2019 Writing Journal

January 2, 2019December 28, 2018 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

Setting goals and preparing for the upcoming year is something I look forward to every winter. I like to sit down and map out my journey for the next twelve months. I start by envisioning where I want to be at year-end and then create small steps that will get me to that point. Do I always follow-through, nope. But starting with a goal in mind for the year really helps me to develop a mindset for growth.

This year I want to focus on the literary aspects of my life.

Earlier this week I posted about my 2019 Reading Challenge where I plan to read books set all over the world.

As for writing, I decided to create a Writing Journal for 2019. I used an old notebook I had laying around, some cardstock tabs from Illustrated Faith, and Papermate Flair pens to set up the notebook.

This is a simple notebook, but I used many of the aspects of bullet journaling when setting it up. I started with a goal page:

In the middle of the page I started with my Word of the Year 2019: Adventure. From there, I broke my writing down into four parts: blog, craft, short stories, and novels. I wrote 1-2 personal goals for each of these branches of my writing.

I broke the year down into four quarters and on the following page I created a space to track my goals for that quarter.

Some other spreads in my Writing Journal include:

-Work-In-Progress sections for planning out novels and short stories

-Books of Craft to Read

-New Novel Ideas

-2019 Reading Challenge: Adventure

-Boot Camp Writing Prompts

-Craft Notes

-Blog

-Publishing

-Action Chart (for pieces I have queried or had published)

-Beautiful Words and Phrases

I’m old fashioned in the fact that I prefer to write in notebooks as opposed to using online calendars and notes. If you are a writer, I would love to hear about how you organize your writing. I find relaxation in functional notebooks. I know there are others like me out there.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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2018 Bullet Journal Flip Through

January 1, 2019January 1, 2019 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

I rang in the new year with a household of germy humans.

We took turns sharing flu symptoms. I must admit it was not the ideal ending to the winter break, but I was able to get a few things done around the house as I was confined within it.

Today I wanted to share with you a Flip Through of last year’s bullet journal. In 2018, I set a goal to maintain a regular schedule in my bujo and I’m happy to say that apart from some short setbacks I was able to complete the journal. I’m really pleased with many of the pages and I’ve learned some techniques that I plan to incorporate into my 2019 bullet journal.

Here is a look at some of my favorite pages:

Which spread is your favorite?

The Ameri Brit Mom

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September Plan With Me: Bullet Journal Updates

September 5, 2018September 3, 2018 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

August was a big month for me. I returned to work after a lengthy maternity leave, I arrived back in the USA after a month abroad, and my oldest daughter started kindergarten. With all of these additions to my schedule over the past thirty-one days I am pleased to say I stayed pretty consistent in my Bullet Journal routine.

Over the past few months my journal has been a refuge for me. Planning, scheduling, and making lists as a form of creative release has benefited me in so many ways. I worried that getting back into a busy routine would cause me to use my bullet journal less, but as I look back over my August pages I can tell that I still kept it a daily priority.

August Recap

I filled in my Habit and Anxiety trackers everyday! I also added a page for Arianna’s soccer season statistics and another for Bible Study notes as I read through the book of Jonah. I love the way these pages all turned out.

September

This month my pages were made using the following tools: PaperMate Flair pens, Veritas metallic glitter pens, Tombow Monodraw pens, brown and navy Cardstock, images from the Cricut Design App, and the Cricut Air 2.

September Theme: Football Friday Night

On my title page for this month I used some metallic pens in gold, brown, and blue to create a sketch of my theme. The school colors for my local team are gold and navy so I used those colors to set the scheme for the month. This is a simple title page that highlights my lack of sketching ability.

My weekly pages follow the color scheme for the month and include space for planning each day, journaling, and recording my meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I want to make sure that as the school year starts that I am still eating well and one way that motivates me is to keep record of what I am eating. Having to write down a horrible meal is reason enough to skip it for me. I used my Cricut to create embellishments this month. I’ve never used cardstock in my journal so I will see how well I like it.

This month my Anxiety tracker takes the shape of a goal post. I added the cardstock football to help clarify what shape I was intending for the anxiety tracker. Each day of the month has a line on the goal post and I will color each according to my level of anxiety each day throughout the month.

My fitness log follows the same outline as the past few months. It’s working well for me to track this way so I’m going to stick with it.

I love the way this Weekly Review spread turned out. Each week this year I have recorded highlights from the week and something for which I am grateful.

One of my goals this month is to create a recycling plan for my family. Once I’ve established that I will post a picture. If your family recycles I’d love to hear tips and ways to make it fun for kids. I’m also looking for ideas for my October pages.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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August Plan With Me: Bullet Journal Updates

July 30, 2018 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

A new month starts this week. I get excited about the dawn of a new month. A turn of the calendar is a blank slate–a chance to establish new goals and to forget about the shortcomings of the month before. A new month is a reminder that the world is continuing to spin despite my circumstances. As I set out to create my new pages for August in my bullet journal I wanted to share them with you.

