Monday, August 1, 2022

T Stands for Journals and a Second Look

 HI everyone Happy Tuesday and Happy T day to you.

July is officially in the books. When I was still teaching, August always became a countdown to back to school. I did that for so many years that even now I got to August and had a little panic that summer is wrapping up. I had to remind myself I still have lots of summer left to enjoy since being retired there is no more back to school. 

My drink related page for  T over at Bleubeard's and Elizabeth's blog  is also my Second on the Second    view. Here are some teacups and some little quotes of wisdom for you.


This page comes from my 2018 daily journal. I originally posted it here: August 20, 2018.

I like to keep a daily journal. I've tried several formats. Back in 2018 I used a weekly journal that had a page to be colored on the left side of the week and the week to fill in on the right. I actually enjoyed this, especially while working. Some weeks I would color and fix up the left side a bit like adding the tea type labels and quotes to this page, and sometimes I would do a whole lot more.

In 2019 I moved over to a journal where I could draw as well as write. I also started looking for one that had a complete monthly calendar in the front so I could have a place to record appointments and be able to have a fast look to see what was on my agenda. I usually keep appointments on my phone, but I like a paper back up because as you probably know there can be and usually are electronic issues. I've tried Hobonichi and also Moleskin journals. I wish I could find one that combined the best of both of these.

Here's what I like and dislike about each in a very short summary:

  • Moleskins come with a hard cover and an elastic to keep them closed, you have to buy that separately for a Hobonichi
  • Hobonichis have more pages so I can keep track of other things like to do lists, bucket lists, etc.
  • I would love a journal that is 8x10 inches (20 cm x 10 cm in size), and I haven't found that either of these journals that come in this size
  • They both have great pages for drawing and coloring (with non-pigment markers)  although moleskin pages have lines and hobonichi have graph style paper (which I prefer). And moleskins aren't always bleedproof.
I need to get my new journal for 2023 already since I already have some 2023 appointments. Does anyone keep a similar type of journal and have any suggestions?


Anyhow, keeping this week's T Day post shorter than my last few.  Have a wonderful T day and week ahead. 





20 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

It took a few years when I first retired to realize I get to stay home and not have a long drive to work-wo wonderful, I still love being retired very much.
Happy 2nd and T day too Hugs Kathy

Kate Yetter said...

Ericka, I love your journal page. Thank you for sharing the difference between journals. I never knew what Hobonichi was although I have seen pictures of them many times. I would love to try different types of journaling and the ability to add lists sounds like something I would like. I am guessing the Hobonichis have grid paper? I too want to journal where I can add writing as well as pictures. I am using a Stillman & Burn journal as the size is larger but it is un-lined so I have to make my own. I do love that it can hold watercolor well though and it has a lot of pages. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

Carola Bartz said...

I know that feeling about August and I am so glad that this is in the past for me as well. Fortunately.
I usually keep a journal just for writing and some fun stuff like washi tape, stickers, etc. and maybe a little doodling. I do like the Leuchtturm 1917 journals, but I have also written in regular composition books. For me the important part is that the paper is "fast" to write on with my fountain pen (yes, I journal with a fountain pen). My art journal is a different thing altogether. I like your page very much. Happy T day and enjoy August free of school-panic!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I love that tea inspired second look. Those cups are great and the quotes are brilliant. You definitely picked a great one to share this month, Erika.

I have never owned one of those journals. I never write appointments in my calendar, because I use it to document what I have done that day. I like that you use yours differently. I hope you can someday find one that actually fits your needs.

Thanks for sharing this adorable tea cup and drinks page with us for both T this week and as your second look on the 2nd.

Sharon Madson said...

I love being retired! Some days, I don't even know what month it is let alone what day it is. LOL That is a nice page from 2018. Happy T Day.

Angie's Recipes said...

This just makes me smile :-) I am going to throw away my to-do list which has grown just too long to mean anything any more. Have a fantastic day, Erika!

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your journal page, the cups are fantastic. I have lots of journals, but they are all just for arting, appts etc are in my phone and / or computer. Recently I jumped out of bed, it was a Sunday morning at 7, and had a big panic because I thought I would be late at the school where I worked....It took me about 5 minutes to calm down and realise I didn't need to go there any more! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie

Shari Burke said...

I love those cups!

I used to love the anticipation of back-to-school, both as a kid and during my time in higher ed. I feel quite the opposite about July speeding by, though, as the quote in your previous post says. For me, July draaaaags by, as do the months from March-June. August is a bit better because I know we are heading towards the end of summer and the days are noticeably shorter with more of that to come :-) October, November, and December seem to go by in a blur, though.

I don't have the kind of life where I need to keep track of things anymore, so I end up buying a small datebook each year that has a block for each day--a week is spread across 2 pages. It's small enough to pack up and move, but with just enough space for me to jot down what I did, how I was feeling, etc on each day. For the past couple years I have bought an extra one of these that I use to do a very short poem or quote each day.

Happy August! I hope it brings you many happy summer days!

Iris Flavia said...

Fun page! I try to make my to-do list smaller but instead of downsizing....

I googled Hobonichi - still not sure. I hope I get a following one of the one I have now, it´s all I need.

Happy T-Day to you, hugs!

DVArtist said...

Great journal pages. I am just not a journal kind of girl. LOL So when I see how people plan and create them I am quite envious. Have a lovely day today.

Divers and Sundry said...

A stop doing list would've come in handy at several points in my life. I still think of August as full-on Summertime with no school 'til after Labor Day. Ah, the good old days.

Happy T Tuesday!

CJ Kennedy said...

Love the page. The quotes remind me of the sayings on the Salada tea bag labels. We are enjoying semi-retirement. If you don't feel like doing something, you don't! There's always tomorrow. I'm hoping August doesn't fly by like July did. Happy T Day

Let's Art Journal said...

Fabulous npost. I love all the cups and quotes 😊. I hope you're having a wonderful week and wishing you a Happy T Day! Hugs Jo x

Let's Art Journal said...

p.s. the cake was covered in fondant icing 😀. x

nwilliams6 said...

I need a stop do list! Fun journal page with great quotes. I admire your consistency with journaling and everything else! Hugz and Happy T-day!

Lowcarb team member said...

I do enjoy being retired ...
I like your page.

Happy August wishes.

All the best Jan

Lisca said...

Great journal page with the cups.
I always looked forward to going back to school as a kid. It was as much seeing my friends again as getting back into a routine.
I have a normal diary with the week over two pages. I never owned a Hobonichi, and really I think they are overpriced.
Lisca

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a super page Erika! I have a planner each year and for the last few years have been using a Muji one as it has space for notes at the back. I used my calendar journal to record day to day happenings. Belated Happy T Day, Chrisx

Empire of the Cat said...

I am not a teacher, though there are plenty in my family, but I also share that back to school/summer is ending anxiety. I started feeling it as soon as we hit August 1st lol. I think maybe it has to do with the rush towards winter/Christmas, and cold weather which I do not like, and this part of the year just seems to go so fast as we hurtle towards the holiday season. I also keep a daily journal, for a while it was a bullet journal but then I found that bullet journalling didn't suit me, so I have my own format and I write in lined notebooks. I find them handy to refer back to if I need to check what happened when. Of course for that kind of thing it would be even better to have it on the computer for keyword searches, so much faster than looking through all my notebooks lol. Happy belated T Day and second on the second Elle/EOTC xx

Empire of the Cat said...

Visiting for T, I love your tea inspired page Erika and the quote about the stop doing list. I have a similar "to don't" list that really needs to be longer lol. Happy belated T Day Elle/EOTC xx