I previously posted a review of the Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer Planner. That same company also does another planner in a similar layout but with a focus on doodles / journaling called The Very Busy Planner.

Quick facts

Size: 6″ wide x 8.25″ high
Cardstock cover
Wire binding
1 page weekly spread with the 2nd page each week a mix of doodling / journaling pages
2 page Monthly calendar (starts on Sunday)
USA, Canadian, UK & Australian holidays pre-printed on the monthly calendar
Monthly goals page
No Tabs
Colorful inside pages

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The cover is flimsy cardstock (barely thicker than copy paper) – I can see this getting damaged very easily.

There’s a pocket folder on the inside cover but the awkward design means I doubt you’ll be able to fit much in it.

Approx 0.75″ thick

Monthly Calendar

Starts Sunday (not consistent with the weekly spread).

There are different colors for the monthly calendars and weekly spreads including: purple, blue, yellow and pink.

National holidays for the USA, Australia, UK and Canada are pre-printed on the monthly spread.

Unfortunately this planner does the annoying split box rather than just restarting the numbering on the top row.

Weekly Planning

The weekly spreads starts Monday (not consistent with the monthly calendar).

I really like this weekly spread – most 1 page spreads don’t include a to do list sidebar.

The color of the sidebar varies throughout the year:

I’m not a fan of the second pages of the weekly spreads – they vary from journaling to sketching to mindfullness etc.

This planner is more creative journaling / doodling than functional planning (not my style!) If this isn’t your style either, then their Family Organizer Planner has a more functional layout.

Each month has a monthly planning page and a journaling style page e.g. gratitude, travel places to visit, things I want to learn etc.

Planner Stickers

Some decorative and functional stickers at the back…

PEN TESTING

I tried various balllpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens – there was some very light ghosting on the back side of the page. I also did some highlighter and stamp swatches. The highlighters also had some ghosting and, as always, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page ?

Pros of the Planner

Lightweight
The wire binding mean pages can lay completely flat on their own
Planner stickers
Mix of functional & creative / journaling pages
Cheap

Cons of the Planner

No tabs
Difficult to get outside of the USA
The cardstock cover is thin and easily damaged
The pocket folder is part of the front cover meaning you can’t fit much in

Would I use this planner?

No. This planner has too much decorative / journaling stuff and not enough functional planning space for my liking. I like the layout of the weekly planner but don’t really like anything else in this planner.