When in College

Just a VCU girl living through her Filofax, spending time with two bunnies, good friends, and one special boy.

[kaelsmalls]

DAY ON ONE PAGE VS A WEEK ON TWO

When I was looking into Filofaxs I spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted to organize mine. For the clubs I'm on council for, they have their own sections with a month on two pages. I have sections with teacher information, budgeting sheets (that I usually fail to use) and of course my main calendar sections for school, work, and all.

I had always planned on using a DO1P, but now that I'm doing it it's easier to find all of the downsides. It can be rather expensive to print all of the days I need ( I usually don't do it for the weekend) and punch holes in all of them. A week on two pages takes up less space in my planner, but I don't have as much room for my obnoxious to do lists. 

I do like how I designed my DO1P sheets with the top half for scheduling; It's nice to see my whole day planned out. It's definitely helpful for adjusting to a new semester and helps keep me from forgetting about meetings. 

Buuutttt, out of curiosity, I'm going to spend the next week using a week on two pages. I'm going to color code it the same way I color code my desk calendar and hope that will make it easier in the smaller space. I'll update on my final decision at the end of the week! 

[kaelsmalls]

Keeping the Visits from Getting too Expensive

When you haven't seen your special someone in a long time, and they're finally coming to visit, there's probably a hundred things you want to do with them. 

I know when my boyfriend comes to visit I want to show him every restaurant I love in the city, walk to all of the secret spots downtown, take him to the best desert shops or even the books and bikes thrift store. But I can't. 

When it comes down to it, it's just to expensive to go to all of the places I want to. It's hard to figure out how to successfully use the little bit of time you get to spend together, whether it's a weekend or a week or a month. 

So here's how I have learned to handle it. 

PLAN AHEAD!

This way you can figure out when you should eat out and when you should stay in and cook. Figure out together all the things you want to show them before they come, so when they finally arrived you feel a little bit less rushed and hectic. Or if you like the unexpected, figure things out as you go. Just keep in mind, you can't do every thing!

FIGURE THINGS OUT FINANCIALLY

Blah blah blah money blah blah blah. But seriously. If one of the reasons you and your special other are having a hard time visiting one another is funding, try to create an almost free visit. All though gas, plane tickets, or a bus trip will always be an expense, maybe they can car pool with somebody else. Sometimes other people from my boyfriend's college are coming to visit my school and he has the opportunity to catch a ride (for a lot cheaper). My school has Facebook pages for people looking for rides; everyone wants a cheaper trip.  

And remember, you don't have to spend money when you're together! Use your groceries at home for your meals, go on walks, explore campus or your city, and cuddle while watching movies. Don't feel like you have to spend every moment doing something super special. 

SOME OF THE BEST THINGS ARE FREE

I don't know about your city, but most of the coolest things in RVA are free. There's the Virginia Museum of the Fine Arts, Belle Isle, Byrd Park, Maymont, walking to see all the street art, and touristing in the city (even when you live there). Trying touring your own city! You've got to show them new things anyways. 

REMEMBER WHAT'S IMPORTANT

It's about spending time together, not necessarily doing things together. Do what makes you two happy whether it's an expensive dinner or a night on the couch. Don't feel like you have to do certain things when they come or anything should be expected from you. Do what makes you both happy!

[kaelsmalls]

How to Create Your Own Filofax Pages

When I was shopping around for a basic Filofax DO1P, I never saw exactly what I wanted (or if I did it was pricey). Eventually my boyfriend intercepted and said, "babe why don't you just make them yourself."

Here's the honest answer. I'm lazy. I figured I wouldn't know how to make the pages the right size, make them print correct, and it just seemed complicated. 

When I was downloading some of the basic freebies from Philofaxy, I noticed that the word documents are editable. I deleted everything in them except for the frame of each page (allowing me to insert anything I wanted in that little box, keeping it the right size). 

