Working from home on this blog is notoriously hard work. Not only do I have an incredibly cute (but needy) 18 month old under my feet, I also have a home to run, a bigger home to find, and a baby bump that is sapping all my energy. When I do get five minutes on the laptop, Dexter likes nothing more than to pull out the plug or help me type. Gone are the days when he rolled around on his play mat and grabbed at hanging toys, he’s now beginning to sense that his mummy is growing a brother or sister, and is hell-bent on spending every last second of one-on-one time with me.
This means I have to be INCREDIBLY organised. Every item we are generously provided with for review purposes has to be logged, all my guest post work has to be booked in, and any ideas I have for personal posts need to be quickly jotted down else they’re lost forever. Far from being the narcissistic and lazy bunch we’re often portrayed to be, us mummy bloggers are actually working more efficiently than an IBM computer.
When I was first introduced to Personal Planner many months ago, I created the ultimate blog planner. Not only does it have a very lovely reminder on the front page of why being an unpaid SAHM is so important to me, it is also my blog bible. In it, is every single post I’ve agreed to do, every contact I’ve made over the last three years, and every email I have to follow-up on. What might just look like a bunch of scribblings to everyone else, is gold dust to me.
What sets these planners apart is the fact you can customise pretty much everything about it to suit you. From the size, to the front cover, to the heading colour and design for the pages, right down to the colour of the elastic strap which keeps it nice & tidy. It offers you so much more flexibility than a traditional planner will.
** Personal details blurred
To create your planner, you use bespoke software on their website - so there’s no dodgy downloads to worry about. Once you’ve created a profile, you can also dip in and out of it if you don’t have the time to design you planner in one go - great if you have a demanding pre-schooler! The website is easy to use and the checkout system is straightforward. You don’t have to rush to the website in December either as you can start your yearly planner on any month you like.
I selected a large planner which fits comfortably in my handbag and means I can fit everything I need to do each week across one double spread. These are also available in small, medium, or A5 sizes depending on your needs. Front cover and back cover designs can be pretty much anything - You can pick from one of the many templates, or upload a photo of your own and / or add a text overlay.
Inside the planner there’s a handy information page which (again) is completely customisable. Here I choose to include all my contact details in case the planner is lost but I’ve seen people use special quotes too. Inside the planner itself, each page has a week-to-view and you can amend the colours and header pattern to your liking. You can also add some small squares at the bottom of each page for footer notes of your choice - I chose, To Do This Week & Idea of the Week. A tiny calendar of the month is also there on each page.
Last up, in the back section of your planner, you can opt to show an overview of the year, a bunch of lined pages for notes, colouring pages… even maps of the world or Sudoku!
The quality is also superb. Every page is very clearly printed, the picture of Dexter on the front is glossy and bright, and the pages are surprisingly thick. There’s also a plastic sleeve to the front and back to protect the pages, a plastic ruler that doubles as a page marker, and an elastic closure to keep everything secure. There’s even a plastic wallet to keep business cards and other loose bits in. The whole planner is spiral bound and has withstood a real battering from Dexter over the months - my personal planner has also been dragged around the country in my handbag and is still in one piece.
Prices start from just £14.95 for a planner, but there are also a whole host of other accessories including leather covers and pens available from the website. There’s simply no arguing with the value for money and I’m honestly at a loss to suggest anything that could make them any better. Massive thumbs from me. If you needed any more convincing, check them out on Facebook for tons more reviews from happy customers.
So what do you think? Fancy one? Well Personal Planner are offering one of you lucky people the chance to create your very own planner in whatever size you want. Get entering and good luck!
- Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
- UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
- The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
- When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
- The winners name will be published on this site
Disclaimer: I was sent a gift voucher to redeem for a Personal Planner in return for this review however all opinions are my own.
I am pretty good with things going on around me but am terrible at remembering friends and families birthdays if they don’t live close, they never receive a card on time or sometimes no card at all!
I would love to be able to have a planner as a count down chart for baby number 2 … so the whole family can see and count … But it will also be very helpful when baby-brain kicks in to remember to important dates for the coming year!!
Always forget the inlaws birthdays ops! I just send the cards at the beginning of the month so I know they will be there! x
What’s the one date you forget every year? I’m certainly not a whizz-kid when it comes to dates! My great auntie turns 90 on Monday and my mother ha to remind me, just managed to get a card in the post on time!!! A handy planner like this would ensure I don’t miss any important dates again!!
I usually remember them all but did almost forget my wedding anniversay this year
i’m hopless at birthdays!!! lucky if i can remember my own lol
I need one of these in my life for sure!
I often forget my parents Wedding Anniversary or remember it on the day and have to rush out for a card and gift! Oooop!
Usually forget our wedding anniversary !!
My Best Friends Birthday, I always feel so bad because she always remembers mine!
Looks ideal…with 3 under 4 I could use one!
Tend to forget my own birthday - it’s hidden amongst other celebrations and I never get around to thinking about it!
I tend not to forget because always use a planner!!
I write everything down and still manage to forget stuff!
