Wizard Cones

Ok, I promise this is the last Harry Potter post (well, for awhile, not FOREVER... obviously!). But, I had such fun with the Harry Potter roundup post and we had all the great ice cream supplies left over from our little #firststreeticecream clown party, that I couldn't resist!
So, we transfigured some plain 'ole sugar cones into wizard hats! Amazing, right?! :) 

 Wizard Cones

To perform this little magic trick, here's what you'll need:

Ingredients: 

- First Street Sugar Cones

- 5 squares of chocolate bark coating (or about 2 C chocolate chips)

- sprinkles and/or other edible embellishments

Directions:

- Melt chocolate in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until fully melted. Avoid overheating.

- One at a time, coat cones in melted chocolate. Tap off excess.

- Stand upright on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper

- Decorate cones with your favorite wizarding hat embellishments (stars, Hogwarts' House colors, sprinkles, etc.)

- Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.

To make a wizard, place your decorated cone on top of a large scoop of First Street Ice Cream. Add a whatever edible goodies you like to transfigure your ice cream into your favorite witch or wizard!

 Just make sure to work quickly before your ice cream wizard melts disapparates away! 

And, remember, if you visit www.firststreeticecream.com by July 26th, you can enter for a chance to win one of fifteen $100 SmartCash cards (5 winners per week) and 3 Grand Prize winners will receive their choice of "The Ultimate First Street Ice Cream Party!" for up to 50 people or a Gift Card in the amount of $1,000!!!! Wow!  

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #CollectiveBias #firststreeticecream. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Saying Goodbye to Harry Potter

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Today was a bittersweet day after 10 years of Harry Potter. Yes, I'm one of those Harry Potter nerds. Though the first book was released my senior year of high school, I didn't actually start reading until my senior year of college when the first movie came out. That summer, I studied abroad at Oxford. We spent time at Christ Church where scenes from the movie were filmed (and from which the Great Hall at Hogwart's was modeled). 

So, when the movie came out in November, I went with friends who had read the first few books. I was immediately hooked. I had to know what happened to "the boy who lived"! I got the first three books for Christmas and could hardly put them down.

I hadn't read like that since I was a little girl. From middle school on, I read very little for enjoyment, as there always seemed to be copious reading assignments for classes and mandatory books that I had to read. But, this magical "children's" book series drew me back.

I've stood in line to get the newest Harry Potter book at Barnes 'n Noble at midnight. I've been in line for midnight movies. I've spent entire days reading away, engrossed in this magical world.

After movie three, Mr. Mom Endeavors became hooked and he too had to know what happens. Instead of just telling him, we read books 4 & 5 aloud to each other on car trips. Then, we read books 6 & 7 together. We've been to just about all of the movies together.

So, it probably comes as no surprise that we loved the last installment. Yet, today, it was a bittersweet moment knowing that it was the last time we'd do that together. The last little bit of college done. And (especially if you know me in real life), it probably wouldn't surprise you to know that I shed a tear cried on and off throughout the whole last half of the movie, especially at the end. I don't like goodbyes!

But, this isn't goodbye. Not really. That's the beauty of stories--they live in our hearts, in our minds, (and on our bookshelves). "The stories we love best do live in us forever" {J.K. Rowling}.

The boys are too young now, but I'm so excited to enchant them with these magical stories in years to come. I look forward to nights snuggled up on their bed when they beg for just one more page. I can't wait for Harry Potter parties and sometime we'll have to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando (too bad it's not in England instead).

So, on this day when we said goodbye to Harry for now, I thank you J.K. for sharing your magic; for writing a story that captivated ages 8 to 98; for sparking my love of reading again! And, as The Heir to Blair said so well in her post, "thank you, Harry". 

"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

-J.K. Rowling

Ultimate Harry Party Fun Foods & Parties Roundup

July 15th, 2011. The day is here--the last of Harry Potter on the big screen. I'm dying with anticipation to see it--in the days before kids, I would have been last night. So, in celebration (and to keep me occupied waiting until I can see the movie), here is my ultimate roundup of totally awesome Harry Potter themed food, activities, and parties!

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Magical Parties:

1. Mom Outnumbered 2. Martha Shmartha 3. No Fuss Fabulous 4. All for the Boys 5. Spicy Green Mango

 

Catch My Party has a great round up of party pictures and ideas too! So, be sure to check there if you're looking for ideas!  

The AMAZING party cake award goes to the adorable Darla at Bakingdom. 

 

What?! You don't know why? You're not seeing why I would give an imaginary cake award to a white cake? Well, just wait until you cut it open...seriously, WOW!!!! All Houses of Hogwarts represented! So cool!

Of course, you need an invitation to get into the party Hogwarts, so you might want to check out these handcrafted beauties from the Lettered Set.

Don't forget wands, either. The Instructables has great directions for making wands from paper!

For additional party decor and activity ideas, check out Hostess with the Mostess! She's got two Harry Potter posts full of adorable ideas (here and here).

Sweet Treats:
No Harry Potter party would be complete without some sweet treats. This is one of the many creative touches that JK put into the books that I absolutely adore. All the fantastical sounding foods & treats. There is a soft spot in my heart for the first movie and one of my favorite scenes is when all the food magically appears in the Great Hall. So fun! 

1. Sorting Hat Bread 2. Cockroach clusters 3. Chocolate Frogs 4. Snitch Cupcakes 5.Pumpkin Juice  6. Licorice Wands 7. Honeydukes Cupcakes 8. Butterbeer Cupcakes

If it's a Harry Potter party, there must be some butterbeer, right?! here are 4 awesome recipes to choose from.

  

1. Dine and Dish 2. Heather Bailey 3. Cook like a Champion 4. Bakingdom

And, last, but certainly not least, these are beautiful! No way I could ever dream of making anything so awesome, but they HAD to be included!

1. Bake at 350 2. Clares Cupcakes 3. Bake at 350 4. Firefly Confections 5. Bakingdom

If you need any more Harry Potter inspiration, there is always Pinterest! :) Feel free to check out my board devoted to all things Harry!

 

If you have any Harry Potter posts, feel free to link them up in the comments!