Planner Peek: The Hobonichi Weeks and a Fauxbonichi Journal

Today is going to be a quick post because I have to get myself together for the RT Convention next week, but I wanted to pass along a little planner p0rn. :)

So y'all know that I have a planner and journal obsession. And the journey to "planner peace" is an ongoing one, which means I'm always poking around the internet and looking at all the options. Well, recently, I came across the world of Hobonichis and Fauxbonichis. What the heck is that?

Well, the Hobonichi is a Japanese planner that has a cult following because of the clever layout and the amazing paper--Tomoe River paper. This paper is very thin but can take fountain pens, watercolors, etc. without bleed through, which means that a lot of people use these planners as art journals. Just go on Instagram or Pinterest and search Hobonichi to see. It's amazing what some people do in them. And even if you don't use it for art, the layout is great. The Techo and Cousin versions offer monthly, weekly, and daily layouts all in the same planner. Hard to find. I'm strongly considering buying the Hobonichi Cousin (which is an A5 size) next year. But right now I'm sticking to my modified Happy Planner for my planning (I've put the Day Designer aside for a while because I missed my weekly view.).

However, Hobonichi has a wallet-sized weekly version. And when I saw that, I knew I wanted one. I don't travel with my planner because it's too big. But I needed something to have with me in my purse for when I make appointments and such. Yes, I could use my phone. But I don't work well with electronic calendars. This Hobonichi Weeks would be the perfect size. Plus, I get the Tomoe River paper and they offer an April start version. So I ordered one, and I have to say, it is really lovely. The paper is almost Bible page thin but they weren't lying about the no bleed through. That's impressive. And bonus, the travel wallet/passport keeper I bought fits the Hobonichi Weeks perfectly so I don't have to get another cover. Yay! Isn't it pretty?

If you want to check it out, Amazon still has a few Hobonichi Weeks left last I checked, though I think pink is sold out. You can also get them directly from the Hobonichi store, but you do have to use a yen to dollars converter to figure out your costs. And here's the wallet. I did a lot of research trying to find one that would be the right size since there aren't a lot of options for covers for the Weeks version. This wallet comes in a number of different cute colors, is well made, and has the RFID blocking to protect your cards and passports from scanning. I was really pleased with it.

On to Fauxbonichis...

But after doing so much research on the Hobonichis, I discovered that people are doing DIY versions called Fauxbonichis to do their art journaling. (MissVickiBee seems to be the one who came up with this idea. Here's a link to her video about it.) This intrigued me because it would give me a chance to try out art journaling before committing to a pricier Hobonichi Cousin. I am notorious for giving up on journals and diaries. I've never been able to stick with one. But the idea of doodling in a journal and using it more as a memory keeper than a introspective diary type thing appealed to me. So I watched some YouTube videos (as you do) and decided to give it a try in a Leuchtturm journal I already had. (This is the one I have if you want to check it out.)

Well, I have been having so much fun with it! I'm hooked. I think it's serving as a relaxation tool like some people use coloring books. I get to draw and doodle and color, but at the same time, I'm keeping a record of memories and making a keepsake. This is also a nice lesson in fighting against my perfectionism because I CAN'T DRAW, lol. I have to accept that it's not going to look like those beautiful art journals I see on Instagram or Pinterest. And that's okay. The process is fun and I get a little thrill when what I draw actually resembles what I was attempting, lol.

So here are a few pages from my journal. The top sort of resembles the layout of a Hobonichi Techo, but I altered it to fit my own needs, including a place for a mood doodle. He's my favorite part. I've named him Moody Milton. :) I also record the weather for the day and use a little washi tape to brighten it up.

The pens I'm using are the Faber Castell PITT Artist pens to make the black lines and the Stabilos for colored drawing. Then I fill in with Steadtler colored pencils. Go ahead and judge me for having all those pens, lol. You can really use any pens you want. Just check for bleed through first because though the paper is very nice, it's not the Tomoe River. Some pens and markers will bleed through.

I use this stencil to make my lines and draw my little suns. 

