Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-Four

Hey Journal Gang,

How was your 4th of July weekend? Lots of complicated feelings this year, but we hope you were able to celebrate in your own way, stay safe, eat some good food and maybe even catch peek of a few fireworks here and there. They are always such a pretty sight to see. One thing that’s a central theme of many holidays - food! Cooking, grilling and enjoying the freshest produce is very much a social/summertime activity. It has us thinking of the nature of food and the customs surrounding the act of making and sharing meals. It’s something every human on the planet can relate to! We all eat, out of both pleasure and necessity, and every culture has their own rituals around food; sourcing, preparation and sharing. Recipes are passed down, adapted, and serve as a way to connect the past and the present. Food is so much more than just fuel for our bodies - it’s like an integral part of our social fabric as well.

Since the quarantine started, have you been finding yourself exploring the culinary world at home more? We totally have. The shift into staying home, experimenting with growing gardens (so rewarding! Even with a learning curve) and making more of our own meals has really been a silver lining though all this. We’re rediscovering old favorites (plus putting a few unique new spins on them, too) and seeking out ways to get creative with ingredients in the pantry.

From baking bread (hello, sourdough!) to growing veggies and trying new varieties of herbs: finding fresh (ok, pun slightly intended) ways to appreciate food is amazing.

So..what are some of your go-to tried-and-true recipes? This week choose one (or a few!) that you are loving right now, and make a fun journal spread about it. Next week we will share some of our very favorite dishes with you all as well! We look forward to seeing what you love to cook up and can’t wait to try some new things.

Bon Appétit, and Happy Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-One

Hey Journal Gang,

Happy Monday to you all - it’s journal prompt day! Making Mondays a little better since November 2019. It’s a bit surreal that this is our 31st week since the inception of journal club. It feels about half as long! Time flies when...life gets..weird? Is that a saying? Because it totally seems accurate. :)

Hopefully you had a chance to do some journaling last week and ponder how you would like to see things to change for the better. It can seem like a long list! Over the past few weeks we’ve seen people come together and the wheels starting in motion towards enacting some of those changes. We’re staying hopeful and always trying to look for opportunities to make our little personal corner of the world more aligned with some of the changes we wish to see. Every effort counts!

Things we’d like to see..speaking of that, let’s, for fun, take a peek into our daydreams. Vacations are on hold, but that doesn’t stop us from planning and making lists of all the places we’d like to explore! Working in the garden during quarantine had/has us seeing all of the possibilities (and effort) that goes into a dream garden. All of the shifting of life lately has a way of making you take step back and perhaps wonder what your true goals are, what they look like and even how to reach them. The first step in reaching a destination is deciding where you would like to end up, no? 

Describe your dream ________

Job

What is your role? What does it entail? What do you love about it? Do you have your own company or work for a cool one that aligns with your values?

Lifestyle

Are you into the homesteader life or do you see yourself in the bright lights of the big city? What aspects of your desired lifestyle are you drawn to and why? Do you want a big family? Or maybe the nomadic explorer life is more your vibe. Write about where you see yourself on the daily in an ideal future!

Garden

What does it look like? What plants are there? Are you growing food, or maybe prized roses? What climate is it in? How do you incorporate enjoying your garden into your life?

Home

Tiny house life? On the road in a custom RV? Modern Farmhouse? Loft apartment in NYC? Small single family home with a garden and land? Historic Victorian fixer-upper? Cool Mid Century Mod house surrounded by trees? Where is it located? Envision your dream house!

Travel Destination

A faraway remote tropical island? Nepal? Alaska? Southern Italy? Australia? Japan? If you could go anywhere in the world, logistics aside, where would you go and why? What would you do while you’re there? 

Literally any other ideal dream thing that resonates for you

Journal all about it! You can choose one of the above examples, all of them, or come up with a whole new category.

Maybe you’re already living the dream in some of these categories, which is awesome. Heck yes! Maybe you feel you have a ways to go - that is totally relatable and ok too! Very much so. No matter where you are, take a little time to indulge in some of your ultimate goals and just have fun with it. Dream it do it babes.

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Journaling♥
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, 
but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
~Maya Angelou

Hey Journal Gang,
Another week, another prompt and 7 more days of journaling await us; 7 more chances to explore the benefits of keeping a journal. We hope last week’s prompt helped you channel your experiences after navigating through each day. Sometimes just summarizing things in a few strong words speaks volumes. The past few weeks have held so many emotions. As a country we’re experiencing so many things: Sadness, fear, anger, uncertainty, solidarity and even traces of hope as our collective voices ring louder and more persistent than ever, across the political and social landscape. It can all be a lot to process; time and time again we find refuge and healing through creative outlets, like journaling. We hope the same is true for you.

Have you found that your journal process has changed over time? If so, that’s normal! We’d be interested to know how your journey has shifted. Change - the only constant in life. Change as a concept has been on our minds a lot lately. As a country, and individuals, we have collectively come together to demand racial justice and sweeping changes to the systems in place. Even international communities are gathering to show support in our struggle. Covid continues to linger, as question marks '?' hover abound. Within our own lives, we seek to make personal changes, or ask for the strength to accept changes that we have already had happen.

Some change is transparent and clearly defined; easy to understand and interpret in a context we can relate to. Other changes are more abstract, complex or difficult to define. Change in motion tends to fall under this hazy category. This type is more difficult to deal with. Does the caterpillar know what will become of it, while it’s in the chrysalis? 

That is 2020 in a nutshell so far. We can plan all the plans, and expect all the expectations..but sometimes we just have to ride that wave (or those waves!) that comes towards us, as best we can. By the time this year is over, we’ll all be professional surfers. ;)

So think to yourself…what changes do you want to see in this world? In our country? In your town? In your own daily life? You can focus on all of these, or choose certain areas that are the top of your values and priorities right now. Try writing steam of consciousness (whatever comes to your mind with no editing), or if lists are more your style, give bullet journaling format a go. You can later break these things down into small actions steps by asking yourself, “How can I, today, be a part of the solution to this problem, or contribute to this change? What action can I take?” Even the seemingly smallest actions can ultimately create huge momentum.

Self-reflection is healing and can change the world when the insight from that reflection merges with action. Use the power of journaling to collect your thoughts, and empower you to contribute to the changes you seek.

Stay Strong, Stay Safe and Happy Journaling,
xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Eight

Hey there Journal Gang! Happy Memorial Day to you all. Our thoughts are with all the men and women that have sacrificed everything in the line of service for our country; their families, friends and community. True grit. 

Memorial Day represents the ‘unofficially official’ start of Summer. This year has been a rollercoaster ride so far..with everything unfolding and changing quickly, it can be tricky to know how to feel, what to do or when to make plans. Can you relate? It’s the unofficial start of Summer, but we’re left wondering - what will Summer even look like this year? In a typical year, right around this time vacations would be beginning to pop up on our studio calendar. Trips to gardens, museums and breweries would grace the weekends. Sadly, this year...they aren’t! So..what should we do instead?

Let’s think on it! Summer is typically such a lively and adventurous time of year. We thought it would be helpful to make lists of revised goals and plans for Summer 2020 - quarantine edition. How can we still feel like we’re enjoying the spirit of Summer when many traditional activities are off the table for now? 

So what sorts of things can we put on a list? Think of things that you’d like to do, but maybe typical wouldn’t follow through with, if all of the traditional alternatives (vacations, outings, etc) were available. 

Drive-in movie theatre 

Get out of the house, fully reclining seats, your own snacks, movie, fresh air and personal space? This checks all the win boxes. 

Join an Online Book Club

Or make a list of all those books you’ve wanted to read, but never had time to..and then read them! There are SO many good books. Reading a book under a shade tree is just really…nice.

Sketch, Draw or Paint Outdoors

This is another great way to get some fresh air and practice a craft too! Your reference objects right there at their very best, in living color. 

Work on Your Living Space

No matter your budget or current space, there are always small touches you can do to jazz things up. Very rewarding to improve a space and make it feel more cozy. 

Gardening

Even if you only have a small balcony! If you have a yard, amazing! If not, you can totally still garden. Herbs and tomatoes are great for a small balcony or window garden. 

Fancy Cheese + Wine Picnic 

Even wear a pretty dress if you like! Lift your pinky finger high as you drink for the full effect. 

Sidewalk Chalk Art 

Just for kids? No way. Have kids? Make and epic sidewalk mural together!

Lawn games 

Grab some beer and hey, pretty much at the brewery..right?

Hiking a local trail 

Do a little research on your local area to see what trails would be best. So so many great trails and parks out there.

Take an Online Course or Workshop
Choose something fun and engaging that makes you feel excited!

Do you have an idea for something we could add to the list? Let us know in the comments! This is definitely going to be an unconventional Summer. But who knows - maybe we’ll find some joy along the way, spend some nice time outside and have a few stories to tell? That’s the spirit of Summer, after all. 

Hang in There, Be Well and Happy Journaling!
xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Seven

Hey Journal Gang! We’re back this week with another prompt to inspire some journaling magic! How has your journaling been going over the past few weeks? For us, some weeks are more productive than others, but we enjoy doing our best to always come back and find solace in this creative outlet as much as possible. It’s a grounding activity with a lot of artistic freedom involved. At times, writing is more of a focus. Other days/week it’s more graphic and art journal based. You can make your journal 100% whatever you’re feeling at the time. Again - no wrong way to journal!

Last week we took a step back to view ourselves objectively for a little morale boost. What things did you reflect on and give yourself credit for? We’re sure the list was long - you have a lot to offer! This week we’re taking more solace in the little moments of the day, with a fresh spin. Our very first journaling prompt (can you believe we founded journal club over six months ago now?!) focused on recognizing and embracing the #1 best highlight of the day. It's a prompt we like to incorporate into different weeks, because it can incite gratitude and give some perspective. When times are uncertain or stressful it can be especially cathartic to find the little gems in each 24 hours we’re given. Every day has something to offer! Some days it’s a bit easier to recognize than others, but that’s life, and totally ok. 

Having positive things to anticipate can help you appreciate the here and now as well, make goals and enjoy planning. So many things have been disrupted this year because of Covid. Aside from all the of major disruptions to life and work, a lot of fun and life milestone plans - vacations, ceremonies, weddings, family gatherings, etc. - have also been put on hold. Disapointment is only natural. We remain hopeful that we can at some point carry on with our lives and find a new normal where we can safely do those things again. Won’t that be amazing? In the meanwhile, we’re looking to the every day experience and finding smaller things to look forward to.

Your morning coffee, taking a walk, video chat with a friend, an afternoon nap, 20 minutes peace and quiet to yourself, a journaling session, watching a movie, tending to your garden or plants, cooking dinner, baking bread, playing an instrument, writing a letter, receiving a package, going for a joy ride, getting some takeout, doing a fun activity with your kid(s). These are a few things that make these days better!

So what are your things? What moments of your day do you look forward to, especially now? Revel in those moments, and journal all about it!

All the best, and Happy Journaling! 

xo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Five

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.

-George Eliot

Hey Journal Gang! Well, seems as if we’ve officially made it through another month of 2020. Little victories here! Despite our new normal, we’re staying busy and positive, enjoying journal club from afar and the time it allows for reflection. We hope you are staying well, feeling strong, and embracing the lovely simpler things in life..like journaling!

We’re in the full swing o' Spring now, and one of the most well-deserved holidays of the year is just under one week away. The day we honor and celebrate the life-giving, strong, hardworking, the loving; Mother’s Day! Moms are magical, really. There is an unrivaled bond between the shared experience of mother and child. They bring life, love, support, advice, encouragement. They make good things happen and, essentially, make the world go round. Moms rule.

So this week, let’s honor Mom in a small way by scribing fond memories of her to our journal pages. If you send your mom a card, you can jot down some things you remembered to give her a smile. If you’re a mom yourself, (Happy Mother’s Day!) you could also write from another angle - your favorite Mom memories, from your own perspective in that role! What does Motherhood mean to you? What are the golden moments? Everyone’s family relationship dynamics are unique, so feel free to write about Moms or Mother figures in your life that inspire you in other ways, too. If your mom is no longer with you, writing about her is a sweet way to honor her memory on a special day. ♥

We’re sending a ton of love and admiration to all the Mamas out there. Thank you so much for everything that you do, seen and unseen, every day. Happy Mother’s Day!!

Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Four

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone.

Kindness in another's trouble,

Courage in your own.” 

-Adam Lindsay Gordon

Hey Journal Gang, Happy Monday! 

Hope you all are hanging in there. How did your nature walk journaling fusion go? A bit of time outdoors is worth it’s weight in gold these days! Seeing nature spring back to life as we march further into Spring is so pleasant to be able to indulge in. Can’t wait to see how you are bringing inspiration from nature alive in your journals.

Like a walk on a lovely afternoon, beautiful and striking it’s purity - kindness. This year our lives have changed suddenly, forcing us to adapt quickly and do our best to embrace the current reality we face. We’re navigating keeping distance while staying connected in new ways. This time hasn’t been easy for most; being apart from friends, family, concerns about health and facing economic insecurity. In times like these, even the smallest gesture of kindness can give someone else strength to make it through the day. The world can always use a few more random acts of kindness!

So this week, keep your heart and mind open. What random acts of kindness have you witnessed? How can you share that with someone? Whether it’s sending a card to a friend, dropping off a gift for someone, baking or cooking to share, checking-in with an elderly neighbor, kind words to the grocery store clerk, sewing masks to donate, decorating your windows with messages of solidarity — these small acts are like a rock thrown into a pond. The waves extend far beyond its origin in ways that can't even be fully quantified.

Remember self kindness, too! Depending on your phase and circumstances in life, this stay-at-home period has manifested in various ways for different people. So whether you are working daily, have less time free than ever, more free time than ever, or a curious mixture of the three…embrace the principles of self-care as much as you can, according to your needs. Keep on trying your best, and everything will fall into place. Better days shall return again.

