The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

My oldest daughter, who is a huge Harry Potter fan, went to Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is no secret that we are HUGE FANS of Harry Potter and all his adventures.

I started reading the books aloud to my girls when they first came out because my littlest girl was only 6 and I wanted her to experience the excitement of the HP books. J.K. Rowling is so inventive, creative, and descriptive in her books. She brings these wonderful inventions and adventures to life through the written page.

My girls have now read all the books (I still haven't read the last one. I was half way through it when I left it in a hotel room in Rome.). They have seen all the movies, many at midnight!

I'm so excited that Universal Studios has brought this little slice of Hogwarts to life in Florida.

A chance to experience some of the wonders of Harry Potter's magical world.

I especially love this hallway. So true to the movie. So clever to think that the pictures are alive and the people, animals, etc. have their own life in the painting, that they move around and talk!

It is ironic that this beautiful winter scene is plunked down in the most humid and hottest spot in America! It doesn't matter though because it is all about using your imagination!

Marlene's Aqua and Lime Green Christmas tree

OOO, I knew this was going to be a fantastic tree when Marlene came home from shopping one day and called me over to see all the new ornaments she bought from Big Lots and the dollar store. She showed me a fantastic array of Aqua and Lime Green ornaments with a tiny bit of red thrown in. Then to top it all off, she came home with a FLOCKED tree!! EEEEEE, Love it!

Fantastic topper using peacock feathers (she took from some vases around her living room), blue and green poinsettias and peacocks. See those sparkly little fellas? They're napkin rings - GENIUS! She used silver sparkly cascades and she added some red balls with lime green and aqua as an accent on the tree.

It turned out so wonderful. She also used strings of just white lights and just green lights. She draped green ribbon, bought at Joann's for 60% off, all around the tree.

Her fancy designer tree, all new ornaments found at a discount, ribbon at a discount, combined with things she already had cost her under $100 (not including the tree).

The Tree is Decorated!

Tablescape Thursday - Christmas

Believe it or not, after all the tablescapes I have done, I have never owned "REAL" china. The Handsome Husband and I finally found a pattern we agreed on and have been looking at it for two years. We went out shopping during Thanksgiving weekend and ended up taking advantage of Bloomingdales AMAZING sale (got 55% of one set and 65% off the other). The Handsome Husband bought the china for my Christmas present. It arrived after one week and I have to tell you, the box was really BEAT UP. I HAD to open it to make sure all the china was not broken. I couldn't help myself and began to set the table IMMEDIATELY! I then called my friends to come look at it. HH arrived home and was upset that I had not only opened my gift, but I had it displayed all over the table. He told me to put it away until Christmas. I told him that I just COULDN'T. What better way for me to enjoy it for Christmas than to look at it every day!

We both loved this pattern called Westchester by Lennox. We liked it for different reasons. He liked the gold banded dinner plate, I liked the accent plate, but we both felt it might be a little over the top.

Our sales assistant at Bloomingdales suggested this pattern. Tuxedo by Lennox. Rather boring on its own, but MIXED with Westchester, we got the desired combination we were looking for.

Here the accent plate from Westchester is combined with the dinner plate from Tuxedo on a gold charger.
Here the Westchester dinner plate is combined with the Tuxedo accent plate on the gold charger. I can't forget to show you my new sparkly placemats. I LOVE them. They really sparkle in the light. The napkin rings are a beautiful combination of gold, silver and clear beads and accent the setting perfectly.
The Champagne and Water glasses are from Anthropologie. Light and delicately etched balance out the heaviness of the place settings. Oh, silly me, I forgot the silverware. Too late now, so excited over the setting that I forgot it! Well, you know I have Towle.
I accented the centerpiece with clear baubles, sparkly glass pinecones and these cute gold tipped poinsettia candles.

The centerpiece is gold trees, silver candle trees, and some reindeer all from Home Goods over the years.

I would like to our wonderful hostess, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Tablescape Thursday every week. Even though I don't always participate, I definitely always peek at the wonderful creations of those that do.

China Pattern #1 - Westchester from Lennox -purchased at an outrageous discount at Bloomingdales

China Pattern #2- Tuxedo from Lennox-same at Bloomingdales

Placemats-Bloomingdales

Napkin Rings - Purchased at a design studio called Bliss, but also seen at Neiman Marcus

Napkins - Pier 1

Glasses and Stemware - Anthropologie

Centerpieces - Home Goods

Alyssa and Greg have been on VACATION

Destination: Orlando. They visited The Magic Kingdom, The Wild Animal Park, Epcot Center, Disney Studios and Universal Studios. They attended many events and had a great time. They went with Greg's family, which included an adorable three year old.

To add to the "everything is decorated for Christmas theme", the weather was extremely cold for Florida. In the high 50's in the day. Alyssa is wearing a t-shirt, sweater, CABI coat and a trench coat over it all. She looks like she is in San Francisco, but no, it is in a theme park. Not sure which one.

Greg, Alyssa and Greg's lovely mom, Barbara.

Alyssa in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

At the Wild Animal Park

I'm anxiously awaiting pictures from the visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogwarts.

Michael Buble - Amazing!

The Handsome Husband kept talking about Michael Buble. "He's going to be at the Honda Center", "Everyone who has seen it, says it a great show", etc... Well, I can take a hint. I looked on line for tickets. Of course, ticketmaster was of no use. The only thing they ever have is nose bleed seats that no one wants and when you click no thank you try again, they give you the same exact seats. So Stub Hub here we come! I got great club level seats looking straight on at the stage. A pretty penny, I can tell you.

The show was AMAZING! He sings so beautifully. The songs were a mix of old 50'-60's crooner songs, older songs with his twist and all his upbeat new songs. New favorite: Some Kind of Wonderful, song I wish he sang: Sway, song I loved: I just haven't met you yet.

He was funny and had a lot of personality. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

P.S. and I didn't smell pot once! Loved it.

Happy Birthday, Greg!

Today is my son-n-law, Greg's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Greg!

Greg is the strong silent type, but when he decides to talk, he is quite funny. He is a wonderful husband, a great son-n-law and a great guy.

He is adventurous, loves sports (especially soccer and rugby), he is sentimental and kind (he wrote the most beautiful little note to my daughter on their wedding day),

he has a lot of good lifelong friends, and knows the honor of being part of a team. He is a good provider (which is important when he is married to your daughter) and we thank God that he is a part of our family. We love you, Greg!