Staples Coupon - $5 off purchase of $25 or more - 8/23/2011 through 8/27/2011

http://akimages.crossmediaservices.com/listingimages/Retailers/Staples/event_images/175x175_060131_New_Site/110823_14414.pdf

OfficeMax - Friends and Family Savings Event - 8/21/2011 to 8/22/2011

Bring in these coupons for in-store savings.  Savings include 20% off supplies, ink and toner.  There's also a deal for a free Sharpie Essentials Kit with a $5 purchase.

http://www.officemax.com/catalog/home/2011/week35/OfficeMaxFriendsAndFamily.pdf?cm_re=homepage-_-Hero1-_-bts&cm_sp=homepage-_-instore-_-bts

Muji Denim Tag Plain Notebook

This past July, I visited the Muji-to-Go store in the Jet Blue terminal at JFK airport while waiting to board my flight.  While in the store, I noticed cellophane wrapped A5 and A6 notebooks.  I had not seen them before and decided to purchase them.  Turns out, the notebooks are from Muji's new Denim Tag line. The covers are similar to the material used for their denim tag book covers, but are thinner and lighter in color.   

The paper is sort of an off-white color, made from 15% recycled materials.  Unlike Muji’s recycled paper A5 and A6 notebooks, these notebooks contain fewer sheets (80 v. 144) and the corners of the pages themselves are rounded.  The paper is very smooth and a nice weight. 

  

My ink test didn’t show any feathering on the paper but there was a bit of a shadow. 

I generally prefer lined notebooks for serious work.  I’ll probably put this in my work tote for jotting down random bits of information. 

20% off one item at Staples - Expires August 20, 2011

Just noticed a new coupon from Staples.

http://akimages.crossmediaservices.com/listingimages/Retailers/Staples/event_images/175x175_060131_New_Site/110816_14273_coupon.pdf

Various Office Supply Coupons

In addition to loving pens, paper and other general office supplies, I love coupons for pens, paper and other office supplies.  Below are a few of the coupons I've used or intend to use.



$1.00 off Pentel Energel-X Roller Pen
 http://www.pentelsweeps.com/ENERGELX_COUPON.pdf

$1.00 off Avery Note Tabs and Pocket tabs
http://www.avery.com/avery/en_US/Products/Avery-Special-Offers-Page.htm?int_id=quicklinks-offers

$1.00 off Pilot Fixion pens.  After filling in the required information, a link for printing the coupon will be sent to your e-mail address.
https://www.notjustapen.com/registrationconfirmation

$.50 off Pilot Pen
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=PU2I2X5OELNQO

Various Target Coupons, including $1.00 Paper Mate pens
http://coupons.target.com/

Various Coupons for Post-It products
http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/coupons/70-0714-4853-7.pdf

Free Post-It Sample
http://offers.3m.com/qfrm/ShowSurvey?surveyid=JOKMDPH8

Office Max Coupons
http://images.ed4.net/images/htdocs/officemax/Images/2011_wk33/promo/instore_coupon_8911.pdf?EDID=5A1ROB-S1C90-4DEFNA-DD0GON-VA9AF-v1&cm_mmc=Email-_-promo2-_-wk33-_-Coupon

Bic deal at Staples

This week at Staples, the Bic Atlantis retractable pens are on sale for $2 a pack.  Each pack contains 2 free pens.  In addition, Staples has a Bic promotion which allows you to buy 2 Bic products and receive a 3^rd Bic product of equal or lesser value for free.  In the end, I was able to combine the sale with the Bic promotion and purchased 3 packs of the pens for about $1.33 per pack.    Not a bad deal.

I've tried the Bic Atlantis pens in the past.  I like the grip, the smooth flowing ink and the fact that "clicker" that doesn't wiggle when engaged.  I do not like that the pen is so light weight.  I generally prefer weightier pens.  I also don't like the fact the light green and light blue inks from the “Fashion Colors” pack do not show up well on paper.  Why bother creating an ink color that you can barely see?  Maybe it's a function of the fact that it's a ball point pen as opposed to a gel pen.  At any rate, while it is a serviceable pen, it won't be part of my daily rotation.  I'll keep a few in my work bag for emergencies and donate the rest to a school supply drive in my area.

Rad and Hungry - Panama Kit

I first became aware of Rad and Hungry after reading a post at The Well Appointed Desk.  I finally gave in and signed up for quarterly kits after seeing a review of the Germany kit posted on The Pen Addict's site.

The August kit contains items from Panama.  The items include 2 triangular pencils, a ruled notebook, an eraser guard and as a bonus clear book cover for the notebook. 

I love the angular grips on Muji hexagonal pens and the new Moleskine pens so, of course, I love the triangular pencils.   The ruled notebook is a little shorter and a little wider than an A5 notebook. The notebook contains 128 "wide striped" pages.  

The front inside cover contains lists of various measurements and has a section for a weekly schedule. 

 

The back cover contains sections for phone numbers, important dates and a multiplication table. 

The eraser guard is an item I've never used but am happy to have.  My late father was an engineer so looking at it makes me think of him.  The clear plastic book cover is a nice bonus.  I’ll have to figure out if I can use with any of my other notebooks.


Each month's kit is revealed the first Tuesday of every month.  Rad and Hungry posts clues on its Facebook page on the  preceding Monday.  The first person to figure out the clue wins bonus items to go along with that month’s kit.  I can't wait to find out what next month’s kit has to offer.

New Markings 3 Pack Ruled Paper Journals

During one of my recent Staples trips, I purchased a pack of ruled journals from Markings by C. R. Gibson.  I had never seen them before so while I have what seems like hundreds of journals, I couldn’t resist buying them.  They are priced at $6.99 for three journals.  Each journal contains 80 acid free, perforated pages and a storage pocket.  There are 27 lines per page and the journals measure approximately 5.5’’ by 8.5’’.  The lines are made of soy ink and are actually small dots placed side by side.  The outside cover feels like a cross between vinyl and paper.  The inside cover has a glossy sheen. 

 The journals remind me of the Ecosystem ruled essay books, which retail for $10.95, currently $7.88 on the Barnes & Noble website.  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ecosystem-ruled-set-of-three-essay-books-ecosystem/1026427396?ean=9781607361442&itm=3&usri=ecosystem%2bessay%2bbook.   The Ecosystem journals have 60 perforated pages with 32 lines per page. 

The paper is relatively smooth.  The pen test showed some bleed through for permanent makers and fountain pens and light shadowing for a few of the gel pens.  Overall, it’s a decent and economical journal best suited for use with a ball point pen or a gel pen with a fine point nib.