June Journal/Planner Setup!

Sneak Peek!!!

So. This month. Now that I feel I have this whole journal thing down. I wanted to incorporate a teeny tiny bit of planner-ishness into my Travelers Notebook. 

Fear Not!!!

Yes. I still have. Love. And use my purple personal sized Malden Filofax!  It just lives on my desk as a very important information catch it all filing cabinet. I found that I didn't need to carry it every day because I am not a person who really ever has appointments.  I am either at work or at home. 

But. 

I dooooo carry my TN everywhere since it is my journal and I thought IT would be the best place for my daily To Do Lists!!!  So for this month (and hopefully every month going forward.) I will be splitting my Field Note inserts into four weeks. 

This is what I did.  On page one I found a free calendar printable and shrunk it down to size and glued it in.  I find having a month to view really handy!!!  Especially when trying to remember things like Birthdays, and Holidays.

After that I evenly spaced out the next for weeks by tipping in (hinging a piece of paper using tape) Mr. Ray Blake's WO2P FN size templates!!!  On these pages I will write down all those pesky or fun little things I want to get done on any given day!  And of course the occasional appointment.  If I have anything that needs to be planned for the following month (which is rare) I will just stick a sticky note on the last page of my insert so that I know to include it in my next months Field Note.  Easy Peasy!

Finally on all of the blank pages I will be doing my regular journaling, starting the 365/30 List Prompts and of course, my weekly Documented Life Project challenges.  

So yeah. I'm excited. Should be fun!  And I will film a flip through at the end of the month showing the full details.  

What are you all doing for June???

Journaling: Why You Should Draw

Even if you are like moi and can't!!!

Really!!!  You should. And here is why. 

It is my firm belief that those art journal pages I hate end up being my favorites later on. It's because of the story they tell. Mistakes are a part of life. Not everything is a beautiful piece of art. And that's ok!!!  

We need those pages we don't like at first to learn and grow. Without our mistakes we don't make progress. We find ourselves through our mistakes. And in art and life that is really a big deal!

Plus. Your journal is a reflection of you. It's your life. And I KNOW we don't all have perfect lives. So the mistakes in your journal are just another element of you. And that makes it special!

So. Back to drawing. I can't. No really I can't!!!  I simply don't have the patience to be any good at it. I can quickly sketch a silly flower or some mountain like shapes but that is about it. But that's ok!!!  I've learned to love those little "drawings" and these days my favorite thing to do is to add a water color wash over them. It creates this beautiful and light space to then journal within.  

So draw!!!  Practice makes perfect. And when you look back through your journals they will tell a story. They will show you how far you've come. What you've learned. Who you were and who you are now. Have fun!!!  And when in doubt. Cover it with gesso and try again. Haha. Cheers!!!

It's Almost 2014!!!

Hi!  Wow. Is anyone else as surprised how quickly the New Year is approaching?!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. I have been super busy with making presents this year.  I've discovered shopping for presents is much easier!  But this has been a lean year. And anyways. Handmade stuff is sooo much more personal!

Just popping in to say that 2014 should be a really productive, fun year!  Thanks to my new Finsbury Filofax I am hoping to have a very successful well planned year. What are your plans for 2014?  Any resolutions?  This next year I will be blogging a lot more, at least twice a week. Crafting a TON!!!  So look for new things in my SHOP.  And I will be focusing on health!  I mean, I'm a girl in my 30's now!

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. Oh. And there is still time to grab a journal from my shop to use for 2014!!!!  And if you don't see exactly what you want. Let me know!  I love making custom times.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

There is Gingerbread in the Air

It is almost Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! Just popping in really quick for a HELLO!  Busy wonderful time of year isn't it?  Just wanted to remind my 3 readers that I still have some Journals and Journal Kits in my Shop and you should still be able to get them before the BIG DAY!  Also I still have time for some Custom Journal Kits so just let me know!

And, school is almost done for the semester so that means more fun time for me!!!  Be on the lookout for 3 or 4 new Videos from me before the new year!

I hope everyone is taking it slow and enjoying this always magical season.  Merry Wishes To ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Popping In

For a quick hello!!!  Man. Has life been busy. Going backwards in a way. Instead of less work and more time at home. I've had to increase my hours at the bank... Sad pants. But oh well. Bills must be paid!  I have a few neat things coming up here. So don't despair!  Haha. If anyone still reads this!  Including a give away!!!

