Current EDC: Midori TN Passport in Brown

So, with little booboo around, I've taken to downsizing my EDC. I still use my black regular Ace Hotel as my planner, but I keep it at home, where it would house my memory-keeping and other stuffs as well. I've been testing out carrying a passport MTN for the past week and so far, it's been working. 

A huge part of why it works for me, I think, is that I've separated my work planner from my personal. I currently use my brown regular Ace Hotel as my work planner, and the setup is very simple - the 2017 dated monthly calendar and a 128 pages Tomoe River Paper insert. Yes, I thought about using the TMR thousand of times, before finally committing to use it as a work insert. So far, 2 months in and I have yet to reach the middle of the book. It works great for me since I take copious notes for work and during meetings. I also have it as a bullet journal for work - but it's not completely BuJo. Just my way of BuJo-ing. 

Anyway, back to the brown MTN passport. The setup is as minimal as I can make it - or take it hah! - and currently it houses:

• 2017 dated monthly
• Grid insert
• Lightweight paper insert
• Ziplocked pouch
• Kraft folder
• Passport Plastic Sheet for writing
• Be the Light charm from Baum-Kuchen

I decided to use my brown passport, since I wanted it look as nice and aged as my camel passport (which I took on my recent travels and HEY IT GOT BANGED UP RATHER NICELY I WOULD SAY - I love all the scratches on it.)


Since I've been using a regular size for the past 3++ years, downsizing to a passport was a tough decision for me. I did my due diligence in research, tried a few weekly layout that would work, tried to find a way where I could manage the information I needed to carry and at the same time making sure it's functional, and I'm happy to say that I think it's working for now. It fits my current needs. We all know that there'll come a time, where I'll probably change it up again *haha* 

How I Use My Passport

I write down my appointments in my dated monthly - just the time and what it is. Then, I add the information in my Google Calendar (since the Mr is a hardcore digital user when it comes to planning.) We share a calendar and this is the only way that would work for both of us. So, for things that needs addresses, I'd input that into the Google Calendar (which helps the Mr since he would then get directed to Google Maps.)

My grid insert has my weeklies drawn in it. So, currently I would only draw the week that is happening and whatever future planning goes into my dated monthly. If I need to write more about that upcoming event, I would write it down in the next page in my grid insert and keep track of it when I draw the next coming week's layout. 

Notes and other stuffs that needs to be written down, gets written down after the weekly that I've drawn in. So basically, it's week > dailies > notes or important info > then I'd draw the upcoming week on Sunday. It sounds complicated, but so far it works for me. 

The lightweight paper insert is more of my journal/musings. I find that I struggle to write in my regular size these past few months, cause just when I feel like I'm on a flow, little booboo has other ideas. I find that with the smaller page, it helps me write it out faster and easier than seeing that large amount of white space. Having the passport size currently does help me write more, cause I don't feel pressured into writing long passages, since the space is smaller.

I have a fourrouf passport sized wallet insert, but decided to use the ziplocked insert instead since I wanted to be able to see the faces of my loved ones, quotes I put in, etc. I also have a leather wallet insert by INKspiredBy on Etsy. I love it and am thinking of using it as my wallet, and when I want to have it in my passport, I can just slide it in. We'll see what I decide to do.

Since I've been using my passport TN, I've been checking out on other users' setup and etc. I came across this text by Patrick Ng on his Flickr account (p/s Patrick's TNs are AMAZING! So thankful I had the opportunity to meet with him at a Baum-Kuchen event last year. Read Wakako's post here.) So, he said in a post:

Designphil (or Midori) launches a new Traveler's Notebook in passport size, available in March. The idea according to Iijima san from Midori is that you use the passport size leather notebook to capture stuffs and then transfer to your more permanent full size Traveler's Notebook, so every notebook refill of the passport size has removable sheets. It is ultra portable not only good for your passport as a jacket, you can roll it up, throw it into your backpack, torture it and it still has that beautiful raw look. Same as the full size Traveler's Notebook, you can add a plastic zip pocket to store receipts and name cards.

I like that. That makes me feel better about how I'm currently using my passport and my regular - just like how the creators have imagined it.