Cat's Corner

So I finally succumbed to the infamous Malden Filofax!  If you’re reading this because you like Filofaxes, this is no revelation I’m sure, but I think it may actually be the perfect binder!!

I wrote in November about my new setup and hole punch in personal size (here), which really opened my eyes to how useful a binder for social/home use can be.  I was also looking to use it as a purse, so the obvious choice was the Malden.  Fortunately just before Christmas it went on sale on Filofax UK and I snapped it up at half price!

My setup was fairly well worked up and had been serving me well to keep a track of my social life, birthdays, to-do lists, etc so I haven’t changed it too much.  I really feel like for the first time that my personal life is organised and having my purse in the same place helps me to keep on track of my budget too.  I even planned out our hectic Christmas – presents, hosting, cooking, ordering food, etc, and it worked a charm!

How am I using it?

Take a peek inside…

I’m still using my Paperchase postcard as a cover and the little owl tabs too – I thought I was being so original and then saw both on other blogs within days of getting mine, doh!  I recently found a matching pen with the owl design so I snapped it up – it even fits in the pen loop!

                             

First I have two sheets of card inserts, then a plastic wallet for my shopping vouchers and stickers before we move into section 1, maps.  Section 2 has my week on one page diary, which I’ve tabbed month by month using sticky flags (from Muji) and inserted my to-do list next to it using pastel paper.  I’m also using diary stickers from hubby’s Moleskine because he didn’t want them and they’re so much easier to lift off the backing than the Filofax ones!

Section 3 holds my other to-do lists (I have a lot of those!) and then section 4 has my blog notes and plans.  Section 5 has my personal finance and work expenses sheets as well as a plastic wallet for my expense receipts.  That just leaves section 6 for my birthdays pages (WHSmith ones) and addresses, which I’ve recently rewritten using a Frixion pen, so that I can rub out and make updates when people move.

2012 planning = sorted!

Why do I love the Malden?

• You can feel the quality, but it feels workable, not precious (in a good way)
• It lies flat from day 1 – whoop!
• It has a zip coin pocket on the front and four card slots
• The rings are a decent size to fit LOADS of pages in!
• Space for a pad in the back (or a moleskine notebook, as I’m planning to try)
• The colour – although I hear there will soon be a PURPLE version (my fave colour!)

In summary, I love, love, love the Malden – can you tell?! 

Grab a bargain Malden on Amazon UK here

This year I’ve taken part in Art House Co-op’s ‘The Sketchbook Project 2012‘ – a project in which anyone can enter a sketchbook of their artwork on a chosen theme.  The books will tour the world and finally reside at the Brooklyn Art Library in the USA – exciting!

I chose the theme ‘This is a Sketchbook…’ and then extended my title to ‘…about why I love the English Seaside’ and based my imagery on elements of Cornwall, my favourite place in England!

The paper in the sketchbook wasn’t very thick so I used watercolour postcards and then secured them in the book using craft brads – all the pictures were created using watercolour pencils or watersoluble pens.

Check out my complete submission on the Art House Co-op website here.

Just over a year ago I told you about my fab Dr. Martens 1460 boots (here) - they’re still going strong and look brand new, despite my having worn them at every given opportunity!  They’re so comfortable that I began wishing that they had heels so I could wear them out dancing.  A quick search on Amazon found me Dr Martens Darcie Boots - before you could blink, they were in my basket and winging their way over to me!

I’ve actually had them for almost a year now and like the 1460s, they still look pretty much brand new – the only difference being that the wooden heels pick up a bit of dirt.  Comfort wise, I’m very happy to report that they’re just as comfy as the 1460s, despite the heel!  I have read in other reviews that some wearers find DMs (of varying models) hard to break in, but I have to say I have found both my pairs comfy from the word go.  I tend to wear them loose around the top laces (tucking in the laces, rather than doing them up) with thick ski/walking socks and plain black leg warmers over the top for an extra layer.  This gives some extra padding around the heel so that there’s no chance of rubbing and means that I can walk all day or dance all night in total comfort!

