My Stationery Life

I’ve been pretty loyal to A5-sized notebooks for most of my journaling and planning life. They’re compact, convenient, and fit nicely into my commuter bag. But recently, I decided to step a little outside my comfort zone and try something new: B5-size paper.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a B5 binder with three notebooks from a cute little shop on Etsy (it’s actually my second time buying from them—I loved the first notebook cover so much, I had to get something else). I knew B5 was going to be bigger than A5, but I was still surprised when it arrived. These notebooks are big!

You can go to this post for a quick comparison about exact sizes, but this is my rule of thumb:

• A5 paper is the classic go-to for general writing, journaling, and planning.
• B5 paper is roughly one inch wider and about two-and-a-half inches taller (or 3cm and 4cm, if you’re using metric).
• That might not sound like much on paper (pun intended), but in your hands, it’s a noticeable difference.

B5 feels less portable, to be honest. Unless you’ve got a larger bag or don’t mind carrying something that won’t quite fit into your every day carry, these aren’t your on-the-go kind of notebooks. They'd probably do better sitting on your desk. But there’s something really comforting about writing on larger paper. It feels more spacious, like there’s room to stretch your thoughts (or bad handwriting) out a little more. I can already imagine using this size for bigger writing projects—like essays, brainstorming sessions, or long-form journaling/blog posts. 

I plan to do a proper write-up and review once I’ve broken them in. I’m already in love with the binder and the aesthetic, so fingers crossed the writing experience matches the vibe.

I've got a couple of pictures below of the notebooks: two of the B5 itself, and one of the B5 with the A5 for size comparison (again, both from the same shop). 


 

I’m trying to be good lately, so I've unofficially put myself on a bit of a shopping diet for the next couple of weeks. That means no new JetPens purchases unless it's something I really want or need. How I define that is in the moment.

But while I may not be buying, I am absolutely still browsing. And my wish list? Getting thicccc. This is going to end in disaster.

Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward more highlighters. I know, I know: I have plenty already. But I’ve noticed I’m missing certain shades in my collection, and the bright, cheerful colors are just hard to resist.

New Wish List Additions

Blue, Pink, Teal, and Pastel Highlighter Samplers:
I did a little inventory check and realized I don’t have nearly enough in the any of these colors! These sampler packs include some of the classics I already own (Mildliners and Stabilo Boss oh my!), but the more unusual shades caught my eye. And pastels? They match my office, ok? (Note, I also have the neutral highlighter sampler selected, but they're neutral. Bland as Kix. Plus, I think I have most of these.)

Zebra Sarasa Nano Gel Pen (0.3mm)
I’m a fan of the Sarasa brand already, but this tip size is relatively new to me. I don’t think I have anything that writes at 0.3mm in my collection. I’m curious what it would feel like. Would it be crisp and detailed or scratchy and annoying? Only one way to find out (eventually).

Sun-Star Ukanmuri Book Clip
My notebooks refuse to stay open, especially when my ceiling fan is on or I so much as exhale near them. I usually weigh the page corners down with whatever’s nearby, but that’s not always reliable. This clip is cute, compact, and actually designed for this purpose. Of everything on my wish list, I’m thisclose to buying this clip.

Pilot Acroball 4+1 Multi-Pen
I know what you’re thinking: “Don’t you already have, like, eight of these?” And how dare you -- I have at least eleven. But I somehow skipped over this Acroball, and it’s calling to me. I’m not saying it’s a need, but it’s definitely a strong maybe.

Bonus Discovery
This isn’t a wish list item, but it might be my favorite find of the week: JetPens has a comparison tool. It's a real, actual, useful tool that lets you stack up different pens, pencils, highlighters, etc side-by-side. Somehow, I just found out about it today. Let’s pretend that’s normal.

Again, I’m holding off buying anything for now, but I’ll probably check the site again the minute I hit "Post."

Just a quick post today (I meant to write on Friday, too, but life had other plans).

That said, I’ve been diving into JetPens’ guide on glass dip pens, and now I’ve got glass pens on the brain.

Oh my God, they are stunning! They are elegant tools that look like a magic wand out of a fantasy novel: swirling glass handles and delicate spiral tips that hold ink without any cartridge or reservoir. Instead, the ink clings to those grooves, letting you write a few sentences before you need to dip again.

As much as I love the idea of them, I know myself pretty well. I don’t have much patience or the steadiest calligraphy hand, and I’m not sure my Hebrew lettering skills are quite there yet either. So while I won’t be reaching for one of these daily, I would only consider adding them as a collector’s piece. Even better, I would get one as a gift for a friend who does practice calligraphy or appreciates beautiful tools (my SIL comes to mind). 

Most of the time stationery is about function, but occasionally, it’s about something beautiful on your desk. 

According to me, that is...

I’m starting this occasional series called "Best of" and dividing it into categories—because trying to crown one stationery item as the ultimate best just isn’t fair. Gel pens, multi-pens, fineliners, pencils, planners, notebooks, sticky-notes -- they all have their own strengths, and I want to do each category justice.

Today’s pick is the Best Three-Color Ballpoint Multi-Pen.

