10 Reasons Why Halloween Is The Best Holiday Ever

Photo by Łukasz Nieścioruk on Unsplash

It's the most wonderful time of the year...aka HALLOWEEN! It's my absolute favorite holiday and in honor of it coming up on Monday (so sacrilegious to have it be on a Monday! It's almost as bad as Halloween falling on a Sunday), I have decided to compile a list of all the reason why Halloween is the best holiday ever (it's better than Christmas! Christmas, I say!!!). So put on a scary movie (for some background ambiance, of course) and settle in to read all about the most spookiest and most fun holiday out there! 

1. The Weather
Where do I start: falling orange, red, and yellow leaves, the crunch of them beneath your feet, the smell of fireplaces burning, that crisp fall air as the cold starts to set in, the days are shorter, the sky slightly overcast...all signs point to fall (or autumn) and you know what that means: Halloween is near! Screw snow, falling leaves are way better!

2. Pumpkin EVERYTHING
Whether you love it or hate it, once you start seeing pumpkins everywhere (Starbucks menu, most likely), you know sh*t is about to get real. Real spooky! (See what I did there?) Sure, pumpkin flavored everything is a bit much, but there's no denying that it gets you in that fall mood, meaning it gets you in the Halloween mood. Plus, there's nothing cuter than a pumpkin, big or small, decorative or real. And don't get me started on how much I love jack o'lanterns. This blog post would never end!

3. Costumes and the Parties
When else do you get to dress up as something funny, or scary, or just plain ol' punny? Bonus points if you were super creative with coming up with your costume and then actually making it! (I'm so jealous of you crafty people!) And where do you go to when you're all dressed up? (As an adult anyway, since apparently it's frowned upon to trick or treat as a grown up; see below entry) A Halloween party with all of your friends! And if you're lucky they'll have a costume contest and you'll win ALL of the prizes from all the different catergories. Because your costume was that good.

4. Candy and Trick or Treating
Chances are you're probably too old to trick or treat now, but back when you were young enough and did, oh man, those were the days! Dressing up in your finest costume (or hand me down or hastily made costume, in my case), and walking all around the neighborhood to knock on doors and demand treats from annoyed neighbors was the best! As you got older you got to walk further out into different neighborhoods and therefore get more candy. And oh, the candy! The finest mini candy bars (unless you were treat or treating in a nice neighbordhood and they gave away full sized candy bars! Then score!) and fun sized treats were all waiting in your treat bag when you got home, until you dumped them on the floor or table and started to sort them into different catergories (just me? I also gave the gross candy aka Good n Plenties and Mounds/Almond Joys to my parents) and you promised yourself you would ration your candy this year but you knew that well before Christmas it would all be gone and you'd be filled with sadness until you realized that Halloween was only 10 months away and you already started plotting your next costume and your new neighborhood treat or treating route (for optimal candy gathering, of course). Oh, the memories... Now I just have to settle for handing out candy to treat or treaters now. The circle of life, people.

5. The Decorations
Spooky or fun? Cute or sophisticated? From fake cobwebs to full blown blow up lawn figures and animatronics, there are so many different ways you could go with Halloween decorations! I personally prefer a mix of vintage and scary. And my hat goes off to the people who really go all out with the Halloween lawn decorations! (There's always at least one in the neighborhood!) We thank you and salute you for creeping us out everytime we have to walk (very quickly, because you never know) past your house at night. That's how you know they've done a good job! (Talk about #halloweendecorationshousegoals!)

6. Ghost Stories
The original way to get scared. Swapping stories with your friends at a sleepover, or around a campfire, and of course, on Halloween, either at a party or before or after you go trick or treating. Whether it's a story about a vengeful spirit haunting someone on All Hallow's Eve, or the more topical urban legends, Halloween was (and is!) a time to be spooked by scary stories but try to play it cool and act brave, then just end up jumping at the slightest sound or shadow for the rest of the night. (And you know as a kid you definitely slept with a light on on Halloween night!) Even now that you know that ghost stories are just made up (or are they???), you still get those fun goosebumps as you read a click bait article about exorcisms gone wrong or a Creepypasta that is most definitely fake but it still makes you look over your shoulder for the rest of the day. Just in case.

7. Being Scared
A chill crawling down your spine, the feeling of being watched, the sound of floorboards creaking towards you as you lay in bed late at night... All the classic feelings of being scared. But not "I fear I'm going to die" scared sh*tless, but fun scared. Some people have roller coasters, I have haunted houses! (Which are way less dangerous than roller coasters. Except if one of the actors in a haunted house is a murderer. But that's a whole other thing and probably doesn't happen that often. In Final Destination 3 the roller coaster was the bad guy- well, Death was the bad guy but the roller coaster was the catalyst so basically roller coasters are scarier than non-excistent real life murderers in haunted house attractions. Glad we got that cleared up!) And speaking of movies...

8. Scary Movies
While it's always okay to watch horror movies all year round (at least in my book!), you'll still get a lot of strange looks when you suggest a slasher film to watch on a date night (if so. you dump him!) but around Halloween...it's totally acceptable and actually encouraged! No one wants to watch a rom-com on Halloween! People want ghosts, they want murderers, they want creepy children and dolls! So give the people (aka YOU) want they (YOU) want and watch that horror movie! Have a scary movie marathon! There's no better way to get in the Halloween holiday spirit than turning off all the lights, some snacks, some friends to shriek and jump with, and putting on a scary movie! (And then not sleeping afterwards, but that's part of the whole thing. Sorry, you can't have one without the other, you know)

9. Embracing Fears  
Halloween forces us to face what we fear most- and embrace it. Instead of fearing death, ghosts, and ghouls (or whatever scares you!) we make light of the things that scare us. We decorate our houses with gravestones, skeletons, and homemade ghosts made out of soccer balls and sheets. For one night, we're surrounded by skulls, spiders, cobwebs and people dressed up as the Grim Reaper or the Devil (and that one weird guy who always seems to go as a different serial killer. Who invites this guy???), and it's totally fine. It's morbid and dark, with a touch of gallows humor but we're okay with it. And most of all, it's kind of fun to embrace your fears and make them silly and over the top. It's a way of conquering them and showing them you're not scared of them. (At least for one night of the year, but still!)

