(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best notebooks & writing pads

This was so much fun! Thanks for posting :)

1 [Something Blue](Playshoes 408566 Girl's Rain Coat Blue 5-6 Years https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001PDN1O8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-CR5AbJ14TEGH). In Scotland April Showers don’t just finish in April! At all points of the year we can expect anything from a light drizzle to torrential rain!

2 Something that says summer. Watermelons totally make me think of summer, and sippy cups are perfect to keep bugs out of your drinks in the summer!

3 food related. A carrot sharpener! I saw these in a local store and couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of someone wanting a really sharp carrot.

4 a gift for someone else. My fiancé is obsessed with this album and I recently bought him a record player so I think he would love having it in this format too!

5 book suggestion. So I don’t know what types of books you are into but this is a YA Fantasy. It follows three sisters who were each born with a power. Now that they are of age, they must use their powers to kill their other sisters and become queen! It’s pretty kick ass :)

6 under $1. Okay so I’m from Scotland and I don’t know if this actually works out to be less than $1 but it is less than £1 so I hope that counts!! And they are really cute :)

7 Doggo related. My spaniel loves things like this! And I think it would work for any dog :)

8 useless but awesome. I’d love for my cats to wear this around Christmas!! Although they’d probably break it within a second haha.

9great movie The LOTRs! Great friendships, a lot of laughs and just a fab story. My all time favourite films!

10Zombie attack. I’m going to be the type of person who hides during the apocalypse and hope for the best! So I think if I find somewhere with some water nearby I could kinda camp out for a while!

11 complete goals. My main goal right now is to be more organised, and to do more creative things. I want to have fun and do more hobbies. So I think a diary where I can be creative and plan all my spare time would be great!

12 add on. WHY ARE PENS ALWAYS ADD ONS????!!!!

13 fandom. This would match my Alice tattoo! And who doesn’t need a purse :)

14 super expensive Jesus!! Who knew you could buy such expensive rings on amazon??

15 sharks or unicorns. Shark cat bed! I can only imagine how my two would react this this haha!

16 wonderful smell. I love this candle! Probably my favourite smell ever!

17 cool toy. I couldn’t find the game I always wanted as a kid, mostly because I couldn’t really remember what it was called! Although here is a Jared Funko pop that I’ve been eyeing up for months!

18 helpful for writers. I thought this was kinda cool. It gives tips on how to get out of writers block as well as mix up characters!

19 current obsession. Musicals are my currently my favourite obsession (see what I did their RHPS fans?)!

20 weird!. I’m just really not sure why these would ever be needed but at the same time I really want a pair haha!

So I started a year ago (feb 2018) and I found that I was so bad at keeping at it for the first 3 months. I had to remind myself to write my tasks and stuff but eventually I got the hang of it and started enjoying writing everything in my bullet journal.

I’m on my second bujo (bullet journal) now and love it so much. I track my mood every day like this. I do weekly plans with different themes.

Some tips I have to get started is to view other examples online of bujo weekly spreads. Instagram’s #bujo and #bulletjournal is really helpful!!! To keep consistent, I just say that takes time.

For tools, I recommend you use a bullet journal that has good paper. Thicker paper is ideal so your pen or markers don’t bleed through. The Leuchtterm 1917 Dotted is a popular bullet journal and it is amazing. This Minimalism Journal is also a really inexpensive and good option. The only bad thing is that it’s a little skinnier/less wide than the leuchtterm. The paper is still great. It was my first bullet journal. I think Michaels also has a journal that is the least expensive. The one I’m using now is from Michaels—it’s a Canvas Art dotted journal (i got it as a gift, but I also have a leuchtterm for next year :)

As for pens and markers, if you’re very interested in lettering and stuff, I can give you suggestions for that. For basics, any waterproof pen is good. Sharpie pens (the no bleed ones) are waterproof and good. This is good because you can highlight them or color over them and they don’t bleed at all. Staedler’s color fine tip pens are also good but they tend to bleed/blend when colored over. Zebra Mildliners are good pastel highlighters that can double as markers too. Those are great.

Overall, you could use crayola’s basic markers and any waterproof pen/pens you have. You don’t need anything super fancy! I also recommend washi tape from michael’s. They have a 3-for-$1 deal with assorted washi tapes (don’t get the expensive packs!!!) and can be found near the front / wherever the dollar/cheap goods section is.

Whoo! That was a lot. I hope I didn’t scare you off >.<

Tell me what you do to make the world a better place. Saying that you don't is not acceptable. We all change the world with every single interaction, and if you are here, I know you've changed someone's world for the better at least a little.

• I am nice to every single person i interact with, and go out of my way to do for others. I never spend money on myself (when i do have it) I am always willing to offer my friends and loved ones advice when needed and truly believe you can definitely change someones day and outlook on life with just one smile or kindness shown. I just wish people were better towards each other. I think a lot of people lack compassion
  
  Tell me someone or something that changes your world for the better.
  
  
• As cheesy as this will sound, my boyfriend has changed my life and continues to do so. Through him and his love for me i have been able to see a different country and culture from my own and have also learned to love myself because of him loving me, which is something i have always struggled with. He fills my entire world with love, acceptance, friendship and hope
  
  Tell me a dream/fantasy/goal you have that you work toward.
  
  
• I dream of a day when I will be able to work for myself, doing commissions of art for people in every medium imaginable. I love to create and it is the only career choice that makes my spirit thrive. I am taking the steps to do so and hope to establish myself here in my hometown and then branch out nationally in the coming years
  
  While this contest is going on, I will clean, organize, and then the people who are annoying me will come back to my house. Tell me that I have the strength and grace to be excellent to them.
  
  
• Be the bigger person, do not let something as small as anger control your being. Take a deep breath and just clear your mind of all negativity; let it radiate out of your being and know that it will not cause anymore turmoil within yourself or outside of you, because YOU control it. Also, don't let the actions of others affect you, take it in stride and if they do not wish to comply, don't force it, let it be.
  
  Please link me to something you'd like. My total contest budget is $16. I don't say that I will not go over. I don't say that it's $16 to one person. I don't say that it's not. If there are 10 entries I absolutely love, and I can buy something that two people really, really want, that's great. If not, well, $16 doesn't go all that far, ya know! edited to add: I have priiiiiiimmmmeeeee
  
  (I've provided several different options, as I can't narrow it down to one lol. All are under $16 and have prime eligibility)
  
  
• Sketchbook
  
  
• Watercolour Set
  
  
• Watercolour Sketchbook
  
  
• Pocket standard sketchbook

Starting from the upper right hand corner and working my way around in clockwise direction.

Pens – 3 Disposable Bic pens – When it comes to pens I leave them everywhere. I leave them in class, the lab, the machine shop, etc. Because of this I buy them in bulk and then just carry a bunch of disposable pens with me. They are cheap so if I lose one or someone asks to borrow one I don’t worry about getting them back. I like these pens because I find they are comfortable to write with, wont break from me carrying them around or treating them like shit, and have a pen cap to prevent them from making a mess in my pocket. Why no pencils?  I haven’t found a mechanical pencil that is both cheap and will survive in my pocket. If you know of one that fits those two requirements let me know in the comments!

Highlighter – Used for marking up academic papers I am reading. I’ll usually carry one or two with me but I keep several different colors at home for heavy markup. The colors I like carrying on me are odd colors, not yellow, like green and pink because they let my markups stand out from other peoples markups.

Sharpie – Used for marking up things that pens and highlighters can’t like metal, ceramics, and sleeping lab mates.

USB Drive – I don’t use it all that often thanks to free services like Google Drive and Dropbox but  everyone in a while when you don’t have access to other options these can really save you. For example like when you need to print out a final report that’s due in 15 minutes and the internet is down. (That example definitely hasn’t happened to me)

Letherman Skeletool – The Skeletool is a good all around multi-tool. It has a knife, pliers, wire cutters,/strippers, screwdriver (both flat an Philips), and a bottle opener.  It’s slim so its easy to carry without giving up a lot of functionality.

Timex Weekender Chrono – Useful for telling time if durring both meetings and tests when you cant check your phone. Taking a peek at your watch durring a meeting is unnoticeable unlike when you check your phone which can be considered rude.

TI-84 – The second most useful tool in my entire engineering education after a pen. I’ll often use the calculator instead of Matlab or Wolfram Alpha for doing homework that require simple computations just because I’m so familiar with it that I can operate it extremely quickly just from muscle memory.

Planner –  It’s useful for writing down assignment due dates and meetings. Everyone has a different way of organizing events/work an I find havving a written copy helps me visualize where everything is.

Muji Recycle Paper Bind Notebook – Useful for taking notes in meetings and they can fit in my back pocket

Allett Slim Bifold Wallet – It’s an ultra thin bifold wallet that I love. It’s so thin I never even notice it in my pocket. I can sit on it all day without being uncomfortable. My last one became worn out after two years and I bought another one immediately. I highly recommend them!

Keys –  For opening doors/stuff. Note: I just grabbed some unused keys for this pic and put them on a carabiner.

Google  Pixel – It’s taking the photo. Lately its mostly been used for snap chat

$0-$5: Avengers Temporary Tattoos Temporary Tattoos of the Avengers, I mean...WHY NOT, THEY'RE AWESOME. make a sleeve out of them, that's what I'd do!

$5-$10: BLK Beverages: Fulvic Acid Enriched Water I have never tried this, but I have heard from many people that it taste like regular water, but black. I see it more as a novelty, but it could be interesting!

$10-$20: Moleskine Watercolor Notebook Moleskines are the best sketchbooks i ever used. I used to be cheap and get the lesser quality one because i though "Can't be THAT much of a difference". But it is worth every penny more than the cheaper ones. Especially the watercolor series, which can still be used to take notes and sketch, but with the added bonus of being able to apply beautiful watercolor to them!

$20-$50: Mussini Crema Balsamic Vinegar of Modena I'm not a very big fan of balsamic vinegar. In fact I didn't like it, but when I went to Italy I had the opportunity to try this and it was amazing. It was thick and sweet. The guy we were tasting it from said he loves to put some on his desserts. This is one of the things I miss from Italy, and you guys should try it as well!

Engineering paper is like graph paper, but the graph is only printed on the back of the paper (and it's printed very dark on the back). This means that you can see the graph from the front of the paper, but it's very faint and isn't distracting like graph paper normally is when you write on it. The top of it is also usually divided into 3 sections for your header, which is nice for including the date, the subject, and the page number for notes. The downsides are that it can be a bit more expensive (depending on what brand you get) and it really can only be used on one side for the most part (because the graph is printed very dark on the back).

I personally prefer the Roaring Springs pads in "buff" color (not a gross green-yellow, but a more aesthetically pleasing brown-yellow) because it's some nice quality paper with good weight to it and the pads are solid. You can buy it on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Roaring-Spring-Engineering-Enclosed-95182/dp/B001TJ5JZM), but I instead bought a full case of 24 pads for ~$120 ($5 per pad) in the middle of my freshmen year when I found the kind of paper I liked best. I've gone through about 2-3 pads a semester up to this point, which isn't terrible in terms of cost (pirate/don't buy one textbook and you come out a long ways ahead) and I get to write on nice paper.

There are also some classes that mandate you to use engineering paper, not so much in EE, but I've seen some mech e classes where the professor requires all assignments to be handed in on it. I'm guessing it mostly is for assignments with drawings and such included, since the graph background on the paper would make the drawings neater to look at. It's also pretty great for math notes/assignments, since it makes graphs easy without the super thick lines of most graph papers.

Well, heres some tools I like to use and/or think might be a good choice for someone:

For sketching and whatnot this
pencil set is good.

Also Erasers and Blenders are useful

Charcoal pencils are cool too, but maybe not the best starting point. heres a link anyway

Oh, and drawing paper

I realize all this is getting expensive so maybe its best to get her this drawing set. The quality isn't as high in these complete sets, but it does gives her a wide variety of tools to experiment with. (including coloring pencils) The paper sucks in this set, so I would still probably get that separately.

The same folks also make a beginners set of acrylic here. Which seems pretty cool. Again though, it would probably be a good idea to get more paper. I've used this acrylic paper and it seems to be pretty good.


Also, If you want, it might be better to go for watercolor over acrylic.
If so, here is some decent stuff:

Paint or Cheaper Paint

Brushes

Paper

Well, that's all that springs to mind. Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to answer.

Try carrying a notebook everywhere. Make it one that you can truly carry everywhere.

I carry this but these are even smaller. Both are soft so they fit in pockets. If there is any doubt as to whether it will fit you might even get the tiny one as an adjunct to your main one... just make sure you extract everything regularly (tear-out pages on the tiny one help).

Things like GTD and Bullet Journal methodologies help index and extract your notes. Make sure you keep up with the process and don't spend energy on keeping it perfect.

Now you might try making notes on your impressions/opinions of the movie or song, or thoughts inspired by it. You can refer to it (if it's recent enough) when it comes up in conversation. Friends might find it a little funny but they won't doubt you saw it any more, and there are worse things than being the creative one in the group who's "always writing and thinking". Who knows, maybe you build on some of your thoughts, maybe post them somewhere, maybe you have a new creative outlet.

The most important thing you can do is to set yourself up an environment conducive to working, where the chance of becoming distracted is as low as possible. Make it comfortable and enjoyable so that entering that environment doesn't feel punishing. Bring yourself some drinks and snacks so that you don't end up with excuses to get up and wander around, and good headphones for listening to motivating music (and drowning out environmental distractions). Wear comfortable clothes. Make sure to have plenty of pens or pencils (with plenty of lead and erasers) and a good notebook for scratchwork (even we professionals tend to work a lot of stuff out on paper). Finally, and probably most importantly, go in with some kind of plan so you don't just end up dicking around on reddit.

Sidenote: As a software engineer, I highly recommend:

• the Five Star Flex binder
  
  • the covers are durable, somewhat flexible plastic
    
  • the edge is bound with some tough synthetic cloth like nylon
    
  • the rings are durable, flexible rubber that won't eat your hand
    
  • it's the best goddamn binder I've ever had
    
  • I recommend adding a stiff cardboard insert to allow you to write when you don't have a suitable writing surface, since this thing is not especially rigid.
    
• decent-quality reinforced notebook paper
  
  • holes are reinforced for tear-resistance
    
• and (optionally, but very useful) an engineer's computation pad
  
  • front writing/drawing area is blank
    
  • back side is graph-ruled and is faintly visible on the front when writing
    
  • this lets you draw or write on the front of the page, using the faint ruled lines as visual guides, while keeping your notes and drawings nice and legible. Very very handy for drawing legible algorithm and data structure visualizations
    
  • also great for math classes
    
  • if you get the computation pad, I'd also recommend a thin, durable straight edge and a shape-drawing tool (has drawing guides for various-sized circles, rectangles, squares, and triangles) to keep your lines and shapes nice and neat. Not especially necessary, but shitty hand-drawn shapes are one of my personal pet peeves in my notes.

This is a fantastic idea! You are such a thoughtful friend. Here's a list of cheap items that I would include:
• Nice pens. I am extremely partial to Uni-Ball Jetstreams
• A set of colored markers for studying and making diagrams
• Small Moleskine notebooks that easily fit into pockets for taking notes on rounds
• Ibuprofen for headaches that happen during residency. Again something small she can carry in her purse. I would suggest 200mg and maybe in a 20 count container. She can refill it as needed with her home ibuprofen. DayQuil or NyQuil are also good.
• Hot Chocolate and Hot Tea - something she can just mix with hot water and drink
• Quick snacks for when you're too busy to eat. I like Clif Bars since they're quick and filling. Special K bars and Luna Bars are also good.
• A candle to light while studying during residency can help set the mood to get work done. Or maybe that's just for me.

Hope this gives you some ideas!!

You've gotten excellent advice on inks, and some on notebooks. You mentioned being overwhelmed by the choices, but wanting a sturdy notebook that can handle fountain pen ink. There are a few choices mentioned in here, but perhaps I can help summarize this. Key thing you will want is a high gsm (Grams per Square Meter), since a high gsm means thicker paper.

• Red and Black: 96 sheets, standard ruling, 90gsm, casebound, hardcover. Personally, no experience with this, but I've heard there's no bleed through with fountain pens.
  
  
• Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal: 240 sheets, ruling is 7mm, 52 gsm Tomoe River paper, thread-bound for binding, cover is impregnated cloth (but you can buy a leather cover). Also no experience with this either.
  
  
• Leuchtturm1917 Medium Size Hardcover A5 Notebook: 125 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 70 gsm, thread-bound, hardcover with some sort of leather covering. I've been using these since 2013, and in my first notebook, my handwriting hasn't changed from the day I had written in it with Diamine Ancient Copper. You would still want sturdier ink than what I had used. The paper is cream colored, and smooth. Bleed through is rare.
  
