....always...

From QuoteFail

Yes.

We're leaving today: A post in Supernatural gifs

From Giphy

I'm pretty sure this accurately expresses my feelings about today and the upcoming weekend of awesome.  I just can't hold it in anymore.

From a Google image search of "supernatural, excited, gif"...the link doesn't work

That's happening.  And so is this...

From imgur.com

According to my friend, Becca, this is going to be us, driving down the road, blaring the Harry Potter soundtrack:

From https://chelseaknight2012.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/tumblr_mgq1842nww1rd24zno8_400.gif

These girls.  They get me.

Honestly, Supernatural has the best gifs.  I can find a good gif for any emotion.

I will try to update with pictures as we go, but if you want up to date, as it's happening, make sure to follow my instagram (@akfurman) or my twitter (@maestra_amanda).

UPDATED: Favorite book and movie results

BAHAHAHAH I FORGOT TO POST!  THANKS TO THE 28 PEOPLE WHO VIEWED!  HAHAHAH

But, here we go!

We only had two people respond to the question, "What is your favorite Harry Potter book"..

RockinLibrarian says, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" because "Sure, Harry was an unstable wreck (but hey, wouldn't you be, too, if you were 15 and you'd just been used in a dark ritual to bring your parents' murderer back to life and it didn't occur to anyone that you could possibly use some counseling after?), but LUNA! DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY! THE SUPREME AWFULNESS OF UMBRAGE AND HER TECHNICOLOR KITTY PLATES! Bloated? Maybe. But all the best stuff happens WITHIN the bloat."

Love it! Technicolor kitty plates!

And Adriane says her favorite is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" because, "I feel like this was still an innocent moment for Harry. After this point the books turned darker. I still liked them... Really loved them, but this book showed the promise and youth of Harry, Hermione, and Ron."

When last I looked, there weren't any responses to "What is your favorite Harry Potter movie?". So, if you'd like to go ahead and answer, click here for the form.

Salazar Slytherin

from Harry Potter Wikia

I'd never looked at a picture of Salazar Slytherin before, but HOLY CRAP he looks like a bad dude.  Everything about him just reeks of evil and dark magic.  Geesh.

Anyway, Salazar Slytherin was one of the founding four of Hogwarts; founding the pure-blood house of Slytherin.  Nobody is exactly sure where Slytherin was born beyond "the fens" of eastern England and in the 10th century.

Slytherin was skilled at Parseltongue, Legilimacy and the Dark Arts.  He wanted only pure-blood witches and wizards to be admitted to Hogwarts, and when the other founders didn't agree, he created the Chamber of Secrets and placed a basilisk inside until the time where his heir would return, open the chamber and unleash death and destruction on all muggle-borns.  (ok, maybe those aren't the exact words, but look at that face.  He was thinking about raining down some pain.)

So, because Slytherin House has churned out more dark wizards than any other, it has become synonymous with evil and dark magic.  But my husband and a good friend were sorted into Slytherin (and I was too at first), they aren't all bad.  Usually.

Slytherin House only accepts pure-blood witches and wizards.   You also have to be cunning, resourceful and full of ambition.  Their colors are green and silver and their symbol is the serpent.  Some famous Slytherins include:  Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), Lucius Malfoy, the entire Black family (Narcissa, Bellatrix, Regulus, et al) save Sirius, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, the Crabbe family, the Goyle family, many Death Eaters, interestingly enough, Merlin and obviously, Dolores Umbridge.

Godric Gryffindor

from Harry Potter Wikia

One of the founding four of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor was (duh) the founder of Gryffindor House.

Gryffindor was born in a place that would later become known as "Godric's Hollow" (also Harry's birthplace), in the 10th century.  Godric's Hollow is in a western county in England.

Students in Gryffindor House are selected based on their daring, bravery, courage and determination.   It was his hat that was turned into the Sorting Hat.

He was known for his own bravery and daring, tolerance of muggle-borns, and his skills in (wizard) dueling and transfiguration.

Gryffindor House colors are red and gold, and their symbol is the lion.  Some famous Gryffindor students include:  Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, all the Weasley's, Lily Potter, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Neville Longbottom, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonnagal, Albus Dumbledore, and even Peter Pettigrew.

The Agenda

from We Heart It

I'm very happy to announce that we've finally been send our agenda for the weekend!

Friday:
Social Media Meet-Up (winners only)
Exclusive evening event

Updated Schedule---I found this on various websites and typed it into a google doc

(Please note, that as we get closer to the "Weekend of Awesome", my use of gifs to express my emotions will increase).

