Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fifty-Eight

Merry week of Christmas, Journal Gang! Who’s ready to celebrate?

How are your holiday preparations going? We spent this weekend wrapping up some last minute to-do’s, in hopes to enjoy a relatively relaxing week ahead. What sorts of things have you been up to this season? Did you do any holiday baking? Soo many recipes, so little time! We’ve been sharing snail mail, baking, decorating, wrapping gifts, working on hobbies, making paper snowflakes (so fun!) and just trying to embrace the spirit of it all along the way. 

One of the best things about the holidays is the fact they are centered around nostalgia and traditions. It’s a reminder of years past, and a lively way to embrace the current stage of our lives as well. Making gifts for our children, to cherish in the future. Looking back on things we made as kids. Some gems always emerge when rummaging through the ornament bin, no!? Meeting up with old friends, and growing closer with new ones. It’s about food, sharing, love and thoughtful gestures. Embracing spirituality and the long-standing traditions surrounding it. These are the things that make the holidays so wonderful.

The idea that we take pieces of where we have been, where we come from, and then merge them with where we are now, and where we aim to be - it’s just such a sweet aspect of life. It’s a comforting thing. We absolutely love hearing about others’ traditions! Recently, a friend shared that their family makes dried fruit slices each year and hangs them as ornaments. They look like little stained glass pieces - so pretty! That’s just one example of how sharing traditions can spark ideas and inspire you to integrate new ones into your own celebrations as well. 

So..what are your favorite traditions? What thing(s) from your family have you carried on with you through life, into later years? Have you integrated any new traditions? What traditions would you like to start? Write all about it! (We'd love to hear about some of them, too!)

We hope you all have the most wonderful, happy, merry Christmas. Like, ever. I have had a wonderful time dreaming up and sharing prompts with you. This year has been a doozy, but we’ve just about made it through. I hope your journaling practice brought you comfort, throughout the hardest of the times this year - of which there have been no shortage. I appreciate you reading these posts, and sharing along in this journaling journey! I hope your 2021 brings the glow of a bright future as it approaches. Good things await. ❤

Merry Christmas, and Happy Journaling! 

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fifty-Five

Happy Monday Journal Gang,

Refreshed and basking in the afterglow of the Holiday - how about you? Did you have a lovely Thanksgiving? We hope you were able to slow down, eat some great food and enjoy the holiday. What was your favorite dish this year? So hard to choose a favorite! It’s a lot of fun to experiment and find ways to put a custom touch on classic favorites. Looking at you, green bean casserole

This week we greet the first day of December..December 2020. We’ve made it! Phew. One more month until we bid adieu to all 365 days of this wild ride of a year. There are so many things to reflect on, and we’ll touch on those a bit more as we approach the New Year. Definitely a lot to process, and new ways of thinking moving forward.

December is a standout month of the year, for good reason. There’s a feeling of excitement, anticipation, leveling up on the cozy vibes, sending out and receiving snail mail (our favorite - watch out for details on our Holiday Card Exchange, Dec 3rd!) and planning and making gifts for all our favorite people. So much to do - and so many ways to do them! We’re finding the holiday planning, baking and decorating feel especially refreshing to anticipate and dive into this year. It honestly feels like a nice, cheerful thing to focus on. Can you relate? 

There are often so many things going on this time of the year, it can feel a little (a lot) overwhelming. We thought this week would be a good chance to have a little fun planning and preparing in our journals!

Do you love to decorate? Jot down some decor ideas, or even try out a mood board with paints and collage, if art journaling is your thing. Can’t wait to bake all. the. things? Write out your favorite recipes and who you’d like to share treats with! DIYing some gifts, or brainstorming other gift ideas? Explore all your plans and keep track of your progress. Lots of ways to get organized and excited!

We hope your start to the new month is wonderful, and sets a comforting tone for the rest of your year. 

Happy Journaling,

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fifty-Three

 

Hey Journal Gang,

Happy Monday to you, friends ❤ Which prompt did you end up choosing as your inspiration for the one-year anniversary entry? We really enjoyed the haiku and simple living prompts!

November seems to be flying by at warp speed. Who else is so looking forward to the holidays?? We aren’t exactly sure what they are going to look like this year (per usual), and we won’t get to see as much family as we wish we could..but we’re determined to make the most of them. We’re making cozy at-home holiday plans and feel super excited about having something to look forward to. Can you relate?

We may or may not be jumping on the holiday lights and decorations train super early this year…they just brighten things up and bring a little touch of much needed joy! Definitely something we could all use more of these days. It’s just lending a new appreciation for those simple parts of life that bring a smile and a warm vibe.

What things always bring you comfort in the down and good times? Maybe it’s friends and family. It’s hard because that’s true for so many, but also, many of us are separated from each other this year. It’s tough, but we hope you have found (and continue to find) ways to grow and feel a sense of comfort, even as we face the unknowns of this upcoming winter season.

“May your troubles be less

Your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door”

Stay safe, be well and 

as always, Happy Journaling to you!

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Forty-Nine

Hey Journal Gang,

Welcome to the third Monday in October! The weather is fully turning here, and it’s a lovely feeling. Were you able to reflect on some positive thoughts with last week’s prompt? Hopefully it lended some moments of gratitude by thinking back on times when people were there for you. And hopefully you found an opportunity to pay it forward in a small way! 

This month of the year is usually a busy one for us, and moreso this year as we figure out new ways of adapting to the world. Holiday snail mail season is gearing up, so we know the holidays are just over the horizon - starting with Halloween in just under two weeks! Always a fun holiday. School is in swing, lots of projects and new endeavors in the works, for the business, and in our own creative practices and homes as well.

How about your October? What things are filling your days as of late? Which are working for you, and which aren’t? Sometimes it helps to take a little mental inventory of what we’ve been up to and how we can adjust things in order to optimize our feelings of thriving. Sometimes we’re just hanging on in surviving mode (um, like most of this year!), and that’s ok too. It could be a sign of a need to rest and reevaluate. That's just a part of life sometimes! We're feeling hopeful and excited about the things we're working on, so that's a good sign. 

What is bringing you joy or making you excited lately? Do you have something you’ve been working on that you’d like to continue to pursue? An idea you have, but haven’t executed it yet? What activities are you most feeling these days, and why? Are things going well in your studies, at home, or at work? What things aren’t? Take a few moments to jot these things down and take note. If working in your journal is on your list of feel-good things..you’ll be ahead of the game! :)

Happy Journaling,❤

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Week Forty-Six | Antiquaria Journal Club

Hey Journal Gang,

New week, new prompt! How has your journaling been going lately? Have you felt inspired, or has it been tough to find the time? It’s totally normal to have ebbs and flows with a practice or hobby - we go through that as well. We always find our way back to journaling and channeling through other various creative outlets at some point. It’s especially rewarding when you revisit something and remember what you love so about that activity, don’t you think?

Speaking of revisiting..this weekend we felt the first full fall mode shift here on the front range. The first glimpse of the upcoming cozy months, and it has been so nice already. The weather was a little bit chilly and overcast, with dappled sunlight. Light a candle, clean a bit, work on a project and just enjoy. Those days are glorious. 

We wanted to revisit one of our previous favorite prompts this week, in honor of the shifting temps and season. How has the weather been where you are? Have you seen leaves changing yet? Have you brought out the fall home scents and candles yet? What do you love about the cooler weather? We like to use the colors and feelings of the season as inspiration..and then journal all about it! 

If you need some ideas, Bailey has a fun example of a weather journal spread she did earlier this year. You can find video examples on our instagram page highlights! She incorporated watercolors, stamps and pencils to create a custom art journal log of the weekly weather and skies. So fun!

We hope you enjoy exploring the prompt! Here’s to a great week ahead❤

Happy Journaling and Happy Autumn,
xoxo

The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Forty-Two

Hey Journal Gang,

Welcome to September - almost! One more day until we’re in the last month of Summer. How did your journaling go last week? Were you able to lean into some of your favorite simple living vibes? We sure hope so, because it seems that a large component of a good life is merely a collection of those lovely low key moments.

