ADVENT CALENDAR 2021 | Once Upon A Book Club UNBOXING and REVIEW | So many different books and items

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Hey everyone, there is a lot to go over in this video but I was happy with the box overall!

[@merissamakesstuff]

I know for me, in foster care, I wasn't testing the parents. I just didn't think I could rely on them. I never knew how long I would be there, and I couldn't handle the constant changes to my routines, rules and expectations every different parent had. It was too destabilizing and like being in a constant state of culture shock I couldn't escape, so I made my own rules and routines. That wasn't always in line with the parents expectations. I had to find a way to feel stable, and sometimes doing my own thing regardless of what was expected of me helped me feel more grounded. It was both that and that the trauma I experienced previously stunted my ability to regulate myself, so when I freaked out, it was trauma, and when I seemed defiant, it was my endeavor for stability and consistency. Also, I am neurodivergent and that is hard enough when you have the same parents, but to have ever-changing parents all of whom have to learn about your disabilities, but none of whom ever have time to truly do that.

[@just_Janet]

Nice box you received Laura! Everything is in your wheel house. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

thank you so much for watching 😃

[@AllThingsArleen]

Laura there was a lot of items. Like the books and you can't go wrong with the windshield item for the car. Thanks for sharing.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I put that in my car right away! I was excited about it 😂 I read in the car sometimes when I am waiting for Azaylee's dance class to be over.

[@dg9531]

The actual 12 Days of Christmas are Dec. 25 - Jan. 6

[@booksandbeauty4381]

Pizza dough is super easy! It's really tasty is you put some herbs in there too.

[@debbiem6682]

There was a lot of stuff in this box. Love the sunshade for the car! You will never run out of books to read. :)

[@LauraWootenReviews]

So true, my library 📚 is starting to over flow 😂

[@vickybradley3432]

What a fun box! I really enjoyed watching you open this. The box was filled with so many interesting things. Your puppies are adorable!

[@LauraWootenReviews]

The puppies 🐶 are so cute 🥰 but I agree there were some interesting things in the box. I was excited about the books I got!

[@missjackierussell]

Wow this was a long one! I am so glad you finally got your advent calendar! LOL...like the hair clip, never seen a pink one! Looks like you will have some good reading! Josh would love the Velveteen Rabbit blanket...He loved that little video as a kid! Nice Advent, TFS

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Oh yea, I forgot he loved that story. A nice nostalgia item.

[@SallyCoucke]

Lots of goodies.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I think so too!

[@bunnieleigh]

I canceled Loot Crate years ago. I had the Star Trek, Harry Potter and Firefly boxes. One day I decided to go back and look at the boxes I had received and they 2 boxes behind on two of the subscriptions and one on the other. You may want to go back and check to see how far they are really behind.

[@jennarotella9036]

Hi hi Laura this is a very nice book come up products I like the idea behind the book and the products along with it.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

It was a really nice advent calendar, lots of goodies!

[@jennarotella9036]

I love these types of boxes Laura

[@vongtaynhanaikptt6066]

Beautiful wow that was awesome video Big like

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Thanks for coming

[@AshleyNoneya]

The box is so cute like a book!

[@LauraWootenReviews]

😂 Yes I love the detail of the box!

[@myrnabledsoe7362]

Hi Laura! 👋 I had friends and family send us Christmas gifts from overseas. Some were mailed during the 1st week of November. They are just now starting to trinkle in. I would give them a grace during this time because of all the postal problems going on. This advent was awesome. I loved everything. I would even consider getting this next year. It's great that you received so many books. I'm a huge reader. Did I mention I absolutely 💯% love this?! Tfs and I'll see you soon.

[@AshleyNoneya]

Lots of nice books to read now yayyy, this was a nice box

[@LauraWootenReviews]

So many good books!!

[@tsthinker1318]

Love the box but a little bit expensive.

[@donnawilliams8204]

Lots of books! I like the bookend, but I do think they should have sent 2 bookends. Not a big fan of those curtains or the large hanging fabric wall hanging - think they could have sent something more useable - honestly I wouldn't know what to do with them 🙄🙄

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I definitely don't know what to do with the hanging fabric, but I have a place for the curtains. I do agree, that they could have chosen more usable items instead of decorative items. Thanks for sharing.

