I’ve always correlated Harry Potter with this time of year, so it was absolutely incredible to walk around Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. We were fortunate enough to spend 3 days in the parks and it only got better as the time went on.

Our first day was filled with overwhelming excitement. Witnessing Diagon Alley for the first time, just as Harry did, brought tears to my eyes. Everywhere you looked there was something to discover and we couldn’t take enough pictures. Actually, that’s pretty much all we did that day, aside from drinking butterbeer of course.

The second day, we were just as excited, but more so to be back in a place that felt like home. Rather than everything being new to us, we were able to appreciate the finely crafted details and really enjoy the ambiance. You truly feel like you’re in another world inside the park; I can never give enough praise to those who designed that space. By the end of the day, we had completed all of our spells and just relaxed by the The Hopping Pot as if we were another pair of wizards on the street.

Finally, our third and last day within the park was a bittersweet one. Knowing this would be the last time we’d be here for years, we again just found a place to sit with our drinks for the majority of the day to soak it all in. We adored watching people practice their spells and witness others see Hogwarts for the very first time. We even saw a marriage ceremony in front of the castle! But our favorite place in the busy village of Hogsmeade was the sitting area behind The Hogs Head. It didn’t seem like many people noticed the area and you get a gorgeous view of the castle; it was perfection.

While this isn’t your typical fall outdoor adventure, it was an incredible one that I’ll never forget. This season is so much more special to me now and we are so happy to have chosen Harry Potter’s world as our honeymoon destination. While most people relax in a tropical setting, we relaxed in one of the most magical settings there is, surrounded by happiness and excitement. The rest of our stay at Portofino Bay was also beautiful, but I’ll save that for another day.

Have you had any great outdoor adventures yet this fall? If so, share in the comments!

The post Fall Fun Series | A Magical Time of Year appeared first on Melting With Michelle.

While I have so many fond Autumn memories, there is one that I will always treasure. In October 2012, my niece Lilly had recently turned 1 and just started walking. I went to visit for the weekend and as soon as I saw her, she ran up to me for the first time and gave me the biggest hug. That little voluntary act was filled with so much love and I’ve always held it close to my heart. We spent the rest of that weekend playing in the leaves and going to a pumpkin patch.

Fall certainly is my favorite time of year to burn candles but it’s also so much more than that. I can’t wait to get married next month just to have one more reason to love this season!

What is your favorite fall memory? Share in the comments below!

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Butterbeer – “Sweet butterscotch topped with a dollop of sweet cream”
This straight up smells like a creamy butterscotch candy. I’ve never actually had a legitimate butterbeer so I can’t vouch how realistic this wax is. I can tell you that we’ll definitively be melting this when we’re having Harry Potter movie marathons!

Gryffindor – “Frosted lemon meringue cheesecake with raspberry glaze”
I’m not even a Gryffindor, but this scent sounded delicious. I was unfortunately let down upon smelling it because it just smells like lemons with the slightest hint of raspberry and barely any bakery. I’m crossing my fingers this develops more when warm!

Hedwig – “Chai tea, creamy cheesecake, and clove”
Within the past year I discovered my love for chai tea, so this scent naturally appealed to me. However, it really just smells overwhelmingly of clove with possibly undertones of chai. It really reminds me of a craft store which is unfortunate and I’m praying the cheesecake note will come out when warm.

Umbridge – “Tea & cakes, sugar dusted roses, and cotton candy”
From the sounds of the description I was hoping for a Pink Petal Tea Cake dupe. This really just smells like a rose tea though without any sweet bakery notes. If you’ve ever drank the Get Gorgeous tea before, this is an exact dupe for it! I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable but not what I was looking for.

Banner – “Warm buttery cornbread topped with creamy mac apple ice cream and brown sugar”
This is a hands down dupe for BBW Summer Boardwalk! I adore that fragrance but I’m already pretty stocked up on it and don’t need another melt in it. I was really hoping for more of the cornbread note.

Corpsman – “Graham crackers, pie crust, and creamy zucchini bread”
We are saving the best for last here. Above everything you get that graham cracker note and then the buttery crust. I’m not exactly sure if I smell any ZB on cold but I’m hoping to be able to distinguish that when warming; I can only imagine it’ll make this fragrance better!

While I wasn’t overwhelmed by the actual fragrances, I won’t pass full judgement until I’ve melted them. Overall, the company had a fairly quick delivery speed and included a free sample in my bundle too. I do enjoy the design elements that appear on the wax – you can really tell how much time goes into making them. I probably will end up doing another haul once the Harry scent is back in stock and plan on stocking up on my favorite Corpsman fragrance!

Where is your favorite Super Tarts scent? Share in the comments!

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