And last but not least...

10. Halloween Lets You Be You
As weird as this sounds on a day when you dress up to look like someone or something else, Halloween is a time for you to express and embrace yourself. Who cares what other people think? If you want to dress up as something funny, cute, strange, scary, or even a little risque, go for it! If you want to dress up as your favorite fictional character that literally no one else will get but you and then you have to field questions all night? Do it! Or how about your favorite food? Do you love Nutella and want to make sure everyone knows it? Then make yourself a giant jar of Nutella costume and strut your stuff! Or maybe you're feeling a creepy (not sexy) doll costume? Paint your face, wear some pigtails, throw on some fake blood like you just murdered the little girl that owned you- you're a doll, remember- and look as terrifying as you can. Don't worry about what anyone thinks, this is Halloween! If you want to look scary, you look scary! Have fun with all of your eccentricities and go nuts! Halloween is a holiday focused on all things scary, but it's also your chance to have fun and be you. Embrace your inner weirdness and just let everyone see it. If you can't be yourself on Halloween, then when can you? (The answer is everyday :) )

Thanks for reading and I hope you liked my list of all of the reasons why I love Halloween. Hope your Halloween this year is frightful, fun, and filled with your favorite candies! ♥

Stay Weird,
Emily

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British Candy Taste Test!

I don't mean to brag or anything but I'm kind of a candy connoisseur. Maybe I'm just saying that because I'm an American and everyone knows that Americans love candy (and junk food. And fast food. And soda. And pretty much everything that tastes good but is super bad for you), but I like to think I know my candy- at least the American versions. I know that the best candy bar ever is a Snickers bar (nougat, peanuts, caramel, all covered in milk chocolate. YUM) and that the holiday shapes Reese's taste better than regular Reese's cups (the peanut butter to chocolate ratio in the holiday ones are perfection). I love M&M's (milk or peanut butter), Hershey's Cookies & Cream candy bars (it tastes like an Oreo blizzard from Dairy Queen but without the stomachache afterwards), and you can't go wrong with a Twix bar (they used to make a peanut butter Twix where the caramel was replaced with peanut butter and the cookie part was CHOCOLATE. Chocolate I tell you! It was the best and they still have a peanut butter Twix but they changed the recipe. I'm sorry, I just feel very passionate about candy...). Chocolate is my go to when it comes to candy, but I've been known to eat my fair share of gummy candies (bears, worms, sharks, frogs, and other fun, whimsical shapes) and other non-chocolate candies.

I love the idea that every single country on earth has different candies specific to their own country, that reminds them of childhood, their home, and happy memories. It's a beautiful thought that even though we're all so different, candy is one thing we all have in common, even if the candy is just as different than we are from each other. But one thing that candy all has in common is that they're all sweet (usually), and judging from how many cavities I've had filled (not that many, but a few), I like my sweet candy! So here begins my first adventure trying candy from different countries, this time from England! Let's see how these English favorites (which I researched online before buying them at a little shop at St. Pancras station while waiting for the Eurostar to take me to Paris) taste to an American used to Hershey's chocolate!

Maltesers

What Is It/What's In It? Malt balls covered in milk chocolate. Pretty much the British version of American Whoppers (the candy, not the Burger King burger)
How Does It Taste? Let me just start this off by saying that I'm not the biggest fan of malted milk balls (which is how Whoppers are described), but I've been known to eat a few here and there. BUT...these Maltesers was the first of the British candy that I tried and I freaking loved them. I kept eating them and had to pace myself so I wouldn't eat the whole bag! They had a less strong malt flavor than Whoppers, which I loved, and the milk chocolate was so creamy and tasty.
Would I Eat It Again? That's a big yes! Again, not a malted milk ball fan, but Maltesers have changed me! Now, on to trying to figure out how to get them in the US...

Jelly Babies

What Is It/What's In It? A gummy (or jelly) candy in different fruit flavors shaped like babies (I love how cannibalistic you Brits are!)
How Does It Taste? First of all, I could not tell they were shaped like babies. and they seemed to be a covered in a light dusting of powdered sugar or something similar like that. I did like how they used real fruit juice in the candy and that you could actually taste what kind of fruit it was without relying on artificial flavors. As for the taste, they weren't too sweet and though the flavors were nice, they were very light. It was honestly just a basic gummy candy. And it was alright.
Would I Eat It Again? I most likely wouldn't buy it again, but it was offered to me, I might have one or two of the lemon flavored ones (the clear winners of the bunch!).

Cadbury Dairy Milk Mixed Buttons

What Is It/What's In It? Little milk chocolate and white chocolate "button" shaped pieces made by the best chocolate company in the world, Cadbury.
How Does It Taste? Delicious! There's no denying it, Cadbury chocolate is far superior to Hershey's. It's creamier, lighter, and just has a more yummy chocolate taste. I'm not the biggest fan of white chocolate but I gladly ate all of these white chocolate buttons with glee.
Would I Eat It Again? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

Crunchie

What Is It/What's In It? Honeycomb covered in milk chocolate. Weird (to me), but I was game to try something different.
How Does It Taste? The honeycomb in the center didn't taste like I expected. It almost had a coffee taste to it (does it have a coffee taste to it usually? Or was mine defective? Or are my taste buds all messed up? It could be all of the above, honestly) and I'm not a fan of coffee. I kind of blanched when I ate it and chewed until the chocolate coating overwhelmed the taste of the coffee flavored honeycomb (at least it tasted like that to me). Very strange.
Would I Eat It Again? Sadly, no. I loved the concept of it, and even though I'm not usually a big fan of honey, I really didn't expect that coffee flavor to bother me so much. But at least I tried!

