Pilot Frixion Pens!

What she is now talking about pens!  Well yes I am!

As a child I collected pens everywhere I went and I ended up with quite a collection, even now as an adult I struggle to stop buying pens!  I love them!

Sorry I digress!  Pilot Frixion pens, have suddenly taken the Filofax world by storm, because of the wonderfully, comfortable writing position but also the ability to erase it with the end of the pen, if you make a mistake.

Most people I have come across tend to use the Ball which has a 0.7mm nib, and whilst I do like this pen, it is a little bit too thick for my Personal Filofax.  I tend to use the Ball in my work A4 Filofax, which has LOADS of space!

For my Personal I like the Pilot Frixion Point, which are just 0.5mm nib.  Yes 0.2mm makes a big difference in nib thickness!

As can be seen here!

Yesterday I ordered :-

The entire colour range of the Frixion Point as well as Red Ball pen!  Aren’t the lovely.

So how are you going to use them I hear you ask, you really only need one pen at a time, or do you?  I show you exhibit 2 :-

Yes they are all labelled now!

Blue – Luke

Pink – Sharon

Light Blue – Simon

Green – Household

Red – Finance

Purple – General

Black – Blog Posts

Maybe I need to ask for a Dymo LabelWriter for my birthday rather than a Kindle! LOL!

I know it may seem nuts, but when you are trying to organise a week at a glance, this is going to be so much easier!  As they have only just arrived I am yet to fill in my diary for next week, but don’t worry as soon as I have I will photograph it!

In the mean time I am awaiting the arrival of this :-

in order to carry the colours round with me!

For anyone that wants to get there hands on these pens, W H Smith do stock the Ball but only in Red, Blue and Black, for the full range of colours in both nib sizes do visit :-

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Pilot-Frixion-Pens.html

There service is incredible!

 

Filofax setup amendment!

After my trip to London and the Philofaxy meetup I have made some amendments to my Filofax setup!

I have labelled tabs!  Wow that is such a development!  You laugh but seriously I change my tabs all the time but now I have decided to label them and stick to them!

So we have :

Weekly Diary – which house my week on a page layout.  I had thought of getting the week per page with notes, but decided against it and instead I have a to do list on the opposite to my current week, if that makes sense?  If not here is a picture!

This is working so well for me I have to say!  I get to see my entire week on the right and my to do’s for the week on the left.  The highlighted ones are the ones that are now completed.  Please note this page is pre-pen purchase!!!  If you want to know more, check back this week for an update on what I am talking about!

Long Term To Do’s – houses all my to do’s like the books I want to read, my 101 days in 1001 list, photo’s I need to print out.

Short Term To Do’s are exactly that, things that need to be done in the month, not necessarily in the week!

Blog Posts – says it all really!  Do I need to explain?

Website Details – again do I need to explain?

My A – Z not only houses my contact details, but also things like my family’s holiday details, list of books I have for sale on Amazon as examples!

I then have a business card holder at the back that houses my stamps, jotter pad, pictures and smaller pieces of paper!

This current layout is working really well for me and I am loving it so far!  I think I have found my perfect planner setup!

WWW Wednesdays (Mar30)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions :

1. What you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers :

1.  What are you currently reading?

I always check out my local charity shop for any good books, and this one just caught my eye!  The first sentence on the back says ‘Do you feel that other mothers are ‘doing it properly’ while you’re getting it All Wrong?’  That really hit home with me as I am not a maternal person at all, but I love my son dearly and he truly is the best thing to have ever happened to me, but if you ask me do I want any more, the answer is always No!  I have always felt, that whilst my son is happy, grounded, loved, wants for nothing, is showered with affection, I am not a Mumsy Mummy, in that I don’t sit for hours playing on the floor with him, etc, etc!  But he is certainly not neglected!  Before all the Mummy’s out there start jumping up and down!

So when I read that I just had to read the book!  I started it on the 28th Mar and am about a quarter of the way through already.  I am loving it.  Again it is an easy read, with light, funny humour, which has had me laughing out loud in parts.

I don’t think this will take me long to read, and I love books like this that grip from page 1 and just suck you in!

2.  What did you recently finish reading?

Finished this book at midnight on Saturday 26th Mar.  I couldn’t sleep and I knew I had just 4% of my book left, and decided to finish it!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!

Second time to have read it and loved it just as much if not more than the first!

See my last WWW for details on it, which can be found here :

https://shazzastitching.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/www-wednesdays-mar-23/

3.  What do you think you’ll read next?

I was meant to start this book when I had finished Dietgirl, however as I had just read that on my iTouch Kindle App, for some strange reason I really wanted to read a paper book, I guess to see how it compares and if I read faster on iTouch or paper!  Jury is still out on that one by the way!  However this shall be my next book to read, as it is a story based on Zimbabwe, a country very close to my heart!

Philofaxy Meetup – 26th March ’11

Saturday 26th March 2011 saw me attending the 2nd Philofaxy meetup in London.  I love these days out!  I get a day to myself, I get to meet new and old friends, I get to shop and most of all I get to indulge in an addiction, sorry two passions of mine, organisation and Filofax’s!

The trip to London was rather uneventful, although saying that there was a huge march taking place, so the trains were alot busier than usual, and I saw quite a few people with signs and banners heading to the march.  And as much as I wanted to shout at the ones with signs shouting at the Tory’s,  ‘We are here because of Labour stuff ups!’ I held my tongue!  I won’t be getting into Politics on here!

I arrived at Tate Modern in good time, about 1130am and took my seat outside the cafe to wait for everyone!  Ever had that feeling that you know people and you see them on the web all the time, but you wonder if you will actually remember them in person?  Yeah I was going through a bit of that.  Whilst enjoying my people watching, the alarms at the Tate went off and we were all evacuated for a good 20mins whilst they sorted it out.  Which was fine, as I soon found Kyla and the rest soon arrived.

I could rattle off now into how the day unfolded, however there are some excellent links about the day with photos here :

http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/03/philofaxy-london-meet-up-march-2011.html

http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/03/london-meet-up-photos.html

http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/03/london-meet-up-snippets.html

http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/03/london-meet-up-further-posts.html

http://louloudorsetsmusings.blogspot.com/2011/03/super-organised-day-out.html

http://caribbeanprincessmusings.blogspot.com/

I love the fact that we meet at the Tate Modern first.  The food is always lovely, and it gives us a really good chance to get to know each other better, have really good conversations about our Filofax’s, life, family, etc.  It is amazing how much other stuff we actually have in common, it is great!

The walk from Tate Modern to Neal St is always a pleasant one, even if some people don’t wear walking shoes!  Looking at no one in particular Kyla! LOL!  You realise I am only jealous, as I wouldn’t ever be able to wear shoes like that!

Neal St once again didn’t disappoint and once again I admired my goal Filofax, the Imperial Purple Finchley :-

Isn’t she just beautiful?  But alas I have 9months to go and a challenge to complete before I can call her mine!

I was all set the buy the new Apex, until I saw it!

I have to echo CP here when she asks WHY?  This Filofax has to be one of the most uninspired ones I have come across and I can only think that the design is aimed at children, as no self respecting adult is going to want to use it!  Ok off my soap box now!  Been on that alot lately!

So did I make any purchases???????????????  At this point I really want to say ” Do bears s**t in woods!”  Of course I made a purchase!  But I was restrained and bought what I wanted rather than what I liked!

But in my excitement to sort out my Filofax setup on Saturday night I forgot to photograph it all!  So here goes, the list :

Travel pack in Pocket size (blog post to follow about the setup!)

Multi fit jotter pad (thought I would give these a try for quick notes!)

Week per page 2011 – now I know I am sticking with my DT Page per Day but I really miss not being able to see my week in full view, so I had to get these as well.  So yes I am now using both layouts and they are working great!

Zip lock envelope – but realised I don’t like the zip when I got home!

Large assorted sticky notes (have always wanted and needed one of these!)

To do (for some reason I am not liking the cream ones and so needed some white ones!)

Not that much really is it?

I won’t go into the nightmare that was my journey home, but let’s just say I was very happy to finally be back on Suffolk soil by 7pm after the journey I had.

As for the meetup, all I can say is ‘Steve, when is number 3 going to take place?’ LOL!

Craft-o-Fax Update! (at last!)

Some of you will remember my beloved Craft-o-Fax that I set up last year?

Here it is in all it’s glory, bursting at the seams!  Yes my lovely Red Domino A5 is packed to capacity and more!

So I thought that 2011 I needed to be better organised and after bidding on another A5 on Ebay I won an A5 Black Identity!

It really is rather uninspiring but actually I still really like it!  I set about setting it up straight away, and this what it is looking like now :-

The inside front cover!

List of 2011 Crafting Goals!

Section 1 – contains all my knitting patterns of projects I want to complete this year.  I have a today marker placed on the pattern I am currently working on and mark the pattern where necessary as I go!

Section 2 – is for my crochet projects!

Section 3 – has pictures of all my cross stitch projects that I am doing in 2011!

Section 4 – has a list of all the books I want to read, not necessarily in 2011 but I am hoping to make quite a dent to it this year!

Section 5 – houses my sewing projects that I want to make, not a lot in here to be honest, only about 3 but that is enough!

Section 6 – has a copy of 101 things to di n 1001 days list, as well as patterns I have completed I take out of the relevant section and house here.  There is also a pad of paper, some empty to do lists and quadrille paper in this section!

Finally at the back I keep a knitting book called ‘Finishing Techniques for Hand Knitters’ just in case I need to check how to do something, at least I have the reference on hand rather than  having to go search for it!

So that is my Craft-o-Fax no 2!

Hope you like it, or at least the sound of it! LOL!

 

WIP / Stash update!

Seems ages since I last did a stash / WIP update, however there is now  a page dedicated to my 2011 craft finishes, and a box down the side with my current WIP’s in!  Loads I know!

2011 is going quite well for me in the WIP department, at the moment I am finishing about a project a month, which is great, but I am now about to start on some pretty large projects, so I expect that to reduce now!  But we shall see, as I still have a lot of smaller projects that I want to do!

January saw me add to my fabric stash yet again!  Why I am not entirely sure, but I saw this fabric and just fell in love with it!  Wouldn’t you?

Aren’t they just lovely?  The crayon pattern I wanted to make Luke a pencil and colouring book folder to take on holiday, if I can before June!  The car one was to make him a car track, but he will probably be 21 before he gets and the others, will I just liked them!

Hmmm what other stash have I bought?  No yarn that is for sure, really surprised by that, but I have so much I need to work through it and whittle it down before I start buying more!

Cross stitch, well I just couldn’t resist this lovely kit I saw on Ebay in February :-

Isn’t it adorable?  Just another African themed kit to add to my already enormous stash!  I have my eye on just 2 more African themed kits and then I am done, till of course I see some more! LOL!

So not that much stash buying, which I am rather happy about, now to carry on working through it!

Anyone have any ideas on what to use the fabric for, please do post a comment, as I would love to hear!

 

WWW Wednesdays (Mar 23)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions :

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers :

1. What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading this for the second time.  I just love this book!  It is such an easy read, and one I can totally relate to and enjoy!  Well worth a go for anyone out there that has ever tried to diet, or has dieted and been successful or unsuccessful, or like me just likes to read others diet journeys!

2. What did you recently finish reading?

Well besides magazines, at the moment I am a one book at a time lady!  However I did try and read  and totally hated it.  So this will be my recently finish reading, as I tried and couldn’t so finished it in the sense I gave up!

3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Being from Zimbabwe, I can’t wait to get stuck into this book!  It has some really good reviews and will definitely be my next read!

Filofax setup 3mths on………………….

I am now 3 months on from original setup of my Filofax and so far it seems to be going really well!

In case you had forgotten, my 2011 setup was in a Personal Raspberry Metropol with the Day Timer Flavia page per day lay out!

So how has my current setup been working for me?  I have to say, remarkably well!

The front of the binder, stores my stamps, business cards, passport photos and general pieces of papers that I need to keep!

The right hand side has the plastic cover, then a rough printout of how my days unfold along with a picture of my son.

I try and keep 6 months worth of the diary in the Filofax, the previous month, current month and 4 future months!  The layout is the page per day one :-

This is the page per day layout and it seems to be working well for me.  I do sometimes think I would like day on 2 page layouts, but then I think I would have too much space!  I love seeing my days really full!  So I shall carry on using this layout a bit longer, like 9mths longer!  The one thing I really am missing is my weekly layout view, but I just can’t justify writing things in 2 places!

I then have a month on 2 page layout.  I started using this to list my day in 6 words, but then in March I have decided to try and see if it would working putting my appoints that are happening during the month in.  So far so good!  I do like being able to see my month in full!

I then go into the coloured tabs section.

Green Section contains :

– all my to do’s both short and long term

– 101 things in 1001 days lists

– cross stitch work in progress’s relating to my Crazy January Challenge

– project WIP’s that need to be completed in 2011

– list of all books that need to be read

Yellow section houses :

– all my wants!

– Amazon wish list

– photos that want to be printed out

– my yearly budget

Blue section houses all website I want to check and any notes I may write out when reading a magazine!

Pink section houses :

– details I want to blog about

It then goes into the A – Z section.

Whilst I keep all contacts in here, of course, I also store things like my families vacation details, list of books for sale on Amazon, tube station maps, and general information details that I need to keep!

I hope you have found this interesting?  I am well on my way to reaching my goal of using the same layout for the entire year!  Fingers crossed it continues as well, so I can get my reward in Dec ’11!

iTouch Apps

I bought my iTouch back in Sept ’10 and it really has been one of the best purchases I have ever made!  I LOVE IT!

So when a friend of mine did a blog post about the Apps he has on his, I thought would a good idea and borrowed it!  If you want to read his blog, you can find it here :

http://steve-morton.com/2011/02/26/ipod-touch-apps-ones-im-using-part-1/

Here are the apps I use (very photo heavy!) :-

This what my current home screen looks like.  The plastic cover is another great purchase.  I got it from a merchant in Peterborough.  The one thing I really did not like about the iTouch was how fragile it felt, and slippery.  So I wanted a silicone cover and this is great, it really feels alot more secure to hold now!  Anyway I am not here to talk about the silicone cover!

I tired various layouts to begin with and I found that having a number of pages with different apps on just didn’t work for me.  So I decided to keep it to one page and use folders, and I have to say this layout is REALLY working well for me!   So my home page consists of the following folders :-

Books

Christmas

Clocks

Crafts

Entertainment

Finance

Games

Health

Music

Productivity

Recipes

Schedules & Lists

Shopping

Social

Travel

Utilities

Then the main apps that I use on a daily basis, App Store, Mail, Google and Safari browers.

I am now going to break down each folder and give a brief description of each app!  Very photo heavy again!  Sorry!

BOOKS :

Kindle – I use this every day, until I buy my Kindle.  I downloaded it to see if I actually would use a Kindle, and I have to say I love reading books this way!  So yes, I will use a Kindle!

GoodReads – the app accompanies the website http://www.goodreads.com/ and for anyone that reads, you HAVE to go and sign up!  It is awesome and I love it!

Potty Training – yes I got this app for potty training my son.  Can’t say I have read it, but I will one of these days!

MAENewYear – not sure why I downloaded this app, as I haven’t even looked at it! LOL!

Stanza – again, must of see this app somewhere, and downloaded it, but don’t actually use it!

CHRISTMAS :

Christmas – this app was ok, it lists all the items you need to or have bought and keeps  a record of your budget etc!  Both apps do this!

Sleeps Lite – counts down the days to Christmas!

CLOCKS :

For some reason I have quite a few clock apps and not sure why!

Stopwatch – I downloaded this app, so that I could use it to try and limit my internet time etc, by using the timer! Can’t say it works for me, but it is good!

Alarm Clock – I needed an alarm app and I got this one, it is really good, but I have to say the screen is so bright at night that I tend to switch off my Ipod overnight and use my trusted bedside clock.  However this will be great when we are away!

Nightstand – is pretty cool it keeps the time available to view through out the night, but again I don’t really use it, but would be great for those that need to know what time they wake during the night!  Not something I tend to suffer too much with!

Cuckoo – I LOVE THIS APP! I bought this app, because I tend to get so absorbed in the things I am doing that I forget what time it is.  This app shouts out the hour every hour for the duration you set.  So mine starts talking from 8am and mentions every hour till 6pm.  It is great!

CRAFTS :

I have to say that whilst I have craft apps I don’t actually use any!

Ewe Stash – you are meant to be able to list all your stash on this app, which is great, however as I use Ravelry for all my knitting and crochet stash, I don’t tend to use this, but maybe one day I will list it all on here as well!

FabricStash – like the app above but for Fabric!

Stitchulator – this app is used to calculate how much fabric you need for cross stitch designs!

ENTERTAINMENT :

You Tube – standard app came already loaded on the iTouch.  I do tend to use this quite a bit, as I am sure most people do, viewing You Tube!

Videos – this app has been an absolute life saver for me!  I downloaded some episodes of Luke’s favourite shows, and now when he gets bored and we are out I can just put on Mickey Mouse, or Postman Pat, and he is quiet!  I love it!

Photos – says it all really!

Camera – again does what it says, is the Camera!

Camera+ – this app was suggested to me, and as yet I have still not got my head round it, but I need to play a little more and get a better understanding of it.  Most reviews of it, have been very good!

FINANCE :

Natwest – such a great free app if you run a Natwest account.  Gives you all your statements on hand!

Accounts – is my spending and income tracker and I love it, it really is a great app to use and really easy as well which I love!

Budget – this app is great, if you budget each month and want to track how close or on track you are to your budget.  I really do enjoy this app, as it really highlights where I tend to over or underspend!

GAMES :

Self explanatory really!  Everyone needs games!

HEALTH :

My health apps are a bit hit and miss and I am trying to find the perfect companion for the various health journeys I am going on.  It is proving to be rather hard, as I just can’t find what I want 100%!  So the testing continues!

Shape Up, Pure Life Style and Track ‘n Tap – are all calories counters and whilst they are each really good, I find the lack of UK products a really frustrating element and also the fact that some I can’t change the portion sizes to exacts of what I eat.  So I don’t really tend to use them right now!

Fitness – this a Bupa app, that has various fitness regimes on it that you could follow if need be.  I haven’t used it, but it is a good reference when needed.

Nike + GPS – this is a great app if you have the Nike+ trainers as it registers the distance and time that you ran or walked for and if you register on the Nike website you can also set yourself goals etc.  Well worth it!

Get Running – this is the best C25K app I have come across.  It is pleasant to look at when working and is great because it tells you when to walk, and when to run, and when the warm ups and cool downs are taking place!

MyFitnessPal – this app accompanies the website, but I am still to get it the routine of filling it all in!

Target Weight – great app for tracking your weight and where you need to be!  Yes that 59 does mean I have 59lbs to loose!

P Tracker Lite – is an app for us ladies out there!  Can’t say it is great, but a fun, different app to have!

MUSIC :

Standard Apple Apps that come with the iTouch.

PRODUCTIVITY :

Salary Calc – is a great little app if you are wanting to check the NI and Tax that you should be paying, along with if you ever get that increase and want to know how much better off you are going to be!

Currency – great for checking current currency rates!

MyCarCheck – lets you check the history status of your car, although you do need to buy the full app if you want ALL the details!

PDFReaderLite – great free app for being able to read various PDF files

WordPress – if you want to blog on the go, a good app to have! Can’t say I use it much as I struggle to blog regularly, let alone on the go!

Stocks, Maps and Weather – standard Apple apps that came with the iTouch, don’t really use any of them!

