I am an unashamed, self-proclaimed planner addict (Sydney is too, but don’t tell her I told you)!  I love any and all planners!  I love planning in them, definitely decorating them, and probably the very most fun of all is buying and choosing all the supplies I “MUST HAVE” for my planner!  Remember, from my earlier post, I have a crafting supplies weakness!

These are a couple of our latest planner layouts.  Normally, I try and stay ahead a few weeks on my planner layouts, but with Christmas and New Year’s and all the activities going on it didn’t happen.  We wanted to give you an idea about why we are so crazy over these planners :P!!  They are so much fun and be warned:  Very Addicting!!

As you can see from the following two pictures, the exact same planner pages can look entirely different.  One is Sydney’s for the week of January 15th and the other one is mine, for the same week.  Two completely different styles and use of supplies.

We use many different supplies when we are creating our layouts.  Stickers, stamps, washi tape, markers, pens, colored pencils and many, many others. My personal favorite right now is the scrapbook stickers from scrapbook.com.  We seem to follow a pattern of using one particular product for awhile and then going to another main one and eventually we make the rounds again.

It is really fun to get together with friends and plan.  You get in some much needed girl time and also get some layouts done for upcoming weeks.  This also gives you a chance to check out and borrow different supplies and tools.  Someone is always coming with something new and then everyone has to go out and get it!  Every, single time! 🙂  Michael’s and Hobby Lobby used to hold planner get togethers, which was a great way to meet and plan with other planners.  I am not sure if they are still holding these or not.  We always wanted to go to one, but the timing and distance never seemed to work out with our schedules.

We shop at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Pat Catan’s and scrapbook.com.  But our favorite places are the little scrapbook and stamping stores we find on our journeys.  They always carry different and unique products.  Plus, it gives us a chance to shop from the small business owners which we think is really important!  Etsy is another place we get supplies from.  You can find some really neat planner items here.  Sometimes you can even have some custom things made.

So, tell us, what are your favorite planners?  Do you only have one or do you have several you are using?  I know some people have their main planners and then have a recipe, fitness, faith, or other planner that they use also.  It is so interesting to hear and see how others plan.  What are your favorite supplies and tools?  Do you have a main go to?

Currently, I am using the Mambi Happy Planner and I really like it!  Sydney, my sister, and a few friends that we know, who plan also, use the Happy Planner.  I do know of a couple of people who really like the Erin Condren planners, but I haven’t tried any of those yet.   With the Happy Planners there is the full size and minis.  We all use the full size, but there are times when I really think the mini would be nice!  Does anyone use the mini?  Do you like it?

Some people spend hours on a single layout.  As much as I would love to do this, I just don’t have that kind of time.  And, to be perfectly honest, I am not that creative.  I can’t draw or doodle at all!  I see all these detailed, sample layouts and I am so jealous!  They are absolutely gorgeous!  But I make do with with I have to work with since I was not blessed with the artistic gene.  That is why I love all the amazing supplies and tools out there.  For those of us, who were not blessed with the genes that amazing artists have, we can still enjoy being crafty.

I love when I see pictures on Facebook and Instagram of mothers planning with their daughters (and I have even seen them planning with their sons, awesome!).  This is such a great way to spend quality time with our children and also share something we love with them.  The student planners that are out there are great for helping teens and tweens to schedule their school day, homework, and activities.  Great teaching tool for organization.  When we can do something with our kids that they enjoy and there is a lesson (like organizational skills) that they learn from it (and don’t even know it is happening) it is a win for everyone!

If you are not a planner or have never heard about planning, you really should check it out.  You can make it quick and easy or you can make it more detailed depending on your time and resources.  Please, even if you are not overly artistic like me, still look into it.  It is a really fun way to keep yourself organized.  You can even block in some time to slow down and enjoy life!

So grab a cup of coffee or tea and start planning.  Happy Planning!