Monday, May 30, 2011

Horrendous Blogging Habits and New Filofaxes

I discussed this in one of my first posts, yes? I'm a horrendously irregular blogger. There are days when the effort of typing up and adding pictures to a blog post is just too much. I know that sounds pitiful, but it's true. Then, there are times when I jones for blogging...

Maybe I should change my blog name to "Random Rori"?

Any hoo, onto today's post!

For my birthday, I ordered myself a new Filofax (after MUCH cussing and discussing with the Enabler Club about different options).  It is a light blue Topaz, which is an older design much like Amazona, only with lizard print leather (cowhide).  The insides are the same as the Amazona, though.
Here it is! It really is the most delicious shade of blue, and matches the bag (Vera Bradley pleated tote in Hope Garden) my kids got me for Mother's Day perfectly:
 When I first got the Topaz, I didn't like it. I was SO disappointed.  I still can't figure out if that was because I just loved my Cuban zip so much, or I really didn't like the Topaz.  I'm still not sure what my problem was, but I've made peace with it.  Also, it had the weirdest smell when I got it...almost like  a leather/chemical mix.  I don't know if that was the dye or what, but it has dissipated; it still doesn't smell like delicious leather, but at least it doesn't reek.

I did move right back into the Cuban after I first got the Topaz and moved into it, but then I decided that if I paid for it, I needed to be using it.  So I moved out of the Cuban again, and into the Topaz and made myself start using it.  It did correct the problems I had with the Cuban, which were 1. It didn't lie flat (the Topaz did right away) 2. The rings were SO huge they were hard to write over (the Topaz has standard size FF personal size rings, 23mm I think)

Here are some pictures of the comparison between the Topaz and the Cuban.  As you can see, the Cuban Zip (also personal size) is WAY bigger.
And here's the inside of the Topaz:



Here's some more random pictures including a "What's In My Bag" photo:

I carry from left to right:
*a pen case full of Le Pens and some random gel pens
*a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag with band aids, sanitizer gel, those tooth pick thingies with dental floss on one end, Advil, my inhaler, a reusable bag, a sewing kit, eye drops, and a small penknife in it
*another reusable bag
*Vera Bradley (no, I don't have a VB problem, why?) eyeglass holder
*Vera Bradley wallet (my kids got this for me for my birthday this year)
*my Filofax
And in the inside zipper pocket of the bag I carry various lip glosses, lipsticks, maybe a pen or two for easy access, and sometimes my Canon A2000IS point & shoot camera

I absolutely ADORE the bag, by the way, as I do all of my VB bags.

Here's a picture of the Topaz in one of the two outside pockets of my new bag, I can't believe how much smaller this is than the Cuban Zip. (Although I should have realized, because it is the same size as my Domino, duh!)
So, I'm still using the Topaz, and as far as Filofaxes go, I do like it. The color is just amazing, and the fact that it lies flat is spectacular.  I also like the configuration of business card pockets and the secretarial flap in the front.  I would make one change though, I would rather have a note pad pocket in the back than a zipper pocket.  I just don't use the zipper pockets in the back, so it's wasted space for me.

However, I am having MAJOR issues with Filofax right now, and it's trying my patience.  While that's certainly not difficult as I am not a particularly patient person by nature, I just don't have the tolerance for things that don't work well, and am ready to chuck the whole damned thing out the window.  (But this is an issue for another post. I promise it won't be so long between posts!)

Also, I fell for a Baroque on eBay, and I'm using that as something else, but that's a whole 'nother story (that I haven't taken pictures for) so I guess that's toodles for now y'all!

"To Be Continued..."

P.S. I got the Topaz at Pens and Leather, and their service was outstanding. I can totally recommend them as a source for Filofax in the US. Their prices are great to boot!

6 comments:

  1. Love the Topaz with the VB tote! Glad the aroma faded a bit and that you like it more than when it first arrived.

    The pleated tote has big exterior pockets--I prefer when my Filo has a home in a bag.

    Thanks for making the time to blog. Motivates me a bit to load some pics and tell a story as well. ;)

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  2. Sandra:
    I don't keep my Filofax in that pocket, just showing the sizes of pockets/Filofaxes.

    Yeah, I thought you had a blog post pending???? Looking forward to it!

    Thanks for commenting, I <3 comments...

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  3. Oh, it's beautiful! It's such a lovely shade of blue and goes with your bag perfectly!

    Pens and Leather is amazing--I emailed them to make sure the A5 Adelphi in Scarlet was in stock and they got back to me right away. Can't wait for her to arrive in the mail today!

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  4. Yay for new posts! I love the Topaz- so glad the smell dissipated! I also got my Malden from Pens and Leather- they were amazing!

    Looking forward to more posts...

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  5. Oh wow, did you get the last one at P&L? I got the second-to-last one! I love the color and the texture, and that it has two pen loops. But mine doesn't lie flat at all! Then again, mine doesn't smell either. Oh wait, I just went and sniffed it, and it does smell a bit, like leather protectant or something.

    I like P&L, but their packaging leaves something to be desired, and their inserts are often different than posted. The Topaz arrived loose in a paper flat-rate envelope (not even any bubble wrap), so the corner got a tiny bit damaged. It also was billed as coming with week-on-two-days, but mine had week on one page. What did yours come with? I will be trying to post pictures next week of mine -- so neat to see someone else who got one!

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  6. @Petra
    Did you get the blue?? Isn't it gorgeous? TWO PEN LOOPS YAY!! YES! Like leather protectant!

    Yours wasn't boxed? WOW Mine came bubble wrapped AND boxed! That's crappy! Came w/ week on 2 pgs. I would call P&L for sure, and tell them about the damage and mistaken inserts, that's not ok.

    Can't wait to see pictures of yours! Do you blog? Is this a case of I read your blog, but don't realize what your name is? If not, PLEASE let me know where I can see the pictures!!!
    Thanks!

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