Plan. Adventure. Live. – Page 10 of 11 – A blog about planning, traveling, and living this crazy life!

How to Create the Perfect Bath

September 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

I am the bath queen! It is true. We moved into our new (to us) home last Fall and one of the things I was most excited about was the deep, jetted tub, in the master bath. It was one of my bucket list items to own and I am determined to not let it go to waste. I use it at least once a week and sometimes twice depending on how busy my schedule is and over time I have learned how to create the most relaxing and enjoyable bath ever.

Here are some things that I use every time I turn on the faucet and let the hot water run:

A Bathtub Tray

This tray was a gift from my husband. He gave it to me shortly after we moved into our home and I have used it for every bath since. It slides to fit across many different sized bathtubs, it has a spot to prop up your tablet or book, it has dish for your soap, and a perfect spot for your beverage. It even has a place to slide the bottom of your wine glass to keep it from tipping over.

Bath Bombs

I haven’t always used bath bombs. I have tried everything, including oils, bubble baths, and epsom salt. They all have their benefits, but bath bombs are my absolute favorite. They are easy to store and use and they come in so many awesome scents and colors. I am currently obsessed with these Amaze Balls. They come in a lot of different scents and they have cute little toy in the center. The best part? They don’t leave a colored residue on your bathtub!

Your Favorite Music and a Water Resistant Speaker

No bath is complete without some tunes. You can create a special playlist for it or you can just browse your favorite artists. Make the experience even better by using a water resistant bluetooth speaker. I have one that I leave hanging on the towel rack, above my bathtub. It is always ready for me to sync with my phone and start jamming out to my favorite music, while I relax in the tub.

*side note: NEVER use your phone in the bathtub, while it is plugged into power!

Book or Kindle

I always have a book to read. Sometimes it’s a physical copy and sometimes it’s the Kindle version, but either way I love reading while I chill in the bathtub. While it’s nice to rest your eyes and just soak for a bit sometimes, reading can be a good way to pass the time while you are soaking. Next time you take a dip in the tub, download a good romance or mystery novel and see for yourself how relaxing it is.

A Face Mask Treatment

I’m a fan of face masks. I don’t use one every time I take a bath, but I would say 75% of the time I do. I prefer to use sheet masks. They are quick and easy to apply and the best part is they have no mess at all. This one from BioRepublic felt amazing on my face after a long day out in summer heat.

Your Favorite Scented Candle

Nothing sets the mood quite like a good smelling candle. I typically will leave the main light off in the bathroom and take my bath by candlelight. The combination of the flickering light and my favorite scent wafting through the air are enough to relax me right to sleep. Just be sure to place the candle at a safe distance from the tub, otherwise you may put the light out before you are ready!

A Glass of Wine

I know you are thinking I saved the best for last and you would be right. A glass of your favorite wine is the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing bath experience. If you get the bamboo bath tray that I mentioned at the beginning, you will even have a safe spot to slide your glass into. I really like the Cupcake Wine flavors, but feel free to choose your favorite.

Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet 750 mL Red Blend WineI hope you are able to take this list and create the most amazing bath for yourself. There is nothing like sinking into a hot bath at the end of a long day. With this combination of items you will be able to melt the stress and worry away and feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

What are some ideas you have for creating the perfect bath? Were you able to try out any of the ideas I suggested? Let me know in the comments!

Much Love,

Planning

5 Things to Start Tracking in Your Planner Today

September 23, 2017 Leave a Comment

So you may have figured this out by now, but there are A LOT of things you can put in a planner. It’s not just a home for your calendar, appointments, and task list. You can use it to keep a record of so many things. Today I am going to share just five of those things that you can track.

1. TV Shows.

The hubby and I love to binge on Netflix and Hulu. We don’t have a traditional cable or satellite service so that means we are either watching older seasons on Netflix or keeping up with new shows the day after they air on Hulu. When you have started what seems like a million shows, sometimes it’s hard to keep track. That is why I dedicate some space in my bullet journal to keeping up with all of the series we watch.

2. Travel Log.

I love traveling! Over the last two and a half years, my husband and I have gone all over the world. It has been so amazing and life changing. I wanted a way to document it all. I do plan on setting up a separate travel journal that I will probably be posting about at a later date, but for the time being I have created a little place in my bullet journal for keeping up with all of the places we have been. Another cute way I have seen this done is by drawing out a world map and shading in the different states and countries as you travel to them. If you have a love of traveling, this is a MUST for your planner.

3. The Weather.

There are a couple good reasons to track weather conditions and temperatures in your planner. I like to include a weather forecast in my weekly spread so that I can refer to it daily and know if I will need a jacket or umbrella with me. Also, I track the daily high temps for the temperature blanket I am currently crocheting. Each row on the blanket represents a day in the year and the color indicates what range the temp is in that day.

4. Graituted.

You may not think of gratitude as something you can track, but it is! I know you have seen gratitude logs floating around Instagram. Maybe it’s a short phrase added to the bottom of a weekly spread or maybe it’s an entire section of daily thankful thoughts. Not only does it put you in a good mood to write down at least one thing you are grateful for, but it’s also nice to have a record to look back on later. If you track this for a year and then you go through a rough patch in life, you will have something there, in writing, that tells you what you still have to be thankful for.

5. Online Orders.

How often do you order something and then completely forget that you did? I am guilty of this for sure! My husband and I have a arrived home to a package before and we both looked at each other like, “what did you order?” Then, we come to find out it was a book that I had preordered two months ago. Even worse is forgetting you have something being delivered and having it be left out in the elements for a day or two before anyone notices it. A lot of good that weather tracking is doing you if you don’t know you are leaving a package out in the rain! That is why I started keeping an inventory of what I have purchased and when. I also include the expected ship date. When I get an email updating me on shipment or tracking I don’t mark it as read until I have updated the information in my planner. This helps prevent unexpected deliveries from happening often.

So there you have it! Those are five ways I have been using my planner that you may not have thought of before. What do you like to track in your planner, besides your schedule? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Much Love,

Beauty

Ipsy September Glam Bag Review

September 18, 2017 Leave a Comment

Hey ladies!

September is already half over. Can you believe it? This week will mark the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall.

I am excited to let you know that in the coming months I will be sharing a lot of new content. One of the things that I am adding to my regular posting schedule is a review of my monthly, Ipsy Glam Bag!

This was my first month receiving an Ipsy Glam Bag and I was thrilled to see this pink package waiting for me in the mail. I love it when companies go the extra mile with things like packaging. It may seem small, but who doesn’t love to get happy mail like this?

Try Ipsy!

September Ipsy Glam Bag

Let me start by saying that I am so clueless when it comes to cosmetics. It’s not for lack of trying. I just don’t alway know where to begin or what products to use. That’s where the Ipsy Glam Bag comes in. What better way is there for a make-up novice like myself to try a lot of different products and figure out what works best for me? Yeah, I can’t think of one either. My first Glam Bag did not disappoint!

Now, let’s talk about this bag! I had spoiled myself on what it would look like before I got it. Ipsy sends you an e-mail the week your bag is due to ship out and you have the opportunity to see it and all of it’s contents ahead of time. I’m a very impatient person, so naturally I had to take a peak.

The outside of the bag is black and studded. I love how edgy it looks. It would even be suitable to carry as a small clutch on date night. It has a gold zipper and the inside is a beautiful Royal Blue.

The day after I received my bag, we had plans to go out. I decided that would be perfect for trying out all of the products at once. I started with clean, moisturized skin and pulled out my first product.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

The shade was great for my skin tone and the application was easy. It evened out my skin well, leaving me with a smooth surface to apply the rest of my make-up. There wasn’t a foundation included in this bag so I applied my own powder foundation and concealer and then moved onto my eyes.

Ciaté London Wonderwand Mascara in Black Magic.

I absolutely LOVE the hour-glass shape of the “wonderwand”! The bristles are not clumped together so they are able to easily capture each lash. It worked great for lengthening and separating! I will definitely be using this mascara more.

After adding the finishing touches to my eyes it was time to move on to the next product from my Glam Bag.

The Dirty Little Secret Lip Gloss in Nude Beach

This lipgloss went on smooth and did not feel sticky at all. It is a super shimmery gloss, which I wasn’t expecting, and is not usually my go to, but I loved how it turned out. I did have to reapply it twice during the day, which is not uncommon for lip glosses.

After finishing my up my face, I was ready to paint my fingernails. I started out with a simple clear bottom coat. Then I applied then next item from my Glam Bag!

P.R.M.I.T Beauty GELlusion polish in Capricorn.

