Wednesday, March 30, 2016

March Favourites!







Another month has come and gone. I really can't believe that we are already hitting April, it seems like this year is going way to fast. 

Anyway let's talk March favs shall we?


1. My rain noise app. 
I've always had trouble sleeping and decided to investigate some way to help me fall asleep better. One thing I knew was that I loved the sound of rain and that I found it super relaxing. So at the end of Febuarary, I started using the Rain, Rain app on my phone and I am obsessed. The app gives you lots of options of rain noises as well as fire crackling, beach sounds and birds sounds. There's also a timer so that it isn't going all night and you can adjust the sound settingsI know that if I turn this on and I will be asleep in 20 minutes or so.
The best part is it's free, so if you have as much trouble sleeping as I do, go get you some.



2. Blue Bloods.
I've had this show sitting in my Netflix queue for ages and mostly because it had Tom Selleck in it. Tom Selleck as in Richard from Friends guys, or from Three Men and a Baby ( a movie I had an oddly large obsession with as a child). I find him very good looking okay.. I don't know what it is but I do :P Anyway all I really knew was that it was a cop show and Mr Selleck was in it. So one day when I had nothing else to watch I clicked on it. It did take me a few episodes to get into it but I am now obsessed! Now that uni has started back I'm not getting through shows as fast and there are 5 seasons but I getting there. Check it out if you're into cop/family drama shows.


3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit
The most beautiful palette ever. This was actually a Christmas present from one my best friends Jess (Thank you Jess!) and I am so obsessed with it. I use it every day whether it's just the highlight or the blush as well. I even use the darker bronzier one as a blush, it gives off this great sunkissed look. Every shade in palette goes so beautifully with my skin tones which for a paler girl is pretty awesome. Unfortunately, it was a limited addition for Christmas but I'm sure they will bring it out again at the end of the year. Keep your eyes peeled.

4. Birkenstocks
Before uni I decided to I would purchase myself a really comfortable long last pair of shoes, something I could wear during the summer. After talking to many friends and doing my research I decided Birkenstocks were the answer. And I have to say I'm totally sold, I've always had an issue with flatter shoes as I have high arches but these are so comfortable.  I got the Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor in Black which are the normal black ones with a toe separator like jandals. Though they do take a bit to mould to your feet once they are there they are so comfy. I'm already looking at another pair, there are some rose gold ones on ASOS that have my name all over them.




5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Okay so technically I only saw this a few days ago but I've been excited about it all month and more since the trailer came out. Let me tell you it did not disappoint. I mean the writing is great, the cast is fab and the plot is super clever. I'm not going to spoil anything but it completely brings in that idea of a 'big fat greek wedding' and updates us on everything that has happened in the past 8 years after we see Toula and Ian with their daughter. If you are as big of fan of the first one and Nia Vardalos writing then run and watch it now!





What were you guys loving during March? I would love to know
Anyway I hope that April treats well :)

Love Louise xo

'Take risks. Ask the dumb questions. Fail if you have to, and then get up and do it again'
Jacqueline Novagratz



Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Let's Plan!









In my 'Ready, Steady, Action' blog, I talked about my goal to maintain planning to keep my life organised and my new Plum Paper Planner. Well today I thought I'd show you one of my layouts for my planner, for my first week back at Uni.
Now I am not a professional planner like some of the girls on Youtube and my stickers often end up crooked but I find planning so relaxing and can't wait to plan each week.


Here is my layout from the previous week, its a little simpler than this coming week,

Let's start with how I pre-plan. I have all my class readings, important dates like babysitting or nannying jobs, work hours and other things saved into my iPhone calendar. I then use these weekly post it notes to write down what is happening each day, including when my payday is if I have any subscriptions renewing, tv shows and when I want to work out. Here is a blank spread before the magic.


For this spread, I choose to use my blue & gold theme from Paper Heart Cut Outs. It's actually the November colours of the Erin Condren last year but I love this combination and loved this kit.
I also supplemented this kit with TV & asterisk stickers from Linniz Planner, quarter boxes from   Sweet Lilac Designs, Peaceful Minds Design and Ellie Belle Prints, half boxes from Sweet Lilac Design, Peaceful Mind Designs and Beliza Shop. Icons like the medicine bottle from Ellie Belle Prints, a planner from Peaceful Minds Designs & the unicorn pooping a rainbow from Planner Stickies. (cause that's fun right!)

The full kit from Paper Heart Cut Outs

For my layout I mostly followed what I have seen other planners online do ( My favourites are Scribble Prints Co, Glam Planner, Living the Wife Life & Kirstenmichelle) I started from the bottom up, with my Little Things. For me, I include what I'm cooking for dinner that night, my hydrate stickers, my work hours, tv shows & workout schedules. Obviously, these differ each week and day but I do like the structure and look of it, however, I don't think I need to do it every week. I then do a To Do list that I can fill out each day with reminders I haven't put on already or tasks that I suddenly think of. I always have the same two ones on most days To Do List which is to make my bed and to get something out for dinner that night. They probably seems kinda silly but I like being able to tick those things off each day. Above that is my Today stickers with what I'm doing each day. Each day varies in how busy I am, what readings I have etc. Anything I miss because it hasn't come up yet, I can just add to my To Do List is need be, but everything under Today is things that I know are going to happen or that are super important (like my gym membership renewing). Under Sunday, I also have a To Go & a To Clean as Sunday is the day I try and get as much done as I can. Uni work, Grocery shopping, cleaning, it's my one day where I don't have any work so I try and fill it with jobs I need to do.  Also, this week I have two half boxes under my Little Things which are for my lunches for the week, so I can write what I am going to make. There are only two as I am having lunch with friends twice this week if it was any other week it would be more. 

Spread before writing



spread after writing (please excuse the handwriting)


Overall I am super happy with the way this spread came out though my handwriting is super crappy and my sidebar is lopsided which is going to bug me all week but that just small potatoes. I love planning so much and I know that I will get better with practice.


So there's little PWM sort of blog, I hope you enjoyed getting a look on how I plan. If you're interested in more blogs like this let me know.

Hope you are all have a fab day.


Louise xo

Being organised leaves more room for spontaneity-
Kimberly Pappas


Links
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/PaperHeartCutOuts
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/LinnizPlanner
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/EllieBellePrints
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/PeacefulmindDesign
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/SweetLilacDesigns
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/beliziashop
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/plannerstickies
Glam Planner https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHJu7oxeMYVd-W9LCsuOKg
Scribble Prints Co https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6yxLSJqenUmN3mQkiFobLQ
KirstenMichelle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFUDsV3wPDFYejDRYqHo3LA
 LivingtheWifeLife https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJOsR0hI75U4scAa40ZWYPw