2018. Planners, Goals and Things...

We are 25 days in to the new year and so far I have written more this year then I did last year. (and may be even in 2016) I have already drawn more so far this year then last.

This year is looking up!

But lets not jinks it, just yet.

(Image 'Tranquil Sky' panting by myself. You can see more of my at at mytheoryofthecrows.blogspot.com)

Over the past two may be three years I have set myself goals at the start of the year for my blogs and personally and each year they have fallen apart, due to a mixture of procrastination, bad habits (that I have tried through goals and planning to change) along with a mental fog of dark crap, and being that these these three things work in a viscous little circle, my enthusiasm, motivation, and just my general want to do anything, even when deep down I want to,  nothing got done.

So this year screw it i’m not doing it. Because I feel setting goals and dead lines or a target  on what I want to achieve creatively, restricts my creativity. If that makes sense.

This year I am just going to be creative and not set to many time scales in which i need to complete something in. 
How I was planning last year and the year before I think did not help.
So this year is I'm cutting down on tracking things, rather then how I'm planning, and the planner size.

The Planers From The Past

Last year I used A5 Leuchtturm1917 planner which I love the size but I was finding I had this urge to make it look pretty with wash tape and stickers (which I never sheared on Instagram). looking back on it now it wasn’t a waist of time it was a learning curve. It looked pretty but it didn't really help me achieve any of my tasks.

Along with the stickers and wash tape I was adding in a weekly mood tracker and food and drinks I wanted to not have, tracker. and one for, no spend, when I wrote stuff and when I had been drawing. Which the latter tracker list was possible the only good one.

Being an A5 planner I ended up finding it a little big to carry around with me every where so I ended up with a Leuchtturm1917  pocket size book which was in tock with me and jotted down anything I needed to remember, or do. Which worked and didn’t work to many things got forgotten about and things that I need to get done didn’t. 

I also had and still using a A5 Leuchtturm1917 dot witch started out as a bullet journal and my writing journal for by blog. I stopped using it as a bullet journal in the Februay. I also had a passport travelers notebook calendar in my passport travelers notebook which didn't get used so its now being used as a sketchbook.

Image from my Instagram MyConfusedWorld

In 2016 I tried out the whole bullet journal set up. Using it to plan and track my progress with my writing, posting on social media house hold stuff but I found that it took up to much time to set up each spread. that lasted all of six months. I found it extremely overwhelming

Image from my post last year My Bullet Journal and Instagram.

Now 2018

This year I’ve down sized to a pocket size planner from the brand Fashionary. which I am loving. it comes as undated, so I spent some time filling it in. I also have a lot of stickers that I’ve picked up from Kikki K and Paperchase over the last year, so I will be using some of them in it but nothing like last year. being small I can keep it simple, with my days off, apiontents, lunch dates, also it should help me not listing so many things to do that I don't get a little overwhelmed and don't do any of them.

I am also using a Leuchtturm1917 pocket size book. Here I'm listing things that I need to do shopping lists, then I'll move over what things I am going to do in that week over to my Fashionary planner so I no what I'm doing and when, with my days off and evenings. also it gives me more space to write things then my planer. Its the same system that I was doing last year and five, six years ago.

Along with a monthly tracker for days I don't spend, days I write and draw. 

My mouse mat is, was a very tatty notebook which I use to jot down things while i'm on computer, If I planing a post then things get put in their to remind me, to put links, tittle images even down to were I have saved something on my computer or hard drive. The tatty old note pad has gone and I am now using a Moleskine grid, at the start of each month it will have a monthly calender and tab put on this way I should be able to find things a little better them before.

I am currently in the process of revamping my visual merchandising blog (Visualmerchandising101.blogspot.com) so this book is full of every thing that I need to do to each post 

As the books that I carry with me are pocket size they fit in to a large pencile case along with my Fashionary notebook for my little Miss Costuming blog along with one of my travelers notebooks with my Fashionary neon lights sketchbook

making it easy to carry them around and keep my bag tidy.

So there are my planners for this year. Small, covenant and simple. Hopefully it  will stay that way. 

I do also use two A5 Filofaxes and travelers notebooks. I wont go in to them in this post as it will go on forever (and want to go and have another glass of wine). 

It dose feel like this year has started on a good note with be productive with projects (not so much with work but it is only 25 day in to the new year) I just need to not find that falling back in to bad habits are easier them atchley then creating things. 

The Bad Habits being that every time I sit down to start working on something, something leads me astray. weather it be You Tube, Pintrest, bloglovin’ or Facebook, and that that has destroyed my productivity, as well as window shopping on Amazon and Etsy. 

Lets see if this year is better then past ones. And weather I can write more and pst more post more... That may be a good thing for a three month review post.
But any way happy new year and all the best for the next 340 days

New Years Eve.

“They are her demands. If I want ‘our relationship to have any kind of further. I will abide by them’. Is how she put it”

“And to think she is someones little girl.” 

