Whenever there are company events, blog
events, product launch or parties which host raffles – I never get
called. That’s a sad fact, yeah? I just have to console myself by
thinking that sometimes I win on blog writing contests. The saying is right. “You can never have it all!
For some of the readers who know me and follows me on Instagram and on my Facebook Page,
I bet you have been seeing my posts about my Belle De Jour Power
Planner. I love designing my planner -I take it as a hobby and a craft I
am passionate about. I use stamps, washi/decorative tapes, designer
paper, stickers and quotes using my own hand lettering. Last year, I
joined a Facebook group of planner enthusiasts – The Planner Community of the Philippines.
There, I knew that there are a lot of people who enjoy designing their
planners, too. I also got introduced to online craft and planner shops
which I can get supplies for my hobby.
Anyway, there are a number of giveaways sponsored by these online craft shops. They have some cool pakulo
and mechanics (not the lottery or random picking raffles). This is the
time I join such giveaways. Hahaha. Don’t have luck with lotteries or bunutan, eh!
Fast forward, I joined Ms. Annie’s Birthday Giveaway. How they choose
the winner is just simple, we just have to answer the question: Why are you passionate about the use of stylish planners?
Pretty Planners is owned by Ms. Annie Vitug Gallemit, a Filipina who’s based in Australia. Her partner here in the Philippines is Ms. Iann Casasiempre who arranges all the orders and shipping while Ms. Annie does the shopping.
Basically, Ms. Annie and Ms. Iann are personal shoppers
branded by their name [Pretty Planners]. They have a handful of
different designs and sizes of Kikki.K Time Planners, Diaries and
accessories always cross-posted on Instagram and Facebook. They ship
items express after their set cut off for the payments of orders.
So, without further ado, I would like to
tell you that I won on their giveaway! Yoooooooooohhhhhhhhoooooo!
Finally, I’m a lucky girl!
The 2016 Kikki.K Medium Cute Time Planner
The 2016 Kikki.K Medium Cute Time Planner is just one of the many in the line of planners of Kikki.K. “Kikki.K” is a fast growing fashion stationery label which has boutiques at Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and HongKong plus an online web shop. It is owned by Kristina Karlsson who used her nick name “Kikki” and last name’s initial as the brand’s name.
This is my first time to have a Kikki.K
planner and after I saw it, I can say it really looks so gorgeous.
That’s the reason I joined the giveaway. For now, I am still afraid to
bring it with me outside as it looks vulnerable because of the fabric
cloth texture but what’s really good with it is it is a binder. I can use it even by next year! I just have to change the fills.
My prize is not just the planner, it
also includes accessories. (Thank you so much Pretty Planners!)
According to Ms. Annie, accessories for planners are sold separately.
The accessories I got are specially designed for the Medium Cute but
anyone can mix and match, though. I am so excited to use the paper tapes
and gel pens!
Accessories:- Printed Paper Tape 4PK Cute 2016
- Slim Gel Pen 5PK
- Planner Dashboard Kit Medium Cute 2016
- Soft Stickers 2PK Cute 2016
- Bulldog Clips 3PK Cute 2016
- Adhesive Note Set Cute 2016
The Anatomy
The one I got is in medium size (185mm x 140 mm). It has a stud closure and as you open it, you will see the front pockets for variety of use and the pen loop as well. The pockets are used by planner enthusiasts for notepads, clips and cards. Divider tabs are included to separate the agenda pages including the yearly, monthly and weekly pages. I loved that the Birthdays and Anniversaries
pages are separated from the agenda pages. Come on, you know it’s hard
to track birthdays and annivs by browsing every agenda page, right?
Another feature I am sure I am gonna use always are the Shops and Restaurants pages. It will be perfect for tracking where to’s for my food blogs. Addresses, To Do Lists, Notepads and Expenses are heaven bonuses.
I have my BDJ Planner and I think I am
gonna use it now as my work and on-the-go-planner. I’ll use my 2016 Cute
Planner mostly for tracking my deadline for blog posts especially the
food blogs starting now. Tracker for birthdays and events will mostly be
used here. This planner will also make me do what I have been dying to
do before – printing and making my own dividers!
Also, it wouldn’t be a bother for me next year on what planner to buy, I
just have to print fills and replace the old ones. Well, what’s better
is I can personalize the fills!
I am in awe with this lovely planner!
You basically have almost everything in one bundle, plus it is super
handy! I am so thankful of being blessed to win this. Do you like it as
much as I do?
Tip: The Kikki.K Medium Cute Time
Planner is still available for purchase at Pretty Planners. It is on
sale and bundled with a Dashboard Kit for only P1,700. It’s not too late
to have a planner, ladies!
Happy Birthday, Ms. Annie!
Let Pretty Planners be your
Kikki-K Planner & Accessory Personal Shopper. Check out the gorgeous
items on their social media handles.
