hey guys what’s up (the ceiling ofc)? time for the obligatory apology/explanation about how I’ve just been way to busy to post but IMMA DO BETTER and yeah.
but I’m definitely going to take advantage of our TWO (!!) days off because of Dorian and hopefully schedule lots of posts. fingers crossed 🤞
anyway it’s time for the monthly goals post yay! I’m not going to review August because I’m 99% sure I didn’t accomplish any of my goals. oops.
this month I’ll do better (LIES)
How has your past week been? Mine was good, but busy as usual. This week, I’m going to share my thoughts on my Plum Paper Planner (this is my third month using it). I’m really excited about this post!
Watch the video below for a flip-thru of my planner (the meat of the post, honestly!)
If you read my initial review post, you will know that I gave it a 4.8/5 stars.
Here was my original criteria (with comments in purple):
so i’m going to say that….
One of these photos was taken on the 3rd and the other on the 8th. Can you guess which is which of course you can?
As is my custom at the beginning of each new month (that sounds so weird), I’m going to do a review of how September went and go over my goals for October!
Ooh, this one is lots of fun! I have quite a few photos that I took in September, so buckle down and enjoy the ride 🙂
August Review + September Goals
A non-expert’s overview of Bible Journaling
Goals from September:
Next week’s post is all about the Planner- YAY, but for now, I’m going to give y’all a little peek into my planner for October!
^ My adorable reading log. I’m writing this on the 3rd, so I’ve already added some fun books!
I know this is blurry and oh so behind-the-scenes, but this is reality when I was setting up my planner. Plus, if you read my How I write my blog posts post, you’ll recognize what’s up on my computer screen!! I really like this photo, which is weird because it’s really bad! But I love the reality of it 🙂
Thanks for reading! What are your goals for October? Did you finish everything you planned to do in September?
Have you ever wondered how I write my blog posts? It’s definitively not one size fits all, but my current method works well for me.
This step might seem minor, but it’s actually very important! About a month in advance, I pick the posts for the next month from a list that I keep of things I’d like to post. Then, I add them to an excel sheet that I keep (excel is like sheets for google) going.
I used to use monday.com for this step (just because I had a 30 day free trial) but it’s expensive if you want to keep using it, so I just decided to use an excel sheet.
Here’s an example of my excel sheet for June, July, and August:
Once it’s added to the excel document, I open a google docs and start planning the post. For example, in my bible journaling post, I listed all the supplies I would include and found links and prices for all of them. Most of the time this is just a simple bullet list of what I want to include in the post (for some posts, I don’t even do this, like a photography post).
I try to include photos in all my posts, even if I grab them from Unsplash (like the one above). If I need to actually take photos with my camera, I do that, but if I’m getting the photos online, I pick the one’s I plan to use. Then I add EVERY SINGLE photo that will be in the post to an empty draft. This includes my “Hello” Photo, signature, and dividers.
This step is pretty self explanatory: actually writing the post! This includes typing captions for photos, and actually building a post. I generally do this in 1-4 stages (depending on how much work it is).
Then, I schedule the post! I write my posts about 1-2 weeks before they go live, which relives me of stress. For some posts that are more personal and need to be written closer to when they go live, I try to prep as much as possible ahead of time.
I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my blog post planning+preparing process (triple points for alliteration)!
Today I’m going to be sharing some tips for being productive when you’re not motivated. This has always been a struggle for me, so when I found some solutions I knew I wanted to share then with y’all so that you would know what to do!
There’s a wide spectrum of reason on why you’re not motivated. It might be that you simply don’t enjoy doing the task, or it could be possible that you have too much on your plate. Whatever it is, there is a fairly simple solution. If you don’t enjoy the task- make it enjoyable! One idea is to provide yourself with a reward for completing the task- maybe 5 minutes of social media, 10 minutes to read a book, or even simply a break to have a healthy snack. This question is essential because once you know why you don’t feel motivated you can remedy it.
This one is absolutely essential if you just feel unmotivated. It’s easier to scroll through social media that to sit down and complete tasks, even if the task is something you enjoy. Turn the power of all of your devices and turn off all of your notifications. You should probably make some way for emergency phone calls to come through, just in case.
When I don’t feel motivated, I’m ready to munch on things like chips and sweets. Aside from the fact that those foods are unhealthy, they’re not going to help with the motivation issue, I promise! If you’re feeling unmotivated, try making a smoothie with some nuts and greek yogurt, plus some fresh fruits/veggies to make it even healthier. I find that taking the time to make and drink my smoothie gives me a break (which helps too) and gives me much-needed energy. Fresh fruits and vegetables also help with this.
Sometimes you’ve just been sitting too long, or you haven’t stretched all day. That is the time to shut off your screen, close your planner, and take a quick walk. It probably wouldn’t be a great time to do an elaborate workout because that would take more time and you probably wouldn’t enjoy it very much. A walk is relaxing and peaceful.Try taking one next time you feel unmotivated.
During my research for this post, I came across an interesting sentence: “It’s hard not to do something when everything you need is staring you in the face.” The post was talking about grouping the items and placing them in a place where you’re bound to see them- maybe on top of the TV remote or your phone, next to your alarm clock in the morning, or even where you put your purse when you get home. For example, if you want to start making a smoothie every morning, you can gather every single ingredient you need and put it on the kitchen counter. That way, it’s so easy, even easier than making a frozen waffle for the umpteenth day in a row.
While this statement is probably true, I wouldn’t recommend eating a live frog… ever! However, doing the hardest/worst/least enjoyable thing on your to do list first I do recommend. The first task you do should be the hardest, and then you’ll fly through the rest of them.
If you’re trying to accomplish an especially long task, don’t try to do it in one sitting. One idea is to work on your task for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. You have enough time to check social media as a reward, or even better get a drink of water and make a smoothie. After three repeats of 25 + 5, take a 30 minute break.
Whether this is in a coffee shop, at your own desk, or under a tree outside, this really does help. A change of scenery always gives me motivation, it’s really helpful!
Hopefully these tips will help you if you’re struggling with this as well. Goodbye for now!
I can’t believe that summer is coming to a close already! My brothers start school on Monday, but luckily I still have a few more weeks since I start on the 28th. To help you prepare for that day, whenever it is for you (comment when you start school below) I decided to give you guys a few tips!
NOTE: I tried to make this tips applicable to any school situation, whether you go to public, private, online or home school (I know there are way more, okay!! Just a few of the main ones), so hopefully they will be applicable to your situation!
This one is SUPER important, no matter what your school situation is. Even if you can’t control exactly what happens during your school day, you can still make a schedule/routine for your homework time, before school time, and after school time. And if you can control what happens during your school day, DO IT! Making a detailed plan helps you stay on track. Don’t forget to schedule breaks into your time too, however.
I generally like to make routines and schedules, because you have to accept the fact that there WILL be distractions, and there will be things that keep you from doing your work right on schedule. I would recommend giving yourself some buffer when you make your schedule. A good tip is to double the amount of time you think it will take, but that doesn’t always work out. Maybe 10-15 minutes of buffer is all you need.
QUICK TIP: Start implementing your schedule 2 weeks before you’ll actually start using it. If you’re used to sleeping in during summer like me (but I call sleeping in 8AM) than this is essential. To keep you awake, maybe watch a new show or listen to a new soundtrack that you haven’t listened to before.
This isn’t absolutely essential but it does help a lot. Try to find your teacher’s email on your school’s website, go to back to school night (do they even have that past elementary school??), or send a letter to your school with your teacher’s name on it. I like to make it short and sweet because you don’t want to take up too much of your teacher’s planning time. In it, you should introduce yourself and ask a couple questions about the class.
QUICK TIP: When you introduce yourself, don’t just talk about your personality. One thing you can do is tell your teacher about your history with the subject (is it one of your favorites? Do you do well or not so well? Do you not like this subject?) Be real with your teacher. It’s always better if you can tell her/him instead of them having to figure it out.
This will make you so much more motivated to start the school year. Here’s a few cute and useful supplies that you actually need!
You could also grab some notebooks, but I recommend binders and writing your notes on notebook paper. I like how you can add and remove things and they last way longer, too.
Okay, I admit it. This is mostly for fun. If you haven’t grabbed a cute planner yet, do that! Then, add in all of your classes and activities. Make your planner all ready to go for the first day of school! If you blog, then add in blog posts or anything like that for you. You don’t want to have to prepare your planner the night before school starts, so do it now!
A couple weeks before school starts, make some outfits that you’d like to wear. Take pictures of them, and viola! You can put your lookbook in a special album on your phone/computer, you can add magnets and put it on a whiteboard in your closet, you can make a Pinterest board for them, you can make a poster of them, the possibilities are ENDLESS. Next time you’re wondering what to wear, you have a bunch of outfits already prepped!
