Whoever said size doesn’t matter has never carried a notebook or planner 😉 I’m back today to discuss notebook/planner sizes. Surely you didn’t think since having found the holy grail of notebooks that my romance with stationery ended. Pst.
A Standard
Here’s a quick rundown. Paper sizes are measured on a standard paper size scale. International Standard Organization (ISO) specifies paper sizes used in most countries except for the U.S. and Canada which size their own sizing standard.
*The link provided goes in-depth about the differences between countries’ paper sizes.
There are a lot of mathematical formulas behind A, B, and C paper sizes but the common feature is that any successive paper size measurement is determined by halving the dimensions of the preceding one.
I use the ISO paper sizing chart for a few reasons. One is because I use a travelers notebook system and another reason is for ease when ordering products online.
• Click the link to learn more about this unique system. You won’t regret it 😉
Notebook size comparison
Write or Type
Analog systems are fully customizable. Did I mention handwriting is linked to mental health benefits and memory retention? A paper system can include but is not limited to planners, journals, common books, and sketchbooks. A basic notebook is a handy reference tool for meetings or classroom notes.
In today’s climate, high-tech phones have all but replaced the practice of analog systems. Computer files replaced filing cabinets. And the cloud did away with photo albums. The common denominator; access. With a handheld device and the push of a button, information is at our fingertips. This access rewards the instant gratification we’ve become accustomed to.
Similar to its predecessor notebooks store information. And with the market still intact, stationery companies have evolved, offering a variety of sizes. Just as technology has gone from a desktop to our hands, notebooks evolved from a backpack to our pocket.
On the Go or At Home?
The flexibility an analog system offers, while reaping other benefits, makes it my preferred method of recording and creating. However, I am not fully analog. I rely on technology for blogging, editing, an alarm clock, a calculator, and shopping.
As for my size preference, I utilize different sizes depending on if I am home or mobile. If I am going places I prefer easy to carry. Creating on the go is done with limited supplies. Small and minimal art is usually the result. Currently, I use a passport-sized travelers notebook. At home the opposite is true. I express myself creatively in large, sometimes oversized books. Accessibility is a key factor.
Ahhh! Beauties 😉
My journal, on the other hand, is an A5. An average size notebook. I need more room when I am writing than creating. Yes, I carry both everyday! A fun little insight: an EDC is an everyday carry. A cute acronym present in the stationery community. My journal isn’t exclusive to writing. The paper in my journal handles a variety of mediums including watercolor. I am 100% satisfied with A5 for use as my journal but I am itching to try the personal size for on-the-go creating.
That’s the beauty of analog. You can switch it up without breaking the bank. Part of the appeal of travelers’ journaling is the personalization and aesthetic. There are SO many options to choose from!! Makers create covers using all kinds of materials but the ones made of leather are a true investment. I own two leather travelers journals, a passport, and a regular size, each from different companies but both cherished tools.
Who turned up the heat? Or is that just my anxiety? I’ll go ahead and call it; anxiety. I am finding that stuffing things away tricks my mind into thinking I am doing a fine job. I have a dresser that wasn’t pictured in my last post. It is in the closet. I forgot to disclose the drawers need rummaging through. As do these few remaining boxes but I can’t seem to begin on the boxes and I’ll be honest, the dresser wasn’t in the original plan of Monday’s deadline.
My anxiety spiked as I was sorting through my binder clips. Yes, I have many to sort through. I made my way through with dignity. Fighting anxiety and negative self-talk I remembered the mandatory meeting for work at 4pm. This became my excuse to exit my studio.
Sunday: It’s My Birthday!!
The first Sunday of the month Mister and I spend the day with my Ma. Last Sunday I made enchiladas to take to my Baby Momma (my daughter’s stepmom) so we forfeit our visit until this Sunday. I woke up ready to power through the remaining boxes. One box down and time caught me at a stopping point. Now at my mothers my mind wants to be sorting. I feel distracted but I was happy to arrive at a stopping point. Who’s to say I’d be sorting if I were home.
