already planning for 2011

My search for the perfect planner always commences around this time. New calendars and planners are being introduced for the new year and I am on the hunt. I start this early because it really does take me months to find the perfect one that fits my strict criteria. Yes, I have rules for my planner.

a. It must have full page monthly calendars. None of this weekly calendar stuff.

b. It must be small enough to be portable, therefore, it needs to be able to fit into my purse. The 5.75”x8.75” size is ideal. I shy away from the notebook sized planners.

c. I need adequate square space for writing. I really do write EVERYTHING in my calendar so it needs to be able to accommodate it.

d. I also don't like them to be burdened with all the extra bells & whistles such as daily planning pages, address pages, future planning calendars that extend to 2020, or the entire periodic table of elements. I usually find a way to eliminate those because I pack it full of my own things. It quickly becomes home to all my little slips of paper, lists, and pay stubs. I am slightly flexible on this element, however, I understand I'm asking a lot.

e. And finally, it must be pretty. I have to carry this thing around for 12-months! That's a longer commitment then I make to the purse that it will be in.

So, you can understand my amazement today when I was browsing online and came across this. It might just be the one! Now I don't want to jump to any conclusions but it meets about 90% of my criteria. It does have a lot of extraneous pages, but even I can concede that a few might be helpful. Who knows, maybe I can actually use the "notes" pages provided versus writing my ideas or sketches on random post-its and scraps and tucking them in between the pages. I think I may be in love...but I also have strong feelings for this one as well. Oh dear, who would have guessed that I'd find 2 strong candidates before it is even October!

[images via fred flare]