planning – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: planning

Why I Stopped Planning | The Unofficial End of #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

Almost five years ago, I discovered the online world of planners through the YouTuber Elle Fowler. Elle made videos about her Erin Condren LifePlanner, and I quickly fell in love with the idea of creating fun planner spreads that were not only functional, but that allowed me to use stickers, washi tape, and other crafting supplies to organize my life. After months of deliberation, I splurged on a LifePlanner of my very own, and I began documenting the entire planning process on this blog and my YouTube channel. With my planner in hand, I quickly dove into the planner community online. For a few years, I hauled stickers, decorated my planner, and interacted with other planner lovers. It was a lot of fun, but I slowly found that I wasn’t enjoying my planner any longer, thus making my YouTube videos obsolete. Today I want to share with you some of the reasons I stopped planning, and thank you for the support you showed me while I shared this hobby with you.

Why I Stopped Planning | The Unofficial End of #PlanWithPolishland

Please note that I do discuss money and the environment in this blog post. It is not my intention to pass judgment on others, and I only bring up these topics in reference to myself.

The quick answer to why I stopped planning is simply because I didn’t enjoy it anymore. When I first got my planner, I was in my most hectic season of life so far – studying for the bar exam! I needed a lot of structure, and since I was under a lot of stress, decorating a planner was a great way to plan out my day while also having a bit of “me time.” Yet once I took (and passed!) my exam, I began searching for jobs, spending more time at home, and not doing anything that really required extensive to-do lists. When I started working, I really didn’t need my planner. My days were fully structured and any spare time was dedicated to errands, chores, and relaxing. I just didn’t need my Erin Condren like I used to, and I felt no desire to return to it. I tried to figure out if other methods of planning would work for me. I spend a few months in a traveler’s notebook system, another few in a monthly planner, but in the end I decided to put the planner down and just go forth without one.

Moreover, my planning habit also died due to changes I made in my personal budget. In the few years I was using my Erin Condren, I spent hundreds of dollars on my planner and all of the supplies that came with it. Planning can be a very expensive hobby, and although I liked to tell myself I was keeping it affordable, I really wasn’t. Yes, I bought things on sale, used coupons, and even received a lot of stickers for free from brands, but I was still overspending. While it is absolutely possible to be a planner on a budget, it can be difficult to look around the community and see coveted “No White Space” weekly kits be priced at nearly $30.00 from the popular shops. As my love for planning fell by the wayside, and my desire to save money became a priority, I quickly realized how unsustainable this hobby was for me.

Similarly, I also began to have concerns about the environmental impact of my planning. Since I liked to decorate my planner, I went through a lot of sticker sheets that most likely could not be recycled. If I was putting all my stickers to use, I didn’t feel as guilty. But oftentimes I didn’t like all of the stickers included with a kit, and found myself with stacks of sticker scraps I didn’t want. While I did giveaways and shared these stickers with others, I still realized that planning can be a very wasteful hobby. In fact, almost every planner supply I’ve come across is in disposable plastic packaging. As I began to learn more about the environment, I couldn’t enjoy planning as much.

In the end, I’m truly grateful for the time I spent in the planner community. Not only was planning a great source of joy for me, but I was able to connect with so many people online through this hobby. I really appreciate those of you who watched my YouTube videos, followed my planner Instagram account, and shared my few #PlanWithPolishland blog posts. At this point in my life, I have no desire to return to planner decorating, but, of course, that may change, which is why I am calling this the “unofficial” end of #PlanWithPolishland. Thank you so much for following this planning journey of mine!

100 Habits to Track in Your Planner | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on February 25, 2017February 23, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’m so excited to be sharing a new #PlanWithPolishland blog post with all of you. It’s been a while since I’ve written about my planning life, but you can catch new PlanTube videos on my YouTube channel HERE at least twice per week. Today I thought it would be helpful to share my ideas for habits to track in your planner. I discovered habit tracker stickers last year, and I’ve really enjoyed using them. I use a habit tracker for those tasks that I really want to be a part of my daily routine, but have a difficult time implementing. If you are new to tracking habits, or simply looking for planner inspiration, here are 100 habits to track in your planner!

