Harry Potter
February Wish List
13 February 2017
This wish list is definitely coming to you later than expected given that we're currently mid-February, but we'll live! Honestly, there wasn't a great deal I was lusting after this month so I really struggled - which is a first for me cause I usually want EVERYTHING!
from top left clockwise
Metallic Dots Old Skool Vans | Agate Bottle Opener | Marc Jacobs Daisy Kiss | Starbucks Recycled Glass Cup | Alice in Wonderland Print | Harry with Hedwig Funko Pop | Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow | Gold Hexagon Mirror | MAC Soft and Gentle | Pet Your Dog Pin
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
9 February 2017
On February 1st, after a looooong wait, I finally got to go see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. I think we booked the tickets almost 2 years ago and chose to book them for my Birthday so that I didn't forget - not that I could ever forget!
Admittedly, I did not try to avoid spoilers. I read the screenplay the minute it was released so I knew what was coming. But as I read it around 6 months before I went to the play, the full plot wasn't fresh in my mind. From what I remembered I didn't love the plot so I wasn't overly excited to see it. I was SO worried that it would be disappointing and ruin the Harry Potter series for me. I love the books so much, why not leave it as it is? Why ruin it by making further plots just to make some extra cash?
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The play is split into Part 1 and Part 2. As I decided to go see both parts the same day this meant I ended up spending around 5 hours in the theatre so it was a pretty long day. The price was around £30 per ticket so I was in the cheap seats at the back (as always). Whenever I go to the theatre I always buy cheap seats because, well, they're cheap, and every time I regret it because the view is rubbish. Even though I did see nearly everything I did have to sit at a funny angle the whole time because of Mr Big Head in front of me this didn't really ruin it for me; what else can be expected paying only £30? Just be thankful that there's an interval!
For those who don't know the play basically starts where the books left off; with the trio at Platform 9 and 3/4 waving off their children to Hogwarts. It was so surreal seeing grown up Harry, Ron, and Hermione, AND to see them played by somebody other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson; in my head they'll always be those 11 year old kids! But after I got my head around the new faces I couldn't fault the acting. The cast were just perfect and got the characters spot on!
THE EFFECTS, this is something we need to discuss! Honestly, it was pure magic. There were things that I wouldn't have even thought possible on stage and if this was on screen it would have been CGI for sure. Going into this I didn't even consider what sort of special effects they could or would use so coming out I was blown away. It was quite special seeing the magic truly happening on stage.
The Plot - Spoiler Alerts!
I have been debating whether or not to stick a plot review here, especially as they do hand out #keepthesecrets badges after you've seen it. However, the screenplay is printed ready for you to buy in shops so it isn't really much of a secret any more. If you don't want to know - look away now!
We start off at the train platform where Albus Severus is heading to Hogwarts for the first time; he's worried about what house he'll get sorted into. Low and behold he's sorted into.... Slytherin! And who does he befriend? None other than Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius. Albus is an outcast. He's a Potter in Slytherin and his magic skills are sub-par. So, when Amos Diggory seeks out Harry asking him to go back in time and save Cedric, Albus decides to take on the task himself. As you can imagine things go a little (or very) wrong!
Albus and Scorpius manage to get involved with the daughter of Bellatrix and Voldemort (we're all very happy that this is finally canon) and they get stuck back in time; the day that Harry was born to be exact. Quick wit and smart thinking gets a message to the Golden trio and, obviously, all is well in the end!
Albus and Scorpius manage to get involved with the daughter of Bellatrix and Voldemort (we're all very happy that this is finally canon) and they get stuck back in time; the day that Harry was born to be exact. Quick wit and smart thinking gets a message to the Golden trio and, obviously, all is well in the end!
I don't think the plot is great but the effects, acting, and show as a whole is incredible. If you've been to see it; let me know what you thought!
What Did I get for Christmas?
31 December 2016
Although Christmas isn't as magical as it once was, we still start the day the same as when I believed in Santa Claus. As soon as we're all awake we rush downstairs to open our presents. It's not quite as exciting as it was when I thought an overweight old man in a red suit broke into our house and delivered them but it's still better than any other day!
I've been well and truly spoiled this year. And I don't know about you but I LOVE seeing what others got for Christmas.. mainly because I'm the nosiest person on the planet. So if you're anything like me you'll love these posts too!
Most of what I got was on my list (yes, I still write a list for my Mom). By the time Christmas had come around I'd actually forgotten what I asked for so I was still super surprised when I opened them! I asked my mom several times how she knew I wanted things and she replied "it was on your list..."
Now, onto the good stuff...
Now, onto the good stuff...
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Harry Potter, Tim Burton, and Madonna. So it's only natural for some of my gifts to revolve around them! I've been wanting the Guy Oseary photobooks of Madonna for YEARS now, but they've always been one of those things that have slipped through the radar. Thankfully, this year my sister bought me Madonna Confessions and it's amazing!
I also got the newest Harry Potter 'Vault' book to complete my collection. I LOVE these books! They're so beautiful and full of facts about the films. This is The Artifact Vault but the others are: The Creatures Vault, The Characters Vault, and Magical Places from the Films. They're all incredible and must haves for any fan! And of course, no Potter fan is complete without a few Pop Vinyls.. I'm in love with Bella & Volds (Bellamort, if you will).
Monopoly.. it's my favourite board game! Nobody in my house ever wants to play though because 'it takes too long'. This year, however, I was lucky enough to get The Nightmare Before Christmas edition. I haven't played it yet but I'm SO excited. We already have the Disney edition and I wasn't sure anything could top it but this is up there!
The Cath Kidston x Disney range is amazing, and my mom got me this super cute make up bag from the range. It's so pretty and such good quality, my only disappointment is that there are only two characters. Tigger, where you at? She also got me 4 Kylie Lipkits: Posie K, Koko K, Maliboo, and Kymajesty. I am actually in love with Maliboo, it's the perfect nude shade and I'd 1000% recommend it to anybody.
The Anastasia Moon Child Glow palette.. there are no words for this! It's incredible. And this Too Faced blush in Sparkling Bellini, I've been eyeing this for the longest time as it's such a pretty colour. The MAC Magic Dust Powder in Yum Yum Yum was a present to me from me (sort of). I bought it from Duty Free with some of the money I was given, I'd been trying to get it in store for the longest time but it was sold out everywhere. And then I find it in Gatwick Airport!
No Christmas would be complete without smellies. Unfortunately we only have a shower so I don't get any Lush bath bombs *cries*. BUT I did get a bottle of Snow Fairy shower gel and Snow Fairy Body Conditioner - which looks absolutely incredible.
I actually bought the pink Vans in the sale before Christmas, and then asked my mom to put them up for me for Christmas. I don't usually do that but they were in the sale and I couldn't afford them at the time, but they were too good to let go! Also, the perks of having a sister who works at Starbucks.. discounted merch! I honestly think my cup is my favourite present.
I've been after a new purse for a while but haven't been able to find the right one. This Kate Spade one was actually from TK Maxx so it's all the goodness at the fraction of the price! I asked for these Ted Baker ear muffs for my trip to Iceland, and let me tell you; they did the trick! My ears were so toasty!
Is it even Christmas if you don't get a selection of different chocolates? I mean, chocolate is my bae and part of my daily diet anyway. So, anyone who knows me knows that they can't go wrong with chocolate!
I've been totally spoiled this year and I'm so lucky to have received so many amazing presents!
What were your favourite presents this year?
Is it even Christmas if you don't get a selection of different chocolates? I mean, chocolate is my bae and part of my daily diet anyway. So, anyone who knows me knows that they can't go wrong with chocolate!
What were your favourite presents this year?
Film Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ★★★★★
23 November 2016
As you are probably aware by now I'm a HUGE fan of Harry Potter and everything Potter related. So, of course, as soon as Fantastic Beasts came out I was at the Cinema watching it. I actually considered going to a midnight showing before coming to the realisation that I'm old now and would just fall asleep.
If you don't already know, Newt Scamander was featured in the Harry Potter series; in Care of Magical Creatures the students are given a book to study: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. JK Rowling then released this book along with The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages. They're only short books and are basically as you would imagine them to be: school books. So, from this tiny school book comes the film - and four to follow.
I've never really given much thought into Scamander, his life, his history; but through this film series we're sure to find out! And I can honestly say that the first installment was AMAZING. I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't sceptical, because I was. I'm generally quite a cynic about anything new Potter related. Because although I'm excited, I'm also totally worried that it will be ruined - nobody wants that! Thankfully this wasn't the case.
It's great to see parts of the wizarding world that we've never even thought about before. A time before Harry Potter. A backstory that we never even dreamed existed! Honestly, I think any fan of the Potter universe will love this film as it provides more insight into the world that we all love! It isn't rushed or tacky or just plain stupid; and I think a lot that has to do with the fact that it was written by JK Rowling herself. If anyone else got their hand on it, it would've been ruined!
