I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!! Ok, I grew up reading the Harry Potter books, and I'll be the first to admit, I was completely obsessed with them. My hope that Harry was a real person and that I was going to get my letter to Hogwarts was kind of like Santa Clause... You know it's probably not going to happen, but you have to keep dreaming just a little... So the day I turned 11, I hoped that I would get that letter inviting me to attend Hogwarts, but of course, Owl Post just doesn't work that well in Colorado! I'm still about halfway convinced that my owl got lost in a freak snowstorm multiple times.... It could happen...

Anyways, one of the most amazing things I did in London was the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who may have harbored similar ambitions as a sad muggle-born 11 year old. The second you get to the studios, it's immediately Harry Potter overload. They start the tour off with the usual pull at your heart-strings, Harry Potter changed lives movie, which of course is extremely well done. And then, the screen lifts, and you are at HOGWARTS, literally at the doors to the Great Hall with all your dreams about to come true. (Sorry Disney World,  but Harry Potter is actually the most magical place on earth...) And then the doors open, and you die.

The studio is amazing, you get to walk through everything! All of the sets, props, costumes, you name it, it's there. They even have the creatures they created just for the movie, like Aragog the GIANT spider who will give me nightmares for the rest of my life, and the robot face of Hagrid that they placed on the actors body double! They have lots of fun things at the studio, like riding a broomstick. Who wouldn't want to ride a broomstick!?! So, I did the SUPER cheesy video of me riding through London, but I got my picture and even got to wear my Hufflepuff robes. (Yes, I'm a Hufflepuff, laugh all you want. I'm still bitter about it...) you also get to go to Platform 9 3/4 and take your picture! Surprisingly, they also have pretty good food, and my favorite, BUTTER BEER!!!!!!!

I'm still in slight shock over the amazingness that was this day. I could easily go back and have the exact same reaction of complete awe. For those of my friends that live in Orlando, Harry Potter World at Universal really did an outstanding job at imitating the actual sets, so if you can't make the trip to London, go drink some Butter Beer there!

As always, Mischief Managed!

Love, Alison