May 2011
Babycakes NYC is a vegan bakery specializing in gluten-free, egg-free, refined sugar-free, wheat-free, casein-free, and kosher baked goods. Whew – that’s a lot of frees.
The list of “frees” and especially vegan didn’t sound very appealing to this mom who grew up in a meat and potatoes household and uses butter, heavy cream, and sugar liberally. The only experience I’ve had with restricted diets is with my sister-in-law who must have a gluten-free diet. Having married into an Italian family where pasta is a prerequisite to every meal, her rice pasta seemed edible at best. So, it’s with these preconceived notions that I tried some goodies at Babycakes NYC in Downtown Disney.
I am a convert.
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Planes…trains…automobiles. Whatever your mode of transportation, traveling with a two-year old can be tough. Because of the miles we need to cover, a trip to Walt Disney World means flying.. I don’t think I would survive the 18+ hour trip with my five and two-year old and still have my sanity intact.
Flying with our toddler is not a frequent experience so I’m willing to purchase travel gear I otherwise wouldn’t with the hope of being prepared for every eventuality – I won’t know if it works until I try it. The marketing firms must see me coming a mile away.
Here are my thoughts on some of the travel I brought on our recent flight.
Umbrella Stroller. Must- have. Even though we rent a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rentals, the umbrella is indispensable in the airport to safely get my little guy from curbside check-in, through the security line, and to the gate. It’s small and lightweight enough to easily fit through the x-ray machine at security and I can gate-check it.
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Life is good for us. We have happy, healthy children whom we adore; our health, family nearby; a nice home at the Jersey shore; and good jobs. Yet with all that, there is something missing and we’re seriously weighing a move close to Walt Disney World to find it.
We are in search of those elusive intangibles - balance and a simpler lifestyle with more family time.
Along with good jobs comes much work responsibility and often long, stressful hours. Couple this with long Northeastern winters and we spend all too much time exhausted and on our laptops with the kids watching television and letting everyday stresses frustrate us.
We want to do better for our kids. All the success my husband and I have achieved in our careers will pale in comparison to successfully raising our kids to the absolute best of our abilities.
I worry often that we only have one shot, a single chance at raising our kids to be the best they can be, to have the skills to reach for the stars and fulfill all their dreams, and to teach them to have balance in their adult lives. It is an awesome responsibility and although we’re on the right track we think we can do better. That’s where Walt Disney World comes in.
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