[@nancynettelbladt2811]

Hi Laura nice advent calendar enjoy all your goodies.TYFS 🥰

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Me too, TFW

[@karangooch1274]

Love the idea of this box By the way the puppies are so cute 😍

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Thank you! 😊 This is a really good litter so far, don't get into too much trouble 😂

[@CBar-rd6im]

What have you done with the velveteen rabbit hanging canvas? I don't know how to use this...

[@sarahcyphers5984]

I wanna get the 12 days of Christmas once upon a book club

[@missislaughter8]

Great box

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@tsthinker1318]

Omg! You’re a Swiftie (I saw the crew neck and I knew it)

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Yes a huge swiftie!

[@mleach1123]

I think the blanket last year was Alice In Wonderland. I canceled my order this year, only because I didn't feel like OUABC updated people regularly. As the buyer you had to go locate the update, verses Litjoy who sent out regular emails about delays. Thanks for opening everything at once! Love seeing it.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Yes, I think you are right. As soon as you said Alice in Wonderland the image popped it my head 😂 I do think they put the rabbit on the blanket and maybe that is why I was thinking both the velveteen rabbit. I forgot to mention that part, they didn't do a good job at emailing customers.

[@Maplecook]

Back here for more Laura time! =)

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Yay 😀 thank you!

[@debbraga7738]

Nice box

[@LauraWootenReviews]

TFW

[@pearlisreadingthis]

What’s the measurements of the curtain ad what material is it?

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I'm not sure what the measurements were for the curtains, but they were really long and should fit on the window in my study. The material was very thin... I'm sorry, I do not know much about fabric 😂

[@themakeupnurse3419]

Hi Laura. Nice box. TFS

[@LauraWootenReviews]

Thank you! 🤗

[@wo467]

I ordered the 12 days of Book Mass because I was so impressed with last year's box, with so many usable items. But this year, while it was $60 more, the gifts were extremely disappointing. One thin curtain? - I have no where to put this? Mini book ornament? Cheap fanny pack? hair clip? Light decal? These were either were low quality or would be very difficult to use. I felt like I could have picked these up at a dollar store or Walmart. The tapestry, while it was the highest quality item, had a Velveteen Rabbit print - which 1. had no relation to the story and 2. was too niche. For me this is totally unusable. I Aside from the 4 books, the one bookend, and the wine chiller, the gifts fell way short and I did not feel like the $149.00 price tag was justified at all. I also felt like a lot of the gifts were just placed there and had no relation to the story. For example for Pizza Fridays, while there was a pizza recipe, the gift could have been an Italian cook book or a book of interesting places, (to reference the holidays or the fact that they loved Italian cooking), For the First story instead of a book, a writing journal or anything writing related would have been great because the story was about the woman wanting to persue a writing career Instead of the light decal, that would have been a great place for a book, because the story was actually about books. The fanny pack and the clip had no relation to the story and perhaps the 'After All' book could have been the gift for that story, because it is a story of friendships. A tapestry made sense for the story but not the The Velveteen Rabbit story written on it. The northern lights and the moon were referenced in the story, perhaps on the tapestry should have been a print that referenced these. I am just extremely disappointed. Won't order this again unless I see it first. Just my two 'book' sense.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I appreciate the two 'book' sense! 😂 I am disappointed to hear that some of the items didn't match up with the story at all. That is usually one of the best things about OUABC. I would have preferred a tapestry with the northern lights and the moon!

[@ivybaxter4896]

Maybe it's just me, but I was actually pretty disappointed with the advent box this year. They themed all of the decor in black and white and cursive, and it wasn't at all my style. So unfortunately, if there's anyone else like me out there who got this almost all of the items are just unusable because it's only themed for one type of style. I really don't think a .99 cent decal for a light switch should have been its own gift, that should have been an extra with a bigger gift and all the wall hanging were a bit much. I have absolutely no use for any of the items except the apology bath salts. I usually love OUABC but this box didn't seem at all worth what it cost. A lot of it was stuff you could get for under $5

[@nikki1870]

I enjoyed the book but I agree about the gifts. I'm new to OUABC and was underwhelmed with the gifts. I was looking forward to the tapestry while reading story 12 but when I opened it I was MAJORLY disappointed. Definitely not keeping that item (nor the fanny pack and my broken hair clip - not going to bother emailing company because I won't use it anyways).

[@kristenthrift8115]

Ivy, I agree, I was disappointed by this box…and the shipping delay was so painful…I’m actually not going to subscribe anymore.

[@lizh6578]

Lots of things in this box I didn’t like.

[@LauraWootenReviews]

I think it was like that for a lot of people.