Butterbeer

In Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can find Butterbeer to quench your thirst.

It's cold, creamy & frothy.

A combination of shortbread and butterscotch.

It's on tap...or frozen.

I preferred it frozen.

It tastes a lot like cream soda.  But with a little magic.

J.K. Rowling, the author of the series, made sure it tasted "just right."  

She was asked what butterbeer tastes like, and she said: 

"I made it up. I imagine it to taste a little bit like less sickly butterscotch."

The version sold at The Wizarding World was tasted and approved by Rowling herself.

And we got to keep the mug, of course.

Flight of the Hippogriff

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Orlando, Florida...over by Hagrid's Hut...

...is a roller coaster ride for a whole family, called The Flight of the Hippogriff.

Before you begin the ride, Hagrid instructs the muggles that they must bow to the Hippogriff.

The front of the roller coaster train is the figure of a Hippogriff.

The ride is fast and furious...and over quickly.

So my boys just kept riding it again and again until they had their fill.

They LOVED it.

And they didn't throw up butterbeer.  hehe

We visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the same week it opened, so it was super croweded, 

but still a LOT of fun.

Hogwarts Castle

Two weeks ago, I was in Florida on vacation.

And, we visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.

It was super crowded, but the first thing you see as you arrive?

The Hogwarts castle.

Here's my photo below.

I'll post more about our visit there soon!!

The FBI's got nothing on Disney.

The FBI has fingerprint database that tracks fingerprints to help law enforcement solve crimes: The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System.

They house "the fingerprints and criminal histories for more than 66 million subjects in the criminal master file, along with more than 25 million civil prints. Included in our criminal database are fingerprints from 73,000 known and suspected terrorists processed by the U.S. or by international law enforcement agencies who work with us."

But, you know what? Disney World also has a fingerprint database.

To get into their parks, you have to put your card through a machine...and match it with your fingerprint.

I bet Disney World has a better and more comprehensive database than the FBI, whatcha wanna bet?!!

Disney's Grand Floridian : Turndown Service

We've just returned from a week-long stay at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.


It was a wonderful, beautiful, magical place.

But, one of my favorite parts?

Turn down Service

- Comforter pulled back, pillows fluffed, lights lowered and curtains closed...

ice bucket filled and chocolate by my pillow.

Do you think I could train my kids to do this for me nightly?

I blame Nancy Drew

From the time I could read, I knew I wanted to be a private detective.

Specifically a strawberry-haired teenage sleuth named Nancy Drew.

I'd love to make a living looking for clues, having amazing experiences & most importantly, solving mysteries.

Damn you, Nancy Drew.

She's ruined me for all other employment.

Nothing else compares.

Two best friends and a cute boyfriend...and a flare for hidden stairs.

Words with Friends - NewToy

As I've mentioned before, I LOVE my iPhone.

It's become a staple in my life that I can't live without!

One of my absolutely favorite apps is called Words with Friends.

I think I have about 10 games going right now with other iPhone users...I play my 13 yr old son, my sister who lives in California, a friend from high school, and a few blogger friends I've never met! 

It's a blast!

I'm a word freak.

I love playing word games.

This game is so much fun.

AND, guess what I just discovered?

The company that developed it , New Toy Inc, also made Age of Empires, 

my 13 yr old son's absolute favorite game ever...

and they made a HALO game, which is another favorite game in our household.

And, I also discovered...they are my neighbors!

They live here in McKinney!

It's fate.

And, if my hunch is correct, 

they work out of one of the coolest looking old warehouses downtown 

that I love to take photos of...

I've just decided to check out their Chess with Friends free app...

because I am an avid fan of chess as well.