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5 Fact Friday and getting organized with Walmart and Martha Stewart

August 24, 2012 by Barb 21 Comments

Even though I am (ahem) . . . a bit older, and school days are waaaaayyy behind me, I still get the bug this time of year to go and buy school supplies. It’s just so much darn fun!

Luckily I have my Blog and My Creative Team duties that I need to keep track of. I have tried all different kinds of organizing tools and have spent a small fortune in supplies that I am just not going to use. I’ve also found that keeping track of things in a spreadsheet or calendar on the computer just does not cut it for me.

So yesterday I found myself at Walmart in the school supplies section poring over different notebooks, calendars, and pens. And then I went to Staples and drooled over Martha Stewart Office . . .

To note:

  1. The best calendar for me is the cheapest planner by Mead. It has a full month view plus a day-by-day view. It’s lightweight, not too big and fits in my computer bag and goes with me everywhere. Now is the time to buy it – you won’t find it later in the year . . .
  2. A 5 subject notebook by Hilroy works perfectly for notes – it too is lightweight and fits in my computer bag.
  3. The most expensive items were the Avery colour-coding dots . . . you can’t buy a pack with 5 colours – oh no – you have to buy separate packs for each colour – grrrrrr . . .
  4. The Martha Stewart dividers and post-it notes are too much fun!
  5. I do all this organizing because I have my blog to run. I also have 100 blog posts to write for Digital Scrapper (over and above the 4 posts I already do each month). I have 2 tutorials a month with strict deadlines and I am considering adding 2 more scrapbook page assignments per month to the 8 I am already committed to.
  6. I have so many classes on the go that I can hardly keep track of them, let alone do them . . .
I know – I have 6 facts here today but, hey, I’m on a roll . . .
How about you? are you busy? are you loving it or feeling overwhelmed? I’m both . . .

Filed Under: LIFE

Comments

  1. Julie says

    August 24, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Oh yes! I love the feeling I get this time of year that reminds me of going back to school. I bought myself a new pen and a cute notebook while shopping for the kids school supplies! I love all the photos of your awesome organizing stuff!!

    Reply
  2. Kim Klassen says

    August 24, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    oh my… you are a girl after my own heart…… we would have such fun comparing supplies…… i’m inspired… perhaps my next 5 facts I will have to share some of my fav supplies…. LOVE this so much….

    happy weekend lovely you!
    xo

    Reply
  3. Viv (modifica) says

    August 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    Barb a girl after my own heart I love office supplies and a trip to Staples is a treat ! Wow you have got a lot on your plate you must send me a notification when your posts go up on Digital Scrapper x

    Reply
  4. photecstasy says

    August 24, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    I can totally relate to having too many online classes at once. I love that mine are available forever at Jessica Sprague… but that also means that I wind up not finishing them a lot of times as well. I hate having classes that I don’t finish, that go away, like my self-portrait class I did with Shutter Sisters. It was such a good group, and I wound up dropping off. I wasn’t in the right place for selfies, I suppose. I love your blog & your style. Fun 5 facts… I love school supplies as well!

    Reply
  5. Sarah Huizenga says

    August 24, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    I love the school supplies too. They bring out the cutest stuff this time of year.

    Reply
  6. Patrice says

    August 24, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    Love the soft colors of the Martha Stewart supplies!

    Reply
  7. leoniewise says

    August 24, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    i do love fhe amazing variety of stationery in the USA. i am yet to find such quantities of it in the UK. my thrify side is grateful, my creative side not so much!

    Reply
  8. Seraphina´s Phantasie says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Wonderful structures and colors. Beautiful angle. Have a nice weekend, Barb.

    Reply
  9. Sylvia says

    August 24, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    I love school supplies too, Barb, … and notebooks and all kind of stationary !
    Love your 5 facts, beautifully presented !
    Nice weekend,
    Sylvia

    Reply
  10. nancyjean says

    August 25, 2012 at 3:20 am

    Hi Barb, you photos are just so dreamy. Never thought i would say that about school supplies :~) I need to go check out the Martha Stewart line at Staples this weekend…looks delightful!

    Reply
  11. Roxi -Coppercurls Designs says

    August 25, 2012 at 3:45 am

    ok, now you’ve made me want to go shopping! Great pics, soft colors, 100 blog posts? was that a typo I hope? Girlfriend, be careful you don’t get burn out and let me know if this system works, I may just try it, I need to get much better organized. Phone alerts just don’t cut it.

    Reply
  12. Stef says

    August 25, 2012 at 4:54 am

    love supplies – anything paper! i still haven’t seen the martha stewart …need to find me some of those!

    beautiful images too :)

    Reply
  13. Angela says

    August 25, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    I love office supply stores too! Great post!

    Reply
  14. Ahayes1225 says

    August 26, 2012 at 1:00 am

    Wow you are busy. But it is a good busy I am sure. Great post.

    Reply
  15. Deanna says

    August 26, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Holy Mackeral…you are one busy girl. No wonder you have to buy school supplies just to keep up with all of your committments. Love the collage…such great colors!!

    Reply
  16. Gail Dixon (Louisiana Belle) says

    August 27, 2012 at 1:21 am

    Impressive how many things you are juggling. I try to keep most of my life organized on my iphone, but sounds like your system works great! Good luck with everything!

    Reply
  17. Rosemary Aubut says

    August 27, 2012 at 7:19 am

    Great job on the photos and organizing this post! Sounds like you are a very busy lady! Wonderful!

    Reply
  18. Nadege, says

    August 27, 2012 at 9:52 am

    I love your post…great shots and so well presented.

    Reply
  19. Helen says

    August 27, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    I think simply buying new supplies makes you feel like you’ve made a start to getting organised…. I find it’s the putting it into practice that’s the problem! A great post!

    Reply
  20. Michelle says

    August 28, 2012 at 2:50 am

    Pretty photos…and good job getting organized. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Good stuff, though! :)

    Reply
  21. Lori says

    August 30, 2012 at 1:15 am

    I love this time of year as school supplies make me giddy with delight! I so miss buying them but love browsing and looking at stuff like post it notes. Great post Barb!

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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