  
• Rhodia Webnotebook A5: 80 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 90 gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. I've always enjoyed Rhodia paper, and while I haven't used this particular product, the paper is much smoother than the Leuchtturm1917, and there's less ghosting. The paper also appears whiter to me than the Leuchtturm1917.
  
  
• Rhodia Goalbook A5: 112 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 90gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. Throwing this in the options list, since you get a few more sheets. Also wanted to point out that the cover appears to be flexible.
  
  
• Scribbles That Matter, Pro: 100 sheets approx, ruling is dot grid, 100gsm, thread bound, vegan leather hard cover. The sheets are smooth, and a bit brighter than the Leuchtturm1917, but a bit more ivory than the Rhodia. Great paper, and the cover feels more durable and pleasant than the L1917. With fountain pens, I have yet to bleed through this paper, and the ghosting (seeing what is written on the other side of the sheet) is very minimal. If I push you towards any notebook, it'll be this one. It also comes with a penloop that is not useless, unlike the L1917.
  
  
• Lemome Thick Classic Notebook with Pen Loop A5: 90 sheets, ruling is either dot grid or lined, 90 sheets, 125 gsm, thread bound, leatherette cover. Just got this the other day, and the pages are thick and smooth so far. No bleed through or ghosting with fountain pen ink yet.
  
  
• Lemome Hardcover A5 with Pen Holder: 92 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 100g, thread bound, leather hardcover. Just an option to put in here, it has a pen loop, and the paper seems to be slightly less thick than the prior Lemome notebook.
  
  Wishing you and your daughter the best during these hard times.

Hi! I've been wanting to get a decent fountain pen for a while but I always get kind of scared away by all the different things (how to pick a nib, a pen, what kind of refill strategy to use, etc). I'm hoping someone can recommend me everything I need.

Here's everything I can think to mention to help:

• I really do not like plastic. I would like a pen that reduces my plastic usage as much as possible. I do not know if there are refill options that avoid plastic, but this is actually a huge motivation for switching to fountain pens.
  
  
• I'm just going to be using normal paper. I use Moleskine journals for personal stuff, and write class notes in the B5 notebooks from Muji.
  
  
• I've only used black Pilot Precise V5 pens for about 15 years? And I would appreciate something similar to this, specifically in the way it writes on paper. I imagine that means a fine or extra fine nib?
  
  
• I am not terribly concerned with having access to a thousand kinds of inks, but writing in more than blue or black might be interesting. I don't mind buying extra equipment to avoid plastic or to be cheaper in the long term.
  
  
• I write very quickly and I want to continue to be able to write very quickly. So, an ink that dries quickly would be nice.
  
  
• I don't want to spend a crazy amount on my first pen, but I also recognize I am probably asking for more than what a $20 pen can get me.
  
  Thanks to anyone that can help me out!

I've tried several cheap Traveler's Journals like the one you posted and none of them worked well with fountain pens. That's not to say that none of them will ever work with fountain pens, I'm just done looking for cheap ones. The Midori Traveler's Notebook, outside what you want to pay, has been perfect.

You could try a cheap cover but pay more for nice paper inserts or make your own. HP Premium Choice Laser Paper 32 pound works very well with fountain pens and is cheap, something you can use to make your own inserts.

I have a few ZLYC Traveler's Notebooks, but there were three problems with it that I didn't like. The paper wasn't very fountain pen friendly, the leather was a little flimsy, and the orange stretchy cords used to hold it together were too thick preventing the inserts from laying down nicely to write on. Replace the elastic and you have a decent cheap notebook. The inserts didn't work very well with the medium nibs I often use, it would feather and bleed, but generally not much show through. With some of the more well-behaved inks and a fine nib, it worked well. Noodler's X-Feather works nicely with something like a Pilot Metropolitan fine nib.

OP, in addition to reading this link that /u/motherkos provided, please read these as well:

• My SMIL thinks my daughter is the child she never got to have. Help!
  
• My SMIL thinks my daughter is the child she never got to have. Help! UPDATE PT1
  
• My SMIL thinks my daughter is the child she never got to have. Help! UPDATE PT2
  
  TL;DR version: The SMIL (stepmother-in-law) kept trying to usurp the role of the mother, due to her own unprocessed grief around not being able to have a child. Her attempts to step into the role keep escalating, and when confronted, she had a serious meltdown/possible psychotic break.
  
  I'm NOT suggesting that your MIL has mental issues. But based on your post, I get the sense that:
  
  
• she seems very determined to be viewed as the Mother, rather than the Grandmother, to LO,
  
• she also wants to be the authority on your LO (hence her determination to ignore LO's food allergies--she's probably decided that you and DH are just being trendy or silly, like those gluten-free people, and wants to prove you wrong),
  
• and she wants to assert a certain amount of control over you, in a must-establish-dominance kind of way (hence the clapping).
  
  I don't know what's going on with her. The good folks who post here will have a ton of good advice for you based on their own experiences, and it would be a good idea to give their advice careful consideration.
  
  My own suggestion is that you get yourself a bound notebook that you can write in (something like a composition notebook), and start noting down every single time she does something that troubles you, along with date, time, place, who was present, what she did, how you responded, and her reaction to your response.
  
  Why? Because (a) it will help you see what patterns of behavior are there, (b) it can help you explain very specifically to your DH what you're seeing and why it troubles you, and (c) if--God forbid--her behavior escalates to the point where you feel the need to take legal action, you now have a record of your behavior (that's why you use this sort of notebook, by the way--if someone rips out the pages, it's obvious).
  
  Big hugs to you, OP. I can't imagine how upsetting this all is.

Paper options:

Gaming Paper has a lot of good options that are pretty affordable. I prefer their rolls that look like wrapping paper but they also have tiles, though I've never used them.

Easel Pads are more expensive but might fit your needs.

Other options:

Chessex Battlemaps are great. The maps are made of vinyl so they're portable. I bring one to game nights with water-soluble markers.

If you don't mind a project and don't plan on transporting your surface, dry erase wall paneling can be wonderful. If you trust yourself with a straight-edge and a box cutter, you can carve a 1 inch grid on the surface. I did this once before and it worked fine; I stored the board behind the couch and set it atop the coffee table for games.

Kepprage is no fun at all, but the symptoms will decrease as it leaves your system. Keppra -> Lyrica for me, because I almost got into a fistfight with a 70 year old man because he was shoveling snow off of his driveway too loudly, and I just snapped. Not happy AT ALL that I'm stuck on Lyrica, but incredibly relieved that I'm off of Keppra.

I went from 600mg of Lamictal to 450mg of Lamictal XR, and it helped immensely with the dizziness and word fishing side-effects. See what your neuro thinks about extended release meds. In my case, a slightly lower dosage of XR was more effective than upping my dosage of the regular stuff. Same thing happened with Tegretol vs. Tegretol XR. I went from 1400mg daily to 1200mg daily.

As for the forgetting tasks, I suggest note taking. I got a pocket-sized notebook and began writing everything down and crossing things off the list after I had completed the task. It was immensely helpful, and after a few months I noticed that I no longer had to check my notebook. Just the act of writing things down improved my short-term memory quite a bit.

Good luck with the meds, friend. Don't go punching stationary objects in anger. The stationary objects always win. ;)

Good post.

Maybe a good direction to take this thread would be the what can I get a lot of for cheap? direction.

Like stack_cats said, you can get printer paper reams and be set for a while.

Sketch books for practice?

• Blackbooks are mid priced. Cool to have $6 bucks at Walmart 192 pages. Not sure about the weight.
  
• Moleskins cost just as much but are generally smaller. More marketing dollars, less materials. Can't even find out how many pages they have.
  
• Office Depot Sketchbook decent weight, $8 bucks 100 pages. I got one of these cause Office Depot is right next to work and the day I decided to start doing this stuff, I just walked over there and picked up random shit. I have almost filled the whole book, font-to-back, and I like it. Little bleeding, and the wire bound spine makes it easier to write near on all of the page than a more traditional book.
  
• Dickblick.com has a big list of sketchbooks that I know nothing about. Some options in here are probably better.
  
  As far as non-sketchbook writing.. I keep boxes from ordering things online and flatten them out. That's fun. Paper grocery bags work too. A big sheet of thin plywood is like $25 bucks and you can write on that forever. I've heard water on an old chalkboard is great practice too.

Occasionally I do some research about minimalistic leather journals because I always seem to have a reason to write things down but dislike the common 5-star notebooks and the like. There are lots of beautiful leather products out there especially with many upstarts through kickstarter and Etsy but it seems like the one everyone is trying to replicate is the good ol' Midori. Simple and beautiful and with people figuring out ways to cheaply get refills for the paper, I think some of you may enjoy it.

