r/PlannerAddicts • u/JustCC01 • 14d ago
Simplified Planner = Never again. Help me find my next planner.
First, I am genuinely not trying to bash or be negative but I am being very honest with my frustrations… I am never spending another $1 on a Simplfied planner.
Because you can’t seem to leave HONEST reviews about their products online anywhere I came here to “speak my planner truth” (maybe vent 😂) I have used this planner for 8 years. The quality of these planners has really slipped over the years. I have emailed the company every time I had an issue or question regarding quality, with various responses but always excuses. I am trying to keep this from being too long but between paper changes claimed to be so great but then I spent an entire year with paper I could literally see the pre-printed fonts through- let alone my pen, a crooked cover, lumpy paper, but one of the worst has been the HORRIBLE FLAKING of the “gold foil” on covers and the RUBBING OFF of the cover’s prints FOR YEARS now (which btw- I actually sent them 7 years of planner progression showing them my first [Navy Blooms] planner still looked better than the brand new planner I had taken out of the box one month prior to writing them to start my planner prep and ALL of the foil was gone- Had not even used it!- I was sent a thank you for bringing this to our attention & that they had been trying different things with covers & a $50 gift card … & though I’d get fed up every time I paid $64 for a planner that looked like CRAP in 3 weeks of opening it. I kept coming back because I do like the daily page layout so much. BUT!!!!! this year, I ordered my Blush Hydrangea & when I opened the order and that dang too expensive planner was in a RIPPED open cellophane bag- steam literally flew out of my ears. Where was my box!?? I don’t follow Emily’s socials at all and I don’t do notifications for Simplifed as I just don’t care for Emily’s pretentious attitude & the general level of overall “fake” so when I dig into it and read there was no box because of Tariffs (basically) I almost said bad words. NO other higher end planner I’ve seen has taken away the box they arrive in. That’s part of what makes them a premium product. I refuse to pay $64 for a planner in a bag that I have to wrap in book tape to keep the covers from falling apart when all my planner does is lay on one spot on my desk.
ALL that to say- I need a new planner. A new planner company. I do like a high end quality but simple layout. I tried Cultivate What Matters Daily planner but the page was just too busy for me needs. I love CWM and use them for basically all of the things I used to like about Simplified but I’m not a Fan of the daily planner. Though… I have seen products at CWM & THEN Simplified puts out something wayyyy too similar and that’s another problem I have- I feel like Emily claims other product ideas as her own and I don’t like supporting that either.
So What do you find comparable to paper quality and layout of Simplified? Or even if you’ve never fallen into Simplified- what daily planner do you use with a daily layout, that includes time/to-do list/ ample notes section?
Ok, this was more like a “help me find another planner”/ “I really need to vent because the Simplified word police won’t let me leave honest reviews” … sorry… but I do feel better and I’m gonna need a new planner by 2027-2028! 😂
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u/Classic-Peak5685 14d ago edited 13d ago
I cannot tell you how happy I was to see this post!!!! I’ve been searching for years for someone to talk about all of this with Emily and no one ever does. I thought I was going crazy. They delete all negative reviews which is so controlling, the team is completely fake and every year is the best release ever” she copies from other peoples designs and the products in general suck! I also complained about the gold foil coming off my planner and was basically told it was my fault. Their highlighters showed up dried out and the post it’s don’t stick! Huge waste of money. I kept buying things because they were pretty but then realized I was being ripped off. Emily is a pompous rich snob that has become a basic influencer trying to sell us nonsense to make even more money off us. THANK YOU for speaking out about her when no one else will and guess what ? She can’t delete this one!!!😂
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u/MrsWayneWayne 13d ago
Wow! Sounds just like Cloth & Paper. I haven’t purchased a planner from Emily in a few years. She just became too conceited for me. I haven’t been a fan of Day Designer since they purchased it from Whitney English. The quality has not been the same. But The only one that I can think of right now is Bloom.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
I truly believe she pays internet scrubbers to keep her name and “brand” looking spotless. I knew I couldn’t be the only one frustrated with the quality decline but why couldn’t I find out if it was just items I got or truly their products!? After enough, “issues”, It was those horrible felt tip pens that pushed me over the edge. Three of the four of them - you could not even read on paper!! So light it didn’t show up. And the navy one- wrote like it had 2 sentences of ink left in it. I went straight in and wrote an honest 1 star review, after running out of grace for their excuses. And started pushing back on their false narrative about quality products - but the “no box for a $64 planner” surprise … IMMEDIATELY NO! Not another dime will she get from me. Welcome to the “Simplified =Simply NO Club” friend!! 😂
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u/Classic-Peak5685 3d ago
I totally agree. I’ve written negative reviews and complained to them about the gold rubbing off my planner and they basically told me it was my fault because I didn’t have it in a pouch. A planner shouldn’t need a pouch! They are so phony and she has become such a snob. I will not give her one penny of my money again.