Mine are red with a wooden heel, but there are many, many different colour ways to choose from and there are often bargains to be picked up on Amazon – check them out here:
Dr Martens Darcie Boots

Well it’s been a while since I last updated you with my Filofax news, so here it is!  As you know, I’ve been using a slimline Amazona (you can read about it here) and I’ve been loving it, BUT although I’ve really tried to be frugal with my pages, it’s just really not quite big enough.  Pair that with the fact that my beloved Mulberry purse (which you can see on Imysworld here) is massively heavy and you have a dilemma.

My solution?  To use my Filofax as a wallet as well!  So I headed off to WHSmith on a lunch break and picked up a couple of card holder inserts to increase my 6 card slots to 12.  Then I popped into the charity shop next door and found another vintage English-made Filofax from the 80s!  Priced at 99p, I snapped it up and I’ve spent the past couple of weeks getting the setup just right!  Here’s the binder:

In the back cover it says ‘Filofax Made in England Real Calf 2CLF 7/8′ and in the front, company name ‘Serco’ is stamped so I guess they were made for a company time management initiative?  You can just about make out the logo in the bottom left of the picture below:

No slots for cards, so I’ve stuck them in the cover for now, they seem to be holding up ok!  Sadly the leather is old and stiff and the first time I put inserts in, it cracked the whole way down where the rings attach   I don’t think it will last very long, but I have a plan B (more on that later!).  Today I popped to Paperchase and spotted the gorgeous postcard you see here in the front, so I snapped it up and added it as a cover page!

How was I able to do that?  Thanks to a very generous friend and ex-colleague who spotted on the blog that I was after a personal sized hole punch!  He had one from the 80s, which is adaptable for use in a Time Manager system – not only did he give me this (thank you thank you thank you!), he also gave me his Time Manager binder and inserts!!  That deserves a whole post another time, but for now, back to the setup…

         

      

As I mentioned, I bought two sets of credit card inserts, so these are at the front, followed by a plastic envelope, which holds my shopping vouchers!  Then I have my maps, diary and birthdays sections – then notes.  Notes are basically lists – to do, finances, xmas pressies, things to fix in the new house, things to buy for the new house, etc!  I’ve marked my three most used pages with some very cute owl marker stickers, also purchased in Paperchase today (see 3rd pic above – click the image to see it full size).  I’ve also hole-punched the first set of these, and put two more in the back pocket with my stamps (see last pic above). 

I’m using a freebie pen I got at a conference, because it’s the only one I could fit in the teeny pen loop – were pens smaller in the 80s?!  Anyway, I’m loving the setup like this and am looking forward to adding more to it, which I can do now that I have the space and also the hole punch – yay!

I mentioned that the spine is about to give way, but now I’ve got my setup right, I really want to keep using it and not go back to the slimline.  So the plan B I mentioned earlier?  Yeah, I finally gave in and ordered a MALDEN!  There, I said it, I blame you guys over at Philofaxy!  The personal in crimson is currently on sale on Filofax UK here - how could I resist?  It has a coin pocket and everything

I have to wait for Christmas for it though, but not long to wait!!  So what do you think, did I make the right choice?

Cat

Well it was bound to happen some day – after almost four years of collecting, my dream Trollbeads bracelet is finally complete!  I’ve always loved amber; the age and history of it, the gorgeous variety of colours and the light weight especially.  I’d always imagined an all-amber and silver/gold combo would be amazing and I’ve been picking up ooak ambers here and there since very early on in my collection.

Eight stunning ooak ambers later, here is the result:

Clockwise from Mexico Lock: Fairy, Stopper, Smiley, Alabaster Amber, Letter G, Amber OOAK, Space, Amber OOAK, Around the World, Amber OOAK, Daisy, Amber OOAK, Gold Endless, Amber OOAK, Tulip, Amber OOAK, Letter C, Alabaster Amber, Small Planet.

         

As part of the Philofaxy All Stars project, I’ve posted on two other blogs:

What’s in my Bag?  A peek in my Mulberry Alexa Hobo (in Trippy Tiger raffia) – on Imysworld

What’s in my Filofax?  A peek in my A5 Balmoral Filofax – on Deligted

And you can read all the guest posts written for Cat’s Corner here.

Enjoy!  Cat :O)

Here’s another fantastic post from the Philofaxy All Stars team – this time from Femke, who’s allowed us a sneak peek into her gorgeous Malden Filofax:

Hey everyone, I’m Femke from Deligted

Cat kindly let me do a guestpost about what’s in my filofax, as she did one for me too. This one is inspired by Jotje’s post on Philofaxy!

