The One Where I Learn about Bullet Journaling

A couple weeks ago, I saw a student filling in a very unique looking planner.  The planner addict in me immediately needed more information.  Turns out, it wasn't in a planner; it was a bullet journal.  A planner, journal, and scrapbook all in one.  She gave me a quick overview and told me to head to Pinterest for more ideas.  This is what has been missing from my life since I was her age.  

At first, I thought she had made up "bullet journalling."  After getting lost on Pinterest, I realized how deep I could go here.  How truly dangerous it could be.  And the best part is, I can make it my own.  I have always been planner obsessed.  This may take that obsession to a whole new level.

I hate that I am a perfectionist.  The first pages I tried to create, I ripped out and restarted.  I'm hoping this will help me - eventually - to get over it.  I just need to keep reminding myself there is always another day, another week, another month to try it a different way.

As I showed Casey all the different options, he said why would anyone want to live like this?  It is how my mind works.  A reflective place for all my thoughts, plans, and goals.  It keeps my ideas, notes, and intentions in one place with some semblance of an organization.

I can set monthly goals, (I was never a girl that was good at doodling bubble and block letters, so I've actually made this one of my monthly goals.  I decided I'm not too old to learn)

track progress (obviously, the "no added sugar" thing needs some work)

and see all the upcoming due dates (this one was way too depressing - we'll see if I actually do it again).

I love that each week, I get to decide a new layout that fits my plans, my style, and my mood.  I love feeling of completion as I check off each task.  I love playing and learning new designs and doodles to enhance the pages.

This one makes me laugh.  Two hours after I started this, our refrigerated broke. #bestlaidplans

Once I learned about this, I immediately wanted to take it to the classroom, not only for me as a teacher, but also for students.

I am a big picture thinker, especially when it comes to school planning, so I love having a place I can constantly hold my ideas and refer back to.

After I finished this weeks layout, a new sense of calm came over me.  It's definitely a way to treat my anxiety even though I know many would see it as panic inducing.  And the possibilities are endless.  

Mila's Nursery

She may be nearly six months old, but I can finally say her nursery is done...for now.  Good thing she doesn't seem to mind. ;-)

Knowing me and my need to plan, many would have thought this would have been done during my first trimester or at the latest over summer.  However, something happens to you when you've had a miscarriage, or three.  There is always a hesitation.  Always.  And a fear.  One of my biggest fears was losing a baby and coming home to a nursery and having to deal with all of that stuff.  All the visions and plans in the room I had created.  I was in no hurry.  So, the fact that our crib didn't arrive until four days before Mila did didn't bother me.

Now that I've seriously bummed you out - sorry - here is the cute stuff.

I found the inspiration for her room through a bedding set that I added to my registry and somehow, not one piece of it ended up in her room, and I like it much better than I could have ever imagined.  My mom shared the bedding set with my aunt, who surprised us with a far more beautiful quilt that arrived two weeks before Mila:

The only thing I had completed in advance was painting.  It's hard to tell the exact color from the photos, but it is a purple-ish gray.  I joke that I have painted two areas in our house and both are purple.  Casey is not as amused.

Where we have spent much time reading, signing, snuggling, and rocking, and will continue to:

I can't wait until she reads, sings, and snuggles her dolls and stuffed animals in her chair from Santa.

Mila's ever growing library.  My amazing co-workers threw Mila a book shower on what happened to be my last day before maternity leave.  And these are just her "upstairs" books.  Her collection is starting to rival mine.  I'm so proud.

A favorite gift from friends:

My very first "Mom Craft Project":  After searching so many stores and Etsy, I couldn't find the right letters, so I just decided I would create them.  Surprised myself with how they turned out.

A place for the maternity pictures captured seven hours before my water broke:

A reminder above her crib to be who she is and nothing else: