They've Arrived...

Oh yes they have :-)

Please excuse photo quality, the flash was being a bit random (or it could just be that I don't actually know how to use the camera properly). 

Ben and the boys arrived back from the UK late on Friday night and it was great to have them back home. Obviously once the boys were in bed the first thing I wanted to do was get my new Filofaxes that Ben had brought back with him - not in his hand luggage as instructed, but in his suitcase. I am so thankful that his suitcase didn't get lost... there could have been trouble ;o) I was told that, as the boys weren't allowed to get their new things out to show me before they went to bed, I wasn't allowed to have my new things until the morning either. What am I, 5? Clearly that idea wasn't going to pass muster and I dived straight into the suitcase.

There were two lovely binders expected, and first up (I was saving the best until last) was the A5 zipped Lyndhurst (my first proper black Filofax) which was my accidental purchase from eBay, as it unfortunately turned out that the person I bought it for needed an A4 (I'm not sure who it was unfortunate for though, as I'm very happy to receive it into my collection). 

A few minor marks because it was second hand, but still in
very good condition

The Lyndhurst came with a few inserts - it had the 1-6 and A-Z dividers in blue and grey, a black today marker, credit card insert and a Filofax notepad.

Lies pretty much flat straightaway :-)

Lovely rings - no issues

Then came my first Franklin Covey binder - the beautiful Ava which I bought from Imy over at Imysworld, if you haven't checked out her blog before you should (is there anyone who hasn't, really?) here is the post which she did about Ava comparing her to the Osterley from Filofax.

The first thing that struck me upon seeing Ava was what a gorgeous shade of blue she is (she really is). The leather has a nice soft feel, but doesn't feel like it wold scratch easily at all like some of the Filofaxes (you know who you are Mr Ochre Malden, but we still love him, he is one of the few that can carry off the scratched look, it just makes him look even more loved)

Check out the colour!!!

Flattability scoring? 10 out of 10. Could this be the elusive Mary Poppins binder of the planner world - (practically perfect in every way)? Only time will tell, but not just yet as I am happy in my Rockin' Planner at the moment, but think I will give Ava a go later in the year as I may have to treat myself to the FC Her Point of View 2 Pages Per Day inserts for Jul 2013 - Jun 2014. 

Super flat :o)

The eagle eyed of you may have spotted the stickers hiding in the ID slot - as well as sending me the fabulous Ava, Imy included a whole stack of other bits and pieces for me, I wasn't expecting all this extra stuff and so went to bed much later than intended as I was too busy checking out all my awesome new stuff :-)

Cute stickers hiding

A few sheets of Paperchase stickers (ones they don't do anymore),
and a sheet of owl index tabs

Loads more cute stickers - now I have stickers for
Oz I may have to plan a holiday there :-)

As well as all these stickers, Imy also included Daytimer hotlist pads (I have seen these on other blogs and always really wanted to get some, and now I have two pads of them, they are great), cute paperclips (I have some similar in plain colours and love them), special Post-It notes (including super sticky arrow ones where the sticky bit runs down the middle, I can't wait to start using these), cute stripy green pens (blue ink), which are very fine and look lovely with many of my fills, and last, but by no means least, three (yes, three!!!) Bic 2 colour pens. Now anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my Bic 4 colour pens (and Bic biros generally), both standard and fashion colours (come on, 8 colours in 2 pens, what's not to love). The Bic 2 colour pen has two of the best colours from the fashion colours (pink and turquoise), and being that bit slimmer fits into so many more of the Filofax pen loops - yay!!!

I think I said everything about these already but "Yay!!!"

I am a very, very happy girl now (OK, at my age "girl" may be pushing it a bit, but I'm sure my mum still thinks of me as her little girl, so I can still use that word).

LJx

Stickers, stickers, stickers!!!

Stickers!!!

That was just in case you missed the title of this post :o)

I mentioned my delivery of stickers from Australia in my last post that I was incredibly lucky to get, and now it's time to give them the picture space they deserve. I was very surprised how fast these got to Switzerland - if they'd have been posted from the UK they'd have taken a lot longer, which is rather bizarre.

Anyway - here we go...

My Airmail package that arrived at my work :o)

This stuff just couldn't wait to meet me!!!

