My Filofax setup has evolved

Sometimes I need a little change.  Previously I've been using my Filofax Pocket Aston in Orchid.  However, I wasn't taking my filofax with me or even looking at my Filofax.  One of the posts I read on Philofaxy recently reminded me I have a Pocket Purple Pennybridge at home.  I had originally purchased this Filofax for travelling.

I've also been using a separate purse but couldn't find one which wasn't too big or too small (I'm beginning to sound like Goldilocks!)  So here are some pretty pictures.  I've literally transferred most of the contents from my Aston into the Pennybridge.  My only gripe is that I can't fit my phone into the back pocket but otherwise; I'm enjoying the change.

Here are so photos of the Pennybridge in action:-

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

Don’t forget the Advent competition …

Happening on my Facebook and Twitter pages (First and second links as below).  So I apologise, this is a brief blog post as I’m busy finalising the Advent competition (I'm also a little nervous to be honest, I've never done anything like this before). 

I’m also dropping a large hint to Santa "I’d like a Leonie Dawson 2015 Workbook please” as last year’s had such a great impact, not just on my business but in my personal life too.  If you would like to ask Santa for a great goal seeking workbook for 2015, see the third link below for more details.

Oh and I'll be busy organising in my Filofax.  If you'd like to give someone the gift of an organised life, why not buy them a Filofax and send them a link to Philofaxy as per the fourth link below.

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

What's in my bag

I'm intrigued by these posts on other blogs so here is my offering:-

From top left, in rows (ish!)

• Black leather Clarks Trade Fair handbag.  I love this bag; there are lots of compartments, it's fits an A5 folder/Filofax and can be worn across the body or over the shoulder.
• A Red Dog handbag organiser with Sharpie attached.
• Charlie Red
• USB drive, compact USB to IPhone charger and lightening adaptor
• Earphones in clam-shell style pink case
• Metal case containing business cards
• Sweeteners
• Neal's Yard Remedies To Roll Energy - for when I can feel my energy levels dropping
• My Filofax (Cuban brown in pocket with sentimental old classic Paper Mate retractable ballpoint)
• Sunglasses in case
• A purple Platinum Double R3 Action Multipen
• A selection of crystals
• Hair bobble & grip
• Tartan sewing kit
• Mint tin containing a tampon
• Stain remover wipe
• Travel wipes
• Micro makeup kit & mascara
• Not shown but carried pretty much everywhere is my Altoids EDC tin (as detailed here)

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.  Or rather than comment, link back to your blog showing your handbag contents or EDC contents.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

How to make your dreams come true

To Do’s, Tasks and Projects

How do you compartmentalise the above items?  I’m a list maker (whether it is via electronic means or paper or both).  For me; 

Tasks are those daily items that ensure everyday life ticks along without issue.  Based loosely on Fly Lady tasks and personal tasks. 

To Do’s are a list of items I’d like to do within the next few days (ie have a short term completion date). 

Projects are longer term (possibly requiring multiple steps or stages)

How do I deal with these lists:-

Tasks are mentally stored (on a good day LOL!), are also recurring reminders on my IPhone and written within my Filofax.  Yes there is duplication sometimes but I’d rather have two copies than no copies.  Tasks are printed onto A6 or Filofax Pocket size sheets of paper and laminated.

To do’s are dealt with as Tasks.  In my Filofax they are written on the dashboard to the side of the Week on 2 pages view.  I just draw a line through any completed tasks and when I find the page is scrappy, I re-write. 

Projects are kept solely on my IPhone within the Trello app. 

How do you categorise your To Do’s, Tasks and Projects and where do you store them? 

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

How to make your dreams come true

A Filofax personal journal

For this week’s blog I’m going back to Filofax related matter.  I’ve been journaling for 18 months and it’s been on just basic A5 notepads.  I wanted to make my journaling experience more of a tactile, luxurious, event so decided to look into inserts and Filofaxes.

