• A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal + Coupon Code

    If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for a loved one (or yourself — why not?), consider a blank notebook! In this post, I’ll show you how I worked in my notebook to make my own hybrid bullet journal. I’ve also a got a coupon code for you to save 15% on the journal…

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock

    For a couple of years, I’ve noticed bullet journal spread upon bullet journal spread popping up on my Pinterest feed. It’s hard not to be intrigued by the concept: basically, a bullet journal helps to keep you organized. Like, to a ridiculous but wonderful degree! You can keep track of books you want to read, movies you want to watch, water intake, meals, anything.

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock

    I have toyed with the idea of starting a bullet journal for a while, and my old to-do list notebook was starting to fill up. Almost on cue, a rep from Pad & Quill got in touch with me. They wanted to send me a couple of notebooks and a pen in exchange for a review. Normally, I’m not comfortable with this type of arrangement. I mean, I’m from the Midwest … if I don’t have something nice to say, I don’t want to say anything at all! And yet, the prospect of a free notebook just when I needed it was tempting. So, I said okay, and I crossed my fingers that I’d like what they sent.

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock

    I received three things from Pad & Quill: a medium-sized notebook, a small notebook, and a rollerball pen. In today’s post, I’m focusing on the medium-sized notebook because that’s what I used to make my hybrid bullet journal. I also used the rollerball pen a fair amount, but I don’t want to recommend it to you because — while it’s a nice pen — I don’t understand why it’s so opulently priced ($150!).

    My Hybrid Bullet Journal: The Artistic Portion

    First of all, I think it’s important to say that traditional bullet journaling relies on a specific system developed by creator Ryder Carroll. It’s a great system made by a great mind … but it’s a little bit too much for me, personally. Too many symbols and too complicated! Dually, my goal was to make a bullet journal that’s really more like a souped-up planner. Something that will keep me organized and help to boost my mood everyday! So, I decided to make a visual pep talk with the first few pages of my hybrid bullet journal.

    Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    These first two pages are dedicated to two things that have importance in my life: my relationship (cheesy, I know) and the resolve to take on challenges. In this way, my bullet journal is like a bit of a sketchbook.

    On the next page, I decoupaged the fork and spoon pattern from The Letter Writer’s Complete Resource. I did that because the page was very thin and I wanted to give it some substance!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    My hybrid bullet journal is a work in progress … I’m still thinking about what to put on the page that faces this pattern fromThe Letter Writer’s Complete Resource.

    I ended the front portion of the journal with a simple decoupaged note that my grandmother wrote to me while she was still alive. I can’t remember why she wrote it, but I’m glad I kept it! Every time I see it, I’m reminded of her (and her distinctive lefty handwriting)!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    Decoupaged notes from loved ones can go a long way in personalizing a bullet journal.

    My Hybrid Bullet Journal: The Informative Portion

    I don’t know about you, but I’m a person who likes to have information laid out in front of me. So, I started with a list of birthdays. I was delighted to discover that the paper used to make this notebook stood up beautifully to dip pen ink, which I used to write “Birthdays” and the months!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    I used Janet Style calligraphy and iron gall ink to write “Birthdays”, and Kaitlin Style calligraphy to write the months.

    Next, I made a “Things to Remember” page. It’s still a work in progress, but the purpose of this page is just to keep track of information that will come in handy. I also decided to make a “Passwords” page. Honestly, this page has been a lifesaver because I can never remember my passwords! Since most websites require you to change your password every so often, I wrote my passwords in pencil. That way, if my password changes, I can erase the old one and write it again!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    A “Passwords” page may not be right for everyone. If you travel often with your notebook (and therefore have the potential to lose it), you might think twice about putting your passwords in writing.

    Finally, I made an “Addresses” page. Like with the passwords page, I wrote out the addresses in pencil because they tend to change!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock

    My Hybrid Bullet Journal: The Planning Portion

    One look at this portion of the notebook, and Ryder Carroll would probably tell me that my system really deviates from his. And he would be right! For me, the best form of planning is simple checklists. I like to start out each and every day with a check list and cross off my tasks as I finish them. I might write little notes to myself on the side, but mostly I just have to-do lists. And that’s it … nothing fancy there!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock

    Thoughts on the Pad & Quill Medium Notebook

    All in all, I feel pleased with the notebook that I received. I think the ~$20 price is more than fair considering the smooth paper that’s conducive to a dip pen and ink! The notebook comes with attached ribbons for keeping your spot, which I like.

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    The Pad & Quill notebook has a little built-in folder at the back to keep important documents in!

    I got the dotted grid paper notebook, which is nice because it helps to keep all my writing nice and straight. I also appreciate that there’s a little pouch to keep things in at the end of the notebook, and I like that the notebook has an elastic to keep it shut.

    Coupon Code

    We are in the beginning of the holiday season, and this is a great time to start getting gifts lined up for your loved ones! I think that the Pad & Quill medium notebook would make a great gift (perhaps paired with a cool pen?), so I asked Pad & Quill if they could provide a coupon code for TPK readers. They happily acquiesced! You can type in the code JOURNALMORE at checkout to receive 15% off a medium or small journal of your choice. The coupon code is valid until Friday, November 30th!

    A Peek Inside My Hybrid Bullet Journal | The Postman's Knock
    Type in the code JOURNALMORE at checkout on padandquill.com to receive 15% off a medium or small journal of your choosing!

    A Cool Alternative

    Throughout my years at university, I used a Papaya! brand planner. I loved that thing! I don’t think it’s a great fit for someone who really wants to customize their planner or planning system. However, if you just want to keep yourself organized day to day, it’s perfect!

    Papaya! Planner 2010 | The Postman's Knock
    This is a photo of my 2010 planner; you can see that it was well-loved. As a university student, I looked forward to every January so I could buy the new edition of the Papaya! planner!

    While it worked for me as a student, I wouldn’t use a planner like this now because I don’t have a to-do list every single day (especially now that I’m a new parent). There are a lot of days that I’d have to leave blank! But — if you’re a student or you like to plan out every day in writing, a Papaya! planner would be awesome.


    I hope that this post helps to inspire you to either start a hybrid bullet journal, a traditional bullet journal, or work in a planner! If you’re anything like me, you’ll feel organized and accomplished when you can plan out your day in writing (and cross off tasks as you go). As always, I invite your comments, questions, or organization tips (!) regarding this post!

    Thanks so much for reading TPK — I appreciate that you’re here!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    *Note that all links to Pad & Quill in this post are affiliate links.