I received A LOT of compliments on this color! It is perfect for Fall. I will use it again for that reason, but I was not thrilled with the wear time. It started to chip on me the second day. I would expect that from a cheaper polish, but for a “Gel-Effect” polish you at least hope to get a few days out of it. Next time I try it out, I will use it with a better bottom and top coat polish to see if that helps.

NEOGEN Dermatology Real Flower Cleansing Water

The last product in the September Glam Bag is the NEOGEN Dermatology Real Flower Cleansing Water in ROSE. This was my first experience with a cleansing rose water, but it definitely won’t be my last!

I used this after we had arrived back home and I was ready to turn in for the night. Since I had never used a product like this I had to read the instructions (I told you I am clueless). It said to saturate a cotton pad and just wipe it across your entire face to remove make-up and cleanse the skin.

The smell was delicious, it felt cool and refreshing on my skin, and it did remove all of my make-up easily. If I had to pick, this would be my favorite product out of this month’s Glam Bag. The Ciaté London Mascara would be a close second.

So that’s it! My first month experiencing the Ipsy Glam Bag. I will continue to use these products throughout the month and I will look forward to seeing what will be included in my October Glam Bag.

Have you ever tried Ipsy? If you have, what is the best product you have tried? Let me know in the comments! If you haven’t and you would like to order your first Ipsy Glam Bag, Click Here!

Much Love,

Living

Five of my Favorite things in Fall

September 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

The time of the year I love most is quickly approaching. In rural Tennessee, there are many signs that the season is about to change. The leaves have started to fall and change colors, there is a crisp, coolness to the air every morning, everyone is sporting their favorite football team’s jersey, and the sweet smell of burning tobacco is filling the countryside.

It’s almost Fall, y’all!

My Must Have Fall Products

When this time of year rolls around, there are some things that I just can’t live without.

1. Ochre Malden Filofax

The touch, the smell, and the beautiful color of the leather all scream Fall to me. I will be switching back to it soon, because to me it isn’t really Fall yet if I’m not carrying around my Malden.

2. Boots

A cute pair of lace up boots are essential to every fall wardrobe. They go great with jeans, dresses, and leggings. They are also easy to style for almost any occasion. I’m never a fan of sacrificing comfort for style so I tend to go with shorter heels, but to each their own.

3. Leggings

Obviously if it’s boots season, then it is also leggings season. That’s right ladies! You can put away your shorts and skirts for something a little more comfortable. Whether you are lounging at home or headed for a night out, leggings are a Fall must. You also must have them in multiple colors options, of course!

4. Pumpkin EVERYTHING

Okay, so this is probably a no-brainer, but pumpkins are like Fall’s mascot. Everything from home decor to your morning coffee can be “spiced” with a little pumpkin. The photo above is from my fireplace. I also have smaller pumpkin decorations scattered around the rest of my house. A pumpkin-shaped wax warmer is currently melting a pumpkin-scented block of wax in my living room and let’s not forget the most basic of them all: The Pumpkin Spice Latte. You know you want one.

5. Hot Tea

Given the option I am almost always a coffee drinker. However, there is just something about having a hot cup of tea in the fall, especially a Chai tea. When the temperature outside starts to drop along with the leaves, I switch my afternoon iced coffees for a piping hot, Chai Tea.

So that’s my list. These are the things I start reaching for every Fall. What are some of your must have fall items? Let me know in the comments below!

Much Love,

Adventures

A Day Out in Nashville: Coffee, Goat Yoga, and Soda!

September 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

Hey y’all! Today I am starting a new series that I am super excited about! It’s going to be all about exploring my city: Nashville, Tennessee. My husband and I love to travel and we have gone to several different cities over our short marriage, but there is just something about getting out and finding new and fun things to do in your very own town. Hopefully, by sharing a few of our fun days and nights out, I can encourage you to explore wherever you may be in the world, or even better, maybe it will encourage you to take a trip to Nashville!

I am starting this blog series off by telling you about the plans we had one beautiful August day to celebrate my 29th birthday. They all take place in the magical land of East Nashville.

But first, coffee!

The day started at a trendy little coffee shop, called Bongo East, which is part of the local roasting company Bongo Java. I had a Chai Latte and their PBG Wrap (it’s the delicious combination of peanut butter, banana, and granola all wrapped in a tortilla).

Coffee at Bongo East

Goat Yoga

The next thing on our agenda was a surprise to me. You see, this was my birthday weekend and my husband, Justin, had signed me up for something and I had no clue what it was. I soon found out that my mystery plans were going to take place in the big, open, grassy area next door to Bongo East.