All it took was a couple of text boxes, a bit of clip art, and bang I had something to get me rolling until I find something better. I write the date in the top box and anything special about that day, in the box below it on the left I write meetings and people to call or email. Finally, then there's my to do and my schedule on the right!

So just so you guys know too, there's always an easy way to create your own pages!

[kaelsmalls]

The Dynamic Duo

[kaelsmalls]

What Not to Do When Building a Bunny Hutch

Not too long ago my boyfriend and I got the idea in our head that we could build our own bunny hutch. After just a little online research I learned that we could use just about any piece of furniture and turn it into a cute bunny home. 

What we ended up with was this:

For some reason my boyfriend and I really wanted a door (I guess it made us feel empowered and fancy) but in the end it made no sense for us to install the ramp on the inside of the shelving, rather than having it come straight out onto the open floor. That way Bunny could have had more room to play. We saved the second shelf for supplies (which worked out really nicely) and the playpen was a cube set from Kmart (20$). 

I also wish that we hadn't used felt because our bunny tends to eat it and it makes him not feel well. We were concerned about him slipping on the wooden shelves. Looking back we should have used carpet for all three rather than just the floor and bottom shelf. This is something my boyfriend and I will have to fix later.

After all of this I do recommend building your own bunny hutch, because it can save you so much money. A book shelf like this is 15 dollars a Walmart and the extra wood we bought for the door and ramp only cost me 6. All in all we spent around 40 dollars. It is only big enough for one small bunny, but using different furniture you could definitely make a larger one! 

If anyone has any advice for building outdoor hutches please let me know! That's our next Bunny project!

[kaelsmalls]

Things to Consider When Buying a Bunny

Meet Potter. Although I'm so happy that I have him now, there are a lot of things I wish I had known back in the day when I was searching for my perfect bunny. 

DOES THE BREEDER KNOW WHAT THEIR DOING? 

Although I got Potter from a breeder who breed bunnies for shows, they were kept in terrible conditions. When I saw how small the cage was (that he was being kept in with three other bunnies) I couldn't wait to get him out of there. When we got my second bunny Dumbledore, they had advertised themselves online as bunnies breeders. Once I got to their home, they were in a horrible neighborhood and would only bring the bunny to us at the door step. It was clear he had been abused as well. If possible, get your bunny from a previous owner (maybe they have to give it up for personal reasons) and avoid breeders and common pet stores that mistreat their animals.

HAS THE BUNNY BEEN SOCIALIZED?

We had a very difficult time socializing both of my bunnies. They weren't used to a playful environment and although I wanted to cuddle and let them play around my room, it was months before I could do that. It took weeks for our bunnies to feel comfortable with us petting them and even longer for them to fully trust us. There were times I wish I had waited longer to find a good healthy bunny on craigslist that came from a healthy family, but am happy to have my two love bugs now. 

HOW OLD IS THE BUNNY?

It's not about your bunny being too old but your bunny being too young. You shouldn't take a bunny home with you before it is two months old (at the least). She gave us Potter at a month old, and I didn't know at the time that he was too young to be taken away. 

BUNNIES ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS

Bunnies can get lonely and usually like some company. We eventually got two bunnies and they played nicely until a month ago when they started to nip at each other. Be careful when introducing two new bunnies, but keep in mind that you should not get just one!

BUNNIES ARE EXPENSIVE & TIME CONSUMING

Don't get a bunny if you're thinking it'll be a cheaper pet than a dog or cat! Although we do spoil our bunnies with toys and treats, they need pellets, hay, a large cage, (ours has a play pen), sometimes they need bedding, a litter box, and much more. Always research everything you'll need and set up before the bunny comes home! They need love and care, and someone who will come home and play with them at the end of the day. Their cages should be cleaned often as well. Make sure you are in a good place to care for them. When I got mine I was working two jobs (one full-time) and wasn't home often enough for my little friend. I wish I had planned that differently. 

