ninagobragh | Entries tagged with journals

Current Mood: pleased
Current Location: Work

Not long ago, I mentioned I’d finally settled on the Clever Fox Gardener’s Journal to help keep track of my growing houseplant collection. I didn’t want to overthink it, so I went with something familiar because:

I’ve used their planners before and genuinely liked them.
Their journals are well-made and sturdy.
The price was excellent—even with shipping.

I’ve now been using it for a few weeks to track my houseplants before the outdoor growing season really begins. So I thought I’d share a few thoughts on how it’s working and whether it’s maybe a little more than I need.

What's Inside the Clever Fox Gardener’s Journal

Short answer: a lot! This is a very detailed journal that covers everything from planting to harvesting to soil pH and pest control. Some of the standout features include:

A full USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map (I’m in Zone 5!)
A checklist for gardening tools and equipment
A companion planting guide, so you know which plants like (and hate) each other
Plant disease prevention and control tips
A guide to soil pH preferences for different plants
A full spread of planner stickers (because of course)

There are also dedicated sections for:

Garden planning
Seasonal task lists
Pest and disease logs
Expense tracking
Harvest and bloom records
Dot grid note pages

It’s a full toolkit in planner form. But the section I’ve been using the most so far is the plant log, where I write out everything I need to remember for each houseplant like its name, location in the house, how often it needs to be watered or fertilized, and any notes about its general care. (Lesson learned about some of them. May your memory be for a blessing, Boston fern.)

Maybe Too Much?

Honestly? Probably.

As helpful and thorough as this journal is, I don’t think I need all of it. The plant log section is the main course for me, and if that’s all I was after, I probably could have just made my own with a Field Notes Index Logbook (though I’d have needed several of them to fit everything).

That said, it’s nice to have everything in one place, especially since I'm about get serious with outdoor gardening this summer. And while the journal is great for a paper-based overview, I’ve been pairing it with an app that’s doing a lot of heavy lifting.

The Plant Parent App

Plant Parent is a gardening app that basically does everything I want the Clever Fox journal to do, but digitally.

It lets me:

Record all my plants
Learn about their water/light/fertilizer needs
Schedule reminders for watering and feeding
Flag which ones are toxic to humans and pets (Very helpful when you live with a cat with two brain cells who thinks he’s a vegetarian. C'mon, Walter.)

It’s smart, it’s intuitive, and it told me that my String of Pearls is mildly toxic—so now it lives safely in a greenhouse, out of reach of curious paws.

I could probably get by with just the app. But --

Final Thoughts: Por Que No Los Dos?

There’s something organic about writing down my plant care by hand. Even if the app sends me reminders, I like the act of recording things in the Clever Fox journal. It feel more connected to my plants and it’s satisfying to flip through the pages and see how far my collection (and confidence) has come.

I don’t know if I’ll stick with both tools forever, but for now? This combo works.

Current Mood: jubilant
Current Location: Home

I’ve kept a journal for years, and for a long time, my approach was long-form daily entries—full pages of reflections, thoughts, and emotions about my day. But over time, I realized something:

I don’t always have that much to say.

Some days, I’d sit with my journal, trying to fill a whole page when I really only had a few sentences worth of thoughts. Other times, the things I did want to reflect on felt too personal to write down, especially when I could just talk them through with my therapist.

I still wanted to keep a written record of my days, but I needed a format that was less overwhelming—one that let me write without pressure.

That’s when I switched to the Hobonichi Techo Five-Year Journal, and honestly? It’s been one of the best stationery decisions I’ve ever made.

About the Hobonichi Techo Five-Year
The Hobonichi Five-Year is a leather-bound journal with a simple but brilliant structure. Each page is divided into five sections, allowing space to write a small entry for the same date across five years. It’s a unique format that turns journaling into a time capsule—each time I return to an entry, I can see exactly what I was thinking or doing on that day in previous years.

Like a lot of the Hobonichi lineup, this journal is in Japanese. But again, language isn’t a barrier. The layout is intuitive, and the dates are easy to follow. The only exception to the standard format is February 29th of this year, which, since it only occurs once every four years, gets its own full-page spread.

While I usually prefer A5 notebooks, I bought the A6 Five-Year. The journal itself is expensive, as are the covers, so I went with the smaller size despite my usual preference. To make it feel even more special, I picked up the green tweed cover, which adds a touch of warmth and texture to an already beautiful book. I also write with the expensive and finicky Jetstream 4&1 (the green body that doesn’t give me as many problems). I don’t recommend being too creative with your pen choice because of the Tomoe River paper, so chose wisely.

The Most Beautiful Journal
This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful journal I’ve ever purchased, and it was worth every penny. I did the math and for $40USD, this comes out to buying an $8 notebook once a year ($26, if you count the tweed cover), so at least the cost of a Moleskine or a Leuchteurm. The leather binding is smooth and luxurious, making it feel like an heirloom piece rather than just another notebook. Despite its smaller size, it’s satisfying to hold, and the craftsmanship is everything I expect from Hobonichi—thoughtful, sturdy, and elegant.

Even though I usually prefer larger notebooks, I don’t mind the compactness of this one. The binding feels secure, and the paper quality is excellent, which makes writing in it a joy. The green tweed cover adds another level of durability and aesthetic appeal, making the journal feel even more personal.

