Unboxing: J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Official Merch

You didn't think I'd go see J-Hope on tour and not get merch, did you?

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Zip-Up Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Zip-Up Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Brooklyn Acorn Keyring Charm
Yes, my friend Iris and I decided to get in line for merch at Barclays Center at 7:00AM. There were about 100 people in front of us when we got there which, compared to the last time I was in line for merch at the BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas a couple years ago, seemed quite reasonable. (I guess, to be fair, there were also about 5 times more people at that concert.) We waited for about 3.5 hours to get in (the merch booths opened at 10:00AM, so all things considered, we actually got in pretty fast), and both Iris and I managed to get everything we wanted. For me, that included the two US-exclusive hoodies (that, frankly, cost a small fortune with the atrocious USD to CAD exchange rate) and the Brooklyn-exclusive acorn keychain (SO CUTE — every city in the US leg of the tour gets a city-exclusive acorn keychain).

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Blanket

Of course, when I got home, my Weverse Shop package from Korea also arrived with the general Hope on the Stage Tour merch I had ordered a few weeks ago — I picked the hoodie and the blanket. Yes, I, too, am wondering where the hell I'm going to fit three new hoodies in my already packed closet.

Now, did I get a cold when I got back from NYC from waiting in line for nearly four hours in 5°C weather on three hours of sleep? Yes, yes, I did. Was it worth it? Yes, yes, it was.

Unboxing: Orlando 2024 — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Shopping Haul

I'm back, I unpacked, and oh my god, I bought an atrocious amount of stuff:

Chocolate Frogs from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop(Clockwise from top: White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate)

Chocolate Frog (Milk Chocolate) Keepsake Tin from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop

Chocolate Frog Keepsake Tin — Chocolate Frog Collectible Cards(Top: Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor, and Helga Hufflepuff
Bottom: Rowena Ravenclaw and Albums Dumbledore)

Chocolate Frog Ceramic Keepsake Box from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop

Chocolate Frog 3-Piece Tea Set from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop

Chocolate Frog 3-Piece Tea Set from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop

There is a lot of Chocolate Frog merch here. The original Chocolate Frogs in the card stock packaging come in white, milk, and dark chocolate options and are packaged in silver, gold, and bronze, respectively. They each come with a collectible Chocolate Frog card, which features a famous witch or wizard. (I got Artemisia Lufkin, Ignatia Wildsmith, and, unfortunately, Gilderoy Lockhart.) The Chocolate Frog Keepsake Tin comes with a milk chocolate frog and includes the same 5 collectible cards, all leaders of Hogwarts: Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Albus Dumbledore. However, both the Chocolate Frog Ceramic Keepsake Box and the Chocolate Frog 3-Piece Tea Set (which includes a ceramic teacup and saucer, and gold-coloured teaspoon) do not come with chocolate nor Chocolate Frog cards — they are just very pretty accessories to use at home.

Sherbert Lemons and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Honeydukes

Fizzing Whizzbees (bee-shaped milk chocolate with popping candy), Ton-Tongue Toffee (chocolate-coated hard toffee with nuts), and Cauldron Cakes (chocolate cake with red and orange frosting in a reusable silicone cauldron) from Honeydukes

Nosebleed Nougat (milk chocolate-coated marshmallows topped with pistachios and white pearl candy), Fainting Fancies (orange and lemon fruit gummies), and Wizarding Playing Cards from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Aside from Chocolate Frogs, I did buy a bunch of other sweets from Honeydukes as well, including Dumbledore's favourite Sherbert Lemons, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans in a keepsake tin, Fizzing Whizzbees, Ton-Tongue Toffee, and a Cauldron Cake (which is an actual chocolate cake with an insane amount of frosting — it comes in a reusable silicone "cauldron" so you can bake cauldron cakes at home or just have as a keepsake, but note that this cake is not sealed, so if you're going to take it home, make sure you wrap it up safely for travel because it will get everywhere). Note that you can buy the majority of sweets from both Honeydukes in Hogsmeade and Sugarplum's Sweet Shop in Diagon Alley, but each shop has a few of their own exclusive items, so they're both worth checking out. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley also sells several exclusive sweets; I got Nosebleed Nougat (which has no nougat at all, ironically — it's chocolate-coated marshmallows) and Fainting Fancies (orange and lemon fruit gummies), which were on sale for 2 for $16. 

