2013 Work Setup

As you may have already seen, I need to upsize from my Compact Chameleon for the new year. Unfortunately I know that my current set up will end up in a big, fat, planner fail if I try to keep it going for 2013 as I ave a fair amount of project work coming my way.

So, what do I need? Obviously I need to have my staples of a diary and some To Do lists. Without my to do lists what happens...? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I end up swamped and lost in my thoughts of what I need to get done.

As I don't have a huge number of meetings my diary space doesn't need to be huge, but it is nice to be able to see what I need to get done and my appointments / deadlines at the same time. I did this for part of last year using the Swedish WO2P diary and found that having them both available did help. I have set up a WO1P with To Do's / Notes, and at the moment I feel pretty confident that this will work for me. I also have a basic MO1P as well, to plan out the main dates in the year. The time I am usually focused on getting a lot of smaller tasks done is monthend, which we have a separate timetable for that is in a shared Excel file so I never write any of these tasks in my Filofax. Any other time I may need more room for tasks I can easily slip in an extra sheet to give me the space I need.

I have included a section for capture pages so that as emails come in I can write down what needs to be done before moving the mail from my inbox to the relevant actions folder.

Yep - that's right, the paper in here is currently address
sheets. I have quite a few of these and I rarely use them...

There is also a project section, which will contain a section for each project I am working on at the time so that everything that I have scribbled relating to it will be together instead of dotted about all over the place (including Post-Its on my monitor, and random bits of paper hiding in the debris that is known as my desk). This has standard quadrille paper in which you can pick up in most stationery stores, and we have in the stationery cupboard at work. When we get our next order at work I will replace the paper in my other sections with this - for now I am using random inserts.

Also in my work filo I will keep my A5 dodo pad inserts for tracking my food intake and exercise as it's definitely time to get back in action. If I keep it at home I find I don't fill it in, hence I have pretty much nothing written in here from August through until earlier this week.

At the back I have a section for spare paper, a spare divider in case anything comes up that warrants its own section, and a notepad in the secretarial pocket ready for notes and meetings.

And which lucky binder have I chosen to start my year with...?

Fairly full, but no so full that I can't move stuff around when
I need to

Domino Snake!!!

LJx

A Quick Overview...

Wow - I got a bit behind with my blogging recently, only having to time to squeeze in the 101 updates unfortunately. Thankfully now I have a few days free, so spent a bit of time this afternoon taking photos of my new toys :o)

I have taken in three deliveries over the last few weeks (pre the Fabulously Frugal No Shopping Challenge) and am going to give you a quick run through to show you all - I will be doing more detailed posts on some of the items as I have plans for them already.

Here is my pile of fabulous stuff, yes, you can see filos in there, I won't deny I have an addiction...

My first delivery came from Filofax Germany. All my resistance to this purchase (which to be fair I did resist for a number of weeks - not a very high number, but a number all the same) was totally futile when I saw Anita's post on Philofaxy..., so here is my beautiful A5 Bronze Domino Snake...

Shiny sophistication

 

Love the black interior - potential scrapbooking filo...

Next came my amazing parcel from the marvellous Alison of Filo Obsessed fame. I was lucky enough to spot her list of items for sale on the Adspot page on Philofaxy, and decided that I just needed all of it... seriously, anyone looking for a Filofax or related products (diaries, paper, Flex, etc) should check this page out first, you can get some amazing bargains here, and in my experience they are in very good condition as the people here look after them very well :o)

First up - the personal Holborn zip in Wine - gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!

Definite personal organisation potential...

This bundle of gorgeousness contained 2013 inserts, and a lovely bundle of other stuff, including a complimentary pack from the Filofax shop in Neal Street.

A more detailed pic of the other bits and pieces that were included - a fab owl card, he is too cute (I really am struggling i my No Shopping challenge when I see this as I know that there will be stickers and all sorts of other stuff in this range - thankfully I managed to save myself by buying some for my niece ready for Christmas to go in her Paperchase filo that will also be winging its way to her via Santa). There were also five different styles to do list and some cool card which is crying out to be used as dividers, and stickers to go with it - I am so excited it is quite ridiculous!!!