Tumblr – can’t remember why I downloaded this app, or even what it does! Sorry!

RECIPES :

Various recipe apps that I downloaded because they sounded interesting, but to be honest I haven’t used one of them yet!  But good to have and maybe one day I will!

SCHEDULES & LISTS :-

I honestly thought I would use more of these apps, but honestly I don’t as I tend to use my Filofax for all my planning, lists and schedules, but these are nice to have!

ListPro – is a really detailed list app, that seems really good, but I am yet to get my head round as I tend to pen and paper lists!

Ancestry – a great app if you are wanting to track or do your family history.

ContactsXL – I do like this app, I just wish I didn’t have over 600 contacts to go through to sort out!  Maybe one day I will get them done, as I don’t have 600 contacts in my Filofax that is for sure!

Week Cal – this is a great app for being able to see your weekly diary, and the recent update has made this app even better!

HomeRoutines – for anyone that follows Fly Lady this is a great app for that.

aNote Lite – great little notes app, but not used it to its full potential yet!

Alarmed – is  a good app if you have alarms you need to remember throughout the day, ie, take medication or drink water, stretch etc, etc!

SHOPPING :

Every girl needs some shopping apps!

I would be lost without my Ebay and Next apps!

The Tesco grocery app is quite good as you can scan in the products you may have in the cupboard that you need to stock up on rather than typing it all in, however I found the scanner hard to use and I wouldn’t pay for groceries via the app, as not sure how secure it is!

Amazon UK and Rightmove are just apps I have and would not say I use them often, if at all!

SOCIAL :

My favourite folder!  I love my Social folder, and you may recognise alot of the apps in here!  Since taking this photo I have swapped Twitter for Echofon and definitely prefer it!

I have yet to really use PingChat, FaceTime or Get Glue but maybe one of these days!

I ALWAYS tend to be using Facebook, Echofon and Skype!

TRAVEL :

Rather a variety of Travel Apps, and some are really good, like the London tube one and the London A-Z.  I haven’t used the others, but are nice to haves!

Road Trip LE – seems a great app for monitoring your fuel consumption and spend, I am enjoying this app, quite  abit!

UTILITIES :

This houses most apps that I am not sure where to file them!

Most of them are standard Apple apps, Clock, Calculator, Voice Memos, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, Settings.

Sky+ – is an app I can use to program some progrmas when away from home.

Free Wi-Fi – is meant to tell me where free wi-fi is when out, but from what I can gather you need to set up the various areas, BEFORE you leave home!

BTFON – doesn’t work for me, so I say is rubbish!

Convert Units – great if ever needing to convert various measurements!

Battery – I LOVE THIS APP.  Great little app for monitoring your battery life of the iTouch.  Am seriously considering upgrading to the full paid app!

So that is it!  All my apps, listed, photographed and shown!  Sorry it was rather photo heavy, but hopefully you have enjoyed this post!

Filofax Pens!

I have 5 obsessions in life :-

Bags

Pens

Filofax’s

Cross Stitches

Yarn!

So when the WWW went a little mad recently about pens being used in Filofax’s and quietly read in the background and made my lists!

I ended up with 3 that I really liked!

1. Frixion Ball 0.7

2. Frixion Point 0.5

3. Pilot G-tec C4

However after using them I have realised that my order of preference are :

1. Pilot G-tec C4

2. Frixion Point 0.5

3. Frixion Ball 0.7

Here is how they write :-

Yes that is my Flavia notepaper!

The 0.7 nib is too thick for my liking and really isn’t working the filofax for me.  I do use it in the A4, as I tend to write bigger in there, but certainly not in my Personal.

The other 2 work well in my Personal and neither bleed through the pages, however I have to see the Pilot G-tec C4 is the BEST.  It writes so fine, and I just love it!

So much in fact I am about to go and buy some other colours in it!  I would seriously recommend it, however you can’t rub it out!

So I am back to using pen in my Filofax and if I need to cross it out then so be it, life changes!  LOL!