is this ‘love you daddy’ key ring.  There are lots of designs available, including the initial tags that you can see.  They have a real handmade feel, and I would definitely recommend them.

So that’s three more suggestions for you to think about for father day, don’t leave it to late though, as some items are made to order.

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We have had this Icon designer bean bag from the Bean Bag Bazaar on-line company for a week now, and it has been used every day. I am actually sitting on it right now, as I write this review. We are all so chuffed with it, it makes a fabulous and fun addition to our garden.

It arrived, very quickly from ordering, and it was delivered in two packages.  One, was a half filled bean bag, and the other a net with beans in, to top it up with.  I waited for tall Dad to arrive, before I filled the bag up, as the instructions say it’s a two person job.  I held the bag open as tall Dad released the net into the bag.  It was really simple to do, and no spillage (phew) as I know that can be a nightmare to clear up. The Icon designer bean bag has a double zip, so you are really sure they are secure in there.

The design of the UK made bean bag, means that it is perfect to be used in the garden for a spot of lounging in the sun, and it is really comfortable. The Icon designer bean bag is also very large, so could also be shared by a couple of children.  It can be positioned and used in over three ways, use it as a chair, floor bean bag or lounger.  It is also light, so very easy, to move inside in the evening, and made from a strong material that is water resistant too.

It has a black background, and what looks like ‘bokeh’ or out of focus lights printed on it. Its bright and colourful, when it’s not being used outside, we have been using it in our conservatory, as an extra place to sit.  Of course having children, it has also been used as a place to practice super girl leaps, forward rolls and even hand stands to great effect!

The ICON spotlights Bazarre Bag : £99.99 with free UK delivery (limited edition)

It get 10/10 from us, we love it!

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We have been given a fantastic outdoor beanbag, by Bean Bag Bazarre, which I will be reviewing on the blog. The girls are loving it!

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First up I wanted to share with you the iced tea that we made, after my successful iced tea cocktail last week.  This iced tea was absolutely delicious. In my opinion, its taste nicer than when drunken the traditional hot way (no really it does) and perfect for this lovely weather!

You start off making it the same was as your normal cuppa, however use only using around half the water you usually do.  This seemed to work best for us. We also at this stage added a large dash of honey to sweeten.

We used super fruit by teapig, which is made with Hibiscus, elderberry, blackcurrant, raisin, natural flavours, ligonberry and blueberry. The perfect fruity combination!

We left the teapig in the water for 4 minutes, before taking the bag out.

We allowed the tea to cool a little more, then topped the mixture with lots of ice, and a little water. We also added some sliced strawberries, doesn’t it look pretty? Well it was certainly an absolutely delicious drink!

I had also been sent some samples of the new Yankee Candle range for the summer.  Miss N and I love scented candles, and you could smell these as soon as you opened the bag that they came in…just beautiful!

So what fragrances were we given, to test out?

Honey Blossom : The beautiful blend of flower nectar, honey musk, freesia and woods makes this both full and delicate.

A very summery scent, and not too sweet, I love the smell of freesias, this scent seemed to last for a really long time, these really do remind me of my childhood, as they are a favourite of my Mum too.

Fireside Treats : The joys of camp . . . mesmerized by the fire, singing and laughing, while toasting marshmallows to rich, gooey perfection!

This has a deep sugary scent that is so lovely in the evenings. If I can’t have a real fire in the summer to toast my marshmallows, this is a fab alternative.

Pineapple Cilantro : A tropical treat . . . fresh, island pineapple served with a citrus touch of cilantro and sweet coconut.

Miss N’s favourite, it smells so much of a pina-colada, this one reminds us both of floridian holidays, its just gorgeous!

Summer Scoop : Delicious memories of creamy, homemade strawberry ice cream on a hot summer day. One scoop or two?

Strawberry flavoured, and smelling things I am always attracted to, and this scent is gorgeous definitely a summery scent, makes me think of wimbledom!

We lit these in the day, why save them until the evening?  It was a lovely attack on our senses, I think we are going to this again!

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On Sunday I will be completing the race for life in Nottingham with Miss N my eldest daughter who is 10.  You will be able to spot us, as we will wearing Brioche Pasquier T-Shirts, as they have very kindly sponsored us £250 to run the event with a small (but very gorgeous) team of bloggers.

I don’t usually use my blog, to talk about very personal things, but I think this is so important, that I am going to do so on this occasion.

Miss N and I are running the race in memory of my husbands (Tall Dad) father Paul, and Tall Dads twin brother John, who both lost their lives from the evil disease that is cancer.  We will also be running it for his eldest brother, a survivor, who is currently in hospital recovering from having a cancerous brain tumour removed from his brain.

3 men.  One family. Lets Beat Cancer!

Cancer is a horrible disease, and it shows no signs of stopping, with it claw like grip on the world.  If I can help in any way by raising funds, then I will try my damndest to do so.

Can you help us?

Our blogging team has a target of £500. Can you help us reach it? You can donate to our team fundraising page here.

For its first ever UK fundraising campaign to support Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, Brioche Pasquier has launched the first of two on-pack promotions to reach its fundraising goal of £15,000.

The ‘Run with Mum’ promotion, now available on the Pitch range, is to encourage you to run with your children by covering a single child’s £10 entry fee for 1,000 pairs of little legs.

The second promotion, ‘Raise Some Dough’, available throughout June and July across all products, gives you the opportunity to win donations of up to £100 to send to friends or family taking part in a Race for Life event through their JustGiving page – or alternatively you can simply donate to the Brioche Pasquier Race for Life team.

Also keep an eye out for Brioche Pasquier products at the Race for Life events, as every runner will be offered a tasty ‘PITCH’ filled brioche.

To find out how you can get involved and take advantage of these fantastic offers, visit www.briochepasquier.co.uk.