Shenanigoats Yoga

When you hear Goat Yoga, what do you think? Yep. It’s humans doing yoga as goats jump on them and nibble at their hair. No joke. I know I may sound crazy right now, but it was really a lot of fun. Trust me, when I say that I am not very experienced in yoga. YouTube has been my main instructor and I have taken a class at the gym a time or two, but I am very much a beginner.

That doesn’t seem to matter when goats are involved. The class was fairly large and we were spread out in two long rows. It was a mix of different levels of expertise, but when a goat comes to kiss your face (or eat your nose?) even the most experienced yogi will crumble in laughter. I dare you to try holding a plank position while a goat stands on your back and eats a strand of your hair.

More Goat Yoga

The event was held by a company called Shenanigoats Yoga and they have some of the cutest, cuddly goats you have ever seen. They don’t have a website, but you should check out their Facebook page to see more photos.

Yes, that goat is eating my hair.

Soda Shop Stop

After Goat Yoga, we took a short walk around East Nashville and we found ourselves at The Soda Parlor. I was still full from breakfast, but needed something refreshing to drink. This place was well worth the stop! I had the Orange Dream Soda that was listed as “On Tap” and Justin tried the Cream Soda. Both were delicious and really hit the spot. I just wanted to sit and chill for awhile, but the next time I go I will definitely take advantage of their free, vintage arcade games. Pac-Man for the win, y’all!

The Soda Parlor in Nashville, TN

So that sums up our day out in Nashville. We tried two new restaurants and I tried a new activity that was unique and fun.

Baby Goat!

Do you ever explore your own city? Have you found anything exciting that you never knew existed? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time.

Much Love,

Planning

Setting up my Bullet Journal

September 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

Follow my blog with BloglovinApproximately one week ago I was standing in the journal section at Books-A-Million. This is a place that I find myself often. Sure, I come to browse the books, but being the stationery lover that I am, I always gravitate towards the section with shelves upon shelves of beautiful, empty notebooks. However, last week was different. I was on a mission to change up my planning system.

I found what I was looking for. An A5 size, black notebook, with good paper quality and a dot grid format.

My bullet journal and tools of choice.

Making the Switch.

I had already spent quite a bit of time browsing Pinterest and Instagram. Honestly, I have been eyeing bullet journal spreads for over a year now, always contemplating, but never following through. As I have stated previously, I started planning with a personal size Filofax. A little less than a year ago, I added an Erin Condren planner to the mix and for a few months I felt stable. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I started to feel that itch again. If you are a planner girl, you probably know what I’m referring to. It’s that nagging feeling that you need to switch things up. Sometimes that means putting a lot of cash into yet another planner, in this case, it meant simplifying my system and adding my own creativity to it.

The inside front cover of my bullet journal.

The Basics.

The first thing I did was number all of my pages. It was a tedious task, but I felt it was necessary because I was going to be including an index. I went ahead and wrote out a list of what I knew I wanted to include and added it to the index. It will take me weeks to add all of the collections I want, but now they all have a page number assigned so I know where everything will be. After I finished the index and the page numbering, I decided I wanted a “dashboard” of sorts. So I decorated the inside front cover and first page with inspirational stickers from a MAMBI sticker book and wrote out one of my favorite Bible verses.

My September monthly view.

Monthly Spread.

Next, came setting up my monthly view for September. I wanted something simple. I use my monthly spreads as an “at-a-glance” view of what I have going on. Also, I like to list out the things I need to get done before the month is over. Some of those tasks will be added to my weekly and daily spreads as needed.

My first weekly spread in my bullet journal.

Weekly Spread.

Then, it was time to dive into a weekly spread. I used some inspiration from my previous research and just went for it. I have a ton of planner stickers, so I plan to use those as much as possible in my weekly spreads. Also, one of the awesome things about bullet journaling is that just because I chose this layout for this week, that doesn’t mean I have to use it all of the time. Next week I will most likely change it up. That feeling of having complete control over my planner is amazing!

My reading list, bullet journal style.

Collections.

Collections are another reason I am excited to start bullet journaling. I have seen the book shelf layout probably about a million times, so I know it’s not very original, but it was a good place for me to start. Currently, this is the only collection I have, but I will be adding many more over time and I look forward to adding my own style to it.

Decal by MoonAndStarCo on Etsy!