And remember. Christmas will be here in no time!!!  So make sure to get your journal kits and smash books from my shop before they are all gone. And also. Remember I do custom orders!!!  So if you want something special. Or holiday themed?  Just let me know!!! Ok. I will be back on Thursday with the giveaway details!  Muahahahaha. Cheers!!!

I Had A Birthday!!!

And it was WONDERFUL!  (Family drama aside).

I celebrated all last week. I only worked two days so that was wonderful in itself!  My Bestie made me a wonderful yummy birthday dinner the night before any birthday. Raviolis with sauteed zucchini. Mushrooms. And asparagus.   Yum!!!  We had a lovely strawberry blackberry shortcake for dessert. And then there were presents!!!

She had been to Italy this summer and I reaped the rewards. She gave me. A beautiful hand painted mask that just screams LEO!  And guys it fits my face as if it had been molded just for me. I also received flowers. A friendship bracelet. A necklace  (that I had stolen from her back in high school). She still had it!!!  A lovely little glass owl. And. A. VINTAGE typewriter!!!  It is a Smith Corona Sterling. It is from the 50's and it has that lovely old smell. You have to pound away on the keys. There is no number 1 or an exclamation point!!! But it comes with a 1/2 and a 1/4 key...  And I absolutely love it. 

My hubby gave me a beautiful hope chest that now lives next to my desk. I was taken out the day of my birthday for breakfast at my favorite little breakfast spot. THEN the following day my hubby orchestrated a surprise Birthday Breakfast Party!!! My original birthday party had been cancelled due to family stress. So he made it up to me! I was completely surprised and shocked and loooooooved it. 

All in all it was a wonderful week and I am so happy to be THIRTY!!!

OH!!!  And watch out for some wonderful new items going into my SHOP soon!!!  Like in the next few days.  Hint: There will be JOURNAL KITS!!!  (ok so that wasn't really a hint...)

CHEERS!!!

Why I Love Paper

I received some upsetting news today and it got me thinking about why I love paper. You all know the obvious reasons. It's pretty and bright and colorful and often filled with silly pictures and it simply makes me smile. But there are many more heartfelt and important reasons than just the aesthetic ones.

Paper lasts. Paper that is thousands of years old has been recovered and people's stories have been told. Stories other wise never known. After I received my unhappy news today I took to crafting to distract myself. I covered my MTN Diary Insert in paper. The main focus being a vintage postcard. A postcard that is over 100 years old.  Here it is today still telling its story. The postmark has it dated 1910.

This made me think about why I love to journal on paper and write real letters instead of emails. There is something wonderful and deeply human about writing. About putting good old fashion pen to paper. A feeling a white screen just can't do. Don't  get me wrong, I love the technology we have today. But there are some things which just can't be done digitally. When the computer/phone/tablet battery goes dead that's it. Sure you can back things up but who will happen upon them? Most likely no one... No one will see your digital journal in 100 years. No one will happen across those heartfelt emails to friends and family 100 years from now in an attic. No one will know your story, life, dreams, hopes, fears.

I wish writing journals and letters was a requirement. Something that was taught in school at a young age and encouraged. Think of all the wonderful stories that could be shared between people that wouldn't have been other wise. Imagine having personal, thoughtful records of family members that have gone...  A lasting tangible something to stay connected with. Something to turn to when feeling lonely or nostalgic. Something...

It's ALMOST my 30th Birthday!!!

SO, here is what I have been up to!!!  I opened my Birthday presents that I bought for myself.  It was a VERY happy mail week.  I had a box full of memo pads from Kawaii Ya and a box full from Shop Kawaii.com.  I did a silly low quality iPhone video of the Shop Kawaii opening if anyone is interested.  I still want to do a full on stationery share video so stay tuned!

***Stationery***

I am still having planer indecisiveness!!!  I LOVE my Fluoro Pink FF but can't seem to use it...  Why oh why do I always do this with planners?  Should have known, silly Sara Jean, tricks are for kids.  I have had a few binder system planners over the years and after set up I seem to not be able to use them!!!  Is it the rings?  I don't know...  Is it the dividers?  IS IT TOO structured???  I think that may be it...  The wonderful beauty of it's structure panics me...  And with my Filo the possibility of ruining its beauty, well, that is a BIG fear.  Silly, I know.

