Buy yourself some school supplies

Or just sniff some pencils

You and I may not be going to school but I think we should pretend we are and grab ourselves a couple of fresh pencils and notebooks. The beginning of the school year is the perfect time for a creative reset.

Even if you’d rather not buy anything, taking a spin through the school supply section of your local grocery store will get your juices flowing. Sniff some pencils. Flip through some spiral notebooks. Maybe if we all do this, we’ll signal to Mother Nature that she can bring on fall.

I could have put 1000 things on this list, but I narrowed it down to some of my favorites, just to get your wheels turning.

Note: I’ve begrudgingly linked to Amazon here but I think shopping in person would be significantly more fun.

Very Cheap, Very Sturdy:

• Pink Pearl erasers. The name is cute, the type is cute, and they erase well which is also cute.

• Ticonderoga pencils. Way less expensive than another more designy pencil but still very nice. Especially pretty in black.

• Mini yellow legal pads. Hot take, the smaller ones are even more fun than the big ones.

• Bulldog clips. One can use these for 100 different things and they make a satisfying sound when rattling around in a drawer or jar.

• Notecards. Notecards these days are really thin and kind of crappy. If you find a pack of slightly yellow but very thick notecards from the 90s in, say, the roll-top desk at your parent’s house, grab those babies.

Also Great:

• Avery dot stickers. I think we both know you could have fun with these. Kids love them too.

• Create-your-own-stamp kit. Comes with tweezers and a tiny set of letters and symbols so you can make and remake your own stampy things.

• Airmail notes. Not actually airmail but a small pad of paper that you can tear off and fold up into a tiny little envelope.

• Lion Dell'Era Colored Tacks. So pretty you could put them straight on your wall, but really cute on a bulletin board too.

• Pretty spiral notebook alternative (for $5!). Slim, lined, and with smooth pages.

The Pen Section:

• Paper Mate Flair. Like a very thin little marker. Equally great for writing and drawing.

• Muji Gel Ink Pen. The thinnest of gel pens.

• Sharpie S Gel. Just a smooth, kinda juicy pen.

That’s it!

Also—Jerry Seinfeld talking about objects he loves—he uses a BIC pen until it completely runs out of ink. School supplies around the world (I have and love the tape dispenser mentioned). A book you gotta crack open: a middle-grade graphic novel illustrated with ballpoint pen and Sharpie.

Thanks for indulging me. Tell me your favorite school supplies—I could talk pens/paper all day.

Rachel