Current Planner Favorites

It's been a bit since I've posted a planner blog post. Most of my planner updates have lived exclusively on my YouTube channel and I've honestly have kind of forgotten to dedicate a blog post to this hobby of mine! I thought I'd share a quick update of a few of my current planner favorites with you all and give you a quick peak into what my current planning set up is like!

Current Favorite...

...Planner (Filofax Original in Flouro Pink)

I bought myself the Flouro Pink Original for Christmas and I finally moved into it in March. I've been LOVING it ever since I moved it. I don't know - there's definitely something about the Original that is just so simple and perfect for what I need. There aren't too many pockets tempting me to overload it with decorations, the solid color and smooth cover has a kind of no-muss-no-fuss feel to it which is so needed in my crazy life, and it is made so well. I'm a big fan and I don't see me moving out any time soon.

...Planner Size (A5)

I'm still very much an A5 girl. I really wish I was partial to another size because A5s do get a bit cumbersome to carry around, but everything else feels so cramped. I have this beautiful black Kate Spade Wellesley that I'm dying to use but I don't want to make it into my everyday planner because I know it will just be too small. A5s give me a enough room to write, make spreads that are easy to glance down at while at my work desk, and to carry around documents (letters, bills, forms, etc) as needed. The personal size doesn't allow that. Perhaps someday I'll move back into a smaller size but for now I'm still loving the A5 size!

...Pen (Black Pilot G2 .5)

I've gotten a bit more simple with the pen I tend to reach for when I'm planning. While I'm still color coding with .7s, the Pilot G2 .5s in black are what I'm using to create layouts, make changes, and to take notes throughout my planner. I'm loving keeping things a bit more simple these days!

...Paper (Dot Grid)

Dot grid paper is HUGE in the Bullet Journal community and I'm a recent big fan of it. I have always loved grid paper, but the subtlety of the dots make line creation much easier and allows you to create a much more simple and clean look to your layouts! I've found this website which allows you to create your own dot grid paper (and other paper formats!) and print it for free. Definitely check it out if you're planning on a budget like me!

...Planning Style (Bullet Journaling/DIY)



I love the freedom that both a binder/ring bound planning system and the bullet journal system gives your planning style, so I decided to combine them! This style of planning has been fantastic for me because I can literally change EVERYTHING at any moment. Granted, you do have to be fairly confident with your artistic abilities and I wouldn't recommend this approach to anyone who might consider themselves an absolute perfectionist who can't look past mistakes because - trust me - you will make mistakes. However if you think this is something you'd be interested in trying out, see my planner update video above and check out my other plan with me videos on my YouTube channel to see my updates each month.
...Layout (Monthly)

While I can never *solely* use a monthly spread, monthlies are pages I just can't plan without. They're what allow me to future plan and look back and see what I have accomplished. I love planning bigger projects out on a monthly spread as it keeps me motivated throughout the entire month, and as the month comes to a close I can feel good about what items I've checked off the list. I don't think I could plan without a full month spread!

...Thing to Track

I've actually been adopting the habit tracker (something typically found in the bullet journal community) lately! It's fun to sit down and see how much time I'm taking to do the things I actually WANT to do. If I'm not doing yoga or making art all that often (both things I want to make time for in my life!), it will show me on the habit tracker and I'll make an effort to make time for it. It's a really cool way to keep yourself accountable for not only the things you *have* to do, but also the things you *want* to do as well.

What are your current planner favorites?

Organize My Life | Planner Unicorns

Hello planner and non-planner people alike! In today's edition of Organize My Life, I'm going to talk all about the planners that I am currently chasing after to add to my collection. Some people may think that having more than one planner at a time is a little out of control, but as I transitioned into becoming more of a ring-bound planner girl, my eyes were opened up to the hobby of not only planning itself, but actually collecting planners and changing them out throughout the year. I was also quickly introduced to the concept of "unicorns" or planners that are either discontinued or extremely hard to find through any kind of typical shop and usually are purchased from other planner collectors.

I never really felt that I wanted to add multiple planners to my collection until very recently and I have found that I'm lusting after quite a few different models and even have a few unicorns of my own that have sadly been discontinued from their carriers. *le sigh* I decided to throw them into a list to share with you all... and to possibly drop some holiday gift hints to any Santas that might be out there... ;) Hope you enjoy the list (and if you have any idea where I can find my unicorns that would be super awesome!).

Discontinued Planners - My Unicorns

A5 Domino Ultra Violet - Filofax

(Image and full review found on Philofaxy)

I really love the original Domino from Filofax and I've seen it in several different colors in the past, but once I discovered there was once a violet version of this model, it shot to the very top for my ISO (in search of) list! The image above is from a review on the blog Philophaxy that was published in 2011, so I'm sure it's been out of circulation for a while which is sad. I don't know if this color will ever make its comeback (the original domino is still available on the US Filofax store but only in black and red) but if it does I know that I'll be snatching one up immediately!

Large Time Planner in Mint & Gold - Kikki.K

(Source)

This Kikki.K planner was extremely popular when I was first getting into the planning world and had my focus turned onto Erin Condren planners, but now that I've fallen in love with ring-bound systems I'm kicking myself for not taking advantage of the opportunity to have this beauty in my possession! I know that Dokibook has an imitation version of this model, but of course it's not nearly as well-made as a Kikki.K and I usually have a real problem with companies that totally rip off others (they even currently stock an imitation of my current planner, the Filofax Pear Saffiano! :| ). I not only love this planner because of how gorgeous it is, but I've always been a fan of the inside-flap storage of Kikki.K planners - especially this one!

Currently Out of Stock

A5 Original in Flouro Pink - Filofax ($111.00)

(Source)

The color of the Flouro Pink Filofax Original is absolutely stunning. I don't really spring for pink too often, but when it's this gorgeous bubblegum neon pink I'm all about it. I first saw this planner in the personal size on a Miss Trenchcoat video when I was first getting into binder systems and immediately fell in love with the color. The Filofax Originals are so well made and this colors so beautiful that I would LOVE to add it to my planner collection.

A5 Color Crush in Teal Stripe - Websters Pages ($54.99)

(Source)

When these planners first released I was SO EXCITED, but they only released in the personal size at first. I really wanted the teal and white striped planner, but at that point I had already realized that the personal size is too small for me. A few months later they released a limited A5 line and, much to my happiness, included the teal and white striped design! From what I've read and what I've seen in YouTube videos, these planners aren't as great of quality that you'd get in a Filofax or a Kikki.K, and are a bit thinner and taller than the typical A5 planner, but I would still love to give this brand a try (and get my hands on these beautiful nautical stripes!).

Currently in Stock - Planner Wishlist

Pocket Patent in Lemon - Filofax ($43.00)

(Source)

I would normally never ever ever go for a pocket size planner, but I've been toying with the idea of using one as a wallet/on-the-go calendar. Though I love my A5, it does take up quite a bit of room in my purse, which I'm fine with for daily work life, but not so much for running errands and the like. When perusing the pocket sizes on the Filofax website, I came across the Patent pockets and they are so adorable - especially this color! I would love this addition to my collection.

Personal Malden in Ochre - Filofax ($110.00) 

(Source)

Maldens are so beautiful and I'm especially a fan of the Ochre color. However, I think that the A5 Malden doesn't look as great as the personal size, so if I were to take the plunge and pay for this beautiful leather planner, I think I'd stick with the personal. I think the interior of this planner is perfect (Zip pouch? Yes please!) and the brown leather is such a classic look that you could use it for years and years without it ever going out of style. It has such a collegiate look to it, which is perfect since I'll be spending most of my time on a college campus for the rest of my life! #HESAlife

A5 Original in Dark Aqua - Filofax ($111.00)

(Source)

A5 Original Patent in Purple - Filofax ($111.00) 

(Source)

I'm going to echo a lot of what I said about the Filofax Originals that was mentioned in the Flouro Pink description toward the beginning of this post. These have such a classic look to them and I would love to build up a collection of these in tons of beautiful colors, including the above Dark Aqua and Patent Purple!