So currently I am switching things up!  Trying something new that I have never used before.  A Midori Traveler's Notebook!!!  Behold the beauty in it's simplicity.  A piece of thick leather which holds paper books.  The fact that my handling it will actually improve it's physical appeal makes me feel calm.  It reminds me of my love for adventure and is very Indiana Jones-esque. The elastic band method of keeping and adding notebooks of my choosing is fantastic and so straightforward. It is still SUPER customize-able which I adore and need.  I plan to collage the covers of the inserts, add an Owl charm to the unobtrusive hanging thread book mark and maybe even add a bead to the elastic band that keeps it closed.  Simple but personable!  Is it weird that I find it more warm and inviting than binder rings? Anyways, I wont bore you with silliness but here is the Un-Boxing video!  And I will keep you (yes the one of you who reads this) updated!!!  And if you haven't seen a MTN is action Google it and look through the Flickr group feed!!!  There are some absolutely beautiful photos of this little gem in action.

***Un-Boxing Goodness!!!***

P.S. I deleted at least 30 exclamation points and 5 all cap words from this post while editing!!!  HAHA

The Doctor is In?

Noooo not THAT Doctor!!!  I wish...  Tonight I made dinner for my disabled hubby. He LOVES Hamburger Helper. I. Do. Not...  Toooo much sodium.  Too out of a box. But every once in a while he gets nostalgic for his childhood and requests it. So I try to oblige ever so often. But!  I never leave packaged "food" as is. I always "Doctor" it up!!! I attempt to make it much healthier and a lot more tasty.

Tonight's experiment was Hamburger Helper Lasagna...

Here is what I did to make it taste worlds better and a tad bit healthier. 

1. First I start with the Whole Grain version! When it comes to prepackaged meals... I try to be as health conscience as they allow, which isn't very easy...

2. Then I used a pound of lean ground Italian sausage. I figured this would go great with the lasagna flavor and it ended up being quite a bit less greasy than hamburger meat. 

3. After browning the sausage I added two large ripe organically home grown tomatoes and let them simmer down!  I thought they would dilute the included seasonings saltiness and add a nice natural flavor and lets face it, a boxed meal can always use some fresh ingredients!

4. After the tomatoes simmered down I also added french cut green beans to the mix after all greens are important!!!

5. Finally I only ever add about 2/3rds of the included seasoning. That stuff is just too salty!  Your blood pressure will thank you.

I have to say. It was REALLY GOOD!  My picky almost 4 yr old even ate it! Perhaps after 10 years together it's my fault the Hubs occasionally begs for Hamburger Helper. Because I "Doctor" it up every time!  He just thinks it comes out of the box that good.

Filo Fun and Broken Collar Bones!

No! I didn't break my collar bone...  But the DH did!  Skateboarding at 7 am to the corner store...  I was woken up to a ready to pass out hubby saying he had possibly dislocated his shoulder and needed to be taken to the ER. At first I thought he was going to make me try to put it back in socket!!!  Eeeep. But alas he did not which is good because it wasn't dislocated but broken...  Sooo that was fun!

So far this week (it's only Tuesday) has been filled with playing in my Filofax and getting everything set up juuuuust right. Which is so fun!  I decided I really loved next years vertical and lined week on two pages. So much so that I disliked this years horizontal unlined ones...  Sooo I sort of made my own for the remainder of the year!  Not toooo shabby. I scanned the first week of next years. Popped it into Word. Printed it front and back on regular printer paper. Washi taped over the incorrect dates and VOILA!!!  Happy camper. 

I also revamped my Mail Log!  Writing the same info on two pages (incoming and outgoing) was getting tedious and ridiculous! So, I took advantage of the wonderful roomy pages in my A5 Chloe and made new ones!  LOVE! (Yes that is a Unicorn paperclip and yes it is awesome).

Then I FINALLY made a log for keeping track of Shop sales and crafty purchases!  When the big bag "Tax Collector" comes round this year Sara Jean will be prepared! Don't mess with a girl and her Filo...  LOL

I was good and also finally made a Food Log to keep track of things. Because, well, this girl is turning 30 in three weeks and wants to live until shes 90!!!

