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A Diaper Bag Turned Work and Planner Bag – CiPU Baby Diaper Bag | What’s In My Bag

March 7, 2017 16 Comments

No matter how old my boys get, I find myself still utilizing many of the items that I had for them when they were babies. Since I’m a work from home and stay at home mom, the number one thing I find I still use is a diaper bag. Now, hold on – obviously I’m not going to be using this particular bag to hold diapers, the boys don’t use those, ha ha! But, I don’t use my old diaper bags in the traditional sense. I turn my diaper bags into work and planner bags so I can take my work on the go. About 5 months ago I was sent this very cool bag from CiPU and today I’m going to share my thoughts on this accessory as well as how I utilize it for my personal use. It may not be traditional, but it’s functional and we all know I love anything that offers function to my life.

Now, it’s no secret that I’m a laid back simpleton, basically – I’m a casual gal. So when I can find something that works for me… I’m excited. I was contacted by CiPU and asked to try out this “diaper bag” and if I enjoyed it, if I could kindly provide a review. Here’s the deal – since I was using my Coach Diaper Bag from the twins as my work bag, I thought to myself… “hmm, this will be interesting to see how it would work for me.” And, so I accepted.

CiPU is pronounced – ‘Shee’ (translated to “happiness” in Chinese) and ‘Pu’ (translated to “store” in Chinese) like “shee” in sheet and “PU” in put.

CiPU was founded in 2009 by a group of mothers and brand owner Jarrah, all of whom had one shared inspiration – an idea to gift mothers love, happiness and affection. CiPUs focus is on style by exploring colors and patterns to suit every occasion, however – each bag is full of functionality (you see that word there, it’s golden to me) and created to meet a mother’s everyday needs.

“The Bowknot in their logo represents the ribbon on a gift, meanwhile it also looks like an “infinity” symbol. Since children are such a precious gift and a parent’s devotion to their children are testimonies of “infinitive love” the bowknot symbolizes infinite love and the power of gifts in a single wish, a wish that every mother can enjoy blissful, long-lasting memories with their children – the greatest gift in life.”

Each CiPU bag is hand-crafted with lots of love and many of the bags are limited in quantity since they only make a few of each design. They are each made from environmentally friendly materials and I love that CiPU offers Free US Delivery. All CiPU bags were created with different styles and patterns to focus on women because mother’s are still women and looks matter. Perfect for function while providing lightweight carryalls to take the load off your shoulders.

Check out my video review and come chit chat about this bag with me. My video can be found here or embedded below.

CiPU offers a variety of bags to fit the mothers’, fathers’ and even babies’ style. From Large tote bags like the one I have here to diaper backpacks in every type of color and design. I have my eyes set on a camouflage one, a plain black bag and the Leopard next. Let’s talk a little about this awesome diaper bag shall we?

I have the CiPU Tote Diaper Bag in Heather Gray (Large). This bag retails for $158.80 and comes with 13 large compartments to hold all of my necessities. Now, as I mentioned before, I’m not using this bag as a diaper bag, but as my work bag so this is perfect to host all of my planner supplies, planners and even my laptop and tablet all fit inside perfectly.

This bag features 1 hidden compartment (which I love to put the boys wipes in or even store their dirty clothes while out and about so it doesn’t mess up any of my papers. You also get the following accessories to go with your bag:

Personal belongings pouch – this pouch comes with detachable straps and you can use this to store your diapers, wipes and changing mat. I use this particular pouch to store my tablet for safe keeping and a few notebooks.
Foldable Changing Mat – this soft and easy to clean mat is perfect for changing baby, but again – I use this bag for work – so this changing mat is used as a little sitting mat for me when at the park or in case I want to put my bag down without sitting it directly on the floor. It’s machine washable which makes it perfect for on the go.
Retractable Key Hold – probably my favorite thing now to keep my eyes on hand at any given time.
Chest Strap – this helps to keep my strap in place to prevent slip-downs
Slip Proof Should Straps – these soft on the shoulder straps are great and comfy. It made long hours at the airport easy because my arms were not sore from carrying my bag too long.
Stroller Clips – These are great to clip to a wagon or stroller to keep your bag with you. I use it to attach to my sports cart so I am not taking up real estate of the wagon with my bag.

