I’m showing what items are in each of the drawers of my Kinda Kawaii Bookstore Advent calendar. The first seven days were amazing! The next eight days were mostly wonderful, but there were a couple of duds, too. Let’s take a look!
Day 8: The book title was Window of Whispers. The prize was a flat piece of metal decorated like a window, with a tassel at the bottom. It’s pretty, but what is it? It’s not an ornament to hang, as there’s no hole in the top. Is it a bookmark? If so, it’s an awkward one because it’s only 3 inches tall, and the tassel would have to hang out of the bottom of the book. I’m not sure what it’s for! Do you have any ideas?
Day 9: OK, these are certainly bookmarks! It says so on the little card! The book title is Between the Pages, which definitely indicates bookmarks! I love them!
Day 10: The book title is Sweet Mistakes. When I first saw these, I was a bit horrified, thinking they were old chocolates! But no, they’re erasers!!!! And they work very well! I’m absolutely delighted with these!
Day 11: The title is Penkeeper’s Passage. I have to admit that I’m disappointed in this. I already got a pen holder on day two! Do I need another one? Do I need one that I can clasp onto something and let it dangle? Meh.
Day 12: The title is Notes From Hollow Tree. Inside was this tiny item.
It came apart to be reassembled into a full-sized fountain pen. I was excited! But the ink cartridge that came with it would not install. I tried and tried, and ended up bending the tip of the pen with my brute strength. At least I didn’t stab myself with the very sharp point of the pen! Anyway, this one was a bummer.
Day 13: The book title is The Forgotten Keys. The drawer contained magnets. There’s the most adorable typewriter and a bottle of ink. OK, the cruddy pen is forgotten! These magnets are so charming!
Day 14: The book title is The Sakura Pond. Inside were two glossy ceramic things. One is shaped like a cherry blossom on a branch. The other is shaped like a fish.
I’m not sure what they are! Maybe a place to rest a paintbrush? Or the broken fountain pen? I really don’t know. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
Day 15: The title is Anchor of Thoughts. The box contained a very small pen that retracts and a tiny ruler on a key ring. I like them! This is the first box where the title doesn’t seem to fit what’s inside. Do you get it?
I suppose with 24 little drawers to fill, not every prize is going to be amazing! I’m still pleased overall. I especially love the magnetic bookmarks, the chocolate-shaped erasers, and the typewriter magnet.
The most disappointing item was the fountain pen.
Do you have a favorite item here?
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This is the cutest calendar I have ever seen! I would totally hang that pen holder and ruler inside my bag, so I could easily find stuff if I’m out and about and want to jot down an idea or measure something. Happens ALL the time, and while I sometimes have a pen at the very bottom of my bag, I always forget to bring a ruler. Why would I measure something when I’m out and about? No idea! But so many reasons! Often “will it fit”, or if I spot a pattern that’s the perfect size “what size is this check, it is just right!”
Maria, you have sold me on the pen holder! I’ll put it in my bag right now. I’ve never thought about measuring pattern motifs or anything like that – what a good idea!
You could glue a pin thing to the backs of the ceramic items and wear them. Lame, but it’s all that came to mind.
The broken pen would be my favorite if it worked, because of the retractability.
I’m drawn to the inexplicable “Anchor of Thoughts” because they seem the least cheesy in terms of usefulness and materials.
Jana, I know, the pen would have been lots of fun. The ceramic cherry blossom one would make a good pin – thanks for the idea!
Ok, you made me laugh out loud with your line about the ceramic thing being a resting place for your broken pen!
The chocolate-looking erasers are cute but made me think of a convo I had with Nicole about all the tchotchkes that are sold at the Scholastic book fair and how kids think they are edible, but they aren’t. Like a calculator that appears to be made out of chocolate? This is a NOT a good idea for small children. Lol.
I’m glad there aren’t too many misses!
Lisa, I hadn’t even thought about a kid wanting to eat an eraser (or calculator) that looks like chocolate! Oh dear, that would be bad. These erasers are probably a terrible choking hazard for kids. Ugh!!! Luckily, I’m the only “kid” around here, and I promise I won’t try to eat one! Ha! Ha!
The pen issue is very disappointing, and the tassel thing and the fish/flower things are quite puzzling, but the rest are darling!
Suzanne, yes they are puzzling – but overall I’m so pleased and having fun! And really, the box itself is the best prize of all!
