Guest Post: The Great German Train Robbery

So I have a guest poster! This is VERY exciting for me as it is my first guest post writer (aside from the lovely Mr ) and most exciting it is all about her AMAZING Filofax collection I think you are going to enjoy this....over to LJ...

First time blogger alert…


Well, here goes for my first ever posting courtesy of the wonderful lou lou.

Having spent an evening with her and spending a fair portion of said evening discussing our shared love of Filofax and stationery I was encouraged to write a post about my A5 Finsbury which I use for work, however I have a far more pressing post to write… the Great German Train Robbery – what bargains! What wonderful delights could I get my sticky little mitts on…?

I had to wait a while for the delivery as I am based in Switzerland and Filofax Germany don’t deliver here – which is very strange as it’s just across the border and the UK can deliver to here with no problem.

Thankfully my friend Sabine who I have now ‘enabled’ and is a pretty good ‘enabler’ herself already, although based in the same office as me, goes regularly to Germany to visit her parents, so we both put in pretty fabulous orders (suffice to say her parents were a little stunned when they saw the evidence of our addictions). So to my joy, my children’s joy and my man’s bewilderment, my new babies arrived on Monday… please get ready for a picture heavy post…

“What’s in the bag Mum?”

Filofaxes are beginning to get nervous…

It’s OK guys & girls, these are the last boxes xxx

Oops!!! Did I order more than I realised…?

A special thankyou for my little boy, Christopher, for helping with the photos (and for letting me include his black pocket Metropol in the line-up, along with his little brother’s green pocket domino complete with fairy on the front)

Teasing shot… even more effective than chocolate wrappers 

A4 Logic in red, bought purely for practical purposes, but is actually really, really nice…

Personal Fresco – check out the inserts on this baby!!!

Ooh – this doesn’t look like a FF box…

Personal Panama in maroon – so lovely. Quote of the day came from Christopher when I handed it to him to look at and Marcus (littlest chap) tried to take it off him immediately “No Marcus, I haven’t even smelled it yet!!!” That came after his comment from smelling the first of the leather FFs “Mummy, it smells just like your purple one!” – (my personal Finchley which he has only had the pleasure of holding once before). Clearly my children are learning about the finer things in life

Pocket Finchley in soft jade

Finchley travel wallet in pink

Mini Topaz in pale blue

Personal Piazza in sunflower – I was really looking forward to receiving this one, super bright yellow and completely different from any of my others, so was rather disappointed to see that it’s not actually the same colour as a sunflower. I am considering giving this one away as a present, but am not sure if I can bring myself to give away a Filofax…

Topaz wallet in green – with fabulous space for cards and bits and pieces

Pocket Finchley in teal

Mini Topaz in red

The Filofax family

And finally – proof that not all the Filofaxes are mine…

I hope you like the photos – thankfully I didn’t include all 56 photos that we took yesterday, I thought there would only be so many boxes and teasing shots that anyone would want to see

And thank you Miss L for introducing me to the wonders of Filofax earlier this year – please don’t introduce me to the joys of expensive jewellery or anything, I think one obsession is enough for my wallet – LOL x

So there we go, thank you to LJ and her first Filofax blog post - now if I can just get her to write one all about her faboosh A5 diary/to do pages that she designed herself I'll be even happier Lx

Panama Planning: The Birthday Filofax Reveal...Part 3

The birthday Filofax haul - aren't they gorgeous?

So I've written at length about my stunning birthday present Filofax the gorgeous Amethyst Deco here and here BUT I was lucky enough to also receive a second leather bound, 6 ringed beauty!

The very lovely AJ (who it has to be said while new to Filofax addiction has outstripped me already with a haul of around 20 different binders!! Hopefully she will start taking some pictures as her self-designed A5 diary and notes pages are super fabulous!!) emailed me regarding the Philofaxy mention of the Great German Train Robbery where so many stunning binders were on sale for just 9 Euros (yep 9!!!!!) and asked if I would like anything for my upcoming birthday - you can see why I think she's fab - such a great enabler lol.