We ventured out to lunch at an organic-focused restaurant where my daughter once worked. Ma suggested a slice of cake to celebrate my special day. I forgot to mention – Mister made me strawberries and creme cake ☺️
While eating a slice Ma suggests we take an ice cream cake home where Girl Other, Kid, and B.I.L. (brother-in-law) wait our arrival. After we shop at my second favorite store we scoop the cake and head to the house. After a short visit, we head home to our house an hour away.
Monday 🤭
It isn’t evening yet but I’ll call it. I knocked out the one box, leaving one. Mister woke up today feeling ill…probably from all the cake!! I had to run to town to get different pants for work. And now… I am ready for an early afternoon nap. Am I pathetic?
Since this has turned into a play-by-play, I’ll finish it that way. I was able to find my work pants after trying on six pairs. I also had to get new solid black shoes and I scored on those. I bought the dogs in my family their Christmas toys. And I wrapped two gifts. I’m calling it a day. The finale studio post will be once my wall system is hung, Christmas is put up, and when the stars align. Lol. Jk. I’ll do it soon. Maybe a video tour! Who knows??
How did your weekend go? Do you still have shopping left to do?
These days (sigh), achieving an aestheticlook is all the rage #trending. The social media King Kong, Instagram, dominates this trend with personal and business accounts marketing products or sharing life’s snapshots in abundant variation, however, Instagram’s popularity wasn’t instant. Ironically, once Facebook began offering advertising opportunities (inadvertently, I assume) a shift occurred creating a spike in Instagram account holders.
Instagram’s simple format boasts the art of photography, eliminating the unnecessary Facebook became. As the platform quadrupled in users, account owners began to up the ante making their entire account cohesive in design. This technique caught on like wildfire and the rest is graphic design history. Entrepreneurs and chain store moguls saw an opportunity to promote their brand using simple product images with on-brand color schemes, fitting within a square 1080×1080 frame.
Que marketersand opportunists alike
Although IG takes home the trophy for this viral design trend, bloggers assist in keeping the trend ablaze. Being a photo hobbyist for the majority of my life, I was instantly drawn to flat lay photography when I stumbled into the blogosphere. Many bloggers refer to this style of photography as stock photography.
*If you are interested in the differences between the two, click on the term(s) for exact definitions but if you are a hobbyist like myself, technicalities are details that do not apply.
UPCYCLE COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SAVE MONEY, AND LEAVE MAKE YOUR MARK.
Everywhere we look, we are met with design. Our individual preferences attribute man or nature for such displays of jaw-dropping design. Whether it is the intricate details carved in a handmade wooden pipe or monuments chiseled on a mountainside, one thing is for certain; design evokes emotion.
Design encompasses shapes, color, positioning, font, and stuff. It has long been known by marketers that there is some psychology behind colors and the emotion they evoke.
As someone who fancies design, I made the decision to establish a cohesive aesthetic for my online presence *cue the ingenuity economical* that could double as my home decor. Unfortunately, my love of pretty, shiny things isn’t a good enough cause for money to rain down on me so that I may indulge in one of my numerous passions. Whoomp, whoomp!
BUUUTTT…
There is always a but…and a glimmer of hope!! If you are a penny pincher, by choice or not, this post is for you!! If you are bored and beg for inspiration to hit you, use this post as a guide to design a life that aesthetically pleases you!! I guarantee you will be glad you did!
Before we begin I want to offer some advice: TAKE YOUR TIME. If you don’t love it, don’t keep it OR up-cycle it by giving it a fresh coat of paint. You do not have to splurge and implement all in a day. Shit…I began late 2017 and here I am in 2020 with good direction yet not completion. I have added to the mix, removed and returned, moved decor all over the house only to decide it to be a perfect fit for the porch. Each day I make small progress toward achieving an aesthetic look that doubles as on-brand photography for my website while serving a purpose in my home. I call that a bases-loaded, two strikes, two balls, out-of-the-park home run (I forget the short version of such) win-win!!
Below I have attempted to outline how I approached this feat but if you come up with more clever ideas or an easier way things can be done, by all means do so.
I. Website Content
The first step is to determine if your website content is or going to be used for personal expression or for business purposes.
Dependent on your choice and the message you want to convey, this is where you make the hardest decision of the entire process (imo).
A.Choose a color scheme
If you are designing a business website this is called branding (it is much more than deciding on a color scheme). If your site will be used for personal expression, as a photo gallery, or for connection purposes, decide how you would like to be represented using color.
Pinterest is full of helpful material in regard to this topic. You will find a plethora of detailed information but beware, there is an overwhelming amount! Proceed with caution! For all intents and purposes, I will provide you with a few that I found helpful. The chart below is for website design where colors are represented by code, not by name. The chart has the names of the color with its code out beside it. One is the RGB code and the other is the CMYK.
Sourced from Pinterest
II. Prop Sourcing
A. Pictorial Content
Whether you choose to blog using an informal format or a professional one, your website design and graphics should scream you. Adding graphics is the perfect way to enhance your content and keep your readers interested. It breaks up the monotony of words and presents your readers with a visual tool. If you want to really impress your following, add a video that pertains to your post.
Talk about bonus points!! That sets the bar for catering to your audience and their individual learning styles!
Please do not fall into the trap of thinking you must have camera x or super expensive lighting. I use my phone for taking my photos and good ole sunlight for lighting. It doesn’t get any better than that, although, unforgiving shadows can become a challenge but don’t allow that to stand in your way! Get in there and click from all different angles to find the perfect shot. There are thousands of photo editing apps available and my personal recommendation is to choose one filter that you use on every pic you post. Doing so will contribute to your overall aesthetic.
Okay, quick checklist…
✔ You have made your decision concerning the message you want to share with others (content).
✔ You have chosen your color palette (branding).
Now it is time to turn to your home for props. Use your immediate surroundings as a source for inspiration. Chances are, if you know enough about a topic to dedicate a website to it or invest time and money into creating a business, you have plenty of props at your disposal.
Using a white surface or background enriches the quality of your images. It will assist in presenting your products in a consistent and clean fashion. White gives you the freedom to add seasonal colors or on-brand colors without distracting from the product itself. You will find that having a white background helps with lighting as well.
Idea generator
Business/Professional Website
• for any business, office supplies are the perfect, on-hand prop there is!
• showcase products that are sold on your site. Photograph individual products to give yourself a backup of ready-to-go snapshots. Surround your product with seasonally themed decor to add a more personable touch.
• dig for any old home decor that you may have stored away like picture frames, organizing bins, boxes, old books…I could go on forever. If it doesn’t fit your color scheme, paint it!!
An old muffin tin with two coats of white spray paint upcycled to use for bead and charm storage.
Personal Website
• grab and pile pillows with cases that match your personality. Add a blanket, light a few candles, and an open book. Shoot the photo from above, landscape, and edit.
• place your laptop on your desk or any flat surface. Stage by adding a coffee mug and seasonal flowers.
• for showcasing your creative side, snap a photo using your supplies.
III. Create graphic images
Canva makes it easier than ever to create your own website graphics. If you have never heard of or used this app, GET IT!! It is a blogger’s best friend! They offer a free version and a paid-for premium version. I’ll give you a quick rundown of how it works (the free version).
• snap a pic
•open Canva
•choose a template or use the blank option formatted for the platform of desired use
•upload your snapshot. Adjust by using a filter, adding on-brand fonts, scale the transparency and much more
•title your image. Don’t forget to add a brief description of your custom graphic image for the visually impaired (alt-text)
•download your masterpiece or share it directly from the app
•insert your design into your post, poem, lead page, email header, or share it on social media
•Bam! You are done!!
>Pro Tip: make sure to add the name of your business or the name of your personal site to each graphic image you design. I place mine in the title. This optimizes marketing efforts and SEO. On WordPress and Pinterest, once you have uploaded your graphic design, you can link the image back to your site or anywhere you would like to take your reader.
Even if you choose to not do your own photography, Canva is a useful tool that formats social media, email, and website graphics but it also formats your designs for at home printing OR you can order prints from the printing service it offers!!
I am not an affiliate for Canva but I personally recommend it.