This list includes the habits that I track on a regular basis, and other habits that I brainstormed with some help from family. I’ve separated the habits out into categories, which are alphabetized for your convenience. Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and that many of the habits can fit in multiple categories. I worded many of the habits in the vernacular I used in my own planner, so if you have any questions about what a habit means, feel free to ask me in the comments!

I also want to note that I only track 2-3 habits per week in my planner. I treat my habit tracker stickers as reminders for the things I want to work on right now. For example, if I’m forgetting to take my vitamins, I track that this week. Next week, however, I’ll probably track something else. It’s all about focusing on the now for me, but I know many people track the same habits each week. Do what works for you!

If you are looking for habit tracker stickers, I recommend THESE from Oh, Hello Stationery, Co.

Adulting Tasks

Pay Bills
No Spend
Spending Log / Budget
365 Day Penny Challenge
Read Newspaper / Watch News
Cook at Home
Plan Meals / Meal Prep
Make Coffee at Home
Didn’t Bite Nails
Sort and File Mail
Wake Up at “X” Time
Network
Set Out Clothes for Tomorrow
Hang Up Jacket
Get to Work Early
Check Sale Websites
Complete To Do List
Charge Cell Phone / Devices
Unplug Before Bed

Blogger Tasks

Answer Emails
Take / Edit Blog Photos
Post on Blog / YouTube
Reply to Comments
Comment on other Blogs / Videos
Post on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Social Media Engagement
Update Old Blog Posts
Participate in Blogger Groups
Check Affiliate Programs
Search Review Websites
Plan Blog / Online Content

Etsy Shop Owner Tasks

Reply to Messages
Pack Orders
Ship Orders
Update Listings
Post to Social Media
Check Shop Statistics
Stock Inventory

Health & Beauty

Morning Skincare
Evening Skincare
Face Mask
Lotion at Bedtime
Floss Teeth / Oral Care Routine
Wash BeautyBlender
Paint Nails
Change / Wash Contacts
Take Vitamins / Prescriptions
Exercise
Walk Daily Steps
Drink 8+ Cups of Water
Eat 5+ Fruits & Vegetables
No Junk Food
Meat Free / Dairy Free / Sugar Free Day
Food Journal / Track Nutrients
8 Hours of Sleep

Household Chores

Dishes
Wipe Counters
Change Kitchen Towel
Clear Kitchen Table
Bathroom Upkeep
Laundry
Make Bed
15-minute Pick-Up
Declutter an Item
Take out Trash
Empty Car
Vacuum / Sweep Floors
Water Plants

Parenting

Pack Diaper Bag
Successful Nap Time
Bathtime
Check Backpack
Review Homework
Make School Lunch
Outing with Kids (i.e., park, shopping, playdate)

Personal Goals / “Me Time”

Read for Fun
Journal / Write
Q & A a Day Entry
Plan Tomorrow
Craft (i.e., crochet, cross stitch, scrapbook)
Practice Instrument
Duolingo (Foreign Language App)
Lumosity (Brain Games App)
Listen to Podcast
Crowdtap (Survey Website)
Meditate
Color
Call / Text a Loved One
Write Letters
Take Bath
Take Daily Photo
Positive Affirmations
Spend 15 Minutes Outside
Random Act of Kindness

Pets

Clean Litter Box
Walk Dog
Feed Pet / Give Water
Brush Pet
Brush Pet’s Teeth
Practice Tricks / Discipline

What habits do you track? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Erin Condren Life Planner Monthly Color Comparison 2016 vs 2017 | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 16, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m here with a quick #PlanWithPolishland blog post to share a color comparison between the 2016 and 2017 Erin Condren Life Planners. I purchased the Horizontal Life Planner for both 2016 and 2017, and I noticed that the colors in the planners are the same, just in a different order. I thought this information would be really helpful for all of you who, like me, purchase stickers in the monthly colors. That way you can easily figure out which stickers from last year go with the 2017 planner! First I will show you the planners side-by-side in video form, and then provide you with a shareable graphic. If you would like to learn more about the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner, you can see my unboxing and review HERE.

