VIDEO: Planner Organization + Stay Focused Blog Hop + Giveaways

10.06.14

Hi! Today’s post is a little different than most. Lately I have been getting a lot of questions about the planner I use. (I have shown it a few times on Instagram.) So I decided to share a video on it, along with some products I use with it. Also, this post is part of the Stay Focused Blog Hop… with lots of people sharing tips on planner organization.

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

Almost a year ago, my good friend Kristina Werner starting encouraging me to try the Erin Condren Life Planner. I was very resistant and skeptical… thinking it wouldn’t work for me. (I really wanted to be fully digital!) But in January I finally decided to give it a try. And I am so thankful I did. This planner has been life changer for me. I keep everything here – my work, my family appointments and my to-do list. And it has worked. Big time.

There are a few products that I use with my planner. Please keep in mind that I keep my planner simple, practical, clean, and not-needing-of-a-lot-of-time. There are some adorable planner nerds out there! Me? I just go with what is practical:

There are a few other products I mention in the video. All are linked in the thumbnails below.

By the way, if you use THIS link to purchase an Erin Condren Life Planner, Kristina will get a $10 credit. She has been saving up these credits and giving away big gift certificates on her blog. Fun, huh? I decided to use her link since she is the one who introduced me to the system. Also, I apologize that the video isn’t the best. I had one of those days…

BLOG HOP

This post is part of the Waffle Flower Stay Focused Blog Hop. The main purpose of the hop is to share tips on using a planner to help us get things done so we can spend more time with our loved ones or just playing. Waffle Flower has just released stamp sets that are great for planners! (You can see them all HERE.)

The next stop on the hop is the awesome blog of Joni Andaya – click HERE. To start at the beginning of the hop, visit the Waffle Flower blog.

GIVEAWAY

Lots of prizes today! I will be giving the Waffle Flower Stay Focused stamp set to one lucky winner who leaves a comment here. Also, there will be one grand prize winner who will receive all 5 of the new Waffle Flower planner sets… with the winner picked from comments left on all the blogs on the hop. For your chance(s), leave a comment here by 11:59pmET on 10/10/14.

I also wanted to announce some giveaway winners. ALL winners have been emailed:

SUPPLIES

Below are the products featured above. Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Waffle Flower (WF), and Amazon (AZ).

 

 

 

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( AZ )

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( AZ )

 

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( AZ )

 

 

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( AZ )

 

 

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS )

 
CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS | EH )

 


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599 thoughts on “VIDEO: Planner Organization + Stay Focused Blog Hop + Giveaways”

  1. I just ordered my own planner and the pens and stamp set! Thanks for sharing your ideas and I am looking forward to going back to paper and pen! I was a Franklin Planner girl b4 my iPhone!

    Reply

  2. I was thinking the same thing when my husband gave me a planner for Christmas last year… will I really use it?? I love staying organized, and I can usually stick with one method or another for a couple of weeks, then I fall apart. I finally put it on my desk and forced myself to use it, now I use it every day! I use it for appts and to log my workouts! I would love to try this out!

    Reply

  4. During college and pharmacy school I used some type of planner almost religiously. Since then, with no job yet and no kids, I haven’t needed one. Watching this video definitely makes me want one again though! There’s just something about all those to-do lists, stickers, and bright colors that just makes you happy, isn’t there? And I love the idea of incorporating stamping to individualize them even more. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  7. Hi Jennifer,
    I always have great intentions of using weekly planner and spend the money on it but just weeks in, I stop using it. Now watching the way you use it reignites my desire for planner! I especially like the Erin Condrin planner but I still have to think hard if I will use it for the full year or will it just be a waste of my money.
    Thanks for sharing how you use your planner!
    Ali

    Reply

  9. Super cool to see how you organize everything. Really got me inspired to do something similar… been ‘window’ shopping the website for the past couple of hours.

    Reply

  11. What a great planner and thanks for sharing how you make use of it. Wish I could be as organized as you are. Of course my life isn’t quite as hectic as yours.

    Reply

  15. I confess that when Kristina posted her video, I was not interested in the ECLP. I am trying to go digital.
    However, after watching this video I realized the digital isn’t for me! I need to write things out. And when I saw those “life changers” aka pens, I was SOLD!!
    I had a friend over and I asked her to talk me out of buying the planner simply based on the price. However, after we watched your video, I ended up ordering one for me and one for my friend!
    I can’t wait to get it!!

    Reply

  16. I was on the fence about ECLP and when google searching around for reviews I found your youtube video and I’m placing an order today. I love the way you section yours out “work, family, to-do”. I’m a little bummed Waffle Flower is out of the that set until November and part of me wants to pitch you about making those labels for me. hahah. Thanks for convincing me on the ECLP!

    Reply

  18. I’m planner and listmaker as well, but on post it notes..! 😉 I would love to hava a planner like this one. Love how you colour your own stickers and make them personal. Made me smile, you are a true stamper 🙂 Thank you for making this video. Very inspiring and helpful.

