Tag: Harry Potter

Rebecca’s Top 20: Halloween Movies for Family Night

Changing leaves, cooler weather, football, and Halloween are all a significant part of October. For added fun, incorporate Halloween themed movies into your family night.

Rebecca’s Top 20

  1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (An all-time Halloween favorite)
  2. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (the collection has The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
  3. Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie
  4. Curious George: A Halloween Boofest
  5. Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Treat
  6. Casper’s Halloween Special
  7. Sesame Street: Trick or Treat on Sesame Street
  8. Paw Patrol: Halloween Heroes
  9. Toy Story of Terror
  10. Spongebob Squarepants-Halloween
  11. Scared Shrekless
  12. The Halloweentown series including  Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown
  13. Any of the Scooby-Doo movies
  14. The Addam’s Family
  15. Hocus Pocus
  16. Ghostbusters
  17. The Harry Potter series including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2. 
  18. Beetlejuice
  19. Little Vampire
  20. Any of the Goosebumps movies

What is your favorite family-friendly Halloween movie?

 

Please note: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Personal Review: September’s Geek Gear Wizardry Box

I am enjoying the monthly subscription to the Geek Gear Wizardry box. I thought I would share September’s contents with all of you. As many of you know, I am a geek. Getting a box filled with items from the Wizarding World is exciting.

September’s Contents

The box generally contains around 7 or 8 items. I was impressed with this month’s box. In every box, I receive a wearable, This month’s t-shirt was an exclusive creatures t-shirt. I admit I was grinning from ear to ear when I pulled the shirt out of the box. Even though I am not a fan of yellow, I really love this shirt.

Along with the shirt, my next favorite item in the box was Unicorn Blood Glass Bottle. From the packaging to the glow in the dark contents, the bottle was a perfect addition to my collection.

Unicorn Blood
The contents glow in the dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The jewelry is always a welcomed addition.

I love the simplicity of the bracelet.
The design on the envelope is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I admit my wall space is getting limited with all these new prints and posters. The decree posters are one of my favorites, I am slowly adding these to my bedroom. Many of the other prints hang in my room as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The September box also contained an Exclusive Magical Totebag.

 

And tea.

Teas are always a favorite for me. I love sipping hot tea on a cold, Michigan day.

 

Addressing the Box’s Lateness

I had a comment on one of my social media posts that the Geek Gear Wizardry box was lateLoo last month. Please take into account, the boxes come from the U.K. They must pass through customs before arriving at my house. So when I post about the box two weeks into the next month, I do not consider the arrival late. What can I say, I know the owls have a long way to go to get to my home.

Looking Forward

I just saw a teaser post for October’s box. The theme is Goblet of Fire and the teaser…dragons. I cannot wait.

Do you have a favorite subscription box? Please let me know.

 

Personal Review: Geek Gear Wizardry Box

I do not write too many personal reviews. In my opinion, everyone has the right to decide if a product is right for you or not.  With that being said, I am a fan of subscription boxes. The monthly or bi-monthly crates are filled with various items. Depending on your personal tastes, a crate may contain beauty items, food from around the globe, movie memorabilia, and much more. The best aspect of these crates, you never know what is inside. The crates are a pleasant monthly surprise.

Today’s crate just made me smile from first glance to viewing the final product. So I just had to share my excitement with all of you.

 

First, sneak peek…I admit I opened this one slowly. I took pictures as I pulled out each item.

T-shirts are always part of these Wizardy Geek Gear boxes. I absolutely love getting a new t-shirt every month. Of course, my t-shirt collection is growing more than I could ever wear in a year. The August box contains an exclusive beasts t-shirt.

Love this shirt!

Other items in this box include:

Cornish Pixies Tea

I love loose tea. I was so happy when Geek Gear started putting teas in the monthly boxes.
Living in Michigan, I can never have too many socks. Michigan winters can get really cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new mug…

So exciting, this is my first Gringotts Mug. I cannot wait to add this to my collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bright new print…

Licensed and exclusive, the print will look great on my bedroom wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was so happy to see a wand in this month’s box. I love the Geek Gear wands. Each is uniquely made and durable.