Gringotts $10 Bank Note and Gringotts Chocolate Galleons from Gringotts Money Exchange

Some people may not know about this, but you can actually exchange USD into Gringotts Bank Notes at Gringotts Money Exchange. You can use these Bank Notes anywhere inside the Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando like cash. It's absolutely not necessary — it's just an extra little thing that you can do to immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter. That having been said, we just wanted to get a Bank Note as a souvenir to take home (it comes in an official Gringotts Bank envelope!), so we only exchanged $10 USD, which is he lowest denomination they offer. You can also buy some other souvenirs at Gringotts Money Exchange like figures and coin banks, but we just picked up a little bag of chocolate Galleons because they were too cute to resist.

2024 Collector's Edition Wand from Ollivanders Wand Shop

We went into Ollivanders for the wand selection show. (It's a 5-minute show where a staff member of Ollivanders selects someone in the 15- to 20-person audience to participate in a wand selection ceremony. There is usually a line-up for the show, but it goes by pretty quickly — we got in within 10 minutes. When the show is finished, the selected person can then choose to buy the wand.) After the show, you exit into the actual Ollivanders shop, where you can peruse and purchase wands. (Note that wands are also sold at Wands by Gregorovitch, but they don't carry the entire assortment, nor do they have the wand selection ceremony.) There are generally two main types of wands — character wands (I think there are about 15 to 20 of them, all designed for characters of the series from Harry Potter to Albus Dumbledore to Voldemort) and pre-customized wands (I believe there are 12 or 13 of these ones, and they are randomized — for example, elm with phoenix feather or mahogany with dragon heartstring). The character wands come in both interactive and decor types (and are set at different price points), whereas the pre-customized wands are all interactive — the interactive wands allow users to "cast spells" at 16 different locations in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. (You can read more about it here.)

2024 Collector's Edition Wand Handle from Ollivanders Wand Shop

I actually didn't want a wand at first because what the hell was I going to do with a wand once I brought it home? But then I was like, "Did I really go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter if I didn't get a wand?" And Minji was already hell-bent on getting one, so I decided to get one, too. (You know, twist my rubber arm.) Except neither of us wanted the character wands and they didn't have either of the pre-customized wands we wanted in stock. (In fact, out of all the variations of pre-customized wands they make, our top choices were the only two out of stock. Ridiculous.) We were about to buy our second choice wands, when I stumbled upon a display of their Collector's Edition wands. 

2024 Collector's Edition Wand with Metal Wand Stand from Ollivanders Wand Shop

They had both the 2023 and 2024 versions of the Collector's Edition Wand, and they look SO MUCH COOLER than any of the other wands. (Note: The Collector's Edition Wands only come in the interactive type, and at $75 a pop, are also more expensive than all other wands.) Minji preferred the 2023 and I preferred the 2024 (which features an ornate dragon head that looks SUPER BAD-ASS), so we ditched our second-choice pre-customized wands (I asked Minji, "Do we really want to pay $65 for SECOND CHOICE wands when these are so much cooler? And limited edition?") and snagged the Collector's Edition wands instead. And, of course, we got wand display holders, too. (I got the single plain gold one, and Minji got the single black Death Eater one.) Because if you're going to spend this kind of money on a wand, you want to display it proudly at home, you know?

Hogsmeade Postcards from Owl Post and Diagon Alley Postcards from Scribbulus

Hogwarts: A History and The Marauder's Map Greeting Cards from Scribbulus

One of the unique things you can do at both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is send actual postmarked letters. As someone who loves sending postcards when I'm traveling (I always send one to myself from every place I go to because a) I love getting letters in the mail, and b) so I can look back at all the places I've been to), I got a pack from both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The stores that sell stationery (Scribbulus in Diagon Alley, Dervish and Banges and Owl Post in Hogsmeade) also sell postage stamps, so you can write your postcards or greeting cards while you're at the store, add the proper amount of stamps, and then give your postcards to the staff to send out — they will stamp the respective postmark on it so it'll look like you actually got mail from Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.

