a journal (a post in moving pictures)
Today, I spent some time working in my "Smash" journal, and I began to get so excited about it that I decided to create a little video explaining how I am using it to hold myself accountable this year when it comes to living from wholeness, my intentions for my blog, practicing self-care, and making my big dreams a reality.
In the video I mention:
The Smash journal and all the fun accessories you can buy like the tabs and pockets
My habit of buying these Moleskine journals (I love them and still use them for various things but not for my idea journal. I think they simply blend into my home too much because they are so skinny. But they are perfect for one project or taking notes. And here is the truth: I could turn any of my journals into something similar to how I am using the Smash book BUT I don't have time, and waiting for that time was stopping me from putting pen to paper.)
Jen Lee's way of journaling (I couldn't find a post on her blog about it [I will ask her if she has one], but I did remember this story from Karen Walrond about her conversation with Jen about journaling)
My business coach Nona Jordan
My post on Roots of She about how this year might unfold if I leaned into wholeness, my post about nourishing myself and family through cooking more, and my post about showing up as me and telling more stories here on my blog
Oh and I am totally wearing the simple "Pigtails" necklace. How she makes me smile! I am working on telling the story of how the one word . one girl collaboration with Kelly was born and will be sharing soon.
I would love to hear about the way you journal. Do you have one notebook? Do you keep track of your ideas in one place? Do you "hold yourself accountable" when it comes to your dreams?
PS While browsing the Smash website tonight, I discovered that they have a YouTube channel with short videos with a glimpse inside each of the various journals (because they all have different papers/graphics).
journaling, smash journal, whole(ness) in in moving pictures
Reader Comments (19)
I, too, have a million journals and bits of notebooks here and there.......have to back away! ;-) I have JUST started using my own sticky note calendar/organizational system- -ALLOWing (2012 word) myself to use what works - -I <3 sticky notes so I thought "use 'em! make it work for you"......plus, if a task does not get completed today, pull up the sticky and put it on tomorrow! Saves time with re-writing a to-do list! Happy Sticky Noting! xoxo
Liz, i know it's 'that time of year again' but I think it's utter synchronicity I ran across you today. I am a developing 'blogger' (terrible word, that!) and today, i did a 'photo-journal' entry. And here I am, seeing a video journal entry about your smash journal. Very funny world. I think I was meant to drop by, say hello, and have it re-affirmed. I am in company with a lot of moms like me. I just have to care enough to find them :-)
Thanks for the smile on my face - i hope your year is starting off grand, and I look forward to more great posts.
Shari
oh my gosh you make my heart melt! i love to buy journals, sketch books with blank white pages and then i am so afraid to use them. i am so afraid that i will write something or draw something that i will not like and then its there. so i have a ton that just sit waiting to be used. i find it hard to get into the pratice of wrting or creating everyday or even every week. you inspire me to create a pratice! ( its just getting started!) i cant wait for the be present retreat!
oh my gosh you make my heart melt! i love to buy journals, sketch books with blank white pages and then i am so afraid to use them. i am so afraid that i will write something or draw something that i will not like and then its there. so i have a ton that just sit waiting to be used. i find it hard to get into the pratice of wrting or creating everyday or even every week. you inspire me to create a pratice! ( its just getting started!) i cant wait for the be present retreat!
oh how I loved watching this video. Whatever silly things you're notorious for, (buying journals, etc) I also know you're notorious for being pretty darn incredible...in every sense of the word. thanks for helping to make me a better me and for just being you.
And I thought I was the only one who has sooooo many journals with lovely blank pages! I have so many I just can't decide which one to use, or if I use one then I think what I wrote was stupid and now I've ruined the book! Accccck! But I especially love this video because I bought (at the urging of my sweet little sister) a small Smashbook journal when I was visiting her in October. Well, I found it a few days ago, with all the cute little accessories I bought, and wondered why the heck I bought it! What AM I going to do with it! Now, watching you, I think I know! What fabulous ideas, Liz! My head's just spinning ... so much so that I'm going to start a list! Woo hoo! Thank you, dear Liz, for being you! (And I wear my "I'm Enough" locket so much and it really does help)
Hi Liz.
Shit, girl ... I've been hearing your name and your ideas from other people, like Jamie Ridler, for like years, but never visited.
Then, Jessie Marianello FB'ed that she watched this video instead of going to bed. Jessie and I have been blogging friends since 2006 ... off and on.
So I came and watched.
And YIPEE SkiPEE -- the Scratch Journal with the pen on one side and glue stick on the other!!! That's what I needed today, after packing for a little vacation and trying to find a little bag for all the accessories I bring with my journal. Hahaha!!
Loved your video.
Happy to be here and see/hear you.