Why Harry Potter?

So, why Harry Potter?  Why is a 32 year old woman so obsessed with a fictional character and world?

I honestly don't know.  I was 15 years old when the first book came out and, being 16, decided that it was beneath me.  My sister was 12 and got the book when it came out.  I read it when she finished and fell in love.  Of course, I couldn't tell anyone.

When the subsequent books came out, I was old enough to drive.  So I would drive her to the local Walmart at midnight (which is another story for another time on it's own) and we'd be one of the first ones to get a copy.  I would wait until she finished and then I'd read them.  Until book 6.  She got her copy and I was first at the library to check out my own.  Somebody was going to die and I had to know who.  I couldn't wait.  I got my picture taken at the library for being the first one to pick up my copy.  And then, one of Aaron's coworkers at the Waterpark ruined it and while Aaron and I were on the phone to each other on his break, yelled in the background what happened.  If I had had the ability to, I would have jumped through the phone and stomped her (Oh my Slytherin was showing that day).  But, I stayed up until 2 to finish.

The movies used to come out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (or really close to then), and again, my sister and I would go together to watch.  We'd get out of school early for the holiday, and that would be our way of kicking off the break.

So all these stories and memories are great, but why?  What is it that draws me in?  Why is the story so endearing?

I've learned patience, humility, love, what kind of parent I'd like to be, perseverance.  I've learned that not all bad guys are bad and not all good guys are good.  I've learned that all you need is hope to get through tough times.  You just need to turn on the light.  

For other people's "reason's why", and a good reason to cry, click here .  Oh Buzzfeed, you never fail me.

Harry Potter tattoos

I am seriously considering getting a Harry Potter-themed tattoo.  The girls are thinking about trying to get a little one while we're at the celebration, but I don't know if I can decide what and where quick enough.  I thought the page stars, or a lightning bolt, or the glasses.  But none seemed "right".  I do not want the Deathly Hallows symbol as I don't like it.  

I always thought I'd get an HP tattoo, but I figured it would be a quote.  So, if that's what I want, I don't think I'll have enough time while at the Celebration.

But, if I were to get one then, I think I'd get an ambigram of the word "Always" on my foot to match the ambigram of Hope/Faith on my other foot.

Alright, I can't decide.  A quote vs. always.  I'd love either one.

If you are considering getting a Harry Potter tattoo, what are you thinking?  And if you aren't sure, here are some of my favs via a google image search of "Harry Potter Tattoos":

And some articles that gathered a bunch together:
42 Insanely Magical Harry Potter Tattoos
26 Stunning Harry Potter Tattoos That Will Give You All The Feels

And of course, you can always turn to Pinterest or the Facebook Group "Show off your Harry Potter Tattoos"

Which was your favorite Harry Potter movie?

Yesterday, I posted about, and asked you to share your favorite Harry Potter book.  Today, we're talking about our favorite Harry Potter movie.

I shared that I liked the book version of #1 (Sorcerer's Stone) the best and my least favorite book was #5 (Order of the Phoenix).  However, my favorite movies are 5-8.  They are darker and more adult, and less child-like.  The art direction is better, as is the CGI.  These are the movies that make me feel like I'm part of the movie.  I love watching the earlier ones, but these, at least visually, make me feel like I'm there.

Also, of all of them, I'm least likely to watch #1.  I like the beginning, when Harry is learning that he's a wizard, but I find the ending "battle" with Quirrell almost laughable.

But, what is your favorite movie(s)?  If you wouldn't mind sharing on the form below, I'd like to share responses on January 25 (link here if the form doesn't work)

What was your favorite Harry Potter book?

My growing collection

This was actually pretty hard for me to write.  How can I choose just one?  I love them all!  Well, some I like more than others (I'm looking at you #5, aka the year Harry was a jerk to everyone), but they all have a special place in my heart.

That being said, I think my favorite(s) are #1 and #7.  I chose #1 because that is where the magic began, and the one that introduced me to this wonderful world.  And #7 because they've grown up and it was the culmination of everything.

Now, I do love my two editions located on the left in the picture above.  The green one was a gift my sister found in South Africa (#4) and the other (#7) is one my husband brought back for me from The United Arab Emirates (think southeast of Saudi Arabia).

But I'm curious, what is your favorite and why?  I'd love to do a follow up post of your quotes/reasons.  If you would be so kind as to fill out the following form, I'd really appreciate it.  I'll post your responses on January 24.

