My week #13

 Oh wow, last week was really busy!  I went with an Alice in Wonderland theme but kept the decoration to a minimum as I needed the space for my to do lists.

My week in my Filofax #13

I had so many things to do in preparation for my daughter's birthday weekend and Mother's Day.  I wrote myself a spring cleaning list so the house would be ready in time for the party and gave myself areas to do during the week.  I don't usually schedule housework unless I have people coming round.  I just do things as they need doing each day but if I know someone is visiting us I like to make sure I have remembered to do everything before they arrive.  I guess we have regular clean and guests clean standards in this house! 

Close up

Close up

As well as it being my daughter's birthday weekend it was also her best friend's birthday so on Saturday we went out for lunch with her grandparents and then she came home, got changed into her second party dress of the day and went to her BFF's party.  On Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day and her birthday with her own party.  It was a lovely way to end the week and to finally get some time to relax.

The birthday spread

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

My week #12

Did you see my big news over the weekend?  I was asked to review the gorgeous Willow by Filofax!  If you missed it you can read it here.  I moved into it as soon as I had finished taking all the photos I needed for the review and it goes so nicely with my pink and mint theme this week.

My week in my Filofax #12

It was officially the first day of spring on Thursday so I wanted to do something pretty to celebrate that.  I am so happy winter is over!  I really am looking forward to spending time outside in the sunshine, I feel like I have been such a homebody while it was so cold.

Close up

Close up

Most of my week was dedicated to the review.  I spent Thursday and Friday taking lots and lots of photos in different light conditions and with my two cameras until I was happy with the shots. Saturday was dedicated to writing the post and double checking, triple checking, quadruple.... you get the idea.... before I published it on Sunday.  It was a lot of fun to do and it was great to have so many positive comments on it yesterday.   

All moved into the Willow Filofax

Thanks for reading!

Fun, fresh and girly - Willow Filofax review

If you regularly read my My Week posts you may have noticed I have been counting off the weeks since an email.  That email was about the possibility of me reviewing one of the new Spring releases and to say I was excited would be an understatement!  I would like to thank Nike from Filofax for sending me the Willow to review and Steve from Philofaxy for helping to arrange it.

The Filofax arrived in the now standard clear cover with perfect rings that fit snugly together.  I requested the personal size planner that has 23mm rings and costs £30.  It is also available in pocket size with 19mm rings for £28.    

In the cover

One of the first things I noticed when I opened the parcel was how beautiful the colours are.  The background is a sage green colour with a peach, green, purple, pink and baby pink leaf print.  The outside cover is padded so it has a nice squish to it.  I'm not the only one who likes to squish their planner right?  The inside is firmer providing you with a good surface to lean on while you write.  Filofax describe the material as "leather look".  I'm not sure I agree with this but that might be because I have been using my Malden filo for a while now and I am used to crinkly, vintage look leather.

Filofax Willow

The inside of the planner is baby pink.  When I first saw the press release I had assumed the interior would be green.  I was surprised when I was told it was pink and thought that I would have preferred if it had been green.  However now I have seen it in person I have been won over by the pink, I really like it!  

Inside view

There are six pockets on the left hand side for cards and a full length vertical pocket behind those.  I carry some cards wrapped with washi tape in my Malden which are quite thick.  I tried putting them into these slots, thinking they wouldn't fit but they do easily.  You also get a front page that matches the outside of the binder which is a nice touch.  

The Willow comes with: 

• A week on two page 18 month diary 
• 6 coloured dividers
• Contact and To Do pages
• A selection of note paper - lined, plain, quadrille and coloured
• Transparent flyleaf
• Top opening pocket
• Frosted ruler 

Inside the back cover

On the right hand side there is a large horizontal pocket.  You can use this for keeping letters or bits and pieces in or you could use it for adding a separate note pad to the planner.

A good length strap and the pen loop

The elasticated pen loop is behind the strap on the very edge of the Filofax.  I noticed that the strap seems to be longer so it can accommodate a bigger pen without making the binder hard to close.  It also keeps the pen far enough away from your pages and tabs/dividers so it won't crush them.  I think position of the loop and the length of the strap is brilliant and that the Willow would be great for someone who likes to stuff their Filofax.... like me.  

Here are some more photos, feel free to drool if the urge strikes you!

Filofax logo

The back cover 

The lining and outer pattern complement each other

Top view

Arty angled shot

I liked this Filofax the first time I saw it and now I have it in my hands I like it even more.  The symmetrical pattern and pastel colours are stylish and fun, perfect for this time of year but the main reason I like it is because it is incredibly pretty and I have always been a sucker for something pretty! 

If you have any questions about the Willow ask me in the comments and I will try and answer them.

*Disclaimer - this product was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.  I was not paid to write the post and all opinions are my own.

My week #11

My theme for this week was Red Riding Hood.  I also threw in some toadstools just because I like them.

My week in my Filofax #11

I searched for quotes about wolves and found this one "Fear makes the wolf bigger."  it really spoke to me.  Sometimes I build something up in my head so much I can't face it but once I have actually started it wasn't as bad as I thought.  The idea of the problem is worse than it really is and I think I need to remind myself of this and be braver. 

Close up

Close up

Sorry it's a short post this week but I have a few things going on behind the scenes.  I'm hoping to be able to share them with you soon!

