A Hogwarts' Halloween

Harry and Ron are ready for the big day! They've got their wands and broomsticks and pet rats {and great big trick-or-treat bags} all ready to go.

 photos from the Scouts Canada Halloween party Monday night... a dress rehearsal of sorts {costumes will be more detailed today}

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Birthday, Harry!

I hope there's a party at the Burrow, and that all your favourite people are there... 

Maybe Hagrid will bake the cake?

image from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

J'adore

... these gorgeous, vintage-style Harry Potter travel posters, featured on Design Mom yesterday. Aren't they fabulous?

I'd happily take a break from the world of Muggles to visit Hogwarts, wouldn't you? I want to stay in one of those amazing magical tents when we go to the Quidditch World Cup...

PS: Prints for sale here. Postcards, too!

The boy who lived

It's July 31st! Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!

Isn't the world of children's literature magical? I am so grateful to J.K. Rowling for bringing Harry and his friends to life, so they could be a part of mine.


PS: Speaking of children's books, I've got a related guest post on Project Simple Life today. Come visit,won't you please?

* illustration from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Flowers for your Friday {vacation edition!}

via pinterest

It's Friday! Yay! I've got a busy and exiting day ahead. There are errands to run and lists to write, the housesitter to meet with, and many bags to pack. I'll be cramming the bikes and the cooler and all of our summertime necessities into the van for our little roadtrip... We leave first thing tomorrow morning {and when I say first thing, I mean before 6 a.m.!} on our summer holiday to Sorrento, in the interior of BC. I can't wait to spend a week in a cabana by the lake with Alan and the boys, and my sister & her family. It's going to be so much fun! We're going to read and play and eat and drink and swim...  And I don't have to cook a single meal {they're all provided in our vacation package}. Wahoo!

But before our week-long holiday begins in the morning, I've got something else exciting to look forward to. It's July 15th today and you know what that means... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!! Alan and I are going on a date to see it tonight {thanks to my lovely friend Charlotte, who's babysitting}, and I am so excited! I'm totally dressing up, too. It's going to be brilliant!

Oh, and speaking of lovely friends, I've got a week's worth of guest posts scheduled for you to enjoy, written by some of my very favourite bloggers. So keep coming by and commenting, won't you please? I promise to read and respond to all of your comments upon my return. 

Have a great weekend, my lovelies, and a sunny week ahead. I'll think of you while I'm eating s'mores by the campfire! Meet you back here on Tuesday, July 26th, with lots of stories to tell and photos to share, I'm sure. 

Until then!

E xo


PS: I'm guest posting on Not Your Average Ordinary today while Brandi finishes the final stretch of her roadtrip. Come visit?

The end of an era

I'll never forget... In the fall of 2001 I got an especially bad case of bronchitis, and I had to take a week off work. On the shelf in my bedroom were the first four Harry Potter books, a Christmas gift from my grandpa. Bored and stuck at home, I decided to pick up The Philosopher's Stone. I fell in love from the first chapter, and spent the next week immersed in the world of Hogwarts, right up to the end of The Goblet of Fire. Those were the best sick days I've ever taken! I was sad when I finished book 4, not knowing how long the wait would be for number 5, but excited about the release of the first film that Christmas. I went to every book release and movie premiere after that, painted lightning bolts on my forehead, drank butterbeer at midnight, stood in line waiting for my copy of each amazing novel. I even took my brand new baby boy to the bookstore at midnight on July 21st, 2007, to buy the final book. 

Sawyer getting his Harry Potter fix

And now, here we are on the eve of it all ending. I can't believe it. I'm excited to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two tomorrow night {yay! we got tickets!}. Excited, but so, so sad. For ten years there has always been something new to look forward to in the world of  Harry Potter. It's all about to end. How on Earth will I cope? With quotes like these, I suppose... and the knowledge that with a good book, you can always go back to the beginning and start all over again.

The house I hope the Sorting Hat would put me in.

A favourite quote from the best headmaster Hogwarts ever had.

Awesome. Must remember this tomorrow night and bring chocolate to the cinema.

Wouldn't that be marvellous? 

Ooh, and having my own magic wand to "swish and flick" might help cheer me up, too! This arrived in the post today from Alan's mum, just in time for me to bring to the movies tomorrow night. Isn't it fabulous? Voldemort doesn't stand a chance against me now... 

Are you going to see Harry Potter this weekend? And will you cry as much as me?

images 1 2 3 4/5

Happy things to end the week with

My first week of summer vacation has been a good one. Here are a few reasons why:

Beautiful hanging baskets outside our front door {consider these my Flowers for your Friday, okay?} 

Breathtaking skies every evening

Nowhere to be in the mornings means getting to stay in my nightie as long as I like! 

 Taking the boys for a trolley ride to Ooh La La Cupcakes... mmmm! {we had the "pink lemonade" and the "pure decadence" and they were both completely divine}

 Dylan decided to use his pocket money to treat Sawyer to a ride at the mall. I love it when they do nice things for each other {I only wish they'd do it more often!}

 Working my way through my Harry Potter dvds, in preparation for next week's release of The Deathly Hallows, Part 2! I'm more than a little bit excited...

How was your week? Hope it was wonderful and that you have lots of lovely plans for the weekend ahead. Tell me about them? 

E xo

What I'll be doing on July 15th

I'm not ready for it to end. But when it does, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for anything. Would you?

