When I was little, my Dad encouraged me to keep a diary so that I can record my thoughts during tough times. Though I have always been a vocal girl {my aunt loves to tell stories about little, chatty, me!}, journaling has helped me through some rough spots in my life. I quickly began [...]]]>

When I was little, my Dad encouraged me to keep a diary so that I can record my thoughts during tough times. Though I have always been a vocal girl {my aunt loves to tell stories about little, chatty, me!}, journaling has helped me through some rough spots in my life. I quickly began to collect notebooks and journals, keeping some in a private lock box, and jotting down ideas for poems, books, and even screenplays in others {I was quite the creative writer as a youngster}. My most recently acquired journal comes from a social design movement called The Feedback Loop — and I’m giving it away as a means of “paying it forward!”

First, a little bit about the movement. The Feedback Loop is a collaboration between Mohawk Fine Papers and Design Ignites Change, an annual program that engages high school and college students in multidisciplinary design and architecture projects that address pressing social issues. Together, they asked letterpress printers from all over the U.S. to create unique notebooks using donated paper from Mohawk’s latest and most environmentally preferable grade, Mohawk Loop. The notebooks are being sold on Mohawk’s Felt & Wire Shop, and 100% of the proceeds go to Design Ignites Change’s School: by Design program. The program asks high school students — in collaboration with their college or professional design mentors — to “redesign” their school. A $10,000 award will be granted to the high school with the most innovative project to implement their idea.

I bought Brittany Joy Skwierczynski’s “Change for the Better” journal {above} because I used to be afraid of change, but now I revel in it. I’m constantly reinventing myself for the better, which I think is just what Brittany had in mind when she designed this notebook {check out her process photos here}. I also love it for its paper, made from 100% postconsumer waste content — très sustainable! Though I’d love to keep it, I’m giving it away, hopefully to inspire change in at least one of my readers!

How do you win the sweet journal shown above? Leave a comment on this entry by Thursday, September 16th! I’ll use Random.org to choose a comment number, and then I’ll e-mail you to let you know you’ve won! :)

Images of “Change for the Better” journal © Brittany Joy Skwierczynski {bjoyski.com}.

Read more about Mohawk’s Feedback Loop notebook project on Felt & Wire.

My boss, a fellow cupcake lover, gave me this journal yesterday just because she’s super sweet. {I think she also intuitively knew that I have exams today and this was her way of telling me to not stress out about them.} The journal itself is printed by Peter Pauper [...]]]>

My boss, a fellow cupcake lover, gave me this journal yesterday just because she’s super sweet. {I think she also intuitively knew that I have exams today and this was her way of telling me to not stress out about them.} The journal itself is printed by Peter Pauper Press on beautiful acid-free lightly-lined paper and features a pocket inside the back cover and glossy, embossed lettering on the front. It’s perfect for journaling or cupcake-hunting {more on this later}.

Besides being gorgeous, this journal’s message has a bit of a back story. Ever heard of the slogan, “Keep Calm and Carry On?” It was used by the British government during WW2, but never publicized. British government officials printed thousands of posters with the slogan on it  as a way to encourage their citizens to remain calm during the war. King George VI wanted to assure his people that all necessary measures were being taken to defend the country. Only a few posters made it into the public {see below}, but the poster was never officially issued, and instead was hidden and forgotten about for over 50 years.

In 2000, buried amidst a pile of dusty books purchased at an auction, the poster resurfaced and went pubic. It’s simple message still rings true today, and would even if we weren’t involved in a war. Don’t stress out. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep calm and carry on. Check out more of the Keep Calm and Carry On gear here. The Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake journal can be found in most major bookstores, or online at Amazon {though right now it’s sold out}.

Carry on, then! :)