Parragon Life Canvas - Partial Review - Part 1

A little while ago a company called Parragon contacted me asking if I would like to see their new range and do a review! I got very excited about this! The products looked amazing, and are amazing!

To see the full range click on THIS LINK and then choose if you are in the UK, USA or AUSTRALIA!!!

I just wanted to share there magical introduction video!! Have a watch:

They sent me a large range with two bits to give away, the competition will be in a week or so once I finish announcing the winners of the National Stationery Week posts, as I do not want to do just one post on these as some of the items I would love to go into more detail, this is sort of an outline post.

It isn't all visable, but there are two Notebook Organiser Sets, a Doodle Diet Diary, Travel Journal and two My Life books.

If you are really in to making lots and lots of lists, these products really are for you!!!

First of all, the Travel Journal, this has lots of sections, I have photographed a few of these and put them below, I will list them too!

When you open it, you can see a little envelope on the left then a notebook on the right, inside (even though I didn't photograph it) are a sheet of stickers, I didn't realise they were there! On the other side is the notebook which is full of places to make lists!

First of all are a few list sections, Things to do before, Things to pack. It then goes on to the journal section which has lovely patterns on each, there are quite a few pages, I didn't count them but below are a few of my favorites!

At the back it has a Favorites section which is to write different places, the sections they give are, restaurants, bars and clubs, cafes, hotels and shopping! There are plenty of places to write addresses and details of each, it really is an amazing idea if you are going on an around the world trip or to a few places on one holiday!

At the very back there is a map to mark where you have been, a map with time zones, currency list and measurements lists.

They have thought so much about this and put loads of effort in to all the details, it really is an amazing product. It costs £8.00 which I think is very reasonable.

Next The two My Life books:

I received two of these one to give away one to keep.

The only way I can think of describing these is.......A LISTERS PARADISE!

They have lots of sections and a place for you to write your own:

• Notes
• To-do
• Ideas
• Music
• Books
• Films
• Websites 

They retail at £8.00 also which is very good!

The butterfly one looks like this inside:

Throughout both there is different patterns on the majority of the pages, they have repeated some but it is still so amazing to not have the same boring paper over and over, I love their ideas of using pretty patterns, things like this really draw me in to products!

This is Part 1 of the review, I will do Part 2 tomorrow!

#WinWednesday -Midori Notebook Compeition

As a huge Thank you for the fact people have already donated me money and because you have all stuck by me through the quietness of the past few weeks, I will be having some competitions, as I have lots of spare stationery around my room that is brand new and never used! Therefore I feel I should give some away!

Today I am giving away two Midori Notebooks, No 003 and No 002, plain and grid notebooks.

I bought an awful lot of Midori stuff when I got my Midori, but beer was split on it and it kind of ruined it for me! My Midori has never been the same to me since, it has a huge stain on it. I am sure I will use it one day but I thought I would give away some notebooks today. Maybe I will give away some more soon!

This competition will be open world wide but depending on postage it will be sent the cheapest way!

Here is today's prize......

All you need to do is below in the comments answer the following question:

What is the name of my Mulberry Alexa, which I got for my 21st Birthday present?

The answer is in one of my posts.

The competition will close on Wednesday 13 February, I will announce it the person on my blog then give them 24 hours to email me before I choose someone else!

Thank you again, and do not forget to read about my Help Imysworld Fund her Mulberry Agenda post

How I am making the Midori Traveler's Notebook Diary work for me!

I have started to use the Midori full time now, and I love it to pieces  I love how old it looks, how used, but I love most how the inserts work! It just feels absolutely amazing when it is in your hand, and there is no rings to come apart, I cannot really see anything that could go wrong with it other than an elastic breakage!

I created a Youtube video on Monday showing the "basics" of how a Midori works, I tried my hardest as showing you how to remove and add inserts was very difficult! Take a look...

This just really shows you how you put inserts in, what inserts I have and a brief showing of what they look like inside!

I wanted to show you how I am making my Midori's diary work for me, as I have been using it for 2 and a half weeks now I thought it was time to show you the little things I have used to make it work to its best standard for me!

Here is the obligatory picture of the outside which most of my posts seem to start with..

The pen on the cover is a Frixion 0.5mm clicker, it has blue ink in but I wanted a pink barrel, as I am cute.

My book mark charm as it makes me feel happy!

I will show you my current week diary from Sunday when it was empty and only had a few different things on and show you how after two days it has changed!

Sunday:

As you can see, not much going on!

From this morning! It looks so much busier! (No I am not going to Exeter, cannot afford it nor get the afternoon off work)

As you notice I have included a lot of stamps, now I shall explain as to why the stamps are there....

The cute little teddy holding balloons and the dots surrounding him is to show my overtime, to make it a bit more fun and happy!

The Bird with the trail and small flower is to show when I am car sharing with my boyfriend or father!

The little cat in the basket is to write in when I watch a TV programme which I usually watch, if it is isn't written down in the diary then that means it must be caught up on using 4OD or BBC iPlayer. I do not really watch much TV, I usually just put a Family Guy box set on and just listen really.

You can also see how I have filled out the box with overtime in has been filled out! I did 30 minutes! I know that does not seem like a lot but all added up at the end builds up! YAY!

The little face teddy kind of is a mood thing, if I am happy I use one of the happy ones, or if I am not I use one with a different mood.

If you noticed I have the Overtime stamp in EVERY DAY! Because I want Christmas off work!

Another thing you can see I do is use cute stickers to make life seem a bit more fun! And on quieter days I use some washi tape or something to brighten up the day a little.

On the side of every page you can see a little pink heart that is counting down until CHRISTMAS! How exciting and motivating is that!

You can see I also try to record when I fill up with PETROL!

To remember TV programmes which are on (I do not look at the TV Times) I use arrows pointing Left! No idea as to why left but they always have to point left for TV.

An arrow pointing right usually means it is something to do with blogging or other things, but an arrow with anything else written on will always point right! I am strange I know!

 

I also use Washi Tape to mark important things, at the top you can see it is only 6 week until Christmas this week (I think it is).

I also try to record as much information in it as possible, the paper delivery company didn't deliver the papers one day! tut tut.

I also put my Eden stickers in whenever I go, which will be a lot now as Ice Skating is back on!

That was how I organise my diary! I hope you enjoyed it!

Midori Traveler's Notebook Inserts Review - 021 Connection Bands

I am going to review the refil 021 Connection Bands today, not that it is actually a refill, but more of a device to hold the whole load together, so here is the packaging, like in the last post...

I thought, OH NO it is all in Japanese!!! How will I read this....

I turned the sheet over after taking it out....

Phew..... English, not that you exactly need instructions, its a very simple piece of kit, but maybe a little too simple.

On reflection, I could of got some exactly the same but more of a lighter brown in my stationery cupboard at work, so I don't really think they are worth the £4.75 which I paid on the Journal Shop, but I wanted to use the real deal. They are a lot more tighter and better quality than normal standard ones you get on your post, but in theory, if it breaks you will get another one on your post the next day so does it really matter.

I would say, if you can find some elastic bands that are cheap which is pretty likely try those out before buying these as it will save you a huge amount!

Here is how I have used them...

You can just see it in between the notebooks, they are used for adding extra notebooks in, but then I am pretty sure that is obvious!

My 2012 and 2013 diary is held together with them..

As you can see I have two on my 2012 Diary as I have used it for extra support against my othernotebook as I do not fully trust the second piece of standard elastic, I will have to re jig it all soon and get it in a better layout, I am not a bit fan of how it is all layed out at the monent.

Overview...

Are these worth their money? Not really... its just an elastic band

Would I buy these again? Most likely, as I am one of those people who has to have it all from the same brand etc.... I would feel I was cheating using cheap elastic bands... unless they had Barbie Pink ones.....

Should you buy them? NO! Unless you feel the same way as I do about sticking with one brand and are silly like me!

Will do a Fountain Pen test post asap.... I just need to take the photos and write.. The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Dog.... Have a nice weekend

Midori Traveler's Notebook Insert Review - 020 Kraft File

This is how it comes all packaged nicely and able to open to see the layout inside, which is a nice way to show off the insert! Both covers are blank, which means you can customise them as much as you like, I am thinking maybe plastering them with MULBERRY STICKERS! I have been saving them for something special!

The only issue I had was trying to find the best place to put it to make the whole thing more stable.

I played around for around 20 minutes yesterday lunch time trying to work this out but I didn't get anywhere until the end of lunch time. IT CAME TO ME!

Put it between the 2012 and 2013 diary!!! The only reason I am carrying a 2012 and 2013 is I have already had to book doctors appointments and hospital appointments for 2013 (how rubbish is that) but at least I can see when they are booked for and if there are any changes (which there usually are) I can easily change them as I will have the diary with me!

Once it is 2013 I will only carry one diary until my next hospital trip in April as I will not need to make any FAR IN ADVANCE appointments until then (I have gone a little off track here sorry).

The folder is make of very stiff card, like they make the document wallets we use in my office, I would say it is between 280gsm and 300gsm maybe a little higher? I am not 100% sure but it is very nice and thick. I would trust it to stay in, but saying that, I am thinking of Alice in Wonderland Deco Taping it down the middle both sides just for a bit extra strength and prettyness! (pictures of this will come) May also tape over the joins where it is stuck to the card for extra safeness!

It can hold a trifolded A4 piece of paper, or a A5 piece folded in half.

It also has two business card slots which are very usful.

The little notebook you see is my "new" address book, I have had it for ages and unfortunately lost ALL my addresses which sucks!

I do think this insert is worth the £7.50 which I paid for it on THE JOURNAL SHOP

I couldn't myself replicate it, as it is so well made but I am sure there are people out there clever enough to do it!

Midori Traveler's Notebook Inserts

I am going to tell you the different inserts in the picture above then over the next few weeks I am going to do a post on each in detail with paper test etc...  It shall be fun!

The inserts I have above are:

021 - Connection bands - for adding extra notebooks to your Midori
020 - Kraft File - just has pockets in made of brown card, I like it
014 - Kraft Paper - 64 sheets
013 - Cheaper paper with 128 sheets
008 - Plastic wallet with zip pocket
2012 & 2012 Diary - will cover both in same post
002 - Quadrulled paper - 64 sheets
003 - Plain Notepad - 64 sheets - comes standard with the notebook!

If there is anything you want to hear about sooner rather than later let me know! (this is not the order in which I will review them)

What did the post man bring on this horrible morning?

Oh it looks as though he has bought Stationery Land with him!

Three parcels, your eyes do not deceive you!!!

Will open the smallest parcel first which comes from the lovely Cult Pens with some cute things which I ordered...

And what is inside??? who knows???

Some OHTO Smile Clips, Frixion clicker Pen (more detail on this later), refils for said Frixion, Copic Glitter pen and a free Page Surfer?

(each order will have a detailed blog post!)

Oooo what is this I see, a parcel from Glassworks? What could this fine delight be?

such pretty wrapping!

Name on the paper says it all!

4 Midori Notebooks, #003 and #002 which are plain and grid paper! I managed to get these for £2.75 each with a discount code!

ANOTHER ONE!!! How can this even be possible??

This looks like it could be The Journal Shop....could it be so?

Wrapping no way near as exciting...

A HUGE collection of Midori Notebooks and accessories, it would appear the Midori fairy has been!

I shall leave you there as I go to squirrel away another blog post with some unpacking of all these delights!

Midori Traveler's Notebook - Insert No. 003 Plain Paper Test

Today I fancied doing a little test of the Midori Traveler's Notebook - Insert No. 003 Plain Paper, as I have just got my notebook as you all know and I love it so much!

The reason I didn't mind doing the test is due to the fact this first notebook has no real purpose, it is just a notebook which I have turned in to a Christmas planner (more about that later) so in the back I did a paper test and here are the results....

There appears to be no feathering or no real issues, the paper seems to be better quality then the standard Filofax Paper which is a YAY!

Here is the back..

The only pen which bled through is the Sharpie Permemant Marker and to be honest, I would be worried if it had not gone through. The other pens show through but are good otherwise! YAY!

Ordering LOTS of Midori goodies on Monday from The Journal Shop!