Second Blogiversary big giveaway - Win a Filofax!

This giveaway is now closed

Do you want to win a lovely, compact size, lemon Patent Filofax?  Earlier in the month this blog turned two years old and to celebrate I have put together this prize!  It includes some pretty spring dashboards from Mrs Brimbles and a bunny paper clip made by my own fair hands!  You will win everything in this picture plus a few surprise bits.

Giveaway prize

How to enter:

• Leave a comment below, say hi or tell me your best planning/planner tip.
• Let me know if you follow this blog by email, Google +, Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' for an extra entry.

The rules:

• The giveaway ends at 12pm GMT on the 9th February 2015, any entries after this time will not be counted.
• All entries will be numbered and then a winner picked using Random.org
• Open internationally.
• I will announce the winner on the 10th February 2015. 
• Once I have announced the winner they have 72 hours to contact me otherwise I will have to draw another name. 

Good luck!

One for you and one for me!

A few weeks ago I told you I had won the Winter Filofax Blogger Challenge, well the day before Christmas Eve my prize arrived.  I really wasn't expecting it to get here so quickly so it was a fantastic surprise!

My prize from Filofax UK

I was given £100 to spend on the Filofax website so I chose two Filofaxes and a yellow Botanics pen.  The Original in fluoro pink is for me and I am going to give away the lemon Patent in January.  This blog will be two years old then and I am tantalisingly close to reaching 500 followers on Bloglovin so I am putting together a very special prize to celebrate.  The Patent filo will be part of the prize but I have also contacted a few more people to arrange some goodies to go with it.  I will announce the giveaway once I have received all the products so make sure you don't miss it because it's going to be good!

Inside the Original 

I moved in to the Original as soon as it arrived.  I can't get over just how pink it is and I know it is going to help me beat those January blues when they arrive because it's such a happy colour.  Who could feel sad with a dayglow pink planner to use?  Not me!

All moved in

My cute Mrs Brimbles dashboard looks fab against the pink and I made some new tabs using washi tape over Avery NoteTabs.  I realise it has been ages since I have written about my planner set up so I shall have to give you a proper tour soon.   

Thanks for stopping by!

My week #48

I held on for as long as I could but this week I gave in and went into full on Christmas mode!  The excitement has been bubbling away for a while now and I couldn't resist it any longer.  I moved into my shiny red Patent Filofax and added this cute snowman charm Mrs Brimbles sent me, he has a tiny red bell attached to him so my planner jingles now!  She also sent me these fun stickers.

My week in my Filofax #48

Did you see I launched my latest giveaway this week?  You have until Thursday 4th December at 12pm UK time to enter and I will announce the winners the same day so make sure you check back then!

Close up

Close up

Anyway, I'm off now to cover my windows in snow spray and to put some more tinsel around the room.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mrs Brimbles October photo challenge - week two

Week two of the challenge is already over, October is flying by!  I started to write this post yesterday but didn't get very far, it was raining most of the day so I decided to wrap myself up in a blanket and watch The Walking Dead instead.  I love cold, crisp autumn days but I'm not so keen on damp, soggy grey ones especially when I have to leave the house!  Today is clear and bright and I find myself feeling much more motivated.  

Day eight - Couldn't Live Without...

I honestly couldn't live without some kind of diary or planner and pens!  I just can't keep track of everything I need to remember in my head any more.

Day eight - couldn't live without...

Day nine - Purple

Here are a selection of some of my purple planner goodies, the tortoise dashboard from Mrs Brimbles is so sweet.

Day nine - purple

Day ten - Writing 

I mix it up between using planner stamps and writing in my diary.  Oh and always lots of colours too!

Day ten - writing

Day eleven - Preparation

It really is time to start thinking about Christmas, if I can spread things out over the next three months December wont be as hectic!

Day eleven - preparation

Day twelve - Warm Drink

A very yummy cup of caramel hot chocolate, it was delicious! 

Day twelve - warm drink

Day thirteen - What Autumn Means To Me

Creamy coffee drinks, woolly gloves, autumn skies, Lush's Christmas line of bath treats and quite a few birthdays are all things that I look forward at this time of year. 

Day thirteen - what autumn means to me

Day fourteen - Crafted

I used to be really good at cross stitch but I haven't done any in a while, this floral bookmark is one of my favourite craft projects I have made.

Day fourteen - crafted

Are you joining in with the challenge?  Let me know where I can see your photos, I would love to take a look.

Thanks for stopping by!

April Filofax photo-a-day challenge, week four

Here are the photos I took for the final week of the challenge.  I'm so sad it is over already!

Day twenty-two - starts with B

These carrots are actually bubble bars from Lush.  You swish one around the water in your bath and they make lots of fun bubbles and smell very nice.

Day twenty-two - starts with B

Day twenty-three - a name

My name on my Cute Organizing dividers.  They are A5 size and I really miss seeing this view now I have downsized to personal size.

Day twenty-three - a name

Day twenty-four - throwback Thursday

A year ago I was using my A5 Apex and these are the pages I decorated that week.  Yup it's another Alice in wonderland theme!

Day twenty-four - throwback Thursday

Day twenty-five - LOL!

I don't know if it's the idea of carrying a lippie around on my keys or just how small and cute it is, I can't quite put my finger on why this mini lipstick amuses me but it does!

Day twenty-five - LOL!

Day twenty-six - before

When I started using a Filofax I just had this one and I loved it so much I ended up with...

Day twenty-six - before

Day twenty-seven - after

.... all these!

Day twenty-seven - after

Day twenty-eight - underneath and day twenty-nine - sentimental

I cheated and combined two days again!  This is my Malden underneath some things that make me sentimental.  The flowers are the rose buttonhole my husband wore on our wedding day and a carnation taken from my bouquet. The pebble and shell were things we found on the beach when we went for a walk along it after the ceremony.  I feel all mushy now.

Days twenty-eight & twenty-nine - underneath
& sentimental

Day thirty -  monochrome

A monochrome peak inside my pencil case and filo.

Day thirty - monochrome

So that is the challenge completed, thank you again to Carla from Yay, for Fridays! for arranging it all.  

If you want to join in a photo challenge this month check out my once a week one #filophotofriday for the information.

Thanks

April Filofax photo-a-day challenge, week two

So when I wrote my Week #15 post on Monday I wished everyone a happy Easter as I didn't think I would be writing anything else before Friday.  I had completely forgotten about this round up!  Why?  Because I hadn't put it in my Filofax!  It just goes to show if I don't write it down I will probably forget it.   

Day eight - spinal

These are the two filos I am currently using, the Willow as my planner and the Chameleon as my purse.

Day eight - spinal

Day nine - upside down

How cute is this cupcake charm from xoxRufus?  Ruth made it for me in colours to match my Willow so they go together perfectly.  I love her Etsy shop Kawaii Studios, it is full of sweet little charms and cuteness.

Day nine - upside down

Day ten - artistic

Black and white arty type shot of the Willow.

Day ten - artistic

Day eleven - eating 

Some mornings only tea and crumpets will do and having them while using my Cath Kidston mug and plate makes them even better!

Day eleven - eating

Day twelve - right this minute

I was outside enjoying the sunshine and birdsong.  I simply love this time of year!

Day twelve - right this minute

Day thirteen - highlight of my day

There is no doubt that reaching 200 followers on Bloglovin was the highlight of my week so far let alone the day!

Day thirteen - highlight of my day

Day fourteen - script

My awful handwriting, it took about six attempts before I was happy enough to take a photo of it. 

Day fourteen - script

Thanks for reading and have a great week!  

April Filofax photo-a-day challenge, week two

So when I wrote my Week #15 post on Monday I wished everyone a happy Easter as I didn't think I would be writing anything else before Friday.  I had completely forgotten about this round up!  Why?  Because I hadn't put it in my Filofax!  It just goes to show if I don't write it down I will probably forget it.   

Day eight - spinal

These are the two filos I am currently using, the Willow as my planner and the Chameleon as my purse.

Day eight - spinal

Day nine - upside down

How cute is this cupcake charm from xoxRufus?  Ruth made it for me in colours to match my Willow so they go together perfectly.  I love her Etsy shop Kawaii Studios, it is full of sweet little charms and cuteness.

Day nine - upside down

Day ten - artistic

Black and white arty type shot of the Willow.

Day ten - artistic

Day eleven - eating 

Some mornings only tea and crumpets will do and having them while using my Cath Kidston mug and plate makes them even better!

Day eleven - eating

Day twelve - right this minute

I was outside enjoying the sunshine and birdsong.  I simply love this time of year!

Day twelve - right this minute

Day thirteen - highlight of my day

There is no doubt that reaching 200 followers on Bloglovin was the highlight of my week so far let alone the day!

Day thirteen - highlight of my day

Day fourteen - script

My awful handwriting, it took about six attempts before I was happy enough to take a photo of it. 

Day fourteen - script

Thanks for reading and have a great week!  

#filophotofriday - February round up and March's prompts

The first month of my photo challenge is over and I wanted to show you the photos I took and some of my favourites that other people shared too. 

