Oh I love this. 🤣 Shame it had to come from Amazon (boo, Bezos) but a very elegant solution nonetheless. I just moved to Notes on my phone so, for the first time in about 25 years, have stopped carrying a notebook everywhere. I feel naked 😳 but it does cut out the intermediate step of transcription...
Very ingenious! Will have to remember this as I was recently gifted a small sketchbook of similar size, specifically for times when I’ve photographed all the birds but Ben still has lots of fishing left in the tank. (I’ve also been thinking about a front holster for my camera and lens, so I can wear it while hiking but free up my hands for balance...like one of those baby pouches, but for gear 😅)
I carry my notebook in my tote bag, or my belt bag. I am very much a Bag Person (actually this is what my next post is going to be about), schlepping my stuff around like that. At home, I have different notebooks in different rooms. Good for organization? No. Good for creativity? Yup! I also keep a little notebook (a physician brought it back from Germany for me!) on my desk at work for non-work ideas that pop into my head - if there’s something really good, I take a photo of the page with my phone and bring it home that way.
Oh, Lord. I hadn't thought about the back pocket sag. But in my case, perhaps "perky" isn't exactly a need or desire.
Such a struggle to find a practical and fashionable solution to the dragging-the-notebook-around problem. But resourcefulness wins in the end, doesn't it!
I have always had the little notebooks in the back right pocket or sometimes in the right pocket of a jacket. (I am the kind of guy who wears a jacket in order to have more pockets. Useful things, pockets.) The larger format notebooks always seemed difficult to carry around, so when I had one, it sticks on the desk or table where it was carried last. Not handy.
And thank you for the heads up on my replication of your "Leave a Comment" button confusion! I got caught by that Substack misdirection, too. I'd have never noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out to me.
I love this little notebook! It reminds me of my grandfather and some of my great uncles- my mom’s side of the family are all MASSIVE more takers. These days, I just jot down ideas on my phone in the notes app. Those (sometimes) get translated into a more fleshed out version of what I’m putting in my newsletter this month in my journal. I love my journals, but I certainly haven’t found a handy way to carry them.
Oh I love this! Was so excited to see you finally got around to figuring out a book belt! It looks very stylish! And you’re following in the footsteps of some brilliant Renaissance people!
You so magically built up suspense in this story I could hardly wait to get to the end to find out the solution! Nice work. Two other ideas you might consider researching: the flat nylon mesh passport pouches that attach inside your waist band, OR for some occasions, the tall socks travelers wear that have a pocket for carrying a passport?
But the thing that really got me was your invention of the word pocketage. It called to mind a line in a film where a teenage boy made a lewd comment about a girl's "breastage". And my little nephew, who offered to clean up the ribbons and shredded paper debris after Xmas calling it "wrappage". You may get lost, but you are a CLEVER woman who gets lost.
Your posts continue to be a highlight in my Saturday mornings! "pristine pocketage"--I'm dying!
I carry an A5 dot-grid journal with me most of the time. I've taken to brightly colored ones so I can spot them quickly as I'm going from room to room at home or if I go over to my event venue two blocks away. In the last couple of years I've started using a particular style crossbody purse that is large enough to slip the notebook into. No, I don't walk around my house wearing a crossbody bag, but when I'm out shopping or walking to the post office, etc., I typically have this bag with me.
When I need to lighten things up, I might leave the purse and only take my phone, photo ID, and a credit card, which I can slide into a pocket. In those situations, I pull out my phone and add my thoughts to a note.
Love your solution! We all have to find what works for our own wardrobe and lifestyle.
This is notebook porn. Thank you. I use Moleskine lined notebooks for daily journals, morning pages, that kind of thing. I use the Leuchtsturm soft-covered, dotted page notebooks for organizing life. There are also mostly moleskine notebooks by topic-e.g., restaurants. I’m not going to get into the Muji-fixation I have--the zillion ring notebooks and the graph paper! Nor am I going to talk about Ulysses and google Keep.
