Unboxing: Birthday 2024 Gifts

So, as it turns out, my friends know me really well and gifted me some AMAZING things for my birthday this year:

Harry Potter: MinaLima Edition Boxed Set

Harry Potter: MinaLima Edition Boxed Set
(Left to right: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — MinaLima Edition(Left: Cover, Right: Interactive element)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — MinaLima Edition(Left: Cover, Right: Interactive element)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — MinaLima Edition(Left: Cover, Right: Interactive element)

Easily the most beautiful books I have ever seen in my life. They are designed by MinaLima (the studio behind the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films), featuring stunning covers with elaborate gold foil, full-colour illustrations on every page, and eight interactive elements in each book. I had actually saw these MinaLima editions at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando last month and really wanted to get them, but they are really heavy and I knew my luggage would go over the weight limit, so I left them and promised myself I would order them when I got back. As it turns out, I didn't have to because Minji ended up getting me the box set. Only the first three books have been released by the MinaLima Studio so far, but I will absolutely be buying the other four once they come out. This collection is a must-have for every Potterhead.

Harry Potter: 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set — Cover Art by Kazu Kibuishi

Harry Potter: 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set — Cover Art by Kazu Kibuishi

Harry Potter: 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set — Cover Art by Kazu Kibuishi
(Left to right: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Harry Potter: 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set — Cover Art by Kazu Kibuishi
(Left to right: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

Harry Potter: 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set — Cover Art by Kazu Kibuishi
(Left to right: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

I re-read the Harry Potter series every year, and as I was tucking into my hardcover copy of The Philosopher's Stone last month, the first page FELL RIGHT OUT OF THE SPINE. (Okay, mind you, it's from 1997, BUT STILL.) I was complaining about this to my friend and colleague, Samuel, and I said, "I guess I need to get a paperback set just for re-reading purposes." But then he beat me to it and got me the 15th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set, which is the complete series in paperback featuring cover art by Kazu Kibuishi, and they are GORGEOUS. (It's definitely because I have had my Harry Potter books from their original years of publication — yes, starting with The Philosopher's Stone in 1997 — but I never realized there were so many beautiful editions of these books out there. I mean, comparatively, the UK first editions that I have are actually quite hideous so it's really no wonder they went out of print...)

LEGO x Harry Potter 76414 Expecto Patronum

Knowing my love for LEGO as well, he also got me the LEGO x Harry Potter Expecto Patronum set, which coincidentally, is my favourite of all the sets released so far. I had, admittedly, been avoiding the LEGO x Harry Potter collection because I know once I start, I can't stop, and between BTS merch, Harry Potter merch, and Lego, I HAVE NO ROOM (OR MONEY) LEFT. But now I can't help it and I'm eyeing this one as my next set. Damn it.

Harry Potter Wand Chopsticks Set

My colleague, Seema, who quite literally started at the company right when Minji and I came back from Orlando (and therefore were talking about Harry Potter ad nauseam), bought Minji a Harry Potter onesie for her maternity leave gift and got me a set of Harry Potter wand chopsticks for my birthday, which was just freaking adorable of her. I will obviously not use these chopsticks for their intended purpose — they will join my Harry Potter display, right by my Collector's Edition wand.

BTS Wootteo x RJ Cushion Doll

BTS Wootteo x RJ Plush Mini Pouch and Plush Keyring

BTS Wootteo x RJ Pajama Pants

Okay, so I love Wootteo (the character Jin designed for The Astronaut) and I love RJ (the character Jin designed for BT21), so obviously, I was obsessed with the Wootteo x RJ collaboration collection (basically, it's Wootteo dressed in an RJ costume, and IT IS SO CUTE, I DIE). My friend and fellow ARMY, Iris, knowing how obsessed I was with this collaboration, got me pretty much the entire collection, including the cushion doll, the plush keyring, the plush mini pouch, and the pajama pants. This collection was on pre-order in JULY and was delivered in September, so this was planned FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE. BLESS HER.

Homemade matcha macarons with anko filling

Finally, my friend Daniel, who got really into baking during the pandemic and was particularly good at making macarons, made me a massive box of matcha-flavoured macarons with anko filling. I had asked him last year if he would make me macarons for my birthday and I would pay him for it, but he had to undergo surgery during that time so he couldn't. And thus, he made up for it this year with these macarons, and I gotta say, the texture of the meringue cookies are on par with some of the best macarons I've had from Ladurée, Daan Go Cake Lab, or The Social Blend. The matcha flavour wasn't overpowering, and the anko wasn't too sweet — just perfection.

Oh, man, turning 28 for the 10th time was really quite awesome. 

Unboxing: Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang

My copy of Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS arrived yesterday!

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang
(RM and Jin)
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang(Suga and J-Hope)
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang(Jimin and V)
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang(Jungkook)
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by BTS and Myeongseok Kang
I haven't been this excited to read a book in a long time.

