the planner of choice...three years running

I should have posted this post in December.  It is kind of late in the year but hey this will give you some ideas for next year if you already have your planner purchased.

This is the planner that I use.  This is my third using it and will have a tough time changing to something else.  I found this planner three years ago while we were stationed in Hawaii.  The local Walmart carried it and I fell in love with it.  I use the monthly view to get an overall schedule of what's going on that month.  Then the weekly schedule is GREAT for planning my to-do list and business list.  On the weekly pages I run a line down the middle of each day so that I have better use of the daily lists. Sat & Sun I leave the way they because I work hard Mon - Fri to NOT work my business on the weekends.

BlueSkyImg.com

Cover & Monthly

Weekly

I love the colors and themes that they come out with every year.  In fact this year I had three different designs that I loved and had a tough time choosing which one to purchase.  They have several sizes, designs and styles to choose from. 

I use Washi Tape to mark off things of two or more days.  I love the look and the way that it helps to make my planner work better for me.

 Check out their website link below and see what they have available.

https://www.blueskyimg.com/1/Detail/July2014June2015AnaleisWeeklyMonthlyPlanner8511

when enough "stuff" is enough...

So what do we do when you get your craft store coupons in the mail and in your emails?  Yep, we go shopping, or at least some of us do.  I have even resorted to only purchasing just the one item that I get 40% - 75% off coupon.  BUT that is not the challenge here.  I know how to be frugal.  I know how to shop with coupons.  I know how to safe big bucks.  

What I have a challenge with is when enough is truly enough?

I have more than enough STASH to make so many things.  I could save money and space if I could just stop shopping.

Sometimes it just takes a different approach to what needs to be done or not done.  I needed to find a reason to stop purchasing more stuff when my spaces are already full and more so.

I made the decision to start reorganizing.  When I started doing this it took me down another road, one that I had not seen before me or even considered.  By organizing and freeing up physical space I felt different.  That then led to no desire to fill the freeing space.  What a new concept.  It was so new and refreshing that I really had to just let it sit and be with it for a while.  I'm telling you that it felt good.  I have gone for two months now and not purchased anything.  This is a true victory!

purging my "stuff"

There are times when the amount of creative "stuff" that I have can be overwhelming.  When you have too much stuff it becomes a distraction in your daily projects.  This is where I have to start the process of PURGING my stuff down to a manageable level.  There are some things that you can do without and probably never should have purchased, therefore it is necessary to let them go.   

I start the process with one container/drawer at a time and decide what is important and pertinent to what I am working on, at the present time.  If it has no purpose then I let it go.  Once I have gone through all of my containers, and this may make a week or two,  then I can relax and enjoy the space it gives me. 

There are some things that I keep no matter what.  For instance, I almost never get rid of any of my tools.  I used to do this and then I found myself purchasing the same tool down the road a bit and regretting getting rid of it.  Funds were being spent in things that weren't necessary to do so.  So the tools stay!  I have become very selective when purchasing tools.  I only purchase the tools I need.  Otherwise I could run out of storage space for all of my revolving stuff. 

Occasionally I will let go of a tool here or there, but not very often.  One thing that you could do, if it's something that you don't use very often, is date tag it.  Once the date tag is tacked to the item and if you use it enough times in year then you keep it.  If it is something that you don't use very often you will be able to see just how much space it is taking up and how often you use it.  If it is something that you don't use more than once a year and really truly could do without then you could decide whether to let it go or not.