Also, the smaller "passport" size: http://www.amazon.com/Midori-Travelers-Notebook-Journal-Passport/dp/B003SNV0YQ

I'm in my second year of college and spent a lot of time trying to figure out what sort of set-up and format worked best for me and so far I've really enjoyed using an A5 notebook cover with a bunch of cahier notebooks in it (Midori Traveler's Notebook style, which allows you to put multiple cahiers in one cover). A5 is a good size for writing on tiny lecture desks and is generally a pretty good compromise between portability and writing space.

Specifically, I tend to use A5 Muji Journals which come in a variety of formats, but I use blank due to the way I take notes (mindmapping). You can get packs of 3 or more on Amazon depending on the format you prefer.

https://amzn.com/B00I6Y0MH8
https://amzn.com/B00I6Y0MH8

I enjoy taking notes this way because cahiers are generally pretty cheap and the Muji books have decent paper but the leather cover makes them look fancy and keeps them in good shape.

There are a couple areas of interest that might help narrow your field of search if the suggestions get too broad:

• Specific features you are looking for (eg. format, size, binding)
  
• Requirements from your field of study (eg. tamper-proofing, specific formatting)
  
• Restrictions posed by your common work surface (eg. classroom desk, lecture hall 1/4 desk, lab workbench)
  
  ---
  
  I was partial to a comp pad and a Levenger Circa notebook myself, though I used ring bound notebooks or loose ring notebooks off and on. However my usual work spaces afforded a bit of size restriction on what I could use comfortably.
  
  If you can use / have the classroom surface area to use a hardcover notebook, it's definitely a worthy option. Notebooks like the Vela you linked will probably wear better, don't have the risk of damaging the binding, and are easier to store between use or post class session than a comparable double-ring notebook. On the other hand, you'll need one for each area of study so carrying multiple on a busy day could be an issue.
  
  A couple examples would be:
  
  
• Roaring Spring Engineer Calculation Pad (Amazon)
  
• Miquelrius grid notebooks
  
• BookFactory lab notebooks
  
• /u/analogp1xel's loose ring notebook. I had some success with cut-down pressboard folder covers and binder rings, but this version looks like a step up.
  
• Disc Notebooks: Levenger Circa is the one I used, though other options have become available since. Staples' Arc System notebooks look functionally identical. If you go this route, I'd advise investing in the cover and a hole punch only and using whatever paper type you like best.

Hmm, mine is actually fine and quite taught. Sorry to hear that though, I know it's only a few bucks but little things like that bug the shit out of me! Plus at around $13 for a notebook that small you'd think that there would be some decent quality control.


Just for clarification to be sure we're on the same page, or for others, the notebook is a Moleskine Classic Notebook, Extra Small, Ruled, Black, Hard Cover (2.5 x 4) (Classic Notebooks)

I also have the two pack of soft covers at the same size and specifications, but I like the hardcover much better, as it has the bookmark, elastic, triple the pages, and the little fold out folder thing in the back.

There seems to be good reviews of this TN clone here on Reddit. ZLYC Leather Travelers Notebook - no affiliation. You could then print out your own inserts if you want to go the TN route.

5x8" = A5 size, roughly. Jet Pens has the most comprehensive notebook buying guide. It and Goulet have a notebook search with the "size=A5" filter that would be a great way to see what's out there.

I got my brother a Leuchtturm 1917 and he thinks it's pretty nice. Dot grid with page numbers too. You'll hear a lot of people say it's inferior paper for fountain pens compared to the Rhodia Webnotebook, but it does absorb and dry ink quicker so when you have to close the book and go, the ink doesn't smear onto the opposite page. I personally love my webnotebook but it does take a little while before I'm comfortable flipping onto the next page. The ultimate A5 notebook is the Nanami Seven Seas Writer with 480 pages of Tomoe River paper (the fountain pen holy grail paper), but it always sells out when it comes on sale. I just checked their website and they're restocking "Late May" which could be any time in the next couple of weeks, so keep your eye out!

Edit: didn't see your college budget: Black n Red notebooks are budget- and fountain pen-friendly. They're $6-7 a pop, available in twin-wire or hardcover, so go hog wild.

Personally I am a huge fan of Moleskine products. I have several of their journals/ notebooks and love them. They have several sizes (I'm a big fan of the A4 sized notebooks) and they are pretty darn durable, plus I love the simple black.

55 funny cat GIFS. Enjoy.

Moleskine watercolor journal

/u/LaLocaChristina is awesome ~

Happy cake day and thanks for the contest!

I've heard good things about Scribbles that Matter notebooks (I'm thinking about getting one for my new journal), though those are a little on the expensive side.

The journal I'm currently using is a Minimalism Art A5. It's not the fanciest, but I think it's really good quality for less than $10. I would recommend it because I think it hits all your criteria.

It doesn't bleed as long as you're not too heavy with your markers (I've even been able to use light watercolor without any bleeding - just some slight buckling).

There is some ghosting, but again as long as you're not heavy on it with the markers or pens, it's hardly noticeable.

It comes in a range of sizes, has a bookmark, and comes in a variety of pretty colors. The only thing it doesn't have is the pen loop, but I don't think it would be hard to add one yourself if you really wanted to.

EDIT: To add more info cuz I hit submit too soon 😅

Dingbats-- they have a ruled version. On your list: yes, yes (unsure of the rule width), yes, yes, yes, not numbered, just one. Pages are perforated, though, and if you can get someone to send you a sheet to pen-test, that would be best (PM if you would like me to do so). I don't use pilot PBS or highlighters.

They have a bulletjournal version that's dot-grid and a yes on all the rest, but if you were willing to go for dot-grid, I would be here touting Scribbles That Matter, except, alas, no ruled.

I've liked Lamome's other products, so the ruled one should be fine too. No numbers, yes on everything else.

Also, I haven't tried the Amazon classic notebook, but I'm thinking with your pen choices, it couldn't hurt to try?

​

Let me know what you end up with. The ruled + page numbered challenge must be no fun to live with.

Yep. I just finished engineering school this spring, and I've gone through my fair share of pads.

Green Paper is by far the most commonly used engineering paper. It's fairly thin, a little less than printer paper. I mostly used this paper for scratch calculations and everyday homework.

Buff is a bit thicker, but still has the same layout. I liked using this when doing hand calculations that would be included in reports or labs.

For notebooks, look for a Lab Notebook or Engineering Notebook. There are a few options out there, and it depends if you want a spiral or bound book. Computation Notebooks held up very well, and helped preserve my notes.

I find a lot of comfort and catharsis in writing. I have a dot journal on my list to get me back in the habit while trying out bullet Journaling!

Thanks 💟💗

Hmm. I think it mainly depends on the type of ink that you use. I purchased this notebook a while ago and it seems to hold most inks pretty well. My Iroshizuku ink stays pretty wet on the pages, but it might be the pen that I use. I haven't tested it with a dip nib to isolate it down. Overall, its a really nice notebook, though!

I've seen a lot of people recommend Rhodia brand notebooks, but I haven't gotten a chance to test them myself. Hope this helps! :D

My DMing system:

Step 1) Download GIMP (free)

Step 2) Make a grid of 1-inch circles that you can print out with pictures in them (I can send you the file I use)

Step 3) Buy one of these 1-inch hole punches (or use scissors), super glue, and 1-inch washers (grand total of maybe 15-30 bucks?)

Step 4) Print out tokens, cut them out, and superglue them to washers. You can also add numbers, and make the tokens double sided for a "bloodied" condition for monsters. Works out to like 5 cents per token, and a bit of time.

Step 5) Buy one of these pads of grid paper. Can shop around for a good price, can draw multiple maps on one sheet if they're small, use pencil so you can get multiple uses out of it, or just play on a grid. Also lets you draw on the fly, or take a piece of paper and pre-prepare a map before the session.

​

Total cost should be less than 50$ for months of play. You can also buy different sized washers for small, large, or huge tokens, and they make hex grid paper as well. For fancy tokens (I do it for players and recurring NPCs) you can print on high quality photo paper, or laminate the page before cutting, or just put packing tape over the token.

How much are you looking to spend per notebook and how long do you want them to last?

I have had a lot of good luck with these they are a bit inconsistent with pens, so I recently switched to Rhodia and Clairefontaine with a slightly more cost per notebook. But overall, they're good notebooks.

Check out this map see if a store is located near you and at the very least they should have notebooks are works well with fountain pens. Despite the margin size and line spacing being a bit too big I'm happy with my switch to Clairefontaine.

Lot if people use Momeskin or leuchtturm1917. I personally use whatever notebook I find interesting. Barnes and Noble has a pretty good selection. The one I have now is Minimalism Art I found on Amazon. I really like it and plan on getting another for 2019.


https://www.amazon.com/Minimalism-Art-Classic-Notebook-Journal/dp/B077Y3N8NN/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538075845&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=minimalism+art&dpPl=1&dpID=41MwSXlkP%2BL&ref=plSrch

This OR This and these would be great for me to take notes (which I will have a lot of because of my double major), and help keep me organized! Thank you for the contest, you are so wonderful!

If you decide to pick instead of use reddit raffle, choose someone else! I'll be fine! I'm going back to school, which means I am going back to cool.

Agreed with the Leuchtturm1917. I just got mine & it's heavenly. Best place to purchase (if you're looking for a good variety in color) seems to be Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FWQXVS0?psc=1&smid=A1E8AJDELN2AKR

I'm not the best artist...and when I do artistic things, I use acrylic paints, however, in order to give you first-hand advice, I did my drawing using an ink pen. [Here is it] (http://i.imgur.com/tFoet3O.jpg).

Now that I've drawn with ink, I can for sure tell you that you're going to want a fine-tip pen. Maybe [this one] (http://www.amazon.com/Sakura-Pigma-Sensei-bullet-fiber/dp/B00DUGZE7A/ref=sr_1_5?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1415657750&sr=1-5&keywords=fiber-tip+pen). It has a fiber tip which is good according to my research.

I also like to keep a Moleskine notebook handy for ideas and doodles.

Oh, and based on my little foray into pen and ink, you're going to want [bleed-proof paper] (http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Paper-For-Pens-9X12/dp/B0007PC9C0/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1415658228&sr=1-1&keywords=bleedproof+paper) for sure!

Happy drawing :)

I'd recommend this notebook from Lemome on Amazon. These go for around 11-15 bucks and have 180 pages and great quality paper along with a penloop that is way more useful than you'd think. A lot of people are recommending notebooks with really heavy paper. I don't think that's necessary - especially for the price premium - unless you watercolor or use alcohol markers in your journal. I personally burn through journals extremely fast (I started my current one in August and I'll be done with it in November or half way through December) so I may be biased.

I currently use a 6 dollar hardcover dot journal from Walmart. The paper is not as good as the one I recommended, but it has over 200 pages and fulfills the job perfectly. It would be a step down from what you're used to, however.

You too, and congrats to your sister! I don't think I mentioned it, but you can probably glean it from the website, one of the four is light, then they range up to peaty, so she can explore her palate as well. For a cheap side gift, pick her up a Moleskin notebook so she can keep tasting notes... useful to come back and compare tastings of the same whiskey.

these boyz. Check out the view of the inside with the graph. Good for sketching out things like this bc the grid is already there (plus I love the feel and texture of moleskines! They're my fave tbh

Thanks for the reply! Here's an Amazon link to the thicker stuff, but either way, it's a great idea! I just always feel like I'm about to tear the green paper when I write on it, so I like the buff paper. When will they be available for purchase?

I have been trying to compare the differences between Foxy Fix and Chic Sparrow myself. I have a standard TN in brown from Traveler's Company and was looking to expand into one of the softer leathers. Here is what I found out:
Chic Sparrow has sizing charts that are very well explained. The pocket version would be the size that most matches the TN Passport, though it will also fit field notes and moleskien small notebook

Foxy Fix has sizing charts that are done in measurements only. The No7 size is a standard TN size-ish. The No2 would match the passport/fieldnotes/moleskin small size.

As far as other shops, check etsy. There are a lot of them all over the place. In addition to that, you can look at Amazon.com and try the ZYLC line of TN's I think that for the price of one book you can get one of each size and a pen holder. I have one of these as well and just got the passport size for my husband. The leather is good. And it comes with inserts.

Let us know what you end up getting!

For notes I buy a ream of copy/printer paper from the office supply store, they sell reams that are already 3-hole punched, it's not very much. I like having no lines interfering with anything I draw. Everything I lay down on the page really stands out against a pure white background. I suppose I take my time and write clearly, what simple sketches I do make, I take a second and do it clearly as well. The result is clean notes that are easy for me to review later.

I also write with .7mm pencil and use Staedtler pens in one or two colors to add emphasis.

All my homework gets done on National Brand engineering paper. ...Found a brand I liked and I stick to it I guess...

Each class has its own 3-ring binder and I load each one with a bit of this plain white paper, and a bit of my engineering paper.

> Leuchturm

I just ordered one of these! I love notebooks and I normally buy all notebooks (moleskins), device covers etc. in lime green. But I'm going with the bright yellow this season! I'm a stationery addict and A5 is my favourite size. So neat.

This squared Moleskine notebook is my crack. I freaking love these notebooks. They are really classy, they come in different colors (make sure the notebook is the 'squared' type) and are just a lifesaver for me in terms of documenting everything that I need/want to do. DO IT.

Lemome! It's pretty good, thick pages with minimal bleed-through unless you use a lot of ink. Binding isn't holding up too great though.

Looks like the Miliko Transparent Hardcover! I use that journal, too, and I love it :) There is visible ghosting depending on the pens you use, but I feel like the quality vs cost is worth it considering how cheap it is compared to other journals.

It's a Lemome! There are plenty of fun doodles and I'm super excited to make more!

you don't HAVE to buy anything fancy. a lot of BuJo like to have their journals be very pretty and decorated; to each their own, but functionally, all you need is a notebook and a pen. i do, however, prefer dot grid notebooks.

i got this
and then got this

i loved the aesthetic of my first one, but i'm rough with my notebooks and the paper cover ended up bending and getting torn up. the second was a plus too because it was spiral, not book bound. however, given the choice, if i got a book cover for the notebooks i would choose the second one for sure.

I can't find anywhere that indicates how wide the rule and grid pattern are. It looks quite wide to me. The design / packaging certainly matches that of the Leuchtturm (cream cardboard band and elastic to keep it closed).

While I was digging around, these popped up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07168XGHT?psc=1

They look kinda interesting too. Good luck!

Ever consider one of these ZLYC fauxdori covers? I have the green one and it's awesome. Midori inserts fit perfectly. I also have a Word notebook in there which hangs over a tiny bit, but I actually sort of like it because the covers are so fun. These ZLYCs are shockingly great quality especially for the price. If you really want to go all in, you can get a set with a passport size and regular size for $40 total. The value is kind of insane.

Agreed, and Moleskine even makes a tiny little one with a pretty durable black cover. It's a softcover but is quite stiff and tear resistant and can easily fit in any pants pocket. 2 pack for less than $5:

https://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Volant-Notebook-Extra-Small/dp/8867320432/ref=sr_1_21_sspa?crid=VQRBW2Y0EROW&keywords=moleskine+notebook&qid=1570025842&refinements=p_89%3AMoleskine&rnid=2528832011&s=gateway&sprefix=moleskine%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-21-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFNSVFKT0RONjVFTEQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4NzA3OTcxRTJLUk1ZS0xVSDdIJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNjc4ODgyTVJZMEJTT01XU0hIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

If you're willing to try a slightly different style of notebook, I found I prefer Rhodia's paper over Leuchtturm. Rhodia has a wirebound notebook that is larger, but at a good price. I've tried many notebooks, but keep coming back to Rhodia. I even got some coworkers onto them as well. I work in academia, so we use a lot of notebooks. Rhodia uses Clairfontaine paper, and they make notebooks as well. Something similarly sized/shaped as the Leuchtturm is their clothbound notebook.

https://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Volant-Notebook-Extra-Small/dp/8867320432/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1517780532&sr=8-4&keywords=small+notebook

that works best for me

i believe only the ipad pro's allow you to use the apple pencil. I use it at work for easy markups on plans

Hey there! It's a Minialism Art journal in yellow. I really do like it, it lays flat better than my old favorite, the Moleskine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077Y3N8NN

I saw these on the fpnetwork but wasn't sold on them but your endorsement has convinced me to give them, thanks.

I thought they were 8.5x5 though for the hardcover. It was for these, no?

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Casebound-Notebook-E66857/dp/B000JCPP9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1422400042&sr=1-1

$20 map making
Map - draw them yourselves on graph paper

https://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Grid-Chart-Tablet/dp/B003U6KWAY

Get pencil crayons from the dollar store. For color, use the black to deepen outlines.

Roll them up with an elastic or two for storage.

Tilesets are very limited for the cost and premade maps tend to focus on dungeons.

$80 miniatures or tokens.

Tokens for monster n enemies with pcs being minis is a cheaper way to start.

Token sets are not my thing, but you can find some on ebay or usually with starting box sets.

As for minis my average price is $5 a mini. With 2-3 being a good price (CAD) some stores have buck a mini bins where you can get peoples old minis or armies for cheeper.

Bones minis fall into that grouping

http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/Bones

Some of games workshop troops fall into that as well

https://www.games-workshop.com/en-CA/Goblin-Warriors

Even board games can sometimes have have decent cost per units.

https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-Dungeons-Dragons-Ashardalon/dp/0786955708/ref=pd_aw_fbt_21_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W96KFH6R06XCE19JE79S

And the dnd HD collection by wizkids (unpainted) though a bit small are around 2 minis for $6.

As for paint, if your worried about cost you can go to your local dollar store and get acrylic painta for $1 each. Water them down and layer them when painting for best use.

To better keep the paintjob if you want a primer will do the trick. Or fuck it for your first batch. And use all purpose cleaner to rip the paint off them later.

Protip if your going in the more expensive direction or future use. A black primer hides your mistakes a white lets colors show. Use both to create shadows n color pops.

----- so now we're 100 in and have our minis where do we store the 30ish guys we got?

Usually on a shelf. You cannput them in a display case or cabnet if you have one but shoving them in a box for the time being wont hurt much.

I love Lemome notebooks. The paper is thick and smooth, I haven't had any ghosting at all (though I don't do anything intense or use anything but Staedtlers), and the quality and feel of the notebook is amazing and feels fancy for a $15 notebook.

If you want the really good stuff, here it is. It's the best quality engineering paper I've found.

I got a set from Amazon instead by ZLYC: for $37 at the moment

When I got them, the original was still more expensive, but right now it would be similar (this is for one, not a set).

Quality-wise, the ZLYC ones were a bit disappointing. The leather is okay, but not great and the included elastics look nice but are quite large. Similarly, the included paper is okay for pencils, but rough and feathers with ink.
By comparison, I had a look at the Midori one at a local bookstore and it definitely felt much, much nicer.

Since the refills are a non-standard size, you can either order them online or cut down more standard sizes. Alternatively, the copies (also called fauxdori in reference to midori) can be found in standard sizes.

Personally, I went back to leuchtturm hardcover notebooks in A5, but that is personal preference.

GO KAYLA GO

Weightloss is hard. a great goal! I need to get to the gym. maybe I will do that today. Thak you for the inspiration.

I had a game mat, still do somewhere, but I'll be honest there is a better alternative. Game mats will get dingy over time. I switched over to flip board size chart paper and never looked back, super cheap online.

https://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Chart-Inches-Sheets/dp/B003U6KWAY/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cr_simh__3/142-9065087-6464236?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B003U6KWAY&pd_rd_r=c39acb58-c8ee-45a4-b765-a762fb121ec2&pd_rd_w=zeRIr&pd_rd_wg=GCRER&pf_rd_p=67aa5820-8762-4202-90ba-881bb99c913c&pf_rd_r=DH2Z3R24PFF8S7STR42T&psc=1&refRID=DH2Z3R24PFF8S7STR42T

My friend uses this for AP calc: https://www.amazon.com/Rhodia-Wirebound-Notebook-X11-75-Inches/dp/B001DCBMQK/ref=sr_1_5?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1495688883&sr=1-5&keywords=rhodia+graph+notebook. It's quite pricey but the paper is amazing.

I use easel pads with 1” grids. I think I pay like $8.00 for them on amazon. They work great for me. here

For anyone reading this that might be interested, I also just encountered these:
http://www.amazon.ca/Black-Red-Casebound-Notebook-E66857/dp/B000JCPP9A/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HFZ4EQ/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

They both look great!

I personally don’t have this yet but it’s on my wishlist! I’ve read many great reviews about this brand of notebooks.

Dotted Bullet Journal/Notebook - Lemome A5 Hardcover Dot Grid Notebook with Pen Loop... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07168XGHT/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_HOZVAb4AKBGN8

You may want to check out Black n'Red notebooks

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Casebound-Notebook-E66857/dp/B000JCPP9A/

The paper is very nice, very FP friendly, and the price is appealing. Notice that this is A4 and for 96 sheets.

I like engineering computation paper, but I have only one pad remaining and I haven't used it since I consider it precious. However, I'm silly because I could get it on line easily, I'm just too lazy.

Get National brand. Maybe you can get them personalized somewhere.


Maybe this:https://www.amazon.com/NATIONAL-Brand-Computation-Sheets-42389/dp/B0017TMB64/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Engineering+Computation+Pad&qid=1574173104&s=office-products&sr=1-5

It's a dot grid notebook, pretty popular rn among the bullet journal crowd. I got mine from Amazon. www.amazon.com/dp/B01ECY4X8O?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I bought these Muji notebooks for my fountain pens and type on them all the time. The paper looks pretty similar and tears out easily. Good quality too. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6Y0MH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_doPEzbT7PSQ74

I just DM'd my first session of the starter adventure on Saturday. I ended up using this graph paper pad to draw out battle maps, and I got these blank dice to use for minis.

First combat, I had everyone choose a color, then gave them an extra to keep in front of them so I could easily see who was who. There are 9 total colors, so depending on how many players you have, that gives you some wiggle room for your own NPC's and monsters.

You can get bulk dice pretty cheap on Amazon as well (I think I paid around $11 for 6 sets), and pencils are a good idea.

Lemome sells one on Amazon with an elastic band on the spine that you can attach a pen into, but storing 3 pens might be difficult depending on how big the pens are

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NAT49WS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511616412&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lemome+notebook

I think FPR also sells a pen pouch that you can use on a Rhodia Webbie. It's a 2-pen pouch but you can buy multiple

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/pen-pouches/products/fpr-two-pen-notebook-pouch-leather

That's pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head. If I find any other solution I'll update my post

Buy one of these and never go anywhere without it and a pen. Whenever you say something that makes someone laugh, write it down. It doesn't matter how silly, just jot it down. Then read it later and see if you can try to tease any situations or jokes out of it and develop it from there. You'll probably develop a good system as you keep going, but for me just keeping a record of little funny things I heard or said through my day allowed me to get some ideas.

I really like the Mini Soft Cover Notebooks from Moleskine. I carry one of these in my left pocket with my phone and I've found it to be the perfect size.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/8867320432/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HKZ6xbQG7D08K

I would advise Moleskine. Extremely good quality, at a pretty decent price.

Like any other, you kind of want a keyboard that matches the way you type. Also, realize, that android specific bluetooth keyboards tend to be "quirky". I've found that I can never get the sort of speed that I can get over a proper keyboard.

That said, I've had experience with a few devices. My favorite has been the Asus Transformer keyboard attachment. Obviously, you'd get the Transformer instead of the Galaxy. (Not what you're looking for, but I'd still recommend it since it comes with extended battery life and additional flash storage.)

I've also got a folding bluetooth keyboard that I occasionally use with my laptop. www.amazon.com/dp/B004L9LT2E/ Battery life on it is fairly good, I'd toss a spare pair of rechargable AAA batteries in your bag so that when it dies you're not screwed.

I've also heard good things about the periboard www.amazon.com/dp/B005MJ6F80/ although I've not used it.

All that aside...

I'd also suggest that going with a tablet may not be a great idea. If you're just looking for something to write on, I'd suggest a laptop. While probably way the hell out of your price range, I'd recommend something like a Toshiba Protege http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GTDPYM/ or even a used Mac Air. For no other reason than swapping between notes and references is possible. Hell, you could even go for an Acer Timelinex www.amazon.com/dp/B006SONX74/ get about 8 hours of battery life and pack a spare battery for an additional 8.

If nothing else, you won't have to worry about getting a stand for the tablet.

If you do go for a tablet, I'd also recommend packing an old fashioned tablet and stylus http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IDM7/

After trying a bunch of habit tracking apps (e.g. productive), I switched to a journal because it allowed me the flexibility of each day deciding what I would feasibly try to do of my list of habits and it's been working quite well.

pic

I end every day by finishing checking off any remaining items as needed and then writing out what I will try to do the following day based on schedule etc as well as make any notes in the margins below. I look at my list of habits every morning after I finish my morning routine to remind me of what I'm trying to do that day.

I use [this notebook] (https://www.amazon.com/Travelers-Notebook-Brown-Leather-LB/dp/B000ZYF22M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521596891&sr=8-3&keywords=traveler%27s+notebook) with this insert

Rhodia makes graph paper notebooks. Not the paper OP has, but still graph paper. I'm curious too as to what OP is using, as I would like to try it out.

https://www.amazon.com/Rhodia-Wirebound-Notebook-X11-75-Inches/dp/B001DCBMQK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520070875&sr=8-2&keywords=rhodia+grid+notebook

Muji notebooks are pretty nice, and the B5 size is about the same size as the XL: https://www.amazon.com/MUJI-Notebook-6mm-Rule-30sheets/dp/B00I6XY068

I think Baron Fig has one of their soft cover notebooks in that size too.

I like the moleskine notebooks, also the "Black n' Red" (which I personally use) notebook which you can get at officemax has a nice form factor

amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Casebound-Notebook-E66857/dp/B000JCPP9A/ref=pd_sbs_op_1

I got these from Amazon a while back and I really like them: https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Hardcover-Wirebound-Notebook-2-8-27inX5-67in/dp/B01ECY4X8O

It's a 2-pack, and I like the spiral-bound feature. They're inexpensive so if you're just getting started with bujo, you don't have to spend a ton of money to find out that you aren't keeping up with it.

Those bic gel pens write wonderfully smooth.
http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Velocity-Retractable-Refillable-Medium/dp/B0000AQPTO

And a simple composition book is both sturdy and flexible.
http://www.amazon.com/Mead-Composition-Marble-Bookbound-Sheets/dp/B00006IDM7

I've been using a Zlyc brand Fauxdori, been quite happy with it. Quality is ace and fits all the Midori brand inserts fine. Default package comes with a large size, passport size and pen sleeve for $40.

https://www.amazon.com/ZLYC-Refillable-Handmade-Travelers-Notebook/dp/B00ME26WYU/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1478469510&sr=1-1&keywords=zlyc+traveler%27s+notebook

I got a Rhodia spiral bound grid ruled notebook recently and it has nice margin/header format too. The paper is smooth (not too smooth though) and bright. Bleed through hasnt happened yet. Using medium Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens.

Hello, I like your selection. The grey Kakuno is so cool! I recommend you this nice A4 notebooks. Are made by the French brand Rhodia. The price is very fair. Rhodia Wirebound Notebook 8.8 X11.75 Inches Black Grid, Satin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCBMQK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Jw8Xzb7TG5XFS

YES!!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TJ5JZM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07168XGHT

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

These are just the best. I have one in my back pocket all the time. My current one is 3 months old and still in one piece despite being sat on constantly.

I have this one and love it

https://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Leather-Travelers-Notebook-ZLYC/dp/B00ME26WYU

I think this is the best deal of them

I'm obsessed with my Lemome notebook. It has even less bleeding than a leuchtturm and it has a really nice heavy duty hard cover. I also prefer the color but that's just preference. It's also only $15 so not nearly as expensive even though I actually think it's a better notebook. The only downside is it only has one ribbon but I think that's an okay trade-off.

This is the yellow engineering pad. Slightly more expensive. 100% worth the extra price.

The buff paper is nice and thick it doesn't feel like I'm writing on tissue paper and it's very mistake friendly since erasing doesn't tear a hole straight through it.

~ Social Work ~

Actually, in my wishlist you can find a durable sturdy journal to do exactly that. Works for drawing and work stuff.
And it has a small pocket on the end. Great for some receipts and sleeves.

Just FYI Rustico makes a leather cover that fits standard composition notebooks. Whatever you make, do it to fit that size and you can refill if for two or three bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Mead-Composition-Ruled-Sheets-Inches/dp/B00006IDM7

http://www.rusticoleather.com/leather-binder-and-cover/leather-covers/large-composition-cover-machine-sewn.html

After I've spent a little more time cutting and gluing, this will look perfect. I could even put some grip on the top cover such that it works as a stand.

I used this notebook for $12: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8883701143/

I have a slight notebook obsession
Let's celebrate!

You can buy them on amazon! That’s where I got mine. It’s yellow, hardcover and has dotted pages. :)

Leuchtturm1917 Medium Size... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FWQXVS0?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

The most important gym accessory for any lifter- BBer, athlete, or PLer.

I've filled a few of them. Kinda sad my current has about 10 pages left. I've used it since 9/2011 :(. It'll be like putting an old friend down.

http://www.amazon.com/Roaring-Spring-Engineering-Inches-95182/dp/B001TJ5JZM/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1417909218&sr=1-1&keywords=engineering+paper+buff

Get him this engineering paper instead. It's a nice crisp paper, and it's a 'buff' color that makes it really easy to find your assignments in a stack of green tissue paper. There's only one student in my classes who has it and I envy him every time I'm trying to find my graded work in a stack of paper.

I love the muji A5 notebooks that come in 5packs lined (6mm). They're pretty amazing...They're cardboard covers and not black, but they're really cheap so you can probably get a cover or something

https://www.amazon.com/MUJI-Notebook-6mm-Rule-30sheets/dp/B00I6Y0MH8

https://www.amazon.com/MUJI-Paper-Notebook-Rule-72sheets/dp/B00IQUFBJG/ref=sr_1_48?s=office-products&srs=9373349011&ie=UTF8&qid=1504660762&sr=1-48

Edit: Second link is a thicker notebook, first link is a 5pack of smaller notebooks

If you're going to buy him engineering paper - which may well be a very practical present, as in my school any non-typed assignment pretty much has to be done on it - don't get Tops or Ampad. Get National brand.

Both Tops and Ampad I've had tend to come with misalignment, bad binding, and are thinner paper. National is superfantastic.

Im on to my second of this journal which is $15, but i think they make a different version wish is around 11 or 12. The pages don't bleed at all, and i use watercolors and such in my journal. The only downside is occasionally one gets sent out where the binding isn't the best, but if you contact customer support they'll send you a new one right away.

These are the ones I used last semester and they were really nice. Probably my favorite notebook I've used recently. Might not have the most amount of pages but I never ran out of room- always wrote small enough to keep each lecture to about a single page each.

Also, use a composition notebook like this, where it’s obvious if you’ve ripped out a page, and write in blue or black ink. From what I’ve read this is helpful for legal purposes.

The Midori Traveler's Notebook -- only gets better with time.

I was going to buy this Minimalism Art notebook instead of buying an expensive Leuchtturm notebook for $20. thanks for the answer

This is a good budget choice imo https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I6Y0MH8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494481826&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=muji+notebook&dpPl=1&dpID=41v-k4fx6ML&ref=plSrch

Amazon, Moleskine, or Leuchtturm1917 are the popular ones and are available online. But most bookstores or stationary stores will carry them (or the Moleskine journals at least).

Moleskine grid lined, versatile and nice size.

http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Classic-Notebook-Squared-Notebooks/dp/8883701135

I've never tried one myself, but Redbubble has a good selection of hardcover journals! Unfortunately, there's no dot grids as far as I'm aware of- lined, graph, and blank are the only options I saw available.

I looked up "dot grid journal" on Amazon though and a bunch of hardcover ones came up! Here are a few:
Miliko Transparent Hardcover A5 Size Dot Grid Wirebound/Spiral Notebook-2 Per Pack (Dot Grid), A5 8.27inX5.67in https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ECY4X8O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fWIWBbNPWJMNR
Bullet Journal/Notebook (2 Pack) - Hardcover Dot Grid Notebook, Premium Thick Paper Faux Leather with Fine Inner Pocket (5 x 8.25) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778KGTTB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AWIWBbQK7RE2N
Dotted Bullet Journal Notebook Dot Grid BuJo Pages | Hardcover Sewn w Bookmark | Premium Thick Paper | 5x8 Made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8TMQV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kYIWBbQJ598C9

Here is what I typically carry on a normal day.

• Backpack:
  
  
• 15" MacBook Pro
  
  
• iPad Pro + Smart Keyboard + Apple Pencil
  
  
• Classic moleskine notebook
  
  
• Extra small hard cover moleskin notebook
  
  
• "Write drunk edit sober" notebook
  
  
  
• Parket ballpoint pen
  
  
• Beats Studio wireless 2.0
  
  
• Anker Astro Mini 3200mAh battery
  
  
• Foam ear plugs
  
  
• iPhone 6s
  
  
• Leather wallet (not sure what brand)
  
  
• Classic chopstick
  
  
• Car keys w/ gym pass
  
  
• Knife (not sure what it is, found it at a yard sale can anyone identify what it is?)
  
  
• 42 SS Apple Watch
  
  

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8867320432

Take a look at these if you're interested.

