The Bold + Beautiful Business Planning

 The new 2018 Erin Condren Life Planner is bold + beautiful. Your business planning should be bold + beautiful also. It’s no secret that I am an Erin Condren gal. Didn’t know? Well the cat is definitely out of the bag. My name is Kimber and I am a planner addict. *sigh*

One day some goddess introduced me to Erin Condren...thank you who ever you may be. I do know you offered me $10 off my first purchase and for that I say thank you. No worries, I have that same code for your first purchase...just click here and create an account. Check your email that you used then boom...$10 savings. 

Last year was the first year I used an 18 month calendar. You know a calendar that begins in July and lasts until the following December. Just didn’t see the need, but I have since seen the light. 

I received the new Erin Condren 18 month Life Planner with a ‘Painted Petals’ cover and rose gold coil. The colors are bold + vibrant + beautiful. [There's a video showcasing the colors at the end of this post]

The watercolors are so rich, that it feels as if it’s a true piece of artwork. No exaggeration. Aaaand I’m not even artsy. The paper used this year is thick. Thicker than a snickers. 

Girl, I’m all for quality paper. It feels like a smooth card stock, but it turns easily on the coils.

2017/2018 note is on left + 2016/2017 on right

The page before the month begins has been updated and I absolutely love this change. There are four circles. Use these circles to pinpoint your goals for the upcoming month. Whether it be money goals, weight goals, health goals, or home goals. Set your goals, so that you can slay your year.

Underneath these circles or our newly appointed “goal area,” you can map out how you will reach these goals in this coming month. Then there is a long rectangular shape, where you can write out affirmations or personal quotes for the upcoming month. Being a woman + an adult is hard sometimes, and you should always motivate + inspire yourself.

And as always the beginning of every month the Life Planner has quotes to help you get into action. The quote page takes on the deep watercolors and color theme for that month.

The layout that I have is vertical with the three boxes per day.

Vertical layout design

This layout is perfect for scheduling a combination of things. I have seen people dedicate the boxes to:

• home, work, and personal things
• morning, afternoon, night
• work, home, dinner/workout
• To do list, appointments, gratitude statement/word

The opportunities for the use is endless. We have so many things to track of. I currently use a vertical Life Planner for social media planning.

First box: What I plan on posting that day

Second box: Any social to do’s [commenting on other posts, contacting someone I found on social, checking out a new social tool, etc.]

Third box: Anything cool I saw and want to remember to check out another day.

Underneath the daily boxes are four short lines. I’ve seen these used for:

• meals that are eaten throughout the day
• workouts
• gratitude
• daily summaries/memory keeping

I write down my money goal on the top line, the money earned from the day before on the second line, and on the third line I’ll write down the actual earned for the day. Tracking your profits is super important.

The box in the right corner on the left page, I use to write my social stats for the week. You can use this box to notate:

• a theme for the week
• gratitude
• A quote you found or love
• The most important task/appointment that you have this week

Underneath the box are lines. Typically this is where weekly to do’s are placed before I delegate what day, they will get done. For instance: whom to email, call, DM [since I use this for social], appointments to schedule.

Other details:

Cute vellum overlay when you open the Lifeplanner

The inside covers are dry erase boards. Braindump and then wipe it away

.Notes section in the back of the planner has four lined pages, four dot grid pages, and four coloring pages.

The second lined page is extra thick as it has the tab ‘Notes.’ Due to the thickness on this page, you could use a marker with I’m sure minimal if not no shadowing from the marker. The other pages have hardly any shadowing using gel pens

There’s a planner page for the WHOLE year of 2019 with four lines underneath each month for pre-planning your greatness.

Stickers are included as every year, but these new stickers are gorgeous. Very pretty and shiny. They aren’t too glam that you feel like you won’t want to use them and will hoard them. [Yes, beautiful + smart + successful women hoard stickers. And I may or may not be one of them]

You will want to plan with these to help you stay focused on your goals, dreams, and action plan toward the best life...and even the daunting task of cleaning the bathrooms each week.