It is my hope that you draw inspiration from this post. The list here is short, indeed, but keeping things simple seems to push me to achieve such a feat. This began as a photo prop journey and has helped me to change the way I see things. Doing so has opened up a world of possibilities! Repurposing household items that I have acquired multiples of, has significantly reduced clutter and surprisingly added ease of access. It has challenged me to think outside of the box while adding a spark of pride for my creations.
If you give it a go,let me know!! Much love, y’all!!
It is now the new year. So much pressure is put on the new year and I realized this as I scrolled through reading the posts of other bloggers. I am not putting that pressure on myself. I am aware that life happens and that I am not in control but I will do what I am capable of doing to pass on positivity and learn about myself in the process.
January
I have set my goals for January. The target goal assigned to this month is: Be More Present (most significantly as a mom)
Keeping it simple they are:
Do not take my phone to the field (soccer).
One hour each time Kid is with me is to be spent with no technology
Journal daily
My secondary goals are:
Exercise 30 minutes a day. Not strenuous or exhaustive. Stretching is good.
Use the focus mode setting on my laptop.
Listen to a podcast about mindfulness. Do not do anything while listening.
Write a gratitude list every morning.
Exercising
I did not list exercise as a goal to lose weight. I am at a good weight but I would like to tone the loose, hanging skin (as tears drop my eyes). I am no spring chicken and at 40 I need to keep momentum for health purposes. I am not one who is committed to eating healthy or exercising. I was gifted with decent enough genes that I haven’t worried about it. This isn’t to say that I’ve never been overweight because in my alcoholism I weighed a hearty 200 pounds. When I quit drinking I was able to shed 60 pounds pretty quickly. Shew but with that came flabby skin that I am self-conscious about. Well, I start today and will begin with stretching.
Podcast & Gratitude
Ok. I have been waiting with bated breath to share with y’all my absolute favorite podcast so far. I am new to the scene of podcasts so it is possible you have discovered this one but if you haven’t, you must! If you are on any type of spiritual journey or identity journey, I highly recommend Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations. Hands down a goosebump, ah-ha type of podcast.
I listen to it on Spotify but I am sure it is on iTunes as well. I pay monthly for my account so I am not sure if the free version offers podcasts. Each morning I have it programmed to play on my Google Home after the weather. It has been an inspiring way to begin my day.
A common denominator that the guests share about being fulfilled in life is through gratitude, love, and compassion. I will be intent on focusing on each of these individually with my target goals but also as a combined practice. Listing three things that I am grateful for in my planner helps keep me mindful throughout the day about the small things in life. I know I need it. Not because I am ungrateful but because I tend to forget about how good I have it.
When I first began Revenge of Eve my tagline was Painfully Privileged. I changed it so that I didn’t come off snobby but that is my truth. I have been fortunate throughout my life, not without pain, and I used that as a snarky tagline but ultimately removed it. My mother has provided shelter for my daughter and I over the course of my adult life. When I was actively drinking I would do good, move out, maintain, and then fall back. She has always been there to catch me and I realize not everyone has this luxury. Some may call it enabling but my Ma is not going to let her granddaughter suffer because of her mom’s choices.
Focus
Most of you are aware that I struggle with focusing. Thanksgiving night I braved the crowd and went to Best Buy with the intentions of getting a phone and walked out with an HP 2n1 Pavilion laptop. Under the setting is a mode called focus. As I have mentioned I haven’t used it yet but January will be the month. I will set the mode for one of my time blocks; 45 minutes. I will report the details in a later post. Fingers crossed it works.
Difficult Decisions
The most significant change I am considering is leaving my job at the casino. It is extremely taxing physically and in order for our shift to operate smoothly all hand must be on deck. We have run into an entitled group of young servers who do not pull their weight making the load for us senior servers too heavy to bear. At my age and with my anger, I am tired, overworked and unhappy.
I am thinking about job hunting at a local bar where it is me I rely on. Being behind a bar is my safe area. It’s me that sets up, serves my guests, cleans and makes my money. So you guessed it. If I am going to be frustrated with anyone it will be myself. I have a loyalty to my managers at the casino and that has been what has kept me there the past week. I have left my shift in complete disarray as of late. The holiday season is grueling on my body and adding the extra weight of immature, lazy 19-23-year-olds, pisses me off. It isn’t necessary. I am prepared to make these difficult decisions this year. It is myself who has to live with what I choose and I trust me now. And that feels good.
