For those long term readers, you may remember that the last couple of years I have ordered a diary/planner online from Personal Planner
The last two I have had were phenomenal and this year was no different. The thing about Personal Planner is that your diary is totally customisable.
You choose the front cover, back cover, layout, boxes, information that is printed, even adding addresses and birthdays to the database.
This is brilliant because it will still be there the following year for you to accept or edit any details as necessary.
There are hundreds of graphics and photographs you can use as your front cover. For me, I always choose my favourite photograph of the previous year and use it.
Some might class that as a bit vain and big headed. But if you are like me when I get a regular old diary, I start off with the best of intentions but before too long it is languishing in a drawer or I have forgotten to update meeting and information and I stop using it.
However when it is a photograph I love, I am never seen without it!
The first year I used the company I chose the photograph I was using on my business cards which had been taken as part of a vintage photo shoot.
My First Personal Planner
The second year I went with a Hollywood style photograph which had been used in a vintage charity calendar and beautifully taken by a local photographer.
The Second Year
This year I went with a photograph taken by the hubby, in which my fur-baby Theodore had decided to photobomb me. It was taken at just the right time and I simply love this photograph so much.
My Fur-baby and I
So, front cover chosen. Simple. I now Ummed and Aahhed as to whether to have it in colour or black and white…..
The back cover was no different to previous years as my information hadn’t changed at all.
The Back Page
That just left the interior design. This was a little trickier as I wanted to try a slightly different layout to before, meaning slightly less pages/less weight to lug around.
A Week in View
For those of you who know me, I have talked extensively about a long standing shoulder issue which causes chronic pain issues and I am trying to carry around less in my bags to help the situation.
I had spent quite awhile adding my family and friends birthdays on the first year, so I just clicked a box to add them to my pages. No drama there!
Birthdays all marked out!
Lastly I had to choose which pages I wanted to include at the end.
In the past I have had everything from Sudoku to Maps to lesson plans.
This year I kept it super simple.
I went with Maps as I like to plan where I want to go to next on my blog adventures. The rest I went with blank sheets. This is just because I always have a notebook with me to jot down ideas and notes and this would again negate the need for a separate note book.
Maps… Where shall I go next?
Order placed, I awaited the arrival of my planner.
In all honesty, I know the company is based abroad so I am never too worried if it takes 2-3 weeks for the planner to arrive.
Whilst this sounds a lot, they have to collate it all and then print it. Quality control before it makes it to the despatch team, and then it has to come into the country from abroad.
I just sit patiently and wait.
My planner arrived around 18 days later. Simply Perfect.
It is here!!
And my verdict?
It was the planner I had chosen, down to the minutest detail. The photograph looked splendid, and I had co-ordinated the text colour with the elastic closure (and I purchased a matching erasable pen too)
Extras
The Quality is superb and I know I will be using this the whole year.
All I need to do now is take a fabulous photograph over the course of the 12 months in order to use it on NEXT YEARS order!!
What do you think to this years offering? Am I vain or just choosing something I love?
Till next time
Txx