Planning to {UN}hurry

On Tuesday I joined 69 other bloggers in declaring my {UN}word for 2014, {UN}hurry.  I talked about how slowing down and making time and space for my family to journey through our days was going to require a shift in thinking.  For me, that also includes a shift in planning.  I need to plan my days substantially better, so that I can focus on what absolutely must get done each day and, hopefully, free up larger chunks of free time for my family.

Enter Whitney English's head-over-heels-gorgeous Day Designer.



I've had my eye on this planner since 2012.  And I didn't spring for it in 2013.  As 2014 approached I found myself going back and forth, adding it to my Etsy cart, and then taking it out again.  I knew I desperately needed to get organized, but it's not an inexpensive planner, and I tend to have a hard time splurging on things for myself.  In the end, it was my husband who surprised me and bought the planner.



It came beautifully packaged.  I think I squealed a little when I opened it.



I loved all the thoughtful details Whitney put into designing this planner.  And the planner itself does not disappoint.  It is, by far, the most well laid out planner I've ever used.  Each day gets its very own page, which is hard to find in a planner.  In the past, I've used a plain spiral notebook as a planner for this reason alone.  But a spiral notebook isn't indexed, doesn't have calendars, and well...it's just not as pretty.

In the end, it's up to me to plan, no matter how pretty the planner.  But I'm a visual person, and the appeal of using something so beautiful to plan my days seems to have tricked me into becoming better organized.

What about you?  Do you have a favorite planner?  Any tips for getting organized or planning out your days?

In Which Procrastination = An Organized Pantry

I'm still waiting on my fabric to be shipped.  It's been ten days.  The waiting is driving me crazy.  And while I have promises from customer service, a tracking confirmation that my order has been overnighted, and all signs show my fabric will be here tomorrow, today I needed to feel productive.

There it is folks.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  It's really not that bad.  It's really completely organized and functional.  Beans in bags work.  Pasta in bags work.  All my chicken, beef, and veggie stock is all nice and lined up.  My flour is all up top.  Some candy that I will not under any circumstance own up to is within easy reach.

But do you see those two canisters with labels?  Since my paint color picking hands are tied until my new fabric arrives on my doorstep tomorrow, I decided I needed labels.  On everything.  Immediately.

This is also known as "crazy, pregnant lady nesting".  It's the nit-picky part where suddenly very minute details must get ironed out perfectly.  I know it's overkill, and yet I just can't resist.

I picked these labels up at Hobby Lobby.  They were only $4 and are repositionable.  Which means I don't have to worry if they're a little crooked and I'm free to use them somewhere else in the house at a later date.

Since my chalk marker is extra large, I just used regular old chalk.  It worked beautifully.

When I ran out of canisters I moved on to mason jars.  I actually prefer clear glass containers because I can easily see when I'm running out of something.  It's like an automatic reminder to get more at the grocery store.

Twenty minutes later I had this...

...and this.

Why yes we do have 12 quarts of Michigan maple syrup in our pantry.  Doesn't everyone?

And a close up for all of you who love being all organized...

Don't y'all worry.  Those Valentine's Day candy hearts are still in there...strategically placed further out of reach.  Behind my 3 different types of sugar.  ;)

Good times.