Christmas Eve Cast-On 2017

I've really grown to love casting-on socks for the Little Bobbins Christmas Eve cast-on.  I think this cast-on is the third year I've done it, and I love coming up with a pattern and yarn and looking at all the projects being knit around the world. This year Little Bobbins kept it easy...she designed the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' socks that have trees knit into the fabric. I stopped by a local yarn store and picked up some yarn that will hopefully do the pattern justice and now I'm all ready with a fun holiday movie, my Christmas bag, DPN holder, stitchmarker, AND When Figs Fly port from a local winery. What a festive way to spend Christmas Eve...and that doesn't even include my birthday cake! Merry Christmas!

Beyond Measure Package

I've followed Beyond Measure in the UK on Instagram for a while now and I've admired the lovely notions that she ships all around the world. There was one thing I saw again and again that I never made it to her shop fast enough for, but I one day I learned how to have Instagram notify me of posts from specific accounts I follow and was FINALLY quick enough!

When I ordered I added some glass head pins (they are really beautiful and I find every so often a few pins added to what I have isn't a bad idea since they get bent, misplaced, etc).

I also added some copper colored bulb pins which I can use as stitch markers when knitting. I already have some in black but thought the lighter color might make it easier to see when working with dark yarn.

Then, separately wrapped in gorgeous light blue tissue paper...was a hand-hewn pin-cushion with teal tapestry fabric...just what I asked for. The shop has a local wood artisan that makes the wooden bases, but they are so popular they can only be made in batches and they are REALLY small batches! I wanted to ask for this item as a birthday present but wound up ordering it myself because it was tough to get an order in. The upside to ordering it myself was that I was able to open it right away and not wait for my birthday (that's not cheating, right?)

Day of the Dead Themed Birthday Card

My bestie's 40th birthday quickly came right after mine and so I decided to make her a card I really thought she'd appreciate. She loves the skulls used to celebrate the Day of the Dead, so I saw a perfect sticker set to make her something completely unique, just like her!

Batman Pop-Up

Sometimes I think there isn't a paper craft in the world my Silhouette can't take on! I didn't get my nephew anything too exciting for his birthday so I decided the only way to spice it up was through a pop-up card...and I found the perfect design and whipped this Batman card up for him. Did you know the Silhouette store has some trademark characters like Batman, Superman, etc? YES! They're licensed to sell them, so it's a great place to find great projects with characters....like this one!! And it was super easy to customize...since originally this project was supposed to be an invite.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 3!

 When the Hogwarts Express arrived in Hogsmeade I don't think any of us expected we could still be so amazed. But there was such a different magical feel that it felt like a completely brand-new experience. We walked around a bit taking in the town...

...and Little Man stopped into Honeydukes for a chocolate frog and some Bertie Botts every flavor beans.

We walked on and our mouths practically dropped when we saw Hogwarts for the first time! We walked in to begin the tour of the school that is the cue for the ride inside. We all agreed the ride was fantastic!

And we loved seeing things we recognized from the movie, like the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

And the talking portraits!

And the sorting hat!

When you board the ride you see the enchanted ceiling!

After the ride we grabbed dinner. My sister had a ginormous turkey leg.

Hubby had a platter and Little Man had fish and chips while I had shepherd's pie. With butterbeer of course!

We had dinner at the Three Broomsticks.

Butterbeer has long lines!! You can get the original, slushy version, ice cream version or during the cold months you can have hot butterbeer.

We all agreed that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is truly magical...even for someone who hasn't seen the movies! It was a fun way to celebrate Little Man's birthday!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 2

The first shop that Little Man wanted to go to was Ollivander's. It's the wand shop. We were not prepared. There were so many to choose from. And there were so many people. Little Man wanted an interactive wand so at least that narrowed it down a little. We went to the case and he found one he liked best and then we tracked down the box. The interactive wands enable you to do magic spells throughout the park.  Think making water shoot from a fountain, making window displays move,etc.

After he had wand in hand we headed to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. We loved that you order and then the food is delivered to the table. The traditional English pub food was so yummy! Oh, and you don't have to find your own seat! AND...it was at the Leaky Cauldron that we had our first taste of BUTTERBEER! Little Man was definitely a fan!

My sister had some Butterbeer too!

My sister and I both thought the Fisherman's Pie (a mix of cod, salmon and shrimp in a creamy sauce topped with mashed potatoes) and Fish and Chips looked good so we ordered one of each and split them. They were both SOOOOO good!

Little Man and Hubby both had the banger sandwiches.

After lunch Little Man walked around waving his wand and checking out some more shops like the candy shop, magic shop and magical pet shop.

Then it was off for our first ride! We headed to Gringott's Bank and waited and waited...and then we saw the inside of the bank and it looked just like the movie too!

There were even goblins at work looking at us while we waited.

After the ride we headed to the Hogwart's Express for it to take us to Hogsmeade. To get to Platform 9 3/4 we had to walk through the wall...

Once we boarded the train we enjoyed the ride and the show during it.

We arrived in Hogsmeade and the Harry Potter fun kept going, I'll share more next time!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 1!

A couple of years ago when Little Man had hit a point where reading the Harry Potter series was possible, we started Harry Potter nights. After he read one of the books I cooked a meal from the Harry Potter Cookbook and would find a little gift that was Harry Potter themed. Then, while we ate the dinner we would watch the movie that corresponded with the book he had just read. We didn't watch any of the movies with him before he read the book. The books get to be pretty big, so Hubby and I told him when he finished the last book of the series we would take him to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando. Fast forward to this past spring and we weren't in a place time-wise or financially to take him at the time. So, as his birthday approached Hubby and I decided to do what we needed to to finally make it happen.

We left the day before his birthday and drove to my sister's place, had dinner with her that evening and then turned in early to be ready to get up with dawn the next morning for the drive to the theme park.

We started with Universal Studios and walked through City Walk, Then we walked through Production Central, New York and San Francisco before making it to London where the Harry Potter Wizarding World begins.

We made a call to the Ministry of Magic from the phone booth...

...and stopped to talk with the Night Bus driver and the shrunken head! The shrunken head actually chats and interacts too...he talked to Little Man and wished him a happy birthday....later he asked my sister if she had been attacked by a werewolf because her jeans were ripped...too funny!

We actually had to ask a witch for help finding Diagon Alley! It was so well hidden it felt like magic when we found the opening!

It was so fun and lively!

I may have squealed when I saw the magical knitting needles...although I still haven't decided if I would really like some or not...seems like it would take all the fun out of it!

Stay tuned for more of the magic!!

Hanging With My Bro and Nephews

A trip to PA means time with my Mom at her house and time with my brother and nephews.

The boys all had fun playing outside with sparklers.

My brother's complex has a pool and we had a great day enjoying pool time together...here's me with my nephews!

My youngest nephew was about to have a birthday so I brought presents up so we could celebrate early. His presents were shark-themed...and I had a tough time finding a card...until I found this one...the shark is telling the other shark to be careful eating the hard bits on the diver...they make you fart!

A new kind of papercraft

I wanted to make something different for my mother for her birthday, and I found just the thing and I've been meaning to show you!

It's a box of shelves that comes together with a lid on top...perfect to gift small items!

I think it would have been better if I had used a heavier cardstock...it was delicate and I didn't want to send it through the mail...but I think the coolness of the design makes up for it!