As you can see in the video, the 2017 monthly colors are the same as the 2016 colors, with a very minor change on the Monthly Calendar. This is the case if you own the 2016 Horizontal or Hourly planner, but not the Vertical planner. While all of the new 2017 Life Planners in the Watercolor color scheme share the same color palette, the old Vertical planners had different colors. Thus, only the colors in the 2016 Horizontal and Hourly match with the new 2017 color scheme.

I created this graphic so you can have an easy-to-use list of the matching colors. Feel free to share it on Pinterest or social media, or print out a copy to keep in your planner! You can also place this in your sticker collection as a cheat sheet if needed!

That wraps up today’s #PlanWithPolishland blog post! I hope you found it helpful if you purchased the new 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner in the Watercolor color scheme. I know many sticker shops put their monthly colors on sale at the end of every month, so take advantage of the affordable pricing and stock up on stickers for next year. Of course, if you are a new Erin Condren shopper, please use my referral link HERE to save $10 off your first purchase! Let me know in the comments what you think of the Erin Condren color scheme – do you love it, or do you prefer the neutral (black and white) planner? I would love to hear your thoughts!

2017 Erin Condren Life Planner Unboxing & Review | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on June 25, 2016June 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am beyond excited to share with you my purchases from the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner Launch. I can’t believe it’s now been an entire year that I’ve been using my current Life Planner. It really has made my life better in so many ways – I’m more organized than ever before, but I also truly enjoy the creative outlet that planning is for me. While I don’t need a new planner until 2017 begins, I wanted to join in on Erin Condren’s Launch Day and purchase my new planner right away. In this blog post I will share an unboxing of the goodies I purchased on Launch Day, and share my thoughts on the launch and the updated planners.

UNBOXING

I filmed an unboxing video for my YouTube Channel, which is included in this post so you can see me open the box and show you the products “in person.” If you aren’t subscribed to my channel yet, please do so HERE! I post planner videos every Tuesday and Saturday, and sometimes on bonus days, too. If you love Plan With Mes, sticker hauls, and other organizational DIY videos, definitely subscribe (it’s free!).

Here are photos of everything I received so you can get a closer look. I will include direct links to each product on Erin Condren’s website, but if you are new, please use my referral link HERE. Not only will you save $10 off your first Erin Condren purchase, but I earn a $10 reward as well. I really appreciate it when you support me in that way!

Freebies – VIP Cover, Postcard, Sticker

Erin Condren always includes a free postcard and sticker with every order. This is a great way to spread the positive messages Erin Condren supports with your friends and family. Plus, who doesn’t like a freebie, even if its small? This year Erin Condren did something really special. There was an opportunity to sign up for a VIP list for free a few months ago. VIPs receive emails with sneak peeks about new products, but we also got a free, metallic cover with our launch purchases! This is a $10.00 value, and very much appreciated. I don’t know if you can join the VIP list at this point in time, but here is a detailed look at the cover.

Here is what the front and back of the VIP cover looks like. It is a beautiful blue with metallic blue foil. I did want to mention that my cover came punched, but not cut. I easily took some scissors to cut it myself. Since this cover was free and the issue easily fixable, I did not feel the need to contact customer service. The inside covers are brand new with this launch, and are now formatted to act as dry-erase lists. Erin Condren now sells some wet erase markers, but I plan on using a regular Sharpie. You can learn how to erase Sharpie in THIS quick YouTube video.

Moving onto the products I purchased, I decided to get two accessories. First, I picked up the Rose Gold Metallic Snap-In Dashboard (LINK) because I wanted my order to total $100 so I could get free shipping. It was either pay $10 for shipping, or $5 for a dashboard. It was a no-brainer to get the dashboard! I also purchased the new Designer Sticker Book in the Classic Collection Edition 2 (LINK). I’ve really enjoyed the Erin Condren sticker books I’ve purchased in the past, and this one is even prettier than the older ones! You can see photos of each and every page in the sticker book on my Facebook Page HERE.

Now it’s time to talk about the Life Planner! This year Erin Condren is doing something quite different. Instead of buying a planner that is already put together, you build your own planner. You get to choose the coil color (Platinum, Gold, Rose Gold, or Black), the layout (Vertical, Horizontal, or Hourly), the color scheme (Neutral or Watercolor), the cover, and any cover personalization. While I really like the ability to create the perfect planner for me, the planner got more expensive than ever due to certain customizations being considered ‘upgrades.’ I’ll talk more about that in a minute. The cover I chose is called the In Bloom Metallic (LINK), and on the left you can see the new Plan for It Pouch that comes with each planner.

Here is a look at the Plan for It Pouch and the goodies you’ll find in it. In the past, the pouch used to be attached to the Life Planner in the back. Now you can choose where to put it, or even if you want to put it in your planner. I’m not going to use the pouch, as it bulks up my planner and I don’t use it anyway. Included is a Coil Clip, 3 Compliment Cards, 2 20% off coupons, and a sample sticker book. I love that we get some goodies with every Life Planner!

Let’s talk about my new Life Planner in more detail! I’ll share how I built my planner, and any coordinating prices.

Life Planner – $50
Rose Gold Coil – $10
Rose Gold Cover – $10
Personalized Cover – $5
Horizontal Layout – n/a
Colorful Color Scheme – n/a
6 Months of 2016 – $5

TOTAL: $80

If you’ve been following my #PlanWithPolishland posts since last year, you’ll know this is $5 more than I spent on my first Life Planner. The price increase is due to the $5 cost for personalization. I find this charge completely unnecessary, because personalized metallic covers are sold separately for $10 total. I don’t understand why I need to pay $5 extra for personalization when it comes on a planner, and not on its own. I did decide to get the personalization because it’s what I wanted, but I did want to point out my disappointment with this charge in particular. I am otherwise very happy with the added options for the Life Planner this year.

I want to show you a quick example of my Life Planner. Here is what a month looks like! This is January.

Each month you get a Notes Page and a Quote Page in the monthly colors.

That is followed by the Monthly Calendar.

Finally, here is what the Weekly Pages look like. It is very similar to last year’s Horizontal, but features the watercolor effect instead of the geometric print at the top of the page. I am loving it!

MY THOUGHTS ON LAUNCH DAY

I wanted to close out this blog post with my thoughts on Launch Day and my experience. I am very thankful that my Launch Day, June 1, was very successful. I logged into my Erin Condren account early, and had my order submitted two minutes before the official launch even began. I know there were a lot of technological issues on Launch Day, but I can only speak to my own personal experience. I had zero issues while ordering and received my confirmation email immediately after placing my order.

My order shipped on June 16, which was five days before my estimated ship time of June 21. I was a bit frustrated that people who placed orders days after me, and even weeks after me, got their orders before I did. I know I was one of the first to order, so it doesn’t make any sense why people who ordered so long after me received their packages before me. I don’t know what was going on at Erin Condren, but it felt like they were using a ‘last in, first out’ method instead of ‘first in, first out,’ when it came to shipping orders. Nonetheless, I can’t (and won’t!) complain too much because my order shipped out on time, and I received it in time for the start of the planner (June 27th).

The only issue I had with my Launch Day order was very miniscule. My tracking number never updated, and for five business days read “Order Processed” only. This means that the shipping label was created, but UPS never received the package. I emailed Erin Condren’s customer service team to find out what was going on, and it turns out I was given an incorrect tracking number. Not only was my email responded to in just over two hours, but the representative was very polite and helpful.

My order arrived on June 23, and everything was just perfect besides the little mistake with my VIP cover. I am beyond pleased with my Launch Day experience! I know that there were a lot of hiccups on launch day, and that many orders arrived damaged or with multiple errors. Again, I can only share my personal Erin Condren experience, and I am very happy to report that everything went quite smoothly for me this year! That is why I continue to purchase from and recommend Erin Condren. The products are amazing quality, and I think the customer service is great. Any issues I’ve ever had were always resolved in a timely manner.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

That brings us to the end of this very long and detailed blog post! I hope you found this post helpful if you are considering an Erin Condren Life Planner. If you have any #PlanWithPolishland blog post or video requests, feel free to leave them in the comments of this post. I am so excited to use my new goodies!