This picture is simply here because I love the fly leaf I made and the tree.. The TREE!  Oh, how I love trees...

I finally started Smashing and Journaling in my Filofax! The little miss bought her very first "Luvie" with her own munnies from her piggy bank so I kept the receipt , snapped a shot and voila!

There, um, may have also been a stationery purchase delivered last week from Janet Store...  It wasn't me, I swear!!!  Ok, yeah you caught me, it was me...  But it is all so awesome!

And I mean really, all of my stationery fits in two shoe boxes!!!  So I don't think that I have a problem so nee ner nee ner neeeeeee ner! LOL

Well I suppose this post should end!  Some things to look forward to in future posts are:

*A Stationery Stash share video? Would anyone watch that? I mean besides me...
*ZINES!!!  I really, really, really, wanna make a Zine
*A new Video update on my life in my Filofax Chloe!
*Stationery!!!  I am going to be designing some collage stationery to sell! MY DREAM!
*Lots of Postcards and Beeswax, intrigued?
*Oh and there will be many cups of iced coffee and possibly a baby... (Figure that one out)!

Hello Friends!

Look!  It's only been a week and here is another post!!!  This week of vacation has been fun and lazy and wonderful. I always feel like my little brother always lives on my couch when he is here for a week. I will be sad this afternoon when we start off for the airport...

But we had a fun week!!!  We went to the LA Zoo. Which. Was. Disappointing...  We chose it because it appears to be larger than the Santa Barbara Zoo which is the only zoo I have ever been too. But it was not...  It's just more spread out. And it was too hot and too sunny...

 So we left early and went to DAISO!!!  Which. Was also kind of a let down...  Only one little section of stationery and no other cool crafty supplies. But I did get a few things sooooo...

The rest of the week was spent shopping. Walking downtown. Eating out. Yesterday was Pirate Day at the harbor and it was so much fun!  Arrrgggh!!!  Lol

I started a new craft!  Collaging with Beeswax, it is so fun and easy and gives you a really neat Vintage effect.  I intend to make postcards!  I also found an old Atlas at the thrift store, NO paper is safe from my Envelope Punch Board!  Muahahahahahahahaha

I also bought myself some birthday presents!  Even though it isn't until August. I upgraded my Filofax!  "Already"? Some will ask puzzled.  Well. I needed something bigger!  BIGGER!!!  I wasn't able to do the journaling and Smash Booking in the little personal sized one. So, off it went to a good home and hello a5!!!  She is still a work in progress. I have only had her for a day. But I will post a video soon!!!  

What has your summer been like so far???  Any amazing crafty things???  Cheers!

Someone. Anyone. Please Slow Down The Earths Rotation!!!

Ahhhhhh!!!  Has it really been almost a month since my last post?!  Oh my...

Where has this year gone???  Yesterday. I got that feeling. That feeling you get round Christmas time?  It was just a glimmer...  But oh my goodness it is going to be the end of another year so quickly!!!  Ah!

These last few months have been so fun and busy!!!  My friend makes fun of me when I say I have a list of things to do and they are all self imposed crafty fun mail things. But they are important to me!!!  Just because my list doesn't consist of chores and work doesn't make it less important.

So!  Here are some snap shots of what I have been doing!!!  And there WILL be a blog post later this week. Because I am on vacation!!!!!!!!!  Yayee for free time. Hugs!!!  Cheers!!!

Stationery!!!  This is all from Kawaii Ya and holy cow do you SEE the pig donuts and panda bread?  How freaking awesome are they???  I can't wait to write letters!

This is my stationery hoard, not too massive!!!  I mean it all (ok well not all now because of the above pictures...) fits in a shoe box!!!

These are my new pilot Frixion pens, in rainbow colors, and they rock!!!  They ERASE!  How cool is that?  They are especially great for letter writing and Filofaxing!

Winnie wanted a mil box for the house.  So we made one, now she can send daddy and mommy mail.  Man I love this kid to bits!!!

This is just ONE of the amazing things I have received lately in the mail.  Yes, that is a one of a kind hand painted envelope!!!  Soooooo amazing, I have NO CLUE what I will ever be able to send her in return...

This is my new Lomo 35mm Camera La Sardina!!!  It has a wide angle lens and the ability to take multiple exposures!  I am a little dismayed to find that hardly anyone develops film these days...  And that the places who do charge about $15 bucks per roll!!!  But alas I will just have to make every shot count and every print into a piece of artwork.

