☀︎ Scatter Chatter: Piercings, Planner Flip-through, And My Fantastic Fi...

Hey y'all! This morning I really wanted to blog, but I did not have the attention span nor the time to deal with my attention span... solution: VLOG! It's got me babbling about piercings and who knows what else, a look inside my personal Malden planner, and a peek at the gorgeous Finsbury I found at the mall the other day!



Hope you guys enjoy and have a great week!

2014 Goals

I'm not one for resolutions. I used to be; I actually kept an art journal throughout high school, and would list out resolutions in that and check them off as I accomplished them. That was back when life was a bit more predictable and I didn't have to worry about grown-up things like work and graduating college and paying bills.

Oh, to be young again!

Just kidding. I'm old enough to reflect longingly on the easy times of being 15 years old, but I'm still young enough to not want to go back.

I digress.

I know we're already two weeks into the new year, but I've had these goals written down since the last week of 2013 and have just been flip-flopping with sharing them with you all. Probably because my father is Healthy Fun & Frugal's #1 reader, and lawd knows I don't need more things for dear ol' daddyo to "check in" on. Ha.

(Love you daddyo!)

So, without further ado, my goals for this year - things I want to accomplish in 2014, but will not beat myself up about if I don't.

• Read 15 Books - this is not impressive, by any means. I started small because the real purpose behind this goal is just to get back into the habit of reading for pleasure. I know that I absolutely can read 15 books in, like, less than a month. So if and when I hit 15 books, we'll raise that number. But I'm starting small!
• Reach 140 Pounds - this is also pretty small. I lost about 30 pounds in 2013 and then that leveled off around the time that school became difficult and I got my job, so weight loss was put on the back burner. Luckily, my hard work from last year wasn't reversed, but I had a goal and I'd like to reach it!
• Maintain Employment - I like my job. I REALLY like my job. And I need money and independence and all of that grown up crap. So I want to keep my job.
• Dedicate More Time to Creativity - I found, in the last half of 2013, some creative hobbies that I really enjoy, and I just want to continue to explore and practice and enjoy these hobbies. When I dive into a creative project, my anxiety lessens significantly and I really enjoy myself, so I want to spend more time doing these things.
• Blog Your Heart Out! - I just want to blog. A lot. And make a lot of YouTube videos. I LOVE social media, and I think it's incredible how many people you can reach through one blog post - though my blog doesn't have a huge following or anything, I've still met a sizable amount of people and learned a lot with it. This goes along with dedicating more time to creativity.
• Open Etsy - I enjoy designing digital media for planners, etc. so I kinda want to capitalize on it, haha. Technically my Etsy is already opened........... more on this later when it's more of a focus for me!
• Save $1000 - I just need a savings account. With money in it.

Have a great week, y'all!

Monday Motivation: Why I Use (and love) a Paper Planner

"Hang Forever" by Ivy Levan - my latest jam

I suffer from a severe lack of motivation. Mostly I feel that there's not much ahead for me; a side effect of my many ailments is not believing in myself, not thinking that the little steps to accomplish my big dreams are worth the effort - because I don't actually believe I'll reach any of those dreams.

And that's why I use (and love) my paper planner.

My friends and family all think my planner obsession is nuts - I say it's necessary. On the lighter side of things, the act of writing, doodling, and decorating is very therapeutic for me. An hour spent planning and reviewing and decorating is a sure-fire way to relieve anxiety and bring me into the present moment. In addition, being able to customize and create a system that is 100% me and perfect for my life is awesome.

Into the deeper side of things - motivation and affirmation.

I try to treat myself like the queen that I am. ;)

In the morning, when I first sit down with breakfast, my mind is suddenly flooded with worries about things I need to get done, things I want to get done, things I have to do, and how I'm going to fit it all into my day. So I write it down. I write EVERYTHING down. There is a notebook at my desk dedicated to nothing but "brain dumps." If there's even an inkling of a feeling that I may want to remember that thought, I write it down. If it's a task for the day, I'll write it in my planner. Sometimes my list can get long and overwhelming; most days I accidentally fill up the section on my daily pages for tasks (something I'm working on - think before you write, Alexis!).

For me, seeing a full task box is something of a little challenge to myself. Most days, if there are that many things on the list, it's little things: empty dishwasher, write blog post, reorganize/clean up desk space, wash bedsheets, clean mouse/rat cage, fold laundry, archive old planner pages, etc. At first, the full task box is overwhelming, but then I actually read it and realize that if I just stood up and put my mind to it, I could have half of it done in half an hour!

For instance, yesterday, my brain was moving at light-speed trying to prepare for the new semester. I looked at my full task list and began to panic. But then I noticed that a huge chunk of my list was simple house cleaning tasks - dishes, decluttering/wiping down kitchen, fold laundry, etc. I blasted The Dubstep Dictionary on my stereo and was able to add four checkmarks to that task list in twenty minutes.

