I’ve alluded recently to how I’ve been overwhelmed lately.
We have a lot on our plate. Lots of places to be, appointments to keep, deadlines to keep track of, and Andy travels fairly often so it just kinda complicates things.
Two major reasons for feeling so overwhelmed was that:
1) I had so many balls to juggle and try to keep track of. I was regularly forgetting something…or remembering 15 minutes before we had to be there. It’s not that each thing was a huge deal…it’s just that it was one of about 600 little-ish things to keep track of.
2) With two kids who see specialists, we often make appointments 6+ months in advance. Getting a phone call from the cardiologist the night before reminding me of his appointment the next morning at 9 a.m. is stressful. To say the least.
I knew I needed to start writing things down.
Stat.
I tried the electronic Google calendar that would be synced to my iPhone.
FAIL.
I need to circle and highlight and star…and namely CROSS OFF things. It wasn’t working, and it felt like another to-do just to enter in the information.
I tried a wall calendar in the kitchen. But the little boxes were too bitty for more than one or two items and many days I have more than two things going on.
I’ve always been a fan of paper calendars, and used them all through high school and college.
When I saw Julie’s Erin Condren calendar in it’s pretty colors, I knew it was just the ticket.
Now, it’s not cheap. And if you know me, you know that’s out of character for me. I make my own laundry detergent for goodness sake!
But a good planner, that you’ll be motivated to use…that has all the features you need…that is sturdy and heavy and well made…that yes, is pretty…worth its weight in gold.
You can choose from a huge variety of fun and colorful covers. Personalized. Of course.
The fact that it’s pretty and has good design makes me motivated to use it more than a plain black daykeeper you buy at Target for $8.
I know that may sound ridiculous to some of you (namely my engineer husband), but for a lot of you, you totally get this.
I want to use it.
It’s big and thick. This isn’t a planner you’ll be carrying around in your purse, but it also won’t get buried under a stack of papers or hidden in a drawer.
::cough::
Happy stickers make it a grown up version of the sticker books you grew up with as a kid.
It’s fun! I go out of my way to find excuses to doodle and write in it.
Am I pathetic? Maybe a little.
Encouraging quotes sprinkled throughout.
I mean, why not?
My favorite part is that it’s laid out week by week.
There’s plenty of space to write.
Mine sits in a cookbook holder on my kitchen counter.
Part of my new morning routine is to sit down every morning and look at what I have scheduled for that day. Then wherever there is extra room, I write out my to-do list for the day.
Bitty things. Reminders. Stuff I’ve been meaning to do for weeks.
What I’ve found is that, I just need to get the information out of my head. Then I don’t have to remind myself it’s in there. I know it sounds silly and simple, but it’s made a HUGE difference in how I feel.
And it doesn’t hurt that they tossed in a few extras. :)
The good folks at Erin Condren want to give one of you a $25 gift certificate to anything in their shop!
If you don’t get the need for a fancy planner, do not fear! They have SO MANY awesome things to choose from!
I’m in love with these address labels.
I’d love these gift tags to say “Gibson Kids”.
And I may or may not be seriously considering these for our Christmas cards this year.
If you’re dying to buy something, feel free to use code 2012OFF for 10% off your order!
How can you win? You have up to TWO entries!
1. Either like LifeRearranged on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or subscribe to the blog. You only have to do one and you’ll only get ONE entry for this part. Leave me a comment in this post telling me you did!
2. Be a fan of Erin Condren on Facebook and leave a comment saying something like “Life Rearranged sent me!” on their wall. Be sure to leave a separate comment in this post letting me know you did!
I’ll pull a winner on Saturday, October 15th!
{Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I bought my own planner and because I love telling you guys about my new finds, I thought a giveaway would be fun!}
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I like ErinCondren on Facebook!
I like LifeRearranged on Facebook too!
I like you on Facebook and subscribe. What a cute shop!
I like LR on FB!
Now I’m liking EC on FB!
Blog subscribed, check!
EC liked, check!
I love my Erin Condren planner for exactly the reasons you mentioned!! How awesome it would be to order some Christmas cards :-) I subscribe to your blog.
I follow Erin Condren on FB :-)
I’m enjoying you enough that I already put you on my RSS. So, now you’ve been added to Twitter.
I like you on Facebook (Rebecca A), follow you on Twitter (ourbusybunch) and I follow your blog :)
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow Erin Condren on Facebook and left a message on her wall! (Rebecca A)
https://www.facebook.com/ourbusylittlebunch
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
I liked you on FB! :)
I liked Erin on FB! :)
I follow your blog! :)
I follow Erin’s page on FB & commented! :)
I subscribe to your blog!!! (and really like it)
I liked Erin on FB and told her you sent me.
I love your blog and liked you on fb! Here’s hoping I win!
I subscribe via google reader
I subscribed to the blog!
I liked ErinCondren.com on facebook!
You can get a $50 gift certificate for $25 through Friday on One Kings Lane https://www.onekingslane.com/product/12041/411332
I liked Erin on FB!
I liked your FB page !
You are the second blogger on my Google Reader who has shown off you Erin Condren life planner in the past two months! I’m coveting it pretty hardcore. Following you on Twitter, “Liked” Erin Condren on Facebook!
Wow! You’re on a roll today!
I am a follower!!!
i liked you on facebook
and i liked erin too…. I LOVE THAT PLANNER… I am certainly a google calendar girl but just for my everyday routine type schedule… i have been seriously looking for something for appointments…etc. In LOVE
I follow your blog. Thanks for the chance to win!
I like Erin Condren on Facebook and left a comment on their wall.
I am now a follower of twitter!!!
I thought I found the perfect planner from target a few years ago until I saw this. I’d love to be able to hold it in my hands and feel it’s weight but I absolutely love the weekly layout. Great find!
I subscribe to your RSS feeds (and I love your site)!
Just “Liked” and commented on Life Rearranged! I’ve always been an Erin Condren fan, so I would love this!
I’m following on Facebook!
I subscribe to your blog!
I liked the Erin Condren facebook page and posted on their wall! Thanks!
I liked Erin Condron on Facebook!
I liked Erin condren on facebook!
i subscribe via rss. :)
What a great giveaway! I definitely need a planner like this. I have a full time job that I have to travel frequently for, and I am also going to school full time so it would really help to keep me organized.
I subscribed to your blog and liked you on facebook!
I also liked Erin Condren on facebook!
I subscribe to your RSS feeds and I’m now following you on Twitter. Thanks for the opportunity to win some Erin Condren fun!
I “liked” Life Rearranged on Facebook
I’m a fan of Erin Condren on FB and wrote on the wall that you sent me
I subscribe!
thanks for such a great post! we are so happy that you love your planner so much! enjoy!
I went to facebook, but I already *like* you, so I liked the post of the give away.
So happy you have found something to help keep up with everything.
I personally feel like busy mom’s deserve diamonds – but planners work too! ;)
That planner looks like just the thing I need. I love it! I’ve also found that getting stuff written and out of my head makes a huge difference, amazing!