2015 Update

Hi all,

How is the new year shaping up for you? I am doing pretty marvellous. After a lovely Christmas & New Year getaway I am rejuvenated and excited to handle all that comes my way this year.

So what’s new? Well I bought some new bits of washi tape and stickers recently as my filo was dying a creative death by the last quarter of the year gone. Still working the Chameleon Pocket, I hope to show you a few pages in the upcoming posts.

My wedding filo (The A5 Adelphi in red, I don’t think I’ve mentioned the poor gal on here) has for obvious reasons been retired and after never really getting over the loss of my Luxe I persuaded the Mother for a trade!

So the Lady Luxe is back in business everybody. What for? What use does she have? Well, it’s mainly the Mother’s handwritten family cooking recipes that are somewhat sentimental now that I’ve moved out. But there are plans for some serious workings as a general life goals and projects organiser. Details will be posted as soon as I figure them out myself.

Beyond the general day to day goings on, I have begun yet another project, why I don’t know because I never finish them. But this involves story writing. I love telling stories, often turning my day into a comedy over an email to a friend. So the Husband suggested I channel the creativity into a real effort and well I thought go on then! It is a very fresh project in the planning stages, but if I progress along enough perhaps I can share some extracts with you. Likewise if any of you have embarked on ever writing a short story or novel, what tips do you have and what pitfalls did you encounter along the way if any?

For now here’s a picture of my smoosh face cat Shai (like pie) who’s become a cocky blighter as he “tear’s up” Instagram. Twat. Okay so its not that hard to be more popular than me but he doesn't have to rub his paw in it!

 

 

 

 

Hope you’re having a good one, and smile. Friday’s lurking just behind the clouds!

A Filofax Re-Jig

It’s that time of year again when my delightful Finsbury seems to be spending more time alone than with me, often left on my desk, left on my bed, left under that growing pile of clothes in the corner of my room (What?).

For some reason or another it just doesn’t command the same level of love and attention from me as it used to. The only way to solve this is to sit down tomorrow with coloured pens and sticky tabs in hand and think hard about a new set up and new layout.

I don’t know why but the once lovely colour and feel of the Finsbury is well, I hate to say it but now getting on my nerves a bit. I think since I’ve been using the Luxe, I’ve realised that I love the bigger A5 layout, the space makes it easier for my left handed-ness and the pages just seem more welcoming and inviting to use. That and I can’t get enough of the new leather smell that is still around 6 months or so later. All coupled together I think I’ve been spoilt by Lady Luxe’s , well.. Luxury!

I have a few options to mix things up, I could go back to my Cherry darling (the red Metropol in personal) the organiser itself is a little larger than the Finsbury but the plastic cover makes it seem a bit amateur and school-ish when I’m trying to channel my inner businessman/lady.

Then there’s my secretive Classic in a gorgeous tan colour a personal size again. I’ve never used this one, instantaneously deciding to cherish and save it for special use the minute I received it. But I still can’t help but feel deep down inside that maybe I’ve just out grown the personals for the time being and an A5 is the way to go.

Hopefully I’ll have better progress report at the end of the week.

Courtesy of Google and Ecards

Oh and in other news.. The Mother has STOLEN MY LUXE! Oh yeah, forgot to mention that didn’t I!

The Mother has enjoyed my filo journey so much that the other day she came across an unbranded organiser in the shop and suggested she bought it. I, immediately excited in welcoming a newbie to the filofax world dissuaded her from it and thought I’d give her one of my beloved personals to get her going..

So that evening I sat down with her and bought out my Cherry, Classic and Finsbury on display (the Luxe tightly nestled under my arm) and gave her a choice. She only went for my Lady Luxe didn’t she! Oh! I still haven’t been able to emotionally part with it yet, often sobbing silently when I see the Mother walk by with it. She obviously has no idea why I’m behaving like this, but I can see her getting attached to it as if it’s the ring from LOTR.

So I am not on the hunt for a new A5. I’m debating about the Chamelon that’s currently on a discount on Filofax’s website. Perhaps in black as I want a more business/office friendly organiser. But then the Holborn in a gorgeous wine! Or maybe splash on an Osterley? I’d love to get my hands on an Amazona but that’s a journey in itself.

Filofax Wedding: Organiser v Scrapbook

So this is a post long time coming. As I have been hinting for quite some time now, I am finally able to use the last tab in my Lady Luxe A5 Osterley.

That tab is for wedding planning! I’ve added 5 Martha Stuart coloured tabs which are the perfect size for the A5’s and labelled each one with the engagement, registry, reception and one for outfit and misc.

To fit them into the Luxe I simply cut out the holes in a long strip so I could slot them in rather than specifically hole punching.

Avery by Martha Stuart tabs

I’ve labelled them with the large Martha Stuart sticky tabs as I like the shape and pastel colours which bode well with my wedding creativity!

Paired with Avery by Martha Stuart sticky notes

Within each one I’ve simply added lined paper and coloured paper to jot down any and all info. For the engagement I’ve made simple grids with a few coloured pens to jot down lists and info of different caterers and marquee hire businesses so I can see at a glance what quotes I’ve got and what they include.

Here’s an example of a handwritten style spreadsheet for marquees etc.

