How I Do: Planning

Hi Friends! Today I'm super excited to be joining Alexandra and Lauren to talk about how I organize my planner! I will be the first to admit that I'm not a "#plannergirl" by any means. I don't buy a shit-ton of stickers, I've never used washi tape, and though I love looking at pretty, creative planners, I've found that simple works best for me. I've been using some sort of paper planner for the last 10-ish years, and I always get a Jan-Dec yearly planner. I've tried electronic planners but they don't work for me; writing things down has always helped me to remember them better. I prefer horizontal to vertical layouts, and I like having both a monthly and weekly view. I keep a paperclip between the monthly view and whatever week I'm currently in for easier access for the most up-to-date info. I also use White-Out A LOT. But that's just me. I'm a huge supporter of the "do what works for you" method. Here is how I organize my planner in 3 steps. 

via here

Step 1: Selecting and Purchasing Your Planner

I started with the "New York" planner that an ex bought me because I was/am directionally challenged and it included a NYC subway map (which I'll admit I referred back to MANY times). But then it was discontinued (around the same time we broke up). Around the same time I got more into blogging, and heard about Plum Paper Planners. I was in loooove. They were so big and pretty and personalized and all the other bloggers were using them! What's not to love?! The size and the $45 price tag, that's what. At the time I was commuting 4 hours a day, and it got heavy (and expensive!). And then I found the mini Happy Planner and I was SOLD. It's smaller and lighter but still had enough room to write everything I wanted, had sections for goals and inspirational quotes, was ring-bound but I could detach/re-attach  the pages (for smoother writing- I hate writing next to the edge/bounds), and had the hard plastic cover on top of the regular cover that I needed due to how rough I am with my stuff (especially when commuting). 

Usually, I buy my planner around November. Unfortunately I procrastinated this year and my mini Happy Planner of choice was no longer available. But I needed something, so I went to Staples and picked up a Blue Sky planner. It doesn't have as much space for writing as the Happy Planner (and inspirational quotes or cute covers for each month), but it does have the protective cover, it's small and light and has the horizontal (vs. vertical) layout that I prefer. 

Step 2: Filling In Your Planner
You purchased your planner, but now what? 

(A) Monthly view: Personally, I start by going back to last year's planner and fill in all of the important dates/birthdays. (First time using a planner? Write down anything you remember, like anniversaries or bill due dates, and then go to Facebook and write down all of your friend/family birthdays). These are things you KNOW will happen. I update this throughout the year as new events pop up. I have also started writing my goals in the "Notes" sidebar of my monthly calendar. 

Planner 1: Last year
Planner 2: This Year

(B) Weekly View: I don't write a lot in my weekly view because I don't reference it half as much as I reference my monthly view. Basically I write my meal plan on the second line (whether it's "tuna noodle casserole" or "Date Night!"), and whatever blog linkup/post on the 2nd to last line. Meals denoted with an asterisks are new. Occasionally I'll write what ingredients I don't have that I'll need to do the recipe in this section as well.

Step 3: Decorating Your Planner

I don't think anyone should tell you how to decorate your planner! This year I purchased these seasonal stickers from Amazon and though I used some of them, most of them are literally too big and probably meant for scrap-booking. That's okay, I'll probably use them for that purpose in the future, but I'm much more a fan of the productivity stickers like "dentist appointment" or "big meeting." Do what makes you happy! 

I'm curious- do you use a planner? 

If so, how do you organize it? 

February Goals

With under 2 weeks left in the month, I'm finally posting my goals for February! To be honest, I write these at the beginning of the month and have been working on them, so they're mostly all in progress. But I haven't marked them as such just yet. Before diving into those, let's see how I did in January. 

January Goals

• Respond to emails/comments with 24 hours- I WAS doing better with this, until recently. Time to try again! 

• Meal plan- Yes! I didn't share it on here as many days just said "leftovers" or something microwavable, but I did plan it out! 

• Make 4 new recipes- Yes! 
• Chunky Beef Stew
• Creamy Garlic Shells with broccoli and chicken
• Green Chili and Cheese Stuffed Chicken with Mexican rice
• One Pot Sausage and Mushroom Pasta 

• Purchase and fill in new planner- FINALLY! It's not a mini Happy Planner like I wanted because they were still sold out and I eventually gave up and got an Blue Sky one from Staples. I miss my HP, but I'm making this work. 