Interactive Snowy Owl from Scribbulus

Mini Pygmy Puffs from Magical Menagerie

Harry Potter Plush Toy from Dervish and Banges

Mandrake Plush Toy from Dervish and Banges

I got a several plush toys. When I saw this adorable little snowy owl (which is interactive and magnetic — you can perch it on your shoulder and if you put batteries in it, it will move its neck and wings and make owl sounds), I couldn't resist. I also got mini Pygmy Puffs (these are technically key rings, but they are significantly cuter than their larger counterparts), plus Harry Potter and Mandrake plushies that were on sale for 2 for $15. Unfortunately, they only had a random assortment of these latter ones, so they had Harry and Draco Malfoy, but none of the other main characters. They had, like, Luna Lovegood and a Death Eater. And, randomly, a Mandrake, which was just too cute to leave behind.

The Marauder's Map Mug from Filch's Emporium

Now, you might be wondering what house I belong to. According to dozens of Harry Potter house-sorting quizzes, I am technically Ravenclaw but with strong Slytherin tendencies, so I've never really felt particularly attached to a singular house. Which is also why I didn't buy any house-specific merch. So while Minji bought Slytherin robes, Slytherin sweatshirts, and even a Slytherin scrunchie, I went for clothing in the "other" category. If you know me, you will know that my wardrobe is basically 97% black, which is why I was only drawn to the clothes featuring the Dark Mark or the Deathly Hallows. And that's fine. They're helping me re-live my teenage emo days.

Spells Hooded Sweatshirt from Filch's Emporium

Morsmordre Grey Sweatshirt and The Deathly Hallows Grey Tee from Borgin and Burkes

Dark Mark Black Scarf from Borgin and Burkes

One of the greatest features of staying at Universal Studios Orlando Resort (we stayed at Portofino Bay) is that all the shops inside the Universal Studios theme parks have a free delivery service straight to your hotel room. This is simultaneously very convenient since you don't have to carry all your shopping while walking around the theme parks, and very dangerous as you may, like us, forget just how much stuff you bought until you get delivered over 15 shopping bags within 3 days. Still, I have no regrets — I got to live out nearly 27 years' worth of my wizarding world dreams.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) 

Universal Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade)

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 363-8000

Unboxing: Weverse by Fans — BTS FESTA 2024 Zip-Up Hoodie and Oversized T-Shirt

So FESTA was over a month-and-a-half ago, but my FESTA merch finally arrived last week. This year, BigHit actually released two collections for FESTA, one of which just included a keyring and a tote bag (there were more items available to purchase at the in-person event they held in Seoul) and the other one called "2024 FESTA by Fans," which is the one I was actually interested in. "Weverse by Fans" is a new concept for this year, and it allows the buyer to customize the items within a collection. There were four items available for the "2024 FESTA by Fans" collection, and I decided on the black zip-up hoodie and the black oversized T-shirt.

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Zip-Up Hoodie

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Zip-Up Hoodie(Front and Back)

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Zip-Up Hoodie(Front Logo Detail)

The customizable components for these two items were exactly the same. The colours of the actual product and the graphics could not be changed, but the sizing and amount of graphics could. I wanted to keep it simple as these are products that I actually want to wear, so I just chose the FESTA 2024 logo for the front and the BTS symbol on the back (both in a reddish pink tone which, again, was not customizable), but they turned out exactly as I wanted.

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Oversized T-Shirt(Front and Back)

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Oversized T-Shirt(Shirt Tag)

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Oversized T-Shirt(Front Logo Detail)

BTS 2024 FESTA by Fans — Patch Set

I gotta say, the quality of both the hoodie and the shirt are excellent, in the fabric, stitching, and form. They feel stronger and thicker, like they wouldn't easily tear, shrink, or stretch. Each item also came with a set of two patches — one of the BTS symbol and one of the BTS letter logo — that can be ironed on any fabric item for customization. With the BTS Island: In the SEOM by Fans collection and now this one, I'm excited to see what other customizable collections they'll come out with next.

Unboxing: Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoodie by Jimin

The Artist-Made Collection by BTS was a curation of items designed by each of the seven BTS members from concept to execution. Each member created two unique items, of which the processes are documented here. This collection was originally launched in January 2022 — each members' items had a staggered release over the course of three weeks. I wrote about how much frustration occurred in trying to acquire any of the pieces from BTS' Artist-Made Collection back then, but last December (nearly two years after their initial releases), BigHit decided to release all members' items for this collection for a 4th round of pre-orders. Not sure why they made this decision — maybe too many ARMY complained, maybe it was a money-grab — but I was finally able to order the pieces that I had wanted back then but wasn't able to get, including the With You Hoody by Jimin.

