The Planner Post

I plan my meals, my weeks, and I make to-do lists like no other.  Without planning I feel like a house ravaged by a tornado looks.  It’s not a pretty thing.

I've been meaning to write about my planner forever.  Seriously I think it's been 6 months already.  I guess I should have written in my planner to do a post about this.  I used to buy my mom a planner/calendar for Christmas.  One year I lost the one I bought her somehow.  Since I ALWAYS get her a planner I ended up buying one right before Christmas so she wouldn't be disappointed.   I wrote in birthdays and important dates and then of course the old one magically appeared in my car under the seat.  It's great how that always happens.  I could have taken it back but honestly I was too lazy and I HATE taking things back around Christmas time and also I'm pretty sure I lost the receipt for the first one I purchased.  Since I wasn't going to return it I started using it and that little book changed my life.

 

Fast forward a couple years.  By this point in the story I'd been using the same brand of planner every year.  It was cute but basic and didn't always have enough space for me, especially since I like to make "to do" lists all the time.  I've tried using my phone and once upon a time I was super cool and had a PDA (I should mention that back in the day I was even cooler and had a trapper keeper, but that's another story...).  For me I need to physically write things down and I like being able to flip through a paper calendar verses one on my phone or computer.

 

I knew I needed to find something that worked better for me so I started looking online and somehow stumbled upon Erin Condren planners. The price was more than I usually (EVER!!!) spend on my planner, but I fell in love with the layout and colors. I watched the video online and was hooked. After convincing Mr. C that this thing was amazing (didn’t take much, I just rambled a bit and then made him watch the video - in fact he may have just said yes to get out of watching the video for the third time), I took forever to pick my design and finally I ordered my planner. I’m not a very patient person but I waited a whole month (word of advice - don't order around Christmas if you aren't patient) for it to arrive in the mail. I was so excited! Even the box it came in was beautiful!

 

I've been using my wonderful planner for over six months now and it's just the best thing ever. I take it almost everywhere with me.  It's like my new BFF.  My friend texted me today asking me about my "snazzy planner" and I was so excited she was considering getting her own that I could barely contain my excitement to text her back.  Unfortunately no one is paying me to write this (if you'd like to pay me though I'm happy to send you my mailing address), I'm just very passionate about products I love.  I love the company and appreciate their amazing customer service that have led to only positive experiences.  I think it's difficult to find functional products that are also pretty so when I do I'm hooked.  The 12-13 planners are now available (as of today!) and they've added a bunch of amazing things like photo stickers and pens that no one really needs but we order anyhow.  So, if you're feeling stressed and are in the market for a new planner to simplify the millions of things you need to remember you should check out erincondren.com.  They have about a million other amazing products as well, I just wish money grew on the trees in our backyard.  Enjoy!

 

#87 and Snazzy New Library Card Syndrome

Guess who's got a new library card and another one of the 101 tasks checked off?  It’s ME!!!  Congrats if you guessed right.  Yes, a library card. I realize this sounds super lame since they hand these things out like candy at a parade. Fingerprints aren't required, blood samples (I'd be out if this was the case), a waiting period or even an application fee. We lived about 5 minutes away from a library for over two years and I couldn't ever seem to get myself there though. I added it to my 101 list thinking it would be simple to cross off, something to get me motivated. Over a year later I’m FINALLY crossing this off.

We were on the way to Home Depot for the millionth time (seriously at least twice every. single. weekend. I can't even understand this) when I YELLED "we should get library cards!" Mr. C looked over (he's used to me randomly yelling stuff) to see a very stupid looking grin on my face and without asking questions (he’s learned it’s better not to) turned down the street towards the library. After about 10 minutes I was holding my snazzy new card which of course I just HAD to use immediately. 

I headed over to the computers to search for an amazing book.  At first I blanked out. I couldn't think of any books. Then one popped in my head. I did a quick search only to find out that not only was it not at the library I was but there was a waiting list. Okay, no biggie. I searched again to discover the same problem. I finally found a book that was actually in the library.  It was like winning the lottery.  I wanted to do a cheer but figured that would not be appreciated by the other patrons.  The book was written by one of my favorite authors and although the name sounded familiar the cover did not. I walked myself over to self-checkout and then hurried out to the car to start reading on the way home.  I know, I sound overeager but I was of course suffering from snazzy library card syndrome (which of course is a very real and documented thing).  As I was reading I realized I had indeed read this book before. A month before to be exact.  I have the paperback (I should also mention I have a signed author's copy of the paperback so it's not like I shouldn’t have remembered I had the book...it was a huge deal when I got it). Unfortunately the hard cover looked much different. My stupid grin faded away and I was left sitting in the car with a book I had already read and a snazzy new library card that couldn't get me any books I hadn't yet read and actually wanted. I was too embarrassed to go back inside, face the nice older lady that explained the entire library system to me, and swap my book out.  Plus, although the place was full of books it seemed to not be full of any books I actually wanted to read (like when the fridge is empty because nothing looks good or you have NOTHING to wear even though the closet is jam packed full of clothes).

I proceeded to go home and reserve about a bazillion books online. The entire reservation process is actually quite dangerous; it's like when I discovered ebay. I'd smile every time the message popped up saying I successfully reserved a book. The time it told me I was 40th in line for said reserved book I may have in fact been swearing instead of smiling but that's really beside the point. Now I'm really hoping all of my bazillion reserved books don't become available at the same time. By the time I get any of them I will probably have forgotten or perhaps my excitement will be over by that point. Or, perhaps I'll forget to pick them up and will be charged a $2 for every single one of those bazillion books I was crazy about reserving.

Point of this very long story = if you don’t have a library card you should rush right out and get one, but don’t hold your breath that you’ll be able to get a book you actually want.  If you get a library card today there is a strong possibility that you’ll be able to get a book you want within the next 6 months.  Unfortunately if you live in the Phoenix area I probably already reserved that book in my quest to reserve a bazillion books.  Sorry about that.