I've been having way too much fun with it and so far. And if you're intimidated by the drawing thing like I was, I've found that the easiest thing for me is to google, "how to draw (blank)" and once I see simple images, I can reproduce them somewhat. I have a hard time just drawing something from scratch without inspiration to look at. You may have no trouble at all, but if you're drawing-impaired like me that might help. :)

Well, this post turned out longer than I thought, lol. But I hope I've maybe given you some ideas and inspiration. Let me know if you decide to give any of this a try!

Also, I won't be blogging next week because I'll be at the RT Booklovers Convention, so see you in a week! :)

Note: Amazon links are affiliate links. I haven't been asked to feature any of these products. These are things I've bought with my own money and enthusiastically recommend. :) 

Don't Apologize for the "Silly" Things You Like

Last week I talked about the importance of hobbies and how they're often more necessary for our mental well-being than we give them credit for. And then Monday I did the #ListifyLife challenge and the topic was Little Things Things That Make You Happy. Those two posts were knocking around in my head yesterday, when a friend of a friend gave me a WTF look after I told her I was into paper planners. "But we have PHONES with CALENDARS."  I briefly explained that it was a crafting type hobby and community. There are stickers and drawing and artsy stuff. But I could tell she'd already dismissed the whole thing as "silly" or a waste of time. And that's cool that it's not something she'd be interested in, but the dismissal got me thinking because it gave me the knee jerk instinct to say, "I know it's silly, but..."

oh, bless your heart. in #bless

Then I stopped myself. Swallowed the words right back, gave her a "bless your heart" smile, and changed the subject.

Why? Because why the hell should I apologize for something I enjoy? It seems like we're put into this position way too often--particularly as women. It's the same way people often make us feel about reading romance novels. "I know it's silly but..." "I know they're not 'important' books, but..."

No. I'm done with that kind of bull. I've been done with it regarding people's opinion about romance for a loooooong time. But I realized I was about to do it with my newfound love of planners and art journaling. If it's fun for me, doesn't hurt me or anyone else, and doesn't interfere with the other stuff I need to get done in my life, then who cares what I like? Nobody gets to make that call for me or make me apologize for it in some way. It's my thing. Mine. No one else gets a vote. So I will say what my son has been saying every time I tell him something this week. "Okay, Beyonce." (No idea where he gets this stuff.)

beyonce in #hairflip

So, like the the things you like, do the hobbies you get excited about, read the books you want, watch the shows you enjoy, and own that. Don't let anyone dismiss it as silly. You're not silly. You're in touch with what you enjoy and are passionate about. That's more than a lot of people can say. And oftentimes, those "silly" things or "geeky" things are what keep us sane in a stressful world. I had a particularly stressful week this week with some curve balls and on the worse night, I found myself drawing in my fauxbonichi (more on what that is tomorrow), and I realized--wow, this is like my glass of wine. I was able to zone out a little, let the day go, and just worry about how to draw a boat instead of getting wrapped up in what had happened that day.

So, yeah, I'm not going to apologize. Once upon a time, writing stories was my "silly" hobby. That worked out okay. ;)

What thing have you been tempted to apologize for or dismiss to others as "that silly thing" you like to do? What's the thing you "geek out" about? Own it in the comments!

What's Your "Escape Hatch"? The Importance of Hobbies

Today,  author Jaye Wells did a fantastic post on burnout. Go read it. I'll wait. She explains how she got burned out when her passion and escape (writing) became her job and took over every aspect of her life.

I so relate to that article. I've talked a little bit about it here, but I definitely was burnt to a crisp by the end of 2015. I love writing. It is my passion. But when it became my job and my world became deadlines and constant writing and promotion and all the business that goes along with being a writer, I lost what Jaye calls the "escape hatch."

Writing used to be my escape hatch. I started writing in high school not just because I loved reading and creating stories but because it gave me a break from the angst of being a teenager. It was an escape from every day life. That's one reason why I went back to writing after I had my son. I was a new mom who had no idea what she was doing and was dealing with a very colicky, non-sleeping baby. When I needed to take a break from all that, I escaped into writing.

That was the best thing I could've done because that's the point where my passion turned into my career. I got my first publishing contract when my kidlet was three. From that point on, writing became my full time job. 

I love it. I feel lucky every day that I get to do this for a living. BUT, it means that writing is my job. It's what I *have* to do now. That takes some of the "escape" out of it. Where do I get to escape when writing gets hard or stressful or a book is fighting me? And books always fight.

