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?

My Filofax Week (Week 13)

Yay easter! I love Easter egg hunts, my neighbour across the way always has one in a huge garden but the weathers kind of dampened it this year.

Week 25th - 31st March

Covernt Garden are also having an easter egg hunt where they have hidden around 100 or so of these huge eggs painted/created by different artists. I usually go but this weekend I am all about family. Staying in for some family love and catch up time.. or we’ll be at each others’ heads I am making sure my corner is filled with lindor’s eggs no one will be able to resist.

Hope you all have a lovely juvely Easter! 

Photo Friday 6

So it is no secret to those who know me and my obsession with all things vintage, but perhaps they didn’t know that I’m quite the corset wearer. Until last year I could happily corset down to 20” and then let myself go a bit. This week I’ve gone and dug my collection out and have been gradually getting back into them in preparation for the upcoming weddings and the beautiful vintage gown!

One of the things that motivates me to get into shape is a good ol’ pin up! I love them and have my whole dressing top covered in a collage.

This week is a pin up pic from none other than Gil Elvgren in my eyes the King of pinups. I think his drawings are the best.

Courtsy Gil Elvgren - The Complete Pin Ups Book

This I’ll have you know is a very true depiction of me trying to get into my girdles! Yeah ok I wish.. my squeezing into girdles isn’t half this sexy!

Mundane Monday (Week 5)

I have this app on my phone that has lots of wisdom quotes. I love reading through them when I’m waiting around or bored somewhere and especially at awkward moments to hide away!

One of my favourites is this one.

Image from Google images

From a Chinese philosopher, its a nice bit of simple ancient wisdom that is just as relevant today as it was then. 

Perfect for those days when I’m feeling a little insecure or bombarded by one too many health and celeb bod TV shows. Not to mention the family members that think they know best for me. I read it and think yeah I’m still me and I still kick ass because I am awesome.. sometimes.. Most of the time.. when my Zen’s in a good place! ^_^

Lao Tzu himself

My Filofax Week (Week 12)

Filofax week 12 here everybody! Hope your week has been going well.

Nothing interesting to report. I’ve mainly been boggling down with training contract applications whilst making time to cosy up with my A5 Luxe which I will write a post on very soon. (I think i say that every week..)

On the other hand here is the lovely Little Miss Finsbury you can read more about her here. Doesn't she look lovely, I’m quite enjoying carrying her around as a change from the metropol.

Week 18th - 24th March

 I’ve also posted a little picture of today, my Saturday morning.. March 23^rd.. full of snow.

Lots of lovely white blankets everywhere ahh.. so nice except for that fact that I think I’m coming down with a cold.. urgh! As a defence I'm berrocca-ing that shizzle up and hopefully won’t be bedridden.

Photo Friday 5

Shai trying his hand at Belly Dancing

Because life's too short. Just go out there and have fun!

Do all those things that people tell you you shouldn't, do it in style and tell them poppycock!

Like my cutie pie above.. Being a cat doesn't stop him from wanting to belly dance and my how stylish he looks!

Little Miss Finsbury

I have a new set up! Warning picture heavy..

I love my cherry metropol dearly but decided to switch to a second hand Personal Finsbury in Aqua just because I needed a change.

I really sat down with this and instead of moving things over really looked at my layout and tweaked a few things. To begin with I made a new set of dividers as the other ones where too mismatched! I’m picky so sue me.

I finally found the Martha Stewart by Avery range at my local staples and they had 40% off so I went crazy and bought loads of the sticky tabs. I had seen them in so many other set up posts and was dying to get my hands on some. I love the way they brighten everything up!

Martha Stewart sticky tabs

So the set up now starts with the dashboard that hasn’t changed even though it needs to be updated with new inspiring quotes and pictures

The tabs are as follows:

•  Diary – WPP
• To do’s
• Important – lists of deadlines and important info I need to keep on top of
• Notes -  for anything when I’m out n about
• Goals
• Loves

Diary tab

I’ve just started using it this week so I’m still in the prototype phase and we’ll see if this new set up works for me but I found the other one was too generic. I had taken on board others’ ideas without really thinking about what I need my filofax to do. 

