It’s the most wonderful time of the year for planner addicts. It’s safe to say that it’s a bigger deal than Christmas. The annual Erin Condren launch of new planners is just around the corner (May 8 my friends!) and I got an early peek at everything coming our way in just a few short days. If you want to see a side by side comparison with this year’s current player, check out my video or head to the bottom of this post.
This year’s first big change is the pattern. Kaleidoscope?! Count me in. I haven’t been this excited about a pattern well, ever. This one definitely ticks all the aesthetic boxes for me. EC has gone away from the zipper pockets and introduced a new planner box where you can store you planner. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the box for storage purposes, but I’ll definitely be keeping it around as a gift box.
The planner pages have quite a few changes from previous additions and I have some serious mixed feelings. The goals page from the front of the planner is more or less unchanged, but there’s a new quote and the addition of lines.
The monthly dashboard page is a completely new addition to this year’s planner. And I must say, I’m not a fan. I know a TON of planner addicts will love this, but I miss older renditions that didn’t have so much structure. I’ll give it a go though and see if I’m just being a grandma about it and not welcoming change.
The monthly view also has me a bit “meh.” I already miss the full color header and hate the tiny pattern strips. The new pattern is so gorgeous so why is it so tiny and unimportant on the monthly page? Plus there’s a colored sidebar (shown in more detail in the video) that has me not thrilled.
The weekly view definitely makes up for a lot of what the monthly view lacks. Sure I don’t currently use a weekly view, but this has me feeling the itch to go back. I love the date in the corner, the rounded edges, and the colored bottom boxes.
I mean just look at that pastel goodness.
Near the back of the planner is a new page that instantly gives me InkWell Press vibes. This page is unlike anything I’ve seen the EC team produce and I’m not quite sure what the point of it is. Goals? Tracking? I’m looking forward to seeing what other planner people have in mind for this one…
With the new planner comes a whole slew of new accessories to go along with it. There is a larger pack of markers (four of which are brand new), a new sticker book, and a new planny pack.
There are new clip in bookmarks as well.
But my favorite new launch has to be this gorgeous ballpoint pen. I’m a bit worried about the price of it (yet to be announced when I wrote this post), because it’s such a gorgeous pen that I don’t want to have to spend an arm and a leg each time I want a new one.
Overall I think this new launch is good, but it just doesn’t blow me away. There are quite a few design choices that I’m just not a fan of, despite completely loving the new pattern.
Be sure to check out the video if you want to see a side by side comparison to the current planner as well as all the accessories that are launching May 8th.
In celebration of the Erin Condren launch I’m giving away a bundle of new accessories! To enter, fill out the form below.
What do you think about the new planners? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
