When I was younger, I used to be completely surprised by the arrival of my period. I was also a little fuzzy about when exactly I was most fertile each month, even after I became a mother. Twice. (I know... right?) Fast forward to last year when, in my late 40s, I decide to study up in order to answer a frequent Bullet Journaling Tips & Tricks request, "Let me see your period trackers." Thanks to you all, I am now far less clueless about the female cycle! Oh, how I would have loved what I'm about to show you when I was younger. Better "late" than never I guess? (Har, har!) Anyways, below I'll describe how to track the length of your cycle, better predict the start of your next period and identify the portion of each month you're more likely to be fertile. I'm using the Period Fertility Tracking Stencil we designed to make the whole process both simple AND lovely.

​Since the length of your cycle can vary slightly from month to month, keep track of your cycle for at least 5 or 6 months initially in order to get an overall average of your cycle lengths.

Intercourse during the first seven squares on the circle will have a very low likelihood of resulting in pregnancy. ​However, somewhere between squares 8 through 19 will be a fertile period of approximately 6 days, during which there is a higher likelihood of getting pregnant if you have unprotected intercourse. Here's how you can get a little bit closer to figuring out where your 6 days will fall each month using trackers.

Becoming more aware of your cycle can give you an idea of when to use additional birth control methods if you want to avoid pregnancy or help highlight the days during which you're more likely to conceive if you're hoping to start a family. Identifying the day you actually ovulate and the days that proceed and follow it when conception is actually possible is a more involved process.  It involves tracking your menstrual cycle as described above, combined with the Temperature Method where you take your temperature in the morning every day before you get out of bed and the Cervical Mucus Method where you check your cervical mucus (vaginal discharge) every day. We've included the icons in the center of the Period Fertility Tracking Stencil to make recording these types of details in your daily, weekly, or monthly spreads more enjoyable as well. 

LASTLY, PLEASE NOTE: NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME
​This tracking technique is effective if your menstrual cycles are regularly between 26 and 32 days long. Determine if your cycles are in this range and whether they stay in this range first before you use a tracker like this for family planning purposes. If you have cycles outside this range, you should use a different family planning method ​to prevent pregnancy. It's also advisable to use more than one method of birth control at a time if you want to avoid becoming pregnant. 

Join me in creating a mandala using these simple, step by step instructions. Grab your Compass Protractor, Mandala Maker or compass and protractor. Also gather a pencil, your bullet journal and a pen such as an 03 Tombow Mono Drawing Pen.

​Let's get started!

Add a few smaller circles if you’d like, using the straight lines to help place them on center. ​​

Beginning with the center circle, start adding mandala elements with a non-smearing pen. Use the circles and the straight lines to guide the height and width of the elements, remaining inside the lines of each pie-piece section to create a balanced and consistent look.

Repeat the same element 16, 8 or 4 times as you rotate your notebook in a 360 degree circle. (Rotating your notebook makes drawing consistent elements easier.)

Decorate each subsequent circle, adding elements of varying in shape and size. Do not fret about the perfection of each individual element. The mandala as a whole will be beautiful regardless of a few imperfections.

Enjoy the process as well as your final product. Erase your pencil marks, leaving your penned in decoration plain, or color them in for additional creative or meditative expression.

​ Please share your mandalas or questions with us in the Facebook group Bullet Journal Tips and Tricks.

​Also, if you would like a pdf download of written directions on how to draw a mandala, hop over here: https://www.moxiedori.com/members.html#mandala

Looking for a fresh theme for your March layout? Here are 10 inspiring layouts with gorgeous elements that can be expanded upon throughout the month of March.

Great photos are key for catching attention, sparking interest and kick-starting engagement.  Whether you want to improve your bullet journal Instagram photos or lure clients with great product shots, these five simple steps will help you do just that. 

Natural light is everything. Turn off overhead lights, as they create shadows and cast yellow hues in photographs. Find a window with filtered light (not direct sunshine) and set up there. I find the light to be the best between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm in my north facing window. You'll have to find your personal sweet spot.

If you want to convey the color of your item, use a white background. I use a white foam board from the Dollar Store. If your item is mostly white and you want to set it off, use a dark background. I like to use a dark wood table that doesn't have a lot of grain to it as I want the focus to be on the bullet journal spread, the stencil and the journal rule.

Put three things in your photos. Number one will be your main item of interest. It should go in the center and be in focus.

Now add items two and three and create an upside down triangle with the three objects. The observer's eye will start at position 1, travel to either 2 or 3 and then back to 1. Then the observer's eye will travel to the opposite item and finally land back on item 1. This causes people to look at your main item again and again.

Attempt to use items in positions 2 and 3 that tie in thematically and/or have a similar hue as the primary item. 

Finally, get your hands in the photo. Hold your item and take the photo from the angle and distance that would naturally occur during normal use of that item. Psychologically the observer enters the photo and they feel as though they are holding that item. I have noticed that photos with my hands in them get much more engagement on social media than traditional flat lays do. 