Large Time Planner in Ice Blue - Kikki.K ($79.95)

(Source)

I've always loved how Kikki.Ks have been made but I've never fallen in love with any one planner (aside from the mint & gold above!) until they released this beautiful ice blue number! I think this color is perfect for winter/spring and the interior (as it always is with Kikki.K) is incredible (pockets, pockets, pockets!). Kikki.Ks are always so well-made and I think that this would be a beautiful addition to my collection!

What are your unicorns?

What's on your planner wishlist?

Organize My Life | What's In My Planner Supply Box?

Throughout my time of being part of the online planner community, I've come to realize that every planner person has one of these:

...or at least some variation of one. This is what I like to call my planner supply box - the place where I store all the goodies and accessories that I've picked up to really deck out my planner, journals, and notebooks. If you've learned anything from any of my planner flip-throughs, you know that I'm not a huge planner decorator. I use my planners for functionality and with my busy lifestyle it's always on the go with me, leaving little time to sit down and decorate with stickers and washi (and honestly, I prefer the extra white space to scribble on my pages anyhow). BUT, from time to time I do like to get creative with additional inserts in my planner, or perhaps even my journals! 

Having a one-stop shop for all things that I could potentially utilize to really give my planner some pop has been wonderful, and since I love seeing what other planner people keep in their arsenal, I thought it'd be fun to show off my own! To start, here's what's in the box itself:

Washi: I think washi tape is so much fun and I love the idea of making pages pretty with all of it, but the act of actually decorating with washi makes me nervous because I'm terrible at it. I do have a small collection (all of my rolls are shown above) that I like to play around with when decorating other pages of my planner or to decorate in other notebooks, though. Maybe one day I'll get better!

Stamps: I think stamping is so much fun! The thing I love most about stamps is how they can have imperfections and still look absolutely stunning on a page. AND you can write over stamping very easily without it ruining the look. I would love to grow my stamp collection in the future.

Scrapbook paper: These are only a few of the scrapbook paper packs I have - the other ones were too big to fit in the box. I love utilizing scrapbook paper to create new dividers and tabs for my Filofax to really give it some personality.

Notepad: This came in a planner swap I did in the spring. I haven't really used it for anything as of yet.

Paperclips: Just a few here and there. I have a much larger supply at work - even dog shaped paperclips! I show off one in my coordinating video below. :)

Elastic string & hole punching tool: These were used when I made my traveler's notebook in the spring. (I still need to do a DIY for that project and show you how to make one - it's super easy!)

Sticker folder: I got this accordion folder from Target and it's AWESOME to keep all my stickers organized. I have so many stickers that I've amassed over the years of craft projects and scrapbooking in addition to my planner hobby, so having one compact space for all of them has been wonderful.

Packing Tape: I use this mainly for when I'm making custom dividers. I'll put packing tape on the tabs so when they get flipped back and forth the wear on the paper will be much less.

Notebook: This came in a planner swap. I think it might turn into a bullet journal once my current bullet journal is filled up.

Filofax A5 Dividers: These are the dividers that came with my Saffiano, but they were a little too bland for me to just keep in my planner. I keep them to use as templates for any future dividers or inserts I might make, 

Personal inserts folder: I could never fit all of my inserts into my Personal Filofax, so I keep the unused inserts in this accordion folder. They fit perfectly and the folder itself protects the pages very well.

Filofax Personal Cover Story: When I moved out of my Cover Story, I was also in the middle of moving out of my apartment. The Personal size fits wonderfully into the box, though now I feel like I should display it on a shelf - it's just so cute! I think once my planner collection starts to grow, I'll put my planners on display.

SmashBook folders: I picked these up at Michaels a couple of years ago, thinking I was going to get into the SmashBook craze (I didn't). I haven't found a use for them as of yet, but I hang onto them because they're such an interesting craft supply that I have a feeling I'll want to use it in something someday.

Post-it notes and page flags: My favorite planning supply is definitely Post-its. Its awesome to have a way to keep something in your planner with the option to move it if needed. I have quite a collection at my desk at work, but sometimes I'll rotate them out from the supply I have in the box.

