How To Fangirl: How To Make A Mandrake Baby

Awhile back on Pinterest, I found this amazing cupcake idea for Mandrake cupcakes!  It's absolutely PERFECT for my Harry Potter themed Halloween party!  So I'm really excited about it!  Hence the exclamation points!!!

I'll show you how to make the whole shebang closer to Halloween, obviously, but for right now I'm going to show you how to make the adorbs mandrake baby in the middle of the cupcake.

What You'll Need:

- 1 package of plastic baby favors (You can find these pretty much anywhere that has a baby shower section.)
- 1 sprig of foliage (this can be found at any craft store in the flower section. Just look for whatever kind you like the best.)
- a glue gun
- glue sticks (obviously)
- scissors
- a plastic box (for storage)

And, I don't need to tell you this, but USE COUPONS whenever possible. (Michael's and Hobby Lobby almost always offer coupons for at least 40% off.  Just check their websites and click on "Weekly Offers."  I even linked them for you!)

How You Do It:

Step 1:  Plug in your glue gun and let that sucker heat up.

Step 2:  While you wait on that, start cutting your foliage the desired length. It's totally up to you if you want it a little longer or a little shorter. I went with a medium length.  When you're done cutting enough for the amount of babies you have, set it aside.

Step 3:  Take your plastic babies out of their packaging and try not to get creeped out by the ones with the crazy eyes.

 I'll have your souls!!!

Step 4:  Your glue gun should be good and hot by now, so we're ready to glue our foliage on top of our plastic baby's head!  Let's do it!  Use your glue gun and apply just a tiny drop of glue on baby's head.  Quickly, before your glue dries, press your foliage into the glue.  (Careful, cos that shit's hot.)  You might want to add one more little drop of glue just to make sure your foliage is good and stuck.  Reinforce that shit!  Feel free to add a little more foliage if baby looks a little too bare for your taste.  Let it dry completely and then peel off any of those glue strings that you get when using a glue gun.  You know the ones I'm talking about.

Step 5:  Now just repeat the steps for however many mandrake cupcakes you'd like to make.  And BAM!  You got yourself a mandrake baby!

Step 6:  Put the lil' guys in your plastic storage box and store it somewhere you'll remember.  Cos there's nothing worse than making something awesome and then forgetting where you put it.

Fangirl Pro Tip #1:  You'll more than likely have some foliage left over. Keep it!  You can always reuse it next year for more mandrake cupcakes and that'll be one less thing you have to buy!

The Damage:

Like any good crafter, I already had a glue gun and glue sticks. And like any good type A, overly organized, obsessive compulsive, I already had a storage box handy too. 
So I only needed to purchase the babies and the foliage.
After using coupons, I got 40% off each item and I ended up spending a mere $2.98 for the whole project!  Holla!

And with that, I'm now officially one step closer to being prepared for my amazing Harry Potter Halloween!  Don't forget to check back often for even more ideas!

Mischief Managed!      

Quick-Fire Linky-Dinkage: Books Into TV And Movies News And J.K. Rowling's New Book News

*Let's get to the biggest, most exciting, newsest news of all first:
Information about J.K. Rowling's new non-Harry Potter book has FINALLY been released!!!
We already knew it would be a book for adults but now we've been given the title, a little information on the premise and the release date!
The title will be The Casual Vacancy and it'll be a mystery. Maybe even a murder mystery.  The book is set to be released September 27th! Here's the actual link if you wanna check out all the info. And here's a little snippet to help you fangirl it up even more:

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

The above from Little Brown's website.

*Aw Sookie Sookie now! True Blood season 4 is coming to DVD! Relive (or, uh, live for the first time if you're, like me, too broke to afford HBO) all the madness of crazy witch Marnie, puppy dog Eric, rapey ass were-panthers and the ever yumminess of Alcide! Season 4 will be out May 29th.

*The Mortal Instruments movie got a release date. The movie will be in theaters August 23rd, 2013.