The most recent update I made to my new bullet journal was the decal on the cover. I ordered this from Moon and Star Co on Etsy. Her shipping was fast, and I absolutely LOVE the decals!

So that’s it. This is just the beginning though. I can’t wait to explore bullet journaling more and make more spreads and collections. Let me know in the comments if you have any advice for a newbie bullet journaler.

Much Love!

Living

What’s in my Bag?: Running Errands (The #WIMB series)

March 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

Hello lovely ladies! As you know, last week I started a short blog series based around what I take with me in the different bags I use on a daily basis. The first post can be found here. It was all about my big work tote.

Kate Spade bag that I use for running errands and also for holding my macarons!

This week I will be diving into the slightly smaller bag that I like to take with me on the go. We all have those days where we are out running errands, grocery shopping, meeting up for lunch, and many other various activities. It’s on the these days that I need something large enough to carry what I need, yet small enough to be lightweight and portable.

The Bag I Use.

My on the go purse tends to be either a cross body or a small shoulder bag. These are a few of the different styles I use for when I am out running errands.

Top left: Vera Bradley cross body style bag. Top right: Vera Bradley shoulder bag. Bottom left: Black slouchy, cross body or shoulder strap bag. Bottom right: Kate Spade shoulder bag.

Unlike my work bag, I try to condense my “on-the-go” bag down to a manageable amount of stuff. I start with the very basic essentials and then as I have room I add other items that may be useful or just good to have.

What’s inside?

No matter where you are going you need to have your wallet (with money and I.D.), so that is obviously first. If I am out going to appointments or running errands I know I will need my personal planner at some point to jot down a task or schedule something for the future. These are my two absolute MUST HAVES.

My “on-the-go” personal planner and my Kate Spade card holder/coin purse.

Next up I have a group of useful items to have, that may not be essential, but they could definitely come in handy. That is a small hand sanitizing gel (preferably something that smells good) and a small cosmetic bag with some lip gloss, chap stick, mascara, as well as a few medicines that may be needed.

Clinique cosmetic pouch

A few more items that I may carry with me in my “on-the-go” bag could be:

Phone Charger
Hair Ties/Bobby Pins/Headband
Sunglasses
Hand Lotion
Chewing gum/hard candy
Extra pens

Some other random goodies to go in my errand running bag.

So that’s it! On a typical day of being out and about these are some things you will find be carrying around in my bag.

What do you like to take with you when you are running errands? What do you consider essential? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time lovelies!

Living

What’s in my Work Bag? (The #WIMB Series)

March 20, 2017 Leave a Comment

Hey, Ya’ll! Today I am starting a short blog series based off of the hashtag WIMB or “What’s in my bag?” You will get to see exactly what I carry with me in different situations. I’m going to start off the series by talking about the largest bag I carry: My work bag!

I only work three days every week, but those days are very long. Twelve hours long, to be exact. Once I arrive at work in the morning I am usually there the entire day, from sun up to sun down. That is why my most stuffed bag, is the one I take with me to work.

The Bag I Use.

If I was out on the go a lot during my work day or having to lug my purse/bag around with me I would definitely choose something more lightweight. However, once I get to work I drop my tote off in the break room and it is ready for me to rummage through it when I need to. My go to tote is this gorgeous Isabella Fiore bag that I scored at T.J. Maxx.

Once a week, the night before I start my three back-to-back shifts, I empty out the contents and throw away any trash. Then, I start putting all of my essentials back.

What’s inside?

I like to stay well hydrated at work. After I have my morning coffee, I spend the rest of the day drinking mostly water. That is why I carry a 32 ounce water bottle with me daily. I know if I have filled it up twice and take it home empty, I have hit my goal of 8 glasses of water for the day. Next, I have my little Clinique cosmetic pouch. It’s small, because I have no desire to carry a bunch of makeup to work. It’s also shaped like a cute, little apple. I like to have chapstick, a lip gloss or two, and a few medications like Pepto Bismol tablets and Tylenol with me at all times. You will also see my small wallet that holds my I.D., some loose change, cards, and cash. Oh, and who can forget their iPhone charger? Most days I don’t need it, but you never know when that battery will bottom out!

Planner Supplies, Duh.

Every planner girl knows that you can’t leave home without at least ONE planner. I usually take both of my current planners with me to work. My Erin Condren Life Planner and my personal, on-the-go Filofax. The model changes, but the size never does. Right now I am using a Filofax Domino Soft in Duck Egg for March. (You can look back at my setup of this planner here.)

You can’t have your planners without a few pens, stickers, washi, and other accessories to use if you get the opportunity! That is why I have this super cute planner accessory pouch, by Planner Cuties on Etsy. You can find her shop here. (She doesn’t currently have these cases in stock, but you should still check out her shop.)

The last “category” of items I include are for my other general hobbies. These are things that rarely get used at work, but I always bring them just in case! Some times I like to use my breaks to read my Kindle or get in a little bit of crocheting. If I am having a very slow day at work I may get more opportunities for this.

My Kindle Paperwhite, yarn, and a couple crochet hooks.

There ya have it! That is everything I take with me in my work bag. It may seem like a lot, but there are days that I use almost all of it.

Please check back often or subscribe so that you don’t miss the rest of this series. Next up will be a look into the purse I take to run errands.

As always, thanks for reading!

Planning

My March Planner Setup

March 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

I love Spring! The days start to get a little longer, the flowers start to bloom, and the planner accessories get really bright and colorful! Even though March can still be cold and snowy for most of us, we can at least see the light at the end of the winter tunnel.

As you know, I like to change out my planner every month. I usually keep the same, or at least a very similar system in place, but I like to change out the ring binder that I use and also some accessories. Today I would like to share my March planner setup with you.

The Planner.

I recently purchased this beautiful Filofax Domino Soft in the color Duck Egg. Perfect for March!

The Inside.

I like to start the planner switching process by emptying out all the inserts that came with the new binder. If it’s one that I have previously used, then it should already be empty and ready to go. I gather all of my supplies. Clips, Scrapbook paper, Sticky notes, new inserts, etc. Everything I will need to transform my planner for the new month, season, or holiday.

I like to switch out my planners dividers almost every month also. Sometimes I keep the same basic system and just use different scrapbook paper. However, this month I decided to change things up a bit. I wanted a combination of side and top tab dividers and I also wanted to add some new sections that I didn’t have previously.

The Extras.

I usually finish off my planner switch by changing up my charms. Sometimes that just means adding to or taking away from what I already have. This time I added a cute yellow tassel that I found in the Target Bulls eye Playground.

The final product gives me a refreshing new look, that keeps me using my planner on a daily basis. I don’t get bored with it because I know it will only be a few more weeks before I change it up again.

My March Planner

Keep a look out for my April setup! I have been gathering adorable Easter-themed accessories that I can’t wait to use.

Happy Planning, Ladies!

Crafting

The Joy of Lettering (Review)

February 20, 2017 Leave a Comment

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent a copy of this book at no charge, to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

If you follow me on instagram, then you have probably seen my numerous attempts at hand lettering. I love to incorporate different styles and techniques of lettering into my planner and journal. I would definitely not call myself an expert though. This is something that I really struggle to perfect. That is why I started picking up books and watching YouTube videos that would help to improve this skill.

Last year I purchased a book called Creative Lettering and Beyond, by Gabri Joy Kirkendall. I learned a lot from it and because I enjoyed it so much I decided to do a review on it. After that I was contacted by Gabri and I was so excited to hear she was coming out with a new book. The Joy of Lettering.

I have practiced with this book until my fingers were stiff. I really feel like it has helped my lettering tremendously.

Top: Example lettering from The Joy of Lettering . Bottom: My attempt at practicing the same letters.

Some lettering books are filled with blank pages. I have never understood this. I can use my own paper for practicing. The Joy of Lettering has no practice pages. It is 144 pages full of pure content. Inside those pages you will find everything from simple lettering examples to carving letters into wood!

Some of my favorite things about this book include:

Instructions on designing your own wrapping paper.
Detailed tutorial on taking your hand lettering from paper to digital using a photo editing software.
Examples and techniques used for hand lettering in home design projects

Another gem found in The Joy of Lettering are the examples and instructions on designing flourishes. Bullet Journaling has become a huge trend right now and it is not uncommon to see beautiful banners and spacers decorating the bullet journals of some planner girls on instagram. I spent awhile just focusing on this aspect of the book. Who doesn’t love a pretty banner?

These are my own doodles that I practiced, while reading through the book.

I learned so many new techniques and tips from The Joy of Lettering and I know I will continue to use it in the future. Practice makes perfect and I have a long way to go, but it will be fun to learn more in the meantime!

Examples from The Joy of Lettering About the Authors!

Much Love!