Big sticker sheets

Christmas stickers - 3 different types:
small mixed, snowflakes, large mixed

Football (soccer) stickers - I have a feeling
there will be 2 boys after these... they will
be great for scrapbooking though

Party stickers

Cats, dogs and Winnie the Pooh

Holiday stickers, Spooky stickers, reward stickers and cool
guy stickers

Now these are my favourites - these robots are super cute, and
the scene stickers are awesome!!!

And finally we have... nope, not more stickers, but some other lovely bits and pieces - a fab Keep Calm card, which is likely to be either framed or used on a divider in my filo, some Filofax post-it style tear off tabs that I haven't seen anywhere before, some sticky notes from aap (to be honest, you can never have too many sticky notes -  they are just so useful), and some large Avery note tabs. I have these in a smaller size and they are great :o)

Thanks again to John Edgar McVey for such an amazing gift :-)

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

Office World? Ooh, Don't Mind if I Do...

As much as some people believe that my DF must hate my stationery obsession, he really doesn't. This was evidenced the other week by the fact that he spied Office World when he was in Wettingen at the fitness shop, and texted me immediately to let me know :o)

Obviously, the first thing I did was to take a look on-line as I was nowhere near Wettingen at the time, and then this weekend, being the absolute star that he is - he took me to Wettingen so I could go in and have a good look.

I can safely say that I will be going there again, they have lots of pretty things, paper, pens, various storage solutions (including a fab box with compartments that I could use for scrapbooking supplies - brads and stuff).

After a good browse by all of us (even DF... the boys are always happy to look at pens if they think they'll get one - they chose a shark pencil sharpener and a Stabilo pen 68 each).

DF spotted the first purchase... he has told me so much about these pens before as he used to use them when he worked in a technical drawing office, and has recommended that I try them before as I just don't get on with fountain pens. I wasn't sure about them for myself as they have such skinny nibs (in this set 0.5, 0.35 and 0.25), but I think he kinda misses them. When he spotted these I figured that we just had to get them (even though he generally used a 0.1 nib).

Rotring Rapidograph pens

Next to the Rotring pens there were the Rotring "curvy ruler things" (which I was told is NOT the correct name - ha ha ha!!!) I'm sure I had some similar to this when I was little and am sure they will come in very handy for scrapbooking, journalling and any other number of crafty projects.

Funky curvy rulers

But obviously I couldn't resist *all* the pretty things... I got the post-it index tabs with the little arrow heads on them, which I am looking forward to using as I know exactly what I want to use them for (as opposed to buying them and then either trying to find a use for them, or wanting to just keep them 'for best'...

And then I saw these two sets of Japanese stickers - they are super cute, but not particularly small. Perfect for decorating dividers though :o)

And the other thing they stock (which I haven't found anywhere else over here yet)? MT washi tape!!!

I resisted for now as they are mainly plain ones and I have quite a few patterned ones already, but if I need some plain as well, then I know exactly where to go :o)

LJx

Dodopad Goodies

Woohoo!!! I've finally had time to take a pic of my latest Dodopad delivery.

I've got the AcadPad in A5 to go in my Filofax - I'm not decided on what to use it for this year though. Last year I used it for logging my food and exercise. I currently have three options. I can:
       
       i)      monitor food and exercise as before

       ii)     set up up to five different logs - potentially water, weather, exercise, weight, with space for
               category to log data for.

       iii)    use it as my main diary, it's basically a week on one page with a page for notes...

I also had to get myself some Dodon't forget and Dodo Remember stickers as I've seen these so many times and as I was ordering the Acad Pad it would just have been rude to ignore the stickers again...

I got a couple of Leuchtturm pen loops to fit in notepads so that I can always be sure there will be a pen at hand when I need one. However, now that I have them I can't remember which notepads I had intended them for, and I'm not actually brave enough to stick them into the notepads directly. I think I may have to set up a card insert that I can shut inside the notepad with the pen loop attached.

My other purchase was a stylus for use with my iPod touch. It may seem like a totally unnecessary purchase to many people (yes, people have already asked why I can't just use my fingers like normal people). It's true - I don't have big, fat, fingers and so should have no problem, but there is just something about touch screens that doesn't seem to agree with me. Some days I have no problem at all, but others I can't do things properly on my iPad, and don't even get me started on those touchscreen things to help you find the location of what you want to buy at IKEA... I swear those things hate me. I can never get them to register any thing I do and end up getting very frustrated, so I am hoping that my stylus will be my new best friend (after the Roomba of course).

LJx