MommyCoddle

moleskine + washi tape

I'm about to completely finish my first-ever moleskine journal. This is by far not my first-ever moleskine. I've owned several. But between losing motivation or just plain losing them, or never finding a "method" with them that worked for me, I've yet to ever completely fill one up.

But I'm just a few pages shy of finishing up my first. Every page. Almost every blank space. I started it with no real rhyme or reason as to how I would use it. I didn't know if I'd journal in it. If it would only be for my list of three. If it would be my own personal scrapbook to clip, save and tape things into.

Turns out it's been all of those things.

Instead of trying to decide WHAT it would be, I shifted my focus to letting it just be a notebook that was more about time than about what filled the pages. It didn't need to be just one thing or another. It could be everything. And anything.

Though it sounds silly to have that realization about a notebook, the whole thing was pretty freeing to me.

Because I'm a person who really wants to be a journaller. I want to be a scrap saver, a note collector, a list maker, a calendar keeper, an idea brainstormer. But when I tried to force myself to be just one of those things it didn't work.

Instead, I'm a little bit of all of those things.

And instead, my moleskine now chronicles many months of my life–the to-dos, the recipes, the scraps, the notes, the lists, the brainstorms. All of it.

But just a month or so ago, I discovered that there was a way I could organize it just a bit. It's helpful for me to be able to jump back in my notebook and find something I'm looking for. Where I wrote down a phone number. A recipe. Where's that cute note Emma sent Mary on her birthday? Where's my grocery list.

And there are other things, too. With my work at *Babycenter, I use my moleskine each week to write down what posts I plan to write, things I'm thinking of for the future, people I've been in conversation with. But I rely heavily on those notes because it's a ton to remember.

So I had my little inspirational moment a few months ago when I realized I could use my rolls of washi tape to help me find some of the most important, most used pages in my notebook. And hello, a system was born.

Not every page in my notebook gets the washi tape treatment–but the most often referenced ones do. Each Sunday when I'm finished my planning page for Babycenter, I get out my blue plaid washi tape and run a piece along and folded over the outside edge of the page. I do the same for my to-do lists, recipes, and grocery lists. Each with their own colored washi tape. Everything else in between doesn't require tape. That would get both colorful and crazy.

Now, when my journal is closed, I can easily see where each "big ticket" item in my moleskine is. I can get to it easily, and I admit, I kinda like the well-loved look it gives my journal.

I just updated my stash with some new tape from Lotta Jansdotter. The woman knows how to put together a bundle of tape that speaks to me. For my next moleskine, I may just change it up all together and break out new brighter tapes. Who knows. I'm crazy like that. (Though I do love me some yellows, browns and blues.)

It feels good to have it down. To finally have a system in place that works for me.

But I'd love to hear what you guys do. Do you keep a journal? What kind of journaller are you? Are you a list maker? Do you keep your lists all together in one place? I'd love to hear from you, friends.

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Speaking of Babycenter…I'm hosting a giveaway for a great little portable labeller from Epson right now. It will make you passionate about labels.

I’m about to completely finish my first-ever moleskine journal. This is by far not my first-ever moleskine. I’ve owned several. But between losing motivation or just plain losing them, or never finding a “method” with them that worked for me, I’ve yet to ever completely fill one up.

But I’m just a few pages shy of finishing up my first. Every page. Almost every blank space. I started it with no real rhyme or reason as to how I would use it. I didn’t know if I’d journal in it. If it would only be for my list of three. If it would be my own personal scrapbook to clip, save and tape things into.

Turns out it’s been all of those things.

Instead of trying to decide WHAT it would be, I shifted my focus to letting it just be a notebook that was more about time than about what filled the pages. It didn’t need to be just one thing or another. It could be everything. And anything.

Though it sounds silly to have that realization about a notebook, the whole thing was pretty freeing to me.

Because I’m a person who really wants to be a journaller. I want to be a scrap saver, a note collector, a list maker, a calendar keeper, an idea brainstormer. But when I tried to force myself to be just one of those things it didn’t work.

