Fashion

What's In My Bag #3

4:37 PM

With summer already here in California and in full swing, I might as well do a "What's In My Bag" post.

I'm always changing what bag I use since I somewhat coordinate it with what I'm wearing or what I feel like using for a week or two. This summer (or at least part of it), I'm using my Kipling crossbody bag (not pictured). I like the bag since I can wear it over my shoulder and it's hands free. It's a medium sized bag, so I have to strategically think about what I'm going to put in it. Below are some of the things I like bringing with me during the summer.


1. Filofax Original A5 in Navy: This is a definite must for me. I plan my life in this organiser. I tried digital planning, but it just doesn't work for me. I love lists and I love crossing out things on my list. Plus, I can look at my schedule quicker than having to swipe.

2. iPhone 5: Also a must. What more do I need to say? 

3. Roxy JBL headphones and battery pack. I always keep a pair of headphones with me since I love listening to music, especially this summer. I also keep a battery pack with me. I've had this since I got my iPhone 3Gs (and that's quite a while back) and it's been handy.

4. Coach Sunglasses. I'm pretty light sensitive, so I've got to have sunglasses with me at all times. This constantly changes since I have few pairs of them, so for now, I've got this one with me. The case is quite large and bulky and doesn't fit in my bag, so normally, I just leave the case in the car.

5. Pink Camo Knife. I didn't use to carry one, but I found it handy especially when dining at a Chinese restaurant. They don't quite cut up the vegetables in bite size pieces, so this comes in handy when I need to cut something up. Plus, you'll never know when you might need it to break something open.

6. Makeup Bag. In my makeup bag, I only carry my BareMinerals Mineral Veil, eye drops, Burt's Bee's tinted lip balm, EOS lip balm, anti bacterial and SPF 55 Neutrogena suncream. I don't like carrying an arsenal of makeup in my bag, since it gets quite heavy. Once I've applied my makeup, the only thing that would need touching up are my lips and face should it get shiny. I'm all about simplicity when it comes to the things I carry.

7. iPad Mini. Thankfully, it's a mini. I always carry this with me since it contains ebooks. I'm always reading so if I'm ever stuck at a doctor's or dentist's office, I have something to read.

8. Purse (or wallet as my friends call it). I love this purse that I've purchased from Target. Most purses have quite a few credit card slots and I don't quite fill all of it. I only have two credit cards, a bank card, driver's license, medical card, and roadside assistance. Since most wallets have either less than five slots or more than ten, I'm quite at a loss. So when I found this, I had to buy it. It's also light.

9. Car and House Keys.

So, what do you guys carry with you daily? Let me know in the comments below.

Planner

Post-Graduate University and Stationery

1:03 PM


Earlier this month, I've finally received a letter from my chosen university that I had been accepted into their post-graduate program. I was overjoyed and the same time a bit relieved since it's the only university I've applied to. I know, I should have had a back-up university, but it was the only one that offered a fellowship at a community college.


After getting the admissions letter, I began prepping for the Fall Trimester. I knew I needed different coloured pens and Pilot Frixon highlighters, though I've already have them. My first stop was Staples where I purchased these items.


I love using the Pentel Energel pens since they write smooth and does not smudge easily. I was using this brand in my Filofax a few years back (along with others as I experimented with what pens would work). I stopped using them since I wanted the ability to erase any mistakes I make when writing in my Filofax, so I opted for the Frixion Pens. Although I can erase pretty much everything I write in my Filofax, I still cross things out when it's cancelled.

With the Pilot Frixion Highlighters, I absolutely love them since I can highlight and erase if I've gone too far on the text. Back in the late 1990s, I've discovered an erasable highlighter by Crayola and I've been hooked since. So when I found the Pilot Frixion Highlighters several years ago, I bought a packet since they had colours other than yellow.

I also purchased refills for my Pilot Frixion pens since I use the black one in my Filofax quite regularly.

Now that I'm in post-graduate university, I've started to think about the way I plan in my Filofax and the many stationery items I've purchased over the years.


