Lost Crates Shipments - August and September 2012

With it being back-to-school time, the geek in me comes out as I just happen to love stationery.  I wanted to share with you the contents of my last two Lost Crates shipments with you (lostcrates.com).  Unlike other monthly subscription plans, Lost Crates gives you several options based on your interests:

• Stationery (my choice, because I just love office supplies and nothing beats a paper and pen)
• Petite Stationery
• Housewares
• Foodie
• Eco
• Jack's Picks
• Angie's Picks
• Found In: ____ (any given locale, from U.S. cities to foreign countries)

Costs vary from $20 to $68, based on your selection.  Stationery costs $38 per month.  My August shipment contained 4 great items as follows (descriptions listed are as reflected in shipment insert card):

Moleskine Booklight (Retail  $20) - This lightweight, flexible, portable LED light is bright enough to light up your literature in pure darkness.  It can even be recharged via USB.

Rite in the Rain Pad (Retail $8) - It's raining, it's pouring, but you're not snoring -- you're writing on your Rite in the Rain pad which is a waterproof, outdoorsy journal/sketchbook. (Personal note: Great gift for my hubby who is an avid fishherman.)

Palomino Blackwing Pencils (Retail $5) - Tired of sharpening your pencil every five minutes?  These beauties are designed to hold a point, so feel free to write or draw endlessly.

Bear Hug Card (Retail $6) - Does somebody need a great big hug?  This letterpress is a cutout of a big ol' bear that can hold onto a gift like money or a photo for an extra smile.

Overall rating: Booyah!

This shipment came in handy and the items were put to immediate use.  Pencils got sharpened so they could be ready to roll for quick notes, sketching, etc.; Pad went to hubby so he could take note of his daily catches for his fishing club competitions; Bear Hug card was made out and sent to a friend who was just a bit down due to stress on the job; and the Moleskine booklight was charged and placed on my nightstand with my Moleskine journal for quick notes and brain drippings like ideas, poetry or just recaps from life.

My September shipment contained 4 items also (descriptions listed are as reflected in shipment insert card):

Crayon Rocks (Retail  $7) - Admit it: you still love crayons.  And who doesn't love a good pet rock?  Combine both with these rockin' Crayon Rocks. (Person note: 16 colors are included.)

Quirky Cordies (Retail $10) - Organize your cables in the awesomest of ways with the Quirky Cordies.  At only 3.5" wide, it's compact, but it can store more cords than you could possibly need. (Personal note: Perfect for charging iPhone, iPad, etc. in one place.)

Chronicle Books One Sketch A Day Notebook (Retail $16) - With space or one drawing each day for a year, this new kind of diary lets you keep track of your day-to-day life with a whole new medium.

Loop Prehistory Jotter (Retail $7) - We love this lined notebook for the hand-drawn patters that wrap the spine.  It's also on recycled paper and printed with soy ink.

Overall rating: Booyah!

Love the Quirky Cordies gadget and notebooks!  Journals and pads are always put to immediate use in my house.  And the Crayon Rocks made a quick impromptu gift for my godson so he can explore his creative side.

One of these days I'll try out another crate-type.  If you've tried another, please let me know what you got as it might give me the courage to check it out.

Lost Crates May 2012 Shipment

Here's a quick look at the fun stuff I received in this month's shipment from Lost Crates.  For those of you that have not heard of Lost Crates (lostcrates.com), check out their website.  Unlike other monthly subscription plans, Lost Crates gives you several options based on your interests:

• Stationery (my choice, because I just love office supplies and nothing beats a paper and pen)
• Petite Stationery
• Housewares
• Foodie
• Eco
• Jack's Picks
• Angie's Picks
• Found In: ____ (any given locale, from U.S. cities to foreign countries)

Costs vary from $20 to $68, based on your selection.  Stationery costs $38 per month.  My shipment contained 5 great items as follows (descriptions listed are as reflected in shipment insert card):

1. 9Spotmonk Birthday Card (Retail  $3.50) - Give the illusion of preparedness with this snarky "I remembered I forgot your birthday" card.  Just hand it over next time Facebook reminds you it's your best friend's special day.
2. Half Pint Herb Grow Kit (Retail $15) - Growing your own herbs just makes sense - they taste better fresh, and you don't run the risk of forgetting them at the store.  Also great for a desk plant. (Personal note: Mine included seeds to grow basil, mint, and thyme.)
3. Moleskine Reporter Pocket Notebook (Retail $12) - Jot down anything, anytime, in this pocket-sized notebook that flips open with the flick of your wrist.  Everyone should have a reporter notebook like this.
4. Ohto Pieni Pen (Retail $5.75) - This skinny wooden pen fits in any pocket or purse ("Pieni" means "small" in Finnish.  We love how much nicer our handwriting is when we use it.
5. Old Tom Foolery Birthday Card (Retail $4.50) - Give the birthday boy or girl a dose of reality with this snarky little card.  This tree-free-paper card is letter-pressed by hand and blank inside.

Overall rating: Booyah!

I just love getting a new mini journal and pen as I write a lot and my pens often "grow feet" and walk away by pen-kleps (you know who you are).  One of these days I'll try out another crate-type.  If you've tried another, please let me know what you got as it might give me the courage to check it out.

Lost Crates December Shipment

One of the best things about a new year is making resolutions.  Every year, I try to get more organized.  I agree that technology has changed the face of organization and our office supplies but there's nothing like an old-fashioned paper and pen.  There's just so much that technology can offer.  With e-mails and instant messaging, I think that many just don't take the time to write a letter or send a card, or journal in the traditional fashion.  Enter lostcrates.com....


Lostcrates.com is like the Birchbox for office supply geeks.  You answer a few questions like:

• year of birth
• gender
• Preferences for:
• vehicle
• design
• food
• workbag
• living room
• television show
• Monday work clothes
• writing utensil
• And some commentary about your choices

Then, our wonderful friends at lostcrates.com will make a selection of items just for you.  The cost of membership is $38 per month.

Lost Crate Shipment as packaged

Lost Crates Shipment - Contents

I received my December shipment a few weeks ago.  Contents and Lost Crates' description are as follows:

• 2012 Calendar from Quotable - New York, NY - "Sometimes it's hard to get up in the morning.  The Quotable calendar offers an inspiring quote for every month of the year to keep you going."

• Washi Tape from Mark's - Tokyo, Japan - "Not your ordinary packing tape, Mark's Washi Tape adds variety and color to any holiday package.  We thought we'd send this to you just in time for last-minute shopping."

• Wine and Thank-You Notes from Orangebeautiful - Chicago, IL - "Emily Martin designs some simply beautiful letterpress cards, and pays attention to detail.  Opening her tags is like getting a little lost crate: we love her humor and typesets." (Set of 6 with envelopes)

• 'Dream Up' Jotters from Smock - Syracuse, NY - "We're particularly fond of Smock's flexible jotter duo, with a reversible cover and convenient size.  We hope it's easy for you to take care of your naughty and nice lists with this pack."

• Bicolor pen from Mark's - Tokyo, Japan - "Mark's Bicolor pen is slim enough to fit in your pocket without causing discomfort, yet heavy enough to feel substantial in your hand.  We love its writing feel and sleek magnetic cap."

Of course, you can always re-take your quiz and answer questions differently to see what surprise package you'll get the following month.  Will let you know what I get next month.

If you're an office supply geek like me, check out www.lostcrates.com.  Let me know what you think.

-Kimbo