A long list can be overwhelming, but the empty check boxes sure do motivate me to find a way to get things done - MUST. CHECK. OFF. BOXES.

Additionally, I keep my planner as a sort of record. Not only of events I want to remember, but also just day to day things: why didn't I do what I wanted to do this week? What did I do this week that helped me accomplish all of my main goals? Maybe I was sick for most of the week, and that's why I got a lot of blogging done, but my room is messy. Maybe I had the week off of work and nothing to really worry about, so my apartment is spotless and I was able to kick all of my tasks in the ass. These things really help me focus on the task at hand and how to move forward and get everything done.

I use the Life Mapping Version 2 inserts from DIY Fish in my desk size Day-Timer!

And lastly: I use my planner in the traditional manner, to remember tasks and appointments. I'm a little (read: a lot) absent-minded sometimes. As a visual person, when I see my appointments, time commitments, and tasks laid out in front of me, I can be more realistic about what needs to get done, what I want to get done, and what can wait.

In all honesty, my planner is probably overkill for most people, but it works for me and that's what matters! It keeps me sane, helps me see what's important, and most importantly: it remembers dates and times.

I encourage you all to ignore the naysayers for anything in your life, today. So what if someone thinks your way of doing things is weird? You're not harming anyone, and it works for you. That is all that matters. :)

Have a beautiful Monday and a great week, y'all!

PS: I'm completely obsessed with these DIY Fish Life Mapping Version 2 inserts. I will absolutely be doing a post on those soon!

New Year

11pm on December 31st. Most people are celebrating the end of yet another year by blowing things up, drinking the spirits of the season, enjoying the company of their friends and family - I'd be lying if I wasn't doing the same!

On New Year's Eve, while I'm often attending little gatherings, I can't say I'm really socially present. I find that December 31st is the night that I most want to write and reflect; I think about what I was doing at this exact moment last year, and how different what I'm doing is right now, and all of the things that happened in the past year to cause those differences.

2013 was a weird year for me Just tonight I've been reminded of many less-than-pleasant memories of the year that I'd successfully put on the back burner for some time. That is, in addition to the ones that I was not so lucky to forget.

I completely lost myself early in 2013 and have spent the majority of it just trying to find myself again. I'm still working on it, but I'm happy to say that there has been progress.

I don't want to think about 2013. I don't want to think about 2014. I am 20 years, four months, and three days old. My life is in a constant state of flux, college is a never ending identity crisis, I feel like I'm stuck in limbo and have been for years. 2014 starts in 12 minutes. I'm going to kiss the boy that I've been blessed with for the past six years and then begin my new year - I will simply try to be the best version of myself in 2014. I will try to stay in the moment and I will try to remain content.

Happy New Year, my lovely followers, readers, lurkers - I appreciate you all so much! Enjoy yourselves as we begin another chapter in our lives; but it's just a chapter. Don't feel obligated to create the whole story!

Monday Mania: Reunion Edition!

Hi everyone! I'm sorry it's been so long... I have been SO busy. I spent the entirety of December working my ass off to sell gift cards and provide the best service to our guests at the mall... and it paid off, because two days for Christmas, I was walking to the booth with my manager and she goes, "So, do you like this job?" and I told her that I'd really been enjoying it. She then says, "Good, because we've decided to keep you permanently!" I told her I had been working really hard and I really loved it and she told me she had definitely noticed the hard work, and that was just great. I get to start the New Year on a good foot - employed! I'm so excited.

But, yeah, working through the holidays took SO much out of me. I basically only worked, slept, and tried to get all of my holiday chores done. It was insane.

For this post, I'm just going to post a ton of pictures and give you an update on my life in little tidbits, so enjoy!

Firstly, though, I want to post my current favorite song - "I Want Crazy" by Hunter Hayes. I discovered this song when an a cappella group, Home Free, performed it on the finale of the Sing Off!

Christmas came and went as it usually does. My family ended up coming to my apartment and we had a good time! I asked for a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas, and Santa Claus went above and beyond and brought me a Kindle Fire HDX. It's amazing. At first I thought I would prefer a reader alone, but as a techie, I've been LOVING this Kindle. It's so much fun, and I am loving being able to read books, magazines, blogs, the news, etc. on the same device!

Ryan got me this gorgeous necklace for Christmas. IT IS SO PRETTY.

Knightro has been staying with me since Christmas. I can't decide who's happier about having him here: him or me!