Since acquiring more stationery stuff, I've decided to put it on a wicker basket on top of my desk so I can start using it up. I know it doesn't look like I've got a lot in there, but trust me, I do. And last week, I purchased some tabs from Tuesday Morning.


I've also somehow acquired quite a bit of washi/paper tape and I know there is no chance I'll be able to use this all up


As much as I want to use washi tapes and stickers to decorate my inserts in my Filofax, I'm going to have to refrain as I need to see what I have going on in the week. Thesis, research and homework must be on the forefront of my Filofax rather than have it littered with cute decoration.  So, today, I'm going to revise my Filofax set up for the coming season. I'll post about that this coming week.

I'm also going to take a cue from Angela at PaperLoveStory and add my journey through post-graduate university.

So for now, ta-ta and I hope you had a great weekend!

Crafts

DIY Midori Traveller's Notebook

9:17 AM


It's been a month since I last posted to this blog. If I'm supposed to be a lifestyle blogger, then I should be posting daily, but life kind of got in the way and there is no excuse for that. Yet, I'm still going to offer up the excuse that I've been busy writing and editing my admissions essay for post-graduate studies, which I am glad to say that I've been accepted. I start my first trimester this coming autumn.

So, on with the post.

For the last year, I've been crushing on the Midori Traveller's Notebook. I do a lot of art on the side and this notebook would be a good way for me to carry and do art. I normally carry a Filofax Original A5 organiser and doing art in that is not a good idea. Sure, I doodle in my weekly pages and slightly decorate it with washi tapes and such, but the sketching, the list challenges, I'd like to keep that separate. My Filofax is made to organise my life and I wanted a Midori to facilitate my creative side.

So, I've looked around the web for the notebook and decided that Amazon might be the place I should buy it, since I've already got a few items in my cart. After inspecting the reviews and most of all, photos of the product, I was highly disappointed where it's made. It's a Japanese product, yet it's made in Thailand and quite expensive. I always advocated for locally made products, so I decided to search the web for a DIY Midori Traveller's Notebook post.

After a day of searching, I found Julie Strietelmeier's post on The Gadegetter. Her instructions were simple and she's even totalled up how much she's spent on materials.

It took me about three months to finally decide to make the notebook for myself. Yes, for a person who's into time management and absolutely despises procrastination, I've procrastinated on this. I've even procrastinated in visiting Tandy Leather.

Making this notebook is very simply and it only took me around fifteen to thirty minutes. Here are the materials I've used and they're all US and UK made materials.

Black Leather Trim - $3.99 (I had a 50% off coupon to Michael's)
2 mm Elastic Cord - $1.49
Travel Charms - $2.99

Total with tax: $9.14

The first step in making the notebook was to measure it out. I didn't think I needed to measure since the trim I've purchased was already pre-cut. Thankfully, I've already got all the leather sewing materials and didn't need to purchase them.


I've placed two Moleskin notebooks next to each other allowing some space in between and the edges. Then I've punched two holes in the middle top and middle bottom in between the two notebooks.


I cut a 26 inch length and a 10.5 inch length of elastic cord. I love the cord I bought since it's variegated and rather colourful. It goes well with the black leather trim. The longer piece, I've thread it through the bottom two holes on the right side of the leather fabric, then up the top two holes and back through the same top two holes. It was a bit difficult to thread it through since the hole I made wasn't quite big and the leather trim was a bit flimsy.


With the two elastic cords threaded through to the inside of the leather fabric, I tied two knots to hold it in place. Next, I made another hole in the middle of the right side of the fabric, threaded the shorter piece of elastic cord with the charms already looped through it and knotted the cord.



I'm pretty happy on how the traveller's notebook turned out, though I'm a bit unhappy that the moleskin notebooks were slightly large and bulking out of the leather. The material was flimsy and the next notebook I make, I'll need to make a trip to Tandy Leather and buy what was recommended to make the notebook.


What about you, do you own a Traveller's Notebook and what do you use it for?

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