Free Sticker Friday // Planner Girl Memory Planning Sticker Kit

It has been a long, long while since I have offered a free printable sticker kit on the blog.  I mean...a loooonnnggg while!  I used to post a sticker sheet nearly every Friday because I loved making them so much.  The last Free Sticker Friday post is from by birthday in 2017!  I've been making stickers for myself and for Patreon for a while but I thought I'd share this guy over here just for you all.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Way back in the way back, you may remember, I did the no-white-space EC style planning.  I had an Erin Condren planner & I had inserts that mimicked the EC layout.  I did both my regular, everyday planning and my memory planning in this EC style.  My everyday planning really took on the no-white-space look while my memory planning had a little more white space showing.  Check out how I set up a Memory Planning spread here (that was way back in 2016!).

Then I went into memory planning in my horizontal Happy Planner.  That was fun because I did like to journal and found the layout inspiring for memory keeping.  I fell off the memory keeping wagon for real in about 2018 right before our wedding.  This post goes over how to print your photos at hom for memory keeping.

After getting pregnant with Marcus I wasn't feeling planning of any sort so I totally stopped all of it!  Now that he's here I wish, wish, WISH I was feeling it because it would have been very nice to have a document of all the things that happened & that I was feeling before and after his birth.  But we can't really go back in time, so we just gotta start now.

Since being in Quarantine, I've gotten inspired by the ECLP planning style again. I've been watching a lot of my OG YouTube planner channels - think like Scribble Prints Co - and getting back into that style of planning.  Since I've kept my Happy Planner starting in January and I've been documenting Marcus with a ton of pictures on my google photo account, I've been able to do some memory planning or rewind spreads in my new memory planner.

This kit is very pink & very feminine so I used it to memory plan Valentine's Day week of 2020.  (Check out my Happy Planner Plan With Me video for this week here.)  I think it has the perfect mix of checklists and functional boxes plus some little icons that you can just supplement a little bit with stickers you may have leftover from other kits or character stickers.

The stickers in this spread have come from the Papershire Facebook group & Print Petticoat Bandit.  I've made some script stickers myself (video tutorial coming soon!) and my own DIY glitter headers (check out the tutorial here!).  This kit comes with 7 glitter headers already but if you need more you can TOTALLY make some yourself, for free, to cut with your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker!

DOWNLOAD THE PLANNER KIT HERE

Go ahead and download the kit above and let me know what you think! As always, these printables are for personal use only - do not sell or reproduce these guys.  You'll get a PDF to cut by hand, a PNG ready to cut with your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker (size it to 6.75 in x 9.25 in in Design Space), and a Silhouette file to cut with your Portrait or Cameo.  

I'll also link above my favorite sticker papers to use.  I have two new favorites!  The weatherproof matte sticker paper from Online Labels is AMAZING.  I bought this a few years ago to make one sticker for Zach and then never used it.  I finally decided to bust it out again and it is perfect for super crisp, professional looking prints.  I also just found this Packzon sticker paper on Amazon too.  While not as durable as the weatherproof paper from Online Labels, it does give crisp prints and is much more affordable.  It is a bright, bright white just like the weatherproof paper too.  My OG favorite that is super affordable, kinda removable, and super thin is the Yens Full Sheet Labels on Amazon.  These aren't as crisp white as the other two but it doesn't look bad.  I've used this sticker paper for YEARS and it has only been recently that I've switched.  I like this paper because it is very thin and wont bulk up your planner.  The paper isn't marketed as removable but it comes up easily unlike the other two mentioned above.  The prints still come out acceptable...I was satisfied with the quality for years!  It takes inkject really well and delivers a fine print!  I recommend all three, and based on your needs, think there is a sticker paper in here for you!

I hope that you've been having a fun planner journey and if you're just starting out be sure to check all the previous planning blog posts here on the blog!

What have you circled back to in your planner journey?  What have you done from the very beginning?

xoxo, Moe

5 Mommy Routines to Track in your Planner

As a new stay at home mom, there are several things I didn't know I'd need to keep track of in my planner!  With a little guy at home my routine has been shaken up, to say the least.  And then every dang month the routine changes.  Of course this is how it goes, right?  But when you're thrust into this for the first time, plus add in mom brain on top of that, keeping track of things can get daunting.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

I'm a planner girl and a planner person by nature.  With Marcus home for the first 3 months I was searching for anything that would give me a sense of structure.  It wasn't until he was about 4 months old that we got any semblance of a routine.  Then we were throwing starting food in the mix, gotta brush the teeth, now we're eating solids 3x a day, AND at one point he had a prescription to take.  That's a lot of stuff for one mamma to handle.  I've got like 77 habit trackers in my planner right now!

