Filofax Mini 'Urban' Organiser - why it's the perfect Filofax for me

I've been using this Filofax mini 'Urban' organiser for a year now and it is fab!

I previously used a pocket size Filofax but decided it was too much of a compromise - too big to take everywhere with me and too small to write decent notes in when I'm at work. So when I spotted an 'Urban' Filofax in mini size on eBay I thought I'd give the mini size a go.

When this mini Filofax arrived I realised that it would be perfect as an everyday wallet, as it has credit card slots, a compartment for notes and a zipped section for coins. I love the charcoal grey fabric and the dinky size.

The pencil was a birthday present from my husband and I bought myself a year planner and some lavender notepaper from Rymans. I then got some lovely lilac dividers from Maudie Made on Etsy.

The vertical year planner is great for giving me an overview of what is happening throughout the year, including holidays and work commitments. It works much better than trying to view this information on an iPhone screen!

I also write 'to do' and shopping lists in my Filofax rather than on the iPhone. It seems much less effort to jot things down on paper than it would be to open up an app, type something in, save it, etc. Plus ticking things off a list always seems more satisfying on paper than on a screen!

I previously wrote about this Filofax here. 

Magpie Monday - Heals fabric

I was delighted to find this lovely retro Heals 'Summer Glory' cotton barkcloth fabric on eBay.

The piece I bought is 45" wide and 30" long (though there is weaving knot at 24" which was explained by the seller before I bought it). My current plan is to make a dust cover for my sewing machine with this fabric, and then use whatever is left for a pencil case and other small items.

Linking up with Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow.

Magpie Monday - vanity case

This Samsonite Silhouette vanity case is probably one of my least sensible eBay purchases ever, but I love it. 

The colour is a gorgeous shade of duck egg blue, and the metal looks as shiny and rust free as if it came out of the packaging yesterday, even though the case is about 50 years old. The original key is attached.

I am thinking of using the case for craft storage. It is clean inside and does not smell at all musty, so would probably be suitable for fabric and cross stitch projects.

One of the reasons I had an eye out for a vanity case like this is that some of the American bloggers who join in with Magpie Monday seem to find lots of lovely mid-20th-century suitcases and vanity cases. I don't have space for large suitcases so I had a saved search on eBay for vanity cases to see what I could spot. Lots of the vanity cases I saw were a bit the worse for wear with rusty catches, plus they were expensive. When I spotted this Samsonite case in this lovely colour I couldn't resist bidding.

I'll be linking up with the first Magpie Monday of the year at Me and My Shadow.

Magpie Monday - Boden jacket

The jacket I love most, and wear the most, came from eBay. It is a dark grey cotton Boden 'Photographer' jacket with a boxy shape and four pockets.

Here is a picture of me wearing this jacket with a grey dress from Hobbs. The jacket looks good with dresses - and the pockets are useful.

There is also a lovely printed lining which can just about be seen on the photo below.

I had really coveted this jacket when I originally saw it in the Boden catalogue a couple of years ago, but the full price was £69 so I resisted buying it. Then a year ago saw it on eBay where I managed to buy it for £36.99. And it has been a really good buy as I have worn it 2-3 times a week since then and it washes well.

Update - while writing this post I had a quick look on eBay and found the more recent version of the  'Photographer' jacket for sale through the official Boden eBay shop for a 'buy it now' price of £34.50 including postage. So I have just bought that one too!

Linking up with the Frugal Friday Fashion Show at Family Budgeting and Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow.

 

Magpie Monday - Filofax 'Urban' mini

I've been rethinking my Filofax configuration in readiness for next year. The pocket size Filofax I've been using this year is too much of a compromise - too big to take everywhere with me and too small to write decent notes in when I'm at work. So when I spotted an 'Urban' Filofax in mini size on eBay I thought I'd give that size a go.

When this Filofax arrived I realised that it would be perfect as an everyday wallet, as it has credit card slots, a compartment for notes and a zipped section for coins. I love the charcoal grey fabric and the dinky size.

The pen was a birthday present from my husband and I got myself a 2013 year planner and some lavender notepaper from Rymans. So now I'm all set. 

I was sat in a cafe today, writing my Christmas present list and thinking how lovely this pre-loved Filofax is. It just goes to show that you don't have to buy new to get something nice.

I'll be linking up with Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow because I really enjoy seeing what other pre-loved items others have found.

Rohan 'denim plus' skirt

This is a picture of me wearing my bargain Rohan 'denim plus' skirt. I got this skirt from eBay for less than £13 (including p&p). The full price of the current version of this Rohan skirt is £57.

Rohan stuff is always excellent and I am particularly pleased with this skirt. It has a bit of stretch and is very comfortable to wear. The 'denim plus' fabric is lightweight and designed to be easy to wash and quick to dry so it's great for travel.

I buy quite a few items of clothing on eBay. As well as saving money, it also feels good to re-use pre-loved clothing in this way. Sometimes people are de-cluttering, or getting rid of stuff after they have lost or gained weight. There is some good quality clothing available, though I tend to stick to familiar brands where I know my size. That way I am unlikely to have to return items.

The photo above was taken for FrOctober - which involves wearing dresses and skirts throughout October to raise awareness of, and money for, peri-natal illness including post-natal depression. 

I will be linking up with Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow and the latest Frugal Friday Fashion Show at Family Budgeting.