Planner Indecision

It's mid year and as many other planner or diary obsessed dedicated people, I have been thinking about the next planner that will ideally make life perfect, or something close.

I'm currently back to my Mark's Tokyo Edge planner, in a bound, week in columns format, pocket size. And I'm quite comfortable and happy with it.

So this morning I was browsing through sites that offer this brand as well as Leuchtturm1917. I have a notebook from them and I really like it!
But it turns out that the column format I like isn't available in other colours besides black, and those that are, aren't 18 month planners.
Which isn't a problem for me. I can very well start January 2014.

All was good until I saw what was in the mail today.

A friend got me a surprise present for my birthday. An 18 month, hard cover Star Wars Moleskine, pocket size. Because she remembered that I had been wanting one last year, albeit not necessarily the Star Wars edition!



So now I don't know what to do!
I start work tomorrow and most of my shifts will be on the weekend. The fact that there are columns make it visually easier to see the hours I worked and even add related notes, as well as other appointments. Plus, it's also got a pen loop.

Yet I really love the week + notes spread from the Moleskine. I can even be creative and do the occasional doodle or add stickers, mementos, etc.
Plus, I don't mind that the cover is black for I have the Star Wars stickers that came with it to customise it. But I would need to buy a pen loop Leuchtturm1917, which could be any colour I want.

Should I stick with my Mark's until December, with the days in columns and doesn't have the weekend sharing the space, or should I start with the Moleskine now?

The answer seems pretty clear. But I have been using the Mark's since September last year and I miss that awesome feeling of starting a brand new planner, especially when it's the Moleskine I like!

Have any of you also been in a similar situation? What did you do in the end?

posted from Bloggeroid

Of Readers, Filofaxes and Staying Up Late

Ah, this is going to be a nice and lazy Friday. I was up last night until 3:30am and I'm still very sleepy (12:38). The reason I was up so late is because I was trying to catch up with some of my favourite blogs.

Still not an excuse, but please let me explain with more detail.

Before Google Reader decided to say Adieu, I used Feedly on my iPad and gReader on my phone. They got along pretty nicely and were neatly synchronised.

But only a day after Google Reader's departure, Feedly was so overwhelmed that it was "over capacity", and gReader decided it was leaving, too. Only one sentence in his farewell note: "Please install Feedly on your phone."

After the guys at Feedly told me that indeed they were having issues and the service would be down temporarily, I decided I would wait patiently, and try (lol) to keep up with the blogs the old fashioned way; using my browser. It didn't really work.

So when this week (was it this or last week??) they finally announced on twitter that Feedly was up and running again, I decided to check it out on my iPad, only to be received by a blank slate: all my feeds were gone! Massive Fail, Feedly!!

See, yesterday the new member of my small Filofax family arrived and during the evening I wanted to find out how others were using theirs, how much the vibrant colour IRL differed from the internet images, when it was discontinued, etc.

This had me sailing from Philofaxy, to Lady Filo, and a couple other more, until reaching my favourite one, Zeitgeist of Zoe.

Those of you who follow Zoe's blog, might be familiar with her skilled writing. She has a way with words that keep you browsing her blog, clicking on other posts, unable to unglue yourself from your screen. At least, that's how it is for me, anyway. 

Yet when the 3:08 on the top of my screen started to haunt me, I decided to quickly close the iPad and plug it to its charger.

I should have grabbed my bedsheet over my head, and closed my leaded eyelids and succumb to Morpheus.

I should have, but I didn't.

Instead I took out my super cute Mini Urban and played a bit with it, adding the new 2013 MOTP calendar I received this week, getting rid of old pages and trying to mentally decide which inserts it should have, etc. 

What I am trying to say, your Honour, is that it wasn't my fault I went to bed so late. All of this could have been avoided if the newcomer didn't have had to undergo quarantine for being a smelly boy.

It was all the Mini Finsbury Aqua's fault.

Birthday in July!

It's my birthday this week! Which is why I have decided to gift all of you with a

10% discount on ALL ITEMS 

in my 21Kittens shop!

You can visit my store here, or by clicking on the widget on the left.
Simply use the code B1RTHD4Y at checkout to instantly get your 10% off!
Valid until the 1st of August '13.

Thank you all!!!

My new earrings

Yep, you read it right. I won't be talking about stationery today, but of the beautiful new earrings I got last month!

I've been so excited ever since I ordered and received them, that I've been meaning to tell you about them. But true to my feline nature, I got distracted easily and forgot about it.

Yet today I have finally disciplined myself into writing this entry in my blog notebook first, and now I'm transferring it to the blog for all of you to read. :)

I honestly can't remember how I stumbled upon them. I might have been performing a search for 'earrings' or 'green', or I probably found the shop through one of my friends on Etsy. What I do remember is falling instantly in love with them as soon as I saw them.

They are gorgeous, aren't they???

The creator of these little lovelies is called Iryna and she's from Ukraine. Her shop, 'Eten-Iren', is full of unique and beautiful hand made jewellery, mirror cases, even mobile cases and charms.
And if you pop into her Facebook page, you'll be able to see pictures of her work, as well as other items not listed on Etsy.

