We Will Always Have Paris

Getting Organized For The New Year

I traditionally spend the last week of every year trying to pull together my planner for the coming year.  I'm a paper planner.  Always have been.  I have tried going digital (using either a computer or a PDA for my calendaring), but I find myself returning to paper.  I've been an avid Franklin-Covey user for over 15 years.  It works for me. 

However, the artsy person in me feels compelled to pimp up my planner and make it my own.  Thus, I make my own dividers and add my own sections as needed.

This year's planner is the beautiful Franklin Classic Mia Zipper binder in Fresh Green. 

I've purchased the Kaleidescope pages and added a couple of inserts to make me happy. 

 

After that, I start building my system using my own hodge-podge of things I need.

Have you ever been to DIYPlanner.com?  They have an amazing set of downloadable templates that will allow you to print your own planner forms.  FREE.  FREE PEOPLE!  Their basic forms can be found here.  This allows me to print out my own goals sheets, my own project tracking sheets, my own check registers, etc.  They also have a "Creativity" set for the artsy-crafty people out there.  You can find exercise logs under their "Health" section and so much more.  My friends on Weight Watchers will love their printable Points Log.  I love printing on my own colored papers, so that everything is color-coordinated in my planner and suits my needs.

 

If you use your planner to keep track of household things, try Organized Home's free printable household forms.  They have forms for everything -- what's in the freezer, what's in the pantry and planning a birthday party.  They have forms for scrapbookers, fabric artists & rubber stampers.  I use my PDA to keep lists of my supplies (so I can prevent the ever-so-common "Damn, I already had this punch" purchase.  But, I plan to use their layout sketch pages.  They'll come in handy while I'm sitting in the obstetrician's office.

I made my own dividers using glorious shades of Berry and Aqua (God bless you my sweet Bazzill stash) and my tab divider punch.  (FYI - the font is CONGA) Now, I can go to town decorating my own dividers.

Whew!  All those links!  Who do I think I am, Jeanette?  One more day until the New Year.  Anybody else feel compelled to get organized before the 1st?

Baby Love, Part II

Some more pics from my maternity photo shoot with Marirosa:

  

I love these pictures because they capture who we really are.  I had planned to have a French manicure the day before the photo shoot because I knew Marirosa would be taking pics of my hands on my belly.  I just didn't have the time.  Baby G. steadfastly refused to let me style her hair.  But you know what?  We always look like this.  I'm a stay-at-home mom who does dishes in scalding hot water and my hands always look worn out (hey, at least they aren't paint or ink-stained).  It's who I am.  And that messy hair?  That's the beautiful hair I see each and every day when I look at my sweet baby.  And I love it. 

Most Recent Michaels Coupon (valid through 12/27/08)

Click here for the most recent 50% off Michaels printable coupon.  Happy shopping!

Great Vintage Christmas Images On The Web

I subscribe to "Scrapologie"'s blog for her wonderful layouts and ideas.  This month she's posting one vintage Christmas image a day for her readers.  Head on over there and click on the images & save them for yourself.  Marlynn, you know I thought of you as soon as I saw these images!

Baby Love

We're less than eight weeks away from meeting Baby A (Yes, we've decided on a name.  I won!).  My very good friend Marirosa came out on Sunday for my maternity photo session.  Take a look:

 

 

These are just a couple of the dozens of amazing pictures she captured (with an unwilling three year old, no less!)  If you live in the D.C. Metro area, Marirosa can be booked for all types of photo sessions.  Go check out her website at www.photographybymarirosa.com.  A newborn/maternity session would make a great Christmas gift for a pregnant friend.  She books up well ahead of time, so get on her calendar soon!

25 Days of December: Day 7

I waited all day on Sunday for the news of this little one's birth.  Amy was my roommate and sorority sister in college and we've remained best of friends for the past (almost) 20 years.  This is her first baby and I'm thrilled to death for her & her hubby.

25 Days of December: Day 6

The chipboard alphabet is by American Crafts.  I think I own 6 packages of the white.  I can't seem to get enough of that stuff!!

Printable Michaels Coupon (valid through December 13, 2008)

Click here for a printable Michaels coupon (valid through December 13, 2008).  Happy shopping!

25 Days of December: Day 5

I dug through my old pictures to find this gem from 1977.  It's my mom, dad, Great Uncle Mel, Great Aunt Jean and a six year-old me:

I went ahead & included my Uncle Mel's card. I had to trim the top & bottom of the card itself, so that it would fit in the envelope with the binding inside.

25 Days of December: Day 4

I have some serious catching up to do on my 25 Days book.  I have things sketched out & ready to go, but I can't seem to find the time to hide in my studio and crank out the pages.  Anyone want to come watch a three year-old so I can play??

Day 4 is done & in the book:


The journaling tag had to be put in the book sideways because I had the best picture (ever) to put on the back, and it was landscape:

I included a large die cut Sizzix file folder with sheet music printed on the inside and a photo tucked inside:

And my final page is just the sheet music to "Silent Night", printed on a transparency.  If you are doing a 25 Days of December book, hop on over to www.christmassongbook.net and you can find a ton of Christmas sheet music, ready to print.