That's what led me to my burnout. I didn't have that other outlet anymore. For a while at the end of last year, I didn't even want to read because that's tied to writing. And, believe me, if I'm not reading, that means there's a major problem lol. *cue warning sirens for meltdown*

So after turning in my book, I stepped back and evaluated and took a break. I read non-fiction since fiction wasn't calling to me. I painted and redecorated my office. And I got a planner--seemingly to be more organized--but it ended up being more than that. I discovered there was this whole planning community. And it was a crafty pursuit. There are pretty pens and washi tape and stickers involved! That has become my version of an escape. It's a hobby that will not make me money, that has no pressure attached to it, and that relaxes me. From the outside, it seems like a silly thing. I mean, how many pens do I really need? This many, btw:

My pen/pencil collection

But after reading that post, I realize--no, it's not silly or indulgent. It's necessary. It's self-care.  I found a crafty, creative outlet to be my little escape hatch when I'm not writing. And looking back, I've been doing this all along. When things get stressful, I seek out hobbies. Maybe I start cooking a lot. Last year, it was canning and pickling things. I took a photography course a few years ago when I definitely didn't have time for it. I rebuilt my website because I enjoy the process of taking things apart and putting it back together. It's even in my author bio:

"If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her cooking, watching reality television, or picking up another hobby she doesn't need--in other words, procrastinating like a boss."

But maybe it's not always procrastinating or a hobby I don't need, after all. Maybe it's making room in my head for the writing. It's giving my brain space to "breathe" and refresh. 

And I know that Jaye's post was specifically about writing, but I think it applies across the board if you're doing a job you love. Or being a parent. Or even a job you hate. We need that time to play. We need those things that don't have any stakes tied to them.

So, I'm curious. What's your escape hatch?

Introducing the #ListifyLife Spring Challenge!

I love a list. There's something about that little itemized structure that does it for me. It's neat, efficient, and gets to the point. When I'm brainstorming a new book, all my thoughts are in bulleted list form. Maybe the hero has this in his background. Maybe the heroine met the hero when she was a kid. Maybe the hero has a dog. 

And when I plan, lists are my go to structure, too. That's why the Day Designer works well for me. Half the page is dedicated to a long To Do list. 

So, when I bought a beautiful new gold Leuchtturm journal, I had a plan to keep lists in there. BUT I am a notoriously failed journal keeper. And this felt a lot like keeping a journal. So that got me to thinking--what if there was some structure to the lists I keep in there? A challenge to keep me excited and focused. I started chatting about it with my friend and fellow writer Sierra Godfrey and the Listify Life Challenge was born.

What is it?

There are lots of lists type challenges out there, but maybe are daily and most seems to focus on heavier topics like goal-setting and deep thoughts about life or yourself. That's cool but not what I was going for. I wanted this to be fun, a little silly, something to look forward to. No therapy needed! ;) So this challenge is going to be a WEEKLY list challenge where there is one topic a week. You write down your list on any day that week and take a photo of it to share (or you can type it into a blog or FB or whatever works for you.) Use the hashtag #ListifyLife if your chosen social network uses hashtags and join up with others. :) This is meant to be a fun way to document your year and meet others without being too time-consuming.

When is it?

It starts next week. We're going to divide by seasons. So this first challenge is the Spring Listify Life Challenge and will run March 20 (first day of Spring) through June 19th (last day of Spring). If things go well, a summer challenge will start after that.

What are the topics?

Here's a beautiful graphic designed by Sierra Godfrey. Sierra has also made free printable cards with the individual list topics if you want to print and write your lists on those. (And feel free to post this graphic on your site or instagram to spread the word.)

Where to post your lists?

This is the flexible part. This isn't going to be tied to a certain social network. Blog your lists, Instagram them, tweet them, Facebook them. Post in one place or five. It's whatever works for you. I'll be posting the photos of my lists across my networks. And I will blog them as well with added commentary.

Who can join?

Anyone! This isn't just for writers or a particular group. Two of the topics lend themselves more to people who love to read, but other than that, the topics should work for anyone.

Why should you join?

Um, because lists are awesome. And you get an excuse to buy NEW OFFICE SUPPLIES. That should be reason enough. AND you get one free day a week where you don't have to think about--what should I blog about? Or post on Instagram or FB? You have a built in idea. And did I mention the office supplies? New pens, people. Pens.

***

I'm really excited about this challenge and am looking forward to seeing everyone's answers for the different topics. I hope you'll join us and be a fellow list nerd with me. :) 

So, are you ready to play along?

Eating Healthy At Home: How I Meal Plan and a Free Weekly Menu Printable

If you follow me at all online, you know I love to cook (and eat!), but I'm not one of those cooks who just comes up with inventive meals on the fly. I've spent hours writing fiction most days, so my creativity is drained by the time I get to dinnertime. I don't want to think about what to cook or how I'm going to make it tasty, which is why for years I've sworn by weekly meal planning. Without my weekly meal planning, I'd end up going out for fast food or ordering pizza every night. Meal planning keeps me (and the fam) on track with healthy eating.

Here's my general routine. On the weekend, I set aside some time to grab a few of my cookbooks off the shelf (or to go to my saved recipes online) and I sit down and choose what I'm cooking for each night of the coming week. This is even easier if you have few main go-to recipes that you use each week. I'm weird in that I like to cook different stuff pretty much non-stop. I have very few go-to meals and those are usually brought out when hubs is out of town and I'm just cooking for me and the kidlet. My theory on why I like novel cooking is that I like to eat in restaurants. But restaurants are expensive and somehow they manage to pack twice as many calories into things--even things that seem healthy. So what keeps me from eating out too much is creating new stuff for me to try to each week, so it feels like I'm going to a new restaurant. (See, told you, I'm weird.)

And luckily, I have a family with an open-minded palate, so they're pretty go with the flow on whatever I decide to cook. (I set up the expectation early with kidlet--you eat what I cook. I may alter his slightly, like not make his serving as spicy or keeping onions out of his or something, but he's expected to eat what we're having for dinner and to try things he may not be sure of. And he does.)

But anyway, I think through my week--which nights are going to be more hectic than others, what nights I'll have more time, etc. Then I lay out the menu on this sheet I designed (see the free printable below if you'd like to download it) and make my grocery list as I go. Then I post the menu on the refrigerator so everyone knows what's coming. Sometimes I'll switch days around during the week--much to the distress of my order-loving kidlet--but otherwise, I stick to the plan. And usually we save eating out for once or twice on the weekend.

The Quick and Dirty Tips on Meal Planning:

1. Gather your supplies: cookbooks/magazines/internet/whatever, a notebook or meal planning worksheet, and a little bit of time.

2. Think through what supplies you have or what you need to use up. (This is where cookbook indexes and internet search comes in handy. Have a cabbage and some chicken to use up, look up the more specific ingredient and work backward from there.)

2. Figure out which days you need to have quick meals and which you can spend more time on so you can plug in meals accordingly.

3. Fill in your go-to meals if you have them. Bonus tip: Pick theme nights like Taco Night, Sandwich Night, Slow Cooker Night, Stir-Fry Night, etc. and then your meal planning will go even quicker.

4. Write down the name of the recipe and where you found it (don't forget page numbers) then plug it into your menu sheet on the appropriate day.

5. Make your grocery list as you go. Bonus tip: There are lots of printables online for grocery lists. If you find one divided by section of the store, you can already have your list done and  sorted by the time you're done meal-planning. 

6. Put the menu on the fridge for you and your family to see, and then stick to it. 

7. After the week is done, mark down the new recipes that went well to save them for the future. 

It sounds like a lot, but really, it's not. Plus, there are so many benefits.

Benefits of Meal Planning:

1. Eat healthier.

2. Less waste because I know what I need to buy for the week.

3. No thinking involved when I'm brain-drained at dinner time.

4. Saves money.

5. No, "What are we having for dinner?" questions from the family.

5. Yummy, delicious meals every night.

So it's a no brainer for me. I've done it this way for almost a decade, and it becomes like clockwork. Plus, it gives me a good reason to feed my cookbook addiction. :)  Which reminds me, stay tuned for Wednesday when I tell you about my favorite cookbooks, recipe resources, and apps I love for meal planning and cooking. 

In the mealtime, here's your free Weekly Menu printable download if you'd like to give meal planning a shot. Let me know if you do! :)

Click to download

So do you do any kind of meal planning? What's your process? Any tips to add?