Sistahs,

I know I have been a terrible BLOGGISTA for the last little while… with the holidays and a SURPRISE VISIT from PAULABELLA, I haven’t had much time :(.  Paula decided to come and visit as a surprise to me and the kidlets and Ryan!  The kidlets are in LOVE with her.. they can’t get enough of her.. even my little Jayden who isn’t the “warmest” of sorts, was ON TOP of her..LOL.  We did lots of fun things.. visited stationery shops, paperies, and of course, my FAVORITE planner/agenda/filofax shop in the quaint little area of YORKVILLE here in Toronto.  If you are ever in the area, I would HIGHLY recommend visiting LAYWINES.. Peter Laywine and his staff are the most helpful and of course with my ongoing SEARCH of the best way to organize myself for 2011, Tuku, who works in the store, took the time out to help me find the solution and she has!!  I know that I am not the only one searching for the “right” system.. I know between the blogs that I have mentioned in this post HERE and flickr photostreams that people are interested in it.. and combining this with a little bit of creativity and stamping.. there is nothing more fun for me!

I will explain what this new system is and I am hoping it will help you as much as it has helped me and basically made a light bulb go on in this jumbled head of mine.  It is really quite simple when you think about it… Denabella and I have actually made a game out of it..LOL.

So here is my new system.  I am of course, going to still use my amazing French 6 ringed custom made binder by l’AGENDA MONDIALE.. and here will be the inside (it is blank for now.. I CANNOT wait to start writing, stamping, inspiring and make it MINE..OMG)

Ok, so with the help of TUKU and a little bit of my own ideas, here is my 2011organizational system.. that I AM GOING TO ADHERE TO! This is one of my 2011 resolutions.. more tomorrow on what else I have been thinking about.

Ok so binder will start with a MONTHLY VIEW FILOFAX refill.. what’s special about this monthly refill is that each month is independent of the next whereby the back of one month is NOT the next month but a space for goals, appointments, notes etc.. PHENOM I tell ya

Behind this section, I have a WEEK ON 2 pages refill to expand on the month should I need it (p.s. all of the refills are in a LUSCIOUS cream colour)

Ok now HERE is the “PIECE de RESISTANCE”.. Now really I think this is BRILLIANT and I think this system will help you in ALL of your endeavors, whether it is your filing system at home, at work, and your daily planner.  It is really quite simple so it is funny that I never thought about it.  Here goes.  You buy an a-z index like this

Now I am using this index instead of tabs like “finances, books, restaurants, kids.. etc”.. Behind each letter, I have an address/phone sheet and lined CREAM paper.. so this is how it works.. I am currently searching high and low for a phone number for one of my suppliers and I CANNOT REMEMBER the name of the company..LOL.. under this new system, I would file it under the letter that I think of when thinking about this supplier… so if it is for GLUE for instance, I would file it under G.. for glue or under S for supplier.. or both!  this way, I know where to look and I will find it!  If I have a list of restaurants I would like to try, I would probably NEVER find it under the name of the restaurant.. so guess what I will do?  File it under “R” and I know that that is where to look for the restaurant.. my insurance company?  under “I” instead of their actual name :)… all CHA plans.. yup! under “C”!  Although it sounds so simple, I never thought of it.. I think I just over analyze everything and make my life so difficult all the time..LOL.. which will be another RESOLUTION.. LIVE SIMPLY.  You can do the same thing at home.. if you have warranties/manuals etc.. instead of filing it under “GE” (general electric) file it under S.. for STOVE and O for oven.. you are guaranteed to find it when you need it..  Are you as EXCITED as I am with this discovery?  probably not.. but I AM SO HAPPY..LOL.

So all you heard in Bellaland yesterday was this (me SHOUTING to DENA across the room and DENA shouting back..LOL)

DENA: “ok so would you file a NECKLACE you found on a website under “J” for jewellery or “W” for website?”

ME: “Hmmmmmmm”

ME: ” probably BOTH when in doubt”

ME: ” Ok where would you file your Banking stuff.. under “B” for bank? or “M” for MOOLAH?” LOL

DENA: “hmmmmm”.. M for Money

ME: (still trying to “stump” Dena -I also did this in the store with Tuku who uses this system..LOL.. she actually said to me.. are  you trying to stump me Em?  I actually said yes I was!).. “DENA, how about an ETSY website.. would you file it under “E” for etsy or under “w” for website” or under the item itself?”

DENA: “I think under E for ETSY”

So this was our WHOLE day of entertainment.. you see where I am going with this…LOL

So now I am back to working on my catalog (MISERABLY) and hope to finish and finalize by this afternoon and start on my next projects for CHA..  hmph

Sorry for the long winded post but when I am excited about something, and i KNOW it will help others, I GOTS to share 🙂

Mwah to da sistahs who will take advantage of the last 2010 Sale and who will start using this system 🙂

Em

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