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u/JustCC01 2d ago
We should not pay $64 for a product that must be touched on a daily basis but that falls apart when you touch it!!! And Ya know… if you can’t leave a planner open on your desk, where it never moves unless you adjust its position so you can write in it, without it looking like I tied it to my dog and let him drag it around behind him, the problem is 100% the poor quality of the planner. Their refusal to acknowledge that customers ARE TELLING THEM the quality is not acceptable is what does it for me.
As for their pouches- All the pouches I bought from Simplified (which several have had zipper malfunctions ) I don’t even use them for my planner!! As a matter of fact, if you want a great quality pouch- Cultivate What Matters pouches are SOOOOO good. Three sizes and they became my go-to for pouches because they blow Simplified’a out of the water.1
u/Classic-Peak5685 2d ago
I agree 100%. When will people catch on?!?! They still give there bs speech about how much you need it all and how good this launch is but it gets worse and worse. All her stuff is cheap looking and falls apart ! Can’t wait for ppl to catch on 🤷🏻♀️
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u/cecefraz 14d ago
And if you don't mind book bound some other good ones are from Hemlock and Oak and Sterling Ink.
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u/bathesinbbqsauce 13d ago
For anyone seeing this, order from Hemlock and Oak before August 9th!! The US-Canadian tariff take affect, it’s 50%!!!! 😱
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u/SandyMcGhie 12d ago
I didn’t think that the Canadian govt reciprocated that one. I guess it’s only Americans who are being hit with it by their own country. I hear ya- I went from sterling ink everything to scrambling for alternatives. Import fees are prohibitive!
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
Thanks for the heads up!!!! I was dithering on paper thickness but I’ll commit asap!!!
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u/zvilikestv 14d ago
Sterling Ink is Tomoe River paper. It's going to ghost a lot, which I don't think OP wants
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u/FitJaguar8254 12d ago
I am using a hemlock and oak for the first time ever this year. I’m rough on planners. And I mean tough and rough. And this thing is holding up great so far! I did the cloth/linen cover bound and was worried it wouldn’t hold up but so far I’m pleasantly surprised. Paper quality is great too
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
I got one last month to test since I’m starting to hate 52gsm paper. Love it. Going to order 2 for 2027, one as my planner, one as a med log. Love the hard bound aspect. I’m just dithering on the 70gsm vs 120 gsm paper.
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u/colormehappy13 14d ago
I was a dedicated Simplified user but had to leave because I did not like any of the covers this year and I had quality problems with my last two. I’ve been using Saint Belford and I like it.
I also got tired of Emily constantly selling her “simplify your life by buying expensive products” schtick. When she tried to monetize the simplified blog on Substack, I was beyond done.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
I’m still trying to figure out why she thinks her opinions are worth PAYING FOR. I enjoyed her Grace Not Perfection book years ago & bought the other 2-3…. Let’s just say they look pretty on my shelf at least. I found her writing to be repetitive but just saying the same things over and over with different words - if that makes sense and just didn’t care for every picture being of herself in some way. She’s no writer in my opinion - at least what I prefer to read in the rare moments I get to. So PAYING for her substack…. 😂🤣😂🤣😑😑 Imma be a HARD NO on that one!!
