When It’s Harry Potter Related you buy it!

Hallmark isn’t just killing me with their holiday movies but now with their Ornaments! I work part time at Kohl’s which is the only way I even knew this exsisted. It all happened because a customer came through my line with it. I rarely shop at Kohl’s but I could not pass this up. I will admit that I have no intentions of using this as a decoration on any tree EVER lol. Instead it is sitting on my book shelf. The ornament was 24.95 (just in case anyone else is interested in purchasing one).

Happy Harry Potter Day!

20 years ago today the magic begin; children and adults in the U.K. were introduced to Harry Potter and in the work of wizarding. A whole generation of children discovered the magic of reading. We all learned that Hogwarts will always be home!

👇🏾 Here is the gear that I wore to work today 🐍💚💛💚💛💚🐍! You know I had to rep my house!

Pottermore.....

Anyone that knows me well knows I am a huge Harry Potter fan. What's hilarious is that for years I have thought I was a Hufflepuff. And the first version of Pottermore actually sorted me into that house. However, last summer while in California I was sorted into Slytherin (by the sorting hat, while visiting Warner Brothers Studios). Tonight, I decided to log into Pottermore to be sorted into Ilvermony (the American Wizarding school)....however I had to register and decided to be re-sorted and have my wand chosen! Well, I am a Slytherin! Who knew! 

Also..I now rock an Ash Wood Wand!

Ash

The ash wand cleaves to its one true master and ought not to be passed on or gifted from the original owner, because it will lose power and skill. This tendency is extreme if the core is of unicorn. Old superstitions regarding wands rarely bear close examination, but I find that the old rhyme regarding rowan, chestnut, ash and hazel wands (rowan gossips, chestnut drones, ash is stubborn, hazel moans) contains a small nugget of truth. Those witches and wizards best suited to ash wands are not, in my experience, lightly swayed from their beliefs or purposes. However, the brash or over-confident witch or wizard, who often insists on trying wands of this prestigious wood, will be disappointed by its effects. The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant.

And Check out the common room!

Thoughts on the passing of Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman is best known for his role as Snape in the Harry Potter movies; however, he was first introduced to me in the film adaptation of Sense and Sensiblity (by Jane Austen). I loved him as Colonel Brandon and as I read through Austen's book this past summer I pictured Rickman sitting next to Kate Winslet reading to her. Him coming to the recuse of Brandon's lady love once she fell ill. Of course, his portrayal of Snape is one of my favorites. Mainly because Snape is my favorite Hogwarts Professor; in the books. Alan played him so beautifully and completely. So in honor of Mr. Rickman...I raise my wand and say with a heavy heart .... "ALWAYS" ⚡️ 

Adagio Fandom Teas Review

(Teas above are Jem Carstairs created by Auburn Kelton and Three Broomsticks created by Maddie W.)

As the months get a little colder, and the holidays approach I find myself in need of a nice cup of tea every evening. One of my good buddies, and fellow reader, Heidi M. Introduced me to Adagio teas. She recieved their "Cinderella" tea bags as part of her Owlcrate. She absolutely loved it and that made me want to hunt it down. Well, I ended up not purchasing that tea but purchasing several others. Among them were a Lemon Soliel black tea, Jasmine Pearl Green tea, and then these two amazing babies above. The Jem Carstairs tea is based on the character by Cassandra Clare (he is featured in The Infernal Devices series) this tea reminds me of Lady Earl Grey; which is one of my favorite teas. It's very smooth and light and has a beautiful fragrance. It does have a high level of caffeine so you will get a nice little buzz from it. This tea is one of many named for the Cassie Clare characters. I mainly picked this one because Jem is one of my favorite characters ever written. 

The next tea is Three Broomsticks; and any Harry Potter fan knows that the Three Broomsticks is only the best pub in Hogsmeade. I was extremely interested in this one because it recieved such amazing reviews. This tea has a very caramel taste, even without sugar. And it's scent is amazing. It is strong upon your first steeping but it mellows out upon a second brewing. This is a great morning tea, or mid afternoon tea. What I really loved about all of these teas is that I was able to reuse the leaves up to four times without losing any flavor or potency. Which in my opinion is a good sign of a high quality tea. I will definitely be back on the Adagio website after the holidays to order more tea! Of course any other fandom teas will be reviewed her as well. 