To be honest I am still undecided about whether to treat this tab as a wedding organiser or as a wedding scrapbook/organiser. I love the idea of being creative and sticking loads of cut outs and fabric samples in the pages instead of just jotting down pages and pages of info. However, I have been a bit lazy with this so far.. So for now it’s more on the organiser side.

Has anyone else converted their filo for wedding planning? It certainly deserves a tab if not a whole filofax of its own what with all those ideas bursting from your head onto the pages.  

A little bit of news..

Could it be? The time is near? The Boyfriend has been acting very funny for a little while now.. Could it just be?

Perhaps so!

I know this doesn't make sense, but it will.. the best bit is next week I will be able to unveil Lady Luxe's (the A5 Filofax Luxe in Ebony) unused tab. It will finally have it's long awaited purpose! Now I'm sure that deserves a very indulgent post of its own.

Until the weekend! x

Filofax Accessories

I thought I’d right a nifty post about my filofax accessories because they have been taking over and piling up as of late.

Whenever I’m out I can’t help but be on the lookout for something filofax related from stickers to dividers, washi tapes to quirky pictures and postcards I just can’t help myself!

In my “modest” collection I have these wonderful gel pens. I stood in front of the pens section at staple for about 30mins give or take.. staring and comparing and wondering and researching on my phone. I’m a bit fussy when it comes to buying my pens. I really wanted the magnificent rub out Pilot frixons but they were so expensive and didn’t have the colour pack I wanted nor the single selling pens. In the end I sided with uni-ball’s SIGNO gel sticks. A pack of 8 for £4? BARGAIN!

My filo specific pens

From my uni days I already had the matching highlighter set from Sharpie and for all my exams and note taking I cannot be without Parker red and Waterman, I'm much a fountain pen girl. I love the fluidity but don’t care much for my left hand smudging!

Then no filofax or organiser in my opinion can be whole without a good dose of sticky tabs! I have the Martha Stewart ones as well as good old fashioned "Post - it" ntes that now have a tabbed range and a slightly kooky range from “Gorjus.”

Sticky Tabs

And then comes my favourite pieces, I cannot be without my washi tapes and stickers! I have a whole box full, usually mostly all from paperchase.

Stickers! 

Bits and bobs!

Finally I have these adorable boxes. I bought them from T K Maxx and am kicking myself for not buying more cause they’ve disappeared now. They are made to look like books and are so gorgeously decorated one Japan themed with cherry blossoms a peacock influenced one and of course my beautiful Paris.  

One for Stickers, One for old filofax inserts and one for new ones and homemade spares..

 

If you've got a few of these in my opinion "essentials" then you will have yourself a happy filofax, if not its a good excuse to go out and splurge, if your collection is a wee bit small, go splurge, if you've decided you need a new colour and therefore a whole new pen set SPLURGE!

Love your filo and it will love you back!

Lady Luxe

May I take this moment to introduce you to Lady Luxe, she’s my lovely Filofax A5 Luxe in Ebony. Without my Cherry overhearing Luxe is probably my favourite.

Firstly because I paid the most for her and she’s absolute new, secondly because I can’t get enough of the leather smell and the lizard print touch. I’ve realised I’m subconsciously giving “her” more of a personality too. Oh I love!

As an A5 it stays at home because I already have Little Miss Finsbury in personal accompanying me everywhere. Lady Luxe is more for my indulgence and comfort at home.

Dashboard

Her tabs are:

• Overview – I have a fold out year planner that came with the filofax which I use to record important dates and upcoming blog posts/projects.

Overview

• Goals – Unlike the tab in my Finsbury this one is for a dedicated, detailed breakdown of just how I will achieve all the things I’ve set my eyes on, monthy goals, weekly tasks that sort of thing.

• Career – This again will be my go to for deadlines and applications that need attention. It will act as a duplicate when my computer database is unavailable.

• Writing – A tab of plain writing sheets where I hope to begin to jot down ideas for various short stories and the sort. I have also added a sub-tab that acts for all things blog.

• Dreams – Lots of pretty coloured paper to record crazy dreams and the sort. I’m pretty good at remembering dreams so have never bothered recording them but I’m currently experimenting with the benefits of writing them down and maybe learning something.

• Blank – The last tab is blank I have in mind exactly what is going to go in here.. but I can’t bring myself to reveal it just yet until I need to use it..

Home made dividers for each section

It’s a pretty simple set up with nothing fancy at the moment. But it works well for me right now which makes me happy!

I choose to add the A5 to my collection because I didn’t like the personal’s slim paper space and needed something more substantial. I also like the idea that I can pretty much make all the inserts from home and scrap papers lying around.

There are two pen loops, one at the top and the other on the bottom. As Lady Luxe is new she’s a real pain trying to stretch out the loops to fit my Parkers or Waterman’s because if I’m writing writing I need my fountain pens and nothing more. But it’s nice to know that she’ll loosen up with a bit of use.

Pen loops top and bottom plus a notepad at the back

I wasn’t sure about the Ebony colour at first and really wanted the red but with it being sold out and my impatience I went for ebony and am still surprised by just how much I love her!

She stays next to my bedside table and is always open in front of me if I’m working at my desk I even slip her into the weekend bag when I go away. 

I hope she has endeared you as much as she has me. What do you think?