Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I had a lovely, low key day. I woke up at 9:15, opened my stocking in my room as per tradition, and Jack threw up on my Dad and the floor. Melissa and Randy came over and we Facetimed with Matt and Kate as Mia opened up her new Bitty Baby (that she loved). Then we got to opening our presents!

Look at my cute lil seester

Let's just get a close up of that cute wrapping paper.

New Mr. Darcy ornament, imported from Bath

Opening up presents is the greatest thing, same with giving them. My Dad picked out this nativity scene  from Peru from the store 10,000 Villages. Nicely done.

 My mom tracked down this crane after my dad spotted it while they were in York. Nicely done, Mom.

My haul- not pictured, 3 months in Europe. Can you spot the two American Girl items? Once a hardcore AG lover, always a hardcore AG lover.

This will do, thank you.

After breakfast casserole and sticky buns, and lunchtime later, I worked on my puzzle and we went to see Saving Mr. Banks (obsessed). But this puzzle is coming along, it is a toughie. 

I've spent two weeks at home now. We leave for Utah tomorrow and I am both very sad and very happy. I love my bed, my room, my own space, and my puppy, but I get to see my family that I haven't seen in 8 months, celebrate more Christmas, and then start school where I'm taking skiing and ballet and living in close proximities to my new best friends. I can say that things are looking very bright!

Merry Christmas from me to you!

Around the Making of Harry Potter in 80 Photos

I am now writing from home in Canada, unfortunately. 

I made it back from England last Friday with the hope that I would blog about the rest of my semester this Christmas break. I thought I'd begin with one the the most magical days of all- a day at The Making of Harry Potter! The reason this is a post of monster length because I had to take pictures of everything, and I'm guessing I have a few people who are reading this who also want to see everything. The studio tour takes place in the actual studio they filmed Harry Potter (studios J and K). It was full of the sets, costumes, models, butterbeer, and everything in between. Needless to say, it was unreal.

Head table

The Great Hall all decked out for Christmas!

I know, right?

Luna had the best everything.

THE invisibility cloak, lined with green fabric to make it actually invisible.

I spy the Sorting Hat.

The intensity of this beverage is astounding.

Quite sugary

Aw yeah.

This was made of three vintage double decker buses.

Um,  don't drink and drive?

The Burrow was one of my favorites and I may or may not have taken several notes for future home decorating. 

The Black family tapestry

Look at those goblin hands

Aunt Marge!

 Diagon Alley was a whole new world.

Doin' some shoppin!

 There are two other moments that compare to walking into this room and seeing the model of Hogwarts- turning the corner and seeing the Duomo in Florence and coming across Big Ben, seriously. This room was amazing!

  We sat in the room for awhile and watched as the lights changed like a sunrise and sunset. This model was used along with computer animation to shoot the exterior shots for the movie.

Now this is from "Platform 9 3/4" at King's Cross, but I thought it was fitting. Sometimes a day at school is the best kinds of days. The London Study Abroad really spoils you! To think that all we had to do was talk about Harry Potter in English class.