The wand’s specifications.
I love the skeleton wand. Reminds me of my favorite holiday, Halloween.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saving the best for last, the signed owl art poster was my favorite in the August Wizardry Geek Gear Box. I just love this print. I am actually going to hang the poster in my living room.

So my overall review of the August Geek Gear Wizardry Box is 4-stars, my highest rating. I felt like my birthday or Christmas came early today.

Do you subscribe to any monthly crates? What is your favorite?

 

Creating Traditions for the Holiday Season

Are you looking to start a new family or friends’ Christmas tradition? From volunteering to outdoor fun, creating new traditions is a great way to celebrate the holiday season. Call a family meeting or text your friends to find your next tradition. Who knows maybe you will find more than one.

Ideas for Creating New Traditions for the Christmas Season

Before starting a new tradition, ask your friends or family members’ input. Use the following ideas as inspiration to find the perfect new tradition for the Christmas season.

Family Night or Friend Gatherings

Work, school, and other commitments take up a lot of your valuable time. Making the time to spend with family and friends is important to your well-being.

  • Board game night
  • Make homemade hot cocoa
  • Christmas movie night
  • Host a Christmas craft day
  • Christmas cartoon movie night
  • Dress up and go out to eat at a fancy restaurant
  • Bake cookies and other goodies
  • Make homemade ornaments
  • Make Christmas crafts
  • Pack some snacks and go look for Christmas light displays

Volunteer

Giving back to your community is a wonderful contribution at Christmas.

  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or other community non-profit organizations
  • Adopt a Family in need
  • Visit a nursing home
  • Collect can goods and other non-perishable items for a local food pantry
  • Buy toys for community programs

Attend Community Events

Search your city’s website or other hosting pages to find different Christmas themed events in your area. Along with community events, churches offer a wide array of Christmas concerts, plays, pageants, and other activities. Even if you are not a member, most events are free or require a minimum donation to attend.

  • Attend a live Nativity
  • Go to a community Christmas concert
  • Go to Christmas church service or midnight mass
  • Attend a Santa Parade
  • Attend a tree lighting ceremony
  • Go to a Festival of Trees event

Host a Holiday Party     

Hosting a holiday party is a great way to gather friends and family under one roof.

  • An Ugly Sweater Party
  • A Harry Potter themed Christmas Party/Yule Ball
  • A birthday celebration for Jesus
  • Christmas party for your children and their friends
  • Ornament swap party
  • A Grinch themed party
  • A Christmas tea

Go Outdoors

Being outdoors allows you and your loved ones a chance to get away of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

  • Go sledding
  • Go skiing
  • Go hiking

Gathering friends and family together is part of the Christmas season. Creating new traditions or expanding on old ones provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy activities year after year.

Going Back to Hogwarts

“Whether you come back by page or big screen,

Hogwarts will always be there to

welcome you home”

~J.K. Rowling

For fans of the beloved J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, September 1st represents going back to Hogwarts. Celebrating the return to Hogwarts can be fun with the following activities for you, your family and friends to enjoy.

Host a Craft and Activity Day

Gather your family or friends and enjoy a craft day. Creating Harry Potter inspired crafts is easy with the help of Pinterest or Internet search.

Searching for activities, you can make a wide range of crafts including:

Make a wand with wooden craft sticks, hot glue, and paint.
  • Make a wand
  • Holiday ornaments
  • Coloring pages
  • Owl crafts
  • Create potions
  • Suncatchers

    Melt pony beads on old pizza pans to create large Harry Potter inspired sun catchers.

Harry Potter Inspired Recipes

Create a Harry Potter inspired meal, beverage, or snack. Search Pinterest, some of the recipes include:

  • Butterbeer
  • Pumpkin Pasties
  • Pumpkin Juice
  • Chocolate Frogs

Listen or Read Harry Potter

Simply spend the day relaxing. Spending a day immersed in the Wizarding World, listen or read your favorite Harry Potter book.

Host a Movie Marathon

Call your friends to watch your favorite Harry Potter movie or host a family movie marathon.

For Harry Potter fans, celebrating the day is like visiting an old friend. Consider doing one or combination of activities to enjoy the day.

Boredom Busters: Creating a Summer Bucket List

School’s out! Now, what is the first thing you hear –“I’m bored.” Consider creating a summer bucket list with your children to help chase away the boredom. Keep in mind, the list should be ideas you are willing or able to do.

Creating the Bucket List

Make the summer bucket list a family project. Use a notebook or purchase a poster board to write out your ideas. Consider using a different colored marker for each child. Allow each family member to come up with different activities. Of course, younger children may need help with the writing part of the project.

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Summer bucket lists can be simple everyday items to planned vacation adventures. The choice is up to you.

  • Have a bonfire
  • Make S’mores
  • Have a water balloon fight
  • Go to the zoo
  • Ride in a canoe
  • Have a slumber party
  • Get an ice cream cone
  • Go hiking
  • Have a pool party
  • Sleep in a tent
  • Listen to music in the park
  • Go to an amusement park
  • Go to the library
  • Volunteer
  • Ride a roller coaster
  • Go for a bike ride
  • Go skateboarding
  • Make root beer floats
  • Bake cookies
  • Paint rocks
  • Have an arts and crafts day
  • Have a Harry Potter movie marathon
  • Pick strawberries
  • Go to a lake
  • Go for a walk
  • Make art with sidewalk chalk
  • Go swimming
  • Visit grandma and grandpa
  • Day road trips
  • Visit an art gallery
  • Go to a museum
  • Go to a sporting event
  • Go to a splash park
  • Go to a fair or festival
  • Make homemade popsicles
  • Make a fort
  • Go fishing
  • Go to petting zoo or local farm
  • Have a family game night
  • Cook a meal together
  • Take swimming lessons

If you are uncertain on the type of activities, become a tourist in your town or surrounding towns. Use an Internet search. Local activities often get overlooked. Providing you a chance to join in on the fun on a weekly basis, community activities are free or minimal costs to participate.

End of the School Year Celebration Ideas

Time marches by quickly. Embrace the daily triumphs. Ending a school year is a milestone in your child’s life. Not to mention, you deserve recognition for last minute school snacks, homework help, field trips, and on some days simply getting your child to school on time.

As the last day of school arrives, take the time to celebrate. Scheduling conflicts may not allow your celebration to occur exactly on the last day, still take the time to recognize the accomplishment. The celebration can be a simple family dinner with a special dessert to a large party with your child’s friends.

End of the School Year Party Ideas

If you are uncertain how to celebrate, ask your child for input. Often your child’s idea may be something you would have never thought about as a fun way to celebrate. Or you can consider any of the following:

  • Special family dinner
  • Family game night
  • Trip to the local bookstore to purchase books for summer reading
  • Backyard BBQ
  • Pool party (if the weather permits)
  • Backyard beach party
  • Harry Potter theme party
  • Comic book, princess or other theme party
  • End of the school year theme party
  • Trip to the local ice cream shop
  • Dinner out at your child’s favorite restaurant
  • Pizza party
  • Video game night
  • Arts and crafts party
  • Outdoor games party
  • Trip to the park, zoo or other local attraction
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Movie night
  • Picnic in the park or your own backyard
  • Attend a major or minor league baseball game or other sporting events
  • Water balloon “fight” or other water-related activities

The possibilities on how to celebrate the end of a school year are endless. Surprisingly, a simple ice cream pie to celebrate the end of the school year may easily become a lasting memory.

Editor’s note: This blog is an updated version from one on my other site.

 

 

 

Celebrating Harry Potter’s Birthday

I am a full believer in celebrating life. Small celebrations bring lasting memories. Every day our daily schedules and commitments keep us busy. Enjoying little moments is a necessity. For fans of the Harry Potter series, myself included, today, July 31st represents the fictional character, Harry Potter’s birthday. Along with Harry, J.K. Rowling celebrates her birthday today too.

In the book, Rubeus Hagrid provides Harry with a birthday cake on his 11th birthday. The simple scene from the Keeper of the Keys immediately ushers us into the magical world of Harry Potter. Why not incorporate his birthday into a family fun night? Or invite your friends for some magical fun.

  • Consider making a quick birthday cake as a special dessert treat.
  • Gather the family or friends around to watch the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
  • Make wands.
  • Eat chocolate frogs.
  • Create your own owl, cat, or toad.
  • Have special snacks or cook an entire meal based on the Wizarding World’s cuisine.
  • Make magical themed crafts.

    Melt pony beads on old pizza pans to create large Harry Potter inspired sun catchers.
  • Need a quieter activity, reread the Harry Potter series or listen to the audio versions.

In a couple weeks, school, homework, sports and enforced bedtime routines will be part of your already full schedule. Take a moment to enjoy the little things and celebrate “The Boy Who Lived”.

Reference:

Rowling, J. K., Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. London: Bloomsbury Children’s, 1997.

Summer Bucket List

When most people think about bucket lists, ideas of long exotic vacations usually come to mind. A bucket list can consist of anything. With the official kick-off of the summer season, why not create a bucket list to enjoy the warm months?

Now, school is out, the summer boredom’s probably are already setting in. Creating a summer bucket list can help discover new local sites and other fun activities. Allowing you to keep from hearing those words, “I am bored”.  In addition to chasing away the summer boredoms, you and loved ones will be given a chance to learn and explore.

Consider adding a variety of items to the list. Allow your children to help participate in creating the summer bucket list ideas may surprise you.

Outdoor Fun

Being a strong advocate of unplugging from electronic devices, being outdoors is a great way to spend a day or afternoon.

  • Go to the Park: Local and state parks can be an exciting getaway.
  • Go to the Splash Park: Many communities open splash parks. Playing in the water with peers is a great way to spend the afternoon.
  • Go Swimming or Take Swim Lessons: Being at the pool or at the beach is a perfect way to spend the day.
  • Go Hiking: Unplug for the day. Leave your electronic devices behind, well, except for a cell phone for emergencies.
  • Picnic: Go on a picnic. You do not need to pack a fancy picnic basket. Just go, peanut butter and jelly make a quick lunch. Enjoy the outdoors.
  • Stargazing: Spread out a blanket in the backyard at night to watch the stars. Popcorn and making up stories make a wonderful night out.
  • Attend Local Fairs and Festivals: Summertime is the perfect opportunity to attend local fairs and festivals. Many hold a theme, providing you with a chance to learn about different foods, culture or other interesting events.
  • Music in the Park: Local art councils generally host music in the park series. Attending the weekly concerts provide you and your family a chance to learn about new music genres.
  • Watch the Sunset: The beauty of a sunset or sunrise is a perfect memory.
  • Volunteer: Summertime generally brings numerous volunteer hours. Help clean up the environment. Volunteer your time at a local animal shelter, many need dog walkers. Volunteer your time at a nursing home. Even a couple hours a week allows you to try something new. For teens, volunteering looks good on college applications. You also get a chance to meet others outside of your normal group.

For Rainy Days

  • Museums: Look up local art, science and history museums. When was the last time you visited your hometown museum? Many museums have special kid days to try to get youth interested in specific genres.
  • Attend Workshops: Learning a new skill at any age is a benefit.
  • Host a Movie Marathon: Order pizza and spend an afternoon watching the Harry Potter series or other movie franchises.
  • Art Day: Spend a day creating art. Painting, sculpt, or drawing enhances the imagination.
  • Go to the Library: Local libraries usually host summer reading programs. Allowing your children to participate with others in the community.

A summer bucket list is only limited by your imagination. Life is short. Try something new. Spend the summer having fun.