Apica CD Notebook Wear Cover with Monthly Schedule Book Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her first novel, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard, now available where books are sold!)

It's time to plan your plans! Planning your planning! It's planner season!

Confession: It stresses me out. Because I know what I want. And I know what works for me. And they are not the same thing! I usually cave and buy a complex, ambitious planner system at the beginning of the year, stick with it through April, and then things gradually deteriorate until about... oh, now... and then I spend the rest of the year with just a monthly spread and a lot of lists.

I started this year with a Hobonichi Cousin, last year with a Weeks, and the years before that with complicated and over-decorated bullet journals. Starting last month, I switched to a plain, slim grid notebook that I drew my own monthly spreads in and I've been keeping notes and lists in the back half of the notebook. Not long after I set that up, this Apica Monthly Schedule book arrived, which is the exact same layout as what I had designed for myself. I know that this layout is all I really need to know where I need to be and when. Yes, the squares are small. But days are short! So, if I run out of room in the square, I've also run out of room in my day. You might be surprised how much I can fit in a square, though. I can still thoroughly overbook myself in this small space.

This faux leather cover has an interior fold that the schedule book slides into. It can hold two slim A5 notebooks, or one notebook and a memo pad, or one thicker A5 notebook. It has an interior card pocket, two ribbon bookmarks, an extra back pocket, and a pen loop. The stitching is neat and sturdy, so it should stand up to the wear and tear of holding a planner, though I do find that the faux leather can warp over time with use. The pocket slits tend to stretch and lose a bit of integrity after a while, so I'm not certain if it can manage a year of daily use.

The cover doesn't need to be for the schedule or planner. It can hold any of the Apica A5 notebooks. Or nearly any A5 notebook, for that matter, as long as it isn't too thick. It's a decent cover, but it didn't blow me away, especially for the $25 price tag. There are a lot of better covers out there for less cost, in my opinion. When this arrived, it was the bonus schedule book that really got my attention.

The schedule book itself is a thread-bound soft cardstock cover book in A5 size. It begins with a yearly overview page. I've never really figured out what those are for, so I typically leave those blank. Then, there are sixteen monthly spreads, all unlabeled, so you can start and end on any month. The monthly pages have a lined list along the left edge of the page for tracking tasks. After the monthly spreads, there are 15 pages of 5mm grid paper for notes and lists. The paper is fantastic. It's smooth, acid-free, and takes even the most broad and inky fountain pens without so much as a feather. The only pen that bled was a Sharpie fineliner.

It's certainly not a life-organizer. It won't have all the details of my comings and goings, or the minute breakdowns of my goals and plans. But it's the perfect place to keep the crucial info handy, and it's all I need to carry with me to make sure I don't double-book anything as I go about the day. I know it's all I need, because it's all I use for a good quarter of the year. The cover and schedule set is $25 on JetPens, and the schedule itself is only $3.80 for the A5 size. Yes, I can have all the planner I need, with some of the best paper out there, for under $4. I don't need a $50 planner.

Of course, I'll end up getting the big fancy planner, anyway. I always do. It never fails. And even if it doesn't help me organize my life better, at least it helps me get excited about the start of a new year. And when it all gets to be too much, I have this simple but effective tool to keep me going through what promises to be another busy year.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on September 12, 2019 by Sarah Read and filed under Apica, Notebook, Notebook Reviews.

Moonman M2 Transparent Demonstrator Eyedropper Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

There's nothing quite like a completely transparent pen to really fascinate our eyes, and that's exactly what the Moonman M2 does to my eyes every time it ends up in my gaze. From the first time I opened the decorative case that the pen comes in, along with a glass eyedropper, I was mesmerized by the torpedo shape and glassy-smooth polish of this pen. I couldn't wait to get it out and fill it with a vibrant ink to really showcase the enormous ink reservoir.