This is, as always, based on my own research and (many) personal purchases. I've tested a lot of multi-pens over the years—some hyped, some hidden gems—and there’s one I keep coming back to.

But before we get into the winner, here’s what I look for when evaluating a ballpoint multi-pen:

What Makes a Great Multi-Pen?

• Durability – Will the clip survive a commute in my commuter bag or a pocket, or does it literally snap under pressure?
• Comfort – Can I write with it for ten minutes without my wrist falling asleep?
• Tip Performance – Regardless of tip size, does the ink flow smoothly? Does the tip get gummed up?
• Clickiness – A little niche, but it matters to me! Do the different color options click into place cleanly and stay put?

With all of that in mind, here’s my top pick:

Winner: Uni Jetstream 3 Color Ballpoint Multi Pen (0.5mm)

If you’ve used this pen, you probably saw this coming.

The Uni Jetstream 3-Color (0.5mm) hits every point I care about. The tip never gums up on me, which means the ink flows consistently and smoothly every time I write. Since it's light and slender, I can write with it comfortably for long stretches at a time without my hand cramping up. I’ve never had an issue with the color tabs snapping back up unexpectedly; each color clicks into place cleanly and stays put.

Fun fact: If you’ve ever ordered a Hobonichi Techo from the official store, this is the pen they include—just in a limited-edition. So if you’ve used it and loved it, now you know what it is!

Runner-Up: Uni Jetstream SXE3-507 (0.5mm)

This one is so close to number 1. It’s basically the same pen with a slightly different body.

The SXE3-507 uses the same reliable Jetstream ink, which means you get all the benefits of smooth, skip-free writing. I really appreciate the design of this one, too—the red and blue color sliders are built into the body, while the black ink is controlled by the top clicker. It’s intuitive and makes selecting your color feel effortless.

The reason it lands in second place? The body is just a bit thicker than the regular Jetstream 3-Color. That doesn't mean it's unusable and hard to write with. It just means that you (like me) might prefer a slightly slimmer pen to write with. While a thick pen might be better for larger hands, smaller-handed people could find this a bit bulky during longer writing sessions.

Final Thoughts

Your mileage may vary when it comes to pens. Writing preferences, hand sizes, and pen habits are unique to everyone. But you really can't go wrong with the Uni Jetstream 3-Color. It's a reliable, high-quality three-color ballpoint pen and one I keep buying—and using—again and again (I think I have three now -- I'll have to check). 

Of course, here are plenty more pens out there and I keep buying/getting more. Who knows? Maybe next year’s “Best Of” list will look different.

This is going to be on the shorter side this week because I'm pressed for time—but I still wanted to post about something stationery-related.

Digital note-taking apps are messy. Between the steep subscription fees, the device requirements, and the chaotic organization systems, I've never stuck with them. Most are designed with tablets and styluses (ie, iPads and Apple Pencils) in mind, which means you're not just buying an app—you’re investing in a whole ecosystem. And just when you think you’ve found the one, a brand new expensive version comes out, and you’re back at square one (and a few dollars poorer).

So let's talk about GoodNotes.

A while ago, I bought GoodNotes 5 on my iPad (with an Apple Pencil) when I had aspirations for another career. While I have some bones to pick, I can’t deny that it’s a damn good app. It had a free trial, but the full version cost about $30. And then...GoodNotes 6 came out, which meant if I wanted the newest features, I’d have to shell out another $30. Not thrilled.

(Also, the pandemic happened and the career change didn't happen either, so I didn't need GoodNotes anymore.)

What's Good About GoodNotes

Even though its organization system is just okay (you get folders with multiple notebooks inside, and that’s about it), creating and customizing notebooks is super easy. You get a nice selection of notebook covers and page templates—some built-in, some for purchase. It’s kind of like the Kindle Scribe in that way.

You can open multiple notebooks at once (which I love), and the basic tools—writing, highlighting, erasing, cutting and pasting text, even adding photos or stickers—are all there. It works smoothly and doesn’t feel too over-engineered.

But at the end of the day, GoodNotes 5 is essentially a more polished version of Apple Notes. If you’re already an Apple Notes user and aren’t desperate for templates or aesthetic upgrades, don't bother buying GoodNotes 6.

A Few Other Digital Notes Apps Worth Checking Out

If GoodNotes isn’t quite your thing, here are a few other options I’ve either tried or heard good things about:

• Notability – People swear by this for recording lectures and meetings while taking notes. Great for students or anyone sitting through long Zoom calls.
• Nebo – This one focuses on converting handwriting to text. I’m usually underwhelmed by handwriting conversion tools, but Nebo honestly surprised me. It works better than most.
• Bear – A minimal, elegant app that uses tags and Markdown for organizing and formatting notes. I love Markdown (and wish Dreamwidth used it!), but Bear has a steep subscription price. Try it for free and see if it clicks before committing.

If you lean more toward digital planning and note-taking than pen-and-paper, one of these apps might be a great fit for you. I'll have a post up soon about how I actually use Apple Notes in my day-to-day—especially for planning—so stay tuned for that!