Going nuts with nutcrackers

Whew, I couldn't contain my excitement. Why, it's only 99 more days before Christmas! Christmas mode na talaga ako haha! I was even listening to Christmas songs yesterday.

Anyway, I think I made up my mind. I am done with Santa Claus. I will now be collecting nutcrackers!

My interest in nutcrackers started last January 8, 2014 when I saw these "Nutcracker Fashionistas" at Shoppers Drug Mart in WEM. Haha, they look "ugly" and "gayish" I know but I was really drawn into them! I asked Ford to buy one for me (the one with the red bag and beanie) tutal sale naman.

Nutcrackers are not that "uso" in Pinas. This is my very first nutcracker item.

And then we were at Michaels (South Edmonton Common) just last Saturday. I found these nutcracker stuff in the $1.50-bin and I felt so happy! Gusto ko pala talaga ng nutcrackers!

Ayan, nagsisimula na naman ako! Sabi ng ni Pod, ang lahat ng equivalent ng ideas ko ay gastos haha! But what can I do, I have a manic tendency to collect anything and everything I fancy. It gives excitement in my boring life eh. But again, with limited budget (and now that I am about to become a mother), I know it will take time before I could build a nutcracker collection.

Loots from Michaels

If there's one store that I miss the most in the Philippines, that would be NATIONAL BOOKSTORE. I am a self-confessed stationery addict and I would go to National almost every day (no kidding) just to buy pens and other supplies.

Here in Edmonton, I feel so deprived. They do not have National Bookstore-like store here. Nope, Staples won't suffice. National is different. There you can buy ballpens piece by piece, here in packs. Plus there's so much variety of anik-anik, so many items to choose from -- at affordable prices!

Stationery here costs a lot, I noticed. That I why I told myself that when I go home in Pinas I would hoard as much stationery as I can. I will really splurge!

So for the mean time, I would have to make do with my "cheap" finds here. You can get the cheapest office/school supplies at the following: Dollarama, Dollar Tree, Target (look for the Dollar bins), Walmart...

and occasionally, Michaels...

Michaels is an arts and crafts store that sells anything and everything for one's creative needs. I actually love their merchandise, except that I find them so pricey! I still convert dollars to pesos that's why.

I can only actually afford Michaels if they are on sale. My tip is never to buy their items for a full price. You may subscribe to their newsletter and they send out coupons all the time. You may also check out their clearance bins for items that are up to 90% off.

These were my purchases last Saturday. I was happy kasi parang sa dollar store lang ako namili. At $9.45 or approximately Php380.00, still not cheap though. Pero pwede na.

Someday, if I win the lottery, I will put up a stationery shop here in Edmonton that will sell items na tingi-tingi, katulad ng concept ng National Bookstore. I will import so many Asian stationery which I am sure Canadians will like. Feeling ko deprived din sila eh, hehe.

My 2014 Planners

In my attempt to become a more organized person this 2014, I plan on using these three daily.

A stationery lover that I am, I admit to always having a new shiny planner (Starbucks planner for the last few years) at the beginning of every year. However, I normally end up abandoning it even before the second quarter starts. Yes, nakakatamaran ko na. I am sure many can relate to this.

Well I realized that at 34, I am not exactly young. Admittedly, I tend to forget a lot of things already. Sumasabog din tuloy ang utak ko. I have so many plans for this year so I better list everything (I am non-techie so an electronic planner won't work for me).

My three 2014 planners have different purposes:

The Red Planner/Journal will serve as my diary where I would write everything that happened on each and every day. Again, makakalimutin na ako. I have to start documenting my 'everyday life' again (because nobody else will). I can not blog everyday so  mas kumpleto ang documentation sa written diary.

The Hello Kitty Monthly Planner will be my "everyday bitbit" planner. It's small and thin so I can bring it anywhere. It will serve as my scheduler and "quick look" reminder. It obviously lacks space so I will just use post-its for extra notes.

The Weekly Desk Pad Calendar will be placed in our kitchen area (that is, when we move to our town house later this month) which I will share with my husband. This is where we'll put everything that we have to be reminded about - menus, things to buy, house repairs, bills payments, social activities, etc.

By the way, I bought the first two planners in the Philippines. The red one in SM Department Store and the Hello Kitty in National Bookstore. Bringing these planners was a good decision because I found it hard to find a nice but cheap planner here. I am not sure if I am ready for Filofax na (I am not sure if I am a Filofax girl).

I bought the desk calendar at Target. I had to get it because it's 50% off (haha!) and I love its floral design and colors.

I am keeping my fingers crossed na mapanindigan ko ang mga planners na ito this year. Goodluck to me!