My Stationery Life

When it comes to stationery, I am firmly a maximalist. But that doesn’t mean I let my supplies sit unused. I rotate through my tools regularly, swapping things out to keep my supplies fresh and actually used. Buying stationery just to collect it feels like hoarding to me, and I’d rather test out different tools and accessories to see what works best and what I’ll repurchase in the future.

My every day carry consists of two things: a bag and a pen case. My bag of choice is a Fjällräven Kånken tote bag that converts into a backpack. I mostly use it in tote mode, but there have been a few situations where the backpack straps came in handy. It carries everything I need, including my tech gear (which is a whole separate conversation for another post).

For pens, I keep things simple but functional with a Midori Book Band Pen Case. It attaches to my notebook and holds just a few essential writing tools. It's perfect for quick access and travel.

My Everyday Writing Essentials

Current Black Ink Pen: Uni Jetstream Standard Ballpoint. This was a free gift from a JetPens coupon code a few months ago, and honestly, it’s the definition of standard—which is exactly what I need sometimes. It writes well, does its job, and has the smooth ink flow that Jetstream pens are known for. No complaints!Current Multipen:

The Mystery Tricolor This tricolor multipen (black, red, and blue ink). is my go-to for my Hobonichi Cousin, and it has the perfect Pepto Bismol pink body to match my Cousin’s cover. The problem? I have no idea where I got it. It’s not in my JetPens order history, and I don’t remember purchasing it—but I use it every day and love it. Once I figure out the brand and model, I’ll definitely be writing about it.

Optional Gel Pen: Sharpie S-Gel. I don’t always carry a gel pen, but when I do, it’s this one. The Sharpie S-Gel writes incredibly smoothly, and the grip alone makes it worth using. A solid go-to for when I want a bolder, smoother writing experience.

Extras: The Supporting Cast

Current Highlighter: Staedtler Triplus Textsurfer. Since my Stabilo Boss highlighters don’t fit in my pencil case, I needed something slimmer, and this Staedtler Triplus Textsurfer does the trick. It was a one-off from a JetPens sampler, and I’ve been liking it so far. The lavender color is subtle but effective.

Correction Tape: BIC Wite-Out Mini. Because I make mistakes and I like to pretend I didn’t. The BIC Wite-Out Mini is my go-to for quick fixes, and the compact size makes it easy to stash in my case.

Sticky Notes: Post-It Notepads. I always carry sticky notes, especially lined Post-Its, because they make it easy to jot down notes and move them between notebooks. Perfect for when I need to add something later without making a mess of my pages.

6-Inch Ruler: My Old Reliable. I’ve had a translucent pink ruler since middle or high school, and at this point, the numbers have completely faded—so it’s useless for measuring, but still perfect for drawing straight lines. If you’re looking for something similar, this one is close.

Final Thoughts: Possible Changes?

• I switch things up fairly often, and I can already tell some swaps are coming soon:
• I’ll probably rotate in a new black pen next month to keep things fresh.
• When I move back into my Hobonichi Weeks, I’ll likely keep one multipen consistently but swap out highlighters based on what works best for the layout.
• I don’t carry a pencil right now (unless it’s part of a multipen), but I’m thinking about adding a mechanical pencil so I don’t have to worry about sharpening. That means I’ll need to carry an eraser, too.

And of course, I also carry some tech gear, but again -- another post.