From Paris to the ’80s

What a fun and adventurous day!

After breakfast, we visited Paris… in the form of my sister’s sorority’s Parisian mother/daughter brunch.

(Notice the Eiffel Tower in the Background)

When we arrived, we were greeted by her smiling sorority sisters who showed us to a yummy buffet of tasty sandwiches, desserts, fruit and more.

My Plate

I went back for fifths (yes, fifths) of the seven layer bar dessert squares. I flippin’ love those things!

Leslie and Me

Swinging and Smiling

After the brunch, we changed into casual clothes and headed to Do Art, an art studio nearby to paint some pottery.

I selected a chips and dip platter, while my mom and sister opted to paint mugs.

My Chips and Dip Platter

My Mom's Mug

Leslie's Mug

With Our Creations

My sister will pick up our goodies in a week. Apparently when the pottery gets fired up, the colors will really pop! I can’t wait to see the final product.

Dinner

Once our pottery painting was complete, we hit the road for Orlando to pick up Ryan for a dinner at Park Plaza Gardens in Winter Park.

Park Plaza Gardens

We decided to try Park Plaza Gardens, a rather expensive restaurant usually, because they are currently offering a menu featuring items from their 1980s menu at the original 1980s prices. Score!

Before ordering, our waiter brought us a basket of bread that we devoured.

Bread Basket

Since the prices were amazing, my mom, sister and I ordered lobster while Ryan opted for the filet mignon.

Lobster

We also shared a la carte sides of onion soup, asparagus and sweet potatoes.

The Dessert Lady

Dinner was delicious and we were very tempted to order dessert at Park Plaza Gardens, but we decided to hop in the car and head downtown to pay a visit to The Dessert Lady instead.

When we got there we were overwhelmed with so many decadent choices on the menu. When we spotted the sampler option our eyes lit up and we knew we had a winner.

We decided to enjoy one slice of carrot cake, bourbon pecan pie, Neapolitan cake and peanut butter pie and split them between the four of us.

The Dessert Lady's Dessert Sampler

We all agreed that the pecan pie (served with cinnamon ice cream) and the peanut butter pie were the stand outs.

Huggin' Outside the Dessert Lady

Ryan and My Sister

The Dessert-Lovin' Ladies

Today definitely ended on a sweet note! 🙂

Since today was filled with girly fun, we’re letting Ryan control the remote and are hanging out watching the NBA playoffs before heading to bed in a bit.

See ya in the mornin’!

Midnight Leap-Frog

Normally I love hotel beds and always get a great sleep in a dark, cool, comfy hotel room.

Last night this was not the case.

My mom, sister and I were up almost all night due to some hotel guests that apparently thought playing leap-frog in the room above ours after midnight was a great idea.

Then, around 5 a.m. , guests in the room beside ours decided to blare their television and watch an action-packed Sean Connery movie. Sounds like a lovely thing to do at 5 a.m., no? 😉

Needless to say, I didn’t sleep too well and we were all wide awake around 5:45 a.m. The hotel’s free breakfast was not available until 7 a.m., so we stayed in bed laughing about the crazies who were apparently staying at our hotel.

Once it was time for breakfast, we headed downstairs to a spread of eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and bagels.

I fixed myself a bowl of oatmeal, topped with whipped cream, cantaloupe, an orange slice, Raisin Bran cereal, and honey.

Bowl o' Oats

On the side I ate about 1/3 of a Belgian waffle with extra whipped cream.

Waffle + Whipped Cream

Belgian Waffle

After breakfast, we came back to our room and my mom and sister climbed back in bed for an extra hour of sleep.

I am the worst napper and can never get back to sleep after I’m awake for the day.

Instead, I browsed some blogs and found a neat workout on Jessica‘s blog for an At Home Cardio Blast that I figured I could jot down and take to the hotel’s fitness center to try.

Fitness Center

Work it Out! (And Look Like a Total Ham)

Jessica's At Home Cardio Blast

Though she didn’t say this on her blog, she must have been joking about the 25 push ups. 😉 Puh-lease. You know I did every one of those the “girly” way.

I completed two rounds of the At Home Cardio Blast before heading back up to our room to check on my mom and sister.

This is what I found:

Sleeping Beauties

Since they were both fast asleep, I didn’t want to bother them and make noise in the room, so I grabbed my iPod and headed outside for an easy 20 minute jog around the hotel.

When I came back, I hit up the breakfast buffet again for another half of a Belgian waffle (1/4 went directly into my belly and is not pictured).

Waffle Round Two

Thankfully, now the sleeping beauties have begun to stir!

I’m off to hop in the shower before heading out to my sister’s sorority’s mother/daughter brunch. More food! 😀