Have a Harry (Potter) Christmas

You didn't think that you'd get to the end of the year without another Harry Potter post, did you? Well, with my love of the Boy Who Lived, there's no way folks, especially after this last month. While in Vegas in July, we went to Potter Plays, which consisted of 6 mini plays based on fan fiction. It was short, but it was fun and affordable, which is where you're getting this cool fireplace main pic.

This is giving me strong Severus Snape vibes. I love it and the little Dobby is the cutest. This was the first time we'd gone downtown for a show and it was in a tiny theater that made it easy to see everything super close. Only about 100 audience members could fit. I loved it.

You probably already saw my Harry Potter party pics from August. It was a Quidditch World Cup theme, so everyone dressed as Wizards trying to look Muggle. It was hilarious. Here was my Portkey drop station.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time reading, crafting, planning and prepping. It was not disappointing though, except for my lack of chairs, which I have solved for this coming year - a Triwizard theme.

My goodie bags had mini pennants for cheering on their favorite QWC team, their Patronus, Leprechaun coins, the must-have chocolate frog, other candies, and a little something for home Divination.

Our guests got INTO this party and made it way more magical. I was told that my trivia was crazy hard (win!), people inhaled food and we raised money for the Harry Potter Alliance through fun Harry Potter merch raffles that I collected throughout the year. I even ended up with some gifts of my own in honor of Harry's day. My friends are amazing, you guys.

That brings us to December and Yule Ball. Another event put on by the wonderful people of the Harry Potter Alliance in Portland. I can't say enough good things about them, because they outdid themselves with this event and we're already looking forward to next year's Yule Ball. They raise money for various local charities, and they raised thousands of dollars for ChickTech and Girls Build, who teach girls to use technology and power tools respectively. How cool is that?

Tickets went on sale in September and sold out in a matter of days. Like 3 days. I knew it was going to be a hit, so I bought mine as soon as they went on sale as a birthday gift to myself. First round tickets included a sit-down feast. I didn't blink before handing over $75 a ticket. My money was going to charity and a fun time for myself. Once we arrived, I knew that I wasn't going to regret spending any of that money, or the money I spent at the bar or the money we spent at the raffle table.

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Dec 16, 2017 at 9:35pm PST

We dressed as Slytherins, because they don't get enough love. We are a Ravenclaw (me) and a Hufflepuff, but are all for House unity/equality. I had another dress idea that was going to showcase my love of Ravenclaw House, but it fell through, so I put together something quickly that matched Eric and I can't even tell you how many compliments I got on this skirt that had a tulle overlay that I pinned twinkling lights under. It was so easy, but made a big impact. I'd definitely wear it again for other events.

To top it all off, I won this amazing raffle prize that matched my look. It's a Slytherin fascinator hat, a green wrap and a set of lovely perfumes inspired by Slytherin House. What an awesome birthday gift, right? 

But wait! I forgot to talk about the food! It was so good, I can't even explain it. I really felt like I was at the Hogwarts feast: Roast beef (eat your heart out, Ron), roasted potatoes, a winter vegetable salad, warm couscous, a green salad and hot buttered rolls. Everything was served family style, so we spent time eating and chatting with those at our table, oohing and aahing over everyone's magical outfits. It was a good time, and people went all out dressing for this event. I was so happy with all the eye candy. After dinner, we all noshed on Butterbeer cupcakes, because yaaaaasss! I even had an adult Butterbeer during dinner. How can you not?

One step closer to becoming a witch ⚡#elderwand #magicaltattoo #harrypotterlife #onwandtorulethemall

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Dec 17, 2017 at 8:55pm PST

And now for the crowning jewel of my birthday month. I've been wanting a tattoo for at least a decade, but had no idea what I would love forever. I turned 40 this year. That's a milestone, so I knew this was the year. And I finally knew what I wanted it to be. Behold my new Elder wand. I still can't believe I did it, but I'm so happy with it. I have a genuine wand arm now.