Flake

What Is It/What's In It? A candy bar consisting of thinly folded chocolate that flakes and breaks apart as you eat it
How Does It Taste? It tasted just okay. The chocolate was almost a tiny bit bitter, but I couldn't tell if it only tasted that way because I'm American and I'm used to super sweet chocolate. Or maybe the candy was old (again, I did buy this at St. Pancras station). Either way, it was just alright. I was expecting to be wowed and I wasn't. At all.
Would I Eat It Again? Maybe. I'd like to try to a fresher one at some point to see if that would make any sort of difference. I'd like to give it a second chance. It's Cadbury, after all!

Wine Gums

What Is It/What's In It? Fruit flavored gummy candies that are called Winegums but don't taste like wine or the gums of an alcoholic (thank god). They have names of booze on them, like "champagne," "port," and "whisky." 

How Does It Taste? Basically they're like gumdrops more than gummy bears- more dense, less squishy. Hardier is, I suppose, a good way to put it. They are a hardy gummy candy!

Would I Eat It Again? They weren't terrible, but they weren't great either. Again, I'm not the biggest gummy fan, but let's just say I'll eat them if they're in front of me! (But only the lime, orange, and lemon flavored ones. Those are my favorite fruit flavors!)

Cadbury Dairy Milk

What Is It/What's In It? Perfect. Just pure perfection.
How Does It Taste? Heaven. Like I bit into heaven and the angels sang. Seriously. And I thought the Mixed Buttons were good. The bar is the original and it's the best. Hands down!
Would I Eat It Again? Really? You have to ask if I would ever eat this again?

Kinder Surprise Infinimix*
*Confession: I actually bought this Kinder egg in France. Oops! But I'm including it here because I didn't buy any other candy in France. Sorry for the inconsistency and the fact that it isn't British!

What Is It/What's In It? A hollow milk chocolate egg (the inside lining is white chocolate), with a small plastic container inside the egg that has a toy surprise! These apparently are banned in the US, due to them being a choking hazard for kids under 3 (laaaame!), so us people over the age of 3 in the US can't enjoy these. Usually. Unless someone like me buys them in another country and then sneaks them back in (like me. Shhhh).
How Does It Taste? For a hollow chocolate egg, it tasted really good! The prize inside was kind of meh (a Lego like little figure that I will keep as an added little memento from my trip) but it's still fun to get an added treat with chocolate! (But chocolate is the ultimate treat!)
Would I Eat It Again? Maybe not a Kinder egg, but I'd definitely try another Kinder product, since I thought the chocolate itself was excellent (Cadbury and Kinder will have to duel it out to win my heart and prove who is the best chocolate).

Lion

What Is It/What's In It? A candy bar that's filled with a wafer (or wafers? Not sure how that works!), caramel, and crispy cereal all covered in milk chocolate.
How Does It Taste? It tasted...okay. Not outstanding, but not terrible either. There wasn't too much caramel and I could barely taste the wafer! (Wafers are delicious in the right situations) And I think I just realized I don't like crispy cereal (like crisped rice? I can tolerate them in Crunch bars but I guess not here!), thanks to this candy bar.
Would I Eat It Again? Sorry, Lion bar, but I'm probably not going to eat one of you again. More for the Lion candy bar lovers out there!

Double Decker

What Is It/What's In It? It's a chocolate bar with cereal crispies on the bottom layer, and a thick layer of nougat on top, all covered in milk chocolate.
How Does It Taste? My first impression was: eww. I opened the wrapper and a whole bunch of nougat had broken free from the chocolate shell, but I set that gross imagery aside and took a bite. Remember how I said earlier that I think I discovered that I don't like crisped rice cereal in my candy bars? The Double Decker has confirmed that theory. Also, I'm not sure I care for such an abundance of plain nougat. It was a bit too much for my taste. All in all, two thumbs waaaay down.
Would I Eat It Again? No. It was super disappointing, for some reason. Maybe because I was really hoping it would be outstandingly tasty, due to its very cute and British name. Sigh. But it wasn't.


So what did you guys thinks of my assessment of British candies? I really liked some, but others were just kind of...meh (though that's also true with American candies. Like does anyone really eat Mounds or Almond Joy? Or original Tootsie Rolls? Please). But I know there are way more out that I'm willing to try, so if you have any suggestions for me, please let me know! Because this was the tastiest blog post I've ever done and I'd love to do it again with different candies from different places.

Let me know if you think I had a good selection or if I totally missed some good ones!

-Emily

Book Recommendation: Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson

Penguin Books

Book: Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame

Author: Mara Wilson

Genre: Nonfiction

Why You Should Read It (In My Humble Opinion): If you're like me (aka a millennial who remembers the mid to late 90's pretty well, and the early 90's not quite as clearly) then you remember Mara Wilson as Matilda, the incredibly smart and well read wunderkind, vastly unappreciated by her family, and has telekinetic powers. Not only did she play a beloved children's book character (and help bring Matilda to the mainstream and be an influence to millions of other misunderstood, smart girls), before that, she was in Mrs. Doubtfire with the late, great Robin Williams. I mean, come on!  Basically, she was the ultimate 90's cool kid and I was incredibly jealous of her back when I was an impressionable (and quite envious, apparently) young girl. If I could have switched places with her, I would have- in a snap, heartbeat, whatever sort of phrase there is to pull a Freaky Friday with the 90's cool girl (Mary-Kate and Ashley who?).

