Am I too old for this? If so, who cares?

 I  first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers's Stone (for you Muggles that would be the first book) when I was fifteen years old.  Like millions of readers around the world,  I was entranced and enchanted by the make-believe world created in J.K. Rowlings' mind that seemed so whimsical and fantastic yet so realistic and convincing at the same time.   Since reading the first book, I became a devoted fan--and something of an addict.  When I was seventeen,  I skipped school to camp outside the movie theater when the first movie came out.  Every time a new book was released, I stood in line for hours at bookstores to get my copy. Then once I had my copy, I would lock myself in my room to devour the latest book without taking a break for food or sleep.  Over the years, my obsession with Harry Potter has waned a little.  I no longer have heated debates with my sisters over whether Harry and Ginny would get together or whether Snape is friend or foe.  But my affection for these characters still remains and despite what many people who have not read the books believe,  these books are not just for children.

In honor of the very last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, having been released on DVD earlier this week, I'd like to post some cool and adult-friendly products from around the web:

For the home, I love the subtlety of these posters. They're Harry Potter without being in your face about it.

Or how about this delicate and beautiful Potter-inspired jewelry?

Or perhaps you'd like to dress up like your favorite HP character? How cute is this Luna Lovegood-inspired pinboard?

Such awesome stuff out there, huh?  I think I'm feeling inspired enough to do a HP movie marathon this weekend.  What about you?

Buen fin de semana!

(Photo: Cast Poster, Quidditch, Owl Necklace, Golden Snitch, Luna Lovegood).

We're off to see the wizard!

Today, the Professor and I are off to the Spanish consulate, hopefully for the last time. We are going to present to them our completed visa application with FBI background checks included.  Wish us luck!

P.S. Believe it or not, the poster above is also a book. In tiny, tiny, text the entire story of the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is printed around the main characters.  Pretty neat, eh?  If this is not your favorite work of classic literature, check out the website, kickstarter.com, for Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and others. 

It's not too late to read!

Summer is over.  Most people are pretty bummed about this, but I am thrilled.  Summer in Miami is like whipped cream on a doughnut---overkill!  I am looking forward to the shorter days and longer nights and temperatures in the high 80s as opposed to the high 90s.  

The one thing that I will miss about the summer is that suddenly you’re not encouraged to read lighthearted books anymore.  From May through August, every magazine, radio show, and blog is inundating you with a list of great summer reading---usually books about romance, travel, food, or anything else not expected to make you think deeply or furrow your brow while you sip a Mojito and roast yourself under a plastic umbrella at the beach.

But I say, let’s not deprive ourselves of cheap thrills, useless knowledge and belly laughs over the fall and winter.  Towards that end, here is my recommendation for a great read any day of the year.  I recently finished the book, Lunch in Paris: a Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard.  As the title would suggest, this book is primarily a memoir of an American who moved to Paris where she fell in love, got married, had a child, and did a lot of eating.  At the end of every chapter, she provides a recipe for a dish that in some way relates to the contents of the chapter.  The book is very much an exploration of the differences between French and American culture and what happens when these two worlds collide but the moral of the story is that despite our differences, love conquers all. Especially when there’s a soufflé involved.

Anyway, if you’re interested, check out the book at your local Anthropologie or Amazon.  Hmm. I was going to end this post with the word, “Enjoy!” but under the circumstances I think that “Bon appétit” might be more appropriate. N’est-ce pas?