Well, you win some, you lose some, I guess. I have to admit I was so excited to see this and I’m disappointed for you. I think I’ve always had a disappointment with advent calendars for that reason – there’s always some duds in there. Too bad! I guess they all can’t be winners. I have NO idea what all of those things could be used for, none at all. But the erasers! I laughed and laughed, it reminded me so much of when I was the Book Fair Lady and there would be erasers in the shape of candy, and a million times a day kids would ask if they were candy and could they eat them. I started saying “No, those are erasers, no you can’t eat them, the posters are $5” in my sleep.
Nicole, I can imagine that every Advent calendar has a few duds, and it depends on the person’s tastes. In a candy Advent calendar, a coconut one would be a huge dud for me, while someone else would call it the top prize! Ha! Ha! It reminds me of third grade when the prize for finishing all the multiplication tables was a filled chocolate easter egg – and I got a coconut one. Womp, womp. It haunts me to this day. I hadn’t considered that the erasers would be a choking hazard for kids! Yikes! How wonderful that you were a Book Fair Lady!
Thanks for sharing with us, Michelle! I guess they all can’t be winners, that’s a bummer about that pen. I do love those erasers! When we went into the city in November, my kids got some erasers that looked like sushi, cameras, and emojis lol at the Japanese store.
Daria, you’re right, they can’t all be winners, but overall I’m still pleased with it and having fun!
Hi Michelle! I have found (from experience) that I love the idea of advent calendars more than the actual process. Twenty-four gifts in twenty-four days is just too much even if none are duds! As a child it was just opening a little door to see a picture on a card… and we all had to take our turn so it wasn’t every day. Your “chocolate” erasers are a “treat”! and must be kept safe from chocoholics! The pen with faulty cartridge is a crying shame! I love to do calligraphy and for years wrote with a cartridge pen in lovely italic script…. but college papers took too long that way and ruined my “penmanship”! Oh well! And then cartridge pens became rare… If I do calligraphy now it is with ink and a pen designed for it and careful thoughtful dipping… These artforms are disappearing. That said, I love the magnets, and I think the “anchor of thoughts” is to be able to catch them by writing or drawing… but where’s the paper?!!! Maybe the paper is the little books already given…. But having a measure handy is sometimes very handy! Can you imagine having to design and source twenty-four theme based gifts of small dimension???? What an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing your lovely advent calendar! :):):)
Hi Betsy, I can not imagine designing and sourcing twenty-four tiny gifts to fit into the drawers! The makers did a great job, and I’m really enjoying opening up a little gift each day. I can imagine that your calligraphy is beautiful. I’d love to see it if you ever care to write a little scroll for your dollhouse folk!
I’m stuck on how those little chocolates are actually erasers. What now? I think I’d have to sample a nibble just to be sure I wasn’t missing something. I have no idea what the fish and cherry blossom are supposed to be, just cute pretty things to set on a shelf? The broken pen – ugh. I am with you on the pen holder repetition, I’d be good with just the one.
Ernie, I’m guessing the erasers wouldn’t taste good at all! 🤣
These are entirely too adorable! Glad there’s not too many duds, and far more winners. I think the window is a bookmark – it’d just have to be upside for the tassel at the top, or used in the bottom of the book? It’s pretty at least. And loooooove the little shroomy magnetic bookmarks!
Rebecca, that sounds good – I’m going to call it a bookmark!
So cute! I love the chocolate erasers. And those magnets!!
Such a bummer about the pen. 🙁
And I am STUMPED on the first item. I’m guessing it’s supposed to be a bookmark but it’s so awkward!
Stephany, I suppose it is a bookmark – I’m going to call it a bookmark!
What a bummer about the fountain pen! I was going to comment how beautiful it is (I used to love fountain pens when I was a teenager, but haven’t used one in a long time), but too bad that it broke .
San, I’m not giving up on the fountain pen just yet. I have some ideas!
Oh the fountain pen ad so much potential. I am sorry it was broken and not working. I have a few fountain pens that didnt write anymore and I had to soak them in water before ink flowed again. Not sure if that helps now that the tip is pent. also using tissue paper helps get it flowing. But then sometimes it’s just broken. Sad.
Maybe the ceramics are just little paperweights?
The little ruler and pen are fun. And the magnetic bookmarks of course.
Tobia, maybe the little ceramics are paperweights! That’s perfect! I’m not giving up on the fountain pen yet.