Wednesday Wishlist

As you know, these past few weeks have been a little bit rubbish over here in the life of Lady Writes. I split up with my boyfriend last week and have been moping around since - boo. It's my birthday next week and now without Boyband (my affectionate name for my ex) I'm dreading it. Ageing is something that is freaking me out now that I'm getting nearer to the big 3-0 (still a couple of years left) and with a boyband shaped hole, I'm dreading it even more.

So, I decided to invest some time in looking at pretty things on the internet to cheer myself up - it always helps. I've been obsessed with planners and planning for a few months now, having been introduced to it on Instagram and I now spend more time than I care to admit, looking at planners, layouts, extra's and watching videos on said items. I don't have a planner yet but it's become a bit of a habit and my absolute adoration for scrapbooking (my hobby since age 10) is waining slightly as I become more obsessed with planners!

The one I really want is the Erin Condren Life Planner. I've spent hours watching and looking at reviews of all different types of brands, but this one is the one I've got my heart set on! As a mummy, a full time Social Media Manager during the day and a blogger by night, I need a great planner to help me organise my life, and this seems like it would be perfect to help me do that! (No easy task!)

Firstly there are so many options every step of the way, starting with front covers. I just love how many different options there are. You can personalise your own completely, or add your own wording to existing designs. I'm torn between these two - one that says 'She designed the life she loved' (because this is one of my favourite quotes) or the animal print version.

One of the main reasons that I like the Erin Condren Life Planner the most is for the layout. Having tried various different layouts in diaries before, I love the vertical weekly layout that allows you to separate your day into three sections. Now, I know lots of people would use this for morning/day/evening, but for me it gives me the opportunity to have one section for me, one for my son (and all his activities and hospital appointments) and one for blogging - this means I wouldn't need to have three, and keep them all in different places any more.

Another thing I love about the Life Planner is - it's just so pretty! As you guys all know, I love all things pretty! And the planner comes with special sections just for looking pretty and displaying quotes (another one of my favourite things, because as you know, I've got over 1600 quote pins on Pinterest - I'm a HUGE quote fan!).

It also has amazing stickers to help you organise your time even more, and you can make your own colour co-ordinated system too that's subject to your life and your needs - brilliant for people like me. As well, you get a two sided pocket folder and perpetual calendar and zip locked bag for keeping all your cute bits and pieces in...all just other reasons that I LOVE the Life Planner.

The huge amount of options you have when setting up your planner, right down to how you use the stickers to coordinate your planner (and your life) means that you really can get so organised you'll never need to feel panic at being overwhelmed with things to remember again.

And then there's the decorating part! That's when even more fun kicks in! I've got a whole board on Pinterest just with cute ideas for decorating my planner with things like paperclips, stickers and chipboard shapes, and with my love of scrapbooking I have lots of materials that I could use too.

Erin Condren knows the life Planner best - because she created it! So she's thought of everything and has added a whole section of accessories to fill in any needs you may have for your planner. For example - the coil clip connectors means I would be able to clip in my sons hospital appointments, and some of our cute photo's and use it as a way of storing memories - as well as remembering appointments.

Then there's the snap in dashboard to-do lists. These would be great for me because I can move them around when needed as my to-do list changes so frequently and it would be a good way to keep track of everything. Especially those potential ideas/plans, so you don't have to add them into the planner until they are confirmed.

Then there's the cute pens, the compliment cards and the sticky notes - literally everything you need to help you get the most out of your planner.

I think this pretty much covers why I love the Life Planner so much. Of course I could keep going on - it's the perfect size, the interchangeable covers, the special coil system won't snag in my bag...but I think you've got the idea that these planners truly are awesome!

Interchangable Covers

As a single mummy, this time of year is always a bit financially tight for me as I have to don my hat of 'Santa' too - which means not a lot of spare money in my budget. But I'm really hoping that by the end of January I will be able to afford to buy one as a treat to myself. And who knows, maybe I will be able to find a new boyfriend by then too? Does Erin Condren provide them as well?!

