In the realm of planners, customization is not just a creative endeavor; it's a powerful tool that can significantly boost your productivity and enhance your mental well-being. Gone are the days of plain, uninspiring planners. Today, we delve into the exciting world of planner customization, exploring innovative ways to personalize your planner and transform it into a hub of productivity and positivity.
The beauty of customization lies in its ability to make your planner uniquely yours. Start by incorporating personalized inserts. Whether it’s habit trackers, meal planning sheets, or goal-setting pages, having dedicated sections tailored to your specific needs keeps you focused and organized.
Productivity Boost: By having all your essential tools in one place, you streamline your tasks and save time hunting for specific information.
Stickers are not just for decoration; they can serve as visual cues, reminding you of important events, deadlines, and goals. Use colorful stickers to highlight key tasks and events, making your planner visually engaging and inspiring.
Mental Health Benefits: Engaging with vibrant visuals and colors can evoke positive emotions, reducing stress and promoting a sense of joy and motivation.
Invest in functional accessories like sticky notes, page markers, and colorful pens. Sticky notes can act as temporary placeholders for important pages, while page markers help you navigate your planner effortlessly. Different colored pens can be used to categorize tasks, enabling easy identification.
Productivity Boost: Functional accessories provide efficiency, allowing you to manage your tasks with precision and clarity.
Incorporate mindfulness and self-care pages into your planner. Dedicate space for gratitude journaling, positive affirmations, or even a daily mood tracker. These pages act as gentle reminders to prioritize self-care and mental well-being amidst your busy schedule.
Mental Health Benefits: Engaging in mindfulness practices fosters a sense of calm, reduces anxiety, and enhances overall mental clarity and focus.
Sprinkle your planner with inspirational quotes. Whether it’s about perseverance, creativity, or self-belief, these quotes can serve as daily motivations, empowering you to tackle challenges and stay focused on your goals.
Mental Health Benefits: Inspirational quotes provide a positive mindset, fostering resilience and encouraging a can-do attitude, essential for mental well-being.
Your planner is more than just a book; it’s a reflection of your aspirations and a catalyst for your dreams. By customizing it with inserts, stickers, and functional accessories, you infuse it with your personality, making it a powerful tool that not only enhances productivity but also nurtures your mental health.
So, let your creativity flow, and watch as your customized planner becomes your trusted companion on your journey to a more organized, productive, and mentally resilient you. Happy planning!
]]>In today's blog post, we're diving into the world of planner hacks and productivity tips. Get ready to discover practical strategies and innovative planner hacks that will revolutionize the way you plan and boost your overall efficiency. Let's get started!
When it feels like there are a million things to do, prioritization becomes essential. Our planners offer various sections and layouts that allow you to categorize your tasks based on importance and urgency. Start by identifying your top three priorities for the day or week. By focusing on these key tasks, you'll ensure that you tackle the most crucial items first and make progress on your goals. Let your planner become your trusted companion for prioritizing with purpose.
2. Embrace Time Blocking:
Time blocking is a powerful technique that helps you allocate specific time slots for different activities. Schedule dedicated blocks of time for tasks, meetings, self-care, and hobbies. Use colored pens or stickers to differentiate between different activities and make your schedule more engaging. By assigning time blocks, you'll maximize your productivity and avoid the trap of multitasking.
3. Harness the Power of Habit Tracking:
Building positive habits is key to long-term success. Our planners feature habit tracking sections where you can note down the habits you want to cultivate. Whether it's exercising, reading, or practicing self-care, mark off each day you successfully complete your chosen habits. As you see your streaks grow, you'll be motivated to maintain your momentum. The habit tracker in our planners will help you stay accountable and celebrate your progress.
Here are some habit trackers we offer!
4. Make Use of Sticky Notes and Page Flags:
Sticky notes and page flags are your secret weapons for flexibility and adaptability in planning. Use them to create temporary reminders, make quick notes, or highlight important sections in your planner. If plans change or tasks need to be rescheduled, simply move the sticky note or flag to the new date or page. These vibrant and practical accessories from our stationery collection will add a pop of color and functionality to your planner.
5. Regularly Review and Reflect:
Effective planning involves regular review and reflection. Set aside time at the end of each week to review your accomplishments, evaluate your progress, and make adjustments for the following week. Our planners offer dedicated sections for reflection, gratitude, and goal-setting. Use these spaces to celebrate your achievements, express gratitude for the positive moments, and set new goals that align with your vision. This practice will keep you motivated, focused, and in tune with your aspirations.
If you got this far in this post...
Congratulations! You've unlocked a treasure trove of planner hacks and productivity tips that will revolutionize your time management skills. By incorporating these strategies into your planning routine, you'll find yourself more organized, efficient, and in control of your busy schedule.
xoxo
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One of the reasons people often fall off the wagon is because they lose sight of their "why." Why did you set your goals in the first place? What motivated you to want to achieve them? Take some time to reconnect with your "why" and remind yourself of the bigger picture. If you haven't done a vision board with all your dreams and goals yet, now it's the time!
Sometimes, the reason we feel lost is because our goals seem too big and overwhelming. To make your goals more manageable, try breaking them down into smaller steps. This will help you make progress and feel more accomplished along the way.
Another reason we often get discouraged is because we encounter unexpected obstacles along the way. To get back on track, it's important to identify these obstacles and come up with a plan to overcome them. This might mean seeking support from friends or family, or simply rethinking your approach to the problem. If you're struggling with mental health, seeing a therapist might help a lot!
When we feel unmotivated, it's easy to fall into negative self-talk and doubt our abilities. To counteract this, try using positive self-talk to remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals. This could be hearing to affirmations first thing is the morning (I love the app Insight Timer for that) or you can write these affirmations and spread all over your place to make it easier to look at them and remind yourself what a badass you are!
Sometimes, the best thing you can do to get motivated again is to take a step back and practice self-care. This might mean taking a break from your goals for a little while and focusing on your mental health and well-being. Remember, taking care of yourself is a crucial part of achieving your goals in the long run.
When you're feeling lost in life, it can be helpful to seek support from others. This might mean talking to a therapist or counselor, or simply reaching out to a friend or family member for support and encouragement. Remember, you don't have to go through this alone.
Once you've identified your goals, obstacles, and support system, it's time to create a plan of action. This might mean creating a schedule or to-do list, or simply outlining the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Having a plan in place will help you stay focused and on track.
Remember, getting back on track is a process, and it's okay to take small steps. Start with something manageable and build from there. By taking small steps, you'll be more likely to stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Finally, don't forget to celebrate your successes along the way. Whether it's a small accomplishment or a big milestone, take time to acknowledge your progress and give yourself credit for your hard work. This will help you stay motivated and energized as you work toward your goals.
I hope this helps and you can find yourself motivated and crushing your goals in no time!
]]>In today's digital age, handwriting seems like a lost art form. With most communication happening on computers or smartphones, the need for good penmanship may seem outdated. However, studies have shown that handwriting is actually good for your brain and can have a positive impact on cognitive development. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of handwriting and share some tips on how to improve your penmanship.
There are several benefits of handwriting that have been backed up by research. For one, handwriting has been shown to improve cognitive development. Writing by hand engages the brain in a way that typing on a keyboard does not. It improves memory retention, comprehension, and creativity.
Handwriting can also help with stress relief. The act of physically writing out your thoughts can have a calming effect on the mind. It's a great way to clear your head and process your emotions.
In addition, handwriting can improve fine motor skills. The small movements required to form letters and words with a pen or pencil can help to develop hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
If you're looking to improve your handwriting, there are a few things you can do to get started. Here are some tips:
Practice, practice, practice. The more you write, the better you'll get. Set aside some time each day to practice your handwriting, even if it's just for a few minutes. It also helps if you have a fabulous journal to use for your practice! Find our journals HERE.
Use the right tools. Make sure you're using a pen or pencil that feels comfortable in your hand. Experiment with different types of pens or pencils until you find one that you like. We offer a wide selection of the cutest pens, have you seen it? If not, click HERE.
Start with the basics. Begin by practicing individual letters and then move on to writing words and sentences. Focus on writing neatly and evenly spaced.
