Journal, Journal In My Purse...

I’m a journal gal. Not the, “Dear Diary – Today at school I dropped my pencil in Science class and John picked it up for me!!!!” kind of journal gal, but I always always always have a journal with me for lists, notes, blog post ideas or whatever. I cut out things in magazines I like and stick them in there, I fill them with Post-Its and generally run my life out of them. I’ve tried to use all kinds of apps on my iPhone, but I keep coming back to the journal. It’s nice to look back and some journals from a few years ago and see what I was doing. Here’s a sample of some of my most recent journals – they give a nice glimpse into the insanity that rolls around in my head 99% of the time:

I love filling up a journal, putting it away and going to find a new one. Sometimes I’m in a hurry and just grab a small notebook at the grocery store, but other times I take a little time to find something I really like. I want it to be pretty, and I want it to have paper that’s nice. Sometimes I go lined, sometimes unlined. Here are a few ideas of pretty and functional journals that fit nicely into your purse:

Lewis and Clark probably took notes about the American west in journals similar to this one. I'm sure it's got that great leather smell. $34.95 from Amazon.

This Prospero journal from Anthropologie is almost too pretty to make notes like, "Wash the dog" and "Pick up Dry Cleaning." It's leather, has a beautiful bird motif and is only $18!

Moleskine is the gold standard of journals - they're durable and come in a variety of sizes and styles, including journals for gardeners, wine enthusiasts and travelers.

These journals from Overstock have covers that are made from recycled magazine pages. And you get two for $20.99!

These small French journals from Urban Outfitters are sort of whimsical and cool, and only $9.99 for a set of three. You'll fill them up quickly, but that's OK - because then you get to buy another one!

"Keep Calm and Carry On" has been everywhere for the past couple of years. This journal from Barnes & Noble ($8.99) (terrible picture, by the way) seems like the best place to have this WWII Churchill saying.

Also from Barnes & Noble (RIP, soon) is the "Medicated and Motivated" journal ($10.95) from Anne Taintor. 'Nuf said.

There are literally THOUSANDS of cute, pretty, sappy, enlightened journals out there, just ready for your deepest thoughts or most important to-dos. Do you journal? Tell me in the comments!