He loves sitting and looking out windows :)

• I got to see Sara Bareilles and Parachute perform at the House of Blues a couple weeks ago. It was incredible. Sara Bareilles is such a talented musician and a sweet person, and I am constantly inspired by her work.
• I finished up this semester in the beginning of December; as usual I was stressed out and a mess over school. My GPA is still a hilarious joke but it's slowly getting better, and that's what matters. The desire to drop out, however, just gets stronger and stronger and every day. I don't like school.
• Next semester I'm signed up for five classes. I'm not planning on taking all five of them; I just couldn't decide on which ones to pick so I figured I'd just decide that in the first week of class. Who knows, maybe I'll keep them all! I am trying to take it easy next semester for a few reasons: to get my GPA up, to allow more time for work since my family is going through a financially painful time right now and I'm turning 21 this year and I want to be able to support myself more, to allow more time for stuff I enjoy and is therefore good for my mental health (a cappella, taking some craft classes here and there, cooking, etc.), and a million other things.

Here's my current weekly setup in my desk-size planner.  Not sure how I feel about it. I've used the last few months as test runs for setups that I like, but I really want to be set up for the new year in a more uniform way!

In a Secret Santa exchange online, I received these beautiful Flavia monthly calendars - I'm in love! Each month is a different color. I think it's perfect.

My little brother got me this super appropriate calendar for Christmas. I can't wait to look at it for a year straight.

Hooray for calendars! Check out my first planner video on YouTube, too:

I GOT A NEW BABY DUMBO RAT AND SHE IS SO CUTE AND I AM LOVING HER SO MUCH

I named her Britta, after the character on Community!

Here's Home Free, my Sing Off favorites, performing "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. This performance is killer. Just watch it. You'll understand when you're done.

Knightro enjoys just sitting and staring at my rats and mice.

Hope you all had a great holiday and a wonderful New Year! There will be more updates now that the holiday season is over - no worries :)

"Tired" doesn't even begin to describe it.

I am exhausted. I am burnt-out and broken down. I am over-worked, under-motivated, and yet my mind is constantly racing with ideas, to-do lists, worries, needs, wants. My body can't keep up with my mind and my mind can't keep up with the world.

Just like my energy, my attention span and motivation are waning. If I am not staring aimlessly at nothing, my brain is constantly coming up with new thoughts that MUST(!!!!!) be remembered or taken care of or written down. And so most of the time, I am left with either an unrealistically long to-do list, or an overwhelming plague of disappointment because I couldn't remember that idea, that thing I needed to do, that blog post I wanted to write.

I am at work right now; a place I am finding myself quite often lately. I don't really mind it. The job is wonderful, for the most part, and as far as I'm aware, I'm not disappointnig the higher-ups in any way. However, that damn mind of mine is constantly bringing me down.

While at work (in down time - usually there are lulls at the booth), I wanted simply to study for the statistics final that I have tomorrow at 7am.

Instead, I started typing up a simple study guide, and quickly gave up for lack of attention and anxiety over the fact that I have a 7am final and I won't be home until 11pm at the earliest and I'm far less than prepared for this final than I'd like to be and college is overwhelming and I don't know what I'm doing with it and at this point I'd rather just drop out.

See what I mean? It's overwhelming.

All week I've been trying to take a break from staring aimlessly or endless task lists by sitting down and writing in my journal, catching up on some television, scrapbooking, whatever. Just something relaxing; preferably something that requires some focus and creative energy.

My theme for anything I've done this week has been "slow down." It's written in giant, colorful letters on at least two days in my planner this week.

The problem, however, is that I feel like I don't have time, and maybe I don't. I don't know.

All I know is that it's finals week, my psychiatrist is missing in action, my therapist can't get me in to see her, CVS is out of my crazy pills, and constantly failing at keeping up with my racing mind is not helping.

So, my dearest followers, I have some advice. Whether you're dealing with work stress, school stress, family stress, holiday stress, something else, all of the above, whatever:

Slow down.

The laundry will be folded. The groceries will be bought. The checkbooks will be balanced and regardless of the outcome, this semester will be over soon. And no matter what happens, you will feel better when it's all over and you know that, if anything, you survived.

I'm trying to take this to heart, myself. I have a massive problem with not living in the moment - quite common among those who suffer from notable anxiety issues. Earlier today - and I wish I remembered what I had actually thought - I told myself that I'm not living in the moment. I was living in the two hours from now, ten hours from now, a week from now, a decade from now, and I needed to snap back into the moment.

I have since been brought back to my usual state of future-panic, but I had a nice morning of peace in which I was able to run some necessary errands (deposit check at the bank, pay rent, try to fill prescription, check mail, get textbook from Ryan's) while enjoying Christmas music and not panicking about the fact that I'd be leaving for work in a few hours and I wish there was more time in the day.