My pencil cases are where I keep the supplies that I use every day in my planner. They come around with me everywhere my planner goes. The smaller case you see above fits nicely right in the bigger case, but each case holds different items.

The bigger case holds general supplies that I might need now and again and I like to have on hand at all times, but don't necessarily get used every day. I'll keep white out tape, highlighters, a couple of pens, Sharpies, and a bullet journal that I use as a brain dump. Sometimes I might throw in a stack of Post-its, and I also usually keep a month-at-a-glance pocket calendar in here that I use solely for tracking work events if I need to take it out of the office.

The smaller case is where I keep all the pens/pencils I use every single day. My favorite pens are the Pilot G2 pens and I use them everyday in my Filofax. Because I color code, I have LOTS of different color options. I also keep a ballpoint pen and a handful of mechanical pencils that are used for my month-at-a-glance work calendar.

My planning style is pretty straight forward and to the point, so I may not have as glamorous of a planner supply box as someone else might have, but I really like the collection I've amassed so far! If you have a planner supply box/bag/shelf/etc. please share it with me! I'd love to see what you use.

Make sure you check out my coordinating blog post below to see more of my planner supply arsenal, as well as what supplies I keep in my planner itself!
 

Organize My Life: Planner Update! A5 Filofax Saffiano in Pear

I've been promising this post over and over again and now it's finally here - an introduction to my A5 Filofax Saffiano in Pear! I was eyeing this beauty for a couple months in the spring, but I felt badly buying a new Filofax when I had just purchased one in the fall. In May, however, when I clicked onto the US Filofax site, I saw that it was sold out. Because Filofax retires its models, I knew I had to make the purchase before it was gone from every store out there. I found my Saffiano on Amazon and snagged it right away. (Plus, it was May, and I could justify the purchase as a birthday/graduation gift to myself! :P) I almost immediate moved into the Saffiano because I had been dying for an A5 ever since I realized how small a Personal size really is. I've been loving the upgrade ever since!

With the end of graduate school and the start of my new job, I feel like I've already developed a pretty good system for how I like to organize my Saffiano. Click "read more" for closeups and details of this awesome planner, and for a walkthrough video!

Organize My Life: Home Office Set Up

{Organize My Life is a multi-post series all about (you guessed it) organization! Make sure you check out the other posts listed at the end of each entry (as most of these posts will reference one another), as well as the coinciding video!} 

When I was moved into my apartment a year and a half ago, I was lucky enough to have a spare room to play with. With graduate school looming and in need of a work space, I turned this spare room into a home office! It has taken me a while to find a system that works for me in the space that I had been given (it's a pretty small room and can't really be used for a lot), but I finally think I have a pretty good set up that's conducive to my working style. I love when other bloggers show of their work spaces, so I thought I'd show you mine!

Organize My Life: Switching to Filofax

{Organize My Life is a multi-post series all about (you guessed it) organization! Make sure you check out the other posts listed at the end of each entry (as most of these posts will reference one another), as well as the coinciding video!}

If you follow me on Instagram, you might know that I have recently made the switch from my beloved Erin Condren Life Planner to a Personal Filofax Cover Story in the Floral Burst Design. That means it's time I give you guys and inside look of how I've set it up and why I made the switch!

Organize My Life: Email & Electronic Calendars

{Organize My Life is a multi-post series all about (you guessed it) organization! Make sure you check out the other posts listed at the end of each entry (as most of these posts will reference one another), as well as the coinciding video*!}

By now you all are probably well aware that I'm a huge fan of the paper agenda, but that doesn't mean that I'm not tech savvy when it comes to tracking all of my to-do's! Juggling 3 jobs, school, and a personal life isn't easy, but we're a decade and a half into the 21st century and we have plenty of devices and programs that make staying on top of everything so much easier. I own a smart phone, tablet, and am constantly on the computer for work and school, so I definitely take advantage of everything that's in front of me in order to keep my ducks in a row. Keep reading for a look at how I stay organized electronically!