That said, I sometimes hesitate when writing in it because my handwriting is, quite frankly, terrible. A book this well-made almost feels too nice for my scribbles, but I remind myself that journals are meant to be used, not just admired. But darn, I should probably start using a better pen (even though I REALLY like that the Jetstream matches that tweed cover)!

From Long-Form to Short Daily Entries
For years, I used a full-page journaling format, writing reflections, thoughts, and feelings at the end of each day. But over time, I realized this approach wasn’t sustainable for me.

I didn’t always have much to say, and some days were so uneventful that forcing a long entry felt unnecessary. Keeping up with a full page every day started to feel like a chore rather than something I enjoyed. On days when I did have deeper thoughts, I often shared them in therapy rather than writing them down, so I no longer felt the need to document every intense emotion.

Still, I wanted a record of my days—something quick, low-pressure, and easy to maintain. The Five-Year gives me exactly that. Instead of feeling obligated to write a full entry, I can just jot down a few sentences at the end of the day about what I accomplished, what I watched, or what stood out to me. It makes journaling feel effortless instead of overwhelming. And I can take it anywhere with me without feeling like I’m lugging it around, either.

How the Five-Year Format Works for Me
One of my favorite things about this journal is that it feels almost "recyclable" in the best possible way. Instead of finishing the book and putting it on a shelf, I loop back to the beginning and start over on January 1, layering new entries on top of previous years. The format allows me to see past entries on the same page, which gives me an instant sense of perspective. Each year, I get a built-in reflection on how my life has changed—or stayed the same.

Even though the daily space is small, there’s still room to expand. Next to each set of daily sections, there’s a full page for additional notes or reflections, meaning I can write more when I feel like it. This flexibility keeps me from feeling boxed in by the structured format.

Most importantly, this setup makes journaling sustainable. There’s no pressure to fill a full page every day, which means I’m much more likely to stick with the habit for years to come.

Final Thoughts
The Hobonichi Techo Five-Year might not be perfect for everyone—if you love long, unstructured journaling, this format might feel limiting. But for someone like me, who wants a simple, sustainable way to document daily life, it’s exactly what I needed.

Even though the A6 size isn’t my favorite, I love this book and plan to keep using it for years to come.

Current Mood: enthralled
Current Location: Home

I’ve heard a lot of praise about Midori notebooks for a long time, but I've never actually picked one up. The reviews generally said the same things:

They lay flat
The paper is incredibly smooth and durable
They are budget-friendly (say, more so than Leuchtturms and Moleskines

I’ve used both of those brands plenty of times, so I wanted to see if Midori could live up to the hype.

Minimalism at Its Best

The beauty of Midori notebooks is the simplicity. The company even boasts that the first page is the cover: same paper, no frills, no endpaper under the cover. The entire design is meant to prioritize the comfort of writing, and the company absolutely delivers on that promise.

Midori offers a range of sizes, including A4, A5, A6, A7, and B6 slim, so there’s an option whether you prefer a large canvas for big ideas or something pocket-sized for quick notes. The notebooks also come in three formats—lined, blank, and grid—so you can choose the style that best suits your writing or sketching needs. Personally, I prefer lined, but it’s nice to have options.

Each notebook includes a single ribbon bookmark sewn into the spine, which adds a nice touch, though it is incredibly delicate (and I do mean delicate—more on that in a second). As a fun bonus, Midori also includes a small set of stickers: one labeled IDEA, one labeled DIARY, and a third with spaces for Volume, Start, Finish, and From the Library Of details. You can use them to organize your notebooks, or—like me—you can admire them briefly and then forget they exist.

My First Midori Notebook

Last fall, on a whim, I picked up an A6-sized Midori MD notebook from a bookstore in Ann Arbor. I have been working on this Tarot tracking project, and the size and format seemed perfect for what I needed.

I expected to like it, but didn't expect to immediately love it!

The notebook lays completely flat, just like advertised.
The paper is buttery smooth. My pen absolutely flew across the page.
The ribbon bookmark? Yeah, it’s delicate. I learned quickly not to tug on it too much or it will pop right off.

Here's one interesting detail: Midori’s lined paper has a thicker horizontal line in the middle of each page. This lets you split your pages if you want. I used it this way for a few weeks since I didn’t need a full page per day at first. Eventually, I switched to filling out full pages, but the dividing line never bothered me either way.

That Ultra-Minimalist Cover, Though

I love this minimalist notebook, but I also put my notebooks through a lot. After a couple of days, the edges of my Midori started fraying and curling. If you’re gentle with your notebooks, this might not be a problem. If you’re like me and toss them into bags, stack them under other books, and generally treat them like a well-loved paperback, you’re going to need a cover.

Luckily, Midori makes clear and paper covers, so I grabbed a pink paper cover for my A6. Problem solved!

I Already Bought Another One

I wound up filling my A6 pretty quickly and switched to my Hobonichi Weeks for tracking the Tarot project. But I loved the Midori notebook so much that I bought an A5 version with a matching cover for another project I have planned.

I’m also very tempted to pick up a B6 slim, but unfortunately, JetPens doesn’t have covers for that size. I may have to check Etsy, which is where I’ve sourced my Weeks covers before.

Final Thoughts: Believe the Hype

If you’re looking for a minimalist, no-fuss notebook with phenomenal paper quality, Midori MD notebooks are absolutely worth a try. They hold up well, they make writing feel effortless, and they’re a great alternative to pricier brands. Just be prepared to grab a cover if you’re even a little rough on your notebooks.