Over the past few days we’ve had a shift in the winds here, so to speak; a break in the heat and drought. Last night, the skies were clear for what seemed like the first time in weeks. Somehow the stars shone brighter then before, twinkling and shimmering their greetings. The moon glow enveloped the garden like a satin silver shroud. Beautiful nights. There is now that ever-so-slight hint of fall in the air that creeps out at dusk and vanishes with the morning dew. Subtle, fleeting - but most definitely there! It’s a welcome sensation. 

Something about the cusp of a season change can evoke a lot of memories or a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps it’s a quiet acceptance of letting go of the season's passing and a sense of readiness or excitement for the shift ahead. There’s a bit of a mental transition between Summer and Fall. The world slows a bit, or perhaps becomes a bit more introverted in nature. Attentions, routines, hobbies and goals shift. There are still plenty of warm days ahead..but that little mental shift is there for sure. Do you notice that in yourself around this time of year as well? 

It has us reflecting on this Summer and how so. much. has happened. But also…nothing much? Depending on what perspective you're looking at it from, that is. A strange thing. There are plenty of stressful things to mentally catalog, but we wondered…what were the personal highlights of the summer? To be honest, the list is shorter - or at least different - than it would normally be. But that’s ok. We’ve all done our best under the circumstances and there were definitely some good moments to be had, especially along the lines of the ‘simple living’ mentality.

So, what were your highlights for the Summer? What were the hardest moments? How did you grow, what did you learn? What do you look forward to next Summer? Take a few moments in your journal this week and reflect on what all the sunny days meant to you this year.

Remember: So far you’ve survived 100% of your worst days. You’re doing great.

Keep on the Sunny Side and Happy Journaling,
xoxo

The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-Nine

 

Hey Journal Gang,

How did your journaling go last week? Somehow it feels a bit lighter entering a fresh Monday after having taken a mental inventory of thoughts or actions to release. It’s amazing how much emotional energy and mental real estate things can take up at times. We’ve been reassessing, focusing on new projects, releasing negative energy where we can and planning for the future in a positive light. Hopefully the same goes for you!

This week we want to just let loose and revel in the delights of art journaling..time to raid the toolkit!! We are obsessed with cute journaling supplies and are always on the lookout for new stickers, washi and stamps to incorporate into our collections. It’s been awhile since we’ve taken full inventory of our journaling supplies, so we thought it would be a blast to create a full spread with the materials themselves as inspiration!

There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing all the colorful components scattered about on the work table, and enjoying the process as the page comes to life. This week, check out your stash, choose a few items that speak to you and that you enjoy seeing together - then roll with it, and have fun!

Do you have a favorite set of stickers or a new roll of washi you’ve been wanting to try out? Now’s the perfect time!


Happy Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-Five

Hey Journal Gang, how was your weekend?

We always appreciate some low key time during these two days to rest, maybe get a few things done and just take a spell to appreciate small things. We all have our own ways of turning down the volume on the world. Poking around in the garden. Reading. Cooking. Netflix. Day drives to nowhere. Listening to music. Snacks. Naps. Hikes. Riding. Painting. It’s important to make time to let yourself just ‘be’, you know? You don’t have to feel guilty for not always being ultra productive. (Does anyone else struggle with that?) Especially in this ‘new normal’ -  we’re navigating through each day a bit like…what now? What next?? How??? It can deplete your energy quickly. Last week our team chatted and had a check in over zoom, as we do these days. We talked about the range of emotions we’ve been dealing with lately, and shared our experiences, both over the last few months and what we’re currently going through on an individual level. 

We all have different daily realities surrounding not only our roles at Antiquaria, but in our own lives and families. We’ve all felt quarantine and the ever-extending threat of covid in varied ways. We have our unique challenges to deal with, but even then, the majority of the underlying emotions are similar. We’ll elaborate on all this soon with a dedicated post, featuring interview blurbs, thoughts, grey clouds and silver linings.

Our chat was a really great reminder on the importance of checking in with yourself on where you stand; mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. It’s ok to be having ooone hell of a time navigating through this, especially as things really have no end in sight. It’s ok to be angry at times, anxious, feeling unmotivated and having signs of mental fatigue or burnout! It’s ok to be feeling great and productive if that’s how you feel! No matter where you are, know where that is and honor it. Having that awareness gives you power.

So this week ask yourself, How the heck am I feeling today? If you love making art normally but feel uninspired to the max lately, use this week’s journaling time as an approachable easement back into that groove. If you just want to write it all out venting style no art involved, perfect! Again - there's never a wrong way to journal.

How are you holding up lately? What's been your saving grace over the past few months? Let us know below!

Here’s to better days.

Happy Journaling,

xoxo

The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-Three

"Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with strings..."

Happy Monday, Journal Gang! Mondays in general probably aren’t winning many popularity contests, but they definitely have their bright spots and pros, despite their drab reputation. Are they anyone’s favorite day of the week?? Ok, let’s be real and not kid ourselves…don’t push your luck, Monday! But one thing we love about this reset day is being able to share a new prompt with you all, and start a new page in our journals. Always energizing to approach a crisp fresh page, work on a layout and experience it forming a unique personality. It’s one of our favorite parts of journaling for sure. When you start a new page, the possibilities are endless. The blank page doesn’t feel so daunting anymore! Do you struggle with starting a new page? Refer to this throwback post for insight and tips on getting started!

A journal is a place to infuse your own personal style, thoughts and ideas into a tangible keepsake form; favorite things. It has us pondering other things we love most. Specific places, people, ideas, quotes, books, songs, animals, art, films, food, weather, seasons, plants, colors, clothing styles, design, hobbies...all of the things that enrich life and compose little pieces of who you are and how you view the world. What speaks to you - speaks volumes about you! So we thought it would be fun to compile a list of those lovely things that we call favorites. This prompt is well suited for all styles of journaling - reflective (list form), art (visual), bullet journal (combination)! 

So what are your ‘rain drop on roses and whiskers on kittens?’ Drizzly rain on a lazy afternoon? Bubble tea? Picnics at the beach? Penmanship? The smell of honeysuckle? Modern art? Vintage furniture? Kind-hearted, strong people? Think of the things that give you all those good feels and journal away. We'd love to see what you come up with!

Wishing you much happiness throughout this week❣

Happy Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-Two

Hey Journal Gang,

How was your Father’s Day?? (It feels like it was seriously just Mother’s Day!) Whether you have an awesome dad, know an awesome dad or are an awesome dad, we hope you were able to enjoy a relaxing weekend together with your people! Dads are golden. It’s always fun scrolling instagram and seeing everyone’s ‘old school cool’ photos with their Daddios. Mustaches abound!

Do you get the feeling that this Summer is going to go by as a blur? It sure seems that way…time seemed to slow during the shutdowns, but as the world begins to reopen and we try to find our way around a ‘new normal’, the pace has seemed to quicken again. The Solstice was this past Saturday, the very longest day of the year! The first day of Summer. It’s prime time for evening gardening and we took advantage of it this weekend. There is something so meditative about enjoying dusk outdoors in the summertime. One of the very best aspects of the season.

It has us thinking about the nature of life, rhythms and cycles. What would life be like with no change in the seasons, no visitation from both the sun and the moon, no moments of contentment and sadness alike? To our very core we are connected to the ups and downs all around us.

This year has been chock full of highs and lows both, and leeet’s be honest…many lows on the 2020 spectrum so far. But it’s important to seek out balance and, in turn, find more appreciation for the upswings when they appear. It’s ok to have low points and days of struggling. We sure have them. Everyone does! And it’s ok to be an uncertain hanging-out-somewhere-in-the-middle mixture, trying to navigate through it all.

This week take note of not only your most pleasant thoughts and moments, but some of the times you struggled with as well. We can learn from the dips just as we can find comfort in the crests; recording both can help us see patterns and make connections between actions and emotions. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed or having a mini existential crisis? Take a break from the news!! (It will be there when you come back - promise). Cranky and tired? Take a bath and make a plan to prioritize your sleep that evening. Did you laugh hard at something today? Who were you with and what was funny? Take note to remember the moment. Bake some banana bread and it was the bomb? Share a few pieces with a friend! Have a smooth, productive day at work? Tell yourself, “you did good, kid” and reflect on what went well.

The sweet and salty moments both have things to offer. There may be no ultimate perfect day - but there are plenty of pretty darn good ones.

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team