Planner envy - MyPurpleyLife

MyPurpleyLife is another blogger who makes me feel planner envy.  Unlike my past two Planner Envy posts (here and here) this time I can say exactly what it is that triggers this feeling.  It is all about Jennifer's pages!  That's not to say that her binders aren't gorgeous, they are, but her pages are incredibly beautiful. 

Pretty pink and purple pages

I would love to sit down and look through Jennifer's Filofax to see the pages in real life and if I was going to travel that far to do it I wouldn't mind a nose through her stickers, washi tape and stationery collection either!  The next best thing to this is to watch her YouTube channel.  The videos show you how she starts to decorate her pages and are full of helpful tips, ideas and information. 

I love the charms and paperclips that add to the overall look.

I think Jennifer has a real eye for colour and design.  I love her style and I think the pages are instantly recognisable as hers.

This is one of my favourite weeks, it looks so elegant! 

I watched Jennifer's Week 21 video over the weekend.  If you haven't seen it yet go and take a look, I love the colour scheme she has used!  I also got to see the finished result on her blog post and it is lovely, it puts me in the mood for Summer!

Are there any bloggers who make you feel planner envy? Let me know in the comments as I'd love to take a look at them!

*All photos in this post were taken by Jennifer and used with her permission.  Please do not copy or pin these images.

My week #21/52 and a downsizing experiment

This week I tried using my Amazona to see if I could downsize and use it as my main planner instead of my A5 Apex.  I did manage to fit everything onto the pages but I felt quiet constrained so by Tuesday evening I decided to also use the A5 pages.  I know I would have more room on the pocket size pages if I didn't decorate them but if I didn't make them pretty I wouldn't be as inclined to use my Filofax.

My week in my pocket Amazona Filofax

Here are my pages from my Apex.

My week in my A5 Apex Filofax

As soon as I started decorating these pages I felt happier, all the blank space in front of me helped me feel more creative!

Close up

I know the bird picture took up quite a bit of room but I thought it was pretty and in the A5 I had the space to use it so I did.

Close up

I am glad that I tried to use the pocket size as my main organiser.  I have learnt that I am probably best keeping that size for use as my purse and notebook and using a larger size to do my planning.  It has also made me realise that I could use a personal size Filofax if I wanted to.  If I can fit all my appointments and notes onto a pocket size page going up to the personal size would give me enough space to decorate my pages as well.  It has definitely given me something to think about!

My week #20/52

Here are my pages, I'm happy to say I like both of them this week! 

My week in my Filofax #20

On Monday I was invited into school to take part in an outdoor learning lesson with my eldest daughter.  It was really nice to see what she had been doing after weeks of sending her into school with a change of clothes and a pair of wellies.  The children had been planting flowers and looking after them (bluebells), keeping the area tidy and free from rubbish and growing vegetables.  They had also been monitoring rain fall and wind direction during these sessions.  I think outdoor learning is a great way to teach children instead of staying inside the classroom.

Start of the week

On Thursday my new Amazona Filofax arrived from Italy!  It only took five days to get here as I ordered it last Saturday so I was really surprised when the delivery man knocked on my door.  I was reading a post on Philofaxy last weekend when another reader (Welshygirl) commented to say that Filofax Italy were selling the pocket size Amazona for only 15 euros which was no where near the usual price of around £100!  Delivery to the UK was another 14 euros but it was still a bargain and after a bit of wheeler dealing on eBay I had enough money in my paypal account to order one.

End of the week

I love the Amazona so much and I will be doing a full post about it soon but here is a photo of it for now.

Filofax Amazona - my new love!

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

Planner envy - Imysworld

Imysworld is another blog that leaves me feeling planner envy.  Ever since I saw the post about unboxing her Mulberry Agenda I have been a little bit in love with Imy's planner!  Her excitement while waiting to get the Agenda was contagious so when it finally arrived I was dying to see what all the fuss had been about. I was not disappointed!

Still in it's packaging - Imy's Mulberry Agenda

Like Paper lovestory this is another beautiful pink organiser (I promise the next one in this series is a different colour!).  
I think I swooned when I first saw this photo and it still makes me feel a little weak in the knees now.  

Gorgeous, pink and glamorous!