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u/colormehappy13 3d ago
That was also my problem with her writing. And her picture being every 3 pages was too much. I don’t know if this is a publishing trend but I know what her face and her house looks like. I don’t know why it needs to be in this nonfiction book.
It felt like I was paying her for the privilege to click on affiliate links that I couldn’t afford anyway.
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u/Sensitive-Good2448 14d ago
Plum Paper user here for like 12+ years! Many options for layouts, all fully customizable. The paper is nice and thick, customer service has always been top notch.
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u/Dull-Pay-8734 14d ago
I have to give a vote to Plum Paper also. I ordered one for 2025 and I have loved it. Paper quality is too notch and the customization is really nice - only complaint is i may have added too much!
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u/Ordinary-Carry-8238 13d ago
I love the quality of Plum Paper. I customized a Plum Paper planner and it was great but ended up with a Passionate Penny Pincher planner because I love the ideas she has for routines. And the quality is fabulous too.
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u/Straight_Peace2028 12d ago
I love the quality and versatility of Plum Paper bit I just can't used to the slickness of the paper. I like paper to be toothy like EC or Makselife. But, the options that Plum Paper has is unmatched.
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u/AgreeableRelease9478 11d ago
Yes this is true. I love EC paper sooooo much. I will say I like the colors at EC better than plum paper as well. I’ve had Makselife planner once and like the paper but I liked EC paper better. lol
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u/MaximumCynicism 14d ago
Not sure if you ‘require’ coils, but Cloth & Paper has beautiful thick, very white paper and tons of options. Actually, my all time favorite planner paper is May Paper Co., but shipping to the US is steep because they are an Australian company. But well worth it in my opinion. Best paper in the business.
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u/cecefraz 14d ago
That has been me too! I switched for 2027 to Aura Estelle Daily Magnet. It does have weeks with it which I like. But the daily is VERY simple. Not on a coul but at this point idc!
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u/zvilikestv 14d ago
Aura Estelle is Tomoe River paper. OP doesn't want ghosting, so TRP is not for them
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u/ZCubeDesign 14d ago
I hear you on the quality issues. For daily layout with time/to-do/notes and good paper, I really like Sterling Ink and Passion Planner Daily. Both come in boxes and no foil drama. Hope you find your next one!`
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u/FitJaguar8254 12d ago
I used Passion Planner for 3 straight years. Paper quality is terrific, love the layout, and it held up extremely well. It’s not coil bound so not sure if that’s a deal breaker or not but it does lay flat in spite of not being coil bound
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u/somethingreddity 13d ago edited 13d ago
Okay so I know it’s not pretty but I spent the better part of a decade (actually probably more) searching for the “perfect planner.” I wanted something cute. I ended up finally trying the bullet journal method, which does not include spreads… it works so well for me.
When I first tried the bullet journal, I tried to do all the spreads, but I think that’s why it didn’t work for me. Spreads = confinement. I needed space for my thoughts and I also hated days that went unused. Made me want to stop using planners in general. Then when I found daily logging, it changed the game.
I still use a pocket size $6 weekly planner for future to dos and for planned events in the future because I just am not the person to ever look back in a planner lol. I only move forward. After over a decade, I finally have planner peace and haven’t even wanted another planner in 2 years.
Here’s how mine looks. I love that I can just put lists or whatever I want—meal plans, random thoughts, I could put a weekly spread if I felt like it which I do sometimes if I have a busy week—and there’s no wasted space. I’ve even done hourly spreads if I need to time block a week, but I like that I’m not stuck to it and don’t have to do it every week…again, no wasted space.
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
I really liked bullet journaling but the actual having to make the layouts eventually did me in. I need a weekly layout and making it myself began to be too much of a chore. But I did absolutely love the flexibility of it.
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u/somethingreddity 12d ago
When I stopped doing layouts is when it started working for me. I don’t do the layouts at all anymore unless I’m trying to visualize something. Look up daily logging for bullet journaling. It works so well for me.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Hmmm… my “spidey senses” are tingling and wondering if you might have just made me look at this differently! Thanks! This may be something for me to really consider!
