When I was younger, I used to fill volumes upon volumes of blank notebooks. I was an avid journal keeper and loved to decompress after a long day, writing down my thoughts and the day’s events in a book for my eyes only.

The computers came along. Then blogging. And though I don’t use my blog as a journal (you only get a fraction of my life while reading my blog – it’s definitely not a full-on journal), somehow, it’s taken the place of traditionally keeping my day recorded on paper.

I miss it. I miss the careful chronicling of my day. I’m returning to it, and I want to teach my daughters to embrace journaling as well. These two amazing journals will help me do so.

I received this adorable journal from Night Owl Paper Goods, and I’m a bit in love with the whimsical cover design, the spiral binding, and the blank heavy pages waiting to be filled with my words. Not only is it super-cute, but it’s ecologically sound – with sustainably harvested birch cover and pages made of 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

It’s been a wonder to have pages to fill again – pages belonging only to me and to my eyes.

While I’ve been in the writing mode, I’ve been sending the super cute note cards from Night Owl Paper Goods. I love this “stay on the sunny side” notecard – the perfect thing to add some much needed cheer to a friend’s day. These letterpress cards are printed on archival stock and are amazingly sturdy, creative and heart-warming. Who doesn’t love to get a card in the mail? We may live in a technology-ruled world, but there’s something about the sight of a card in your mail box addressed to you in a familiar friend’s handwriting.

But, it’s not just me who needs to embrace the art of journal writing. My eight-year-old is quite like me in a lot of ways. Including her love for the written word. She writes amazing stories in school, and I wanted to teach her the art of channeling her creativity for herself as well – and not just for a school assignment.

Journal Buddies: A Girl’s Journal for Sharing and Celebrating Magnificence is a pretty amazing introduction to the art of journaling. Not only does it provide plenty of blank pages for your child to draw or write, but it provides guided ideas for how to creatively journal. I’ve given some serious thought to snagging some of these ideas for when I hit writers’ block.

These journals are created in both a boy and a girl edition and they are for use with a “buddy”. That means that I can write in my daughter’s journal each day (as can my husband, her friends, her teacher, our neighbors — whoever SHE selects as a buddy for the day can help her) – each day her journal buddy will list some positive attributes about my daughter (I reminded her how I love that she’s empathetic and a good friend), and she will do the same for her buddy. It’s a great exercise for both self esteem and writing skills. I’m definitely a fan.

I received these products for review, but my opinion is solely my own.

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