How I Organize My Planner/ My Erin Condren

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I love my planner! I use it for everything. I have my system, my own way of using it. I know people color code, blue is for this and red for that. But not me, I love to use multiple colors to write in my planner. Normally I write the things I have to do that day, like “call school”, “finish homework”, and “check status” and in red if I have an exam or the deadline for an essay. I also use red to check the things I have accomplished and if they are not done that day, I write them again the next day so I can finish it.

In the left corner of each week, I wrote a weekly song. It was a song that I liked that week and it was the first one I heard every morning for that week.

I also use the notes to write everything! This year I used it for books I want to read, the universities I was applying too with the TOEFL score I need, the log in and passwords for each university portal, the SAT, ACT and TOEFL codes for each university, the school I’m applying (asked in EVERY. SINGLE. FORM)  and a list of the universities I got accepted. WHOOT WHOOT. I also wrote my resolutions for this year and I have to admit I haven’t done many of them. Ups! And some log ins and passwords.

At the end, there is a small white folder where I wrote quotes and inspirational phrases and where I keep my train tickets, SAT and TOEFL tickets, recipes and mail tracking.

I used to buy whatever planner I find in a bookstore. Once I used one that came with my school back pack. But as I grew older, my love for planners grew too. I found one in my hometown that is simple and beautiful. Inside it’s white and black and really simple so I can style it with my colors. The con’s about this planner is that it doesn’t have a month spread and the months are not divided. Everything else is just perfect.  The sad part is that they go out to the market late August, and I tried to contact the girls who made them but have no receive any response in three weeks. Last year I had a great conversation with them and they even told me where to go and buy it so I can be the first. This year, with no response so far, I think they will not produce these planners anymore.

So naturally I decided to change my planner this year. I will start college this fall, and I love to write EVERYTHING on my planner so I can be organized.  I was on Pinterest as I always am, and saw this picture that said something like “Best Planners” or something along the lines.  OF course Lilly Pulitzer Agenda was on that list, but if I’m brutally honest, I don’t like it. Yep, haters gonna hate (please don’t hate me) but I don’t like her agendas. I find one or two covers pretty, but knowing myself I will hate the patterns after a month or two. And the inside doesn’t work for me. I’m not saying it’s a bad agenda, or that it’s ugly, it just doesn’t work for me. I also saw the PINK agenda and another that it wasn’t my style at all. As I said before, I used to use any planner that I found, and that made me realize what works for me and what doesn’t when it comes to organizing.And then I found heaven.  Erin Condren Life Planner was there. I clicked it with the hope to order mine, but they were out of stock. I wanted to see the inside to see if they work for me, and after 2 hours of video watching at YouTube, I knew THIS was the planner I need. I entered the FB page, followed the Pinterest boards, follow her on Twitter. I became obsessed.  After a day I knew exactly that I wanted this planner, so I sign up and created my account. I patiently –not so patiently- waited for the launch on June 12th, and ordered mine. It should arrive in next week, but for personal reasons I won’t be there to receive it until mid-August. Snif Snif

What made me fall in love with this planner was the laminated tabs, the personalized cover, TWO PAGE MONTHLY SPREADS that were lacking in my current planner, over 25 notes pages which I love since I used them a lot, and not only a folder to keep things together but a plastic pouch at the end of the planner!  I also liked the stickers even if I never used stickers in my planners. Last year planners came with Special Occasions pages at the beginning of the book which I loved and at the end of the planner contacts. This year EC made it a perpetual calendar booklet that goes in the small folder at the end. This is the only thing I’m not crazy about. Each year, people come and go, I meet new people, I’m not near certain ones, and writing each year in my planner people’s birthday it’s better for me than having a perpetual calendar. Same with contacts. During my senior year I had the yearbook email and MUN email, along with my teachers’ emails for that year. I don’t need those emails this year, so why have them written down in a perpetual calendar? I guess I will buy this booklet each year and write the information I will use that year.

This planner in particular has two options: you can buy an 18-months planner from July 14’-December 15’, or a
12-months one from January 15’-December15’. Since I will use it as an academic planner, I have bought the 18-months.  I’m crossing my fingers so EC team can come up with an academic planner next year, and if not, I will keep using the 18-months one. Even if I will have 6 more months on it, it will help me plan ahead and I can use it until the new planner arrives.

