adorable sticky notes

Organising is more fun when there is a reason to enjoy it - and what better way to increase this enjoyment than through the use of cute sticky notes! I got these two sticky note sets from Artbox (don't worry, I don't work for them, I just love their stuff!) and they are just so adorable that sometimes, I find it really difficult to actually use them! Dilemma.

To add to the cuteness, I also have the two following sticky note sets too. They are designed to be like books so that they fold over (you can just see the faint outline of where you are meant to fold).

I'm a sucker for cute stationery and these sticky notes actually make me want to organise stuff and actually be busy!

march review!

Here are the things I couldn't have lived without in March 2012:

1. Of course, what else would be number 1?? My Temperley for Filofax; The Affair! I'm simply in love with this Filofax and I still am after a month and a bit - and this has never happened before with a Filofax. With my Vintage Rose Finchley, I fell in and out of love with it but with The Affair, I just can't help but stare at it sometimes.

2. The colour pink! From coral to baby pink to blush tones, I just can't get enough of it. 

I bought the top on the left recently 

3. My Taste Card

I ate out once a week this month and the discount that comes with this card was so worth it. Because my last exam for this degree (ever! Well, that's if I passed...!) was on the 28th of February, I caught up with friends in March and to do this, we went out to eat.

4. A Simple LBD

For those who don't know, LBD = little black dress. Over the course of March, I had a few formal events and whenever I found myself having to get ready in a rush or in a panic over what to wear, I always went back to this dress from Zara. Add a flashy necklace and a jazzy cocktail ring and I'm set for the evening!

What were the things you couldn't live without in March?

personalisation!

My Flex by Filofax notebook (the thinner version) is currently in use as my 'dissertation' notebook.
To brighten up a tedious project, I've used coloured Muji 0.5mm gel pens!

To brighten up organisation in my Filofax... I have done the following...

This is my 'To Visit' restaurant list. I've brightened it up by
writing in a way that is different in each row so that it looks more
interesting to the eye.

The use of post-it notes cut up into smaller sizes can increase the
room for writing things in my Filofax. It also increases the aesthetic
appeal when I open it up on the 'Today' tab.

Writing scary things in a scary way makes my Filofax more interesting;
well, it does to me anyway! 

As said before in a previous post, the use of stickers can also make my Filofax more 'personal' too.

Colouring in the foods that are in season in each month makes
a two-tone page come to life.

And finally, something else personal too! My sister is really, really good at art (though she's doing a Chemistry degree at Imperial College too at the moment; so artistic and brainy - not fair!) and she drew this for me to put in my Filofax. My hole punch came in very handy here and the picture is of a teddy I've had for years and so has sentimental value to me. 

What do you do to brighten up and personalise your Filofax? I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve the personal quality of my Filofax :-)

one month check in with The Affair

Due to the high (and some may say extortionate) price point of The Affair, I have decided to do a post where I 'check in' on it after a month of solid use.

Before I do so, let me give you an idea of how I have always treated my Filofaxes!

I mindlessly throw it into my handbag before I head into university every day because I'm always in a rush when it comes to leaving - just to ensure I arrive to lectures/tutorials/labs on time. I also put it in with a bottle of water, food, pens, etc. I do surface clean it from time to time but it's not uncommon for me to see a pen mark or something on a Filofax within a few months of use.

Anyway, here is the update.

The lace has held up well (apologies for the colouring, my phone camera is a bit rubbish):

None of the lace has come off and it is all still stuck on the leather underneath it. The patent piping has also held up well and none of the stitching has come off!

This is how thick my Affair looks like - I put in a smaller Flex notebook as at the moment, I don't have a requirement for the big one. It makes the weight more manageable and also works better for me too. As you can see from the rings, I have literally packed the Filofax with inserts. I will be putting it on a diet soon though as I don't really use all the notepaper due to the Flex notebook.

The clasp still looks and feels as good as new. 

The inside still looks as good as new too! And here is a closer look at the pink satin...

What I love about it is that although the pink satin may not seem as attractive to some people, I like it as a good surface clean with warm water is enough to rid it of stains and just to clean it.

Moreover, the lace has surprised me with how well it is glued on and overall, I am more in love with The Affair than ever! Although it was a high price to pay for a Filofax, I can actually see myself using this for years and years to come and I have had so many compliments about it too!

As a result, look out for sales of my other Filofaxes as I need to raise some money for next year; as hopefully, I will be embarking on a medicine degree at King's College London. I need to pay for the tuition and living expenses myself though as I don't get a student loan for it. My offer is on the condition that I graduate with a 2.1 this summer - which I am on course to do - so fingers crossed!