Tag: notebooks

Favorite Greens

March 17, 2022

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I don’t always celebrate this day but once in awhile I’m reminded that I should. I’ve only gone to one St. Patrick’s Day parade and that was almost two decades ago. Today’s a snowy, cold day so we’re staying warm inside.

A few months back, I suddenly had this urge for the color green. Green has never been a big color favorite of mine, but now it is. It’s so strange how our thoughts and feelings can change like a switch. Above are a few of my favorite green colors. The only green I’m not a fan of at the moment is the muddy brownish green, but one day I might change my mind.

These are all my green notebooks and notebook covers. Clockwise from top left: Archer and Olive Blank A5 Notebook, Archer and Olive Dotted Lines B5 Notebook, Hobonichi A5 Cover from Etsy, Chic Sparrow B6 Glas Express Folio Leather Notebook Cover, 5×5 Watercolor Notebook from Etsy, and Chic Sparrow A5 Artist Gastaldi Leather Notebook.

I don’t have a lot of green-colored book covers, but here are the ones that were mostly green:

Snow Day (Photos) and Unboxing Video of 3 Notebook Covers

February 2, 2022

Daughter had a snow day today, which means no school. She’s both excited and bummed. Excited because she can relax and not worry about doing homework, and bummed because she spent an hour yesterday making Crepes for French class and now she’ll have to eat them by herself (and with me of course) or throw them away. She made about 20 crepes.

The snow is soft and light and it’s not that cold out. I went out to take photos in my short LL Bean boots, leggings, and sweater and wasn’t cold at all.

Here’s me crossing the lawn in the deepest part trying to get over to the pine tree.

As I was taking photos, this person comes by on cross country skis just enjoying the wonderful weather and snow.

And I had to share this notebook cover with the snow in the background. The little white sprinkling things is the snow coming down. This is the No. 8 Extra Wide in American Bison hide. The unboxing video below will have a closer look at all the striations and folds. It’s such a pretty leather!

Preparing Notebook for 2022

October 6, 2021

Around this time of the year, I prep my writing notebook for 2022. I use a Hobonichi Techo and normally buy directly from the 1101 store (Japan). However, the cost of shipping has gone way up. It was $20 the years before, but now it’s $80. I didn’t think it was worth it, so I ordered the notebook from Jetpens and the cover from Etsy. Last year, I didn’t like any covers from the 1101 store, so I ordered from Etsy as well. This year were a couple of covers I liked, but it wasn’t worth the shipping cost.

I ordered the cover from an Etsy shop called, XIAMUhandmade. I also wanted to try out their watercolor notebooks so ordered one of those. When I received the shipment, they included a mini watercolor notebook, stickers, and a couple of washi tapes. That was so sweet. I was so happy to get these little extra goodies.

I’m awaiting the cover-on-cover from another Etsy seller (Jetpens was sold out). Once I have all the pieces, I’ll share my setup.

How do you keep organized in your writing, journaling, life goals tracking, etc?

Le Stallion Notebooks

September 22, 2021
Left to right: Henson (Desert Brown), Garanno (Cocoa Brown), and Ariegois (Ashgray Black)

These notebooks are honestly beautiful. I love that they have a table of contents and numbered pages. As a writer, these two features are what’s most important to me in a notebook, but the soft and pliable faux leather, metallic charm, and burgundy brown edging of these Le Stallion Notebooks add a little excitement each time I grab for them. I haven’t written in them yet, but they are on the table next to me and I’m always finding myself running my hands over them and flipping through the empty lined pages.

It’s crazy how important looks is…but I would know that as an avid reader and writer. I’m often drawn to pretty looking book covers, and admit, I’d choose a good looking book cover over one that is mediocre. However, this isn’t to say I would never read a book that didn’t have a nice cover. Blurbs are important too and I mostly go by blurbs after gushing over the covers. I think I treat notebooks the same. Looks matter, but what’s most important is what’s inside, and as mentioned earlier, the table and contents and numbered pages sold me.

I rarely use the back pocket but I’m always in favor of it because there may be times when I’ll need a place to tuck scratches of short scenes or maybe even a list of name of characters I know I’ll forget if I don’t jot them down. I often use sticky tabs in my notebooks and have kept them in the back pocket.

It’s hard to capture the true color of the edging but it gives the notebooks a clean look.

There are four colors available: Ariegeois (Ashgray Black), Garanno (Cocoa Brown), Henson (Desert Brown), and Galloway (Khaki Cream) [not shown]. These notebooks are available for $19.95 each on Le Stallion’s website.

To watch my unboxing video of three of these notebooks, click here >> Unboxing Le Stallion A5 Notebooks.

Unboxing Video: CS Folio Outlander Fergus B6

May 22, 2021

I always take forever to upload videos, mainly because I’m just never excited about talking in them, but I feel like if I do unboxings, I kind of have to say something. I finally found the courage to do a voice over for this unboxing even though it’s not my first time doing this.

This folio is of the same leather as the Outlander Fraser, in which I share a photo here. However, the style of notebook is different. Instead of strings, which can hold up to 6+ notebooks, the folio only holds one book at a time, just like the Huckleberry Creme B6 Folio.

What I love about the Fergus B6 Folio is the color, and that it’s a soft leather but not floppy. It’s slightly stiff but pliable. I went with the B6 because it’s the perfect size for notes and writing ideas down. I can carry it with me without it feeling too bulky. I love my A5’s, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just something special about the B6 size. And, between the Huckleberry Folio (which was a limited edition) and this one, I prefer this one. The folio style of this one is not limited edition, but I believe the leather is. I had actually wanted a Fergus strings notebook, but Chic Sparrow ran out of the leather and weren’t sure they’d get more in. One day, I went looking on their site and saw this limited edition Fergus and grabbed it like lightning.

Anyway, here is the video. Hope you enjoy!

Leuchtturm Notebooks and Etsy Mini Haul

September 18, 2020

Getting my writing notebooks ready for 2021. This year, I felt a bit all over the place so I’m hoping these notebooks will help me get my writing groove back.

Earlier in the year, I purchased an A5 Chic Sparrow Traveler’s Notebook to house the A5 notebooks. Initially, I bought some cheap notebooks from Amazon but they were on the smaller side and didn’t fill up the TN the way I’d like them to. The Leuchtturms are a little more expensive but they do the job. I also like that they have an index and numbered pages. I’ve been using one for a year and a half now and really like everything about it.

Decided to order some fun things off Etsy.com. I mainly wanted a new date stamp since the one I currently have is coming to a close. The last year on it is 2021. This new one goes all the way up to 2031.

I ordered from WaWa Stationary. They have some really pretty washi tapes that I’ve been eying. I also wanted some vintage looking labels for my junk journaling hobby. And then the girl stickers was just too adorable. They were so sweet and included a few freebies.

Here’s a close-up of the stamp. I love how it came with a stand.

Chic Sparrow Carroll Leather in Alice + Unboxing Video

July 14, 2020

This is an A5 Chic Sparrow Carroll leather in Alice. It is a deluxe which means it has pockets on the inside. The color is very close to Tiffany Blue but maybe not as bright. It’s a very soft full-grain leather. There is no shine to it. As far as scent goes, I’ve heard a lot of people say it has a strong unpleasant smell but mine just smells like leather and I have a pretty sensitive nose. Maybe I got lucky.

I love these traveler’s notebooks so much I keep buying them but I’m running out of what to use them for. The Carroll Duchess just released and I want it too but I don’t have any idea what I’d use it for at them moment. With this Alice, since it’s an A5, I’m going to use it for writing and for style sheets for book reviews and beta reading.

Chic Sparrow Austen Leather in Lady Catherine

June 17, 2020

I purchased this narrow traveler’s notebook from Chic Sparrow and have fallen madly in love. It’s gorgeous.

I currently have a similar leather, a Mr. Darcy Lemon Drop, purchased three years ago, which has patinated to a nice darkish yellow (photos of it further down). The leather of the Dr. Darcy and Austen are exactly the same. The name was just changed (and I can’t remember why). It’s a super sturdy, non-floppy full-grain leather. It’s also flexible and smooth. I can’t resist touching it.

The color is salmon but at times it can look darker or lighter. Love the striations and the sunburst on the front. This is a one-of-a-kind and it makes me feel a little special.

Here it is next to the Outlander Fraser B6 for color comparison.

Next to the Mr. Darcy Lemon Drop B6.

7″ Kindle Fire in between.

The plan is to use it for taking notes for my fiction stories.