Preview - Erin Condren Planner!

Hey There!

I got an Erin Condren Planner!

I know that some of you came for makeup information and some of you came for home decor information. This post isn't going to appeal to everyone and some folks don't really want a blog walk through of my brand new baby but I was super excited and you know what? You lovelies are just going to have to deal with my crazy today!

Yeah, I know. It was a big decision for me. I first thought about it a year ago but the price scared me. Even though I'm a paper girl and prefer a paper planner over the one on my phone, the $50 price tag really got me. I wanted to make sure that I'd use $50 worth of planner.

So I purchased a very cheap planner for the balance of 2014 (about July - December) and then bought a $10 Sugar Paper one from Target for this year. I added all my doctor's appointments, the kiddo's doctor's appointments and both of our personal appointments. I added blogging information like schedules and ideas and plans for the future. I added bill payment schedules because otherwise I would be lost.  I added book club information because I am a member of THREE book clubs and it's not easy staying on top of that! With all of that information, I really wanted one convenient place to keep everything.

I stayed on top of my paper planners pretty well. I used the bill payment schedule EVERY two weeks without fail. I also made sure to check every few days to make sure bills were paid and I that I was on financial track. I put all of our doctor appointments on the calendar pages and put most of my personal appointments on the calendar pages. My book club information went in the correct spots and blogging plans stayed in place. I even got real fancy and used different color pens for all the different activities.

When I heard that Erin was making some changes to her planner (adding a horizontal layout to her planner choices) and found out that for $5 more I could add the balance of 2015 (July - December 2015), I was ready to push the button. I was ready to take the plunge.

Tada! It's here!!

She (yes, my planner is a she) is the ready to ship "And so the Adventure Begins" planner. I thought about customizing one but then I realized I can add a customized cover later. Erin makes them and so do a lot of folks elsewhere. I looked at the inside of the customized ones and the inside of the ready to ship one and I liked the ready to ship one better.

I ordered my girl on June 12, 2015 and she arrived at my desk on June 19, 2015! Yaaaas! Can you believe it? It arrived just that quickly. That was my first plus. Then I opened my girl and fell in love. The cover is gorgeous but you already know that. The velum overlay in the front is nice and I love that there is an 18 month calendar double page. I love to see all my months at a glance.

Just like most other calendar layouts, there is a double page for each month and after are double pages for the weeks. On the monthly page you have extra space in the header area and a goal spot on the left hand side. That's not anything amazing but what is pretty good is that there is quite a bit of space to write. I have big, floral handwriting so I need space.

At the end of each month is a blank page and a nice inspirational quote to kick of the next month. I've decide to use my blank page for blog information. At the end of the months there are several blank (but designed) notes pages and a calendar for 2017. You also get some great stickers for voting, birthdays, days off, hair - doctor - dentist appointments, concerts,  mani/pedi's, parties and vacations. There are also 2 pages of blank stickers that you can write on.

Erin also includes a perpetual calendar and contacts book. It's actually a good idea for someone like me that always forgets birthdays so if I have them in a perpetual calendar, I can transfer them annually to my planner.

Erin also gives you quite a few goodies. You get some do-it-all dots, compliment cards, a coil clip sample, sticker samples and referral cards. All of those come in a fantastic plastic pouch. Sure, all of those things are self promotion BUT they are also a fantastic way for me to figure out which of her products that I like and which ones I can do without. I like it.

So, I am ready to test drive my new baby. I will be doing like everyone else and Instagraming my layouts. I'll also be trying out all the sticker ideas that other folks are using. You don't have to come with me on this journey but I'd seriously think about it! If you like planners like I like planners, it's worth it.

If you are thinking about a new planner from Erin Condren, check her page out. If you are 10 or so days away from pulling the trigger you can use my code to get $10 off of your planner (CODE HERE!). I used a $10 off code, because I have to use a code or coupon for everything!

*Please, don't feel that you have to use my code. You don't. I just know that when I was making my purchase I was supper stoked to get $10 off of my purchase. I wanted to extend my discount to you too.

10 Things I Love About Me!

Hey There!

I only get to spend about 10 minutes in the car on the way to work (I drive to the train station) and about 15 minutes on the way home. So, I don't get to listen to a lot of talk radio. But, last week I caught a bit of talk radio and they were challenging their listeners to come up with 10 things that you love about yourself. I thought that would make a great Sunday Funday post!

10. I try to always see the glass as half full. I try to be as positive as possible. It doesn't do much good to be pessimistic, really. I always think, you know, be thankful --- it could be much worse. And a glass half full gives you more to drink!

9. I'm a great mom. No, I'm not perfect. I'm nowhere near perfect and yes, there are times me and the kiddo go at it. But, I do my best. I give my all and if you give your all, you are the best mom in town.

