101 Progress Check - February 10th 2013

Woohoo - it's Sunday again, and I have made some progress (not stacks, don't get too excited).

Last Sunday I did actually get round to watch the musical film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" which I loved. I am sure there are many people out there who wouldn't really go for this, but I loved it :-)

This week I received an email saying that the old gas boiler has been replaced at my house and all the gas stuff has been signed off, so now I have both the gas and electrics signed off - and crossed off the list - result.

My boys have been away and are due home this coming Friday, so Ben and I have had some time to ourselves, and although it would have been the ideal opportunity to go out for dinner or something for our date night, we decided to stay home with a couple of drinks and watch The Expendables. It may not be everyone's cup of tea for a date, but it suits us just fine. It was lovely to watch what we want and have a little drink, without listening out for the boys, or thinking that it is too late to put it on as we have to get up early in the morning - perfect!!! Tonight we watched The Expendables 2, but as we watched that straight after the rugby at about 6pm I won't class that as a date night :o)

I have finally got myself ready to start attacking the abs again. Today I watched Les Mills Combat basics in preparation for beginning the programme tomorrow. 

This week I have also started writing a gratitude journal to go in my happiness binder, but need to get into the habit of doing it everyday. Once I have got this up and running properly I will take some pictures.

Have a great week,

LJx    

101 List Progress Check - May 12th 2012

Well, it's been a pretty uneventful week on the 101 challenge front, however, I am pleased to report that I finished reading The Shipping News.

It didn't grab me, but that could be due to the unusual use of short sentences throughout the whole book as I felt that it didn't flow for me, or it could just be because I've had a lot of other things going on and therefore maybe wasn't fully engaged. Having said that, I enjoyed the book and would read it again, and would probably find it easier to get into second time around. I have never seen the film, but would definitely like to so I can see how the characters were brought to life for the screen.

I am hoping to watch Papillon or The Sting sometime this weekend as I didn't get the chance to watch a film this week, and then I will be two down on the classics :o)

On the health front I have been disgracefully lacking on the exercise front (having done none since my last update), but I have remembered to take my supplements twice a day and have managed to drink 1.5 litres of water most days, still not often enough to consider that particular challenge started, but I'll be on it soon..

I bit the bullet on Wednesday evening and ordered stationery for my Happiness Binder - probably enough for all the Filofaxes I own to be honest, oops!!! - and did overspend a bit, but I am not going to need to buy any pretty paper for a while. That'll make my fabulously frugal three months a bit easier when it comes round - ha ha ha :o)  I should also be receiving my scrapbooking papers and stickers that I bought off eBay soon, and they will hopefully be just what I need to start on making dividers for my beloved filos.

I have dug out my copy of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben so that I can read through it again and make some notes as I had intended to do last time. I will write down any special quotes I find as well to go on my pretty paper in my Happiness Binder.

Even though I am not getting through the 101 in quite the way I had hoped (I think I was possibly over-estimating the number of hours there are in a day), I am glad I started this challenge as I am doing and seeing things that I probably wouldn't otherwise have got round to.

I will try to be more timely with my updates as I had planned to post weekly and have been pretty remiss so far.

LJx

101 List Progress Check - May 6th 2012

Oops!!! I thought I had posted an update last weekend, but clearly I hadn't, so here is the latest re my 101 challenge...

Last weekend I managed to cross off my challenge to watch 10 new releases, so here is my final list:

• Thor
• Harry Potter (the last one)
• Captain America
• The Green Lantern
• Happy Feet 2
• Puss in Boots
• Contagion
• In Time
• Jane Eyre
• The Help

For the classic films, I have now watched Brief Encounter and I'd been led to believe that it was supposed to be one of the most romantic films of all time, but I just didn't get that. Some married guy tries it on with a married lady, they kind of hook up, but don't, but fall in love and then it's all over and they are sad - the end... maybe I'm heartless, or maybe I was just expecting too much. I thought I'd be in floods of tears, but just didn't identify with the characters.