Pay attention to your posture. Sit up straight and make sure your arms are positioned comfortably on the table or desk. This will help you to maintain control over your pen or pencil.
Experiment with different styles. There are many different styles of handwriting to choose from, so don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques until you find one that feels natural to you.
In conclusion, handwriting is good for your brain and can have many benefits for cognitive development, stress relief, and fine motor skills. If you're looking to improve your handwriting, remember to practice regularly, use the right tools, focus on the basics, pay attention to your posture, and experiment with different styles. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can improve your penmanship and reap the many benefits of handwriting.
]]>🎨Decorate with stickers: Stickers are a fun and easy way to add some personality to your planner. You can find stickers that match your interests, such as couture fashion, coffee, or animals. Or you can find stickers to mark special occasions, like birthdays and holidays.
🎨 Use different pens and markers: Experiment with different colors and types of pens and markers to make your planner more visually interesting. Highlighters are also a great way to add color and emphasis to important events or tasks.
🎨 Customize the cover: Give your planner a unique look by customizing the cover. You can use a notebook cover, a favorite piece of fabric or even a photo, to make it stand out. Or purchase a hand made dashboard to add the flair you are looking for.
🎨 Add Inspirational Quotes: Adding quotes to your planner can provide a source of inspiration and motivation throughout the day. You can use a combination of different fonts and colors to make them stand out.
By incorporating these creative ideas, you'll be able to take your planner to the next level and make it truly your own. Not only will it be more visually appealing, but it will also help you to stay organized and motivated. Give it a try, and see how your planner can be a reflection of your personal style and creativity!
XOXO
]]>Color coding: Use different colors to distinguish between different types of tasks or events. For example, you could use one color for work-related tasks and another color for personal tasks. This makes it easy to quickly identify what needs to be done and when.
Prioritization: Place the most important tasks at the top of the list or in a prominent location in the planner. This makes it easy to see what needs to be done first and helps to ensure that you don't miss any important deadlines.
Break down tasks: Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. This makes it less overwhelming and helps to ensure that you stay on track.
Self-care: Use the planner to schedule time for self-care and relaxation. This helps to ensure that you take care of yourself and stay energized throughout the day.
Regular review: Review the planner regularly to ensure that tasks are on track and to make any necessary adjustments. This helps to ensure that you stay on top of things and that nothing falls through the cracks.
Symbols and notation: Utilize different symbols or notation to indicate deadlines, reminders, or other important information. This makes it easy to quickly identify what needs to be done and when.
Long-term goals: Use the planner to track progress on long-term goals. This helps to ensure that you stay focused and motivated.
Different planners for different aspects: Use different planners for different aspects of your life, like work, personal, and school. This helps to keep things separate and organized.
Be flexible: Be flexible and adjust the planner as needed. Life is unpredictable and plans change, so be prepared to adjust your planner as necessary.
Using these hacks, you can make the most out of your physical planner and stay organized, productive and on top of things. Remember to make the planner work for you and not the other way around!
XOXO
]]>I know what you're thinking: you don't need yet another planner once you downloaded ten different productivity apps or habit trackers on your phone. We get it, we're in the digital world now BUT we still have a generation of people (call us old school if you will) that loves to get shit done on our paper planners!
I've tried digital planners, the apps and everything out there in the digital space but for me, there's nothing like a good paper planner. Also, studies say, that you're more likely to accomplish your goals if you actually write them down (not type on a screen) - our memories work its magic when we write our goals and plans on paper instead. Trust me!
I rounded up 5 reason why you should have a new planner for the new year!
1. Increased Productivity and Organization
One of the biggest benefits of using a planner is the increased productivity and organization it can bring to your daily life. By having a designated space to jot down your tasks, appointments, and commitments, you can ensure that you stay on top of your to-do list and don't miss any important deadlines. Plus, the act of physically writing something down can help you commit the information to memory and prioritize your responsibilities.
2. Improved Time Management Skills
In addition to helping you stay organized, using a planner can also improve your time management skills. By scheduling out your day and week, you can better plan how to allocate your time and make the most of every moment. This can be especially useful for those who struggle with procrastination or have a tendency to overbook themselves (aka, me! lol)
3. Enhanced Goal Tracking and Achievement
Another advantage of using a planner is the ability to track your progress towards your goals. Whether it's a short-term goal like finishing a project at work or a long-term goal like saving for a down payment on a house, having a planner can help you break down your objectives into smaller, more manageable tasks and monitor your progress along the way.
4. Stress Reduction and Improved Mental Health
The benefits of using a planner go beyond just productivity and organization. By having a clear plan and structure in place, you can reduce stress and improve your mental health. When you know what needs to be done and when, you can feel more in control of your life and less overwhelmed by the demands on your time.
5. Customization and Personalization Options
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all planners. Today's planners come in a wide range of styles and formats, so you can choose one that best fits your needs and preferences. From traditional bound planners to spiral and discbound, you can find a planner that works for you. Plus, many planners offer the ability to customize and personalize your layout, so you can make it your own and we do it here for you, by the way!
Have you seen our new 2023 planner?
What I love the most about this planner is that it was designed by you, yes, our customers got to choose the layout, cover, and binding through polls we sent on emails and social media. You asked, and we listened! First, this amazing planner, besides being gorgeous, is so functional! With the discbound binding, you can add and remove pages as you go, which means you can use this cover for years to come, you only change the inserts!
In conclusion, investing in a planner for 2023 is a smart choice for anyone looking to boost their productivity, improve their time management skills, track their goals, reduce stress, and customize their planning experience. So why wait? Start the new year off right by investing in a planner that works for you.
]]>Now on to this year's Black Friday deals! We've got some great savings coming your way so whether you are shopping for yourself or finding some gift ideas for loved ones, we've got you covered.
We are bringing back the wheel of discounts. This has been a fan favorite and offers a variety of deals, up to 30% off or FREE SHIPPING! Here's a few suggestions on what to pick up with your stellar deals:
First, get yourself 2023 ready with a new planner! We recently launched our custom planner in both pink and black. This is new and improved from last year's planner and is available in A5 discbound size. We also have our undated academic, business, daily and weekly planners if you prefer one that is spiral-bound. No matter how you plan, with a Fabulous Planner, your future self will thank you!
Another great collection to stock up on before the holidays are our greeting cards. We have a wide variety of holiday greeting cards that are equally sassy and cute. It also would be a great time to stock up on cards for the whole year. We've got you covered from birthdays to thank yous to congratulations to whatever the universe may throw at you.
Next items are available ONLY for the duration of the sale. We're bringing back the mystery bags, so get them while you can. Each mystery kit comes with 10 items for $25. We also are offering the Fabulous Planner Box as surprise kits containing items sent in previous monthly boxes for only $12!!! Either of these will make for a fun surprise gift for yourself or for your loved ones.
Last, surprise sticker packs. These kits will come with 10 sheets for $10. These will make customizing your planner so much fun!
That's a wrap for your 2022 Black Friday gift guide. Every year you blow us out of the water with your support of our little business and we can't wait to see what the community does this year. Again, happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to take that after turkey nap so you're well rested to shop till you drop!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
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The luxury box included a dashboard and inserts for the month as well as a sticky notepad. We'll be focusing on a few key items, along with a few tips and ideas on how to use them.
First, a beautiful set of scrapbook papers. These are just absolutely gorgeous and come with a generous amount so you can create all month long! These are great for scrapbooking or memory keeping all the fun fall memories you have planned (pumpkin patch, fall festival, thanksgiving and more). I also used them on the monthly layout to cover some of the areas I don't always fill out. I paired them with some of the rectangle decorative box stickers to make more free writing space. The last idea I'll leave you with for the scrapbook papers is to cut out individual aspects from them. I did this with a few of the floral designs and the butterfly and it just added an extra layer of cuteness to my planner.
Next, a clear roll of washi tape with a gold leaf pattern. Now I know everybody knows how to use washi tape but I did have a little hack for this one if you struggle to get the backing off. Tape a bit of regular scotch tape (or double sided tape in my case) and apply it on the back of the washi. Try to get in on a corner as this will allow you to peel the backing off much easier. If you are using double sided tape like me, then you have an additional side to use for your next strip of washi tape. Like the scrapbook paper, you can cut out smaller parts of the tape to embellish smaller sections of your planner (you can see an example of this in the last picture included).
