L.L. Bean dupe & 4x4x4 journaling method
So I’m using a new platform called Substack to send newsletters to y’all. It’s a cool platform to read other people’s posts in almost like a digital magazine format. And you can also post things on there for free. I like the format and the ease of using it. So if you would like to download the app for a better reading experience you can download it here:
L.L. Bean dupe
Tote bags are always good to have around. We all have at least one.
Please tell me you have at least one.
You may not know about L.L. Bean if you’re not from the U.S., but I remember them being really popular when I was in school. But recently, I’ve seen the small L.L. Bean Boat and Tote being styled by people I follow on Instagram and Pinterest. It’s both practical and cute and will last you for years. And apparently, the more worn your tote looks, the better. There are people literally selling their vintage Boat and Totes for hundreds of dollars online. Goes to show that they’ll last for decades no matter how much you knock them around.
Long story short, I didn’t order one. Ha. Instead, I ordered a dupe on Amazon. I really debated this decision, but when you live in Australia, international shipping isn’t cheap most of the time. I couldn’t justify the shipping cost, which was about the same cost as the tote itself. So during a sleepless night, I decided to do some research to see if I could find an alternative that would be cheaper.
Lo and behold I came across the DALIX 14” tote on Amazon for $30AUD including free shipping. It’s basically identical to the L.L. Bean one except this one has a front pocket, which is even better. There were lots of great reviews and a few even claimed that the quality and look of it is very similar to L.L. Bean and Land’s End. I think the only bad reviews I saw were people commenting on its small size. Do people not read product descriptions before purchasing something? Anyway, I ended up getting the black-trim one, but there are so many colors to choose from. Can’t wait for it to arrive!
For the planner/diary nerds
I’m convinced that November never actually happened because how is it already December? Regardless, that just means it’s finally time to use my EmmaKateCo planner/diary! I’m trying the new horizontal layout for 2023. I think it’s better suited for the way my brain works and my lifestyle. Basically, the left page is for planning out the week and the right page is bulleted for making lists and brain dumping. Still loved the vertical layout I used for this year but just wanted to experiment with something different for 2023. Definitely recommend EmmaKateCo for diaries if you’re still on the hunt for one or just for stationery in general. They have different sizes, layouts, and colors to choose from. I got the Horizontal Weekly in Peaches and Cream with the Nude Pen Loop. I think they’re actually out of stock in a few of their designs already so you better hurry!
4x4x4 journaling routine
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been experimenting with a 4x4x4 journaling method that I came across on Instagram the other day. So it’s journaling for 4 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks. So far I’ve been able to keep with it. I’ll write a more in-depth post about it on my blog, but I’m liking this method so far. We can all find 4 minutes in our day, which is a reasonable amount of time to write down a few thoughts. But on days when I have a bit more time, I’ll write a bit more. I like that it’s not a huge commitment so it’s not overwhelming. And since it’s only 4 days a week, if one day I’m not feeling like journaling then I don’t have to feel like I need to force myself to. I know that journaling is good for my mental health and I need to incorporate it more, so this experiment helps remind me to make the time to journal, and I never regret it.
What I’m using to journal at the moment:
Patti Smith
I’ve been reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. I’ve wanted to read some of her work for years now. I read about Just Kids in Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon, which is great if you haven’t heard of it, and immediately put it on my tbr pile.
Just Kids is a memoir about how she and Robert Mapplethorpe find themselves as artists in New York City — I love anything set in NYC. I’ve only just gotten through the first part of it, but I love it so far. I’ll need to write a full review when I’m finished with it, but if you love memoirs or books set in NYC then I’d recommend picking this one up.
Patti Smith also has a Substack that I’ve only just discovered, so give it a follow if you’re interested.
I’m also reading Babel by R.F. Kuang and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I’m a fan of reading multiple books at once. Keeps things interesting.
My latest blog post:
GUIDE TO CAIRNS: VINTAGE/SECONDHAND SHOPPING
Since moving to Cairns, QLD, Australia in April, I’ve been slowly exploring the area and finding different activities that interest me. Cairns is definitely more suited for the outdoorsy/sporty type, of which I am not. I find more joy in artsy, musical, and creative things, which makes finding those things a little more difficult in an area like this. But I’m trying to see it more as a challenge. I also want to help others who are having the same struggle as me if they live in Cairns or visit or live in a similar area where they feel out of place.
Something I really enjoy doing is vintage shopping or just vintage in general. So this blog post lists a few of the vintage shops I enjoy frequenting.