Photolog 2020: Day 333 of 366

I'm currently re-reading the Harry Potter series for the 12th time. Just started Goblet of Fire and realized this year is its 20th anniversary. (Fun fact: I actually went to a midnight release party at Chapters for it in 2000.) Honestly, they're just as good now as they were the first time I read them. Conclusion: Harry Potter is timeless and will always remain one of the best series I've ever read. Also, I have a crush on Sirius Black. Also, I am getting old.

Photolog 2020: Day 232 of 366

Opened Box #3 out of my mass BTS merch delivery from Monday, and inside today's box was the BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package! The Special Package is the limited edition set that includes all five Graphic Lyrics books in the series. What are Graphic Lyrics, you ask? They're illustration books featuring stories from the BTS Universe, which is the fictional storyline that runs throughout BTS' music videos and short films. Each book is based on a BTS song and features the lyrics of that song, and all five volumes feature a different illustration style and layout format.

  BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Outer Box 
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 1: A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 1: A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone
The first volume is A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone. (This song is from BTS' 2017 album, You Never Walk Alone.) This book features the beginning of the BTS Universe storyline and serves as the introduction of the seven boys and how they got together. This is the only "normal" layout format of the five volumes.

BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 2: Save Me
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 2: Save Me
The second volume is Save Me. (This song is from BTS' 2016 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever.) This book features J-Hope and Jimin's storylines from the BTS Universe. It features illustrated vellum paper inserts throughout the whole book. This one's my personal favourite.

BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 3: House of Cards
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 3: House of Cards
The third volume is House of Cards. (This song is from BTS' 2015 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2. The full-length version of this song is found on their 2016 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever.) This book features Jungkook and Suga's storylines from the BTS Universe. It's the only volume in the set that has a vertical layout, with pages flipped to the top and read from top to bottom.

  BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 4: Run
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 4: Run
The fourth volume is Run. (This song is from BTS' 2015 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2.) This book features RM and V's storylines from the BTS Universe. This is the only volume that has a horizontal orientation, and is short and wide. It features extended fold-out illustration pages.

  BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 5: Butterfly
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Vol. 5: Butterfly
The fifth volume is Butterfly. (This song is from BTS' 2015 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2.) This book features the BTS Universe from Jin's point of view. It is the only volume that features 1/3 cuts in its pages.

BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Illustration Cards 
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Sticker Sheets
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — File Folders and Music Sheet Notebooks
BTS Graphic Lyrics Special Package — Drawing Pad
And, naturally, as it's a special edition set, it comes with a whole slew of goodies as well, including matching illustration cards, illustration stickers, file folders and music sheet notebooks in the case cloth colours, and a huge blank drawing pad that matches the outer box design. (Basically, I have enough notebooks for years. Maybe decades.) What I love about these books, aside from the fact that they're STUNNING, is that they're such a unique idea. I've seen lyrics in graphic form, adorning artwork and clothing and posters. But to have full song lyrics in beautifully illustrated books, each one capturing a different story within a singular fictional universe? And making it not only marketable, but coveted? (The Special Package sold out within 30 minutes, y'all.) Only BTS, man. The creative geniuses at Big Hit have done it again.

Photolog 2019: Day 281 of 365

SHELF COMPLETE! (Or, you know, until I get my next BT21/BTS merch shipment and then everything will be re-arranged again...)

Photolog 2019: Day 98 of 365

My copy of the highly-anticipated BTS: The Review by Youngdae Kim arrived today. He's one of the biggest and most seasoned Korean pop music critics and has been following BTS' career since their debut. With this book, he makes an in-depth review of BTS' entire discography and how their music has lead BTS to become the pop music phenomenon they are today. Honestly, a must-read for any ARMY, especially for those who know that BTS are, first and foremost, musicians.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 3, The Strand

Shawn and I spent a big chunk of our afternoon exploring The Strand. For those who have never heard of it or been there before, it's one of the oldest and largest independent bookstores in the world, mostly famous for their huge selection of new, overstock, used, rare, and out-of-print books. Their slogan is "18 Miles of Books," which is spanned across three main floors, and an additional floor as warehouse space (that you can also explore). It's kind of overwhelming when you first go in, because you're like, "Where the hell do I start?" If you're not going in for something specific, you can end up in there for hours (like us). Everything they sell there is at a discounted price, so you can even go there to buy the newest releases and it'll still be cheaper than at a Barnes & Noble (or, Chapters and Indigo in Canada).

I finally picked up the trade paperback versions of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (they only have the mass market versions in Canada, so I'd been holding off on buying it because I absolutely hate mass market paperbacks – they look and feel cheap), along with The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster, and 32 Stories: The Complete Optic Nerve Mini-Comics by Adrian Tomine. I wish I had had more luggage space so I could buy some more books and graphic novels, but alas, no such luck.

And, of course, I couldn't leave without some touristy goods: an awesome owl mug, the matching owl zip-up boat bag, and a tote bag that features the winner of a design contest they held. Indeed, the bags proved very useful while shopping there.