Before we dive into the 5 routines stay at home mom's should track in their planners I want to share with you two things: first, check out this video on how I made a daily routine page for Marcus at 6 months & second, check out this post on tracking spirituality in your planner because some of the tools can be the same.  But lets jump into the list.

Cleaning Routine

If you've been following the blog for a while you'll know that one of my biggest goals EVER is to have a sustainable cleaning routine.  I've got post after post on cleaning here on the blog but my two favorites are this one on creating a cleaning routine and this one on the 3 Waves Cleaning Method.  Just like with the old house, when we moved I broke our new house up into zones or sections and clean one zone a day.  I created a routine page for my planner and then each day I clean that zone for 30 minutes.

Morning/Evening Routine

Getting ready and unready for the day can really set the tone for yourself.  Waking up with intention and going to bed with intention can mean you get the most out of each part of the day.  I have a few chores I like to get done before the baby wakes and after the baby goes to bed.  It is also important to prioritize your time and couple time when you're a mom (or a dad).  Baby's shake up a lot of stuff and getting down a simple morning and evening routine that can revitalize you is important!

Feeding Schedules

I am obsessed with structure.  This is hard to manage when naps and appointments and big poop blow outs can throw things off.  But you can create a general daily schedule for yourself and the baby to track in you planner using hour stickers, daily pages, or an hourly planner.  I have a loose idea that Marcus will wake up at 7 am and eat, then eat cereal at about 8:30 am, then go down for a nap around 10 am.  I started with an app on my phone when Marcus was born to kind of gauge his schedule, but again it didn't get really cemented until about 4 months.  So don't stress about this in the beginning!  I don't want you to get stressed out when the baby's needs are all over the charts but I can understand the need for some semblance of a schedule.

Bath Time/Teeth Brushing

We bathe Marky boy everyday as a part of his night time routine.  (Night time routines are important for babies, why the heck wouldn't they be important for us!?!)  But not everyone does.  The Happy Planner has a Pregnancy sticker book with bath time stickers.  Use these to mark the days you give the little beeb a bath.  Things can get busy so maybe you can't bathe them one night.  If you start to track it then you'll know if you've gone a little two far between baths.  Marcus has just broken two teeth so we've been starting to brush his teeth and gums.  I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to do this though!  So I have a habit tracker dedicated to it in my planner now!

Meal Planning

Of course we all know at the end of a long day - whether you're a stay at home mom or work outside of the home - the last thing you want to do is make dinner.  I stink at this right now but meal planning is a great thing to track in your planner.  Use something like a weekly sticker to write out what you're going to make and track the use of leftovers.  I've not been doing this like at all!  Even at the beginning of the day I don't want to think about dinner! And now that Marcus is eating food I've got to think about feeding him too?!?! I share in this post 3 ways I prep food easily for him.

Being a new stay at home mom has created a new routine for me and I need to keep track of it!  Whether you use different stickers for different routines or a planner layout (like the Teacher planner layout), tracking what needs to be done when can give you an idea that you've got your day under control!  I really have loved creating these little daily schedule pages for my planner.  Marcus is constantly growing so it's been wonderful to see how his schedule has changed as he's grown.

What mom life routines do you track in your planner?

xoxo, Moe

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My Happy Grimoire Book of Shadows

Going into 2020 I want to share more of my chosen spiritual path here on the blog.  This place has always been a space for me to share what I'm doing and has evolved with me in the 10+ years I've been blogging....so let's jump in with another post!  Today we're gonna talk about my Book of Shadows, my Happy Grimoire!

this post contains affiliate links, please see my full dislcosure here.

What the heck is a Happy Grimoire?  Well the Happy Planner has come out with quite a few woo woo type sticker books and collections (I don't blame them this stuff is super popular right now!) and that is the majority of what I've been using to set up this journal.  A Happy Grimoire is a Book of Shadows (or Grimoire) made with/from Happy Planner Products!  So let's go over the sections I'm working on right now and then we'll talk supplies

Grimoire Sections

Wheel of the Year

This is one of my favorite sections.  I love using the Happy Planner seasonal sticker books to create these pages.  Since there are a ton of these sticker books (and now the new Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring books) there are a ton of new stickers I can't wait to use.

