OwlCrate Unboxing: October 2017

Hello my fellow bookworms! Welcome back to RoyReadingCo! I know it has been literally ten days since our last OwlCrate unboxing for the September Mythical Creatures box vlog went up on YouTube, but it's back! I received my October OwlCrate today and I was too excited I couldn't even wait to do a vlog!

So today through a series of pictures and my comments we are going to unbox this months OwlCrate: Find Me in the Forest!

First of all, this OwlCrate shipped super fast! I got the email from OwlCrate that my box had shipped on Saturday, and I got the email from my school that it was ready to be picked up this morning. They must be using some kind of magic to get these boxes here with such speed. After looking at the teaser card from the September box I was super excited that I had renewed my subscription and got this one! So let's get into it!

First, I cut the tap on my box and took a picture of the magic that was waiting for me, as one does. If you don't take a picture of your freshly opened OwlCrate, you're doing it wrong.

Obviously, the description card is sitting on top surrounded by that pesky confetti that gives me mixed emotions. I love feeling like it's my birthday once a month, but I also find it everywhere. The card had the super pretty design on it from the find me in the forest theme, and who am I kidding I'll probably end up keeping this one too because I love the design.

So personally, when I get an OwlCrate, I like to read the back of the card and open the things in order of how they appear on the card. Unfortunately this month that wasn't possible, because there were too many amazing things sitting on the top of the box! And I was super excited that this was the first item of the month, because I have been DYING for one of these to be in an OwlCrate. And finally it happened! OwlCrate finally gave me......

23-10-17-0025

23-10-17-0025

23-10-17-0025

23-10-17-0025

A MUG! Anyone who knows me, knows I love mugs, especially of the literary variety. And better yet! This one was of the HARRY POTTER variety. It was like all of my dreams came true at once. I love this style of mug which has a distinctly log cabin vibe to it, and even better yet it had such a pretty painting...hell this is art we're calling it a frieze. A frieze of the forbidden forest from Harry Potter, complete with Hagrid's hut, Aragog, a centaur and a unicorn. Pure magic.

The next item, which had been revealed earlier in the September box was another one I was super excited for! I had been wanting to try out this brand for a while, so I was excited to get the chance, especially when it was themed after one of my favorite series! In the Wick of Time is a candle making shop which specializes in book-themed candles! In this month's OwlCrate, they included a Cabeswater scented candle from The Raven Cycle which smells amazing, which also happens to be an OwlCrate Exclusive. The description card says that it is a blend of Peppermint, Black Tea, and woodsy moss. The packaging is also a really pretty design, which I think matches the theme card for this month really well, with the nice marbled turquoise. It was inspired by the (in)famous forest in The Raven Cycle, and is a really clean and fresh scent, that's really subtle and nice. I would definitely purchase another candle in Cabeswater and I'm super excited to try some new ones!

IMG_5088

IMG_5086

This next item I wasn't super excited about, primarily because I don't use them very often but also because I didn't think it was book themed. But I wasn't totally upset because it's still super cute, especially because it helps create a really wonderful theme within the box! The OwlCrate team included a cork-backed coaster in with this months box with a cute quote and some woodland animals. Personally, I'm not a lady, so I don't use coasters very often. Also, I thought that this was inspired by Sara Pennypacker's book, Pax, but the descripti

on card just says woodland animals! So, this was probably my least favorite item in the whole box but I'm not that mad because foxes are one of my favorite animals.

And because the OwlCrate Team is amazing, and knows how well books and tea go together, they also included an exclusive package of tea from Riddle's Tea Shoppe to sample! The Sherwood Forest Blend is blueberry pie flavored (earl grey and blueberry), and inspired by The Tales of Robin Hood. This packet makes about 4 cups of tea, and doesn't have any caffeine, so it's perfect for when your reading just before bed. The back of the package has a cute, little description that reads: "Take refuge from the sheriff in Sherwood Forest with a cup of sweet blueberry pie tea while listening to delightful tales of the Robin Hood and his Merry Men." I've also just recently started to be more adventurous with my teas, rather than just drinking mint and lemon all the time, so I can't wait to try this! It seems perfect for fall, and they've given you the tea, the mug and (if you're cultured) the coaster! Everything you could need.

