Owlcrate March 2017: Sailors, Ships & Seas

Hi everyone! Happy Tuesday! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday so far and are looking forward to a fun and exciting day.  Michigan is finally seeing some warmer weather so I am looking forward to putting my winter coat away and getting out my Spring gear. 

If you haven't already, make sure to enter my $20 Amazon giveaway in my St. Patrick's Day post.  The giveaway ends on Wednesday @ 11:59 pm so don't miss out! 

Today's post I wanted to share my March 2017 Owlcrate! This month's theme is:

Sailors, Ships & Seas

I am super excited about this box because I love all things nautical and ocean related.  If you are not sure what Owlcrate is, it is a monthly subscription book-themed box that comes with a Young Adult Book and other fun theme-related trinkets.  Some of my favorite trinkets have been candles, bath bombs and jewelry, but there are all kinds of great items available in each themed box.

For March, our theme was Sailors, Ships & Seas so of course the items are all Nautical in nature.  Here is a list of the items I got in my box:

• Pendant Necklace from The Geeky Cauldron // I can't find the exact item and it looks like they're not selling at the moment.  
• Octopus Notepad from BoyGirlParty // Check out their website for tons of cute items! I am thinking about buying another notepad with a cat on it and maybe this t-shirt.
• Mermaid Washi Tape from Simply Gilded // I found the Washi Tape in a set listing on Simply Guilded's Etsy shop.
• Tea Towel from KitchStudios // Here's a link to the exact Tea Towel Owlcrate sent us! I am super excited to hang this towel in my kitchen.
• The Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller // Here is the synopsis: "Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map―the key to a legendary treasure trove―seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship."

This box was so much fun! I am excited to start using my items and reading the book! I am planning to take it to Florida with me next week when we head down there for a wedding.  

If you are interested in getting your very own Owlcrate, go to www.owlcrate.com and check out their subscription services. 

To see my past Owlcrate reviews, you can catch them here.  

If you are an avid reader and want to connect, find me on Goodreads! I am always happy to connect with other book lovers.  

Up Next Month...

I am excited because this book is going to be a contemporary book that celebrates some of the most iconic couples in Young Adult literature.  

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Owlcrate May 2017: Comic Explosion

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday!  I hope you are having a wonderful week so far and are looking forward to a fun and exciting long weekend ahead.

Today's post I wanted to share my May 2017 Owlcrate! This month's theme is:

Comic Explosion

When I saw that this month's theme was Comic Explosion I was SO excited! I am a huge fan of all things comic book and could not wait to get my hands on this month's box.  Plus, they were sending a full-size Funko Pop with a Super Hero theme in every box!

 If you are not sure what Owlcrate is, it is a monthly subscription book-themed box that comes with a Young Adult Book and other fun theme-related trinkets.  Some of my favorite trinkets have been candles, bath bombs and jewelry, but there are all kinds of great items available in each themed box.

For May, our theme was Comic Explosion so of course the items are super hero themed and they managed to touch on a wide variety of super heroes.  Here is a list of the items I got in my box:

• Loki Funko Pop from Storiarts // I am a huge fan of Funko Pops so when I got mine I was super excited to add another one to my small {but ever growing} collection.  I got Loki in my box and I am excited to integrate him into my book shelves.  
• Wonder Woman Candle from Dio Candle Company  // The candle is red in color and has a nice sweet smell which will be perfect for summertime burning.
• Comic Attack Pen from Ooly // This pen is so fun with the bright colors and the option of six different color inks in the pen.  It is almost a throwback to my childhood because these pens were super popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. 
• AFAR Comic Chapter Sampler from Image Comics // I personally have never owned a comic book, so I am excited to try a comic book that is newer.
• Coffee Candies from Käfē // I have not had coffee favorite anything in a long time so I am excited to enjoy these while reading a good book.
• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia // Ironically I added this to my to be read pile on Goodreads last week so I am excited to see what this book is about! Here is the synopsis: In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, smart, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community. Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart

If you are interested in getting your very own Owlcrate, go to www.owlcrate.com and check out their subscription services. 

To see my past Owlcrate reviews, you can catch them here.  