I’m using a crimson pocket Malden (before this I used my crimson personal Malden. I’m switching between the two at the moment).

Front of the Malden. It’s so gorgeous!

The inside, a picture of me and an Abercrombie & Fitch model and a picture of my man.

The almost famous tabs.

I then have my year planner. Here I write down my sick days and my days off, plus some things I need to remember. I still need to write down the birthdays in there. Oops.

Then I have my week on two pages (from the same manufacturer as the tabs), in which I write down my appointments and sometimes reminders and things to do.

Then I have my days per page, only two months worth of it. Here I write a more detailed plan of my day. This day isn’t that busy but since I’ve been on holiday, I haven’t been that busy yet (luckily)!

Behind this tab I have my lists. B = for blog, P = for personal and L = for lists. The blue tab on top is where I have my to do list.

God knows why I start my to do list halfway on the page, but I was cheap and didn’t order to do lists yet.

And since I go to the movies quite a lot, I keep my tickets in my filofax too, because I like to keep them!

Hope you enjoyed my filofax, thanks Cat for letting me post on her blog!

Thanks so much for sharing Femke, I especially love those tabs!

Since it looks like we might have one last week of summer – here’s a quick note on Birkenstock sandals!

I first discovered Birkenstock when I needed something cheap and last minute to take on my honeymoon a few years ago.  I discovered a pair of lemon print Birkenstocks in the TKMaxx clearance for £7 – pictured left.  I was surprised how comfy they were, but I have to say they haven’t had much wear back home, given that they don’t really go with much!

Then the following summer my friend bought me a pair of cute clogs, and I like these very much, but they’re really only suitable for spring and autumn in those few short weeks where it’s too warm for shoes but to chilly for sandals!!

Last summer I decided to go the whole hog and get a classic pair of Birkenstock sandals (the purple ones).  Oddly, they took a little longer to break in than the other two, but after a few wears they became really comfy.  They look great with summer shorts and trousers and I think I’ve finally discovered the perfect pair

One of the things I really like about the Birkenstocks range is that they do a narrow fit and a wide fit – the narrow fit is perfect for me, yet they’re still roomy around the toes, perfect!

Check out the current range of Birkenstocks on Cloggs UK here.

Recently, I joined some of the gang from Philofaxy in a guest-blog swapping project called ‘All Stars.’  I’m very pleased to introduce the first in these posts, by Imy from Imysworld:

I have been lucky enough to have the chance to do a blog post on Cat’s Corner as part of the Philofaxy All Stars. I have been saying to her for weeks I will do it tomorrow (my famous last words at the moment), since I have been without my laptop doing blogging at home can be hard, as my boyfriend hogs my Macbook Air and when I try to explain I need to use it he just says in a minute then when he finally gives it to me, 5 minutes later he says turn off its bed time!

This is the reason I am very behind, I always get in a bloggy mood and end up having to write ideas and notes in my Filofax, which I’m not against, just I like to do it when its in my mind else I never get around to it!

Wow what a load of waffle to start this All Stars Guest post!! Anyway sorry Cat’s Corner readers!

As she did a What’s in my bag post for me I am returning the favour, we originally arranged for me to do a What’s in my Mulberry but at the time I had just done one, then recently I had to change to my Louis Vuitton so I decided what better idea then to do it of another bag!

Be warned this shall be picture heavy and magically fun!

The obvious thing to start off with is the picture of the bag, sorry some pictures are a bit flat, I used my iPhone as I believe its good enough quality, just sometimes in the evening the lights a bit off!

It is my LOVELY Louis Vuitton Delightgful (not that I like her very much, we fell out a long time ago, now were just acquaintances), as you can see my beloved is trying to sneek in to the picture, naughty Dora!

As you can see I have an AWFUL lot in my hand bag (don’t worry I’m going to go in to detail on every item, but first I shall start in my Large zipped pocket).

It doesn’t really look like there is ANYTHING in her but believe me it is a vault that just keeps on going like Mary Poppins bag!……Are you ready to see what is in there??

Bear in mind I just came back from a trip to Brussels so a lot of stuff from that is in there!!

