Living – Page 6 – Unlikely Martha

Planning for 2020 | 10 Tips For Choosing the Right Planner

Feels like I was just talking to y’all yesterday about this, when indeed it was a whole year ago that I did a video outlining what planners I would be using in 2019. Well here we are staring 2020 down, and I’ll just say my planning style changed drastically over the past year, and some of those planners from that video were nothing more than paperweights by April.

In 2019, I learned a lot about not falling for the hype of the planner community, and really getting in tune with the type of planner that would work for MY life and not everyone else’s.

Choosing a planner can feel like choosing paint. It seems life-altering when in actuality, a few dollars can help you move on to the next best thing, yet you feel stuck and unsure about a choice of paper. Trust me, you can move on from a wrong planner.

Ask me how I know.

Choosing a planner can be overwhelming, I totally agree. However I think taking the time to consider a few things before you go on the hunt can minimize some of the anxiety about picking the wrong planner.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a new planner:

Be real with yourself, are you more of a digital planner or a paper planner? Sometimes we want to force ourselves into something that doesn’t come naturally. If you live by your Google calendar, it is likely a paper planner won’t really work for you. Consider exploring digital planning options.
If your day consists of doing things at a certain time, consider an hourly layout to keep you on track.
Will you need to carry your planner with you daily? If so make sure you pick something that is easy to transport.
Will you need the option to remove and enter papers? (think grocery lists, school schedules, etc.) If so you definitely want to go with a ring-bound planner. Make sure you don’t forget the hole punch.
Do you prefer a horizontal layout over a vertical one? Not sure what this is about, head to Instagram and peruse the #horizontallayout and #verticallayout hashtags. That may help you decide.
Don’t get sucked into the stickers, while they add a creative touch, they won’t help you be productive.
Keep in mind the weight of the paper. More cost effective planners often have thinner paper and you will experience ink bleed. If the thought of that drives you crazy, pay attention to the thickness of the paper.
Don’t spend a lot of money until you are sure the planner will work for you.
How much writing space will you need? Based on that pick a size that will give you enough writing space.
It is possible that based on your life you will need two planners. Before just grabbing anything, think of the purpose and how you will use each one. You may find that two different types of planners will work better.

Watch me talk about all the things related to how I planned in 2019, and my intentions for 2020 on this video! Make sure you are subscribed to my YouTube channel as well… I’ll love you forever. (just click on the picture and hit subscribe)

I was so against using a smaller planner, but thanks to a generous sale at Hobby Lobby I took the leap into an A5 ring-bound planner and I couldn’t be happier. I explained my love for it in the video below. I’m pretty sure I’ve found “planner peace” with it. I know I’ve said that before, but there is something special about this one!

If you are a working mom, Lashawn over at Everyday Eyecandy has a list of 20 planners that are great for working moms. Check them out here.

I hope this helps you think about a few things before choosing your planner for 2020.

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My Morning Routine | 3 Things I Do To Stay Sane Throughout the Day

Although I work contract for a steady paycheck, hands down I consider myself an entrepreneur because I spend a lot of time throwing stuff at the wall hoping something sticks. I also spend a lot of time doubting myself, loving myself, and wondering what my sole purpose in life is multiple times a day. Multiple.

Getting my day off on a good note, keeps me from sinking into my negative thoughts, and keeps me pushing toward my entrepreneurials goals… especially on days when I am not even sure there is one.

A good foundation of any type can certainly hold you up when you face difficulties, and I believe how you start your day has a lot to do with how it goes.

I’m all about positivity these days, and I’ve become very intentional about controlling my thoughts and ideas. Since I’ve been doing this, I’ve found that I am a lot less stressed, and I practice finding gratitude in the small things more often. These simple steps have truly been enlightening.

While no two days around here are ever the same, these things are a consistent part of my morning routine, and I think I am better for them. Hopefully, they will help you make the most of your days as well!

WAKE UP SLOW

I know they say you shouldn’t hit the snooze button, but it works for me. I don’t like to “hit the ground running.” I like to ease into my mornings, so I set the alarm an hour before I’m supposed to be up. Unless I’m really tired I never drift back off into a deep sleep. I lay, pray, and think about what I have to do for the day before rushing into the hustle and bustle of it.

READ A DAILY DEVOTIONAL AND/OR AFFIRMATIONS

Devotionals and affirmations are my jam. I have the Bible app on my phone, and once I’m up and out of the bed I get a dose of devotion and prayer. Also, I am currently reading (affiliate) Big Idea Food: A Weekly Devotional for Entrepreneurs, Side Hustlers & Dreamers. There are so many good affirmations in there, that I have been reading one or two pages daily…then depending on how crazy the day is I may dip back and re-read a few. You know how it is sometimes when you need a reminder that all is well, or at least it will be!

The importance of this step in your day is to have something positive to think back on when things go haywire during the day. Whether you are a praying person or not, there is nothing like a good dose of positivity to get you back on course.

PLAN THE DAY

I always plan my day. It’s not always intricate, but there is always some idea of what will happen, what time I have to be somewhere, what time I have to leave to get to said place, what we are eating for dinner….

I’ve talked about how I plan here. I like to write things down, it helps me remember what I have to do. I highly encourage people who say they don’t have time to plan, to make time. The mental scribble scrabble of having to remember things, and hope you don’t forget them is stressful in itself. Even with planning, I still drop the ball on things… so I can’t imagine how much stuff I would be messing up if I didn’t plan.

These three simple things have a huge impact on my day, and I feel the difference in my day when I don’t take time to ground myself with my morning routine. Of course, this is just one part of the day, if you want to see how my morning looks in terms of action, here’s a video I did on YouTube highlighting my morning routine as a work at home mom to include getting the kids off to school, cleaning and working!

What does your morning routine look like?!

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Girls Trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains + Vlog

Where are my 1979 babies?! The year of 40 is rapidly coming to an end, and I have a few more celebrations to attend before the majority of the squad are VIP members at the 40/40 club. There have been sleepovers, 80’s parties, and intimate dinners to usher in our new decade of life. A few weekends ago we took the party to one of the most amazing cabins in the Blue Ridge Mountains to celebrate one of the homie’s 40th trip around the sun. Speaking of sun… the sunset from this place was amazing.

We laughed, ate, drank, and spent some time exploring downtown Blue Ridge. We sipped wine at a local winery, enjoyed rum cake from an authentic Cuban cafe tucked in a little town in Tennessee, did a little shopping in downtown Blue Ridge, and ended our trip with some shopping at the outlets on our way home.

The cabin was absolutely amazing and had the most breathtaking sunset views. Sharing is caring, so if you are interested in renting this place… click here. We were fortunate enough to have clear skies both nights we were there. We even think a bear was lurking outside of the cabin on our last night there. Watch the video for details!

The weekend away was much needed. I value the time I have with my friends, we don’t get the chance to get together as much as we would like… cause kids and family but when we do it’s like we’ve never skipped a beat. I love my tribe so hard for not being “needy” or “complicate” we just get each other. We’ve already scheduled another getaway for after Christmas. We’re sure to need it by then!

The vlog from our weekend brings these words to life! There’s a cabin tour, and a look at some bear paws! If you aren’t already subscribed, please do. I post things to my YouTube channel that I don’t always share here. I’d love to have you join the family!

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First Alert CO Alarm for Our College Student

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. Know CO!

If you didn’t know we’re a blended family, and a few weeks ago we sent our oldest daughter off to college. I know you’re wondering how a 25- year-old couple is sending a child off to college, and my response to that is I don’t know either!

We traveled to Orlando to get her all cozy in her dorm room, and while I consider myself the “cool stepmom” I was legit in my feelings about her being an adult and living on her own. It’s like staring reality in the face that time is really moving far too fast.

I’ve been around since she was a small child, and while so cliche, it is so true… the years pass quickly. While we’re so excited for her to spread her wings and experience some of the experiences that will mold her adult life we’re a lot concerned about her safety. Every chance her father and I got we had to drop little life nuggets here and there amongst the aisles of Target and Walmart as we picked up her necessities. Our tag team don’t do this, and don’t do that reminded me of all those times when I said I wasn’t going to be like my own mother yet, doing and saying the same things!

There is a lot in the equation we can’t control when our children leave, but when it comes to carbon monoxide safety… we got this thanks to First Alert!

Her dorm is an older building and there is always the risk of carbon monoxide being an issue. Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless and potentially fatal gas. Being that it’s odorless the only way to detect its presence is with a detector.

Of course, no semi-adult teenager is concerned with carbon monoxide, but we are. First Alert’s stylish CO alarm fit perfectly into her dorm space. We didn’t have to install it, it has a 10-year battery life, and sits perfectly on her desk. One super functional feature is the LED display also displays the temperature… after all a girl has to know what to wear!

With the winter season on it’s way educating yourself and your family on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning is imperative. When it comes to keeping your home, and office spaces safe the First Alert CO Tabletop Alarm is the perfect, stylish, petite option. It may be small in size but it will protect you in a big way.

Knowledge is key when it comes to protecting yourself and the ones you love from the dangers of carbon monoxide. Here is some info on how to protect yourself.

The top 3 carbon monoxide safety tips are:

Never leave a car running in an attached garage
Test carbon monoxide detectors regularly
Install a carbon monoxide alarm on every level, and in every bedroom of your home.

She is a about a week into her new life as a college student and doing well. We are so proud and excited for her and her new chapter, meanwhile I think her father and I are still in our feels, but birdies have to fly the nest and spread their wings. Thanks to First Alert we have one less thing to worry about!

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. Know CO!

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