“Hay come on, I was with this woman for five years” picking up her empty mug from the table.

“I know I'm sorry. It just seams she's being a little... Well spoilt little bitch.”

“Well yes.” Turning around to open the bottle of  white wine and poring out the last drop for her. “You two never really got on did you?”

“Not really… I tired but we did't really have anything in common." He handed her a mug ,half full with wine. 

"She took the glasses as well."

"And half the cutlery, and plates, most of the saucepans." sipping from the mug.

"So that's why your cooking in a wok" He sat down opposite her at the table with a beer. 

"And the dining table. Hence the garden table and chairs." Pulling back the red and white checked table cloth to revile the hidden black metal table. The two chairs covered with blankets to mack them a little more inviting.

"And the sofa. All the hangers in the wardrobe. And all but one towel." Taking a well needed mouthful of beer from the cold bottle. 

"She did leave you with a bed, didn't she?"  A small smile on her face finding her friends situation a little amusing.

He looked at her disapprovingly and sad. 

"Dose the mattress. One pillow and the duvet count?”

"Shit.... Anyone would think that you cheated on her"

He took a long gulp of beer. Finishing the bottle. 

"You didn't" 

"It was two years ago I was working away. We had had a fight and I wasn't sure if I was going to come home to an empty house." 

"Your and arse. You know that.... Dose she know?" 

"Doubt it she never brought it up. And I'm pretty shut that she would have thrown that in my face if she did no." Flinching as he rubbed his black eye. 

“You should have slapped her back.” The disapprovingly gaze feel towards her again, from sad eyes. no answer need he was a gentlemen and he properly apologised to her for her hitting him, she thought.

He got up and stirred the sauce in the wok.  And added a bit more red wine to the mix. The mixture hissed as the cool liquid hit the heat in wok. Throwing a small cloud of hot vapour in to the air. the warm smell mad her hungry. Picking up the pack of spaghetti. he tipped the lot in to the saucepan of boiling water.

Night time in the city did not seem very dark. Street lights, along with car head lights and building emanating glows from windows and neon signs created a yellow warm glow across the sky. Even this close to Primrose hill, seeing the stars were out of the question.

Random echoing explosions from the park and near by residents filed the air. 

Finishing the last drop of wine from the mug watch him. waiting for the spaghetti to cook.

“There is a another bottle of wine in the fridge if you want to open it?“ 

She found the fridge looking very baron compared to normal. Half a dozen bottles of beer, a pint of milk, pack of bacon, butter, and at the bottom was the bottle of wine.

“got the bottle opener?”  taking of the plastic seal form the top of the bottle. 

“Nope” Poring the hot water in to the sink. “She tock that too, sorry” 

“Thats cool I want to cut down on alcohol next year” Opening the fridge putting the bottle back.

Mixing the spaghetti in the wok with the sauce the smell of the red wine filled the kitchen. before shearing it out between the two plates. 

“I know what I got… hopefully.“ putting the two plates on to the table before heading off to living room. retuning with a bottle of champaign. taking of the seal and pushing the cork out of the bottle. A load POP! followed by a smash as the cork flew out, hitting a pitcher on the wall braking the glass and making frame fall from the wall.

“Whops” placing the bottle on the table, to pick up the broken picture. of him and his ex. “Maybe I should tack it as a sign?” Pushing the glass with his foot to the wall, with intention of cleaning it up after they had eaten. He took another mug from the cupboard and put the broken pitcher on the side. he filled his mag half way, then hers.

“Enjoy your last meal of the year.” picking up his fork to eat.

"What's your New Years resolution going  to be?" 

Topping up there champagne mugs.

That both were wrapped in coats and scarves sitting out side on the steps leading down to the grass.

"Not to do anything that means I gotta get devoice the year after" 

The sudden eruption of fireworks began to light up the sky with crackling and bangs of sparkling colour.

"Happy new year" kissing her in the check. 

"Here's to starting the new year single." Taping her mug against his. 

"Have you got a New Years resolution?" 

"Change the locks" 

She smiles with a silent laugh.  

"So you are finely devoiced?" 

“Yep it was finalised the week before Christmas.” Sipping more of the Champaign.

“Well congratulation, to the end of 7 years of marital bliss.” rolling up a smoke.

“Seven years… Only spent a year and a bit with him, before he went back to the states for a six month job, I think we spent six months together in over the last five years…  No love loss I’m afraid.” taking the cigarette off of him for a puff.

“Wasn’t he like 20 years older them you?” Smiling as he finished the last bit of drink in his mug ready to top it up. 

“No he was 17years older” Taking the bottle from him to top hers up. “I don't even no why we got married now.”

“For the money” happily joking.

“Really… I did’t get anything from the divorce. it was more of a mutual agreement…” 

“well heres to stating to the new year being single.”

They watched as the last of the fireworks died out leaving a mist of smoke in the air with the smell of burnt sulfur.  before heading in to warmth of the house…