If you are an avid reader and want to connect, find me on Goodreads! I am always happy to connect with other book lovers.  

Up Next Month...

   

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Owlcrate April 2017: Head Over Heels

Hi everyone! Happy Tuesday! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday so far and are looking forward to a fun and exciting day.  We've had some gloomy weather the past few days, but that has made for some relaxing days {with lots of reading time}.

Today's post I wanted to share my April 2017 Owlcrate! This month's theme is:

Head Over Heels

If I am being honest, I was not sure how much I would enjoy this box considering I tend to shy away from Young Adult Contemporary books.  But I also know that I need to make it a point to try other genres and I enjoyed P.S. I Like You by Kasie West so I thought why not give it a try?

 If you are not sure what Owlcrate is, it is a monthly subscription book-themed box that comes with a Young Adult Book and other fun theme-related trinkets.  Some of my favorite trinkets have been candles, bath bombs and jewelry, but there are all kinds of great items available in each themed box.

For April, our theme was Head Over Heels so of course the items are young-ish and super fun.  Here is a list of the items I got in my box:

• Pride and Prejudice Headband from Storiarts // I am IN LOVE with this headband.  I think I have worn it almost every day since the box came in two weeks ago.  It is so soft, so fun and a great way to make a bad hair day look cute.  Justin thinks I look like "I Love Lucy" when I wear it and pile my hair on top of my head.  
• Key Chain from Bookworm Boutique // I am not a huge fan of key chains, but this one is super cute.  
• Bax & Simon Candle from Novelly Yours // I haven't lit this one yet, but it is raspberry scented so I am sure it will be great.  Their candles burn so evenly and smell so nice.  I actually think I want to get a full-sized one.
• Art Print from Evie Bookish // So unfortunately I have not read the book they are referencing in this artwork, but the art is so beautiful and I plan to hang it up in my office at home.  She has all kinds of other beautiful art and items for sale so definitely check it out!
• Umberland sneak peek from Wendy Spinale // The book releases May 9th! It is the second book after Everland and I am excited it is coming out this month! 
• Anna and the French Kiss Tea from The Tea Spot // I'm excited to give this a try - it's chocolate and cherry. 
• The Upside of Unrequited from Becky Albertalli // Here is the synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.  Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.  There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.  Right?

I love the headband and hope to get one or two more for future wear! And I am excited to break out this candle in my office or kitchen.  I haven't decided yet! 

If you are interested in getting your very own Owlcrate, go to www.owlcrate.com and check out their subscription services. 

To see my past Owlcrate reviews, you can catch them here.  

If you are an avid reader and want to connect, find me on Goodreads! I am always happy to connect with other book lovers.  

Up Next Month...

I am excited because the next box will come with a full-sized Funko Pop and a super hero themed book!   

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

September: Month @ a Glance

Happy September 1st Friends! 

Welcome to September everybody! I am so excited we are finally making a quick approach to Fall.  Fall is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of year here in Michigan.  There is something just so special about the leaves changing and the weather cooling down {not to mention that I can breathe better - stupid asthma}.  September will be a fun and crazy month for us and I would not have it any other way.

This month on the blog I am hoping to share some fun things to do during the fall in Michigan, ideas around budgeting and how to keep track of your monies, share a little bit about how I am putting myself first {this one is SUPER hard for me} and share other fun and awesome posts.  The plan is to find a new and fun routine for the blog that allows me to enjoy the blog more than I ever have - I talked about this in yesterday's blog post if you have not already had a chance to read it.

So let's talk a little bit about what our month will look like!

On the Agenda this Month:

1. Up North for Labor Day with Justin's Parents

2. Destiny 2 Release Weekend (for all of you gamers out there)

3. Beth Moore Retreat in Ohio with my Mom

4. Vicki's Housewarming Party

5. Birthday Dinner for Caroline

6. Michigan Renaissance Fetival

7. Girls Night Out!

Goals for September 2017!

1. Read Two Books! I am behind on my monthly reading goal (by at least 2 books) so my goal is to read/finish two books.  Right now I am reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee so I am planning to finish that book.  Then I am also planning to participate in the Owlcrate Book Club! The team at Owlcrate started a new Facebook Group where Owlcrate Subscribers can do a read along with other readers.  I am excited to see how they plan this out! August's Owlcrate Book is The Hearts we Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones

2. Clean out the pantry.  I am embarrassed to admit that this task was also on my July goals and I just have not gotten around to it.  I am hoping to pull everything out of the pantry and get rid of or donate things we no longer need and trash anything that has expired.  

3. Start moving boxes to the basement from the garage.  So last week Justin started working on the shelving in the basement and we were able to get all of the boxes off the floor and onto a shelf.  My goal is to get the boxes from the garage and into the basement so we have more room to the garage as a garage instead of a storage space {that's what the basement is for}.

4. Start working on the mudroom/powder room.  So a while back, Justin and I decided that it was time to start decorating our home, but at the time we really did not have a plan.  So we sat down and decided what order we were going to decorate the house and came to the conclusion that we would start small and go from there.  In July we finally finished decorating the dining room {yay!}, so the next space on our list is to get the mudroom/powder room completed.  I have some really fun ideas of things I'd like to do in there so this will be a fun project! Eventually when I get around to finishing the decorations, I will do a house tour and show you all everything! 

Question of the Day: What fun things do you have in September? 

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Owlcrate August 2016: Fast Times at YA High

Happy Sunday friends! I hope your week is getting off to a good start and you have some fun things planned for the last Sunday in August! Today I am going to a cycle class then heading to a 31 party (hopefully I don't spend too much money haha).

Today I wanted to share with you my August Owlcrate Unboxing! This month's theme was Fast Times at YA High and I loved that there were some fun Harry Potter items in the box as well as some other neat items that the I could wear or use.  

But before I go into what is in the box, here is a quick video showing everything that I got in this month's box:

In the August Box:

• Decomposition Book Dinosaur themed (there are other themed books and it looks like other subscribers got some different ones)
• Eleanor and Park Necklace from Owlcrate 
• Hogwarts is my Home and Chapter Raptor Pins
• Harry Potter Artwork from Susanne Draws
• Adult Coloring Book
• P.S. I Like You by Kasie West 

So that is everything that came in the August Box! Isn't it so fun? I cannot wait to hang up the Harry Potter artwork in my room and have already put P.S. I like you on my Goodreads TBR list.

If you are interested in trying Owlcrate for yourself, go check out their site! I believe they are still doing 10% off for new subscribers by using the code NEWMEMBER.

Up Next Month....

Darkness! I am curious to see what fun things they come up with for this box!

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Owlcrate June 2016: Royalty

Happy Thursday Friends! I hope your week is going well and you are looking forward to this long weekend! We are planning to spend the weekend around the house and getting more boxes unpacked.  We are finally moved out of the apartment, so this weekend will be spent relaxing and getting more boxes emptied.  If possible, my goal is to get all of the boxes empty by the 4th, but I think that may be a little aggressive.  We will see though!

Today I wanted to share with you a little bit a about what I got in my June Owlcrate! I have already started wearing some the bracelet because I love it so much! 

So here is a little video of what I got in the box! 

In the box:

• Disney Mystery Funko Princess: I got Anna! 
• Bracelet by Rich Love Shoppe (did not see the bracelet, but their other stuff is cute!)
• My Bookmark Shop $10 gift card.  Check out their site! The bookmarks are {adorable}!
• Royalty Mini Magnetic Bookmarks by Crafted Van
• My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand

So that is everything that came in the box! Isn't it so fun? I cannot wait to start reading the book and have already put it on my Goodreads TBR list.  And I have already put my coaster to good use and cannot wait to use the magnet at work.

If you are interested in trying Owlcrate, check out their site.  I believe they are still doing 10% off for new subscribers by using the code NEWMEMBER.


Up Next Month.....

Good vs. Evil! This box is going to be so cool because there will be two different boxes! I will either get a Good box or an Evil box which I am super excited about! Justin actually joked about getting a box so we could try to get one of each box.

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Owlcrate May 2016: Steampunk

Happy Thursday Friends! I hope your week is going well and you are looking forward to this weekend.  Can you believe we are already in June? I feel like this year has flown by so far.  

Today I wanted to share with you a little bit a about what I got in my May Owlcrate! I loved some of the pieces I got this time around and cannot wait to put them to good use!

So here is a little video of what I got in the box! 

In the box:

• Gear Wings Pin by Elope/Steamworks
• Sparks Emporium Ring (similar styles, not exact)
• Key Necklace by Crystal Compass (similar styles, not exact)
• Nail Wraps Steampunk by Espionage Cosmetics
• Peter Pan Barrie Print by Creative Daffodil
• Everland by Wendy Spinale

So that is everything that came in the box! Isn't it so fun? I cannot wait to start reading the book and have already put it on my Goodreads TBR list.  And I have already put my coaster to good use and cannot wait to use the magnet at work.

If you are interested in trying Owlcrate, check out their site.  I believe they are still doing 10% off for new subscribers by using the code NEWMEMBER.


Up Next Month.....

Royalty! I cannot wait to see what we get in this box!

Question of the Day: What are you reading right now?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

2017 Summer Reading List

Welcome to my Summer Reading List! I have been wanting to read all of these books for quite some time and thought it would be good to read these books over the next few months!

As a kid, I would spend my summers reading books and hanging out around the house.  In fact, I think my mom had to take me to the library at least once a week in order for me to drop off the books I read and pick up more books for me to read.  The last few summers, I have not been diligent with spending time outside or reading books so this summer my goal is to read the above books while lounging in my hammock outside.  

If you look at the books I've picked out for the summer, you'll see that they are all different genres.  I typically stick to Young Adult, but thought it would be fun to read some books that have been on my to be read pile for a while as well as read a few I've had my eye on for a while.

If you are a member of Goodreads, make sure to add me! I am always looking to connect with other readers and see what good things you have on your list!

P.S. the links below are Amazon affiliate links.  That means if you clink the link, I could make some money  

My Summer Reading List

• The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli // I received this book in one of my Owlcrate Boxes and I was excited because it is out of my normal fantasy genre that I tend to stick to when reading books.

• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia // Another fun book that I got in an Owlcrate so I am excited to read this one.  It is a little different than a book I would normally pick for myself, but I am excited to read something different.  

• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman // This book has popped up on several of the blogs I read and has popped up in several lists of must read books, so I thought it must be a good book if it is being recommended by several different people.  It looks like a fun book that has some comedy but also has deals with some serious issues. 

• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell // This book has been on my to be read list for way too long, so I decided it is about time I read this one.  I have heard nothing but good things about this book so I am excited to read this one.  

• Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick // I am a huge fan of Anna Kendrick, so when I saw she wrote a book I picked it up immediately.  I am hoping her writing style is fun and punchy like she is in most of the movies she has played a role in.  

• Into the Water by Paula Hawkins // This book has received mixed reviews since it released last month, but if it is anything like The Girl on the Train, it must be pretty good.  

• Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly // No, I have not seen the movie, but I want to.  This book has so many rave reviews that I cannot imagine it not being an enjoyable read.  

• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty // I picked this book because I wanted to read the book before watching the TV show.  I have been hearing so many good things about this book that I knew I wanted to read this book then binge watch the TV show.

• The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty // Honestly, I picked this one because I have been enjoying her What Alice Forgot book and enjoy her writing style.  Plus this is another book that has been on my list for way too long. 

• Summer Sisters by Judy Blume // I bought this book on a whim last summer at Costco and think it would be a good read for this summer (I mean, it has "Summer" in the title, so it has to be about summer right?!).

• To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han // This one is a bit random, but I came across Jenny's blog and started following her posts.  I didn't realize she had published any books until several months later when another bookstagrammer shared about the release of her new book! So I would like to see if her writing style is the same as on the blog.

• Winter by Marissa Meyer // The third book in The Lunar Chronicles, I am hoping this one is as good as the first two that I read the last few months! 

Well that is my list of Summer Reads! Have you read any of these books before? I am hoping to talk about the books with someone after I finish them!

Question of the Day: How many books are you planning to read this summer? 

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.