But who would have thought that the coolest little girl from the 90's would turn into such a badass writer? (And honestly, I still kind of want to be her) I rediscovered Mara Wilson on Twitter (formerly as @MaraWritesStuff, now just as @MaraWilson), where she literally dominates the Twitterverse with her smart, funny, and just damn clever tweets. And I was very happy to learn that she had written a book about her life growing up, from being a child star and beyond. Not only do I love frank, honest, yet heartfelt writing, but I also love a good life of a Hollywood actor behind the scenes look at the industry. But what I got was not what I was expecting, but so much better.

While Mara does talk a bit about her life on the Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda set, she mostly just mentions it in passing or as a brief anecdote, under the umbrella of a bigger subject (her first chapter all about sex is brilliantly funny, honest, and very relatable) but she does have a chapter devoted to the experience of filming Matilda and what a privilege it was to be a part of that iconic film. She makes the point that the experience of filming the movie was so personal to her (she and her family were big fans of Roald Dahl's classic children's book) and to her mother, who was going through chemotherapy during that time (and later passed away after the movie finished filming). Mara paints her mother in a very truthful, honest light. Just from the way Mara describes her, you could tell that her mother was charismatic woman, outgoing, almost brassy, but kind and thoughtful underneath her tough exterior. In her portrayal, Wilson's mother was real, wonderful, and flawed, and we are left with the feeling of sadness of never being able to meet this woman and have her in our lives. In this respect, Mara's homage was incredibly well done, real, and heart-wrenching.

Another thing I loved about Mara's book, apart from her honest views on quitting Hollywood and her incredibly moving piece on working with Robin Williams and the legacy he left in her, and our, heart(s), was her writing on her experiences with depression and OCD. As someone who has been diagnosed with both of those things, I almost breathe a sigh of relief whenever I see other people who have the same issues as me. As if to say, "oh good, it's not just me!" Not that I want others to suffer like I have, but it's nice to know that I'm not the only person who may have intrusive, upsetting thoughts, or an overwhelming fog clouding my vision and my desire to live and exist. Mara started having intrusive thoughts and compulsions when she was younger, and though she suffered for quite a while, after reading a young adult novel where the main character has OCD, she was finally able to identify those thoughts and feelings as OCD (and anxiety and depression. Those things just seem to go hand in hand, don't they?) and get the help she needed. Talk about inspiring!

Mara Wilson might always be known to some as just the little girl from Matilda (or, the little girl who perfectly portrayed Matilda, more like!), but to those who have followed her on Twitter, or read her new book (which I've obviously totally endorsing. Please go buy a copy. I'll wait. You're back? Excellent!), she is more than just a former child star. She's a storyteller; she frequently speaks in New York City (where she currently resides) about humorous and honest stories from her life (in the last chapter of Where Am I Now? Mara writes a very awkward and cringe-worthy story about her attempt to tell a story at a comedy club. While it did not go well, the night ended up turning around afterwards). She's also a writer (example: this book and other pieces for cracked.com), a playwright (her chapter on the inspiration for a certain play she wrote was hilariously inspiring), and basically just an all around cool, awesome person (that's my personal opinion about her!).

If you're looking for a book all about being a child star, I'd look elsewhere (even though she does mention her times in Hollywood, it's not the whole book). But if you're looking for a book that's honest, funny, and just plain old well-written (if her writing in this book is amazing, I can only imagine actually hearing her tell some of these stories during one of her storytelling events!) then this is your book. I can guarantee that after reading Where Am I Now? Mara Wilson will be your hero, but not for portraying Matilda, but for being an incredibly talented writer and genuine person (and also her stories about her first kisses. Not not first kiss, first kisses. As in plural. Just read it, it's great!). Here's hoping she keeps writing (which she plans to) and writing more material for us to consume, enjoy, and live vicariously (sometimes happily, and sometimes unhappily. But whichever way the story leans you feel for her) through. Go Mara go!

Stay Weird!

PS. Sorry for the overuses of the words "talented," "honest," "funny," and all around just worshiping Mara Wilson when describing this book. I just really freaking loved this book and now I pretty much want Mara to be my best friend. Or just my girl crush at this point if she's not looking for a new best friend. It's okay, I'll just settle for her being my girl crush and just worshiping her from afar (aka favoriting/retweeting her tweets on Twitter and hoping that one day when I'm all grown up I can be as cool as her).

My First Trip to London aka London Was Calling & We Totally Hooked Up! (Travel Tuesday)

You might not know this about me, but I've always wanted to visit London. Okay, maybe you did know that from reading this blog or anything I may have written on social media, but I thought I'd just explain in case anyone didn't know. Every since I read the Harry Potter books (so cliche), at the ripe old age of around 10 or 11, I've wanted to visit England. I became obsessed with everything London, from its long and rich history (I've forever loved the Tudors. The actual royal family and time period, not the show. But I do thoroughly enjoy the show!) to the Royal family (there was a time where I read everything ever published about Diana and Princes Will and Harry. I was a teeny bit obsessed). For years I have dreamed about visiting London. But thanks to my health (mental and physical), I was never ready, emotionally, mentally, or physically. But I saved my money and hoped that one day I could possibly go.

And now, at the ripe old age of 27 (27 isn't old, right? Right? Right???), my parents lovingly told me that it was time I went to Europe (they were planning on going and invited me to come along. Hey, I'm not one to complain!) and we started planning! We decided on London and Paris and on September 17 we were off to to visit the British Isles (well, just one Isle, but the big one) and the Continent (well, just France, but still!). To say it was a trip of a lifetime would be an understatement.

