Planning for the New Year + My Favorite Planner Accessories

It’s Friday, January 1st, 2016. It’s been a crazy, good few weeks leading up to the new year. I’ve had so much going on and with the launch of This is My Life! Planners in print not everything went according to plan – although it all eventually worked out and I was able to catch up on all of the orders and get everyone’s shipped aside from the ones I’ve sold in the last couple of days. I am so proud and excited about these planners!

We’ve had a week of staying up late with all of our family visiting – 25 of us here from Sunday through Thursday kept me busy and we had a lot of fun playing board games, cooking, eating, opening presents – and my daughter-in-law even helped me bind and package 20+ planners to ship one night.

So, today has been laid back. Which is nice considering on Monday we’ll be back doing home school, karate, gymnastics, ice skating, doctor’s visits, and so much more each week. But with the new year ahead of me, I wanted to spend a little time planning for the new year and the new month.

I haven’t finished, but it’s a start. My goals for the new year mostly have to do with how we worship as a family and how I prepare for the Sabbath. Plus, with all of our extra activites over the last few weeks, keeping up with the kitchen has been a real challenge for me. So coming up with a better system – i.e. having kids help more, is part of my goals for this year.

Some of the goals for this month include the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I’m starting on Monday as well as eating from the freezer everyday to get it empty and ready for some freezer cooking.

I’ve also begun filling in my daily planner pages with appointments and other activities:

Aren’t those weather stickers too cute? I’ll list the source below.

I’m trying out a new color coding system for this year’s planner. I used a Project Life Card to make my key code and laminated it. And I always write my shopping lists on Post-It Notes.

And for this month, I decided to go with the personalized Humming Bird Cover for my planner. It’s so pretty and I love the verse for celebrating a new year!

This is My Life! Planner

I’ve been using my own, This is My Life! Planner for a few years now. Honestly though, this year is by far the one I’m most excited about because I have handmade these planners and they are just so pretty and functional.

Part of the homemaking experience is taking time to think things out and plan. Without a plan, life will pass you by quicker than you expect!

I want to live my life with purpose. I want 2016 to be my best year yet!

My Favorite Planner Accessories

Now for my list of favorite planner accessories to use with my This is My Life! Planner. If you have any favorites, be sure to list them in the comments below!

• Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens, Pack of 10: These pens are the best pens I’ve ever used in my planner. They have an ultra fine point and there is no bleed through on the pages of my planner.
• I’m currently in love with this set of adorable Washi Masking Tape. It’s just so cute! Of course, with so many washi tapes to choose from…

And some of my favorite accessories from last year that I’m still using include:

• Girl of All Work Peel and Stick Tabs
• Simple Stories Collection Kit, Daily Grind
• Avery Sticker Project Paper, Pack of 15
• K&Company Smash Sticky Note Pad
• Fiskars 1/8 Inch Circle Hand Punch
• Post-it Wall Pockets, 2-Pack
• Scotch Thermal Laminator 2 Roller System
• Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches 100-Pack
• Aidox Angle 5mm Eater Corner Rounder Small

I have found some great sources for stickers on Etsy – shops I’m sure you’ll love too!

• Sweet Weather Icon Stickers
• Sunshine Bookmark
• Pet Medication Stickers
• Payday Planner Stickers
• 40 Bags in 40 Days Stickers
• Family Game Night Stickers
• Ice Skating Stickers
• Stethoscope  Stickers
• Period Tracker Planner Stickers