Start the New Year off on the Right Foot with a Free Goal printable

How are you with resolutions? 

Do you set them on New Year's Eve with the best of intentions, only to completely forget about them by Jan 5th? 

Yah, I used to be like that too, but now I've got a great system to keep me going all year long and actually accomplishing things from my list. 

I dream big, write it all down. I make huge enormous list and then take this big list and narrow it down to what I really want to do with my year and what is actually doable. I then make my plan and even if I don't follow it completely, I'm still way ahead of where I would have been if I simple made a short list of resolutions that I immediately forgot about. 

I've got a free printable for you to help brainstorm your list and make 2017 the year you keep your resolutions!

Click Here for the Prompt Printable

Print it out and follow the prompts to really dream big and reach for the stars, then decide which dreams you want to come true this year.

Happy New Year and Happy Planning!

Wishing you a Very Molly Jolly Christmas

From my home to yours, we wish you the merriest of Christmases!

Free Planner Printable to Keep You 'Calm and Bright' this Crazy Holiday Season

Are you hanging in there?
How are your Christmas plans coming along?

It really is hard to keep cool during the busy-ness of the holiday season. Us ladies are in full on action mode the second Halloween is over, getting ready for Christmas. We are buying, wrapping, crafting, baking, decorating, cooking, shopping, entertaining, packing, driving, cleaning, mailing and that is only what's on the to-do this for this morning! ;) 

So how are you really getting along with your Christmas preparations?

Are you stressed, or on top of things?

Would you like some help?

There is always sooo much to do and never enough time or help. However, it is possible to be able to enjoy the season at the same time.  If things are getting pretty hairy and your shoulders are permanently up around your ears, then try this. Stop... take a deep breathe and let those shoulders relax.

I've got a freebie here that will help you. 

Put the kettle on, print it out and sit down with your favourite hot drink and fill it out. The questions will help you figure out your game plan so that these last days until Christmas will go much smoother and you'll be less stressed.  

Click Here to Get the Handout

If you need more help, check out my class at Big Picture Classes.

Happy Planning and enjoy your Christmas preparations!

7 Thoughtful Gifts You Can Make Tonight

Are you stuck for a gift for someone special on your list this Christmas?

How about a planner?

Now, don't worry if they aren't even a planner girl, planners don't always need to be used just for planning!

Do you know someone who is getting married? Pregnant? Just had a baby?
What about someone who is moving? Renovating? Or going on vacation?
Maybe there is a teen on your list that just started High School. Or one who is in their last year of school.

Here are 7 different gift ideas using a planner that you can create quickly:

1. Wedding planner or memory keeper
2. Pregnancy journal
3. Baby's first year
4. Home improvement planner
5. Moving planner and memory keeper
6. Vacation planner and memory keeper
7. High School memory keeper
   
   

Follow these 4 simple steps to make a gift planner tonight:

1. Your first step is to decide who is going to recieve the planner, and then decide what the purpose of the planner will be. You can chose from the list above or come up with your own ideas. Now, here comes the fun bit of this lesson! Let's go shopping for a planner! 

2. Decide on the types of pages that you will include in the planner. Do they need a calendar? Pages with spots for journalling? Pocket pages to add memorbilia and photos? Once you know what to add you can buy some or print some from the internet.

3. Time to doll up that planner and personalise it! Depending on the theme you've chosen, there are lots of things that you can add and decorate, including dividers, journaling and photos, lists of prompts, section topics, and ideas that, once the planner is in their hands, they can use to complete the planner.

4. This is my favourite step! Add lots of little fun goodies to make the planner extra special. Some ideas are: a package of sticky notes, a little bundle of stickers, washi, a pretty pen and planner clips. Use your imaginiation or add your favourite planner goodies.

That's it! Now, you've got a fantastic personalised gift for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list. If you want more help, more theme ideas for other people on your shopping list, pop on over HERE.  I've a got a new class at Big Picture Classes, called the Gift of Organisation, with lots more ideas and themes for using planners as gifts as well videos, handouts and instructions to help you create your planner.

Happy Planning!!

My Secret to Achieving Anything You Want and a Freebie for You!

I often get compliments and questions about my brush lettering. I'm not a pro by any stretch of the imagination. There a lot of very talented ladies out there that can do magic with their writing. I do, however, feel like I am finally happy with my progress. It took a long time to get here, and a lot of practice.

I learned pretty much everything I know from Olivia from Random Olive. 

She has a fantastic Brush Letter Practice Guide that I practiced over and over, watching her on IG and periscope, practicing the tips she shared. 

Now, I am far from being an expert like Olivia. However, it simply comes down to learning the how-to, then PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE, as with anything that you want to improve. And I've gotten to the point where I've practiced enough that I am generally happy with what I'm creating. My kids love for me to write their names and their friends' names in my 'special writing'. Or course, I am still making mistakes and there is always room for improvement. With Olivia's help, though, I am proud of what I can do now.

Olivia has generously created an exclusive free printable traceable practice page for you with one of my very own quotes!

Pop your name and email in the boxes below to get your very own copy to practice with.

 Print off as many as you like and practice practice, practice. Please tag me @caravincens and Olivia @randomolive on IG so we can see what you've done with it. 

These pratice sheets not only helped me improve my brush lettering, but having the letters to follow gave me confidence. I was able to nail the lettering a lot eaier than if I was winging it on a blank sheet of paper.

After practicing with Olivia's sheets, I was able to tackle the blank page. I then scanned it, shrunk it down and made a dashboard from it :D

What will you do will you do with yours?