5 Reasons you should visit The Harry Potter Studio Tours

Recently I visited the Harry Potter Studio Tours as a birthday treat from my Mum. I had an amazing time. I've purposely not posted too many photos because I feel that I may spoil it for others who also want to go. I avoided all blog posts about the tour because I didn't want any sneak previews. There will be a few photos in this post so if you are the same way inclined you may want to move along. How about you read something from my archives instead *wink wink*

For those who are wanting to visit the Warner Bros Studios, here are 5 reasons why you should definitely book your tickets and if you've already booked your tickets,then these 5 reasons will build up your excitement for the big day!

1) Everything in the studio tour is FOR REAL. It is totally genuine, has actually been worn, held, touched, sat on (and more!) by the actual cast who starred in the Harry Potter films. It is where some of your favourite actors and actresses have stood,walked and acted. Probably the closest most of us will get to the cast of Harry Potter and it doesn't feel like a bad thing.

2) You really can't appreciate the hours of skill and hard work it takes to make these films until you see the props for yourself. Handmade wands, clothes, animals. Creatures beyond your imagination hancrafted and made to move. Books, cloaks, houses and...

3) The breathtaking sight that is Hogwarts Castle.

4) You get what you pay for, and more. We paid £31.00 for adult tickets and £23.50 for a child ticket. We spent nearly 4 hours at the tour and you can spend so much longer if wanted. You can take your time, wander at your own pace. You can find friendly staff to talk to who are full of extra, interesting facts rather than be led about the studios by a tour guide. You can read the factual information without rushing, take as many photos as you like, ride broomsticks and when there are events on (Dark Arts Week was on when I visited for example) you don't pay any extra to enjoy the experience.

Nagini at The Malfoy Manor

Charity Burbage's unfortunate death awaits her by the hands of Lord Voldemort at Malfoy Manor

5) Forget theme park rides in Florida, seeing the making of one my favourite books come to life in film was amazing. To see all the props and hard work that went into making these films was something I'd happily do again. For any Harry Potter fan who has read every book and seen every film, the Warner Bros Studio Tour brings to life the magic of JK Rowling's most brilliant characters and their journeys in the wizarding world. A side from dreaming I'm an actual witch going to Hogwarts, I'm happy that I can get this close to the magic of Harry Potter.

There are way more reasons to go and visit the studios, of course, but why not go and explore them for yourself and have an excellent time!

Tantrums are Tough

Little A is roughly 30 months old (I stopped counting a while ago, it's whole numbers from 2!) and we're in that very uncomfortable phase of the daily tantrum.
I hate tantrums. I hate how they turn my loving, cuddly little boy into a little, wailing monster. But they are something which pretty much every toddler will go through (yes, even your perfect blue eyed little baby who will 'never behave like that in public' ) will most likely have a good few tantrums when they reach the toddler years.

My son is one of those toddlers whose tantrums are hard to deal with. The crying and screaming go through me like nothing I've ever known, he thrashes around like his sister never did and worst of all he head bangs. This is something that occurs mostly at night when he's upset about being left for bedtime. We've come to know that whilst it looks bad, he isn't doing any permeant damage to himself. Since we've learnt to let him get on with the head banging, he has done it less and less and certainly not for as long. He will only stop completely when we move him from his cot bed to a proper bed, which isn't that far off now.

I don't believe anyone really knows how to 'deal' with temper tantrums. Children have little way to communicate and sometimes when something hasn't gone their way it can be hard for them to deal with their feelings. They are confused and angry, they can't talk it out or crank up the stereo like I know I do. So what do they do? They scream, cry, hit, thrash about or perhaps, like my little guy, they do all of the above!
This is a phase we as parents block out I believe. I know we did time out (as opposed to calling it the naughty step/corner) with Midge until I grew thicker skin and learned that letting her have her moment was the best thing. She wasn't half as erm... energetic as her brother is though!

What I'm saying is that most of us have been through the tantrum phase before. If you have, don't forget that. Offer up a smile to the parent in town whose little one is being less than angelic. You can be glad it's over (I know I will!) but don't forget it. There's little worse than feeling like you're doing all this wrong. That people are looking down on you and your child.

When it comes to temper tantrums they work themselves out. Being there for your little one after is the most important thing. We all go through it as parents, I believe it's another phase we just 'get on' with, there are no real tips or easy things to do (at least not all of the time)

If you have a pretty wild toddler when it comes to throwing a paddy, you are not alone!