Last, we want to hear all about how you used this month's box! Do you have any hacks to share with the community? Or a spread you are super proud of? Share with us on our Instagram or join our Facebook group to show off your beautiful creation!
That's all for now! Thanks for being a part of this wonderful community, each and every one of you is greatly appreciated!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>The August Fabulous Box is here! This month's theme is a book lovers dream and fits in with the busy time of back to school; Fully Booked! We collected all the essentials for this busy season and added in a few fun items to give you this well rounded box. First, we sent out a notepad to help make sure you can plan your days on the go, a transparent grid pad that also doubles as a sticky note, as well as a gorgeous pen to complete the trio. Then we included a multi-pack set of washi tapes, an adorable page saver and a sassy little pin. Last up, we did it again and got you STICKER STICKERS and more STICKERS ❤
This month, we're going to focus on the die cut pack we sent out. With more than 50 stickers, this pack is perfect and has something for every type of book lover out there!
For the Disney lovers:
For the ones who love a good Dad joke:
For the Potterheads:
For the one sassy ones:
And last, for the animal lovers:
As you can see, this pack really does have it all! Don't forget to check out the full set as well as show us your favorite pieces from this month's box on our social medias.
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Hey there, Gorgeous! It’s that time of the month again where we do a quick review of the items shipped out in Julys’ Fabulous Box. Julys’ theme was boho, with a summery twist 🌵. Check out a full unboxing one our Instagram and Tiktok. For now, we’ll just be focusing on a few products.
First up, we’ve got a super practical mini to do list that is also a sticky notepad. This fits perfectly into planner pockets, so it makes for a great everyday edition! We like to use accessories like this to make a rough draft of what to add to our layout/planner.
Next, this stencil with over 60 options. This is a great item, especially for all you bullet journal lovers! It’s a great way to add decoration and practicality to your spread.
Last, a roll of translucent dots in a variety of green tones. These are great addition to your everyday layout to help create lists or even use them to attach other small items to your planner. You also could use these to help create a habit tracker and use the dots as you checking it off for the day ✅.
That’s a wrap babes! Augusts’ box theme is all about books 📚, coffee ☕️, and back to school ✏️. If you want to be the first to know about our themes and new items, follow all our social medias!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Hey there, Gorgeous! We’re back at it with another deep dive into our subscription box. This months' theme was "getaway". I think after these past few years we can all agree, we’re all in need of good destination trip! So even if you can’t travel or you’ve already got your vacation in the books, this box will give you all the vibes of a wonderful, beachy get away!
To kick off this box, we’ve got the dashboards and inserts. These are included in the Luxury Boxes and are customizable to your planner size. We’ve got you set up for the month with 5 weeks worth of inserts that help break your day to day down into 3 sections. Don’t forget to follow us on Tiktok and Instagram to see these in use! We’d also love to see how you customize yours, so don’t forget to tag us.
Next up, we’ve got a few pieces that are perfect for memory keeping and scrapbooking. Truthfully, the whole box can be used to help make each day special, but these 3 pieces are some of the stand outs! We have a 6” x6” scrapbook sheet (various designs we’re sent out to our Luxury Box subscribers). A GIANT set of clear washi inspired stickers. And then, a set of sticker scrapbook die cuts, perfect to jot down the fun details of your month.
These next few can also be used for memory keeping, but they also will definitely help keep your planner fun and organized. We’ve got our custom designed set of 4 stickers. Side note, don’t you wish you could steal their clothes?! They’ve got the cutest, summery fits. Then, another fun pack of die cuts, perfect for the adventurer in all of us! As well as, a gold foil roll of washi tape with an adorable abstract design.
Last, we included a few more functional items to complete the box. To jot all those important details down, we included a crystal pineapple pen. Every time I look at it, it makes me want a refreshing summer cocktail! Also included is a pair of personal sized scissor. And for the final item, an ocean inspired set of sticky notes and flags. This set is so gorgeous, it’ll perfectly double as decor on your desk.
And that’s the box folks! Thanks for checking in with us. Don’t forget to be checking those emails…very exciting things are coming for July!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Hi Gorgeous! Can you believe we’re almost half way through the year? 2022 has been flying by! This week, we’re going to be revisiting the goals we set at the beginning of the year. First, let’s remember some of our favorite moments from the past 6 months. For us, our highlights have been several months of sold out boxes, expanding the team, and co leading Plan to Inspire. We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have made this year what it has been for us! We can’t wait to see where the rest of 2022 will take us 👏
Now, let’s get on to the mid year check in. Where are you at with the goals you set at the beginning of the year? Have you been able to check any of them off? Do some need to be revised or taken off the list completely? Has anything from your vision board happened?
Before you start answering all these questions, take a moment to center yourself and remember that failing is ok! You are only one person and having goals, dreams and ambitions are a wonderful thing! Just because they did not get accomplished the first time around doesn’t mean you aren’t able to refocus and tweak the energy and goal involved.
Once we’re ready, let’s review our accomplishments and see what changes we can make to our plan. Start by checking off the goals you have accomplished. Remember, there might be some goals that you have made progress with, but they might need the entire year to be completed. Don’t forget to congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come!
Next, let’s check in on the goals that you had challenges with. There’s so many reasons why you might not have been able to achieve those goals, so this is a great time to check in and decide if this is something that the current you still wants to achieve. If it isn’t, than cross that bad boy off too! If it is, ask yourself how can I adjust this goal so I can have it accomplished by the end of the year?
One way to help adjust your goal is to break it down into smaller, more attainable goals. It also is helpful to journal or meditate on why they are important to you. One of my favorite quotes is, “ A done something is better than a perfect nothing” (which is a slight variation on a Robert H. Schuller quote). This encourages me to make a little progress here and there rather than be overwhelmed and not try at all.
And there you have it; you’ve set yourself up for the successful rest of 2022! We’ve been working on some big things for the rest of 2022, so don’t forget to subscribe to our social media as well as our email list to be the first ones to hear all about it! As always, thank you for checking in with us and we STILL believe in the power you have to make change!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Hi Gorgeous! This week on the blog we’re going to show you how you can use May's subscription to create fun designs. First, let's talk about what was included for this daisy themed box. This month we gave you STICKERS galore! With a 4 pack of Fabulous Planner stickers, a pack of die cuts and a handy mini book of stickers, we're certain you'll have enough to last you all month long (and then some)! Also included in this box are a set of double ended pastel markers and the cutest daisy pen. Summer is going to be here before you know it, so toss your hair up in a cute messy bun with the scrunchie we sent your way! To wrap this box up, we included a yellow translucent post it pad, an adorable daisy bookmark and a beautiful roll of clear backed washi tape.
Today we’re gonna focus in two products from the box, the daisy pen and the marker set. We’re going to use these to create some fun doodles and try out hand lettering. *Disclaimer* I am still very new to hand lettering so my form isn't perfect, but I think it's great to still be able to share and teach you all what I've learned so far. There are so many different styles and fonts for hand lettering, so I picked one that is easily achievable with the thicker, angled tip side of these markers.
One of the biggest things to remember with hand lettering is that you want to think of this as a drawing you are creating versus writing. Slow and steady will give you best results. With hand lettering, you have two fundamental motions, upstrokes and downstrokes. Upstrokes should have little to no pressure on the marker. If you find you are struggling to get the lines thin, make sure you are picking the marker up in between strokes and you can also adjust how you are holding the marker so you are only drawing with the very tip of the angle. Downstrokes should have a fair amount of pressure, the more pressure the thicker the line will be. Keep in mind, these are markers and not brush pens, so don't go TOO firm with the pressure.
Below you'll see the type of hand lettering you can achieve using these rules, as well as, a break down of the strokes for 'A'. I highly suggest practicing each letter a few times, especially those 'S'! Take these strokes slow and be conscious of wether you drawing an up or down stroke so you can have the best accuracy. Again, I'm still learning, so I'll be the first to admit, my 'S' still needs a lot of help, but I'm not going to let that stop me from creating and enjoying this skill!
