Review: The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike by Dinah Bucholz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I got this a few Christmases ago from my sister in law, who also loves Harry Potter.

This is a great book, that's filled with very interesting, mainly English recipes. Some of them are a bit unusual, to someone like me, who's not used to eating them.

There are a well balanced mix of complex dishes as well as really basic ones. This book is good for novice and expert cooks alike. It would be an interesting book to use with a kids cooking class, to help them engage with learning recipes, and possibly trying new foods.

I also love the headers of the uses of food throughout the Harry Potter books. It's also got some great tidbits of history, and how food was introduced and used in the past.

What's one food from the Harry Potter series that you would love to try?

Behind the Blog 24: Siblings

Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!

This week's theme is: Siblings

Every family is different. This week we’re asking you about yours. Do you have any siblings? If you do, can you tell us anything about them? If you don’t, did you have any friends who felt like siblings to you? How has the ideas surrounding brothers and sisters shaped your life?

In relation to media; are there any siblings in books or films that you truly love? Any that you wish were your own?

I have 2 sisters, one older, one younger. I don't want to invade their privacy, and I don't know that they would appreciate me talking about them too much online, so I won't say much, except that I'm lucky to have siblings. I think it would be lonely not to have siblings.

On that same thread though, I think it's possible to adopt your friends as siblings, too. My friend Tanya, who's been my friend for more than 15 years now, is like a sister to me. When you've been friends with someone for that long, it's impossible not to feel like family.

There's a line in Baz Luhrman's song Everybody's Free ( To wear sunscreen) that explains a really important aspect of having a sibling and that's this:

Be nice to your siblings; 
They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I think it's much easier in some ways to get along with your siblings when you're older than when your kids. You're more mature, you've been through a lot together, and you can learn to agree to disagree. When you're a kid you don't quite have that same capacity. As adults you can bond over shared memories more. (And, you usually have different versions/perspectives on them)

Books and Media:

The Outsiders:

I really like the sibling relationship between Darryl, Ponyboy and Sodapop. They fight and argue sometimes  but they're also really close to each other. They look out for each other in a way that most siblings don't. In that same line of thought, the whole Greasers gang feels like one big family of brothers, because they protect each other the way they do.

Harry Potter:

I included Harry Potter because I really like the dynamic of Ron's family. They're such a loveable strong family. It's hard not to want to go and live with them. Everyone is so happy all the time, and they make sure that they welcome people into their family with ease. It's so easy to like them.

Charmed:

I love the dynamic between the sisters on this show. If I had to choose siblings that I would like to have (in addition to the ones I have of course,) I'd choose Piper and Phoebe. I identify a lot with Piper's character, because we're both middle children and both mediators. And Phoebe's just fun.

What siblings from books or media would you like to have?

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Behind the Blog 23: It's All in the Numbers

Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!

This week's theme is: It's All in the Numbers

Do you believe in lucky numbers, or certain number combinations/sequences? Do you have a favorite number? Any numbers that you feel are unlucky?

In relation to books and media, what are some books or movies that focus on specific numbers?

Today's post is very special to me in particular because today is my 27th birthday. The last exponential birthday I get to to have. I highly doubt I'd make it to 4^4 which is 256 and I'm okay with that.  Alex of Alexandra's Scribblings let me in on the fact that the ancient Celts though that both three and nine were magic numbers so since 27 is 9X3 it must be the ultimate magical amazing lucky number. I agree wholeheartedly with this idea.

I'm hoping that the combination of the exponential power of this birthday as well as the date will bring me some luck in this next year of my life. I feel extremely lucky to get to have a "sequential birthday" being that it's 10/11/12.

I'm really hoping that this year of my life is lucky for me in a lot of ways. Both in my personal and professional lives.

Here's to hoping and fingers crossed! (Now if only this were BTB post # 27, that would be perfect!)

Books and Media Tie in:

In terms of books that focus on numbers, the only ones that I can specifically think of right now are Harry Potter (platform 9 3/4) and Scott Westerfields Midnighters' series where 13 is the ultimate number of protection for those characters (sorry guys I'm a bit too lazy for links right now.)

And of course, since it's my "Charmed" birthday and all, the most awesome series of all time, Charmed must be mentioned.

What are some shows, movies, or books that you can think of that deal with numbers or number sequences?

