Days 3 & 4 of my 31 days of Halloween

Yep.  I'm already cheating.  But who's reading this anyway?

So...

I broke down and already cracked into some Nightmare Before Christmas.  Honestly, "This is Halloween" has been stuck in my head for DAYS!  Both versions.  But that's not me complaining :)

Since I can't find a decent (and legal) link to either version, enjoy this film trailer from MovieClips.com:

Trailer #1

Yesterday, I spent the day in the lovely Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia.  While I didn't get to visit yet, Morris Arboretum holds an annual scarecrow contest, and this year is even having a special Harry Potter category!  (Look out for upcoming Harry Potter Weekend post.)  I will definitely be stopping by to vote.  The scarecrows are already up and will be on display until October 17th.  I highly suggest you swing by and check it out if you're local.

When I got home from walking the strip, I was beat.  So I plopped on the catch and pulled up the onDemand menu.  Searching for something scary, I instead landed on Megamind - which I thoroughly enjoyed!  I believe the super hero category has a place in the 31 Days of Halloween, and so it shall here.  With characters voiced by the the brilliant minds of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross and Brad Pitt, how could we go wrong?  Oh, and did I mention some pretty kick-ass music?  Check it out:

We Meet Again

I actually picked this film to watch so that I could get work down while I used it more as background noise.  That didn't work out.

Finally in my backwards trot, I watched me some Betelgeuse on Sunday.  As I watched, I began to list all the reasons why I love that movie.  And well...  maybe I'll finish it the next time I watch for you.  Jump in the line?

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: The Mysterious Ticking Noise

This is a classic!  And extremely catchy.  Enjoy ;)

Activities Tuesday: Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble!

Don't get too excited!  I've really just had a long day and needed to throw something together for today's post.  Forgive me ;)

Your elementary school school science project, the lovely erupting volcano, can easily be converted into a great Halloween Trick!  Whether it be a bubbling cauldron, a mad scientist's lab, or a Harry Potter potions class...

All you need is two ingredients: vinegar and baking soda.  I find it's also good to grab some other kitchen ingredients to make your potion more involved.  (Pepper for ground flies, Cayenne for powdered dragon's blood, and so on.  Get creative!)  Don't forget to add the food coloring for that extra visual!

The set up is entirely up to you and your occasion.  You can either have the children mix the concoction, while you add the final "magic" ingredient, or simply mix together the basics to have an oozing brew ready to go.

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: A Universal Dream

Saturdays I use for posting tidbits about items often related to Halloween but not actually having to do with it. What's a better way to kick this category off than with Harry Potter?

Recently, Universal released a LOAD of new information on the upcoming Harry Potter theme park. Slated to open this Spring 2010, the park will include many pieces of the HP world that any fan would look for. From the official site:

• At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of theHogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station
• Across the way is Zonko's, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes
• Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans
• The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog's Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice
• Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery
• The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard
• Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls
• The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament
• Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle
• Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced
• Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars, and even remote control Golden Snitches

Make sure to check out this video for an exciting sneak peak. I know when I go, security will have an awfully tough time getting me out! What true fan won't be in tears at the site of this?