I splurge on this planner because it’s worth it. It has everything I’m looking in a planner and it will help me be even more organized. As I always have, I will carry this planner with me wherever I go. In my old planner I wrote the things I have to do that day with no time order. “Write check for electricity” was an activity for my night, and it was written before “Send requirements” that was a task to be completed before 11:00 A.M.  I love that ECLP days are divided my Morning, Noon and Night so I can write my tasks in each block!  It will also have my name in the cover and since they improve the planner this year, I can buy a new cover whenever I want and personalize it as I like it. This is a HUGE plus. How many times have I stand in a store deciding which cover I like for my notebooks? Same with agendas!

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https://www.erincondren.com/life-planners-more

Desktop Organization

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Bloglovin became of my best friends. Not only does it help me to find new followers, but it helps me find amazing blogs.

Today, I logged in in my Bloglovin feed and found this post by   Alyssa   showing us how she organizes her desktop, and I thought it will be a good idea if I do the same.

I can’t say I’m OCD, because my room is a mess and there are other aspects of my daily life that are not 100% organized, but when it comes to organization with school stuff, blog, or my computer I’m a freak.

I have folders in my computer for everything. Pictures, school, yearbook, college applicaiton. For every activity I engaged, I created a folder. I create folders inside those folders.

This is how I do it:

I was the co-president of my Yearbook Committee when I was a senior in high school.  I was in charge for a part of the book and that meant the first years of our lives. My YEARBOOK folder was divided by periods of time. In my school you can’t choose your classes, you have every class with the same classmates, we have class sections. Inside each folder were other 4 folders, one per section, and inside the picture of the people on that classroom. Each picture was named LAST NAME, FIRST NAME so it was easy to find them.  I did this for every part of the yearbook that was my job.

My school folder was the craziest. It had a folder for each year, inside a folder for each term. Inside each term, a folder for each class. Inside that, two folders: one for pictures and one for documents. Inside documents were two folders, one for the documents teacher sent us and one for the projects I have to handle in.  Complicated much? Sadly, I changed my computer at the end of my junior year, so I can’t show you pictures. Snif Snif.My Application folder was divided by a folder for essays, which was subdivide by a FINISHED folder and a SUPPLEMENTS folder. Yes, inside FINISHED were other folders, one for the Common App essays and one per university, and in SUPPLEMENTS where the draft essays for the universities, each in a folder for each  university. Then I had a folder called Common App, were I download my application. I also had one folder for the requirements, and one for the documents I have to send via mail.  Now that I know where I’m going I have a folder for Drexel University too with the documents I have to fill or PDFs with information.

Every folder in my computer is organized so I can find everything I need.  I have many others but Ithink you get the idea. I love organizing, I kind of feel like Monica Geller with that! I just wish I can color code my folders in PC (if you now please teach me how!).

Father’s Day

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Girls expect to find a prince charming to become a princess. He will treat her like the beautiful princesses in the movies and fairy tales she has been watching and listening since she was born. Prince Charming will make her a princess, that’s what has been taught to her. But that’s not true; girls are princesses since they were born. Her father is a king.

I watched TV series with you, high fived you when we come up with a sarcastic comment. Drinking coffee in the afternoon is not the same if we are not together, in the kitchen table, talking and joking with a delicious cup of Joe in our hands.  We play Candy Crush together, oh well, I play and you get mad because I don’t let you play.

You have always treated me as a princess, since day one. You have taken care of me, loved me and share the last bite of chocolate with me. You are my king, my daddy. And no matter how old I get, I will always be your little girl.

I love you Daddy! Happy Father’s day.

Orange Is The New Black

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YOU MIGHT FIND SOME SPOILERS. Correction: YOU WILL FIND SPOILERS

June 6th. I’ve been waiting for June 6, 2014 for a long time. Yes, The Fault in our Stars premiered today, and even if I loved the book, I’m happier than Orange is the New Black, season 2, was released today.

Last year my big brother told my dad and me that there is this new series on Netflix that he binged on.  My dad and I started to watch it, and I have to admit it was a little uncomfortable watching all those sex scenes and lady parts innuendos with him. But we loved it; we watched it and watched it until they were no more episodes left. My dad thought of reading the book, and I think he did, and I tried, but it was so different from what I watched that my mind was messing with me, so no book for me, sadly.

The series is gross, it’s vulgar, obscene. It’s is great, it’s brilliant, addictive. It is amazingly well done, how each character is developed and the stories behind each inmate. How you grow towards certain people (hey Nikki and Taystee) and how you hate others -yep, I don’t like Chapman or Pornstarn that much. And you know something is wrong when you put Piper and Mendez in the same group of people. But that’s one of the things that makes this show so awesome. We love to hate them.

Truth to be told, sometimes you need a break from OITNB. The series is great, but sometimes overwhelming. I need breaks to do things like eat or sleep, and breath.  But when I’m on those breaks I need to get back to Netflix.