Please share your thoughts on Erin Condren’s 2017 Launch Day with me in the comments! Did it go smoothly for you? Did you experience any issues? Let me know!

New Year’s Resolutions 2016 | Quarter 1 Update

Posted on April 7, 2016March 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! We are now a few months into 2016, and I wanted to share an update on my New Year’s Resolutions for this year. I know a lot of you might be feeling disgruntled about your resolutions if they haven’t been going very well, so I hope that if I share my journey and experiences you will feel more inspired to keep going. Resolutions don’t happen overnight – they take hard work and dedication. As long as we are working towards our goals we are being successful! Today I’ll be sharing a quick update on each of my five resolutions, and grade myself on my progress. You can see my New Year’s Resolutions announcement HERE if you missed it!

1. Paint My Nails More Often & Try More Nail Art

Grade: C+

I’ve done really well with blogging more about nail polish this year, especially during Manicure March! However, I’m still not wearing nail polish often on a daily basis. I have been swatching a lot lately, so I haven’t painted a full manicure because I know I’ll just have to take it off to swatch. I know that’s an excuse, so I need to get over it and paint my nails more! I’m ready to put my newly decluttered collection to use.

2. Nail Down a Skincare Routine

Grade: B

I’ve been doing much better at taking care of my skin this year, but I’m not at the point of a daily routine just yet. I probably do a full morning and evening skincare routine about 4-5 days per week. That is a huge improvement for me, so I’m happy with my progress!

3. Focus on My Overall Health

Grade: C

My health goals were broken down into three main categories: taking my daily vitamins, exercising regularly, and eating healthier. I’m doing really well at taking my vitamins. I’ve made it a part of my day, and you can see in my Health Star Jar above that there are a lot of purple stars! Unfortunately, I’ve slacked off big time when it came to exercise. I got sick in January and took some time off, but that time off turned into a couple months off (big oops!). I’m going to try to start with exercising once per week to ease myself back into a routine. Finally, I’ve been eating somewhat better, but my sweet tooth has been overpowering me. I need to conquer it!

4. Organize My Life

Grade: B

A general goal of mine is to become more organized in all aspects of my life. I think I’ve done a good job at this so far! I’ve created some new systems that work for me, such as keeping notebooks for certain purposes, coming up with a functional clothing organization system, and storing my makeup. Decluttering has been on the forefront of my mind, and getting rid of unneeded things in my life has helped me become more organized for sure. I’ve also been working on budgeting my money by making sure I buy with purpose. I also keep a spending log to keep track of every dollar that comes in and goes out. My main priority now is becoming more productive and motivated in my daily life.

5. Read 40 Books

Grade: A

As of writing this blog post, I’ve read 17 books in 2016! I am well on my way to completing this goal. I was a reading machine in both January and February, and in March I slowed down a bit to focus on longer books and books that require more brain power. I am also writing non-spoiler book reviews for every book I read, so check out THIS section of the blog to see them.

All in all, while there is definite room for improvement, I think my New Year’s Resolutions are going well. It’s important to check in with yourself and be honest about how you are progressing. It is okay if you haven’t even begun work on your resolutions yet! Just don’t give up! I know it can be really hard to motivate yourself, so let’s cheer each other on in the comments! Share your resolutions and progress with me!

Born Pretty Store Planner Supplies + Stationary Haul | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on October 3, 2015September 28, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’m back with another #PlanWithPolishland post today. For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that the online store Born Pretty Store is one of my favorite places to get fabulous and affordable nail art supplies. Now that I’ve begun this planner hobby, I went back to the site and discovered the plethora of cute planner supplies and stationary sold, too. I am excited to show you the awesome stuff Born Pretty Store sent me for review, and to incorporate these goodies into my planner. Let me share the planner haul with you, and make sure you stay tuned for a coupon code!

I filmed a video haul so you can see the products in action, but I have close up photos of everything below, too! As I mention in the video, all of the stationary products that I received are a random design. That means when you place an order, you don’t know which design you’ll get! It’s really fun, and everything is so cute that I don’t mind not being able to pick out a particular design. I’m really happy with what I got!

Sticky Flags – London Design – $1.70 [BUY]

I love using sticky flags for planning ahead, or for stickers in my planner. The London design is super cute! I might do an entire London week in my planner just based around these sticky flags.

Rilakkuma Sticky Notes – $1.58 [BUY]

I’m loving this kawaii design from Rilakkuma! These flags are so cute. They are not very sticky, but can easily be turned into stickers or simply using to pre-plan. Rilakkuma is a popular brand as well, so it’s great to be able to purchase these sticky notes from Born pretty Store.

Crown Pen – $1.40 [BUY]

My favorite item in the haul is this Crown Pen! It is so well made, and really easy to write with. The ink is good quality, and doesn’t skip when I write. These pens are so trendy, and can be quite pricey. I’m so glad I found this on Born Pretty Store!

Floral Paper Tape – Bonjour Design – $3.28 [BUY]

The last item I got is this floral paper tape. It is a washi tape and sticker combo. I got the Bonjour design, and I really love the coloring and scalloped edges. This is perfect for decorating envelopes, or simply the edges of your planner!

The great thing about Born Pretty Store is that there is free international shipping! No matter where you are in the world, you never have to pay for shipping. Plus, you can get an extra 10% off your order with my coupon code FZL91. These prices are amazing for such cute goodies, especially for those of you around the world who may not otherwise have access to stores like Target and Dollar Tree. Simply click the photo above to start shopping!

Have you purchased planner supplies from Born Pretty Store? If so, let me know what you got in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Pipsticks Sticker Subscription | Unboxing + Coupon Code

Posted on September 12, 2015September 2, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am excited to share with you a new sticker subscription service called Pipsticks. This service sends a bundle of stickers and other stationary supplies to your door every month for just $15. As you may know, I absolutely love to decorate my Erin Condren Life Planner with stickers. Plus, I like to send out snail my to my family and friends, and I always include some stickers on the envelope. I reached out to Pipsticks and the brand graciously sent me a welcome kit to review, and is also providing a coupon code for all of you! Let me show you what to expect in a Pipsticks Subscription!

ABOUT PIPSTICKS

Pipsticks is a monthly sticker subscription with three different plans. The Kids Club and Pro Club (for adults) are each $15, and the Family Club is $35, and includes three times the amount of goodies as the Kids Club. I got a Pro Club kit to review, which comes with at least 15 sticker sheets, a quote card, a stamped postcard, and other goodies. The stickers are curated from all over the world, and I love that Pipsticks does not include character stickers. In other words, you won’t receive Disney stickers or Minion stickers. I think that is a really smart business move, because you always know that Pipsticks is including unique stickers!

UNBOXING

Let’s take another look at everything inside my Pipsticks subscription! I’ll talk a bit more about what I’m loving, what I’m not sure about, and how I plan on using the stickers. First are the stationary products: the quote card, stamped postcard, and vintage inspired postcard. I love how versatile these items are, and I think it’s amazing that the postcard comes in every kit. That way you can design a new postcard every month, and send it to a different family member or friend!

Next up are the vintage inspired stickers. I absolutely love these two sheets! Each one would be great for a weekly planner layout in my Erin Condren. I am already envisioning the washi tape and color palette I would use! The quality on all of the stickers in this kit is beyond excellent as well.

The next batch of stickers I would label fun and trendy. I’m not really loving the sheet of faces on the left, but I think the emoticons and popsicles are awesome! In addition, the Polaroid Deco Stickers are great for decorating photos, coloring in, and more. I really like how Pipsticks has such a variety!

Speaking of variety, I think these kawaii stickers are beyond cute! The full sheet will work really well in my planner, and the ‘Don’t Forget’ sticker is perfect! I’m not sure how to use the little faces yet, but they are great for journaling or scrapbooks. While I don’t use 3-D stickers often, I’m excited to discover a new creative way to do so!

