Erin Condren Life Planner Update & Giveaway

Hello! Today I'm going to be sharing a little update on my Erin Condren planner - am I still using it, am I still loving it and how I'm planning these days.

I did a post about a year and a half ago where I shared one of my first Erin Condren planners and all of the fun accessories I was using with it. You can find that post here if you're interested in seeing what I did then versus now.

Things have definitely changed for me and my planning style over the last year but one thing that hasn't changed is how much I love my EC planner. I did venture out into the planner world and tried some other planners to see if something worked better for me, but I always came back to my EC planner.

One big thing that I did change was switching from the vertical EC planner layout to the horizontal one. When the horizontal style first came out, I didn't think I would ever switch... I just loved the vertical format too much. Well this year I decided to change it up and try the horizontal style and I LOVE it! I find it so much easier to plan my week and visually see at a glance what my schedule looks like.



Another big change for me personally was to simplify my planning process. I admit that I fell head first into the planner craze when all the fun stamps and stickers were hitting the market. I had so much fun stamping in and decorating my planner. But over time, I realized that I just didn't have enough time in my day to get everything done, so I decided to get boring (LOL!) and now I pretty much just use pens and stickers in my planner. 

I do still love colour and and 'pretty' things in my planner and I think that's one of the main reasons I love the EC planner... it already comes full of awesome designs, bright colours and fun, inspirational quotes. I do still use stickers for certain things... I have some Erin Condren ones that I add to my weekly pages when I want even more colour or a fun quote and I use random 'organizational' stickers that I've collected over the last year or so... mostly from Etsy shops.


A new to me Etsy shop is Plan It Out Loud, owned by my friend Christy. She sent me some of her stickers to try out and I have to say, for someone like me who loves to keep it more simple but still have fun with stickers, they are exactly what I've been looking for! They are awesome images, great quality and they let me decorate my planner while still serving a purpose. I love that!

A Little Planner Sidenote: Meal Planning

One of my favourite sets of stickers from Plan It Out Loud are the little crock pot images.. I use those in my meal planner so I can quickly see at a glance what day of the week is a slow cooker meal. I used to do all of my meal planning in my Erin Condren planner but have recently changed to the Skinnytaste meal planner and I love it. It is a companion to the Skinnytaste cookbook (which is awesome) but you can use it completely on it's own. 



It has a ton of space to write your weekly menu and ad notes under each meal. I usually add if it was a family favourite, if there is a modification to the recipe that we prefer, etc...) And if you want to get even more detailed, you can even track calories and WW points. This little planner has really changed the way I plan our family meals and what we eat. ;)

Okay... back to my EC planner. Other than the changes mentioned above, I still use my planner the same way -  to track family stuff, crafty stuff and blog stuff. I use the main, lined rectangle area to write in all of my to-do's. I use light blue pen for craft related stuff and start that list at the top. I use dark blue or black pen to write in family activities and appointments, starting at the bottom. All of my blog posts are added to the blank box at the end in pink pen.



My current favourite pens are these colourful Paper Mate ballpoint pens. I tried felt tip, gel pens and erasable and I always came back to ballpoint... they're my favourite and I really like using them the most. The ones I use are really inexpensive, but have a great chevron design and write great. My pen preference changes often though... it might be another addiction of mine lol! ;)

So I think that about covers it... to answer my original questions - yes, I'm still using the EC planner. Yes, I'm still loving it. And planning for me has become simpler, but I still love the time I spend with my planner each week, organizing and planning out my life.

You can see a little more about my planning process now, in the video below, if you want to listen to me babble for 16 minutes lol! ;)



If you want to try an EC planner and have never shopped with them, you can use this link to get $10 off your very first order. And I think at the time of this post, all life planner are currently 40% off. And they've just launched new journals and notebooks... I have about a bazillion notebooks and journals but these are definitely coming home to me haha!

Giveaway!

I have a couple of fun giveaways!

- 1 $50.00 Erin Condren gift certificate
- 1 $15.00 Plan It Out Loud Gift Certificate (thanks Christy!)

