I’m pretty much a grandma when it comes to most things. I rarely update phone apps out of fear of change, I like things the way I’ve always done them, and I’m awful at new things. So diving into the world of traveler’s notebooks was a pretty huge step for me (I’m still patting myself on the back). Of course now I’m completely lost and haven’t a clue what I’m doing, but I figured it’s worth documenting the journey for any other grandma’s out there wanting to try something new.
So first and foremost, you have to figure out what size you want. There are literal tons of different sizes. Plus you can choose between leather or cloth, pockets or no pockets, and the price starts to get a little nutso. Since
Oh, Hello’s notebook inserts are 4×5.75 inches I decided the logical size for me was A6 so they’d fit inside and I wouldn’t have to fuss too much with finding inserts at least. I chose a middle-of-the-range leather notebook cover from Chic Sparrow (
this one) without any pockets or extra accessories to keep the price down. Already if I were to purchase another one I would get pockets in the front. So worth it and I’m already saving up for my next purchase to get some.
Inserts aren’t too complicated if you aren’t using your traveler’s notebook for an
actual planner. I’m using mine to replace
my Rifle Paper Co planner for daily to do lists, house to do lists, and just general stuff I need to write down that I don’t want muddling up my main planner. I’m still going to explore planner inserts a bit more to save you all the trouble of doing it yourself. I’ll report back once I figure out what the hell is going on with it all. At the very least, know your planner size and cling to that for all you’re worth.
As for the extra stuff, I’ve already gone a little crazy with a recent trip to Michael’s for supplies. I filmed my first “
Come Shopping with Me” video to document the occasion if you fancy a watch to see what I picked up. I’m excited to try and take all the bits and turn them into actual themes. Wish me luck.
I’ve been using mine for a handful of days and have discovered a few things. I love having all my various to do lists in one place, it’s portable and can fit in all my bags, and convenient. I do however find myself fussing over every scuff and ding in the leather although I’m told “that’s what leather does.” Also, pockets are a must and I’m currently trying to figure out a way around them so I have a place to store all my adorable die cuts without having to actually use them. If that’s not a grandma thing to do I’m not sure what is.
If you’re a traveler’s notebook pro, leave any advice and shop recommendations in the comments as I continue exploring! Any newbies have any questions I can try and sleuth out answers for? I’m on it.
Although we’re vlogging pretty regularly over on
our vlog channel, a good ol’ life updates post once and a while never hurt anyone. And with a new addition to the family and lots of new things in the world of planning and beauty, it felt about time.
Let’s start with an update on our newest furry friend Gallifrey. I wrote an
introduction post recently, but since he’s a growing kitten a
lot has already changed. He’s become a lot more adventurous, has developed a very annoying 5am wake up routine for first breakfast, and Tardis and him fight like siblings (in a good way). I must say although getting him came out of the blue, he’s the perfect addition to our family and just what we needed. He’s perfect at making us take a moment, put down the stickers, and enjoy a little family time. Fur babes are good for that.
Guys. I own a traveler’s notebook. I still haven’t a clue what I’m doing with it, but my first intro post will be up tomorrow with what I’ve learned so far about the entire thing. Spoiler, I love it. I’m not giving up my Erin Condren Life Planner anytime soon, but this bad boy is already a great addition to the team and has me ignoring the
Rifle Paper Co planner I used to go on about. This one is just so much more customizable, change-able, and smaller. But more on all of this tomorrow.
With fall in full force the beauty launches are rampant lately. I’m lucky enough to get some PR samples sent to my door occasionally including the new
Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara. My thoughts? It’s not worth the hype. The packaging is to die for, but the bristles are small and my lashes look great for a light-makeup every day look. But at least for me I don’t see what all the boasting is about. Just thought you guys should know before shelling out some good money on a higher end mascara. The
Perversion mascara by UD is
loads better and another tube is already waiting in my Sephora cart for my next purchase. Plus it’s a dollar cheaper, and that stuff matters to a penny-pincher like myself.
Besides the dud of mascara, there are a ton of new launches and exciting things to talk about on the blog. So prepare your eyes for some good old fashion makeup review posts. That’s some old school MicroscopeBeauty for you.
Now I have to rush pack for an overnight trip across the state at Alex’s parents’ house. We’re making an impromptu trip over since they won this sailing trip through a raffle or something. That seems like a totally Alex’s parents thing to have happen. So off we go sailing in the middle of September. Where’s my coat?!
Today marks the third anniversary of Oh, Hello Stationery Co. What. How is that even possible. I still feel like I’m that same, unsure girl who opened her shop up back in 2014. But now the stakes are higher, the competition stiffer, and everything’s a whole lot more complicated.
But I’m not that same girl from three years ago despite sometimes feeling like I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing. So much has changed since then and it’s crazy to actually think how far we’ve come with our business.
This photo showcases the first shop we ever sold our stationery in. It was a crepe place in downtown Flint and we sold about five cards, but it gave me the confidence to try and do more. We’re now in two large retail stores and have craft shows booked up through the new year. We’re trying new things regardless of setbacks. I think that’s probably the biggest thing that’s changed over three years. We, I, don’t give up so easily.
