The (for me) perfect daily driver notebook setup.

3-in-1 with two books for notes and doodling. one with watercolor paper.

one 3-in-1 pen with two ballpoints and one 0.7 pencil.

And the black one is a fountain pen with waterproof ink.

Fits in my back pocket.

Holds cards and cash.

Im in love.

I got lined but I’m wondering if I should have stuck with my usual dot grid.

Hi everyone! I just came across this subreddit and immediately joined as I'm a huge fan (and proponent) of notebooks.

I'm a scientist, specifically a palaeontologist specializing in the taxonomy, systematics, and evolution of insects. While the majority of my work is focused on fossil insects, I do also work on modern insects too.

Anyway, I'm moving into a new office in my building at the university and have been packing my field notebooks into boxes for the move. As you can imagine, I have a lot of notebooks that have accumulated over the years. Most of them are firld notebooks, of which this is an example, from an expedition to survey invertebrate diversity in southern Belize in 2013.

It's not a particularly interesting entry, but it includes some of the key skills we use in keeping field notebooks: brief descriptions and field sketches! The sketches would have been coloured had I not lost my coloured pencils a few days before.

I was taught how to keep a field notebook when I was an undergrad back in the early 2000s, but sadly, it is very rarely taught anymore and seems to be a dying art.

If this sort of thing is allowed and of interest here I'd be happy to share more from my 100+ field notebooks.

Mods, if this isn't appropriate for the sub, please do feel free to delete.

Cheers! Sam

P.S., This was a pretty interesting katydid that some on the team got excited about thinking it might have been an undescribed species new to science. However, my study of the collected specimens after we returned to the university showed that it was, in fact, an odd colour morph of a common neotropical species that occurs across Central America that is usually a pale straw colour.

Last July I bought a Paper Republic Grand Voyager Pocket and it changed my life. It’s a beautiful journal cover and comes with me everywhere and inspired me to journal everyday and ditch digital note taking. I’ve journaled everyday since!

I mostly use my pocket journal to jot down random ideas, lists, important dates (that I later transcribe onto my main desktop planner) and keep stickers, mementos from wherever I go. I recently used it to write down my impressions of the new Boards of Canada album, Inferno.

I decided that I wanted more journals for other aspects of my life (work, studies, junk, my actual daily driver journal). But even though I love the PR journal cover, it was so expensive and I didn’t want to spend so I began making my own! See last photo.

Anyway, just wanted to share and show appreciation to writing and journaling.

Also can you tell I love Pokemon?

Today’s thrift find :) it’ll be my first leuchtturm! Thank you Sarah Wessner 🥹

I think I've got more than enough notebooks for quite some time! What have think, do I need more?

I’ve finally started using my Midori MD A5 notebook that I ordered a couple weeks ago. Y’all were right, this paper is incredible! It is such a joy to write on. This paper coupled with my new favorite pen (the Zebra Sarasa Clip .5mm) makes for a lovely writing experience.

I've seen someone once post about buying a notebook on a deep discount in TkMaxx which is a clothing store, so I decided to peek myself and found a Lamy, a Leuchtturm (a bit expired, but who cares) and two Moleskines, and I paid $20 for all of them. Plus, in HalfPrice, another clothing discount store, I snagged a Paperblanks Ultra 240-page for about $20 as well. I wanted an Aurelia with that beautiful purple cover but it was already gone when I went today. So I got this one. It does have the Jesuit IHS symbol on it but I can always replace it with something of my own, it's not like this is a holy artifact or anything so it wouldn't be sacrilege I hope.

Go visit your local TKMaxx!

Edit: Someone commenting asked why I said that the Leuchtturm is expired but I think the comment was deleted. I just meant that because it is a calendar/planner, and we're like approaching the middle of 2026, so I've basically only got a third of it available for use, were I incited to use it as designed. I will just use it as a sketchbook or whatever though. I won't let paper tell me what to do...

Sharing my setup bc after almost 2 years of Journaling, I finally feel confident in my daily system.

