In February, the Laurel Denise team—Lolly, Nancy, Mabby, and Jenn—decided to try something new: using our Making Memories Insert Pack for the entire month. No expectations. No pressure. Just a fun way to reflect on real life, one small moment at a time.

And it worked.

Each of us used the pages a little differently. Some tracked sleep. Some journaled. Some documented their months with doodles, washi tape, and hilarious quotes. What we discovered? Memory planning doesn’t have to be intimidating, artistic, or time-consuming. It can be a grounding, joyful part of your month.

Here’s a look inside the insert pack—and exactly how each page came to life for us.

What’s in the Making Memories Insert Pack?

Our insert pack is available in both mini and standard sizes and includes four beautifully designed pages:

1. Happy Page

2. Things I’ve Loved This Year

3. Mood Wheel

4. Categorized Happy Lists

Each one is designed to turn your memories into something fun, not fussy. Inspired by all those planner questions like “what do I do with my back pages?” or “what if I don’t scrapbook?”

Page 1: The Happy Page

What it’s for: A place to capture meaningful moments and wins—big or small—throughout your month or year. 

How the team used it:

• Nancy created a daily gratitude list and added weekly sketches of her favorite moments using photos from her phone as references.

• Jenn made a “My Year Wrapped” recap featuring milestones like finishing her master bedroom, going to 15 concerts, and visiting breweries. She glued in photos and used Laurel Denise patterned washi tape to decorate.

• Lolly documented the return of cheddar (important!), heart-shaped waffle mornings, and moments with her daughter. Doodles included. She left space for more memories to come, because February deserves a sequel.

Pro tip: You don’t need to document everything. Pick a few things that made your heart happy, and that’s enough.

Page 2: Things I’ve Loved This Year

What it’s for: That running list of media, meals, moments, and other things you were absolutely obsessed with.

How the team used it:

• Jenn used this page as the “raw data” behind her Happy Page wrap-up. She listed concerts, experiences, the start of her sourdough hobby, and sweet seasonal moments like “feeling the Christmas spirit.”

• Lolly broke her page into categories—television, movies, podcasts, and books (of course she needed an entire page for books!). She also added notes about what stood out.

• Nancy color-coded her entries with categories like movies, concerts, restaurants, books, and more. Her color key helped her see at a glance where her time and joy were going.

Page 3: The Mood Wheel

What it’s for: A circle chart to track whatever needs a check-in: mood, sleep, creative energy, dance party frequency—you name it.

How the team used it:

• Lolly used a single green color to mark the days she felt like herself. After a tough January of seasonal blues, this became her way of gently checking in without labeling her entire emotional day.

• Mabby tracked her sleep using three different colors. She noted improvements thanks to her favorite heated weighted blanket and a new sound machine.

Note: If you don’t feel like tracking every emotion, pick one area—like rest, energy, or "felt like myself"—and keep it simple.

Page 4: Categorized Happy Lists

What it’s for: Pre-filled prompts like “Favorite Quotes,” “Songs + Artists,” “Places I’ve Been,” and “Gifts to Give.” It's like a joy scavenger hunt.

How the team used it:

• Jenn, Nancy, and Lolly all used this page in their own way:

  • Jenn used it to collect more raw data for her year-end wrap. Her favorite quotes column? Reserved for funny things Lolly said.

  • Lolly used the space to play with fun fonts and handwriting styles (very on-brand). Her "Gifts to Get" column became a catalog of her favorite things to share with her favorite people. 

  • Nancy went full treat-yourself and checked off items from her "treats" list (we see you, fancy cocktail!). Her quotes column included takeaways from therapy-equal parts deep and delightful! 

Final Thoughts: Why This Works (Even If Nothing Else Has)

This insert pack isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. Whether you use one page, all four, or just doodle your way through February, you’ll come away with something that reflects your real life—not a curated version of it.

“Seeing everyone’s different pages made me want to keep going. It wasn’t about perfection—it was just about capturing real life.”

FAQs

Q: What if I only want to use one of the pages?
A: That’s the beauty of it—use what works for you.

Q: Will there be themed or seasonal insert packs?
A: We’re dreaming up new ideas—stay tuned and let us know what you'd love to see over on our Laurel Denise facebook page

Ready to try memory planning that actually sticks?
Shop the Making Memories Insert Pack → here