TwoKraftyChicks and Target Giveaway!

Giveaway time! Finally! So as I've mentioned before, TwoKraftyChicks on Etsy sent some adorable planner items over to use in a giveaway back in May. At the time, I was moving and the items got lost in the move and I finally found them! Yay!

The bad news is, some of the items got a little damaged. One of the paperclip bookmarks broke, and a couple of the stickers are a little damaged as well. Only a couple are damaged, and the ones that are a still very useable, but I felt I should warn you.

I felt horrible, I went to Target and bought some more goodies to go along with the things TwoKraftyChicks sent over!

And apologies for the horrible photos. It was a particularly gloomy day but I had to get the photos taken, and I could't take them outside like I normally would.

From TwoKraftyChicks, you will get: 

1 pagemarker

3 washi tape samples

6 sheets of stickers 

1 mini sheet of stickers

^ That's the worst of the damage. Sorry everyone! :(

And from Target, you will be receiving:

1 padfolio
1 pack of notecards
1 roll of washi tape
1 pack of paperclips

It's hard to tell in the photo, but the washi tape is like a cotton-candy pink and white striped.

I was contemplating getting a planner for the giveaway (because that would make sense) but I know some people are picky about what type of planner they like (I know I am). Even though it may be handy for some people to have more than one planner, many people don't need two, so I figured everyone could get use out of a simple notepad! I mean we all write things down, right? And this is one freaking cute notepad. And once you've gotten use out of the notepad included inside this padfolio, you can always go to Office Depot or Target, buy another, and continue on.

You have until 1/20 to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

9 Websites You Need to Bookmark

Back in 2014 I did an "11 Websites You Need to Bookmark" post, and all of those still apply by the way. But I've discovered some new websites that you should add to your list!

1. Canva.com is my favorite design website right now. They offer design templates (such as posters, Twitter header, menus, magazine covers) or you can use your own dimensions. I made that banner using Canva (the pattern is from Lilly Pulitzer though).

2. 10 Minute Mail - I wish I had known about this website a long time ago. You know those times you want to enter an email address for a coupon code and never hear from them again? Or enter an email address to get some sort of freebie sent to you? This email address will destruct within 10 minutes but you can read emails sent to that address for those 10 minutes (for confirmation codes and whatnot).

3. DaFont.com - Download any font you could ever possibly want!

4. r/WritingPrompts - I should have Reddit in general on this list, but this could be useful especially for us writers. Not that I have time to write fiction, but if I wanted to this is where I'd go for ideas!

5. What Should I Read Next? I've asked myself that question way too many times. You just type in authors or books that you like and it will give you suggestions.

6. Coursera allows you to search for free online classes to take. There are literally millions of courses to search through. There are even courses from big universities such as Yale, Princeton, Duke, etc.

7. 3-Minute Journal is a very interesting website that I have yet to try but I'm going to give it a shot this weekend. You write a brief journal entry and it tracks your emotional states, accomplishments, and a lot of other cool things. It shows you a graph over time I believe, too.

8. ListenToYouTube.com - If you do a lot of driving, it might be worthwhile to find some lectures or audiobooks or something to listen to while you're driving or walking to and from classes. John and I do a lot of driving so we listen to neurobiology lectures from Stanford.

9. Weavesilk.com is just incredibly fun to do, I've made some really cool "designs" if you want to call them that. Just try it, you'll see. It's actually kind of therapeutic.


Do you have any "must bookmark" suggestions? I'm always open to new things!

TwoKraftyChicks!

Last month I did a post on paper planners and journals, specifically about how adorable they are! TwoKraftyChicks is an Etsy shop that I found while looking for planner accessories, which are going to be featured in the upcoming giveaway! 

I don't think ya'll quite understand how hard it is for me to restrain myself from taking that pink sparkly bow bookmark and use it myself. To whoever wins the giveaway: I'm jealous. She sent over 2 bookmarks (the sparkly bow and "love"), 3 little washi tape samples, and 7 sticker sheets. 

Katie (Krafty Chick #1) is incredibly sweet, and is obviously very good at what she does. Everything is just so cute I can't get over it! "Krafty Chick #2" is her baby daughter Avery, by the way. 

This is just a little preview of some of the things that will be included in the upcoming giveaway, so keep checking back for more. 

Paper Planners & Journals

If you have a smart phone/tablet that you carry with you regularly, you already have a digital planner at your fingertips. Digital planners are so easy and convenient to use! They can sync basically your whole life with one tap. Being able to set alarms and reminders is also a huge plus.

It's probably just me, but for some reason I really miss having a physical planner. Journals too. Just something to write/doodle/brainstorm ideas in, or just something to jot down a quick idea.

 It also sucks when you need to add an event or check your calendar and one or both of your devices are dead.  

I'm partial to hand writing things (don't know why). You can color code on most digital planners, but I like highlighting things and putting stars and stickers next to important things in paper planners. I had shark stickers all over one of my planners to make sure I never missed "shark week" every month. 

And they are just so darn cute. 

You also have an excuse to buy ridiculously adorable stickers, washi tape, bookmarks, etc.

I never had any washi tape but I see I missed out because it's so cute. Washi tape can be used several different ways. The way I've seen it used most often is for marking several days in a row in your planner, if you're going on vacation for 5 days for example.
You can get stickers for literally anything - shark week, when to take pills, a water tracker, events, workout, pay day, bill due, etc. Just make sure you use them wisely and not make your planner too hectic. Of course a book mark is a necessity. You can buy cute little decorative ones or you can use a simple paperclip.

Seriously though look at those stickers. Who would ever think a bill due date would look so pretty?

I've gone through 2 Moleskine notebooks (pink ones!) and now I'm halfway through another note/sketchbook right now. I used them to practice writing with my fountain pens, practice calligraphy, doodle, write lists and blog ideas, write when I can't sleep, and anything else really.

So lovelies, do you still use a physical planner? Or are you strictly digital? What about notebooks? Let me know - I'm curious to see if I'm the only one left!