Should Bonifacio Be Our National Hero?

I was all poised to start my Nerdy Wednesday post about the movie release of Sherlock Holmes part 2 when suddenly, I found myself staring at Google’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer-inspired home page.

This image of Tom Sawyer and his friends inspired me today!

Right there and then, I remembered Mark Twain and was reminded that today is his 176th Birthday! On top of that, it’s also Sir Andres Bonifacio‘s Day (the Filipino hero I admire the most). And so I guess even if Mr. Holmes is my favorite, he’d be happy to give way for these two people who deserve to be featured today.

Happy 176th Birthday, Samuel!

I knew it since high school that Mark Twain is just a pen name, that’s why I’ve always regarded the creator of Tom Sawyer by his real name – Samuel Langhorne Clemens. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is his famous piece, placing his name on literature’s history. After the Tom Sawyer hit, Samuel followed a sequel,”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” that also earned him great honor as an American novelist. Every time I think about Tom Sawyer, I instantly see a cute but guileful boy dressed in the old American fashion way. I think his character greatly embodies what it feels like to be a tyke during the late 1800s.

Mark Twain; November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910 (74 yo)

By the way, this post is entitled as such: “Should Bonifacio Be Our National Hero?” because I want to know the views of other Filipinos about this stand. I just included a little about Samuel Clemens because a) he’s my idol, b) it’s also his birthday today, and c) I was inspired by the “Tom Sawyer painting the fence” image at Google.

Happy 148th Birthday, Andres Bonifacio!

If it weren’t that Jose Rizal has kept a journal of his thoughts, achievements, and adventures and if it weren’t that he has the influence and financial stature, I’d say that Andres Bonifacio deserves the title of being the Philippine’s National Hero. I’m sorry Rizal fans, but even the RA 1425 (aka Rizal Law) mandate couldn’t change my perspective about who should gain merit for the independence of the Philippines.

Like yeah, Rizal used the power of his pen to incite the people to a revolution, but without the actual hands of Andres Bonifacio who brought the revolution into reality, did we ever achieve something? Even if Rizal was the inspiration of the Katipuneros, Bonifacio was the real force. And I do think that Bonifacio is also wicked smart. Sans any formal training, he was able to devise ways on how to strengthen the Philippine team revolting against the Spaniards.

Andres Bonifacio; November 30, 1863 - May 10, 1897(33 yo)

Anyway, those extra hours studying the life of Rizal also paid off – I do appreciate his efforts, his skills and most importantly, his heart who loves our country so much. On the other hand, I don’t really see Jose Rizal as the ultimate nemesis of Andres Bonifacio for the title. In fact, Rizal supports Andres Bonifacio. But there’s this one person whom I think was really unfair and inconsiderate towards the lowly President of the Katipunan – Emilio Aguinaldo.

If I do think that Bonifacio deserves the title of Jose Rizal better, then you should double that conviction if I say that Andres Bonifacio deserves to be the first Philippine President and not Emilio Aguinaldo. It’s just so much heart-piercing that even at the start of the true Filipino regime, political assaults and corruption are already present. Yeah, I wasn’t there during that time and so I really don’t know what truly happened. Yet I think I believe the assumption that Aguinaldo ordered the execution of Bonifacio. And by the way, where are the real bones of Andres Bonifacio? Historians say t’was already found and is now on display yet I doubt it. I just do hope that no dog is already sinking its teeth under my hero’s bone shafts!

There, there. I’m quite happy that at least, I’ve shared what my thoughts are regarding Andres Bonifacio. I guess if my History teacher in college will read this, he’ll be really happy to know that he’s influenced me so much. As for my Rizal teacher, maybe she’d also appreciate that though I’m pro-Bonficaio, at least she was able to influence me to be cool with Rizal. How about you? Whom do you think deserves to be the real Hero of our beloved country? Take my poll!

