1- Hobonichi Alternative: A dedicated BLP listener alerted me to this new planner on the block: Sterling Ink Common Planner. It looks quiet promising and along the lines of Wonderland 222, a Tomoe River paper alternative to Hobonichi. Interestingly, it’s in B6 size — somewhat between the A5 and A6 that Hobonichi offers.
I will likely be doing a formal review but just wanted to alert you all that preorders are out there!
2- Handmaid’s Tale: I am soooo late to this party, but Josh and I have started watching (Season 1) and omg, I am sucked in! I was delighted to find out that S5 is being released in 2 weeks so you know, we will only be 5 years behind the rest of the world.
(I actually blame Handmaid’s Tale for initially missing buying the Hobonichi Cover I wanted! I was too sucked in an missed the 10 pm shop opening. File that under problems that aren’t actually problems . . .)
3- I liked this post from Kae: Slashing my 2022 Goals. This is a great reminder that our goals lists can be fluid! If things on there are no longer serving you, or the length of a list is stressing you out — well, you are in charge! You can edit. You can add or subtract, take out some drudgery and add more fun. I have definitely done an edit of my own 2022 goals list (after all, when I crafted the list I didn’t even know I’d be making a big change in my work life this year!).
4- I need new sunglasses. I do kind of want a pair of fancy fashion sunglasses (my prior pair was Chanel and they lasted through 6 years of regular wear but are now kind of . . beaten to death). HOWEVER my personal budget dictates otherwise (thx Hobonichi), so for right now I was going to try a sporty pair from Goodr. (Yes, I have been influenced — learned about these on Ali on the Run).
5- Ashley Shelly / Amanda’s Favorites monthly collab planner goes on sale today! I use this cute little booklet as sort of a ‘pre-planner’ as I’m thinking through my year, and I still have the 2022 version tucked into my Hobonichi Cousin, where it fits perfectly. I am planning on getting the same size for 2023 – if I can snag one. They go on sale at 10 am eastern and last year they sold out quickly.
Off to run (5 miles with 3 @ tempo if anyone is curious). It is a LONG WEEKEND and I am excited, as are the kids.
18 Comments
Ooh, I’m very intrigued by that planner. So that’s bigger than the Wonderland, right? (I don’t know all the sizes well…) And it’s basically like the wonderland planner + notebook combined into one book?? Very interesting!! I have used the wonderland for two years now and generally really like it, but the calendar boxes (and just everything) feel a teeny bit small for me. My kids are busy and by the time I add in sports practices, school events, appointments, etc, many days my monthly grid box for the day is FULL. I use the daily pages in the notebook as a journal page, so I’m not sure what I think about having it IN the planner… but maybe that would be nice? Would LOVE a full review on this one!
I am also intrigued by this planner! I have the Wonderland in B6 size last year, and I loved it. I could tuck it in a purse without difficulty. I also need a weekly and prefer a daily spread, and this would be great. I’m considering the 2 volume option so it wouldn’t be so thick. I wonder how durable the cover is? I got the plastic cover for Wonderland, but it’s a thinner book so not sure it would work.
Good luck finding the right planner!
I am struggling with which planner to get this year! I have been using the Wonderland sandwiched in my old hobonichi cover for the last 2 years. I like the look of the hemlock and oak planners and I love the idea of heavier paper but none of their options have week AND daily pages and I use both heavily. I also dislike that the Wonderland splits Sat/Sun vertically on the weekly page. I am still deciding but I feel like I need to decide soon!
Have you read Handmaid’s tale? I read it in high school or right after and it’s SO GOOD. I also just started reading Testaments (also by Atwood) which is also excellent. An important point to keep in mind: I hear many MANY people saying things like, “Wow, this is so realistic! Good thing that it’s *fiction*,” or, “Thank God that can never happen in real life.” I just wanted to point out that Atwood based The Handmaids Tale on what happened in Iran in the 70s, so it absolutely can happen, and has in fact happened. Recently. And probably to people you know who fled Iran to the US.
That alternative to W222 sounds interesting, although I feel committed to A5 size since I have a cover I really like… Overall the planner is really working for me so I will likely stick w/ it, although I’m curious what paper they are moving to in 2024.
I’ve been watching The Bear on Hulu but am not sure if I love it or not. It got rave reviews from others so I am sticking with it. I watched the first episode with my husband and it was too intense/stressful for him. I haven’t been in the mindset to watch The Handmaid’s Tale and I am probably an outlier in not loving the book. My book club re-read it a couple of years ago and the views on it were mixed so I wasn’t in the minority in not loving it. I also read it in college and didn’t like it then so I thought maybe adult Lisa would enjoy it more but nope… but I can’t succinctly say why I did love it since it’s been so long since I re-read it!
I swear by my Good sunglasses. They work for 90 percent of things, but it’s true that they don’t dress up quite so easily…
For sunglasses, check out Shady Rays! I think they are chic and very comfortable. Plus if you lose or break them you can replace them for just $9.99. My husband has taken advantage of that a lot haha. I just looked and they also have 35% off for Labor Day!
I did a deep dive on the Common Planner and found this YouTube video that explains the whole thing. She makes comparisons to the Hobonichi cousin and Wonderland222. I think I’ll give it a try!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4vMmkRB3Xwk
I’ve had fancy sunglasses, and these are my absolute favs (30% off right now, too!): https://www.amazon.com/zeroUV-Womens-Plastic-Sunglasses-Oversized/dp/B009Z6IMXM/ref=sxts_rp_s_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.14b5a3ec-ddf3-42f1-bf1e-8515f8d25a34%3Aamzn1.sym.14b5a3ec-ddf3-42f1-bf1e-8515f8d25a34&crid=1W364UVYL7F25&cv_ct_cx=sunglasses&keywords=sunglasses&pd_rd_i=B009Z6IMXM&pd_rd_r=ca0cd482-2852-4ea2-a57a-3291bf0bd84b&pd_rd_w=0K2br&pd_rd_wg=4fSXX&pf_rd_p=14b5a3ec-ddf3-42f1-bf1e-8515f8d25a34&pf_rd_r=J01N8C7XJ5BVKHPX6SEF&psc=1&qid=1662139430&sprefix=sunglasse%2Caps%2C117&sr=1-1-f0029781-b79b-4b60-9cb0-eeda4dea34d6
Those are cute!
I feel that way about Stranger Things. I watched part of the first season awhile ago, but I started again once season 4 came out, and this time I really got into it. It’s not the the kind of thing I’d normally watch, which I think was part of the appeal.
For sunglasses – as a glasses/contacts wearer, a total game changer for me was getting prescription sunglasses. My prescription Ray-Bans were $10 after my vision benefits and have made outdoor summer activities and driving so much more enjoyable! Might be worth visiting an optometry shop to see if this is an option for you. I can’t recommend highly enough.
Josh does this! I am so nearsighted that I wear contacts 100% of the time and since I’m 20/20 with them, I have no need for RX sunglasses! But otherwise this is such a great hack.
Check out blenders for sunglasses! I love them
I am obsessed with goodr sunglasses. I have twice used the 1 year warranty with no hassles (both times they broke and it was totally my fault). My husband wears them too, and we recommend them to anyone who tells us they need a new pair.
Just took the plunge! For $30 figured it was worth a try!
Goodr’s are awesome! I will warn you that the shiny lenses will scratch, so keep them in the little cloth bag that comes with each pair.
ooh, good to know. I admit I am VERY hard on my things so we will see how this works out . . .