Just leave a comment on this post by Wednesday April 6/16 and I'll draw two random winners!

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy planning!

Supplies
(The supplies used and featured in this post are linked below. Affiliate links used when possible.)



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31 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great ideas! I actually just purchased my first EC planner and will be getting it tomorrow! I wish I had seen your $10 off code. Either way I'm very excited, and this video just makes me even more excited! THANK YOU!

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  2. Thanks so much for including Plan It Out Loud!

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  3. I'm going to have to look into using more stickers too. You start decorating with stamps and washi tape and embellishments and next thing you know hours have passed! I am also going to check out the Skinnytaste meal planner you mentioned. I've been trying to do meal planning and I've just been all over the place. Thanks!

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  4. I love my EC! It's the planner I always go back to no matter what else I try. I need to get better at meal planning!

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  5. How fun - love those little stickers to use in the planner.

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  6. I think I need a meal planner too! he he he!

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  7. I have drastically simplified my planning too. Even more in that I keep it kind of after the fact more like a journal and use my smartphone for actual planning. TFS and a chance to win too! Hugs, Kristina

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  8. What fun! I use a basic bound calendar for all my planning. I love the idea of using stickers to add a little bit more to the pages. I have very little bit of time but this would add just the right touch.

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  9. I would love to win an Erin Condren Planner. I want something to help me with household management and to become more organized. It can be a challenge without writing things down.
    The horizontal layout is ideal. XOXO

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  10. Love what you do with your journals and appreciate your sharing tips and ideas with us. And, the stickers are the cutest (love the little crock pots).

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  11. I am always curious to see what others use in their planners, so thank you for the update! I am a horizontal fan as well and am considering the hourly next year.

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  12. I have been debating picking up an EC planner & think I may have to take the plunge. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

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  13. Steph, I always love your planner posts! I am a very simple planner too and I love the idea of just using stickers. Thanks for the chance at a fabulous giveaway!

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  14. Thanks for the chance to win! Those crock pot stickers are so cute!!

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  15. EC planners are Awesome! Missing mine for this year....need to buckle down and get one ordered ;)

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  16. Super fun! I've kind of gotten out of using my planner. :/ Maybe a brand new EC would help get me in the groove! LOL

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  17. I love that you keep it simple but add the stickers for some fun. The details in those stickers are amazing

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  18. I never thought I needed a planner until my eldest started school and then I had to keep track of dates and holidays and school clubs etc. I bought a really cheap one last year in a sale and have just bought a Happy Planner. It's nice to have something pretty to plan in! Am looking for good stickers, so thanks for giving me details of Plan It Out Loud. xx

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  19. Love these ideas! Thanks for sharing! I've watched quite a few videos, and I really want to get some planner stickers and try out the Erin Condren planner!

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  20. Really love the Skinnytaste planner too! Need to get that!

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  21. Wow! I love planning! It keeps my life on point. I also think pens and pencils are the ones that keep me to study.

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  22. Love how colourful your planner is. I have kept my planner pretty simple but. I like your use of stickers. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  23. I have both the horizontal and vertical planners and have found I prefer the vertical. Thank you for soooo many great ideas.

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  24. Love it and thank you for keeping it real. I haven't bought myself a planner yet but when I do I am going to try and keep it really simple and those crock pot stickers are so cute!!!

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  25. Skinny taste is one of my favorite places to find recipes!!

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  26. That planner and stickers are so fun! I have a planner, but I don't do anything creative with it or else I'd be spending all me time making that pretty instead of the other things I like to do.

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  27. Awesome planner ideas... love the crock pot stickers! I have never had a planner, and you make it so fun! I'd love to try it!

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  28. I was just popping in to see your latest MFT Release cards and came across this post! I got my first Erin Condren planner last year and love it, but know I don't use it to it's potential. Thanks for the great trip and ideas! Love those stickers too, so cute :)

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  29. I'm a new planner, I've only been in the planner community for 3 months now. I'm excited to try your new ideas on my old planner !

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  30. I love the new planner design!

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