A TO DO about Lists and Notebooks.

I was making a mental TO DO list the other day of what to put in my backpack because I was getting ready to go for a walk to my local cafe. I like to walk, get a coffee, maybe a cake or slice for a treat and work on projects such as this blog.

My list was frankly ridiculous, there was my tablet and Bluetooth keyboard, diary, red ideas notebook, maybe my journal, definitely my phone, money, hat, sunglasses and on it went. All for a 10 minute each way walk and maybe an hour at the cafe.

I then started thinking about the many types of books and ways I write, record and make lists.

There is the plain notebook on the kitchen counter that I use for my grocery shopping list. As soon as something is low or empty I write in the notebook. Otherwise, I forget. It also minimises the risk of stuffing up the online shopping although it's not entirely foolproof, ask my family about the giant pizza bases...  Oddly, I also use this notebook to list things we need for the house such as new pillows. I’m waiting for Briscoes to have a sale… NZ people will totally get that!

Not pretty but practical.

I also have an online Google Sheet which I use as a shopping wish list for things I want but don’t necessarily need.

Are we counting? That’s three different lists in two different places, all for shopping!

Moving away from shopping lists to TO DO lists. Currently, my overall TO DO lists are written in my diary, which is actually a fancy notebook I have set up in weekly spreads. I originally started this as a bullet journal type of thing and got right into making each weekly spread pretty, for all of about three weeks. It was very satisfying but unrealistic for the busy classroom teacher I was at the time. Now I just use different colours to define the different TO DO lists I have and sometimes I slap the odd sparkly sticker onto a page to satisfy my urge to embellish. I have a TO DO list for School, Personal, roseroomnz, Me, Home, the Princess and so on. I do an awful lot of TO DO list transferring from week to week!

Paperblanks make beautiful notebooks.

TO DO lists.

Pretty but not practical.

I transfer some of the TO DO things from my diary to my chalkboard as a TO DO sooner rather than later TO DO list. It also has shopping items on it such as bone broth, rose fertiliser and pruning scissors. Yep, another shopping list. Four different shopping lists in three different places!

TO DO's & Shopping.

When I was a classroom teacher I would use my big whiteboard in the holidays for writing huge TO DO lists of all the things I needed to do before a new school year or new term started such as planning, making resources, sourcing resources, classroom setup, displays, cleaning and so on.

In the small classroom I have now, I write lists on my whiteboard of the steps the children need to take to complete a writing project. It’s super helpful, not only to keep me on track but also for the children to see the big picture. The children love being the one to cross something off the list when a step is completed. I wonder if I am turning them into future TO DO list users!

And just to mix it up some more, last night I added a digital sticky note to the home screen of my laptop which is a TO DO list for roseroomnz. Another TO DO list, and wait, don't I already have a TO DO list for roseroomnz in my diary?

hmmmm....

Let's move on to some of my other notebooks and forms of recording stuff...

I have a plain red, hardcovered notebook which I use to record ideas, goals, future plans and my ever growing bucket list. Lists on lists.

I see red, red, red lists

From lists to forms of writing that don't involve bullet points but do involve other notebooks. There is the pretty hand stitched, covered notebook my Mum made and gave me for Christmas. I use it to write messages to the Princess and leave it on her desk to read when she comes home from the Wasband's (her Dad) house.

My Mummy's beautiful handwork.

The Princess's birth mother gave me a beautiful handmade notebook for Christmas and that inspired me to start journaling again. I'm also using it to write positive affirmations I like from The Two Most Important Days book I'm reading.

This journal inspires writing.

Then, of course, there is this blog which is essentially an online journal. Did you know I have been blogging for 10 years? Spasmodically, but all the same, 10 years! Sometimes I wonder why I continue to blog but who knows, maybe future generations of my family will look back at my blog and think “wow my ancestor was interesting, or maybe they will think "wow, my ancestor was a complete nutter”!

Oh, and I've just remembered the two A4 sized notebooks I have used to write brief outlines of novels I want to write one day.

Future novel ideas in these.

I think that about covers my shopping lists, TO DO lists, journals and ideas books.

For me, there is something deeply satisfying in creating a list and then being able to tick or cross things off once they are completed. It gives me such a sense of achievement. I also really enjoy the actual process of handwriting, shaping letters, making swirls and curls and adding a little sketch here and there if I am feeling creative.

I do acknowledge that my many versions of shopping lists, TO DO lists, journals and ideas books could be condensed to some better system because all of this does not make me a highly organised, highly productive, high achiever. In fact, it may be overkill and have the opposite impact! What do you think?

I think I will make a TO DO list of how to make this work better for me. Maybe I should use a new notebook...

My spare notebook stash.

Are you a TO DO list maker like me?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Thanks for reading!
Rachaelxo

This and That...

recently.

HOME
I finished painting the drawers I blogged about last time and they are now in our bedroom, lined with rose scented drawer liners. I love how the white lightens the room. I love how I don't have to rummage through plastic bins to find clothes!
The Princess and I went to Kmart today and got a few more bits for her room, some more fakery (plants), little storage containers, an ottoman and a duster! I got an ottoman for the living room and a blush, plush Minky to snuggle in when it's super cold and it has been super cold recently. I actually do have a nice faux fur one but we have one little girl cat who loves plush and believes it's hers.

happiness is clothes in drawers

pretties

this girl loves plush

SCHOOL
I am having so much fun with my little groups of children. The writing theme I created for them this term is 'Magic Carpet Adventures! - Where in the world are we?' We watched a shortened version of Aladdin and then I took them on a magic carpet ride where they all landed in a different country (randomly chosen). They are currently making dioramas of the scenery of their country/continent. They have landed in Antarctica, West Sahara, Poland and Colorado. Then, they are going to write an adventure story about their carpet ride, describing the scenery,  characters etc. I even have a genie costume and magic lamp organised and they will each get to make one wish to include in their story. So exciting, for me haha!

READING

I finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, my May Poppy Loves Bookclub book. What a wonderfully woven story full of rich characters who I felt I knew once I reached the end of the book. I really want to see the movie now. I'm waiting on my June book to arrive from Book Depository which is From Darkest Skies by Sam Peters. It will push me further out of my reading comfort zone as the genre is Sci Fi, normally not my thing! I'm currently reading The Red Queen, one of the Princess's young adult novels. It's about a young girl in a Dystopian society and I am really enjoying it. I'm also reading The Two Most Important Days by Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild which in a nutshell is about positive thinking.

my new hat and stuff

coffee date with a book

WATCHING

The Cowboy and I finished binge-watching House of Cards and those evil Underwoods. We have just finished Marcella which we thoroughly enjoyed although it did have a strange and unexpected ending. We are also watching the All Blacks rugby test matches against France. The Princess feels sorry for the French coming all this way and losing, she is nice. I did feel sorry for the French player in last nights game who collided with one of the Barretts (lucky there are more where they come from) and was sent off with a red card. I think the red card was unjust and a yellow card would have done the job. I do hope Beauden Barrett is ok though, I am a bit paranoid about head injuries.

FAMILY

We have had lots of lovely, extended family time recently. We went to Rawene for Queens Birthday weekend. The weather was foul but I didn't care, I was with my Mummy and Poppa (stepfather). Poppa cooked some of my favourite foods, a boil up for dinner one night and then Mutton birds for lunch one day. Spoilt! We left Rawene on the Sunday and drove to the Cowboy's Mum's new house, just outside of KeriKeri and had a huge and delicious lunch with his family. They shifted the dining table to the patio and we ate outside in the Winter sun, it was lovely and felt a bit like Christmas!
Last weekend Amah (Grandmother) and Eileen (Aunty) came to visit. Eileen made me her legendary Neenish Tarts so I was spoilt again with favourite food from family. She left me a container full of them which I may have enjoyed for breakfast and lunch a couple of days in a row. Shoosh, don't judge!

The Boatshed Cafe, the day before the storm hit Rawene

I don't like to share these

FOOD
Speaking of food, I have a new obsession. When I am not eating Neenish Tarts for lunch, I am having toasted Vogel bread spread with butter, slices of cheese, Aunty Carol's beetroot chutney and cracked black pepper. I could happily have it for dinner every night as well. YUM! I did make a new curry dish last week, though. The Cowboy and I were at the Supermarket and I tried a sample of a dish made with yellow curry paste. It was so good that I promptly bought the paste and coconut cream. I made the curry last week, it was really easy, boneless chicken, potato, beans and was perfect for the cold nights we were having. I made so much that we ate it two nights in a row and as curries often are, it was better the second night.

obsessed

easy and good

RANDOMNESS

Bowen Therapy - I think I have had 5 sessions now and I feel so good. Like, incredibly good. I am still symptomatic but everything (apart from headaches)is quite minimised. I still get very fatigued but can do so much more before it kicks in. People keep telling me how well I look. Even the Barista at my cafe in Ellerslie told me I look well. Sommer, the Bowen therapist has me drinking Beetroot juice. I love beetroot but as a juice it is a different kettle of fish, or glass of juice, so to speak! It is very strong and beetrooty in taste and I have to syke myself into drinking it daily. Ugh! However,  I am so totally convinced of the benefits of Bowen I will do anything Sommer recommends, She has the power!

red wine is better

Hair and Face Stuff -  I trialled a new Schwarzkoft heat protectant spray for beautyreview.co.nz and really liked it, I especially liked the smell, it has that expensive salon done hair smell! I'm loving the L'Oreal Hair Touch Up spray I mentioned a while ago, it might well be the one product I would take with me to a desert island! I also bought, online, a couple of black, peel off facemasks and eye wrinkle masks which I have yet to try. I am positive they will work, expect to see a photo of me looking 10 years younger - coming your way - soon....

miracles in bottles and packets?

FOLLOWING

Did you check out Julie Battisti from my last blog post? I ordered some of her greeting cards. They are very beautiful. I bought them to give to people but I just don't know if I want to share them! 

Another person I follow online is Amber Fillerup Clark, an American blogger. I think I originally found her on Pinterest or YouTube when I was trying to teach myself how to do fancy hair braids - didn't work, very similar to me trying to follow Origami or coding instructions! Anyway, back to Amber, since I started following her a couple of years ago she has lived in New York, Hawaii and now Arizona. She is married, has two small children and a hair extension business called Barefoot Blonde. She is super pretty, wears amazing clothes, shoots beautiful photos for her business in stunning locations and all around seems like a sweet person. The juxtaposition of Amber as a person and her very successful business model intrigues me. Go have a look!

Barefoot Blonde

Amber Fillerup Clark Instagram

Barefoot Blonde Instagram

something else I don't want to share

sorry Amber Fillerup Clark, I totally stole your picture off  your website

This blog post has been brought to you from the comfort of my living room with my feet up on my new ottoman and a glass of red wine in hand.

Thanks for reading.

Rachaelxo

This and That...

recently.

HOME

Years and years ago I bought this wicker chest of drawers for the Princess in a church garage sale. It is really good quality, solid and heavy and I love the Lloyd Loom type, tightly woven wicker. The butter yellow was pretty in a little girls room but the Princess is no longer a little girl and has a new set of drawers. I'm having these drawers as soon as I finish giving them a coat of fresh white paint.

SCHOOL
I really feel my teaching ability is coming back. This was recently endorsed by my classroom neighbour(thank you MH, you made my day). I am enjoying coming up with novel ideas to engage my little groups of students in the writing process. It is so rewarding to see their confidence growing and the progress they are making.

READING

I finished The Spaghetti Giraffe which is an engaging novel for young readers. The food animals in the novel will have children entranced and it has clear personal growth messages. I've now started my May, Poppy Loves Bookclub book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Is that not the most divine name for a book? I am absolutely loving this book, the Cowboy keeps asking me why I am laughing as I am reading it!

WATCHING

We watched our last weekly drop of Designator Survivor. It finished on a cliffhanger and then I read it hasn't been picked up for renewal. This is so frustrating when you find a series you like and are left hanging like that. Then there is House of Cards, oh my goodness. These political series are full of intrigue and twists and vile characters like Frank and Clare Underwood. Can I just say how much I despise the Underwoods. If you watch House of Cards you will understand what I mean.

FAMILY
We have had lots of lovely family time. My oldest nephew flew in from Australia and came for dinner. We managed to get one of his twin brothers down for dinner as well but didn't tell him his big brother would be arriving. It was such a great surprise and fun. I loved catching up with them both. One of the Cowboy's nieces had her 18th birthday that weekend so we visited with them on Saturday and on Saturday night the Cowboy and his boy went to her party. Sunday was Mothers Day and we went out for lunch with the Cowboy's Mum and brother. Then the Wasband and the Princess and I went to visit the lovely Amah who is the Wasband's 91-year-old Grandmother and obviously the Princess's Great Grandmother. We also caught up with Aunty Eileen at the same time. Bonus. Family is everything to me.

FOOD
I haven't cooked anything new or exciting recently. We have all been, and still are unwell with Winter colds and infections so we are eating very simple meals.

FOLLOWING
My mother lives in Rawene, a very small and incredibly beautiful town in the Far North of New Zealand. Recently she pointed me in the direction of Julie Battisti, an incredibly talented artist,lino printer and photographer who also lives there. Julie's work in all mediums is absolutely beautiful. She has an online shop and has recently added cards and postcards to the shop. Julie donates a portion of her sales to charities! I spent a very happy Sunday evening exploring her website and Instagram feed.
You can find Julie on her website or Instagram
https://www.juliebattisti.com/
https://www.instagram.com/juliebattisti/

RANDOMNESS
Bowen Therapy - I have had two sessions and really feel it is making a difference. My energy levels have increased and I feel my thinking processes have improved. I'm following the after therapy instructions and walking, doing pilates leg stretches in the morning and drinking a lot of water.
Celebration - I bought myself that lovely rose ring to celebrate my recent small achievements in doing life. Because, why not!
Mindfulness - I am writing. In my journal, in a book for the Princess, my blog, my ideas notebook. I also like sitting in front of the TV and colouring in, it's super relaxing.

Thanks for reading.
Rachaelxo