Hoa Hoa Hoa Hoa Hoaaaaa
August 28th of this year marked the 20th anniversary of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. I first read this book as a 12-year old 7th grader the year it was released. It’s wild that it has been 20 years since I read it for the first time. I remember borrowing a friend’s paperback copy until I could convince my parents to let me order a hardcover edition off Amazon. I have no idea how many times I read, and re-read that book. We would trace Edward’s handwriting from the book and leave “Be Safe” notes to each other. I would come home and check Meyer’s website religiously, constantly waiting for an update on the newest book, and hoping for a movie adaption. At the time she had a page dedicated to actors she envisioned playing the part, and I printed that out and hung it on my wall. Funnily enough, Kellen Lutz was on that list AND would go on to play Emmett! Though, Henry Cavill would not go on to play Edward, I am glad that we got Robert Pattinson.
I have talked about Twilight before on this blog, but I wanted to specifically talk about a program that I attended this past weekend at the Fairborn Library. It was for adults only, and honestly—that’s how it should be. The library was set up with a photobooth section where you could take pictures with life-size cut-outs of Jacob or Edward (or both!) and a hilarious Book Cover photo-op where you put your hands through the sign to hold the apple, resembling the iconic cover. I didn’t get a chance to get my picture taken, I had too much to get through at the other amazing booths!
There was a booth for body glitter, because “This is the Skin of a Killer, Bella.” And I absolutely loved mixing my own personal brand of glitter. I used clear aloe gel, and a chunky purple glitter. I added in a slightly more pink glitter and mixed it to make a subtle glitter effect when spread on the skin. This would be easy to replicate, only needing loose body glitter, aloe gel, and an air-tight container. I would advise to not put the glitter anywhere near your eyes, because you can seriously injure yourself, but anywhere on your arms, chest and neck would work fine!
“This is the skin of a Killer, Bella.”
My body glitter concoction!
There was also a bookmark booth, where there were supplies to make your own laminated bookmark. There were very cute, and sometimes hilariously raunchy, book lover stickers. I made two (because honestly I couldn’t decide between a handful of stickers) one a quote that I agree whole-heartedly with and the other is from Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass. There was also a book-cover bedazzling station. I couldn’t find my copy of Twilight, it is likely hiding in a tub in the garage. I don’t think it would have been fun to bedazzle my copy anyway because I have the hardcover edition with the dust jacket. So I bedazzled a cardstock image of the cover that the library had available if you didn’t bring your own book. There was another patron there and they were bedazzling their New Moon cover, and it was looking amazing!
There was also a bracelet making station, and though I ran out of time at the program, I was able to finish the bracelet at home. My charms include: vampire teeth, the iconic apple, Bella’s truck, a baseball, the initial “E” to mark Team Edward, a fork, and the heart to symoblize Edward’s charm given to Bella in Eclipse.
Charmed, I’m sure
This was a lot of fun to put together, and I loved all the charms and their references, both obvious and subtle.
The snack room was also really fun, the treats were themed. I got a good chuckle out of the puppy chow being renamed “werewolf chow”. And there were two themed drinks, one “Bella, Where the Hell Ya Been Mocha” a chocolate coffee drink with cold foam and chocolate sprinkles to mimic werewolf fur. The other was “This is the Skin of a Killer, Bella” which was a shirley temple with edible glitter and maraschino cherries. Of course I had the drink with edible glitter, and it was very tasty.
Overall, I had a great time connecting with other twi-hards at the library. I am not a very social person, and I don’t often get out on my own. I tend to have to be drawn out by friends, but I attended this event stag, and I’m glad I did. I got to talk to some interesting women while we nerded out about a very nostalgic book from our childhoods. Friendly teasing about Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. Poking fun at the campy-ness of the movies, and discussing our favorite scenes from the saga. All that to say, sometimes it is beneficial to do something outside of your comfort zone. Check your local library for adult programming, and you might just find something that will do just that.
