Journal to the Center of the Earth

Do any of my readers keep a journal or diary? Double points if you keep it between your mattress for safe-keeping.

I sometimes do, but mostly don't. I know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a vigorous diarist, one whom I aspire to be like, but my journal entries are far and few in between mainly because I infrequently have anything of significance to record. ("Dear Diary, Today I purged my documents folder and sorted my e-mails." or, "Dear Diary, Today I sat on the couch with Hannah and Katie, while we watched Sarah purge her documents folder and sort through her e-mails.")  I'd like to make a nice habit of keeping a journal during the next few, potentially adventurous months ahead. So, I'm going to ask that my readers hold me accountable.

It can't be that difficult because even Michael Scott keeps a journal. Then again, that could actually be strong case as to why someone shouldn't keep a diary...especially one of the incriminating kind.

"Tan all over...Jan all over. Oh, diary, hehe"
But, based on a graph that my dad printed out from Dan Hanger's facebook, it says that Successful people keep a diary and Non-Successful people say they keep a diary, but actually don't.

Dan Hanger's informative formula for success also says that Successful people keep a list of goals, whereas Non-Successful people fly by the seat of their pants.
I assume, most of my readers would like to fall under the Successful side of that graph.

So, let's all journal! Let's all make goals!

Not that I am living the dream and should ever be giving advice on how to live the dream, but I can see some progress from journaling and goal keeping.

For instance, in one of my journals that features F. Scott Fitzgerald's signature gilded in gold on the cover, I discovered that I had made a list of goals about 4 years ago. To my delight, a couple of those daunting goals were actually coming to fruition. It's great because at the time, they were really outlandish, and obviously weren't fulfilled over night, but it cemented the significance of making goals and maintaining a record of our everyday thoughts.

Eventually, there is victory.

So, make some goals today. Pick out a decorative journal that is dying to be written in and get going.

I'd love to hear your success stories!

Paper Repurposed.

I have a difficult time throwing away paper especially when I can see its potential. Because of this trait, I may be featured on an episode of TLC's Hoarders 20 years from now.

Here are 3 reasons why I continue to be a pack rat.

Recyclables

I believe I shrieked when I found a roll of  kelly green and cobalt blue vintage wrapping paper for only a dollar at an antique store several months ago. There are so many ways that I can use it. My first choice was to decoupage this picture frame. Oh and you can't tell from the picture, but the blue design is actually done in felt.

Our library has a designated section for donated books. There is an over abundance of those old Reader's Digest Books with the retro covers and five stories in each volume. I never feel inclined to read them because they are abridged, but I reveled at the idea of hacking the covers off and turning them into journals. I tend to go through paper rapidly when songwriting so this seemed to be a nice way to recycle a box of old computer paper found in my grandparent's basement and to make a donation to our public library on top of it.

The silver pillow on the right is fashioned from an old Tweed Jacket of my father's.

These two pillows are from oatmeal coloured cable sweaters that were no longer in use.