Whilst browsing Ebay (as you do!) I came across a Personal Portland as a bargain.  I wanted to try a vintage Filofax so I could understand the difference to the newer versions.  So here are the pictures:-

The leather is gorgeously smooth, soft and supple.  I generally find the Personal size paper too long and thin but as you will see from the photos, I bought the Franklin Covey Her Point of View daily inserts (http://franklinplanner.fcorgp.com/store/buy/Ring-bound/Her-Point-Of-View-Ring-bound-Daily-Planner-Refill/prod370009/?skuId=60605) which are a touch wider and have beautiful hues of colour.  Although the line spacing is rather tight, I just write on every other line.

My only gripe is the right hand pen loop is just a little too narrow to keep my fountain pen.  I now keep this Filofax at my bedside so I can relax and journal just before bed.

As always, I welcome any questions or comments left below.  

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

How to make your dreams come true

This article links so many of my strategies for living a healthier life

This weeks blog article is actually linked back to another article.  Pamela from Reiki Medicine and Self Care posted a link to this article:-

6 Unexpected Ways Writing Can Transform Your Health

I love this article.  It links emotional healing (Reiki can help you with that too) whilst writing with your chosen instrument and paper (my beloved fountain pens and Filofax).  It also mentions how writing can help cancer patients and helps with gratitude and thankfulness (see my blog article on gratitude here).

So what are your thoughts?  Why not try writing down your health issues or what you are thankful for.  It doesn't have to be grammatically correct, just emotionally felt.  Here's to your good health. 

As always, thank you for reading and have a great weekend.

Heather x

Filofax on travels

I know some of you love to hear how my Filofax(es) fare in real life. This blog post shows how I use a Filofax as a travel companion.

 I use the Pennybridge in pocket size purple as my travel assistant. I use the Filofax to hold copies of my next 3 months diary, my travel itinerary, essential contact details and my travel journal. The card slots and the zip area of the purse hold my foreign currency and one debit card.

Whilst at the airport, the Pennybridge was invaluable for checking flight times, terminals etc. As you can see, as part of my carry-on luggage, the colours of the Pennybridge and my Radley handbag complement each other beautifully.

Here’s another photo of the Pennybridge enjoying mid-flight refreshments.



During the flight (even when devices have to be completely shut off) I was able to scribble notes and drawings in the spare notepaper.

At the end of every day I spent 5-10 minutes journaling on the day’s activities. When I’m feeling stressed, it’s lovely to be able to re-call those relaxing moments just by reading my journal.

Once again, the Pennybridge has proved its worth. I certainly wouldn’t like to travel without it now. As always, thanks for reading and any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

Travel tips

If you haven’t realised already, I’m one of those organised people who like to plan things in advance.  In a couple of months we are travelling abroad for a family holiday.  So I’d like to ask you some questions:-

·         What is an essential on your packing list?
I’ve started with passports, clothes, sun cream, medications, entertainment devices and of course my trusty Filofax.

·         What do you put in your beach bag?
Sun hat, book, suncream, beach towel, talc, sunglasses, toys, flip flops,

I’m going to Cuba so my Filofax is going to be even more useful.  However, some of the pre-lists I have used Dropbox so I can see the lists on both my IPhone and home PC.

Last year I printed Ray’s amazing Travel Journals (found here http://mylifeallinoneplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/print-your-own-filofax-travel-journal.html) and used my Pocket Pennybridge.  As it proved so successful, I’m hoping to do the same again this year. 

What essentials do you carry for holiday?  Please let me know in the comments below and thank you for reading.

Mini madness

I’m not sure which Philofaxy blog or comment triggered my latest Filofax acquiring session (possibly Wallet pockets http://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/wallet-pockets.html) or Lime Tree’s guest blog (http://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/a-mini-solution-guest-post-lime-tree.html) but I’ve been on a bit of a spending spree!

With the upcoming Spring season here in the Northern Hemisphere, I like to change handbags to something smaller and/or lighter.  Whilst I love my Baroque, where size matters, it’s rather chunky.  Also, most of my handbags have dark interiors.  I use a black purse and a black handbag organiser and I was losing the black Baroque.  I want to open my handbag and my mini Filofax is immediately visible.