I really loved this --and everything else you write!
I actually struggle to use a notebook out and about for all of the reasons you describe. I've tried several things and haven't struck on the right fit yet. This solution looks perfect, but I don't tend to wear trousers with proper waist bands so not sure it would work for me. I keep my full size travelers notebook on the mantle (out of the toddler's reach) and pull it down to journal. Maybe once we move past the diaper bag stage I'll start carrying a bag or purse again. 😂 I had a lovely leather one I wore all around London when I was at uni. Thanks for the deep dive and all the ideas. I'm wondering if I can adapt a book strap for my son's communication tablet. I've had the same frustrations with toting that around in a backpack. There has to be a better way! 🧐
I'm glad you finally came up with a solution Rebecca. It appears you did an exhaustive search. I wouldn't have even thought about some of those items you thought might work.
Personally, I don't carry a notebook with me. I usually use the Notes option on my cellphone. I've gotten pretty good at typing fast with my thumbs. Sometimes I'll be typing so fast that I don't realize how much I have written until I go back and look at it.
Glad you got the "Leave Comments" thing figured out. I know you mentioned it to me and I was perplexed too. Now you know not to copy and paste everything.
I don’t really carry around a specific notebook. I do have a small one that fits in my purse but usually, when I’m out and about I just use my notes app or Google Keep. At home I have notebooks scattered throughout the house which I didn’t realize until reading Alison’s comment. :)
I am slightly embarrassed to say that I don't have a regular notebook and I instead use the Notes app on my phone. I do have a journal that I keep in the cabinet in my home office, but I don't carry that with me. It only ever leaves the house if I am traveling overnight somewhere.
Oooh. I use my phone for notes about what stories to share etc, but I want a notebook for drawing when I am out and about. Will check out that brand of notebook coz it looks great!
Oh I love this. 🤣 Shame it had to come from Amazon (boo, Bezos) but a very elegant solution nonetheless. I just moved to Notes on my phone so, for the first time in about 25 years, have stopped carrying a notebook everywhere. I feel naked 😳 but it does cut out the intermediate step of transcription...
Very ingenious! Will have to remember this as I was recently gifted a small sketchbook of similar size, specifically for times when I’ve photographed all the birds but Ben still has lots of fishing left in the tank. (I’ve also been thinking about a front holster for my camera and lens, so I can wear it while hiking but free up my hands for balance...like one of those baby pouches, but for gear 😅)
I love this so much! Genius.
I carry my notebook in my tote bag, or my belt bag. I am very much a Bag Person (actually this is what my next post is going to be about), schlepping my stuff around like that. At home, I have different notebooks in different rooms. Good for organization? No. Good for creativity? Yup! I also keep a little notebook (a physician brought it back from Germany for me!) on my desk at work for non-work ideas that pop into my head - if there’s something really good, I take a photo of the page with my phone and bring it home that way.
Oh, Lord. I hadn't thought about the back pocket sag. But in my case, perhaps "perky" isn't exactly a need or desire.
Such a struggle to find a practical and fashionable solution to the dragging-the-notebook-around problem. But resourcefulness wins in the end, doesn't it!
I have always had the little notebooks in the back right pocket or sometimes in the right pocket of a jacket. (I am the kind of guy who wears a jacket in order to have more pockets. Useful things, pockets.) The larger format notebooks always seemed difficult to carry around, so when I had one, it sticks on the desk or table where it was carried last. Not handy.
And thank you for the heads up on my replication of your "Leave a Comment" button confusion! I got caught by that Substack misdirection, too. I'd have never noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out to me.
I love this little notebook! It reminds me of my grandfather and some of my great uncles- my mom’s side of the family are all MASSIVE more takers. These days, I just jot down ideas on my phone in the notes app. Those (sometimes) get translated into a more fleshed out version of what I’m putting in my newsletter this month in my journal. I love my journals, but I certainly haven’t found a handy way to carry them.
