Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

One of my first memories of reading is being at a library as a young child. I can picture the children's reading room and being grouped with other small kids on a large rug. I remember the color yellow, though I can't remember what exactly was yellow (the rug? the walls?). While I do remember always having a love of the library, today it isn't one of my favorite reading spots. I do, however, have a few spots I really love to cozy up with a good book. Today I'm going to chat about those, and I hope you'll give me your ideas, too, because I'd love to do a follow up post with all of your great ideas!

 #3 The Front Porch Swing

We have this view off our front porch that's perfect for quiet relaxation. There are trees, open pastures, and cows, along with lots of birds and a creek in the distance. It really is the bestest.

We have two porch swings (one on each side), and when the weather is nice I love curling up with a great books and swinging to the sounds of nature.

#2 The Bathtub 

(No, these are not my toes!)

OK, so maybe this one is a bit weird for some people. There is water involved, and also books. Maybe not such a great combo! But, I typically read on my Kindle, and when it comes to the bathtub I slip it into a gallon sized Ziploc to keep it air tight.                                                             

#1 The Recliner

Nothing exciting here. My favorite place to read is curled up in the recliner in my living room, underneath the warmth of my weighted blanket. Add a cup of hot tea or cocoa, and I'm really in Heaven.

What about you? Do you read in bed? A hammock? Do you prefer audiobooks? Tell me all about it!

Top Three Writing Tools for Productivity

Let's talk writing tools to boost productivity!

Neo2

The Neo2 is a portal word processing device with a full-size keyboard, long battery life, small screen (similar to a graphing calculator), and limited controls. It easily connects to the computer and transfers all your work to the word processing software of your choice. The Neo2 is perfect for distracted free drafting and squelching that inner editor.  

Even though the Neo2 is no longer in production, the manufacturer still supports it. But that means you'll have to settle for a used or refurbished device. On the bright side, you can snag one for under $50 on Amazon.

My output has dramatically increased in the short time I've been using the Neo2. And it's continuing to increase the more I use the device, which is why the Neo2 is my favorite writing tool.

The only other comparable device on the market is Freewrite. Freewrite does have some added perks and features--like syncing to Google Docs, Dropbox, or Evernote--but it's also significantly more expensive at $549. 

Of course, if you want to upgrade to a Freewrite, for a limited time you can pre-order the new Freewrite Traveler for $349 (regular price will be $599). The Freewrite Traveler begins ships in August. https://getfreewrite.com/products/freewrite-traveler

Rocketbook

There's something about brainstorming and plotting with pen and paper that stirs creativity. However, most of my notes eventually get discarded, and all that paper adds up. Enter Rocketbook. This reusable notebook provides a writing experience similar to a standard notebook while reducing the amount of paper that ends up in the trash. A standard executive-sized Rocketbook is available on Amazon for around $30.

The Rocketbook comes with a Pilot Frixion pen and a microfiber cloth. The pen's eraser is great for minor corrections, but the microfiber cloth is best for erasing entire pages. To clear an entire page, just dampen a corner of the microfiber cloth, erase the page, and then use a dry portion of the cloth to wipe it clean. That's it.

The Rocketbook is similar to a product called the Elvin Notebook. I researched both products before ultimately choosing the Rocketbook, and it was this well-done review comparing the two that helped me decide: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2CM15OADIJZPF.

Kindle

Having resource books close at hand might be the first thing that comes to mind when the Kindle is mentioned. But it's not the only use. The Kindle is also useful for reading projects with fresh eyes after multiple rounds of edits and rewrites have blurred your vision.

What tools or approaches have helped you boost your productivity?