Hugs,
Moe
Love your excitement, Liz ! I can't tell you how many beautiful journals I've bought with good intentions of "writing" but have now become sketch & color books for my girl. -sigh-
Since last year, I've kept 2 little notebooks, one for my purse & one in the kitchen - where I write anything & everything. That seems to work best for me.
But I come away from watching this video wanting to write, plan, play & dream with my journals. Maybe not so organized but still with a little more structure. Maybe tabs.. with extra doses of dreaming. Thats about all I could take on for the moment.
Girlie - I love your happy face! xo
Laughing here because I too am a journal junkie. I have a stack of them, I make them and then I have the Molskein shopping too. I like the red ones!
What I like about making the RODs (which we were discussing) is that I save all kinds of odds and ends and this is the perfect way for me to use them all and make something that amuses me. I cut things out of magazines, save postage on mail I get, save scarps of pretty papers from art projects, that sort of thing. I also get to use "the good stuff" that I am saving.
The first journal I made, I started to write in and then I stopped when I realized that for me, I like just looking at the pages as they are. I also don't handwrite anymore because I don't have any feeling in my hands and it's hard for me. I am thinking about journalling in a Publisher document and then printing them out and making a finished journal from them. It would be cool to document my blog for a year this way....
Liz, YOU always bring a smile to my face. I love love love your video's. Your voice is so calming and I just like that you are real. Keep up the postings...
This post is just FANTASTIC!! I too have many many empty journals......or ones that have a few pages filled in.....and also have pages ripped out because I wrote something that I didn't want in there permanently. These words were speaking to me today......I just love your ideas and I'm going to see how some of them can work for me too! This video really made me smile!!
You, my dear, are delightful. xo
I've kept journals for years and they are blank books of various sizes and kinds—spiral bound, bound, rectangle, square, plain, with pictures, with quotes. I love buying blank books and have a store of them. Right now I'm using a square one with handmade paper cover. When I finished my last journal, I poked through my box of blank books, selected this one and thought—too fancy and put it back and then wondered what I'm saving it for. In the front of my journal, I write the start date and where I am (usually where I"m living) when I start it. In those, I write about my day, what's worrying me, what my kids are up to . . . Sometimes, the back of my journal becomes the catchall of phone messages, to do lists, etc., but mostly it's just thoughts, feelings, ideas. I also have one of those black and white composition notesbooks that has been my writing book lately. That's where I freewrite, list, and work on other ideas.
I love reading through my old journals, seeing patterns, watching changes starting to take place . . .
Liz......every year I treat myself and make a new journal just for me that holds lots of gorgeous lined and unlined pages (in case I need to draw out an idea) and 2 or 3 pockets to house the year's miscellany. Gotta tell you....I sooooo love the sticky note idea. Brilliant! Sometimes I don't want to include some words/lists/ideas, and because i like paper too darn much, i must find that little sticky note bunch you showed in this video. I know I'll have to go over this video once more because there's an idea for a section that I must include in my new journal but can't remember it right now...actually a couple of new ideas I HAVE to include (should've taken notes darn it!).
Btw...every time i watch a video of yours i'm reminded to breathe, to slow down.....your voice is so soft and flowing at the beginning of every video it's like you bring me right back into that space you took us into at YS in June last year and i am aware and present to receive your msg. Thank you. Namaste.
p.s. now the bathroom mirror can go back to being a reflection source...but i love the idea of using it too...hee hee.
thank you for this - for the excitement and for being able to hear your voice and seeing your beautiful face. I was sitting her making a list while listening to you ...getting excited for 2012 even more. i want to check out these journals :)
xoxo
hi liz, busy week-- just catching up on your blog posts. ellie jane is adorable! i'm popping some cookie dough in the oven right now. i've been keeping a journal since high school. it's the best gift my hs english teacher gave me. i've had many types of journals over the years. i have two going right now-- one i leave at home & one i carry with me (mostly for when i'm at work) at one time i was very regemented with my journal format-- now i'm more free flowing. it's my journal-- there's no right or wrong. sometimes i go a few days w/o writing & others i write 2-3 times a day-- again, no rules. my biggest obstacle is not always being able to write my thoughts as they are flowing in my head-- like i can't get my true meaning across. any suggestions? i'm going to check out the smash journals-- love the name! hope all is well :) xo alane
Thanks for this Liz, I had a case of the lonelys tonight and hearing your voice warmed me up.
Thank you for this inspiring post. I have been needing inspiration and accountability in my life. Great ideas!
This post is great!! I have a Smash book and have been stuck...THIS is what I am gonna do with mine, too. Thank you for this amazing video. So happy I found your blog. I am teaching a FREE class and one of my girls posted this in pur FB group:)
Have a happy day!! I will be back:)
Leslie