I got to visit places I had only read about and dreamed of. I got to hear British accents everywhere I went (in England, of course) and forget all the French I knew (which isn't much) when I tried to buy something in France (but more on that in another post). I had to figure out British pounds and Euros and try different versions of food that I wasn't used to (some of which I actually liked, The trials of being a picky eater vegetarian in another country!). There were some sticky moments (even on a vacation anxiety can still rear its ugly head) but I made it through. For the longest time I thought I would never be able to travel, but this big trip proved that I could and now I want to travel more and more and just experience the world as much as I can.

So for this blog post, I've compiled the best of the photos (with commentary, of course) that I took in London/England and that best encompass my amazing and groundbreaking (for me) trip. Come along with me as I relive my first time in London! (Can I go back already??)

Day #1 In London:

Time to go on a bus tour of London to see the sights! I totally needed to take a selfie on the tour bus before we headed out into London (I was excited, what can I say?). Our hotel was right in Kensington (beautiful city, by the way) so before we started the tour we drove past the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace (hi Will and Kate!), and Kensington/Hyde Park.

Drove by Buckingham Palace and was disappointed to learn that the Queen wasn't home. If she had been, I'm for sure certain she would have invited me in to play with her royal Corgis. Because obviously.

Bye, Buckingham Palace!

Ooh, the London Eye through the bus window! Ignore the glare!

Daaaamn, Big Ben! Back at it again with the London Eye! And that glare on the bus window, though!

Look! An Underground sign! Or the Tube, as Londoners call it!

After our morning bus tour where we drove by Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's,  Harrod's, and various historical sites, parks, and different London neighborhoods, all teeming with information and stories that I couldn't possibly contain in my overwhelmed brain, the bus dropped us off at Piccadilly Circus (now I've been there too!) and my parents and I walked around and explored a tourist shop before we braved the London Underground system. And then we were at the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone and a whole bunch of other awe inspiring pieces! (I was obviously too awestruck to take pictures. I just tried to soak everything in!)

Some wisdom that was left on the bathroom wall (I'm sorry, loo wall) in the British Museum's women's toilets (not bathrooms or restrooms- toilets). Amen, sister friend!

Look, a pretty much defunct but still very cute and iconic telephone booth! It didn't open so I couldn't have someone take my picture in it. My parents attempted to take a picture of me in it, but either they are terrible iPhone photographers or my non-photogenic tendencies are through the roof! (It's probably a bit of both. And then when I tried to take a selfie, I couldn't get the top part of the telephone booth in the shot because it was too tall. Or I was too short. Either way I gave up and just took a picture of it. Le sigh)

And then we went back on the Tube to go back to Big Ben and see him (Big Ben's a dude, right?) up close. Oh, look, another Underground sign!

(Big) Ben, in all of his beautiful glory ♥ I truly couldn't believe I was finally in England, staring up at it (him. Sorry, Ben!) We even got there right at four o'clock to hear the bells go off!

Another great shot of Big Ben. To me, this completely represents England and still takes my breath away seeing it (him! Sorry again, Ben!). But by now we wanted to head back to our hotel because the jet lag was kicking in plus we had done a lot of walking/sight-seeing. More adventures tomorrow!

Day #2 In London (Well, outside of London):

Day #2 had us get back on another bus and head out to Stonehenge! The ride took about an hour and forty-five minutes which gave our tour guide some time to chat with us and then for us to sleep (aka me listen to music/podcasts on my iPod). And when we woke up, we were at Stonehenge! (Cue Spinal Tap's legendary song "Stonehenge"!)

Panoramic shot of Stonehenge. Thanks, iPhone 6!

Some recreations of the dwellings of the people who built Stonehenge. You got to go inside some of them. It was quite...rustic. And cozy. I can only imagine how cold it was at night, with only a small fire going!

Another little dwelling. Thatched roofs have never gone out of style.

Now back on the bus and we were off to Oxford. Our tour guide was ah-mazing (she was with us in England and France) and knew that some of us were Harry Potter fans (ahem, me. And another couple who wanted to take some Harry Potter pics for their kid) and showed us a couple of the filming sites from the movies (along with some of the other historic and beautiful parts of Oxford. But obviously in my mind the Harry Potter references took precedence. Not that I didn't enjoy every part of Oxford!).

Look familiar?

How about now?

If you guessed it might be the location in the fourth movie aka Goblet of Fire, where Professor Moody (aka Barty Crouch Jr) turned Malfoy into a bouncing white ferret under this tree, you'd be totally right! I literally started squeeing (it's not just an internet thing) when I realized what location it was! Talk about hallowed grounds! Not to mention that it's a gorgeous old tree (I have a thing for trees. It's probably because I grew up in a desert and was surrounded by cactus my whole life).

When the tour guide first showed us this hallway, I definitely knew where I had seen it before! Harry, Ron, and Hermione talking about how Snape wants to steal the Sorcerer's (wait, I was in England, so I guess Philosopher's) when lo and behold, Snape sneaks up behind them and gives them a patent Alan Rickman stare down. Can't you just imagine little Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson on set, all bright eyed and bushy tailed??

Isn't it just breath-taking? And not just because it was a set on the Harry Potter films. All the buildings in Oxford are just living, breathing history! As someone from America, it's hard to fathom something that's older than 200+ years.

After we toured Oxford (we didn't just look at filming sites from the Harry Potter movies, I swear!), we split up to do some shopping (you know, if you wanted to pick up some Oxford sweatshirts and other paraphernalia), get some lunch and just do some exploring before meeting back up on the bus to head go back to London. Our tour guide suggested checking out this certain shop in Oxford because of their cool Harry Potter window display (you can tell that a lot of shops and Oxford in general were totally encouraging welcoming/attracting Harry Potter fans that were on a pilgrimage to see the filming sites).

Look how fun the window display is! You got Oxford gear, Harry Potter stuff, and Lord of the Rings as well (?)!