Of course, the kit also includes some functional stickers, which are some of my favorites. I would love to see Pipsticks include more functional stickers in the future, but the ones I received are definitely great. The stars are perfect for highlighting important events, and the small ones can be used as bullet points. I know I’ll be using all of these in my planner!

Last but not least are these little samples of Russian nesting dolls! I love these, too! They are so cute and colorful. I use small stickers of this size to seal envelopes all the time. The little bear is especially adorable.

FINAL THOUGHTS & COUPON CODE

All in all, I’m really impressed with Pipsticks and I think it is a great value for the money. If you love stickers and stationary, this is an affordable way to receive a bunch of goodies in the mail every month. Many Etsy shops put out monthly subscriptions or kits for the same price, but you receive a lot less stickers. With Pipsticks you are still supporting a small business, but you are getting a better value. Of course, I still love Etsy shops, but if you are really on a tight budget, I think this is a great option. Pipsticks is also providing all of you with a 15% off coupon code! Use code POLISH15 at checkout. If you’re in the United Stated, shipping is included, but international subscribers will need to pay an additional shipping fee. Nonetheless, I hope you will consider trying out Pipsticks! I think it’s a ton of fun!

FIND PIPSTICKS

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Is Erin Condren Worth the Price? | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on September 5, 2015September 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a new #PlanWithPolishland post for all of you, and I am really excited about it. I’ve been using my Erin Condren Life Planner for a little over two months now, and I am really loving it. I can honestly say it’s helped me make a change in my life, and I’m so glad I invested in it. You can learn more about the planner I purchased HERE, but today I want to talk about whether or not the Erin Condren Life Planner is worth the money. A standard 12-month Life Planner costs $50, and that price tag sounds quite expensive at a first glance. Let me show you how the Erin Condren breaks down in terms of cost, and share my thoughts on whether I think it is worth the price.

ERIN CONDREN LIFE PLANNER BY THE NUMBERS

First and foremost, let’s break down the price of the Erin Condren Life Planner (“ECLP”). For this post I will be basing my numbers off of the 12-month Ready to Ship Life Planner purchased by a first-time Erin Condren customer. If you are debating about whether or not the ECLP is for you, I’m assuming you are a first time purchaser. If not, these numbers will need to be adjusted a bit, but you are still getting a fantastic deal! The ECLP retails for $50.00, and shipping is $9.95. However, you can receive a $10 off coupon for your first Erin Condren purchase by signing up for a free Erin Condren account using my referral link HERE. Once you create your free account, you will receive an email with your coupon code. Your $59.95 purchase is already down to $49.95!

Next up, let’s take a look at all of the freebies and accessories included with every Ready to Ship Life Planner! These add up to a retail value of $22.70!

Perpetual Calendar – $5.00 [LINK]
Party Pops Snap-In Bookmark – $4.00 [LINK]
3 Compliment Cards – $1.50 [LINK]
Do-it-All Dots Sampler Sheet – $0.67 [LINK]
1 CoilClip Connecter – $0.58 [LINK]
Coupon for a FREE Cover – $10.95 [LINK to the cover design I chose]

Your first order from Erin Condren will also include two additional freebies! They have a retail value of $20.87.

Coupon Code – $10.00
10 Gift Labels – $10.87 [LINK]

If you’ve been keeping track, so far all of the freebies and accessories add up to a total retail value of $43.57. Every Erin Condren Life Planner purchase also comes with a free sticker and postcard. I would estimate the value of these goodies at about $1.00-1.50. That makes the total amount of freebies included worth $45.00! That is an excellent investment considering you only paid $49.95 out of pocket!

ERIN CONDREN LIFE PLANNER QUALITY & USAGE

Of course, the price of the Erin Condren means nothing if the quality of the planner isn’t good. Take it from me – the quality is amazing. The covers are very sturdy and laminated, and snap in and out of the planner easily. The pages are very thick and sturdy as well. The tabs included on the side for separating the months are also laminated, so I haven’t had any issues with those bending or getting damaged. Finally, the coil is very strong, too – it doesn’t bend or get messed up like regular notebooks. As you can see, the quality is top notch!

In the end, I think the Erin Condren Life Planner is 100% worth the price so long as you are going to use it! Make your planner your new best friend, and it will treat you well. After just two months of using my planner, I find that I am more organized than ever. I immediately add appointments, bills, and events to my planner, and that way I never forget about them. I also use the notes pages for shopping lists, and the monthly calendar to track my blog and YouTube posts. I am so happy I finally made the investment in an Erin Condren Life Planner. If you’ve been thinking about it, DO IT! You will not regret it.

Do you use an Erin Condren Life Planner? Tell me how in the comments or use #PlanWithPolishland on social media!

Back to School Week | How to Use the Erin Condren Life Planner for College

Posted on August 29, 2015August 26, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today is the last day of Back to School Week, and to finish things off I’m sharing how I would use my Erin Condren Life Planner for college. I’ve seen so many people on Facebook asking how to use the planner for school, so I thought I would go ahead and share a mock Plan With Me video with all of you. To go along with the video, I wanted to talk a bit more about the items I recommend here on the blog. Let’s get started!

WHAT YOU NEED

I want to begin by saying that you don’t necessarily need any of these things in particular to use a planner in college. Many colleges give out free planners, or you can buy one very inexpensively at your local office supply store. That being said, I highly recommend the following:

Erin Condren Life Planner in the Horizontal Layout – $50; save $10 on your first purchase using my referral link HERE
Erin Condren Snap-In To Do List – $4
Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Markers – $6.49 for the 12-pack shown on Amazon HERE
Colored Pens, my favorite being THESE from InkJoy (not pictured)
Darice Sticker Books – $1, find at your local Michaels Crafts

PLANNING ROUTINE

As you can see, it is really easy to use the Erin Condren Life Planner for college. The horizontal layout has tons of space to write down all of your assignments and other life events. The Snap-In To Do List really makes all the difference, and is a great $4 investment. I hope you found this post and video helpful as the school year begins! Of course, let me know your planning tips and tricks in the comments!

This post includes some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

How to Use the Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 25, 2015July 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am excited to bring you another #PlanWithPolishland post featuring my Erin Condren Life Planner. Every Life Planner comes with a Perpetual Calendar, which is a little book with a line for every day of the year. The calendar was originally designed to mark down birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates that reoccur every year. That way, you can mark down these special days once in your Perpetual Calendar and carry it in your planner from year to year. I wanted to put my Perpetual Calendar to use, but I didn’t think its traditional purpose would work for me. Let me go ahead and show you how I’m using the Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar, and share some other ideas I have with you!

Here is a quick peek at the Perpetual Calendar. You can find it in the Keep it Together folder at the back of your Erin Condren Life Planner. I love this year’s cute design, and was inspired by the “Celebrate Someone or Something Everyday,” headline. I’ve decided to use my Perpetual Calendar as a happiness journal, in which I write down one thing every day, no matter how big or small, that made me happy. Here is a peek inside my journal for the month of June – I started as soon as my Erin Condren order arrived!

I really like how my happiness journal is turning out, and you can definitely feel free to use your Perpetual Calendar in the same way. I often see people in the We Love EC group on Facebook asking others for inspiration on how to use the calendar, so I thought I would share some more ideas with you. Let’s jump right in!

Gratitude Journal
Fitness Journal / Meal Planner / Weight Tracker
Quote Journal
Reading List
Weather Log
Budget Book
Fun & Silly Holidays (i.e. National Donut Day)
Top News Story of the Day
Song of the Day List
Cleaning Log / Chore List
…any combination of the above!

These are just some of the ways you can put your Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar to use! I hope these gave you a bit of inspiration. Even if you don’t use any of these ideas, perhaps they helped you think of another use for your Perpetual Calendar. I’m really loving my happiness journal, but maybe that’s not the right system for you, and that’s okay! Find what works, and don’t be afraid to experiment! If you’d like to get a Perpetual Calendar separate from the Life Planner, they are only $5 on the Erin Condren website! Please sign-up using my referral link HERE to score $10 off your first purchase!

Show me how you use your Perpetual Calendar with the hashtag #PlanWithPolishland! You can also follow my NEW planner Instagram @PlanWithPolishland HERE.