Just slow down every once in a while. Regardless of how I do on my final tomorrow, or how my grade comes out in the class, I know I'll be significantly more relaxed on Monday when all of my work is done for a month.

Your kids will still hug you, even if you can only provide a $50 Christmas. Your parents will still love you, even if you fail that test. Your significant other won't hate you if some comfort or ease in the relationship is sacrificed in order for you to do something you love.

And if they do, maybe they need to slow down, too.

Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Cover by Marius Beck)

I've always loved "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus. Despite her reputation and, in my opinion, kind of odd music video, I really admire the raw emotion she's put into the song. You can really feel that wrecking ball she's talking about.

Eric Whitacre, an incredible contemporary composer whose work I have always loved performing in choirs, posted this cover on Facebook earlier - and just WOW. It's good.

Happy Sunday!

Monday Mania - freebie time!

Good morning everyone! It's Monday! AHHHHHH!

This here is the calm before the storm. I work at a mall and this week is Thanksgiving week.

Sigh.

I'll be working around 35+ hours per week in the month of December and it's going to be pretty wild. I don't even want to think about it. SO I WON'T.

The family is coming to Orlando for Thanksgiving this year! I'm so excited. I've missed those crazies a ton, and I'm excited to host my first Thanksgiving!

My brain is mush, but I do have a few gifts for you all! I'm working on designing a printable planner for 2014, so I started by trying out my skills on some 2013 pages. Here are some weekly pages and to-do lists for the rest of the year :) These are made for a classic/desk size/A5/5.5" x 8.5" planner, so keep that in mind when you're printing it out! Click on the weekly pictures to download, and click on the link below the to-do list to download that!

Matching To-Do List

As you  can see, these are super simple layouts - great for customization (washi tape, anyone?!).

Enjoy!

Friday Five!

Happy Friday y'all!

I've had a week. It's been busy and stressful and then yesterday was just sad.

BUT. It's a new day. And we are on to a Friday Five. And I'll get the sadness out of the way first.

1. Yesterday, one of my dear baby mouse friends died. It happened really fast and was just SO DEPRESSING. April, the black one, is the one that died. She had been acting totally normal! Even when I saw her yesterday morning. And then I passed by the cage in the afternoon and noticed she was acting weird - breathing really funny and just standing in one place. So I picked her up and ten minutes later she was gone. It was sad. I'm still in shock and pretty upset, but I'm also really thankful that all of the other mice and my rats are still acting normal and seem to be feeling okay. In honor of April, here's that adorable little mouse rat music video.

2. I got my work schedule for December yesterday. LAWD. Lawd. It is indeed going to be a busy month. Here's a picture of my calendar for December - LOOK AT ALL OF THAT ORANGE. Lawd.

3. The Planner Addicts  Facebook group I've been active in the past few months is closing the first of December, as announced by the creator yesterday. I think it's a little strange that grown women (like, these women are middle-aged! Moms and stuff!) are getting so dramatic and rude on Facebook that an entire group of thousands of people has to be deleted, but whatever. Anyway, out of that announcement came the birth of a million and one new groups, so I took some pictures of my planner to post to a couple and show people. I wanted to show off my weekly spread, because I designed it myself and it looks pretty nice!

4. I'm broke so I took all of the cash out of my bank accounts and stuck it in envelopes and stuck those envelopes in a pouch. It's working alright so far. Except for the part where I forgot to get cash when I went to work the other day... that wasn't exactly the best. Once I work out all of the kinks in this cash budget of mine I want to post more about it! You know, to go along with the "frugal" part of this blog ;)

5. Last but not least, I played with a kitten last night while wearing footie pajamas. It was quite an important moment in my life, and so here is a sped-up video of me playing with the kitten whilst wearing footie pajamas, with dramatic music in the background.

Andddd that's all for today, folks! Hope you all had a better week than I did, and have a great weekend! Look forward to some more posts and videos coming soon - I've got lots of stuff in the works. :)

Friday Five? Nope, Friday FREEBIE!

My brain is mush and I can't think of five things to write about, so I'm going to give you all a free planner!

As you all know, I am a planner addict. I love my planner. I couldn't life without it - I'd be lost.

This week, I was thinking about making my own weekly pages for my Daytimer when a lady on the Planner Addicts Facebook group asked if anyone had a simple, printable weekly planner for the same size for the rest of November! So I went ahead and made one through the end of December, and I decided I'd share it with my lovely blog readers!

I love the vertical layout of this planner! I will always prefer vertical to horizontal weekly formats. I also really love the simplicity of the design - it allows for lots of personalization. As you can see, I love my Washi tape.

Here's what a blank spread looks like - simple, clean, and effective.

Thanks for looking! Click on the above pictures to download the weekly pages for November and December.  There will DEFINITELY be more to come. :)