July Re-Cap

Before I set out to make my new spreads I always like to look back at the previous month. I take inventory of what went well and I brainstorm ways to improve my bullet journal for the upcoming month. Here’s a look at how some of my July pages turned out:

July was the first month I included a Fitness Log. I really liked keeping track of the exercise I participated in for the month. Having a visual graph to categorize my workouts was also helpful. On the far left column I kept a tab of how much time I spent exercising for the month.

Ever since I had my daughter in February I have been battling with anxiety as a result of some health issues. One thing my doctor recommended was to record my anxiety levels each day. In May, I started a monthly spread for anxiety tracking and it usually follows the theme for the month. As you can see, my theme for July was fireworks. On my anxiety tracker I also listed out one thing I was grateful for each week.

My weekly spreads for July looked a little different than usual. This is because I was in England for the whole month. Instead of a calendar for to-do lists I decided to make my weekly spreads more of a journal style where I wrote a paragraph each day describing what I did in England.

August

This month my pages are made using the following tools: The Happy Planner “Teachers Rule” sticker sheets, Tombow Brushpens (452, 620, 451, 243, 761, 991), Union Jack Washi tape (purchased at Primark UK), and Tombow Monodraw pens.

August’s theme: School

My title page is where I set out the theme and goals for the month. I try to keep it simple. This month I decided to use stickers instead of drawing my theme. This month I will be returning to the classroom after nine months of maternity leave so I am getting myself ready with this school theme.

For August I’m back to my usual weekly spreads. The columns give me room to create to-do lists and also to journal at the bottom of each day. I am still in England for this first week so I continued the use of Union Jack Washi for this first week.

Going with the theme, I have my new anxiety tracker set up in the shape of a ruler. Each number on the ruler represents a day of the month. The key down below correlates with the levels of anxiety. The numbers to the right of each color are just the marker numbers so that I make sure I am using the right color.

My Fitness Log for August looks the same as July. I wanted to recycle this spread since I enjoyed it so much last month. The only difference will be the colors used in the graphing portion.

One spread I am bringing back for August is a Weekly Review. I like to spend time reflecting each weekend on the previous week and listing something for which I am grateful.

Those are all the pages I’ve done for August so far. Let me know if you like this post or find it helpful at all. I’m trying to decide if I want to do a post like this every month. Bullet journaling is something I’ve been doing for almost two years to help myself get organized and I love sharing my ideas and experiences with my awesome readers.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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2018 Bullet Journal

July 9, 2018July 6, 2018 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

In January of 2017 I started keeping a bullet journal. A bullet journal is a self-created planner and organizer. I love bullet journals because they are created and customized by their creator. When you buy a planner from a store there are always features that don’t fit every planning style.

Not only does bullet journaling help to keep me organized, but it also helps me to expel some creative energy. I’ve enjoyed building up my art supplies this year and dabbling in the use of washi tapes, watercolors, Tombow brushpens, stickers, and all sorts of paper crafting goods.

I used to give updates on my early progress with bullet journaling. If you are interested check out these posts:

One Month of Bullet Journaling

Bullet Journal Updates

March Updates

Bullet Journal February Updates

I want to give you a peek at what I’ve been working on so far this year in my newest bullet journal. As you can see above, I decorated the outside of my Leuchtturm 1917 notebook with Cricut vinyl cut using my new Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. I used to own a Cricut about ten years ago, but they have come a long way and the extent of its uses is now unfathomable. Since I received it in June I have made tshirts, cards, wall art, and magnets with my new machine.

Collections

Bullet journal Collections are pages that are ongoing throughout the time you use a particular notebook. There are so many ideas on Pinterest of things to track in your journal. I’ve chosen to track things like book lists, home improvement ideas, sports statistics for my daughter, blog schedules, Netflix shows I’m watching, a future log, and movies I’ve watched this year.

Creatives

Creative pages are ones in which I play around with creative techniques. This year I’ve been focusing on hand-lettering and calligraphy. I’ve started quite the collection of Tombow brushpens, Mildliner pens and washi tapes. I use these pages to work on skills and play around with ideas.

Monthlies

Something I started this year is using a monthly theme. Every month I start with a title page that introduces the theme and then I include those ideas in my habit trackers and anxiety trackers for each month.

Weeklies

Every week I use a similar layout to the one below. The weekly pages are where I break down my daily tasks and oftentimes I journal on these pages as well.

How I Use It

Every night before bed I open up my bullet journal and update the weekly page with tasks and journaling. Then, I record in my habit tracker what I was able to accomplish that day. Finally, I evaluate my anxiety level for the day and track that appropriately. Doing this at night leads me to self-reflection on a daily basis. This practice has helped keep me focused and organized.

Any other bullet journalers out there? I’d love to see your pages!

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Bullet Journal Updates (June 2017)

June 27, 2017 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

I realize it’s been a while since I last updated on my personal bullet journal. Even though it hasn’t appeared on my blog, I’ve been using the thing like crazy! My beautiful Moleskine resides in its own special place in my purse and I carry it with my daily. I thought I’d share some photos of ways I’ve used my bullet journal most recently.