I voiced my thoughts to my manager and she asked I hang on a little while longer until she can get new staff on board. I will wait as patiently as possible for the next two weeks.
As part of my morning routine, I write the thoughts that come to mind. I wrote the above, difficult decisions, before going into work. When I arrived at work my co-worker Dawn said she had something for me. Surprised and not knowing what for my immediate response was why. She knew I had a bad day the day before and she thought a gift bag full of stickers would brighten my day, along with two pair off socks and a cute triangular hanging flag! She was right! It literally made my heart pound that she would do something as sweet as this for me. Her story and mine are strangely familiar and that is what we have built our friendship upon. This gesture added such a kind sense of compassion to our friendship. It is these type of acts of kindness that restore my faith in humanity, a smidget. 😉
An inventory of where I stand mentally, financially, and spiritually going into 2k19
I decided to take inventory of where I stand mentally, financially, and spiritually, giving me something to measure. I suppose I could add emotionally to the mix as well because it plays a vital role in our lives.
My current situation does not reflect any growth from 2018. In fact, it seems that I have gone backward. Originally I was on a 5-year plan. I accomplished all of my goals for four years even though I wasted a year and a half because I was still drinking. 2018 was the 5th year on this plan.
My goal was to be moved out of my mother’s home and into a place of my own. While I didn’t necessarily fail at this, it will not be happening. My mother’s health is not in tip-top shape. She has COPD, a hernia, and three ulcers that prevent her from eating certain foods and lifting heavy objects. She doesn’t have health insurance because she makes too much to get government-funded insurance yet not enough to be able to afford health care. She will qualify for Medicaid in two years.
She has been forced to the doctors because of pain and an inability to work but that only made her temporarily well. My fear is that as soon as I move out she will need me to move back in. I help with some of the finances around the house which takes a little off her plate but not nearly enough. She and I decided that it would be best if I stay. I feel that I have failed somewhat because I should be contributing more. It is my plan to give her at least $100 more a month in 2019.
Financially
Yes, that is a picture of my actual bank account. Don’t feel sorry for me, it is after Christmas. By the looks of this, I am starting my year off at ground zero which isn’t bad in some instances. I mean, where can I go from here? Only up, right? I keep the majority of my money in little cash envelopes in a drawer in my room but that’s not where my money is. I am broke starting the year off.
From a financial standpoint, I have always made money on a daily basis and have lived to pay my bills this way. In 2018 I accumulated my first ever savings and it totaled a whopping $3,000.00. That is a lot of money for someone who makes $2.15 an hour. It’s crazy the amount of work I do for that hourly rate and the disrespect I put up with for that matter. I do make tips but using yesterday as an example, I had two tables that didn’t tip me and guess what? I pay taxes on my sales reported on my checkout at the end of the shift. Basically, when you do not tip your server, they pay, double. No complaints, I’ve done this for 20+ years. Moving on…
Spiritually
This year is one of being honest with myself and it starts here. I have been being pulled toward being able to define my God. My God. Not the one who has a beard and sports long, wavy hair. The picture of my God is golden and that is as far as I’ve gotten. I also cringe when I hear or see the word God because my account is attached to the organized religion God. Ya know the punishing God who doesn’t allow Baptist’s to dance, the one who condemns people to hell for loving the same sex… I am changing the name God to Her so if you read any post further from here and read me talk about Her, that is what I am referring to.
I know that my God has big things in store for me not by way of money but by way of peace by helping others because that is what my soul has been sent here to do. I do not ever discuss this out of fear that it will scare others away but it is my truth. I have a gift and sense things others don’t and this year I will be tuning into the intuition that I have run from for a long time.
Mentally
Ok, I’ll admit. I have been off my meds for about a month and a half. Everything was going smoothly until a few days ago. The culprit is pms. It is common for people who suffer from bipolar, women, to experience terrible premenstrual symptoms related to increased levels of estrogen. With that said I felt a familiar enemy rise. Anger.