Cupcakemumma

Slow Down Babies!!

Why do children grow so darn fast? In particular mine (because they are mine). I mean how did Little Miss go from this:

To this?

And, more to the point, how does Little Man get from this:

To this!!

I can tell Miss is growing up very quickly because September is approaching and we all know that for most 4 year olds, this means leaving nursery and going up to reception. Yep, we're making our first steps into education here people. She isn't too bothered about it as a few of her class are coming with her It's really not that big of a deal either to be honest. She'll still see all her old friends and nursery teachers in the playground after all.

Then there's the questions. You can tell they're growing up when all these bloody awkward questions suddenly come flying at you from all angles! She's already asking me about babies and there is no fooling Miss with 'the Stalk.' Oh no, we may not know how we get there, but we know how we get out! Which is fine, I just wasn't expecting her to ask these things so early.

Then the backchat. Oh my the back chat! I don't remember back chatting...Ah hell I was 4 I wouldn't remember but I still maintain I was practically an angel until at lest 11! (I was peeved at my parents for moving all the way to Cornwall...I know, the horror right?) but holy muffins can this girl back chat! I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I just take a stern voice and let her know who's boss which works. Sometimes.
I think when Miss hits her teens she'll get a bit hormonal like her Mother. I have terrible mood swings so that's something to look forward to huh?

But then there's Little Man.

He's just started to walk which feels so wrong looking at him. People say he's tall but i think he's a bit small. He has long feet and is bulking out a little but he's no chunky little baby oh no, he's built how was when I was little: long and lanky so I can't help but think how vulnerable he looks tottering around on his own! Not like Miss, she was really chunky and could hold her own!

I don't get to feed Little Man anymore either. Be it his bottle of milk or helping with his food. Sometimes I think he senses my feelings, takes pity on me and hands me his fork so I can pop that bit of fish finger in his mouth..then he crawls off whilst he thinks I'm not looking to spit in the fire place returning to replace it with a piece of his choosing...

But I'm not completely redundant! Looking at it properly I never really will be. I mean, I still need my Mum and Dad maybe for a chat, a couple of pounds (rarely!) hell, I still need my Mother to give me a lift to the dentist (it's really far, don't judge) so I know my children will always need something from me in some way whether big or small.

Little Miss isn't so mature yet that she's embarrassed to see me on the loo (I wish she would however), she still cries out for her Daddy when she misses him at night but he's out working hard at the factory. She still needs me to reach things that are too high and likes to be sung nursery rhymes with Little Man at night. And she still fights me every tea time.

Little Man is only 1 but the way I talk anyone who doesn't know me would think he was turning 17 or something. No, he just walks around looking all grown up, he's trying to say words and knows what he wants. He still clings to me like a limpet though, and I still have all the baby tasks as before, nappy duty, watching him like a hawk because he's so mischievous, and I still have to share my food with him. Equally he still likes to surprise Mummy in the shower or demand to sit on my lap while I pee which is never great (don't worry, there are no 'toilet cuddles' in this house- I've not totally lost the plot)

Anyway, I've gone on enough. Are your babies growing too fast? I know a lot of the blogger's I follow are welcoming the end of GCSE's and university for some of their children and some can't believe their little one's are already a few weeks old. However old our babies are, they will always be that to us.

Love you my Little Monkeys!
Mummy
xx

Day 26 An Old Photo

I had a good look around for this photo on Facebook as my cousin had posted a lot there on only recently. This was lucky because all the old photos I have are either on my (broken) laptop or at my Mum and Dads house.

I love looking through really old photos from my childhood mainly because I cannot believe what the fashion was years back, although seriously, bright pink cord trousers are NEVER okay!

Anyway, here is my offering for Day 27 (yes a day late i know) a picture of myself and my lovely cousin who is also not far from 23 years of age either. How sweet we looked once upon a time!

CupcakeMumma

Day 24 Favourite Childhood Book

Matilda is my favourite book of all time. This book was probably one my first full reads cover to cover all by myself and it instilled my love for the great author Roald Dahl. The illustrations are cool and I just love the story of this young girl coming up trumps against all the grown ups of this world!

Another favourite would be any book featuring The Large Family. I remember my Mum reading these books to myself, my brother and sister and we all loved them!