This section cover the 8 modern pagan sabbats or holidays that happen through the year.  Ones you may be familiar with are are the Summer and Winter Solstices, the Autumn and Spring Equinoxes, & Halloween.  You may also be familiar with May Day/Beltane or Candlemas/Imbolc.  This section outlines the meaning of each holiday, when it occurs, what to do to celebrate, and any correspondences.  So far I have a few videos on making these pages in my Grimoire With Me playlist on YouTube

Spell Work

Any good grimoire is going to document any spell work you've been doing.  This section also includes any mantras or meditations I've been repeating or working with.  It's kind of like a prayer journal as I'll also reflect on spells, intentions, ore meditations.  Decorating this section reminds me of recipe planning too!

Right now I have my ritual set up/prep outlined there with invocations, etc.  I plan to also draw out an altar to use on the go (how fun will that be!!) and include any other prayers, affirmations, and invocations that I come across.

I ended up creating some headers for each page using the Belove font from DaFont.com.  This is nice because I stink at hand lettering!  I used my Happy Planner page templates over on Etsy to create a sticker page I can stick right into my planner.

General Information

This is sort of a catch all section.  Right now I have info on Goddesses, the planets, and crystals.  But I plan to break out things from this section as I gather similar information.  So right now Hera is the only Goddess in this section but as a I accumulate more information and create more pages I'll probably break this into its own section.  I also have astrology info in there, but again I'll probably break this one out as I gather more info.

Faith Planner

The biggest part of my Happy Grimoire is my faith planner.  I am currently using the Stargazer planner from the Happy Planner Girl line released in 2019.  I grabbed this planner up at the beginning of March when they all went on clearance and finally decided on the perfect way to use it!  You can check out my faith set up in this video but I'll share how I have it set up too.

I turned it into sort of an 'undated' planner by gluing the monthly view pages together and just using the other pages in the planner.  I use the first monthly dashboard to outline goals and plans for the month.  I love the intentions section on top of the right hand page.  This has helped me to outline what I want to focus on each month.  At the end of the month I go back to work on the reflection section.

The daily to do list pages are for daily gratitude.  I ended up just dating each section and writing out gratitude instead of a checklist.  At the end of the month there is a gridded section that I use to brainstorm stuff for the next month.

And finally the two blank notes pages at the end of the month are for my Full and New Moon intentions, ritual, and info.  I love that there are two pages right where I need them in this planner!! I used to use this planner for New Moon/Full Moon stuff and tarot work but I don't think it's made any more.  The monthly layout works perfect for my faith planning right now.  You can read more about setting intentions with the moon phases in this blog post here!

Supplies

Sticker Books 

I've pretty much dedicated using the Stargazer, Dream Seeker, and Free Spirit books to this planner/grimoire.  When it comes to the faith planner these three sticker books fit the design of the planner.  It's hard to use Squad Goals, for example, because of the swooshes on the planner pages.

For the Wheel of the year pages and other other general pages I do tend to use holiday sticker books where I know I'll find some correspondences.  The new seasonal books from 2019 are great for this!  The original Farm House book is great for Imbolc, the Dream Seeker book is great for Belatne, and a lot of the holiday books can have other correspondences for the other Sabbats.

Filler Paper

I did purchase a lot of accessories in the Stargazer line but I am also just using any filler paper that I like!  Grabbing up all the Happy Notes is a great way to build up your filler paper stash.  I really do like to use the lined pages as I'm doing a lot of writing and need to write straight but the grid or graph pages offer a way to add more info because the line spaces are smaller.

Pens & Markers

To write in this book I'm using my favorite pen - the Frixion Ball Slim.  I would love to use a nice marker but I'm too afraid I'll make a mistake and using a Frixion pen means I can erase.  I've not had any of the ink in any of my planners I've used these pens in disappear....yet!

When I need a marker to write I've been using the highlighters from the Happy Planner that came out with their faith line.  When I want to highlight I'm using Mildliners.  I like the thin, chiseled tip on the Happy Planner markers/highlighters for writing since I'm no good at hand lettering.  It changes my handwriting just enough to be fun and doesn't frustrate me.


I am loving working in this book.  I have tried to keep a Book of Shadows or a Grimoire before but the format didn't work for me.  I had it all at first in a traveler's notebook, which while so beautiful looking, didn't allow me to add pages where I wanted them.  I wanted something prettier than just a binder and I couldn't stand the idea of just a plain three ring binder!  The Classic Happy planner is the perfect page size for this.

Be sure to follow my playlist over on YouTube where I show you how I use my Happy Grimoire.  There are already a few videos on a few different pages!