Again it is not just the binder that makes me envious, Imy's pages are also lovely!  You can tell that she uses her planner a lot, it is practical but she takes the time to make the pages pretty. 

Full pages - a planner's delight

The whole organiser makes me think of John Keats - a thing of beauty is a joy forever.  I am looking forward to seeing more posts about the Agenda and videos on Imy's YouTube channel.  

*All photos in this post were taken by Imy and used with her permission.  Please do not copy or pin these images.

Nominated for a Liebster Blog Award - Eeeeek!

I have been nominated for a Liebster Award by www.mypurpleylife.com!  It has really made my day so thank you Jennifer!

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs!

My 11 facts about me:
1. I love reading murder mystery novels. 
2. I went to school with someone famous.
3. I got married in Jamaica. 
4. I like tea more than coffee.
5. I over think things.
6. I like to believe there could be fairies at the bottom of the garden.
7. Labyrinth is one of my favourite films.
8. I feel at peace when I am by the sea.
9. My ideal job would be a private investigator. 
10. I haven't passed my driving test (I have failed twice).
11. I love taking photos.

These are the questions asked by www.mypurpleylife.com and my answers:

1. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?
Nectarines (I don't like the fuzz on peaches).
2. If you were a colour, what would it be?
Blue.
3. If you were an actor/actress, who would you be?
Lauren Bacall maybe? Definitely one of the classic actresses anyway.
4. Who is your favourite singer/band?
The Beatles
5. What musical instrument do you wish you could play?
The drums.
6. What are your favourite pizza toppings
Cheese and tomato.
7. What is your favourite quote/saying?
"This must be Thursday," said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer.  "I never could get the hang of Thursdays." - Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (I feel the same way about Sundays!).
8. What is your favourite season (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall)?
Winter.
9. What colour is your car?
Red
10. Where would your dream house be?
Somewhere by the sea
11. What is your favourite scent?
Smoked apple and vanilla by Moonalisa

Here are my questions for my nominees:
1. Do you have a secret talent?
2. What is the funniest lie you have ever told or heard?
3. Are you a dog or a cat person?
4. What is your ideal Saturday afternoon?
5. Heels or flats?
6. What made you start your blog?
7. Do you have any tattoos?
8. What is the most expensive thing you have ever brought?
9. Would you like to happen this time next year?
10. What is your favourite flavour of crisps (or chips)?
11. What is your best memory from school?

These are the blogs I've nominated:
1. http://meandmycrazyobsessions.blogspot.co.uk/
2. http://rustybrains.blogspot.co.uk/
3. http://beccabooandboo.blogspot.co.uk/
4. http://filofaxlove.wordpress.com/
5. http://mzellesworld.blogspot.co.uk/
 6. http://vanillafolders.wordpress.com/
7. http://jesuisenfrance2012.blogspot.co.uk/
8. http://notsoboringbeth.blogspot.co.uk
9. http://myfiloworld.com/
10. http://arcit.blogspot.co.uk
11. http://sweetdreamsbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Planner envy

I have been reading lots of planning blogs recently, I like to see what people use and how they use it.  Seeing other bloggers organisers some times leaves me feeling planner envy.  I can't put my finger on what triggers it, whether it's the binder they use or how they decorate their pages but I look at them feel a little in awe of their organisers!  I will be writing a series of posts on this subject and showing you which bloggers leave me feeling envious (in a good way of course!).

This first post is about Angela from Paper LoveStory.  I am always happy to see her Smythson organiser, it is a lovely shade of pink and it looks so well put together.

Pretty, pink planner - Angela's Smythson leather organiser

I love her cute tabs and how orderly everything looks inside.

Pink, blue and gold is a great colour combo

It is not just Angela's organiser that I like, she also has the neatest handwriting!  Even when she comments on how untidy her pages are I look at them and think "Wow they look perfect!".  My pages always look a little haphazard!  I don't know if that is down to me usually writing with my Filofax balanced on my knees and trying to stop my youngest from drawing on it with a crayon or if I'm just naturally messy but that makes me admire her planner even more. 

Fun but functional!

Angela's pages are colourful and fun but the overall effect is still elegant.  This planner inspires me to be neater, I am going to try to harder to keep my pages straight and tidy in future! 

Do you ever feel planner envy or is it just me?

