Let's Talk Planners

For the last few years, I've been using Darth Vader Moleskines.

This is my first Moleskine, which was an 18-month (2014-15) planner:

 

This is my 2016, 12-month planner:

I wasn't kidding when I said I used Darth Vader planners. LOL.

But this year, although I'm still using a 12-month Week To One Page Opposite a Blank Page planner, I've now switched to Peanuts:

I love this format, it's perfect for me because I can record everything on the weekly display page on the left, and then take more detailed notes on the right. I love it!

Now I'm looking forward to filling up this year's Moleskine with as much detail, stickers, updates and washi tape as last year's.

What about you? Are planners something you actually use?

Happy planning!

Meet my Darth Planner

I used to be one of those people who loved the idea of a yearly planner and would buy one, use it during January and then forget all about it. Yeah, that was me. I know there are a lot of people like that, but I think the reason why I did this was because I never found the planner that was perfect for me.

One day to a page was too much. One week to a page not enough. Even a week to two pages didn't keep my interest for long.

Then I discovered a little something called a Moleskine.

While checking out the many lovely designs and inside options, I stumbled upon a planner that featured a Week To One Page Opposite a Blank Page. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was something I would be interested in.

So to start me off, I grabbed an 18-month planner that took me all the way to the end of 2015:

Unlike my previous attempts at trying to remember to add things to the planner before totally abandoning it, I actually used this up until the very last day of the year. As you can see, it's a little swollen on the inside but it kept its shape pretty well and didn't fall apart at all.

When it came to replacing it with a 2016 planner, I debated whether to go for a completely different cover design and even whether I should stick to Star Wars... but of course I did.

Here's the planner I will be using this year:



Although Darth Vader is not one of my favourite Star Wars characters, I find myself gravitating towards his covers. It could just be that I like to have matching covers. Or that it was the one that really caught my eye. Or maybe I'm (slightly) tempted by the Dark Side. :P

Whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to filling up this year's Moleskine with as much detail, stickers, updates and washi tape as last year's.

Happy planning!

Moleskine Love

The other day I spoke about how much I love my Moleskine planner:

 

But this isn't my first Moleskine, and it definitely won't be my last. :)

 

Until a few years ago, I didn't know anything about these lovely and stylish notebooks. I actually stumbled upon them while googling journals and notebooks. The name Moleskine kept popping up, so I eventually started looking them up. And I really liked what I found.

 

I'm a sucker for any sort of stationery, but LOVE collecting notebooks. I actually have more notebooks than I need, but that won't stop me from buying more.

 

I usually put them in groups: 

 

* Notebooks that are TOO pretty to use.

* Notebooks that I want to find a use for.

* Notebooks for brainstorming.

* Notebooks to take quick notes while browsing online.

* Notebooks for journaling.

* Notebooks that can have their pages ripped out...

 

I think you get the gist of it. ;)

 

Anyway, back to the Moleskine. I've always loved grid (graph/squared) books, but for some reason they're very hard to find in Australia. Unless you want an ugly exercise book. I've had a hard time finding these kind of notebooks here. SO, when I found out they were an option in Moleskines, I was so excited I bought one--in classic black. When it came in, I fell in love with not just the way it looks but also the inside.

 

And the rest, as they say, is history.

 

This is what my collection looks like now:

 



Aren't they awesome?

 

My favourite size is large, but I also think that the pocket-sized ones are super cute! And I like the way it feels to write in them. I can't wait to get more! LOL.

 

I mostly buy mine from The Book Depository because they've got the cheapest prices and free postage, but I did buy some from Go For Cheaper as well. They were pretty good, but if you're International you have to spend $35 to qualify for free postage. I've seen some in a few stores here in Sydney but the prices are RIDICULOUS! I don't have a problem with feeding my Moleskine obsession from online stores.

 

What about you, do you like Moleskine notebooks? Or do you collect some other kind?

Do tell, because I'm always looking out for new ones. ;)

My Daily Planner

Hey, how are you today? Hope you all had a great weekend. I certainly did.

Monday morning sucks, so I thought it might be nice to brighten it up by posting about something nice.

Last year I decided that instead of having a bunch of random To-Do Lists lying around on post-it notes and scrap pieces of paper, I was going to have a daily planner/diary/journal hybrid. So I picked up a cheap but nice notebook from K-Mart and set up my own system. It consisted of some parts bullet journal and a lot of parts smash journal.

Not only did I want to have a notebook to jot down Lists (love making lists) but I also wanted to be able to stick pictures in, write down quotes, list the books I bought/read. It was a place for me to add just about anything I wanted to.

This is it:

 

It worked out pretty well and helped me keep a record of a lot of things, including important/relevant dates, ideas, goals and word counts. But there was something about it... Although this makeshift notebook was great, I still wasn't satisfied. It wasn't what I really wanted.

 

Let me back up a little. I like planner/diaries, but I'm also very fussy. I find that a Day To a Page is too much, and a Week to Two Pages isn't enough. I want a calendar format, but also some room to add my own notes. So when I found out that there was a Moleskine planner that actually has a Week To One Page and also a blank page, I had to check it out.

 

After some research, I ended up buying this:

 

 

This turned out to be everything I'd always wanted in a planner. A place where I can jot down daily goals, events, appointments, and things I do on one side. Then on the other page, there's enough room for notes, stickers, doodling, To-Do Lists, and anything else I feel like writing down.

 

This one happens to be for 18 months. Although these dates suited me perfectly this time around, I will be switching to 12 months when 2015 is over.

 

This is what the inside looks like:

 

 

See, this is perfect for me!

 

Like other Moleskine journals, there's also an expandable inner pocket at the back:

 



The Star Wars theme is a nice touch. ;)

 

I've developed a bit of a Moleskine obsession during the past year and have a variety of lovely notebooks. Some are just too pretty to write in, but I do have one ready to become my writing/ideas journal. But that's a post for another day. LOL.

 

And wherever my planner goes, so does my trusty pencil case full of pens:

 

 

Well, that's about it. I just wanted to share a few pics and features about my SW planner. It's just so ideal and lovely, that I had to write something about it. I love sharing info about nice, lovely things that are also practical.

 

 

 Have a nice day!