So after browsing though the vast number of binders on sale I spotted the Personal Panama on the site...I've been obsessing about this particular binder since Caribbean Princess featured her pocket size in a blog post here . It just looked so sleek and posh especially with the gold rings! So once I'd saw it was part of the promotion it was an easy decision!

Isn't she lovely - and very regal!

The lovely gold clasp opened up

I really do love the different closure of having the leather loop over the gold coloured clip. Do I worry it might tear/break/scratch - only a little bit. But if I know one thing about Filofaxes it is that they are mightily more durable than you would ever think!

However as you know I do have 1 or 2 Filofaxes (ahem or possibly a couple more...) but one this lovely needed a purpose and it just so happens I had the perfect task for her. The Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing study Filofax. As I wrote about here I've started a new course which will take the next 18 months or thereabouts to complete and with the amount of reading, home working, assignments, exams and the like I need to keep on top of a dedicated Filofax was necessary. Now I was planning on using my Personal Grape Domino (currently unused, lies flat, wouldn't worry if it got bashed too much in a school bag) but as soon as the Panama arrived it was clear that she would become my grown up school planner!! I'll just need to make sure I'm careful with her ;0)

Now I've been reading lots of posts by other Filofax bloggers on the art of setting up a successful study planner - Caribbean Princess, Imys World and  Life of the Perpetual Student being particular faves as well of course the huge wealth of information on Philofaxy which is always my first port of call for information on all things Filofax.

So here is how I've set up my planner - now this is bound to change as I'm only 1 week into the course but I had to start somewhere:

And she lay flat virtually straight away too - winner!

I really like the open pocket and the credit card slot layout in the Panama. It will be really handy for using with clippings, post its etc in the future.

It's the week on one page again...

This Filofax arrived with a Cream week on one page diary for 2011 as well as a week on two pages 2012 diary. As I've mentioned many a time my favourite layout is the week on one page with notes so I've hacked my own version here inserting in a cream to do page in the centre of the two weeks - and it seems to work really well. The diary is really only used currently for logging when I have to be on site for a class or when the assignments are due etc. It is the list of to dos that is key for me - as you can see from this week I've added the topic name on Monday - External Environment and on the to do page the list of activities (read the slides, listen to podcasts, what I need to be reading etc etc) so I can tick off as I've done them.

With a different topic each week and different tasks (and an assignment plan due on the 28th October) keeping on top of the workload is going to be paramount to whether I succeed at this course or not!

The next week and to do list...

2012 week on two pages

Now this is the week on two pages diary. Yes it is in German - but even I can work out what the days of the week are! I love the fact that it has lines under each day (hello UK Filofax stores could we not have a format like this?) This week in January shows when my first assignment is due (gulp) the pink lines indicate that I will in fact be away in Canada skiing then (double gulp) so being extra organised to get the assignment in on time is CRUCIAL.

I really like this layout but I don't think it will work for me as well as the above hack week on one page - this does mean of course I could move it into the Deco which is my everyday planner for a trial in 2012! We'll see how we get on in the run up to Christmas on that me thinks!!

Super cute lined days of the week plus a little top notes section!

Handy zip pocket

The handy little zip pocket is currently empty but will no doubt end up full of passwords or trinkets!

Look at that gorgeous leather...

So that's my current student layout in the Panama. What do you think? If you have any suggestions on planners for studying or tips do let me know!!! But I really should do some instead of just blogging about it I guess...

Lx

The birthday Filofax (es) Reveal....Part 2!

My Deco Family

So if you haven't already read I was lucky enough to receive an Amethyst Personal Deco for my birthday from the gorgeous Mr P (well normally gorgeous but today a little worse for wear after a work night out last night hehe) and while I blogged about it here the photos I took were terrible and really didn't show the beautiful true colour. So coming up are some more piccies of my new baby and some shots of how I've now set her up...WARNING very picture heavy post ;0)

A truer representation of the colour - gorgeous no?

Clasp close up - ooh and you can see my iPhone too!

Look at the gorgeous suede interior...