This season Crazy Eyes is even crazier, but I loved her story and how she is the reason Piper is back to Litchfield. She has become more aggressive since Vee appeared, and I must say that she really likes the new Queen Bee, because Susie threw her pie for her. And at first I liked Vee too, she brought some kind of woman power at the beginning, but now I hate her. She is such a bully.  She created this network, a dangerous one, inside prison. Red used to have her own followers, and the Latino girls too, but Vee brought it to a whole new level.  I used to LOVE Tayste, I thought she was hilarious in every single way, and then her “boss” ruined it.  She ruined everything. Janae went to the SHU, again, thanks to her. I know, I know, I’m ranting a lot about Vee, but she deserves it.  Red went down last season; she was on the top of the food chain and went straight down to the bottom.  But she knows her prison, and thanks to contraband and pipes, she scrolled up again. Go Red!  She got back her clique -maybe not the original one, but she got one.  A cucu old one. I liked how Morello seems all good and peaceful and it’s actually completely crazy and mad. I always thought Christopher was made up, that he didn’t exist. But he does, just not in the way Morello says he does. And Miss Rosa is actually a kick ass. A criminal kick ass, but still. Piper’s ex fiancé loves her best friend, Alex is away and she is dealing with other things in her life that are making her go nuts. She is alone in this world, and she finally realized that. And then we have Soso, a new annoying character that I personally want to punch in the face even if she is sweet.

Now let’s talk about the staff of Litchfield. I didn’t like Haley during season 1, but for some reason has gained my respect right now. Bennett became though, then soft, then though, and then the good guy we all like. Figueroa got what she deserves and Capputo took her place, and in his second day two inmates escaped. Pornstar got back at the end of episode 8, and by the 10th he was gone again,wohoo.   Also, Caputo is in a band. How great is that?

Each character is so well developed and the actors who personalize them are great. Sometimes I watch a series and there is always an actor that does a horrible job. Not in this case. Everything is perfectly done on OITNB. Thank you, Ber, for telling me to watch this.

When is season 3 going to happen?!

PS: If you, like me, were expecting to actually hear the whole “It’s not an eggplant, he is retarded” joke, don’t hold by breath.

TV Couples

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I love, love TV shows. I get obsess with them and normally binge on them. My favorite part of TV shows – and I have to be completely honest- is the love scenes. When the couples are together being romantic melts my heart.  I gather some of my favorite TV couples, in no particular order, and wanted to show them to you.

Nathan and Haley:  Always and Forever. Can this couple be more perfect? Nathan was a mean jock who was always on the top of the world. He wanted to take down his half-bro Lucas. Enter Hailey! The geeky, smart girl who change Nathan into a better person. These two lovelies are always there for each other. No matter what, they are for one another. LOVE THIS COUPLE! The only thing I actually don’t like about them is that they are not together in real life! Why James and Bethany? Why why?

Chuck and Blair: ok, so this one is a must. Their relationship is so predictable; of course they were going to end up together. And they had a kid! The thing I love about them is how soft they get when they are together. They are despicable, and schemes and always planning something to take down someone, but they are adorable together! I almost cried when they got married, that was a moment I was waiting for since Blair asked him to say those three words.
Monica and Chandler: this one has a special meaning for me. I have my Chandler, and love him. I love how these two can be lovers and best friends all together. They joke around each other but support one another 100%.  And I love how their personalities complete each other: the funny sarcastic clumsy guy with the OCD ,chef, obsess with winning woman. LOVE IT
Cory and Topanga: it’s been so, so long since I watched these two together, but good news, they are coming back to our screen! I always loved these two. Topanga was these weird kid and Cory the cool guy. But even that, they loved each other. That someone remember when Cory went to Disney World and kissed Topanga? That was magic.
Mitchell and Cameron: I will admit that I have skipped tons of episodes of Modern Family, but when I do watch it these two are my favorite. Of course each character in this show is great, but Mitchell and Cameron take the gold. I love how Cam is all artistic, sensitive, and a drama queen. He doesn’t give a damn on what people think, and then Mitchell, kind of up tide, caring what people think.  But they love each other, they have a family together, and that is what I find so great in them.
Ross and Rachel: he is her lobster. She is the love of his life. Since 9th grade Ross has a crush on Rachel, and years later they become a couple. Their story is perfect, except the we-were-on-a-break part.   Even if they dated other people, deep down these two loved each other *cough cough Emily*. At the end they ended up together, as it was meant to be. She got off the plane, and that is beautiful
Ted and Tracey:  can I rant? Can I please rant and cry and tell you how mad I am with How I Met Your Mother? *Spoiler Alert* WHY THE H** DID THEY KILLED HER! WHY DID YOU MAKE  ME WAIT 9 EFFING SEASONS TO KILL THE MOTHER! She was perfect for Ted, she was as geeky as him, enjoyed the same things. They were meant to be with each other, I mean: she was in his first class when he taught at college, he grabbed the iconic yellow umbrella that was hers, he dated her roommate, they were at the same party. And you are telling me that he always loved Robin? BS! Ted and tracey were perfect, just as Robin was great with Barney. Ted and Stacey relationship lasted like an episode, and still, I loved it.
Who are your favorite TV couples and why?