The keep it together folder is in the back holding the matching Perpetual Calendar. The Perpetual Calendar is like a bonus mini calendar you can use year after year. You can use it to:

Remember birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations that always occur on the same date every year.

A mini launch calendar to map out what you have going on each month as a mini reference.

To manage your budget based on bills that you have each month that come on the same day.

The accessories this year are so cute with the ongoing Painted Petals theme. I originally thought they were colorful raindrops.

I guess I’m still mourning the death of Prince. *hums Purple Reign*

Two weeks ago my friend told me she got a running fanny pack and I laughed loudly out loud. Then Erin Condren comes out with this planny pack.

Attach it over your planner and it serves as a closure band to keep your secrets safe and papers in tact. Fill the pouch with your fave pens and planner accessories. There's a slot that you can slide in your phone also. Perfect for on the go meetings. 

The new long sticky notepad is perfect for adding on to to do lists. It is long enough that it covers the note side in the monthly view as well as the boxes in the vertical planners and hourly planners. The sticky is sticky for half of the paper, so you can still write underneath what you stick it on. 

First thought, if you have an appointment on a certain day and don't want to forget things you want to ask or mention, use this as a brilliant reminder. 

 The insertable sticky note dashboard have remained my fave. I write quick notes to myself and ideas. Usually it's incredibly easy to forget a million dollar idea...not with these babies. 

The Best Planners for Women for 2017

It’s that time of year again...planning time!!! There's something magical about pen and paper. Despite all the electronic calendars and planning tools, I love to pull out my notebook and brain dump then enter everything into my planner. After it's in my planner, I add it to google calendar/fantastical.

This is the time of year where you start preparing for the holidays and planning your profits for next year. This is also the time when you go out and get/order the planner that is going to help you manage your goals and make profits.

Here are the ten best planners for women for 2017! Despite numbering, these are in no order of how amazing they are:

1. Erin Condren Life Planner [$50 - $65] The Erin Condren Life Planner are the Beyonce of the #planneradict world. Let me warn you there is a cult like following with Erin Condren. They take glam planning (stickers and all things pretty) to a new level. You can either go with the 18-month option or the 12 month option. The 2017 versions have a choice of a horizontal, hourly, or vertical weekly layout with choices of a neutral black and white muted palette or bring on the colors palette. 

The inspirational quotes throughout the planner are motivating. I love the options for customizing the covers, with the option of changing them out as often as you want. Erin Condren introduced Deluxe planners that are beyond gorgeous with thick motivating covers and two different monthly planners.

You didn’t hear this from me, but the new monthly planners are GAME CHANGERS! You can go minimalist or deluxe, either way, you are going to be able to plan and track efficiently. Click here to save $10

2. Inkwell Press Livewell Planner [$54]:  THE planner for women, well at least that’s what the tagline says. The Inkwell Livewell Press Planner has a focus on goal setting and execution. There is a section in the front for planning out your yearly goals and a place for you to reflect on the month you just completed, as well as plan for the next month. *jaw drop* yes girl yes. There are motivational quotes on the mission (planning) boards. It’s very functional in addition to beautiful. The paper quality is unlike any planner on the market, very thick and luxurious. The Inkwell Press Livewell Planner has two options for the weekly layout, depending on your preference. So many amazing features.They offer inserts [$30] for ring bound A5 planners and quarterly planner books [current price not listed - goes on sale 11/10]. Click here to save $10 on Inkwell Press.

3. Daily Greatness Business Planner [$44.95]: 

The Daily Greatness Business Planner was designed with today’s #girlboss in mind. It was created by a small business woman, which explains how she knew to include ALL the things you will need to develop and streamline your business goals. There are weekly check-ins, 90 day check-ins, and a yearly check-in to hold you accountable and committed. The Daily Greatness Business Planner is full of inspirational sayings and the pre-face is very encouraging in addition to helping you learn how to develop strategy and goals. It’s undated and includes a social media tracker, finance tracker and budget worksheets.  Click here to save 10%

4. Get to Workbook [$55]:The Get to Workbook is a daily planner + goal setting workbook designed to help you make progress on your big goals by taking things one day at a time. Each month has a goal and reflection page. One thing I really love about the Get to Workbook planner is the project planning pages [breaking down big projects to reduce overwhelm] for each month.

