I have always been a fan of planners. Don't get me wrong, I like my iPhone calendar...BUT I really enjoy writing my schedule down on paper. PLUS, I get to use cute writing, doodles, and highlighters! Yes, I am kind of a dork! Anyway...with my busy schedule, it is really important to have a planner that I love! Luckily, Vera Bradley has come up with the ultimate calendar, the 2014 Student Agenda! No, I am not a student, but this is still my planner of choice!







When my days are packed with photo shoots, editing, work, workouts, and blogging it is important to keep every minute organized. The Vera Bradley 2014 Student Agenda makes organizing my schedule a piece of cake. PLUS...it is super cute! Has Vera Bradley ever made anything that wasn't?!? NO!

 Here are a few things that I am loving about this planner:
Cute, Colorful Pockets: I am always tucking loose paper into my planners, but they used to slip out and get misplaced. That doesn't happen anymore! The pockets help keep my extra papers contained. AND they are great for storing some extra business cards.
Quick Glance Holiday Calendar: It is so nice to have quick access to a 2013-2014 calendar with all of the holidays highlighted! I cannot tell you how many time I have flipped to this page for scheduling.
Sturdy, Laminated Tabs: I have had planners in the past that have been flimsy and disappointing. I have had this planner for a couple months, and the tabs are still in perfect condition!
Schedule: (This would be a great feature if I were still in school!) There are 4 semesters worth of pages to keep your class schedule handy! It kind of makes me want to go back to school! ;)
Monthly and Weekly Calendars: I use both monthly and weekly calendars to keep my schedule organized! This feature is a must for any planner!
Fun Holidays: I would never know when Sea Monkey Day was (it is May 16)...think of all the holidays I was missing out on!

There are also stickers, a place for important numbers and notes, and a book mark...AND it goes from May 2013 to December 2014!

 What kind of planner do you use: digital, paper, no planner at all?

 All opinions are 100% my own. I was not compensated in any way for this post.

I think it is about time that I make some lists of things I need to get done around the house. There is so much that I would like to do, but I never really know where to start. So...I am going to start here! 

Front Porch

• Get new door

• Change windows.

• Remove window into bedroom

• Finish hanging drywall

• Pick out a color for the wall. I am thinking about a turquoise color (not sure if Dane will go for it)

• Paint the interior

• Paint the front door

• Design the room (I still have to figure out what I am doing...you can read more about that here.)

Living Room 

• Paint

• Find a new TV stand

• Get new carpet

• Organize DVD storage (You can read about that here.)

• Add art to the walls

• Print wedding picture on canvas

• Get new window treatments

• Get new furniture (This doesn't need to happen any time soon.)

• Install new ceiling fan

• Paint entry table

• Make some pillows for the couch

Master Bedroom

• Paint

• Get new carpet

• Style our nightstand (Blog for this is coming soon!)

• Organize our closet

• Fix closet doors 

• Add art to the room

• Make mirror for the room

• Get new lighting fixture

• Get window treatments

• Label mattress for easy rotation

Guest bedroom / Office

• Paint

• Get new carpet

• Organize...yes, I am still working on this! 

• Find desk

• Find bed or futon

• Find curtains for the windows and the office space

• Install sliding door

Kitchen

• Paint walls

• Paint cabinets

• Makeover the refrigerator (Read more about that here.)

• Add some kitchen decor (I have done a couple things here and here...but I still have more to do.)

• Get a new kitchen table

• Add hardware to cabinets (It has been purchased...that's a step in the right direction.)

• Get new light fixture

Bathroom / Laundry

• Paint

• Tile the floors

• Tile the shower

• Change the shower curtain (I am not in a hurry...Dane can keep enjoying his camouflage) 

• Decorate (You can read about that here, here, and here.)

• Get new lighting fixtures

• Install cabinets above the washer/dryer

• Update the mirror

• Build a platform for the washer/dryer

Patio / Yard

• Update the house numbers (Read about that here.)

• Get rid of a soda machine (That one is going to take a lot of convincing.)

• Finish the grill (I will blog about that when it is done.)

• Paint the stairs

• Extend the patio

• Find an outdoor rug

• Find outdoor furniture

• Work on a flowerbed for the front of the house (This may have to wait until next spring.)

That is it! I am sure that things will be added to this list frequently...that is how lists work, right? I will be sure to fill you in on all of my little projects! 

Our home doesn't offer up a lot of space for storage, and sometimes it can be tough to find a spot for everything. So...I have to make sure that I am utilizing each space efficiently. (more storage space = more space for me to put the stuff that is filling the guest room) We have a couple of drawers under our entertainment center that were filled with movies (I couldn't put one more DVD in them if I tried), but I really wanted to be able to store some of our other belongings in that space. It didn't take me very long to find a solution thanks to IHeart Organizing! 

I really liked the containers that Jen used, but I wanted to keep this project as cheap as possible (I only spent $10 total).

The first step was labeling the sleeves that the DVDs were going to go in. I used numbered stickers that I found in the scrapbooking section at Wal-Mart. After I numbered all of the sleeves I placed them in a clear container that fit perfectly in my drawer (the container was from Wal-Mart too).

As I placed the DVDs in the sleeves I made a list of all the movies as a reference. The list is folded and tucked in the back of the container for easy access. 

Drum roll...

I was able to fit everything that filled both drawers into one drawer...with some room to spare! 

Notice: I left a few items (seasons of my favorite shows, workout DVDs, and Just Dance) in their original boxes. I didn't want to mix them with our other DVDs. 

And...don't worry, I plan on recycling all of the DVD cases! 

If you are a girl you have probably experienced this problem at some point. I buy bobby pins very regularly and I don't really throw any of them away, but somehow they all manage to disappear within a couple of months. There are probably several in random places at my house, but I can never seem to find them when I really need one. 

It doesn't help that the drawer that is home to my hair and makeup products is a big mess! I usually just toss my bobby pins in the front of the drawer when I am done using them. Of course they end up at the bottom, and when it is time for me to find one I have to dig around everything. I knew there had to be a solution! 

Pinterest to the rescue! I found a pin...and the perfect way to fix my problem! 

Magnets! I still had magnets left over from this project, and they had an adhesive back. (I got them from the craft department at Wal-Mart for about $1.) It was probably the easiest project ever! Now my bobby pins just hang out on the magnet strip, and when I need one I know just where to find it. 

Don't get me wrong...there are still bobby pins chilling out on the floor, in the bottom of my purse, and anywhere else they may fall, but it is much easier to find the bobby pins in my drawer.