As a typical planner person, I’m always looking for ideas and tools to help me successfully balance my already hectic life. For me, a paper planner is an absolute must. (Click HERE to read my post on 10 ways a paper planner can increase your home, life, and business productivity.) A few years ago, I discovered the Erin Condren brand and was completely in love with the products. Not only are these items extremely functional but they can be personalized and stylish as well.

This summer, I attended the Erin Condren Live at Staples in store event in Frisco, Texas. Although Frisco was not exactly “around the corner” from my design studio in Grand Prairie (especially during rush hour and being 8 months pregnant), I knew I had to make a sacrifice in order to meet Erin Condren live in person. It also helped that the event took place in my favorite office supply store.

When I entered Staples and proceeded to the event section for the Erin Condren event, I felt like I was among my peers. Seeing the support of the planner community in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex was overwhelming. I saw multiple planner groups, etsy shop owners, and other individuals who share the same love of planning and organization as myself.

And she is called “Erin Condren”

Seeing Erin Condren live was a dream come try to myself and many other guests in attendance. We each felt a connection to her and felt we knew her due to learning about her life and career and watching her on YouTube and being in multiple planner Facebook groups. (If you are in the DFW metroplex, feel free to join our local Erin Condren Facebook group HERE)

During the event, Erin Condren approached the podium and thanked us for attending. She gave a brief history of herself, work, and family life. She provided planning tips, shared her product success, and opened the floor for questions and answers. She provided the following tips and suggestions:

• Her main suggestion to the group was for us to focus on what we actually do get done. Don’t stress about all of the many things that are on our to-do lists. It is very important that we give ourselves a pat on the back sometimes. We should not put much stress or pressure on ourselves.
• Erin Condren’s planner of choice is her vertical planner. She carries her vertical life planner with her everywhere in a carry all clutch. The Erin Condren company has recently introduced many different planner options in an attempt to provide options for everyone. From the newly designed horizontal format to the hourly style, there is a planner to fit everyone’s needs. Personally, Erin is not a fan of the hourly format.
• Erin Condren doesn’t want people to feel that they have to follow her system. She wants people to create a system that works for them.
• Sundays are her planning days. Shes uses Sundays to peacefully plan her upcoming weeks.
• She uses a family desk calendar in addition to life planner.
• Someone asked if Erin Condren would ever make a 2 year planner. She said she doesn’t know because the planner would be too big.
• Her programming team are working on an app to incorporate a digital calendar with the life planner.
• Next year they are going to implement a June – July planner.
• The Erin Condren planning committee are considering making two different size planners.
• Erin Condren loves the removable covers. She feels they are great for our changing lifestyle. She also joked about “couples” covers and pictures of children going through the “awkward” stage. In situations like those, its best to be able to change out our covers.

Goodies and Gifts

The first few event guests received an actual Erin Condren Life Planner. All guests received a door ticket upon entering. At the end of the Q & A session, the door prizes were given away. Several guests received Erin Condren products or Staples gift cards. I was one of the lucky guests to receive a $25 gift card. Thanks Erin Condren & Staples!!!

At the end of her presentation, everyone was offered an opportunity to take a picture with Erin Condren and to have an item autographed by her. Guests were also given a pack of Thank You cards.

I am so excited to have met Erin Condren and participate in her Live at Staples event. She was fabulous and it was wonderful meeting with other people who have the same love of paper planning as myself.

$10 Off Your Erin Condren Purchase

If you are in the market for a life planner, save $10.00 off your purchase by signing up HERE. You will receive your $10.00 off coupon code by email. The code s valid for 30 days. Happy Planning.

If you are like me and love the Erin Condren Life Planner, but prefer a non-coil bound option, considering putting your Erin Condren Life Planner in a Simple Stories Carpe Diem cover. I am so honored to carry the Carpe Diem planner by Simple Stories in my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/DivineElementsDesign for an awesome discounted price for my followers. Use coupon code DIVINE10 for an additional 10% off. Feel free to join the We Love Carpe Diem Planner Facebook group  HERE to connect with other Carpe Diem Planner lovers and see how we use our planners to organize our lives.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask in the comments section below. If you need help getting your home and life organized, register for my free “5 Days to an Organized Home & Life” email course. You’ll receive tips and suggestions for five days and a copy of my eBook. You can register for the free course Here.

For information about my Full Home & Life Organizational Strategies course, please visit www.decoratorsvoice.com/homestrategiescourse.

As always, thanks for stopping by. If you have any planning, organizational or decorating questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I would love to hear from you. For information concerning our decorating services and products, please visit Divine Elements of Design. 

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