Next up, the doodle portion of the design. Pick up the daisy pen and flick it around like a magical fairy wand (oh was that only me?). Now you're ready to doodle. I don't think this requires a lot of explanation. The most important part is to keep it simple and let it be imperfect. Personally, I think the funky and slightly off bits add so much more character. Just have fun and see what comes naturally to you. Here are a few example of some super easy one anyone can do.
Here’s the super fun part, we’re gonna bring the two together. Begin with the hand lettering. Keep in mind what you're creating this on, if you're using blank or drawing paper, don't be afraid to bring out a pencil and ruler to sketch out where you plan on putting your design and letters. I actually love to do this in my bullet journal or grid section of my planner. It really helps with scaling out the design. In the example shown below, you'll see I wrote several words, but start with whatever you're comfortable with. When I first started, I typically liked to pick one word that embodied my mantra for the week. Next, frame your hand lettering with some of the doodles you practiced. I made a curved floral vine and added sets of flowers at the top. Last, add some final embellishments and doodles.
And there you have it, your own custom little design! Now that wasn't too hard, right?! As always, we’d love to see what you create with this box, so don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. If you aren't already subscribed to our monthly box, CLICK HERE sign up ... here's a sneak peak at the upcoming theme.
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Hello Gorgeous,
Welcome back to the blog! This week we are discussing March's subscription box. We've got a fun and whimsical theme headed your way just in time for Spring. So brew yourself your favorite cup of tea and get ready to check out the goodies. ☕️
Items included this month are a pair of scrapbook pages, a coloring page, a habit tracker notepad and colored flags. As well as, a pen, a roll of washi tape in an adorable boba print, 1 of an assortment of enamel pins and a tea packet. And of course, a 4 pack of stickers and pack of vintage Alice in Wonderland die cuts. Some of my favorites for the month are the coloring page, die cuts and the scrapbook pages. Let's take a closer look!
First up, the coloring page. Isn't this such a fun item to include!? It really takes me back to my childhood and is so reminiscent of simpler times. Personally, I LOVE to sit back and color. It's a great way to unwind from a stressful day or take some time to just be unplugged from the world. This sheet is 5" x 7" and printed on thick paper. Most mediums can be used to color it in, such as crayons, markers or colored pencils. Once you color yours in, snap a pic and post it to your Instagram stories and tag us! We want to see your creations! 📸
Next up, are these STUNNING vintage art style Alice in Wonderland Die Cuts. These are perfect to spruce up your planner or decorate your inserts for the month. A few of my favorites are the mushrooms, the "drink me" stickers and the rabbits (I mean who DOESN'T like rabbits? 🐇 ). I plan on using the "drink me" die cuts to remind myself about my water intake.
Last but certainly not least, we're checking out the scrapbook papers. These measure 4"x 6". I personally like to use these a bit differently than they are intended. I use them as "snail mail" to check in with friends and family. The red themed page I am planning on sending to a friend with a packet of our favorite tea and requesting a face time date so we can catch up. The blue themed page I am using as a birthday card for a friend. I find hand written notes are a great way to show you care and that you are taking some of your time to think of them.
And that's all for now folks! Thanks for taking the time to check out a few of our favorite for this months' box. As always, we'd love to hear from you about what your favorite items are so don't forget to tag us on Instagram or join the Facebook group. One final note, we just want to say THANK YOU for supporting our small business, it means the world that you choose to support us and our brand!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>It’s been almost 2 weeks since Go Wild SoCal happened and while it was a BLAST, I can definitely say, I’m still recovering from it (probably because I’m an introvert). If you don’t know what Go Wild is, it’s a huge Planner Party (yes, you heard that right!) that gathers everyone that loves planners, stickers and stationery in general. Welcome to our crazy club!
I’ve always wanted to attend one but never had anyone to go with me and they were all in other states. I also would think about how expensive that would be: tickets + flights + hotel and everything else. Tickets cost close to $500, which is a little pricey in my opinion, but between all the speakers, events and goodies it was worth it to purchase when it came to my neck of the woods. So I had no excuse and decided to jump right in. It was now or never, right?! Or so I thought….
The party was first scheduled for 2020 and as we all know, covid knocked it off course. After being rescheduled, we finally got to get our planner party on! I’ve gotta say, wow… it was THE PARTY!!! I will admit, it was a bit much for my introverted self, but there were so many highlights. I loved meeting so many customers and people from the planner community that I hadn’t been able to connect with in real life. I even got to meet THE Alicia Silverstone (Cher from the movie Clueless) ☺ my all time idol since I was a kid!
This is where I give you all the ins and outs of this event, so grab a drink or snack and let’s talk about all things GO WILD! I’ll start with the beginning of the event weekend, the Shop Summit.
SHOP SUMMIT
The Shop Summit is a full day of workshops about business, sales, marketing and a lot of inspirational talks that help to light that fire in you and your business! This year, we had Stephanie Fleming from Happy Planner with the best motivational, “you can do anything” talk! Followed by Lameka Alston from Capitol Chic Designs. She spoke about her journey, which included how she got started and how she got her line at Michaels. Her talk gave us some really great insights, especially in regards to the “behind the scenes” of the industry and included a lot of information that people don't typically freely give out.
Then, we had Brooke from BBBrooke sharing her licensing story with Disney. For me, this was the most inspirational talk because I always thought that in order to license a big brand like Disney, you had to be a big company, and that wasn’t her case back then. It solidified that when you really want something and give it your all, you will always find a way to make it happen! As well as, there is opportunity for everyone, you just need to know where and how to find it. One of my biggest takeaways was the meaning of FAIL. “First Attempt In Learning”. That blew my mind! Sometimes we want to give up when something doesn’t go our way and we think we failed, but really that was just the first attempt.
After lunch we had a networking session where we asked our table mates about their businesses, goals, and such. This was then followed by a not so sexy session about Small Business Law. That’s the part of business we never want to deal with but in the end we have to. It consisted of talking about why businesses need an LLC and other requirements.
To finish the day, we had a workshop with Lauryn Wang from the Go Wild team about digital marketing tools and, in my opinion, it was my favorite session of the day. Although I already knew most of the tools she presented for social media management, she gave us so much information in such an easy way to understand. It definitely was the session I took the most notes on. All in all, the Shop Summit left me with so much information. Now onto the GO WILD experience!
THE GO WILD EXPERIENCE
The event started on Thursday with a welcome party sponsored by Krissyane Designs. My favorite part was the karaoke! My least favorite parts were the lines to get a drink and the fact that it was SO COLD (the party was held outside, likely due to COVID). But alas, we got through those drink lines and they helped warm us up and get our dance party on! They also had the cutest cupcakes!
The sessions started super early at 8am on Friday. I was so happy to be sponsoring a table at the event which meant I could get into the ballroom before the storm of guests and allowed me to find a fun table to sit at. I overheard that people were lining up at 2am in order to get in first and sit at a nice table. Once I got my sneak peak, I understood the excitement.
THE FABULOUS PLANNER SPONSORED TABLE
Trust me when I say this, some of these tables were TO DIE FOR!!! I’d like to think my table was one of those lol I heard great comments from everyone that sat in my sponsored table. My theme for the table was Barbie and all things PINK! Very on brand, don’t you think? Part of my reasoning for this theme was it originally was going to align with the subscription box for that month, but due to COVID the box came out prior to the event being held. So, the million dollar question, what was in the box?! Let me tell you, SO MANY THINGS! It included nearly everything in pink that I stock, with highlights such as our 2022 planner, notepads, a Go Wild pouch, and STICKERS, STICKERS, STICKERS…did I mention there were some stickers? The list goes on and on but that is just some of the highlights of what I was able to offer for my table.
Now you might ask what table I sat at? I got to be at the table sponsored by Zebra Markers and Highlighters and OMG!!! I have never seen so many pens! I got the full set up and I’m so happy about it! I even ended up gifting some of it to a friend. I definitely feel like I hit the jackpot with my table choice.
Here are some other sponsored tables that I saw!
After all the excitement of the picks at the table, it was time for the party to start! We had so many good speakers on stage, while I hadn’t heard of everyone, by the end of the talks I had some new people to look up to! My favorite speaker from Friday’s session was Cindy Baldo. She spoke a lot about how to find joy in the little things in life and that spoke to me on so many levels. I absolutely hate doing house chores but she made me see that differently. She gave examples on how to find joy and reward yourself while doing the chores. It was great! The sessions went on until about 1:30pm and then we had the afternoon off.