5. Simplified Planner [$58]: The Simplified Planner was created to “help women focus on what matters most by building simplicity and joy intentionally into their lives.” The Simplified Planner includes motivational quotes throughouts, an hourly view of your day from 7 am - 7 pm. In addition to you to-do’s for the day.

6. Michaels Recollections Planner [$19.99-$29.99]: 

Do you see that cute unicorn? These babies have broken the internets. Why, might you ask? One word...

dupe.

These are a duplicate of the Erin Condren Life Planner. Recollection also created personal ring bound planners which are dupes to Kikki- K and Filofax. [Word on the street is they will be releasing A5 size in December 2016] But you didn't hear that from me.

Now back to these spiral planners, they come in a variety of removable/interchangeable covers, there are two formats: vertical or horizon. Very similar to the Queen B of planners. In addition to 12-month planners, there are fitness, goal setting, pregnancy, wedding and meal planners.  The planners can be purchased online or at your local Michaels stores. Download their mobile app for coupons to save a few coins. 

7. Happy Planner [$24.99-$34.99]: I see so many rave reviews about the Happy Planner that I had to include it in this years round up. There are soooooo many covers to choose from. It features an arc bound system and is very customizable. You can purchase a full kit or buy individual inserts based on how you like to plan. The best thing that I have seen is that this is sold in local craft stores, so I would recommend waiting for that good ole 50% off coupon from Michaels, JoAnnes or Hobby Lobby. There are two layout options: horizontal and vertical. Additionally, there are three sizes to choose from: mini, classic and big.

8.Start Planner [$60-$68]: The Start Planner AKA Hustle Planner is the planner that has EVERYTHING you would think you need to get organized plus more.

You are able to develop mini goals and big picture goals; while checking in on your health planning, fitness plan, water consumption, and caloric intake. There’s a section for meal planning, grocery lists, food budgets, financial planning and budgeting. In addition to your day to day to do’s. There is also a business edition of this planner which has social media, branding and mileage sections in addition to the awesome features in the other Hustle Planners.

9. Happiness Planner [$59]: The Happiness Planner focuses on happiness and gratitude instead of productivity like most planners. It teaches you to focus on positive thinking, affirmations, mindfulness and self-development. The psychologist in me couldn’t leave this one off the list. The covers are beautiful, yet simple.

There are guided thoughts daily, monthly and yearly reflections, inspirational quotes throughout. The Happiness Planner features a happiness roadmap for you to integrate in your life and create the changes you want to see and pinpoint your focus for each month and day. There’s two 12 month options [June-July. January-December] and a 100 day undated option. The Happiness Planner is journal + Iyanla fix my life + planner goodness. While waiting on The Happiness Planner, download these printables to start 2017 off prosperous. 

10.Visionary Journal [$55]: The Visionary Journal is a combination of a vision board, task manager and day planner. There is a system that it takes you through to set up your goals and strategize to achieve them throughout the year with monthly breakdowns. I really love the areas for brainstorming, mind mapping, and prompts on why these goals are important for you. Of course, the Visionary Journal has a section for you to create your vision board within the planner. The calendar is not pre-dated, so you are able to begin at any time.

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Share these wonderful planners for 2017 with your fave biz besties:

1. Erin Condren Life Planner

2. Inkwell Press Live Well Planner

3. Daily Greatness Business Planner

4. Get to Workbook

5. Simplified Planner

6. Michaels Recollection Spiral Planner

7. Happy Planner

8.Start Planner

9. The Happiness Planner

10. Visionary Journal

May your year be profitable and productive!

XO,

Kimber

P.S. - Here are the best planners for 2016, with a few different planners, check it out!