Well Planned Life

Here in the US we’re celebrating Thanksgiving today. For us Americans, it’s mainly an excuse to eat lots of food and watch football (though we Americans don’t really need and excuse for those things). But while eating, drinking and being merry, most people remember the true meaning of the holiday. This year, I have many things to be thankful for. As you all know, I’ve been working on my “Me” project . When I started on this venture, I was very hopeful that it would work right from the get-go. But I have come to see that it’s failed me; or rather, I’ve failed it. Maybe “fail” isn’t the right word here. Maybe it’s just not as easy as I thought it would be, as I hoped it would be. I thought that starting this project would fix the issue as hand without question. But I was wrong. For the past few years, I’ve been dealing with anxiety issues. So much so that it can keep me up at night, give me heart palpitations, everything short of an all-out panic attack, though if I’m honest, I’ve proba...

One of my most favorite things in the world is to relax. And by that I mean, get a massage, reflexology , a manicure or pedicure, etc. I love the healing power of touch, ever since I was a baby when my crying fits could only be calmed by my mother rubbing my legs (or so I’m told). It was the one thing that could always calm me. There’s just something about another person providing a calming effect with their hands. For the last few years I have been getting massages and reflexology treatments every so often, and I can’t tell you how much I love them, not only for the relaxation benefits, but also because it provides quiet time for me and allows me to focus on just me, allows my mind to wander where it will. And let’s face it, it’s rare that most of us have time to focus just on ourselves, let alone actually do it. Now imagine that the relaxation comes with a little bit of insight. I just returned from a reiki /reflexology session at my yoga studio. I signed up mainly for the reflexolog...

Back in 2007, my friends and I shared blog entries through Yahoo 360 (this application was shut down in 2009). It was Yahoo’s answer to social networking, though where my friends and I were concerned, we only used it to share items with each other. I did a lot of blog entries while using the 360 application. So I’ve decided to unearth some of those old entries and share them here. Most of what I wrote about are things that happened between my friends and I, but there are some entries worth sharing because they are organizing and planner using. This first entry is one I wrote about being organized in general and how I love my planner. And wouldn’t you know it; it was written right after I received my first Filofax. So without further ado, here is the entry I wrote back in July of 2007: Sadly, I have an obsession with organizing. I love this obsession; it’s one of my passions. But I don’t think that too many people understand this passion. They think it’s a funny thing to be obsessed ab...

“It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.” One of my guilty pleasures is my stack of romantic comedies that I watch over and over, some during special times of the year. Each brings a sense of joy to me, each for a different reason. I don’t watch a lot of movies, but when I find one I love, for whatever reason, I may be tempted to purchase it, and it becomes part of my beloved collection. The first movie that started this collection is You’ve Got Mail . This movie is by no means the best ever made but it’s special to me for a specific reason. After graduating college, I stayed in the area, rented an apartment, and got a job. It was the first time I was truly, truly independent and on my own. After a year at the job I decided it wasn’t what I wanted to do. With no idea of what it was that I did want to do, I (shamelessly, in my mind – I wanted to be ...

After weeks of not being able to get around to setting this up, I have finally created my “Me” binder . (I feel like I need a better name for this binder, but alas, this is what it is.) I am using my personal Jade Finchley for this project. This idea sprang from my “Me” project that I have been working on. I decided that a small section wasn’t enough, that I wanted to expand the things I’m working and focusing on just for me. So this is what emerged. Currently, it is not packed with information but I am hoping to add to it as time goes on. Since I know everyone is so anxious to find out, here are the details: I have nothing in the pockets as of yet. My tabs are as follows: Health – For the last two plus months I have been battling terrible allergies. Since the middle of August I have had problem after problem and this is not like me at all. I’m usually very healthy and only go to the doctor for checkups, minus the occasional cold or something similar. So you can imagine my fr...

If you’ve been following my blog, you know that Yvotchka and I had plans to meet up and discuss all things Filofax. It was a good day. First we met at a location in the middle of where Yvotchka lives and where I’m vacationing. After actually finding each other in said location, we headed out for lunch and beer to fuel up for Filofax shopping. We chatted about Filos, men, work, food, etc. After lunch, we headed to The Country Cobbler , the only retailer in the area who sells Filofax. In terms of Filofax, this is one of the oddest stores I have ever been in. Its main product is leather goods for bikers. They also carry leather bags and wallets and the like. But mixed in with these leather items are tutus and shiny metallic leotards for children (see picture above*). And squeezed into the corner of the shop is one small kiosk for a very minimal Filofax collection. Most of the binders they have are older models, though some of them are in newer colors ( Cuban in Ink , for example). Th...

Despite the lack of time I have had lately, I have some exciting (to me) projects that I would like to work on. I have dedicated a section in my Filo to myself, which came about as a result of an idea Laurie had . But upon further thinking about it, I decided to dedicate an entire binder to me. When I have a moment, I am going to set up this binder. I plan on using my personal Jade Finchley , which is currently sitting on a shelf awaiting use. I decided to use this binder for this purpose because I love the Finchley and because green is one of my favorite colors (yellow is also but I have yet to see a Filofax binder that is an acceptable shade). So this is a perfect fit for a “Me” binder. I have been brainstorming ideas as to what I will include in this binder. So far I have the following sections (subject to change at any time): Health  Yoga  Resistance training Races  The “Me” Project (this includes the information under my current “Me” tab)  Notes (includ...