Organize My Life: What I Take in My Bag

{Organize My Life is a multi-post series all about (you guessed it) organization! Make sure you check out the other posts listed at the end of each entry (as most of these posts will reference one another), as well as the coinciding video!}

I am *constantly* on the go. There is very rarely a day where I'm not in my car. Whether it be going to work, visiting a loved one, or running errands, I'm driving all the time. Of course, because I'm on the go, I need to bring things with me. I have a very specific combination of items that I take along with me, depending on the occasion, and I've gotten very used to knowing what I need and in what bag to get me through the day. For today's edition of Organize My Life, I thought I'd take you through some of my bags to show you what I take along with me, as well as give you some bag organization tips!

Organize My Life: Erin Condren Life Planner 6 Month Update!

{Organize My Life is a multi-post series all about (you guessed it) organization! Make sure you check out the other posts listed at the end of each entry (as most of these posts will reference one another), as well as the coinciding video!}

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first edition of the Organize My Life series here on FivEleveNinety! I'll be sharing how I stay organized in my daily life over the next few months in hopes that those who may have a similar lifestyle as me may be able to pick up some tips & tricks that may be useful to them. The first topic that I'm going to tackle is one that I'm very much an advocate of - using a daily planner. I use both an electronic and portable paper calendar in order to really keep my ducks in a row, but today I'm going to get more into detail about how I organize my paper planner - the 2013-2014 Erin Condren Life Planner!

Last fall, I purchased my very first Erin Condren Life Planner and posted a little review video, which not only included the ins and outs of the 2013-2014 edition, but also included how I had been using my 2013 planner. I thought that now that I've settled into my Life Planner and have been using it for half a year, I'd show you the ways that I've been using it so far and how it's held up thus far!

I LOVE Planners!

My 2014 Erin Condren Life Planner finally arrived last week and I am OVER THE MOON in love with it! I thought that this called for a video review of the planner itself so I could show you all why I'm so excited about it, so I shot one and put it up on the interwebs just for you guys.

I also wanted to show in this video how I've been using my current planner and share how I've been organizing my life. I know that I've picked up a bunch of tips from watching similar videos, and figured you might get some organizational ideas that you like from my planner! Yay organization!

I know this video is pretty long, so here's a little cheat sheet if you don't feel like watching the whole thing:

1:26 - I show you my current 2013 planner and how I've been using it over the past year.

6:37 - The unboxing of the Erin Condren Life Planner!

9:50 - I take you through the Life Planner itself and you some ways I've been using it so far.

24:08 - A quick wrap-up review of the planner and the whole ordering experience with the Erin Condren company!

Hope you all enjoy the video! :)

October Goals

1. Finish the Hartford Marathon - I've been training for this race for months and I would be over the moon to finally reach my goal of finishing this race!

2. Order a new 2014 agenda - It's funny to think we're coming into the end of the year, isn't it? That means it's time to order a new agenda for 2014! I've had my eyes on the Erin Condren life planners for quite some time now, and I can't wait to finally get my hands on one!

3. Organize Home Office - Since we moved in to our new place, there's been a constant pile of things in the corner of my office. I know I want to keep everything, I just need a means of organizing it. Im hoping to get a nice system of bins and shelves going! Time to look for some office inspiration...

4. Finish Student Development Presentation - In one of my courses we have two major assignments - a presentation (one person a week will present) and a paper on a seperate topic. Well, I'm the lucky one who drew the presentation that's on the same day our paper is due. Oy. They're not due until November 25, but I'd love to get the presentation out of the way so I can focus on the paper. #gradschoolproblems

5. Save, save, save - The holidays, and a few loved ones' birthdays are coming up, so I need to start saving for gifts!

6. Give Brett a Great Birthday! - One of those birthdays belongs to Mr. Brett! His birthday (the big 2-5!) is at the end of this month and I want to make sure it's as memorable as the one he gave me. I have so many ideas and I can't wait to share them with you (after his birthday, of course!).

What are your goals for the month?

Friday Five {#5}

Friday Five

Five things that mattered to me this week!

