Well, that was quite a month wasn't it? It'll go down as one of the worst Januarys known to man, rivaling only January 2020 which doesn't feel like a good omen.

But hey, at least it snowed a ton in New York! I cannot stress enough how happy the snow in January made me. It was a bright spot amidst all the chaos and soothed my soul for a bit. 

January was a low-buy month for me and I succeeded. There were minimal unnecessary purchases and it felt really good to not get anything new. There were times when I desperately wanted to press 'place order' but I didn't, which made me really proud. It's the first time in a while I was very intentional with spending, even going as far as to keep track of every single place my money went during the month.

I'm planning on keeping that up as we head into February, and maybe try to add on another task to help improve my life. I'll do just about anything to try to calm my nervous system and new habits, holding myself accountable and being confident in myself is a good place to start. 

Even though January was a low-buy month, I still have a few favorites, most of which were purchased before January 1st. You'll notice a pattern in the items I've chosen, and that's that they help me stay sane and organized. 

How is it July 2019 already? I feel like New Years was yesterday. It's such a weird feeling when time goes by really fast. Once July hits I feel like summer is over but this year, I feel like it's just getting started. There's still a lot of fun stuff to come -- baby birthdays, bridal showers, and engagement parties! There is so much to celebrate and I'm really excited.

I usually ramble on so hard during these monthly muse posts but I feel like I don't have too much to say so let's get straight into everything I was truly in love with this month. *I also don't have too many favorites, just a select few that I was obsessed with!

Slip Silk Eye Mask

I've been toying with the idea of buying one of the original silk eye masks from Slip. I love their hair scrunchies but $50 for an eye mask? It seemed like a lot but then I figured if I'm constantly buying cheap $15-20 eye masks then I mind as well invest in a good one. Plus, I was looking to purchase from Anthropologie and they have after Afterpay. I decided to go with the Hollywood Hills Palm Tree print because I'm super into palms because of summer and The Morning Toast. When I first touched the mask I don't think I ever experienced something so luxurious. The Slip Silk Eye Mask is so comfortable, so soft, and puts me right to sleep. I haven't used any other eye mask all month long because nothing feels quite right anymore. It covers my eyes perfectly, doesn't feel scratchy and really helps me fall asleep like nothing else ever has. If you love a sleeping eye mask and haven't tried Silk, you need to. It's the only eye mask I will use/purchase from now on.

Melys Illustrations Planner

Lancome x Chiara Ferragini Independent Woman

For the past year or so, I've been using a Louis Vuitton MM Agenda as my planner and I don't really know how I used anything else. I love the chic style that comes with carrying Vuitton but also love the personalization and freedom I have to create my perfect planner.

I've tried so many inserts over the past year from different websites and random Etsy shops; I've taken recommendations from planner Facebook groups, Youtube, and just from my own browsing. There are definitely some popular inserts that I've loved, some I've hated and some hidden gems.

I wanted to take you through the inserts that have worked for me in case you are looking for new inserts for your own personal planner.

It seems that I am never happy with my planner choices and I can never seem to find "planner peace". I get bored easily and like to switch things up frequently. This year, I thought that would be different because I really fell in love with my Lilly Pulitzer agenda again.

That all changed when I stumbled across an Erin Condren sale, a few planning videos and became intrigued. I had, of course, heard of Erin Condren before but was not intrigued by it. The planners looked too big, I wasn't a fan of the vertical layout and it just seemed weird to decorate a planner so much.

However, something inside me clicked and I was drawn to it this year. I decided to purchase an Erin Condren Life Planner, put my Lilly one on the shelf and then use my Louis Vuitton MM Agenda as my every day/come with me a planner. Erin Condren stays at home and is the main book while LV travels with me to work and acts more like an all in one notebook.

So, that is how I ended up with an Erin Condren Life Planner.

Star Sky Cover

I've been using it since October and really feel like I have a great understanding of how it works for me and I have to say, I'm obsessed.

I love that it's so customizable and so unlike any other planner I've ever used. Erin Condren has so many different interchangeable covers which I took advantage of for the holidays and will continue to use. She has many different dashboards that provide different uses; I have the monthly bills and the to-do dashboard but really the possibilities are endless and I need to expand my collection.

Halloween cover

Pumpkin Cover

Christmas cover Etsy Shop

As for the actual planner, there are planner pages at the beginning that you can use however you want, whether for monthly goals, bills, really anything you want. I haven't found a real use for them yet but it doesn't feel like wasted space because there's only two in the huge planner.




For every month, there is a blank page and a monthly overview. I love how big the planner is and how there is so much space to write.





Each week is laid out vertically with three sections, I usually use one for a to-do list, another for random notes, and one for decor or it's left empty. You can see how I decorate the planner in the videos below!

On each weekly view, there is a box and a list of lines but those usually go unused for me. Sometimes I just don't have enough to write.


I have to say, I was very skeptical about decorating a planner but I have grown to really love it. It's very inspiring, therapeutic and fun -- it almost feels like scrapbooking.



I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I love Erin Condren planners and I could see how addictive they become and why they are so popular. She has so many different varities from vertical to horizontal, hourly, teacher and student planners.

Below are a few videos that I've done all about my Erin Condren planner!

Have you ever tried the Erin Condren Life Planner?
What are your thoughts?
xoxo
B

I swore I wasn't going to do a gift guide this year but then I was inspired by my own imagination and decided I'd do a few, based on a few different personalities that I think are fun.

Now, these could be gifts for you, or for anyone else but they're definitely gifts for someone who loves to plan; gifts for the type A individual in your life, for those who are always paying strict attention to detail and who always have their ducks in a row *or at least like to*

I am that person; I have 4 different planners and am almost overwhelmed by the number of notebooks I have but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think planners are the easiest people to shop before because they appreciate the little things that might not seem like gifts to others.  You can go to almost any store and find something whimsical and practical for the planner in your life.

Ted Baker Pen Kate Spade Folio Notebook Kate Spade Monthly Notebooks ban.do Sticky Note Set Eighty-Seven Fashion Notebook Henri Bendel Mini 2018 Agenda Fringe Studio So Dreamy Pouch ban.do paper clips Target Ceramic Lash Cup Target Desktop Storage

What are your picks for the planner type?
xoxo
B

 I'm someone who loves paper; books, magazines, planners, notebooks, cards, etc. I love holding an actual paper in my hands, I'm constantly printing out things I could read online or writing down lists in one of my 50 notebooks.

I've been that way forever and I've documented that many times before. School supply shopping was always my favorite and when I graduated college, I knew that shopping trip in August would be the one thing I missed most. However, I've found my way around that and I'm always adding to my ever growing collection of stationery.

I don't discriminate either; I love all kinds of paper goods from things in the dollar section at Target to my Henri Bendel planner. I actually have to stop myself from buying more notebooks on the daily because I have too many and not enough uses.

I figured it'd been a minute since I wrote about stationery and with the start of planner season around the corner, what better time than the present!

I'm going to break down my current favorites as well as some items I have my eye on!



1. Louis Vuitton Agendas: This was a big win of 2017 and I think it'll continue to be my favorite for years to come. I use two of these (I got them pre-loved for like $50 each which is a STEAL), one for my blog planner and one for miscellaneous lists. I keep them with me at all times and they are so handy because you can truly customize it.

2. Small, Hardcover Notebooks: I have so many random notebooks sitting in my drawer and they all have something in common; they have random lists in them from over the past year or so and they're all small, hardcover notebooks with adorable sayings and such. I literally had to stop myself from buying this cute marble notebook because I have about 6 of a similar size not getting enough love.

3. Whitney English: Years ago I did a post on Whitney English & The Day Designer for Target; I haven't picked one up since then but am always tempted each year. Last week while I was in Target, I bit the bullet and bought an adorable leopard planner. I don't know what I'll do with it but I have it and I love it! (The planners are not online yet so check your local Target!)

4. May Designs: Can I really do a stationery post without mentioning my beloved May Designs? I don't know how many I have in my collection but I stop myself weekly from buying more. However, they just released an appointment layout that I have my eye on! Also, don't even get me started on the folios -- they are too cute for words.

5. Notepads: As much as I love notebooks and agendas, I love a good old fashioned notepad just as much. Making a single to-do list on a nice piece of paper, whether it's adorned with something cute in the corner or just a regular paper, I'm addicted.

Honorary mention: Post-its are God's gift to the Type A and I just got these ADORABLE coffee & donut ones from Target. I've had these marble ones in my collection for a while too and I love them. They make any note feel that much fancier. Also, I've started an obsession with these awesome diamond pens.

PS: I just discovered this Etsy shop and I need everything from there immediately. She has the cutest notebook designs!

PPS: Evelyn Henson also has some wonderful notebook prints that I've been dying to get my hands on for years but never pulled the plug!

Below are some items that are currently on my wishlist:

I can't believe that February is already over! It does feel like it went by at a normal pace but it's almost the official end of winter. Once March 1st hits, it's spring in my mind; part of me likes it and the other part hates it because I am a true winter girl.

I feel like I say this constantly but I hate spring & summer, good news is we're one step closer to fall 2017! HAHA

I just wrote my recent beauty hauls post yesterday so there are some of my favorite beauty items, but as for the month of February, I didn't wear that much makeup so the beauty favorites are minimal makeup and a few accessories!




1. Louis Vuitton PM Agenda: My Louis Vuitton obsession is in full force and I cannot stop it. It has always been my favorite luxury designer; my mom had a few Vuitton bags when I was growing up and on my 16th birthday, my grandma gifted me a Speedy 30. Ever since then I wanted more Louis Vuitton but it's extremely expensive. Now, I've discovered the luxury community and the pre-loved market so I've been buying a shit ton of stuff. I think that's why I've been buying less makeup and other stuff. Well, this baby has really been a favorite of mine this month. I use it as my blog planner (more on that tomorrow) and it's so handy. I haven't had a real blog planner in a while and I like it so much better than digital planning. I am a true planner addict and ugh, I'm obsessed with this beauty!

2. Kate Spade iPhone Case: Kate Spade's spring arrivals are GORGEOUS and I am officially in love with all of them. When I spotted this new phone case, I jumped on it. It has roses & a clear back to let my rose gold phone shine through so it's perfect for me; I've been searching for a phone case like this for a while. It is classified as an iPhone 7 case on Nordstrom.com but the 6 & 7 phones are exactly the same in size so my iPhone 6s fits perfectly in it.

3. Laura Geller Quench-n-Tint: This is a new hydrating "foundation" from Laura Geller (the brand I work for!) and I've been obsessed with it all month. It's definitely more of a tinted moisturizer and it gives you an instant burst of hydration; it feels like you're splashing your skin with water. I pair it with my First Aid Beauty Color Correcting Cushion and they're the perfect companion. Sheer coverage for a no makeup makeup look -- definitely my go to this month! Quench-n-Tint will be available everywhere in April but for now it's available on QVC.

4. Chanel Rogue Lip Balm: I don't own any Chanel beauty products but when I heard good things about this lip balm, I purchased it. It's been going everywhere with me all month long and it's my new favorite; it's a bit pricey but I'm willingly to splurge if a lip balm works. It's moisturizing without being waxy and doesn't leave behind any residue that makes your lips dry or uncomfortable.

What were your favorites of the month?
xoxo
B