Notebooks from Rock Scissor Paper, Ecojot, and More

Why It's Good:

In a tech-y, gadget-y world, a good old-fashioned notebook delivers immediate gratification. Have pen, will record—with no need for batteries or power supplies.

Why It's Green:

Rock Scissor Paper's notebooks are printed on recycled-content paper with healthier soy ink. Sante Sgorbassa's are printed on 100% recycled stock. Ecojot's are printed on 100% post-consumer-waste, chlorine-free paper (less toxic for you!) with vegetable inks (plus the mill is powered by landfill gas!). Clairefontaine makes its own paper using pulp from certified sustainable forests with a carefully maintained nearby river supplying the water to the mill.

Where To Get It:

Click on the above products for pricing and direct buy-it links. Prices range from $2 - $19.

Note to Self: Today's My Best Day

Ah, notebooks. What is it about the allure of the open page? Are we nostalgic for our junior-high diaries (mine sported a winged unicorn) or are we all would-be novelists, jotting down ideas for the next Great American Novel? Whatever your use, there's just something so satisfying about getting it all down on paper, in your handwriting—a personal, indelible touch that your PDA can't deliver. Even more personal is our choice of cover art—we hunt for one that expresses our individuality; one that we can live with day to day. Here, four notebooks that caught our eye: A pop-art, lime woodgrain number by Rock Scissor Paper; Sante Sgarbossa's set of colorful Quaderno workbooks, which deliver a shot of old-school chic and beckon us to leave our l'impronta umana (human print); a touch of whimsy from Ecojot; and Clairefontaine’s ultra-classic, design-cult Rhodia pads, in Hermès orange. So pack one in your bag—you never know when inspiration will strike...even if it’s just a reminder to pick up a bottle of red on the way home. Or a new cover for your PDA.—Elizabeth McMullen