Hi friends! I'm back after a brief time off. This late summer has brought with it so many joys and so many changes. I've been adjusting slowly and I'm so thrilled to be back to the blog and to bring Fall with me!
There are few things I love more than crisp fall mornings and the colorful leaves that litter the sidewalks. But this Fall is a bit different for me. For the first time in my years, I'm not at home to enjoy Fall. I didn't watch as the crops turned from vibrant green to golden brown. I didn't watch as my dad and brother prepped and repaired and adjusted and greased and oiled and tweaked the machinery for harvest. I wasn't at home when the first load of soybeans rolled in on a semi trailer and they collected a sample and tested its moisture to be sure the beans were just right. And I wasn't there as they dragged in, tired and dusty, to eat supper, only when the work was done for the day. It would be so easy for me to dwell on the fact that I'm at college this Fall. But I've chosen not to. There is so much to celebrate about the new places I'm going and the people I'm meeting and the Fall that I'm experiencing. I didn't watch the crops turn, but I watched the neighborhood and campus come to life when the weather cooled, as families and dogs and bicycles made their way up and down the leaf littered sidewalks I love so much. I don't get to see my dad and brother work hard each day, but I've met the hardworking people who are the backbone of this campus. The grounds crew: constantly pruning and trimming and digging and planting and mowing and grooming and caring for the nature around us. The professors and mentors: planning and teaching and grading and emailing and explaining. And the sweet ladies at the coffee shop who always offer and smile and do everything to be sure my drink is just right.
Just as things as things have changed for me, you'll probably notice some changes around the blog too. College brings great joys and its fair share of fun, but it also brings a reasonable workload. Understandably so, my time for reading books for pleasure has escaped before my very eyes. As far as cooking goes, time and facilities dictate that if it can't be made in a microwave it's better left alone. So, what does that mean for Read Eat then Repeat? I'm glad you've asked.
Microblogging on Instagram
If you've never heard of Microblogging, it's a way to share shorter posts more frequently usually through the use of another social media platform. When I started REtR I created an Instagram account to go along with it. It's always been a way for me to share to a wider audience when I've published a new blog post or what an upcoming post might be about. But to this point, I've never shared anything on the Instagram that wasn't featured on the blog. In the months to come, this will change. Brief content you can look forward to seeing on the @readeatthenrepeat Instagram account include:
#AmReading Posts
The hashtag #AmReading is frequently used by bookworms, publishing professionals, and authors alike. Don't be alarmed as I was at first: this hashtag does NOT refer to reading in the morning. Heaven knows I wouldn't be participating if it did. Instead it is a way to say, "Here is what I am reading right now." Similarly, some authors use the hashtag #AmWriting to talk about their works in progress.
College Tips
While I certainly will never claim to be an expert on this crazy thing we call college life, I hope to share the things I do learn with you. Whether it's simple food hacks (like the fact that you can bake a sweet potato in a microwave... you can't tell me that's not amazing), class and academic tips, suggestions for living your best dorm life, or organization ideas, I'll be posting all about it on the @readeatthenrepeat Instagram page.
Miscellaneous Recipes
Though they'll no longer come accompanied by guiding photos of each step, I still have a whole slew of recipes I treasure and I can't wait to share with you on Instagram. These will be easy to screenshot and to try on your own!
"So, what if I don't have an Instagram account?"
Good news. Since REtR's Instagram is a public account you can view the posts through a link on your computer or device without signing up for an account of your own.
In the meantime...
I have big plans for the month of October. Literally. I'm so excited to share all about my love for planning and journaling with you in the remainder of this post. Let's dive right in.
Maybe you've heard of bullet journaling. Maybe you think it's a rigid system with lots of structure. Maybe you think its for creative people. Maybe you think it's a journal. Maybe you think it's a to-do list. Maybe you think it's a calendar. You're right. All of these notions are correct in today's definition of bullet journaling.
This short video explains the original system created by Ryder Carroll. But, for many bullet journalists, these are only the bones.
The Bullet Journal website says itself that Ryder Carroll "sees this as an evolving, adaptable practice meant to be self curated as you determine what works best for you." And evolved and adapted it has been.
Here are some shoutouts to show you what some lovely humans have done with their bullet journals:
Lauren Lanker from the Instagram account @laurensplannerpages loves to use Crayola products and fun quotes to spice up her monthly spreads.
The Instagram account @rainbow.bujo shares fun and creative ways to add ALL the colors into her Bullet Journal. She's also a mental health professional and weaves self care and wellbeing into many of her bullet journal pages.
And KB from the Instagram account @kb.creative_ is wowing her followers all the time with her amazing hand lettering.
Are you freaking out? Maybe these wonderful pictures have you thinking that Bullet Journaling isn't for you. Maybe you feel like you're not creative enough. Maybe you feel like you don't have the time to set up a bullet journal. Let me bring the expectations down a bit by offering you a peak into my first Bullet Journal.
So, yeah. You can do this. It doesn't have to time consuming. It doesn't have to be beautiful. What any bullet journalist would tell you is that, above all, it has to be functional. You find what works for you and you stick with it. And when that doesn't work anymore, you adapt again.
"Where do I go from here?"
Not surprisingly what started as pen and paper has become a community. A group of people who share and talk, post and discuss, about all things bullet journaling. At the beginning of each month, a group of people launch the Plan With Me Challenge. This challenge is described as "a planner challenge focusing on the why & the how of planning" and is co-hosted by different bullet journalists each month. My challenge for you is to follow along. I'll be posting daily on the Read Eat then Repeat Instagram with a photo of my journal entry that corresponds with the day's prompt. Check out the Instagram tonight to see a list of the prompts and to get a feel for the challenge.
You might try bullet journaling for a month and hate it. Or you may find you love it. By doing this challenge alongside me and hundreds of other bullet journalists, what I can promise is that you will learn something new. The goal is growth, so don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions. I am excited for this month and I hope you are too!
So that's all for now, folks. I'll see you on Instagram and on the blog on occasion. Until then, happy reading, happy eating, and happy planning.
Mags
