Thursday, December 31, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 2

This Top Ten post teaches the basics of using a planner.


planner, planners, using a planner


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 5

If you are thinking of setting some rules for keeping your planner easy-to-use in the new year, the #5 Giftie Top Ten post is a classic set of ideas for how to write in a planner.


writing in a planner, planner tips and tricks, planner hacks


Saturday, December 26, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 6

If you don't read any other post that I ever write, read the one that is in position #6 of my Top Ten Planner posts of the year. 

And read it BEFORE you set up your planner for the new year!

It's my favorite post, even if it's not the most viral.


Throughout the rest of the year, I'll add to the countdown.


planner, project, project management



Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas

I'll be back on Saturday (hopefully) with another post. In the meantime, I'm taking a two day break to enjoy Christmas.

Have a blessed holiday season and I'll catch you on Saturday!

Etcetera
.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 7

As I continue to countdown the most popular planner posts from the last year, take a moment to schedule an hour or so to set up or tweak your 2016 planner using these tips.

All ten Top Ten posts will be available by New Year's Eve!



planner, planner spread, write it down




Tuesday, December 22, 2015

How Old Is Too Old to Potty in the Ladies' Room

A friend of mine recently visited the Mall of the Americas AMC Theater with her 9 year old son.

She was told by an employee that he was too old to go into the ladies' restroom with her. 


Kids in the Women's Restroom; Ladies' Room sign




Monday, December 21, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: #7

Today's 7th most popular planner post of the year is about stuff that I don't do in my planner!

Throughout the rest of the year, I'll add to the countdown.



planner; flourish; glasses; orange jump drive; Frixion pens




Sunday, December 20, 2015

How to Plan for a Multi-Day Event

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

Last year, I wrote about Planning a Holiday Week

It was a great post, packed with information to help get a busy week under control.

But I've done a much better job this year. So Merry Christmas! 


My gift to you is to teach you how to plan for any multi-day event or hard deadline coming up in your life.


at-a-glance planning note cards; planning note cards; graph paper



Saturday, December 19, 2015

3 Things You Never Knew You Could Do on Facebook

Facebook is always changing. Recently, they rolled out three cool features that you should know about.


Facebook; How to Use Facebook; Facebook hints; Facebook tips



Friday, December 18, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 8

As I continue to countdown the most popular planner posts from the last year, I realize just how much my planner and blogging are a real part of my life. Thank you for continuing to be a part of that.

Throughout the rest of the year, I'll add to the countdown.



planner, planner layout, planner pages, daily planner page, daily docket



Thursday, December 17, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 9

As we countdown to the new year, I wanted to remind you of the most popular planner posts from the last year. Throughout the rest of the year, I'll add to the countdown.


planner, black planner, black planner with circles



Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Top Ten Planner Posts of the Year: Post # 10

As we countdown to the new year, I wanted to remind you of the most popular planner posts from the last year. Throughout the rest of the year, I'll add to the countdown.


planner, plan, planner pages, how to write in a planner, how to organize a planner



Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Take Your Blog from Cookie Cutter to Fabulous

I recently participated in a blog review. 

Each of us got assigned several blogs to review honestly. Then, we received all the reviews of our own blog in an e-mail.


removing blogger navbar; using blogger; improving a blog



Monday, December 14, 2015

Free Wish List Printable - Ways to Use It

I have a big announcement to make! 

I've teamed up with Becky at Planner Fun to offer FREE printables for your personal use a few times in the upcoming year.

Planner Fun will supply the downloadable, printable pages, and Giftie Etcetera will teach you new ways to use them.


Cool Ways to Use a Wish List



Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Technology That I Use for Planning and Blogging

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

I use a paper planner, but as a blogger, I am very techno-savvy. 

How can a Luddite in the world of planners love to tweak HTML and edit YouTube videos?

And what I am willing to spend (you KNOW it's not much) to do so?


purple keyboard, surface pro 3, planner, frixion pen



Friday, December 11, 2015

Why I Don't Want a Planner for Christmas

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

I don't want a planner for Christmas.


