Love for Memory Books + The IT List {journaling tools}

Today I'm taking about journals, albums, and memory books as my latest constant obsessions.

I'm a lover of everything crafty, but my true passion lies with journaling. There is something very cathartic about freezing little moments in time and taking a minute to jot them down, blog them, scrapbook them, or paste them into a journal. Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly nostalgic or even a little blue, I'll curl up in bed, flip through all my journals and scrapbooks, and remind myself how amazing the simple things in life are. Throughout my difficult pregnancy, the amazing journal "Tummy Talk" kept me excited and motivated for the light at the end of the tunnel. Can you believe I wrote an entry in that journal every week? Recorded every doctor's appointment, craving, sonogram, symptom, and emotion? Well, I did. This one-of-a-kind pregnancy book allows you to explore and record everything about your 9 month journey, as well as document your labor and post-delivery memories. 

It's a real treasure.

Here's a peek inside my personal copy:

order yours here for $79:

www.petittresor.com

One of my favorite companies of all-time who make handmade journals, memory books, and albums is:

www.ragandbonebindery.com

This company creates THE most amazing, whimsical, and beautiful products that preserve your most precious moments. When I saw their baby books displayed at the fabulous Austin baby boutique, Wee, I knew I had to scoop one up! Beware though...having to pick only one from a delightful assortment of gorgeous covers is tough! These albums have pages that let you record your baby's development, milestones, and places to save their keepsakes such as shower and birth announcements.

I went with this super cute automobile cover for my little boy, and here's a look inside:

But...I simply adore this (most popular) lion cover. I think I'll choose it for the next baby ;)

order yours for $68 here:

www.shopwee.com

and here:

www.ragandbonebindery.com

{They also sell wedding and recipe albums too}

Finally, here's my IT List with some fabulous journaling accessories & tools:

1. Photo mounting squares for seamless picture-pasting, $5 at any craft store such as Michaels
2. Solid-color heavy cardstock sheets for mounting and framing pictures or typed journal entries, $8 at acherryontop.com
3. Martha Stewart patterned paper for mounting and framing pictures or typed journal entries, $14.99 at store.scrapbook.com
4. 36-piece colored marker set from Martha Stewart, $34.99 at store.scrapbook.com
5. The single BEST pen for journals! This Sharpie pen will not bleed through the page and has a nice fine tip, $2.50 each at any craft store such as Michaels
6. These tiny and detailed "Life's Little Occasions" layered sticker sheets by K & Company come in every possible theme imaginable and will add some cute adornments to your journal page! $3.29 stickersgalore.com
7. My all-time favorite miniature alphabet stickers by My Little Shoebox come in every color under the sun and are a great way to add a fun header or title to your journal page, $1.99 store.scrapbook.com
8. Martha Stewart craft punches add the prettiest borders to your paper, $14-$32 at store.scrapbook.com
9. Great adhesive for mounting paper/embellishments to your pages, $2.99 store.scrapbook.com

{do you journal?}