PLANNERS!

They are all the craze these days, not only for daily/monthly/yearly planning but also for recording memories as well.

And I've been pulled (quite willingly) into the colourful world of the planner -- but I'm not ashamed to admit...
I'm a Planner Girl ;-D

These days there are many options when it comes to the planner! The biggest hurdle many face first and foremost, is CHOOSING which one is best for them to use!
I thought that I would share what I use and how it works for me.
Additionally, I will also share some links to some other planner options, just to showcase some different choices.

This year I have been using the Heidi Swapp large with gold dots Memory Planner.



I really do enjoy the design and layout of this planner.
Each month starts with a page that I call the 'jot down' area. It's a place that I write my monthly 'hope-to-do' list, inspirational quotes, doodling and other decorative touches.




This is followed by a double page calender of the month.
I use this space to pop in special dates, events, appointments etc. 
...and I like to tizzy the page up as much as I can while I'm at it!



The rest of each month is pages that are a week to a double page spread.
Each day has enough space to go into more detail about your day, add a photo, a drawing - anything that documents your day. Each month has a sleeve of pocket pages in either 2x2 or 3x3 inch sizes to add in any extra photos or special memorabilia.
I love that this space makes it more than a planner...it makes it a memory keeper too.

 TOOLS

Heidi Swapp brought out a hole punch specifically designed for her memory planners, so I purchased one of them. And I'm glad I did, it makes adding things in so much quicker and easier without having to measure and pencil in punch mark spots and punch holes individually, blah blah blah...this works wonders.

There are many nifty Heidi Swapp accessories that complement her planner perfectly.
My top picks were the transparent date stickers, washi tape booklet, small glitter alpha stickers, and the 3x3inch and 2x2inch cards for the pocket pages included - although I also use them on my pages as well.

Other companies have picked up on the planner trend and now have quite a variety of products available that can be used in your planners.
I use a variety of items from Studio Calico, Kellie Stamps, Ali Edwards, A Beautiful Mess (Messy Box kits), and a few others along with the Heidi Swapp products...
and I LOVE how wonderfully it all works together!



So that's what I have been using this year.
And I've been really digging it. I love the detail that I can add into every day - kind of like my own personal journal as well as my daily planner.
I'm hooked!

Of course, there are many other different planners out there available to choose from.
And, as promised, I'll make a short list...
 my top 5 picks that have piqued my interest - so here goes...

1. The Erin Condren Life Planner - I like the fully customisable options and the concept of the focused goal setting area. And it's got a lovely clean design and easy flow to the look and layout of the pages.

2. GET TO WORK BOOK - created by the queen of goal setting, Elise Blaha Cripe. What better way to explain than the creator...
 "GET TO WORK BOOK® is a daily planner + goal setting workbook designed to help you make progress on your big goals by taking things one day at a time. While (sadly) it can't do your work for you, every inch of it was thoughtfully designed to help you get to work."

3. KIKKI-K planners - in a variety of cover designs and sizes.. and many pretty accessories to choose from that complement the planners - it's not hard to go the Kikki-K way :-)

4. DAY DESIGNER by Whitney English - daily schedules, to-do lists, goals...a planner that enables you to have a well designed life!

5. BULLET JOURNAL - I actually really enjoy this concept. At first, it seems quite involved and mind boggling but in essence is actually quite a simplistic and well structured approach to planning your everyday life. This one would definitely be gold for the list lover (especially if you LOVE bullet points!)
Be sure to watch the video!

I am forfeiting today's prompt in the Blogtember Challenge today as I have not yet mastered the ability to record a VLOG.
It's something, I am wanting to learn - but there is this thing called T.I.M.E that everyone seems to not have enough of...and that's the case for me. 
It's on the cards though.

INSTEAD -- I am going to share a little somethin' somethin' from today.
And ask you your opinion on somethin' a rather too.

Firstly...a little story for ya.


This is my 'baby'...little K.
She was harping me for a snack so I caved and gave her a handful of Fruit Loops. She'd never had them before and so she kept asking me what flavour each colour would be.
We had raspberry, strawberry, orange...then we got to this one she is posing with in the picture --

"Is this one grass?"

Bahahahahahahaha!
It's a legitimate queston ;-)

_____________________________________________________

Secondly, I have a been planning a new look for my girls' bedroom.
New beds, new doona, new pillows, their own bedside table each, and few other little niceties to make it special.
I have the new quilt covers purchased and stored away for the revamp.
I have been researching beds and have managed to narrow the selection down to these two...

The top one is the Annabelle bed frame from Adairs. I do love the look of this one...simple yet stylish.

The bottom one, however, also holds some appeal as it provides some extra storage options. It is the Daisy bed frame from Bedshed. The toys can go on the shelves, instead of piled all over them and their beds as they sleep! The part below the square shelves also opens up for added storage space for things like an extra blankie, cushions or what-have-you.

I took it to Instagram and the majority preferred the top one.
My girls actually both picked the bottom one.
I think it will come down to what my husband thinks -- BUT I will ask YOU.
Which one would you pick??
I'd love to hear from you so comment away :-)

Hi there!

Ahhhhhh - a fresh new month.

As you would most likely be aware - I have just completed THIS challenge of blogging everyday in May and I aiming to continue on in blogging more regularly. That's why I thought this challenge would be great to do - to see how I go in trying to blog everyday. I have found that I have gotten into a bit of a groove so would like to continue this way.

I have come across a few new blogs through the challenge too which is great. In browsing the links on one of the other prompts the other day I came across one of the bloggers who made a list for herself to continue blogging in June. I have printed this list off and will use some of these prompts throughout the month when I feel I need some inspiration. Otherwise I will post however I feel led :-)

But for today I will use the prompt on this new list and write What I am looking forward to this month...

1. Blogging more of course ;-)

2.Living and Documenting life - starting some very meaningful projects to me

3. Running some special events through my blog here (so stay tuned folks!)

4. Celebrating this girls third birthday on the 15th :-)

5. More ambo training

6. Receiving happy mail

7. Doing some crochet projects

8. Organising my house better (couple of rooms need some work still!!)

9. Creating for Jot Magazine and Polka Dot Creative.

10. Enjoying life. Being happy.

What are you looking forward to this month?

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

Anna

Hi there All!

 

Yes, it seems I have been on abit of a blogging break.

There is a reason for it but I'm not going to go into all that today.

Not sure I am ready to yet anyway as I am still kind of going the through 'the phase' and not really sure how to put it into words just yet.

Anyway, it's been hard to find time or the energy to sit down at my computer and put together a blog post. Too much brainpower required for me at this point in time. But I'm getting there.

 

I was browsing through my photos and came across some piccies of something that hubby - err, I mean, Mr Awesome! - built over Easter and I wanted to share with you.

 

Since bringing all the 'stuff' from our container back over to here from Tassie, Mr Awesome has had his tools PLUS acquiring some of his Pop's tools - so he was able to start putting some of his ideas into action. Happy place right there!!

 

He had been wanting to make a seat for our porch.

So with some Jarrah timber posts and an old pallet...he created this --

 

 

It still needs a sand and an oil. We had hubby's parents here over Easter so we were keen to use it for eating outside - in style! ;-)

 

 

Megsy likes it.

And no bench is complete without a bit of crochet goodness!

 

 

A job well done I say Mr Awesome!

 

 

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

 

Anna





 

With Sprinkles of Sunshine... 

Anna



This was a little bit more time consuming but a whole lot quicker with the help of my lovely sister. I probably would have taken triple the time to do it if I was on my own with the kids underfoot. My sister kept me focused and my Mum and Dad took the kids outside and entertained them out there while we were inside getting the job done.

And woah...

I am so happy with the outcome!

 

The Before Shot...

 

Photo pretty much screams "I need to be sorted!"

And we did!

 

The Progress Shots...

 

 We pulled everything out and piled it onto the benches! We wiped out the pantry, washed up containers, found homes for all contents of packets into a container, labelled containers appropriately,

We found a box that we put opened packets or things close to use by date that needed to be used up! That way we could plan a few meals or do some baking based around these ingredients. That way there was NO WASTE! (Well there were a few things that had to be discarded).

THEN...

Arranged it all back into the pantry!

 

The After Shots...

 

 The way my sister decided to arrange the pantry was pure genius and quite simple really - I probably would have thought of it eventually but in amongst all the sorting and mess, my brain was just scrambled. I just love it though and am thankful she was there to just do it - I always hesitate which always puts me behind schedule and drags things on!

 I worked out what I wanted on each shelf and she arranged the containers at the front of the shelf and all the packets for re-stocking the containers behind the respective containers. Awesome! She is my organising guru :-)

The top shelf of the cupboard beside the pantry is also used for food storage and was also sorted and rearranged! Everything has its designated place now and is easy to find - no more delving my hand into the general vicinity of where I was pretty sure I put something to find what I was looking for, it is all now on hand straight away!

 

 Ahhhhhhh!

Total Bliss :-)

 

With Sprinkles of Sunshine...

 

Anna