The material is very soft and easy to spot clean or wash should I need it. I love that this bag is water repellent (inside & out), especially since I always take it with me, that way I don’t have to worry about spills. This bag comes with a gorgeous hot pink and bright lining which makes it so easy to be able to see inside and grab everything that I need at any time. And, since this bag is made of quick dry material – it helps to prevent mold (so you don’t have to worry much about spills from milk bottles or juice causing mold if you don’t get it dried up quickly.) This bag is perfect for outdoors – whether rain or shine and I love that it’s so easy to take with you.

The CiPU Large Tote is very lightweight at just 1.2 lbs. – one of the lightest on the market. And, remember how I said CiPU offers different bags for different personalities and sizes, your littles can have their own little backpacks too.

So, now that you have a bunch of information to make an informed decision on whether or not this bag is for you… let me keep it real for you all. This bag is costly, but I am a handbag lover and most of my bags cost well over this amount already so I would spend this money in a heartbeat – especially after my great experience with this one over the last 5 months or so. When it comes to how I spend my money, I tend to look at things as an investment. These bags are an investment in not only your style and longevity of having them, but your comfort. They are easy to carry and hold, giving you various options and so easy to clean. As a busy mom, I know that the last thing we want to be doing is scrubbing a bag of strains or water spills. While I don’t currently use it strictly as a diaper bag, I know the quality of the bag will hold up in that if and when I should have another child – I’ll be able to use this. I also love that this is functional for me and allows me to use this as a “mommy bag” no matter the age of my children. I can carry all my work stuff inside while still have a ton of room for mommy stuff too – whether it be wipes, extra clothes, toys, books for reading on the go or games – whatever tickles your fancy.

We all know I am brutally honest here and I have to say – Yes, this bag is worth the cost and definitely high quality. Like I mentioned before – I have my eyes on a few others and I plan to get them.

Check out my video review:

You can check out the full range of products available at: https://www.cipu.us/

Purchase from their Amazon store here.

So what about you, have you heard of CiPU before and do you think you could utilize something like this? Are you a mommy looking for a little more help in the organizing and diaper bag compartment? Comment below and share your thoughts with me.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. I was not paid to provide my thoughts or to feature this product. Affiliate links are posted through out.

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Valentine’s Gifts to Treat Yourself or Someone Your Love

February 10, 2017 11 Comments

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It’s that time of year again – Valentine’s Day is approaching. Now, I’m kind of late the punch in getting this post up this year, but I digress… and it’s getting done anyway, right? I’ve said this time and time again, but while my husband and I celebrate Valentine’s Day, we both feel that our love for one another should be shown and given every single day of the year – every day of our lives. Let’s face it, some of you may find that corny, but the fact of the matter is… we shouldn’t need a holiday to celebrate love, right? Regardless, each year I share a great little gift guide for you – whether you decide you are going to take advantage of it for the holiday or any time of the year or use it to treat yourself, it’s entirely up to you. So, without further adieu, let’s get into some Valentine’s Gifts shall we?

Let’s talk about rings… jewelry per say. Now, if you’ve been a follower of this blog for a while, then you know that my husband is a law enforcement officer. Over the years we have looked for rings that he can use that are not only stylish, but that will allow him to be able to use his rings to work. In the type of job he has, a metal, gold or silver band can injure the finger and are a huge safety concern. While it’s allowed for them to use it, it’s suggested that they use a silicone band to help protect against injury and to aid in safety. That’s where FX8 (Fixate) comes in to play. These fun silicone ring bands are made of Premium Medical-Grade Silicone. They are stylish, functional and definitely durable. The are comfortable to wear with a tapered dome design and are available in Men’s & Women’s styles and sizes. I like the fact that they offer custom engraving and these rings are designed for an active lifestyle.

Outside of work, we can use our regular wedding rings, but while my husband is at work, I know that this ring will work well for him. Athletes, racers, extreme sports participants, fitness and gym trainers, mechanics, military personnel, construction and factory works and law enforcement officials all enjoy wearing these.

Each Fixate ring comes with a durable ring bag with a rugged metal “S” clip that is large enough to fit your drivers license, credit card, cash, ring and earbuds. They are priced reasonably, starting at $19.95+ and while they are not the ideal choice for many, in our instance, it works for my family and our lifestyle. They come in a variety of different colors too – so I think they are perfect for anyone and they are definitely an affordable, cost effective choice.

Get your FX8 bands here: https://fixatedesigns.com/

Now, I consider Valentine’s Day to also be Gal-entine’s Day. A fun way to celebrate your lovely gal pals is by giving them a little treat for themselves. Let’s face it, most of us love makeup and what better way to have a little fun and treat ourselves and our gals by giving them some makeup delights. Bodyography is a new to me brand, as well as Omega Labs USA. I thought this would be an awesome time to share the products with you while giving some ideas for shade choices that make great gifts.

Looking for a classic red lipstick? Try out Bodyography’s Lipstick in Red China ($17.00 – 0.13 oz/3.7g). I talk about how I think red lips are so enduring and this shade is showstopping. With a satin matte finish, this gorgeous and long lasting lipstick is super-pigmented and contains moisturizing Aloe Vera as the base to help protect the lips from signs of aging. Rich mineral pigments provide amazing color payoff and you can find a variety of shades in ranges from pinks to purple and nudes as well as finishes of creams, shimmers, sheers and satin mattes.

The Bodyography Glitter Pigments ($23.00 – 0.105 oz/3g) are also a great choice for a little sparkle any time of year. These one of a kind eye shadows are made with a technology that incorporates the saturation of a loose pigment, the cushion of a cream, and the silkiness of a powder. These gorgeous pigments are high glitter with a gorgeous pearl finish.

This gorgeous shade I have here is called Halo. It’s a very shimmery and sparkly silver that reminds me of tinsel. This color is quite bold but would make a wonderful eye lid topper to add a little sparkle and shine or popped right into the inner corner of the eye to brighten the eyes while adding a little sparkle.

There are eight colors to choose from total. A little of this product will go a long way and I definitely suggest applying this product wet or foiled using a synthetic brush or with your finger and utilizing tapping motions when applying the product to the lid or where ever you want to go. This is not your usual mica style pigment where it is finely milled. These pigments are much more glittery so using these as a standalone shadow may pose some challenges. But, they are glittery and gorgeous and I think definitely something fun for anyone to try. Besides… we all love glitter, don’t we ladies?

I love getting nail polish as gifts and these gorgeous polishes from Omega Labs are long wearing lacquers available in a wide array of high fashion shades. Omega Labs lacquers are free of DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor. I have the color 389 Peek-A-Boo, a gorgeous nude toned soft peach shade is that is perfect for every day wear or a night out on the town. The shade is neutral and gorgeous. Omega Labs Nail Lacquers retail for $7.00 (0.44 fl.oz.)

Now, I obviously couldn’t leave out a little bath and body action, right? I mean come on… nothing says Valentine’s Day like a little body treatment. One of my favorite Bath & Body brands, FarmHouse Fresh released this gorgeous Whoopie! Deluxe Gift Set that features the White Velvet Hand and Body Creams, Body Wash and Candle all of which have the irresistible whoopie pie aroma. Let me just say – this is a set that I love and have purchased one for each of my sisters this year. I know they will LOVE it.

Packaged in a “ready to gift” box, this Deluxe Gift Set offers one of my favorite fragrances from FarmHouse Fresh. I am loving the buttercream aroma that wafts through the air when I open any of these products. This gorgeous set includes these wonderfully smelling delectables (do not eat them) amd retao;s fpr $54.00. I can’t rave enough about this set and I loved it so much the last month that I had to pick up a set for each of my sisters (I have two) because I know they would love it. With moisture boosting properties in each of these and a great smelling candle to fill a room with a sweet fragrance, I’m a happy camper.

*I plan to have a review detailing each product in the next week or so, so stay tuned for that.