SEE ALSO: My new favorite planner
Instead, I’m a little bit of all of those things.

And instead, my moleskine now chronicles many months of my life–the to-dos, the recipes, the scraps, the notes, the lists, the brainstorms. All of it.

But just a month or so ago, I discovered that there was a way I could organize it just a bit. It’s helpful for me to be able to jump back in my notebook and find something I’m looking for. Where I wrote down a phone number. A recipe. Where’s that cute note Emma sent Mary on her birthday? Where’s my grocery list.

And there are other things, too. With my work at *Babycenter, I use my moleskine each week to write down what posts I plan to write, things I’m thinking of for the future, people I’ve been in conversation with. But I rely heavily on those notes because it’s a ton to remember.

Not every page in my notebook gets the washi tape treatment–but the most often referenced ones do. Each Sunday when I’m finished my planning page for Babycenter, I get out my blue plaid washi tape and run a piece along and folded over the outside edge of the page. I do the same for my to-do lists, recipes, and grocery lists. Each with their own colored washi tape. Everything else in between doesn’t require tape. That would get both colorful and crazy.

Now, when my journal is closed, I can easily see where each “big ticket” item in my moleskine is. I can get to it easily, and I admit, I kinda like the well-loved look it gives my journal.

I just updated my stash with some new tape from Lotta Jansdotter. The woman knows how to put together a bundle of tape that speaks to me. For my next moleskine, I may just change it up all together and break out new brighter tapes. Who knows. I’m crazy like that. (Though I do love me some yellows, browns and blues.)

It feels good to have it down. To finally have a system in place that works for me.

But I’d love to hear what you guys do. Do you keep a journal? What kind of journaller are you? Are you a list maker? Do you keep your lists all together in one place? I’d love to hear from you, friends.

57 Comments

animal kingdom / children and nature / from Mary / out and about

A walk in the wetlands

It was the last day of spring break and we were up for something. The Easter break had had it’s usual fun. Family picnic—the pigs were a hit. Church. Family time. The weather was cool, but we decided to check out a new spot. Little did I know that our county owned a 30-acre wetland area complete with one mile of boardwalk to protect the delicate happenings there.

Perfect time to go. Tadpoles by the dozen.

Red-winged Blackbirds were calling everywhere. Even globs of salamander eggs. No one else was there. But raccoons had been the night before.

The perfect end to a great spring break.

Perfect time to go. Tadpoles by the dozen.

Red-winged Blackbirds were calling everywhere. Even globs of salamander eggs. No one else was there. But raccoons had been the night before.

The perfect end to a great spring break.

1 Comment

babyhood / life on thomas run / out and about

In progress: the four square garden

With every year we spend in our house, Dan tries to focus on a new gardening project each Spring. One year it was the vegetable garden, then it was supposed to be flower beds. But it turned out the vegetable garden needed more tweaking. And it still does. Gardening is such a continual learning experience. Trial and error. Jump in. See what works. Try again.

But this year we're finally breaking ground on one project that has been continually shoved to the back burner.

We're finally putting in what we all refer to as "the four square garden". It is inspired by (though it will never be as wonderful as) "the four square garden" at my grandparents' farm, above. It is one of my favorite spots at my grandparents' home. A spot that was backdrop to many a family photograph (15 original children + their children + their children's children), a wedding photo session, my girls' favorite place to play when we lived on the farm, and it's the path everyone walks through on their way down to the swimming pool.

Our four square will never have quite the grandeur of my grandmother's but it is the inspiration for the one we are putting in.

And while this is a whole other train of thought…things are changing dramatically at my grandparents' place and I'm forced to let go of what was. I'm learning that I must bring those memories and experiences and plant them in my own life, and in my own home, and for my own children. No amount of change changes that.

For now, Dan has begun to rip out and level out an existing garden that is where the four square will go. A big mounded up thing that we found out (from our neighbor who grew up in our house) was a dumping ground for the ashes from their coal stove. The garden had some pretty elements, but mostly it was overrun by bind weed–(which I'm convinced comes straight from the hand of the devil) and thistle (a farmer's foe). We moved as many plants as we could and are using the remaining bush as a central point.

