My Hobonichi Weeks

So, I recently moved back in my Hobonichi Weeks as my EDC. I was using my regular Camel MTN up till the moment I decided to separate my work notes/planner and start using my Leuchtturm 1917 as my work BuJo. It was a carefully thought out plan (as all my planner ordeals have been haha) and I decided to move my work stuff in a separate Leuchtturm 1917 BuJo cause I'll be out on maternity leave soon. I figured that it's best that all my work notes are in that book cause when I come back for work, at least I know where all my notes are rather than trying to figure out which inserts I was in. God knows I go through my inserts really fast and I don't want to lose any information and have them in separate inserts.

After separating my work from my personal planning, I found that I have a lot of space in my regular Camel MTN which is my EDC. I've been updating my Weeks and with the recent Travelers Factory announcement about how the vertical inserts will now have smaller columns as they will have all 7 days in a row, I've been thinking about possibly getting a Weekly + Memo dated insert for 2017. One thing I realize about the Hobonichi Weeks layout and  the Weekly + Memo layout is that it is pretty similar, except that the Weeks would be a tad slimmer and a tad shorter. So, if I am really getting the dated Weekly + Memo insert for 2017, I figured I might as well plan and get used to it.

Another thing that went through my mind is the Tomoe River Paper monthly + weekly insert that I got from PooBirdsRarities. It is undated so I could possibly try it out already, but I have this thing where I don't want to waste the planners that I have already hoarded, ahem I mean bought, for 2016 and I would like to have it all in one year. Also, since it's undated, I didn't want to write out the dates with my handwriting - so of course I purchased a basic stamp set from StudioL2E.

I think I pretty much am set for 2017 - if I decide to just use what I have and not purchase a dated insert from Travelers Company. At the moment, I am okay with using what I have but who knows in a few months time, I might change my mind and hoard, ahem again I mean, purchase what I need based on my enabling mind. Oh well, either way, carrying the Hobonichi Weeks will lighten my load considerably :)

Hmm.... maybe one Hobonichi Weeks, 2 A6 planners, a dated Travelers Factory insert... haha lots to think about :P

How will I use my A6 Hobonichi?

Ok, I've spent the past few days thinking and rethinking my setup. Or how I would use my A6 Hobonichi Planner. I've been lugging it around the house with me everyday - and the Mr is just perplexed as to why I would do that. How could a person not do that, especially when looking at how cute the Red Indian Rhino cover.

Look at it!! How can you not fall in love with it <3 <3 <3 Also, a portion of the proceeds are donated to Japanese animal rescue shelter Rencontrer Mignon, which doubles as an animal hospital and pet salon.

Anyway, I read the interview with Ms. Fujimura, Arts&Science employee (read: interview). The way she uses her planner appeals to me - and it's making me looking forward to the day when I can FINALLY start using my planner. I'll definitely split the page with the blue line and try and use it the way she does cause it appeals to me. I am not much of a person who is creative - I doodle every now and then, but that's about it. Recently, I've gotten myself watercolors have been playing with it. I am LOVING it.

My MTN will still be my planner wallet. It will have my weekly vertical inserts, a 013 lightweight insert, and my Essential leather wallet insert from Baum-Kuchen. I feel that I will use my A6 Hobonichi as my planner (work and etc) and my MTN as my personal wallet and journal.

We'll see. I can't wait for 2016 to come! <3

Hello 2016!

So, like most people in the planning community, the big question looms ahead – which planner to use for 2016. If you are like me – not sure, but kinda sure, but not really, cause there are so many options out there – then you are not the only one.

I have been using the Midori Travelers Notebook as my planner wallet – cause I do not want to be lugging around a planner AND a wallet, and it just seemed to make sense to combine those two functions together – for the past year plus plus. Got myself an Essential 2.0 Leather Wallet insert in black from Baum-Kuchen (they don’t carry the 2.0 or black leather anymore). This has been super helpful, as I can just grab and go with my planner wallet.

My Midori has three inserts – a 018 Midori vertical weekly with DIYFish monthly tip-ins, a 013 Lightweight insert and a grid insert from CovrKita on Etsy. I use the vertical to keep track of my appointments and personal to-dos, the lightweight insert as my Commonplace Notebook, and the grid insert as my BuJo – both work and personal. It has taken me a while to tweak my setup and I think – I can’t say it’s 100% – I’ve found planner peace for me. Either way, anytime I switch it up, it’s based on my current needs and I think planner peace just simply means what works for you and it may be for the next couple of months, or the next couple of weeks, cause as we all know, change is the only constant. To be able to say, Hooray, I have found planner peace, that would simply mean, good for you :)

One of the things being a planner addict, means that you want to have every single planner that is out there and you want to try every single one, cause I am tactile that way. I have more than enough of my share of planners and it has been an amazing journey and reflection – for myself – to see that ultimately, I would always come back to the original Midori. I have FoxyFixs, Chic Sparrows, CovrKita, in different sizes – personal (which majority of my collection seem to be), fieldnotes (which I don’t use cause the Mr said I go through it too fast and it’s too small for me), and regular sizes. As much as I love the personal sizes, I have to admit that to find available inserts are complicated – and the fact that I love the Tomoe River Paper also limits my choices. At the end of the day, I want my planners to work for my needs, not adjust my needs to the planners I have.

Saying that, for 2016, I have gotten myself the dated vertical weekly inserts, cause I’m ready to commit to a dated one from Midori, a weekly dated one for my passport MTN, and *drum roll please* my first Hobonichi. Since I love the Tomoe River Paper, I thought I might as well pull the trigger and go with this. I know that I would love this and it will be an interesting year ahead. I also got myself the Rhino Cover for my A6 Hobinichi Planner.

I am very excited for 2016 – 1) because of my planners, 2) i’ve started journaling daily and I would love to continue on with this, 3) the Tomoe River Paper is so exciting, 4) I think my Rhino Cover is the cutest <3

Can’t wait for 2016