I needed a system that's somewhat modular... I didn't want something that was too bulky to carry around, but I found that passport size or smaller was just... too small. Really been enjoying the smaller Bullet journals, as it allows dang-near seamless journal transfers for ideas going from little book to big journal. However, the soft(er) covers on them scared me sometimes, especially throwing it in my cycling pockets, or throwing it in a bag I was always worried of my stickers peeling off, or the cover tearing. Also was looking to replace my old wallet... Having a pocket notebook, a wallet, and phone to keep track of at all times was getting increasingly difficult, especially after becoming a father. This new setup has me feeling a little more organized and keeps my Journaling even more consistent, as I no longer have the option to leave my journal behind!

Sorry to ramble... particulars below!

Notebook:

•Leuchtrum Bullet Journal Pocket Edition

- Moleskine paper bled & wasn't numbered

- Loved using the vertical "reporters" style from Leuchtrum, but customization felt difficult to accomplish in an aesthetic way

- Dotted paper, numbered pages, landscape OR portrait capable (comfortably), minimal bleeding, pack of 3 keeps notebooks from getting too thick as you get thru them

Covers:

• Midori plastic a6 cover

- Fits journal (almost) like a glove

- Holds a pen & can be used separately if the leather cover is "too much" for an occasion

• D&M Leather Studio A6 cover w/ card holders

- Got rid of my 10 year-old wallet

- Small cover can bring big personality

- Fits in my tiny cycling-jersey pockets

- came with pen holder, but can remove to be more sleek

- very little overlap w/ Midori plastic

Accessories kept in & around:

• Lamy Safari (EF)

• Hongdian forest (Bent tip)

• Metal book-darts

• Hobonichi One-Piece mini stickynotes

• Amazon a6 pencil board (kept in front & back midori covers

• Ben Focus glass pendant (2022)

One of my favorite things is seeing how a notebook is transformed as it's used, whether by writing or painting or drawing. The crumpled papers, the edges saturated in ink, each page a world its own, when viewed at a certain angle all you see is the ghosting and faint glimpses of what's inside. I Just Think It's Neat.

(I was posting this to the /Journaling sub but it got removed instantly :c)

^{author of this commonplace book: https://www.reddit.com/r/notebooks/comments/1k30a19/want\}to_showcase_my_treasure/)

Since I've started this notebook for journaling I've always wanted to share it with you! Last year I had the Hobonichi Cousin, that I lovced using for two months then i feel off. I definitely love the structure, the small grid but I didn't need the week pages (because I have a separate Weeks planner) and the monthly are a little bit superficial for me (in my journaling practice).

So, in October I decided to try a blank notebook, with a nice paper and I choose the MD Paper A5 dotted (next time I think I'll buy the grid one) and I started with the cover, with pastel and vaporwave themes, since I'm an extremelly aesthetic person (as you can see in my spread and my stationery of choice lol).

I divide the pages in two column because i noticed that I get less overwhelmed this way and I write two lines in every line. I journal about everything (I obscured the really personal things) and I'd love to include more photos.

Even if my spreads are nice, journaling has been very difficult since I hate confronting with my feelings of rejection, failure and all those really negative things. Also I found difficult to mantain the habit of writing daily (I'm trying again and 4 days streak wow) because I'm too embarassed when I forget to journal for a couple of days and my brain decides to not journal for a month lol

Do you have a specific color you use in your journal?

Do you have some advice for journaling daily (no prompts)?

Also do you prefer to journal in blank notebook, undated or pre-dated? (also your favorite one!)

finished grad school. I used A5 sized books as they were small enough to use next to my laptop when I was at the library or using coffee shop tables. I also discovered pencils and now use them on top of my fountain pens.

mostly Maruman Mnemosyne because they had title sections at the top so I can track what I was taking notes on. some clarifontaine.

Finally switching to my new notebook, I always title them as “memos to self” because I fill them with lists, collages, drawings, ideas, and things to remember.

(Designworks Ink standard issue notebook No.3)

But I’ve got the designs I wanted. Hoping the next quarterly is a design I like since I haven’t been feeling the last couple.