To Do tab

As I’m looking for training contracts, applications and deadlines play a huge part in my everyday tasks and sometimes can creep up on me if I just keep them in my diary. Having a tab where I can quickly skim over who I’ve applied to, what I need to do next and upcoming deadlines really helps.

Calling it “Important” instead of career just means I don’t have to focus on info only related to law I can include anything that is important.

Important Tab

The goals section is also small. I’ve set up my A5 to deal more in depth about goals and projects for the year but having a tab in my Finsbury helps me keep track and acts as a kind of overview reminder which I’m already finding helpful for those days when I’m feeling less productive.

The Finsbury herself was bought a while ago and came in a used but good condition. I gave her a few nivea facials to get rid of little scuffs and the dullness she had acquired.

Cons? It’s really bugging me that she doesn’t lie as flat as my Cherry dear. Maybe it’s because of the real leather as opposed to the metropol but I’m so used to it lying flat the constant straightening out is annoying right now but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

Dashboard

The only other thing is there’s only one bloody pen loop! I love carrying my blue and red pens for on the go jotting but it helps to know I can remedy this by adding a stick on one.. Who’s the company that does them again?

The bonus is the zipped pocket at the back. I’ve constantly read how some people use their filofax as a wallet as well and that would never work with the metropol but I like the idea of having a secure place for things that need security!

All in all I'm liking the set up so far, but I'll probably give it another 3 months or so for an objective view on just how effective it is. If all else fails I do think it looks might pretty!

Side view - You can see the two tabs at the top to represent a division between finance and fitness under my notes tab.

What do you guys think? Do you prefer the Cherry or Little Miss Finsbury? Leave a comment below!

D.I.Y Drawer Dividers

Today I’d like to share with you a fantastic idea for tidying up messy drawers and going one step further to getting organised.

The idea comes from Jen over at Iheartorganizing. A fantastic website with tutorials and tips on organising your home, office you name it. Check it out HERE

Over the weekend I decided my drawers needed some organising after I realised I am beginning to accumulate more stationary that I can physically use.

The drawer dividers were a simple solution to help me get to what I want straight away and provide a nicer cleaner feel to the drawer overall! The best thing is you don’t need anything special just scraps lying around the house.

What you need:

Ruler

Scissors

Pens

Empty cardboard boxes of different shapes

Coloured paper/Wrapping paper of your choice

Glue (I just used pritt stick!)

Step 1

The first step is to get your boxes together and decide how you want the dividers to lay in your drawer. A bit of reshuffling here and there. Once your happy you can mark out on the boxes where you are going to cut them to ensure a secure fit in your drawer.

Rough placement of various cardboard boxes.

 Tip: Cut the boxes a little above the line you've marked. Then re-arrange them back in the drawer so you can make any last adjustments before the final cut. Better to cut less in case you have to cut more.. does that make sense? ^_^

Step 2

Once you’ve decided on the size and fit of the dividers you can start covering them with the coloured paper/wrapping paper you’ve chosen. I had some lovely heart wrapping paper I saved up for years and also some read tissue like tablecloth paper lying around as scrap which looked nice!

You can begin to wrap them anyway that is easiest for you. I did them in stages so the width first then the end. I just measured out the paper to the correct size then covered the side in pritt stick glue and covered the little boxes.

Step 3

Once you’ve covered all the boxes you can place them in the drawer. I took this opportunity to glue some of the smaller ones together to create a joint box. I also paper clipped some of the sides of the larger boxes together to help set the boxes in shape.

Finished dividers back in the drawer

FINITO! Quite simple and something that you can easily spend an afternoon doing with some enjoyment!

Finished dividers helping to organise my mess!

Hope you found this helpful, feel free to leave a comment about any other helpful tips you have to get organised and remember to check out iheartorganizing’s blog for a more detailed tutorial and lots more ideas!

Mundane Monday (Week 4)

I’m really missing the sunshine can you tell? Another weather focused quote this week but this is one of my favourites that just keeps inspiring you as you read it over.

When I first read it I thought about spring and how it is sure to come just as Christmas does every year. Then I read it again and thought about having faith generally in all things.

Just a little faith that things will happen as sure as the sun rises. That’s a nice feeling to have and does make you feel more grounded in yourself, “deep rooted” if you will.

