To all my fellow notebook nerds, you are not alone!

Alright my fellow notebook nerds, here’s a different sort of post to profess my love and adoration for all things notebook:

I’ve written before about how February is the beginning of my year; when I finally begin to feel the momentum and freshness of the new year, and it begins to feel like I can dig into the meat of my systems and goals. What I failed to elaborate on last time is that I include my usage of stationery, planners and notebooks. Yes, in my world that is a life-category.

Now, if you’re a planner/notebook nerd like myself, you will completely understand the part of my new years rituals that includes setting up my planner & notebook “situation.” For me, it’s no small feat AND it’s no more absurd to think about how I want to organize my notebook systems, then it is to think about how I want to organize our meal plans, or my children’s after school activities, snacks, and transportation. For me, pen and paper are extensions of my dreams; a way to organize my thoughts, plan my obligations, and play.

So for most of January, one thing I was sure to spend some time on is noticing what I felt a need to write down (and maybe more importantly, what didn’t need noting on paper). I observed what sorts of papers/notebooks/and pens I gravitated towards naturally, and then near the end of the month, I set out a plan… for now.

I’m a firm believer in making change when it makes sense for the individual, even if it doesn’t make sense in other external ways.

So, whether you are notebook-curious, or can’t understand how someone can use so many different notebook at one time, or if you’re a notebook geek like myself and enjoy seeing other folks “planner/notebook line up,” here’s a detailed rundown of the notebooks I intend to use in 2020 (again, I must stress that change is inevitable… this is not etched in stone… or if it is maybe just in sand stone).

And if you want to jump down the rabbit hole with us notebook geeks, I’ve included shopping links to most of my notebooks. These are all shops I’ve purchased from directly, and are some of my favorites that I return to over and over again… and no, they are not affiliate links. Just one notebook geek helping out other fellow notebook geeks or wannabe notebook geeks.

Enjoy!

notebook line up 2020

Camel Passport Traveler’s Company TN – Happy Mail Log (incoming & outgoing), stamp and address house, and pretty.

Brown Passport Midori Company TN – Every Day Carry (EDC) with 1 monthly insert & 1 Tomoe River insert + 1 Kraft folder (by Travelers Company).

Home-made TN-style Field Note Sized Notebook – Daily Art Journal! After doing Kasi’s Advent Calendar this past December, I fell in LOVE with the freedom of doing quick art sessions for just myself (yes, this journal is private and the contents will not be shown on social). My hope is to continue this routine as often as possible.

Brown Standard Size Traveler’s Company TN – Though I don’t do long journal entries these days, I do like to write little life snippets, like when my kids say something hilarious, or a memorable event occurred. It’s a way for me to add a few sentences when it behooves me – no pressure, no timeline. I dip into this one infrequently, but it remains essential to to housing my stray thoughts & memories that rarely connect to anything else.

Olive Standard Size Traveler’s Company TN – This houses a delightful treasure journal insert (I don’t want to call it a junk journal) with mixed vintage papers and envelopes created by Valerie. In it are the memories from my travels with ephemera galore, logs of our activities, and written memories of our experiences. I add photos and maps and anything that can help me remember the experience.

A5 Midori Goat Skin Leather Cover – This notebook holds words and thoughts related to a bigger project I have in the works. It is separate from everything, but also connected to everything.

A5 Maker’s South Leather Cover – Well, my Hobonichi A5 date-free planner found itself in this cover. I love like how Chrispian and his wife Erin create indestructible, durable, and delightfully rustic covers that will outlive me and my children (most likely)!

Again, I just want to stress that the links above are not affiliate links. Some of these notebooks can be purchased from many different shops but these are links to some of my favorite ones… in case you’re eager to get your notebook-geek on. And if you live in Europe, here’s another great shop to get Traveler’s Company inserts and other delicious stationery.

All A5 covers have Stalogy inserts.