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Andrea Bass's avatar

I can't tell you the number of times I've bought a new journal, certain it would be the key to EVERYTHING. Good luck with your bullet journal adventure!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Yes! We understand each other well.

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Vanessa's avatar

From buying a beautiful journal and rocking out a sweet backsplash, I’d say you’re crushing it for 2024. The part of your pocket that resonated with me the most, however, was Seabass’s comment on how it was impossible to clean the kitchen grease off the walls - I have very similar feelings to this due to my underperforming vent fan! Powering through that struggle is legit.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

So gross right? And it makes you feel so inadequate, like other people must know how to deal with it. Thanks for the encouragement. Happy New Year!

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Rachel Knight's avatar

I can't evenn get pans clean when they have been used with greasy food!

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Mich's avatar

Me and my niece started bullet journals a few years ago together - we had a blast setting them up together with all the fun washi tape and pens we bought for the process- of course both admitted months later that neither of us opened them once since. Womp womp.

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Rachel Knight's avatar

SAME.

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Par for the course, unused blank paper. Lol

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

At least you had fun making them. I still don’t know what washi tape is. Happy New Year!

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Sandra de Helen's avatar

I love the idea of the bullet journal. I will create one for 2024, though as you point out, I'm already days behind. I do a daily to-do list on my computer, but it is all gone at the end of the day when I create the next day's. I like the idea of keeping them on paper so I can look back at what I've accomplished. Thank you for this!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Good luck to us both!

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Sonbol A.'s avatar

This spoke to my soul: “My favorite part about the title job though is not that it brought my husband and I closer together, it is that it allowed me to cross something off in my bullet journal” 😂 One can never underestimate the joy of crossing items off a list!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

So good right? I’m glad it resonated and gave you a good laugh. Happy New Year Sonbol!

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Liz Melville's avatar

I love the idea of shedding so we can grow.

Another insightful, inspiring weekly post.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I want to think on this more in terms of nature. Thanks for reading!

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Claire Coenen's avatar

Yes to shedding! And prioritizing...I'm wanting to practice both of these. And impressed by your DIY-ing!! :)

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Good luck to both of us! Looking forward to connecting on Friday.

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Jen Zug's avatar

“We cook more than the average family, and we clean less than the average family.”

Saaaaaame. 😂

After struggling for years to maintain digital to-do lists, I was recently diagnosed with ADD, and it was suggested to me to try analog lists. So far writing lists and crossing items off is keeping me motivated and on top of things!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I need the pen and paper too, and even then it’s hit or miss. I’m so glad to hear it’s working for you. I have been hearing a lot lately about folks diagnosed late. That is so crazy. It must explain so much.

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Celeste Davis's avatar

Bummmmmer and I was so hoping my new bullet journal would be a magic genie!!! 🫤 honestly tho I’m starting one for the first time too this year!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I’m excited about mine too even if it doesn’t have magic powers

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Kristy Acevedo's avatar

"Other people had planned ahead, maybe even picked up their journal before the holidays. These are probably the same people who read Hamilton biographies and regularly replace buttons. " hahaha! What I noticed about my bullet journal is how much it frees my brain from trying to keep track of everything, but also how unrealistic my lists and schedules can get. My lists change throughout the year from super long, to a few main items per day as it forces me to stare at my goals and actually realize which items are my true, current priorities--which is better than getting nothing done because I'm overwhelmed.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

So true! I have a tendency to be unrealistic in my goals as well. So far, I’m digging the bullet journal and it seems to be helping me. I’m glad the post made you laugh.

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Kristy Acevedo's avatar

It was hilarious! 😂

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Sherri's avatar

Your post resonated with me on so many levels...this past year I started giving away or throwing away unfinished projects, now I am down to a smaller list that I wrote in the front of my daily planner...I did this last year and actually checked off 2/10 projects, but it felt so good to finish those! Good luck! (And the backsplash looks fabulous!). And remember there’s way more to enjoying family life than cleaning...that grime will be there waiting for you when you become an empty nester!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

So wise again Sherri. Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass? She writes about line with kids being eutrophic. It is messy and meant to be savored for sure. I am not sure my house will be clean even when I’m an empty nester. 😂

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Sherri's avatar

Yes, I’ve read Braiding Sweetgrass, but I’d like to revisit it again. Same for my house!

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Misti Little's avatar

LOL, well there *are* some very phallic fungi out there! I wouldn't be surprised if it was a depiction of one of them!

I tried BUJO many years ago but was never able to make it work for me, though I am a journal using and list making fool. Sometimes it is good just to brain dump things even if we never cross them off the list. The list will never be done! good luck with yours!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I’m so glad you enjoyed the fungi humor. I don’t mind winging it so we shall see. I saw you had a new post out this morning on gardening. I can’t wait. I was dreaming about my garden last night.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Off topic, but can you tell me what kind of noise cancelling headphones you have and where you got them?

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Misti Little's avatar

Not sure if you replied to the right person here...

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Rachel Knight's avatar

Feel free to send any crafty stuff you don't want my way! 😂

I was really into bullet journaling years ago (the idea, anyway). I finally got a dot grid journal and markers (because you always have to start with new everything!) but think I did a little too much research. After seeing so many pages other people did that were absolutely amazing, I couldn't get myself to actually make a mark in it since nothing I did would come close. All I managed to do was make a marker test page in the back and (after lots of sticky notes to save pages for what was “supposed to” go in front) started to very lightly start to pencil sketch an idea a few pages in. That was around 2019. Good luck. Suggestion: if you need resources, all the basics are on the website of the guy who came up with the idea…do not turn to Pinterest or IG.

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Rachel Knight's avatar

(bulletjournal.com)

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thanks Rachel. I envy your craftiness. Thanks for reading! Happy New Year!

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Rachel Knight's avatar

Can you really envy something you’ve never seen? I have almost no art worthy of even showing. 😂

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I tell myself it’s all about the process

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Rachel Knight's avatar

For sure! I meant that more as “you're comparing”. 😂 Actually, the past couple weeks I've really been trying to embrace the process over finished product and not only has it been fun to play, but (shockingly) I like what I've done. Who woulda thought??

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Aaaagh ! I don't need another journal.... I have 20 already, one for each study, into which I scribble related thoughts and reads, As for the random non related - I have a brief list in the kitchen to which I add and strike daily. Good luck and Peace, Maurice

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Ha. Love that! Peace to you as well Maurice!

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