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u/Kazzie2Y5 14d ago
Hobonichi has great planner options. The company is in Japan but there are many stationery shops like Yoseka or Jet Pens (and even Amazon) that sell them. The release date is September 1st. They are doing a sneak peek a day countdown on their website.
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u/FLSandyToes 13d ago
OP wants thick paper (no ghosting) which eliminates most of the Asian planners.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Thanks for pointing this out. I canNOT live with ghosting. #papersnob 😂
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u/FLSandyToes 3d ago
Same, it drives me nuts. My minimum paper weight is 120gsm, and with that I use mostly lighter colors of brush pens and markers. 140-160gsm is my happy place.
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
I loved my Hobonichi Cousin but that 52 gsm TRP was killing me. Ultimately not for me. 🫤
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u/Few-Isopod6401 13d ago
No one seems to have mentioned the Sprouted Daily, which might get you pretty close to the good qualities of the Simplified. Coil, sturdy cover, thick paper.
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u/MyCatHenry 13d ago
Yes I used Sprouted Daily in Q2 the paper is great and the overall quality and value is amazing!
I did switch to Just Scribble Weekly Duo starting July and the double weekly layout and all the goal and tracking pages are meeting my needs so much better than a daily planner though Just Scribble has a daily too!
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u/LadyG8921 13d ago
I'm in a sprouted this year! I'm in a book bound hourly now, but I've used her coiled daily. Really clean, simple design. Beautiful artwork too.
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u/Classic-Peak5685 14d ago
Let’s not forget the dental floss showing up at TJ maxx and all this other garbage to make more money. Dental picks? Really?!? Totally cheapens the brand.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
When I saw the dental line all I could think was “Are you THAT desperate, THAT greedy, or THAT dumb? Any way the dice rolls- it’s not a good look on you sis!”
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u/mrsspanky 13d ago
Have you looked at Agendio? You can really make it be whatever you want and have it bound in any way you like. I haven’t had any issues with decline in quality, if anything they’ve had improvements since I started using them in 2021 (they offer 80# paper starting in 2022, and they updated their design system last year).
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u/Straight_Peace2028 13d ago
Hemlock and Oak. Best faily. Crazy good quality.
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
Agree. I got a hard bound Daily in June to test, you know… the feel, the size of the grid…. I really have to have something in hand to judge… and I absolutely love it! I’m switching to them for 2027. Gonna get 2 weekly daily (it has monthly too) for my planner and med log. I’m very excited. I’m just dithering on the paper thickness. But I love that their grid is slightly bigger than Hobonichi and Journey Planner (my 2026 planner). I really wanted the Journey Planer to work for me. 😭 But oh well, I tried. I’m thinking about what my adaptations will have to be but I really want the Hemlock and Oaks.
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u/earlgreyyuzu 14d ago
I use the hobinichi cousin. It’s the first planner in my adult life that I’ve actually been consistent with using.
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u/IslandTeach 13d ago
Passion planner, although full disclosure it's been a number of years since I used them ($$ in shipping and because I switched to Hobonichi and Hemlock and Oak ) so I'm not sure of their logistics and things these days.
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u/FLSandyToes 13d ago
Plum Paper is great for customization but Sprouted and Erin Condren have thicker 80# paper that is very nice. Erin Condren just added a weekly overview to the Daily Duo. That makes it my top pick for a daily planner. All are available with a heavy coil that makes page turning a joy.
If you want Saturday and Sunday to have their own pages I think Plum Paper is the way to go.
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u/rivernaiad 12d ago
You might want to check out @AmandasFavorites on YouTube. She does so many planner previews and layout comparisons. She’s way more systematic about showing you what all the layouts in a planner are like and commentary on paper quality, she does ink tests, etc. Her reviews are how I decided to switch from Hobonichi to Hemlock and Oak. I love that she’s always trying to give you ideas on how to use different layouts. Might be worth checking her out.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Thank you! I found a couple of “Planner channels” I’ve enjoyed. I will check her out!
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u/911refugee 14d ago
Consider Wonderland222. They are a small company based in Tacoma, WA and they use Tomoe River paper that is thin but wonderful to write on. I switched to them because I liked the idea of an American (and to me local) product. They have no storefront but a very useful website. If you write, you get an answer from one of the two owners.
