Planner Girls collective: i cant live without..

1. Coffee. I have two young children. Nuff said.

2. cake. See above.

3. My phone. Sad that it's come to this, but I admit I'm addicted to my phone. I'm sure I'm not the it one who can't go an hour without picking up their smartphone to look at the latest Facebook updates or Instagram pics? My phone has my pictures, emails, web favourites.

4. My planners. I find that process of filling my planner in at the end of day very therapeutic. I used to adore scrapbooking but find it difficult fitting it in around family life. With my planners I don't have to stress over which photo to document, I can print one for each day of I want. They are my diaries of my life and I love them.

5. My family. My daughters. My husband. 

They are my life. 

London

Yesterday, as it was a TD day and other Half's birthday, we went to London.
We went to lunch at TGIs, went to the Lego shop, m&m world, walked to Buckingham palace, all on top of the first trip on the Underground for our girls. We got home, had some cake then it was late bedtime for all.

Im Ugly

An Ugly Bug pr person that is! I love Michelle's planner kits and if you're a fauxdori lover then check out the beautiful leather ones her husband makes. Also, if you visit her etsy shop between now and Monday there's a discount code RAINYDAY20,  AND if you mention my name, Stephanie, in the comments, you get a free gift!

Planner Girls Collective: latest stationery purchase.

I'm trying to be very strict with myself with regards to buying stationery. I have a lot of stickers, and am trying not to get dragged in by etsy store sales. But I've had my eye on these for a while so allowed myself a small purchase. These four kits are from The Plump Planner. Karen is only open briefly from 7pm UK time on a Friday, so I always feel like I'm panic buying, but I love the kits. They're great value and I don't feel overwhelmed with lots of stickers I won't use.

As usual, check out the other ladies for their recent purchases.

Rebecca
Emma-louise
Zoe

Suzanne
Gemma
Kerry
Kelly
Michelle
Alyson

Louise

Planner Girls Collective: favourite books

I don't have many books I like to come back to time and again, so the ones I do like get reread a lot.

First is a new discovery, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. This is the first in a series loosely based on Beauty and the Beast and is set in the realm of fairies, elves and other creatures. I bought these for my Kindle as I don't have a lot of space for physical books, but enjoyed this one and its sequel so much I'm going to buy the physical copies. Book three is due out this year.

Next up is Terry Pratchett and Going Postal. This is the story of renowned conman Moist von Lipwig who is blackmailed into turning around the fate of the AnkhMorpork postal service. It is the 33rd Discworld novel and the first featuring Moist von Lipwig. I love it as its a standalone story in an otherwise vast universe.

Lastly is my very favourite book. Ever. Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I love this so much I have three versions of it! It is the story of London below and all the unusual characters who fall through life's cracks. It is dark and mesmerising.

Have a look at what the other PGC ladies have revealed as their favourite books .

Rebecca
Emma-louise
Zoe

Suzanne
Gemma
Kerry
Kelly
Michelle
Alyson

Louise

Planner girls collective: Favourite stationery shops

Wow where to start?

Ok so the obvious high street choice is Paperchase. Stickers, pens, post its, planners. Every season there's something new to waste, sorry SPEND my money on . I have so many packs of stickers j can't bear to open!!

Then obviously there's etsy. Just typing 'planner stickers' into the search brings up pages and pages. Just make sure to check shipping details as some shops use etsy's automatic business shipping rates, and you're hit with a £10 postage charge.

These are just a few of my favourite:

Oodlemadoodles
KayeLimePie
The plump planner
UglyBugDoes
Chochoandmimi
Kelizabethplans

Have a look and see what the other ladies have put as their favourite stationery shops.

Rebecca
Emma-louise
Zoe

Suzanne
Gemma
Kerry
Kelly
Michelle
Alyson

Louise

Ftom Gdansk, with love.

Early, very early, on Sunday morning I got back from a mini break to Gdansk in Poland. It was a beautiful place, totally decimated in the second world war and rebuilt as it was originally.
We timed our visit after days of snow and before days of severe fog!
Everything was cheap there. A meal out with drinks was around £8. Gdansk is well known for amber and this is also reasonably priced and in so many colours!
We climbed to the top of st Mary's Basilica (400 steps!), got a train to the coast where my crazy cousins paddled! And we walked and walked and ate and walked and ate some more. It's was fab.

Love affair with Saffiano

When I first saw the Saffiano, I thought it cheap and nasty and not worthy of the name Filofax compared to the Malden or Lockwood. But then I saw the gold version and a love affair was born. I managed to obtain one for a very good price and moved straight into her, using her for the rest of the year.

And then Filofax released the rose gold, following the trend that had taken the world by storm. I wasn't sure. It was too bronze for my liking. But as happened with my gold, the rose gold grew on me.

And now there is an orange...Oh my heart.

I still don't own a rose gold, and who knows when I'll manage to. And I would love an orange to add to my collection. But until then, I will have to admire them from afar.

2017 Planner life

Our first Planner Girls Collective post this year is looking back at 2016 planners, what's worked, hasn't worked and what you changed.

Last year I was very happy with my set up. I was in my gold saffiano for most of the year and we got on fine. My only issue was memory keeping. Now I have two girls, it was a struggle to keep track of the little things we do in my personal rings.

This year, I have decided on two planners.

I have my filofax Paperchase exclusive with my regular inserts: finance, month to view and week on two pages. I have a few basic stickers in the front pockets and keep a year to view for writing my shifts. There is also a credit card pocket for washi samples and photos. I have also decided this year to start a Happy Planner. I went for a classic size and intend on using this for memory keeping. I will add photos and at some point will buy the memorabilia inserts for weeks that require more space.

Check out the other PGC contributors to see their planner set ups and what they changed!

Rebecca
Emma-louise
Zoe

Suzanne
Gemma
Kerry
Kelly
Michelle
Alyson

Louise

Ugly bug plans sub box

When I woke up from my night shift on Wednesday I discovered the postman had been and delivered my ugly bug plans sub box. I had ordered the box in November as a spur of the moment after a rubbish day, so it was a lovely surprise.

The box contained some gem themed washi tape, a rose gold (trendy) gem pen, gem sticky notes, a 2017 planner charm and 4 sheets of planner stickers in a sparkly effect. All this for £15 including first class postage!

I was very impressed and can't wait for a spare few minutes so I can actually use the bits.

I can't wait to get another box.