Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

“Trick or Treat”… that’s the phrase you’ll hear lots of times tonight as miniature vampires, witches and other costumed characters come to your door. Perhaps you may even become one of them?

Although Halloween can be a lot of fun and most peoples mind will be on candy exchanges and cunning costumes not many folks will stop to consider where this tradition came from. Oddly enough, trick or treating has ties to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day … two Catholic holidays spent honoring martyrs and praying for the deceased.

Trick or treating was derived from souling, a practice dating back as far as the Middle Ages where the deprived traveled door to door offering prayers for the departed in exchange for soul cakes. Costumes became increasingly popular as early trick or treaters attempted to resemble spirits. Popularity in America increased in the 1920′s and the holiday actually became quite dangerous in the 1930′s as the phrase was meant quite literally if treats were not offered! Very often nasty tricks and even vandalism followed if a person didn’t “treat” the traveler. Today, Halloween has become the second biggest event in the calendar year and it is a multi billion dollar industry as well as being one of the sweetest! Stay safe to tonight… and enjoy!

Four days of shopping, fashion shows, celebrity appearances, food sampling began today at the 21st Orlando Southern Women’s Show. The show is always eagerly anticipated and this year is no different.There’s many different vendors such as Arbonne (Nicole and Kathy are pictured below and Arbonne products are available through Rebecca at Florida Leisure Vacation Homes), Burberry, Classy Girl Boutique, Dillard’s, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, SeaWorld, and many more.

Top Chef fan favorite, Fabio Viviani, (pictured below) will be at the show on Saturday, October 15th and you won’t want to miss your chance to meet him and watch as he swifts around the kitchen cooking up a delicious recipe. In celebration of soulful, southern-style cooking, Glory Foods is partnering with the Southern Women’s Show once again! The Glory Foods traveling Meal SOULutions Academy for Southern-Style Cooking is also back by popular demand to help educate family cooks on preparing easy, convenient meals without sacrificing that time-honored, authentic southern-style flavor for which Glory Foods is known. Glory Foods’ Meal SOULutions Academy will feature ‘Glorified Chefs’ on the Cooking Stage; Special Recipe Tastings created by the ‘Glorified Chef’; Enter-to-Win Glory Foods’ Meal SOULutions Academy Deluxe Gift Basket; and one-on-one cooking advice, soulful product sampling and fun give-aways at the Meal SOULutions Academy sampling booth. With Glory Foods, it’s easy to pass down the delicious meals you enjoyed growing up!

Warren Caterson is the author of Table for Two – The Cookbook for Couples, the perfect cookbook for young couples, empty nesters, and everyone in between. His cookbook features over 235 recipes made with fresh and readily available ingredients, dinner can be on the table in well under an hour, with a minimum of leftovers. He will demonstrate a temptingly delicious platter piled high with time-saving kitchen tips, helpful cooking hints, and recipes for two – all served with a side of garlic-infused humor and a steaming bowl of buffoonery. Check the events schedule for his stage times!

Treat yourself and win big with Macy’s on Saturday. Be one of the first 500 guests to enter the show on Saturday and receive a gift card to Macy’s! Also, stop by the Macy’s Pavilion for your chance to win a $500 shopping spree. While there, pamper yourself with your favorite brands from Dior, Clinique and Strivectin Cosmetics to Ed Hardy Fragrances and more!

Join Florida Dairy Farmers for “Mother Daughter Day” on Sunday, October 16 for a special day of shopping, fashion, food and prizes. Stop by the Florida Dairy Farmers’ “Fresh Florida Milk Parlor” to spin the prize wheel and enter to win a $150 Publix gift card. When you’re ready for a break, take a seat at the parlor and read up about dairy as a nutrient-rich food, good for the whole family.

And of course… you guessed it… The Firefighter Fashion Show is back and hot as ever! Grab your girlfriends and head for the show to catch this fabulous event. Clap, shout and even whistle as the boys in uniform strut their stuff on the runway.

Get to the show early and take a front row seat to get a great view of Orlando’s bravest (Orange County Fire and Rescue Department). And all for a good cause…all funds raised will benefit the Children’s Burn Foundation, so bring your dollar bills and don’t let the boot pass you by!

Admission :
Adults: $10.00 At the Door

Advance Tickets Online: $9.00

Groups: (10 or More, Online Advance Only): $8.00

Youth: $5.00 (ages 6-12)

Children Under 6 Free With Paying Adult

Re-admission: Tickets for 2nd day admission can be purchased for $5.00 during your initial visit (with your ticket stub) at the show entrance.

Orange County Convention Center

North Concourse, Hall B

9400 Universal Boulevard

Orlando, FL 32819

Parking:

The Orange County Convention Center charges a parking fee of $8 per car

Hours :
Thursday: 10am-7pm

Friday: 10am-7pm

Saturday: 10am-7pm

Sunday: 10am-5pm

Do you love Central Florida’s roller coasters? Or do you hate them and never want to ride?

Roller coasters may cause thrills for some and anxiety for others but how you react to them could be a reflection on the way you deal with everyday life according to Dr. Howard Belkin from Michigan.

According to Dr. Belkin, if you life is full of ups and downs, enduring that on a ride and coming out just fine gives you a sense of accomplishment. Watch this video and see if you agree:

And here’s 10 more reasons why life resembles a roller coaster ride

1. Both start with a big drop.
2. Both have ups and downs.
3. It doesn’t really matter if you sit in the front or the back — everyone has a similar experience.
4. Both require participation – watching just isn’t the same.
5. Both can be fun one minute and terrifying the next.
6. Both can make you scream and throw up.
7. Both are more fun when shared with others.
8. Both require that you follow the rules for your safety.
9. Both came in many shapes, designs, and colors.
10. Both go very fast and don’t last long enough.

Hot on the heels of Rory McIlroy’s fabulous win at the US Open came the chance to visit Grand Cypress Golf Resort in Orlando. Previously Grand Cypress was a private members club but that’s all changed now and the 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf are now open for guests of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes to play.

The resort truly has a diverse selection of Orlando golf with its 27-hole North/South/East Course providing the ultimate test of accuracy while the 18-hole New Course provides a Scottish links masterpiece. Within the 27 holes, the Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed North, South, and East Nines provide three distinctly unique 18-hole masterpieces. For the full round of 18, courses can be combined as the North-South, South-East, or East-North Course. Each combination provides a distinctive playing experience, which will challenge even the best of golfers.

Grand Cypress Golf Club is proud to host the LPGA for a tour event every year and this is your chance to play the same course that the top professional ladies play. The whole facility is both elegant and oozes class in every aspect. From the moment you walk through the club house door to the time you walk off the 18th green you’ll thoroughly enjoy an unforgettable Orlando golf experience.

If you’re looking to hone you game then there’s no better than the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf. It features a variety of golf school programs offering one to five days of unparalleled instruction and the most advanced teaching methods to improve your performance. The Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, has won countless awards for it’s high level of instruction and all of the instructors are among the best in Florida.

Grand Cypress is located just 15 to 20 minutes from Florida Leisure’s vacation homes and our staff would be delighted to book your tee time when you’re next in the Central Florida area.

More photo’s are here and if you enjoyed this blog post feel free to share it with your friends and family by clicking the “Send” button.

Here’s a great picture of a professional stunt driver taking flight on the set of “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the theme park’s iconic “Earffel Tower” standing tall in the background. The new, 30-minute show features cars, motorcycles and high-powered watercraft piloted by highly trained stunt drivers. Later this summer the star of “Cars” and “Cars 2″ will join the cast of high-octane characters.

Exotic cocktails will pair like a tropical daydream with fresh new tastes from more than one island paradise at the 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort. The one-of-a-kind 45-day festival serves up international cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents, with more than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.

Marketplace tasting menus offer variety and adventure for guests on a mission to tantalize their taste buds during a scenic stroll around the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon. The adventure can take them to the festival’s first Hawaii marketplace, which will cook up Kalua pork sliders and tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips to team with a refreshing Seven Tiki Mai Tai or a Kona Longboard or Pipeline beer. A new Caribbean Islands marketplace will serve ropa vieja with rice and jerk-spiced chicken with mango salsa. A beverage menu featuring a frozen Dragon Berry Colada and frozen Rock Coconut Mojito is sure to conjure steel-drum fantasies.

With a swing across the Atlantic, guests will be transported to the new Portugal marketplace, where the Portugal Wine Bar will offer best sips to pair with calamari salad with olives and smoked paprika. The Scandinavia marketplace will return after a hiatus with a fresh new Xante Sunshine cocktail made from Xante pear and cognac liquer. And the Canada marketplace will introduce a sweet treat: apple ice wine.

Disney and celebrity chefs will team with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to get the party started Sept. 30. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

* Three new tasting marketplaces — Hawaii, Caribbean Islands and Portugal — plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces
* Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio, Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Warren Brown, Art Smith, Keegan Gerhard and more.
* First-ever HGTV home entertaining seminars each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
* The Cranberry Bog display by Craisins telling the story behind the venerable cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
* Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
* Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.