On a third read I thought of my late granddad. He was a deep root. He’d been there, done that and never had any doubt that things would happen. When I was younger I was sure he could see the future. He’d always tell me to be patient when I was stressing over my degree and that the projects will be done and deadlines would be met even when I was 100% certain they wouldn't.

I see that same deep root passed down to my Dad now. These guys truly have no doubt. They know themselves and they know life. Care free yet full of wisdom. I'm in awe. I watch up in wonder, anxious for the day I’ll become a “deep root” though I may be waiting a while yet as I'm currently stuck in a grump state of mind because I really am doubting spring is going to come and let’s not even mention the word summer ..

My Filofax (Week 11)

My filo week

11th - 17th March 2013

 Highlight of the week probably going to Spitalfield’s Antique Fair with mum on Thursday. I hadn’t been for at least a year and it was nice to have a wonder at all the unsual things on sale. I fell in love with one too many 1950s coat dresses but thankfully I was well out of money. ( I can just imagine my bank preparing to call me up Monday morning to discuss my spending.)

I’ve also added my weekly to do list on the WPP courtesy a Philofaxy print out. I printed it on plain paper but the printer head was a bit dirty and out came these colourful blobbed squares which I actually quite like!

WPP with weekly to do list

 I added it on the WPP because I was beginning to forget switching back to the tab and things began slipping under the radar. Having it next to my week helps me keep focused on important things waiting for my attention.

I may be moving to the Finsbury end of this week. I like that it’s a bit worn in. Its undergoing a few facials at the mo and may make an appearance next week! Exciting times! ^_^

Have a lovely weekend.

Photo Friday 4

Popped over to Spitalfields’ antique fair yesterday and picked up some lovely old postcards with Victorian oil paintings printed on them. I’m not sure exactly what they will be used for but I imagine they’ll provide some colour to my A5 Luxe.

One of the pictures I picked up was this one

Postacard of oil painting. Sir Frank Dicksee - The Confession (1896)

 Sir Frank Dicksee – The Confession (1896). I love it. 

It’s a classic Victorian “problem picture” where the artist deliberately paints something ambiguous. Every time I look at it I am dying to know what she is confessing. Then sometimes I think maybe it is the man confessing. Is he her husband? Her Beau who’s marrying another woman? Did she have an affair? Spend too much of the family estate budget! Hahaha. A thought provoking picture I hope you’ll agree.

It does make me wonder..  

Do you have any confessions this Friday? Anything you’d like to get off your chest? Well, leave a comment and confess away!

I confess that I lied when someone asked me last week if I ate any of the humongous sized Galaxy Cookie Crumble chocolate bar. I said one piece.. but I finished the whole darn thing! And I haven’t exercised for a week! Oooh the confessions just come rolling out!

There may also be some more serious confessions that should be aired but it’s also good to keep some naughty little secrets!

Happy Confessional Friday!

Vintage Delight

I do love all things vintage. Since I was young I was fascinated with mum’s old clothes the clean lines, the hidden waist belts and boning and the amazing shape they created once on.

  

I’d like to share some vintage finds ‘cause my obsession doesn't just end with clothes. I love the way things used to work its very true that they just don’t make things the way they used to.

Warning picture heavy!

My first delight is this gorgeous vintage biscuit tin from Kemp’s biscuits I bought from a vintage fair.

It has on it a design originally on a Victorian snuff box courtesy of the V&A. 

The colours are amazing and the detail on the picture is great. I currently use it to store hair pins and Kirby grips/bobby pins. It looks lovely on my 1900s chest of drawers and fits right in!

Top view

Like it? Well good news my lovelies! Keep an eye out as there's always a few of these going for around a fiver on ebay!

From the back

The second vintage delight is my dad’s Minolta camera. I don’t know much about camera’s I’m afraid and could make some stuff up to sound savvy here but all I’m going to say is wow.

I love the look, the heavy weight around your neck, the clicking and grinding and blinding, beeping flashlight. The pictures are so delicious for an oldie the colours are spectacular while still retaining that vintage rough feel.

Bit dusty! Oops!

My only disappointment is that Jessops has shut down in the UK and they were the only developers I trusted as they really bought out the colours. No I can’t bring myself to develop the delicate photo film at.. *gulps* happy snaps.. What. The. Hell.

Leave me a comment of some of your favourite vintage pieces. I’ll be back with more!