8. I'm down for almost whatever. You want to go to that new restaurant next week? Let's go. You want to take a trip to Fiji at the end of the year? Let me get my dollars in order. I figure my friends are pretty exciting and I can tag along for the awesomeness. I often invite myself on trips or experiences. So far, no one has said I couldn't go.

7. I can read my way into other worlds. I love that it doesn't take much for me to be transformed to another world through books. I like all types of books and absolutely any book can take me away just as great as Calgon could!

6. I am such a sports girl. I mean I love sports. I went to the Atlanta Braves game last night (they won!). I make sure I go to at least 3 or 4 games every year and I watch them on the TV when I can. I love football just as much (go Falcons! Rise Up!) and I've just been getting into Hockey. Basketball is ok and I'll go if there's a special game or something cause I don't shy away from any sport. Give me a good game, glass of wine, good friends and of course a game shirt and I'm ready!

5. I love my body. It's not perfect. It's curvy and certain things droop. Some parts are a bit lumpy and bumpy and some things are larger than I'd like, some things smaller. But I love every single bit of it! Sure, I wouldn't mind losing a bit of weight and I'd like to tone some things but on a grand scale, I wouldn't change my body for anything in the world.

4. I'm kinda handy and home interior-y. And, the things I'm not so handy with, I'm willing to give it the old college try. I'm typing this during a break from building my television stand. I want to cuss and scream and have a drink but no, I'm just powering through. Because, when I'm done I am going to be so proud. I can't stage a house but I can pick 3 colors and match a room around them. I like to DIY things on the cheap and I like to throw a splash of expensive (that I bought on the cheap!).

3. I'm girly and tom boyish too. I like makeup and perfume and all things frilly and fluffy. And, I like to hike (slowly, leisurely) and watch sports. No, I don't play them (I might break a nail) and I don't like beer, but I'll watch a game and yell in all the right places.

2. I am such the foodie. Even though I am a pescetarian, I still eat well. I like to try new things, new places, new restaurants. I enjoy cooking (not as much as I use to) and I have a variety of cookbooks that are marked up. I am so snobby when it comes to food that I often turn my nose up at "common" food. I just have a rich palette (minus most meats).

1. And, I love myself. Not everyone can say that. Many people are so unhappy with portions of their lives that they aren't happy with most of it. Yes, there are things I'm unhappy with but overall, I'm pretty, freakin' fantastic! I love me and if others don't love me, their loss. If they don't love themselves as much as I love me, they need to sit down and figure out why. It's important to love yourself!

So what 10 things do you absolutely love about yourself? I know that it's not going to take long to think of 10 -- you all are fantastic!

Self Care Revisited

Borrowed, with love, from Instagram

Hey there!

I can’t find my ice cream scoop.

I know it’s not major but to the kiddo it is super major.

I’ve been without internet for 7 days and have been fighting with one of the only service providers in the area to get my service correct.

I’m not happy cause that means I don’t get to talk to you good people every day.

If you are like me you plan and then over plan for things (like a move) and sometimes things don’t fall into place. Sometimes things go so far out of your control you are standing there just begging for mercy.

And, you don’t know what to do.

About a month ago I began my morning quiet time. Every morning, without fail, I wake up (go potty and then brush my teeth, cause stinky breath ain’t gonna cut it) and read from an inspirational book for 15 or so minutes. Right now I’m reading from Joyce Meyer’s, Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions. It’s just the book I chose, I’m not telling anyone else that they have to read it.

What I am saying is that without my morning quiet time, I probably would have had a melt down by now. Moving across town is quite an ordeal! Combine that with a kid that is graduating from high school and figuring out what she should do next in life. Man! All of that could put you in the hospital if you let it!

But I haven’t let it.

Instead, I chose to have quiet time each day. I chose to sit down and breathe and read and think about what I’ve read. I don’t look at social media first. I don’t unpack a box first. I don’t do anything until I’ve gotten my mind right.

I’ve talked about my time that I spent with Oprah (ok, me and several thousand others during the Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend) and I’ve been taking what I learned in chunks and applying it to my life. I’ve changed my blog to more of a lifestyle type blog instead of just makeup. I’ve changed the way I look at dating (that’s another post for another day people). I’ve changed the way I treat myself and providing “self care”. I’ve change the way I handle friends and family.

And, I still have a lot of work to do.

But this was my latest step. I’ve added my quiet time/medication time/alone time with God – whatever you want to call it. I’ve added “me time” to morning. The people around me are probably thankful. I cuss a lot less, I might fuss a tiny bit less. I certainly stress less.

It’s almost the midpoint of this year. Are you taking deep, cleansing breaths each morning? Are you doing things for yourself? You should. Self care is always important.