My Bullet Journal

Hello guys! It's that time of year when we write down our goals and promise ourselves a more organized, results-oriented year. Planners and journals have been all the rage and I think it's TADA! This old school system of pen and paper is alive and well.

My journal takes elements from the Bullet Journal. I created a version that suits my needs:

The notebook I chose was a company gift from work. It's a Moleskine with lined pages. 

To make it my own, I used these cute craft stamps and a black ink pad. These have been collected over the years waiting to be used more regularly.  

The first page has my contact information in case I accidentally leave it while on the go. I also promise a hefty reward! 

Start each page with the date.

I divided each page into five sections. 

The main attraction of this journal is my TO DO List.

As much as I love crossing off the list, I'm instead following the "Task Bullets" as follows: 

• "X" means task complete
• ">" means task migrated (a task that wasn't completed and will be moved to the next day's list)
• "<" means task is already scheduled (ex. a vacation, meeting, etc.)  

I also want to include highlights of the day which will help me remember events. These I put under NOTES.

There's a line that goes, "Baby steps will move you forward". I want to celebrate little victories that help me reach my goals. These are the items I list under BRAVO.

MESSAGE is where I put a memorable quote, a verse from my prayer time, or a shoutout from the Universe.

GRATITUDE is where I write down at least five things that I am grateful for on that day.

I also put some random frames where I can make art or stick a souvenir from my day.

My preference is a simple black and white page where I can track productivity and allows me to pause and appreciate. I want to look at each page as a sense of accomplishment instead of a daunting list of things that need to be done.

Depending on my future needs, I can change the layout and the categories, but for now, this is an ideal system for me.

Here's a related book I want to check out:

I hope these tips were helpful for your journaling journey!

A New Year

How lucky are we that we're ushering a brand new year filled with fresh possibilities!

I'm raising a glass of bubbly to all of you. May 2018 be our best year yet.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Hi guys! I know all of you have been nice this year (maybe a bit naughty, but that's okay) and you all deserve a memorable Christmas day. 

I hope you are surrounded by your favorite people and celebrate this season with meaning and presence.

And what about this magnificent tree at Rockefeller Center:

Beautiful, isn't it?

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Baking and Packaging

I hope you are doing well today. Do you do a lot of holiday baking to give as gifts or perhaps you're taking part in a cookie swap party?

If your answer is a yes, this craft might spark some ideas.

Begin with a plain box.

Line the box with a pretty paper doily.

Pile on your baked goodies...these are fudgy brownies.

Tie on some baker's twine, decorate with labels, and as an added bonus, embellish with a candy cane.

Now, who wouldn't want to receive a package like this one? TADA!

A Christmas Card Display

Christmas cards in the mail are one of my favorite things about the holidays! The simple thought of families and friends wishing me well (all relayed in a card) is enough to warm me up inside and out. 

I like to put all these cards on display. Here's how I do it:

I start with a set of clothespins. They're looking a little blah, though.

By adding some stickers, they look festive already. TADA!

Use readymade stickers or make your own. These were cut out from sticker glitter foam.

Make a "clothesline" out of cord or string. Put this up on a wall or above a door frame.

Use the clothespins to hold the cards in place.

Love and merry wishes on display! TADA!

Red Noses

It's December! How did the year go by so quickly?

Whether we like it or not, it's gift-giving season. Everyone loves a well-thought of gift and a beautifully wrapped package.

Here's an idea that will turn your gift tags from blah to TADA!

All we need are plain gift tags (cut out from cardstock or better yet, recycle some cardboard), glue, scissors, red pompoms, yarn, and markers.

Start by drawing some cute reindeer.

Use a pompom for its nose. Just secure it to the cardstock with glue.

Accent the tops with yarn.

As an optional step, gild the empty spaces with glitter. 

Now, your plain packages will be ready for the holidays! 

Oh, and here's a bonus:

Use the same concept for birthdays using the pompoms as clown noses. TADA!

An Advent Calendar

Well hello there! Today, some photo inspirations for the coming holiday:

An Advent Calendar wall hanging!

And an Advent Calendar pillow! I think these are both darling. 

If you're not familiar, an Advent Calendar is used to count down the days before Christmas. There are 24 little pockets where you can hide a gift like a toy or candy. Or to make the season less about material presents, why not put in notes to encourage giving or starting family traditions. For example:

• Make a donation to your favorite charity
• Listen to Christmas carols
• Bake cookies
• Write a holiday card to a friend abroad
• Make handmade ornaments
• Send candy to service men and women who keep us safe
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Watch a movie about the holidays
• Attend the tree lighting event in your town
• Give to Toys for Tots

This is getting me excited for Christmas. TADA!