Monthly spread and review:

2. Vacation Daily Tracker:

3. Recipes:

4. Online Course Creation:

5. Summer Goals and Routines:

My favorite pens to use in my bullet journal are the Paper Mate Flair pens. I love the vibrant colors and the ease at which I can write with these pens.

What are your favorite bullet journal tools or utensils?

The Ameri Brit Mom

bullet journal · Family · Uncategorized

Family Adventures in Boston (Part 1)

June 20, 2017June 19, 2017 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

Before embarking on our annual trip to England visiting with my husband’s family we decided to drive to Boston, Massachusetts for a family vacation. We spent five days in this coastal metropolis and made so many family memories that I couldn’t pack it all into one post. Over the next several days, I will provide a chronicle of some of the things we did while in Boston.

So why Boston?

I have been fascinated lately over the New England coastline. Maybe it’s from books I’ve read set in Cape Cod or pictures from other bloggers. Maybe it’s the rich history and importance. Either way something about the place has been drawing me for a year. So when my husband was shopping for our flights to England he called me at work and asked how I felt about a quick stay in Boston before the flight. We hired a rental car for the two day journey and then flew out on Sunday from the Logan Airport in East Boston.

Here’s my bullet journal overview of the trip I will be describing over the next couple of posts:

Day 1: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We spent nine hours of the day in the car as we drove through the turnpikes of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Our hotel was just east of the city in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Since we had a late arrival we started the visit off with a trip to Geno’s Steaks where we sat and watched some pickup games of basketball and ate our Philly cheesesteaks and fries.

As the sun set we decided to stroll through historic Philadelphia. The museums were all closed for the night, but it was the only time during our travels that we would be able to check out the sites. It was a beautiful night. Temperatures were warm, but the breeze felt good. Independence Hall lit by the setting sun was absolutely gorgeous. We took a walk around the historic center of Philadelphia and appreciated all the rich history made within those few city blocks.

Day 2: Boston, Massachusetts

We were on the road again by 9:00am the next morning to finish the journey to Boston. We drove through scenic parts of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts before arriving at our hotel just outside of Boston in Westborough. That first night we had dinner and then drove to Long Wharf on the Boston Harbor. We walked along the seaside and shared an ice cream in the Quincy Market, an historic marketplace on the Boston Harbor. Being on the sea was picturesque and everything I had hoped it would be.

**Check back soon for the second leg of our family adventures in Boston

The Ameri Brit Mom

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March Updates (Bullet Journal)

March 28, 2017 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

Three months into my bullet journal and I’m feeling more organized and productive. I’ve nailed down a weekly spread that works for me and I’ve added all sorts of collections that have allowed me to dump my mind. I used to carry around these lists in my brain and now I have a place where they belong. It’s been very freeing and allowed me the chance to relax in ways I hadn’t before.

There are times I have to jot something down while it’s on my mind, but there are no more worries about whether or not I will forget it. Every list has a place in my bullet journal. It is a customized book that I am filling constantly. No more wasted space in a planner created by someone else! I am utilizing every page and making it work for who I am and the types of lists I incur.

Here is a look at some of my newest pages in my bujo:

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Bullet Journal (February Updates)

February 21, 2017February 19, 2017 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

I’ve been an official Bullet Journaler for two months now. In February, I took on the February Journal Challenge where I created a new page or idea each day based on a prompt. I also started some new pages and added to ones from last month. I have been really pleased with this new hobby. It’s been a nice way to use my creativity and it helps keep my life organized as well.

Here is a look at some of my newest editions to my Bullet Journal in February:

The Ameri Brit Mom

bullet journal · Organization · Uncategorized

One Month of Bullet Journaling

January 24, 2017February 19, 2017 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

One month ago I purchased a Moleskine notebook and started my 2017 bullet journal.

A bullet journal is a place to plan and organize not only your schedule, but also all of the countless lists that accumulate in your mind. I wanted to be sure that my bullet journal would become a keepsake for the year of the many things I enjoy and the memories I wish to record.

In the past I’ve used pretty planners, but after months of pinning bullet journal pages online I decided to go for it in the new year. I have an obsession with pretty stationary and organization so the concept of bujo (short for bullet journal) was appealing to me. Armed with a blank notebook for the year was intimidating at first so I started with outlining big moments in 2016.

After my 2016 review, I created my future log for all planning. I included calendars for every month in 2017 and places to jot down events in advance on that calendar. For each week within the month I have a calendar that is for daily tasks and appointments to be tracked.

Some of my favorite collections so far are:

To-Read List
“Oh the Places We’ll Go”- a list of travel destinations this year
“Take Me to the Movies”- a list of movies we saw in the cinema this year
30 Day Spending Freeze
Game Night Stats- a running tally of the games and winners from our weekly game nights at home. (This was part of my new year’s resolutions and it’s been so much fun!)
Blog Stats Tracker

One month in and I am already noticing an increase in my productivity. I spend a few minutes every morning planning the day and few minutes before bed reflecting on the day that has just passed. I am really enjoying this practice. It has been healthy for both my mind and my creative soul.

I’m planning to share some of my progress in bullet journaling throughout the year. Which page or collection is your favorite so far?

The Ameri Brit Mom