Hello friends! It’s that time of year again, but earlier than ever! I just got my Erin Condren Life Planner in the mail, and I can’t wait to show it to you! I’ll be walking through everything in a video below if you want to see that, but this post will also have a ton of pictures! And a little giveaway at the end! Okay, let’s jump in!
Erin Condren’s line-up has really expanded this year! Unfortunately I can’t buy one of everything, so we’ll be taking a look at my 2018 colourful vertical Life Planner.
This year there are three options for the date span of your planner. 18 months: July 2017- December 2018, or 12 months: January 2018- December 2018, OR (new for this year) July 2017- June 2018. Last year I mentioned that I would like to have that option, and I’m that option is now available! I bought a 12 month January-December 2018 one for now because I’m in that routine, but a lot of people who always buy during launches will take advantage of the new option! Just like last year there are two colour options: colourful or neutral. Also, 3 layout options: vertical, horizontal, and hourly. And like last year, 4 coil choices: platinum (standard), gold, rose gold, and black. Gold, rose gold and black are an additional $10.
New this year are hardbound planners! Each size comes in four colours, and each colour features a different design on the inside. The large hardbound planner is 8″x 10″ and uses a vertical layout. The smaller 5″x8″ planner uses a horizontal layout. They are both available in 18 month date spans. My sister might be getting a smaller hardbound, so if she does expect a post or video about that!
If you want to skip the pictures and see a walkthrough, watch the video below!
Okay now for the good stuff! My cover (featured above) is the floating florals cover, in the custom colour Pacific. I thought the original colour was too dark for some of the flowers, so I like the lighter blue. The covers also feature dashboards like last year.
Now let’s take a look inside! Many features are the same as last year, with only a few differences. It starts with the vellum cover, with this year’s painted petals design. I’m not super crazy about the painted petals, but I like the variety in colours shown below.
Next you see all of the months at a glance. You can get a taste of the colours for each month here. Definitely more jewel toned, and they are a little richer than last year. I definitely like the colours this year!
Next the start of a month page! As you can see, the notes page got a makeover! Last year it just had a header with the rest of the page lined. Now there are sections, and even circles for goals or whatever you please. But those colours. SO PRETTY!
The monthly page is pretty much the same, with one difference. THE PAPER! The pages with tabs are almost a cardstock. If you like to write with marker, bleeding through shouldn’t be an issue! It’s nice that everything feels a little sturdier this year. The paper through the rest of the planner is also thicker, but the tabs pages are definitely thickest. I apologize for the out of focus picture, but you get the idea!
The weekly spread is mostly the same as last year. The took of the watercolour at the top, took out the thankful thought words, and added the painted petals design to each page. They also removed the tab from the sidebar, and I like the cleaner look!
The notes pages at the end of the entire planner also got an overhaul. Last year there were lined, grid and blank pages included in the back. This year there are lined, dot grid, and colouring pages. I don’t think I’ll use the colouring pages, but I get that they wanted to feature something that you can also buy separately.
Next might be my favourite change. The stickers! Instead of 4 pages of stickers in the old style, there are 2 pages of new, super functional foiled stickers! And 2 of the older style. But I can’t wait to use them!
Lastly, the plan for it pouch is detached again this year, and comes with the coil clip to put it where you want! Plus you can also see the barcodes they added to the covers for quality control. Not a big deal, but it definitely stuck out to me. It also includes the pocket with the perpetual calendar on the other side. Again, I’m not the biggest fan on the pocket on the back here. It’s too low, and the perpetual calendar can easily fall out.
Whew! okay, now I’ll share the two accessories I got. A new cover (which is actually an older design because the new designs didn’t really wow me), and the smaller snap-in bookmarks. I love the foil on them, and I think they might work better than the ruler that normally comes with it. The one that comes with the planner has broken pretty badly for me this year, so I’m hoping the smaller ones work.
My ordering experience
Ordering this year was SO EASY. So much better than last year, I can’t say enough good things about it. I signed up for the Erin Condren newsletter, and then signed up for the Planner Peeks (which went out in March), so I technically pre-pre-ordered on May 1st, when the launch way May 4th. If you know you are going to get a EC Life Planner, I suggest signing up as soon as you can, and take advantage of the pre-sale. It took me less than 10 minutes, and I got two free gifts with my order! A sticker sheet, and a turquoise hardbound notebook! The notebook is velvety soft, and I love it! The hardbound planners would look very similar, just a little bigger. Also if you are ordering something, you can save $10 by signing up here. And once you get your order, just double check that everything is correct. They are assembled by hand, and mistakes happen. Luckily, mine was perfect this year!