Stay Kind, and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Three

Hey Journal Gang!

Happy Monday to you! We hope your journaling last week was cathartic, relaxing and uplifting. Reflective writing has a certain magic about it in that way!

This week we want to try something fun and shift into the visual perspective, while getting outside to move our bodies and enjoy some some fresh air. An outdoor scavenger hunt, which we will then translate to our journals! After all, Spring is here and the weather is getting nicer each day. It’s good for your soul to move and get some sunshine, don’t you think? Definitely!

How does it work?

Nothing clears the head like a relaxing walk on a beautiful day. We want to merge journaling with the outdoors by enjoying the time outside, and then translating what we found into a journal spread! This is a perfect activity for when you’re feeling cooped up and just need a break. Taking alll the walks lately. Can you relate?

You can take a walk around your neighborhood, on a trail, or even do a little scavenger hunt in your own backyard. As long as you’re getting outside and having fun, that’s what’s important! Here are some ideas for things to keep an eye out for during your scavenger hunt:

• A Spring bloom
• Something smooth 
• A texture
• Something shiny
• Something sharp 
• Something white 
• Something yellow 
• Something you hear 
• A unique shaped leaf 
• An animal
• Something you think is a treasure 

Snapping photos as you go is a super quick and easy way to record your findings. That way, you can remember everything you found, and have references later for lists or illustrations when you're working on your journal! If you're into collage, you could print the photos or use a polaroid camera if you have one. You could even take your journal along and record things in real time - no wrong way to do this, gang! We’re excited. Can’t wait to see what you all discover and share too!

Happy Hunting and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-One

Hey Journal Gang!

How did having a daily or weekly mantra work out for you last week? It’s wild how grounding or motivating a short phrase can be! What was your stand out mantra or thought for the week? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to know so we can add it to our mental mantras repertoire too.

This week we’re going back to basics, with a throwback to our very FIRST week of Journal Club: reflecting on the highlights of our days. An oldie but a goodie! With life and routines essentially turned upside down right now for most, we’re all finding new rhythms and trying to settle into a new temporary normal. It’s a strange thing! But with the unexpected comes unexpected opportunities as well. Opportunities to experience the day from a new perspective. It will be interesting to contrast our journal entries from the very first week of Journal Club to now and see how our days have evolved with the change of circumstances and passage of time. SO so much has happened in this wild ride that is 2020 so far. Despite all the craziness, we hope you are finding silver linings and unexpected small joys in your days. Search for the magic in each day, and live that moment again through your journaling! Sounds good to us.

One highlight of our week that we’ve been really missing is our Journal Club meetup in the shop each Tuesday! It was always a bright spot, and an engaging way to start out the week and get together with our awesome Journal Club Gang. We’re working on getting a virtual meetup going (yay!) and will share the details on how to join in, hopefully by next week. Can’t wait!

Stay Safe, Be Well and Happy Journaling!

xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty

Hey There Journal Gang,

Sending our love to everyone from afar this week as we continue to navigate our way through these strange new days. How are you all doing? Have you been benefitting from working in your journals lately? We definitely have. Bailey has been painting her daily sky watercolor journal entries throughout this past week. Such a simple and meditative way to find your center and appreciate the little things, like the way the clouds drift through the sky on a Spring day. On our Instagram account, she demonstrates her process, so follow along there for inspiration! It’s the perfect time to take a few minutes for yourself and just be in the moment, enjoying working on your journal. “Be Here Now”

This week we’ve got mantras on our minds. With an air of uncertainty shrouding so, so many things right now, finding a mental space that empowers and comforts you is vital. It’s super easy to get wrapped up in fear, stress or anxieties. Ruminating on a positive mantra can serve as a mental guidepost, to give you perspective, encourage you and give you strength.

A personal mantra is a phrase or word that resonates with you at any given time. It embodies your inner values and beliefs. It honors where you are now and where you would like to go. We all have mantras, whether or not we are conscious of it! That little subconscious voice or low-key inner monologue it always running..It can be positive, negative or somewhere in-between. This week we’re aiming to align with some positive statements that give us strength, comfort and help us to keep on truckin’.

Find something that speaks to you. It could inspired by a favorite quote, something you read in a book, a lyric from a song or a phrase you come up with yourself! Condense it down or use it verbatim - anything that empowers you and brings a sense of calm and encouragement is perfect.

Here are some simple mantras and quotes to get your wheels turning:

• Be Here Now
• Create Every Day
• Overcome and Grow 
• Patience is Power
• One Day at a Time
• I am peaceful and calm
• I accept myself as I am
• I am resourceful and strong
• This Too Shall Pass
• Keep on Truckin’
• Keep on the Sunny Side

“I am exactly where I am supposed to be.”

Shannon Kaiser

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

Albert Einstein

“Life is a balance between holding on a letting go.”

Rumi

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.“

Henry Thoreau

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.“

Corrie Boom

"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones."

Bruce Garrabrandt

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it."

Kurt Vonnegut

“You have power over your mind and not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.”

Marcus Aurelius

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

J.R.R. Tolkien

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” 

Shannon L. Alder

The mind is a powerful thing, isn’t it? We can’t wait to see what mantra(s) you embrace for yourself!


Stay Strong, Stay Awesome, and Happy Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Nineteen

Hey there Journal Gang,

As we enter a new week of journal club, we’re thinking of you and hope that your journals are serving as a therapeutic outlet through all of the sudden changes and adjustments we’re all experiencing. Even though our journal club meetup is on hold, we’re maintaining that spirit of camaraderie and community through our journals each week. Life feels a little more strange with each passing day right now, but we're all doing the best we can to adapt, be positive and resourceful. Keep on keeping on! Using journaling, letters and other creative outlets to help us process things has been invaluable.

Last week we spent some time pondering our appreciation of loved ones. When life shifts dramatically, it’s more important than ever to communicate and connect with people that love and support us, and visa versa. Our instagram share a card event has been cathartic for us as well; connecting with you, sharing circumstances and encouraging words brought a little extra light into our days. We are feeling super grateful for all the amazing people in our lives right now. When it gets down to it, what is life but the joy of sharing all it has to offer with others?

So, what’s this about silver linings?
We may be collectively socially distancing right now, but a major global event like this can unite us in purpose and spirit. It can make you reevaluate your priorities, values, what self-care means to you, your world view, your routines, goals, and count your blessings. So, pretty much everything! Though it oftentimes feels like an ominous and uncertain situation, nothing is life is so plain in black and white. Even the most trying circumstances have a silver lining laced within. Everyone processes emotions at different rates and in different ways, so it’s OK to be exactly wherever you are right now! It’s absolutely normal to experience anxiety and stress when things upend your normal life. Things will get better. Let's uplift our thoughts this week and focus on those little silver linings within.

Maybe you’ve been able to :

• Spend more time with your immediate family
• Connect with distant family more often through letters or technology 
• Make your pets happy by being around more often (keeping those tails wagging!)
• Finish lingering home improvement projects
• Read more
• Write more
• Catch up on sleep
• Start or work on an art/craft hobby
• Dive into a personal passion project 
• Go for more walks
• Explore the outdoors
• Work in your yard
• Try new recipes at home
• Get a jump on spring cleaning or organization
• Catch up on your favorite show 

…These are a few of the silver linings that come to mind!

So, what are your silver linings?  Think about what small gift each of these days of late have to offer, and how you can lean into them to help you grow, heal and move forward.
While everything is still uncertain, and can feel scary at times, know that for every negative, there is a positive hiding in there..somewhere. Many things may be out of our control, but we can control being kind to ourselves (and each other!), embracing the here and now(easier said than done, we know!), looking out for others and just simply doing the best we can. One day at a time, friends. Slow and steady..we’ve got this. Hang in there!


Be well, and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Seventeen

“Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun

And I say, it's alright”

Hey Journal Gang! Welcome to another beautiful week and a whole new journaling prompt! Last week we pondered all of the fun and exciting things that await us throughout this year and beyond. What is the occasion or milestone you’re most looking forward to?

On the note of forward thinking - this week is good one, because we are one generous leap closer to the arrival of SPRING! And we couldn’t be happier about it! We may lose a bit of sleep, but we will have glorious sun-filled evening hours to more than make up for it. Even though Spring is still a few weeks away, this shift is a big change and really serves as the unofficial start of the season for many. It’s so refreshing to feel like your leisure time opportunities blossom with all the extra rays and warmth. We’re looking forward to golden hour walks, exploring the outdoors, working outside, evening gardening, journaling on the patio, spending more time with pets and just the general increase in energy levels! 

Are you happy about Daylight Savings? What things do you love about it most? What will you do with all that splendid evening sunlight?! 

We hope everyone has a great week filled with nice weather and hopeful thoughts!

Stay Golden, friends.  

 

Happy Journaling!

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fourteen

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home.” 

Edith Sitwell

Hey Journal Gang!

