My HSKS Kits!

As you all probably know, I've been involved in a Ravelry group that does Harry Potter themed swaps. This was my first major swap of any kind, and I have to say I really enjoyed myself. I got my kit today, and I wanted to share pictures so my fellow swappers could come squee! I've also posted the one I built at the bottom.

Just a bludger or two...

Ever feel like you've been wacked a few too many times with a bludger or two? Or maybe a bludger bat? Yeah, I've been there. I definitely felt like that last night after working a 12 hour shift (talk about major yuck!), but I'm coming back from it today.

We played our last Quidditch match over in HSKS group on Ravelry today. We lost, but it was SO close and we got through it so gracefully that I feel like we did a really great job. I was captaining, so you know that's a trainwreck waiting to happen, and half of our team were volunteers from other houses, and we definitely couldn't have done it without them.

Related to that, I've got Skype now, and learned to use it to do group calls today, fun times. SO, if anyone out there has Skype and wants to be my Skype friend, lemme know. :D

Other than all the swap madness, and working, I haven't really been doing a whole lot else lately. I'm starting to get my mojo back for my Etsy shop, now all I need to do is put that mojo to work! Too bad it can't work without me... :D

Sudoku Madness! (HSKS)

So, I just remembered how much I'm in love with Sudoku. Seriously. I'm not really a numbers person, but there's something in the structure and logic behind Sudoku that makes me ♥ it. The HSKS homework this week was doing some Sudoku's to get certain highlighted numbers, use the key to convert them to letters, and then unscramble them to find a word related to the Potter universe.

I downloaded them, then uploaded them into a Google doc so I could play around with the spreadsheet, and also used the margins to take notes about each row, column, and 3x3 square as I needed it.

This led me to realize how much easier they are to play on the computer!

Now I'll have to find somewhere to play them online!

HSKS Sudoku answers were:

Puzzle 1: Dobby
Puzzle 2: Harry Potter
Puzzle 3: Hogs Head

Quidditch! (HSKS)

I'm playing Quidditch this weekend, I'm pretty excited!

If only it were as cool as taking the skies with a real broomstick and the world had magic, and I could keep going on and on forever in my Harry Potter geekness, but I'll stop. :)

The Quidditch I'm playing is a rather nifty version over in a Ravelry group I'm in, where it's done mixing knitting and crocheting (done by the chasers as the ways to make goals) with Harry Potter trivia (done by beaters!) and an extensive snitch-hunting Internet quest! It's quite an elaborate set-up, and I'm excited to get to play in the upcoming match.

I'll write how it goes after the match Sunday!

Just an update...

So, our HSKS prompt this week was in the spirit of funny. That's really funny, because the jokes have been bouncing around in the House Cup lately too. This was my favorite that someone else posted:

How many Slytherins does it take to light a wand?


Six. One to light it, one to gloat over it, one to steal it, and three to look impressive.

How many Ravenclaws does it take to light a wand?

Just one, because she stayed up all night studying on how to do it properly.

How many Hufflepuffs does it take to light a wand?

Only one, but they’re so loyal she’ll probably tell you it took the whole house.

How many Gryffindors does it take to light a wand?

None. Gryffindors? We do not fear the dark!


hehehehe.... :)

We were also prompted to show some photos of ourselves that reflect the funny, so I dug around, and couldn't really find all that much. This is what I've got. They're not all of me. (obviously)

Potions! (HSKS)

Take That, Gryffindor! (hsks)

Quidditch! (HSKS)

Homeworks! (HSKS)

HSKS Post. :)

Settling In...

This Be A HSKS POST.

The "What I Like" Post

This is the Post of Things I like. :)

Favorite Colors: Green & Purple are my absolute favorite colors. I love all shades of green, even the light and lime colors, but I prefer the darker colors. Same with Purple. I'm also fond of burnt-orange, browns, and blue (like medium blues...). Sky blue and burnt orange together makes my heart sing. :)


Favorite Scents:

I have to be careful with scents, because lots of things make me sneeze. I can't wear any perfumes or body sprays, but I'm largely okay with lotions and such. See 'Little Things I Like' below. Also things like household scents are largely out, because my DBF also sneezes, and different things make us sneeze.
Favorite Yarn Brands:

I am largely unexperienced with yarn brands. I really covet some Koigu PPPM, because it's so freakin' pretty...I really like Mirasol Yarns, Knit Picks (love all KP but WOTA Bulky makes my heart sing, especially those handdyed colorways...yum!), and I recently fell in love with Moda Dea's Tweedle Dee (of course I did, they've discontinued it...) My regular stand by yarns are Patons Classic Wool Merino & Wool Ease. :)
Favorite Yarn Types:

I don't like yarns that scream 'felt me!', because they're usually rough and harsh. I like wools, but softer wools (or superwash wools are good too). Cottons are great with me, and I tend to enjoy blends: cotton blends, wool blends, etc. I'm on a super bulky yarn kick, love me some chunky chunky yarn! :) I don't have a lot of experience with sock yarn, so far I've been good enough to not buy it (because I've never made socks, lol!) I'm also working on collecting some bare colored wools that I can dye, because I'm experimenting with kool-aid dyeing!
Favorite Needles:

I'm just not picky about needles. Coming from a crochet background, a hook's a hook IMO. I'm realizing this is different with knitting, but I still haven't figured out my favorites. I've got a nice little variety, a pair of bamboo, some wooden needles, and a slew of metal needles. I did get a Knit Picks Zephyr (size 6 tips) circ for Christmas, which I love, and I'm always looking to collect more tip sizes, etc.

Favorite Snacks:

I love Dark Chocolate (but I like my chocolate without nuts in it!). I also love mint, so anything with Dark Chocolate + Mint = Win (like 3 Musketeers Mint, Andes Mints, or those Ghirardelli Dark Mint squares....*drools* I'm not overly fond of peanut butter mixed with chocolate. I also like Wonka stuff like Gobstoppers, Runts, Nerds, etc... all that bad for you candy, and Sour Patch kids and those neon sour worms...yum....I also like coffee (just about anything coffee or coffee flavored), hot chocolate (yum!) and tea (any kind of tea, but i especially like fruit related teas!)

Little Things I Like:

Tiny lotions or liquid bath soaps, things like Bath & Body Works, Burts Bees, etc. I love Cucumber Melon and Pomegranate anything. :)
Lip Balms, because I can't ever have enough of that stuff.
Koolaid for dyeing (shades of cherry, grape, and greens are my favorites)
Soak Wash! I've recently discovered how awesome it is! I don't have a favorite scent yet because I'm still trying little samples Soak sent me.
Stationary, particulary tiny little notebooks with hard covers on them.


Allergies: Don't mail me cigarettes or a puppy, and I'll be okay. Wait, please mail me a puppy. I'll sneeze, but it's a puppy!!!  Unless he smokes, then you can keep him. ;)

Wishlists:

KnitPicks
The Ultimate List  (will grow, and has Etsy and stuff on it too, since my Etsy favorites are a disaster zone!)

My favorite HP Characters

If the public at large didn't know, I'm a pretty geeky HP kid. I just can't help myself. I really enjoy thinking about the characters, about they represent in the books, how we see ourselves in them, etc. I was recently given the task of discussing who my favorites are, and why, so here we go.

Warning: Harry Potter Geekery Ahead!

I've joined the HSKS over on Ravelry!