What a journey! Wonderful story! I need to make notes because I create a ridiculous amount of clutter with writing and reading paraphernalia.
Oh I love this! Was so excited to see you finally got around to figuring out a book belt! It looks very stylish! And you’re following in the footsteps of some brilliant Renaissance people!
You so magically built up suspense in this story I could hardly wait to get to the end to find out the solution! Nice work. Two other ideas you might consider researching: the flat nylon mesh passport pouches that attach inside your waist band, OR for some occasions, the tall socks travelers wear that have a pocket for carrying a passport?
But the thing that really got me was your invention of the word pocketage. It called to mind a line in a film where a teenage boy made a lewd comment about a girl's "breastage". And my little nephew, who offered to clean up the ribbons and shredded paper debris after Xmas calling it "wrappage". You may get lost, but you are a CLEVER woman who gets lost.
Your posts continue to be a highlight in my Saturday mornings! "pristine pocketage"--I'm dying!
I carry an A5 dot-grid journal with me most of the time. I've taken to brightly colored ones so I can spot them quickly as I'm going from room to room at home or if I go over to my event venue two blocks away. In the last couple of years I've started using a particular style crossbody purse that is large enough to slip the notebook into. No, I don't walk around my house wearing a crossbody bag, but when I'm out shopping or walking to the post office, etc., I typically have this bag with me.
When I need to lighten things up, I might leave the purse and only take my phone, photo ID, and a credit card, which I can slide into a pocket. In those situations, I pull out my phone and add my thoughts to a note.
Love your solution! We all have to find what works for our own wardrobe and lifestyle.
This is notebook porn. Thank you. I use Moleskine lined notebooks for daily journals, morning pages, that kind of thing. I use the Leuchtsturm soft-covered, dotted page notebooks for organizing life. There are also mostly moleskine notebooks by topic-e.g., restaurants. I’m not going to get into the Muji-fixation I have--the zillion ring notebooks and the graph paper! Nor am I going to talk about Ulysses and google Keep.
I really loved this --and everything else you write!
I actually struggle to use a notebook out and about for all of the reasons you describe. I've tried several things and haven't struck on the right fit yet. This solution looks perfect, but I don't tend to wear trousers with proper waist bands so not sure it would work for me. I keep my full size travelers notebook on the mantle (out of the toddler's reach) and pull it down to journal. Maybe once we move past the diaper bag stage I'll start carrying a bag or purse again. 😂 I had a lovely leather one I wore all around London when I was at uni. Thanks for the deep dive and all the ideas. I'm wondering if I can adapt a book strap for my son's communication tablet. I've had the same frustrations with toting that around in a backpack. There has to be a better way! 🧐
I'm glad you finally came up with a solution Rebecca. It appears you did an exhaustive search. I wouldn't have even thought about some of those items you thought might work.
Personally, I don't carry a notebook with me. I usually use the Notes option on my cellphone. I've gotten pretty good at typing fast with my thumbs. Sometimes I'll be typing so fast that I don't realize how much I have written until I go back and look at it.
Glad you got the "Leave Comments" thing figured out. I know you mentioned it to me and I was perplexed too. Now you know not to copy and paste everything.
I don’t really carry around a specific notebook. I do have a small one that fits in my purse but usually, when I’m out and about I just use my notes app or Google Keep. At home I have notebooks scattered throughout the house which I didn’t realize until reading Alison’s comment. :)
I am slightly embarrassed to say that I don't have a regular notebook and I instead use the Notes app on my phone. I do have a journal that I keep in the cabinet in my home office, but I don't carry that with me. It only ever leaves the house if I am traveling overnight somewhere.
I do love your basket!
Oooh. I use my phone for notes about what stories to share etc, but I want a notebook for drawing when I am out and about. Will check out that brand of notebook coz it looks great!