This is really helpful! You can make a list on your computer and print it out or hand letter a cute list that has ideas for easy, quick, and healthy meals and snacks. That way you know exactly what to have. You could even put the amount of time it takes from start to finish, including eating, so that you can choose something that fits into your time frame.
QUICK TIP: Prep snack baggies of veggies or something else that’s healthy to make it even easier that opening a bag of chips. When you have healthy goodies prepped beforehand, you’re more likely to eat healthier. Awesome, right?
This can be as simple as printing out some cute artwork and organizing your desk, but it is so helpful on the first few days to have a comfy, clean, and cute space to do your work. Whether it’s your desk, locker, reading nook, or homework area, this will make a big impact! You’ll feel more motivated to get things done, and who doesn’t want that?
QUICK TIP: Print out cute seasonal decor from Pinterest or something of the sort. You can spend one afternoon making loads of decor pieces, then store them somewhere. For each holiday, simply hang up the decor you already have prepared. Of course this isn’t essential, but it’s so much fun!
This only takes a few minutes, but learning some new cute do’s will help so much in the mornings. You can also practice makeup looks. Simple but SO helpful!
QUICK TIP: Make a hairstyles or makeup lookbook as well and hang it up in your bathroom or vanity.
Hopefully these tips will help you out. I’m certainly not an expert but I will be implementing these tips in my own life!
Also: I used a lot of Watermelon Script (font) in this post. Do you think it conflicts with the blog design + different fonts? Please let me know below.
Hi everyone!
I have been searching for a really good planner for a while. This is my criteria for a ‘good planner’:
Those were the 5 main things I was looking for in a planner.
Here are some of the brands that I looked at on my planner search and why I did not choose them.
Erin Condren:
This was too expensive, and I was looking for an academic planner, and they only have 6 month options for that.
Happy Planner:
Great pricing, but I don’t want something that I have to set up.
Those are just a couple of the many options that I considered.
I searched practically everywhere. I was looking at reviews of EC planners when I stumbled across one review that compared the EC planner with another planner- the PP (Plum Paper) planner. The blogger compared them and marked the PP planner with a hands-down win. Intrigued, I googled ‘Plum Paper Planner’ and read many other great reviews. I checked out their site (it’s gorgeous!) and fell in love with their planners.
One thing: There are SO many covers!!! I changed mine at least 12 times, then placed my order so that I wouldn’t have a chance to change it 14 more times, lol. Their covers are SO pretty and personalized online, now to see if they are the same in person!
Basically, what I’m going to do is take my criteria and divide it up into sections. At the beginning, there will be an unboxing video! Check out the whole flip thru on my YouTube channel!
Christina and Camera YOUTUBE LINK
Is the Plum Paper pretty?
Let’s check and see…
The cover is on point and it’s SO pretty! Camera can not capture how gorgeous the cover really is.
The Plum Paper planner has great plastic covering on the front and the back covers, which protects them wonderfully. Aside from that, the cover is very durable itself, the paper is thicker than I expected, and the spine looks like it would stay in place for quite a while.
My total for the cost was $36. This included the extra fee for personalizing the inside (the cover is no extra cost) and also for making the planner 12 months instead of 6! I didn’t purchase any extras, but if I had, I definitely could have stayed in budget.
My planner was not very thick, which was welcomed. I don’t want it to be heavy! It also is the perfect size. Plum Paper currently offers 3 sizes, but not every type of planner is available in them all. The size that I selected, the 5 by 9, has the most options.
As you can see from this week in the Plum Paper Planner, I was able to customize the headings and change them to:
To DO
Quizzes and Tests
Math
Omnibus
Science
Writing
Spanish
Blog
Other
Fitness
4.8 points out of 5 is pretty great! My criteria was pretty hard, too.
Go buy yourself a Plum Paper planner! Here is the link to their store. Plum Paper is giving C & C readers a 10% off discount of your purchase of $30 or more, so check that out!
Thanks for reading! Comment below what planner you’re using!
Note: Plum Paper gave me a 15% off discount to blog about my planner. If you click the link above, I will receive $10 in credit. I am in no way trying to hide this from y’all, and it doesn’t make a difference in your shopping experience. Also: If I do for some reason get any referral credit, I will be spending it for a giveaway!
christina raquel 