Published in The Daily Cuppa

·8 hours ago

Why Do a No-Spend Month?

No-Buy July is Here — There are a lot of different reasons to consider a month of no new purchases. A reset on spending patterns, an opportunity to use what we have, or just saving money are popular reasons. No-Buy July can be instrumental in accomplishing all of the above. The areas of no-buy are self-selected and can be as many or as few as desired. I have decided to cut back in the areas of books and journaling supplies. These are areas I struggle most with. I’m looking forward to using my stash of supplies each day, grateful for the ability to learn new techniques. The pause is also helpful in informing future purchases. It’s a time to learn what supplies are most enjoyed and used.

Minimalism

1 min read

Why Do a No-Spend Month?

No-Buy July is Here

There are a lot of different reasons to consider a month of no new purchases. A reset on spending patterns, an opportunity to use what we have, or just saving money are popular reasons.

No-Buy July can be instrumental in accomplishing all of the above. The areas of no-buy are self-selected and can be as many or as few as desired.

I have decided to cut back in the areas of books and journaling supplies. These are areas I struggle most with. I’m looking forward to using my stash of supplies each day, grateful for the ability to learn new techniques. The pause is also helpful in informing future purchases. It’s a time to learn what supplies are most enjoyed and used.

Published in The Daily Cuppa

·8 hours ago

I Enjoy Destroying Books

Journaling in July — Junk Journal July is a biannual challenge on Instagram created by Megjournals. Each day has a prompt. The challenge is to use your stash of crafting supplies as well as things you find in everyday life to complete a journal page. Some supplies can include: gift bags, receipts, paper coasters…

Journaling

1 min read

I Enjoy Destroying Books

Journaling in July

Junk Journal July is a biannual challenge on Instagram created by Megjournals. Each day has a prompt. The challenge is to use your stash of crafting supplies as well as things you find in everyday life to complete a journal page. Some supplies can include: gift bags, receipts, paper coasters…

Published in The Daily Cuppa

·Jun 23

Four Types of Notebooks to Try This Summer

I use these daily — I’ve changed my line-up a lot in the last year. I stopped using the bullet journal and began using a bigger variety. Fauxbonichi: It’s known for being a combination of layout and text. The goal is create a page or spread per day, based on everyday life. My creative journal: collages and art journaling. It’s no pressure and perfect for experimenting. My free-write notebook: It’s my cleanser. Set a timer and whatever comes to mind goes in that journal.

Journaling

1 min read

Four Types of Notebooks to Try This Summer

I use these daily

I’ve changed my line-up a lot in the last year. I stopped using the bullet journal and began using a bigger variety.

Fauxbonichi: It’s known for being a combination of layout and text. The goal is create a page or spread per day, based on everyday life.
My creative journal: collages and art journaling. It’s no pressure and perfect for experimenting.
My free-write notebook: It’s my cleanser. Set a timer and whatever comes to mind goes in that journal.
My book journal: It keeps track of what I’ve read, and my thoughts. Some months offer a 5-bullet point review of each book.

Journaling is a unique experience, customizable for the user. There are many formats, whether you want to write pages of text or draw out your emotions.

Published in Rachellareads

·Jun 21

Reading Weekly Log

June 12th-June 19th, 2022 This week I read for two readathons: Marvelathon and Whatever-a-thon II. I have been focusing a lot on books with murder this week as it’s a key theme for the Black Widow team. I finished six books this week (mostly audio). The Murder of Graham Catton by Katie Lowe- 4/5 I previously alluded to this…

Books

5 min read

Published in Rachellareads

·Jun 15

Last, Present and Next Reads

Following the WWW Wednesday format — June has been a busy month reading wise. I’ve been meaning to get back into writing about books and starting with the WWW Wednesday format seemed perfect. It asks what you just finished reading, what you are currently reading and what you want to read next. Most Recently Read: The Murder of Graham Catton by Katie Lowe I received this thriller…

Reading

3 min read

Published in The Daily Cuppa

·Jun 15

Thankful for Dark, Stormy Nights

and their calm — “It’s going to rain tonight” my husband warns, handing me the kimono I’d left outside. Sudden glee hits me. Lately, I’ve been turning nocturnal again. My body has slowly been conditioned to be productive for any time window. It’s adapted to being awake at 3 am to open Taco Bell for 5 am breakfast. It’s lived through closing two stores, a work schedule of 2 pm-3 am. Now, I’m letting it return to its desired settings. It craves the night.

Gratitude

1 min read

Thankful for Dark, Stormy Nights

and their calm

“It’s going to rain tonight” my husband warns, handing me the kimono I’d left outside. Sudden glee hits me.

Lately, I’ve been turning nocturnal again. My body has slowly been conditioned to be productive for any time window. It’s adapted to being awake at 3 am to open Taco Bell for 5 am breakfast. It’s lived through closing two stores, a work schedule of 2 pm-3 am. Now, I’m letting it return to its desired settings. It craves the night.

Stormy nights are perfect.

The thunder provides a soundtrack to the horror or thriller I’m reading. It’s atmospheric and more enjoyable background noise than silence.

The lightning provides sudden beauty out of darkness. Interrupting the nothingness.

Before the storm is a perfect time outdoors — nice and cool, in comparison to hot days. It’s good for reflection.

Jan 10

Post-Truth

The feelings aren’t always worth it — The advice is what got me at the end: Live a life worth writing novels about. Whirlwind romances, giving everything the old college try. Living both wild and free. You were the story that I wish I didn’t have to tell- though I didn’t know it. The attraction was instant…

Poetry

2 min read

Published in Rachellareads

·Jan 8

Weekly Reading Log #1

January 1st-7th — It’s hard to believe that the first week of the new year is over! From the pressure of which book will be the first to finishing four books, this week was chock full of enjoyment. The first book of the year. I’ve always felt a little bit of pressure around…

Books

5 min read

Published in The Brain is a Noodle

·Jan 7

Dear Mr. Historian,

I need the answer to this question. — At first, I thought it was sweet, reliving the past, every detail of things like how we met at a job I started because I needed a paycheck- had a week to secure work. Running on emergency funds. Then it was every detail of the sports games, not just hometown…

Poetry

1 min read

Published in Six Word Photo Story Challenge

·Jan 7

A Lifelong Affair

January Six Word Photo Photo Story Challenge: “Self” — Bliss is…. traveling through bookish worlds. I’ve been a life-long reader. Starting when I was five and used to curl up in a large brown chair in the living room of my childhood home. That love continued on through college, where I studied literature. I still enjoy reading a wide variety of books, with favorites being…

Monthly Challenge

1 min read