New Sips, Fresh Bites

Festival guests can make a day of circumnavigating the World Showcase Promenade, grazing and sipping as they go. Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $3 to $8 each, and recommended wines, cocktails and beers make perfect pairings at each marketplace. For quicker marketplace visits, guests can purchase a festival-themed mini-Disney Gift Card that can be worn on a wristband and loaded and reloaded at several park locations.

Live daily entertainment showcases many cultures with music, acrobatics and improv performances along the promenade. Evening Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre feature acts from many musical genres. Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are The Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Fan favorite Taylor Dayne kicks off the festival Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and crowd pleaser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wraps the event Nov. 11-13.

The festival attracts a diverse audience — from wine connoisseurs and epicures to novices wishing to boost their culinary IQs. Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Festival highlights include:

* The Festival Welcome Center, with a Wine Bar, Authentic Taste Seminars, Authors Without Borders weekend conversations and more.
* More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting dinners and tasting events.
* A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
* Popular returning events that include First Bites Opening Reception on Sept. 29; Kitchen Memories (formerly Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen); Mixology Seminar; and “3D” Disney Dessert Discovery.
* The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting event beginning Oct. 8 and with a new Saturday evening time of 7:30-10 p.m. featuring tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment presented by Cirque du Soleil.

Festival guests can enjoy fresh Epcot experiences including the latest Future World high-tech fun at Innoventions and the celebrated return of “Captain EO,” the classic musical 3-D production starring Michael Jackson in a rare big-screen performance. In World Showcase, new and recently updated restaurants welcome guests at the Italy, Japan, Mexico and China pavilions.

What’s Included with Epcot Admission:

Authentic Taste seminars and Authors Without Borders programs with special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

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Tough weather and tough luck lead to a 1-1 draw in Orlando City’s first ever nationally televised game against the Wilmington Hammerheads.  6,923 fans braved the nearly 30 mile per hour winds to see the third largest crowd of the season, one that surpassed Major League Soccer’s New England/Toronto match on Wednesday night.

Orlando City kicked off the match hesitant in their play due to severe winds but settled after the opening 10 minutes.  The Lions were also playing with an altered line-up as they were missing several key starters due to suspensions and visa issues.  This gave reserves Charlie Campbell, Wes Allen, and Dennis Chin a chance for playing time with the rest of the regular starters.  Allen’s time was unfortunately short-lived as he suffered a leg injury in the 36^th minute, opening up an opportunity for fellow reserve defender Kieron Bernard.

The Lions attacked hard but came up short trying to send the ball to Max Griffin and Devorn Jorsling.  The wind continued to cause havoc with City’s play style, knocking the ball around in unpredictable ways.  The two forwards demonstrated strong passion to score, but were continuously shut down by the wind and Wilmington defense.

The Lions appeared to be one touch shy of a goal as the offense became frustrated in their attack. Max Griffin, Devorn Jorsling, Kevin Molino, and Erik Ustruck all took shots on goal that flew just wide or soared barely over the crossbar.  Orlando and Wilmington battled back and forth for the remainder of the half and demonstrated aggressive play that resulted in a collection of fouls for each team.  The half concluded scoreless.

The Lions sprang to life to start the second half and really began to threaten the Hammerhead defense.  Celebration erupted in the 54^th minute as Orlando City forward Devorn Jorsling scored his first goal of the regular season (pictured above…click to enlarge).  Jorsling struck a powerful shot from about 25 yards outside the goal, capitalizing on the momentum from his two-goal performance in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match.

The Lions continued to ignite in their attack as they gained momentum from Jorsling’s spectacular goal.  Campbell, Yordany Alvarez, and Lawrence Olum controlled the midfield while Griffin and Jorsling worked together with them on the attack. In the 74^th minute, Orlando City substituted Max Griffin for Dennis Chin.  Chin’s fresh energy and enthusiasm created a new spark for the Orlando offense.

Unfortunately, the Hammerheads were not settling for a shutout as forward Andriy Budnyy scored a goal in the 84^th minute.  Luke Mulholland’s cross was deflected by Lion defender Kieron Bernard and into the air.  Budnyy received the ball in the 18-yard box and had barely enough time to set up for the shot as he blasted the ball through the legs of Orlando City defender Jack Traynor and the diving hands of Miguel Gallardo.  Both sides fought hard for a go-ahead goal, but could not find the final ball.  The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

“I think we played well but we got too comfortable with the lead at the end of the game,” said Charlie Campbell. “We had a couple mental lapses at the end and broke down defensively and I think that’s what cost us the goal and cost us the two points for that game. I’m disappointed that we lost the other point due to mental errors.  There’s always going to be adversity in the season and it’s how you overcome that adversity. It takes a whole team effort.”

Next up for the Lions is the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.  City travels to Charleston to face fellow USL PRO side Charleston Battery.  A win will advance the Lions to the final 16 of the Open Cup.  They will face FC Dallas in the third round.

Team                                                    1st          2nd        Final

Orlando City                                       0              1              1

Wilmington Hammerheads            0              1              1

Scoring Summary

54^th Minute – Orlando: Devorn Jorsling

84^th Minute – Wilmington: Andriy Budnyy (Luke Mulholland)

Orlando City Line-up

GK: Miguel Gallardo

D: Jack Traynor, Demar Stewart, Wes Allen (36’ – Kieron Bernard), Erik Ustruck

M: Yordany Alvarez, Lawerence Olum, Charlie Campbell, Kevin Molino

F: Devorn Jorsling, Max Griffin (74’ – Dennis Chin)

There’s no better place to be when the sun sets in Orlando than at Summer Nights at SeaWorld when waves of fun wash over the park with fantastic shows, thrilling coasters under the stars, and a nightly fireworks and fountain finale.

Summer Nights starts tonight, June 18, and runs through August 14 … and even better, SeaWorld is now open until 10 p.m.

Headlining Summer Nights is Shamu Rocks, a larger-than-life experience where guests jam to a rock-n-roll beat; Sea Lions Tonite, an uproarious show featuring Clyde and Seamore that will have everyone in stitches; and Reflections, the sky-filling fireworks and fountains finale that ends the night with a bang.

New this year, Summer Nights Central, located on Bayside pathway, comes alive every night at 6 p.m. Guests dance the night away at this family-friendly, nightly party as a DJ spins the latest tunes and rockin’, live bands perform each weekend. In addition, beer, wine, frozen drinks and plenty of delicious snacks such as soft pretzels, melt-in-your-mouth cotton candy and tasty Blue Bunny® ice cream will be available.

And now, adults pay the kid’s price plus get a second day free at SeaWorld to enjoy the park on their schedule. It’s the best way to experience Summer Nights.

Terry Prather - President of SeaWorld Orlando & Nigel Worrall - Florida Leisure

Oh …and here’s a secret tip… something to look forward to this Christmas…. I was talking to SeaWorld Orlando President Terry Prather recently and he said that this years Christmas as SeaWorld is going to be even more spectacular than before. Now this promises to be something because last Christmas SeaWorld had the best event of all the attractions in my opinion.

Well, I can safely say this was one of the longest games of soccer I have attended! It started at 7.30pm and finished shortly after 11pm thanks to a one hour and twenty four minute rain and lightning delay.

The game itself was an entertaining affair as Orlando ran out comfortable 4-0 winners in the US Open Cup 1st round. The first goal came after 28 mins as Dennis Chin supplied a sublime cross that found a diving Devorn Jorsling (pictured above) who guided his header past the despairing ASC keeper to give City the  1-0 lead .

Orlando continued to dominate the play and it was no surprise when the lively Chin was chopped down in the penalty area to give Orlando the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot. Jamie Watson (pictured above) stepped up… beat the keeper….and saw his shot rebound off the post. Chance gone.

Orlando were undeterred by this gaffe though and a second goal duly came as Chin supplied a superb through ball to Kevin Molino (pictured above) who kept his cool to slip the ball past the helpless keeper in the 42nd minute. HT : 2-0

The second half began and was promptly halted on the 57 minute mark because of a severe rain and lightning warning.  It wasn’t until 84 minutes later that the game was able to recommence and it wasn’t too long before Orlando was celebrating a third goal as man of the match, Chin, netted for a well deserved goal himself on the 69th minute mark.

Orlando then wrapped up the night’s scoring in 77th minute as Jorsling scored his second goal of the night from a Charlie Campbell cross.

FT: 4:0

More photo’s from the game here.

Orlando City Line-up

GK: Sean Kelley

D: Mechack Jerome, Wes Allen, Kieron Bernard, Jack Traynor

M: Jamie Watson (71’ – Lawrence Olum), Justin Fojo, Charlie Campbell, Kevin Molino

F: Devorn Jorsling, Dennis Chin

Attendance:  1,139

Orlando is home to three of the World’s most famous theme parks, with many wonderful and thrilling rides and attractions, but one of the smaller and oldest of the attractions has possibly unveiled the most thrilling ride of all. For over 50 years, Gatorland in South Orlando has been a family friendly, affordable natural attraction featuring thousands of alligators in an environment that is equal parts education and entertainment. That all changes on June 16, 2011 when they open their all-new Screamin’ Gator Zip Line Experience to the general public.