While getting re acquainted with Lomography I have pulled out my Mini Diana!!!  She also takes multiple exposures and is a square format camera that can also take 2 side by side shots on one frame!  And a bonus is her manual advance so you can also blend the frames together!  So fun.  I can't wait to develop my film!

I got my Envelope Punch!!!  Don't know what that is?  GOOGLE IT!  I have made ohhhhhh a hundred envies in no time flat?  No paper is safe now...  Muahahahahahaha

I have discovered I LOVE writing letters on my typewriter!!!  I have weak hands, pout.  So writing can be especially uncomfortable.  But writing a letter on  a computer is just...  sad.  Plain white paper, computer fonts...  UGH!  But the typewriter!  The typewriter enables you to use all of your stationery hoard!  It also makes your letter quirky and filled with all of the typos you would find in a hand written letter.  No spell check, no grammar correct and once you have advanced down a line there is no going back and editing.  LOVES IT!

THESE!  Are just SOME of the un-used vintage stamps I ordered from Ebay!  They are wonderful!!!  I got about $45 bucks worth of really old stamps of all kinds from all over.  They make a letter look so neat!  When I received these I decided to add up how many stamps I have.  Now you see I have only been pen paling really for about five months?  But I have always had stamps!  I have always loved the idea of mail.  So every time I would go to the post office over the last oh 6 years I would buy a neat sheet (isn't that what you are supposed to do?)  Well, I now have enough stamps to write about 400 domestic letters!!!  How did that happen???  LOL

Sorry for the long winded share!  I have just been doing so many fun things I wanted to pop in, at least to update my like 2 followers...  I once again pledge my promise to BLOG more, or at least attempt to!  Have an amazing week, I know I will!!!

Filofax? What the Heck is a Filofax?!

It is amazing that's what it is!!!  Sooooo, I am a Day Planner kind of girl and over the years I have bought many different types and styles and I can never seem to find the right one!  I like pretty one time use ones until I realize that I cant really add anything of my own...  I like binder ringed ones but never really had much inspiration to adapt it to my needs.  I always want a planner/address book/mail log/journal/smashbook...  Yes, I am needy, LOL.  Thanks to friendly LEPer's I have now discovered Filofax!!!  I couldn't possibly list all of the wonderful YouTube videos and Blogs that celebrate these planners but trust me just Google it!!  These binders become works of art!  So, here is the video I made of the un-boxing of mine!!!  A follow up video to follow in a few days once I have started my set up.  Cheers for organization that is pretty!!!

Good Morning!

I should definitely still be asleep... It's my day off! And even though I would have woken up when the little miss decided to awake it needn't be this early!!! It's 6:30 am and the house is chilly and quiet. This is my favorite part of the day. I love sitting at the computer catching up on all my favorite blogs and crafty endeavors. I love the anticipation of waiting for my Winnie to come out of her room and greet me with a good morning hug and kiss.

(source unknown)

This morning for some reason I woke up super early and the gears in my brain started churning. I started thinking off all of the fun crafty and mail related projects I have lining up! So much fun goodness. There are letters to write. Swaps to send out. Packages of goodies to put together. Minis to make. And I still haven't found the time to make more things for my shop! Must do. Very soon. I have been SUPER active over at the LEP FB page and it has been such fun.

What fun projects does everyone else have waiting for them?! Anything unique or exciting?

Oh!  And take a peek at this lovely FB page dedicated to journal/smashbooking!!!  So much color and inspiration!!!  Love

https://www.facebook.com/SmashBookLove

Organized Chaos Rainbow

Hello!!! It's been a busy week. Lots of swaps and mail going out, one shop sale. Woohoo!!! I am loving meeting new people this month. I have been good and really active over at MiniAlbumScraps.ning and over on the LEP Facebook page. So I thought I would share some photos of how I keep my crafty supplies organized. Though if you asked the hubby he'd say my crafty space is a complete disaster! But hey, I've been busy crafting so duh!  Lol.  I love these new bins, drawers and jars I'm using because they are clear! So not only can I keep like minded tid bits together but I can see exactly what is in there without having to release the chaos and open the lid. Cheers for messy rainbow piles of paper!