Do you keep a book of shadows? Do you keep a book of prayers or affirmations?  How do you study your faith?

xoxo, Moe

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Best Sticker Books to Bullet Journal your Planner

If you've been following me for a while you'll know that my current favorite planning system comes form The Happy Planner.  The Happy Planner was introduced in 2015 I'm pretty sure and I've been using it since at least 2017.  I posted this unboxing/review video in November of 2015!  Can you believe it?  

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

The Happy Planner has come a long way since 2015 with both their planner styles and assorted stickers.  I have no idea exactly how many sticker books they've released but it's a flipping ton! I remember when their tabs weren't laminated and we all came up with hacks to make them sturdy.  I also remember when morning, afternoon, and evening were printed on the side of the columns.  I also remember when their stickers were really glossy and thick.  The best adjustment Happy Planner made was to make their stickers thinner and on a matte paper so we could write on them better.  The planner community and planner brands have seen a glow up since 2015 (remember how crappy the Webster's Pages launch was and how crappy the planners were?  They have become a leading planner company too!)

In 2020 I am going to completely Bullet Journal my planner by using the oodles of filler paper I have and the bazillion sticker books I own.  My goal this year is to not buy any more planner supplies!  Lord knows I don't need any more stickers!  Creating your own planner layouts is super simple especially with the amount of sticker books The Happy Planner has created!  Here are the Top 4:

A Color Story Books

These books are great because the stickers are already curated for you.  These books are great for beginners too because of the curation of the stickers.  If you're not too sure about creating layouts and using different elements these books offer full decorative boxes, empty boxes for appointments, and some deco all curated together.  With these books you pick a few pages and use the elements there.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when flipping through and entire themed sticker book like Simply Lovely because there are so many elements that can be used.  With the A Color Story books you get 4 pages of coordinating stickers so you don't have to figure out what really goes together.  You can also create one of my favorite planning trends - the sticker cluster!

Journaling Stickers

Bullet Journaling is traditionally done with just a pen.  Some use highlighters and color coding but the majority of the spread is in pen.  The Happy Planner came out with a few journaling sticker books that can help you achieve that aesthetic with out having to doodle everything!  These sets have functional habit trackers, dates & days, boxes, etc but the book also have cute doodles to spice up your planner spread.  Since they are black and white (or have a little bit of gold foiling) you can keep your spread basic or color in the elements.

I've seen planner peeps create mood trackers out of some of the elements and then color them in daily.  I use these books mainly for the days and the date stickers but I'm hoping to branch out to a pen only spread!

Brights Sticker Book

Another sticker book that offers a lot for bullet journaling is the Brights sticker book.  This one has days of the week and number stickers for dates but it also has some washi style stickers that can help divide your page and some tabs to help you break up or section off your planner.

This is one of the first books I thought of when it came to creating a bullet journal style.  Like the name of the book says, the stickers included are very bright but still pretty functional.  If you had to get one sticker book to start you off on creating your own layouts I'd say grab this one because it's got so much.

Dates & Holidays

An essential part of creating your own layouts is having numbers and months to add to your planner.  These books allow you to create some fun monthly layouts since they have the months of the year and some holiday stickers.  You could knock out all of your monthly layouts in one sitting (or a couple, it take a lot to make these damn spreads!) without worrying which stickers to use.

Plus you'll achieve a more cohesive look across your planner when you use the same type of stickers through out.  Sometimes that is important to me because I love consistency!  There are ton of dates and holidays type stickers too and if you've ever gotten (and *ahem* not used) various extension packs, those work too.

I'm so excited to use the Happy Planner stickers and filler paper to make my own planner in 2020! The Happy Planner system offers so much customization its inspiring.  You can check out my first bullet journal spread of 2020 in this video and you'll peep a quick view of my classic happy planner set up.  Be sure to subscribe to see more planner layouts this year!

Want more planner blog posts? Check them all out here.

What are your favorite sticker books to use?

xoxo, Moe

3 Reasons Why You Need a Planner & You Don't Even Know it

Ever since I've gotten really (and I mean really) into this planner thing others have said "I think I'd like a fun planner like that but I'm not really that busy"  Well I'm here today to tell you that, once, I felt the same way.  It's just me, Zach, & the dog so it's not like I have Soccer practice to keep track of or report cards to sign but I'd dare to say a planner has been very, very helpful for me.

this post contains affiliate links, please see my full disclosure here.

I'd been blog planning (or creating an editorial calendar) for quite a while and so my planner really started out as a way for me to keep track of that but it evolved into so much more.  Sometimes, it's not necessarily for making plans but four housing all of the things I think about.  So I think of my planner as less of a planning tool sometimes and more as an organizational tool.  When I have an idea I write it down there.  Then I know where I've written it down and it doesn't get lost.  I can also keep all my thoughts organized - I used to have a ton of sections in my planner but now, not so much!  It can be a brain dump area for me, a place to future plan, and place to make sure ideas are organized.  Anything I ever need to know is in there and that's really why I like it.  

Here are three reasons you need a planner, and you don't even know it

You're a list maker

If you are perpetually writing things out, making lists, and making plans - you probably need a planner.  A binder type planner like a Filofax, Kikki K, Carpe Diem, and the like can really help you organize your thoughts.  You can pull pages in & out and add different sections if needed.  You're not bound to the current set up like you would be with a spiral planner.  I loved my Filofax because I could make different divided sections for different needs.  Of course there is the calendar pages but the dividers with lists are the best.  I'm currently loving all the different ways The Happy Planner allows you to customize a set up just for you.

If you're a stationery lover too, you'll love having a planner.  Create your inspiring lists on your favorite note paper and punch it into your planner.  If you are notorious for filling up two pages of a notebook then setting it aside or habitually losing your creative lists - you probably need a planner.  Like I said, you can keep all your ideas in one place.  If you always put your lists in your planner then you'll always know where they are.  The flexibility of a binder like the Filofax or a disc bound system like The Happy Planner is that you have the freedom to clip in, move, remove, rearrange, etc your lists.  You can also dig in your stationery stash to feel like you're actually not a hoarder.

You're creative

If you're the creative type that is constantly having ideas, needing to remember your crochet stitches, always forgetting that amazing idea you had on the train - then you probably need a planner.  A planner can be a brain dump sort of station or a station where you write out your next ideas.  I am a lover of brainstorming and having a section where I can just dump any related blog idea is amazing.  You can refer back to your ideas later and expand on them.

Then there's the whole idea of decorating your planner.  This is unique to everyone.  I started off using sticky notes to add dimension and slowly moved over to stickers.  Currently my planner is functionally decorated.  I use stickers to visually mark events much like one would color code, I use different layouts to achieve different goals, and I make actionable to do lists in a creative way to keep me inspired.  Oh, and don't even get me started on the creativity behind the bullet journal!

Creative planning puts the FUN in functional.  You can still achieve you goals with stickers and washi, believe me.  This is a place to be uniquely you and a place that should inspire action in you.  If you find that you're a creative person, you probably need a planner.  

You want to take care of you

Life can be a busy mess sometimes meaning the only me time you might get is limited to occasional uninterrupted bathroom breaks and the time you're staring at your face brushing your teeth.  Managing and planning your time can allow you to break off chunks to nurture yourself.  By making an appointment with yourself you're less likely to break it! I know it can be hard to put yourself above others but try to focus on yourself first, then you're more full to give to others!

If you're a creative person you can also use planning time as a self care activity! I know for myself the time I spend on my planner really enriches my soul.  I feel more on top of my goals and plans & I feel I've spent time expressing myself.  Bonus is I get to look at what I created everyday which is very inspiring.


Planning, I think, is for everyone.  And just like everyone takes their coffee differently everyone can plan differently.  That is the beauty of it - no one else's planner affects yours, so don't let anyone tell you your planning is less valid.  Forget comparison too!  If you see something you like in someones planner put your own spin on it and put it right on in yours!

If you'd like to get some creative planning & productivity inspiration check out past planner related posts here on the blog but also join the Five Sixteenths | Live & Create group on Facebook.  This group is a place for imaginative individuals to focus on mindful & intentional living through heart centered productivity, creative planning, & personal growth. We talk woo woo and work life creating a space for planner people, mindful makers, and lunar lovers to come together in support of each other. I'd love to have you join!

What ways do you use your planner to enhance your life?

xoxo, Moe

How to Write Actionable To Do Lists (and Why You Should)

To do lists are a big part of my planning routine.  They don't usually reside on my weekly pages (though there are exceptions to the rule!) because I like to write specific and actionable lists - so I break things down.  This requires extra space in my planner - either graph filler paper, extra inserts, or sticky notes.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

If you've ever looked at your planner and felt complete overwhelm, then an actionable to do list might be something you should focus on.

How to Write Actionable To-Do Lists

Brain Dump

First, you may find there's too much in your head to keep anything straight.  Make it a habit to brain dump all your thoughts & to do's into one master list somewhere in your planner.  This is going to be the place you turn to when you need to get it all out...it will be your master list (and it will be messy!).  Give yourself permission to get messy, scribble, and get it all out.  From here you can prioritize and even eliminate.  Refer to this list often - you will add to it and you will subtract from it, but you may also find you will eliminate the things that are either no longer important, not worth your time, or are unnecessary.

Get Specific

From your brain dump it is time to get specific.  Which projects are you working on?  Which big tasks can you see?  This is especially helpful if you're running something like a blog - instead of marking down write posts, get specific and write down exactly which posts need to be written.  Then you can, again, prioritize from there.  It may help to have a few different sections in your brain dump area - one master list, then other lists around certain areas of your life.  But don't make this too complicated.  Come up with a method that works that you can quickly refer to and fill in as time goes by.  Make it something you'll actually use.

3 Action Steps

Once you've prioritized your list - like outlined the specific posts you'd like to write on your blog - then you can get to the action steps.  I am a big fan of 3 action steps under each to-do.  This helps you realize exactly what needs to be done & shows you your progress as you move through the steps.  It also makes completing the whole task easier because you're seeing the bigger picture.  Once you get into this routine you can also start to see how certain actions over lap to other tasks and you're more likely to complete them out of habit!  It can be as simple as outlining laundry in your planner - wash, fold, put away.  For me seeing the steps means even if I haven't completed everything I can check my progress and feel more productive.

If your to-do is a bigger project you can make a project planning page in your planner to house everything that needs to be done.  For inspiration, check out my wedding planning video where I use the project planning pages to outline this big project!  I also use the project stickers from the Student Sticker Books when I need to plan out projects.  

Why You Should Write Actionable To-Do Lists

Short answer: because you get more done!

Actionable to do lists help us plan better.  They help us allot time in a more efficient way, help us prioritize tasks, and help us say no to things that won't or don't serve us.  Through actionable to-do lists we can meet ourselves where we are and eliminate overwhelm.  We can understand how long it takes us to complete tasks & that can help us estimate our abilities in the future.

When we're breaking up tasks into their moving parts we're seeing the bigger picture and are able to understand a timeline better...even if it's just a Sunday afternoon and we need to get laundry done for the week!

Ever since I started creating a plan of action rather than a running to do list, I've been able to get projects done on a better time line!  No parts are missed, nothing is left to the last minute, and there's nothing unexpected.  One of the best parts is being able to translate what I've learned from one project or task into another, similar task or project.  I've also sort of been able to create 'templates' of reoccurring tasks to help me in the future.

Want to find some printable planner inserts that can help organize your life?  Check out the Etsy shop here for A5 & Personal Size inserts. Or join the Printable of the Month Club over on Patreon for an exclusive printable each month!

How do you write to do lists?  What helps you get the most done?

xoxo, Moe

Three Tips for a Successful Planner

Planning has become an obsession of mine.  I started out with just a mini binder from Target and now I have too many shelves of planners that I don't know what to do with.  But while those guys sit unused, I've been focusing on my Mini Happy Planner for ages now.......but just to switch things up I'm playing around with a Classic Size! What???

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Something I hear a lot about in the planning community is planner peace.  While this looks different for everyone it is often a long journey & sometimes feels unsuccessful.  Planning should be two things:

1. About you & your needs
2. F U N

Yes, we're using this system to get things done but we should also be focusing on how planning affects us.  If we're having fun and feeling inspired we're more likely to get things done & feel productive.  That is why I like to functionally decorate my planner.  Sometimes pretty does serve a purpose...if you want to live an inspired life you've gotta surround yourself with inspiring things.

Here are my 3 tips for a successful planner

Watch YouTube Videos

Now, when you watch these guys don't go getting a case of #FOMO (fear of missing out).  You're watching these videos to get ideas on what you may want to include in your planner.  I can't tell you how many times I still watch a Mini Happy Planner set up video to see how others are using their planners.  When it comes to the Happy Planner line a lot of people call this style of planning frankenplanning because you're taking different parts of different planners or accessories and putting them together.  I don't think I have a Frankenplanner....I just think I have a set up that works for me!  If you want to see my most current Mini Happy Planner set up for some inspiration, check it out here.

Plan your Planner

Now that you have an idea of the sections you might want to include in your planner it is time to figure out how you'll use them.  I love to plan my planners and you can often find a section in my planner about ideas for my planner.  This is all about making the planner work for you.  