• Read 5 books- Done! 
• An Almost Perfect Christmas- Nina Stibbe
• The Adults- Caroline Hulse
• The 12 Days of Dash and Lily- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
• Dash and Lily's Book of Dares- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
• The Little Book of Hygge- Meik Wiking
• Participate in Erin's 10.0 Reading Challenge- 6 down! 

5/6, not too bad! I have to say, work has been extra crazy lately so my blogging in general has gone to the wayside, but I'm trying to get back on track. So if you haven't heard from me yet, it will be coming in the next day or two! Onward to February!

February Goals

• Get renter's insurance
• Get taxes done (scheduled)
• Book work conference and mini getaway to Denver, CO! 
• Clean out one closet- MUST. I've been throwing random things in there and gotta get it under control again! 
• Meal plan 
• Make 3 new recipes 
• Continue working on Erin's Reading Challenge

•Freebie: The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily- Rachel Cohn + David Levithan
•Made into a movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
•Set in Europe: The Adults- Caroline Hulse
•Newbery Award Winner/Honor Book: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds
•A friend or family’s favorite: The Bookshop of Yesterdays - Amy Meyerson
•Published over 100 years ago: Little Women- Louisa May Alcott
•Six words in the title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares- Rachel Cohn + David Levithan
•Compass or cardinal direction in the title: Into The Beautiful North- Luis Alberto Urrea
•Originally published in a different language: Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano
•Begins with the letter N: Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty

Do you make yearly or monthly goals?
Linking up with The Peaceful Posse!

Shit Blue Said

Gmorning friends, and Happy Valentine's Day! I'm excited for tonight. Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Blue and I are headed to dinner at our favorite little local restaurant. I made sure to make reservations last month so we wouldn't be wandering around the street of my town carrying a bottle of wine like what happened last year! And I think this is the last year we're doing presents too, which is great because my bday and Christmas are in Dec, then our anniversary in Jan, so by February we are spent (literally and figuratively). Anyway, I've decided to share some gems that I've been writing down since the last time I shared Shit Blue Said! 

Looking at dog pics...
Blue: This one looks like Brian from family guy.

Me; Brian is all white. 

Blue: So he’s Matthew McConaughey’s dog- All white, all white all white.

Watching catfish...
Blue: Where do they get these names? Safari, meet my friend Adventure-Park.

Trying a new food... 

Blue: This isn't too bad.

Me: It grows on you.
Blue: So does a fungus. 

Blue: Not to the right, not to the left, just in the center.

Blue: I need to confess something...

Me: I already don't like where this is going, but go on.

Blue: Every now and then I flip on Fox News to see what they are covering when the other networks are covering similar things. It makes me feel dirty. Like watching soft porn through the squiggly lines when I was a kid. 

Later...

Blue: Sorry if I scared you with my confession. Sometimes you just wanna know what the Fox says (pewpew pewpewpew pew)

Me: Hey it’s that girl!

Blue: Zoey?

Me: Yeah... no...

Blue: Deschanel?

Me: No, the one who played Zoe. Or Alex? ... And her dad... she’s half Indian?

Together: Rashida Jones!

Blue: I love it when we get there together. 

Watching TV...

Me: That owl looks fake.

Blue: Who?

Me: The owl. 

Blue: Who?

Me (yelling): THE OWL!!!

Blue: Hoo?

Me (realizing): ...I fell for it three times... :facepalm:

On the phone...

Me: G'morning how are you?

Blue: Good. I actually did 30 min on the elliptical. There are news trucks outside to cover the story. 

Me: This train is CROWDED! Looks like lots of people got out early today.

Blue: Yeah well they upped the accumulation in the city too! Everyone caught off guard. They are saying the road are bad on Facebook. Broadcasting live from the island of They! 

Me: Is that Rashida Jones? No not her, wait...

Blue: Yeah, it’s who you’re thinking of.

Me: Mrs. Cosby?

