Five Things Friday: My Happy Planners

by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68

Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday

Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday

Okay. So, I guess we knew this post had to happen sooner or later, right? Y’all know my love for Happy Planning. I mean, from the day I brought my first one home I started telling you about it. Remember 2017 Prep: My Happy Planner? And Hobbes’ Mexican Chicken Meatloaf?

I laughed at the groups on Facebook. I saw ridiculous posts of women with four and five planners and entire shelves devoted to the art of the plan.

“No,” I told myself. “I will not be one of those. I will not be a ‘Planner Babe’ who can’t function without a big book at my side. No.”

And then the Universe laughed.

Because the more I used my first planner, the more I fell in love with it. That’s right. Two key words in that sentence: “first” and “more.” Mm-hmm. You already know where this is going, am I right?

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo's Happy Planners

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s Happy Planners

I suppose I should explain myself . . .

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo's First Planner

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s First Planner

  1. This is my first planner. I purchased it to help keep track of all my social media work. Then I bought some expansion packs like the menu planner and home planner sets. Little did I know how it would change my life. Creativity brings peace, so whether I’m planning a meal or working out the budget, using my Planner makes me, well, Happy. I think that’s the whole point.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo's Second Planner: Blessings Abound.

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s Second Planner: Blessings Abound.

2. Realizing what a blessing my Happy Planner is, I picked up a second one. I don’t remember to write every day, but when I do, I’m astounded by the little “pennies” I keep track of. From a friendly client to a free Starbucks to a bill that was paid, all the little “Thank You’s” the Universe blesses me with go into this book. The year’s only half over, and already I’m overwhelmed with seeing how it’s a wonderful life.

Frankly, My Dear . . .: MoJo's Recipe Planner

Frankly, My Dear . . .: MoJo’s Recipe Planner

3. Of course, after I used a few of the menu pages, I realized I had to get a separate book for all my recipes. I can plan party menus, holiday delights, and keep tracking of my grocery lists all in one great location. It’s complete with great foodie quotes, and kitchen measurements. How sweet is that?!

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo's Blue Ridge Planner

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s Blue Ridge Planner

4. Ah, Blue Ridge. That wonderful writers conference that beckons me each May. Of course this year I put together my own binder. Class list? Check. Appointments list? Check. To Do With Friends list? Check. Plenty of blank paper for note taking and idea making. A calendar I could fill, or not, as I chose. And that ever-inspiring dashboard. [Click here to read about my Blue Ridge Happy Planner.]

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo's Blogging Planner

Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s Blogging Planner

5. My Blogging Planner. I just picked this one up this month. With my new website and the forthcoming redesign for Frankly, My Dear . . . and all the blog traffic coming and going, I wanted one special place to note my online presence and to track contributors for Frankly, My Dear. And let’s be real. That awesome Peacock Pen from Paige needed a home.

What’s that? You saw more Planner covers in the top photo? Aww, I can’t get nothin’ by you, can I?

Frankly, My Dear . . .: MoJo's Extra Planners

Frankly, My Dear . . .: MoJo’s Extra Planners

Additional Planner covers come in sets of three. So when I created-from-scratch started my Blue Ridge Conference Planner, I had two cover sets left over. The one on the left above is now used as a “memory” planner. As each month passes, I take the pages from my main planner and transfer to this one. It serves as a great record keeper, and I don’t have to search far to find notes. On the right is an as yet unpurposed cover set. I’m thinking I may turn it into my Holiday Planner. I can picture it now: recipes, gift guides, short stories, shopping lists. Yes. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Thanks for helping me figure that out.

Soon I’ll have Planner Lucky Number 8: I’m going to start a novel bible for CENTRAL. I didn’t do so with NOLA and I wish I had. [Read: #AmWriting: Using a Calendar to Storyboard Your Novel.] As soon as I start CENTRAL, I’ll track character notes, backstory, magazine clippings, thoughts, and of course, the dreaded rough draft.

Yikes. I mean, yea.

Happy Planning with BEE the Zebra

Happy Planning with BEE the Zebra

Tell me, how do you stay organized? And, can you overdo it?

TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear: Five Things Friday: My Happy Planners @RealMojo68 #happyplanner #franklymydear #FiveThingsFriday

And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!

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The Adventures of Will Power and the Basket of Blessings

Will Power. He’s one determined little bear!
To read The Adventures of Will Power and the Haunted House, click here.

* * * * *

The Tall Grass

 

 

Will Power recently found himself overwhelmed. He felt he was stuck in the Tall Grass.

 

 

 

So many worries, so many cares. So many things to think about, when all he really wanted was to rest. The more he tried, the more wrapped up he became in his worries.

Help me! Help me!

He knew he needed a change, if not in situations, then in perspective. So he took a step back. He looked around and took a walk to clear his head. But he was still so consumed with concerns and the stresses of life that he couldn’t see his way clear of the heavy burdens he carried. The blessings he longed for were still just out of reach.

Blessings Out of Reach

There was only one thing to do: handle it. No matter what it would take, Will Power knew he had it in him to conquer.

First things first. He was smart enough to recognize he couldn’t do it alone. So he called for help from the One he knew could handle these things: the One who scared off those who kept trying to take Will Power’s blessings away. He was, of course, thinking of The Scarecrow.

Scarecrow to the Rescue

Letting the Big Guy Do The Work

 

As he gave his worries over for the Scarecrow to handle, he hid in the comfort of the colorful leaves.

 

 

It wasn’t long before the Scarecrow had chopped down the tall grass and made hay with it; showing Will Power that even the seemingly helpless situations can be handled one way or another.

 

Will realized there was so much more to life than worries and needs. That life indeed could be filled with fun and surprises, and even an abundance of blessings.

He took another look around him, and this time focused on what was beyond his immediate surroundings. He took a step, and another, and another.

Blessings

 

And soon he found himself sitting atop the biggest blessings he could imagine, far more than he needed or could even manage.

 

 

 

Surrounded by his abundance, thinking about getting from where he was to where he is, and all those that helped him along the way… There was only one thing he could think of to do:

Give thanks, and share.

Basket of Blessings

From our house to yours, remember that whatever situation you find yourself in, it could always be worse, and you’re never alone.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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