A lot people working on the film actually worked on the Potter series (David Yates and David Heyman) which is great because they have the same Potter feel without actually being Harry Potter!
I can't recommend it enough!
I've never really given much thought into Scamander, his life, his history; but through this film series we're sure to find out! And I can honestly say that the first installment was AMAZING. I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't sceptical, because I was. I'm generally quite a cynic about anything new Potter related. Because although I'm excited, I'm also totally worried that it will be ruined - nobody wants that! Thankfully this wasn't the case.
It's great to see parts of the wizarding world that we've never even thought about before. A time before Harry Potter. A backstory that we never even dreamed existed! Honestly, I think any fan of the Potter universe will love this film as it provides more insight into the world that we all love! It isn't rushed or tacky or just plain stupid; and I think a lot that has to do with the fact that it was written by JK Rowling herself. If anyone else got their hand on it, it would've been ruined!
A lot people working on the film actually worked on the Potter series (David Yates and David Heyman) which is great because they have the same Potter feel without actually being Harry Potter!
I can't recommend it enough!
SPOILER ALERT!!
The film follows the author of Fantastic Beasts, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), across 1920's New York City. Scamander heads to New York not in search of magical creatures, but to release one back to the wild in Arizona. However, as you can imagine, he got himself into a little bit of trouble soon upon arrival.
There are anti-witch groups across the city so keeping the wizarding world secret is pivotal for wizards and muggles alike. Unless you want to start a war. After just 5 minutes of being in the city one of Scamander's creatures gets loose, thankfully it's a harmless niffler, but a magical creature nonetheless. He clumsily chases the niffler around a muggle bank, and in doing so, meets Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). Kowalski is a muggle, or no-maj as they're called in the film (weird - I know). Scamander's secret is out and before he can oblivate Kowalski he's gone. But not without accidentally switching Scamander's magical case for his muggle one... which are conveniently identical!
Little does Scamander know that witch Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) has been watching him and arrests soon arrests him for not only bringing magical creatures to the city but also letting them loose. Lucky for Scamander, having made one too many mistakes nobody cares what Goldstein has to say. So in the end, she ends up helping Scamander in his quest to rescue his creatures back from Kowalski, along with her sister Queenie (Alison Sodul). We soon learn that Kowalski is harmless enough and the four strike an unlikely friendship.
Scamander's magical creatures being loose around the city is just the beginning of trouble! A dark force is wreaking havoc across New York; and this force is an Obscurus. This is a dark entity that manifests itself inside a young witch or wizard who has been suppressing their magical abilities. Those who have an obscurus inside them usually don't live long as the weight of carrying the obscurus becomes too strong to bear. Scamander soon comes in the firing line for brining this to the city when we discover he's keeping one inside his suitcase; but there's another lurking nearby. And it's extremely powerful. More than you can imagine.
IMAGES FROM GOOGLE IMAGES
I honestly loved the film and it exceeded ALL expectations. If you're unsure of whether to go watch it - GO WATCH IT! That's me telling you, now, what are you still doing here? You should be at the cinema!
TV & MOVIES
20 November 2016
Let's be real here. Because although I always ask for make-up or jewellery for Christmas, the things that actually make up the majority of my presents are probably related to TV or movies. They're such easy things to buy people as most people love one movie or another, and you can probably get something cool that relates to that! You can guarantee that half of my presents will be Harry Potter related in one way or another! So I thought I would share so cool things you could get fellow film and TV lovers!
from top left clockwise on the first picture
These aren't released until November 29th. But they're so cool! The Buzz Lightyear ones are my favourite! A necessity for any Toy Story fan (which is everybody, of course)
A little pricey, but if you know a wine lover who is also addicted to Game of Thrones then these would make the perfect gift!
Probably not the easiest mug to drink from, but definitely one of the best!
This is only the coolest keyring you could give any Lord of the Rings fan!
Know any Star Wars fans that also like woolly hats? Or fluffy slippers? Well, you're in luck! Because these Yoda style hat and slippers ss awesome!
These little guys are all the hype lately, and I can see why. I have a quite a few myself (obviously all from the Harry Potter range) but they have SO many to choose from! You're more than likely to find one for the shows you love!
These are a definite must for any Friends fan! The bottoms remind me of series 1 or 2 Rachel, and who wouldn't want to look like Rachel Green?
This has a pretty steep price tag, but on the scale of awesomeness it tops it! The inside even has prints of the dalmatians. I think I need this!
Probably not the most instagram-able calendar, but who doesn't love The Nightmare Before Christmas?!
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