A few weeks ago I posted about my new moleskine planner.  I promised that once I got things going I'd show you how I used it.  I'm still deciding on a layout so in this week 33 & 34 you will see they change a little.  I started out with color coding like I usually do.  However, it looked messy....  I really prefer the streamlined look of just black ink in my planner right now.  [this may change later on aha]

The moleskine I purchased is the Turntable Diary/Planner.  I chose to also document moments in it as well as using it for planning.  To separate the two, I use a dashed line around my journaling entries.  I also knew I wanted to incorporate a motivational quote, so I put it on what I knew would be my least busy day.  I keep track of my work schedule as well as Jess's.  I like having it in the same place across the board, and have kept it near each date.  

Week 34 was a straight up DISASTER.  I have had some health issues bringing me down this month, and this particular week seriously kicked my ass.  It was probably the most unproductive week I've had all year long.  It took everything in me to get of the couch each day.  So you will see A LOT of items moved and deferred because I just couldn't get the momentum to do them.

Whew was this a bad week to start scheduling my flylady in my planner...  I don't think I accomplished one task.  I drew a little goofy elephant because some times I just need to take up space lol.  I have another quote on this week, "Stay Pretty.  Be Educated. Dress Well.  Get Money."  Too bad such a fun motivational quote was wasted on a crappy week.  Meh.  At the bottom of each day I tried documenting what time I woke up, how much water I drank, and what time I went to bed.  It was pretty pointless since I slept pretty much all day all week anyway...  Seriously guys, it was a bad week.

I love love decorated planner pages.  I started this one out that way, with color coding and washi tape.  There was something about it that made my moleskine feel trashy.  I can't explain it...  I just think the all black ink really looks sharp.  I do have plans to get some stamps which I will use with black ink.  I'll list below what I used for my planning.

• Moleskine 2014/2015 Turntable weekly diary/planner
• OliBlock Clips
• Frixion Erasable pens in Black ink

current favorite juice [guava]

This month I have been looooving Mt Baker Vapor's Guava.  It's a delish blend of tropical fruit.  I've actually blended it in my tank with a TAD bit of menthol for a reallyyy refreshing summer vape.  It's been hot as hades in the midwest, and this has been a lovely treat!  

Also, Mt Baker Vapor was kind enough to offer a coupon code just for my readers! 

Another awesome thing about Mt Baker Vapor is: when you spend $15 on anything, you get a free bottle of ejuice!  So hop on over and take advantage of myyyy coupon code && get yourself a free bottle of juice with your $15 order!

tori amos concert kansas city 8.2.14

I have been IN LOVE with Tori since around 1996.  I started with her debut album from 1992 Little Earthquakes, and worked my way up.  I was quickly enchanted by her voice && piano talent.  I've spent 18 years of my life with her.  Happy moments, sad moments, and everything in between.  I finally got to see my enchantress this month, and it was THE best day ever.

She came out on stage in a navy wrap dress, cream colored skinnies, and fab heels.  In typical Tori fashion, she straddled a piano bench between a keyboard and a Bosendorfer baby grand.  Oftentimes, playing both at once.

We were 8 rows back from the stage and I felt like she was singing directly to me.  It was such a surreal experience for me.  All these years of truly madly loving this artist, and she was right there.  

This concert was her first "solo" tour without her backing band in many years.  I honestly wouldn't want it any other way.  It was perfection.  This tour was to promote her Fourteenth studio album, Unrepentant Geraldines.  However, she only played a couple songs from the new album.  The set list spanned her entire catalog.

The "Lizard Lounge" takes place in the middle of the set list, and she does 2 cover songs.  Each and every show along the tour has a different set list, with a different mix of covers.  You NEVER know what you're going to get.  In KC we were treated to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, and Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  

>>Not my video, and excuse the woman screaming a curse word at the beginning, ahah.  I found it on YouTube && had to share because it's from MY show and her version of this song was beautiful! <<

After every show on this tour [Unrepentant Geraldines Tour] Tori uploads a picture of the set list onto her Tumblr.  This was the picture of our set list <333  Notice that 4 song Encore!  Fab.

I got to meet Tori's daughter && get a photo with her!  If I had known I was going to be getting to take such an epic picture, I would've worn my hair down... muh head looks huge! Ahaha.

During the first song I kept getting dizzy && I couldn't figure out why.  Then I realized that I wasn't breathing!  I was so excited, that I was holding my breath ahaha.  When she sang Little Earthquakes, I teared up && cried like a baby.  I knew I would cry at some point in the show...  I was prepared for that.

>>Again, not my video<<

Cornflake Girl was the only song, she played with a background track.  It was so unexpected when it started blaring.  Cornflake Girl really does need the rest of the music with it to make it whole, and I think she knew that.

If you've never listened to her, you must do so now.  I mean it.  If you are already a fan, you must make sure that you see her live at least once in your life.  It's an experience that can't properly be described with words.  You have to go feel it for yourself.