Share Your Dream

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I never was the straight As kind of girl. Not because I wasn’t capable of achieving it, but because I didn’t try harder.  I had a good GPA though, and many extracurricular activities that required more than my beautiful smile.

Since I can remember, people tell me I’m smart, and I believed it. It feels good when people acknowledge that. And that acknowledge is what brings me down sometimes. Yeah, that sounds weird, how can it feels good and then bring me down?

The answer: people tell me that being journalism is not enough for me. I should be a psychologist, an engineer, something that –and I’m quoting- “shows how smart you really are”, and “won’t waste your intelligence”

That is BS. That’s letting people thoughts change your believes. I believe I can be a kickass journalist, and no matter what people say, I’ll be a heck of one.

When people used to ask me what I want to do I was afraid. Everyone wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I just wanted Miranda Priestly’s job. But I was ashamed; working for a magazine was shameful to me back then. I wanted people to say “ohh wow” in a good way.

People start asking me more and more what I like, often judging my decision. And you know what? Screw them. I should not be ashamed to do what I like to do, and those people think that journalism is just about writing. Every career requires intelligence, no matter what you do. If you are happy, then do it with a smile, and do not care what people think. You’ll ace whatever job you do if you enjoy it. I rather do something I love than something I hate. We all do, right?

I used to be ashamed of my dream. Now I’m not just joyful, I am proud of it. I learned that I should not be ashamed of my dream, neither of sharing it with people.

And you? What’s your dream?

S+B

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 I binged on Gossip Girl a while ago. The first time I watched GG was when I was on 6th grade, and after season 1 ended, I watch the series on and off. Since I’m taking a gap year and have plenty of free time, I decided to watch all of the seasons. Two weeks and several bags of chips later, I finished all the episodes.

I have to say that when I started watching the series again, I realize how obsessed I was –still am- with Blair Waldorf. and who isn’t? She lives in a beautiful Pent House apartment in the Upper East Side, and Dorota is always there to assist her. (I heart Dorota!) She has an impeccable style and at the moment a marvelous boyfriend. Yes, Chuck Bass is even better for her, but at the beginning of Season 1 I truly believed Nate was the one for her. Silly me.

And then there was Serena Van der Woodsen, the blond, tall, beautiful bombshell who was also smart. She was so perfect, minus the drug/sex with Nate/suicidal brother/ divorce-y mother thing. She was the IT girl. Every boy wanted her –Go Lonely Boy!- and every girl wanted to be her.  Her looks and charm get her everything, and yes, I was jealous of her.

Even if I loved these two, I despise the way she and Serena rolled. They scheme and fight and turn each other down. They are friends, they love each other, and no matter what, at the end of the day they know they have one another for support. Yeah right.

I loathe the way they both sent blasts for GG to post just to turn the other down. Blair was afraid of Serena’s taking over her Queen Bee status, and obviously hated her. She took Nate’s V-Card when he was with Blair, and that is not what friends are for, and she also did that to Dan! She slept with two of Blair’s boyfriends. And yes, B was a scheming gal too. She told people at Yale that Serena killed a man, and dated the love of  S’s life .  The list goes on and on, and I believe none of these things are 100% forgivable.  Neither S nor B are saints, neither devils.  The rivalry has always been there, often transforming these two into frenemies.

And I think is what make them interesting.  I mean, I seriously don’t want a relationship like that. I like having someone who I can talk and who will be there for me no matter what, but at some point, that’s their relationship. They worked that way, and even if hate was there, they knew that deep –deep deep- down, they loved each other.

Because they are Serena and Blair. Best Friends Forever and Ever

MOMS

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Normally this section is about certain women that bring up Girl Power. But who better than our moms?

I can write the typical post with gift ideas to give to your mom. But let’s face it; the gift list I’ll write will be presents for my mom, not yours. Every mom has different tastes and likes, so why bother and write a post about ideas when I can tell you why moms are the best.

