Filofax

For anyone who knows me, they'll know how much I appreciate a good bit of stationary. My colleagues at work used to make jokes about me having shares in Paperchase because of my love for pretty notebooks and folders. Honestly, if I had the money, I could easily spend thousands in that shop...maybe I should have shares?

I'd really been wanting a Filofax for ages so at Christmas when my mum asked if I had any idea what I would like, it was at the top of my list. On Christmas morning I actually unwrapped a slightly different one, as my mum hadn't realised the size when she ordered it and it was a bit big. It was important, for me, that it was portable and would fit in my handbag. I swapped it for this one which is the purple leather 'Malden' in the 'Personal' size. It's such a nice, soft leather and I hope that, being able to buy yearly inserts, it will last me a lifetime. I know that most people nowadays use diary's or apps on their phones but I've never really managed to get on board with that. I did try using to-do list apps and the calendar on my phone, but I always ended up going back to a paper diary, I don't think you can really beat it.

I'd been looking at pictures on Pinterest and Instagram of all the amazingly pretty planners, decorated with washi tape, fancy clips and all the other inventive things people have done, and I couldn't wait to put my own touch on mine. I ordered a hole punch from Amazon which is designed for various planners and can be adjusted to fit the 'Personal' size of my Filofax, as I wanted to personalise mine with some postcards and photos. I bought these postcards from Paperchase which I've inserted into my Filofax as dividers between my different sections.

I've split my Filofax into different sections; the diary, my to-do lists (probably the most used section...I love a list!), my budget and finance kind of stuff and I did have a section with meal plans at one point (but that section's not regularly used at all)! I use little coloured dot stickers to signal things like payday, and I've decorated the pages of my holiday from work and birthday's with washi tape. I bought the notepaper with the bunting design (below) from Paperchase, they have a great range of inserts that are designed to fit their planners as well as Filofaxes. 

I know that my Filofax isn't decorated as much as some of the other planners you might see on Pinterest and Instagram (go and look!), however I've only really started to add my own touch and I think there's still lots more that I could use my Filofax for. I feel that it definitely needs some more washi tape soon!!!

Chocolate Bark

I thought I'd do a quick post about an easy homemade gift idea that I've made a few times for different occasions, because who doesn't love chocolate? I first made this last Christmas as a little extra for few of my friend's presents and, as you made have read in one of my latest posts, I made some for my boyfriend for Valentines Day.

It's so easy to make and I think it looks like a great gift, made all the more special because it's homemade. To make mine I used chocolate from Lidl, it's only about 35p per bar and I think it tastes pretty good for the money. You could use any type of chocolate but I opted for cheap-ish stuff since I was buying about ten bars to melt. I melted the milk and white chocolate in separate pans and then spread one as base onto grease proof paper on a baking tray, and then used a spoon to drizzle the other one on top making a marbled kind of effect. Then it's just all about what sweets you want to add on top...the fun part! One of the ones I made for my friends had smarties, marshmallows and Millions and the other one had broken up Crunchie and white chocolate chips! The Valentines one had Love Heart sweets, cherry lips and freeze dried raspberry pieces. There are endless possibilities; I've seen some in the shops with popcorn on them and saw some on Pinterest topped with dried fruit an nuts...a remotely healthy version I suppose!!

I believe the name for this is 'bark' and if you search 'chocolate bark' on Pinterest then you'll find a lot more inventive inspiration that the few photos I have here. I'll definitely be making this again, and I think my sister has already taken the idea to make this for a few of her friend's birthdays this year!

Dream House: Brick Walls

The second post in my 'Dream House' series is dedicated to my extreme love for exposed brickwork. I think this has recently become a bit of an interiors trend, and I imagine that more and more people are recreating this look in their house. I also think that quite a few newly built houses and flats are being designed with this feature nowadays. There are a few people I follow on Instagram who have flats with walls like this, and it's safe to say, I'm very jealous! I would love a feature brick wall in my *hypothetical* house, probably in a bedroom or the kitchen.

All images can be found on my Pinterest board.

James Dean Daydream

It's March already! I mean how did that happen, I genuinely remember partying on New Year's Eve like it was last weekend! It really is scary how much time flies, and I'm sure it's going so much quicker the older I get. And on that topic, it's exactly a month today until I turn 25...eeeek! However before that, I have one last month of being 24 which includes my first week off this year. I can't wait to have a week off work to relax back at home in The Borders, as well as cash in the Groupon voucher I've bought for a full body massage. I am determined that it'll be a stress free week!

So what did I get up to in February? It's easy to feel like my routine is work, eat, watch something on Netflix, sleep...and repeat! However I definitely do manage to fit in some other little adventures!

I spent one Sunday having lunch and a wander at The National Museum of Scotland with some of the family. We ate at the Bistro section downstairs, which I'd never been to before, I had such a lovely haggis and potato dish. // I'm not sure a month could go by without me buying new shoes! You can't really blame me in the job I'm in though, can you!? I couldn't resist buying these spotty trainers in the sale from work. Our store had never stocked them so when someone returned a pair in my size...FATE! The picture of my new shoes was taken on a day when my sister and I took the train to visit our other sister in Stirling for the day, where we had a wee liquid lunch and a catch-up at a lovely restaurant in Bridge of Allan called 'Jam Jar'. // I had the luxury of a full weekend off of work a few weeks ago, so I spent most of it with my boyfriend. I went to my first ever rugby match which was...cold, but good fun! We also took a little day trip to North Berwick where we walked along the beach then sat and ate chips by the sea!

This was the first time in...a wee while...that I had someone to celebrate Valentines Day with, which was really nice. I was working the full weekend but I had a lovely dinner cooked for me, and some gorgeous flowers bought for me. The flowers have lasted for ages, it's been so nice having fresh flowers in my room. I think I might make an effort to buy flowers more often, especially with Spring coming. // I handmade my gift, chocolate bark with some Valentines related sweets on top. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and I possibly may have ate most of the bits that were left over!

My February soundtrack has definitely been none other than Taylor Swift, I've had her '1989' album on repeat and I absolutely love this song!