a fox horn & harry potter.

Well, if you didn't know, HARRY POTTER 7 part 2 comes out this week!!!  AHH!  So crazy.  So so crazy.  Dan and I were talking about Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling yesterday (after he had read a couple of different articles pertaining to this big event) and after throwing out some stats he read, we reflected on the impact these books and this story have had.  He then said something that struck me: "J.K. Rowling has changed the world".  It felt like a bold and scary thing to say, however, it is totally true.  She has brought something into the world that has created such large ripples...so large that I think this story will penetrate many generations to come.  I really really love these books and was getting teary-eyed watching the cast, crew and Rowling give their speeches at Trafalgar (I actually had NO idea the premiere was going on live when I randomly searched "harry potter premiere" and found it!  But I was happy I did!).  I know, I know....teary-eyed?!  Really!  Yes.  Oh yes. I will not deny it.  In fact, I will embrace it by letting you know that I have already created the main couples names in my cursive script for wedding templates to come.  Lame?!  Sure!  But I don't care. They keep me company so often as the audiobooks are very regularly my background noise while I work.

Dan and I did decide though, that we didn't want to go to the midnight showing.  I'm a little sad about it, but I think in the end we will be much happier and much more able to enjoy it seeing it during our date night on Sunday :)

The photo above is a "fox horn" or "hunting horn" I found at an antique shop this weekend.  I really like it.  I think it will look lovely in my studio space (that I hopefully have some day in the future. Sooner rather than later).  Hope you had a lovely weekend!!

friday inspiration.

Having a fun Friday so far.  Dan and I woke up and headed to whole foods to get $3 breakfast burritos (they are HUGE and delicious).  Then to Bennison's for our favorite chocolate cake donuts (SO good...I can't even believe I like these but after having them I can't believe how I wouldn't have in the past!).  Then Dan made some super tasty coffee.  Then he left for work, and I FINALLY got Harry Potter audiobook 6!  WOO!  I had a B&N gift card for some time but was waiting for a good coupon, and by the time we got a good coupon our membership with them had expired.  So, I had to do ground shipping, which I thought would be fine but would just take longer.  Well, it was lost and sitting in a couple of different post offices for while and I thought I'd never see it, but it's here! I love getting (real, meaning not bills or credit card offers) mail & packages.  It just evokes the loveliest feeling.  So, time to upload book 6 (I only need 2 more now!).  I really do love Harry Potter. The audiobooks keep me company as I work :)

Found this online this week and really really liked it.  Hope it's inspiring for your Friday.

Happy weekending!

luna lion hats.

Okay...it probably won't be a surprise that I like Harry Potter.  If it is, well....I like Harry Potter.  A lot.  And so does my friend Jenny!  I wanted to share this incredible Luna Lovegood lion hat that she made for halloween/the premiere of The Deathly Hallows part 1:

(the original hat from the movie)

Amazing, right?  I thought so.  If you're interested in one for yourself she is selling them (custom-made) on etsy!  Head HERE.  Also...I found this recently...I think it's hilarious. Especially the post on November 26th :)

inspired by: nan lawson.

My friend Lily (who I really like and love) sent me a link to Nan Lawson's etsy shop. She thought I would really enjoy her work and...well, she was right.  Thanks Lily!!  Nan's sense of humor and creativity (and love for stories that happen to be my favorites...HELLO harry potter and pride & prejudice!) speak smiles and joy to my spirit.  

Here are my favorites from her shop:

come ON, mr. Darcy!!  YES please!

Most items are $10 or $16, however the hogwarts trio is $40 ;) oh and the darcy & elizabeth combo is $17!

terri potter :)

So, what did you think of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1?!  I had a delightful Thursday-Saturday with my friend Terri (Potter...it works so well I just can't resist!).  I enjoyed the movie, however I viewed it with very new perspective this time.  Let's just get this out there first: I don't read the books, I listen to them!!  I tried to start book one in high school and just couldn't get into it, but when the movies started coming out-I was sold.  So, for HP 1-6 I had seen the movie before listening to the book (I still haven't finished book 6!  EEK!) and for 7, I had listened first and then watched the movie.  My friends who have read the books first have had a lot of frustration with the first 6 movies and felt 7 was the most true, where...I couldn't stop complaining about different things in this movie!!  Oh my.  Perspective.  

That might have been a lot about Harry Potter and my thoughts than you cared to hear :)

The butterbeer was a hit!!  You will definitely want to brush your teeth after drinking it, but regardless, it's quite fantastic.  Notes on the recipe: the maple syrup was a great substitute, and try not to have a whole lot of time between preparing and enjoying the beverage.  It's not something you want hanging out in the fridge or sitting out long.  The cream portion had the effect of the "float" part of a root beer or creme soda float, and that's the kind of thing you don't want sitting around.

As far as dressing up goes, Dan unfortunately wouldn't let us brand him with the lightning bolt, Terri had some compliments on her Umbridge outfit, and I re-discovered that I like straightening my hair.  

:)

Also, thank you for all of the love about our wedding and wedding photos!  It is truly appreciated.

butterbeer.

Oh yes, that's right.  I am SO making butterbeer for tonight!  Terri, my good friend/studio mate from school is getting in just before 9 PM and I will be greeting her as "Ginny" (umm..as Ginny as I can get, I'm Asian-American if you didn't know!).  I am so excited!!  

Well, here's the recipe in case you want to try it out too....I'll have to let you know how it goes :)

1 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tbls water
6 tbls butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp rum extract (don't have it so I'm using maple syrup!)
4 12-oz bottles cream soda

In a small saucepan over medium, combine sugar & water.  Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 F on a candy thermometer (What!?!  Not sure what I'll do for that yet...)

Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar & 1/4 of the heavy cream.  Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Once the mixture has cooled stir in the rum extract (maple syrup!).

In a medium bowl, combine 2 tbls of the brown sugar mixture & the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream.  Use a mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped (about 2-3 minutes).

To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about 1/4 cup per glass).  Add 1/4 cup of cream soda to each glass & stir to combine.  Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.

Sounds...super sweet!

(Recipe found here, photo found here).

Yay!


Also...I'll be posting our wedding photos tomorrow!  I'm excited for that too :)