UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.
Congrats to: Jenny (jpage84@…) and Lyss (lyss.rose@…)
Over the last 3 years, I’ve talked A LOT about planners here on my blog. I LOVE paper planners and calendars!
Although there are a few things Dave and I do digitally via Apple’s iCalendar, we both definitely prefer paper planners so we can see many days and weeks at one time, quickly scratch a couple notes down on a specific day, and vigorously cross off our finished items each day.
For the past 3 years, I’ve used the same planner — and I loved how the inside of the planner was set up. Vertical columns for each day of the week, a full week at a glance, and plenty of blank space at the bottom of each day to jot my notes, make my to-do list, etc.
It was the best planner (for my needs) I had ever found — however, last year the company changed management, their customer service plummeted, and their 2013 planners were not available until well into 2013 (crazy I know). Luckily, I had an extra one from the year before (and the dates aren’t written in so I could make the 2012 version work for 2013) and a friend gave me one as a gift — so I am actually set for planners for a few months yet.
But since I like to be prepared (and since I know the “normal” time to shop for a planner is right about now) I decided to start looking for other planners that had the same set-up as mine. I kept coming up short with many of the different companies and brands I looked into.
And then, a few weeks ago, The Personal Planner company (here is their Facebook page) contacted me about reviewing their planners and doing a giveaway on my blog. They told me I would be able to customize my planner for my personal needs — but I’ll be honest, I was not super optimistic I would be able to implement all my “planner essentials”.
However, after spending 3 or 4 minutes quickly looking through some of the customizable options, I felt fairly confident I could make a planner EXACTLY how I wanted and needed. Plus, I got a little creative and designed my own cover and back (more on this below).
After about 15 minutes (seriously, it didn’t take long at all) I had a planner that looked and functioned almost exactly like my previous planner, and it had several extra bonuses the old planner didn’t have — like extra pages in the back, customizable tabs at the bottoms of each page, and really fun colors and designs to pick from.
I was sold and immediately told the folks at Personal Planner that I would love to promote their planners on my blog!
Here are just a FEW of the customizable options:
- Size / style of the planner
- Color, design, font style of the inside pages
- Front and back cover (you can even create and upload your own custom design like I did)
- Page layout and page design
- Owner information page
- 3 tabbed sections on the bottom of every page (there are so many different options to choose from)
- Various choices for extra pages in the back of the planner
- Optional addition of your our own personal dates (birthdays, anniversaries, school days off, vacations, etc)
- Optional addition of your own addresses so you can have a complete address book included in your planner
- and so much more!
The process is super quick and easy. With just a few clicks here and there, you can totally change the look and design of your planner.
Here’s a TINY sampling of the various sizes, styles, colors, and designs:
One of the things that most attracted me to the Personal Planner is that although there are TONS of awesome pre-designed covers you can choose from (and then customize as desired), you can also upload your own pictures or your own complete design for the front and the back cover.
So you literally can personalize this planner to look exactly like you want. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been able to do this with any other planner company I’ve worked with — and I’ve tried my fair share of planners over the years 🙂
When I set out to create my planner, I wanted something really unique, and since we have a new baby coming in March, I didn’t want to use a picture that would then be out-dated in just a couple months. So I opted for a quote instead — and I just LOVE how the design turned out 🙂
Here are digital pictures of the actual front and back designs.
Simple, but definitely not something I’ll mind looking at for the next year or so 🙂
The Giveaway:
Today, 2 lucky readers will win a Personal Planner. Winners can completely design their own planner.
How to Enter:
{required} Leave a comment on this post. What do you look for in a planner?
If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please visit the actual blog post to enter. Email entries, Facebook comments, and Twitter messages will NOT be counted.
Prizes:
(2) Personal Planners as described above.
This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Thursday, 11/21/2013 and is open to ANYONE, 18 years or older. I will use And the Winner Is to select the winning comments at random. Winners will be notified by email and noted at the top of this post. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize or I will choose a new winner. Please see my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you have. Good luck!
Kat says
I love planners! I always look for a portable planner that has an entire month on one page, followed by severals sheets containing the weeks broken up into days. I prefer to have the days in long columns so I can write my lists. Thanks for the opportunity!
Samantha says
These look perfect! I recently got a job that requires travel. I have 3 dogs and anxiously looking forward to my June wedding! So – needless to say, there will lots of planning and checking off for 2014 and this would be great to keep it all organized!!
Shannon says
Looks like an option I’m going to look into. I love a good paper planner and often have a hard time finding the “perfect” one. Definitely needs to be easy and portable (but big enough to write all the important stuff in).
M@SSBD says
I am super picky when it comes to my planners and I end up “settling” for the closest, least expensive option. I want a large space Month calendar for each month. Behind the month page, I want four weekly pages vertically, as if you were drawing it on a whiteboard. I do NOT want exact time! I want the time to be in segments on the side. Then, I want a section on the right side for notes for the week. I don’t want anything else. Extremely simple. Still haven’t found one simple enough. Oh, and I want it journal or spiral notebook sized. No bigger, no smaller. So, it sounds like being able to create my own might be the best option for me!
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday.
Morning: NOTES:
Afternoon:
Evening:
Beth says
The ability to look at a glance to see what I have going for the week or month.
Heidi says
I need a planner that is easy to use and small enough to carry with me.
Sue says
I am a paper person.. I do not have a fancy phone so I have no calendar thingy on it.. not that I would like it anyway… I carry my old paper one every where… that is the heart of all my running every day !
Sue in NJ
Sarah says
When I buy a planner, I look for one that shows a week at a time, but also has a page that shows the whole month. I also like having extra space to write down notes and lists. And being able to create your own style is so cool!
Diana says
I am a WAHM and too many people, areas, “stuff” to keep track of. I am also a planner junkie, constantly switching and trying different things because I havent’ found “the one” that has everything I need! I have toyed with the idea of creating my own, but never have the time – LOL! This sounds like a god-send!
DebCO says
I do massage, manage kid schedules and a household. I need 15 minute increments that go from 8 a.m into the eventing. And a whole week in one look. Some notes/address room and a pocket. I like a notebook size.
I’d be willing to try this! Black has been boring!
Jennifer says
I look for a planner that is visually appealing. Lots of open space for each day so I can have ALL of my daily to dos in one place that I can see at a glance!
April says
Wow, that looks really awesome! I’m an incredibly picky shopper with most things, and planners are no different. I like it to be easily portable, yet not so small that I can’t write in it, spiral-bound, and when I’m really lucky, it has a pen-holder.
Jody says
I need a planner that will work for home and work. Weekly, with a 2-page monthly spread. Room for notes.
Catherine says
Could you please publish a link to the site where we can order these planners? I wasn’t able to find it in your blog post.
Thanks,
Jenni says
I was just about to give up all hope! I need a very portable planner with room for tracking all my foster care info as well as plans for work, kids, supper, church, lists, lists, lists! I have so much to do that I really need to write it down (coherently) to accomplish anything. =) Can’t wait to start planning my planner. Ha. Thanks!
Cat says
I’d love to create a planner that includes only the information I use on a regular basis, rather than schedules and lists for items that I don’t track. This looks perfect!
BRNEDA HOWARD says
I want one that has a calender and to-do list. med. size. . something to keep track of spending. meal planning. shopping list. .
Laura says
I know this is goofy, but I *need* a planner where the week starts on MONDAY. Having the two days of the weekend together is so important to me!
Dawn H says
Do they have a website we can look through? These look nice!
Mandy says
I look for a planner that has a space for the to-do list for every day. This looks awesome!
Gina Miller says
I need the block for each day to be large enough to contain all the activities for two active children – and that is ALOT! But without the times – since they are different each day – I like to write the times in myself (that way I don’t waste the space in the block for the time they are in school). And room for a to-do list and space for a grocery/shopping list too – maybe in the back – at least enough to jog my memory for what I need (or a pocket to put the shopping list in?). These look very customizable and fun! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah F. says
I love graph paper and a combined system of meeting times, to do items section, “due today” section, and then some space for ntoes.
Debra Martin says
I have a very full plate right now and I am looking for a new planner…love this idea!
Kecia says
WOW! These are so neat. Just what I’ve been looking for too. I’ve been making my own by picking things from various planners that I liked, but this is so much easier/better.
Thanks for the find and the opportunity to win!!
Melissa Thorpe says
What I look for in a calendar is one that I can carry around easily and one that has weekly and monthly views.
Haven’t found the perfect calendar yet, but maybe a customizable one is just what I need!
Emily Sexton says
I love my paper planner!!! I look for larger spaces for each day to write appointments, birthdays and sometimes blurbs about what I did that day. I look for the mini month within the pages for calculating our next allergy shots. Helpful hints within also are wonderful to keep me organized! I would love a new one, thank you!
Verity says
I look for a one week layout and an easy to transport size.
Abbey says
One that actually has enough space for writing in the entire day!
Leanne says
I would like to design my own planner because I want to track not only my schedule but my work outs and some diet info.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Nicky McCleery says
I love a planner with the dates already in it, with the times on each day, and with some space for notes! A lot like yours, it looks like. 🙂
Dianne says
I like one that has month at a glance but also weekly on a 2 page layout starting with Sundat. The Monday start confuses me.
Kristen Van Allen says
I love a planner that is colorful and easy to navigate with lots of space to write random notes. I also love one that is easy to carry around.
Meg says
I love a planner that is able to fit in my purse. 5×7 is a great size. I like colorful, happy designs!
Stephanie says
I’ve been looking for a planner that is fun, colorful, and has options similar to an assignment notebook I used in school. This looks like it may have those options.
How fun!
Audra says
Plenty of space to write my To Do list everyday with my calender.
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving says
What a great concept! I currently use a plan notebook as my planner – because my need is for lots and lots of lines for my ever ongoing to-do lists! 🙂
Lynn Durkovic Nelson says
Oh my! What a great thing! I have the hardest time finding a calendar that will fulfill all of my demands. Maybe I could finally be, dare I say it,……. organized!!
Vicki F. says
I like week at a glance planners, with a mini month-long calendar on the page. I like lots of space to enter appointments and activities. A spot for notes (to do list) would also be nice, and maybe a place to put my weekly menu.
Andrea Watts says
One that has enough room to write in each block
Maria says
I have yet to find a planner that fits my needs. I usually end up marking up existing pages to change the information. I would love to customize my own.