**A very good friend of mine was at this concert as well, several of my pictures posted here were taken by him.  I kept forgetting to take pictures because I was so enthralled in watching her**

grocery store price list book [updated 2014]

I've noticed lately that my numbers aren't coming out exactly as they should when I come back from the grocery store.  I've been saving my receipts for awhile && realized that the prices have gone up since my last grocery store pricebook I made.  I had originally written my prices in my last book in permanent ink.  So I decided to pick up a new book.  I grabbed this adorb Hello Kitty one out of the Target Dollar bins.  I decided this time I was going to be smart and use my Pilot Frixion pens so I can erase later if I need to.  

Not a lot to add to the setup.  I pretty much did it exactly like my last one.  I changed the tabs though.  I put them in the top corner this time.  My categories are the same: 

• Meat
• Dairy
• Canned
• Produce
• Dry Goods
• Bread
• Frozen
• Snacks
• Seasonings/Sauces
• Condiments
• Misc. [for paper towels, ziploc bags, etc.]

If you're new to my grocery store price list book, I use it to plan my menu to the penny.  I ALWAYS know exactly what I will walk away spending.  I plan my meals every week, and keep it in budget with the help of my book.  I'm obsessed with this.  It's truly a fun game to me...  I'm a spender [makeup, clothes, etc] but I also work VERYYYY hard to live as frugally as I can.  Jess works incredibly hard to make sure we have everything we need AND want.  I respect that by working incredibly hard to make sure we don't do anything stupid with the money she brings home <333

Here's the link to my original post about my price book! =]

planner [love] haul

School starts this week and while I'm not personally in school, I'm responsible for my son && Jess's schedules.  The kiddo is in band and happens to be veryyy busy during the school year with it.  Jess not only works 2 jobs, but is going back to school this semester.  I tend to be the taxi for everyone, along with my own "household duties".  I'm only 31, but my memory is crap.  Fo real.  I have to write everyyyything down.  I love LOVE bullet journaling to keep my head on.  I find that is the most productive way for me to complete everything && stay on task.  This year I'm incorporating the Moleskine Turntable planner into my planning regimen.  With regular bullet journaling in a plain notebook, I found I was spending too much time laying out everything on the page.  The Turntable planner has everything setup, but in a veryyy close to bullet journaling layout.  I'll show you how I do it once I get it all going.

I was stoked to find 4-packs of washi tape at Office Depot for 73 cents!  I'll admit, when it comes to the planner world I'm not a HUGE washi user.  I do like using washi to map out long events over several days.  Plus, it's a fun way to add a little color.  I also found a Le Pen stand at my local Books-A-Million.  I wasn't aware we had these pens locally anywhere!  I haaad to pick one up.  My favorite pens to use for planning is the Pilot Frixion pens.  They're erasable.  Honest!  Not like the crappy Paper-Mate erasable pens from the 90s that left crap all over the page.  These legit erase everything cleanly.  I grabbed Frixion highlighters while I was at it too.  

Here's a little example I tried to put together for you guys of the erasing Frixion Pens ahah!  I wrote "Hello" 3 times with the pink, purple, and light blue pens.  Then I erased the middle.  I also did the same with the highlighters.  I hope it helps! <33

Washi Pack #1

Washi Pack #2

Washi Pack #3

There's the washi's all out && pretty! These are a great quality too.  I did some writing on them with my Le Pen and it wrote beautifully.  No streaking && dried well onto the tape.  NOTE: I usually use Paper-Mate Flair pens for my washi tape.  They write beautifully & have the ink similar to a pointed Sharpie.  

I can't wait to get started on my journal for this year.  I'll do posts regularly showing you what I do && how I do it.  I know that the planner community is huge and I want to contribute! <33

Check out my Pinterest board: .planner [love]

Follow Emilee's board .planner [love] on Pinterest.

What planner do you use?  Do you use a simple planner or do you go all out?

avastin update [8.12.14]

Holy. Smokes.

This last Avastin shot reallyyy kicked my butt.  Ugh.  I'm so sorry that I've been away for so long.  I wasn't expecting this most recent shot to take me down like it has.  It's been awful.  Much different experience than my shot last year.

They started a different technique with the shot since my last one.  The shot procedure I had last year consisted of the numbing, shot, then antibiotic drops for weeks after.  This time they do numbing, beta-dine, shot, no drops.  The beta-dine is to replace the need for the antibiotic drops.  However, some people experience more pain && scratchiness afterwards with the beta-dine.  I sure as heck did.  For far too long.  It's been miserable.

I'm finally starting to get to where I can look at the computer screen long enough to get some work done.  So I should be back to regularly scheduled blogging =]

I have an update appointment with my Retinal Specialist next month to see if the Avastin shot did what it's supposed to this time around.  I've noticed some improvement in my vision, but still have several "flickering" spots that haven't dissapated.  I'm hoping they do soon so I don't need another shot next month...  At least now I know to plan waayyy ahead && have several posts scheduled for after the shot!

Thank you for being patient with me <333 I love you guys!

View my most recent POHS post here

adorn your android [August 2014]

August phone theme && icons for ya! <333  Find me on CocoPPa! My profile is "emileeblogs".  To see past layouts, click on the "phone" category in the sidebar!