Blue: Yeah, Phylicia Rashad.

Me: How do I spell Felicia?

Blue: Byeeeee.

And my favorite pun-war via texts... 

You can find other Shit Blue Said here: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol.3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6, Vol. 7, Vol. 8, Vol. 9, Vol. 10

Show Us Your Books: January

Hello fellow bookworms! I hope you all had an excellent first month of reading! Mine was so-so. I was had started to put the book challenge categories under each book but honestly, I don't read the books I read to complete a challenge for the most part, so I took those out. I do have a question though. Being that this linkup usually comes around halfway through the month, do you only include books that you read in the month prior, or also the ones that you've finished that month? Just a thought. Anyway, here's what I read in January. 

The Adults- Caroline Hulse: 3 Stars
library e-book

This was... not what I expected. I picked this up because I thought the cover (the first one) was cute and fun. Classic case of "don't judge a book on its cover!" The Goodreads synopsis was misleading as well, or maybe I just read it wrong, but basically a recently divorced couple and their new significant others take a family vacation with their daughter (and her imaginary friend, an over-sized purple rabbit). I was thinking "Oh! And then hi-jinx ensues! What fun!" And yes, hi-jinx do ensue, but not in the entertaining and hilarious way I was thinking. I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and found both male characters extremely obnoxious. One redeeming quality was the kid, Scarlett, and her relationship with Posey, the imaginary rabbit. 

• Trigger warning: alcoholism. 

The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: 4 Stars
Category: BCBE 10.0- Freebie, MMD 1/3 books by same author, PopSugar book with a plant in the title or on the cover
library hardback

Picked this up because it was related to the holidays and while it didn't come in to the library until after Christmas, I was still in holiday-reading mode. I "dashed" right through this. I loved Dash and Lily and their relationship and even the side characters with all their quirks. It was very YA cute, and I really enjoyed seeing Christmas in NYC through the eyes of two native New Yorkers. 

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: 3.5 Stars
Category: BCBE 10.0- 6 Word in the title, MMD 2/3 books by same author, Popsugar Book that should be turned into a movie
library e-book

I wasn't done with Dash and Lily, so when I saw that this was available, I immediately jumped back in. Apparently this is Dash and Lily #1, which I didn't realize until after I picked it up. In this case I think that was a good thing though because it dragged and lost steam in the middle, and I wouldn't have picked up The Twelve Days if I had read this first. It was fun seeing how the couple started out and grew though, and I really liked seeing some of the places that I've been to in NYC mentioned in the book, and adding more places to check out! 


Currently Reading: Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty
On deck: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds

What are you reading? 

Linking up with Steph and Jana!

TBB Asks: Relationships

1. Who is your oldest friend and how did you meet?
My oldest friend is Erin, whom I met in high school. This top two pics are from her wedding in 2015, the bottom one is of us at our Junior Cotillion in high school. 

2. Who are your people?
I have a lot of different groups of friends... my work friends who've become outside of work friends (first two pics), a group of friends that I've met through Blue (my partner), and a group of neighbors that have become friends, the Mountain Mamas (last pic).

3. How did you meet your partner?
We actually met at Erin (above)'s wedding! I had recently broken up with my ex but Erin had already done seating arrangements and it was too late to change them, so I just picked up my chair and moved over to the neighboring table, where the only other person I knew (another friend from high school) was sitting. It also happened to be where all of Erin's husband's friends were seated, and Blue. I offerred her my dessert and the rest is history :) 

4. How is Valentine's Day celebrated in your home?

We usually go out to a nice dinner, exchange small presents, and then just spend some quality time together. Blue isn't a huge fan of Valentine's Day, calling it a "Hallmark holiday." 

5. What is your love language?

Quality time, followed by acts of service. You can find out your love language here. 

6. Would you rather receive flowers or chocolate?

Flowers, specifically tiger lilies. I'm not a huge fan of sweets. 

7. What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received or given?
I like personal gifts, ones that take a bit of thought. I think one of my favorites to receive was a framed poster from The Night Sky that shows the alignment of the stars on the date and location where we met, from Blue.

What's your love language?

Linking up with The Blended Blog!