As you open up my Deco I have some key essentials like stamps and a couple of business cards. Then right at the front is my first clear open top pockets - I love these for storing cuttings, notes etc. In this one I have some Tesco sticky tabs (so so cheap!!), a Christmas party clipping for a venue we are thinking of using, and some magazine clipping of lustful items including a stunning red bag, leopard print belt:

Turning over the clear pocket....

Here I also have a clipping of this gorgeous Kurt Geiger purse - I don't need a new purse as I have a super cute Marc Jacobs one but the colour is so pretty so I clipped it with a view to birthday/Christmas presents for people (such a great price too!)

Next up we have the obligatory Filofax sticky notes holder - I treated myself to a new one last week in London (I am getting through tabs at a rate of knots now I'm studying hence the cheapy Tesco ones as well being in here!)

I will be registering Deco as soon as I finish this post!! Can't believe I haven't done that yet!

Some more business cards including my CIM membership card and the Prada gift card (you'll have seen that before - if not I can tell you -Yes it's in here just because it says Prada I am that shallow!)

Then we get to the planner section.....



 As always I'm using my favourite format the week on one page with notes. I really wish they did this a) in Cream and b) without all the multi languages, takes up so much room! But I do still love this layout - allows me to see the whole week, I can have lots of to dos, remembers, lists on the right hand page and I have the dinky month dates in the right hand page bottom left! I've tried many other but this is still my fave!

Super cute post-it marking the start of 2012

So after the 2011 planner comes the start of 2012. This is the start of my Things I Want to Do in 2012 list - not very big so far but I'm sure I'll be padding it out soon!!

I'm currently using a month on two pages format for 2012 - this allowed me to start planning in key dates but not have all the room in Filo sucked up with 2012 stuff. I'll change over to week on one page format at the start of 2012 (I've bought the Cream week on one page and some cream to do sheets to create my own hack of Cream week on one page with notes - not sure if it will work but I'm road testing it in my study Filo - post on that coming soon!)

Look at me I'm going Skiing!!!

Behind my Projects tab are all my notes about Paris (less than 2 weeks and counting) plus lots of lists of books/movies/games etc that I want to read/watch/play:

Behind notes I have lots of blank paper, blank to do's and some rough notes. Behind the information tab I have lists of spin classes, holiday time booked off from work and remaining days available, Christmas party planning information, websites etc etc

The Financial tab currently doesn't have anything behind it....I need to be far more up to date with CP's Fab Frugal I've been very lax!

I have no address information in there yet that's all stored still in the Malden (will fix that now)

Another clear pocket at the back - this time with a clipping of some tiles (how cute are they!!) plus my Filofax stickers, London underground map, Take That concert ticket from the summer and hole reinforcers. The 10 Ways is a magazine article on how to de-clutter your mind and focus on the task in hand - something that is key for me now I'm juggling work and studying.

Finally several gratuitous shots of the suede pocket and close ups of the Amethyst leather - sighs at the beauty...

So there we go, my Amethysts Deco all set up and working beautifully. Now to download the pattern for the Filofax protective felt bag done by Thomas which is just as fabulous as it is practical, to make sure I don't wreck her in my ginormous handbag of doom!!

Lx

The birthday Filofax reveal....part 1

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Hello all and a very happy Sunday to you.

Now as some of you may know it was my birthday on Friday, yes I was indeed 21 again (ahem!) and I was lucky enough to receive lots of lovely gifts from all my fabulous friends and family...and Mr P of course, who took me totally by surprise with a new Filofax for my birthday.

Now bearing in mind this is the man who whinged about how much room the current collection took up, mocks my obsession regularly and thinks it's antiquated (but cute) that I'm so anti-tech with my diary system. So you could have knocked me down with a feather when I opened up the wrapping paper on this particular present and saw the Filofax gift box:

So what was inside that yummy black gift box I hear you cry? Well I opened up the lid and saw:

Can you guess what it is yet? So by this stage I am squeaking with mounting excitement I started opening up the tissue paper and found.......

