Melinda says:

I’ve been journaling since 1992. I began during the summer between my 7th or 8th grade year. I remember that I had a diary even before that, but it was the kind little girls have, with a lock and keepsake box. Someone read it and that was the end of that diary. I think I threw it away or it is in my mom’s basement. Either way, it isn’t included in my collection. In junior high, I also changed my outlook on keeping a record of my days. Instead of a thinking of it as keeping a diary, I called it journaling and didn’t feel as bad when I didn’t do write daily.

She’s also a school supply addict in general– her blog is called School Supply Dance. See Melinda’s full collection of notebooks and journals here— there are additional photos.