I'm Obsessed ~ My Notebook Reality

I'm Obsessed ~ My Notebook Reality

Have you ever been obsessed by something cool or different? Maybe the latest fad has caught your attention and you just can't stop thinking about it. You think about it. Fantasize about it. Lust after it until you can't  stop yourself from buying it 

That's me. I've been there.

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed by paper, pens, notebooks, journals, etc. Anything you can use where you put pen to paper and create something. I am not exactly sure what the true draw is because I now have so many notebooks that there is  no way I will ever use them all. But still I crave more.

It's a comfort thing. It makes me feel good in sort of the same way that mashed potatoes makes a carb addict feel good.

IMHO everyone needs an obsession. Some people buy shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc but my obsession of choice has always been pens and paper. When I was young I have a distinct memory of standing in Centralia Stationary and gazing longingly at a Pilot Fine Point ball point pen. Back then the only pens you'd ever really see were Bic pens. They had a medium point and that was the same thing everyone else had. The first time I used a Pilot fine point pen, I knew that this was the type of writing instrument I needed to use. It flowed so much better. It made my handwriting look better and it made me want to make my handwriting better too.

My other distinct memory was of buying notebooks from a 25¢ notebook machine that was in the main office of my junior high school. I loved looking at all the different covers of the one subject notebooks that came spitting out of the machine. They also had a pencil dispenser too. I bought a pen or a  notepad whenever I had some extra money and that indeed started my obsession, I am sure.

Notebooks and journals are not as expensive as they used to be. Now they are pretty cheap but back then they were mostly out of my price range. But now I buy them at my leisure. It feels good to buy them. I have had some journals where I was afraid to put pen to page because I didn't  have anything significant and good enough to write in them. Now I am more free to express myself in whatever notebook I choose.

What is your current obsession of the moment? I'd love to know.

Blessings.

God is the Captain of Your Cheering Section

God Is The Captain of Your Cheering Section

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you feel like nearly everyone in your world is against  you? Yeah, that was me last week. Around every corner there seemed to be yet another obstacle to overcome. I met every challenge and had a lot of success but I didn't get any of the credit for it by the people in charge. Yes, my immediate supervisor told me "good job." but the rest, it was all about the new guy who basically followed the general manager around and listened to him talk.

I had to remind myself that God is the captain of my cheering section. Sometimes the things of this world let us down, but God loves us. He knows our good works. He knows how much we have sacrificed and put into what we do day to day. He is there for us in our successes ... even if no one else acknowledges our contribution. God knows. And God is cheering us on to our next success. All we need to do is be still and listen to his guidance, read his word and realize that His love never fails.

Blessings.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.

Isaiah 58:11

Pineapple Plan With Me Weekly Layout

I don't know about you but I have been obsessed with watching all the Plan With Me Videos on YouTube. I don't care if they are planning in a Plum Paper Planner, Erin Condren, Limelife Planner, Passion Planner, Inkwell Press Planner or if they plan in Madori Travelers Notebooks, HappiDoris, ConfettiDoris, Fauxdori's or whatever else there is out there. This planner is a puncuate planner from Barnes and Noble and it only has a weekly layout. No monthly ones (which I think is weird).

I grew up with just a monthly layout to use when planning. And even when I got a planner that contained weekly layouts, I never used them. I relied mostly on my memory and the monthly view.

As I get older I see the reason for the weekly layout. Maybe it is just all the Plan With Me videos has pumped that notion into my head.

For this week's layout I  have decided on a pineapple theme. Since I am doing this in my work planner, I don't have access to washi tape. I found these images on Yahoo images and printed them out on one 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Then I cut them out and taped them down. (I did create the teardrops and bulleted list in Adobe Illustrator.)

I thought it turned out pretty cute. Not as professional looking as all those Plan With Me videos but it does serve my own purposes.

I hope you enjoyed my little spread. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Toni #ToeKneeDesigns (not a real hashtag but I thought it was clever.)

Your 6 Month Check-In for your January Resolutions

Welcome to your six-month check-in!

• How are you doing on your goals from January 1st?

• Do you find you still want the same things that you dreamed of at the beginning of the year.

• Instead of making resolutions about what really made your heart sing, did you make those "should-have" resolutions that come to you in the voices of your mother, father, brother, etc.?

I found myself making a lot of "should-have" resolutions like :

• "I should finish those old cross stitch projects" 

   (I actually did finish 2 of 3 projects that had been laying about.)

• "I should write so many episodes of my story." 

   (I have written a few things in my notebook but I think most of that was from last year.)

• "I should read more books than last year." 

   (I am 26 books behind at this point, I think)

I made goals that I didn't touch in the last six months and goals that I tackled right away. some of my goals have lost the fun and excitement that I originally had for them. I need to learn to enjoy the journey more and not just see these goals as check marks on a huge to-do list.

I used to enjoy coming up with stories. I had the fun in my mind. I joked and said... what can I make them do today that will drive them crazy? And now I take the route of least resistance. I know that I will have to type them in at some point since I write long-hand when I create stories. And that part alone seems daunting enough.

I ordered myself a new planner: Plum Paper Planner and  Monthly Notebook where I can schedule all the blog posts that I really need to be doing. "Another should goal?" I'll find out soon, I guess. I have practically abandoned all my blogs for the first 6 months of the year. I miss writing and journaling. I am attempting to make time to journal every night, if time permits. I have drowned myself in cross-stitchnig to calm myself down from my real job and that I think is just me hiding away from the world ... or in this instance, from myself.

One of my new goals is to get a real camera to film my videos with. Another is to learn to edit those videos and put in the cool effects I see others do. I want to inspire people to be their best selves and to follow their bliss in whatever way is best for me to do that whether it be doing oracle readings or writing stories.

I hope you have found a nugget of inspiration here and i hope you really take a look at all those goals you want to accomplish and see if they are really things you truly want to tackle to create  your best life.

Blessings.

2015 - Our Best Year Ever! Do Some Goal Setting With Me!

Setting goals is a really important thing we need to do at all times and not just at the beginning of the year. Maybe in 2015 you will resolve to get more organized, buy a planner, a calendar, or just write down what you need to do. It is a proven fact that if you write your goals down that you are more likely to accomplish them.

So, I want us to work together this year to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves and make 2015 a bang up, awesome, sparkly best year ever!

I was watching a video about how to make the most of 2015 and make it your best year ever. There are all sorts of organizing, planning and goal setting videos on YouTube. Just do a search and check them out. 

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when contemplating your goals for 2015.

• What 3 things are you most proud of in 2014?
• What areas of my life do I excel in?
• What areas in my life need more attention?
• What 3 things can you improve on in 2015
• What do I need to stop or start in 2015 to accomplish my goals?
• What will be my word or words for 2015 that will describe how I will approach this next year?
• Explain a little about why you picked these words or word for 2015. What make that word work for helping you make your best year yet seem more achievable?
• What will I do to make sure my goals are achieved? Maybe add sticky notes to your planner and do quarterly check ins with yourself.

Check out this video to learn more about goal setting.

Creating Your Goals for 2015

I followed along with this video and I filled out my journal (see an excerpt below). I could not just decide on one word for 2015, and that's okay. Do what speaks to you. You know you better than anyone else. Below are my words for 2015 and my reasons for picking them. I thought I'd give you an example if you were stuck on this question.

 

Keep me updated about how your year is going. Let's check in with each other to make sure we stick with the goals that will help us accomplish our best year yet.

Make It A Great 2015!

~Toni