My first photo edit is on my iPhone's camera app. I always shoot in Square and crop if needed. When editing, I start by adjusting the Light. I almost always increase the exposure first. I slowly adjust the brightness and brilliance. At that point I go over to Color and adjust the cast. I then go back to the Light and adjust the shadows, the black point and sometimes the highlights. 

I make my final editing touches on Snapseed. It is an amazing app and it is really easy to use. I resist using the "Looks" and head over to Tools. While I use Selective  and Healing the most, I sometimes use White Balance to adjust the color of my bullet journal page.

Selective allows you to choose certain points on the photo to adjust Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Structure. Use the Healing tool to "erase" small flaws in your photo. 

We hope this was helpful. Hop over to MoxieDori on FB and share your before and after photos with the community. We'd love to see!

Join our blow out party to celebrate our website expansion!!! There will be a fabulous giveaway and a discount code for the new shop. MoxieDori Launch Party!!!!!

Do you love galaxy watercolor paintings? Today is your lucky day! Rosanne Schuurmans of @rosannecreates is sharing her galaxy watercolor technique with us. Grab your Tombows and create along with!

Tape your paper down to a flat surface, and use the MoxieDori Journal Rule and a black alcohol marker to draw out your window frame. It is important to use an alcohol marker, because that will not react with water in later steps.

Draw a cat silhouette with the same black alcohol marker. You can use the Moxiedori Cat Doodle bullet journal stencil for this step! You can of course draw a different silhouette. You could try a vase with flowers, or a Christmas tree for December. Get creative!

​I use a white gel pen to draw the stars. You could also paint them on with white gouache or acrylic paint, or splatter them on with a toothbrush!

Rosanne also has a lovely etsy shop full of her original works. Hop over to RosanneCreates to check out her beautiful watercolor paintings. 

Are you looking for the perfect bullet journal Christmas gift? Check out these seven themed bullet journal kits. You will find just the right kit for your favorite bullet journal enthusiast. 

If you are looking for even more bullet journal gifts, check out these Stocking Stuffers!

Last week got away from me, what with the kids being off from school and all the eating and eating and eating (Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving 4 Breakfast! Thanksgiving Leftover Dinner with friends! etc.) So this week, the final week of November, I have TWO doodles for you. Two of my favorite things this time of year; MITTENS and TEA. If you need some additional hot beverage flair in your journal, Amy made a sweet Coffee Tea stencil that can help with that. Enjoy and thanks for doodling with me!

P.S. Want to keep on doodling through December? Check out our December doodle how-to collections (printable or printed) available in our etsy shop too!

Evenings are getting colder and many of us have picked up our knitting needles again to finish up projects in time for the holidays. Here's a cute little doodle step-by-step how-to of a ball of yarn and set of knitting needles that you can add to your journal layouts. 

I added a cat with mine for a little extra added fun (because ours is ALWAYS up in my business when I knit) with this great little Cat Doodle Stencil on etsy.

Here's the how-to for the yarn and needles!

If you're looking for knitting related spread and layout ideas, check out this incredible Craft-related Journaling board on Pinterest!

'Till next week, happy doodling!

There are so many fun ways to create your opening page.  The Christmas Holiday Ornament stencil is an easy and fast way to deck your opening page. With some Distressed Inks and a 03 Tombow MONO drawing pen outline, you have a clean, festive layout to set the tone for December.

Turn your monthly calendar into a holiday spectacular by using one of the elements on this Christmas Tree Stencil. Each day can be an evergreen, a stocking, or an ornament. Brush letter "December" on the spread with this Christmas Themed Brush Lettering Tracing Card. Just place the card under your journal page and trace the perfect lettering right onto the page.

Check out this how to video.

Self care is important during this busy time of the year. One way to take care of oneself is to be mindful of your moods. This double sided Geometric Animal Tracing Card has a deer on one side and a bear on the other. This card is an exclusive tracing card only available in The Christmas Bullet Journal Kit.

Watch this 1 minute video tutorial on how to use the Geometric Animal Tracing Card.

Do you long to include pretty brush lettering headers and quotes in your layouts? Check out this Christmas Themed Brush Lettering Tracing Card. Just place the vinyl card under your page and trace the gorgeous lettering right through the page.

Celebrate the season with a cup of hot cocoa and some snail mail. These Holiday Card Envelope Guides make the job a creative process. Your friends and family will appreciate the handmade touch and they never have to know how easy it was. ;)

If you love everything you see here, there is good news. All of these bullet journaling tools are available in one Christmas Bullet Journal Kit. This festive kit has everything you need to make a festive Holiday themed bullet journal. This comprehensive bullet journal kit contains a Tree Stencil, an Ornaments Stencil, Holiday Card Envelope Guides, festive washi tape, one Christmas tree clip, one geometric deer/bear tracing card, and one holiday themed word art tracing card.

If you are looking for more Christmas themed inspiration, hop on over here to this December Bullet Journal Pinterest Board. Happy Holidays!!!!