Finally Getting the Wizarding World LootCrate Hedwig Pin

 In the September, 2018, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World Subscription Box by LootCrate, there was an item missing.  The theme of the box was Back to Hogwarts, and the four received items were House themed.  Nice items, honestly, but it felt like something was missing, and I was relieved to find a card apologizing that the pin, the first in a creature series, would arrive separately by mid-October.

I got the main box last week, and a week to the day, yesterday, this pin came in the mail, sooner than I was expecting, and much nicer than what was seen on the item info sheet.  The pin in the picture looked small, but this pin is a pretty good size.

 A full view on the card.

The pin next to a quarter.

I like the pin and its pearl accent.  It fits well with the Back to Hogwarts theme.

Utah & Idaho Odyssey of the Mind 2015 Pin Sneak Peak

 March 28th is the Utah State Odyssey of the Mind (OotM for short) competition!  It's at Park City High School.  Each of the long term problems (Silent Movie, Technical Difficulties, Lose You Marbles, Runaway Train, and Pandora's box) is solved in a skit which is presented to judges, and these performances are open for the public to come and watch.  It's really fun seeing how all the teams solve the same problem is so many different creative ways.

Odyssey of the Mind is all about creativity and thinking outside the box, which is the theme of this years Utah/Idaho pins: See What Creativity Lurks Beyond the Box.

Idaho is included on our pins because we have a few teams coming down to compete.  Idaho's OotM program is so small each of the Idaho teams automatically qualify for the OotM Worlds Competition in Michigan this year, but it's good practice to perform the skit in front of an audience before Worlds.  There's a Div. II Idaho team performing in Silent Movie this year, and I'm really excited to see them.  I'm excited to see all the teams perform!  It's going to be fun :0)

Without much further ado here's a close up of our pins.

 Omer as a cardboard box monster is my favorite pin this year.  He's adorable!

This pin is 2 inches high and about 1 1/3 inches wide.

 This pin is all the problems, including Primary, represented within each box.

This pin is 1 1/2 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches tall.

Monsters coming out of the box!  And our States slogan at the bottom.

Measuring at 1 7/8 inches wide and 2 inches tall.

Can't wait for the competition next week! :0)

Odyssey of the Mind Utah State Comp. 2013

 Last weekend was the Utah Odyssey of the Mind State competition, and I had the fun pleasure of being one of the judges, which is something I've wanted to do since leaving High School in 2000.  The program is growing again here in Utah!  I heard last year there was 11 or 12 teams competing, and this year there was about 40.  Next year it's going to grow even more :0)

Each year every State and Country creates a trading pin.  I've heard this is quite the big deal at World's.  These are Utah's 2013 pins, which I've got to say 

are pretty awesome!

I found a really cool webpage that has all the Odyssey of the Mind pins 1989-2012 if you want to check them out.  You can view by State, Country and year.

Above is the "crazy hat" I wore as a judge. Flying pig duck tape on a cap with foam wings.  I actually didn't know this was a tradition!  I do remember at the CA State comp. back when, there was a judge wearing a Mad Hatter hat, and he belly laughed in all the right places.  It was the greatest thing ever!

Kingdom Hearts Mickey Pin

Disneyland, New Orleans Square, afternoonish, 11-16-2012:  I was at the Pin Trading store in New Orleans looking through the latest collection.  If anyone's been to Disneyland in the last several years, it's a pretty well known fact that pin trading/collecting is quite popular in the Magic Kingdom.  It's my souvenir of choice.  They're not too cheap, but cheaper then most things, and the pins are small, so you don't have to lug something around all day, considering you choose not to rent a locker, which comes highly recommended.

Anyhoo, so I was looking through the pins when I found a cloaked hooded Mickey, all by himself and clearly out of place, staring at me.  A little giggle started to grow within as excitement bubbled forth.  "Mom!" I quickly shouted, and showed her the little treasure.  She looked it over, not impressed.  "We have to get it for Steven," I said, and she simply asked why.  "Because," I continued, "It's Kingdom Hearts Mickey!" She still looked a little puzzled as she shifted through Cinderella pins.  "It's his favorite game," a said simply.  "If there is one thing, One thing he would want in this park, this is it.  Trust me, he would want it." She debated a little with me, but I continued to insist that Steven would love it, and so it was bought.

I tried to find one for myself, because, honestly, it's a cool pin.  I haven't played the game myself, as it seems to be the way with me these days.  He plays the games (Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Uncharted, etc) and I waltz downstairs to inquire after the plot and watch recently unlocked scenes.  Then I geek over the music.  I love game music. Utada Hikaru has written two great songs for Kingdom Hearts: Hikari and Passion.  Oh, and the Piano Collection to Final Fantasy X and X-2 are simply gorgous.  Steven bought me the CD's and Sheet music while in Japan (well, X-2 is mine, he claims X, but I get shared joy in borrowing.)

I'm off topic!!  

About an hour later my Mom and I joined up with my bros Steven and Robbie.  They were off riding rides (namely Star Tours an extra time) while my Mom and I did "girly stuff."  

Steven was super excited and declared, "You'll never guess what I found!" He pulled out a small white bag, and I knew immediately what was inside.

"It's a Kingdom Heart Mickey pin, isn't it?" I asked, and his face fell a little.

"How did you know?"

"Mom and I got you one," I laughed, and I showed it to him.  Ha!  So now I have a Kingdom Hearts Mickey pin of my own, and my little Disney pin collection continues to grow a little more epic.

 (Copyright Square-Enix.  Found Here)