Was your past week filled with thoughts of self-love and rituals of self-care? Hopefully so! After reflecting on ways to nurture the self and live a little more simply, we are feeling motivated to make more time to sustain a balance within. Life happens, things get busy and the scales can get tipped, but reflecting on ways to slow down and just ‘be’ is always helpful for some mental perspective. Let’s keep it up throughout 2020! *Adds to 2020 intentions list*

Speaking of 2020…How are we almost into it’s third month already?? Spring is just a little over a month a way, and the sun lingers a little longer each day. It seems like around late February, daydreams of greenery in Spring start creeping in. In our Journal Collage Workshop last week, we noticed green coming through as a collective theme among the collages; we suspected our subconscious thoughts of Spring were playing a role in that! With that in mind, we thought we would take some time this week to lean into the remainder of this season we’re in, and end on a high note by reflecting on all of the things we appreciate about this time of the year. After all, there are many joys in Winter!

So, what aspects of Winter do you look forward to or revel in? All the cozy hobbies? Skiing adventures in the mountains? The mountains in Colorado are majestic in every season, perhaps even more so in Winter.  Do you love how quiet and sparkly the world feels after a fresh snow? (That's the best!) Soup and candles? Maybe you enjoy the vibe of being indoors and the overall tone. Winter wardrobes maybe? All the layers - so many fashion opportunities! For those in warmer climates, what are your favorite Wintry things?



No matter your favorite season, there is beauty to appreciate in each one. So let’s think positive and reminisce on all those lovely things while it lasts. For next thing we know, it will be Spring!



Happy Journaling!!
xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twelve

creative outlet 

pages fill with memories

journal club is grand

Hey Journal Gang! We hope you are having a wonderful start to the new month and enjoyed last week’s prompt! Did you find the mood tracking to be insightful? It’s a great thing to incorporate into journaling as an ongoing element. Staying in touch with how you’re feeling, and why, is a key to being mindful and living in the moment - one of the intentions we set for 2020. Pretty neat how things build and give you momentum when you’re keeping a journal!
This week we want to continue building on those things and growing as people, so we’re going to try incorporating another element into this prompt - poetry, specifically Haikus! “Poetry - but I can’t write poetry!?“ If you just had that thought -- don’t worry! Absolutely anyone can write a Haiku, including you!!

What is a Haiku, anyway?
A Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. They are short poems that use very few words to capture a moment in time, create a mental image, or convey a message. Traditionally, a Haiku is composed of three lines, and broken down into syllables - 5 in the first line, 7 in the second line, 5 in the third line. 5, 7, 5.



For example:

1. creative outlet   (5 syllables)
2. pages fill with memories  (7 syllables)
3. journal club is grand   (5 syllables)

See? Not so intimidating! You can be literal with your Haikus and keep them very straightforward, or go for more conceptual and imagery-based content. Many Haikus are inspired by nature and the seasons. You can write one about a moment or event, a feeling you had, about a memory, or as a summary of your day as a whole. You would be surprised how much can be conveyed in just three short lines of text! Since there is a simple and set format for these little poems, anyone can approach them and add a little poetry to their life. Once you get into the swing of it, writing them is so fun and easy! So we encourage you to think outside of the box, try something new and 5-7-5 your way through the week!

Happy Haiku-ing, and Happy Journaling!!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Eleven

Hey Journal Gang!! We’re back with a new prompt, as we enter into our eleventh week of The Antiquaria Journal Club! Can you believe it’s been almost THREE months since we started? We’re super grateful for this community that we’ve bonded with through journaling, and truly look forward to seeing the things you make.

Last week we were feeling all kinds of the blues, in the best possible way. Did you enjoy this take on the prompt? We can’t wait to see how you all interpreted the color-theme! As we worked on our spreads, the notion of how much color can effect your mood was in the forefront of thoughts. Just seeing all the soothing and vibrant blues on the page inspired a certain emotional vibe. Color is essentially a visual emotion!

So this week, we wanted to take a deeper dive into the world of moods, by tracking them each day. Various trackers are a great thing to incorporate into a journal, and are ubiquitous in bullet journaling - for good reason! Keeping daily tabs on our moods, goals or tasks can help us analyze trends and make changes where needed in order to succeed. Sounds good, right?

If you’re keeping a bullet journal, a mood tracker is a very intuitive incorporation. You can color code things, make graphs and embrace an almost scientific approach to tracking your moods. If your vibe is more art journaling and improvising, taking an art therapy perspective on it could be right up your alley. For example, you could paint a visual representation of how you felt that day, using colors to signify certain feelings. Of course, mood tracking is a natural fit for reflective journaling as well! Simply writing out how you felt, what happened and how your moods ebbed and flowed throughout the day can be enlightening in retrospect.

Having a catalog of moods can give a greater insight into how events, habits and actions affect us. It can be a guide to allow yourself to rest more than you thought you needed to, or show you where your trouble points are. Maybe you realize your mood shifts when you need to sleep, when you get hungry, when things are out of balance, or if you haven’t seen friends in awhile. Awareness is power!


Wishing you a wonderful week filled with all the good vibes.


Happy Journaling!


xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Ten

“Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.”

John Ruskin

Hey there Journal Gang! This week we’re shaking things up a bit with a different take on the prompt; a ‘blue’ perspective!
It’s tempting to feel intimidated by something a little more open-ended, but don’t worry! That’s part of what makes this week’s prompt extra magical - you interpret it in absolutely ANY way that feels right to you in the moment.

As fellow humans we largely understand the world around us through our visual comprehension. Colors deeply resonate with us on an emotional level and each hue is associated with a number of traits. Red. Yellow. Green. Blue. You probably envision certain moods and scenes by just reading the words! We tie colors to our feelings and see them in our dreams.

This week we’re giving blue some love, and redefining what it means to have the blues!
Blue, in all its forms, is a complex, enduring and beloved color. Sensitive, serine, strong and soothing; from pale and dreamy to steadfast and deep - its beauty is undeniable. It’s experienced on many levels and in many ways. It also happens to be Pantone’s color of the year for 2020 - ’Classic Blue’!


There are endless angles from which to approach a color theme. Let’s think about some of them! Through the lens of:

via unsplash

Emotions
How do various shade of blue make you feel? What personal associations do you have with this lovely range of color? Do you like to write poetry? You could go that route with your color theme week!

via unsplash

Thoughts
Feeling more reflective? Researching color psychology is fascinating. Not only can it give you personal insight, but it’s enlightening and very helpful with many types of creative work, including art and design! Win-win.



Inspiration
Cards, calligraphy, paints, ink, paper, fashion, textiles, interior design, jewelry, art…Try collaging or illustrating your very favorite blues from whatever inspires you most!

via unsplash

Nature
Nature’s beauty knows no bounds. Seriously. Skies, seas, gems and minerals flowers, berries, flora and fauna. Did you know blue is actually one of the rarest colors found in nature? And it still seems to be all around us!
Are you excited to get started? Which shade of blue inspires you most, and why? We can’t wait for all the dreamy hues this week!







All the very best, and Happy Journaling!


xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Nine

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

Mahatma Gandhi

Journal Club friends! Warm greetings to you all, as we enter our ninth week of Journal Club. We’re moving ever-forward into the new year, our goals and aspirations pleasantly lingering in our thoughts; thoughts of all this vast world has to offer, and all we may have to offer the world in return!

With our 2020 intentions fresh and shining in our conscious minds, and our Workshops starting this weekend (YAY!), we’re keen to engage, acquire/expand upon knowledge and fearlessly follow through! Every week, every day, is another opportunity to learn something new. Taking on an unknown skill or engaging in a challenge helps us grow as people, gain perspective, build confidence and discover ourselves in a new way. It can connect us with one another, and foster new relationships. There is literally NO downside to being a lifelong learner! We are all for diving into a new subject and adding to our skillset - let’s do this!!

Our intentions and our learning aspirations have some overlaps, for sure! Our team wants to explore a wide variety of subjects: outdoor gardening and permaculture, adventure photography, trying new drawing techniques - plus MANY more! The intentional choice to explore and learn carries us towards fulfilling intentions, which is SO satisfying. It opens a whole new realm of opportunities!

So..what topics come to the forefront of your mind? What activities or subjects have you always wanted to try? Maybe you've already begun learning something, but want to elevate your level of expertise. If you aren’t quite sure what you'd like to learn - refer back to your intentions and goals! Breaking it down from there is great inspiration point if you aren’t sure what to try first. Determine what goals are most important, what your priorities are and then ask yourself - what do I need to learn to arrive there?


Listen to your heart, try your best, learn from failures, be flexible, never give up - and you cannot go wrong!!


We can’t wait to hear about your interests!



Happy Dreaming, Learning and Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Eight

“Our intention creates our reality.”

Wayne Dyer

It's official, friends: A brand new year and the dawn of a whole new decade is upon us! We've had a wonderful week reflecting on all the bright, sparkling moments of 2019 and we hope you have too! It’s amazing how much goodness can happen in just ONE short year, right? To see all of our very favorite memories coalescing in our notebooks summons all of the positive emotions from those events. So sweet. What were your top highlights over the past 12 months? We can’t wait to see them!

Our prompt last week was setting the stage in our hearts and minds for this week’s prompt and subject: Intentions. Fresh from reflecting with gratitude on our past year’s experiences, it’s the perfect time to recenter and create an internal space for your intentions for this year. So, what are intentions exactly?