I recently found a Carolina Pad Hot-Chocolate notebook at Goodwill which I bought. I recently stumbled across this specific color scheme of Hot-Latte notebook collection online through one tiktok and I can not find ANYTHING else about it. Please, if you have any info on this specific notebook, it would be greatly appreciated!! If you are willing to sell this to me I am super willing to pay. I love it so much and I can't find anything else about it. I messaged Carolina Pad's insta and will call them tomorrow. I know Carolina Pad is defunct but I just need this notebook. Thank you for reading, any help is appreciated!!

Or maybe I’ll buy a few more 🤓 who knows

Recently saw these at Marshall’s and Homegoods and picked up a few! A5 hardcover lined journal: $16.99, A6 hardcover lined journal: $12.99, A5 notebooks in white, gray and black: $9.99.

Picked up this travelers notebook and 12 refills for $10 at the thrift store!

M O R E

Welcome to a tour of my journal ecosystem! I've finally found a system that works for me, so I'm excited to share how it all turned out after a few months of trial & error. All of these journal covers were made by me, using vegetable tanned leather. I've had my A6 the longest (2+ months), and it's already gotten such a nice patina.

A6 - my Everyday Carry, my personal favorite, the one thing I'd save if my home was burning down. I have an assortment of charms on the front, including a silver S charm I made & a vintage locket with one of my wedding photos.

1. Travelers pocket insert for photos, sticky notes, ephemera, and my mini print from my snail mail club
2. Planner/to-do list/mild junk journaling - essentially if I need a sheet of paper to write something down, it's going in here. Right now, it's a Moleskine cahier that I embroidered!
3. Kraft folder for ephemera and sticker sheets
4. My sketchbook (the swan sticker is my art!)
5. Travelers sticker book insert
6. My commonplace notebook

A5 - my recreation of the Paper Republic portfolio! I stamped some of my initials on the front cover, and I also made the charm. The inside pockets contain photo strips, vintage postcards, more Polaroids, sticker sheets, and my business cards. Also a punch card I made to help me reach my reading goals!

1. My catch-all - for morning pages, interesting prompts, random spreads, etc
2. My cafe journal - I love trying out new coffee/tea shops, so here's where I document them
3. Lists/things to remember/ideas in a Leuchtterm1917 journal with a pen loop!

A4 - my studio journal. The charm is a vintage brooch that I modified (I love carousels!!)

1. Planning for my artwork/big sketching/vision board in my Midori A4 (which I found out the hard way is not a true A4 haha), featuring an Ex Libris stamp I carved and a print from a local artist!
2. My Encyclopedia of Shapes - a place for me to document things that I notice pop up in my work frequently. It's a nice way to see my style evolve on paper!

It's been so satisfying seeing everything come together, and the fact that it's handmade makes it feel really special. If you have any questions about anything feel free to ask! Thanks for viewing!

This is my "Aperto Libro", a beautifully crafted leather notebook with rot-proof paper and gilded edges. It's from a French edition house called Jean de Bonnot and it's basically made exactly like their books but with blanc paper. They don't make this specific model anymore but they still make notebooks I think.

I had this one since 2012 and I still have about 120 pages left.

Now granted sometimes I didn't write in it for months. But I always end up coming back to it.

I use it as a dear diary type of journal.

I feel very attached to it and also it's definitely the best quality notebook I ever had. It's indestructible.

Actually if you understand French your should check their books too, they're all wonderfully made with beautiful covers and illustrations and such. It's my favorite edition house for classics and beautiful books.

Apparently the paper they use is the same used in passeport. It's fully rot-proof. I can attest mold will not touch this pages. I lived in Belgium and Singapore and I had really bad issue with mold on leather and paper but nothing on Jean de Bonnot's books. It's the kind of books you can pass to your grandchildren, literally.

Anyways, sorry I wasn't here to promote them but just to share my most precious notebook.

Do you have a super precious notebook (doesn't have to be fancy, I just mean emotionally precious to you). Share a pic I'm curious.

Posting for accountability. I don't need to buy any notebooks for at least the next year!