The thing at the top is my Filofax A5 Plastic Ruler, I will not just list the things and if its interesting I will explain it all to you!

Lamy Safari in Turquoise
Chanel Lip Gloss 104 Astral
Moo Business Cards
Hair Rose from H&M, it is really that colour
Fanta Lip Smackers
Intersex UK Business Cards
Nivea Pearly Shine stuff
Blue Inhaler
Finally – my Zebra pen refills!

Now on to the main compartment!!!

My beautiful A5 Adelphi, she is lovely to use and she is called Coco! For obvious reasons the quilted pattern

Hello Kitty Slimline Pencil Case

And the insides which contains: -

Zebra Sharbo Diary Pen
Papermate Pink Scented Pen
Mini Pink Sharpie
Berol Handwriting Pen
Uni-Ball Signo Gelstick
Bic Orange Pens (black)
Post it Highlighter pen

Now this may seem BAZZAR!!!

But I have the leopard print purse which had English money in and also is the purse I use in my Dora, the middle one is travel card wallet which has my oyster card and bus tickets and train tickets, then finally my glittery pink Paul’s Boutique wallet which is HUGE!!!!

My Raybans <3

Deodorant and Body Spray

The body spray is from Superdrug and is called Be Delicious and smells like candy!

Compact Umbrella as its always raining!

My beautiful Mulberry Key ring which my boyfriend sort of bought for me, I used the money he gave me at Christmas to get it! Its so pretty!!!

Buxton water (not my favourite but always on offer)

The MOST AMAZING Happy Meal toy ever from Mc Donalds it makes noises and everything!

Apple Earphones! So I can listen to music on the bus, train or plane!

The sticky notes which I reviewed the other day as they are AWESOME, and I forgot to take them out of my bag to put them to use!

There was also all this paper underneath there is all sorts from an amazing blog post written by Jutje, Tate Modern Café 2 menu, train times, receipts, all sorts!

There was also a lot of tissue but I didn’t think you needed to see all that!!!

I hope you have enjoyed my guest post on Cat’s Coner! YAY!!!!!!!!

Thank you for having me and I hope to be back again soon! Maybe a shoe review I’m so cheeky!

No, no, thank you Imy for sharing this with us – I loved seeing your bag and all your lovely pens!  You’re more than welcome to come again and talk about shoes!

Cat x

As I recently mentioned in my Philofaxy interview a few weeks ago, I had not one, not two, but nine Filofaxes - oops!  It didn’t seem right to have such an odd number, so it wasn’t long before Filofax number ten came along!  It was my birthday recently and I took the day off to go into London with hubby, who of course I dragged along to the Neal Street Filofax store.  I couldn’t persuade him to come in, although that turned out to be a bonus, as he couldn’t vet my purchases haha!

The thing I love most about going to the proper Filofax shop is the clearance section at the back – there’s usually rows of tantilising bargains, and it’s inevitable that I’ll leave with something new!  I managed to side-step the Malden stand, which I must admit, held a lot of appeal – it’s a very tactile cover, I can see why many have fallen for it! 

Lurking at the back of the store was a beautiful red Slimline Amazona, which I snapped up immediately at half price!  What a lovely replacement for my sadly broken red Balmoral Mini!  Now I know I only recently bought a Slimline Finsbury, which is a bit of a shame, but it served its purpose for finding out if the slimline would work for me.  I’m sure it will go back into use at some point!

I also upgraded my new purchase to next year’s diary and bought some cotton cream notepaper, which has a lovely quality to it.  When I mentioned I was treating myself as it was my birthday, the lovely lady who served me also gave me a pack of trial inserts, including the little black book, which I like as a cover page (no secrets within it, I promise!).

I’ve changed the last tab in my setup now, from ’sketches’ to ‘expenses,’ as I’m finding that keeping receipts in my purse means they don’t always make it into my work Filofax (an A5 Balmoral, in case you were wondering!).  Now they’re centralised in a plastic pocket (also bought at Neal St), and I’ve inserted a Finance sheet to keep a track of my mileage – much more organised!!

Now that the sketches section has disappeared, perhaps I could use the Finsbury as my planned Filofax sketchbook!

Anyone else using a Slimline?  How do you get on with it?

Cat x

                        

PS  The pen is from Swarovski – an xmas pressie last year!