Harry Easter

Did everyone have a nice Easter weekend? I've been stuffing my face with Nina's Chocolates courtesy of Mum. James gave me earrings instead of an egg. Do you think he's trying to tell me something?


On Saturday I made a Hawaiian pizza and used the juice from the pineapple tin in a cocktail.








Yesterday James and I went to the Harry Potter exhibition! Outside there was a Ford Anglia and a Knight Bus. Inside we couldn't take pictures. It was really good though!

I especially liked seeing Hermione's dresses and Neville's outfit for fighting Voldemort. The clothes from the earlier movies were tiny!





However I'm pretty sure some of the alleged movie props were just made for the exhibition. Especially Hagrid's costume, which was giant-sized and would have been too big for Robbie Coltrane, who, contrary to popular belief, is not a giant in real life.


The gift shop was really cool too but I didn't buy anything because it was pretty expensive. The best thing was probably the exhibition guide, which had trivia about some of the items.





I made us some HP lolly bags - chocolate frogs with Harry Potter trading cards attached, sherbet lemons (already had these at home because they're my favourite sweet) and, as an acid pop approximation, Chuppa Chupps and Wizz Fizz.





We looked around the rest of the museums too. That static lightning ball thing was great as usual. I dragged James through the Wiggles exhibition, and on the way out we saw some TAFE fashion thing.





Afterwards we went for dinner at Swiss Quattro in Sylvania. James had spaghetti with a lamb ragu or something, which was pretty nice.





I had fettuccine with prawns, salmon and spinach, and an olive oil and lemon sauce instead of the usual creamy one. I always order the same dish but this time I was disappointed.





Instead of nice big prawns I got those tiny ones, and they were really overcooked and tough, not unlike the salmon. The sauce was bland and I couldn't taste much garlic. And the pasta was shrivelled and burnt in places.


I've enjoyed every other meal I've had there so I will probably go back and give them a chance to redeem themselves, but I won't exactly be in a hurry.


Today was spent washing, ironing and packing Winter clothes because tomorrow I'm going to Canberra for an intervarsity competition thing. I hope it's fun.


What did you do?

Frugal February Day 9

The best thing about my job is that it makes me so appreciative of my days off.


First I did some boring admin stuff on the Internet. But when I was finished I watched daytime tv! Last season's Grey's Anatomy finale was on - I'd never seen it before, guess I missed it somehow - followed by two new season episodes of Desperate Housewives. I didn't even realise it was back on. It's still ridiculous and awesome.


I saw my little tutoring girl again, but on the way I stopped at the op shops. My Nana's shop, aka Retail Therapy, had Aqua's cd for two bucks! Mine went missing so I snapped it up.

At Vincenzo's I bought a brand new coat for twelve dollars! I had planned to buy some new coats, very practical as I wear them for like nine months out of the year. This one will be nice to wear when people with circulation are in Summer dresses and such.

And my Shop Til You Drop arrived today! It was free since Mum bought me the subscription.

I went to Trivia Night with the girls and we lost again, what's going on? But I had a G&T and a margherita pizza so it was still a good night, especially since I had a voucher for the drink and some money from Mum for the pizza. I wore a Kmart singlet and a cardi from 2007 with a hand-me-up skirt from my sister. I don't usually wear skirts and I think there may be a good reason for this.

Spent today: $20
Spent this week: $50

Spent this month: $1o5.50


Last week I asked what creature was on Professor Lupin's office when Harry Potter first visited him. The answer was a Grindylow. Amy got it right, nice work! I will give you a prize next time I see you.

This week's question: what is the full name of the Headmaster of Hogwarts when Harry starts school there?

Frugal February Day 2

What is going on with this weather? I just put the last of my Winter clothes away and I had to get some back out today. I went out in a COAT, people. I had to get a pair of boots out! What is this madness!


Tonight I went, in my coat and boots (with a dress underneath!), to another Trivia Night. I had to catch the train (oh Nicky, come home!) and it was already pulling up when I got to the station so I didn't have time to buy a ticket. Thrift: 1. NSW Government: 0.


Last time I went to the pub I won a $10 voucher in the raffle, so I put that toward some drinks tonight. I bought another raffle ticket but this time I wasn't so lucky. Still, in all my life I've bought about five $1 tickets and I've won a meat tray and that voucher so I'm on top.


The run of bad luck continued - for the first time in living memory, we didn't win anything at trivia! I think we were absolutely robbed. By people who knew more useless facts than we did.


But on the bright side I barely spent anything!

Spent today: $2.50

Spent this week: $12.50

Spent this month: $12.50

P.S. Here is a REAL Harry Potter trivia question, which you can answer in the Comments: What creature is in Professor Lupin's office the first time Harry visits him there? In addition to scoring a bonus point, anyone who knows the answer will have the distinct advantage of being able to tell the real Harry from an impostor.