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Dust Bag
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Plastic Zip Bag
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Front

As with all the clothing items from the Artist-Made Collection by BTS, Jimin's With You Hoody comes in a cream-coloured dust bag which have the words, "Artist-Made Collection by BTS: JIMIN" on the front printed in black. The hoodie is folded neatly inside a large PVC pouch. Unlike the other clothing items from this collection, the With You Hoody only came in one colour wave: a deep violet purple. The hoodie is made in a thicker fabric that is lined with fleece for "maximum warmth" — basically, this is a fluffy, ultra-cozy, winter-ready sweatshirt. As with all BTS products, this hoodie was designed to be unisex. The fit of this hoodie is not too tight or oversized, the shoulders are not too wide or narrow, the sleeves are not too short or long, and the hood should fit all head sizes (even when wearing hair up in a bun or ponytail).

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Front + Hood Details
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Hood String + Back Details
Like Jimin's Red Carving Earrings, what sets this hoodie apart is in the details, all of which are coloured in a bright golden yellow to contrast against the deep purple. On the front of the hoodie is the word, "YOU," while on the back are the words, "NEVER WALK ALONE" (an homage to BTS' song of the same name). The phrase, "SEVEN WITH YOU," is embroidered on the hood (a shout-out to BTS' song, "We are Bulletproof: The Eternal"), and Jimin's favourite number 13 is printed on the tips of the hoodie strings.

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by Jimin
Envelope
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by JiminMaking Log
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by JiminMaking Log
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — With You Hoody by JiminJimin Photocard (Front + Back)
The hoodie also comes with a single brown paper envelope that has Jimin's name written in his handwriting on the front. The first item in this envelope is a fold-out "Making Log," which shows the entire process of making the hoodie in sketches and photos, from product planning to final review. The second item is a Polaroid-style photocard of Jimin wearing the final hoodie design, with the words, "With You Hoody by JIMIN" on the back. 

On that note, none of the Artist-Made Collection items are available anymore — and if you wanted any of them, you had ample time to get them this time around because they were made on consignment — but I'm really glad they made all the items available again for those of us who couldn't get them due to selling out so fast. Sadly, I'll have to wait another four months for the weather to get cold enough to wear this hoodie. But on the bright side, I live in Canada, where it's cold for at least half a year, so I expect cost per use to be quite low on this one.

Unboxing: Japan 2024 Travel Haul

You know what's great about Japan (aside from the food and high-tech toilets)? Duty free shopping for tourists! 

Sholayered Light Green 1945 Eau de Toilette
Shiro Fragrance Earl Grey Hand Serum and Eau de Parfum
House of Rose Aroma Rucette Body Wash & Bubble Bath in Pink & White Grapefruit and Mandarin & Bitter Orange
House of Rose Sakura Fufufu Milky Body Cream
House of Rose Doux Surge Moisture Body Milk and Moisture Body Cream
Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara x 2, DeJavu Lash Knockout Extra Volume Mascara, DeJavu Fiber Wig Ultra Long Mascara, and Rohto C3 Cool Eye Drops x 3
Sunstar Ora2 Stain Clear Toothpaste in Peach Leaf Mint x 3 and Fresh Kiwi Mint x 3
Asahi Mintia Breeze Sugarless Candy in Fresh Peach x 5 and Fresh Grape x 5
Souvenirs: Cosmetics pouch, hair brush, coin purse, and glasses case
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Tokyo
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Osaka
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Japan (Spring Edition)
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Tote Bag — Japan (Spring Edition)
Uniqlo "Asakusa" and "Daruma Dolls" by Bog Craft UT Graphic T-Shirts
Uniqlo "Asakusa Icons" and "Kaitenzushi" UT Graphic T-Shirts

Not included in this post are the plethora of random skin ointments and lip balms I got at pharmacies and the atrocious amount of jeggings and sweatshirts I got at Uniqlo (which are HALF THE PRICE than they are here!!!!!).

Sholayered

Shibuya Scramble Square, 5/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Shiro

Shibuya Scramble Square, 6/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-6803-8246

House of Rose

Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, 3/F

1 Chome−2−3

Dogenzaka, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0043

+81-03-6427-0709

Uniqlo Asakusa

Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building, 1-2/F

2 Chome−6−7

Asakusa, Taito City

Tokyo, Japan 〒111-0032

+81-50-3355-7798