*There's been a change in the lineup for the Beautiful Creatures movie. Jack O' Connell, who was previously tapped to play Ethan Wate, is being replaced "due to scheduling conflicts." An actor by the name of Alden Ehrenreich will be taking up the role. 

* The movie rights to Lauren Oliver's book Before I Fall were swooped up a loooooong time ago but this just in: now the project has a director. It's been reported that Gina Prince-Blythwood (who directed The Secret Life Of Bees. Which was a really good movie.) is in negotiations to direct Lauren Oliver's debut novel/debut book into movie.

*Here's our first little looksie at AnnaSophia Robb as Lil' Carrie Bradshaw. What do y'all think? Is she Carrie enough? She does look semi-bag-lady-that's-been-struck-by-lightning. Which is so very Carrie! So this little project just might work. i personally haven't read the series the show is based on (The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell) so i know shit-all about the concept other than it's Carrie before she moved to New York and when she was merely Carrie Bradshaw as opposed to Carrie Bradshaw. So if any of my blogger buddies out there wanna school me on the haps with this series, please do so in the comments section below.
While we're still on The Carrie Diaries subject, two more peeps have been added to the cast. Chloe Bridges will star as Carrie's nemesis, the incredibly stupidly named, Donna Ladonna. While Austin Butler will play the role of Sebastian Kydd, resident hottie and Carrie's crush.  

*And lastly, here's a new trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman. In this one Kristen Stewart actually speaks, which, mercifully, wasn't the case in the last trailer that i posted for this movie. She has a shitty Britty accent. Which is kind of odd since she's (allegedly) dating a Brit. She should be used to accidentally slipping into a British accent simply because she's (allegedly) boning a British dude. You know, like Madonna.

Anyhoo, K Stew aside, the movie also stars a scary ass Charlize Theron as the evil queen and the giant-headed Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman. It'll be at a theater near you starting June 1st.

Based on the trailer, it looks like it could have some potential. The graphics are pretty amazing. Although it does make me wonder, if they can make Charlize disintegrate into a murder of crows couldn't they do something about Kristen Stewart's perma-constipated face? It seems like that would be an easier challenge of the two. :)

That's all the news i've got for you. Now it's your turn to tell me what you think. 

How excited are you for brand spankin' new Rowling? Who do you think should play Sam in Before I Fall? Are you gonna check out The Carrie Diaries or just stick to Sex And The City reruns? Does Chris Hemsworth's abnormally large head befuddle you?

Tell me all about it in the comments section.  

Books Into Movies News Plus Spoilerrific Harry Potter Finale Goodness

One of my favorite YA book series, The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, will soon be getting a Hollywood movie makeover. Which has me kinda concerned as it's being described as "a young Moulin Rouge."
That worries me because, for one thing, this book is NOTHING like Moulin Rouge, and secondly, i HATED Moulin Rouge! So. Fingers crossed they won't fuck this one up.

Ally Carter's Heist Society (which is TBRing it on my shelves right now) will also be going from book to movie soon, with Drew Barrymore signed on as one of the producers. No word on who will star in it yet but i'll keep you posted.

Popular kid-lit, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, which will apparently be known simply as Hugo in Martin Scorsese's movie version, finally has a trailer out. Check it out:



Two words. Hit. Girl!!! i think Chloe Moretz is beyond awesome! Plus she's got a really good British accent! The movie looks pretty interesting. i still haven't read the book yet but i'm thinking it might need to be added to the ol' teetering TBR pile.

And now, finally, the Harry Potter finale goodness! So...

Depending on how far you've read/viewed:

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

So, other than breaking all kind of box office records, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is fucking AWESOME!!! OMG!!! So obvs i just got back from seeing it. i went with 2D but, honestly, i kinda wish i had sprung for that extra D.
The special effects were incredible. The whole movie is so super tense. When i left the theater my legs were stiff from being scrunched up so tight. i was worried bout my peeps, y'all.