Here is a list of some of the other fandom teas is saw listed:

- Divergent

- Jane Austen

- Doctor Who

- Nightmare Before Christmas

- Edgar Allan Poe

- Jane Eyre 

- Harry Potter Characters

- Harry Potter Houses

And many many more! 

Harry Potter Tim Burton Style

I happened upon these last night on Pinterest and I just had to share them. 

The Awesome August Book Photo Challenge Day 16: Favorite Fandoms

#BooksNotBullets....Happy 18th Malala!

#BooksNotBullets 

I Support books not bullets because reading and education opens the mind to all the infinite possibilities of the universe. When we choose books we are choosing a life that allows us to become better communicators and problem solvers. Through reading we become more empathic and diverse. By reading; no matter the topic, we are actively learning. Our imaginations are working and we are evolving into better people. Bullets simply can not make us better people...in honor of Malala Yousafzai's 18th birthday I am choosing to highlight some of my all time favorite books and explaining why these books are not only inspiring, entertaining but so much better than bullets.

The Books I choose:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker; because Celie is a young woman who does not let diversity stop her. Though she is beaten, and raped by her stepfather and then married off at a young age, and separated from her sister she still strives to better herself. She wants the best for not only herself but the ones she loves as well. Celie embodies well all that it means to fight back and regain your power.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling; Whats not to love about this series. The trio; Harry, Ron and Hermonie best reflect what true and lasting friendship looks like. Though they have their rough patches they stand up together to battle Lord Voldermort. 

Night by Elie Wiesel; this book is a favorite of mine because like Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl it is about a young person that is forced to face one of the darkest hours of world history. In this short volume we witness the horrors of the concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald as seen through the eyes of a young Elie Wiesel. At the heart of this book is the simple truth that sometimes even at the darkest times you will still be able to survive. 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; this book has stayed with me since reading it my senior year of college. This book is all about a world so close to our own today. People use drugs to keep themselves happy and "even", and they are obsessed with watching "screens". All knowledge and learning is suppressed and instead of fireman putting out fires they are lighting them; to burn books. Bradbury was ahead of his time when he wrote this book; its almost like he knew where our world might be heading and he wanted to warn us ahead of time.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan; which is a book about mothers and daughters and how they battle to overcome the obstacles that keep them from understanding one another. This book is sad, funny, haunting and beautiful. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas; Celaena is an unlikely any other female character I have seen written in sometime. She is an orphan who was taken in by an assassin and taught to kill. She has a lot to prove if she wants to keep her freedom. What I love about Celaena is that she is a book lover. She reads to escape just like we do. I also love that  she fights to overcome her past and to regain her freedom. 

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series) by Cassandra Clare; what is not to love about  a story such a this. In the Mortal Instruments series we come upon a world that stands parallel into with our own and the only way to stop the war that is going on within the Shadow world from spilling into ours is for Shadowhunters to protect us. 

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book 3) by Suzanne Collins. I choose Mockinjay because it is a book about a revolution. In this book we have a reluctant heroine in Katniss; a young woman that just wants to live out her life in piece and like a puppet she is pulled along by strings until she changes the game. Katniss represents what a true hero really should be; unpredictable, ballsy, and thoughtful. 

If you need anymore information on any of these books it can be found on thereadingroom.com or goodreads.com. They are also available for purchase on amazon.com as well as other fine retailers. Feel free to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com for more reviews and book related editorials and news.   

Happy International Women's Day!!!

On this International Women's Day The Bookbabe would like to uplift every female author (both published and unpublished) who has been brave enough to give away a part of themselves in their writings! 

Dumbledore is out of control!

A Harry Potter Milestone <3

At the strike of midnight on July 21st, 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. I fondly remember standing in line to buy two copies of the book; I was super excited. The Harry Potter series (in my humble opinion) remains one of my all time favorite series. It turned millions of kids into readers; lighting a spark in their imagination....May that spark grow into a steady flame that lights their way to many more interesting and exciting worlds that they can only find within the pages of a book.

A Harry Potter Milestone <3

At the strike of midnight on July 21st, 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. I fondly remember standing in line to buy two copies of the book; I was super excited. The Harry Potter series (in my humble opinion) remains one of my all time favorite series. It turned millions of kids into readers; lighting a spark in their imagination....May that spark grow into a steady flame that lights their way to many more interesting and exciting worlds that they can only find within the pages of a book.