Christmas Filofax

You can tell Christmas is on its way here in the UK as TK Maxx and it's sister company Homesense are starting to stock up on the Filofaxes!  Up to now I have seen Malden's, Domino's, Aston's, Enigma's, Finsbury's, Cuban's and Classics all in mainly pocket size with a few mini's and personal's and one Calipso A5 which tempted me! 

But I was amazed (and relieved) that nothing made me excited, nothing made me even contemplate taking it to the till, nothing other than an Enigma made me go ooo - nothing compared remotely to my VDS - I am so very very thankful!!

Proof yet again that I have found my planner peace, and I am so grateful for that as being back in the position of needing every filo I set my eyes on fills me with dread!!

Classic gorgeousness!

A bit of bling with the glitter card and KS clip and of course my bear :)



You just can't have enough bling!



Last bit of bling, glittercard cut down to credit card size



There is no denying that this is quite minimalist, even the inserts are minimal and clean lines.  I can't function any other way it seems.  I have tried the decorating etc but no, it doesn't work for me.  I do love looking at everyone elses decorated and crammed full pages but in reality it would drive me crazy!!

I guess this is probably the last filofax post from me for a long time as I just can't think of anything else to say about how much I love this planner!!  The only things that will ever really change in this now are my list of to do's and appointments so I doubt that is of any interest to anyone!  I will update when I set up for 2015 with my new calendar (which I already have!) and unless anything else changes, that's pretty much it from me!

Until next time, take care xxx





Original Patent A5 is my Life Coach

I started a new college course last week and to accompany me on a journey of self-everything I took along my new-to-me A5 Original in Patent Latte (Nude, but don't tell Janet I said that!).

The course is about Life Coaching, not other people but myself.  Only two weeks in and I am already starting on a journey of wonder....wondering why I am doing what I'm doing and not something that I am passionate about...it's opened my eyes I can tell you!  I thought I loved my job but it seems not, I may be in a good relationship with my job but I have eyes for something else!!

So as the days roll on, Latte is getting used well and I have already started thinking of sections for my personal growth, goals, ideas and motivation - the usual characteristics of a self help book but this is different because this is mine and is personal to me.

The one thing that has shocked me on the short path travelled to date is that after decades of thinking I want to get qualified in the field I am currently working in - I actually don't!  The fact that it has taken me soooo long to get to this point should have been screaming at me that it isn't where my heart is laying but I didn't hear it.  To not listen to your emotions, your instincts or whatever else it is that is shouting at you only leads to a massive waste of time and energy spent doing something else...so I have wasted decades!!  I could have been in the job of my dreams now.  I could have been qualified in something that I was passionate about.  Instead I am here, midway through my life thinking buggar, I am back at square one!

So what am I doing about it you ask?  I have contacted the National Trust and have volunteered my services :)  It isn't exactly what I had in mind but it is a step in the right direction.  I may not be able to leave my current position and just jump into a new career but I can certainly fulfil some of my life's passions on a voluntary basis and give my life more meaning. 

If staying in my current role means that I am in a financial position to offer my services free of charge to such a deserving cause then so be it, I know I can't afford to do it for nothing so while I enjoy the experiences of the National Trust my current company can pay the bills!  I don't hate my job after all, I quite enjoy it but it doesn't set no fires in my soul  :) I'm sure you know what I mean!!

This has taken so long to finish that I have an update already!

I volunteered with the National Trust last Sunday and had an absolute blast!  It was a great day spent 'Rhodybashing' which means pulling out Rhodedendrons that are causing other plants to suffer, these were big beasts too!  All the leaves had to be burnt as they are poisonous to cattle (who knew) so all evidence of their existence had to be extinguished - literally!

How darn cute is this loo?!



Hare carvings


I have also found my passion...I feel so dim for not realising it before and putting two and two together as it has been so obvious to everyone else (no-one thought to tell me though!) so my wonderful new idea has merely resulted in the response 'at last you've figured it out'...bah!

In order to get there though is going to take YEARS of serious study.  I have to finish the Diploma I am doing now which means my schedule for the next six months looks like this:

The crossed out areas are days already gone and the three weeks following the exams for recouperation!

Each coloured segment represents an assignment that needs to be completed - one for each subject - and the boxes edged in red are the deadlines for submission.  The block of solid red is exam week.

I have no time to rest on my butt now unless I have a study book in my hand!  It's going to be head down and study study study for the next 7 years...eek!!

Until next time, take care xxx
 

Absolute Planner Peace

I truly believe that I have reached the elusive 'Planner Peace' with my Van Der Spek.  So much so that I have lost all interest in any other planners, nothing else can offer what my little VDS can - other than a Gillio I guess but then the quality of those, in my opinion, are no better than the VDS and at three times the cost are not even close to being in the running.

So now what?  Now I have found the perfect outside I can concentrate on getting the perfect inside!  I am very glad that I didn't like the inserts that came with it.  I had to take them all out!

Having a good think about what you will actually use and not having tons of unnecessary stuff in there bulking it out means you have room for little things that make you smile when you open your planner, like pictures of your family and pretty postcards and anything else that just gives you pleasure..  To say that I am in complete awe of this beautifully soft tactile planner would be a massive understatement! I don't want any other.  I absolutely am totally in love with this, both inside and outside.  I love my entire set up.  I am done!!  I feel so much at peace now with the whole planner world, I feel organised and just so content.

I can now start concentrating on my other accessories - well you have to have something to carry on with don't you? So I have bought what I hope to be the most perfect bag(s)...since starting to write this post I have bought another three bags!!

The first one is by the makers Smith & Canova.  I haven't got anything else by them and I haven't ever seen anything by them but their website would appear to sell luxury items at a luxury price so that's always a good start! This was an EBay bargain, what more can I say!

Soft brown leather with pony skin leopard print detailing and gold hardware. I absolutely have to have an external pocket for my travel pass and phone as easy access is very important...this has two of those pockets, one on the rear which is zipped for security and one on the front which is fastened by a magnetic popper.  Inside is pretty funky with its lime green lining and multiple pockets too. 

The second and third ones are both from Fossil from the Sydney collection.  The larger of the two is a multicolour tote which has a zipped closure (an absolute must for the rainy UK weather) and I already had the matching purse that I bought from TK Maxx a week or so ago,  This bag is HUGE!  It swallows my bag organiser with ease which means it is going to be perfect for shopping or work purposes - and maybe even college as it will easily hold A4!

The last (but probably not!) is a satchel in white/off white with gold stud detailing and is so cute!  It didn't look big enough to fit in my bag organiser which holds my planner, purse, multiple lip products, make up and all the other crazy stuff we carry - but it did!!  I love how far the zips go down the sides too, I love being able to actually get into my bag and see everything rather than try to operate some kind of keyhole surgery to get at my things, which you seem to need to do with some bags.

I didn't have a purse that matched this so I just had to get one of those too :) well Christmas is almost upon us so that's how I have justified it...seriously, this has been put away for Christmas.

So that's me done...for now!

Until next time, take care xxx