This this set and so much more at: http://www.farmhousefreshgoods.com/

Not everyone is into body care, makeup and jewelry – but house decor is always something fun. That’s why I am recommending a gorgeous Mandala Tapestry from Rajrang. Whether you decide to get a Single, Double or Round tapestry these are just gorgeous pieces of art. I use mine as a throw, but you can definitely use it anyway you please. A few popular ways are to use them as a wall hanging, home decor and in some cases, just like me – some may want to use this as a layout blanket. I have taken it to the park or beach to lay on while reading a book. These are made of a good quality fabric and are absolutely gorgeous. Did I mention these were affordable? I even like using these as backdrops to my videos and photos because they are so easy to work with. Starting at about $10.00+, these beauties would make a great gift for anyone, anytime of the year.

Purchase a gorgeous mandala tapestry for you or someone you love at: https://www.rajrang.com/

Last on my list is some gorgeous fragrances from DefineMe which I think would make an absolutely wonderful gift for any of your gal pals. This is the Girls’ Night Set which includes the Audry and Sofia Isabel fragrances for $74.00. This gorgeous set includes a combination of romantic florals and sweet intoxicating citrus.

Audry’s notes include: jasmine, peony, rose and sandalwood

Sofia Isabel’s notes include: mandarin, black currant, jasmine and sugar.

Layered together this set is a wonderful fragrance I absolutely enjoy wearing and I think many of my girlfriends would enjoy this as a gift.

DEFINEME GIRLS' NIGHT | SET OF 2

Now that I have shared a few favorites with all of you, I think you’ll have a list of fab items you could share with a loved one or pick up for your best friend or yourself. I often get asked why it is that my lists like these are so odd and often times provide “interesting” items. Here’s the deal… I love sharing a variety of products with all of you and many times I select them based on the fact that they are what I’m liking, enjoying and are favorites at that time or any given moment. These are just suggestions of products I’ve tried, purchased or that I was sent to try and I like. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if this is something you may want to check out for yourself or to buy as a gift. I also didn’t include many “male friendly” items in this gift collection this time around, mainly because I am just not sure what the hubby would like this year so I’m at a lost as to what to suggest. Remember, like I said before – Valentine’s Day should be considered an “every day” kind of holiday. Love should be celebrated each and every day. Heck, my husband and I do it and it is a part of who we are. No matter what you decide, make your Valentine’s Day something special – even if it means just treating yourself to something you like.

Happy Love Day, Every Day!

Check out some of my previous posts over the years for Valentine’s Day inspiration:

Gal-entine’s Day

Gift Guide for the Man in Your Life

Some of my past Valentine’s Day Makeup Looks / Tutorials: (top to bottom – left to right)

Be My Valentine – featuring Smashbox Full Exposure Palette

Valentine’s Day Lookbook

Bombshell Love

Cherry Truffle – featuring Too Faced Cosmetics

Just Call Me Sweetheart

Cupcakes & Hearts – featuring Jordana & Milani Cosmetics

Genuine Sweetheart – featuring Too Faced Cosmetics

Disclaimer: Some of the products featured in this post were sent for review consideration while some were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are listed through out.

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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me

January 19, 2017 19 Comments

Even if I do share a lot of things online about myself – I’m sure there are a variety of things that you had no idea about. Let’s face it, while I love to share with all of you, my entire life is not completely an open book. Every so many years I do a post similar to this one and I’ve always enjoyed it. This time around I figured, why not have a little fun and share with you 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me. Some of these things may have been mentioned before while others, probably not… but today – I’m sharing with you a few fun tidbits about who I am. Hope you enjoy it.

1. I am not a fan of mayonnaise. I say “not a fan” but before I had my children – I hated it somewhat. You could probably put it in a sandwich and so long as it was light, I would eat it… but there was a time when I couldn’t look at it, smell it or even touch it. I can stand it now and put it in sandwiches or even make potato salad with it, but before I had children – the look of it made my stomach upset and often times the smell made me want to hurl. I could smell it a mile away and it made me absolutely nauseated. This is not a recent dislike… my entire life I remember not liking it and my mom said I didn’t like mayonnaise since I was about 3 years old.

2. I can’t wink or whistle to save my life. Well – I might be able to fake a whistle somewhat – but anyone who can, would probably laugh at me. Winking? Nope – it looks more like closing my eyes completely. My Chinese blood kicks in and I fail miserably at it. Thank goodness my husband is a great winker… because I suck at it. lol

3. Growing up I had a stuttering problem. Hah, I bet you wouldn’t have known from watching my YouTube videos or maybe you had no clue – but it’s true. With the help of my teachers and my parents I was able to learn to get past my insecurities and anxiety that caused it. Sometimes when I’m really nervous (usually when I’m afraid) or my anxiety kicks in, you can hear it in my voice. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get passed it some what and it’s a rare occasion when it slips, but it does happen from time to time.

about me, potus, 10 things you didn't know about me, my life, a day in the life, president barack obama, michelle obama, white house, — Can you find me in the audience?

4. I’ve had the awesome opportunity to meet the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. I felt it was something I wanted to share today since we are literally 24 hours from the Inauguration of our 45th President. Mr. & Mrs. Obama are not only loving individuals, but they are great with children. I had a conversation with their secret service the same day and they told me that the Obamas love kids and children are always welcomed. Since the twins were toddlers when we visited the White House, I was worried that they would not be welcomed. But my eldest & the twins were greeted with open arms and my sons loved the company of the Obamas. We will surely treasure that moment for the rest of our lives.

5. I was almost kidnapped at the age of 4. I was playing in our yard which was fenced and locked in when a taxi driver pulled up next to the fence and persuaded me to follow him for some candy. Now mind you, this was back in 1984 when it was fairly safe to play in your own yard. My dad and mom had walked into the house to grab something and as my dad was coming out of the house, the man was putting me into the back seat of his taxi. My dad approached him, got me out of the car and well… let’s just say the guy was injured somewhat after that. Unfortunately no charges were brought against him because he didn’t actually “drive away” and told the police that he was just trying to protect me… yeah, right! Needless to say, it made my parents outlook on life as well as mine a bit different that day and that’s why I’m quite protective of my children.

6. My senior year in high school I was selected to represent Hawaii in the Miss Teen USA Pageant. Sadly, after going through all of the paperwork and getting things together, I had to decline my overall participation due to financial circumstances. I was a bit bummed, but realized that no matter how much fundraising I did, I wouldn’t make the deadline to attend. Because no one else was selected to take my place, the Hawaiian islands were not represented that year in the pageant. I wish that they had offered more opportunities for scholarship or sponsorship back then, but I’m just thankful that I had the experience.

7. I am a believer in Happily Ever After and Forever and I’m a hopeless romantic. In a time when divorce seems to be normal chit chat in a conversation, here I am trying to show everyone that true love and ever after are more than just fairy tale talk. This coming September, my husband and I will be together as a couple for 20 years and this April we’ll be married for 16 years. I started dating him when I was a Senior in high school. We’ve been through thick and thin and just about everything under the sun, including near death on many occasions, but I wouldn’t want to experience anything without him. Many people think I’m weird, but I find that true love is not weird and it does exist! No need for diamonds, pearls or material things… I am happy and thankful with a rose or flower picked from a garden or thoughtful cards and gestures. I just love being in love <3

8. I absolutely love photography. Prior to working on my blog more on a full-time schedule, I did wedding, nature and portrait photography for about 8 years. I enjoyed the job, but like being a makeup artist, being on your feet all day is probably one of the most difficult stresses you can put on the back. I do miss it, but since I no longer have my equipment, I don’t take on new clients. All of my blog posts and videos are shot with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and I certainly couldn’t show up to a wedding just carrying my phone – lol.

9. I have five different nationalities, but besides guessing that I’m Hawaiian, no one really guesses it right. I am Hawaiian, Portuguese, Filipino, Chinese and German. While traveling across the United States I’ve been asked if I am a mix of African American and Puerto Rican or African American and Korean. I’m neither, but think it’s really cool that because of my features I’m often mistaken for something else. I grew up in a melting pot of nationalities so I think a mix of races is always a cool thing.

10. Speaking of nationalities, many people think that because I’m Hawaiian, then Hawaiian food like kalua pig, poi and fish are my favorite foods. Well – don’t get me wrong, I LOVE fish and seafood, but believe it or not… my favorite food is Italian. I LOVE pasta and absolutely can’t get enough of it. It’s probably one of my downfalls to losing my weight because I’m all about that pasta life. Pizza is probably one of my all-time favorite foods and I don’t think my love for Italian food will ever change. It’s been my favorite since I was a little girl and I believe it always will be.