A lot of thanks for our success goes to my always daring husband Alex. I’m basically one big chicken when it comes to trying new things and yet he’s constantly taking whatever crazy idea I have and making it a reality. From building the most amazing card stands I’ve ever seen to helping us break into the traveler’s notebook world (we’re expanding!), I’ve never met someone so courageous in the face of possible failure. I sincerely hope you all can find someone like him to have in your life. It’s world changing.
So here we are, three years in and still no clue what the next three years are going to be like. That’s the thing about small business. You never truly know if it’ll just stay small, grow, or shrink to nothing. I’ve learned so much about myself, about my relationship, and about who I want to become.
Now off I go to buy myself a celebratory cupcake and maybe a chai tea latte with pumpkin spice. You gotta celebrate the small victories, right?
When summer rolls around I’m absolutely terrible with skincare. My dry skin loves all the added moisture and dewiness of a good hot day and I usually just settle for a quick cleanse and a moisturizer and I’m on my way. But as the weather changes my skin is already starting to tighten and raisin up again. Back to skincare I go.
I don’t like to over complicate really anything in my life, but skincare is high on the list. If my face is clean and there is some moisture put back into it, I’m a happy camper. My routine hasn’t changed much over the years, but I’ve repurchased nearly my entire routine a few times over.
Ironically enough despite my lazy ways, I always double cleanse. I use Clinique’s Take the Day of Cleansing Balm to really work the makeup off my face and follow up with The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Cleansing Polish. If I skip one of these steps my makeup basically laughs at me as it clings to my skin. The cleansing balm removes everything while the polish cleans up and scrubs my skin.
Next up is toner to remove any stubborn final bits of makeup and prime my skin for putting all the good stuff back into it. The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Hydrating Toner is the only one I’ve used for literally years. Really shows what a bang up job I do as a beauty blogger trying new products! It’s just so light on the skin, refreshing, and simple.
Creams are next and Derma-E’s Hydrating Serum has been my go to for six months or so. A lot of serums leave an annoying film behind that makes me feel like I completely undid all the cleansing work I had just finished. This one is water based so it feels delicate on the skin while hydrating.
I dab on a bit of IT Cosmetic’s Bye Bye Undereye Eye Cream in the hopes to slow down aging as much as possible. It’s light (are we seeing a pattern here yet?), breathable, and sinks into the skin quickly so I can finish up and hop in bed.
Depending on the need for moisture and hydration I bounce between two products for the final step. On regular ol’ skincare days I use a bit of the Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins. Thick, rich, and creamy in all the right ways it slowly absorbs into the skin as I try to avoid scrolling through Instagram before going to bed. But if things are seriously dry and painful nothing helps more than the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. The next morning my skin feels brand new and full of life. It’s has that gorgeous, plump “I drank my weight in water” look that I’m always going for.
It’s about time I started taking my skincare routine more seriously as the cold, dry weather is headed my way. I’m even considering adding it to my habit tracker in my planner, it’s just that serious.
What are some of your favorite hydrating skincare products? Any recommendations of other toners I should try?
If you’re subscribed to the Microscope Beauty newsletter then it’s pretty obvious just how much I find myself getting into on the internet. Currently I’m actively running three YouTube channels, trying to keep up with this blog, and then everything that goes along with running your own business. It’s a lot, but it’s also totally doable.
The biggest advice I can give anyone trying to squeeze the most out of their week is to have a consistent schedule. Not just when you’re posting things online, but for getting them done too. My weeks always take the same general form. Mondays I work on orders and get caught up from whatever happened over the weekend. Tuesdays are devoted to filming anything and everything I want to post that week. Wednesdays are for Oh, Hello. The rest of the week I leave open to balance out the front half but tend to be filled with more orders, new releases, and editing videos and blog posts.
Schedules are key, but I also avoid pointless down time. Sure I take breaks and enjoy a bath every once and a while, but I also don’t binge watch Netflix as my laptop sits closed next to me. I’m always working on something or another when the television is on or I’m in a long car ride. That “useless” time is only as useless as you let it be. Even brainstorming new content is a great use of time if you’re waiting for an appointment or between classes.
It also helps that my planner is surgically attached to me. It does the remembering so I don’t have to and that makes the world of difference. So many non-planners in my life are constantly feeling overwhelmed or like they’re forgetting things. Nothing a hefty to do list and a few adorable stickers can’t solve.
But no matter what, I try not to be too hard on myself if I can’t get everything I want done in a day. Sometimes I’ll take the week off of filming videos to focus on new releases. Other days I’ll devote to writing tons of blog posts rather than making new releases. I allow myself to find a balance and forgive myself if some days it just doesn’t work out. There’s always tomorrow!
Take a look at how you spend your days and weeks. There’s definitely some time in there somewhere that you can set aside for that YouTube channel or getting your blog back up and running. Maybe watch a few less cat videos? That definitely did the trick for me.
