Summer is such a wonderful time to travel and I personally can’t think of a place I would rather travel to right now than Paris! As they say, “Paris is always a good idea!” So, to bring you a little “What’s In My Bag” style travel inspiration, I have designed an entire collection of planner and office decor printables with a little Parisian flare. My Parisian Holiday Collection consists of 4 Printable Wall Art designs, a printable sticker set with 8 unique designs and a set of four journaling cards! All designs are original vector artwork you won’t find anywhere else, including some highly requested makeup and planner favorites.
For my Parisian inspired wall art, I decided to do things a little differently with this collection. My 4 wall art designs are really meant to be used together, so instead of selling them individually for $12 each, I decided to bundle the 4 designs for $26! Print them in their full size of 8” x 10” or at half or quarter sizes through Adobe reader and hang them together as a full set in your home or office for some beautiful seasonal travel inspiration! Hint: these home decor prints would also look amazing in a walk in closet, bedroom or even your bathroom!
Looking to liven up your scrapbook or planner for summer with some awesome printable decoration items? You will love my sticker and coordinating journaling card designs. As I said, this Parisian Holiday Collection is inspired by “What’s In My Bag” style photos and videos and includes my favorite seasonal items from makeup to purses, and perfume to planners, as though I am packing up for my own Parisian getaway! You are going to love decorating your planner for summer with these awesome printables! Hint: these designs aren’t just for Francophiles, but fashionista’s and beauty gurus alike!
If you’d love a Parisian Holiday as much as me, I’d love it if you checked out the collection and let me know your thoughts! Click here to hop on over to my Shop to view the collection! I can’t wait to see your Instagram pictures featuring these awesome printable planner and office goodies so make sure to snap a pic and to use the hashtag #strangeandcharmed so I can like and comment on your photos!
It’s now officially summer in the northern hemisphere and we have a good two to three months of long days and sunny weather ahead of us. While many people, myself included, traditionally use this time to rest, relax and have fun, I feel like these longer days can be packed with much more than just time at the pool. Here are five things that I think you need to do this summer to really make the most of the season and to look back at it and think of it as a very productive time, instead of as an endless string of lazy days!
1. Read more substantial novels
As cliche as it sounds, summer really is a great time to do some reading at your own leisure. As much as you may want to pick up the latest click lit or YA fiction to enjoy by the pool, I really encourage you to incorporate some more substantial literature into your summer reading list. Most people are under the impression that all reading is equal, so if you read a romance novel or Moby Dick you are getting the same benefit from reading. This is not true. Studies show that lighter literature actually has the same effect on your brain as watching television for the same period of time. Your brain isn’t actually expanding with everything you read, so you need to pick reading material that will challenge your thought, grow your vocabulary, and expose you to new ideas. If you would like some recommendations, here are a few I love.
2. Learn something new
If you are like me, summer represents a time in your life where you have less obligations and more freedom. Although I graduated college close to a decade ago, I still see summer as my vacation time and I would venture to guess that goes for many people. The thing is, while most people are spending their summer on frivolity and fun, I think this is a great time to get a jump on the competition so to speak and pick up a new skill or learn about a topic that may help you advance personally and professionally. On my to do list this summer I have a few technical skills I want to master and areas I want to learn more about in terms of helping me run my business. Choose an area of your life that would benefit from some additional education and find a research online to help you learn. We all have that nagging list filed in the back of our minds with skills or knowledge we wish we had, so pick a topic from your list and get started making progress. If this topic of continuing education speaks to you, I suggest starting here.
3. Start your #sidehustle
Most people could really use an extra income, even if it’s just a small part time income from doing something we love. If you have been thinking of a business idea but dragging your feet on getting started, now is the time to act! Hammer out your idea, source your materials or any tools you may need to get you started, and scour the internet for information and ideas for marketing your business. I have a whole YouTube video dedicated to How to Start an Online Shop if you are looking to sell physical or digital goods so I highly suggest that video as a free resource. Of course, if you want to get started but need the motivation of a coach to keep you on track you can always join my Empire Building Program and get access to my workbooks and coaching. I’ve even recently added a new Shop Review option to Empire Building where you can get a live one time 1-hour call with me to review your business idea, online shop or work through any issues you are facing. There is nothing stopping you from making this summer a profitable one and perhaps the start to a really awesome business venture!
4. Have meaningful discussions
Many people I encounter online have something very major in common. They are all searching for real meaningful connections online that they aren’t getting in their lives. I truly believe that finding a friend or small group of friends that share you belief’s and values can be an incredibly uplifting experience, but how do you know when you have found true friends? The clues are always in the conversation. If you can have long, meaningful discussions with another human being you know you have found a true friend. While you are making plans with your friends this summer, make sure you aren’t just having adventure but that you are also connecting on a deeper level, sharing knowledge and experience for mutual benefit. It doesn’t matter if you are having these conversations with your best friend and neighbor or if you are chatting with like minded individuals in Facebook interest groups, just get yourself out there, find someone to talk to and make a meaningful connection.
5. Organize an area of your life
We all have an area of areas of our lives that desperately need order and this is the perfect time of year to establish that order. Whether your closet is a mess or your social life could use a revamp, think of this like a project that you can tackle over the next few days, weeks or months. First, decide what area of your life needs the change. Is it a physical issue of organization like a room in your home or your office space or is it an abstract area like your career that you want to get organized? Next, define the problem and write out your end goals for your organization project. Why have you chosen this area to organize and what do you want this area of your life to look like once your project is complete? Finally, list out all known action steps and start cracking away at the issue bit by bit. Don’t feel like you need to enact massive change overnight, just make yourself a nice long to do list for this project and set a goal for yourself to do one thing everyday. Somedays you may do more than one and some days this project may fall off your priorities list, but make sure you are taking steps at least on a weekly basis. Remember, if you fall off the wagon with this project, go back to the problem you defined and your goals to inspire you and keep you motivated. If you need more guidance on project planning, this resource can help you get started with your life organization project or anything else you’re working on!
Which of these tasks are you excited to tackle this summer? Let me know in the comments!
Are you ready for summer? I definitely am! As you read this, I am most likely on a tropical beach in Aruba enjoying the sun, fruity cocktails and flamingos for my #GLAMPIREGETAWAY. You don’t have to be jealous because if you are in need of a tropical vacation, no matter where you are, you can always tag along with me via Instagram and that custom hashtag that we are using for our photos. I hope you all have fun following along with my travels and I’ll be sure to be liking and commenting on your photos for the #SUMMERINTHEGLAMPIRE photo challenge that is going on this month. If you missed the start of the challenge, don’t fret, just refer back to this post and get started so we can share some inspirational summertime pics with each other!
Now, on to the playlist! This month I’ve chosen a selection of songs that for one reason or another remind me of summer or a beach vacation. Now, I know there are plenty more summer themed songs out there, and trust me, those will also be featured in future productivity playlist posts for the rest of the summer. For now, I wanted to create a playlist for my vacation. I don’t know what it is about the idea of vacationing in Aruba, but it makes me think of the Rat Pack and swanky 60s getaways! Bring on the oversized sunglasses, floppy hats and silk scarves because I am ready for my #GLAMPIREGETAWAY!
Are you ready to take your office on the road with you this summer? I know that working outside or at least on the go, tops my list of ways to enjoy the warmer months. If you have been following me on social media, you already know that I am currently on my way to Aruba for a summer beach vacation . Yes, in a few short hours from now, I will have my feet planted firmly in the sand, cocktail in hand and laptop by my side. Of course, there is no better way for a #BLOGBOSS to work when traveling, especially since this one happens to be a solopreneur and needs to make sure the lights stay on, even when I am on holiday. So, for this installment of Office Oasis, I want to share with you some great options for taking your work with you. That may mean getting some work done during your summer vacation or it may mean checking your email by the pool, but either way, if you need to work while you are out and about this summer, these accessories will help you get it all done in style when you are out of office!
1. Water Resistant Speaker: If you are working by the beach or by the pool and want to keep your productivity playlist going, this is the perfect option for you. Portable speakers are awesome, but this one actually helps protect your tech from water, while keeping those jams on shuffle!
2. Smartphone Charger: Well my iPhone may have gotten bigger, but I can’t say I’m getting that much more battery life from the thing. Since I count on my phone for nearly everything, it’s important to keep a portable charger in my bag. Great for those early mornings and late nights!
3. Hardshell Laptop Case: I love keeping my Macbook Air in a hardshell type case when I am traveling to protect it from any extra bumps or bruises it may encounter on the road. This Moroccan inspired quatrefoil print case screams summertime especially in this lovely pool hue, but it comes in other fun colors as well!
4. Neutral Summer Carry All: I love a neutral bag for summer and this Kahki colored structured tote from Rebecca Minkoff is the perfect carry all for your laptop, accessories, makeup bag and even a file or two. Although you may be conducting business at the beach, there is no reason that you need to look like it and a tote like this is the perfect blend of work and play!
5. Adorable Summer Inspired Tech Accessories:Since you will be out and about this summer, you’ll certainly want to keep an eye on your steps. I love this double wrap bracelet designed by Tory Burch for the Fitbit Flex. It comes in a few perfect-for-summer colors and makes a great accessory!
I hope you make the most of your summer travels by taking advantage of any out of office work arrangements you can make and creating your own on the go office. I hope these items gave you some tips and things to think about while you are working and playing this summer! I’d love to see your summer office setup, whether that’s in an actual office or out and about. Please tag me in your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #strangeandcharmed so I can like them!
Yes, it’s true! Even a productivity guru has trouble getting it all done! I’m not immune to bouts of inactivity, and I’m certainly not hard on myself about it because it’s completely normal. Everyone goes through periods of time where they are very productive and then periods of time where they are less productive. Creativity, inspiration and productivity all work in waves and when the wave hits you need to be prepared to ride it, and when the wave recedes, you get a brief moment to relax. Right now, my wave is receding and I am waiting to pounce on the next one as soon as it arrives! Because of this, I didn’t get everything done in May that I wanted to accomplish, but that’s okay!
You see, normally at the end of each month I compile a post called On My iPhone where I share the applications, podcasts and other online media content I have been enjoying, however, I struggled a bit in May and so I decided to skip this post and instead, share a roundup of articles I read recently. If you love reading articles on self-improvement, business and productivity, you are going to love the articles I’m sharing today! They are packed with great tips, inspiration and resources to help you make the most of your wave when it hits.
Like I said, I hope you enjoy these articles and that you found something to inspire you to catch your next wave of productivity! Let me know if you read anything awesome recently that you think I’d enjoy by Tweeting me a link!
I feel like May is such a wonderful month for working and office supplies. The weather is much nicer (at least in the Northeast US where I live) and you can wear much more fun and colorful outfits to work, so why not bring a little bit of that whimsy into the office? After all summer vacation is right around the corner and while you are dreaming of tropical beaches and fruity cocktails you mine as well be surrounded with the colors and accoutrements to liven your imagination!
1. Brightly colored note pads: Notepads are probably one of the easiest elements of your office space to switch out seasonally, so why not grab a pack of brightly accented papers? Of course, I love these aqua framed pads from Ben’s Garden with the cute quote at the top!
2. Mix & Match Pens: I just ordered myself a set of these adorable pens from Snow & Graham and I can’t wait for them to arrive. I love how retro they look but fun at the same time with their quirky yet inspirational quotes! There really isn’t much to say about pens, except of course, that you can never have too many!
3. Ringly: Ever since I received my Ringly last month, I have been obsessed! In case you aren’t familiar, the Ringly is a wearable tech ring for women that looks like a lovely cocktail ring but actually pairs via Bluetooth to your phone to alert you of calls, texts, emails and other various alerts that you control! Cool, right?
4. See-thru Zip Folios: I really love see-thru office supplies (hence my love for acrylic organizers) and this set of three neon pink zip folios from Poppin are amazing for the start of summer! These are a great way to store items and papers that you want to corral, giving you a great portable solution for tossing them into your briefcase! That or you can just leave them on your desk because they are seriously that pretty!
5. Retro Telephone: I don’t know about you, but this phone looks like it’s straight out of Mad Men and I love it! This rotary style desk phone gives such an elegant feel to any desk space. I could just imagine a magazine editor or a fashion designer leaning back in their chair chatting on this lovely throwback. Serious, serious desk envy!
I hope these tips gave you some great inspiration for your office decor! I’d love to know what challenges or issues you may be facing in your own personal office space that I may be able to address for you or provide you some guidance on for future installments of this series. Feel free to let me know in the comments below and of course, I’d love to see your office spaces, so make sure to tag me in your Instagram photos @MissTrenchcoat!
I wanted to share with you today just a few updates for new products that have recently hit the Strange & Charmed Shop! I know I don’t always do the best job of keeping you informed of my new designs, and I’m hoping to do a better job of that in the future. Okay, so the first items I want to show you are a new set of printable journaling cards inspired by my Empire Building Program. This set of four designs are my new favorite inspiration cards for my planner and I actually use some of them as page markers/dividers as you can see in my latest YouTube video all about my business binder set up! Whether you are a member of my Empire Building Program, reading through the individual workbooks or just an aspiring #GIRLBOSS who has been following along with the Glampire Chat, I hope this set of inspirational cards brings a little motivation to your business and day!
Now, if you would also like some full size inspirational art to add some motivation to your office space or home, my new Wall Art Designs that coordinate with my Empire Building Journaling Cards are going to be perfect for you! These 8″x10″ graphics are also printable and sold individually so you can choose the art that fits your style. Whether you are a #blogboss or an Empire Builder, these unique designs are sure to add a punch of style and inspiration to your workspace.
I hope you have all enjoyed this little update with the newest products to hit the shop! I am actually currently working on a new collection of art and journaling cards for this summer that I really think you are going to like as well! Think, the perfect summer getaway! So, let me know in the comments how you like these designs and feel free to leave me some suggestions for new designs or products you are interested in seeing in the Strange & Charmed Shop! As always, thank you so much for your support, I love creating inspirational printables for you all!
For a number of years now, I have been very interested in the concept of personal mantras. For those of you who may not be familiar, a mantra is traditionally a word or sound that one uses during meditation to focus energy and concentration, but more liberally speaking, a mantra is also an affirmation or catch phrase that a person may use on a regular basis. The latter is really what I have been preoccupied with because I am someone who does really believe in the power of affirmations and positive self talk as a means to overcome a variety of issues. I truly believe that if a person believes something is true, that belief can actually change them at their very core, and the best way to get someone to believe something is to have them repeat it over and over on a regular basis until a simple phrase becomes engrained in their psyche.
So, I would say that last year I went on something of a personal quest to find my own mantra, something that resonated with me and helped me to address the specific issues I was having in my life and business. I tried out a lot of popular affirmations, but inevitably, nothing really felt like it was mine, until one day I decided to write myself a set of directions to overcome some mental blocks I was having. At the time, I was spending may too much time consuming content online and not enough time working on my own. I knew this was a waste of my time, but I kept finding myself in this trap that I would set for myself where I got bored, went online for some entertainment, saw all the awesome things other people were creating and then got own on myself because hours had passed and I had achieved nothing of substance for myself. It was causing me some serious anxiety and a feeling that I was literally wasting my life. I didn’t like that feeling. I really wanted to feel like my days were filled with a good balance of working on my own priorities and spending some time enjoying myself and other people’s content, in a normal and healthy way. So, I knew that I needed to give myself a plan, some directions and rules to guide how I would spend my time in a general way. First I wrote out what I was going to stop doing, then I wrote out what I was going to do instead, and finally, I wrote out a list of ideas and options of priorities to focus on. I really liked this short and simple statement so much that I kept it on a page in my planner right towards the front so I would always see it. I eventually realized that as time passed, I had it memorized and actually found myself repeating it to myself whenever I was getting overwhelmed. Unconsciously, this statement had become my personal mantra and without realizing it, I had drastically improved my situation. All of a sudden I was getting more work done and spending less time worrying or feeling anxiety over my work. I was producing better content and the ideas were flowing out of me at an unbelievable rate. I had crafted my own mantra and it was actually striking a chord with me on a daily basis!
Now, I know that this post can seem a little far out there, and I understand if you think this is a little hokey. The thing is though, that I actually believe that this mantra helped me to change my situation and make my life better (of course, or else I would’t be writing a blog post about it) and I think it is worth a try for you. Even if this isn’t your normal cup of tea, I challenge you to weigh the benefits and risks of this activity. Creating your own personal mantra isn’t complicated or difficult, so long as you understand what it is that you need help with and have some solutions in mind for correcting your situation, there is really no harm in giving this a try. As they say, you have nothing to loose and everything to gain. So, here are my tips for crafting your own personal mantra.
1. Think about an area of your life that you are dissatisfied with, but you also know you would have the power to change: Understanding what we can and cannot change is a hard task, but think of this in terms of problems you have control over. If you are a student in high school and live at home with your parents, I don’t think it’s reasonable to say you can change your living situation, however, if you are a thirty year old adult who still lives at home, you have much more control over that scenario. Things like your appearance and attitude can be changed, but you can’t expect to change someone else’s.
2. Swap one bad habit with one good habit:At the time when I wrote my own personal mantra, I didn’t realize that their is a lot of power in controlling your routines. So, when you have something you want to change, it’s best to swap one behavior for another. So, once you know what area of your life you want to change, think about how you could replace a bad habit that perpetuates your issue with a good one. It may be hard to stop doing something, and it may be difficult to add a totally new behavior in, but when you swap one for another, it’s much more manageable.
3. Give yourself options: I’m the type of person who does much better with change when I know I have more than one option available to me. So when it came to having a successful mantra that spoke to me, it was critical that I didn’t box myself in to one narrow concept. Giving myself more than one option for how to spend my time instead of waisting it showed me examples that I could then put into action, and it also provided me with flexibility depending on my mood. For example, if you are someone who is trying to loose weight and you know that snacking is an area that gets you into trouble, you may want to tell yourself to stop snacking on bad food and replace it with good food. That’s great, but taking it a step further and saying exactly what foods you have the option to eat will make it much easier for you to choose that healthy option when the time comes because you have more to choose from.
Now, try putting these simple rules in place as you craft your own mantra, and then of course, make sure you keep your mantra front in center in your life until you have it memorized. Once you have it memorized, make it part of your routine to repeat your mantra to yourself throughout your day. Set a timer or reminders on your phone if you have to, but make sure you are using your mantra so that you actually start benefiting from it!
As a productivity junkie, I am always looking for the hottest new apps that promise to help me boost my productivity! I’ve tried games, guided meditation, and brainwave boosters, but most recently I have been using an app that creates a playlist of scientifically optimized productivity music to help you focus called Focus@Will. How’s that for a name, right? Who doesn’t want to have complete focus at will? I know I do! So when I first heard about this app, I knew I had to give it a try, so I downloaded the app, signed up for a free trial account and got started.
Now, the thing you need to understand about this app is that it’s essentially a semi-customizable playlist of relaxing, almost sound machine types of music. The UI of the app itself is pretty minimal and I found that it wasn’t quite adapted to my iPhone 6 Plus’ large screen, but then again, I guess that doesn’t matter very much because you’re not really supposed to be spending much time looking at your iPhone screen with this app on!
For those of you who may already be familiar with the concept to working to music, you may be wondering what makes this app so special? I think it all comes down to the thought that classical and similar styles of music make one more productive than other types of music, and in fact on their website, Focus@Will explains that modern music that most people listen to through the workday is not effective in forcing our concentration because such music normally evokes an emotional response that distracts us. Now, I can understand that! Personally, I am not productive at work with music on, I do better when I listen to music while cleaning the house or doing another physical activity that doesn’t require much thought. If you tend to work with your favorite playlist on in the background, you may want to ask yourself how satisfied you are with your productivity to really understand if this is an app you would want to try!
So, moment of truth, does the app actually work? Well, as I sit at my desk writing this review, it’s about 7:30 in the morning and I’ve been up since 6am working on blog posts, listening to and enjoying the music from the app. I haven’t been distracted by notifications, I haven’t taken moments to pause and rest, unsure of what to write next. I’ve been enjoying the soothing sounds radiating from my iPhone, and I think the science behind this app is correct. I don’t focus this well listening to regular music and I find that even in complete silence, I am not as productive as I seem to be as I type along to the rhythm of the spa playlist I’m currently enjoying. So, I would have to say that for me, yes, this app is working. Now, will I be signing up for a monthly subscription to the app once my 30 day trial is over? That will take some more thought. I am not completely sold on the app as a monthly subscription, although I would have no problem paying out $5.99 or even upwards of $10 to have full access to the app without a subscription fee or at least the option to buy a pre-made playlist flat out. I’m not entirely sure what sort of updates and value the Focus@Will team is adding on a monthly basis to validate the charge, which is my major hesitation right now, but I would say the app is nice, I do see a use for it and I would pay something for it, I’m just not sure how much value will come from the subscription!
If you have ever tried Focus@Will let me know what you thought of it in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your experiences with the app and if you are subscribed, let me know what value you feel you get from the app on an ongoing basis! If you have never tried Focus@Will before, definitely give the app a try, it’s available for download on iOS and Android devices and there is even a desktop client as well!
Last month, you told me that you really liked this Office Oasis feature and that you wanted me to continue with it and so I shall! Some of my favorite items in my office are cute little desk accessories and stylish stationery items, so for April, I have selected some functional pieces that do double duty. From a coordinating stationery box to the hottest pair of headphones a #girlboss could own, I’ve got your needs covered!
1. Stylish Headphones: The Frends Layla headphones are probably the most iconic feminine pair of cans on the market. They are available in a few different color choices, however, I love the white on rose gold look the best! Nothing is more feminine and sophisticated to keep a #girlboss focused on her work!
2. Fashionable Note Pads: I personally own, use and love this Garance Dore set of note pads from Rifle Paper Co! After using these you will never want to go back to a plain steno pad again!
3.See Through Storage: I get asked all the time about the acrylic storage container that sits on my desk and organizes most of my small office supplies and this is the one that I use! I love the look of the multiple drawers and particularly the sculptural effect of the drawer handles. It’s so reasonably priced, there is no reason to say no!
4. Chic Stationery: I think we can all agree that Kate Spade makes some of the chicest office supplies out there, but let’s be honest, owning her entire collection is going to cost you. That’s why I love this Whistle While You Work Tackle Box filled with a variety of Kate Spade office goodies, for a very reasonable price.
5. Catch All Dish: I always have a variety of little knick-knacks on my desk and to make sure they don’t go rolling all over the place, I like to keep them in this cute little Jonathan Adler Porcelain Zebra Dish! On a daily basis you will find anything from perfume and makeup items, rings and jewelry or even paperclips corralled in this lovely little dish. It’s definitely a must have for my desk!
So those are this month’s office picks. I hope you find something that you like as well as need in the selection above. Nothing makes me happier than when I can find a new office organization item that doubles as wonderful decor and of course, helps me boost my productivity! Let me know in the comments which items you loved the most and of course leave me recommendations for other products you think I should feature in future posts!
