Lots of changes

My life and my home has changed so much since I last wrote. Mom was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and due to inadequate health care locally, Mom had her treatment here with me. Since Mom and Dad were going to be spending a lot of time at my house, I had to make changes, and quickly. Now I’ve wanted to do these changes for a long time, and this was the incentive needed.

I cleaned my bonus room of clutter, rid many unused items from my life, and down-sized my belongings. This allowed me to maintain control of my house while cherishing every moment with my parents when they were here.

The biggest change, the office. We gave up the guest room to an office when my son gave up his toddler bed for a big boy bed. My parents still had a place to sleep, but it was no longer a room they could call their own. This has worked well for many years, but as Curtis has gotten older, it has become harder for him getting kicked out of his room.

So the major change in my house, I turned the office into a guest room with an office space. We’ve decided to call it the “pink” room since Curtis and I argue if it is a guest room or office. I already made another office space in our bedroom, so Jeremy had a place to work.

So the work began. I took down Jeremy’s desk (great reason to have folding tables as desks) and consolidated my cubes. I moved Curtis’ bed into the guest room and got him a new bed. He loves the extra floor space, and I love the pink room.

The pink room is my happy place. I love my kitchen. I love my bedroom. The pink room makes me happy. This room describes me. I have what I love in this room–a place for my parents, and a place to work on journaling, Project Life, or any other activities that when I need alone time.

Sadly, I lost my mom January 4th. I love the pink room even more because of the wonderful memories I made there with my mom. Mom and I would go into the pink room and watch “girlie” TV and talk while the boys watched “boy” TV. I am so fortunate to have a place that allowed me to share this time with Mom. Isn’t that what a home is for, a place to foster beautiful memories that we carry with us always?

Planner of my choosing

I used a classic size Franklin Covey binder for years. I used monthly pages and kept other info in the back. Then came the Palm Pilot and I thought it was the coolest thing. I quickly entered all my data then beamed it to my husband. One little problem, with technology, especially new technology, it crashed and I was in BIG trouble. So back to my Franklin Covey I went and I’ve never solely depended on an electronic method again. Then came the Vera Bradley agenda. It was the same size as my Franklin Covey in beautiful Vera Bradley binders. It had monthly and weekly pages. I kept one binder and every year I would add my monthly pages. I would then take this binder when I would scrapbook so I could remember what I did when. Then I saw the Erin Condren Life Planner and I was in love, or at least I thought I was. For a variety of reasons, this planner didn’t match my personality. I ordered a new one for this year, which I haven’t used at all. An expensive bundle of regret to not use. It did come with cute custom stickers, which I am using in my new planner.

I’ve talked about my new planner in a previous post. I am using a Midori Traveler’s Notebook in passport size. A lot of people don’t like the smaller planners, but for me it is perfect. I use a Moleskine weekly planner at work, so my work life is together. I definitely have planner peace there. My work and home needs are so different when planning, I keep them separate. I only combine the two if home affects work time or work affects home time.

I used a printable from Etsy, week on 2 pages. I like to carry my entire year with me, so this book was pretty fat. So I made me a week on 1 page book. I still have plenty of space to write down activities. I also got the monthly calendar from KiddyQualia on Etsy. If I could only have one calender, this is the one I would need. Each month has a month view, blank grid page, and a date list page. This method meets all the ways I think. I think in lists and tables, and this allows me to have both. The grid page I use for monthly tasks. Now things I do daily or weekly, I don’t write them down. I only write down tasks out of my normal routine. I also have another notebook in my Midori that I use for lists and thoughts. Since it is small, I carry it with me always. Since I’ve decorated it, I look at it daily. Since it is beautiful, it is with me always, even on my nightstand at night. Planner peace occurs when you find a method you will use. My binders and Life Planner were so big, I left them at home. I don’t fully trust technology, so it isn’t the best method for me. This is the first method I’ve found in years that meets all my requirements for a planner, and I’m using it.

My new obsession

I have found a new obsession, the Midori Traveler’s Notebook. I’ve debated for over a year about this product until I finally gave in two months ago. It has been two months, and I’m in love. I’m in love to the point I moved my planning from my Erin Condren Life Planner to the Midori Passport. I love my Erin Condren, but to carry it with me, I had to carry a special bag or purse. I don’t follow the current trend of big purses, so to have a planner in my purse that I use is perfect. I use my Midori to plan and keep lists and it is wonderful. What do I love about the Midori? It is gorgeous. It looks old and loved and the leather feels and smells wonderful. I have two thin books and one fat book in my passport. A kraft folder is the only other insert I use. My passport is fat and the inserts sit outside the cover a little. I am a perfectionist, yet this imperfection doesn’t bother me.

I carry my Midori with me everywhere, in and outside the house. I can’t wait to take it to the Smoky Mountains at the end of the month. This little gem has kept me entertained for hours by planning, doodling, drawing, journaling, and list making. If you are debating about a Midori or a Midori style notebook, I strongly encourage you to make the leap. I love the original Midori and it is my preference. Before you invest in the notebook, know your purpose and personality. A fauxdori may be a better option for you than a Midori. If you do the research and listen to your heart and not outside opinion, you will find the right notebook for you. Pinterest and Etsy will lead you to additional resources on the Midori. If you search Midori Traveler’s Notebook in YouTube, you will find a lot of wonderful information. One of the videos, Midori 101 will give you the basics.