 Also in the parcel were... not one, but two Filofax Flex, a slimline and a pocket in Magenta. I was thinking about getting one of these sizes in the new leather editions, but as these were just sat there pleading not to be separated from Mr Holborn it would be mean not to take them, and use the opportunity to see how well they work for me before putting the leather ones on my wish list ;o)

Slimline complete with notepad, contacts pad and jotpad
I have ordered (before the shopping ban) a notepad to go
in the pocket - should be here soon...

And check these out... I have never had anything from Mum's Office before, but these are great, although the shopping list on our house should read Dad's Shopping List as he goes every week, I don't drive and apparently I spend too much whenever I go... oops!!!

Must Do, Should Do and If I Have Time...

Meal Planner plus detachable shopping list

And my third delivery? I know there were a lot of people who hoped to get there hands on these, but I am pleased to say that I was incredibly lucky to benefit from the generosity of John Edgar McVey from the Filofax for Philofaxy Fans group on Facebook - thank you again if you are reading this :o)

Lots of stickers and a few other bits - I'll be doing a separate post on this shortly, I've kept them hidden so far so the boys couldn't steal them before I'd taken photos :o)

 Will be back with updates soon - take care all.

LJx

Have I Damaged My Child?

Hmmm, maybe it's time to start worrying about my youngest boy. I came home from work on Tuesday to have some "mummy & Marcus time" as Christopher is out at sports club when I get home on Tuesdays, so Marcus and I have an hour before he gets home.

I got home to find him sat on my bed watching Shaun the Sheep, and he didn't want to do anything else, just wanted me to sit with him while he did so - even I can manage that!!! I figured that as I was going to be sat there I could take a look at making some changes to my current filo set ups, so popped into my room and picked up a few.   

Upon entry into the bedroom Marcus looked at me in a very stern manner, and said in what I think has to be his most disapproving tone "Mummy..... have you got new Filofaxes....?" - honestly, who does he think he is, the Filofax monitor? Obviously they weren't new ones as they are in use, so I said "No, I've had some of these a while now, but I have got three new ones in the front room... do you want to see them?" - perky as you like, I don't want him thinking he is allowed to disapprove of me just yet - I mean, really, he's only five...

So here are the three newbies and the reactions they got from said munchkin:

First up... the Domino Snake personal in bronze (on sale Filofax Germany) "Ooh!!! It's shiny!!! I love it!!! I want to kiss it!!!" and then he did... weirdo...

It is shiny...

And the inside - dark and sultry... I wasn't expecting that

Next up... the Domino Snake A5 in brown (another sale item). I did warn him that it wasn't as shiny as he did seem to be totally enamoured with the bronze one. "It's shiny too!!!"... followed by much kissing...

Yes, it's true - I took the picture of the back instead of the front - oops

More dark insides - lovely

And then came the Kendal (thanks Jen :o) )... as I slid it out of the box towards him there was a totally different reaction, it was as if he knew that there was something special about this one. He just stroked it very carefully and said "Oh, nice..." whilst gazing at it with a look of total adoration.

Personally I think I may have found my ideal filo - although if it came in A5 compact it would be totally perfect, I am thinking about my setup for next year already having seen this rugged beast. It just looks as though it should be dragged about everywhere, thrown into bags without a second thought (this may require the purchase of some bigger bags admittedly), preferably bags with rubble in or something because this just looks like it wants to be beaten about (without damaging it internally at all of course). It has a couple of minor marks already, but it is just screaming that it wants everyone to know how tough it is - it is wonderful!!!

OK - not looking so tough on the girlie chair...

Relaxing for a while

Once all three had been checked out, Marcus decided that it was time to have a full investigation into the bronze Domino Snake. He noted the black ring protector that it came with (instead of the white ones that come with the other Dominos), he looked through the inserts and then declared "it's boring inside, that means it's for a boy" - crafty little chap. I did explain that he already has a filofax and asked how many he needs... at which point he replied "five"... OK, *holds hands up* I can't fault him. He is five, he needs five filos...

Gazing wistfully...

More kissing...

Time for another look inside...

Distracted stroking

OK, and hugging...

OK - now that's just mean. He's guarding it...

Looks like I'm going to have to try stealth tactics...

I eventually managed to get it back off him, after he hid under the duvet with it.... I think I may have to  see if they are still on sale and get him one ready for Christmas...

LJx