Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Are y'all Harry Potter fans?  Yes?  No?  I have to confess.  I fought the HP bandwagon for a long time but when I finally broke down and watched one of the movies.  That was it.  I was hooked.  HOOKED!  I tell you!  Aside from it being a great good vs. evil story (quite a genius story at that), I fell in love with the English castles, countryside, villages, houses, well, everything actually.  So when the mention of going to Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter came up, my family jumped at it.

We went this past week and the timing was perfect.  The park is beautifully decorated for Christmas, the temperatures are in the mid 70s, and the crowds are low.  We flew in on Sunday and back on Wednesday...great days to travel as well.  But more in a post about travelling on a budget later.  Let's get back to the Christmas decorations!

The snow-capped roofs are a permanent embellishment but the Christmas decorations are added now and it makes for the perfect winter English village.  This is outside of Honeydukes candy shop.  Pine boughs and pine cones are added just under the eaves and there is a wreath hung on the door with Honeyduke pink and green ornaments.

Deer antlers and snow outside of the Three Broomsticks.  We ate there for dinner the last evening.  It was delicious pub fare dishes...with Butterbeer, of course.

More of the pine boughs tucked under the eaves.  Love this look.

These decorations are just gorgeous!  We have plenty of cedar trees in our area but not many pine.  Kind of jealous of my Georgia friends and all of those beautiful pine boughs they can decorate with for free.

And, of course, Harry Potter World would not be complete at Christmas without a Harry Potter snowman!  If we get a good snow this year, you may see something like this in my yard ;)

While the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is amazing at Universal Studios.  It wasn't the only thing they had decorated.  The Universal Studios park was getting its Christmas on as well.

We enjoyed a great Macy's Parade at the Universal Studios park, complete with the huge balloons!  It was held at dusk and the evening was perfect.

And, after the parade was over, we were ready to call it a day.  We returned to our rooms at Hogwarts for the night.  Ok, I'm kidding.  We were at a nearby hotel but a girl can dream can't she!?

I hope you enjoyed seeing Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter decked out for the holidays.  If you ever get the chance to see it yourself, go!  You won't be disappointed. :)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie



I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Christmas around the House

Sharing a little of the Christmas decorations I've added to our home.  Have you finished decorating yet?

The snow globe picture I posted about here

I don't think I ever finish decorating.  My brain is always coming up with more ideas than I'm able to complete.  Guess I can always save those for the next year.

There are some things that must be used every year in the Christmas decor.  This is a little snowman that my youngest daughter made when she was just ten.  It's the Mad Hatter from the latest Alice in Wonderland.  I used to make altered snowman for my etsy shop back then and she wanted to make one too.

The decor in the foyer include a pair of vintage ice skates, a "SNOW" sign, and an antique crock with greenery.

I typically stay away from the traditional reds and greens of Christmas because they usually don't fit with my decor.  This year, I was dead set on using red and green tartan.  I love all tartans if you didn't notice my from tartan throw post :)  I found this needlepoint pillow earlier this year at the thrift store.  Its colors and design contain just enough blue to tie everything together.  (I have a thing for needlepoint pillows too!) 

Just a simple tartan ribbon added to a lamp shade

Thank you for stopping by The Altered Past and spending a little time with me as I share some Christmas decor.  I've got a little more to share later...the front porch and the shed.

God bless!
Angie


I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Kings' Chapel Holiday Parade of Homes

Last week, I was privileged to attend a blogger meet and greet at the Kings' Chapel Holiday Parade of Homes in Arrington, Tennessee.  Wow, the jaw dropping beauty begins as you enter through the gates.

Entry by Arrington Design-Build Firms Kings Chapel Community

I, along with about 30 other bloggers, toured four gorgeous homes built by Tennessee Valley Homes, Gregg & Rains, Arnold Homes, and Drees Homes.  There were so many great decorating ideas, it was almost overwhelming!  Almost ;)

Grab a cup of something and let's take a look!  (By the way, my camera/phone battery died after 3 photos so I'm sharing some gorgeous photos taken by a new blogger friend, Cindy of DIY Beautify.)

This beautiful dining room was amazing.  The wall treatment is a mix of media to achieve this unique concrete finish.  It really is incredible.  It's the creation of Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes.

The walls in this bedroom were one of my favorite.  I love navy blue.  This paneled look is on my list of techniques to use in one of our rooms.  Of course, then I'd need to get an old iron bed and those killer barn doors.

Ok, THIS room...I've got dibs on this room!  It wasn't huge but it was so warm and cozy!  Add a small coffee maker and I would be set for hours of blog work.  Sigh.   My workroom wants to be this room when it grows up.  OH!  And, it had a hidden room behind the paneling...a safe room :)

Well, I could post tons of great pictures from the Parade of Homes but you NEED to go see these homes for yourself.  Proceeds from the ticket sales are going to the Middle Tennessee Make-A-Wish Foundation.  An awesome organization that has made the wishes of so many come true over the years.

Along with the ticket sales, there is a silent auction for 4 Balsam Hill trees that have been decorated by 4 rock star bloggers, Kari Anne of Thistlewood Farms, Jenna of Rain on a Tin Roof, Kristie of The Decorologist, and Lesley of Chaotically Creative.  Each tree's theme was chosen by one of the Make-A-Wish recipients.

Kari Anne's Circus Themed Tree

Jenna's Grammy Themed Tree (check out that tree skirt)

Kristie's Greek Themed Tree

Lesley's Fashion Model Theme Tree

Tickets are on sale daily for the Kings' Chapel Holiday Parade of Homes, now until December 21st!  You can find more info here:  http://kingschapellife.com/

A great big thanks to Cindy of DIY Beautify and Candice of She's Crafty for the use of their beautiful photos.  Hop over and check them out!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

Beautiful Tartan and Transferware Christmas Tablescape

Welcome to the last day of our Christmas blog tour.  Today we're sharing tablescapes and mantels.  I've put together a small tablescape for two.  Beautiful tables don't have to be for a large crowd or even set on your dining room table.

I've created a cozy table for two with tartan prints and transferware dishes.  

In keeping with the Christmas theme, I've incorporated poinsettias and evergreens, along with some vintage silver and glass ball ornaments.

Stacking a variety of patterns with your dishes creates a beautiful table.  Here I began with my wedding china, Lenox Liberty (still love it after 26 years!), a Ralph Lauren Tartan salad plate, vintage brown transferware ironstone, and a small gold monogram dish on top.

I found this little guy at an antique store a couple of weeks ago.  It's ironstone which goes with practically everything.  It was more than I would normally pay for a serving piece because I'm such a thrift store shopper.  However, at $7 it was a great deal to add to my ironstone collection.

So, go ahead, bring out that wedding china!  Set a special table using a mix of patterns and colors.  I promise, it'll look beautiful!  And, it doesn't take a lot of dishes when you're setting a small table, just for two.

Well, that's the end of my Christmas Blog Tour post but don't stop here.  Check out these amazing bloggers for more great tablescape and mantel ideas!

2 Bees in a Pod Rustic Inspired Mantel

The Crowned Goat Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Concord Cottage Snowy Mantel

bluwaterlife Christmas Breakfast Tablescape

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing a roundup of this entire past week of blog tours!  Don't miss it!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie