An Obsession Begins

 I'd like to introduce everyone to my new (and first) Filofax. This is the Finsbury in Black. As much as I REALLY love blue, having seen all the colors in person, I'm actually REALLY glad I got it in black. I'm not really a fan of the way the 'graining' on the leather makes the other colors look. So, basically, I love blue to no end, but the black makes me happier in the end. Plus, most of my clothing tends to be black, so I guess I'll always match? I love this planner so much, I have barely been able to take my hands off of it. Mom ordered it for me on Friday and it arrived on Monday. SO MUCH FASTER than I anticipate. I literally screamed with joy when I pulled it out of the mail box.

I had decided to take a friend to the local store that carries Filofax to 'kill time and get a fix'. While there, we browsed, checked out their stationary, got a few ideas for dividers, etc. The first time I was in this store, I was (not directly or politely) asked to stop 'handling them so much as it might damage them'. I don't see how my handling them was any worse than the way they were stacked on the shelf, but I digress. I decided to give the shop a second shot to see the Finsbury while I waited. Once I got home, there she was. I've noticed some folks name their Filos...I may have to give this gal a name!

I think the only issue I have with it right now is that it doesn't lay flat. Not that it's a HUGE issue, because I'm sure with time and usage, that will cease to be such an issue as it is.

I love that even though I really do have quite a good bit in there, it's not OVERLY stuffed.  It's a really beautiful size, and though I'd like an A5 at some point, I LOVE the personal size.

I'm truly impressed with this little binder. Being as it wasn't my first choice (Orchid Aston would be), I'm VERY glad we chose this one. I love the design of the card pockets on the inside. I love the zipper pocket in the back. The pen loop is SO MUCH better than in the one I was using. I actually flung my pen out of the pink one a few times because the loop was so loose. Not because I used it that much either, it came that way. The leather is really nice and soft. I am in HEAVEN.

The Planner Underground

 My mother is a very fun lady. Ever since I was a kid, I've found her to be...well...quirky. It's easy to see where I get it from. I adore my mother. Lately, she has lead me down a path of darkness. And by darkness, I mean...well, you'll see.

See, Mom is a date-booking freak. We called it her date book growing up, because all her 'dates' were in it. And I mean everything. Ball game this week? It was in Mom's planner. School play? In Mom's planner. And she wouldn't let you forget things either.

Now I'm a mom, and I have a direct sales business, and I'm a military spouse. There's a lot to keep up with under those three small titles there! I thought I'd attempt the 'planner' thing again. I bought a cute little planner from Target, and thought it'd be cake. Nope. Two-three weeks later, I was forgetting it at home, not using it, not even looking at it. So what did I do? I called SuperMom for help. Why isn't it working? What do I do to MAKE myself use this? And a care package arrived.

To make a good point of the difference that was made...Here are a few pictures...

Before: 

Skinny, unattractive little thing.

The tabs and pages that came with the planner.

And After:

This is after I got my care package and got everything in it.

This is how I've got my direct sales business cards set up, right in the front behind the hard plastic flyleaf.

I have one more card holder behind it for credit/debit cards.

I have a little obsession with Tinkerbell, so Mom sent plenty of Tink stickers.

This is the zip pouch that came in the care package.

More Tink on my bookmark. The lettering on the page matches the planner quite well.

And this is the hard plastic flyleaf that came with the planner.

This is a week or so into using it. I already have 3 tabbies (I love these, and think they may be my favorite).

Now you have my evolution into the planner underground!!