Now that it’s time for the January OwlCrates to get sent out, I figured it’s high time I go ahead and share my December unboxing, for any of you who are looking for some cute bookish merch or are just curious about what was in the box for the month of December! The theme for December was “Seize the Day”, and all the items were meant to invoke a carpe diem type vibe or are inspired by books that embody the philosophy.
“The Names They Gave Us”-Inspired Candle from Novelly Yours
This mini soy candle from Novelly Yours smells great and is covered in glitter—what more can you ask for? The candle is called “The Dreaming Tree” and is inspired by the novel “The Names They Gave Us” by Emery Lord. This isn’t a book I’ve read, so while I’m not entirely familiar with what it’s referencing, I can tell you one thing for sure: it smells amazing. It smells just like fresh apples and is pretty, too, with its pale green color and a heavy dose of beautiful, blue glitter coating the top.
The only complaint I have is that I want to burn it because it smells amazing but also don’t want to burn it because I don’t want it to ever look any less pretty than it is right now…*sigh*. #firstworldproblems, am I right?
Double-Sided Bookmark from Little Inklings Designs
This two-for-the-price-of-one goodie features a blue side with a quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and a green side with a quote from The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner.
It’s a good sturdy paper, which we all know is vital for those vigorous reading sessions—or you know, when you accidentally leave your bookmark in your bed and roll over on it (please tell me that’s not just me that does that). In my opinion, both quotes featured on the bookmark perfectly embody the concept of “seizing the day”.
Percy Jackson-inspired Magnet from Ink & Wonder Designs
Another wonderful representation of the “Seize the Day” theme, this compact mirror-sized magnet features an oceanic theme and an inspiring quote from the Percy Jackson series: “If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.”
Wooden Ornament from Juniper & Ivy Designs
Our second item in as many months from Juniper & Ivy Designs to be featured in an OwlCrate box, this wooden ornament features a perfectly carved stack of books adorned with a beautiful quote from “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon, and a pretty blue string to hang it with. While it would be perfect for a Christmas tree (and arrived just in time for the holiday season), I actually think it’s great for year-round and have hung it from a pushpin on my bulletin board. The stack of books is super cute and perfect for any bookworm!
Harry Potter-inspired Tote Bag from Bookworm Boutique
Perhaps one of the most practical items included in the December OwlCrate, I basically squealed with excitement when I saw this bright blue tote bag from Bookworm Boutique. This bookish merch company is actually new to me, so I was excited to be introduced to a new shop—another amazing perk of an OwlCrate subscription, of course.
The fairly sturdy bright blue tote features the classic “Don’t let the muggles get you down” quote, as well as little Potter-themed images dotted all over the bag, like potions, wands, and lightning bolts. This is super cute, and probably my favorite or second favorite item from the December box!
Planner/Reading Journal from OwlCrate & Blue Star Press
This pretty, OwlCrate-exclusive notebook is half traditional planner, half reading journal, and features pages to track the books you’ve read, the books you’re planning to read, and even a few pages for book reviews or notes on what you thought of the books you’ve read. The second half can be set up as a traditional planner with monthly planning pages and weekly pages as well. Nothing is numbered, so you can write in the dates on your own, making it adaptable to any year and giving you the ability to start journaling whenever you’d like.
To make it even more unique and exclusive to OwlCrate, the pages feature quotes from previous OwlCrate books, like this one from one of my favorites, Eliza and Her Monsters.
They also feature cute little illustrations of owls (of course), and each owl is different and seems to have its own unique little personality.
This one reminds me of a strict Russian grandmother for some reason. An owl-grandmother.
I’ve already started using this to keep tracks of the books I’ve read this year! I haven’t utilized the traditional planner half of it yet, but I like the idea of a reading journal and it’s nice to have such a unique one. As a stationery junkie, I think the paper and quality of the journal overall is great! Trust me, I’ve purchased tons of journals and planners and some of them are downright disappointing. I’m not sure I adore the multitude of bright colors adorning the cover, but I might come to appreciate them when I’m feeling down and need a burst of color. J
Of course, OwlCrate also included their usual OwlCrate-specific items: the spoiler card, the mini-magazine/pamphlet that is now becoming a regular inclusion, and the pin, all featuring the same artwork. While I’ve really adored some of the dark, castle-y, woods-y artwork being showcased lately, something about this image really stands out to me—maybe because it’s so relatable—and I love the colors!
They also include the sneak peek for the January box, which should be here soon, and is fairytale themed.
This one definitely looks interesting (and I’m not the only one who thought so—it sold out almost immediately!), and I’m excited to see some unique products based on classic stories.
And finally, the most important part of any OwlCrate box—the book!
This month’s book was Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills. It features another exclusive cover, and a book plate that has a themed design unique to the cover of the book, which is always my favorite kind. I just think it adds a little extra personalization—you know, gives it that little extra something-something. It also includes a letter from the author and a heart-shaped patch themed to the book (seen above).
Foolish Hearts is a contemporary YA romance about a young woman named Claudia who accidentally overhears the break-up of her school’s “It Couple”, successfully making Iris, one of the mean girls of her school, her enemy. But then, she and Iris are forced into working together in their school’s play, a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I haven’t read this one yet, but y’all know I’ll let you know what I think when I do!
I really love the cover underneath the dust jacket:
As well as the additional decoration on the chapter heading pages:
So, did anyone else get the December OwlCrate? What did you think? Did you have a favorite item? Let me know in the comments! You know I’d love to talk. <3