Florida Leisure were invited to have an early preview of this experience so we sent along our intrepid reporter, Colin Bowman, who sent in a great report and he says his heart is still pounding from the expeirence! Here’s his report:

Gator Zip Line Experience

by Colin Bowman

This 2½ hour experience begins with you meeting your guides for the trip, an orientation video with the hilarious and inept “Bubba” and “Cooter” and then time to truss you up in your safety gear. With all the harnesses on and your helmet you feel pretty good and invincible, a feeling that lasts right up until you arrive at the first tower and look up.

Tower one stands over six stories and has what feels like 100 stairs (it’s probably less, but believe me, counting steps was the last thing on my mind). If that fact takes your breath away, try and find it once you have actually climbed to the top. Your guide then informs you that the launch platform is over fifty feet above the ground and of course you are compelled to look down. He’s right … above the ground … concrete below and lots of people looking up at you, video cameras in hand … and you know what they want to have happen.. Having never ziplined before, it was a big test of intestinal fortitude to step off that platform and believe me I prayed that all these harnesses, which now seem extremely flimsy, are going to hold you in place as you travel almost 250ft at about fifteen miles per hour through the tree tops. Anyway, away we go …

And we land at tower two which is slightly bigger, standing at 56ft tall, but the launch platform is only 46ft off the ground. The line itself is only 265ft in length , so traveling at twenty miles per hour should be a doddle … except that this time you are going over a pool with about 30 alligators below you … oh joy … here we go again … backwards, because the cute little girl with the camera says she can get a better photo and of course you have to impress her … but stepping off a platform backwards wearing a piece of material and a couple of lanyards is an daunting experience for sure … whoosh … see you later gators …

This is getting easy … now for tower three. It stands at 65ft and has a launch platform 56ft off the ground. We will be traveling 230ft at over twenty five miles per hour. Wait a minute, that’s getting higher and faster … dammit … “Try running off this one,” says my guide … “Oops I can’t hear you,” I reply as I grab everything and use my trusty sit-down take off method … Then I hear drums … only to discover that it is actually my heart, because straight ahead I see an even bigger tower and with that I arrive at …

Tower four which looms over the park like King Kong. It stands over seventy five feet tall, the launch platform is sixty five feet off the ground and the line is 520ft long. This means I will be traveling at almost thirty miles per hour. Did I mention the breeding marsh below with 130 of the biggest alligators that you have ever seen plus one particularly angry crocodile. At this point, I also became aware of the fact that these towers rock and sway a lot in the wind. My mouth is also very dry and I am very grateful for the water provided at this station, although I am just praying that the contents of my bladder will remain there. “Don’t forget the photo op,” says my cheerful guide … I am just praying I am not going to become the latest YouTube sensation for all the wrong reasons … GERONIMO (I wish I had shouted something brave) …

And a few seconds later … touchdown … I feel like I have won the SuperBowl … one to go. “Just cross over the rickety bridge to get to the last zipline. “RICKETY BRIDGE?” How did I miss that? Bridges, why did it have to be bridges. I hate them. I hate rickety ones in the wind even more and being clipped to the safety line 31ft up in the air crossing this 150ft long bridge was not my idea of fun … even less when my companion decided it would be fun to start her crossing when I was halfway across and started bouncing … fortunately she weighs about the same as a bag of flour, so the effect wasn’t as great as she hoped … but still, the people below obviously thought it was funny. I am sure the smiles would’ve been wiped from their faces if I had used them as a landing mat.

Finally, after a nerve-wracking eternity I made it over to tower six (five is where the bridge starts). This is my favorite, side-by-side ziplines so you can drag race and attempt a measure of revenge on any companions who may have slighted you, by smoking them over the 340ft line traveling at speeds up to thirty miles per hour … or not!!!! Even though I did attempt to run off the platform, there was a definite stutter step at the end when I realized that is I didn’t reach the other side, I would be dangling over another lake chocked full of alligators … hopefully they haven’t mastered the art of acrobatic pyramids, but for some reason I couldn’t get Fantasia out of my head (the Disney movie, not the American Idol).

But I survived and this really was so much fun and should be added to your bucket list of things to do next time you vacation in Orlando and if you are fortunate enough to live here, what are you waiting for.

Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” you can find out more about this experience and Gatorland in general at http://www.gatorland.com/ScreaminGator.php