7th - Home 

I enjoyed a nice breakfast at home before a busy day.  You can't beat a cup of tea and a danish in my book!

7th - Home

@0myche0 shared this photo on Instagram.  I really like her cover story Filofax and colourful tabs!

Photo by @0myche0 - Home

14th - I adore...

... Owls and ladybirds.  I got this sweet love bug badge from Loving Dot a couple of weeks ago and my lovely friend Kath sent me the ladybird beads.  I have punched a couple of holes in the owl mini ruler and am now using it as a page marker.

14th - I adore...

@handmadebycharlottevictoria shared this photo of her gorgeous roses that she got for Valentines Day.  The photos of her Malden are the reason I brought my ochre one instead of the aqua, she made me fall for how classy it looked.

Photo by @handmadebycharlottevictoria - I adore..

21st - Print

I love the printed patterns on these notes.

21st - Print

The amazing @littleredmoose shared this photo of her Kate Spade organiser, isn't it beautiful?!  I love those gold rings and polka dots.  I am a big fan of her blog so pop by and say hello if you haven't before.

Photo by @littleredmoose - Print

28th - 11am

At 11am I was outside in the cold shopping so I needed a coffee to make it bearable.

28th - 11am

@catherine_ann_morgan shared this photo of her morning, I love how colourful it is.

Photo by @cathrine_ann_morgan - 11am

Thank you to everyone who took part last month, I hope you had fun.  If you would like to join in this month the prompts for March are below.  You can use any kind of planner in the photos not just a Filofax.  Take your photos when you have a spare minute and share them on a Friday with the tag #filophotofriday on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas you all come up with!  

Prompts for March

Have a great weekend!

Say hello to my Patent Filofax!

I don't know why there aren't many blog posts about the Patent, it is a really nice compact Filofax.  If you google it most of the results are actually about the Original organiser which came in a few patent colours as well as the standard leather finish.  Filofax announced yesterday that they are releasing some new colours in the Patent range this Spring so I thought I would tell you about mine.  

My Patent Filofax

First of all I will say how I ended up with a compact size organiser.  It wasn't another downsizing experiment, I am still very happy in personal size.  Just before Christmas Filofax ran a photo competition on their Facebook page, they wanted photos of people's filos with their Christmas trees.  I submitted this picture of my Ochre Malden nestled in the branches of my tree and won!  The prize was the Patent organiser.

My winning entry

I was really surprised when it arrived two days later.  I thought with it being Christmas Filofax would have taken a lot longer to post the prize but it was sent the same day as I won (thank you to the powers that be!).

Inside the Patent

It comes with the usual contents:

* week on two page diary

* Flyleaf

* white note paper - plain, lined and quardrille 

* coloured lined paper

* contacts

* to do lists

* top opening envelope 

* frosted ruler/page marker

* six dividers (I took mine out and now can only find three of them when I wanted to put them back in for these photos)

You are also supposed to get a nice front page in the same colour as your binder but mine didn't have one.  I think it looks great with the cover but I will probably make my own anyway so I didn't mind.

On the left

On the left there are two card slots, a flap pocket and a pen loop.  The loop is made from elastic in the same colour as the organiser, great for those chunky pens!  It is also lined in a nice matching fabric.   

On the right

On the right there is a full length vertical pocket.  As you can see from my photos the binder doesn't lay flat yet.  I haven't tried training it but I think it might get there over time with continued use.  It is better when you have pages on both sides of the rings as the weight of the paper helps push the sides down.

The view from above

The 15mm rings mean the Patent is a skinny girl and the PU leather look material doesn't add much bulk to her size.  Now I know "PU leather look" does not sound appealing but the material is quite soft and gives nicely under your touch.  It is not hard and does not feel like plastic, it's feels a little padded is quite tactile.  It reminds me of the patent black shoes I used to beg my mom for when I was little.  I loved how shiny and pretty they were and always felt great when I wore them, until I scuffed them at any rate and then there was tears.  This filo seems a little more hard wearing than those shoes, it has been carried around in my handbag for the last 5-6 weeks with no special care taken and there are no major scratches and certainly no scuffs! 

Look at that shine!

I love this shade of red and when Filofax described these organisers as "high gloss" and "high impact" they were right.  The shine on the Patent is pretty amazing!  I have never really been a red kind of girl but this Filofax has converted me.  I think of my yellow Original as a little piece of Summer that I carry around with me, this Patent has become my little piece of Christmas because the red makes me feel festive... yes even in February!  Carrying on with that theme I have just realised my ochre Malden could be my piece of Autumn so all I need now is a Spring organiser, maybe I should go and take another look at that press release I was talking about at the start of this post and see what I can find!