Friday night we had the Wild Crop, which I think it’s a new thing for Go Wild. The Fabulous Planner also had a sponsored table for this portion of the event. We had all sorts of freebies ranging from stickers, washi tapes, journals, pens and even notepads. The Wild Crop was actually WILD! It was a little chaotic, but I think anytime you have such a huge crowd (about 1600 people) it’s really hard to keep it organized.
Then, on Saturday it was a half day of sessions again, closing with the keynote conversation with Alicia Silverstone. She spoke about her vegan life and how important it is to have good nutrition and a balanced life. While all the sessions on Saturday were amazing, I was just SO excited to see Alicia! When she got off the stage, I ran to her and asked for a picture. I also gave her one of our planners and a handwritten note. I was on cloud 9; it was a childhood dream coming true! Unfortunately, I had to leave right after that so I wasn’t able to go to Planjama but I heard it was a blast too!!
IT’S A WRAP
My final remarks are that while it was a bit of an overwhelming event for me (re: due to being an introvert), it was such a great way of connecting with our great community! I do think that I would have preferred for the workshop to be one entire day, rather than be split into two half-day sessions. Or move the sessions to the afternoon because it was pretty brutal to be hanging out so late and then getting up at 7am the next day. That’s just my opinion and I will admit, I’m not much of a morning person. I do think the event needed a bit more structure because there were a few hiccups here and there, but overall, it was a super fun experience.
The best part of Go Wild, is that no matter how shy or introverted you are, you will make tons of friends! Everyone is super friendly and in the best mood possible. It was a great event to network and make new friends, so make sure to bring tons of contact cards. They also had so many fun attractions like a photo booth and vendor booths.
From a business perspective, I’m really happy I paid for the licensing and sponsored a table. The exposure you get as a business is insane and I got to meet so many people that had no idea that The Fabulous Planner existed! Also, every time I released a Go Wild collection it sold out very quickly. Totally worth it!
It was a great event overall, I really enjoyed meeting so many people that also enjoy all the things that I do! I’m almost positive I would go again (it would depend on the location). Let me know on Instagram (check out the Go Wild highlights on our page) or on the Facebook group if you’ve been to one of the Go Wild parties and what you thought about it?
]]>Let’s start with how to create positive affirmations. First, access your negative self talk, what are the things that pop up in your mind thorough the day or week? For example, “UGH, I’m such a failure, I can never get everything done”. Once you’ve settled on the negatives you want to flip, you will word them in a positive, opposite manner. You’ll want to keep these statements short and simple. As well as, begin with “I” or “My”. Avoid saying “I want” or “I need”. You’re going to be repeating these statements throughout the day, so make sure they are written in the present tense in a similar manner to the example below.
Now that we have created our affirmations, how will we utilize them? The most common way, is to repeat them throughout your day. Think of this as a form of meditation or a few moments to check in with yourself. Start off with repeating your affirmations twice a day for a few minutes at a time. The key is to make sure you are being consistent, so make a plan and stick with it. Another way to utilize them is to put them around common places you visit, such as a vanity, in your car, in your phone etc. You want to be revisiting these words to give them the power to reshape your thoughts.
Another thing I like to do, is when the affirmations don’t seem to be working, take some time to yourself and journal on it. Ask yourself the important questions. Why is this true? Why is this important to me? Does my affirmation need to be worded differently? You can be surprised by the insight you gain from a bit of journaling!
If you’d like a little extra inspiration, I highly suggest checking out Morgan Harper Nichols on Instagram. She’s an autistic artist and writer who creates wonderful, uplifting posts. We want to close this one out by saying, we believe in your power to create and plan for the life you want!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>We're saying goodbye to January by taking another deep dive into the Fabulous Box subscription. This month's theme is "C'est la vie", it's all about the romance of traveling in Paris. Get ready to freshen up on your French, visit famous destinations such as Champs Elysee and fall in love with all this January's box has to offer!
We will be focusing on a few key products including the ones that are exclusively in the Luxury Box. The biggest difference between the Luxury and the Classic Boxes is that you get inserts and a laminated dashboard that are handmade. We encourage you to check out our exact offerings, but there are multiple sizes for both ring-bound and disc-bound planners. To begin, we have the laminated dashboard which depicts the glamor of a Paris coffee house!
*size shown is disc-bound Happy Planner*
Next up are the planner inserts. These really allow you to get down to the nitty gritty of planning and are a great way to incorporate some of the other products included in this month's box (such as the washi tape, stickers and pen). There are generous sections for each day of the week as well as sections dedicated to ideas and goals.
*size shown is disc-bound Happy Planner*
To capture the romance of Paris, we included a card to send to a loved one. This Valentine is perfect to send to your best gal pal, mother or partner. This card is an A2 size (4.25 inches by 5.5 inches) and printed on matte paper #120. It is blank inside to allow you to send it to anyone you choose. If you love this one, be sure to check out our new collection of greeting cards that just launched!
Last, but certainly not least is a face mask. This mask has Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract which is an antioxidant-rich ingredient that helps hydrates and soothe skin. As well as Lemon Fruit Extract which is an ingredient packed with Vitamin C to help promote a brighter complexion. Pop on this mask when you are in need of a little TLC and self care and it will surely brighten your day. We sure hope you love this because next month's theme is all about self care!
That's all we have for you for now, but don't forget to check out our social media to see even more of the products in action from the January Box!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>Let’s start with why we need to set goals at all. Goals help us make concrete plans to curate our wildest hopes and dreams. Without goals, we end up not knowing where to focus our attention and direction. But why should we plan for them? Well, goals that are then written are 42% more likely to be achieved than those that are not. From personal experience, I spent many years saying I wanted to achieve certain things but not much ever changed. Instead of being discouraged by my failed attempts, I began putting my hopes and dreams to paper so they could help me take action! This was the missing piece I needed to make it happen. It’s been very empowering to plan for the life I want and I love to be able to look back on how much has changed, all because of setting goals.
We’re going to start our goal setting with dreaming big! Anything and everything is valid. Use an open section of your planner or journal to THINK BIG. Once you’ve got all those down, begin to sort though them and determine if they are SMART:
SPECIFIC- impactful on your life.
MEASURABLE - important to you or your overall wellness.
ATTAINABLE - can be achieved by making manageable changes.
REALISTIC - achievable or rewarding.
TIMELY - trackable and broken down in a manageable time period.
This theory came from George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham in their 1981 article, “There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives”. Using this tool, we’re going to either filter out some of those dreams or fine tune them. For example, I want to commit to having better spending habits. Without a plan or goal in mind, I might find it difficult to take any action. Keeping SMART in mind, I might make a few goals such as:
All of these are great actions to help me with the overall goal of having better spending habits. These are very close to fulfilling SMART guidelines. But need a bit more fine tuning. Let’s try it once more:
I now have a clear direction for the year on how I will spend my money more wisely. Now this guideline isn’t the end all be all of goal setting. Some might prefer a different approach. We’re still going to DREAM BIG, just as we did in the previous method. Brainstorm all those ideas and break them down by category.
Once we have an idea of what these goals and dreams relate to, we can pick the ones we want to work on. Some of your goals might be so big they might take more time. See if you can break them down into smaller goals for the foreseeable future, such as only what’s attainable for 2022. Next, ask yourself, what are the most important ones for this year? I personally like to pick one goal from each category for the whole year. Highlight, underline or do whatever you may need to show yourself these are the most important for you to achieve. Now, you’re going to take those goals and break them down even further to create some actions. For this example, we’ll go with the health category. Let’s say I want to lose 25 pounds. What are some actions I can plan that will help me achieve that goal? I’m also going to consider what the timeframe is that I’d like to complete this by.
I’ve decided I want to lose 25 pounds in year. That means I would need to lose about half pound per week. Here’s how I plan to do that:
As you can see again, I’ve created clear, concise actions for how I will achieve my goal of losing weight. These of course are just a few guidelines to help you get your goals achieved. But if they’re still not for you, that’s ok! For those of you who have different methods, we’d love to hear from you about your favorite ways to set your goals. You can post in our Facebook group or share a story on your Instagram and tag us in it! With all that said, we here at the Fabulous Planner believe each and every one of you is a goal-getter!
XOXO,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>We’re kicking it off with a reintroduction of the Fabulous Planner Boxes. Every month, we release a themed subscription box that includes products to help keep your planners organized and fabulous. There are two types of boxes available. The Classic Box includes 9-10 products that are functional for any type of planners. The Luxury Box includes all previously stated products as well as a dashboard and insert(s) that are customized to the size your planner. We’ll be reviewing the Classic Box but if you’d like to see what the Luxury Box has to offer, check out our Instagram!
This past months theme was, “This is My Year” and included so many goodies to help prepare for the year to come. First up, is a 4 pack of stickers which include 60 images to help guide you to the 2022 of your dreams. Next, a beautiful rose gold and tiffany blue pen with floral and gem accents. A must need to get all those goals down! Then, to help you accentuate any day, a roll of washi tape. This comes in a nude pink with a highly reflective print which has the days of the week. 🚨 NEW PRODUCT ALERT!🚨 This next one is a washi tape cutter. Simply clip the cutter around the washi tape and gently pull up. My perfectionism is giving this newbie heart eye! 😍
Up next, a pastel set of sticky flags/bookmarks. These are great to mark where you left off or a colorful way to keep a project organized. Keeping on with the pastel tones, we have a 5 pack of gel pens. These are fine tipped and write OH-so-smoothly! I’m absolutely in love with the tones offered. 🔥 HOT TIP 🔥 if you like to color code your planner or projects: pair the pastel flags with the gel pens to get organized in the cutest way possible.
Next up in the spot light, is this cutesy heart planner charm. This is offered in an assortment of colors. Fingers crossed that your fav color is featured! Staying on theme with all things adorable, we’ve got these lovely rose push pins. These are great to use for those vision boards. Last but certainly not least, we have a pack of die cut quotes. With over 30 options, these will give you all the sass and inspiration you need to get this year done right.
If you’re ready to receive a fun box full of surprises every month, now’s your chance! To subscribe, simply use the link below to order your box. Limited quantities available, so only while supplies last.
That’s all we’ve got for you this week but here’s a little sneak peak for next weeks blog:
Xoxo,
The Fabulous Planner
]]>This week, and who I am kidding, this whole year has gone by so fast! Fall is in the air, pumpkin spice everything is back, and Halloween decor is starting to pop up in the stores.
As we head into the Fall season, it made me think about my routines, which is why I wanted to talk about that for this week because while I like to be spontaneous here and there, I definitely like to stick to a routine, or try at least 🙈. And there’s something about August that seems like it’s a new year, but I think that’s because I have always associated that month with a new school year. I know there’s a few months left of 2021, but I’d like to get the most out of this year and live my best life.
I don’t know about you, but I could use a refresh, and to be completely honest, I have fallen off the wagon with keeping up with my routines. My intention was to start off my mornings with some meditation followed by some light yoga, but, instead I hit the snooze button. I got into the habit of hitting that snooze button over and over and just didn’t follow through with my plans. So, I know this is something I need to work on.
The way I plan on doing my routines is by keeping it basic and setting a morning routine, and a night routine. The next part is the part that I tend to struggle with, which is keeping track of my time. For example, when I’m at home, I don’t keep track of how long it takes me to clean a certain room or area of the house, I just do it until it’s all cleaned. However, I know I could solve this problem by simply noting down the time I start cleaning and the time I finish cleaning and then see how long it took me. By doing this, I can see not only how long it took me, but I can also plan out that chunk of time for a future date the next time I need to clean a room or another area. And keeping track of time could be done for any activity, whether it’s working out, organizing a room, or making dinner, etc.
For example, if it took me 45 minutes to clean the bathroom, then I can look at the hourly section in my planner and see where I have time to fit this in the day. If my morning hours are booked up, and I don’t have time in the evening, but I see that my afternoon is free, then I can write in that hourly section. Not only does this help me plan my days better, but it helps me see how long a task takes. This also helps me with my routines because when I note how long it takes me to do a certain task, I can then adjust my routines to fit my schedule.
Happy Planning, we hope this helped you.
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In digital planning, you can use your phone (iPhone/Android) or tablet, like an iPad and even a desktop. You can use them to plan as you would on paper, like your planner. Depending on which device you are using, you can either “write” by using an Apple pencil on the iPad. Or you can also type on the planner too.
And just like with regular planners, there are also many digital planners to choose from. For example, you can choose from a daily/weekly/monthly planner, finance planner, teacher planner, fitness/health planner etc.
It’s important to note that when using devices like an iPad or desktop, you have to make sure that when you purchase a digital planner, it is compatible with your device. Through researching digital planners, I have found that some digital planners need the “GoodNotes” or “Notability” app to function.
The “GoodNotes” and “Notability” app are note taking apps and must be downloaded into the electronic device you’re using to download and access the digital planner because the digital planners come with “hyperlinks” that you can click on throughout your use of the planner to go back and forth through the “pages,” which makes it easy to navigate.
When clicking on the hyperlinks, they take you to a certain spot in the planner. For example, in the digital planner pictured below, if you were to click on one of the days in the highlighted section, it would take you straight to the daily page of that particular day that was selected. This feature makes it easy to go through monthly/weekly/daily sections, instead of having to flip through pages.
Digital planners also come in different formats, like vertical or horizontal. And some, like the one pictured above, are realistic looking to a real planner with the coiled rings and tabs on the side.
Stay tuned for next week as we talk about the benefits of digital planning!
Being new to planning can be fun, but it can also feel overwhelming in trying to figure out which size is best to use for our needs. This is why I decided to look over the planners I have used and to share a little bit about them and what my experience has been using these various sizes. So, sit back, relax, and let’s get this going!
If you are just starting out on your planner journey or are wanting to try a new size, but aren’t sure, then read on. There are so many people trying new sizes, so we thought it would be a good idea to go over several planner sizes for you and show you the ins and outs. We have a blog that goes over most of the planner sizes very briefly, but this one will provide more details.
Pictured below is the pocket planner from our collection, which comes in several colors.
Pocket size is also known as “A7” size, or “PM” if you’re using the Louis Vuitton
agenda.
The pocket size measurements are 5.75″ x 4.20″
The pocket planner comes with 6 rings that can range between sizes (depending on what
you will be using it for).
The pocket planner is one of the smaller planners in the planner sizes. It is known for being compact and easy to carry, because it can fit practically anywhere, and makes it easy to travel with.
Because this planner is small, it can best be used for those who do not have much to do throughout the day, or do not have to write down a lot of information, since the pages have a limited amount of space to write in, as you can see below.
It’s also important to keep in mind that because there is a limited amount of space in this planner, you have to keep the most important/most used inserts.
For example, depending on the ring size, it may not allow you to put a full years’ worth of all the monthly and all of the weeklies, so you may need to decide whether you want to keep a years’ worth of monthlies and half a years’ worth of monthlies etc.
As mentioned earlier, the size of the rings can vary. Some planners come with 15mm, 19mm, 20mm, 25mm, or 30mm size rings.
In some planners you can easily switch out the rings yourself, and in others, you may need to do a little bit more of adjustments.
You may need to experiment with ring sizes to figure out which ones work best with your planning style and needs.
My thoughts and experiences on the POCKET size:
Personally, I found that this planner was best used as an on-the-go planner that carried my grocery list, an inventory list of necessary items, such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste etc, an order tracker, and a list of items that I needed from other stores like Target, Costco etc.
When I first got into planning, I would get A6 and personal sizes confused, because they are a bit similar in height. However, they do have their differences.
Personal sized planners are also called “medium” sized planners. (Louis Vuitton also names this size as “mm”).
Personal size measurements are: 95mm x 171mm or 3.75” x 6.75.”
Pictured below is our personal sized planner, which is available to purchase and comes in this pretty pink and gorgeous lavender color. The measurements for this planner are 7.2” x 4.20”. This planner comes with 6 rings. And there is also a gap in the middle of the rings (to separate the top and bottom rings, as you can see in the bottom right picture).
The rings in some personal sized planners can be changed to your liking, depending if you want to choose a certain color and size.
In looking at the measurements, you can see that personal size is narrow compared to other planner sizes. Depending on your planner style, this may or not suit your needs. One planner hack that has been seen on IG is that you can use A6 sized paper in your personal planner. The trick is that you print A6 sized inserts, but you have to punch the inserts to fit in a personal sized planner, this is because even though A6 and personal size planners have 6 rings, the measurements are a little bit different. In this way, you can still carry around a personal sized planner, but use a different insert that works best for you.
One of the reasons many people like personal size is because it’s also portable,
functional, and easy to carry around.
My thoughts and experiences on the Personal size:
Personally, I found personal size a bit too narrow for my needs. While I loved the fact that I could take it with me everywhere and it fit in most of my purses, I didn’t like that I kept running out of room when I was writing. Because I was using this planner as my main planner and everyday carry, I felt like I didn’t have enough space. Perhaps this size could work for me if I was using it to make lists, like for example, a grocery list, where I could just jot things down and write one word like “apples,” “bananas,” “strawberries” and not necessarily “plan” in this size, since I tend to run out of room when writing from left to right.
BONUS: there are personal wide planners out there, and we will go over that size. Stay tuned.
In ring planners for personal wide size, the measurements are typically 4.75 in. x 6.75 in. or 121 x 171 mm.
Some personal wide planners have 6 rings like the regular personal sized planner. The ring size is the same for both of these planner sizes. Like the other previous planners we have discussed, depending on the planner itself and the ring mechanics, you can switch out the rings to your liking (whether it’s a different color, or ring size). So, you are able to change rings in both of these planners if you are not using one at the moment. For example, if you have a regular personal sized agenda and you are not using it at the moment, you can switch those rings to the personal wide planner.
The personal wide size has also been called a “B6 size.” As mentioned in its name, “Personal” wide has the same height as the regular personal size. The main difference between personal wide size and personal size, is that personal wide has a bit more room in the width; which is why it’s called “personal wide.” Whereas personal size is a bit narrower.
In the first pic below you can see how the pages of the personal size are narrower than the ones on the right side of the personal wide size.
I like to think that personal wide is in the middle between pocket size and the next size up, which is A5. I feel like personal wide gives you the perfect amount of space without it feeing overwhelming.
My thoughts and experiences on the Personal Wide size:
Personal wide size feels like the perfect size because it has plenty of space, and you won't feel like you’re running out of room when writing. Like I mentioned before, trying out personal size felt like I was running out of room when I was using it as my main planner where I stored my weekly and monthly inserts. I had seen several people use personal wide planners, and they looked so good. (Leave it to IG to make you want to try a whole new planner system lol).
Personal wide planners are also portable and can fit in a medium sized purse or bag. I think this is another reason why I like the size of this planner. I love that I can take it with me, without having to sacrifice which purse or bag I will be taking with me, because I know that this planner will fit.
This is one of the larger planner sizes. The A5 size measures 148 x 210mm or 5.8 x 8.3”
The A5 size is also called the “GM” size in Louis Vuitton, and they share the same
measurements.
Below is a picture of our business planner, which is in the A5 size. And on
the right is a picture of our motivational quote planner’s, which are also in A5 size. We have additional A5 planners for purchase as well on our website.
Sometimes I just like to go through the different items I have and see how beautiful they are. I truly appreciate each and every item I own. I especially love going through my sticker books to see all of the different kinds of stickers I have. (There are some that are just too cute to use, so I leave them in the sticker book).
When I was looking through my pen collection, I found some Hello Kitty ones dated from 1998! And yes, some of them still work lol. I keep these pens because it’s a bit of nostalgia and also because they are cute.
It’s also fun to take a look at the different ways that we plan in our planners. I enjoy going through IG to see how you use our products. I like to think that our products, like the sub boxes for example, are a collection of their own. They are special products that we have curated just for you. And, I also like how no two planners are ever alike because we each have our own different styles.
I know what you’re thinking, “do you even use all of the items you own?” – and yes, I do, well as much as I can anyway. There are days where its busy, and a notepad and pen suffice, but I like to make it pretty with a few stickers too. I try to use everything I have in different ways. For example, not only do I use stickers in my planner, I use them in notebooks too.
Tag us on IG with your stationery collections. We’d love to see them and feature them on our IG stories.
Until next time,
xoxo
Daisy
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On the other hand, mental illnesses can be bipolar disorders, depression, and anxiety (just to name a few).
Sometimes life can seem like it is just too much, and we just need a second to breathe. Living life day to day can also seem like one big blur and we may not take the time to reflect or take care of ourselves. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a student, a parent, business-owner, etc., life can get busy and we may become overwhelmed with what we have going on.
This is why I believe it is important to take time for ourselves to regroup. I’ve heard people say “Mental health is so important” – and while it sounds like such a simple statement, it’s true. Mental health gives us the ability to think logically and rationally. Mental health allows us to balance our emotions. Mental health sets the standards as to how we want to be treated, as well as setting the boundaries we don’t want crossed.
As a former student, I remember feeling so mentally drained and stressed out. Working and going to school was a lot, and I barely had any time for myself – let alone to hang out with my friends. However, one day I decided that I needed to pay attention to how my body was reacting to the stress and the ways that I could combat it. Long story short. I found out that working out and spending time with my friends helped reduce my stress. I realized that working out made me feel not only better about myself, but I was able to think better too.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that when things aren’t going my way, I still have my health to be thankful for. And when I do have those moments where I feel sad, or any type of anxiety, I stop what I'm doing, and I get a good workout in. Once my workout is over, I'm feeling much better.
While people go through their own experiences, it is important to know how you can help someone going through a hard time, or how you yourself can benefit from some resources.
You can text “HOME” to 741741 for free – they offer 24/7 crisis counseling.
Get some fresh air – take a walk or hike
Check in with your friends or your loved ones
If you need additional health, please call the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
As part of your daily routine, you can check your list of to-do’s and fill out your habit tracker.
Just like planning, while it’s tempting to copy someone else’s planner routine – it is ultimately up to you to figure out and decide what works for your planning style. For example, if someone’s monthly planner routine includes taking out old inserts (because they have a ring style agenda); but you have a coiled agenda – it won’t necessarily work for you.
This is why it’s important to note how you use your planners. For example, if you use your planner to track your fitness goals and other health information, you may need to update your health information daily (if you are taking medication for example).
Another example of a planner routine is checking your monthly calendar for any
meetings or birthdays, and then transferring those events into your weekly spread.
These planner routines serve as a gentle reminder as to how you will delegate your planning style in terms of the steps you will have to do in order to make your planner work for you.
Samantha from @ sammysplanner on IG, has a fantastic freebie for planner routines. (Click on her handle to head on over to her LinkTree account to download). She offers vertical and horizontal layouts, as well as some blank layouts so you can fill out the cards as you see fit.
Below is an example of the template she provides. You can choose to cut these into cards and put them inside the pockets of your planner or simply print the entire sheet out and use it as s reference as necessary.
Make sure to tag us and @sammysplanner if you use her template.
That's all for this week! Feel free to message or email me if you have any suggestions for blog posts or need help with anything.
xoxo
Daisy Martinez
]]>Welcome to this week’s topic on planner funk. But, what is a “planner funk”?
Generally, a planner funk is a phase in which we are feeling like our planners, or our planning systems are no longer serving us in the ways in which they did before. (Definition is my own).
Once in a while, this happens to the best of us.
For a while, maybe like a couple of weeks, I was feeling this planner funk. I enjoy planning, it’s one of my favorite hobbies. I love to plan. I love everything about my planners, using the available space I have to put cute deco cards, dashboards, dividers, stickers and sticky notes, among other stationery things, but something was missing. My planner wasn’t giving me what I needed to get out of it, and I suddenly felt unmotivated to use it.
But I wasn’t alone. Many of us felt it when COVID began and our lives were changing drastically and so too went our plans. Life slowed down. Being forced to stay home made me rethink my entire planner system, the planner size I grew accustomed to using, and no longer needing and EDC.
And that’s okay. Planners are meant to help us stay on track and focused. They are supposed to work for us, not against us. They’re a tool to help us throughout the day, to keep lists, or jot down things to reference for later, to remind us to call our loved ones, to keep track of our finances, etc.
So, what should you do if you are also on the planner funk boat?
First of all, stay off social media, or at least your planner account for a week. This helps because in this way, you are not easily influenced by others. While it can be helpful to get ideas from others, your planner should tailor to your needs first.
Step 1
Take a moment to look through your current planning system and see what it is about this planner or planning system that is no longer working for you.
For example, maybe the size is too big, because you are finding that you do not have as much to do. -In this case, you can try a smaller planner size. If you have an A5, you can try personal size.
Step 2
Reflect on the things you have to do throughout your day that are important and any other priorities you may have.
For example, (school) classes, making dinner, working, etc.
Step 3
Print freebies! Try before you buy! There are a ton of amazing freebies that you can print and test out the size before you fully commit to buying a new planner.
Schedule the things from Step #2 in a mock-up version of your planner in a new size and see how they fit. In this way, you can see if going down a planner size is the right choice for you.
There is no one-size fits all answer. Sometimes all we have to do is change the rings in our planners because 19 mm is too small, so we add 25- or 30-mm rings. Maybe the solution is to not downsize but change the cover. Maybe we want to try dated inserts versus undated. Or maybe all we need is different deco and washi tapes. Maybe spiral-bound will work for a work planner.
Whatever it is, make sure your planner works for you and your lifestyle.
]]>While organizing might not seem like the most fun activity in the world, it can help make you feel like one of the most put-together person in the world. All you need is a good attitude, some music, and a plan to attack the mess, oh, and maybe a second cup of coffee. Nespresso, anyone?
Have you ever heard of the saying, “A place for everything, [and] everything in its place,” by Benjamin Franklin? That’s one of the philosophies in organization that I use to help keep me stay organized. Essentially, all of the possessions you have, have a “home” and are stored in a place where it belongs. For example, planners are kept on top of your planner cart and stickers are stored in a sticker album.
Let’s begin! Put on some lo-fi hip hop music (for that calming effect), grab a couple sticky notes, a pen, and some boxes.
On the sticky notes, we are going to label each with:
- Keep
- Donate
- Recycle
- Toss
Then, we are going to stick each sticky note onto a box, so we know what goes where and makes for an easier clean-up process.
I know what you’re thinking, organizing can be tedious and such a taxing chore, or you don’t know where to get started. However, once you start, it just gets easier.
Maybe you prefer the Marie Kondo method, where you gather all of your belongings together by categories (ex. books, clothes, toys, etc.) and place them in one pile, then go through each item and ask yourself whether it sparks joy. If the item does spark joy, you keep it. However, if it does not spark joy, then you put it in a separate pile.
While the Marie Kondo method can be time consuming, you can simply start by going through the dreaded junk drawer, and then gradually move on to each room in the house as you are singing to your favorite song. And before you know it, it’s an organization party!
Also, is it just me, but I feel like there's something calming and therapeutic about cleaning. It’s this process that helps us feel good. I enjoy organizing everything in my home. You need a wrench, I got you. You need a band-aid, I got you. Or how about some tape? I have that too. I love knowing where things are in my home so that I can access them faster. And it saves you from having that mini panic attack when you can’t find your keys lol.
And to take it a step further, we can also add labels to our boxes or containers. This way, we know what is in the containers, and makes it easier to find the items we need. (And you won’t mistake the salt for your sugar – yes, that happens when you buy clear containers and have no labels) If you need labels, we offer them, which you can also customize. You can find our labels HERE.
And Happy Spring Cleaning!
Until nex time!
xoxo
Flavia
]]>Let’s take it back to a much simpler time; back when the internet was new and we had dial-up and we got yelled at to get off because mom or dad needed to use the phone, when our biggest concern was choosing which lip smacker to use (Dr. Pepper, anyone?), listening to our favorite Spice Girl’s song super loud in our cd player, dancing to La Macarena, being spooked after watching an episode of Goosebumps, and fighting over which boy band was better #TeamNsync or #TeamBackStreetBoys – we’re talking about the 90’s baby!
The 90’s was da bomb! Blockbuster and Hollywood Video had all of the movies you could ever dream of, and you had to convince your mom to let you watch that one scary movie! But she didn’t let you, so you settled on Matilda. And then, you thought you had magic powers! But it turns out that when you tried to move things around with your hands, it just didn’t work. Good times. Were you shocked to find out that Lindsay Lohan was in fact NOT a twin in the movie “The Parent Trap”? And, did you also watch all of the (actual) Olsen Twins’ movies?
On a stationery related note, who remembers Lisa Frank? Those super colorful, bright and glittery goodies that were seen all over school. The folders, pencils/pens, stickers, backpacks, and lunchboxes – it was stationery heaven. Chances are, if you loved these stationery items, then it’s safe to say you’re still a planner lover.
Let’s not forget about the cute Sanrio: Hello Kitty stationery items too! They had everything as well! Bookbags, stuffed animals, coloring books, pens/pencils, and many more stationery items. Fun Fact: at the Hello Kitty Store, they used to have a box filled with little Hello Kitty goody mystery bags, and you would pay to use a stick that had a piece of tape on it, and “fish” out a random bag. They also had a large pin wheel where you could choose a prize from wherever it landed. *images from Pinterest & Sanrio.com
Other popular stationery items included gel pens! (Which are still used today). Not only were they used in planners, but they were also used to write notes to friends (and your crush) as a form of communication, and to (ahem, pretend that you were taking down science notes), you know, because phones were still new and so was texting. Bonus points if you had the neon ones.
There were also those pens that had multi-colored inks, (basically the whole rainbow), and you could choose which color you wanted to try on.
This one is a major throwback… blow pens!
You get a gold star if you remember the commercial. And who could forget the Mr. Sketch scented markers! They were so bold in color and richly scented and helped make coloring Scooby-Doo so much easier.
Last but not least, I would like to invite you to join us in continuing to share the love for the 90’s. You can shop our sub box that features items from one of our fave 90’s show, F.R.I.E.N.D.’s.
xoxo
Flavia
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Today I wanted to share with you some famous and maybe not so known African American women who have made history.
1). OPRAH WINFREY – who is an iconic woman; is an “American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist” ¹; she made history in 1986 when she became the first African American woman television host on her own show; which was very successful.² Oprah has been very successful in that she has her own network called OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
2). KAMALA HARRIS – is an American politician and attorney, who was born in Oakland, California – she recently made history being the United States’ first female vice president, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president.¹ Upon hearing the news that she and Biden won the presidency and vice-presidency, her infamous words were, “We did it Joe!”
3). VIOLA DAVIS – is an American actress and producer who has won several
awards, such an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy award, and two Tony Awards and is the first African American person to achieve the ‘Triple Crown of Acting.’ She has also been named as one of the most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2017.¹
4). HENRIETTA LACKS – was an African American women whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. Henrietta’s cells have made many scientific discoveries and continue to do so. (Fun fact: Oprah Winfrey made a movie about Henrietta’s life, which is definitely a must-see). P.S.
there is a book written about Henrietta’s life as well, and it is amazing! The author, Rebecca Skloot truly outdid herself in combining history and science into one.
5). WENDY WILLIAMS – is an American personality television star. She began her career in the 1980’s as a radio DJ in the east coast. However, her bigger-than-life personality allowed her to shine in her own show by 2008, called,
‘The Wendy Williams Show’, where she talks about the hottest celebrity gossip. Her show has been very successful, as it has been running for 13 seasons, and
this past month in January, Ms. Wendy Williams held a special event on Lifetime, which featured her movie and documentary about her life.
Congratulations to these women on their success!
It’s truly amazing to see the things these women have accomplished. It was an absolute honor to have witnessed Kamala Harris being sworn in and making an oath to protect this country. Most importantly, representation matters, having these women make history matters, Black Lives Matter!
I hope you enjoyed reading about these powerful women and feel inspired as well. While the women on this list are obviously not all-inclusive, as there are way too many amazing African American women who have made history, the women on this list have been chosen to highlight success in different areas of their respective careers.
¹ – source: Wikipedia
² –source: Clarionledger.com
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