Family Time DotMine Planner Giveaway

Staying organized as a busy mom on the go with kids, husband, business, homeschooling, etc., can be a formidable task.  I've tried different things to help me stay on task, even printing out my own planner pages.  This year, I decided enough was enough and went out and got my own planner.  Now I'm actually using the Family_Time.Mine planner from DotMine.  After trying many other methods, I highly recommend this planner.  

The Family_Time.Mine planner is, first of all, sturdy and durable for a mom, meaning it has a strong plastic cover.  If one of my boys happens to spill something on it or even more likely, draw on it with markers, I can just wipe it right off, which makes it really nice.  It also sets my mind at ease if I take it with me places, knowing that it's not going to get all bent out of shape.  

This planner runs from August 2009-December 2010.  In the very front and the very back of the planner are the Master Schedules for the different seasons, i.e., fall 2009, winter 2009, spring 2010, summer 2010.  They actually have a little fold-out flap that you can use to mark your place in the planner, so that you can compare notes with your daily schedule.  These front and back schedules, though, are for you to mark down your Master Schedule, your recurring family events.  

For example, I have marked down Tae Kwon Do, Choir Rehearsal, soccer, etc.  It makes it really nice because I don't have to write these events down every single week; I can just refer to my Master Schedule.

With the beginning of each month is a 2 page calendar layout with  small block calendars of last month and next month, as well.

Then the planner is broken up into weekly schedules with blocks for each day.  On the sides are places to list To Do lists, grocery lists, notes, etc.  There are even places to put sticky notes.

If you were to use the sides as a grocery list, it's perforated for you to easily carry with you.  I actually use the sides as my daily To Do Lists, when I go to plan out my week.  At the top of each weekly page is a place for you to fill in a special family activity for that week; at the bottom of each weekly page is a quote to inspire.  Then at the end of each month is a full Notes page, just for extra space.  

The back of the planner includes pages for Family Info (Info for Coaches, Babysitters, Library, Doctors, etc.).  There are pages to put down important addresses/phone numbers/email, etc.  There's even an information page for babysitters, so that you can leave your planner open to that page for her/him to see.  

There are also stickers to help you remember important dates.  The back cover of the planner even includes a pocket for you to slide papers, bills, or other important documents into.

I love my planner, and I'm not just saying that.  It has saved me in so many situations because I can just look down, in two snaps, and see what we have going on.  You can purchase these planners for $17.99 at Borders, Borders Express, Waldenbooks, Amazon, Calendars.com, and Timemine.com.  Dotmine also has other types of planners available.  You can follow Dotmine on Facebook and Twitter, as well as sign up for their email newsletter.

Now for the giveaway.  The makers of Dotmine have graciously allowed me to give away a Family_Time.Mine planner here on Real Heart Prints.  So, you can enter in one or more of the following ways.  Of course, be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter.  I will choose the winner, using Random.org, on Wednesday, February 24.  Good luck to all of you!

1. Leave me a comment after visiting the Dotmine website, letting me know which feature or planner would help you the most in your busy life.
2. Subscribe to DotMine's email newsletter.
3. Follow Dotmine on Twitter. 
4. Follow me on Twitter; tweet about this giveaway; in fact, if you tweet once each day, come back here to leave a separate comment (for each day that you tweet), and that will give you extra entries. 
5. Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.
6. Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.
7. Digg or Stumble this post.
8. Place my blog button on your sidebar or somewhere on your blog.
9. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs or on Mom Blog Network (buttons in sidebar).

Most of all, have a wonderful week!