IMG_5093_edited

IMG_5094_edited

Another super cool thing the creators of OwlCrate decided to include in the October box were these magnetic bookmarks from The CraftedVan! They're from Where the Wild Things are complete with a little Max! I took them out of the package and tried them out in my current read (Because You Love to Hate Me) and they were so cute! The vinyl is a really nice quality and they work really well. One problem I have with traditional bookmarks is that when I lay down, they always fall out and I lose them, but I just clipped Max on a random page and he was there when I needed him! It's like having your own literary reading buddy with you! I would definitely like to check out some of their other stuff on their Easy shop which you can find at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/craftedvan

Correction: this item might be my least favorite in the box. I just don't know the story it comes from! But this month also came with an art print which I thought was such a cool idea! I would love to receive a print in a future box, but just hopefully one that I recognize. Created by Audra Auclair, this print is beautifully done and on a really sturdy cardstock and is inspired by Princess Mononoke. I wish I knew how to even pronounce that. Even though I didn't really get the reference, I still thought this was super beautiful and it made me more curious about the story and made me want to look into it! But over all, I wish it was a print of something I had read already!

So that's it for all of the bookish merchandise in this box! It was fun to get some new kinds of products that we haven't previously had before! As much as I wish there had been a new sticker to join my friends Hagrid and BuckBeak from last month's box, I liked that I got a mug and a candle! I love when they send us samples of tea and coffee, and these boxes really just open my eyes to the range of book merchandise that is really out there. I felt like this months book merchandise was really perfect for fall, and really relaxing. I would love to curl up with the book they sent this month (I know, I know it's coming) and drink blueberry pie tea out of my Harry Potter Mug! An A+ box!

IMG_5106_edited

IMG_5105_edited

As per usual, they've sent along a collector's pin for this month's box! It was kind of eerie and cool and I can't wait to put this one on my work lanyard. I think it will go with the August "Something Wicked This Way Comes" box! It had really pretty purples and oranges which just felt sort of perfect for October. Something about the treehouse is just as cozy as it is creepy!

And now for the important part: this month's book. I was actually right for once in guessing what the month's book would be, which literally never happens! This months book was Wild Beauty by Anna Marie McLemore, which follows Estrella (love that name) Nomeolvides (Again love that name. In Spanish "no me olvides" translates to "don't you forget about me" which makes me really excited to see how it relates to the story. Apparently there's gardens, curses, and a mystery boy which to me sounds like a recipe for a good freakin' book. ALSO. OwlCrate did it again and did the cutest thing ever. They included a package of flower seeds with the book because the author is clearly a lover of flowers and gardens is a major component of the book. Is that not the cutest thing ever?? I loved that idea!! This cover is also GORGEOUS. The font is to die for and the colors are so vivid and beautiful. As always, this is an OwlCrate Exclusive cover and the original has a black background, but I really think the cream color makes the flowers pop a lot better! In addition to a note from the author, there was also an autographed book plate signed by Anna Marie McLemore. They included that in last month's box as well, and these people are spoiling me!!

I think this was a really good pick for this box and I think all the components of the book package were really well thought out and made a great composition. But I want to hear what you guys thought the book was going to be! Let me know in the comments what your guesses were!

So one thing I noticed that was new last month, that I wasn't sure if it was new or not, was the little booklet with an interview with the author, an interview with one of the merchandise makers, a word search and the reveal for next month! So this month was an interview with the author, an interview with the makers of In the Wick of Time, a word search and the theme reveal! So...I wasn't planning on renewing my subscription for next month but it looks like such a good box! I was going to try out a new kind of box, but that might have to wait... The theme is "Castles, Courts and Kingdoms" and there's supposed to be a items from Harry Potter, A Court of Mist and Fury, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Three of those four things are like my favorite series. How could I not get the November box??? It would really just be impractical! So I will be getting it and I'm going to start pondering some guesses! Let me know if you're getting the box and what you're thinking!!

Overall, this was one of the better boxes I've gotten in my experience with OwlCrate. I've gotten a box for three months in a row now and honestly they just keep getting better and better! I see really big things happening for this company and I honestly can't wait to see where they go! Did you get this month's OwlCrate? What did you think? I have to say my favorite item is probably the mug, because I'm a sucker for mug's and my least favorite is (dang I hate to say it) the print :( What were your hits and misses this month? Because I miss rating things, we are now going to rate OwlCrates in terms of owls! (What else would be appropriate??) So this month I give 🦉🦉🦉🦉.5 out of 5 owls!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I love unboxings and I can't wait to do some more! I'm patting myself on the back for having two posts up in two days! This week is my power week! Thank you so much for checking out the blog and reading along with me, the support means the world to me!

---

If you enjoyed this please subscribe to get email updates for new blog posts! And feel free to follow our twitter, instagram, and tumblr both can be found at @royreadingco If you have any suggestions for books you think I should read or bookish products I should try please leave a comment below or shoot me an email at royreadingco@gmail.com! Thanks for reading along with me! Happy reading!

-Kayla