Please feel free to share your layout and planner pictures with me on Instagram.

28 Things You Learn By The Time You're 28

It's my birthday in a week or so and I've been reflecting on all of the wonderfully hard learnt life lessons I've had in the past 27 years (I'm 28 this month).

It's funny how the older you get (oo-er) the more open you become to learning about life, yourself and the world around you. I think it's because in our teens and early twenties we are so sure that we've got it all sussed - and then we actually realise that we have no clue what we're doing, but neither does anyone else, so hey, lets all wing it together. Either that or I was just incredibly stubborn in my younger years.

So, as the big 3-0 begins to loom (a few years yet, I know), I thought I would share with you the things I've learnt, and hope to God that I'm not the only one...

1. Hangovers last longer. WAY longer. Those days of sleeping till 3pm and then junk fooding it through the day, with little sign of a headache - they're long gone. Now you're lucky if you aren't still feeling ill 2-3 days later.

2. You've accepted your taste in men sucks. Big time. You also have zero clue what to do about it.

3. You've not yet stopped phoning your mum on a Sunday asking how you cook a Sunday roast exactly like she does. And how long do you cook gammon for, or how do you make that lamb dish she does? You've accepted you've not yet stopped asking, so you probably never will.

4. Someone lied. You still gets spots in your twenties, and your late twenties at that.

5. That cute stationery shop? Anything pink and fluffy? You don't have to hide your love for kitsch things anymore. It's kind of cool to like the previously uncool.

6. You obsess about ageing. That large birthday approaching in a few years is like another reminder that you're not yet engaged or married and you still can't boil an egg properly.

7. You actually eat salad. Out of choice. Your mother refuses to believe this, even when she's a witness.

8. Being an adult is just googling how to do stuff.

9. No-one buys you advent calendars and you can't quite bring yourself to buy your own. You almost covert your own child's daily countdown...

10. You value your work colleagues. You spend most of your waking hours with them, and you may as well get on with them and have some fun with them, or else the days will be painfully slow. And boring.

11. No-one is going to tell you off for eating dessert for dinner. Woohoo!

12. You feel so smarmy when you see your old maths teacher. You never did need that square root of pi.

13. You don't experiment with high fashion styles anymore. You've found what fits, looks good and works for your budget and you're not prepared to stray too far away from it.

14. That old saying is true, you're stronger than you think. You can take more than you think you can bear. You got this. Whatever 'this' is.

15. As much as spontaneity is brilliant, you welcome plans and routine. You even buy calendars and planners to help you keep track of everything. And if you don't have your diary and someone invites you to an event, you break out in cold sweats.

16. Netflix and chill actually does mean watching Netflix and chilling out - in fluffy slippers and bun head.

17. They lied. Your body won't look like that, ever.

18. You understand why expensive underwear exists. And what's more, you actually own some.

19. No longer do you go for the youth of today drinks like WKD, nope, you're all about Gin. Your tastes have matured and you don't even care.

20. You like what you like. Your hobbies make you happy and you couldn't care less who thinks otherwise.

21. You understand the importance of keeping your mouth shut at times. Doesn't always mean you manage to though...

22. Chipped nail varnish is completely unacceptable. No excuses.

23. Speaking of unacceptable, bad spelling and grammar will offend you. You appreciate the ability to spell and punctuate.

24. Sometimes when you open your mouth your mother comes out. Worse, sometimes your grandmother.

25. Have a job you love. Life is too short to hate where you spend the majority of your waking hours. But don't quit until you've got another one lined up.

26. Scented candles are the best thing in the world. It doesn't matter how expensive they are, they're an investment in the cosiness of your home.

27. Nights out don't equal the most fun. Sometimes the best nights are the ones on the sofa laughing with your girls so much you can't remember why you ever wanted to get dolled up, totter in heels and throw away the best part of £100 for a three day hangover...

28. You don't have to ask permission to get a tattoo or stay out late, and it feels so good.

So, do you agree? Or have I missed anything out?!