Runs on Coffee and Cream

My goal for 2017 was to get more organized. I found myself stressed out and scatterbrained in 2016 and I vowed to make a change.

Since I opened up the pages of my new planner I have found myself obsessed with it. I actually enjoy making time to sit down with it and plan out my upcoming week and make to-do lists for the next day. I'm sure it helps that I've loaded myself up with planner stickers and washi tape to make the pages more fun and inviting to look at.


It's only been about two and a half months but I wanted to share some dos and don'ts that I've encountered since starting to use my planner daily:

• use paper clips, bookmarks or other things to draw attention to certain pages. I find it easier to locate important pages with these items; such as my list of books to look up, and my 2017 convention dates. 
• be creative whether it's with stickers, doodles, washi tape, or coloured pens. It will add some fun to your planner which will make you want to keep coming back to it.
• don't use too many stickers. I killed the month of February with heart stickers that I found cheap at Michael's. Well, it left little to no room on certain days. So be aware of the space you leave to write in.
• use the internet as your inspiration for planners. Both pinterest and instagram have some amazing planner ideas and layouts to keep you organized and on track.
• don't judge and compare your own planner to some of the works of art online. Some people have been addicted to planners for years and some just have a natural creative talent to make things look pretty. You are the only one who needs to be happy with your planner!
• find what stickers work best for you. I've found I need checkbox stickers because I make constant to-do lists. Etsy is a great source for all different types of planner stickers.
• don't be afraid to make mistakes. I use pen for most of my planner and I've just started crossing things out if I make a mistake. No one is going to proofread what I write or criticize my errors so who cares?
• have fun and remember the planner is meant to help make life easier!

Found at Michael's.

Look how cute these are! These are from Plannable Designs on Etsy.

Found at Michael's.

Found at Michael's.

I'm not sure who decides what will become trendy each year but I'm not complaining about the trend I've been seeing everywhere lately: unicorns! I feel like I'm a kid again. I rocked unicorns and rainbows as an 80s and 90s kid. I collected the original My Little Ponies and thought rainbows were fantastic thanks to Care Bears.

Michaels Craft Store has been filling my unicorn love with planner stickers and washi tape. But I'm itching for more unicorn things...


Clockwise from top right:
1. Cute Shit Unicorn Pouch
2. Unicorn Snot
3. Fairyland Sticker Kit
4. Unicorn Tote
5. Magical Unicorn Boxed Note Cards

I foresee more unicorn things in my future since it makes my inner child incredibly happy! No wonder I have an obsession with glitter eyeshadow and nail polish.

xo Jen

I'm having a hard time believing that January is just about over. This month has been all about new things and new beginnings; we've been organizing and decluttering, I've been buying new fabric and starting new sewing projects for cons, and I'm trying to organize my life with an in-depth planner.

New fabric!

More new fabric! How great is the Homer one?

The start of my addiction to planner stickers.

A winter walk at Bell Park.

That's a frozen Ramsey Lake in front of me.

The turtles are getting so big.

Logan being super adorable but a really bad assistant in the craft room. He believes all fabric and envelopes are for him to lie on.

I hope January was a great month for you! I'm excited to see what February has in store.
xo Jen

I'm addicted, obsessed, and so in love with all the planner stickers out there! I've been making weekly trips to Michael's Craft Store to see what stickers I can pick up with their coupons. Then there's Etsy... there are a ton of sellers that sell planner stickers and they're so cute! I've already made a couple of orders but I wanted to share the ones that top my wish list right now.


1. Sweet Treats Planner Stickers Kit 
2. Gilmore Girls Planner Stickers Kit


3. Cat Lady Planner Stickers
4. Sci-Fi Galaxy Spaceship Stickers
5. Bubble Tea Stickers

There are so many more that I've saved to my favourites on Etsy but I need to take a break and start using the pile of stickers I've acquired over the last month.

What are some of your favourite sticker sources?
xo Jen

Coffee, planners, and more coffee...

Peppermint Mocha

Lately I've been working a lot of 6 a.m. shifts that are leaving me exhausted and I'm dragging my butt out of bed every morning. And it's no secret that I'm a huge coffee lover so I've been consuming a bit more than normal to offset my tiredness. I picked up a box of Starbucks VIA Instant Peppermint Mocha Latte recently since they were on sale. I've been enjoying one every couple of mornings which have made my 6 a.m. shifts a little less horrible. They're not as good as a fresh one from Starbucks but they are a nice treat in replace of my regular coffee.

Source

Planner Stickers

The new year brought a new planner for me to fill up for 2017. I've set a goal to make use of my planner more. To control my scatterbrain, anxiety, and stress by being a bit more organized. This has created a new obsession however... planner stickers! I keep looking at them at Michael's and I'm just waiting for them to go on sale before buying more. I've also been spending way too long on Etsy looking at stickers on there too. I'll be sure to share my favourites in a future post.

Source

What are you loving lately?
xo Jen