Harry Potter party

So the boy asked for a Harry Potter themed party for his 9th birthday. The internet is a trove of ideas for such an event and I nabbed some fab ideas from all over the place and set about making them into a reality. I started several weeks before the event and pottered about making fel ties, bertie botts boxes and wands long in advance. The party went off without a hitch, and there were some very happy wizards about the place.

Yes I made butter beer. It was like a spider, sooo good!

The sorting hat sorted each kid (thank you iphone app!)

The entry to the party! I made this using an old sheet, a square sponge and some brick colored paint. Nothing flash but looked effective.

A collection of creepy things! On the end are wands made using dowel and hot glue gun and paint. Each has a tag stating what it is made of (eg elm with phoenix feather), felt Hogwarts house ties, and gross things... Bloodworms, hippogriff gizards, blind cat eyes, gillyweed etc (spaghetti in tomato sauce, smoked oysters, cocktail onions, weeds in green water!)

The polyjuice potion and Elixir Of Life bottles were filled with water for those not wanting butter beer. My funky broomstick is a Martha Stewart knock off!

Finn made the Wizard Collector cards to go with these himself!

I wrapped truffles in gold foil and attached white wings to each for snitches. So cool!

These were chocolate coated licorice sticks, dipped in melted white chocolate then sprinkles.

Wizard hat cupcakes.

Cheeseymite scrolls.

Hogwarts house cupcake tower

Each child took home their wand, one of these fabulous cookies from Crumbs of Yum, a spellbook and a Bertie Botts box of beans. 

It really was a fantastic success and a lot of fun!

Cookies from: https://www.facebook.com/crumbsofyum 

Printables from: http://justsweetandsimple.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/harry-potter-party.html 

Butterbeer recipe from: http://bakingdom.com/2010/11/butterbeer-oh-yes-friends-butterbeer.html 

Bertie Botts Box template from: http://61098.deviantart.com/art/Bertie-Botts-176610553 

Jar labels from: http://www.ivillage.com/12-easy-ideas-wizard-worthy-harry-potter-birthday-party/6-b-139571#139574 

Broom craft: http://www.marthastewart.com/272757/witchs-broom-favors

Lyrical tattoos

My favorites From http://tattoosong.tumblr.com/

Speak to me now,

And the world will crumble.

Open a door,

And the moon will fall.

All of your life,

All your memories,

Go to your dreams,

Forget it all.

- “Death Whispered a Lullaby” by Opeth

Float on by Modest Mouse

my favorite line is “even if things get heavy we’ll all float on”

“we all deserve something”

the very last line in “I Can Barely Breathe” by Manchester Orchestra

I'm the hero of the story, don't need to be saved 

Regina Spektor - Hero

How strange it is to be anything at all. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

http://youtu.be/LMZoiatUQJE 

It makes me wonder, what would mine be? Would have to be from The Tea Party. And from one of 2 songs that changed my life. Soulbreaking or Psychopomp. Now I want more ink. 

"You can't stand to not be afraid"

or

"In the face of the fire

You see angels conspire"

OR

"A frozen sun,

Will guide you there

As shadows hide

The deep despair"

Jan & Feb resolutions

Remember here and here I talked about my resolutions for each month and what I wanted to aim for? So far, so good.

For January, I took a weekend away for the kids, and had a blast. We went to the movies, swimming, a magic show and lots of shopping. Was such a nice time! We went to the cinema again later that week, and Finn starts movie school for a week this week. I would say that is a big fat ACHIEVED for that item.

I also wanted to keep a gratitude journal, and every night I enter about 5 sentences per day about what happened that day that made me happy or challenged me or that made me feel good. It's such a good way to be in the moment and appreciate the smaller things and I truly believe that is the secret to happiness.

Next month I start my Italian lessons for 6 weeks. I am so looking forward to it - not just for the beautiful language and the thrill of learning, but also because it means I get to be in the city which I love, and one of besties that lives in the city and I are going to catch up for lunch as often as we can manage. I don't see as much of her as I want to, so I am so excited about that part of it as well.

I also organised tackled something else on my secondary list for February as intended. I bought some art kits. I want to learn to paint, so I got an acrylics set and a charcoal drawing set on the way. I have zero artistic talent. Minus talent, even. But I think I'll enjoy it even if it looks crap. So, that excites me as well.

I've challenged myself personally this month as well, in terms of relationships, and it has been difficult, but true to myself and that's only ever a good thing. Add to this the 19kg of weight I have lost and the nose ring I have gained and I feel excited about the person I am becoming.

2012 feels good. I am finding myself fast and it's incredibly exciting.