The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - The Extension

The final Florida post. One of the things I was most looking forward to while in Florida was visiting the new extension of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. I'm happy to say it was amazing and it was so much bigger than I thought it would be. 

So it's time to photobomb you now!

Riding the Hogwarts Express was awesome! In case you don't know, you need a park to park ticket to ride the train. This is because the London/Diagon Alley side is in Universal Studios and the Hogsmeade/Hogwarts side is in the park next door, Islands of Adventure. So yes it costs extra to ride the train, very clever Universal!

So as we've seen the Hogsmeade side before, we mainly spent our time in the Diagon Alley section. There's a new ride and lots of new shops.

Fun fact: They now serve hot butterbeer in the new expansion. Finally! As a true fan, I have been saying for years that butterbeer must be hot. Taking my first sip, I knew this was the most amazing drink ever. (Note: You probably won't be a fan if you're not a sweet tooth!) I could drink this all day.

Between browsing the shops we decided to try the new Gringotts ride which I really enjoyed. Those who got a little motion sick on the Forbidden Journey will enjoy this more as you don't get tipped around as much. You're just on a track which is more traditional but there is still a 3D screen in some places. I would recommend it!

I loved walking through the colourful streets. Why is the UK so grey and red? 

We had lunch in the Leaky Cauldron which was cool but I have to admit that I prefer the food in the Three Broomsticks on the Hogsmeade side. Also if you're looking for a diet coke you won't find it in the Leaky Cauldron as my brother discovered. Wizard drinks only - sorry muggles! I personally loved trying all the new drinks but Pumpkin juice still remains my favourite (besides butterbeer of course).

There's lots of sausage dishes (bangers and mash, toad in the hole etc) so maybe that's why I didn't enjoy it as much. I had the lamb stew the first day and fish and chips the second. Both nice but I'm more partial to the rotisserie chicken. 

After lunch the next stop was the ice cream parlour where you could actually get butterbeer ice-cream! I liked the taste but as it was soft scoop and they give you loads, it got a bit sickly after awhile. I really enjoyed the earl grey and lavender hard scoop ice cream (much nicer than it sounds) as it was really light and unusual. Topher enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding and also the salted caramel blondie. 

I never get tired of looking at Hogwarts. Will be back soon I promise!

My week: 29

Why I can't I have a three day work week every week? It was so lovely. 

*Atmosfear - an awesome board game me and the bf found at the car boot last sunday. We may have played it three times already this week!

*Me and the bf went and saw Brave. I have to say, I was not expecting the plot to go where it did.

*Balloons!

*The best bathroom stall graffiti I've seen.

*Fab Cafe. Try the skittles shots.

*The bf with the brightest ice cream ever!

*The brightest laser light ever!

*The brightest teeth ever! UV lights just so you know. 

Me and the bf decided to drive back to Manchester on the Monday so that we could just chill out on the Tuesday. We stopped at Meadowhall on the way again and had Yo Sushi which was delicious as usual. Then we went to the cinema and had a nice meal on the Tuesday. 

Also ended up going out on Friday night for a friend's 25th birthday. We all went to one of our old hangouts and felt very old. I swear everyone in there looked about 12. Still had a jolly good time though. The birthday boy came and stayed round ours that night so me, Claire and the bf decided to balloon avalanche  his door. For those of you who haven't heard of the term, look here. Very funny idea - got to love Pinterest. 

Don't know how I'm going to cope with having to work a full week now (ah first world problems) but it's quite exciting that it's September now. As much as I love summer, this season is awesome. Halloween, bonfire night, christmas, layering clothes, hot drinks - I love it. 

What's your favourite thing about Autumn and Winter?

All the ice cream...

...in the world. A print I finished recently.

I sketched it on paper, perfected it on my iPad, then tiled it on photoshop. 

I love it. I can look at it and pretend it's summer.

Are you pretending it's still summer or are you planning your A/W wardrobe? 

My week: 21

Now I know I wished for summer to come, but wow. There wasn't even an adjustment period there - just boom, it's hot now. I may have been a bit under prepared there and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

*Loads more dandelions appeared in my bf's garden. Love them.

*Never get up when there are cats in the house, one is bound to steal your place.

*Lilac nails! I love Rimmel 60 second nail polish.

*An illustration I'm working on my iPad at the moment during my lunch breaks. That background colour is not the final one, just a mistaken tap but I thought it was kinda cool so I snapped a pic to remember it.

*Fruit pastel lolly at Chester Zoo today.

*Lots of ideas! My creative juices are flowing (yes I did just say that...sorry).

*Not part of my usual job but I got to go competition shopping on Friday. How funky is that telephone cushion? And that heart one is made up of pics of buttons!

*Eurovision!

An absolutely boiling week and a packed weekend. Friday, I hung out with Claire and her sister Amy where we watched Once upon a time (addicted!). Saturday I went back round to hang out with the bf and finish the current season of The Amazing Race and then watch Eurovision in the evening. Now you either love or hate it, but we love it. It's just so hilarious. Those Russian grannies were robbed. We were also big fans of Turkey who turned themselves into a boat with their capes! Awesome.

Sunday, I decided I wanted to do something different and give my awesome camera a day out so me and the bf headed to Chester Zoo. It was awesome and I took loads of photos. I will do a post dedicated to it next week with just the best photos I think. I love my camera! Even though we were both shattered by the end, I really had an awesome day with the bf :) I love our days out. 

How was your week?

My week

I love looking at other people's week in photos so I am attempting to do one of my own. Check it out:

As a present to myself, I bought the Harry Potter box set which is the DVD and Blue-ray copies of all 8 films! It is so beautiful! I don't have a blue ray player as of yet, but I do plan on getting one when I have my own place next year. It's an investment I like to think, so I will never have to buy another Harry Potter film ever again :)

When I first saw this chocolate that came out of my Hello Kitty advent calendar, my first thought was Darth Vader. I'm such a geek. I didn't actually figure out that it was actually a shepherd until lunchtime at work. In my defence, my bf also thought Darth Vader. At least we have each other!

Mince pie ice cream! I loved the flavour and the pastry bits but was not a fan of the mince pie filling that was in there too. Was quite bitty if that makes any sense. The actual ice cream had enough of the mince pie flavour for me. Any one else tried this?

My beautiful skirt that I love. Stood out a bit in the office (especially since I was wearing teal blue tights as well) but I don't care :)

Went for the staff Christmas do to Akbar's indian restaurant in Castlefield in the centre of Manchester which I highly recommend. It was amazing. Check out the size of the naan bread!

We then went to Duke's which is also in Castlefield. I've never been out in Castlefield but it was a good night. I loved the look of the bar at Dukes and it was all decorated for Christmas :)

How was your week?