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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

My New Erin Condren Life Planner

Hello Friends!

It's almost the new year and with it comes New Year's resolutions. Once again, I've decided to get more organized with my life. So, I jumped in with both feet and purchased my first Erin Condren Life Planner. WOOT! I could hardly contain my excitement when it arrived at my door. Sorry I'm not including the unpacking, which so many planner people do. I'm still a newbie to the planning world. I was able to customize it with my name, choice of colors, and the quote. I wish the colors would pop more in this picture. The colors are robin egg blue and choral, in case your curious.



Now you may remember, I was using a Filofax. The reason I originally went with Filofax was because it could fit in my purse, which made it nice to carry around with me. Plus, I could refill the pages year after year. Good on the pocketbook and good for the environment. However, I didn't like the daily spread and having to print out and cut all of my pages. I know I could have purchased the pages, but I was trying to save money. Remember? I hated it! The planner that is. It became a chore. As a result, I stopped using it. Oh and also because the clasp melted one summer day and I couldn't fix it. ERGH!

So why the change? After all, the Erin Condren Life Planner isn't cheap. Plus it's quite a bit larger and won't fit so neatly in my purse. My friend used the planner this past year, and I was so jealous. I loved the pop of bright colors. I loved the uplifting quote on the cover. I loved the monthly tabs. I loved the monthly calendar at the beginning of each section. I loved how each month had its own color scheme. I loved how there was room to write. I loved the stickers. But, I didn't love the vertical spread.

As it so happens, Erin Condren listened to her customers, who didn't care for the vertical design, and created a horizontal spread for the Life Planner. YEAH! That sealed the deal for me. My planner came with the month of November and December, so I had some time to practice before the new year. I'm still practicing. I haven't been a planner girl since I was in school. Ahem. Long time ago.

This is the first layout I'm willing comfortable to share. It's not perfect, but it works for me. I'm still figuring out what I need to write down each week to help me stay on top of things. When it comes to decorating, I'm still a newbie there too. There are so many people our there in the planner world who have beautiful decorated planners. Do you know how many "Plan With Me" videos I've watched? My hubby thinks I'm obsessed. With that said, I've decided to keep my planner functional and simple.



Each day has the weather marked at the top. It helps me plan what to wear for the day. My "To Do" list for each day is in the box to the right. Aren't the cute heart check boxes cute? So are the washing machine stickers. The washing machines remind me which load of laundry to complete for the day. I find if I do one load a day it's easier to keep up with, especially in the summer when I'm hanging clothes on the line to dry. Since it was Christmas week I included a countdown to Christmas using snowflake stickers. I'll post links below to the Etsy shops where I purchased the stickers.



Isabella has been keeping me company on the couch while I work write in my planner and write this blog post.



Here is this week's spread. Not a whole lot going on this week. I'm on Christmas break. Ah! I've so needed some time off to spend with family. I think my students were also looking forward to some time off. They've been working so hard this year. I hope they come back refreshed and ready to dive back in.

Well here's hoping that my Erin Condren Life Planner helps me stay motivated to keep planning and following through with those plans to help keep my life a little more organized. Do you use a planner? If so which one works best for you? I'd love to hear from you.

Happy New Year!

Blessings and Hugs,
HopeAnn

P.S. My mom gave me a new purse for Christmas that my Erin Condren Life Planner fits in perfectly. Problem solved.

Links to Etsy shops:
Rory's Sweet Addictions weather stickers, heart check boxes, snowmen, weekend and half boxes

Planner Press washing machines

My holiday stickers came from Meijer's

Disclaimer: I am in no way advertising for Erin Condren or any of the shops on Etsy. I'm just sharing the love.





Saturday, August 8, 2015

My Summer Round Up

It's been awhile since I've posted on my blog. I thought I would share some photos of the fun times we've had so far this summer.

Matt has a new job as the manager of the Vermilion Yacht Club. On Memorial Day they had a huge celebration.

Matt stands at the ready to raise the flag. 

Michael played the bass drum in the Vermilion Sailor Band.
The band was brought over on the Mystic Belle to play at VYC.

Michael and Matt after the picnic

Michael helped Matt fire the cannon for each captain
 as part of the Memorial Day ceremony.
Once school was out for summer, Michael went to Ohio State Football Camp. This year he stayed in the dorms. The camp was three days.

We're waiting in line for registration.
We were told that there was a total of 700 campers attending.

Mirror Lake

This was the introduction of the coaches in the Woody Hayes Facility.
Two of my students from Perkins also attended.


Michael spent most of his time in the Shoe. The "Bigs" worked on drills well into the evening.
But they did have time for some fun too.

Playing football in the Shoe.

Sorry it's a bit blurry. Coach Meyer spoke to the players on their first day at camp.

In June some of the ladies of the VYC held a Tea party. Each hostess designed a table for the guests who would be sitting with her. To start things off there was a raffle. While at our seats we learned Tea Party etiquette. The food and tea was divine.

Some of the items to be raffled


Michael has his eye on one of the items to be raffled. It better not be the martini set.



The men's table





We could bring our own tea cup and tea pot if we chose.





The ladies who attended the VYC Tea Party

This June Michael and I had the opportunity to travel to Tennessee with my brother Bobby and his family. It had been a long time since I had visited Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Here are a few photos from our trip.

Michael's holding a Sugar Glider. We so wanted to bring this little guy home with us.


Back row: Bobby, Michael, HopeAnn, and Jodi
Front row: Kourtney, Kaitlyn, and Krystal

The Three Musketeers 

Go Bucks! O-H-I-O



Me and my brother

Michael suits up to zip line.

Melissa, Krystal, Kaitlyn, Kourtney, and Michael

They flew on Goliath, the highest zip line on the course.

You're never to old.




On top of Old Smokey





Mining for gems



Whew! Once we returned from our vacation, Michael was off to football conditioning and then the dreaded two-a-days in August. This summer has flown by so fast.