Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Because You’ve Been Dying to Know… My Morning Routine

My Morning Routine: Pets, Progress, and a Few Laughs Along the Way

Mornings at our house are anything but quiet. They start the same way every day — with the pets running the show and me trying to keep up.

The first thing I do is let the dog out and the cats in. We have four cats, and each one has their own personality (and agenda). AJ, our old cranky cat, spends the night inside. She likes to let me know exactly how inconvenienced she feels by my mere existence first thing in the morning. Harley, our sweet black cat, and Macho, our big orange boy, stay outside at night — and they make sure I know when they’re ready to come in. They (usually Harley) jump up and hang from the windowpane on the carport door like tiny burglars tapping on the glass: “Hey, lady, we’re done with this outside business!” Smokey, on the other hand, is our quiet, skittish cat. She never scratches or jumps — she just waits patiently until someone opens the door. She’s the calm one in the cat family.

Macho, AJ, Smokey, & Harley


Once the pet shuffle is complete and everyone’s been fed, I move on to my part of the routine. I make my electrolytes — they’re homemade, nothing fancy: a mix of mineral salt, a little “No Salt” for potassium, and half a packet of stevia for taste. Most people add magnesium, but I already take 400 mg twice a day, so I skip it. It’s not exactly a treat, but it does the job!

Then it’s time for meds and my inslin shot, followed by breakfast — eggs and bacon, every day. Simple, satisfying, and perfect for my carnivore lifestyle. (Note: I've cut my insulin shot in half and discontinued on of my blood pressure meds)

After breakfast, I usually head outside for a little movement. My driveway walks have become a new habit I’m proud of. When I first started, I had to stop and catch my breath halfway back. Now I can go up and down three times in a row! On days when my back acts up, I break it into shorter walks throughout the day. Progress is progress.

Speaking of progress, I’ve lost exactly 31 pounds so far on the Carnivore Diet! And yes, I do mean exactly. I’m one of those people who reports my weight loss down to the decimal. The other day I told my sister, “I’ve lost 1.8 pounds!” and she said, “Just say two!” But that .2 matters to me! She rolls her eyes, I laugh, and we both know it’s just part of my excitement about finally seeing results.
The other day I found out just how real that progress was — my pants started sliding down while I was walking around the house. Let’s just say I was thankful I wasn’t out in public. Note to self: don’t carry your heavy phone in your back pocket when your pants are loose, LOL.

After all that, I sit down at my desk with my coffee and start my workday. That’s my creative time — designing planner pages, writing blog posts, or planning something new. By then the house has usually quieted down, my guys (husband and son) have left for work, the pets have settled into their naps, and I can finally focus.

 My Creative Space

It’s not a picture-perfect morning routine, but it’s mine. A mix of pets, progress, prayer, and plenty of real life — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Monday, November 10, 2025

How It All Started: My First Computer and a Love for Design


If you had told teenage me that I’d spend my later years designing planner pages and printables, I probably would’ve laughed. But looking back, the signs were there. I loved working on my high school newspaper (The Wildcat Roar)—cutting, pasting, and figuring out how to make everything fit just right. That was my first taste of design, even if I didn’t know that’s what it was.

Friday, November 7, 2025

Friday Felicities for November 7, 2025





Friday Felicities
is a weekly reminder to pause and celebrate the good things—big or small—that make you happy. It started years ago as a fun meme by my sweet friend Nattie, who always encouraged us to count our blessings. Though Nattie has been in heaven since 2007, her joy still inspires me today.

If you’d like to join me, I’d love for you to share your own list of happy things on your blog, Facebook, or favorite social platform. Leave a comment with your link so I can stop by and visit—it would make me smile to see what’s bringing you joy. You can also share your Felicities in the Friday Felicities Facebook page, which is active again and ready to welcome your posts of gratitude and joy! Feel free to use the button below on your own blog or website.

Things That Make Me Happy

  • Working on a project with my son.
  • Standing to do a task that previously I would need to do sitting (my back is getting stronger!)
  • Finally joining our Women's Prayer meeting at church - great group!
  • Finding peace and contentment and learning to stand on God's word.
  • 29 pounds lost!

Thanks for joining me for another Friday Felicities! I love seeing this little tradition continue to grow and sparkle with new joy each week. Here’s to a weekend full of happy moments and simple blessings.

Grab the Button!

Friday Felicities




Thursday, November 6, 2025

Don’t Break the Chain Habit Tracker Freebie

Keep Your Streak Going with the “Don’t Break the Chain” Habit Tracker

Don't you just love that feeling of checking off a box—especially when you're building new habits? The Don’t Break the Chain method turns that simple act into a daily motivator to help you stay consistent and focused.

What Is “Don’t Break the Chain”?

This idea became famous thanks to comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who used a calendar to track his writing days. Every day he wrote, he marked an X on the date. Over time, those X’s formed a satisfying chain—and his goal became simple: Don’t break it. 

You can use this same method to stay consistent with any goal—daily Bible reading, journaling, stretching, drinking water, or even working on creative projects.


About the Free Printable

This free planner page includes 7 (depending on your size) mini habit trackers per sheet, each with:

  • A space to write your habit or goal

  • 31 small boxes for daily checkmarks or X’s

  • A clean, uncluttered design that fits easily into your planner setup

You can use all seven trackers for different habits or use one tracker for a single habit across multiple months.

Available Sizes

To fit your favorite planner, this printable is available in:

  • A5

  • Half Letter

  • Franklin Covey Compact (FCC)

  • Personal

How to Use It

  1. Print your preferred size and trim if needed.

  2. Write your habit at the top of each tracker (for example: “Evening walk,” “Prayer time,” or “No sugar”).

  3. Mark each successful day with an X, sticker, or color.

  4. Keep your tracker visible—tuck it in your weekly pages or dashboard.

  5. Enjoy the growing chain of progress!

If you miss a day, don’t stress—just start a new chain and keep going. The goal is consistency, not perfection.

Why It Works

This method keeps you focused on progress instead of pressure. Each mark on your tracker is a small victory that builds momentum over time. Before long, you’ll have a visible chain of success that keeps you motivated to continue.

Download the Free Printable

You can download your free Don’t Break the Chain Habit Tracker below:
Available Sizes: A5 | Half | FCC | Personal
[Download Now] 


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Monday, November 3, 2025

The Very First Planning Layout That Actually Worked for Me (And Why I Still Think About It 10 Years Later)

The Very First Planning Layout That Actually Worked for Me

Ten years ago, I didn’t know a thing about “month on two pages” or “dashboard inserts.” I just knew I needed something to keep my week straight. Back then, my life was a swirl of homeschooling, family meals, church events, and daily responsibilities. I didn’t have time to experiment with fancy systems—I just needed a piece of paper that helped me think clearly.

So, I made one.


My Simple Half-Sheet Design

It was a week on one page—what we used to call a Week-at-a-Glance (like the old DayTimers). I divided the half-letter sheet into two columns and three rows, giving me lined blocks for each day of the week plus a notes section.

Monday through Thursday filled the left column, while Friday through Sunday and Notes were on the right column. Each block had several lines for writing, enough to fit the busy flow of a week without feeling cramped.

I designed it with ½-inch margins on both the left and right sides, then double-punched the edges so I could always keep the page on the right side of my planner no matter how it was turned. My to-do list insert—half the width of a half-letter sheet—sat neatly on top of the weekly page, aligned to the edge so the right column (Friday through Notes) was still visible underneath.

It created a layered, functional setup: I could glance at my week, flip the to-do list like a tab, and never lose my place. I didn’t migrate tasks or overthink categories. I just wrote things down and crossed them off. It was simple, efficient, and it worked beautifully.


Retro week-at-a-glance planner layout with to-do list insert stacked on top of weekly page.



Why It Worked So Well

Looking back, I realize that layout worked because it matched how my brain naturally sorted things:

  • All in one view. I could see my entire week at a glance—no flipping or scrolling.

  • Separation of tasks and schedule. My appointments lived on the weekly page; my running list stayed on the to-do sheet.

  • Half-letter format. The size felt light and manageable—just enough space to plan without being overwhelming.

  • No perfection pressure. I didn’t worry about stickers, highlightes, or “aesthetic spreads.” I just used it.

It turns out, simplicity breeds consistency. And consistency is what makes a system work.


When I Discovered All the Other Layouts

Then came the planner explosion (or at least for me) —month on two pages, dailies, dashboards, trackers, inserts for everything under the sun. I started exploring, and suddenly my once-simple system became complicated and I had to re-find "planner peace".

Don’t get me wrong—trying different things taught me so much. But sometimes I look back at that first layout and realize: it wasn’t missing anything essential. It gave me focus and flow.


The Lesson: Simple Still Wins

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by planner options, remember this—the best layout is the one that fits your life right now. Not the prettiest, not the most popular, but the one that helps you breathe easier when you open it. 

And sometimes, that’s a humble half sheet with a few ruled lines and a note section.


Want to Try It Yourself?

I recreated that very first layout for you as a free printable. It’s formatted for letter-size paper.


Final Thoughts

After ten years of planning, designing, and creating, I’ve learned that productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about seeing clearly.

If your current planner feels too busy or overdesigned, maybe it’s time to revisit the basics. Sometimes the layout that worked first is the one that still works best.

Try it. Simplify. Cross things off. And remember: progress starts on paper.




Save & Read It Later!

Friday, October 31, 2025

Friday Felicities for October 31

Friday Felicities
is a weekly reminder to pause and celebrate the good things—big or small—that make you happy. It started years ago as a fun meme by my sweet friend Nattie, who always encouraged us to count our blessings. Though Nattie has been in heaven since 2007, her joy still inspires me today.

If you’d like to join me, I’d love for you to share your own list of happy things on your blog, Facebook, or favorite social platform. Leave a comment with your link so I can stop by and visit—it would make me smile to see what’s bringing you joy. You can also share your Felicities in the Friday Felicities Facebook page, which is active again and ready to welcome your posts of gratitude and joy! Feel free to use the button below on your own blog or website.

Things That Make Me Happy

  • Continuing to learn new things, or in this case, the new things I learned 10 years ago, LOL!
  • Losing a little over 4 pounds this week after 2 weeks of nothing (29 lbs total for those of you keeping count)!
  • Wearing jeans I haven't worn in 3 years.
  • Cooler temps
  • Having a family that loves me despite my quirks


Thanks for joining me for another Friday Felicities! I love seeing this little tradition continue to grow and sparkle with new joy each week. Here’s to a weekend full of happy moments and simple blessings.

Grab the Button!

Friday Felicities




Wednesday, October 29, 2025

GTD-Inspired Sticky Notes Freebie: Capture Tasks Quickly and Stay Organized

 If you love the idea of getting everything out of your head and onto paper, today’s freebie is for you! These printable GTD-inspired sticky notes are designed to help you capture ideas, to-dos, and reminders quickly so you can stay focused and clear-minded.

3x3 sticky note templates for capturing ideas
These notes will print over the edge

These 3×3 sticky note templates fit standard sticky notes and make it easy to jot things down on the go. Print a sheet, stick your notes in place, and capture whatever pops into your mind — no more trying to remember later!

A Quick Word About GTD

Some of these notes are inspired by the popular Getting Things Done® method created by productivity expert David Allen. GTD encourages you to capture everything that’s on your mind, clarify what it means, and organize it in a way that works for you.

My printable set follows that same rhythm — simple, visual, and practical.

What’s Included in the Freebie

You’ll find several printable 3×3 sticky note layouts to match the GTD process:

  • Inbox– Write down every idea, errand, or random thought before it slips away.

  • Next Actions – Keep your focus on what’s actionable right now.

  • Waiting On – Track items or people you’re waiting on so nothing falls through the cracks.

  • Someday – Save space for ideas and dreams that can wait for another season.

  • Weekly Tasks – A flexible page for anything that doesn’t fit neatly elsewhere.

  • Wish List –  For when you're asked "What do you want for Christmas?"

Each note follows a clean, functional design that pairs beautifully with your existing Planner Fun inserts.

Where to Download

These sticky notes are available now on my Freebies Page.
You can download, print, and start using them right away — no signup required.

If you’re part of our Planner Fun Freebies Facebook Group, you may have spotted these a day early! I often drop new designs & exclusives in the group first as a thank-you for being part of our little planner community. It’s also a fun place to share photos and suggestions for future freebies.

Printable GTD Inspired sticky notes freebie on a desk with pens.

How to Print and Use Them

  1. Print the template sheet (with the sticky note boxes outlined).

  2. Place your 3×3 sticky notes inside the boxes.

  3. Run the sheet back through your printer to print the designs directly onto each note.

  4. Store your finished notes in your planner or keep a stack by your desk to capture tasks as they come.

Tip: If your printer feeds pages from the rear tray, test one sheet first to see which way it pulls the paper through.

Your Turn

Visit the Freebies Page to grab your GTD-Inspired Sticky Notes today!

Then hop over to our Planner Fun Freebies Facebook Group to see what’s new, share ideas, and be the first to get next week’s design drop.

Let’s make planning simple, creative, and — most of all — fun!








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