My Portable Office

I mostly work from home, but also work at the 10thousandgirl shared space once a week and then at random places on an ad hoc basis when I just need to get out!

This means I have to have all my important stuff together so I can do what I need to wherever I am.

Some people are very minimalist. I am not one of those people.

I am visual - I need paper.
I need lists I can see and schedules that are in front of me.

So here are the items that make up my portable office (and yes, sometimes I am really daggy and I cart them around in a wheelie case - it was not sexy enough to photograph for this post.):

Phone & Headphones

I love listening to podcasts on the go and the headphones are also good for handsfree conversations.

iPad

I gave up on my internet dongler because it really was hopeless! Now I just quickly check and send emails from the iPad if necessary.

 

 Laptop & Mouse

I don't like the mouse on the laptop so I always have my wireless mouse on hand. It is especially helpful when I'm fussing around with excel spreadsheets and jumping between different programs.

Diary/Organizer/Planner

I cannot live without my planner. It has all my important information in it and its where I schedule and prioritise what is going on in my week.

 

Blog Planner

Since I created my own blog planner I wonder how I survived before! It helps me plan what posts should be ready when and keeps it altogether and clear for my chaotic mind.

 

Notebook

While my diary keeps me on track I use my notebook to scribble out plans and details of the projects I'm working on. I prefer paper first and then I put things together and edit on the computer.

Pencil Case

It makes such a difference writing and planning in colour with nice pens as opposed to just boring old blue or black ink. That's why I carry around my pink polka dot pencil case. It holds all the important writing and work tools including:

Whiteout

Pens

Coloured markers

Highlighters

USB stick

Post its

So, that is my portable office!

Do you lug around as much as I do or are you much more minimalist or digital??


Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne

Week in Review 7th - 13th July 2012: Arienne Got Her Groove Back

I tell you, coming back from holidays is tough work. Tough with a capital 'T' I say!

I've steadily been trying to get back into the swing of things back home. One of the things that has helped was relocating my office from near the kitchen to a bright airy room upstairs. And because of that (and with the help of some beautiful new bits of stationary) I am back and on track! Yippee!!!

So this week has been a hodge podge of love, friends, doggy, kitty, rearranging and beautiful life/work planning:

• Caught up with lovely friends with good news at local cafe
• Bought some delish gumboots (that didn't cost the earth):

• Rearranged the downstairs furniture to create a cozy corner (including The Man, dog and doonas for added warmth):

• Washed Zander the dog (finally! pooey!)
• Had scrumptious lunch at local malaysian eatery (Asian food, how I missed you on our Croissant and Cheese Euro jaunt)
• Don't tell anyone, but we bought takeaway from above eatery to have for dinner that night too...
• Lovely accountability buddy catch up after 6 weeks being unaccountable
• Date Night with The Man at local pub
• Created my own blog planner (can't wait to print in colour!):

• Stationary shop visit for inspiring new tools
• Mr & Mrs S arrived for a few days before they move to whoop whoop (booooooo)
• Google Hangouts meeting for new group I'm involved in
• Oooh and started my new office set up as can be seen in Photo 1!
• Uploaded a bunch of pics from Hungary
• Wrote some snail mail correspondence (love pen and paper!)
• Ordered a gorgeous coat rack to solve our coat mountain
• Found my new blog crush at A Life of Perfect Days. Isn't she awesome?
• Wrote Monthly Dreams, The Power of Intention and Cross-Stitch Creativity posts

What about you gorgeous Savvy She? What did you get up to?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

A place for...Relaxation, Fun & Creativity?!

 The Grown Ups pool (that's us!) Thong is there for size comparison

The Fur Baby's Pool

The Man has been hard at work most of the day creating our little pool haven (A pool! Yes, we have a pool!!) and it is right next to our little garden and the Lemon tree of love!

And because we are loving (& pathetic) doggie parents, our little black monster has a pool of his own.

So now instead of dreaming of cool retreats on hot days we have one! 

Cocktails are coming up... 

My Picture Wall

It had been in my mind and in the works for months. I was just waiting for the time and inspiration to hit. Well that motivation came out of the blue on a Sunday evening!

I have some very neglected, boring walls at home. Ones that I have felt guilty about leaving empty.

Part of it was that I couldn't decide what to commit to hanging there - so I made the choice of not making a choice.

The other part was that I felt I didn't have the time to spend on beautifying my surroundings (though I know it is something that gives me pleasure). Other things tugging at me were more important - and so that wall remained empty for years...

After a while I decided to change my perspective. I thought that doing something on this blank wall was better than doing nothing. Every time I was looking in that direction (which is often because it is right next to my work desk and the kitchen/dining area) that guilt effected me - this decision to not do anything was actually costing me a lot of energy.

So I decided to create a picture wall. I put some time aside to choose photos to put up. I changed them all to black and white. I went to get them printed out. I started a collection of different frames.

And then they sat in the cupboard...

Why was I resisting?

Then I noticed a pattern. I often don't do some of these smaller household tasks because I feel I will make the wrong decision so I ultimately don't do anything (and maybe this pattern was even invading other aspects of my life...?). I reflected on this and made an empowering choice. I didn't need to commit to one thing forever. I could always change it if it wasn't 'right' or didn't turn out especially good. I just needed to do something!

And so I have! And I am so happy :)

This was the boring, energy draining wall before

 I started to put the pics in frames.

I came up with a rough layout on the table.

 Then started hanging them with those removable hooks

 This is the less boring wall!

 Ignore the mess around it!

So now this wall gives me pleasure. It makes the room feel more 'homely'. It is energising. I can see pics of my loved ones. It looks pretty! And I know that my creativity built it.

What are you putting off that is a subtle but constant energy drain? Make a decision, take some action and plug that leak! You will feel better for it.

Make it as you wish SSSs!

Arienne xo

 

Wonderful Nature

Do you ever just stop yourself and look around you? See the bugs dancing around, the weeds growing wild, the waves breaking roughly, the way the sun shines through the trees just so? The breeze on your skin, the birds chasing each other, the way ants follow each other all in a row?

No? Go out and get some nature today!

Come to think about it, when was the last time you felt the grass between your toes?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne

Surrounding Myself with Things I Love

One of my resolutions in 2011 is to surround myself with things that inspire me and that I find beautiful and that are somehow practical...

I want to have beautiful artwork adorning my wall
I want to use inspiring pictures in my organiser
I want to surround myself with flowers
I want to have pretty things that capture my imagination on my desk
I want gorgeous tools that make me want to use them
I want gorgeous plates and cups (ideally in the german heart design)