4 Feb 2013

a tour of my new Smythson binder

In the past, I tried using more than one binder for different things (do you remember the Vintage Rose Finchley 'me' binder? The Compact Osterley that was my blog planner?) and it never worked. I either didn't use them often enough to use them and it made me realise that I needed one binder. My Slimline works for when I need the portability and am away for the day where I just need the diary section but for other times, my new Smythson binder is perfect for holding everything, plus the kitchen sink.

That is, until the rings developed a fault. However, Smythson were prompt in dealing with this problem and have since sent a replacement that also had a flaw (but another replacement will be coming my way!) and so I'm back in the Kate Spade! The set-up of my Smythson has been preserved though.


So now, I will be showing you (through too many pictures) how I have incorporated these multiple binders from the past into one. It is hard - lugging around a heavier binder isn't something I like but having everything in one place really is easier and the gold rings and pink colour of the binder make this compromise feel worth it.

For some people, the number of card slots and slip pockets are of importance in their binder - but for me, this is something I don't actually care about. Cards and such go in my purse and things that go in the slip pockets fit into the clear plastic wallet inserts I have and use.


The only things I carry in the slots are shown in the next picture. Martha Stewart x Avery x Staples teardrop shaped stickers, small notepaper sheets for packing/shopping lists and the Smythson pencil that came with the binder are the things present in the left hand side of the binder when you open it up.


I have opted to keep the Smythson 'diary' tab in the organiser, but the diary isn't what it holds. Confusing, and possibly a stupid thing to do, I know. However, the thick card is ideal as a 'front cover' to the inserts. And the lovely blue colour contrasts brilliantly with the light pink inside of the binder and the gold rings, so I just had to keep it. You can also see the tabs I have used - these were posted about in detail in another previous post.

Under this first tab, there are personal information pages, my 101 in 1001 days list, my '30 before 30' list and a page of simple work-outs I could do each day or several times a week.


The next tab is an 'other notes' tab. I had no idea what else to call it - the pages within it weren't substantial enough to deserve a tab of their own so this will do for now. There is a tube map (I only really know West and Central London, so for the times when I venture into South, North or East London, this is super handy), a few expenses sheets - for when out and about and for ease of copying into my expenses notebook, train times, my weight record and also my list of resolutions from before.


At the end of the section, there is a drawing that I have had for years. My sister drew it and I think it is adorable so I just have to have it in my binder. At the bottom, I found this quote from an old diary and I decided to stick it in with thin washi tape. It says 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift. - Eleanor Roosevelt'. It is meant to inspire me - but only time will tell if that happens.


My next section is one full of to-do lists for different parts of my life.


The one page I will show you is the page of things I want to save up for and buy in the future. Other things are things I need to buy to replace something that has just ran out (e.g. the dry shampoo, dermatix/bio-oil) whereas the fragrances I want to get are things that are non-essentials but will be things I want to save up for. I'm sure they will take months to tick off!

Other to-do lists are for books I want to read, stuff to do on my blog and food I want to cook in the upcoming month.


Now, the blog section. This was previous a whole new binder, but I found this inconvenient and as a result, rarely used it. With it being a somewhat smaller section in this binder, I have actually found this sufficient.


Now, onto the meat of the binder: my diary.


In between each of the diary pages is a sheet of cotton cream lined paper. This acts as a see-through guide so that my writing stays neat and not all over the place because I am quite bad at writing on a straight line on lined paper, let alone unlined paper. Although this adds bulk to my binder, I have yet to find an alternative diary refill that is lined and on good quality paper.


A survey record section comes next (you will have seen this before, I am sure)...


And the final section. I have opted to use the Smythson tab for this (I just love how thick the card is!) and it is a notes section. In this section is blank notepaper, a section about key competencies for jobs and examples of how I show these and also a list of companies I need to inform about a change in address.


I have a mixture of Paperchase coloured notepaper (brilliant for colour-coding notes from different parts of my life) and also some sheets of squared notepaper.


And the final, final picture is of the back. I have a clear envelope with the usual photos as mentioned in previous blog posts.


I hope you have enjoyed a somewhat brief and mainly pictorial tour of my Smythson binder. It is bound to change in the future, but quite honestly, this works well for me! I tried a Slimline and I still have it for those times when I need portability over usability, but for now? I'm quite content with the bigger rings (this opinion will surely change in another few months, a syndrome that many binder users probably know about - the inability to stay in one binder for too long!).

Just a sidenote that in this post, you will see the Filofax cotton cream week on two pages insert as my diary inserts. I am, in fact, using Smythson ones now but because I am still waiting for a replacement, I couldn't show you this as these pictures were taken a few weeks' ago!

15 comments

  1. I love how colourful everything is in your smythson! The pink of the binder is gorgeous. You're like me heheh, fat Filofaxes are the best. Having everything in one place is a brilliant feeling. Despite this, I'm thinking of buying a mini finchley or malden to act as a purse or daily journal/sketch journal. :o It's great that you've figured out a system which works best for you :)

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    1. Aw thank you :-) I hope this is the set-up that works best for me but it's hard to say until after a few months or so of use :-) x

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  2. Thanks for this blog post ! It is really interesting to see how you organize your every day binder, and give me ideas to better organize mine.
    I read your blog since a few month but I never commented, so today I wanted to thank you and tell you that it is your beautiful blog, and your love of organization and stationery which convince me to buy my first filofax (few month ago, a chameleon aqua I adore) and spend my money in cute notebooks/pens/stickers/washi tape etc !! Hahaha
    Sarah, french reader ;) (I hope I didn't make too much mistakes)

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    1. Aw thank you! Your English is great - you don't need to worry about that! I am glad that you love your Aqua Chameleon :) It is definitely a beautiful binder, but it just wasn't for me :) Hope you continue your use of the Chameleon! x

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  3. Oh, I need to get a print out/hand made Survey sheet! I'm always forgetting to do them and when I've done what etc. It would also be useful to have a 'pay out' sheet so I can work out when I'll reach the next payout level.
    The binder is gorgeous! I'm like you, I don't really care for the credit card slots even though I use the ones in my Finsbury.

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    1. Hehe, I have some of those custom survey sheets on my 'custom inserts' page if you're interested :) Yeah, for me, I don't see the point of carrying around a shedload of cards in my binder as I have a purse for that?! Each to their own I guess x

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  4. this is SO beautiful! AND its pink! you never fail to amazing me really :) xxx

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    1. Aw you're so kind! And hehe, I love that it's so pink too. It's definitely something different and I think it's worth the risk of being judged for having such a feminine binder ;) x

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  5. That's too bad that your replacement binder had a problem too. I like the different colors of your tabs and you have neat handwriting. I first thought that the tabs were preprinted. I have used Dayrunner Nature weekly pages before and they are lined. They look nice and have a lot of room for the weekdays. There is a smaller space for Saturday and Sunday though. The paper is smooth but probably would not take fountain pen ink well. My Kate Spade paper in my new KS agenda is better. I like the tabs in my KS agenda especially the restaurant one because I have been eating out a lot. : ) Anyway your pages and binder look very nice.

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    1. I've never fully investigated the Dayrunner inserts, so may just have to do that once all the dust has settled with this house move. I haven't been using my KS tabs as I don't really like the colours of them :(

      Thank you for the kind comment too! x

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  6. The French cotton cream is lined with times, if that is any help.

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    1. Ah, yes, I have used these in the past (2009 I think it was, or 2010) but it isn't easy to get them in the UK. I have to pay for shipping which I don't think is worth it for the somewhat lacklustre paper quality :-) x

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  7. Lovely color. I hate that I could not find one on line in that same color!

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    1. Hehe thank you. Yeah, I got it in the sale and I think that has since finished! x

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  8. I like your binder, it's really neat and
    organized! I used to have a binder/agenda
    but I never was a active user of it.

    Xx

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