Addicted to Stationary (here’s a haul for ya)

Stationary-HeaderA post from me, a little out of the ordinary. But for those who’ve known me ages, know it’s not out of the ordinary that I spend a good hour or more in a stationary store. And ya know San Francisco Bay Area has a ton of them. I’ve even made trips to San Francisco JUST to visit these said stores.

I’ve always been a pen/pencil/marker/stationary/notebook collector my entire life. I have tons of little notebooks back home in Newfoundland filled with the same type of cartoon characters, over and over and over again.

My stationary and writing utensil game hasn’t changed at all. I’d like to think it all came from my Father being an Architect and he wore that off onto me a little bit, with the fascination of different pen tips, and whatnot. So, I’m here to share a little bit of goodies I found while shopping around the past few years here in California. I’m especially loving the Japanese stationary stores, all sorts of wonderful gems in there for a fraction of the cost of what I’d find elsewhere.

First up are some items I was sent from Cool Pencil Case (sent for review).cassette-pencil-caseSince I’m an 80’s baby I knew immediately I wanted to get the Tape Cassette pencil case. It’s AWESOME. I wonder if kids these days know what this is? I should ask my nephews, hah.

Pencil-caseIt has a zippered pouch and you can hold tons of layered pens on top of one another due to how the zipper is sewn on, so you’re not limited to how many fits across. Make sense? Kinda wish the inside had a pattern or something, the beige is kind of boring in my opinion.

Cool-pencil-case-items

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Thinking Out Loud Thursday #8

Whoa. I haven’t done a Thinking Out Loud Thursday post since October. Better get on that more often, they’re so fun to do — and get all my brain thoughts out on paper screen.

So, let’s get started.

I love the freedom I have with this blog. If I take a break, it doesn’t bother me (for instance that week break in early March when we had a visitor). But when I do let my work pile up, that’s when I start to get a little frazzeled. I’m still trying to think of a really quirky unique way to showcase a couple of products I received for review. I still have to review our huge king sized bed that we were sent to review (hint: we love it).

Want to see some stuff I bought recently from Muji? So during the weekend of our San Jose staycation I discovered that this was attached to the Fairmont hotel in downtown San Jose, and I didn’t have a chance to pop in because the weekend was packed. But I did keep it in the back of my mind to pop in when I was back from my climbing trip (which I have to tell you guys about still. The entire trip was so W E I R D!). I heard one opened up in Toronto and I was so gutted because I didn’t realize we had one down here in California (let alone more than one in the state alone!).

1314185416_nobones_danceBasically my excited dance when I stepped in the store. I’ve been told I dance like a weirdo, this was the closest representation I could grab from the interwebs. And I’m taking Megan there today, too since she’s coming down my way for a visit!

My friend and I were there for a good hour browsing around, so here are my goodies I picked up. I’m still eyeing a couple of other items but I want to wait to see if I really need them. You know, limited budget over here.

Muji-HaulI’m a sucker for simple design and useful packaging. Oh, and pens!

Look how they write! Just writing a list for my trip back home to Newfoundland, preliminary thoughts of what to pack though, this isn’t the only stuff I’m bringing. That list will get much longer :) What-to-pack-on-a-carry-on

If you don’t already know this about me I’m a huge stationary fan. Plus, these pens were $1.50 each. At other stores in the Bay Area for pens this tiny they cost 3x as much. I love needle point type of gel pens, thinner the better. The ones I picked up are 0.38 & 0.3, I prefer even smaller at 0.25. Enough with the geek speak. But I’m excited to show you how I style the toothbrush holder in our guest bathroom, that’s what the little while donut shaped thing is, along with clear toothbrushes. Ugh. Perfection.

I’ve been looking for a coin purse, and I thought I’d pick up this little clear one that was suggested to be used for beauty products (scissors/tweezers etc) but it works great for coins, and I don’t have to keep them jumbled up in my purse.

And lastly (I can’t believe how much talking I’m doing about these products I bought lol) I got a clear sliding plastic case for important documents. I have a ton of these around the house from Chapters back home in Canada, but I needed a couple of more for our Taxes 2014/2015.

One more thing because I bought them a few days ago. I randomly strolled through Target, and of course I had to take the escalator up to the second floor (I know. It’s a HUGE Target and I love it) to the shoe section, and I came out with two pairs. Which ones do you like better? Here’s something weird. Last summer I was a 9 in their sneakers (these one’s from my Instagram) and now I’m an 8. To be fair, I’m a true 8.5, but these shoes are a bit snug and the 8.5’s just slipped right off my heel. Anyway. I bought them. I’m happy!

Target-Black-FlatsThese black one’s are knock off’s of the new Vans sneakers. I like ’em, and I like the $24 sticker price.

Target-White-SneakersThen I got a pair of fake converse. I’ve been eyeing converse sneakers for years in white, but they make my feet look ginourmous. So I setteled with these, and!? they’re on sale for $16. Pshyeah.

What have you guys been up to lately?

Bought anything cool? Checked out a new store/coffee shop?

Or even tell me what you’re doing later on this evening!

Whatcha cooking for supper?

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