The fencing around is both because we love it, but also because we have serious chicken problems without it. Our free-range girls get around and love to pick and dig and nibble on flower heads and buds.

Eventually, there will be four plots in each corner. And hopefully a pea gravel path in between each.

I envision the pickets weathering to a nice grey finish. And viney things winding and wrapping their way around and through the boards. And herbs. And interesting plant varieties.

This weekend, we made a trek to a place I have been begging to go to since I heard about it over a year ago– Terrain.

People. Seriously. Terrain is my heaven on earth. One of those stores where you walk in and every. single. thing. fits perfectly with your style and esthetic and vision of what look you'd like in your home.

And your garden.

We went for inspiration. I was hoping to bring home a few plants that might get us going. At the very least, we were ready to put in a row of plants on the outside of the fence.

But Dan and I were both a bit overwhelmed by the experience.

So we came home empty-handed but with a better vision for what we want to do. I have notes scribbled down on a piece of paper and photos snapped on my phone.

We'll definitely go back when we're a little more advanced in our project.

This weekend, the fence was finished (except for a gate) and the tiller was repaired. (Thanks to Birdy, of course.)

This week, a row of day lilies will go in a row along the outside of the fence.

We're making progress. Slowly. A labor of love and nostalgia.

I'll keep you updated with photos as we move along. But I'd love to hear what's going on in your gardens. Flowers? Vegetables? New plans? Container gardens? I'd love to hear from you.

But this year we’re finally breaking ground on one project that has been continually shoved to the back burner.

We’re finally putting in what we all refer to as “the four square garden”. It is inspired by (though it will never be as wonderful as) “the four square garden” at my grandparents’ farm, above. It is one of my favorite spots at my grandparents’ home. A spot that was backdrop to many a family photograph (15 original children + their children + their children’s children), a wedding photo session, my girls’ favorite place to play when we lived on the farm, and it’s the path everyone walks through on their way down to the swimming pool.

Our four square will never have quite the grandeur of my grandmother’s but it is the inspiration for the one we are putting in.

And while this is a whole other train of thought…things are changing dramatically at my grandparents’ place and I’m forced to let go of what was. I’m learning that I must bring those memories and experiences and plant them in my own life, and in my own home, and for my own children. No amount of change changes that.

For now, Dan has begun to rip out and level out an existing garden that is where the four square will go. A big mounded up thing that we found out (from our neighbor who grew up in our house) was a dumping ground for the ashes from their coal stove. The garden had some pretty elements, but mostly it was overrun by bind weed–(which I’m convinced comes straight from the hand of the devil) and thistle (a farmer’s foe). We moved as many plants as we could and are using the remaining bush as a central point.

Eventually, there will be four plots in each corner. And hopefully a pea gravel path in between each.

I envision the pickets weathering to a nice grey finish. And viney things winding and wrapping their way around and through the boards. And herbs. And interesting plant varieties.

This weekend, we made a trek to a place I have been begging to go to since I heard about it over a year ago– Terrain.

And your garden.

We went for inspiration. I was hoping to bring home a few plants that might get us going. At the very least, we were ready to put in a row of plants on the outside of the fence.

But Dan and I were both a bit overwhelmed by the experience.

So we came home empty-handed but with a better vision for what we want to do. I have notes scribbled down on a piece of paper and photos snapped on my phone.

We’ll definitely go back when we’re a little more advanced in our project.

This weekend, the fence was finished (except for a gate, we bought wood fencing wholesale at cedarfencedirect.com for a good price) and the tiller was repaired. (Thanks to Birdy, of course.)

This week, a row of day lilies will go in a row along the outside of the fence.

We’re making progress. Slowly. A labor of love and nostalgia.

I’ll keep you updated with photos as we move along. But I’d love to hear what’s going on in your gardens. Flowers? Vegetables? New plans? Container gardens? I’d love to hear from you.

11 Comments