Thanks for reading

My week #10

My whole theme this week is based around these rainbow reinforcements.  They were so fun and colourful I just had to go rainbow crazy, I feel like I let my inner five year old out to play and she was high on sugar!

My week in my Filofax #10

The quote at the start of the week sums up exactly how I've been feeling, "Life is meant to be colourful".  Having bright, happy colours around me really effects my mood.  Every time I have opened my Filofax to look at this week I have smiled because it is so cheery.

Close up

Close up

I read a post a few months ago by Little Red Moose on how to make your own washi tape magnets.  I loved the idea and wanted to make some for myself but I couldn't remember where I had put an old promotional magnetic calender so I forgot about it.  During the week I came across the magnet in the back of a kitchen draw so I finally got to have a go at making my own.  I am really pleased with how they turned out and they are super easy to make.  You only need a magnetic sheet, plain paper, glue, scissors and washi tape.  If you fancy having a go yourself here is the link.   

My washi tape magnets

Have you heard that the new Spring Filofaxes will be on sale this Tuesday (the 11th March) on the UK site?  I have been drooling over the Willow one since I saw it, it is green with a pretty pastel leaf print.  I think it would go perfectly with my collection, I have been saying for ages that I need a green or blue filo so I was really happy to see this one.  This is the press release if you haven't seen it yet, does anything take your fancy? 

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Cute reinforcements for my filo pages, I'm a happy bunny!

Last week I received a lovely package from Lesley the owner of Annie's Paper Boutique and Trendy Twine.  I had been looking for some fun reinforcements a little while back but I could only find plain white ones which didn't interest me at all so I was over the moon to receive these! 

Cute package from Annie's Paper Boutique 

She sent me some (well lots and lots actually!) of her circle reinforcements as a gift but I love them so much I wanted to share them with you.

So many designs to choose from!

They are available in a wide range of designs and colours to suit your mood or style.  I absolutely love the ziggy rainbow design so they are the first ones I have used. 

Ziggy rainbow reinforcements

If you usually read my My Week posts you will know I have been using coloured sticky dots in between my rings for a while now to add some extra colour to my pages so it's nice to finally have something that is fun as well as practical.

Annie's Paper Boutique also sells lots of craft products as well as planner essentials so if you like stamps, twine, ribbon and all kinds of paper goodies pop over and take a look.

Thanks for reading!

* Disclaimer - these products were given to me free of charge as a gift. I have not been paid to write this post, I am just sharing the love and all opinions are my own.

My week #9

I am so over winter, I am impatiently waiting for those first days of golden sunlight and warm breezes.  Inspired by the floral washi tape I decided to channel my excitement for Spring into my pages this week.

My week in my Filofax #9

I have also been pinning up a storm on Pinterest, little baby lambs, beautiful pastel macaroons and the prettiest outfit ideas for the warmer months.  I was treated to one warm, sunny day this week.  I got to hang my washing outside to dry and listen to the birds sing while I did it.  Then we returned to the usual schedule of cold, wet, grey weather and to make it worse we keep being told to expect snow!  I want to paint my nails baby pink and make daisy chain bracelets with my daughters not snowmen!  

Close up

Close up

We had a bit of drama this week when my youngest decided to stick a small piece of play doh up her nose.  My husband had to take her up to A&E on Tuesday as it was well and truly stuck.  She wouldn't let the doctor check her nose properly so they booked her an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist for Thursday.  She must have inhaled it or sneezed it out in the end because when they checked at her appointment it had disappeared.  For the time being play doh and plasticine are banned in this house!  I might let her try again when she's ten, you know just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for reading and have a great week! 

#filophotofriday - February round up and March's prompts

The first month of my photo challenge is over and I wanted to show you the photos I took and some of my favourites that other people shared too. 

7th - Home 

I enjoyed a nice breakfast at home before a busy day.  You can't beat a cup of tea and a danish in my book!

7th - Home

@0myche0 shared this photo on Instagram.  I really like her cover story Filofax and colourful tabs!

Photo by @0myche0 - Home

14th - I adore...

... Owls and ladybirds.  I got this sweet love bug badge from Loving Dot a couple of weeks ago and my lovely friend Kath sent me the ladybird beads.  I have punched a couple of holes in the owl mini ruler and am now using it as a page marker.

14th - I adore...

@handmadebycharlottevictoria shared this photo of her gorgeous roses that she got for Valentines Day.  The photos of her Malden are the reason I brought my ochre one instead of the aqua, she made me fall for how classy it looked.

Photo by @handmadebycharlottevictoria - I adore..

21st - Print

I love the printed patterns on these notes.

21st - Print

The amazing @littleredmoose shared this photo of her Kate Spade organiser, isn't it beautiful?!  I love those gold rings and polka dots.  I am a big fan of her blog so pop by and say hello if you haven't before.

Photo by @littleredmoose - Print

28th - 11am

At 11am I was outside in the cold shopping so I needed a coffee to make it bearable.

28th - 11am

@catherine_ann_morgan shared this photo of her morning, I love how colourful it is.

Photo by @cathrine_ann_morgan - 11am

Thank you to everyone who took part last month, I hope you had fun.  If you would like to join in this month the prompts for March are below.  You can use any kind of planner in the photos not just a Filofax.  Take your photos when you have a spare minute and share them on a Friday with the tag #filophotofriday on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas you all come up with!  

Prompts for March

Have a great weekend!