Nickie recently posted…Silent Sunday
I always forget MIL’s birthday so does hubby which doesn’t go well
I forget my nephews birthdays every year!
I’m quite good at remembering dates like birthdays, anniversaries I am however forgetful when it comes to appointments so a planner could still help!
I always forget my Auntie’s birthday every year. Which is pretty rubbish since she is basically been a mother-figure to me since my Mum passed away.
Mummy Glitzer recently posted…Silent Sunday 3 November
I forget all our nieces and nephews birthdays - there are 21 of them…its so hard to keep up!
Am generally quite good at writing things on the calendar….
I am pretty good with dates!
I’m good with dates….it’s the intermittent appointments and school activities I end up forgetting
i never forget dates
I remember everyone’s birthday except my best friend’s. I don’t know why!
im quite bad at remembering birthdays
I forget my nephews birthday every year! So embarrassing!
I always forget Pancake day!
Sonia recently posted…Silent Sunday: 3rd Nov 2013
Maybe it comes from having a mum who could never remember a date, but I’m actually pretty good at remembering them. My only problem these days is remembering how old friends’ kids are, rather than the date of the birthday!
Im ok with dates but this year got my little sisters 1 month early
I have seen these before and thought they were great, totally going on the Christmas list!! Xxx
You MUST get one. They’re amazing x
I’m pretty good with dates as a rule, I do have to have to write everything down though
I usualy forget my mum and dads anniversiry
I left to my own devices, I’d be rubbish but I write everything down and make sure I plan ahead.
I always forget our wedding anniversary date.
lol mothers day
My auntie’s birthday. I can’t ever decided whether it’s 18 or 20 February only to find out it’s exactly in between those dates…
Carolin recently posted…A ghoolish night - our Halloween party
kids school stuff i sometimes forget
I’m a stickler for dates!
I forget my grandmas birthday
I constantly do not know the date meaning birthdays are always a problem!
im so forgetful with dates so this would really help me out!
We have a massive family and i am always forgetting various aunts and sending cards late - doh!
My grandparent’s birthdays! Oops!
I’m rubbish with dates
The mother in laws birthday
I forget everything unless written down
this is a great review and great product. Love looking in on your blog 
The mother in law opps
i remember all
I’m pretty good with dates tbh - my husband calls me “filofax”
Colette recently posted…Damart Thermals - Review
I rarely forget dates. Hubby on the other hand……
i’m ok with dates but i must admit i sometimes have to double check my wedding anniversary! Its 03/05/03 but i quite often get that mixed up!
Anniversaries. All of them. All of the time!
Katrina Fox recently posted…Review:You Beauty Discovery Box
no i have my mum to remind me of all of them
I always forget my husbands and I’s anniversary of our first date! Ooops!
I forget important dates really easily however my kids dont let me forget…3 weeks before any birthday i get the countdown
I’m OK with dates but I forget ages so next to people’s birthdays I have to put their age so I buy appropriate cards / presents.
im good at remembering
I never forget
Normally I’m quite good at remembering, but I did forget my nephews birthday this year
I’m pretty good with dates!
I’m quite good with dates although I have forgot the odd birthday here and there
I never forget birthdays or appointments. I always write them down.
I always forget birthdays!
I’m generally good at remembering dates, but I sometimes forget to remember events!
I never forget dates (thankfully)
I have a friends birthday this month and I can never remember if it’s on the 21st or 28th :/
i always remember my hubbys birthday because its the day after my dads
Nah, I’m pretty good at remembering dates.
I don’t really forget dates as I write on my calender - however if its not written down it doesn’t exist!
i dont tend o forget dates likes birthdays its general appointments/repairs ect i forget or phone numbers
I usually forget my friends birthdays until the last minute or when they mention it
I used to forget my Dad’s Birthday every year up until I discovered I could set myself reminders inside my calendar software so I know get texts and email alerts.
I always forget my parents wedding anniversary.
i forget my mums partners birthday all the time
Im pretty googd
amanda walsh recently posted…Christmas for the Tech Family
I’d forget most dates if I didn’t write them down.
I have lots of birthdays in July and sometimes get terribly confused
Angela
Angela M recently posted…An impromptu afternoon tea
I don’t forget any dates
I am good with dates
Desperately want one of these!!
I always forget birthdays, especially my cousins birthday.
I’m pretty good with dates but I always forget if my brother’s birthday is the 18th or 19th, & my parents’ anniversary in March.
I’m quite good with dates for Birthdays, and anniversary’s, but in the short term things like the school photographer, dentist etc etc are forgotten as soon as they are made unless I write them down straight away!!!!!
I’m useless at remembering birthdays
If I knew which date that was I wouldn’t forget
I’m terrible with dates, need a calendar to keep me on track
im not too bad with dates really but everyone can do with a reminder
I am terrible with dates and often forget bank holidays!
There isn’t just one - I get all of my families birthdays wrong or mixed up if I don’t have a diary to keep me on track
I’m absolutely rubbish with birthdays :/ A planner would help me keep everything in order- and these ones are absolutely gorgeous!
My nephews birthdays, they are both in July and I always forget which one is on which date!