Correspondance: Dear Santa

Where the Wildcats Are: Hogsmeade

Here's what I learned at Hogwarts this past weekend:

The best time to visit Orlando is early December. No one is there. No lines. No crowds. No chaos. Only magic and fun and joy.  And you can find great hotel and flight deals.

I want to live in Hogsmeade.  Or at least visit it every year.
It is the most magical and wonderful place on earth.

 Butterbeer is sweeter than I expected. Tastes like cream soda.
Meanwhile, Hogs Head Brew is a completely perfect beer. But is not served until noon.

Lunch at The Three Broomsticks is scrumtrelescent.
Especially if you love meat. 

It is important to sport your House jersey at all times.

It is worth waiting for the front row of the Dueling Dragons roller coasters.
You will pee your pants, but it will be worth it.

Have you been to Hogwarts?

Eff this...I'm going to Hogwarts

I'm taking a long weekend and heading to Orlando.  I'll be drinking butterbeer, picking out wands, and getting sorted into a house because I am visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Don't worry...I don't blame you for being jealous. 

Have a great weekend!

Breakfast of Champions

How do you start your morning? I typically greet the day with an f-bomb, two coats of Loreal voluminous mascara, and several twirls on the curling iron.  And then I pack my breakfast of champions, and I'm all like, "come at me, bro."

Nah.  I don't really say that.  But after my little 5 hour energy wrap, I do feel ready to start my day. My breakfast wrap is the perfect blend of protein and complex carbs and magic and deliciousness.

Trust me.  Seriously. Lemme break it down for you guys.

First, I start with a bread base...because contrary to popular belief: not all carbs are evil, and are even necessary (gasp!) to keep your body fueled.  I use whole wheat wrap bread, and I rip the big ones in half...with my bare hands.  Roar.

I then schmear the bread with a natural crunchy peanut butter.  I prefer Teddy's.  You probably shouldn't use more than two tablespoons, because even natural peanut butter has a very high fat content.  But let's be honest, I don't measure.  I just focus on the protein and sticky mouth goodness coming my way.  In other words:  I live on the edge.

Next, I sprinkle a bit of uncooked, old-fashioned oats.  Now, the peanut butter to oats ratio is critical. You can't use so much oats that you get a huge bite of dry and raw, but you need enough so that you get the oatmeal flavor, as well as the benefit of the slowly digested grain. The peanut butter will moisten the oats, and the oats keep you full for soooooooooo long.  Wizardry.  That Quaker guy must have gone to Hogwarts.

Here's the best part--cinnamon!  This warm spice not only lends itself to further flavoring the oats, but it also helps regulate your blood sugar. I don't get it either, but it is true.  Science. Weird, right?

Lastly, I add my fresh fruit of choice.  I usually go with blueberries.  But I often mix it up with bananas, strawberries, and even apples if I'm feeling bold.  Oooooh.  I'm such a badass.

I wrap it up and serve this nutritious oatmeal cookie wrap with the warm, brown nectar of the modern day Gods:  coffee.  And then I kick ass and take names.  Or something.

Tryyyyyyyy it;  you'll like it.

Girl Crush: Wendy's Lookbook

Do you guys know Wendy?  She's bubbly and stylish and smart.  She is a genius at pairing outfits and even more brilliant at wearing scarves...no really.

Check out her blog here.

And be prepared for some fashion wizardry below.

All of a sudden, I am tempted to take up graffiti.

Baby, ride your firebolt.

Hufflepuff is for lovers.

Time is making fools of us again --Albus Dumbledore

Yes, I am 29 years old.

Yes, I already have my ticket to Harry Potter for this weekend.

Yes, I'll probably blubber through most of the movie.

No, I am not ashamed.

Are you going?

More on wizards here.

Tuesday Loseday: It was the ghost, in the powderoom, with the balloon.

Sunday morning, I woke up to this balloon hovering over my second floor, private toilet.

It was mocking me, this smug smiley face of goldenrod.

A drunken joke by my roommate? Nope. She got home at 5am and went straight to bed.

And with that, a mystery unraveled before us. I need your help. Here are the facts, gumshoes.

1. No one else had been in the apartment for the 48 hours prior to balloon discovery.

2. Before I went to sleep, the balloon was sitting in the living room, on the first floor of our apartment.

3. There was a window opened in the kitchen--which is just off the living room.

4. There are no windows in direct view of the staircase or my bathroom.

5. I did consider that Finnleigh, a four pound yorkie-poodle, may have been the culprit. But when I brought her in for questioning, I realized she was terrified of the yellow orb. The poor little pup can't even look at the helium infused emoticon.

My theory? The balloon is haunted. Its the most logical explanation I can offer. That, or Moaning Myrtle is living in my lavatory and wanted to play. What are your thoughts?

I want this to be real. And not an April Fools prank.

More The Aurors Videos

Wizards are cool, huh?

Yesterday morning, I was walking down Church Street in Harvard Square, longing for a caffeine I.V., and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron Weasley!

And then I realized it wasn't really Ron Weasley, just some pansy, ginger look-alike.

So I punched him. He deserved it. That faux Weasley deserved my right hook.

Okay, that last part about punching is a lie. I've never punched anyone in my life. I'm a lover, not a hater. And I love me some Ron Weasley.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, let me 'splain.

Ron Weasley is one of Harry Potter's best friends. His sidekick. His wingman. His brother. And in many ways, his foil.

Unlike Harry, Ron doesn't have an account at Gringotts. He is not a particularly good student or Quidditch player or potions maker. Where Harry has a infamous scar, Ron has an inferiority complex roughly the size of Hagrid. Nonetheless, he is member of Gryffindor House (obvi) and as such is loyal, true and brave...his fear of Voldemort and spiders aside.

Sidenote: if the members of my wolfpack were evaluated by the Sorting Hat, I bet you a billion galleons that we would all be Gryffindors. Except the Chuck Basses, that is--both the GG character and Katie's fish--they might be Slytherin.

At this point, you probably think I'm completely and weirdly obsessed with Harry Potter.

That may be true, but at least I'm not as obsessed as these folks:

Check out these guys too.

(How delightful are these muggles? Did you notice that the actor playing Harry is now Blaine on Glee? You can and SHOULD watch the whole musical on youtube.)

Anwayyyyy, compared to the lovely prose of J.K. Rowling's 7 books, the films are total rubbish. (Now read that sentence again with a british accent.)

However, my problems with the films have never been the actors. Where the script or set or cinematography may have failed me, what has never disappointed are the people that play these beloved wizards. In fact, what is so great about these movies is watching the actors--and thus the characters we love so much--grow up before our eyes. Ron Weasley, brilliantly played by Rupert Grint, is a perfect example. He went through puberty right before our eyes--which was somehow both awkward and adorable at the same time.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, see for yourself.

That last one gives you chills, doesn't it?