This is a feature in which I want to share some of the things that have me obsessed from month-to-month, whether it is music, food, make-up, or anything else that makes me giddy during the month.
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Makeup – As we move into warmer weather, I find myself leaning towards a softer lip palate. Enter NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Gloss
Movies – You all know I do not watch many movies. I have ones I want to see, but I almost never get around to watching them because I choose reading over sitting in front of the TV or at a theater. Still, when Jim brought home Spotlight
Music – I suck. Well, I don’t suck, but sometimes the fact that I do not watch a lot of television or many movies really gets in the way of me discovering awesome new things. Take Pentatonix
Organization – I used to be a Day Designer gal. I used to take several hours each week to decorate my planner and plan out each day. I still love my Day Designer, but after a while those hours spent planning became a chore. Enter the bullet journal system. I have been hearing about it for a while now, but it always seemed really complicated to me. However, with just a little research, I dove right in and have come for air refreshed and happy. I love it because it is one of the most forgiving systems ever. You do not have to stick with one format; you can make adjustments as you go. It holds all of those to-dos and wish lists and future lists all in one spot. You can decorate it if you so desire or let it be. It takes me minutes to set up the day and less than an hour to set up the month. When I have some extra time, I will add stickers and washi. If I don’t, I still with my colored pens. That way, I can still add a bit of color without taking hours to do so.
The system is easy enough that I have found myself using similar bullets system for my work notes and have modified that to be as forgiving and adaptable as my bujo. I like that carryover, and it only reconfirms what each bullet symbol means. There too I can keep it as simple or ornate as possible, but I really like this system for all of those odd notes that I take throughout the day from phone calls, quick requests, or the like. The bullet journal system has given me the freedom to do away with the myriad of sticky notes and scraps of paper upon which I used to jot down such notes.
Even better is the fact that I not only adopted the bullet journal system but I combined that with my journal into a traveler’s notebook. I think the most famous version is the Midori, but I went the much cheaper fauxdori route via Etsy. This again is a system that confused and intimidated me until I started researching it a bit further. Once I realized that I could keep my journal and my planner/bullet journal all in one spot in a much smaller size than my large Day Designer and separate notebook, I was hooked. I have been using my fauxdori for a month now and will never go back to anything else. Not only is it convenient, I can add trinkets and other little things to personalize it. It is also adjustable, meaning I can add more filler notebooks if necessary or less. I started with five fillers and am now down to three as I refine my processes and what I truly want to carry with me at all time. My fauxdori is not as heavy as my planner nor is it as large, which means it saves me on purse weight and allows me to downsize purse sizes if I so choose. I seriously love it.
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These are just a few of the things which have made me happy this month. What are some of your favorite things for March?
The movie Spotlight was indeed great. I thought it was terrific that it won Best Picture too.
Absolutely! A great story, an amazing cast, and it didn’t need special effects or make-up transformations to win.
Oh, I’m glad to have the recommendation for Spotlight! I wanted to see it when it came out, but didn’t get a chance, so I’m really looking forward to picking it up on DVD at my library sometime soon. I remember when that all went down (no surprise to me and my family; a journalist in Louisiana had broken a similar story in the late 80s, early 90s? and my parents said “this is happening all over and the Church isn’t doing anything about it” (they are cynics, and my dad worked for child protective services when I was a kid)), but not the details really. I loooove this cast, too.
It is SO good! That is quite interesting about your parents knowing about it already. I think that gives me chills as well. In spite of everything the media is telling us about how people are fleeing organized religions, the Church certainly still has an amazing amount of power, doesn’t it? I guess people may be “fleeing” but can never leave it completely.
NYX is such a fabulous company, made even better by the quality of bang for you buck. Those butter glosses are especially great when you pick up one of the 3-packs that are INSANELY cheap for quality lip gloss.
Pentatonix (and just acapella in general) blows my mind sometimes. SO MUCH TALENT.
I’ve been soo intrigued by the bullet journals. I really want to try one, but I still love my Erin Condren. I fell into that same trap of spending hours every weekend decorating, and while it always felt nice to do, as I got more organized I took on more things and just didn’t have time to decorate. Then I felt bad. Then I’d get disorganized because it felt shameful to not have decorated it. I finally came to terms with not decorating except on occasion when I really do have time- now I use one patterned washi and a solid color to divide up a few things, and then use colored pens. I can get my week planned out in 15 minutes on Sunday and more easily add things in during the week, rather than saying, “sorry, I can’t do Thursday night, I already have an inspirational sticker there.” I’d love to see pictures of your bullet journal or fauxdori if you have any days you don’t mind sharing! I looove sneaking a peek at how people do theirs.
I have to check the 3-packs. I just love those lip glosses!
I know. I am just in awe of their talent. Seriously amazing.
I can probably find some time to take a few pictures and share them. It might have to wait until later into April first. I am going to be lucky to make it through these first two weeks with my sanity in check no matter how organized I am!
Pentatonix!! They do this AWESOME version of a Fleet Foxes song. I love it and them! I also am behind the times on music, though… lol
I will have to check it out. I have been listening to them almost nonstop since I discovered them!
Where do I find that lip gloss brand? I’ve always loved Clinque but willing to try something new.
Did you know that Laura Dave’s husband wrote the screenplay for Spotlight?
You can get NYX almost anywhere – Target, Walgreens, Walmart, etc. It’s one of the things I love about it!
I did not. Very cool!
I’m always looking for a good lip gloss. They have to be shiny, but look natural, and last. I have been buying e.l.f. strawberry shiny lip gloss by the cases because I’m also cheap and you can get them for $1 on their website. I love them.
I don’t keep up with movies, although I’ve heard that one is really good. I’m glad you enjoyed it! The only music I keep up with is mainstream, but I have heard Pentatonix (their Christmas stuff is awesome).
That’s great that you found a new planning system that works better for you! I’m very intrigued by the bullet journal and their website. When I have more time, I’m going to watch the video and learn more! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
I just love lip gloss in the spring and summer months. I don’t know why. If you try them, let me know what you think!
I will definitely be downloading their Christmas music next season. I’ve heard a few songs that have all but reduced me to tears.
Honestly, as far as planning goes, I think the bullet journalling provides the most options for the least money. You can still decorate if that is what you want to do, but there are no unused sections because you don’t need them. Plus, I love the fact that I have all of my lists available to me at my fingertips. No more searching through my phone or having to wait until I get home to remember which books I want to get. Just pull out my bujo and look it up!
I’m terrible at discovering new music too. And I find that I tend to listen to the same artists again and again, without really feeling the need to find something new!
I do listen to satellite radio in the car, but I tend to stick with one genre so it really limits what I discover.