And that's been my life this year. Now I'm looking forward to 2018, where there will be another Harry Potter party, Yule Ball, possible Potter Con, and that Harry Potter festival in Pennsylvania. There will be more visits to Bad Owl Coffee - they'll have a new location in March - in Vegas, too. I can't wait and I'll definitely be sharing it with you all. Happy Holidays to everyone and I hope you have a 2018 full of awesome travel in your future.

Verizon Has This Year's Hot Gifts

Are you still looking for the perfect gift to put under the tree this year? There are still a few days to go and Verizon wants to help you out with some of the most-wanted gifts of the year, which you can order online for shipping or pick up at your nearest Verizon store. As a current customer, I know how awesome they are, but if you aren't, you should know that Verizon’s network gives customers the broadest coverage, best speeds, and unsurpassed reliability.

So, let's look at two of this season's must-have phones that can work for the electronic lover on your list. Both have the most advanced messaging and photo capabilities, so they'll be at the top of their phone game and the envy of everyone.

Samsung Galaxy S8 

The hubs has the S7 and loves it. He's a firm Samsung user and he has a lot of fun with his phone. This new version is even better. The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch infinity screen so you can watch movies and shows while on the go on the world’s first HDR-certified smartphone display. It has a VR app that lets you watch any video in virtual reality when you have the VR headset. The older version only allows you to do this with Netflix streaming. 

The screen on this phone is bright and vibrant and the menus are simple for me to use, which is saying something, because I am a Motorola girl and they tend to work a bit different, making it difficult to move from one to the other. I like the additional features this phone comes equipped with: video making and editing, texting that allows you to draw on the screen, a huge battery (3000 mAh) that gives you even more talk and play time, as well as split screen ability - perfect for those working on-the-go.

Are they a budding photographer or just use their phone as their main camera? Samsung Galaxy S8 and Bixby, Samsung’s new intelligent interface, makes taking pictures even more fun. With Bixby Vision, Galaxy S8's camera isn't just better, it's smarter. Just point your camera and Bixby will recognize landmarks, and even translate text. Gone are the days of grainy phone photos, the 12MP camera will take crisp, clear pics they'll want to share. Their travels aren't just going to be cool, are going to be freaking amazing! They won't even miss their traditional camera, especially considering how easily they can take, store and share pics, plus the phone itself is easy to hold, even for those of us with smaller hands.

If you buy an S8 now, you can get a second one for free! 

Moto Z2 Play

I have the previous Moto Z Play that allows for Moto Mods, which I have not upgraded to yet. I accidentally washed my phone before that and needed something right away. I wasn't sold on the large size, because my hands are small and I do actually use my phone to make phone calls. It didn't take much time for me to adore it though and I kind of can't wait to get this next version.

This is the phone you need when on the move. Get up to 30 hours on a single charge and receive 8 hours of power in just 15 minutes with TurboPower™ charging. Who wants to wait forever for their phone to charge? Especially if you're traveling and need it for navigation, communication and entertainment. 

You know that I'm constantly taking photos everywhere I go. It's hard to share crap, blurry photos to social media and my blog, but this phone doesn't have that issue. A 12MP camera with laser autofocus and dual pixel technology lets you take faster, clearer pictures, so you don’t miss the moment. Want to take awesome selfies, too? Brighten up your subject with a front and back flash. It's a great way to get a clear pic during those low-light holiday parties. 

And while you can't prevent the weather and rain happens, the Moto Z2 Play is a hardy phone for all occasions. It features an elegant aluminum unibody construction for a premium look and feel. For any potential travel water hazards, the phone is protected with a water-repellant nano-coating to help protect against splashes and weather. It won't help when you accidentally throw your phone in the washing machine (don't do that), but it will still allow you to text and photograph your life if rain happens or you're tromping through the rainforest.

Either of these phones would be welcomed by just about anyone on your holiday list, but Verizon also has other selections, including the new iPhone and the Ionic Fitbit, which not only tracks your exercise and fitness goals, but stores a ton of music, acts as a watch, has built-in GPS and personal coaching. Keep on top of those new year's resolutions, so you look and feel your best and fit into that awesome swimsuit on your next vacay. 

We've traveled the world with our Verizon phones. They have wonderful international plans and you can switch to one when you go outside the country in order to keep your phone number and not have to mess with limited minutes and other country mobile plans. This makes one less thing to stress out about when traveling. 

Verizon even has accessories for all your gear, including phone cases, headphones and those mods that go with both of these phones. If you don't get what you want on Christmas morning, head over to the store and get your own. You won't be sorry. 

Want to shop these gifts and more? 

Find them on the Verizon site or you local store. You can even order online and pick up in store!

How much are they? The Samsung Galaxy S8: from $31.50/month | The Moto Z2 Play: From just $10/month

Just love Verizon and want to follow them everywhere? 

Check them out on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: Verizon loaned me the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Moto Z2 Play for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are my own.

Last-Minute Holiday Travel Tips

The holidays are almost upon us and that means many people will be flying or driving to destinations to see friends and family. Luckily, all our immediate family lives in town, so we don't have to go anywhere to get our jolly on. We do skip the making of a big holiday dinner in favor of going to the local-ish casino buffet on Christmas day and we do a potluck for the get together on Christmas Eve, so we have a pretty laid back couple of days to look forward to.

If you're traveling, you probably want a few tips to make sure you don't lose your mind, either on the way there or once you've arrived.

Pack light

Your family knows what you look like. Pack only the essentials and mix and match if you can. That way you don't have to pay baggage fees and potentially have your luggage get lost. Here's how to do it, even for winter. 

If you're trying to also pack gifts, I'd suggest small ones that aren't wrapped that you can wrap or bag when you arrive (paper and bags are easy to stash in the bottom of your carry-on or in a side pocket). TSA won't always let wrapped gifts through, and you'll be mad if you spent all your time on wrapping and they rip it open. If you don't mind paying, shipping them ahead works too, and is still probably cheaper than baggage fees. 

Bring a back-up bag

When coming back from the holidays, you're probably going to have more than you started with. Throw a back-up bag in your carry-on that you can then bring those back with you on the plane. I have several different ones that work to carry purchases I've made when traveling. I love this full-size bag (which will fit under the airplane seat) and also this bright tote bag. Both can be packed away and are sturdy enough to hold a large load of goodies.

Pack electronic and tangible entertainment

Whether that be books, magazines, card games or whatever. Bring a small selection of things that aren't digital, because you never know what can happen on your travels and batteries don't last forever. That said, don't forget your chargers and a small power strip. A portable back-up battery is also a lifesaver. 

Be chill

Count to 10. Go to your happy place. Get to the airport 3 hours early and have a drink at the bar. Whatever you need to do, but please don't take out your stress and crankiness on everyone else. These times are hard on everyone. The security and flight crew don't need to get yelled at for no reason. There's only such much within their control too, so chill out and sit down and try to ask yourself if it's really that important. Smile at others and maybe the holiday spirit will spread.

Also bring snacks

I get cranky and mean if I don't eat. It's not often, because I get to the airport early and eat there and am prepared for my flight. I always have snacks though, because you never know. Being hangry can be avoided, which is why I bring more food than shoes when I travel. Snag a bottle of water once you're through security too, because being dehydrated can lead to getting sick, and that sucks worse than being hungry.

Look for Lyft/Uber promo codes

If you've not used either of these car sharing services before, then you can probably sign up with a hefty promo added to your account. Make those I-gotta-get-out-of-this-house-and-away-from-family trips a little cheaper and less guilt inducing.

When you simply need to release your cabin fever, splurge on a city scavenger hunt like Stray Boots or Urban Adventure Quest. This is great for kids that have all that pent up energy too.

photo credit

Get a tune up

Are you driving to your destination? Millions of people are. If you'll be driving your own car, then make sure it's safe for the road before you go. Right now, many mechanics are running specials for road-worthiness. It's very important. 

The holidays can be stressful, but that doesn't mean you can't make the best of it. If you want to be even more prepared, download some of these great apps to your phone and then plan, plan, plan, but assume things may not go as you expect.

Are you all set for your holiday travels?