I have also managed to blog about my set up for my A5 Filofax - the format of the blog wasn't quite as intended (ie write post for Lucy re my A5 work FF) for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I lost my A5 work Filofax shortly after I wrote my list and since then have moved between various set ups so now I am using one A5 Filofax for everything, and as I have my own blog now it made sense to post the details on here instead of sending it to Lucy to post onto hers. You can see my post re my A5 here, and if you would like to see what binder I am currently in (I have moved twice since), you can see this here.

Prizewinner book number two is ow started - The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I am finding the short sentence structure that she uses a bit unusual/awkward at times, but it seems good so far.

 I started taking my supplements again on Thursday (after forgetting to take any since my last 101 post when I said that I was going to take my ones for that day when I finished posting, and then not doing so).

This weekend I have been browsing at modes4u and artbox, checking out the funky stationery so I can get some for using in my happiness binder to write quotes/jokes on that make me smile. Unfortunately I now have wishlists totalling approximately £200 - I really need to reduce those lists before I end up with a whole stationery shop in my cupboards...

Today I completed the task of making a birthday cake. As I haven't made a cake from scratch in many years it was an interesting experience... Unfortunately you can't get self-raising flour over here so I had to find out what the right amount of baking powder that I needed was as the recipe book doesn't have that info (despite being a general cook book that gives all the basics), and I didn't have any caster sugar... Oh and I didn't have any sandwich tins so had to stick it into one deeper tin, which I'm sure means I should have adjusted the temperature and times, but never mind. It came out a lot better than I was expecting it to, and although I wouldn't go as far as to say it was a total success, it was far from being a failure and actually tasted really good.

OK - it's far from perfect and as I was rubbish with the 'decorative icing' I made it into a face - and no it wasn't for a
4-year-old, it was for a 36-year-old 

On the work front - I have now managed to finish on time on Mondays and get home in time for DF to go to band practice, and haven't had to bring work home with me (excluding monthends, where I have either left later, but still in time for DF to go and with no work to bring home, or have left work on time and brought some work home with me - which was all part of the deal so that is fine).

Until next time...

LJx

One Life One Filofax... Really?

Hmm, I saw an interesting post re David Popely's GTD setup here and am now thrown into a quandary as to what to do.

As you will have previously seen, I own a number of Filofaxes in various sizes, and as simple as one life on Filofax sounds, I just don't know if I can do this...

Currently I am using a personal one for me, one to track my 101 in 1001 days challenge, a happiness binder (which will be used properly shortly), an A5 for the family (although I have to wonder if I am the only one who uses it...), an A5 for work, a mini as a wallet, and... I think that is it at the moment.

Now the idea is that all my planning should go into one binder, this would knock out the family binder, the work binder, the 101 in 1001 days binder, and my personal binder - and then all this would go into one place... can I do this?

There are three problems that I have to overcome to do this:

1. My obsession with my filos means that I want to touch more than one each day - could I get round this by having a 10 minute gazing session at the end of each day? Or as suggested, I could swap the binder I am using regularly so that I don't feel that any of the binders are feeling left out.
2. I temporarily used a personal size FF for work after my A5 went missing and found it very hard and it didn't really work for me, so I really need an A5 for work. However, I don't want to be carrying an A5 round with me everywhere and I only have 3 A5 binders.
3. I like buying stationery, and want pretty things to go in my FFs as I am now at the stage where I can think about pimping them up (inserts only, I can't do anything to the outsides - that would just be weird), what will I do with fewer binders to play with?

Can I get round this by sticking with my A5 for work (this is kept mainly at work except when I have to do planning at home as I never have time to do it while I am in the office), whilst using one binder for everything else?

Clearly I will still try to use as many binders as possible for other things (eg the happiness binder, photo albums, recipe books - like I'll ever get round to doing that), but for planning purposes, can I manage to use just one for personal/family etc?

Hmmm... time to get my thinking cap on before I do my 2012 setup (although I think I may be going with the WO1P with notes so that should be able to cope anyway...)

Ooh - could a slimline cope with being a one file one life filo? Although having just got my Deco I think I can guess where I'll be heading first...

Any advice will be gratefully received.

LJx

And the Winner Is...

Thanks to all of you who voted to help me decide which filofax to use as my happiness binder.

The proud winner is...... personal aqua Finsbury!!!

Unfortunately this has meant that I had to move out of the comfort of my Fins which I take everywhere with me. But she is going to be put to good use as my happiness binder.

My first ever Filofax in all her glory

Yeah - she still doesn't lie flat, but I don't care - I love her :o)

So I have now part completed task 49 - I have read the book, got the filofax ready and have even started to put a few things in - more about that one when it is a bit more loaded.

And so to the next dilemma - what do I move into... well... a picture speaks a thousand words...

Pretty box...

Can you guess what it is yet?

The cat is almost out...

Check it out...

So beautiful and stylish...

Moving home...

Side view - excuse the pen

Top view - so fat!!!

OK - so it was more than one picture (how could it only be one with a Malden?)

I know, this was supposed to be part of (or all of) my Christmas present, but I really needed it... :o)

I am so glad that I was allowed to have it early (OK, so I may have put a tint bit of pressure on, but come on, look at this beauty!!!) So soft, the colour is divine, the wonderful stitching and even the Filofax press stud looks posh. Now all I need to do is find a pen that I like that fits the pen loop as obviously this is way too posh to have been designed to fit my faithful BIC 4 colour pen in it :o)

Thanks again - you have chosen a very worthy winner in the Finsbury, and now I don't feel at all bad for moving into the Malden.

LJx

Being Nice... Fail !!!

And I thought I was doing so well... having a cold and two small children whilst trying to stick to the plan of being nice? Not a great idea...  although to be fair to them I think that I may have been a bit generous to myself thinking I had made it through the first two days.

Although I hadn't been unfair, I have to admit that saying something factual can also be classed as not being nice - not necessarily mean or horrible, but not really nice in the strictest sense of the word.

However, having now read most of The Happiness Project I have realised that trying to achieve perfection regarding being nice for 2 whole weeks is a pretty tough challenge for anyone (apart from those people who are born that way...).

I will be re-attempting this task again in the future (working from home today and being allowed to say things to my computer about various emails I received during the day made me feel a lot better), but will define better what my measure is going to be as I realise that it is not always possible to be nice constantly.

Time to rethink this particular challenge...

LJx

Happiness Binder - Filofax Decisions...

Well, well, well - what do you know? A decision is now required regarding which of my lovely filofaxes I should use as my happiness binder...

I have read about half of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin now, without making any notes - I prefer to read first and then go back through and make notes later. I know this means that these things take twice as long, but it works for me and lets me pick out the bits that resonate with me the most.

Having read a fair bit now, I can see that quite a few of the things that I would be looking at doing for my happiness are covered in my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. However, this does not put me off setting up a happiness binder.

For the things that work for me and that I will continue to do, as opposed to those which are just one off events (eg a tandem skydive), I will include these in my happiness binder. Although I think that, at least initially, my happiness binder will be somewhere to store things that make me happy or inspire me - pictures, postcards, photos, quotes...

But to do this I need a storage device - and this is where my filos come in. I have already decided that I can't use a pocket FF for this task, so my options are out of the personals and A5s...

Personal Fresco

Personal Piazza in Sunflower

Personal Panama in Maroon

Left - personal Domino in green, right - personal Finsbury in Aqua (personal Finchley in Imperial Purple has already gone as this is my 101 in 1001 days FF)

Personal Botanic

A5 Graphic in red

As well as these, there is also the A5 Finchley in vintage rose that is currently being used as the family FF, and an A5 Chameleon in raspberry which will be arriving next Monday.

The other option is to buy an A5 domino (eBay preferably), as I would have no problem with covering one of those with stickers that make me happy.

The aqua Fins is currently my main personal filo, and is the first one I ever bought, but I will be getting a crimson Malden for Christmas, so could swap my Fins to my happiness binder.

The Piazza would have been a good one, but the colour isn't really bright enough to be classed as sunflower, so I'm not sure if it's bright enough to be a happiness binder...

Any input to assist me in this decision would be gratefully received - it took me days to decide which to use for the 101 in 1001 days, and I didn't have as many then :o)

I have now added a poll if you would like to vote.

LJx

Being nice...

Woohoo!!! I am actually shocked at myself... Although I decided that the whole being nice for 2 weeks would have to wait until near the end of my 1001 days, I have started it much earlier than planned.

Thursday morning I arrived to work at around 9:15 (having decided I deserved a later start and would like to actually see my children at some point this week), only to discover that the postman had just left - and what was Sabine putting on my chair? - none other than my parcel from Filofax Denmark - I was so excited that it had finally arrived after the whole saga of non-delivery, being sent back and having to be resent - and here are my new babies:

A5 Graphic in red - potential new work Filofax

Personal Botanic - pretty!!!

 I actually ordered 2 of the personal Botanics as my brothers girlfriend is apparently an obsessive list maker, so I thought it only fair that she should be introduced to the delights of Filofax.

The fact that they had arrived, and that the inserts were so nice compared to the UK ones just made me ridiculously happy (so I don't actually understand what all the words mean as they are in Norsk languages - that is a bonus, as it means I can take them to mean whatever I want them to mean).

I will post about the planned use for the Graphic shortly... :o)

Coming up to 11am and I realised that I hadn't yet felt stressed out, and was still almost delirious about my Filofaxes, hence no need to be horrible/grumpy/sit at my desk uttering profanities - could this be the start of my being nice for 2 weeks?

I actually discussed the options with Raffael (works for me and sits next to me and knows exactly what I'm like), should I class this as the start of my 2 weeks, or should I waste the half day already won so easily on the basis that I was unlikely to be able to keep it up for the rest of the day, let alone 2 weeks (it is planning time at work, which tends to get me very stroppy, and quite vocal). However, I decided that I would give it a go. There were a couple of things that came up during the day which would normally make me a prime candidate for paying fines into the swear pot (thankfully we don't have one of those, or I would never be able to afford to buy another FF ever again), but just looking at my new babies took the stress out of everything - there were a few knowing looks from Raffael, along with big grins and a "I can see this is really hard for you" - but nothing was going to wipe the smile from my face that day.

Friday involved more working on the plan for 2012, and still no stress... it is now almost Sunday lunchtime and I have allowed myself the fact that I can't be overly nice to the children constantly - tears and tantrums still have to be dealt with, although I am trying to explain more (not easy as the littlest chap brought home a shocking cold, and now we all have it - apart from him, he appears to be much better than yesterday - thankfully it's one of these ones that are harsh, but over quickly).

This coming week I have to be quite dedicated to the 2012 plan, and know doubt someone higher than us is going to say that all the figures need changing again - and will I get cross/upset/frustrated. No. I may feel disappointed, but will not allow it to ruin my week (or at least I'll try not too) - I don't want to have lost these 4 days towards my target.

Wish me luck.

LJx

101 Things to do in 1001 Days - List

As promised, here is my magic list of treats, things I need to do, things I want to do. All listed in the hope that having shared with other people what I intend to do I may actually get the majority of these done.

My official starting date was October 2nd, when I finished my list and completed my first task, result!!! 1001 days makes it all seem a little less intimidating, as this means that I have until Sunday June 29th 2014, which currently seems a long way off :-)

Enough waffle, here's the list, split into various categories:

Cultural
1.      Read 10 prizewinner books - completed Dec 2012
                       Angela's Ashes
                       The Shipping News
                       Midnight's Children
                       The Color Purple
                       The English Patient
                       Schindler's Ark
                       Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha!!!
                       Amsterdam
                       The Sea
                       Wolf Hall
2.      Read 5 Shakespeare plays -  completed Jul 2012
                       King John
                       King Lear
                       As You Like It
                       Antony and Cleopatra
                       The Taming of the Shrew
3.      Read 10 classic books - completed Feb 2012
                       Wuthering Heights
                       Far From the Madding Crowd
                       Great Expectations
                       Jane Eyre
                       A Christmas Carol
                       Tess of the d'Urbervilles
                       Lady Chatterley's Lover
                       The Picture of Dorian Grey
                       Northanger Abbey
4.    
5.      Load CDs to iTunes completed Dec 2012
6.      Loads all music on tapes to iTunes tape to MP3 converter received Nov 2012
7.      Buy headphones for iPod - completed Feb 2012
8.      Have music playing all day & no TV/computers for whole family (x 3)
9.      Watch 10 new releases (DVD is fine...) - completed Apr 2012
                     Thor
                     Harry Potter (the last one)
                     Captain America
                     The Green Lantern
                     Happy Feet 2
                     Puss In Boots
                     Contagion
                     In Time
                     Jane Eyre
                     The Help
10.    Watch 10 classic films - films identified, got to find them, 7 down 3 to go
                      Brief Encounter
                      Papillon
                      Taxi Driver
                      The Graduate
                      The Sting
                      The Shawshank Redemption
                      How to Steal a Million
11.    Watch 10 musicals (films) - completed Jan 2014
                      Rock of Ages
                      Half a Sixpence
                      Singin' In The Rain
                      Les Miserables
                      Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
                      Hairspray
                      Cabaret
                      Oklahoma (1955)
                      The Wizard of Oz
                      Mary Poppins
12.    See 2 west End musicals - completed 21 Feb 2012
                      Rock of Ages
                      Wicked
                      We Will Rock You 
13.    Go to 2 concerts - completed Jan 2013
                      Rock of Highway Semi-Final
                      Rock Highway Final   
14.    See 2 dance productions - completed Oct 13
                      Rock the Ballet
                      Romeo & Juliet rock ballet
15.    Read 5 banned books
                      A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
                      A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
                      Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
                      Memoirs of Fanny Hill - John Clelland
                      Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher-Stowe

Family
16.    Spend 10 minutes teaching/listening to boy reading - cancelled
17.    One big family day out every month - cancelled
18.    Set up playroom for boys now that they are sharing a bedroom - completed Mar 13
19.    Teach boys to swim (or arrange swimming lessons) - cancelled
20.    1 full week family holiday - completed July 2012
21.    1 weekend family break - completed May 2013
22.    Cooking/baking with the boys 10 times - done 5 times so far
               cupcakes
               cookies x 2
               scones
               pumpkin soup
23.    10 photo sessions with the boys - cancelled
24.
25.    Take the boys to a show - Batman shown. Completed Feb 2012
26.    Go camping - completed May 2013 (Europaparc covered wagon)
27.    Scrapbook three photos of the boys - completed May 2013
28.    Write a short story for the boys - cancelled

Relationship
29.    Go to Vegas - completed July 2013
30.    Get married - July 21st 2013 :o)
31.    12 'date' nights with Ben (at home or out) 6 date nights so far
32.  
33.    Have dinner by candlelight - completed July 2012

Health & Fitness 
34.    Take a 1+ hour walk on my own (x3) - cancelled
35.    Drink a cup of Rooibos tea with honey every day for 2 weeks - completed Sep 2013
36.  
37.  
38.    Drink 1.5 litres of water a day for 1 week (reduced Nov 2012) - completed Dec 2012
39.    Take a supplement (vitamins/minerals and/or probiotics) for 3 months - completed August 2012
40.    Complete Les Mills Combat workout programme - completed Apr 2013
41.  
42.  
43.  