Yes, that's right, only an Amethyst Deco! You know the amazing, limited edition Deco Filofax that is sold out everywhere....in Personal!!! The photos are rubbish I know but I was so excited I just had to show you all, look at that gorgeous clasp, the deep Amethyst colour, the luxurious printed leather...

And it truly is the most gorgeous Filofax I've ever seen let alone had the chance to hold in my mitts. And it's mine, all mine (cackle, cackle) so here in it's glory is the super new addition - cue lots of photos....

A first look inside

The diary pages ooh look see it's my birthday there

That super soft suede back pocket

And there is the pocket all open

So I'm off to play with the set up to make it just right to start using as my main Filofax (although it is too lovely really I think I need to research a little cloth bag for it to live in when bashing about in my handbag) more on that soon....

And as this wasn't the only Filofax I was lucky enough to get this birthday I've got another post to write about the other new gorgeous addition to the Filofax family here but that will have to be day so stay tuned...

Lx

Educating Loulou



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Never too old to learn new tricks...

At the ripe old age of, ahem, 24 (well, what's a misplaced decade between friends) I have made the decision to learn some more about what I do for a living and go back to school.

For the past 12+ years I have been working in the world of marketing. First for a book publisher, then for many years in retail marketing and most recently I've spent the last 3 years working in subscriptions marketing for a magazine publisher.Now you may well ask what does a subscriptions marketeer do? I essentially work to increase the number of subscribers to our range of magazines. Whether that be through adverts in the magazines themselves, using loose inserts (you know the annoying bits of paper in every magazine that you shake out into a dustbin) or testing the gazillions of online marketing channels now available I am the person trying to get you to sign up to receive our magazines every month by offering you massive price discounts to do so.

So what has this got to do with going back to school?

Well as in all industries mine has several levels of qualifications that you can study. From undergraduate degree (although I studied Social Science but that's a whole other story) to fledgling marketing trainee through to professional training. Back in the early part of my career I studied with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM). I learnt all about the importance of the testing matrix, the best way to run a direct mail campaign or how you put together a marketing plan. All still valid and useful learnings but they were more doing than planning or strategising.

Now I'm at the stage of my career where I manage a team, report into a Group Finance Director and am responsible for driving strategy, budgets and formulating targets. I also spend time attempting to convince the non believers in my firm all about the value in mixing traditional with new marketing streams to drive both numbers and profit. And spend less time actually implementing the campaigns than I do about driving them I think it is about time I revisit the marketing gurus and teachings and brush up on my theory.

Handily the CIM 2 years ago upgraded their courses and qualifications to add in such a strategic qualification. With more emphasis on the strategy, decision making, planning and financial implications side of my role and with modules including Emerging Themes (otherwise known as crystal ball gazing) Marketing Leadership and Planning (hello yes please!) Analysis and Decision (how to make the data talk to you and then convince others) and Managing Corporate Reputation (defence planning) this is a crack course in turning mild mannered marketeers into finely tuned marketing machines! Fully armed with the toolkit of skills to strategically flatten all opposition!

The Marketing Terminator....

All sounds fab no? And so it was until the course changed from school nights at the local university business centre to become weekends! So it's so long to the social life and hello fitting studying part time around a full time job. On the plus side it now means I won't be tied to every Monday or Wednesday at school, not getting home until at least 10pm and I'll be able to study fresh instead of worrying about the project left unfinished when I dashed out the door at 5pm to make it to school in time.

So here is to re-entering the student life even if it is only at weekends.....but most excitingly here is to having to buy new stationery (legitimately this is outside of the shopping embargo obviously) and exercising the little grey cells a bit more into working that bit harder.

I know many of you are studying while working so any tips gratefully received on how you work the work/study/life balance and on how you organise your time...My first school date is scheduled to be on Saturday 17th September (which incidentally is the day after my birthday - no getting drunk that day that's for sure!) but maybe I'll get some shiny new pens/Filofax/school bags to play with...

