Why I Started a Bullet Journal

Y’all, how has another week come and gone already? I swear this year is f-l-y-ing by. On the one hand I’m totally okay with it and on the other I’m just like *insert wide eyed emoji here*. Happy Hour this week revolves mostly around my new love, bullet journaling. This is not the first time I’ve tried my hand at the bullet journal trend but this time I’m determined to stick with it. If you have no idea what a bullet journal is you can check out more about the whole bullet journaling system here. What started out as a quick way to plan has grown into a form of creative expression for those that use them.

Want to see a flip through of my entire bullet journal so far? Check out my YouTube video here!

My Bullet Journal

If you saw last week’s Happy Hour post then you’ll know that I’ve been struggling to find a planning system that really works for me now that I’m not a student and the best part about having a bullet journal is that they’re completely customizable. There’s a trial and error process that goes into it (because I’m not a stickler enough to count boxes) but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it now that I have all of my collections sorted out and have started my August section. One of the reasons I never tried doing a bullet journal before is that I have zero artistic ability. I mean, I can’t even draw a straight line with the assistance of a ruler half the time. But as I mentioned, you have complete control over what each page looks like. The pages of your bullet journal can be as artistic or as minimalist as you want!

What do you need to start a bullet journal?

All you really need to start a bullet journal is a notebook (any notebook) and a pen but since I am a planner addict I naturally have a lot of planning essentials. However, I did pick up a few things to start this time around. I don’t know about you but I’m far more motivated to put my all into something if I’ve spent a little money on it.

The journal I got is the most popular one and that is the Leuchtturm1917 dotted notebook. I picked mine up from Barnes & Noble but save yourself a couple of bucks and get it off Amazon. The reason I decided to go with this, aside from the fact that it is highly recommended, is the fact that nothing (and I mean nothing) bleeds through these pages. B&N only had two colors of the bullet journal but Amazon has a few different colors if that suits your fancy. Since mine is basic black, I decided to start accessorizing it with stickers! I just ordered like 10 different stickers from Redbubble so make sure you’re following me on Instagram to see an updated look at my cover once those stickers come in!

Next I picked up these Faber-Castell pens from Michael’s. The set includes four different sizes, including a brush pen! This was a little pricey, $15, but I happened to have a 50% off coupon sitting in my email inbox so lucked out on that front!

Another fan favorite in the bullet journal and studyblr communities is the Zebra mildliners, which I already had. You can get all three packs of five on Amazon for $15 which is honestly a steal for these gems. The best part about these is that they’re dual tipped which means they can pull double duty for whatever you can think up for your bullet journal.

AmandaRachLee on YouTube

My inspiration to start a bullet journal came from YouTube, naturally, and this girl is fire when it comes to bullet journaling. I WISH I had her artistic skills. If you need bullet journal inspiration definitely check out her channel.

This Easy Shop

Shannon, who blogs over at Something Shannon, just opened her shop on Etsy where she is selling these adorable coffee and Jesus themed prints. She gifted me with this digital download and it only cost $.70 to get it printed off at the local office supply store and I’m so happy with it. I love that I now have this print in my room to remind me that I truly am blessed on a daily basis.

The Ultimate Girl’s Guide to College

ICYMI: I launched my first eBook! I took a lot of time reflecting on my college experiences over the last couple of months and decided to compile it all into an honest guide for everyday college girls. Right now you can get it for $.99! Hurry though because I’ll be raising the price in September so snag it while you can get a good deal!