I'm actually thinking of ordering a custom made bracelet or ring to match my earrings. I'm only waiting to get some money in.

So, do check out her Etsy store here and her Facebook page here.

Oh, did I mention that she sent me another pair of earrings with my order as a gift??

How cool is that!!

*Disclaimer: I was not asked by Eten Iren to do this post, I'm doing it because I think a talented artist like her needs to be known by others.

Thanks for reading!
Oni

My Midori Traveler's Passport the I

It's kind of sad that in all this time, I haven't dedicated a thorough post to my beloved Midori Traveler's Passport, the first one I got (hence the title).

I've had it for almost three years now, yet I must admit I didn't use it as much as I would have liked.

It was only before our incredible trip to Japan last year that I really got into it, as I brought it with me. But that's a long story for another occasion!

Two weeks ago, I switched from my large Midori Traveler's notebook to the Passport one because of portability, as most of my bags are small and the larger one takes too much space inside them.

So far, so great!

I've inserted one of my own refills (21Kittens), the one with the graph paper. Then there's the plastic envelope insert to keep loose papers and other stuffs safe.

I have noticed that even though I also carry my Field Notes with me, I am gravitating more towards the Midori.

During this time the leather has become simply gorgeous. I keep holding it in my hand due to how nice it feels!

Anyway, just wanted to share that tonight before I go to sleep.


G'night,
Oni

Filofaxes for Sale on eBay!

Ok, so after much debating I have decided to put my Filofaxes for auction on eBay. I might be adding a couple more besides the Pocket Tecnic and the Personal Kendal.

If you haven't read it already, I am selling a couple of my Filofaxes. The reason is I'm not using them, and it would be best to give them a loving home.

Filofax Pocket Tecnic

This one is a bit of a rarity I believe, as I haven't seen it anywhere else. I myself got it at a thrift store in London. I believe it is from around 2003.

It is in a brand-new condition. I myself have never used it, just got it for collection purposes. But knowing that there are true Filofax collectors out there, this planner should be with them.

Filofax Personal Brown Kendal (discontinued model)

We all know this one and it is a favourite of ours due to the beautiful and oh so durable leather, not to mention the two penloops!

If you have any questions, please do leave a comment :)

Thanks so much!

love, 

Oni

Beaded jewellery

I have to confess that I've only done beading twice in my life. One was about ten years ago when a friend who was into it, took me to a bead shop. I got some ceramic beads and made myself a slightly boring necklace. I rarely wore it.

The second time was now. For some reason I've never really been attracted to it, but as of late, I find myself looking forward to browsing the huge selection of beads and charms at the various crafting stores I find in this city.

So when my mother in law came to visit us, I thought I'd try my hand at making some bracelets for my sisters in law:

They turned out nice, don't you think?

..Oops..

So, last night I was fixing the links to my images on old posts, and for some reason (I'm sure a mistake by my part), I set an old post about my Sidekick notebook to be re-published or moved to yesterday's date!

And there doesn't seem a way to revert it back to the past.

In case you were wondering, I keep switching from notebooks at the moment. I've moved from the large Midori to the Passport TN. And at the same time I'm using my Field Notes to carry in my bag. (Hm, I guess I'll have to blog about this soon, ne?)

Anyway, I'm sorry you had to re-read an old post. I am still tinkering with my blog, so please excuse me if it appears broken or disorganised at times.

Thank you for your iunderstanding,

Oni

My sidekick notebook

For nearly two years now, I have been using a notebook for everything. I call it my sidekick, as it tends to follow me around the house. I use it for writing down my daily To Do list, things I've bought, recipes I want to try, doodling, sketching, scrapbooking. Like I said, everything.

I find it pretty handy, as I don't have that much space in my planner especially since I moved away from ring bound planners.

Of course, in almost two years of use, my sidekick has reincarnated in 5 notebooks already, being the current one my dear orange Rhodia Webbie, which is now nearing its end with only four pages left, including the ones I'll use today.

I am torn though, regarding which notebook to use next.
Should I go once again for another A5 notebook, quite likely Rhodia?
Or should I go back to my gorgeous, leather Midori Traveler's Notebook?

See, the A5 notebook has worked really well before. The hard and sturdy covers make it possible for me to use it anywhere without having to worry too much about getting it dirty. I write down recipes in it, which means I use it in the kitchen as well, getting the pages quite soiled at times!

And because I very rarely take it out, the fact that it is an A5 is not an issue at all; rather, it is an advantage, having all that space for my drawings and doodles.

As for the Midori, I did use it as my sidekick for a while, but found that its size was actually hindering me from using it on a daily basis ( I didn't have enough space for drawings), as well as the soft cover (very hard to write or draw for long when you're lying it against your knees - another thing I do a lot!). Which is why after I filled up my second refill, I quickly started using my Webbie.

But now that I am about to fill this notebook, I don't know what to do.
On one hand, I want to just continue using an A5 notebook. Yet on the other, I really want to use more my Midori, because it is so beautiful.

Currently I am using my TN with an insert I made myself for my blogging activities, and I am really enjoying it!

So yeah, I am still very undecided about which one to use next. I guess I will take that decision once I am on the last page of my beloved Rhodia, and I will keep you posted!

Good weekend everyone!
Oni