Hello Everyone! Long time no blog! I’m sorry I’ve been away for a while. Back in September, my life got super busy, yet super exciting – I got a new design job! This new chapter in my life has been great so far and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for me. With that in mind, I had to take a step away from my blog and social media platforms. Boy, have I missed writing and corresponding with the blogging community! Now, that I’ve given myself time to adjust to my new job, I want to dive back into a more consistent posting routine.
Before I went on my hiatus, I participated in the Owlcrate August 2016 Photo Challenge, which the YA book subscription service held in September. To partake in this challenge, it was a requirement to have purchased the August 2016 Owlcrate, Fast Times at YA High. The challenge consisted of bookish prompts for one week on Instagram. For each prompt, Owlcrate wanted one or more items from the month’s box to be featured.
Owlcrate August 2016: Photo Challenge
This was my first photo challenge on Instagram and it really did CHALLENGE me. It was fun having a prompt everyday and having to come up with a photo composition for it. Originally, I wasn’t planning on reviewing the August 2016 Owlcrate. However, after completing the challenge, I really wanted to share with everyone my photos from the challenge and talk about the contents of the box. Even though, a few months have passed since I received the August box, I still want to give my honest review. With that being said, I hope you enjoy taking a look at some bookish goodies!
September 5th: Owlcrate Unboxing
I was super excited that August’s theme was Fast Times at YA High. Contemporary Young Adult books are my favorite and I knew Owlcrate would include some amazing goodies in this box. Items Included: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, a signed bookplate, colored pencils, and letter from Kasie, a decomposition notebook, “Hogwarts is my Home” button by Taryn Knight, “Chapter Raptor” pin, a Harry Potter print by @susanne_draws, Stress Relieving Patterns adult coloring book from Blue Star Coloring, and an Owlcrate original Eleanor and Park necklace.
On September 5th, the prompt was to photograph our Owlcrate unboxing.
September 6th: Coloring Book & Rainbows
September 6th’s photo challenge features the adult coloring book, Stress Relieving Patterns from Blue Star Coloring. I love coloring to wind down and relax when I’m feeling stressed. So, I’m very happy a coloring book was included in Owlcrate’s August’s box. The coloring book is filled with beautiful images that I can’t wait to add color to. Also, the pages are blank on the backside, which makes me a very happy camper. It’s a pet peeve of mine when coloring books have an image on both sides because I can’t use mediums that will bleed through, such as markers. I am a marker girl and proud, but I can appreciate the smell of a fresh box of Crayola crayons.
September 7th: Harry Potter Collection
On September 7th, Owlcrate wanted us to show our Harry Potter collections. I was really excited for this prompt because I’m a HUGE Potterhead. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan and collector since 2001, which was the year Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first shown in theaters. Since I’ve been collecting Harry Potter merchandise all of these years, it was hard to decide what to showcase. So, here’s some of my favorite Harry Potter artifacts and merchandise, which includes my newest additions – a “Hogwarts is my Home” button by Taryn Knight and a print of the golden trio by @susanne_draws.
September 8th: Necklace & Contemporary Reads
September 8th’s photo challenge was to showcase the lovely Eleanor & Park necklace from Owlcrate and share our favorite contemporary reads. I’ve yet to read Eleanor & Park, but it’s on my TBR. Contemporary stories are the majority of the books that fill my shelves. With that being said, I have many favorites: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 10 Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), How To Be Popular, To All the Boys I Loved Before, TTFN, Anatomy of a Single Girl, 45 Pounds, and August’s book, P.S. I Like You.
September 9th: Book & Junk Food
On September 9th, Owlcrate wanted us to showcase August’s book, P.S. I Like You along side our favorite junk food. My favorite junk food is anything chocolate. That week, I was in the city, and was craving something cold and sweet, so I decided to go to Starbucks. My go-to drink at Starbucks is a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino, which is amazingly good!
September 10th: Pink!
September 10th’s photo challenge was to create a pink theme that featured the book, P.S. I Like You. Brands also featured: Funko, Maybelline, Sigma Beauty, Sephora, Sally Hansen, and Milani Cosmetics.
September 11th: Owlcrate In Your Town
The final prompt of the Owlcrate August Photo Challenge was to take a picture of the Owlcrate box next to something special in our hometown. I am from the suburbs of Chicago, IL. I chose this beautiful clock tower by my local library, which I found very fitting with the Owlcrate subscription box.
Owlcrate August 2016: Review
My second Owlcrate box did not disappoint. I was very pleased with everything that I received. For the photo challenge, I didn’t shoot close-ups for every single item, so here are closeups of some of the items from the August box.
I really loved this month’s crate for it’s unique items. I’ve always enjoyed collecting buttons. The “Hogwarts is my Home” and “Chapter Raptor” bookish buttons were totally up my alley. I’m still deciding where to sport them. Just like the buttons, I thought the decomposition notebook was really adorable. I really like the vintage pattern and binding. In addition, the pages are 100% recycled, which is awesome. One can never have too many notebooks. The Eleanor and Park necklace featured in the box was really beautiful. The cover art from the book is encased in a glass bubble on a long rustic chain. What a nice piece of bookish jewelry!
In addition, I was very pleased to receive a Harry Potter print of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I’m a Potterhead and proud, so I was thrilled to have another item to add to my Harry Potter collection. Also, I thought it was really cool that Owlcrate included an adult coloring book. Of course, the star of this month’s box was P.S. I Like You by Kasie West. I was very excited to receive this book because it’s a contemporary romance novel. Soon after completing the photo challenge, I was able to sit down and read it. I flew through the pages – it was such a good book!
So far, this has been my favorite box from Owlcrate. Not too long ago, I received my October Owlcrate. The theme is Once Upon A Dream. This week, I will be participating in the Owlcrate October 2016 Photo Challenge. Again, I plan on sharing with you the challenge photos as well as reviewing the box’s contents. With that being said, I can’t wait to share with you more bookish goodies!
What was your favorite item from Owlcrate August 2016? Let me know in the comments below! Follow me on Instagram to see my posts from the Owlcrate October 2016 Photo Challenge!
I hope to see you in my next blog post!
♥ Candis
DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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