Also, don't forget to enter my It's All in the Numbers Birthday Giveaway

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Are you joining us? Here are our rules:

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Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins: One of my new favorites

Title: Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)

Author: Rachael Hawkins 

Publisher:  Hyperion Book CH

Published: March 2, 2010

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 336

Source: Library

Read: September 1-2 2012

In A Few Words: Laugh Out Loud Funny

My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads: Add This to your TBR Shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her

Melissa's Musings:

Let me start out by saying I absolutely LOVED this book! I have a soft spot for books about witches as it is,  but I enjoyed Hex Hall for more than the fact that I love books about witches.

The writing is very easygoing, and the dialogue is, lets say true to the characters. It flows easily. Most of the characters in this book are teenagers, and they talk like they're teenagers. In some books this can get annoying, but not here. I think the easiness of the dialogue is one of the reasons I was able to fall in love with Sophie so quickly. She's just easy to relate to, and real.

One of the interesting things about this book is that it starts out with Sophie having already been a witch for three years. A lot of books about witches start out before, or right as the witches come into their powers, so that readers can see them grow into the powers and test them out. It was surprising that this story started out with  Sophie already having been a witch for so long. I have to say I was curious about the background and the past three years of her having her powers. Some of these events are mentioned, but there isn't a whole lot of detail. I'm hoping the first three years of her having powers is explored a little further in the coming books in the series.

Another thing that I love about this book is that it's hilarious! There were moments that had me laughing out loud, to the point where my sister asked me what was so funny. I made sure to note one of my favorite quotes that had me laughing. Of course it'd  be funnier in context if you read this book, but it stands well by itself too.

In this scene, Sophie is trying to create a dress for the upcoming All Hallow's eve ball, and she's not having much success.

I opened my eyes to stare at a bright blue tulle monstrosity with a skirt that would hit me at mid thigh. I'd look like the really slutty bride of Cookie Monster. (pg. 233)

Just the thought of a bride of Cookie Monster has me smiling as I'm typing this, so the thought of a slutty one at that is even more funny.

The names in the story are unique as well. Sophie is a common name, but then there you have characters with names like Chaston and Elodie, and those are a bit more unique. Plus the name of the school is Hecate Hall, which is cool in and of itself, since Hecate was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Fitting name for a school of supernatural students.

Since I've read a lot of books with witches in them, I did find it a little strange that when Chaston, Elodie and Anna are trying to convince Sophie to join their coven, they keep saying that they need a 4th to make them stronger. Usually, the symbol of the pentagram is important in books about witchcraft, so I associate 5, not 4, as being a number of strength.

And, one of the best things about this is that there's a Harry Potter reference in this book! I won't spoil it for anyone who wants to read it, but books with HP references always make me smile.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking to start a new series about witches, or anyone looking for a fun read.

This was an awesome book and I can't wait to read the other two in the series! Have you read it? What did  you think?

Harry Potter References in Everyday Life

I think I've posted about my great love for the Harry Potter series here on the blog before. If I haven't then I really should. Potterthon is going on right now and while I was going to write a post about Harry Potter sometime this month, this situation couldn't fit any more perfectly and I didn't even have to come up with it. (I still will write a HP post before the end of the month though)

Yesterday, my dad, my sister, my niece  and I went out for dinner. As we were getting home and getting out of the car, my dad noticed a garter snake crawling around in the rocks around our house. He was pointing it out to my niece, who kept saying how much she wanted to see it. She looked at it for a while, and then it slithered off between a couple of rocks.

She was upset by this, and kept asking for it, saying that she wanted to see it again. We kept telling her that the snake had to go home for dinner. I made the mistake of telling her that it's mommy and daddy had called it home for dinner and this only caused her to say that she wanted to see the mommy and daddy snake too! She was going on and on about how she wanted to see the snake. She told my sister that she wanted mommy to make the snake come back.

So my sister says, completely dead pan... "I'm not a snake whisperer, you'll have to talk to Harry Potter about that"

I heard this, and burst into laughter. It was just the way she said it, and the way it fit perfectly in the situation.

Now, my niece is only two, so she hasn't read Harry Potter and of course she didn't get the reference, but that's okay. I'm sure we'll tell her about it some day when she's older.

I have to love a situation like this where something I've read comes up in everyday situations.

Have any of you ever had a situation like this where  Harry Potter (or any other book for that matter) references come up and fit perfectly in every day life situations?