with notebook & planner love and kindness.

It was hard to decide what to write about today. I surprised myself and earlier this week was quite vocal at little acorn and PennyWise Consulting. I could write an overdue followup to my post, how to go on. I’m a distance runner who enjoys well written fiction. I understand the importance of pacing. After a long day in the city mostly disconnected from current events, I’m curled up on the couch with a snuggle Buddy (Shadow is cuddled close with E) and I’m going to write very briefly about one of my favourite topics: notebooks & paper. Self care in this long game is important.

Over at the QuoVadis blog, last week I wrote another essay comparing the Trinote and Principal planners. It was fun to write.

Foster kittens love the QuoVadis Principal too!

Over the past several years, I’ve developed a relationship with Karen and Sunny of Exaclair, the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor of a French family of brands: Rhodia, Clairefontaine, J. Herbin, Brause, Schut Papier, Decopatch, Avenue Mandarine, G. Lalo, Exacompta, Quo Vadis and Maildor. While they don’t sell direct to the public, if you ask very extremely nicely, you can visit. I had a wonderful visit with them this morning. Their office is near the flower district and it rained this morning and I found it delightful to walk down 28th before heading to them and smelling everything, it definitely helped clear out some of the unsavory aromas NYC is famous for.

There are several great new notebooks and products I’ll discuss more in the coming weeks. Including my new favourite, the A5 grid version of the Clairefontaine “My Essential” notebook. Why is this notebook wonderful?

It’s paginated!. While I love the clothbound A5, and find it an amazing value, pre-numbered pages make me happy. I’ve been sitting on this great notebook for over six months and I’m excited to finally be able to share it!

Spread of Clairefontaine notebooks and 2017 Exaclair catalogue

Many thanks to Karen and Sunny for letting me invade their office this morning.

I’ve received many products from Exaclair USA and have purchased even more on my own, the FTC wants you to know. There are no affiliate links in this post.