Wands and Gollum! What could be better? Preciousssss.....

Dobby! RIP. (*sob* He died a free elf *sobs again*)

In case you were wondering, the shop was called Flaggs. They sold a bunch of Harry Potter themed gear, which I would have gladly bought a bunch of, but I knew that my parents and I would be off to the Harry Potter Holy Land the next day, so I was proud of myself for showing some restraint! We did end up at other shops and had such a fun time looking around. I found the British (aka original) version of Philip Pullman's book of The Golden Compass (which is the American title), titled Northern Lights in England, for my sister (we both love the His Dark Materials series) at Waterstone's, which I'm assuming is the British version of Barnes & Noble. As different as countries might be, I love that some things, like book stores, are just the same in the US as they are anywhere else. Books unite us all! ♥ (Sorry for that tangent, but you know how it is, fellow bookworms)

Fun Harry Potter themed shelf display inside of Flaggs! That made me want to buy everything in the store. But I didn't. Yay me!

The floating candles!!!! ♥

Day #3 In London (Our Final Official Day *sob*)

This day was one totally reserved for a very special day: visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour! As you can probably tell, I'm a big Harry Potter fan, so this day certainly deserves its own blog post! That'll be up next Travel Tuesday, so keep your keep your eye out for it!

After we got back from the studio tour (which was incredible, by the way, but obviously I'll be singing its praises officially on my next Travel Tuesday blog post!), my dad and I walked over to the Victoria and Albert Museum before it closed, just to take a look around on our last day. If you've been to London and have never been the to Victoria and Albert Museum, please go! It has art, furniture, clothes and so much more from so many different countries all over the world. Plus they have a teeny, tiny little codex that belonged to Leonardo da Vinci! How cool is that?? Spending time at the V&A Museum was a nice, quiet way to spend our last afternoon/evening in Paris. It was pleasant but still so bittersweet. I couldn't believe my time in London was almost over! Didn't we just get here??

Day #4 AKA Leaving London for Paris via the Chunnel

On day 4 we had to leave for St. Pancras Station to take the Chunnel to Paris. I was so sad to leave London, but excited to see Paris. We had a little bit of time before our train left, so our tour guide suggested that all Harry Potter fans go across the way to visit King's Cross Station to visit, you guessed it: Platform 9 3/4!

Of course they have a shop there. OF. COURSE. (It's good for all of England to be in the Harry Potter business!)

And here it is! They have a fun little display on where they imagined Platform 9 3/4 would be, including an attendant who works at the Platform 9 3/4 shop to assist in taking pictures of people posing with the cart! (They'll lend you a scarf in the house colors of your choosing and even hold it up for you out of frame to make it look like your pushing the cart into the platform. Talk about a dream job!) As much as I wanted to have my picture taken, I usually don't do my hair/makeup on traveling days (is that just me that does that? I don't see a point in looking nice when I just know I'm going to get gross from traveling and lugging my luggage around) so I just decided to take a picture to commemorate this historical site in the Wizarding World. Also, I didn't want want to be sad that the Platform didn't magical let me through to the Hogwarts Express (I mean, I never got my letter to Hogwarts, I didn't want to add on to the hurt!)

Trip of a Lifetime

I still can't believe I got to go to England! I had dreamed about it for so long and it finally happened! I only had three official days in England, so of course there were things I didn't get to see (on our first day, we could have gone on a tour of Windsor Castle, but my parents wanted to go to the British Museum and on the day we went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, we missed the tour of the Tower of London) or go to, but my older sister reminded me of this: When you travel, there's always going to be places you're not going to be able to visit, especially in a big city. Don't sweat what you can't see, just enjoy the things you do see and go to there, and make a list of everything that you didn't see or do so that you can go do those things and see those places on your next trip.

I'm going to take her words to heart and not be frustrated that I didn't tour the Tower of London, or ride the London Eye, or see the Changing of the Guard. I'll get to see all those things on my next trip to England. Which I'm totally planning already. I knew I already liked London, but after visiting it I fell in love with it. I can't wait to go back!!

Stay Weird!

Leave me a comment if you've gone on a big trip out of the country! Especially to a place that you've always wanted to go. Was it everything you've ever dreamed of?? Let me know!

Book Feature: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets- Illustrated Edition!

2016 so far has been a fantastic (beasts. Sorry, had to!) year for Harry Potter fans. First the announcement that Eddie Redmayne was going to be in a movie about wizarding world author, magizoologist, and Hufflepuff alum Newt Scamander and his adventures that probably influenced him to write his book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Then JK Rowling and crew took us into grown Harry and the gang's world with a brand new stage play/script book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. And lastly, just this Tuesday, the new illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets came out. Be still my Potter loving heart!

I absolutely adored the first illustrated Harry Potter book (The Sorcerer's Stone, Or Philosopher's, as it was originally titled. Americans think philosophers are ancient Greek guys who wear togas and ponder the ways of the universe and have very low opinions about humanity, so obviously they changed it to "Sorcerer's" in the US) and completely forgot that it was coming out this Tuesday but thankfully I remembered and was able to pick up a copy from my local Barnes & Noble. To say I wasn't excited to race home right afterwards would be a damn lie!

The illustrated version of Chamber of Secrets does not disappoint. The artistic, yet life-like portraits of the characters are just as engaging as they were in the first book and the random drops and smudges of paint and ink that decorate a large portion of the pages add an artsy flair and atmosphere to the book. Being introduced to new characters, like Gilderoy Lockhart (incredibly blonde and dashing and not too far off than the movie version's Kenneth Branagh) and Molly Weasley (not as I personally pictured her in my head, but still looks like she'd be equal parts loving and fierce) and new creatures (Dobby, much more like how I had imagined him), Aragog (terrifying), Fawkes the phoenix (quite majestic), and the Mandrakes (my personal favorites!) were a delight to see come to life and the Kay's interpretations of Hogwarts are always fun to see (there are just so many possibilities with a magic castle!).