If you have a plan then you're not out there all willy nilly buying planner supplies you don't know how to use.  If you see something out there you like consider how you'll use it.  Make a plan for it.  This will save you money & save your sanity!  This goes for any planner system, not the just the Happy Planner!

Experiment

The final tip is to just see what happens!  If you find yourself really interested in a system but you're not quite sure how you'll use it just go for it.  I recently used a 50% off coupon on a teacher planner from the Happy Planner just so I could see if I'd really like to use it as a social media planner. (spoilers I LOVE IT!)  I'm gonna make a good go of it and if it doesn't work out then I didn't spend too much and I can probably pass the rest on to someone else.

When you feel the call to do something...sometimes you shouldn't ignore it!  A system you're interested in may end up working perfect for you or you may learn something else about your needs that you can switch up later.  

There is no right or wrong way to plan.  Hell, even just putting a sticker down on paper serves a purpose for you - if it's inspiring just do it.  Planning is a creative & productive outlet for me so don't let anyone tell you that your way of planning isn't the right way.

If you'd like to test out some printable inserts to see what might work for you in your planner, check out the etsy shop!  I use some of the personal size inserts like the budget & week on one page in my Mini Happy Planner and love it.  You can also join the Printable of the Month Club over on Patreon to get a brand new planner printable each month.  Subscribe for only $3 here.

What planner system works for you? What have you tried that hasn't worked out?

xoxo, Moe

Three Ways to use Pocket Pages in your Planner

As a creative person, adding visual elements to my planner is super important to me.  I need the inspiration that creative planning offers to me.  Not only is the act of planning a creative outlet for me, the habit of looking at my planner keeps me inspired!  One of my favorite ways to get creative in my planner is with the page protectors.  Tons of planner companies make these page protectors or pocket pages for various planners (check this post here) but right now we'll be getting creative using the Happy Planner line of page protectors

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

As you know, the Mini Happy Planner is 100% my go to planner for everything.  I've got one functional planner and one memory planner...both are from the Happy Planner line.  You may be thinking we'll be getting creative in my memory planner today but you're wrong! We're gonna make some amazing pocket page projects perfect for your functional planner which in my case is the Mini Happy Planner!  But of course you can translate these into any planner system you use.

Photo Dashboard with Sticky Notes

When you open you're planner, it is best to feel inspired!  Adding some photos of your family or other images that inspire you will make you super happy each time you open your planner.  To make this guy functional add in your favorite sticky notes.

I love that there are 2x2 squares in the page protectors because they fit the sticky notes perfectly.  Trim your photos down and then alternate with some patterned journal cards to create a functional dashboard.  Plus, this guy will be back and front - double the sticky note storage!

Mini Vision Board

In my current planner I have a mini vision board right in the front.  This helps me to keep on track with my goals during the year.  You can use this to create a fitness vision board, a vision board for your next vacation, or a vision board for a new home project.   

I created this vision board at the beginning of the year to go along with my vision planner.  I like keeping this smaller guy with me so that I see it everyday since my vision planner is much bigger.  You can check out some vision board tips in this post.

Visual Project Planning

This sort of goes with the vision board option above, but when you pair these page protectors with the project planning filler paper you can create a whole visually inspiring project section.  I'm using the pocket pages to store an overview of the aesthetic I'm going for with the wedding so that when I'm planning any part of the wedding I can make sure the whole visual comes together.

This can be great for blog planning or branding too in your social media planner.  You can make sure your whole brand comes together with the same aesthetic!  I shared these project pages in this post about the best productive add ons for the Happy Planner.

I just love all the creative ways we can use our planners right now.  It is so inspiring!  And the fact that the page protectors aren't just for one size of the Happy Planner is great.  These guys aren't just limited to memory planning...they are a very helpful visual tool.

If your'e looking for some more creative planning, productivity tips, & personal growth check out the Five Sixteenths | Live Creative group on Facebook.  And check out the YouTube channel for more planner awesomeness!  OH and if you want to save moolah on Happy Planner stuff, check out Blitsy to save some serious cash.

How do you use pocket pages in your planner?

xoxo, Moe

5 Happy Planner Extras for Productivity

I've been knocking things off my to do lists left and right recently and I think its because I've been using my planner to the best of my ability!  This has to do with a a couple of things, I think - one of which being all of the productivity extras from the Happy Planner to make the whole thing work for you.  As you know, I use the Mini Happy Planner exclusively and I am so happy that there are a ton of extras for this size!