*All photos in this post were taken by Angela and used with her permission.  Please do not copy or pin these images.

My week #19/52

Hello!  I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by, it will be June in no time and we'll be half way through the year!  Here are my pages for this week.  I don't really like the first page, I kept adding bits to it but it wasn't really helping so I just had to leave it in the end.  I do like the second half of the week though. 

My week in my Filofax #19/52

I wanted to tidy up the gardens this week so of course all it has done is rain.  I managed to do a few little bits outside but not as much as I would like.

Close up

Due to the rain I have caught up on a few TV shows and noting down the episodes I have watched so I don't loose track of where I am.  I finished the first season of Hart of Dixie and loved it!  I can't wait to start season two.

Close up

Today I have emailed some bloggers about an idea I have had for a new series of posts.  I will tell you more once I have heard back from everyone but I'm quite excited about it! 

As always, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The wants #2

For the past couple of weeks I have been gripped by another case of the wants!  Last time I wrote about this (here) I wanted a Chameleon or a Finsbury Filofax.  I ended up with the pocket sized Chameleon which I am using as my purse.  Now I have been thinking about personal size binders and these are on my list: 

Baroque Filofax in teal

I hadn't heard of the Baroque Filofax until I read about it on Friday, I'm in love.  She has the pink one which is super pretty but I think I would love it in teal.  The pattern inside is gorgeous and the outside is nice too.  From what I have heard they are quite hard to find so I will have to live vicariously through Carla's posts and photos about hers!

Malden Filofax in purple

Everyone seems to love their Malden binders and I can understand why!  I think the purple one is lovely and as I have said before I'm excited about the teal one which should be out later this year. 

The Original Filofax in yellow

The newly released Original in yellow has caught my eye and with every review I have read my longing for it has grown!  It is such a nice shade of yellow, so bright and cheerful.  Out of the three this is the one I want the most, the one I keep looking at one the website.  Hearing how soft and supple the leather is makes me want to touch it, to hold it in my hands.  I need to visit a store soon so I can see if it is as amazing as I think it is!

My week #18/52

These are my pages for this week, I have to say I'm really pleased with them! 

My week in my A5 Filofax

I won a pencil set from Staples UK during National Stationery Week and it arrived on Monday so I had a go at doodling a couple of things.  They turned out ok, not great but not awful! 

Start of the week

My Coleto pen arrived on Friday and I fell in love with it straight away!  I like how smoothly it writes and how fine the tip is.  The refills are the 0.3 ones so I can write really small using them and fit more onto each day.  I also like having a choice of colours in one handy pen!

End of the week  

We went for a lovely long walk this afternoon along the River Cole.  We took the dogs with us and had a great time.  It is nice and sunny so we took plenty of drinks and a bowl for the dogs so they could have water when they needed it as we were doing about three miles in total.

The River Cole

We haven't done this walk before, the children loved walking ahead of us so they could discover what was around the next corner.

Off on an adventure!

I'll admit my legs are aching a little now but it was worth it to spend some time outdoors and enjoying the greenery.  I think Marley and Molly were glad to get home afterwards, they went straight into the kitchen to lie down on the cool floor.  I didn't join them but I was tempted!

Marley and Molly enjoyed their walk!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

My new favourite pen!

Yesterday was a good post day for me, my Pilot Coleto pen finally arrived!  I had seen a few people mention this pen on Instagram during the Filofax photo challenge and thought it was a great idea.  It is basically a refillable multi pen.  You choose which colours you like and add them into the barrel, I think there are about 15 ink refills to choose from.  I looked on ebay and found a few different listings for them but it worked out a bit cheaper to order from China and as I was in no hurry that is what I did.  It took just over three weeks to arrive so by the time it came I was quite excited! 

Pilot Coleto 4in1 pen

The top of the pen pops open and you slide the refills into place and then close the lid, easy-peasy!  I ordered pink, purple, orange and green ones.
   

Top view

I found 3in1 barrels and 4in1's but they also come in bigger sizes to hold more colours.  This 4in1 fits easily into the elasticated loop on my Apex Filofax but it does not fit into the loop on my Chameleon.  It is not the end of the world though!  I have really enjoyed using it to fill in the last few days of my diary for this week which I will show you tomorrow.