A quick look on AdSpot on Philofaxy and I found a gorgeous vintage pink Malden.  A beautiful spring colour and lovely and soft with lots of pockets.  I’ve not taken any photos as there are plenty of mini Malden photos on the web.

However, I was also prowling Ebay and not one but two possible mini’s finished at similar times – and I won both. 

Allow me to introduce my two gorgeous purchases (along with my other mini’s).

As you can see, the Scarlett Piccadilly has no wallet/note pocket but this means it is the slimmest.  The deep red vintage Windsor oozes class and refinement but is a little stiff.  So which of those four has won my heart and a coveted place in my handbag . . .

The Scarlett Piccadilly has temporarily won however, now it is easy to swap and change my Filofax along with the weather, season, occasion or handbag. 

Which is your favourite mini?

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

Quick disclaimer; I am not a medical practitioner so therefore I’m not prescribing.  All of my blog posts are based on complementary therapies and not as a replacement for conventional medicine.  

I finally got a Baroque

Long ago when Doris wrote her wonderful Philofaxy blog post on her range of Baroque Filofaxes (click here), I must admit I suffered with planner envy. I constantly watched Ebay just so I could own a Baroque. I wanted to stroke the super, soft, embossed leather and see for myself if the Baroque’s really were as beautiful in real life. After months of waiting, bidding and a few fails along the way I finally got my wish. So (drum roll please), here are the requisite photos:-

I’m using my mini black baroque as my daily carry around Filofax. Whilst I still adore my A5 Cuban filofax (for further details see here), sometimes carrying around an A5 Filofax is just too heavy and bulky. Even when I trim the contents down to bare minimum pages, A5’s can still be a bit of a beast.

However, a mini filofax is no hardship to carry or fit into the smallest of spaces. On occasions where I don’t even carry a handbag, the mini baroque serves as a filofax/wallet too. As I print my diary pages out from Outlook, downsizing them to mini size is not difficult either. Yes, it makes the print a bit small but still readable.

Here is a quick tour; The black leather is soft and smooth. The embossing on the inside is . . . just divine – classy and understated. In the front there are several card slots where I slip a debit card if I’m using the baroque as a wallet. There is also a small zip compartment where I keep my money if using as a wallet.

I print out my Outlook calendars using the Microsoft Calendar Printing Assistant and shrink it down via pdf to 50%. Next I just have some lined paper for notes, shopping lists etc..

At the rear is the cutest, little notepad holder I have ever seen. I put my business cards in there to save on bulk.

And that’s it. Baby baroque earned its stripes when I helped host a burger stall at the village Christmas fete a few weekends ago. I didn’t want to carry a handbag but I also didn’t want to be without pen & paper. Baby baroque was able to write down drinks orders, quickly show me my appointments to arrange meet ups, hold my money and provide safety for my business cards.

As always, thank you for reading this blog and following my crazy flitting from one filofax (size and style) to another. If you have any questions or comments, please chat to me below.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook

Aston pocket Filofax review after a week of use

My new pocket Aston was waiting by the back door when I got home Friday afternoon.  My initial response was one of delight at the texture and softness of the leather.  I like the colour but wondered if I’d fit everything into such a small size.

This blog post may be a little photo heavy, so please bear with me. 

On the inside is several business card slots and a larger slot

I have shaved the contents down a little.  Initially I have some basic information pages and then behind the Notes tab, some lined paper with shopping lists.

Next is my diary in WO2P format but manually altered.  I rule off approximately ½ of the left of the page for entering (colour-coded) appointments.  On the right hand size I pencil 4 lines per day plus a tick box at the end.

 

The monthly tabs are the Filofax tab markers on approximately the first of the month.  Quick, cheap, easy and take up very little extra space.  Towards the rear of the Aston I have a list of addresses and telephone numbers, just in case.  Finally, there is a zip pocket for change in the back.  I just wish there was a slot for fitting a slim notebook in the back.

Ok, so it has only been a week so far but I’m coping with the smaller space and it’s definitely easier to carry just the one pocket Filofax with me.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook