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!
Alicia Zuberny says
I work from home as a medical transcriptionist and have two children one of which has special needs so I need a planner that not only has a full month view to plan my work out, pencil in therapies for my son and appointments ect, but also has space on each date to keep track of the work that I am doing that day!
Krista says
Love this! Like others, I’m stupid-picky. I need to see the full week at once, but I also need a little year calendar showing on that same weekly view so I can easily do a lot of pre-planning. I use my planner for both work and personal – the weekend needs to have space too. I would like my planner to have extra blank pages at the end… where I add sticky notes of dates & reminders for the next year… but my current planner doesn’t have that 🙁 The planner needs to be big enough so I can easily fit everything (including notes) in the space… but not too big that it won’t fit into my purse. The size of most hard-cover books is perfect.
Thanks Andrea for sharing! Very cool that you can customized the front and back covers… I’ve never seen that before either… but love the idea!
Rita says
I like for my planner to have plenty of space to write. I also like tabbed dividers to easily turn to where I need.
CG says
I look for the ability to customize to my needs, have TONS of room to write notes, organize said notes, and use the various printables that simplify my routine.
Cute isn’t a requirement but is certainly nice!
Debbie says
I like having the week at a glance with enough space on each day to write my to do lists.
gina says
This might sound crazy but I want lines
Kathy C says
I would like to be able to plan menus as well as events. I don’t think I have found anything that will help that yet.
Liesel says
Extra pages, and it has to be sturdy!
Vanessa says
I am VERY picky about my planners… They need to have month and week views. On the weekly views I need to have enough space to write EVERYONE’s activities in as well as dinner plans. Also, I like a note section in the back and the ability to add more pages. My planner currently is a small 5×8 binder so I can include all of the holiday shopping list as well as upcoming birthday lists and to dos for all the holidays and birthdays.
Kaykeen says
I have to have a planner that in the weekly view starts with Sunday and ends with Saturday…just one of my quirks. The monthly view has to have plain squares big enough to write in. Having a planner that you could design yourself would be awesome!
Abbi says
I need the vertical column that have a time next to it- I teach private lessons so I schedule prep time then travel. That helps me be prepared mentally for the day and how much time I have to do things at home before packing up my daughter and going to a lesson. It always takes more time than I plan so having a place to write it down is helpful. I also meal plan and put it on each day.
Kalyn Brooke | Creative Savings says
Would so love to win one of these! I always like to have a monthly view and a weekly view for my planner. It just helps me get the big picture!
Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Rebecca Goldie says
I like to have big blank blocks to write in vs. lines with times.
LindaB says
I look for a planner that isn’t to big, and that is simplistic.I like to see a week at a time.
Christy Galba says
I look for many things in a planner, but here are just a few. I need a big space to write the days events. Sometimes each day holds many activities, so I need the space to write them all down plus include phone numbers, locations, etc.. I need just one year at a time. I like to look ahead but not too far ahead. Having more than one year will make the planner too bulky. I would love to have color in it, as it makes it more pleasurable on the eyes and prettier to look at many times a day. I also need some space to write my “to do list” on each day. These are just a few of the essentials that I need to have in my daily planner. There could always be more, but this is what I need to carry out my day and stay organized. I am a mother of two and work part time. My husband does not keep a planner, so my planner is the one that helps the entire family run smoothly. I have tried to eliminate my paper planners and keep everything in my phone. I keep coming back to my tried and true paper! I love seeing it all written down and like to see the entire week at a glance. I also like to be able to cross off things on my to do list.
Stephanie says
I like a whole week at a time, and time slots for daily items. I also like to have the whole month at a glance tabbed to see my appointments coming up.
I love getting a new planner and filling in all the birthdays and events for the year. 🙂
Eric says
Lots of blank space, room to be flexible with scheduled events, and lots and lots of me. Coming from a person who has previously created his own year-length planner in Excel and had it printed and bound, this would be sooo great.
Lydia Coathup says
What I look for in a planner is one that gives me plenty of room to write/erase in one space and not have to begin a new page of the planner on the same exact day..
When you and your sweetheart of a husband are trying to get organized yourselves and have a wonderful 4 1/2 year old princess with Aspergers ,all three family members need some sort of planner that will work for the whole family..months with the days on the same section..tasks for that day..even organizational ideas could help me and my family.
Ariel says
Wow! This is so great! I am so picky about my planners which makes it hard to find one that works for me. I love the ones with a whole page with the month then the week pages behind it. And I write big so I need plenty of room! Lol Thank you for the opportunity! 🙂
Gayle says
I need a planner that allows enough room to keep track of my entire families schedules. I tend to be the family planner and for that reason I need space for each day. I sooooooo appreciate the opportunity to win one of these. This is number one on my wish list every Christmas so I can start the new year with all of my appointments accounted for 🙂 This year it is particularly challenging as I have two in high school and activities at once. Thanks again for the opportunity!!!
Sue says
As I’m getting to the age where I’m forgetting things, this would be most helpful. Andrea, I appreciate you doing all the research and finding your followers the best.
Kayla H says
I need a planner that I can customize to my needs, and this one seems perfect! I frustrates me that I can never find just what I am looking for.
Faye Clark says
I’ve been looking at another customizable planner site – but this looks fabulous – and if I win it would be free!! Love the option of customizing and making it suit my taste on the outside. Thanks!
ASHLEY S. says
I am very particular about my planner and I love that this one can be customized.
Pat says
The planners look really nice. I like lots of space to write notes and dark print. As I get older I notice that it is more difficult to read the lighter hues and grays – I can appreciate the beauty and style, just can’t read it. I would also like one that my 80 year old mother could use.
Ruth Andrews says
I’ve always enjoyed using paper planners, I have kept them as sort of a diary for many years. I am now retired, but I still have a lot of life left to live & planning still helps. I’d love to have one of these!!
Liz says
I like having a month at a glance:)
Habby says
I like to have lines to write on – as opposed to just white space. I like to keep it neat!
Lauren E says
I look for a lot of space to write. I also like having a month at a glance section. I am very visual person with a horrible memory so seeing important dates on a calendar is a big help.
Shaunna says
I am very picky about my planner but still not sure what all i want it to include so that makes finding the perfect one even harder!
Cheryl Tharp says
I need monthly AND weekly spaces, with plenty of room for lists!
MEAGAN COOPER says
I like big slots to write in.
Christine P says
I love being able to customize my repeat tasks on the page so it doesn’t have to be written in every day, and I can check off without using a lot of space.
Becky says
The thing I most look for is paper! 🙂 I don’t enjoy electronic calendars because I need the act of writing something down and, like you said, I like to see months or easily access future dates.
I like spiral-bound, smallish planners that can fit in my purse, with a whole week with space to write. I would love some room for other written things (projects in-process, ideas, etc), which I don’t have in my current calendar.
Here’s hoping!!!
Karla says
I look for planners that have a weekly view too, and space somewhere for my ever growing to-do lists.
Brooke says
I look for planners that have both a monthly view and a weekly view with AMPLE space to write in my day’s schedule/to-do list. I’m a stay at home mom so most of the time I actually schedule my to-do list with a date and time so I don’t get side tracked on what to do with my day.
Siobhan says
I love your quotes. I’m still tweaking an old teacher planner I found to fit my needs. I just started using a planner for home. I used to only have a calendar and tons of post-it notes all over. Now with baby no. 3 due in Feb. I have been thinking ahead a bit. I’ll probably look for a planner that has some extra room each day to write down nursing times & any newborn issues so I don’t forget.
Kelly says
Would love a great planner to get more organized! Personalized so I would actually use it!
Holly R says
When looking for a planner I need something that be flexible and adjust with my schedule. Some months I need to be able to look at things with a big picture, other months I need room to fill in all the million little details. I would love to have a planner I can design and make it work for me instead of trying to make a generic planner just work.
Kelsey says
I look for something that’s portable and LINED! My handwriting is horrible. I also love the ones that give the whole month preview then breaks it into each separate week/day. Thanks!