Don’t think I did’t grab something for you guys! I’m giving away 2 of the Jot Your thought journals! This giveaway will be a little bit longer because I will be away next week! The giveaway will end June 5th at 12AM, and I will email the winners directly. If you are under the age of 18, please ask parental permission before entering, and the giveaway is open internationally. Good luck!
Thank you so much for joining me today! And don’t forget to enter 
Oh I love your cover! I agree about the bookmark breaking. I am hoping to order the mini ones and have more success. You are also making me rethink the flamingo cover
Thank you Dana! I haven’t taken the mini ones out of the package, but I think the tabs are more flexible like the covers, so they won’t break. I just think the flamingo cover would be perfect for summer! I’m trying to round out all of my seasons with covers lol. Thank you for entering and good luck!
I love your blogs about the Erin Condren planners! I’ve always wanted to order one myself, but I’m still trying to save up for that. Thank you for this giveaway opportunity.
Thank you so much Angela! The new hardbound planners are at a lower price point that you might want to check out, and I have a link about for $10 off above. I know it’s a crazy amount to spend on a planner, and when I first debated buying one I was scared I would forget about it and waste the money, but I’ve used it every week since! Good luck in the giveaway, and thanks for entering!
I use a Classic Happy Planner! It serves as a memory planner and regular planner. I love decoratingwith washi, stickers, and hand lettering!
I love mixing the function of a planner with memory keeping, it makes it so much fun to look back on! Thank you for entering Mikaela, and good luck in the giveaway!
Also, I am a horizontal planner (literally – I plan on my bed lol). I plan out on Sunday what is going to happen for the week, then I go back and add in daily.
Haha that is a comfy way to plan! I plan on Sundays for the week, and it helps me get ready for the week! Then I go back during the week and check everything off!
I really want to try out the hardbound, but I am a vertical planner & I want the smaller size :(I may order the smaller one anyway but the horizontal never worked for me
I have a feeling that they are just testing the success of the hardbound, hopefully they will release both layouts in both sizes soon! Good luck Nicole, and thank you for entering!
I’d love to use gorgeous planners to plan, Erin Condren stationery has long been a dream goal of mine to have once I can afford it! For now, I scribble my to-do lists on pieces of paper – I’ve found it hugely satisfying (and brilliant for my mental health recovery) to tick off each step of my planned actions.
Thanks for this lovely post!
Thank you Zoeya! I love how satisfying it is to check things off! I usually put larger tasks on the sidebar, and smaller tasks within the days. If you are looking to buy a planner, there is a $10 discount code in the post above! they are expensive, but I definitely think they are worth it if they help keep you organized! Thank you for entering and good luck!
I have an Erin Condrem life planner which is my Bible. I love it so much, and the new collection is so pretty !
I’m so glad people understand my love for my planner! I agree, this release was really well done! Good luck Bianca, and thank you for entering!
I’m trying out the hard bound planner this year, I’m so excited!! I like to do my planning on Sundays; gets me ready for the week, helps me start the week like I have some sort of control over the chaos
I love to plan on Sundays as well Rachel, it helps to get me in the right frame of mind before the week begins! The hardbound planners look beautiful from what I’ve seen, I hope you enjoy yours! Thank you for entering, and good luck!
Thanks for the review and giveaway!! Loved seeing all of your planner goodies
No problem at all Hannah, thank you for reading!
Well now you have me hooked on Erin Condren and you got me to switch to vertical planning as well! I do love my planner!
It’s all about finding what works for you!
I plan in a simple blank planner with dates on it and it is sooo messy. Things keep getting shuffling around and sometimes I can fix the planner only on weekends!
I like the small sticky notes that Erin Condren sells for pre-planning, that way if things move around it’s only a sticky note that moves! I also use Pilot frixon pens that are erasable, maybe you could try either of those!
I write and re-write in my planner. I make lists upon lists and add stickers, post-it notes, anything cute!
I love when I have cute stationary! It makes me want to use them more, you know? Thanks for commenting Bea!
This planner looks gorgeous!
Thank you Brittany! I can’t wait to use it
I love how Erin Condren has changed the boring task of planning your day into something that is like an entity in itself. And with the colours and the layout, it’s something people will actually be looking forward to doing each day. Love these
I think they have made planning fun, right! I love getting organized for the week by filling out my planner. Thank you for entering Faith, and good luck!
Love the new planners this year. I’m hoping to order the colorful vertical as well! Thank you for the giveaway!
I hope you like your planner as much as I love mine! Good luck in the giveaway Kaman, and thank you for entering!
I really hope I win this I really need to start planning my day
Thank you for entering, Aaliyah! This giveaway is for a notebook, not a planner unfortunately. Hopefully you can find a way to plan with it if you win!
Oh I can really use a notebook to plan and I am really needing one
Thank you for entering Aaleyah, and good luck!