The tone of Chamber of Secrets becomes quite a bit darker than Sorcerer's Stone, and the depictions of Knockturn Alley versus Diagon Alley certainly show that beautifully. There just seems to be so much detail in all of the scenes that even though you may be trying to read the story, you'll be distracted by the gorgeous and entertaining illustrations and just end up staring at them for far too long and then forget where you were in the story and have to backtrack till you remember where you left off (which may have been something that happened to me. Multiple times).

Illustration by Jim Kay/Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2015

The American version of the Harry Potter books, illustrated by Mary Grandpre (well, just the covers and chapter images) will always hold a special place in my heart, because they were the ones that I read growing up and for the longest time her images were how I pictured Harry and crew's adventures in my head as I read the books, one after the other (and then reading the series again, multiple times over the years). But Jim Kay's inventive and creative illustrations are right up there with Grandpre's. When you first read the books, you imagine the world in your own head, unique to everyone else's. While Kay's interpretation of the characters and wizarding world might not be exactly what I pictured, the fact that he's taken it upon himself to illustrate this hallowed world, beloved by so many in the world, and being able interpret in his own style, yet faithfully to appease us fans? Talk about talent! (Though, to be fair, I really wanted to see his version of the Weasley abode, the Burrow, and unfortunately Kay didn't feature this. Not going to lie, I was a little disappointed. I would have loved to have seen his version of it!)

Illustration by Jim Kay/Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2015

Illustration by Jim Kay/Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2015

While I wouldn't change my Harry Potter reading experience from childhood at all, a small part of me wishes that illustrated versions of the books had been around when I was younger, just as another way to fully immerse myself in the world I hold so dear to my heart. But thanks to Kay's illustrations and this new version of books, the magic of Harry Potter will stay alive (not that it would ever go away for me. Psssh! Perish the thought!) and I'm looking forward to whenever the Prisoner of Azkaban (and the rest of the series. Oh geez. Can you imagine how even more thick and heavy the books will be with all of the illustrations plus JK Rowling's 400+ pages? Insanity!) will be released! (Oh my god, illustrations of Sirius, Remus, Professor Trelawney, Dementors, and Patronuses??? I CAN'T WAIT!!)

But for now, grab yourself a copy of the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which is a gorgeous, faithful interpretation of the second book in everyone's favorite boy wizard book series. If you're a Potter fan or just a fan of great fiction in general, you need this in your personal library. It and the first illustrated Harry Potter book deserves spots on your bookshelf!

Illustration by Jim Kay/Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2015

Now, excuse me while I go reread the illustrated version of the Sorcerer's Stone and then follow it up right away with the illustrated version of Chamber of Secrets. Thank goodness they've only released the first two books or else I would have to cancel all of my plans this weekend!

-Emily

13 Underrated Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween!

It's October 1st and you know what that means.... Only 30 more days till Halloween and only 30 days to cram in as much Halloween-themed activities/food/scares/fun into those days as you possibly can! And we all know one way to get into that ghoulish holiday spirit is to watch scary movies. (Though I usually watch horror movies all year round, I watch the largest concentration of them around Halloween time, just to get in that creepy, is-there-a-ghost-or-serial-killer-behind-me mood)  Now, you could always go with a tried and true classic horror movies to get you in the Halloween spirit (pun totally intended!): The Exorcist, Halloween, Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or even some newer classics like the Saw films, the Paranormal Activity movies, and The Conjuring are all great and scary and sure to scare the pants off of you and make you sleep with the lights on for days afterwards (night lights aren't just for kids. They're for adults that watch way too many scary movies and know that total darkness is NOT the way to go).

Orrrrrrrr.....Maybe you want something you've never watched before that will send some shivers down your spine and make your stomach sink with dread, and then make you think that there's something behind you just waiting to drag you back to the grave with it... (because Halloween!)

If you like feeling how what I mentioned above from watching scary movies, then this post I've compiled is just for you! As an avid horror film viewer and lover of all things creepy and frightening, I have compiled some of my favorite underrated and lesser known horror movies to creep you out and keep you up at night (sorry about the sleepless nights you'll be having after watching them!). Not only are these movies scary and most of them revolve around ghosts (serial killers are always scary, but the paranormal is my jam and is the subject matter I tend to find the most eerie), they may be some movies you haven't seen before and it's always more much spooky to watch something you haven't seen before, with all new scary story lines and heart-stopping jump scares to make you leap out of the safe cocoon you've made for yourself out of blankets and pillows and possibly your pet.

So grab some snacks, your friends, a blanket to hide under, and turn off the lights because you only have 30 days to watch these 13 movies before Halloween. Get ready to be scared!!! (In like, the best most safest way possible, of course!)

For When You Just Want a Good Ol' Ghost Story- With a Really, Really Good Twist:

DreamWorks SKG

This is hands down one of my favorite modern horror movies. I had an ex-boyfriend who thought this was a terrible movie and told me I had terrible taste in movies. Notice the word "had." :D If you don't think this is a fantastic horror movie, then we can't be friends. Also, this movie features my forever girl crush, Emily Browning, in it. Did you know this is one of the four movies she's been in where she plays a patient in a mental hospital? (That's not a spoiler, she's a patient in the beginning of the film) Oh, and the soundtrack to this movie is literally gorgeous in a totally spine-chilling way.