Facebook Page: Pretty PlannersInstagram: pretty.planners
Place your own order through:
Email: order.prettyplanners@yahoo.com.au
Contact: 09182541080 (PH) | +61416002151 (Aus)
***Although I won on the giveaway, this blog review about the planner and me promoting Pretty Planners are solely my decision.***
BDJ is now on its 10th year and I am a
proud Bella for 3 years. My first Belle De Jour Power Planner is their
2014 edition. I was on my first months of being a career woman back then
and looking for a great planner until I stumbled upon it in a
bookstore. It’s like it’s whispering on my ears – “Try me, and I’ll make your life even better and organized.” *laughs
I fell in love with this planner. And I will be sharing to you why.
The Belle De Jour Power Planner 2016
The cover art of the planner is as always gorgeous. It differs every edition. This year, their theme is Share the Spark. You may choose if you want the spiral, smyth sewn, leather or customized (Belle de Jour Power Planner with your name on it!).
Flip the cover and you will be welcomed with a page (below). Congratulations, you are now a certified BDJ Girl!
More welcoming with their encouraging words.
“Your light is the strength that comes from your heart. Your thought brings it, your emotion amplifies it, and your action increases the momentum.”
This is not just a planner, BDJ helps you on achieving your dreams. Their is a 2016 Goals section where you can put your personal life goals, financial goals, health goals, career goals and even relationship goals! Next page, shall be filled by you with the things that make you happy. It will help you when you need a little boost of positivity.
The Dream Board page is my favorite! Last year, I shared on my blog how I designed my BDJ planner’s dream board, this year, it has become a yearly habit. #MY2016BDJDreamboard
simply shows the 10 things I NEED to do/accomplish – like doing more
outreach activities, planning my next summer vacay and SAVING (money). I
really enjoy designing that’s why I was so excited to finish my board. I
added cut outs and quotes I love. I also did few notes to myself,
letterings and drawings.
- 2016 Checklist – list of new things to try out this year
- Ikigai – interconnecting circles to fill out things “That which you love”, “That which world needs”, “That which you are good at”, and “That which you can be paid for“
- Menstrual Tracker – keep track of your menstrual pattern to be prepared for the next!
- Events Calendar – jot down most important events of the year on this page.
This spread has the “What’s Your Next Big Idea” where you can write all the great ideas that keep popping out! “Spend Smart”goes for every Bellas’ budgeting list.
Every start of the month, the planner will treat you with an article that talks about different life topics per month. This month, the article is entitled “I can do anything”. What a beautiful way to start the month, right?
So this are the pages where the usual planning goes. The pages are already colorful, but if you feel like being a little artsy, you can have it designed as well. Just like what I did on my Jan 11 to 13 spread.
If you think that’s all. Check out the
photo below. Some more featured pages are included. Even a Bills Tracker
is includes. Perfect!
Just last week, I had to track my bills. A Cash Flow Tracker is also in the planner so no more problemo on checking where the money goes. *amazing!
Some more dibs!
Here goes the perks. The BDJ Planner includes a Perks of a Bella booklet werein a lot of discount coupons are present. Some of the partner brands that are included are:
- Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
- Ace Water Spa and Hotel
- Browhaus
- Serenitea
- Revlon
- Havaianas
- Celeteque
- Jergens
- Sorci
- Red Box
- Keds
- Skechers
There is also a Lifestyle Card (last
year, the card works also as a Zap Card). The Lifestyle Card also
provides big discounts from the partner brands. If you don’t have the
coupons with you, you may use the card instead.
This blog is not intended to be a
review, but I hope I made you, girls, inspired to get your own Belle De
Jour Power Planner, too. Because really, it has everything you need. It
fits a career woman, a student, a business woman and everything else!
*You can buy the planner thru online at ilovebdj.com or to any National Book Stores and Power Books
My spiral planner costs P598.00 at Power Books.
*This blog post won on Belle De Jour Power Planner’s Start your Year with BDJ Blog writing contest*
When I was a kid, I used to attend
birthday parties. And when parties are held at famous fast food chains
like McDonalds and Jollibee I would always look for the paper mat with
drawings and I’ll bring out my own set of crayons to color them.
Children always enjoy coloring, who didn’t?
Nowadays, we somewhat associate crayons,
colored pens and colored pencils to children. Fountain Pens, sign pens
and ball point pens are for the adults. But who would have thought that
adults’ once set aside hobby would be awaken with the surprising trend
of Coloring Books for Adults.
Coloring Books for Adults is becoming a
hit nowadays for being the stress relievers of busy and working adults.
International book author and illustrators’ books became instant best
sellers like Johanna Bastfords’ Secret Garden and Lacy Mucklow and
Angela Porter’s Color Me Happy.
DEFINING ART THERAPY
We all know that Art Therapy is the use of art materials and the creative mind of the person to work on an artwork to express their feelings and emotions guided by a credited art therapist. And those who benefit in art therapy are people who needs it such as people having developmental, medical, social and psychological impairment [citation]. But, according to American Art Therapy Association, while they support the increasing adults who are unleashing their creativity using coloring books, it should not be mistaken to the professional art therapy services. AATA enumerated the benefits of coloring books as:
- can reduce stress
- can externalize focus and;
- can redirect per-occupied minds
I have my own Creative Minds Coloring Book for Adults. I got it as part of my press kit from my recently attended event-Preciously Precious [blog post here]. Yes, it is free. When I got home, I browsed all the pages and that’s the time I got hooked with it. Creative Minds is published by Precious Pages which you can buy for only 149.75 pesos. It has different templates like Mandalas, animals, florals and other patterns. Before, I used to see colored Mandalas art posted on Facebook. As I search the web what is that trend all about, I then knew that it is a smartphone application with Mandala templates that you can color, that’s when I learned as well that the app is based on the easy flying off the shelves coloring books for adults.
For me, coloring the beautiful patterns is really stress-relieving. It has also made me get away from my dependence on digital world. I started with the elephant with lots of details and my focus was there. I also believe that it has used lots of my creativity on selecting different shades. I was relaxed and became like a child happily coloring my favorite cartoon characters. Don’t worry if it gets messed up, it’s okay. Just unleash your creativity and you will feel the sense of relaxation.
 |
| I started with this elephant with small detailed patterns. It’s not yet done in this photo. |
Dream Board or vision board to others is one of the
most useful way of visualizing ones goals and dream. I think everyone is
familiar with it, but not all has created atleast one. This dream board
can help someone be inspired on reaching their goals.
As I have promised to my self, I WILL finish my Belle de Jour planner’s own Dream Board. So the past weekend, I gathered stuff that I used for it.
Take a look at my dream board.
As I have promised to my self, I WILL finish my Belle de Jour planner’s own Dream Board. So the past weekend, I gathered stuff that I used for it.
Take a look at my dream board.
Want to know how I did this? Here’s the list:
1. Have some cute ballpoint pens and a pencil
I always love using different shades of pens when writing, for my dream board project, i chose pink, black and green.
*If you want to put letterings and calligraphy, it is better to use pencil first.
1. Have some cute ballpoint pens and a pencil
I always love using different shades of pens when writing, for my dream board project, i chose pink, black and green.
*If you want to put letterings and calligraphy, it is better to use pencil first.
2. Use Craft/Decorative and Washi Tapes
I’ve been in love with washi tapes since 2014, I even used it on designing my mobile phone chargers. You can use washi tapes for borders. The decorative/craft tapes, on the other hand have character designs, I just cut the characters and put it on the planner. Decorative/craft tapes cost 3 pesos to 15 pesos each at CDR-King and the washi tape is 35 pesos at Lucky China Town. But you can get it for a lower price if wholesale. |
craft/design tapes
washi tape
3. Learn Calligraphy and Lettering
Although they said that calligraphy and lettering are not the same, you can practice either or both of it so you could add style on your writing. There are sites in which you can input the word/words you want to write and a calligraphy or lettering version of it will be generated. By then, you can copy it and use it on writing and designing.
Here is an example of site I am talking about – http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=601
Although they said that calligraphy and lettering are not the same, you can practice either or both of it so you could add style on your writing. There are sites in which you can input the word/words you want to write and a calligraphy or lettering version of it will be generated. By then, you can copy it and use it on writing and designing.
Here is an example of site I am talking about – http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=601
Just type a text, then press ENTER. *screengrabbed*
4. Create your own stickers
If you are not contented with the stickers you see available in the market, why not create your own? I have found lots of free printable designs on certain websites and blogs. Just download those and paste on a word file. Next, buy a sticker paper! You can find lots in any book store. Sticker papers (I think) have two variants – matte and glossy. Just choose what you want. Lastly, print the designs you have gathered, then enjoy cutting the stickers!
If you are not contented with the stickers you see available in the market, why not create your own? I have found lots of free printable designs on certain websites and blogs. Just download those and paste on a word file. Next, buy a sticker paper! You can find lots in any book store. Sticker papers (I think) have two variants – matte and glossy. Just choose what you want. Lastly, print the designs you have gathered, then enjoy cutting the stickers!
my own stickers!
5. Look for your old magazines
If lettering, tapes and stickers design aren’t enough – go check out all your old magazines! Since dream board suggests that you put things that attract you, like colors, dress, places you want to visit and others, magazine will give you all that. Simply cut out what’s pleasing in your eyes and paste it on your board. That easy!
If lettering, tapes and stickers design aren’t enough – go check out all your old magazines! Since dream board suggests that you put things that attract you, like colors, dress, places you want to visit and others, magazine will give you all that. Simply cut out what’s pleasing in your eyes and paste it on your board. That easy!
Now who’s already ready for their dream board? Don’t forget that it
doesn’t mean that your planner needs to have this page. You can create
your own on your notebook! Even a big one or a poster will do. Just be
creative and let the artist in you shine!
DREAM BIG!
DREAM BIG!
Posts