    Reply

  19. Jen – are you using the 7×9 or the 8 1/2 x 11 (please excuse the fact I am spatially challenged and cannot tell for sure which one you have)

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Planners, Organizing and Projects Oh My! Part 2 | While Walking My Dogs

  22. Thank you so much for this planner post!! I am new to this “planner” world and just purchased an Erin Condren planner and I love it. Thank you for all the exciting and informative tips of how you organize your planner. I was so surprised to see how many blogs and videos were out there on this topic! Amazon is going to be active for me today……

    Reply

  23. The avery labels 5418 are too small for the stamping, can you let me know which avery labels you used for the To Do: Family: and Work? Thank you .

    Reply

  24. I was very inspired seeing your video. I have my planner, and stamps, but the Avery labels 5418 seem to be too small, can you tell us what size you are using? Thank you for your great organizational ideas.

    Reply

  26. I’m so excited to find what appears to be a system that I think is so real life for me, thank you so much for sharing…I have shared your video and there are more converts in the making.
    I do have a question… The labels you stamped on appear to be bigger than the 1/2 x 3/4 inched ones I received. I haven’t received my stamp set yet so they may be ok, they just look really small. Are these the right labels to cover the morning, day and night?

    Thanks again…I know I’m going to love this planner and system.
    One last thing, here is a big shout out about goals, I couldnt agree more.

    Reply

  28. I just realized I should have ordered Avery 6737 vs 5418. It’s all good though…I’m sure I’ll put them to good use.

    Reply

  30. Thanks for showing me a way to make this planner work for me. I have had my eye on one for a while but didn’t think it would work for me. I placed my order today.

    One of the ideas I had for those coil clips is to attach them to an Avery 8.5×5.5 sheet protector (trimmed of 3-hole punches on the side). I can then print out my schedules from work on 1/2 of a letter-sized sheet of paper, trim it down, slip it into the sleeve, and then I can easily keep and update my work schedule in my planner. The only thing I’m not sure about is if it will stick outside the edge of the planner.

    Thank you so much for your videos! This was a great help to me!

    Reply

  31. Hi Jennifer,

    What sort of ink are you using when you stamp on the Avery labels? I tried it tonight with Colorbox pigment ink, and 30 minutes later they still weren’t dry! lol Thanks for any input!

    Reply

  32. Hi Jennifer!

    Just found your video and I love it! I am on some FB pages for this planner and I was getting a little overwhelmed by all the stickers and washi tape. But you video is exactly what I have been searching for! My one question for you is:

    When you make your label stamp stickers (work, family, to do) do you change the color every month to match the color theme, or just one color for the whole year?

    Again thank you for this video!

    Reply

  33. I loved this video!! I love the stamp idea…. But I am looking for more fitness/health related ones. DO you know anywhere else you can get them from?

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  34. Great video! Couldn’t tell you had a headache or anything.
    Thanks so much for this glimpse – I’ve been checking out planners out there and have been turned off to the EC because all the examples I’d see were just so busy, so much changes, so much washi, so much stickers just for fun – I don’t know how people use those since I need things very simple, a degree of white space! You’re planner is exactly how I’d want mine to look and may actually get an EC because of you:)

    Another similar planner to check out is Plum Paper Designs on etsy – they have different layout options (including the same 3 block of EC), but they have lines in each of the boxes – perhaps then you wouldn’t have to do the check marks. But sometimes once you’ve got a good system going…its best to just keep it that way! Thanks again for the great video!

    Reply

  36. Jennifer,
    Thanks for the great video! I used to use a small pocket planner, but since I’ve seen this video, I am starting to think I NEED this one!
    I especially like the add a page clip ons. I would really use those for my planner.
    There are so many ideas you have given me. Thanks again.

    Reply

  39. love the idea of coloring the avery stickers UNTIL I saw the price of copics! crazy, won’t be buying those 🙁

    Reply

  40. I happened on this post by accident…love all the ideas! Do you still use EC? Has your organization system changed at all? If so, maybe a new video is in order! 😀

    Reply

  42. Thank you for some good ideas that I can use in my current planner. I am a working professional and always use a planner for organization .and have tried many over the years. Some better than others . Curiosity got the better of me so I went to the EC website to check it out. I was so disappointed that you couldn’t even view the content without registering and agreeing to the terms of privacy. So I ” bit the bullet” to see what all the excitement was about that was so “guarded” . Wow was that a big let down! After viewing the contents and the price I came away with the conclusion that this must be a very self absorbed and highly overrated person that wants to prey on people that just want to follow the latest trend. . I have received so many good tips from you . One thing I appreciate is your attention to quality and price . This one was a let down but you have so many others that are great. Keep posting and I will keep following . Just wanted to post my opinion good or bad.

    Reply

    1. that is odd – i am able to see content without registering. (checked on a different computer.) the quality of this product is great – mine has held up for a long time!!! i don’t think they are “preying” on people – a lot of people love these planners. 🙂

      Reply

  43. Can you give us a rundown of which color copic markers you used? At that price, I don’t want to do a hit-or-miss about which colors would go well, much less which would be too light or too dark. Thanks!!

    Reply

  44. I have learned so much from you and this post is no different. I have ordered my planner. I tried ordering the stamp set but I can’t find it. Is there another similar set that you can recommend? Thank you for the great ideas.

    Reply

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