For When You Always Knew That There Was Just Something So Creepy About Mirrors But Could Quite Explain Why:

Relativity Media

You'll be so suspicious of mirrors after seeing this movie. That light bulb scene though! *screaming face emoji*

For When You Grew Up Catholic So It Makes Emily Rose's Possession Way Too Scary and Real:

Screen Gems

Seriously. This is basically what I thought would happen if I didn't go to confession. Also, I now freak out a bit every time I wake up at 3am randomly. Because that means DEMONS!

For When Your Friends Say "Old Movies Aren't Scary" Then You Show Them This And They Sh*t Their Pants During The Last 20 Minutes:

Warner Bros.

While this movie is more of a thriller, it's still suspenseful and scary, and all leads up to a frightful climax at the end that will leave you short of breath (those 20 minutes mentioned above). Plus, Audrey Hepburn is beautiful/gorgeous/effortless/luminous and is literally just perfect to watch.

For When You're Not Feeling a Super Scary Movie and You Just Want Something Kind of Dark and Little Bit Funny to Watch With Your Friends:

20th Century Fox

Imagine if Heathers and Mean Girls had a baby that was born on Halloween. That's the kind of movie Jennifer's Body is. It's a total underrated dark comedy/horror movie that deserves to be a cult classic!

For When You Want to Show Your Friends That Having a Phobia of Ventriloquist Dummies Is a Totally Valid Fear (This Movie Proves It!):

Universal Pictures

This is one of James Wan's first movies (horror movie genius of Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring fame) and the sheer combination of creepiness and camp is just the perfect blend for Halloween. It'll scare you, but not leave you with that disturbing feeling for hours afterwards that some horror movies will give you (especially some of the gory, gross out nasty ones). Plus, there's nothing creepier than a ventriloquist dummy. NOTHING. (Why have those dummies not been burned in a giant bonfire yet???)

For When You Want To Watch a Horror Movie That Rings Too True to Real Life (And Will Make You Fear Your Forgetful Nana) :

© 2014 Millennium Entertainment

This mockumentary about an elderly woman who's supposedly suffering from Alzheimer's will add a definite real factor to all of the spooky vibes this movie gives out. You feel like you're actually watching a sad documentary about the deterioration of a woman's memory, but something far more sinister is lurking.

For When You Want to Have a Halloween Date Night With Your Honey And You Want Something Romantic and Just a Little Scary:

Drafthouse Films/FilmBuff

I heard great things about this movie when it first came out; someone described it as a monster movie/Before Sunrise-esque film and I was intrigued and just had to watch it. And guys: I legitimately cried at the ending of this movie. It was literally a monster movie and Before Sunrise romance movie (they weren't wrong! They were right!) all meshed into one and I was totally into it. I've never heard of a horror movie that's romantic before, but I think I found one in Spring. Please watch it. It's so different from anything else I've ever seen and I loved it so much. It'll make you believe in love. And monsters.

For When You Thought Being Blind in a Thriller (Like Wait Until Dark) Would Be the Worst Situation Ever, Then You Realize Being Deaf Would Be Just As (or More) Scary:

Blumhouse

There is nothing creepier than a stalker/home invasion movie. Well, maybe one where you're deaf and can't hear who's trying to break in. Get ready to take some self defense classes and sleep with a baseball bat under your bed after watching this one. Human beings are way more scary than any silly ghost (usually). This movie proves it!

For When You Always Thought That the Concept of the Tooth Fairy Was Always a Really Strange Thing to Tell Children About and You Knew Deep Down the Tooth Fairy Was Actually a Witch (True Story):

Columbia Pictures

Aren't you glad the "Tooth Fairy" never did any of this after you lost any of your teeth when you were a kid? (Also featured in this movie: a young Emily Browning! I love this girl, she keeps popping up in all of these horror movies! She's also in the horror B-movie Ghost Ship. The movie is forgettable but Emily Browning is delightful, as always)

For When You Feel Like Your Family Is Screwed Up And Then You Watch This and Then You Feel Much Better About Your Family Situation:

Nostromo Pictures/Kinology/Magnolia Pictures

Another found footage film with family drama/tension and the paranormal at it's center. Touching, heart-warming, and utterly terrifying. (So basically it's a movie you can watch with the whole family, right?)

For When You Just Want to Be Scared Out of Your Mind By A Fantastic Found-Footage-Exorcism-With-Creepy-Southerners Horror Movie:

Lionsgate

Dear God. This movie. It's just....so scary and creepy and horrifying. And so, so underrated but so, so good. Seriously. It's crazy how good and eerie this movie is. Watch it. You won't be disappointed!

For When You've Been Watching a Lot of Ghost Hunting Reality Shows and You Want Something That Skews That Genre While Also Being Scared Out of Your Freaking Mind:

Digital Interference Productions/Twin Engine Films

I'm not going to lie: I looooooooove ghost hunting shows. So much! As cheesy and fake as some are (I think some are real, but most are edited with extra sounds to make them sound more exciting), I find it thrilling to see people possibly make contact with a ghost or witness paranormal activity. So when I first watched Grave Encounters, I was delighted to see a movie skew the silliness that a lot of ghost hunting reality show seem to have but also adding in that clever element of a fake ghost hunting show actually encountering angry, vengeful ghost in an old insane asylum (because OF COURSE that's where they would film a ghost hunting episode!). With commonly seen "characters" from all of those ghost hunting shows on TV, like a quack of a medium along with a douchey Ed Hardy wearing team of ghost hunters, this was the perfect blend of comedy and horror and I was the perfect combination of entertained and scared while watching the movie. It's the perfect Halloween movie for the ghost hunting show fan who knows all of the tropes! (like me! Truly, this movie was borderline genius!)

What did you think of my list? Are you as big of a Halloween fan as I am? Have you seen any of these movies? Will you watch any of them? If so, let me know what you think of them and we can discuss! Also, hooray for it being October 1st

Stay Weird,
Emily

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