We’ve all heard of New Year’s resolutions, and most of us have personal experience with them! Defining your intentions is very much along similar lines. A resolution tends to be a more singular and broad statement, which is all good, unless it feels too daunting! Maybe you want to do something, but aren’t exactly sure how to get there. Intentions have a sense of versatility and layers. They too can be solid and concrete, but living intentionally can be translated and scaled in many ways. Essentially, intentions can act as larger resolutions, as small stepping stones to reach your big goals - or both! Pretty cool, right??

For example, you could set an intention for your week, day, or even how you’d like an hour long meeting to go. On a larger scale, it could be envisioning what you want your life to look like over the next year and beyond. Defining these for the year can help you assess how to break it down into smaller ways to fulfill your goals!

Maybe you’d love to start your own business, or travel to a country you’ve always wanted to visit (like Spain!), or start a family. Maybe you want to attain a habit of mindfulness, focus on your internal world and spiritual health, organize your living space, or perhaps your focus is living with intention financially and saving money. So, whether your goals and intentions relate to tangible or abstract subjects, just the act of setting the goals and intentions (writing them in your journal!) takes you another step closer to making your dream come alive!

So, this year, we hope you get to go to that country, start that business, meet new friends, try that new hobby (or finish a current project! Guilty as charged, here!), find peace or anything else you have your heart set on. We believe in you!! We’re excited to spend some time creating that new reality, starting with our journal pages.



All the best, and until next time, Happy Journaling!!

xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Seven

Hey there dear Journal Club friends! We hope you’re still basking in a warm and pleasant holiday afterglow. Did you enjoy partaking in your favorite holiday traditions? Which one did you enjoy the most this year? Maybe you started a new one? We can’t wait to see how you’ve incorporated them into your journal pages!

We are just a few days away now from a whole new year! The stretch between Christmas and The New Year is always a unique threshold of time; the buzz of the holidays is waning, but the anticipation of a new year builds with each sunrise. There’s a sense of looking forward with excitement and reflecting in retrospect, simultaneously. Each passing year seems to approach and fade with a quickened pace. Can you relate to that feeling?? This year has gone by at light speed..seriously, weren’t the leaves just reappearing on the trees? The days are long, but the months fly by! What is a year but a collection of these days, each one holding unique events and memories.

2019 has been a huge year for us. On the cusp of a new decade, we experienced so many firsts. A flagship and new location for our business, Bailey welcomed her first child, our little team grew, we incorporated brand new product lines, and really started feeling our roots settle into our Downtown Littleton Community. This is a special New Year celebration, because it not only marks the beginning of a new year, but really, a new era! A whole new decade. SO much has happened over the past 10 years and we are feeling extremely blessed for everything in our lives up to this point. We can’t wait to see what the next year holds. We’ve got a feeling it’s going to the one of the best yet!

This week we encourage you to look back upon your year with a twinkle in your eye as you recall YOUR very favorite 2019 memories! From the smallest moment to the biggest life event, and anything in between. Whichever things stand out the most to you and bring a smile to your face - journal all about ‘em!!


Wishing you the best New Year ever, filled with all the good vibes and warm memories.

Be sure to join us on Tuesday, January 7th at 11am for our first Journal Club Meetup of 2020!!

5654 S Prince St STE A, Littleton, CO 80120

Happy New Year, Happy Reminiscing and Happy Journaling!!


xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Six

It’s HERE - not only another prompt to kickstart your journaling this week, but Christmas is mere days away!! This is a special week of the year, surrounding by anticipation, preparing, and excitement. It’s filled with the joys of giving, receiving and reflecting.

All around the world, the holidays stand out as a time to make memories and share warmth and joy. One of our absolute favorite parts of the holidays is the opportunity to engage in traditions we have, not only within our cultures, but within our own lives and families. Traditions give us a chance to reconnect with ourselves and those we care for. As the years go by, we engage in traditions and as families grow and life changes, form some new ones along the way! How fun is that?

So - what are your very favorite holiday traditions?? Maybe it’s baking cookies and treats to share, or perhaps putting up a tree and rediscovering your special ornament collection as you go. It could be ice-skating or going to see all the twinkling lights. Some people travel to warm weather locations to celebrate, or return to their childhood home. Do you look forward to a gift exchange or writing your holiday cards? Maybe you go to a favorite restaurant every Christmas Eve, or have a specific movie you love to watch. 

Christmas and the holidays can be stressful, but this week we invite you to take some time for yourself, reflect on the heart of it all, and the traditions you cherish. You could make a list of traditions you currently keep and some you’d like to incorporate in the future!

Regardless of how you spend the holidays, we are wishing you THE best one yet, and hope you enjoy every moment of it!!

Happy Journaling, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!

xo
The Antiquaria Team