Franklin Covey compact, Flourish planner, Frixion pen



Thursday, December 10, 2015

Organizing Medications for the Household

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

This morning was a parenting nightmare.

My epilepsy kid flat out refused to take his meds.



Planner, medicine sorter



Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Using a Planner to Thrive in Survival Mode

When I was in college, "survival mode" usually happened about a week before final exams. 

Papers were due. I was out of clean laundry. I had to study. Everything needed to be packed up for break.

Now, the holiday season is much more likely to put me in survival mode. So many plays to attend, gifts to buy and wrap, and illnesses mean that some days only consist of getting through them the best way that I can manage.



Planner, coffee cup, computer, Surface Pro 3, laptop



Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Increasing Hits on a Single Blog Post

Welcome to my little blog, Giftie Etcetera

Back when I started (as a lifestyle/parenting blog) in 2007, I had posts that got as few as 3 views and averaged about 20 views for a couple of years.

As you stumble around my blog today, you'll notice that I focus more on planners, organizing, and being productive. I also have a few more readers these days.


blog, Giftie, Etcetera, blog views



Monday, December 7, 2015

Planner Sections and How To Use Them

Whenever I get new information, I face the dilemma of where to put that information in my planner.

I can get paralyzed by the decision of where to write something down. If it goes in the wrong section of my planner, I'll never find it again or it'll crowd out more important information.

For someone with a touch of OCD (my therapist says I'm "on the spectrum"), the anxiety is just too much. I need a system to deal.



project, projects, project planning, project plan, planner, planner spread, planner sections



Sunday, December 6, 2015

Christmas Gifts for People Who Are Impossible to Please

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

I'm about to talk about a hypothetical person. (If you are reading this, this post is not about you. Just...um...so we are clear. Not you. Someone else. OBVIOUSLY.)

It's about people who make it IMPOSSIBLE to give them a decent gift. You know THOSE PEOPLE.


The "do you have a gift receipt?" people. Eye roll.

The "oh, how nice" people whose faces look like they are eating cow doo doo while they unwrap the gift. Bless their hearts.

The kid who says, "thank you. My mom says I have to say that even if I hate the gift." Sigh.

You know those people.



impossible to please; gift recipient; gift guide



Saturday, December 5, 2015

How I Earned a Threefold Increase in Monthly Blog Income

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

My tiny blog makes me happy. 

I feel like I get to think out my processes and share good ideas with a community of planner folks, parents, organized ladies (and a couple of gentleman, but stats reveal there are only about two of you), and some Loyal Readers.

But my blog will never make me rich.



planner, blog, blogger, blogging



Friday, December 4, 2015

Why You Should Use a Planner Instead of Your Hand

When I was 21, I was a teacher at a Catholic middle school. The school rules did not allow students to write on their bodies after several kids made some temporary tattoos with ink pens.


ink, ink poisoning, use a planner, using a planner, green ink, green ink pen



Thursday, December 3, 2015

How to Stay Organized When In the Car

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

I got a new car.

The salesperson wants me to say, "I got a new car!!!" 


I know that for sure since he commented on how unexcited I was at the negotiations and title signing.


tote, thirty one tote, utility tote, keys, planner



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Solving The "Too Much To Do" Problem with a Planner

There are days when there is so much that must be done. It can make a person crazy. 

When the stress becomes overwhelming, I turn to my planner to handle it.

(I also turn to coffee, escapism in the form of romance novels, and burrito-wrapping myself in blankets. See? Crazy.)



planner, planners, planner page, planner pages, planner layout, planner layouts, frixion pen



Tuesday, December 1, 2015

21 Epic Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Lazy Parents

Due to circumstances mostly beyond our control, our household ended up with an Elf on the Shelf named John Henry.

He doesn't watch the kids for evidence of naughty or nice behavior. He's just a fun game we play.

And, honestly, even though the *****ing Elf is a pain to move around, we've mostly enjoyed him. (The asterisks are totally nice words. Or naughty words. John Henry doesn't care either way!)


I've compiled the best of John Henry's adventures, along with some of our more revealing Elf Facebook statuses from last year.


Elf on the Shelf Ideas; pirate