WELCOME TO BLOGABELLA

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

NE:

So I wanted to extend a BOXING DAY sale to all of my sistahs no matter where you are 🙂

Our 20% sale applies to everything in the store and no minimum purchase!  I love the end of the year 🙂

The code to use at checkout is boxingday2010 (case sensitive)

Happy Boxing day!

Em

Since I have had a little “time on my hands” lol.. whatever that is.. Ryan has shown me a few things that have mesmerized me.  Needless to say I am now a FLASHMOB addict.. (If you ever saw the Oprah and Black Eyed Peas event in New york–that is a flashmob.. and it is amazing)

Here are a couple that I have played multiple times.. OMG..LOVE.

I am always EMOTIONAL at the airport 🙂

enjoy sistahs!

please come back tomorrow for some REAL goodness

Mwah

so used to sitting down and writing this post..LOL

I wanted to wish all of the sistahs a HAPPY and HEALTHY HOLIDAY.. and I will miss you although I am not sure if you are even there?  Where is everyone?  can’t you say HI or something?  LOL  just kidding.  You can just come and read and linger.. it’s a’ight.

Also don’t forget to show your support for da bella on SPLITCOAST.. don’t forget to be my FRIEND on FACEBOOK and show da LOVE

Have a wonderful FOOD infested, LOVE infested, FAMILY infested wonderful holiday

Mwah to da sistahs who will be able to finally relax

Em

Hiya sistahs!  hope your week was great and that yesterday’s post made you giggle..I am still giggling.

Since the end of the year is approaching, I feel like the timing is appropriate to discuss another one of my “obsessions”… JOURNALS.. AGENDAS.. PLANNERS.. DIARIES.. PENS.. STATIONERY LOL.  Yes, one of my “secret obsessions” is watching my PVR’d  Judge shows.. but this is another one.

It always interests me how people organize themselves time wise since I am unable to (lol) but the irony of it all is that I just love all things FILOFAX or any other make like it.  One of my resolutions for 2011 is my schedule.  My time.  Time to make for ME.  Time to spend with my children who REALLY are craving it. Who REALLY need me. This year I am going to take that time.  I promised myself that and I promised THEM that.  And they are very excited I might add ,as am I.  I will discuss some further resolutions later on next week but wanted to get this one started and see what you sistahs use to organize your time.  I do have an Iphone but I cannot use the calendar in there .. I need to write things down in order to remember them SOMETIMES..lol

Ok so this is a little portion of my Planner collection

Ok I am not gonna bore you with ALL the pictures..LOL.  But I would LOVE to know what your “system” is?  What do you use to schedule your time?  If you love this as much as I do, I would recommend visiting 2 great blogs PHILOFAXY and PLANNERISMS.. they are amazing! and from there, you will find a whole new world.  Now don’t get me started on office supplies..LOL

Stamping is a very important part of my life (it better be! LOL).. I use my stamps in different areas.. my painted art work, my moleskine journal, my daily agenda… these things are MINE.. my inspiration.. my safe place and the stamps that inspire me are going to be in my happy place too!

So there you have it.  One of my favorite things that thankfully can incorporate MORE of my favorite things! LOL

Mwah to da sistahs who DON”T think I am cuh-RAZY

Em

Sistahs,

this is gonna be short and sweet but HILARIOUS..  Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post.. one of my favorite subjects 🙂

So last night Tyler decided to have a THleep over with Adam his best friend (I cant resist mimicking Tyler’s Lithp because apparently I have one too 🙂 ).. In any event they are all excited… we prepare dinner for them (that’s FANCY for ordering pizza) and they are discussing all they have planned for the evening.. (need I say that they had spent the whole DAY together..LOL).. (if you would like to meet Adam and Tyler again you can look at this post .. just scroll down)

So Ryan and I set up the family room with the pullout sofa with fluffy pillows and comfy covers and of course I set up Jayden’s room (she is sleeping in Tyler’s room) for one of the kids when they decide they cannot THleep together… LOL (I am a pro at this)

So they play.. and they TALK.. and they LAUGH.. and they are THneaky and having an amazing time.. then I see my Tyler walk out of the room to Jayden’s room to sleep (told ya that would happen..LOL) and I go to bed.  The house is quiet.. all is nice..

Then at 3AM Ryan nudges me in bed and says “EM… EM.. look at this!”… so I am freaked out scared and BLIND cuz i don’t have my glasses on.. I quickly pat around and find them and Ryan whispers.. there is SOMEONE in our BED and it isn’t our child!!! LOLOL..  so I look and find Adam, out cold, next to Ryan breathing heavily and VERRRRY comfy.. LOLOL.. I swear, I haven’t had a laugh like that in a LOOOONG time.  We both have NO Idea when he arrived.. LOL.  So now that I was up, I went downstairs to pour myself a drink and when I come up the stairs I see Ryan escorting Adam back to his bed .. lol.  Apparently he woke up .. stared at Ryan.. Ryan stared at him.. Ryan asked when he got there .. he replied he didn’t know and off he went back to bed.  When he woke up, I was ribbing him and he didn’t remember a thing.. he told me he musta been SLEEPWALKING….

That just made my day.. His mom and I laughed SOOO hard.  At least he is comfy in my house right?

Now I know what is gonna happen tonight..  Tyler, in the middle of the night will DEFINITELY be “sleepwalking” and arrive in our bed… we shall see.. will keep you posted..

Anyone care to share any cute kidlet stories?  Would LOVE to hear them

Mwah to da sleepwalkers

Em