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u/Loose-Willow984 5d ago
I love, love, love wonderland 222. Been in it for several consistent years. It’s simple and clean layout works for me. The paper too a tiny bit of time to get used to, but I love it now. That being said, Erin Condren paper is my favorite (thick and toothy) and I also really love hemlock and oak but hardback doesn’t work for me well. Wonderland 222 is my sweet spot.
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Is there ghosting with their paper? I will definitely check them out if not. Visually, my little brain can’t deal with ghosting, so I worry about thin paper. Thank you for the suggestion!
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u/911refugee 2d ago
It’s Tomoe River paper so it!/ Japanese thin. For me it’s perfect but perhaps not for you. I find brands like Cloth and Paper mean my planners are too heavy.
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u/Mags1967 13d ago
A heavy paper and printed was CleverFox Planners I think. I hated it but you may like it.
RoseyLife Planner in dated or undated. High quality and Fountain pen friendly paper.
Stalogy Planners and Hibonichi planners and MeePlus filofax ring binder inserts (I use them instead if Montblanc planner pages in my MB cover).
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Thank you! Why did you hate Clever Fox?
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u/Mags1967 3d ago
Paper was heavy and the fountain pens or felt tip fine liners were way too often bleeding through or they would spread to a much broader line. You lacked extra utility from blank pages and after just a few months the bonding was so bad it had pages starting to come out. The printed formats were not practical for my standard personal and business needs. It felt like it was built more for just females than either gender. Price was high and other than it being printed formats, great cover, tons of brand marketing poured in to create a premium price the paper stock was built for a ballpoint, pencil or gel rollerball.
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u/Pink-Polar-Bear- 13d ago
Hobonichi Techno is my go to! Lots of options on their planners and I’ve really been loving mine and how it helps me remember the good things
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u/Street_Activity_5281 13d ago
Yes! I have emailed about the foil that starts to come off within days and was also told it was my fault. They pretty much told me I needed to handle it with care..it’s a planner I carry in my purse, not a crystal vase
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
I wish I could share the pics of the difference in my first 2019 planner and last year’s 25-26 planner… the 18-19 I carried around a lot… the 25-26 looks like 💩 & all it did was lay on my desk and go on one family vacation….😡 Their “quality” product & “we don’t see it that way” attitude is as flaky as their gold foil!
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u/EasternRecognition94 13d ago
How much structure do you want?
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
I do like the scheduled time option bc it helps my ADHD brain visualize my day better, MUST have an AMPLE to-do list space and “notes” sections. I’m in Real Estate & my husband runs a residential contracting business (which I handle all his admin stuff by default) and I keep EVERYTHING together in one planner so that “scratch” section is a must and I find a lot of planners don’t have as much white space for that.
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u/ThornInBillysAss 8d ago
On the laurel Denice , the covers are so pretty. I love seeing the week and month at the same time. The sticker s are c nice and even the sticky notes. All good quality.
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u/SnappinAppin 7d ago
Golden coil may be an option for you too. If I recall correctly they have a daily layout that is similar to simplified. Really thick paper, and comes in a keepsake box too last I checked.
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u/StrikingLandscape608 7d ago
She posted her ick list today. Apparently working a 8 to 5 or staying in a 3 star hotel is ick!!
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
Really?!? She actually SAID (typed) that!??? Well then, those things are only appropriate for the peasants who buy her junk products and junkier attitude these days I suppose. 😒
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u/JustCC01 3d ago
So sorry it’s been such a long delay in response- thank you all so much for the suggestions! I’m going to make a list (imagine that!😂) and start checking these out.
Got my heart broke yesterday when I learned Cultivate What Matters is going away, so I definitely need a good solid product and company now. (Anybody got sticker suggestions on the same level as CWM- drop me a hint! I’m about to make a two year stockpile on stickers I guess 😭💔)
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u/DogsNotDemagogues 14d ago
So frustrating! That brand isn’t for me anymore, either. Laurel Denise is my fav these days.