It's a Good Day When.....

 

I was procrastinating doing anything productive taking a break and was catching up on my reader. I ran across this little link-up, thanks to The Other Juliette, and thought it would be fun to participate!


It's a good day when......

... I don't hit snooze fifteen times.

... I get all of my working out done *before* work.

... my IPhone makes it through the day and into the evening without needing to be charged.

... I go to Disney.

... I get a good catch-up session with a friend.

... a favorite TV show is on and new.

... a random dance party breaks out at work.

... the weather is between 45 and 65 degrees.

... I am really productive at work, but not stressed.

... my family has a get-together (especially when it becomes Game Night).

... I get a massage or my nails done.

... a big storm happens after I'm already in for the day/evening.

... I eat at The Melting Pot.

Perk of the Job: Dinner in Diagon Alley

As annoying/stressful as my job gets, I fully admit that it has some amazing points. Like, the perks.

About a month ago, I received a package in the mail....

I was hoping for some sort of sneak peak of the expansion of Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought up the lengths they went to for their invitation and party.

Friday was the big day! Usually, myself and my coworker D get invited to these things (I'm promotions and he is sales, associated with the account). D's wife couldn't come, so he said I could invite another person! Score!!

My cousin Heidi and my coworker/friend M got to make a Girls' Night of it!!

 

We were directed to Hogsmeade (the original world in Islands of Adventure) where we were to ride the Hogwart's Express to King's Cross. As soon as we got to the new train station, I was like a 5 year old on Christmas morning.....

The roughly 3 minute train ride was magical! You actually do go into a cabin like they have in the films.....

According to the itinerary, we were to have a cocktail party in London from 7:30p until roughly 8:30p. What we didn't expect were servers as soon as we exited King's Cross Station holding appetizers and various drinks to enjoy. Um, hello, open bar!!

 

The London exterior is phenomenal. Just so cool to look at!!!

 

Around 8:45pm, they introduced the President of Universal Entertainment (can't remember his name) who spoke to us a little about "the project" as well as thanking us for the support of the years. He then introduced three actors from the films.... Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid). We were on the other side of the podium, so we could only see their heads, but it was still super exciting.

Finally, we were let into Diagon Alley. Other than a few pictures below, it was too dark to get good shots, but it is just phenomenal. After a while, you forget the world outside and think you are actually walking through the films.

They had the menu from The Leaky Cauldron set up in stations around the courtyard. My personal favorites were the salmon and the bacon-wrapped scallops. 

They had actors walking around, interacting with everyone! Those people did not break character, at all.

Of course they had a dessert buffet that featured the restaurant selections, as well as pastries from the ice cream shop. We decided it was our duty to sample them all.........

 

For the record, the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Guinness Cake won, by a landslide.

We enjoyed some more free drinks. Again, open bar. Walked around and stopped in the ice cream shop. The have Butterbeer Ice Cream.... I wasn't a fan and much prefer the frozen Butterbeer. The 'Earl Grey and Lavendar' ice cream? Do it!!!!

Our last stop was Gringott's Bank for the ride! First of all, it is surreal when you walk into the bank lobby. I almost expected the dragon to come up out of the floor. The ride was a ton of fun! I still think the ride in Hogwart's Castle is my favorite, but this was pretty great.

Eventually, the evening was over and we headed home. I *know* I'll visit again once the land officially opens up (and the crowds die down). Somehow, though, I doubt anything will live up to my first experience in Diagon Alley.

Things I Do Not Understand.........

.... crazy workout gear. One shoulder sports bras, shirts with "tiger slits" in them, crazy zig-zag ties.... I just don't get it. I'm all for looking as cute as possible while working out, but none of these seem to be conducive to actually working out.

.... people who lose shoes or articles of clothing in the middle of the road and just leave them. I'll be driving around and see a random shoe lying in the middle of the road. This morning, there was a whole pile of clothes. First off, HOW do you lose these things? Second, why in the world do just leave them there?

.... This guy....

All by myself from Richard Dunn on Vimeo.

Like, it's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

I just don't understand how you get stranded in the Las Vegas airport. Surely there were people working.

And, while he is the one on all these talk shows, etc, I feel as though taking a nap would be more on the agenda than filming a music video all over the airport.

Life Lately (in IPhone pics)....

One thing I love about my IPhone is being able to take decent pics at a moment's notice. One thing I hate about my IPhone is that the ease of photo-taking makes me lazy... I use my real, actual camera less and less.

Anyway, I was going through my Camera Roll and found some pics from the last month that basically tell what I've been up to......

I walked into my room and I found this.... Apparently, my brother decided that Mitt needed to watch over me as I slept, which was both creepy and funny.........

You know those "easy and quick" hair tutorials? Yeah, not so much. This was what my hair was supposed to look like and what it actually did look like after 5 tries.......

My former intern A is a doll. One of my absolute favorites. A year out of college and she has an AMAZING job, working for a very high-power politician. Like, it's a job that I'd kill to have. Anyway, she officially earned my envy when she met Fitz/The President/Tony Goldwyn. She also met Jake Ballard/Scott Foley, but neglected to get a picture. I died a little.........

My friend/coworker C held his annual Cinco De Mayo Party on May 3rd. It was full of fun, frivolity, and friends. I was coherent enough to snap a few pictures........

The group Parmalee performed in a local club back in May. A rather large group of us from the station went and we had a really great time!....

A client brought in blueberries for our morning show. FD wasn't going to be able to use his, so he gave them to me........................

In case you can't tell..... That is a full gallon, a full quart, and half a quart. I'm set on blueberries for a while!

My mom, Megan, and I went to Melting Pot, where my mom got this tasty-looking beverage.........

We also were delighted that Creme Brulee Chocolate was back!!! It is amazing.........

Last Friday, my brother had to have a procedure on his heart. He is fine now, but it was a very long day of sitting in one hospital waiting room after another. At one point, we were aghast/amused at the fact that Jerry Springer was still on the air. You really should hear five intelligent adults trying to keep the storylines straight....

To close us out....... I cannot believe that this beauty graduated from Pre-K on Monday and will be headed to Kindergarten!!!! I've said it so many times, but I will say it again.... If I'm never able to have children of my own (and I pray I will), God has blessed me with this little girl. So many moments of her life I've been able to be present and active.