Welcome to the first Friday of 2015! Getting back into the swing of things after the holidays is always tough so I figured this would be a great time to give you all a virtual High Five and share the 5 things that made me smile this week:
1. A Revolutionary Planner:
One of my underlying themes of my Goals/Resolutions/Intentions for 2015 (you can still join the link-up for #GoReIn2015 here) was to be better organized in my professional and personal life so I was on the quest for a calendar that would do it all.
I investigated all of the fancy premium planners like Erin Condren and Plum Paper but I found the many choices required to put the perfect planner together very overwhelming. I knew was looking for something with daily, weekly and monthly features, areas for notes that wasn’t too small or too big – I was lucky enough to find one in the At-A-Glance Plan/Write/Remember Weekly/Monthly:
This sleek looking planner allows me to see each month as a whole and gives a weekly view with a 7am – 6pm view of each day. I’ve been literally penciling (yes, pencilling) in my plans each day. The calendar even has list space to highlight important daily and weekly tasks. I’ve been exceptionally productive this week and I’m owing it all to my new planner…and my relatively new workspace (with my DIY chevron topped desk):
2. California Weather:
I haven’t abandoned my love for New York but I have always been a weather wimp and the warm weather in California has made me even more spoiled. Most of the country has been in an incredibly deep freeze and I sympathize but at the same time, (I can’t lie) I’m also thrilled to be miles and miles and miles away from it.
Sending warm thoughts to all of my freezing friends out there!
3. Television, my old friend:
Now that the holiday season is over, it means it’s Downton Abbey time! It may be high-brow Dynasty and Dallas but it’s just so enjoyable. It’s always a treat to watch this show and I’m glad it’s finally back! Why they allow the show to air in England before the the US baffles me though.
Image: pbs.org
January also means that all of my regular network shows will return soon (Parenthood – aired last night but I haven’t seen it yet, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and The Blacklist) which makes me happy now that SOA is over.
I tried to watch Sherlock but it quickly got on my nerves (hold your tomatoes Cumberbatch fans!) – the show seemed formulaic to me and I kept expecting Martin Freeman to start pantomiming porn acts (as he did it Love Actually). I did love this comparison of the new Sherlock and Watson to a duo from one of my favorite shows, Beecher and Keller from Oz.
4. Working out at home via YouTube.
I knew that with Jay being away this entire week and all parenting duties (of both the human child and the canine child) left to me, getting to an exercise studio for a specifically timed class was going to be a next to impossible feat. Since my back is still achy, running was out of the question to do at home so when I couldn’t get to a Pilates class (or secure a reservation – post New Year’s classes get booked quickly), I tried a few YouTube workout videos.
I haven’t yet found my perfect fit for an instructor on YouTube yet but it was great to have something to motivate me to do (and complete!) some daily form of exercise. If you have YouTube workout videos that you love, let me know in the comments please!
5. Duran Duran. Yes, they do make me happy (nearly every week).
When I got a new iPhone, I had to give up my Duran Duran phone cover. My very sweet husband surprised me with a similar cover with a white border (see here) but I was still stuck on my black cover. I was on the quest to find a new black one…and I did. I also found some rare Duran Duran (and Arcadia) vinyl at the Los Angeles Rock ‘N’ Roll Flea Market. I have no turntable to play the vinyl but it made me happy to acquire them.
I also got the chance to visit the scene of one of the most iconic Duran Duran videos, Ordinary World, when I went on a field trip with Wild Boy to the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I planned on taking a ton of photos to mark the occasion (like when I had my other Duran Duran LA adventure) but we weren’t allowed the time (field trips with second graders!). My friend, the very talented Lisa@Smacksy took this photo below:
Not Duran Duran at the Huntington Gardens.
That’s what made me happy during this first week of 2015! What made you happy this week?
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions expressed here are my own. However, this post does contain Amazon Affiliate links which means if you buy something after clicking these links, a few pennies get earned and deposited into the Duran Duran Tour Fund.
Speaking of Duran Duran . . . Did you see last season’s MODERN FAMILY episode in which it was revealed that Claire got pregnant with Haley at a Duran Duran concert, to her faugjter’s horror? It was hilarious, and I thought of you! (I literally only just saw it because I think I have 15 episodes on the DVR and I am finally getting to them.)
And how can you NOT love Sherlock? He is Sheldon from The Bug Bang Theory! (Only more nerdy.)
Hi Melissa! I love living in California most of the time, but especially now when we are warm and no one else is. But then again, it’s colder here in SF than it is where you are. So warm is relative. I haven’t had a planner in so long, but I could really get some use out of one because I love writing things down (I actually have a wall calendar for my hubby and me in the kitchen ehehhe). You’ve got me thinking … 🙂
Hey. I think this is my first time on your blog. And I love it. Please check out mine too and let me know what you think.
http://runwright.net/2015/01/09/five-essentials-for-arctic-temperatures/
Oh how I love reading about all your happy things!! I have to say that I’m still loving the cold right now since it’s only January but I’m so looking forward to my trip to Vegas at the end of Feb. I also had no clue that Parenthood aired last night!? Time to go check the DVR…although I’m not sure I’m in a good place to watch that. I usually end up crying and Lord knows I’ve had enough of that!
Awesome Friday Five! I had no idea you can phone covers like that!! I have a Galaxy S5 so I hope I can find something similar! You’re right, I do love this post! Send some of that California weather our way. I’m in Buffalo, NY and it’s cold as hell over here!
Love your happiness!!!! I am happy I am still upright & being able to do things! 🙂
Susie:
I did see that Modern Family episode. My friend Josie says that there’s a lot of DD on The Goldbergs too but I don’t watch that show.
Sherlock has House syndrome – predictable quirks that irritate me.
Ashley:
I never thought that a pen/paper (or in my case, pencil/paper) planner would be so helpful but it really has proven so!
I hope that things are going well for you.
Hi Karen:
I visited your blog awhile ago but forgive me for not keeping up with you and your journey, my NYC friend (I miss NYC a ton!!).
Glad to have you visit here and I will now follow you on Bloglovin’ to keep up.
How are you, my friend? I’ve been thinking of you.
I’m glad that you have your Vegas trip scheduled. It seems like a weekend away is well needed.
I won’t give away spoilers for Parenthood but I hope you got around to watching it.
Kris:
I spent a short time living in Buffalo (during the summer though) but I do know about those winters because my husband went to law school there. Oh, I give you credit for toughing it out there!!!
Thanks for the compliment on Friday’s High Five!
I often search Etsy or ArtFire or even Zazzle to make custom phone cases. They usually make them for every kind of phone and there are so many cool things to choose from (or make your own). LMK if you get one!
I hear that Jody!