If you are new to these parts, I have a terrible anger problem that has caused me tremendous anguish and humiliation. Not so much fun when you try your hardest to not let it surface. Anyway, I have since taken one dose of my medication and am lucky it is instant. You ask why I quit taking, well, because I don’t like feeling like a zombie. I have been in a more comatose state on different meds and these aren’t nearly as bad as others but I am wanting to approach my mental health from a more natural perspective. BUT I recognize I probably need to take my medication first and then begin a journey of naturalness later down the road.
Emotionally
Going into 2019 from ground zero gives me ample opportunity to grow as a person, explore my creativity, help others in need, and expand my horizon. I will do so through forgiving eyes and loving heart. I am going to say no and not feel bad about it. Keeping in mind that I do not have to do anything except what advances me and my daughter. I have a tendency to volunteer my time to solve other peoples problems and that isn’t their fault, doing so continues to hold me back from solving my own.
Do an inventory of your situation and share with me in the comments. I would love to hear from you. Chat with me through email if that feels more comfortable.
Check out this more organized post about planning.
Stat!
I will go ahead and state the obvious, we are close to the end of the year and need to get our butts in gear for our first attempt at planning!
Keep in mind:
Realistic. Honest. Simple.
My spiral Fringe weekly planner and my growth notebook for 2019
Quick Recap
You should have your three goals for 2019 written out. If not, we are rowing the same boat 😉
.Pause.
-WRITE THEM NOW-
Assign each goal 4 months.
Before we go any further
Let’s write a
A Pledge to Plan
Am I cheesy?? I’m cheesy.
I think one will benefit us by reminding us a few things. Write this where it can be seen when you sit down and plan. In the front of your planner, typed and framed on your desk..get creative.
I, (name), pledge to plan in 2019. I am striving to achieve these 3 goals. (List your three). I will remember to be patient, forgiving, and persistent. Planning is a habit formed by practice and I am learning. If something isn’t working I will reconfigure my plans for next month. I am creating a customized plan that suits mine and my family’s needs and will not compare my system to anyone else’s. Everything entered into my plans will be full of intention. The plans entered are flexible because life happens and I will not quit if my plans have to be altered.
Signed xo
Next, jot down ideas of things that could be done, action, to work toward achieving the ultimate goals. These will be our mini monthly goals. I separated them into a column style, graph-like diagram. I listed at least 10 under each goal. The amount of each is up to you but it cannot be more than 16 because more will exceed your limit of 4 max each month assigned to your goal.
Do not forget that you have other aspects of life that will require your attention. Having the mini monthly goals set at 4 max stops you from becoming overwhelmed. I drew something, much nicer than the first one 🙂, that I think will be a great guide to follow. It serves as an outline and I encourage tweaking it to your needs.
Here I made space for secondary goals and those would be ones specifically for your job, school, child’s dance class and then an area for scheduled events. This scheduled area should be where you add to your planner your weekly and daily routines that you are trying to develop or that you have already established.
“What?”, you say, yes, we are now breaking our planning down further from goals to achieve this year, to monthly mini goals, and now on to daily….and soon, hourly.
We gonna get our shit together this year boys and girls. 🙂
Stopping Point
Before you decide that planning isn’t for you, this is a great stopping point. Absorb the information provided, pin the image created as a guide and we will pick up here with more detailed images and in-depth instructions.
Breathe. Smile. And be grateful. We have a plan!!!
If you have any questions at all, please chat with me. Stay tuned for the third and final post in our When I Becomes We: Planning 2019 series. There will be a fun, creative activity thrown in the mix 🙂
P.s. There will be many planning posts throughout the year. I wouldn’t hang you out to dry like that, it is the last with this title. Shew! I thought I lost ya.
Don’t feel sorry for me, it is after Christmas. By the looks of this, I am starting my year off at ground zero which isn’t bad in some instances. I mean, where can I go from here? Only up, right? I keep the majority of my money in little cash envelopes in a drawer in my room but that’s not where my money is. I am broke starting the year off.
Revenge of Eve 