“In the fury of your struggle, some of you might die in the midst of battle, but this is an honor that will be a legacy to our race and our progeny. – El Supremo”

Wow! Two geniuses were born on November 30! I guess this is one lucky day – Happy Birthday to everyone born on the same day as with Samuel and Andres Bonifacio!

Note: I linked all pictures to their respective sites, except one which is mine. Please be reminded that everything in this post is purely my opinion.

Related articles

• Tributes to Andres Bonifacio (senorenrique.blogspot.com)
• Remembering Bonifacio (akosijcmasajo.wordpress.com)
• Andres Bonifacio: My Occupy Philippines National Hero (lodrose.wordpress.com)
• Andres Bonifacio: The Rightful First Philippine President (socyberty.com)

Seven Popular 2012 Planners for Every Personality!

Get Yourself Ready for Next Year – Get a 2012 Planner!

The last of the twelve months isn’t just the celebration of the Yuletide season. For busy people, December is also the time to scout for fresh and innovative planners to keep them company the following year.

I’m not really a very busy person anymore (after graduation) but the habit of organizing and planning my day is still surprisingly stuck in my system. Even if I can just laze around, I still do think that I need to jot down my to-do list for that day (including lazing around). OC much?

Anyway, I do believe that planners are really handy and helpful objects to keep around. They remind us of things to do, delegate, or follow-up. They keep us updated of what day it is, since we sometimes do forget and say “What? Friday na pala? Bilis ah!” And most importantly, planners do help us keep our whole life well-pulled together even if our ropes are not that strong and we do shake-up sometimes.

If you are on the lookout for the perfect planner that best suits your personality, work attitude, and lifestyle, perhaps you’d benefit from the following list I’ve generated:

Take Your Pick from these 2012 Planners

Starbucks Planner

Perfect for: Caffeine Addicts

Coffee Lovers get the chance to own a limited edition Starbucks  planner as a gift for completing a sticker collection. You can choose 2 options for your quest. In option 1, you need to gather 9 stickers by buying any Starbucks Holiday Featured Beverage and another 8 stickers of any core beverage. In option 2, you need to gather 23 stickers which equates to buying 23 core beverages. I’m not really a regular at Starbucks and I roughly have 2 stickers in my collection. Being a sticker collector is really the last of my priorities, and drinking coffee is even not on my list. Unless you’re really an avid coffee addict, mark X beside this planner on your Christmas must-haves.

Made of wood in 5 colors (Bamboo, Poplar, Cherry, Spruce and Oak), Starbucks Planners are so much unique - but they're hard to catch!

Don’t ever bother doing the math, it’s pretty obvious that you’ll spend a lot on this planner if you’re going to buy coffee just to have it. Good news though, if you’re really jonesing for this book, you can buy them at about 1,000 – 2,000 Php. Check out sulit.com and go the easy way.

Belle de Jour Power Planner

Perfect for: The modern IT girl

I can’t stress any further how much I love and adore the BDJ Planner – it’s pretty obvious in my posts. BDJ Planners are in favor with females though. But don’t worry boys, you also have your Navi planners. If you’re a sophisticated gal living and breathing in the jungles of the metro, BDJ will be your trusty compass to help you navigate your way smoothly towards success this 2012!

Belle de Jour, 598 Php

Navi 2012

Perfect for: Male Travelers

The male counterpart of the BDJ Planner. Navi is the perfect planner for globe-trotters and vacation magnets. It’s also jampacked with coupons and tools that’ll help you reach your dreams!

Navi 2012, 520 Php

 Awesome Planner

Perfect for: Food Lovers

Awesome Planner, 588 Php

 If you love to go food trippin’ – then you should dig this Awesome Planner made by the creators of Our Awesome Planet. This book is specially designed to whet your appetite and let you taste the delicacies of the best restaurants, bars, and even fiestas in the Philippines. Indeed, this planner is for certified foodies! Find out how you can grab this one.

Paulo Coelho Moments Agenda 2012

Perfect for: Deep Thinkers

Paolo Coelho Moments Agenda 2012, 495 Php

When I first saw this planner at National Bookstore, I automatically found myself torn between BDJ and this. I’m one of Paulo Coelho’s admirers and this planner will really keep me boosted with inspirational quotes from him. The book’s also filled with great artworks from Catalina Estrada (a Colombian Artist). So why did I opt for the BDJ planner and not this? I felt the kind of paper that was used on this planner and it’s really silky! I’m not used to writing on that. If I bought this planner, I wouldn’t really use it because I’ll be too scared to ruin its “cuteness” by my sloppy handwriting.

Filed 2012

Perfect for: College students

Filed 2012, 545 Php

What rock was I hiding under? I never knew this planner existed! Okay, so now that I’ve met this, what are my thoughts about it? First, I find the cover a perfect camouflage of a notebook. It’s neither too bulky or anything, you can stash it effortlessly inside your bag or just carry it in style. Second, the wacky doodles inside the planner are so twee! Too bad, I’m over my college days already! Third, the planner comes with a Pen Bandolier – no more missing pens! Students will really like the monthly layout, the expense tracker (where they can keep track of their allowance budget) and the doodle page (perfect when you’re bored) of this planner. I so wish I’ve known about this when I was in college! Anyway, you can catch FILED at their website or like them on Facebook for a more detailed introduction.

Moleskine 2012 Planner/ Daily Diary

Perfect for: Executives/Journalists

Check out Moleskine

The over-all look and feel of this Moleskine planner speaks of serious professionals. If you have that boss who doesn’t have a planner yet, or a friend who’s  into mulling over the complexities of life – this planner is the perfect choice. The simple yet classic design of the book leaves little to the eyes, but more to the imagination.

More 2012 Planners

Can’t seem to find  a planner for your personality? Here’s a random list of less popular planners – check out the links please.

Get Organized: Over 20 Planners and Organizers for 2012

9 Planners To Guide You Through A Fantastic 2012

Happy 2012 Planner Searching!

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A Lacy Day

While the whole world of Showbiz is feasting over the controversial break-up of KC and Piolo (read Boy Abunda’s interview with KC here), I was busy scouring the net for lace prints and lacy stuffs to satisfy my girly cravings. Among all the feminine stuffs I love such as ribbons, ruffles and the like – laces top my list! I must say, laces are fashion basics; from tops, to pants, to nails arts and shoes, there’s no denying that lacy designs create an instant touch of femininity in almost anything.

Feminine Tops

kitschbykat.blogspot.com

If you wanna go girly without putting so much effort, go for lacy tops and pair it with plain pants or skirts to balance the outfit. This cute top above is so simple yet it’s very charming. I’d wear this during a date! The one below is definitely a classic – it’s so elegant and so feminine yet it isn’t over the top. You can pair it with jeans and hills to pull out a girly-rugged look.

Forever 21

Spotted at www.sodahead.com

Above cardigan definitely looks good on top of a black plain spaghetti strap.

Fashion Shoes

Spotted at www.highsnobette.com

I don’t personally dig the color purple, yet won’t you agree if I say that these pair of Air Life shoes from Nike will keep your feet feeling girly while on the go? I love the “3D effect” of the lace on this one. Wanna grab it, yet I’d go with pink and black though.

Wedding Gowns

Even vampires will love this dress on you.

Does this wedding gown look anything familiar to you? If you watched the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn installment, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) dons this  simple yet ultra-elegant dress while nervously walking down the garden aisle. Designed by Carolina Herrera, replicas of Bella’s gown are sold at about $799.

Earrings and Bib Necklaces

One-of-a-kind earrings

Perfect for plain tops

If you wanna enjoy wearing these two accessories above, the Green Eyed Monster will teach you how to make them yourself!

DIY Bracelets

I made this one!

I’m proud to say that I made this bracelet out of lace! This will be my featured craft on Thursday!

Awesome!

Okay, so this chic lace nail art just blew me away! I can’t help but admire the nail design and wish that I can make one too!

Laces aren’t just for curtains, tabletops, wedding gowns, lingerie, and back to basic fashion pieces – in time, it has evolved to fit the preference of the modern generation too. Almost anything right now can be “lacy-fied” in a snap. There is no exact detail of how lace came into this world. History tells that this kind of fabric came into being in the early sixteenth century in England.  Anyway, whoever made this romantic thing up, I’m so much thankful – and I know you are too!

Note: I don’t own the pictures posted here, except for one. I linked all images to their respective sites.

Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Take Flight – Preview

My Belle de Jour 2012 Power Planner has arrived! It was packed very well and the courier delivered it exactly at my doorstep! I ordered two planners online – one for myself and one as a giveaway. I just can’t wait to get my hands on the planner – and now I’m so excited to share it with everyone!

Safely shipped!

For those who are clueless about this thing I’m talking about, here’s a little scoop. Belle de Jour (say bel-duh-zhoor’) is a term that originally means “beauty of [the] day” in French. Internationally, someone uses Belle de Jour as her pen name and there was a Belle de Jour film way back in 1967. However, here in the Philippines, Belle de Jour is a popular brand of planner.

According to Viviamo! Inc. (the producer of the said planner) Belle de Jour means:

1) French fashion lingo for “it” girl, 2) the modern-day renaissance woman who dares to achieve her goals, lives her dream life, makes a difference in her community, while doing everything in great style.

Honestly, I like the alternative meaning of BDJ better.

Belle de Jour Sneak Peek

I’m not making you jealous, but if you haven’t grabbed your BDJ Power Planner for 2012 – you better hurry! Don’t let your eyes turn green of envy and order your BDJ planner online! Purchasing online is very easy, you can choose between paying via Gcash, BDO or BPI. I chose Gcash. The staff members (especially Ms. Rona) is very friendly and once you’ve confirmed your payment, the shipping is free! You’ll just have to wait for about a day or two and viola! Your bestfriend this 2012 is right there with a knock!

Anyway, since I’m really in love with this planner, I’m going to divulge the things you’ll fine beneath its covers. In short, I’ll take you to a sneak peek of what’s inside! Ready your peepers, Bellas!

 The Cover and Over-all Package

BDJ comes in two forms: the book-bind version and the double wire. I bought both versions and compared each one from the other. Here’s what I’ve found out:

Read BDJ 2012 Book and Double-Wire Comparison and Contrast!

Coupons

Aside from being just a planner, BDJ went the extra mile and offered us coupons worth approximately Php 20,000! I’ve always been keen on freebies and discounted stuffs that’s why I’m really drawn into BDJ! If you want to know more about what coupons are up for grabs next year, read my BDJ Coupons Galore post and boost-up your purchasing power!

Monthly Tools

Every month is going to be a breeze with the monthly jam-packed tools of the planner. I’ll take you on a quick tour of what the monthly pages are all about. Read my Belle de Jour Monthly Tools: A Quick View post!

 Weekly Layout Features

Next year’s weekly layout features are simple but easy to follow. As expected, you get a regular dose of powerful quotes to enliven your spirit. For an in-depth preview of BDJ’s weekly layout features, read my BDJ Weekly Layout Features post!

 Special Pages

What’s so special with these pages? The mere fact that they help you become a better person. Most of this year’s special pages were also carried forth unto next year, but there are new additions! Come, let’s check it out: read my A Look on the Special Pages of BDJ 2012 post!

 Lifestyle Card

If cards are clothes, then the BDJ Lifestyle Card is what you’d call the signature item! BDJ is giving away a lifestyle card to all Bellas! If you ordered online, this will come free. If you grabbed your copy from bookstores, you need to have it shipped. Don’t worry, it’s free!

Visit my BDJ Lifestyle Card page for details!

 Notebooks

Aside from the planner, I also hopped some BDJ notebooks on-board! You can catch my ramblings about it on this page – Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not Notebooks!

BDJ Online!

Visit www.belledejourpowerplanner.com

Belle de Jour has invaded your computer screens! You can now catch the latest dish about this wonderful planner at their website. Come join the fun! Visit my Blog-spotting entry featuring the Belle de Jour Power Planner website!

 Belle de Jour Power Planner Birthday Giveaway

Last November 21 (my birthday), I launched my Belle de Jour giveaway! If you wanna join you can follow the link.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iphone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. 

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• Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not Notebooks (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• BDJ’s Weekly Layout Features (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• A Look on the Special Pages of BDJ 2012 (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)

BDJ 2012 Book and Double-Wire Comparison and Contrast

First of all, I’d like to make it clear what I’m going to do with these two versions of the 2012 Belle de Jour Power Planner – one which was book-bound and another which was compiled using double-wire or “spring.” In an simplified way, I see the book-bound version as the composite notebooks I used during elementary days while the double-wire version as the spring notebooks I used during high school.

So what I will do is to compare and contrast these two forms. To compare is to site their similarities and to contrast is to site their differences. First of all, let’s take a look at their similarities:

Similarities

• Obviously, the front drawing or image is similar.There’s that cute girl (Bella) in a pink dress and polka dot black hills who’s as if she’s dancing though her feet are crossed. She’s dancing to what tune? I have no idea. But if you are to ask me I’d say it’s a romantic song. I love the travel trunk complete with stickers from different places. The Eiffel Tower looks really amazing (and it’s another reason why I think the song’s from a romantic genre). For some time I found it weird that Bella is wearing a cocktail dress though the theme is about travel. Isn’t she supposed to wear comfortable clothes? But then, I’ve realized that traveling doesn’t equate to the wearing of flat boots, plain shirts, and capri pants nor the bringing of a large bulky backpack. It took a while before it dawned on me that you can indeed travel in style! Oh! That was an eye-opener.
  

  Side-by-side

• They’re both hard-bound.
• Both have secret pockets at the back! I like this additional feature. I can keep all my scratch papers and scribbled notes inside this little pouch!
  

  It's a peek-a-boo back pocket!

Differences

• The size factor. In terms of width, the double-wire is much wider. In terms of height, the double wire is slightly longer. However, in terms of thickness, the book version gains the upper-hand.
  

  I stacked the book version on top of the spring one and the latter is indeed wider!

On this side, you can't tell which is thicker.

.

But on this side you can tell which is - the book.

• Ribbon placements.In the book version, the ribbons are attached at the center while in the spring version the ribbons are tied at the back.
  

  Book Version

  

  Double-Wire Version

• Coupons are easy to detach in the spring version.

With just one zip you can instantly detach your coupons!

Which is Better?

For me, both versions are just as sweet and lovely. The subject of which version is better depends upon the personality and the preference of the owner; some prefer the book and others the spring. If you really aren’t sure what to pick, you can ask yourself whether (in school) you like scribbling notes on composition notebooks or the spring ones.

Who wants to own a Belle de Jour 2012 Power Planner – double-wire?

I’m sorry, I love writing in composition notebooks so the book-bound version stays with me. But, for those who are into springs: you can win my BDJ giveaway!

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post. 

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• A Look on the Special Pages of BDJ 2012 (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not Notebooks (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• BDJ’s Weekly Layout Features (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• BDJ Lifestyle Card (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)

BDJ Coupons Galore

Even if group buying sites are popular nowadays, there’s no easy way to get a coupon than the one being offered by Belle de Jour! With over 20,000 Php worth of coupons free per planner, who could resist the urge to shop, dine, relax and have fun the Belle de Jour way?

Coupon Tracker

One of the special pages  that I really like in this planner is the Coupon Tracker. I will definitely use it to keep myself updated of the available coupons I can use each month.

Semi-transparent Coupon Holders

Look what I found inside the planner, coupon holders! These will really come in handy whenever I want to bring coupons along!

Use Your Coupons!

Don’t you know that if you maximize the use of your coupons, you can get your 2013 BDJ Planner for free? Yep, you read that right! If you can use all the 80 coupons by September 30, you get 2 free planners plus a special gift! Don’t think you can make it on time? Don’t you worry! If you’ve accumulated below 80 coupons by Sept. 30, you can redeem the following:

• 50 coupons = 2 free planners
• 40 coupons = 1 free planner
• 35 coupons = 20% off
• 30 coupons = 10% off

What’s in the Bag for 2012?

If you’re über curious about the different coupons hiding inside the 2012 BDJ Planner, here’s your chance to take a peek! I’m going to upload all the coupons! Errrh, just pardon the quality – iphone isn’t really that perfect.

Online Store Coupons

Are you an avid online shopper? This is good news – you can now avail of discounts from your favorite online stores!

Lifestyle Directory

Take your pick from these cool partner establishments of BDJ!

You can have these coupons for free!

Join my contest and win these coupons along with the BDJ Power Planner.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post. 

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• A Look on the Special Pages of BDJ 2012 (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
• BDJ’s Weekly Layout Features (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
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• BOTW: Belle de Jour Power Planner (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)
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Belle de Jour’s Monthly Tools Quick View

There are plenty of good things to look forward to in the 2012 Belle de Jour Power Planner – one of which is the compilation of monthly tools you can use to make yourself extra-productive.

The Monthly Tools you’ll find in the planner are the following:

• Important Events
• Professional Priorities and Personal Priorities
• This Month’s list of
• This month, I will
• Good Deeds
• Monthly Productivity Tips
• Monthly Divider Lifestyle Articles

On the other hand, here’s a quick preview of the Monthly Divider Lifestyle Articles:

January: Make Room for More Happiness Productivity Tip: How to Start

February: Show Off Your Saccharine Side Productivity Tip: Be What You Do

March: Empowered Bella Playlist Productivity Tip: Own One Thing

April: We ♥ Pinas -Mapping Out the Country's Best Destinations; Productivity Tip: Create Time

June: Shifting Your Career Gear; Productivity Tip: Halt the Hurry

July: Global Staples; Productivity Tip: Perfect A Profound Workday

August: The Quest for Organic Beauty; Productivity Tip: Email Effectively

September: Your Online Pro Profile; Productivity Tip: Mind Your Manners Online

October: The Art of Thrifting; Productivity Tip: How to Decide Effortlessly

November: The Power of Your Hands; Productivity Tip: Move with Momentum

December: Get Ready to Fly High & Party; Productivity Tip: How to Finish

As you can see, in each month, there’s a special topic that you can read about. Plus, there are twelve productivity tips or challenges that you can perform – do you think you can do all of those? We’ll find out next year!

Get a free BDJ 2012 Power Planner!

Join my contest to get the chance to win a BDJ Power Planner.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post. 

BDJ’s Weekly Layout Features

Five days of work and two days of fun best describes the weekly schedule of an average working Bella. However, with the BDJ Power Planner around, those five working days will be used productively and those two days of fun and gimmicks will be a blast! If you’re curious of how this planner can transform your average weekly schedule, refer to the image below!

Weekly Layout Features of BDJ 2012

I really like the Weekly Affirmations feature, these are sets of quotes which are empowering and very much inspiring it’ll never leave room for negative thoughts on your mind. I also like the “I’m grateful for” box at the right lower part, it’ll definitely make you feel so blessed every week.

Now that you’ve had a quick glance of next year’s BDJ Weekly Features, I know you’re so much excited to make 2012 another productive year!

Get a free BDJ 2012 Power Planner!

Join my contest to get the chance to win a BDJ Power Planner.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post. 

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A Look on the Special Pages of BDJ 2012

The BDJ 2012 Power Planner‘s special pages add spice and utility to the planner itself. I’ve always been attracted to the various self-help pages found in BDJ. I find it wonderful to scribble my dreams, track my period, know more about me and just re-invent myself with the help of these specialized tools.

Next year’s planner is full of pages which will make you inspired and creative! There’s that new “Letter to Self” page suggested by Shannen Claire Casino. The pages I really love are: the Menstrual Tracker, Coupons Tracker, Bills Tracker and Cash Flow Tracker. As someone who’s kinda OC, these tools are of great help! How about you, what’s your favorite BDJ special page? If you don’t have any yet, perhaps you can take your pick from these:

BDJ 2012 Special Pages

Coupon Pages Listing/Coupon Tracker

Keep track of your coupons.

Letter to Self

Write to yourself.

Goal Setting

What are your goals?

Dream Board

Make your own Dream Board!

2012 Checklist

Challenge yourself to check all boxes till the end of the year!

Vacation Planner

Where's the next stop?

Menstrual Tracker

Follow-up your period.

Health Checklist

Start being health-conscious.

Special Events Tracker

'Wonder what future events shall fill this?

Habit Tracker

Sorry if it's reversed. Image taken via webcam.

Special Page About Pap Smear

Because you should know.

Gift List

Jot down the presents you've given!

Bills and Cash Flow Tracker

Cash out.

Cash in.

Random Thoughts

Just your babbles and rants.

Emergency Information

In case something happens...

2012- 2013 Calendar

Calendars for your reference.

Get a free BDJ 2012 Power Planner!

Join my contest to get the chance to win a BDJ Power Planner.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post.

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• Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not Notebooks (chopsticklady.wordpress.com)

Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not Notebooks

Actually, there are four BDJ Forget-Me-Not notebooks available. However, I only ordered three – the blue one, the pink and the purple. The green one is what I missed. The Belle de Jour Forget-Me-Not notebooks are ultra mini-planners that you can use and carry conveniently. As I’ve said, it comes in four colors, each with a different design and function. See the following:

Blue – BDJ Chronicles

The BDJ FMN Chronicles notebook will help you keep track of your major projects. It’ll really come in handy if you want to always have a glance at the tasks that you should follow-up and delegate.

Pink – BDJ Essentials

This notebook houses the tools you need to keep yourself updated of important events, projects, and lists. It has blank pages where you can jot down anything, a “new contacts” list, and emergency business cards perfect for those special cases.

…every woman is beautiful because she is both steel and cotton candy and everything in between…

Purple – BDJ Favorites

True to its name, this FMN notebook is my favorite of all! Why? It’s Bella’s best companion in every gift-giving situation. You can make use of its birthday list, gift-giving guide and address book features to remind yourself when is the natal day of who, decide which gift to give to whatchamacallit and take note of addresses,respectively . This will really come in handy whenever the Christmas season comes or when someone’s birthday is approaching. Having this notebook will save me a lot of brainstorming in finding gifts for my friends and loved ones.

Green – BDJ Basics

As I’ve said, I don’t have this one, but based on what I’ve nosed around, this notebook has a monthly calendar where you can easily write important events.

*Spotted at ilovekits.blogspot.com, click to visit her blog!

What I Think

Truth be told, I only really like one out of the four notebooks (i.e. BDJ Favorites). I think that the other notebooks’ features can be incorporated into the power planner itself. In addition, I’m not into the size of the notebook. In fact, I like the 2009 “Forget-Me-Not” notebook’s size better – the one in pink and is half-smaller than these ones. It’s a lot more handy.

*Spotted at ilovekits.blogspot.com, click to visit her site!

Get a free BDJ 2012 Power Planner plus 2 Forget-Me-Not Notebooks!

Join my contest to get the chance to win a BDJ Power Planner and 2 FMN Notebooks.

See my contest details > Chopstick Lady’s Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012 Birthday Giveaway!

Note: I own all the pictures posted here unless otherwise specified. You can grab ‘em if you want, but do direct the links to me. Photos were taken via iPhone, sorry if they are a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t paid by BDJ to make this post.