Sneak Peak: Harry Potter Birthday

So I know I've mentioned my birthday party this Saturday. I also know I whined about my birthday and I want to just say that my weekend improved significantly after my crappy day.

Well, I'm going full-on nerd this year and having a Harry Potter themed party. Now, of course, it's going to take some creative thinking to do this right and still entertain a diverse group of adults. I have found a few things to spice it up and keep everyone happy. For one thing, I instructed that everyone wear something themed, be it just a plain red shirt, or full costume. I linked to Pottermore so that people could get Sorted, but also provided links to the hp-lexicon House pages and a quick "these are the colors and this is the mascot" for each house on the FB event page. And I'm pretty sure I know two people that will be clueless and I know which of them will be at fault, but we love them anyway. XD

So, one of the things I'm doing is House cocktails. These were inspired by these amazing creations, however I've ended up, due to budget and ease, inventing my own for all four Houses. I will still be using their Butterbeer, though. I will post each cocktail on here once I finalize them and make pictures for samples.

Now the other thing is Quidditch Pong. You've possibly seen it around on the internet. It has its own crazy rules and everything, but I'm making my own version of this as well. I have not finished building the hoops, but I've begun, with pretty much all of the hard work on the hoops being done by my dad. When I get them all done, including the awesome custom cups I'm making, I will show you what I've got. Now, though, you get a sneak peak! (Mainly because I'm too excited to wait.)

First, a few shots of the first Gryffindor cup. I used gold, silver, bronze, and black Sharpies for each house, on appropriately colored cups. (Do you know how hard it is to find the right colors, though? I Amazoned the green and yellow, and a friend found the right navy blue. Red was easy, obviously.)

Now I have to show you what my dad and I thought up for the hoops.

 Now, basically, those Xs are some badass folding trivets that my dad got as a sample from someone at work, but I think some kind of wooden X or block would work, too. I'll get all into the process when I post a full post about this brilliance. Now, it's sleepy time. I'm fighting a cold that I need to go away by Saturday!

I Like to Buy Stuff

Saw an ad for this, and then I read some great reviews and I began to salivate... But good God, it's fifty dollars! So I got a hundred dollars from Erik's grandma for Christmas and I was saving it to get my hair done all pro-style, but then I decided I wanted that strap. I'm super excited to give it a shot. It will definitely make the Collierville Craft Fair this summer a lot easier. I have a backpack purse now and I'll have this to keep my hands free and my camera off my neck. Memphis in May is hot, though in this instance I'm referring to the location in the month, not to the many festivals that occur at the same time haha.

Oh, and my dad, who was the first one to get a DSLR, recommended a blog/site called froknowsphoto.com and he is selling a three-hour video tutorial similar to the boot camps he offers I guess throughout the year. It's $67.00, but Erik said I could buy it without using the rest of my birthday money for it. I can't wait to watch it.

And oh my God. You guys don't even know why I care! Prior to this Christmas, all I had was a point-and-shoot. It was good at the time, but did not give me what I actually needed. When my dad got his DSLR, the Nikon D5100, probably a year ago or so, maybe as late as this past spring, I began to steal it whenever I got the chance, but he's super protective so I don't get many good opportunities. A few months ago, at Costco, I convinced my mom to get me a Fujifilm thing that was similar to a DSLR, but didn't have interchangeable lenses. It is supposed to have great video. That alone was over $300. Well, I opened it and was happy, but then I was later presented my "big gift" (which I should not have gotten since I'd already opened an expensive camera) and opened a D5100 of my own. My dad also bought me a 55-300mm lens so I'd have that in addition to the 18-55mm it came with. Those are the two lenses that, for now, are all I'll need. My mom kept the Fujifilm lol.

You see my mom's face? That is the face of a LIAR.

I didn't get a picture with the DSLR as I was holding the camera (that we were using to take the Christmas photos) again. It's hilarious in retrospect. So that is why I'm looking at expensive camera straps and at three-hour-long tutorials. And also why I love my daddy. And why I can still say that at twenty-two with a kid of my own.