{one}

I started my assistantship this week! I've been loving it. After years of working retail, food services, and unpaid internships, I'm finally doing something I enjoy and getting paid for it! I'm only starting a few projects right now, but next week I'll be working with some of the executive members of the Program Committee (PC) and starting to plan Homecoming! (Which my boss wants me to take a lead on supervising - ahhh!) It's all very exciting, and I'm sure you'll all be hearing about it constantly on this little blog of mine.

{two}

And of course, one of my favorite non-working aspects of the new job is I get to dress up! 

Hooray for no more lame uniforms and restrictive dress codes!

I definitely need to go shopping for more work clothes. I only really have 3 or 4 pairs of nice pants that I would wear to my retail job with my uniform, and everything else in my closet is your regular jeans-and-t-shirt situation. Time to update the wardrobe! :D

{three}

This comic had me DYING laughing earlier this week. If you enjoy running and racing, definitely check it out for a good laugh! Here's a little preview:

This is SO me... Oops!

{four}

Speaking of running, it's been a rough week in marathon training land. My left calf muscle has been in a stubborn ball since Monday that is pretty painful to run on, and in my attempt to run a measly 4 miles Wednesday, I was greeted with nausea throughout the entire run. I'm assuming all this is because of my diet (again, for an idea of how I eat, see comic above*) and I'm definitely paying for it. Maybe it's time to change things up?

(P.S. Did I mention I've been vlogging my marathon training? Because I've been vlogging my marathon training.)

{five}

I don't know what it is, but I've been addicted to planner videos on YouTube. Yes, you read that right. There are videos on YouTube about planners. Like the paper ones you keep your calendar in. And there's thousands of these videos too. They're not particularly entertaining, and the majority of people would probably think they're duller than watching the grass grow, but I find them so interesting. The inner organization freak just loves watching how other people organize their lives.

[source]

Yes, this is how I spend my free time. 

Yes, I am fully aware that I need to find a better hobby.

Hope you all have a great weekend! :)

*I'm exaggerating. I do eat pretty healthy (like a regular person healthy, not a health guru healthy!) on a regular basis, but I won't lie and tell you I don't use my running as excuse to gorge myself on junk from time to time!

Friday Five {#2}

Friday Five

Five things that mattered to me this week!

1. Last night I organized a movie night social for the ResLife department complete with snacks, a big screen, and stadium seating. We watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower and (as it always goes) the book was much better. Not to say that it was a bad movie, it was actually pretty decent. But they left out some huge plot points that were pretty important to the story. And seeing Emma Watson attempt an American accent was pretty painful. I'd say stick with the book if you want to really enjoy the story!

2. Being the organization freak that I am, I've been drooling over the Erin Condren Life Planners! My friend Joanne has one and I fell in love with it when she showed it to me a few months ago, and after totally forgetting the name of the company, I finally tracked them down. I already have a 2013 planner, but come the new year, I'm totally investing in one of these beauties. Fellow organization freaks, watch this video and drool with me:

3. It's Boston Marathon weekend! If you live in Massachusetts or went to a Boston-area college, you know that this is always an exciting weekend. Lasell was right on the heart of the marathon route, so every Marathon Monday the whole campus would head down to the race and cheer on the runners all day long. It was one of those days where the student body was all together and happy, which really made it the best day of the whole year. I'm planning on going to Lasell on Monday to celebrate with my friends!
4. Speaking of being an organization freak, I've caught the spring cleaning bug. Last night I spent two hours cleaning out junk drawers and organizing the apartment a little bit better. It feels so good to go through everything and throw a bunch of stuff away! It definitely energizes me and inspires me to be more creative, now that I have more space to do so.
5. Rob showed me an awesome Game of Thrones Facebook game called Game of Thrones: Ascent and I'm officially addicted. It's a choose-your-own-adventure-style game that lets you create your own house, align with one of the great houses, go on quests, and lots of other cool things that fans of the show would really enjoy. If you're a Game of Thrones fan or if you're looking for a new game to play online, I highly suggest you try this game out!
Have a great weekend, everyone!