Link to form

Hermione is Harry's sister theory

So yesterday, I shared some of my favorite Harry Potter fan theories, but told you I was saving my favorite for today.

My absolute favorite fan theory is that Hermione is actually Harry's older sister.  That she was placed, for her protection, with the Grangers, and it is because of her that Harry is safe at Hogwarts (the protection charm, like the one placed on Privet Drive), and that she knows it.

This site does a great job of breaking down the theory, but I'll share some of the highlights.

*They are 10.5 months apart in age (Hermione was born the September prior to Harry).

*Hermione's overall protective nature towards Harry, even going so far as to answer for him.

*The fact that the Granger's are not explored as characters, like the Weasleys, Neville's grandmother or even Hagrid's family.  

*How seemingly easy it was for Hermione to drop everything and help Harry, to the point of ruining a vacation with her "parents".

*How she knew almost everything about Harry when they first met, even though she'd only known she was magical for about 2 weeks.

*No romantic feelings on either end towards each other

Now, I don't know about you, but this made my heart happy and brain explode just a little.  I will now wait patiently for JK Rowling to announce on Pottermore that this is true and make my world a little brighter.

Harry Potter Theories

One of my new favorite things is to read Harry Potter fan theories.  And honestly, they make sense.  I admire the thought that went into these.  I would never have picked up on some of them, but once you read them, the books and movies take on a whole new light.

There are so many out there, all you have to do is type "Harry Potter theory" into google (or your search engine of choice) and you get so many links!

Some of my favorites:
*The Ronbledore Theory---Ron Weasley and Dumbledore are the same time-traveling person (here)
*Since Voldemort was defeated, Harry Potter is now immortal (here)
*What I call the "Draco COS Theory" (you'll never watch or read #2 the same way)
*The "Draco is a Werewolf Theory" (both on the same page here)
*The super sad, "It was all in Harry's Head" theory (here and here)
*Neville was the Chosen One (here)
*Snape's first words to Harry were an apology for his mother's death (here)
*In Azkaban, the prisoners become dementors (here)

Most of the links above have multiple theories listed, so you may see the same over and over again.  I just wanted to share different places where I had seen theories, not to push one site over another.


My ultimate favorite will be shared tomorrow.  It's that good.  It needs it's own day.

So what does one wear?

So yesterday, I shared that Michael Gambon aka Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore himself was going to be at the Celebration of Harry Potter.  Which has induced many squeals and the flailing of many arms in excitement.  But has also caused much worry and doubt.

What does one wear when meeting Dumblerdore?  This totally shot my plan of yoga pants and a quidditch tee-shirt.  But, did it mean fancy dress?  Dress robes?  What is the happy medium?

We decided to go the route of the Hogwarts student (movie version), and wear our house tie, white button-up shirt, black bottoms (skirt or pants, wearer's choice) and either cardigan or sweater vest.  I'm choosing to go with a cardigan, because it's actually something I'd wear again (on weekends---ok, probably to school).

Apparently, though, "traditionally", students would just wear robes with just their underwear underneath.  But for the movie, they wore the vests or cardigans.  My friend, Becca, is contemplating going that route.

Here is what I decided (though I'm hoping it won't be stinking hot in Orlando and I'll melt in that sweater):
                       

Honestly, I love that cardigan.  I'm pretty sure I'll wear it on weekends.

So what do you think, Dumbledore-approved?

For further reading, and why I specified "movie version", click here.  I found these clothing items on ebay.

Some of the Special Guests

When I got the email about who some of the special guests were going to be, I'll admit, I silent screamed and scared a student (I was in my classroom, they were taking a test).  I did a happy dance.

The first two guests to be announced (and what caused the mid school-day freakout) were Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) 

and Robbie Coultrane (Hagrid)

And then it was announced that Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and James and Oliver Phelps (the Weasley Twins) were going to be there.  

But, the announcement of these awesome guests only sparked quite the pickle for my friends and I----to be discussed tomorrow.  

What do you think of these special guests?

*Dumbledore, Luna and Twins images via HarryPotter.wikia.com; Hagrid image via wikipedia.com*

Have a very "Harry" New Year!

(From http://harrypotterthanksforall.tumblr.com/)

At the end of January, three friends and I going to be attending the Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.  And we couldn't be more excited.  Like so excited that most of our conversations that involve how excited we are are expressed in GIF form (the flailing arm Kermit, the silent Kermit,  the Snape Approves, the OH MY GOD Janice from FRIENDS...you get the idea).

But because of this monumental event, every post this month will be Harry Potter related.