The I NEED new stationery to help me work harder/better lust list:

The Vintage Rose Malden pencil case to match my Personal Malden Filofax

Super Lovely Pencil Case

The perfect work/school bag - the Bernstein from Fiorelli

Glamorous and Practical

This gorgeous Highway of Writing fountain pen in Blackberry

Elegant Note Taking care of the Paperie

And of course it's me, no stationery wish list would be complete without a Filofax lust list...currently I am drooling over the very expensive but absolutely divine:

The Personal Enigma in Brindle

The Personal Osterley in Plum

Although my Vintage Rose Malden is still absolutely lovely, so I'm not too worried about changing anytime soon! Hope you are all having a lovely week...

Lx

Lackadaisical Loulou

So as you may have noticed I have appear to have abandoned my blog recently...I'm not entirely sure why I had lost my blogging mojo but for quite a while I've not had the ideas or the urge to write. I've been busy but no more than usual. Strange but it happens....but I'm back, brimming with ideas for posts and lots of questions, updates and discussions that I want and need your advice on.

So I'm very sorry for having been gone so long and if you are still out there keep your eyes peeled as there will be lots of posts coming along soon....But as a quick summary to what I've been up to over the past 6 weeks these are some of the things that have happened....

Mr P is all fixed and been given the (almost just waiting for official confirmation) all clear. BEST NEWS EVER. 

We've booked the infamous ski holiday to Canada for January (Eek) 

I've had my first skiing lesson on a dry slope and I didn't fall over!!!

It's only 6 weeks until our mini break to Paris (croissants, architecture and people watching - bliss)

It's only 3 weeks until my birthday!!! I get very over excited about birthdays especially mine....

I've signed up to start studying the Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and will therefore be saying goodbye to any social life from the 17th September until next August......while scared I am very excited (and while the shopping embargo still stands) perhaps an A5 Filofax Flex could help the study plans along??? So I'm rereading any blog posts on how to use your Filofax for study plans..any links/recommendations do let me know in the comments I'm going to need all the help I can get!

I've rejoined Slimming World and so far lost 5.5lbs....and feel much better already for it.

And finally the shopping embargo...I've not bought any magazines, clothes (apart from 1 long black maxi skirt that is in a smaller size - see the point above - so was a weight loss reward purchase). No handbags, Filofaxes, costume jewellery...I have bought books though - cookery and school books mainly but a couple of fiction books (one of which was from a charity shop though) Overall though I do think CP and the fabulously frugal crew would be pretty proud of me!

So that's a brief recap, upcoming I have posts planned to show you my new work A5 Filofax set up using day on one page business inserts, what the new set up in my Vintage Rose Malden looks like plus a post on why I'm going back to school.

So how are you all? I've missed you

Lx

The Shopping Challenge - the first fortnight, an update!!

Hello all it's been far too long between my posts but now my hectic social life is now well and truly over I have lots of posts stored up in my head ready to write. But first - how am I doing on CP's Fabulously Frugal challenge?

Well first up no handbags, Filofaxes, shoes or clothes have been purchased by myself - big tick.

On a recent trip away with my Mum she did buy me two tops (so pretty) and I wasn't going to get them as I'm participating in the challenge but she reckoned they were "so me" I had to have them apparently so hopefully you don't think that's cheating too much!!

I have however bought 2 books and a DVD BUT one of the books is the second Starbucks bio that is for a marketing course I am starting soon (great example of customer centric marketing getting a little waylaid) and the other is How To Be A Woman by Caitlyn Moran which EVERYONE seems to have been raving about recently and I love her columns so figured it would be a good read. Plus neither are fiction so I'm thinking that they are kind of ok?

The DVD I bought is Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - this promises an extremely tough but super quick (20 minutes) workout which should be doable for me (well I say that I've had it 5 days and not managed to fit in a session yet!!) and as this fits with my other big challenge about getting fit and loosing weight I figured for £3 on Amazon it was worth a try!!

Other than a new tyre, shower pump and exhaust I've been really good (I think) I have however been very poor at joining in the Facebook group and I haven't done any of CP's tasks yet so I want to give those a try this week!!

So how are you all doing with life this week?

Lx