Stand-out moments? Lets see...
Not to sound like a perv or anything but the Ron/Hermione kiss was swoontastic!
Molly Weasley kicking Bellatrix's ass. And calling her a bitch!
Neville champing it up all while rocking a Cosby/Mr. Rogers hybrid sweater like only Neville can.
Also Neville slicing Nagini is truly a cheerworthy moment.
Snape! Oh the Snapeyness!
Harry's badass wand fight against Voldemort.
Snape's emotional flashback. Alan Rickman did a phenom job of taking his character from monotone to vulnerable.
The dragon ride was so visually amazing.

Ok. For reals? i totally wanna go see this movie again!
However, my advice to you, dear friends, would be this:

When you go--- DON'T take a Muggle with you. They ask too many questions which then distracts you, a Hogwarts alum, from completely enjoying the movie. Seriously. At one point my mom turned to me, gasped and said "Oh my God! Is Snape Harry's daddy?!" Mom. Seriously? Calm it down with this ridiculousness. Now lets go get our 3D tickets for next weekend. :)



Books Into Movies Linky-Dink-O-Rama

Mortal Instruments movie news: Jamie Campbell Bower has been cast as Jace Wayland, who i'm guessing is the main dude in the books. i still haven't read this series but i really need to. i was hoping to get to it this month for my TBR Challenge but i don't know if i'll be able to what with the moving and all. At any rate, i plan on reading the first book, City of Bones, as soon as i can. i don't know when the movie is gonna come out but i'll keep you posted with any and all details.

Here's the trailer for One Day by David Nicholls starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. It's also yet another book on my TBR pile that i've been meaning to get to. It looks very chick-flicky. i hate Anne Hathaway's accent. i realize that she is not British but she is an actor so she should really get a dialect coach or something. i do love that 90s fashion though. ;) The movie is supposed to come out sometime this summer.



i've actually done my homework as far as this next book into movie goes.
It's the trailer for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. i've read this book and seen the original Swedish movie version. This version stars Rooney Mara and my homeboy Daniel Craig. This particular trailer looks super action-packed. i had probs with the book because, in my opinion, it was NOT super action-packed. It was mainly like reading about someone drinking coffee and researching. i know, bring me my defibrillator. i'll probably end up watching this one but not at the theater. i'll probably just Netflix it. Although i do love me some Daniel Craig. And if it's anything like the book or the other movie there is a good chance that he might be a little nekkid! The movie should be out around Christmastime. Cos nothing says Happy Birthday to our Savior like rape and a murder mystery.  



i'll finish this post with my favorite kind of book into movie news: HARRY POTTER!!!
First off, as i'm sure all my fellow PottHeads know, there's this. Which is ultra mysterious and totally awesome. It's Pottermore! Which is..... well i don't know what it is. When you go to the website and click on the owls it leads you to this YouTube video, which is a countdown to....... something. JK Rowling is gonna make some kind of announcement. It says that the owls are gathering. What are they gathering for? i have no idea. But i'm excited as fuck to find out!!!
And lastly, here it is y'all! Probably the last Harry Potter trailer EVER! *sob*



God i can't wait to see this movie! This trailer literally gave me goosebumps. i have a feeling that this will be the best Harry Potter movie ever!
July 15th, y'all. We don't have to wait too much longer. It'll be sad too though because this one is the last one. No more Harry Potter. But damnit it looks so good! Let's watch that trailer again. And cry like a ginormous wizard-loving baby.

The Books Into Movies Trifecta: Harry Potter, Hunger Games and Twilight News

It's official y'all. Elizabeth Banks nabbed the role of Effie. What do you think about that? i'm kinda on the fence with this decision. i like her alright but i was really hoping it would go to Kristin Chenoweth. i think she'd make the perfect Effie.

In even more Hunger Games movie news, two more Tributes have been cast. The Tributes for District 4 will be Ethan Jamieson and Tara Macken. So far most of the Tribs have been relative unknowns. i want to know who they'll cast as Foxface. And of course you know my ongoing obsession with whoever will play Haymitch. i've also been wondering who they'll get to play the evil President Snow. i haven't heard any names being thrown around for that role. It's been awhile since i read the first book, does President Snow make an appearance in The Hunger Games or am i thinking about Catching Fire.  Just gives me a good excuse to reread them! :)

Entertainment Weekly just revealed some photos from the set of Breaking Dawn. Bella and Edward win the cover of the mag yet again this week. i flipped through them. i don't know. i'm not as excited for this movie as i am for the final Harry Potter and the much anticipated Hunger Games. This one i feel like, "Well i've seen the first three so i might as well bring it on home." Anyone else out there feeling kinda burnt out on the whole Twilight franchise? 
P.S. That pic of Jacob shirtless running through what looks like a sprinkler is so ridiculous.

And finally, here is the trailer for the final installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. *bawls eyes out* Y'all, this is it. The last little bit of Harry. No more books. No more movies. *rolls around on floor in pathetic fangirl heap* It ends July 15th. Are you ready?

Harry Potter And The Awesome Ending

i'm almost too excited for words. But here are some anyway. i FINALLY went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows today!!!! Yes, i know that the movie has only been out for 3 days & that by using the word FINALLY (& in all caps to boot) may seem a little overly dramatic but come on! It's Harry Potter for God's sake! & not just any Harry Potter but the beginning of the end of Harry Potter! So if you look at it that way, then having to wait 2 whole days to see it really is a special kind of torture. All my fellow Pott-heads out there know what i'm saying & for me, that's all that really matter. 
In case you're at all wondering, (which if you're any kind of awesome you should be) it was so fucking awesome!!!  Even though it wasn't in 3-D. Which i don't even really mind because i kinda hate 3-D & think it's stupid & that it's crazy that people are acting like it was just invented when there were tons of super lame 80's movies that were in 3-D so it's been around a long time & no one was really impressed with it back then so why should we be impressed with it now! Plus you have to pay like $5 extra just so you can have those ugly plastic glasses which you don't even get to keep! Anyhoozle, my point, before i went off on that tangent, was that i'm not a huge fan of 3-D anyway so when i heard that they weren't gonna make part 1 all 3-D i wasn't particularly bummed. However, when i was watching the movie there were a few moments when i thought "now that would have looked cool in 3-D!" 
& i think by now we all know that all the real ass fighting will be going down next summer. So i may have to rethink my position on 3-D because i do believe that the epic fight scenes next year are gonna be totes awesome & maybe something that i'll wanna see in a different dimension;)
i'll leave you guys with this, if you haven't gone to see Deathly Hallows yet- GO SEE IT! It was awesome & sad & amazing & beautiful & terrifying & Oh Dobby why?!?!? That part had me near tears. GO SEE IT!!!!! 
P.S. Just for fun here is a parody of the trailer that i thought was pretty funny! Enjoy! (& then go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!) 

Squeal With Delight Over The New Harry Potter Trailer

Ok peeps, i am sooooo beyond excited for this! it's the latest trailer for Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1! Which, of course comes out November 19th! Can i get a Woo-Hoo for that? i mean, can you name one person that isn't psyched about this movie? Go on, try. Can you name one?  If you answered "Yes i can name one,"  my answer to you would then be "Why are you hanging out with this dipshit? Lose 'em immediately!"

So there it is! How awesome does this look!!!! i'm excited but then sad because this is truly the beginning of the end of the Harry Potter franchise. i've spent so many years with these books & these movies & these characters & soon enough it'll all just be over. Very sad stuff. Very sad indeed. Only 2 movies left, muffins. Then what are we gonna do with ourselves? 

Obsess over The Hunger Games franchise, perhaps?