I distinctly remember the glossy Lisa Frank dolphin folder that I carried around for the duration of third grade. Despite the inevitable stressors throughout that school year (pop quizzes and unrequited crushes) the bright colors of my beloved dolphin folder always brought me joy. And so each year, when it was time to go school-supply shopping again, I kept that dolphin folder in mind, planning to find the next best thing that would bring me joy. One year it was a holographic notebook cover, another year it was a pen that had six interchangeable colors.
As an adult, I have missed the feeling of curating a year of new “school supplies,” so in an attempt to recreate that feeling, I’m upping my planner game, as well as properly outfitting my home office. Ahead, you’ll find some items that brought me joy, not unlike the joy that I had when I went back-to-school shopping many moons ago. Ultimately, you’re never too old for a back-to-school shop.