[kaelsmalls]

Before my I left to move to Richmond, I made my boyfriend a care package! A few days after I left he picked it up from my house. I usually don't like the "open when" cards because they seem cheesy or over done to me. But I didn't mind making these ones! The little box with the couple and words on the back is a pack of gum! I got the pillow pet for five dollars from five below, printed the picture for free, and used some of my cough drops! It's a cheap, cute way to show some appreciation to your special other while you're apart. c:

[kaelsmalls]

There are couple things I'd be pretty lost with out and use every day!

1. Forever 21 has been having great sales on their active wear pants! I got a pair almost just like the ones pictured for only 10 dollars. They're great for the gym, class, walking around campus, or late nights in the library. I good pair of sweat pants and yoga pants is essential to me. Heh.

2. Planners are honestly just how I organize my syllabi and to do lists. Although I use a Filofax, usually colleges hand out free ones around the campus book stores. 

3. Last year I bought a new cute backpack, but honestly find myself wishing I had bought one like a North Face. With a place for you water on the side, a lot of space and compartment, how comfy they are, and especially how long they last, they seem like such a good deal!

4. I have two pairs of Nikes that I wear around campus and to the gym all the time! It's hard to always wear flats or cute sandals when you have to walk from your apartment. 

5. I looooove using a desk calendar rather than a monthly in my planner. It's much larger, can be easily color coded, and has easy access when you're studying in your room. I got a really cute floral green one from Walmart for about 5 dollars, but they're at dollar tree too! 

6.  Snacks are life. I always carry around chips like these especially when I know I'll be in the library for a while. On campus food is expensive so I try to supply my own when I can. 

[kaelsmalls]

1. Happy Baby Pencil Case & Wallet Duo

How could I resist this when it holds so many possibilities? From holding chap sticks and my bank cards, to washi tapes and stickies, this thing would be perfect either way.

 2. Filofax Clear Dividers Top Tab- Cute Giraffe

I <3 giraffes. And hello, they have poka-dots. 

3. Rapesco 6 Hole Punch- Adjustable Punch

I'm sure anyone with a Filofax would want this baby. Punching one whole at a time is going to get pretty old, pretty fast.

4. Chibi Totoro Paper Clip Bookmark

Even cooler than the Kate Spade paper clips I keep seeing!

5. Personal Size Undated Planner

Having these inserts in my planner is a dream for me. The page fits my school needs perfectly and is so simple, it's perfect. 

6. Reversible Kiki's Delivery Service Charm

Right now there's a little Hello Kitty dangling from mine. This Kiki would look adorable next to it!

[kaelsmalls]

OK...I know what you're thinking...

Why would I ever buy that ugly thing on the right!?

It's much more of a bathroom brown in real life (my poppy even looks bright pink), and it's originally  a Buxton from Walmart. 

So really...why did I get it? For the inserts! I found this filled bad boy at CHKD Thrift for just 98 cents. 

I definitely feel like paying 98 cents for a planner filled with inserts is a pretty good deal. With extra note pages, project planners, lined pages, and especially a full alphabetized contact and telephone section I feel pretty good. It would have cost me a lot more than 98 cents to buy all that or even print it!

What a good find! Now if anyone wants the planner...just let me know. HAHA!

[kaelsmalls]

Here's a quick free, toilet paper roll DIY for your bunnies c:

Good for: snack, tug of war, and tossing around. 

[kaelsmalls]

For our anniversary I made us an Adventure book similar to the one from Up!

Here's how I did it!

I used:

A small roll of tan leather fabric from Walmart (3 dollars)

A yard of black leather from JoAnn's ( I needed room for error ) 7 dollars

A ugly scrapbook from AC Moore for 5 dollars

A hot glue gun 

Sticker letters for the cover

I used a hot glue gun to cover the front and back of scrapbook with the black fabric. I didn't cover the spine, because I wasn't quite sure how to handle it. I may go back and cover it when I figure out how! 

I rolled the edge of the tan fabric in and hot glued it down on the side to create the cute side strip. I also applied that to the back. As you can see in the top right photo, I glued it down to the inside to make sure it was secure and wouldn't start to peel off. I also want to eventually create a pocket on the inside of the scrap book, (making it look a bit prettier as well)

After hours of hot gluing and making sure everything looked good I stuck on the letters and none of them have fallen off yet! I was surprised how strong they've held over the past two months. I can't wait to stick on some buttons and patches to the cover. 

For the inside I've been using it like a regular scrapbook. I love putting the pages together with him, when the distance gets rough it'll help us stand our ground. Sometimes we just need something to remind us c:

Anyways, I was hoping someone would be able to give me some advice or tips for covering the spine and making the inside cover a bit prettier? Please comment, reply, or message me!

[kaelsmalls]

Back to School Shopping on a Budget

Back to school shopping is scary, especially when you're moving into an apartment or a dorm for the first time. Expenses have been popping up everywhere for me and I can't help but keep finding more things I need.  Here's a few places I've found relatively inexpensive and helpful.

Goodwill

Today I got these cute teacups and dishes for only 2 dollars! For a dollar a piece, these are adorable for my apartment. Although I don't often go to thrift stores for clothes or shoes, I always find good dishes, pots, pans, and obscure furniture there (such as 5 dollar shoe racks heh). 

Five Below

When I went in today they had everything from brooms and dustpans to toilet scrub brushes and even shower caddies and bento boxes. I was surprised to find 5 dollar sets of (not plastic) plates and bowls as well! 

Ross/TJ Max/Marshalls

 I got these 50 dollar Madden Girl boots for 25 dollars at Ross yesterday! I can't wait to bust 'em out when the weather cools down. These stores are great for finding discounted clothes, sometimes from your favorite stores! They also have rugs, closet organizers, and other things that are great for your dorm room. I got this one for just 3 dollars; it's perfect for hanging scarves and necklaces in a tight closet space. 

Online Sales and Deals

Stores like Forever21 and Charlotte Ruse usually have shipping deals and huge online sale sections. I'm always prowling through those, you never know when you might find a catch. 

Coupons

Make sure to look for coupons for the local grocery stores and other options your campus will have. We have a Farmers Market that's just a 10 minute walk off campus where I can get a giant bag of fresh veggies for just 5 bucks. Buying stuff like that really makes a difference for me. 

[kaelsmalls]

My Brand New Filofax!

Just a few weeks ago I finally purchased a Personal sized Poppy Saffiano. I've been slowly personalizing it to fit my school, work schedule, and budgeting needs (and it's still not quite there yet). But here's an update!

This is a quick photo showing my dashboard where I have a sticky note with reminders and a new package of Hello Kitty pineapple sticky notes. In the wallet side I keep my AC Moore card, Starbucks gift card, and my VCU ID. The Totoro pouch you see on the top corner is what I keep all of my high lighters and stickies inside! It was a gift from my boyfriend and used to be filled with my cough drops and bandaids for easy finding. 

Next lets look at my first section:

This is where I keep 2 page month calendars packed with all of my classes syllabus information and the week on two pages that came with my Filofax. I plan on printing the day on one page from the Life Planning Kit, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I figured that would be more helpful for manage my heavy school schedule. Although my week looks pretty empty now, wait until next semester gets started! ;c

Since I've joined council for one of my favorite clubs, I've created a second section with month on two pages to keep track their of meetings and events separately. 

On a blank page before each month I have a copy of our goals for each month and where we should be at with the play were planning!

This has already helped during meetings when I can easily turn to what we need to be talking about next, or when it comes to helping with scheduling our next event. 

My last section is my budget:

I created these pages myself in MSWord, so if you would like me to send you the file just message me your email! I really wanted to make it easy for me to keep track of my spendings while at school. So I created the summary page, and then my cheque register on the other side.

Although I had created it myself, I already wrote the amount I spent in the balance section! While I'm still wrapping my head around the budgeting concept, hopefully this can really help me save during the school year.

I hope you guys enjoyed this quick tour of what I use my Filofax for! Please comment any tips or advice about budgeting with your Filofax! c: