dumpster diving-part one

This is totally me. If I had a champagne budget, I like to think that my home would be Martha Stewart-chic... but right now I'm closer to Martha Stewart-prison-chic!! Bahahahaha!!

I will do anything for a good deal, short of breaking the law, so when I saw my neighbors hauling this desk to the dumpster I JUMPED on it. I called someone to help me haul it in as I was walking outside to stake my claim.

I added some polka dot contact paper in the drawer, because they had seen better days. I though it was like a little smile every time I open them!! I think a pretty chair would be nice too, the one I'm using now is just one from the dining room table.

It does have some nicks, but I think it adds a little character, right? I've been thinking about painting it, but now that it's polar vortex season, that's not going to be happening til spring. Any suggestions?

DIY Planner

**Originally seen on my former blog, Organize ME!!

If any one object could describe organizing to me, it would be a planner. I have had dozens of different kinds, both printed and electronic. I like being able to customize my planner to my needs, but I also want it to be somewhat cute :) During the month of January tons of bloggers have been featuring their planners, whether it be a fancy one or homemade one (that still cost a pretty penny). I decided that I wasn't going to find anything that I LOVED, so I decided to make my own!!

I love this planner because I can print ANYTHING I want and put it in there, exactly where I want it. I chose the Martha Stewart Home Office™ with Avery™ 1" binder in the 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" size. The 3-ring style saved money because I didn't have to buy a special punch, I just use the one I already have.

The pouch was improvised... Once I had my planner complete I wanted somewhere to keep my supplies, and I had this plastic zippered envelope that I got from Staples awhile back for $1. I just 3-hole punched it, and I was set :)

It keeps my highlighters, Sharpie pen, Post-it notes, and Post-it tabs handy.

To organize my planner by section I used dividers I already had, similar to these, also by Martha Stewart.

Then I filled my planner with FREE PRINTABLES!! This part actually took the longest because I knew EXACTLY what I wanted, and I wasn't going to settle until I found it :) There are literally THOUSANDS of free printables on Pinterest, for literally anything you can think of!! Check out my Printables board on Pinterest.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

2012-2013 Calendar

Enhanced TM Week Per View '5 line'

My Fabulous Blog Ideas

Our Family Home Projects

Monthly Bill Pay Schedule

Martha Stewart filler paper

Martha Stewart sheet protectors

The cheapest planner that I might have liked to purchase was AT LEAST $25... if I would have gotten something I LOVED it would have started around $50. That's just ridiculous to me... so here's what I spent:

I had everything around the house, and when I bought the Martha Stewart products I used a 40% off coupon on each of them. A little over $15 is a great price, and the ability to customize it perfectly (and for FREE) is priceless!!