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Smelling Salts Journal

February 11, 2017

Upping My Bullet Journal Game The Easy Way


Apparently, I’ve been “bullet journaling” for years. Who knew? I’ve always been into making my own calendars and keeping lists of TBD’s in blank books rather than on loose sheets. Now, the bookstores are marketing the heck out of “bullet journaling,” putting dotted notebooks and gel pens in front of the books already filled with words. Then, there’s all kinds of crazy (some wonderful, some downright obsessive) DIYs and tutorials online, telling you how to organize your journal so it looks so fine you’d never dare muck it up with your handwriting.

Since I’ve been unwittingly “Bullet Journaling” for years, I can say, without hesitation, I think Bullet Journaling can be a mindful practice. And, despite the hype, I like the idea of upping my game with a Leuchtturm notebook, some kick-ass markers, and a few fancy-pants designs for my Calendars, Lists and TBDs. What I don’t like, so much, is the idea of having to spend hours and hours designing original page templates. I’m not a practicing visual artist.

So, for the first time, dear readers, I am outright plagiarizing. That is, I’ve gone on Pinterest. I’ve found a few calendars and lists by people who obviously know what they’re doing. And, I’ve outright copied their designs, changing them only slightly to reflect my interests. After all, I’d rather spend more time editing the final draft of my novel manuscript than coming up with new ways to draw a bookshelf or a tracker for my “hours editing.”

Here are a few yet untouched pages from my 2017 Bullet Journal. [Click on one for a lightbox view.]




And, here is a link to my “Calendar Girl” Pinterest board, from which, as you’ll see, I’ve borrowed profusely. I’ve copied a Bookshelf from Plum and Proper, a Hamsa from All the Lovely Stuff, a Full Year calendar from Boho Berry, a Future Log from s-content, a sideways Monthly Calendar from Stylish Historian, and a few Weekly Spreads from OnkiArt. Why I haven’t looked for a “Wines Sampled” pattern, yet, is beyond me!

So, my work is hardly original. But the life that goes in there’s all mine. Now, don’t you think this post needs a soundtrack? How about The Moonglows, In My Diary…?

Filed Under: Crushes, Handmade, Living Tagged With: Books, bullet journal, Calendars, sources, templates

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Welcome to Smelling Salts! I'm Roseanne, and this is where I record my best recipes, take notes on arts, culture, and style, and write essays about what keeps me going.
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