They work 24/7, 365 days a year, no days off. Even if you move out of your parents’ house, you are on her mind, always. “Did she get the interview?” “When will she get married?” “Is she ok?” Her mind is always running thinking about you and your well-being.

That’s another point. Moms sacrificed many things for us, so we can be happy and well.  Her body is the perfect example. She not only gave up to drinking for 9 months, but her body image. She was pregnant, and we know what pregnancy can do to our bodies. She also sacrificed many nights while you were crying your lungs out, and many afternoons taking you to ballet or for your dancing recitals.  She cooks and cleans and gives up her time so you can be happy.

She is the best shopping partner ever! Not only does she pay, but she is brutally honest and tells you what fits you and what makes you look like a bad wrapped present.  She will tell you what fits your body, and that sometimes it’s better to stick with what flatters you the most instead of following trends.

Moms are superheroes, even better than SuperWoman. Moms can find everything, even if you lost it 10 months ago. They know when you are sad or hiding something.  We can be a close book but they can read us anyways. Moms are always there for us, when a boy breaks our hearts (please don’t break my heart) or when a friends turns against us. She gives us advice, because even if she looks like she came from another era, she lived the same things that we do. 

They are our best friends, the ones that will never leave. You know that no matter what she will be there for you. She is your hero and your confident.

Happy mother’s day, Mommy. I love you

#BanBossy

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That little boy raised his voice and told his classmates “It’s time for a change! We should require Animal Crackers to be part of our lunch menu”. Every kid in kindergarten clapped. This boy is a leader, he’ll probably be a CEO, or a senator or the President of United States.

Now imagine the situation if it was a little girl. No one will clap. Instead, they will call her “bossy” or “pushy”. She then shuts up, she doesn’t speak her mind, even if her idea is brilliant. She has the qualities to lead, but those words made her insecure. She now believes that she isn’t good enough, or even if she is, no one cares.

When we grow up, we woman are called b**ch for speaking our minds.  We are bossy and pushy. I believe that that’s wrong! We all have potential to lead, no matter what our gender is. A woman can make an amazing leader, just as a man can.

Superheroes and male leaders are all around us. We grew up watching Superman save Louis or male presidents. Even video games; you find more male characters than female. And why is that? Maybe people aren’t ready to see a woman lead, and that should change.

The Girls Scouts want to Ban Bossy, and we should spread the word. #BanBossy. And show the world that women can lead too.

Because as Beyonce said “Im not bossy. I’m THE boss”

Brooke Davis

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The girl behind the red door. That”s her.

The girls who proved everyone that she is more than what people thing of her.she was truly a kick ass

I remember the first impression she made on me: she is a *insert a world that rhymes with horse here*. Why would she sit naked on Lucas’ car? She was this careless, wild, IT girl. She the rich cheer captain who everybody loved. What a cliché.  But even that, we know that B. Davis was a loyal friend from moment one. She stood beside P. Sawyer when she was drugged, and she visited her boyfriend Lucas when he was in a car accident.  She said once that she was a b**ch for the sake of being one, but that then it was for the sake of her friends. It is ok to be a b**t, and Brooke taught us that.

She grew a lot when her family lost their money. She always got whatever she wanted, and when her house was sold, she was devastated. But then she learned that her money didn’t define her. That same year she ran for school president against straight-A students. She was considered a bimbo, a party girl who couldn’t achieve something like that. she prove people wrong! She won, and she became a great president.

By senior year she had her own designs sold in a store, and later on she started her brand “Clothes over Bros”.  She was a girl who struggled with a lot of pain, with the word “not enough” in her head.  She said “people will label you. How you overcome those labels is what matters”. You go, B Davis.

When OTH had a 4-year gap, I was mad. I wanted to see how Brooke did in college. I mean, who didn’t? She owns her own company, a big one, by the age of 21. She dated super-stars and own an amazing place at Manhattan, but she decided to go back to her home, Tree Hill.  She always stood up to “0 is not a size”, trying to show girls it’s okay to have curves and not be crazy skinny. She showed us is ok to be yourself.

She adopted a troubled girl. She was the victim of an attack. She got her heart broken and her company destroyed, and she still was Brooke Davis. She overcame every obstacle she had with grace.

She also was sassy and had great come back. She never let people’s words get to her, or at least she pretended so.  She was herself, no excuses.

“She was fiercely independent, Brooke Davis. Brilliant, and beautiful, and brave […] Brooke Davis is going to change the world someday. And I’m sure she doesn’t even know it” Yes, Lucas wrote that about Brooke, but I’m sure this applies to all of us. We all are brilliant and beautiful and brave. We can change the world if we want to.