So there you have it, 10 things you probably didn’t know about me, or maybe you did… but I elaborated on them a little more. I tend to be an open book most of the time, but I always love sharing new and exciting things or old things about myself. I love posts like these because I find that I not only learn more about a person, but you get a feel for who it is you are reading about. I hope you enjoyed this little share and I look forward to sharing more of me with all of you.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links may be posted through out. This is not sponsored and I am simply sharing my life with all of you. Please note that affiliate links are how my site is run as I make a small percentage off your purchase if you decide to click on the links. You are under no obligation to click on any of the links through out this post.

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December 30, 2016 23 Comments

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We are literally a couple of days away from the new year and ringing in 2017, so I thought this would be the perfect time to go ahead and share my thoughts on the 2017 KITLife Planner with all of you. I’m a huge lover of KITLife Planners, this particular planner being my fourth that I own. Each year I have found a new way to use the planner and I’m so overjoyed with the changes that KITLife has made to the planner that I’m excited to share it with all of you. The KITLife planner is a daily planner layout that allows you to literally grab life by the hands and make it wonderful. The KITLife planner is more than just a planner, but a community – encouraging women to be productive, grateful, healthy, giving and live a life full of intention. This Planner has made such a difference in how I do things daily and yearly and I’m going to share it with all of you.

The KITLife Planner retails for $58.00. I know, I know… many have told me in years past that that is such a hefty cost for something that you may throw out at the end of each year. But here’s what I have to say about it… “Life is an Investment and to make it fruitful, we need to invest in the proper tools to help it grow.” (Yes, I wrote that… lol) A Planner is just that, a tool to help keep you organized. The KITLife Planner is a daily planner that consists of a monthly and daily layout. I find that a daily layout is my favorite for the lister in me, I love writing out my daily to-do’s and track my progress as I complete each task.

There are three different types of planner covers available for 2017 – The Classic Edition (which is what I am sharing with you), the Crown Edition ($72.00 – the Gorgeous White with Gold Foil cover) and The Festival Edition ($65.00 a fun cover with pink, blue and purple triangles). Each Planner also offers you the opportunity to add in additional pages to customize your planner (at an additional cost). The pages include: Note Add-In, Graph Add-In, Budget Add-In, Direct Sales Add-In, Direct Sales Team Add-In and Teach Add-In. These add-ins must be ordered at the time you order your planner. Each plan is estimated to ship in 5-7 business days after placing your order.

So, let’s get into all the fun details. The 2017 KITLife Planner has a new hardcover which feels much like suede. The Team at KITLife call it the Velvet Technique in printing the cover. It has a really cool and smooth texture that make this planner feel so luxe. I absolutely love it and I LOVE that the planner cover is now a hardcover instead of their laminated cover like they have had in previous years. This new hardcover makes the planner much more durable and protects the pages within. The KITLife Planner also comes with a movable dashboard as it did last year. I really enjoyed this option last year, but sadly, my dashboard didn’t last me past the 2 month mark. I’m pretty brutal. But, KITLife made some revisions and now has a very sturdy design that’s perfect for the 2017 planner. I love that it is still easy to move and flexible without being too flimsy. It’s a great addition and I love it.

The planner is smaller in size in comparison to past years. Honestly, I LOVE this because it was a bit cumbersome to take my KIT with me on the go. While I still do not take it with me usually, I love that I have that option should I decide to do so. While it is a bit smaller in size – you still get the same amount of writing space as you did in previous years. The monthly calendar spread also offers the same amount of space for writing which is great.

The Daily pages offer a variety of different options for daily planning. A Checklist that also has a place for daily tracker stickers (available through KITLife), The Big 3 for Top To-Do’s each day, Time Slots from 6am to 8pm for appointments and time management listing, Wellness Tracker (to help keep track of water intake, weight and exercise and Gratitude to list what you are thankful for each day or special events that occurred. Each weekly page also includes a Quote by various people (one of my favorite parts of this planner) and you still get a Doodle Break that is listed on the months that have a spare page before the monthly layout. These doodle breaks are what I use to jot down any notes for the month that I need to reference like conversations on the phone, etc.