Things That Spark Joy

I like the KonMari method and have been thinking about some of the things I have that “spark joy” in my life. But then I thought about the items in terms of, “If I lost this item, would I buy it again?” and the list got a lot shorter than it was originally. So here’s the list of items that I use regularly, that spark joy, and that if lost, I’d buy again.

I’ve written a short explanation of why each item is on my list, but you can also use the search box in the sidebar to the right to find blog posts where I talk about them.

Just to be transparent, the product links are Amazon affiliate links, so if you buy something using the link, I’ll receive a small kick-back. 🤗 Win-win!

Ukuleles
Photography
  • Fujifilm X100 Series – I bought my Fujifilm X100T back in 2015 and it’s still my favorite camera and I bring with me every day. It’s the camera that made me realize that simpler is better! If this ever breaks, I’ll replace with another X100-series camera.
  • Instax SP-1 Printer – The instant photos that this little printer produces are so cool and stylish. I love its compact size and convenience. It really brings images to life in a quirky and fun way.
Sketching
  • Kuru Toga 0.5 mm Pencil – My go-to pencil for sketching and writing. The 0.5 size with B lead is super-versatile.
  • Staedtler 925 09  0.9 mm Pencil – The 0.9 mm size coupled with 2B lead forces me to sketch loosely, plus it’s lots of fun.
  • Kuru Toga 0.3 mm Pencil – 0.3 mm is so thin! I can use it to write tiny in my A5 notebook.
  • Apple iPad Air 3 – For drawing digitally on my computer. It’s such a joy to use and I even though I bought my first tablet back in 1995, the technology still amazes me.
  • LAMY Safari (B) Fountain Pen – The broad nib puts down so much ink, it’s almost like painting. Fun to use with my favorite Iroshizuku Ama-iro bright blue ink.
  • Pilot Kakuno (F) Fountain Pen – The fine nib allows me to write small, and practicing writing my name in Kanji is actually fun using this pen. Plus it’s so cute and the nib has a smiley face etched into it.
  • Sailor Fude De Mannen Fountain Pen – By holding this pen at different angles, you can achieve varied widths when writing or sketching. Adds a lot of variety to simple sketches.
  • Ain Black Eraser – It’s like magic how quickly this removes pencil marks.
  • Sakura Arch Eraser – This one not only erases nicely but the eraser “shavings” clump together and are easy to swipe away.
  • Mono Zero Eraser – For getting into tight areas of the sketch, or erasing edges of lines with precision.
  • Procreate – Instant sketching on the iPad. So convenient and fun.
Watches
  • Seiko SKX007 Dive Watch – Chunky and classic design. The watch’s power reserve is generated by your body movement. How cool is that? This has traveled with me to Africa, Europe, and Asia, so it’s my #1 watch. Someday I’ll go diving with it to give it its street cred. 😄
  • Seiko SNK809 Field Watch – Another automatic (no batteries needed) watch, but this was my first Seiko and its cool, classic, and clean design and modest size make it a keeper. Plus the display back lets you see the heartbeat of the watch.
Miscellaneous
  • Kindle Paperwhite – I love reading on my electronic devices, but the Kindle Paperwhite’s backlit e-ink display is so nice, plus it’s light, thin, and the battery lasts for weeks before needing to charge.
  • Manual Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer – Okay, this is a little odd, I admit, but it’s so small and I like things that don’t need batteries. (like my automatic watches)
  • JVC HAFR37D Marshmallow Earbuds – These wired earbuds are cheap but have great sound quality. Plus the old-school wired-type doesn’t need charging like the fancy new blue-tooth models.
  • Birkenstock Arizona Sandals – Comfy and classic. The shape conforms to the owner’s feet over time, so each pair is special.
  • Zap-it! – This little device creates a little spark to give you a small shock right on your mosquito bite. For me, the itchiness goes away for a few hours. And no batteries needed!