London Loves: Hamleys Toy Shop

It's been a while since I've done a London Loves post, hasn't it? I wasn't sure I had a lot more to show you, but going through our photos this weekend I discovered that oh yes I do! So for the next several weeks, I'll be posting more of the things I love about England, and London in particular. Ready for it?

First up, Hamleys Toy Shop, the finest and oldest in the world! This place is 250 years old! Isn't that amazing? Now, until our most recent trip to London, I must confess that I had never been to Hamleys. Now that we've got kids, I imagine it will be a must-visit destination whenever we're in the capital. And rightly so, because let me tell you... this place is awesome!

Here we are at the main entrance on Regent Street. Dylan was eager to get a photo of the pirates who were sword-fighting with balloon swords and bubbles! {and how about that incredible K'nex window display?}

If you want to ride the elevator, you'll have to pass by Lucy and the lamp post in Narnia first!

Giant Chuggington trains! I think that might be Wilson?

Alan got a bit giddy in the Star Wars section! We were with his Mum, who gave us each money to choose something. He went with the AT-AT walker, of course.

I was more excited to discover the Harry Potter department! I didn't have enough money for the Nimbus 2000. But I was happy to get up close to it!

And look! It's the sword of Godric Gryffindor. I was beside myself with glee! And wondering if I should take another mortgage out on the house so I could buy it...

Wands!!! {click on the photo to get a closer look and see who these ones belong to}

The Doctor Who figures were pretty cool, too.

A crown fit for royalty {I make a good queen, non?}, and a little boy masquerading as a dragon.

We had great fun with the masks. I really loved that about Hamleys. They encourage you to touch and try everything and to play!

And of course, the sell candy too. { I can't get over how young Dylan looks in this photo, and it was only 8 months ago!} Nanny bought us some, as all good Nannies do!

Right before we headed out to find a Thorntons, Sawyer discovered the rocking horses. We were there for another half hour!

Have you been to Hamleys in London? I want to take the boys at Christmastime one year. I bet Santa's Grotto is amazing!

Next week on London Loves... A boat ride on the River Thames, and a peek at its many, many bridges. Beautiful.

PS: One day left to enter the giveaway! Quick!

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other." -Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Emma Watson, Danielle Radcliffe, Rupert Grint in 2000, when filming began for Philosopher's Stone

All grown up, 2010

I love these three. I can't imagine what it must be like for them, now that filming is over. They've been together since they were ten years old. They've grown up together, and through everything, it would appear that they are still the best of friends. And just as impressive is the fact that they have managed, in the midst of all the Harry Potter madness, to grow up to be classy, intelligent and grateful for the amazing opportunity they were given. I can't imagine anyone else playing Harry, Ron and Hermione, can you?

I heart Harry Potter

I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part One) tonight. Went to the late show with Amanda, in a snowstorm. I hate driving in the snow. But for Harry Potter, I'll do it. And I'm so glad I did. It was amazing! So much truer to the book than the others. The actors were fabulous and the special effects even more spectacular than ever. I went through quite a few kleenex, too. Now it's 1:17 a.m. and I am wide awake and thinking maybe it's time to re-read book 7. You know, to prepare for July 15th. When Part Two comes out! Too bad we're not still in London, so I could hang out in Leicester Square on premiere night. Or at least head down to King's Cross Station... (like I did in August!)

Almost through the barrier and onto the platform... (eeee!)

Blink and you'll miss it! Here are the boys wondering where Mum disappeared to!

Oh, and just in case you're wondering... Yes. It's still snowing.

How soon is November 19th?

I'll never forget the moment when I read that last sentence, and closed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was so amazing and moving and epic, and then it was over! It was heartbreaking, knowing I'd reached the end and there wouldn't be another book in the series. Thank goodness I've still got these to look forward to. Will you be lined up outside the theatre on November 19th? Ooh, you know I will!

Owl Post!

Look what came in the mail the other day! My friend Lindsay has been spending the summer in Florida, and has had a great time visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios! She knows how much I love everything Harry-related, and spoiled me with a fabulous parcel full of wizardy fun!

Look at the postmark on this postcard! Straight from the Hogsmeade post office!

Mmm, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans! So far Alan has eaten one that tasted like dirt, and another like salt and pepper. We've been lucky to avoid Dumbledore's least favourite... bogey-flavour!

Pumpkin juice... surprisingly tasty!

We have been nibbling away at the chocolate frog (see my Helga Hufflepuff trading card?!) and enjoying a fudge fly on occasion too...

Needless to say, I am one very happy Muggle! Thank you, Lindsay! You are too kind...

An important date in Harry Potter history

Did you know? Today is the anniversary of the final battle, the one that ended it all. May 2nd, the battle of Hogwarts. Tragic, epic, glorious! I'm starting to think it's time to go back to the beginning. If I start Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone now, I should be able to work my way up to the Deathly Hallows by the time the movie comes out in November, don't you think? Thank goodness for the films, otherwise I'd be going through some serious HP withdrawal by now. Can you believe it's been almost three years since the final book was released (that midnight release party with my three-week-old baby was pretty fab!) The new movie is going to be broken into two parts, so hopefully they'll leave nothing out. I just can't wait!

You have read them all, haven't you?

Do not disturb!

Ssshhhh... We're reading Harry Potter!