Living la Belle Vie: Pretty Lists and Notes

So I started making a list of all the ways we can live la belle vie (the good life) as I defined it last week. As I filled up page after page, I thought of doing one long epic post but concluded it would be better in small doses because none of this is earth-shattering stuff which is precisely why you could read it all in one go then promptly forget them. So, I think a weekly reminder of how to make each day just a little nicer is how this series will unfold.

As I was making my list, I thought the notebook I was writing in was a great example of taking an ordinary task and making it a little more pleasant so let’s start there.

I write down all my ideas for the blog in this notebook:

Yes, it’s filled with all kinds of brilliance! Ha! Anyway, it’s a plain kraft paper hardcover sketchbook from Ecojot. (I just pasted one of my calling cards on the cover.) These are my favorite because I can personalize them and I love the heavyweight, acid-free paper that I can use thick pens and Sharpies on. They also hold up well to to glue and paste so it’s good for the moodboards I make in them like this one (which I posted before):

I also keep a separate book for daily to do’s/schedule, a travel journal and a personal journal.

I know some people are 100% paperless but I just can’t give up paper. So if you’re like me and you’re always jotting down notes, reminders, to do lists, etc., do yourself a favor and ditch those ugly spiral notebooks and legal pads. Instead, pick up a nice notebook or journal that’s pretty to look at and has paper with a texture you like writing on. Use a great pen too while you’re at it! I like ones that either bleed tons of ink or write super fine.

Writing lists and notes may be a mundane task but doing it in a nice little notebook turns it into something enjoyable. Plus, it’ll look cute on your desk and we all like cute desks, don’t we? So, are you a list keeper? Do you journal? Do you have any favorite supplies?

Thanks again for all the feedback on the new blog design this week. Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!

(The first set of notebooks is from Designers Guild; The last set is from Kate’s Paperie.)

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21 comments

  2. Emily

    Ahhh, lists. I carry around a notebook for my to do lists and creative ideas so I always have somewhere to catch them. It’s not the prettiest notebook, but I have a harder time filling up the pretty ones – I always want to save them for something amazing! Ha!
    Emily’s last post…Balloons and Links for Friday!My Profile

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    • Ally

      Hi, Emily! You actually reminded me of a good point. I used to be like that – saving the pretty books – but we should use them now because if not now, then when? Go for it, make that first mark then it gets easier. :)

      Reply
  4. huma

    hey! plain kraft is my absolute favourite thing in the world in for paper stuff. all our wedding thank you cards had kraft envelopes, and the invites sealed with kraft tags etc. kraft – so understated, yet so perfect! x

    Reply
  6. Heather in Arles

    What a great post Ally–yep it is totally big and small things that make up living well. Journaling saved my butt during my 20s and 30s but I have let it go in recent years. Nicely, this post arrived at a moment when I was thinking of taking it up again!

    I don’t want to be a bother but I can’t stop looking at the photo in the lower left hand corner of your mood board. If you have a sec and remember the reference that would be great! If not, no worries.

    Either way, wishing you an excellent weekend!
    Heather in Arles’s last post…Art and antiquitiesMy Profile

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  8. Ice Beautiful

    I always had few journals: for sketches of sculptures, installations, interior design ideas, furniture, dress and object design, recipes from the newspapers, fashion photos, even some essays. One think is trues – thanks Ally to reminding that to me – it is important to have everything beautiful around. Journals too. I realty love the subtle simplicity of your journal from Ecojot, especially the way you personalized it!
    Ice Beautiful’s last post…In Another Time And SpaceMy Profile

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  9. katiya (@freshncurly)

    You are a person after my heart! I heart paper, notebooks and lists! I carry so many small journals with me that I need a journal to list all my journals. The “hot” one for me recently is Pantone’s Tangerine Tango (2012 Color of the Year). Love lists and anything I can make a list on. Thanks for sharing the great Kate’s Paperie journals! Might need to add those to the collection…

    Reply
  10. Sweet Freak

    I’m with you… I could never go paperless. I love notebooks (great choices from both Designer’s Guild & Kate’s Paperie). I got myself a couple beauties at Liberty a few months ago, and they’re sadly already filled now. I guess I just need to hop back over to London!

    Reply
  11. Meg Mitchell

    I was so inspired by this post that I went out and bought a nice notebook in which to write my blog ideas. I will be carrying it with me everywhere. One never knows when inspiration will hit.
    Meg

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