Before I move on to the experience of inking this pen and writing with it, let's take a closer look at the exterior. Aside from the crystal clear body and cap, there's a red band between the grip section and body of the pen, and then there's the nib and feed assembly that also provides some visual contrast. The red band in the middle of the pen provides a really clean and bold accent color to an otherwise stark aesthetic. The band is also the only place on the pen that contains any branding. There's a small "Moonman" stamped on the band that you can hardly see. I really love the red band, especially paired with a vibrant red/orange ink, but I wish there were other color options for the band.

Moving on to the nib, it's yellow gold in color and has some moderate scroll work to dress it up a bit. The words "IRIDIUM POINT F" are stamped on the top of the nib, but there's no branding. The nib is a number 5 size, so it's something you're probably accustomed to on other pens. Underneath the gold plating is a stainless steel nib.

Unscrewing the cap is smooth and takes roughly one full rotation to fully open or close the pen. This makes it convenient to open and close, but it's also enough to provide some protection in case any ink seeps out during a rough ride or tumble. The grip section is smooth and somewhat narrow, but it's incredibly comfortable. It didn't take me long to start enjoying the way this pen feels. I use a three-finger triangle grip, and my thumb sits snuggly against the cap threads while my middle and index finger have plenty of space on the section. And even thought I use a low grip, my fingertips are nowhere near the nib and feed assembly, keeping the ink off my fingers while I write.

Moving on to the nib, it's quite firm but exceptionally firm. If you like a tight, crisp line, then this nib is perfect. Unfortunately, you only get one nib option with this pen, and it's fine. If you like fine nibs, then great. Otherwise, you'll have to cross this one off your list or try to replace the nib yourself with another #5 nib (which isn't a difficult process). Another nice thing to note is that I did not have to modify or adjust the nib in any way. Right out of the box, it was tuned perfectly and the lines and ink flow are just right. Being a steel nib, there's no flex to speak of, but you can coax out some line variation with moderate pressure.

In general, writing with this pen is a great experience. It feels great in the hand, and the nib is smooth on the page and lays down a crisp line.

Finally, on to the filling system. The Moonman M2 is an eyedropper, which means it holds a vast amount of ink in the reservoir. According to the product specs, it holds 2.5 ml of ink, but it seems closer to 3 in my use. Either way, that's a lot of ink to fuel some really long writing sessions. The packaging includes a glass eyedropper that you can use to fill the pen, but you do have to use bottled inked with this pen. No cartridges!

Filling the pen is easy. Just unscrew the body from the grip section, fill the reservoir with ink, and screw it back together. It takes a few seconds for the ink to soak the feed and reach the tip of the nib, and then you're ready to go. Ink for miles! I've most recently filled this pen with Taccia Daidai, which is an exceptionally good ink for showing off a crystal clear demonstrator like this M2. It also pairs really well with the red band in the center. All around, it's definitely an eye catcher! People comment on it frequently. It has two things going for it: a large amount of vibrant ink in a clear tube, and it distorts how you see things behind it, such as the surface it's laying on — similar to a magnifying glass. These things draw the eye like bees to honey.

One thing I haven't touched on yet is how much this pen costs, and that's probably because I'm still having trouble believing it. At just under $20, this pen is an unbelievable value. I imagine it's easy to keep costs down by excluding any fancy filling mechanisms, lots of nib options, and offering a single configuration, but $20 just feels like a steal for the build quality and writing experience that this pen offers. If it speaks to you at all, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

This pen has been such a joy to use over the past few weeks. It really did surprise me, even though I had no expectations going into it. But, even though it's a solid writer, has great aesthetics, and definitely fits almost every budget, there are some things I'd like to change. First, I wish the manufacturer offered more standard nib options with this pen. Just the ability to pick an EF, M, or B nib at the time of purchase would go a long way. Also, since the band is the only accent on the pen, it would be awesome if there were some other color options as well to pair with your favorite ink colors. But again, these things cost more money, and the low price point of this pen is a huge advantage against almost all of the midrange fountain pen market. Throw one in your cart the next time you place an order! This is a no-brainer!

(Goldspot provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on September 11, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Moonman, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.