Personal Development & Treats
44.    Write a post for Lucy re purchases from the German Filofax sale - completed 2nd Oct 2011
45.    Write a post for Lucy re my A5 work Filofax - completed on this blog 20th April 2012
46.    Set up a Filofax for the 101 things in 1001 days project - completed 22nd Oct 2011
47.    Knit a scarf - completed 24th Mar 2013
48.    Become confident enough to hold a conversation in German - completed Jan 2014
49.    Embroider a sampler - started Dec 2013
50.    Read 5 books in German (basic please...) - cancelled
51.    Write a poem - cancelled
52.    Learn to walk in high heels - completed Sep 2013
53.    Invest in a capsule wardrobe for work - completed 22nd Nov 2011 
54.    Wear only feminine clothes for a week - completed 31st Jul 2012
55.    Follow a proper skincare routine for 4 weeks - completed Aug 2012
56.    Wear full make up every day for 4 weeks (foundation not essential) - completed 1st Jan 2012
57.    Cook one proper meal for visitors/dinner party - completed 8th Jan 2012
58.    Learn 6 new recipes - 4 down
59.    Take camera on days out and use it - cancelled
60.    Get a post published on Philofaxy - completed 8th Oct 2011
61.    Be a 'Reader Under the Splotlight' on Philofaxy - completed 5th Nov 2012
62.    Do the 30 list in 30 days challenge (another blog find that I need to read up on) - completed Jul 2012
63.    30 mins per day to relax/meditate for 2 weeks (while on 2 week holiday with Ben does not count)
64.    Be nice for 2 weeks (watch my tongue/type IM and delete instead of sending) - completed Aug 2012
65.    Learn to use a proper camera - cancelled
66.    Buy some nice high heels and wear them - heels bought...
67.    Buy a posh/designer handbag - completed Oct 2012
68.  
69.    Give more praise (at home & at work) - completed Jan 2014
70.    Make a birthday cake - completed May 6th 2012
71.    Bake cupcakes - completed Oct 2012
72.    Go for a manicure - completed July 2013
73.    Go for a facial - completed July 2013
74.    Journal daily for two weeks (15 minutes minimum)
75.    Wear false eyelashes - completed 8th Oct 2011
76.    Buy flowers for home - completed Aug 2013
77.  
78.    Donate to charity (sponsoring someone who I would sponsor anyway doesn't count) - Feb 2013
         (Chimwemwe)

Finance, House & Organisation
79.    Keep to a basic household routine using my Plannerisms planner - started Feb 2013
80.    Set up a recipe binder
81.    Christmas presents sorted by the end of November for 1 year - completed Nov 2012
82.    Christmas cards and envelopes written by end of November for 1 year - completed Nov 12
83.    Plan for Christmas using the Dodo Book of Christmas - completed Dec 2012
84.    Make dividers for Filofaxes in various sizes - completed Jan 2013
85.    Blog re the 101 in 1001 project - completed Jan 2014
86.    Have a fabulously frugal 3 months (not immediately after Christmas) - changed to 12 weeks, completed Jan 2013
87.    Take lunch to work daily for 2 weeks - completed Jan 2013
88.    Manage bank accounts properly, update Excel weekly (not monthly/quarterly)
89.    Arrange meeting with financial adviser to sort savings - completed Nov 16th 2011
90.    Save minimum of 60% of 2009 tax rebate - cash committed, completion Jan 2012
91.    Get garden sorted UK - completed May 2011
92.    Get electrics/gas signed off - electrics done Oct 2012, gas done Feb 2013
93.    Get new shower (or whole bathroom) - shower fitted Oct 2012
94.    Set up an events planner - completed Apr 2013
95.    Transfer all data from the Dodo Book of Christmas to the events planner - completed Apr 2013
96.    Finish work on Mondays (ex-monthend) with no work to take home for 3 months - completed May 2012
97.     Finish work on time with no work to take home 2 days a week for 3 months - completed Jun 2012
98.    Work very late for 2 nights at monthend, and 2 'normal' late nights per month with no work to
         take home for 2 months - completed May 2012
99.    As 98, but with hours back in the form of working from home on Fridays with an early finish - completed May 2012
100.  Clean out my closet - completed Aug 12
101.  Organise paperwork - completed Sep 12


10 new tasks to replace those that have been removed above:


-      Sort through the boys clothes - completed Oct 13
-      Make a crafting picture in one of my IKEA picture frames - completed Nov 2013
-      Sort stationery supplies/stickers and post out some RAK packages - completed Oct 13
-      Sort through the hallway cupboards - started Oct 13
-      Package up the big boxes in the hallway and office for recycling - completed Nov 2013
-      Sort through the boxes upstairs that have still not been unpacked
-      Take fish oils daily for 3 months - started Oct 13
-      Take iron supplements twice daily for 3 months - started Oct 2013
-      3 month Facebook ban (apart from personal messages, adding my own photos)
-      3 month Keep In Touch project (letters, calls) - cancelled

And there we have it - my official list of things that I intend to cross off my list by June 29th 2014.

My next blog will include a progress report, to catch up with where I am, but I need to work out how to add photos to my blog first.

LJx