I would rather them focus on content when this awesome DLC exists for $2.41 that provides support for this feature.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00006IDM7/ref=s9_top_hm_awbw_bs7tz_g229_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-11&pf_rd_r=4KW63K4VA9MQVX8D0TK5&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_p=807721be-610a-5658-a76b-d8cb13983e78&pf_rd_i=12900091

and duh, a kick ass notebook to doodle in with your amazing new pens. might i suggest this https://www.amazon.com/Leuchtturm1917-Medium-Hardcover-Dotted-Notebook/dp/B00FWQXVS0/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1483934671&sr=1-1&keywords=leuchtturm1917+dotted

make sure you get the grid lines, because those make you tingle. im really into office products.

My apologies, I mean the interior paper being something other than the standard green engineering paper. Some color like this , which is apparently called buff. I always called it tan engineering paper.

Less than 10 bux. 25 huge sheets. I use it for mine and it gets the job done

Im using Miliko Transparent Hardcover

Forgive me if that didn't link right, I'm usually a lurker, not a poster. And I'm on my mobile

5x8ish! Here’s the link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07168XGHT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4GhVAbR5PFXG5

100 gsm I don't know what that means lol but I bought this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B077Y3N8NN?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

These Miliko ones from Amazon look very similar. https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Hardcover-Wirebound-Notebook-2-8-27inX5-67in/dp/B01ECY4X8O

These are the ones I've been ordering from Amazon.

found it on Amazon, here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAT49WS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_knZCCb2VFRXGF

Ordered from Amazon seller UJC Mart Japan


Traveler's Notebook Brown Leather (1, 1 LB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZYF22M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_D5ROAbGXWF50G

Recently bought a Lemome to avoid ghosting and get something a little more durable.

120gsm ivory paper, I haven’t had any sort of ghosting or bleed though. The pages are a bit wider too, helps for larger spreads!

https://www.amazon.com/Dotted-Bullet-Notebook-Journal-Hardcover/dp/B07168XGHT

On amazon. I think the green version is more commonly used, but here's the red version

Pay for a chunk of your new Pilot Vanishing Point. OR, buy yourself a Midori Traveler's Notebook in brown leather if you already have a decent fountain pen or two. My two cents, or what I would do with $50 on Amazon.

This seems to be the right one!

Then this must be the selling notebook in history!

Rhodia Wirebound Notebook 8.8 X11.75 Inches Black Grid, Satin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCBMQK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_VJXH7pKspugUb

ZLYC Vintage Handmade Refillable Leather Travelers Journals Pencil Case Set of Three Dark Coffee https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ME26WYU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_w46Bub1S1A37R

Muji B5?

https://www.amazon.com/MUJI-Notebook-6mm-Rule-30sheets/dp/B00I6XY068/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542484885&sr=8-1&keywords=muji+b5

Campus B5?

https://www.amazon.com/Kokuyo-Campus-Todai-Pre-Dotted-Notebook/dp/B002C4KL8I/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1542484860&sr=8-7&keywords=campus+b5

Travelers Notebook Brown Leather (1, 1 LB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZYF22M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bps2BbNS911TS

Rhodia Wirebound Notebook 8.8 X11.75 Inches Black Grid, Satin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCBMQK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wXABzb83KM4Z8

Try these out next time: https://www.amazon.com/Miliko-Transparent-Hardcover-Wirebound-Notebook-2/dp/B01ECY4X8O/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1492874624&sr=1-1&keywords=miliko+dot

It's "engineering paper".

I'm in the same situation. The Rhodia Dot and Muji notebooks.

Miliko Transparent Hardcover A5 Size Dot Grid Wirebound/Spiral Notebook-2 Per Pack (Dot Grid), A5 8.27inX5.67in (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ECY4X8O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SXaPAb50TRWHS)

> Lemome A5 Hardcove

Is this the one you are referring to?

• https://www.amazon.com/Thick-Classic-Notebook-Pen-Loop/dp/B01NAT49WS

Non-affiliate-link and link to graph paper moleskins

The tiny Moleskine notebooks Fit

I use those black and white composition notebooks (like this: https://www.amazon.com/Mead-Composition-Notebook-Ruled-Sheets/dp/B00006IDM7) because our supply cabinet is full of them.

Yes

Moleskine ...I get the smallest size.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8867320432/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498615792&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=moleskine+notebook+small+ruled&dpPl=1&dpID=311EVChmofL&ref=plSrch

mine is actually a little bit smaller and i just put it in my back pocket.

but i also have a couple notebooks of that size for my job and i just keep them in my backpack. not literally always on my person but usually nearby.

Like this.

They're the 5 pack of Muji notebooks. You can get them in stores if you live near them, on their website but that hasn't been working lately, and even on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-73200-KeyMate-USB-Black/dp/B01N04XRJA - It's bright enough to light a small room

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8867320432 - Very small moleskin notebook I keep in my wallet

https://www.gerbergear.com/Multi-Tools/Butterfly-Opening/dime-travel_31-002777 - I travel a lot so I have a bladless multitool but it's extremely useful with scissors. Has made it through American and South American airports no problem.

Funny you mention that. I just picked up the spiral and cloth bound versions in 8.25 x 5.875 inches. It's odd that one says it's 24 lb paper and other other says 90 g/cm^2. I'm not sure if they're actually different or not. I've only written in the spiral thus far. It's much better than the public supply recycled paper dot book I had lying around.

I make use of the Chessex Wet-Erase battlemat (comes in 2 sizes and is reversible for hexes vs squares) which works well for my games.

Alternatively you can buy some large 1" grid paper. Which is great if you want to do prep work for your dungeon and draw out nice looking maps ahead of time. Typically this allows you to have more detailed maps because you're not under the pressure of doing it at the table before combat starts. I want to start doing this more often, but even more so I want to get some props and do more elaborate battle sets.

I steal 24 x 32 inch grided meeting pads from work like this

https://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Chart-Inches-Sheets/dp/B003U6KWAY/ref=pd_cp_328_2?pd_rd_w=9dPz4&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=MHP1S83ABTYRVRKCVCD6&pd_rd_r=2cdaec87-82e4-11e9-b4c5-ef907af3647f&pd_rd_wg=z5UG2&pd_rd_i=B003U6KWAY&psc=1&refRID=MHP1S83ABTYRVRKCVCD6

I found this, this, and this. They're each very close to A5. I've no idea where you can find exactly A5 unless you're buying a Moleskine, at least near the price range we're looking at.

Maybe try to lower the pressure of writing for you. Try carrying around a small notebook, like one of these and write while you wait in line or something like that. It will look to other people as if you're writing in a day planner or keeping a reminder, which is an extremely low pressure thing. It's possible the relaxed setting or scenario will take the pressure off of you to write.

https://smile.amazon.com/Thick-Classic-Notebook-Pen-Loop/dp/B01NAT49WS?sa-no-redirect=1

Really thick pages, no bleeding or ghosting at all for me.

Black N Red is an option, but the low page count makes it as expensive as Rhodia or Leuchtturm1917.

I use a Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebook in the lab now. You can probably find A5 lined books for around $16 if you deal hunt.

From left to right.

Trashed Acer netbook running Kali

Wifi pineapple. https://www.wifipineapple.com/pages/nano

Moleskin notebook. https://www.amazon.com/dp/8883701135/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.kyHAbDE2KYS4

Gerber harsey air ranger fine point aluminum body classic style (discontinued. You can still buy shitty versions of the same thing)

Amity bifold wallet. (Discontinued. From the 70's)

Chessex black d20. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00115WV6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RpyHAb07FH723

Sharpie for graffiti. Stolen.

OnePlus 3 phone case. Phone not pictured. https://oneplus.net/3

King of spades. Found.

Sparrows lockpick set with added bypass tool. Kit includes picks from multiple different sets.
http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/scon.htm

http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/mj.htm


Keys. Nothing super interesting besides an o-ring between each key which muffles jingling and can be used to replace the o-ring on my flask.
There's also a Gerber shard from when they were made of titanium.
Ring is from https://www.etsy.com/shop/RomasBanaitis

I use:

Moleskine Cahier Soft Cover Journal, Set of 3, Plain, Pocket Size (3.5" x 5.5") Coffee Brown - for Use as Journal, Sketchbook, Composition Notebook

u/ThatsJustUn-American suggested,

Moleskine Volant Notebook (Set of 2), Extra Small, Ruled, Black, Soft Cover (2.5 x 4)

but I personally find those too small, and I prefer plain to ruled. I also prefer brown to black: brown feels more earthy, classic, and leathery. But they're cheap as hell, so buy both and try them out. A lot of digital minimalism, being so novel, is trial and error to find out what you like.