Jot This Down

School has been crazy for the past several weeks. I'm always looking for ways to stay organized. Writing things down is the only thing that works for me. I am a big fan of sticky notes and Post Its, but I have yet to find any that work well with all my favorite pens. Enter the Soho Jotter Box.

My dad and sister bought me what has become one of my favorite tools. They visited Kate's Paperie on a trip and knew it was my kind of store. This was before I started using fountain pens, but I soon discovered the paper in the Soho Jotter Box is great for writing on.

I have found so many uses for my Jotter Box. I even made a tiny book out of the paper to accompany a creative writing project. The paper has worked well with all my pens. There is minimal show through, but it's not distracting.

The best praise I can give for this product is the fact that I ordered a refill pack of paper for the box. That hardly ever happens because I usually get tired of paper before long. The only negative is that the refill pack I ordered has random faint lines running through the paper. The note sheets have a naturally linear grain, but the grain is broken up by extra lines. It's hard to explain, but I do notice the extra lines.

Because of the random line problem, I give the Soho Jotter Box 4.5 out of 5 smiley faces.

*Note: I have no affiliation with Kate's Paperie. Also, I'm still learning to adjust my scanner so my writing samples look true to color.

Thanks for reading!

Note: Rating System

I haven't fully decided on my rating system yet. For now - I am going to rate everything based on a 5 point system. So 5 x :) = 5 smiles or 5 points.

Thanks to @michaelramm on twitter for pointing out that I didn't explain the ratings in my last review. 

Doctor, Doctor

For my first review, I wanted to talk about one of my early favorites - the Pilot Dr. Grip Gel. Currently, I have two - a black one that I've been using for 2 years and a blue one that I just purchased. These take the Pilot G2 refills, which have so many fans. I must add to the collective praise of these pens. Before I discovered fountain pens and roller balls, the Dr. Grip was all I used. I just can't give them up.

In the writing sample, I used a 0.5 black refill. In my opinion, the 0.7 refills are much smoother. I like using the 0.5 for taking notes in class because it does not smear at all. My only complaint is that the paint on my older one is badly chipping off. I have been using it almost daily for 2 years, so I guess that isn't too bad.


Overall rating: 5 x :)

Thanks for reading! Hope you all have a wonderful week. Once I find my missing usb cord, I'll start including pictures.

Beginnings and Explanations

My parents have been converting our old home videos to dvd. It has been fun (and embarrassing) to drag out all these memories. One of the tapes showed us opening presents on Christmas morning when I was around four. When I unwrapped a plastic storage container the size of a shoebox, my mother said, "look, it's something to put your new markers and crayons in!". The four-year-old me was so, so, so excited about a bunch of school supplies. I don't remember those gifts, but it was obvious that I started loving all things to do with words from an early age. After I started reading, I always had a book in hand. I also frequently wrote and "illustrated" little stories. I had a gigantic imagination.

My first nice pen was a gift from my dad. He ordered my sister and I a pen and two notebooks each from Levenger. I really wish I had a picture of my pen. It was a lime green roller ball that twisted open. The notebooks matched the pen perfectly. I used the pen off and on in 7th and 8th grade until tragedy struck. Somehow I broke the pen in the middle of my english class and never found all the parts. Looking back, I realize that my interest in pens and office supplies is definitely not a new thing.

What are your hobbies? How did you first become interested in what you love - pens, paper, monkeys, spaceships, or whatever else you spend your time doing?

-bk

P.S. Please come back soon! I am going to attempt some reviews next week.

Fancy Meeting You Here

I love words, so blogging makes sense right? Actually, even publishing this post is the online equivalent of taking a giant leap of faith.

A little about me:
I am a college student (for a few more months anyway).
I'm introverted around people I don't know (and sometimes around people I do know).
I am not athletic at all, but I am obsessed with college football (roll tide!).
I have two miniature dachshunds - Lula and Shoalie
My church, my family, my bf, and my friends are my top priorities.
I tend to worry too much, but I am working on that.
I love to read, write, shop, and go fishing out on the river.
I collect ink pens (yes, really). I can't stick to the same notebook for more than a few months. I am usually on the quest to find the perfect planner (note: I have geek-like tendencies).

Why did I create this blog?
The short answer is to share things I think are really cool and also connect with others.

Really cool things, like...
Pens
Paper
Books
Organization
Tidbits from life

What's the long answer?
To be completely honest, I am going to figure this out as I go along. I don't want my focus to be too narrow or too broad. Ideally, my posts will be varied enough to be interesting but connected enough to make sense. I am a big fan of balance. Of course, if anyone reads this, I would love feedback!

Thanks for making it this far. Welcome. Fancy meeting you here.
-bk