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Three Parts to Productive Planning

When it comes to the actual doing of the stuff there are a few important points that need to fall into place in order to mark these things off of our to do list.  It isn't just enough to make the list, we've got to organize, prioritize, and make plan to execute.

Organization - organizing your tasks, due dates, and appointments means you'll know exactly where each item lies so that you can find it quickly & easily when needed.

Prioritization - prioritizing you tasks and events means that what needs to get done first, happens first.  Then you can push other things to the back burner or reevaluate when something else might need to be done.

Project Planning - this sort of has to do with execution.  If you outline what needs to be done, you'll be able to execute things in a timely manner rather than stumble over tasks.

The Happy Planner line has quite a few things to help us get through all three of these to make sure we're reaching our goals!

Planner Extras for Productivity

My Mini Happy Planner is a conglomeration of quite a few add-ons & extension packs, which is great because the whole system is disc bound!  I can add and remove pages as needed to create a functional system that works in my best interest.  Not to mention there are a ton of functional sticker packs out there that make organization, prioritization, and execution colorful as well.

Project Pages

These are new to my arsenal and I haven't quite mastered them yet as I prefer the project stickers found in some of the sticker books.  However, these guys can be great for long term or multi-step projects that need a little bit more attention.  By creating an actionable time line, you'll be better able to execute tasks to complete your project or reach your goal.

These inserts feature a colorful page with sections for sketching & brainstorming, planning action steps, and assigning due dates.  Since these guys are the same design back & front, I like to add in another page of graph paper for extra notes.  I wish the back was dot or grid paper!  That would make my day!

Can Do Monthly Extension Pack

The Mini Monthly Extension pack I use for social media planning mimics the style of the limited edition Trend Setter planner.  This 6 month extension has an undated monthly view, a sort of monthly tasks view, daily to do pages, then two blank lined pages at the back.  

I've customized the task view with some letter stickers from the Happy Planner sticker books and other alphas.  This helps me break down all the checklists in to specific areas organizing my content into groups.  This insert also lets me prioritize a top three for the month so I'm on track!

Personally I haven't found a use for the daily to do pages as they don't seem to fit in with how I use my planner.  But I am thinking about using them to plan my Instagram posts.  The blank lined pages at the back I am thinking about pairing with the project pages!

Daily pages

These guys are great to break down your busy daily schedule but they can also be used as an extra dashboard if needed.  Featuring an hour by hour breakdown starting at 6am, you'll be able to organize your day efficiently.  

Areas for prioritization include a daily focus & two checklist sections.  One of the checklists says Do This Later which can help to get tasks out of your brain but not necessarily scheduled right away.  The back of these inserts features a brain dump section that is great for notes during the day or outlining bigger tasks.

Productivity Stickerbooks

Currently there are two productivity stickerbooks from the Happy Planner and I love both of them!  The original sticker book features project planning & goal setting stickers allowing you to outline projects & priorities.  The second sticker book focuses more on habits, time management, and organization.

Both work well in the mini or classic size planner and are perfect to add to the graph filler paper to create your own inserts.  The original Productivity book does come in a mini size, though I find those to be a little too wide and not as aesthetically pleasing as the stickers designed for the classic planner.

Focus Half Sheets

This is something brand new to my Mini Happy Planner and its not even designed for it!  These Focus Half sheets are designed to fit the Classic Size planner but a little trim keeps all the important bits and it fits right in the mini.  The front page is great for a targeted goal list for the week, outlining the top five must do tasks.

The best part about these is that the back is graph paper - perfect for all my notes.  It can also be used as an extra project planning section or to outline the steps of future tasks.  I was  using this as a wellness tracker/insert but that didn't seem to work out too great for me. I'm thinking of making it a brain dump sheet to put all that tasks that float through my brain but that don't need action just yet.

Housing everything all in one place is made so much easier by these different add ons, extension packs, and the disc bound system of the Happy Planner line. Some of the extras I mentioned can be found in a cool little bundle here on Amazon (yay for Prime shippng!) but you can save the most when you shop Happy Planner stuff over on Blitsy.

The only way to use a planner is to find a system that helps you rather than hinders you.  I like to write a lot out - I am a multi step person - so having specific areas that can help me organize, plan, and execute means that I'm working on my goals successfully!

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If you'd like to read more about productivity, check out these posts on the blog.  You can also join the Five Sixteenths | Live Creative Facebook group where we talk about creative planning, inspired productivity, personal development and intuitive goal setting!  Click here to join!

What are your favorite planner extras for productivity?  How do you use your planner effectively?

xoxo, Moe