The real brains behind my blog...Bijoux...don't go anywhere without it. Ideas come up all the time and need to record them otherwise they fly in one ear and out the other....lol.
52 Different Uses for Your Traveler's Notebook
I've seen a lot of people asking about ideas for using their TN's. I've been compiling a list of ways you can use it. Some are self explanatory.....most won't fit your needs but maybe some of these will ring a bell for you! Enjoy!
- Blog - Keeping it up, starting a new one, ideas for one
- Planner - Work schedule, appointments, tasks, projects
- Travel - Where you want to go, where you've been, pictures, paper ephemera
- Baby - Your pregnancy, baby's first year, baby care for babysitter
- Cooking - Recipes, great meals, recipe ideas, learning a new skill
- Pets - Taking care of your pet, pets you want, names, medical care
- House Remodel - Who your contractors are, plans, problems, schedules
- Job Hunt - Companies you want to apply to, skills to highlight, interview questions, networking
- Scrapbooking Ideas - Resources, websites, supplies, ideas, page designs
- Books To Read - Authors to follow, reading/book blogs, great books you've read
- Family - Family care, medical care for each member, stats for clothing purchases, school needs, food likes/dislikes/allergies, birthday/holiday present ideas
- Movies - You want to see, you've seen, reviews, favorite actors/actresses
- Wine - Favorite wines, upcoming wines, inventory in rack/cellar
- Medical Diary - Health care, specialists, diagnosis, medications, procedures
- Craft Projects - Websites, supply list/needs, project pages
- Writing Ideas - For blogs, books, articles you are writing
- Sewing Projects - Patterns, sources for materials, supplies, sketches of design ideas
- Knitting Projects - Patterns, sources for materials, supplies, sketches of design ideas
- Exercise/Marathon/Workout Plan - Accomplishments, weights, schedule, races
- Diary - Daily diary
- Dreams - Dream Interpretation
- Sketchbook
- Disneyland Trip - Plans, rides, hotels, food, packing for it, tickets
- Camping Plans - Campgrounds, food planning, supplies, dates
- Your Boat - Repairs, trips, upkeep
- Your Business Plans - New ideas, growth, hiring, resources, needs, repairs
- The Beach
- Fashion and Makeup
- Finances - Bill paying schedule, goals, investments, savings, stock, credit card paydown schedule
- Your History - Writing down your life history for your family and children
- Gratitude - At least three things you are grateful for each day
- One Good Deed a Day - Do one good thing a day and record it
- Note Taking for School
- Quotes - Favorite quotes, what they mean to you
- One line a Day - In a year you will have an amazing snapshot of your life
- Spiritual/Faith - Prayer Journal, spiritual goals, yoga, meditation
- Wedding - Plans, dress, reception, ceremony, vows, shower, bridesmaid/groomsmen plans, food
- Weight Loss/Food Diary
- Dating Ideas with Your Partner - Special memories, where you want to go, restaurants
- Your Bucket List
- Hobby Journal - Resources, ideas, pictures, progress
- Your YouTube Channel - plans, videos, schedules
- Photos/Instagram
- Your Garden - Planting schedule, goals, harvest, best/worst crops
- Home Decorating Projects
- Astrology
- Inspiration - for goals, life, hobbies, children, family, parenting, food, exercise
- Your Politics
- Doomsday Prepper - Supplies, locations, emergency bugout plan
- Elder Care - Medications, drs, appointments, therapies, foods
- Tea
- Family Traditions - So your children, grandchildren know what they are and why
The Traveler's Notebook....42 different sites for all your Notebook Needs!
I get asked all the time where I got my planner. I go to meetings and trainings and it becomes a topic of conversation. Then the conversation naturally turns to…where did you get______ that you put inside it. I decided to take a day and compile all the resources I know of for my planner aka FoxyDori and here they are. First, most importantly, is my cover. There are many covers out there, the two I am using currently are both FoxyDori. Kelly Strong-Marco owns the shop and makes them herself. A good cover is the jumping off point for anything you want to do with your planner. I know there are other traveler's notebook covers out there. Some people may prefer a more flexible cover, I like the leather firm, it provides structure and support for the elastic that holds the inserts in.
Next comes the inserts. I can’t possibly cover every single resource out there for the paper inserts. Many are DIY (do it yourself) printables and many are pre-made. Some of my favorite pre-mades (all Etsy Shops) are:
2. May Designs
3. Molsmum
5. MarsiaBramucci (she has DIY but will also print them for you)
6. KiddyQualia
7. OnicaHanby
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, there are many more sites out there that sell pre-made inserts. A simple search on Etsy or Google will give you a huge list. Of course you can also purchase inserts from Midori as well.
DIY inserts are as plentiful as the pre-made ones. DIY inserts do require you to cut and bind them yourself. This is usually stapling, although some people get fancy and sew them together. You can find a lot of YouTube videos on putting printable inserts together. My favorite Etsy shops that sell DIY’s are:
8. AndreaGomoll
10. JaneDIY
11. DIYfish
12. Essikulnserts
14. ButeoBunker (he also sells pre-made)
15. PapierMyDay.
Again, this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more on Etsy. Additionally, MorganLeFaesTrinkets has a blog and FREE printables you can download. I use a couple of them in my blog Dori…they are great.
Once you have your inserts figured out then you will want to accessorize…that can mean stickers, folders, stamps, pens, charms, clips…your imagina
tion is the only limit. Here is a list of some resources, again hardly exhaustive. My favorite go-to shops are
16. JetPens
17. MochiThings
18. SeeJaneWork
19. GirlofAllWork,
20. HappieScrappie.
21. AlexStudios
22. Yoobi
23. GouletPen
24. OliBlock
25. 3SpeckledFawns
26. LadyendeVagehond
27. MyPaperShoppe
28. OllieEmily
30. StickersKingdom
31. PrettyTape
32. CharlottesWeb86
I have a zillion pens, pens are my thing. My favorite pens however, are:
33. Lamy
34. Kaweco
35. Pilot
36. these Tombow pencils (love the color)
37. this Zebra Mini ballpoint pen
38. this Pilot mechanical pencil (again the color...)
39. these Pilot erasable pens
40. These Pilot Maica fine point pens (you can buy individual pens)
41. this Sharpie for writing on stickers and washi tape.
42. JetPens just posted these...a really nice alternative to Sharpies....
I know there are MANY more resources out there for Traveler's Notebooks...please feel free to list yours in the comments if they aren't here! Stay tuned for Part II....compiling another list of the best DIY sites for instructions on making folders, inserts and more.
The Amazing Technology of the Traveler's Notebook
You are probably wondering what the 'technology' of the traveler's notebook could be since it is just leather, cord, and paper....lots of paper. I've tried just about every planner out there and almost every planner 'app' as well. I stumbled across the brand 'Midori' a while ago. Being someone who likes lots of color in her life, the Midori brand didn't cut it for me....but I really liked the idea of flexibility in the TN. No planner will work if it isn't used or it is used minimally...then it is just a stack of paper bound by leather. I found a shop on Etsy that made colored TN's by hand to order.
Once I had the FoxyDori in my hands I new I had found the technology I was looking for to pull the different parts of my life together in to one neat amazing bundle. Wikipedia states the definition of technology is: from Greek τέχνη, techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand"; and -λογία is the collection of techniques, methods or processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. That definition fits my Dori perfectly because daily I am able to accomplish my objectives with the help of this tactile leather cover enveloping my dreams, goals, tasks, quotes, recipes, blog ideas and appointments. If you use a planner...mosey over to Kelly's shop on Etsy, FoxyDori and check out what she makes. She doesn't know I'm telling you about her but you will love what she does...I guarantee it....and you will have a new home for your dreams and goals. If you don't want color or her cover isn't exactly what you are looking for a quick search of Traveler's Notebook, Midori, FauxDori on google or Etsy will help you find other variations.