I’ve been in the mood to write about something, but the only things I can think about are my pregnancy, care packages, and a few travel posts thrown in there for good measure. (I have more stuff to chat about regarding all of those topics coming up!) I could’ve chatted about any of those things, but I just haven’t been feeling it lately.
So as I was standing in line on base today to pick up a package, and an idea kinda fell into my lap. Don’t you love it when that happens?! My new Erin Condren planner came in today—just in the nick of time!
I was giddy all the way home, eager to rip open the package and check out my new present. I decided to stick with the same cover design I had last year. Although after I ordered it I sort of wished I changed it up a little bit. Oh well, there’s always next year.
I love several of the new features, but also found myself longing for aspects of the old planner. I’m here to share the differences between the 2012 planner and the 2013 planner with really horrible phone photos. I could’ve used my fancy schmancy camera, but that would’ve required me changing out the lens and the battery, and figuring out the settings since we’re having another dark and stormy day out here. And frankly, I’m too lazy to bother with any of that right now, so you get dark, grainy pictures instead.
So first up you have the new binding:
The old planner was made of plastic. This was fine, but I noticed mine started to bend at the top a little bit. The new one is made out of metal, so it looks like it’ll be sturdy all year long.
I really like this next feature for the month tabs:
On the left you can see that the month tabs are frayed and coming apart. My 2012 planner started in April (yes, you can buy them—at a cheaper price!—in the middle of the year) so I can only imagine what those tabs would’ve looked like if I had the planner for the entire year. The new planner’s tabs are laminated, and I’m betting it’ll hold up pretty well all year. Well done, Erin Condren!
Ah. I have a bit of a gripe with this next new feature…
I guess this was more of a win/lose situation. For 2013 they wanted to make the monthly calendar a two-page spread. I get it and do appreciate the extra space. However, in doing so, they got rid of the blank pages at the end of each month:
I used those pages every single month to write out my to-do lists. It helped keep me organized so I could see exactly what projects I had to work on that particular month.
The good thing is that they didn’t completely get rid of the blank pages, they just moved them to the very back of the planner:
I’ll just have to do a lot more flipping back and forth. There’s a section for lined pages and then a blank-page section. While I’m happy they didn’t nix the pages all together, I’m still not a happy camper with this particular layout. (grumble)
Back again this year are the fun stickers:
I need to utilize these more in 2013. I liked seeing them when I used them; I just always forgot they were there. Whoops! Also back again this year is the birthday and anniversary section at the beginning of the planner. I didn’t take a photo of this, but I really enjoyed using it to keep track of birthdays. I still managed to send out cards and presents late, but at least I didn’t completely forget the dates all together.
Next up is another slight gripe. In the back of the 2012 planner are two little folders and “zippered” pouch to keep things together.
I love this! There are two pockets, so I could keep all sorts of stuff in there. (yup, those are ultrasound photos on the right. I’m trying to find a photo album for them…) The actual pocket was a little small, but the advantage is that I can see everything I have stored in there.
The 2013 planner nixed one of the pockets and made it much bigger, and I’m not sure why. They replaced one of the pockets with the future calendar (it used to be on the back inside cover).
I like having more places to store things, so I’m a little disappointed we lost out on a folder/pocket section.
So there you have it, my two cents (and then some) about the latest planner. Despite the changes—even those I’m not fond of—I’m still excited to fill out the pages and start using it. I honestly didn’t think I would use the planner when I got it last April and gawked at the price, but I use it ALL the time.
Are you on the Erin Condren bandwagon or do you use something different to keep track of your plans? If you have the latest version, what do you think of the changes?
*Because it needs to be said: I was not compensated for this post. I paid (almost) full price for the planner (found a discount code!), and the thoughts above are all my own.*
12 Comments
I love my EC planner! I got it starting earlier this year and use it as a little journal as well as a planner, making note of insignificant things we do every day, because it's so fun to look at old day planners and I can't wait to flip through this one in a few years and remember everything! This was my first one though, so I wasn't spoiled with more pockets! I like that and the blank page with every month!
i have been debating forever on if i should get one or not…they are soo cool! but the price is a little crazy. I remember seeing the little pouch to bad they got rid of it:(
Wow — I *love* all the features of that planner! The price is what makes my jaw drop … especially since Im one of those that uses the planner for a while, puts it away and stops using it for a bit, and then stumbles upon it and starts using it again. I have a nice leather/zippered cover and have been buying the cheaper At-A-Glance inserts each year for years. I just need to find a place that sells the daily inserts, instead of the weekly/monthly!!
I ordered my 1st one in July/Aug/Sep {LONG story} and it has all the features of the 2013 planner. I'm glad I never got used to that blank page at the end of the month, I think that would have irritated me too but I never had that so I don't miss it {although now that I know it was a feature before, I know I would have enjoyed it!}.
Thanks for the preview! Mine should be here in a few days – I have no idea what I did before I had this planner, and I about died when it got accidentally packed with our household goods this move.
I had an EC one that I had from Sept 2011-Dec 12 and I use it all the time and take it everywhere. However, I just found it to be to big and bulky and with another baby coming I want something light to stick in the diaper bag. So, for this coming year I jumped on the newest bandwagon and got a Maybook and a Maybook meal planner too! It is a lot smaller so we shall see, but I love all the colors/designs/monograms you can get and that it is hand-sewn!
YAY! found the post 🙂 I totally agree on the monthly view part. I also didn't like that they went ahead and got rid of the thicker paper and put regular. I liked the thicker paper because it told "hey! new month" and it was easier to "see" the separation!
I love my EC planner! I got it starting earlier this year and use it as a little journal as well as a planner, making note of insignificant things we do every day, because it's so fun to look at old day planners and I can't wait to flip through this one in a few years and remember everything! This was my first one though, so I wasn't spoiled with more pockets! I like that and the blank page with every month!
Still deciding if I want/need one! Hmmmm. They are pretty cute! 🙂
i have been debating forever on if i should get one or not…they are soo cool! but the price is a little crazy. I remember seeing the little pouch to bad they got rid of it:(
@Lou: The pouch is still there! It's just the double pocket that's missing 🙂
Wow — I *love* all the features of that planner! The price is what makes my jaw drop … especially since Im one of those that uses the planner for a while, puts it away and stops using it for a bit, and then stumbles upon it and starts using it again. I have a nice leather/zippered cover and have been buying the cheaper At-A-Glance inserts each year for years. I just need to find a place that sells the daily inserts, instead of the weekly/monthly!!
thanks for the great blog post! enjoy!
I love mine too and getting ready to order my 2013 one. My October just fell off my 2012 one so the different tabs will be nice.
I ordered my 1st one in July/Aug/Sep {LONG story} and it has all the features of the 2013 planner. I'm glad I never got used to that blank page at the end of the month, I think that would have irritated me too but I never had that so I don't miss it {although now that I know it was a feature before, I know I would have enjoyed it!}.
Overall, I completely love mine!
Thanks for the preview! Mine should be here in a few days – I have no idea what I did before I had this planner, and I about died when it got accidentally packed with our household goods this move.
hmm… I am still on the fence about purchasing one. It's going on the Christmas list for sure, maybe someone else can validate it?
I had an EC one that I had from Sept 2011-Dec 12 and I use it all the time and take it everywhere. However, I just found it to be to big and bulky and with another baby coming I want something light to stick in the diaper bag. So, for this coming year I jumped on the newest bandwagon and got a Maybook and a Maybook meal planner too! It is a lot smaller so we shall see, but I love all the colors/designs/monograms you can get and that it is hand-sewn!
YAY! found the post 🙂 I totally agree on the monthly view part. I also didn't like that they went ahead and got rid of the thicker paper and put regular. I liked the thicker paper because it told "hey! new month" and it was easier to "see" the separation!