All Aboard the Christmas Lights Express!

Looking for something fun to add to your Advent Activities Calendar? Why not take your kids on a magical car ride to explore all the beautiful Christmas lights in your town!

Fill a thermos of hot coco, put on some warm jammies and have your family pile into the car! We like to have our Elf on the Shelf leave our Christmas Lights Express tickets for us so be sure to have your elf download our free printable tickets here :-)

Happy Holidays!!

Free Printables for your Christmas Elf

My kids have never known Christmas without their special Elf on the Shelf {named Toodles}.

They come to look forward to his arrival as much as Santa's and over the last few years, we have tried to make Toodles' stay in our home as special as possible. We weave him into many of our Christmas traditions, and I thought it would be nice for him to have his own set of stationary. Our Elf likes to leave notes, send his welcome letter, leave reminders to the kids when they are being naughty, acknowledge them when they are being nice and maybe slip in a little Christmas joke or two :-)

And as a little treat from our Elf to yours…here are two free printables you can download so that your elf has his own stationary too!!

We are a sucker for Elf pictures around here and we would love it if you follow us on Facebook and posted pics of your Elf using his new stationary :-) Toodles would appreciate it!!

{All printables shared on www.thepolkadotposie.com are for personal use only. Please feel free to share and pin as much as you'd like, but just be sure to link back to either this post or the posts on www.adailydoseofdavis.com. Thank you!}

NEW X-Small Personal Size Planner Pages for Your Filofax, Daytimer & More!

Whether you use a standard 8.5 x 11" planner (like an Arc Cover or Binder), a 5.5 x 8.5" planner (like Arc Junior or Daytimer Desk)  OR a 3.75 x 6.75" planner (like Filofax Compact, Personal or Daytimer Portable), ThePolkaDotPosie has you covered with fabulous Printable Planner Pages! 

I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be offering 3 different sizes of planner pages, but it turns out the world is full of planner junkies like my mom and I! The requests for personal/portable size planner pages have been coming in since I first launched our sets back in August. So, now that I am a soon-to-be owner of my very first Personal Filofax, I figured it was the perfect time to launch our newest planner pages!!!

This time, there will be TWO different sets to choose from. The first is our Seasonal Set with different monthly and weekly color palettes.

{Purchase Here}

And the second set is our Polkadot Posie Signature set. The colors are bright and versatile and will look great with just about any planner cover.

{Purchase Here}

What I enjoyed most about creating these pages was being able to take into consideration all the amazing feedback and suggestions we've received from customers. Because no planner is created equal and because every planner's needs are constantly changing, I've made these sets a bit more flexible in organization and design. I am still offering dated monthly pages, but instead of just one dated weekly set, I am now offering THREE DIFFERENT WEEKLY LAYOUTS in each set. You can choose a vertical week with or without meal planning... 

Or you can choose a horizontal layout...

You get ALL THREE LAYOUTS in each x-small set so that if you change your mind half way through the year, you can adapt to your needs. 

The sets also come with a Daily Page, Notes Page, Standard Cover Page and a 2014-2015 Overview!

Each file is now individual so you can print and set up your planner any way you like! The only difficult part with this process is figuring out print pattern when you want to go front-to-back to save space and paper. So to help you out, here are some instructions:

Step 1: Before attempting to print, I recommend downloading Adobe Reader if you don't already have it. Adobe Reader is a free download and it makes this printing process SO MUCH easier.

Step 2: Once you have Adobe ready to go, open your file and select print.

Step 3. Click on the "Size" tab and select "Actual Size"

Step 4: Next, click on the "Multiple" tab and select "2 pages per sheet"

Step 5: Towards the top, specify which pages you want to print. You will see from the diagram I have below that the first pages to be printed will be page 4 & 1 (this order will make sense later). To select specific pages, use a comma between them.

Step 6: Then select print! Using this technique will ensure that pages line up perfectly for front-to-back printing. But figuring out which page should print where can be the tricky part. Here is a diagram to help you out.

The pages used in this example are from our seasonal set, but follow the same order for all front/back printing (the picture is more clear if you click and enlarge it).

Next, you will want to print your weekly pages, and here are some instructions for those as well.

For the seasonal set, you can choose between 3 different weekly layouts and 12 different color schemes. If you would like your weekly pages to change color with your monthlies, you will need three sheets of paper for each month/color. This will give you a Notes page to start the set (instead of having half of a week), 5 weeks of the 2-page layout of your choice, and a Notes page at the end of the set (again…so you don't have half of a week). Here is a visual of how the pages should be printed:

The first sheet you print will have your two-page weekly on the front, and two Note pages on the back (you can get two note pages on one sheet by selecting the page number twice, separated by a comma. For this set, the page numbers should be 1,1).

The next two sheets you print will be simple…you just print the two-page weekly layout on both sides in the same order.

For our SNAP-inspired set, you can choose to print as many weeklies as you want, and you can follow similar instructions.

Just remember that in both cases, you want the first set you print to be the two-page weekly spread of your choice on the front, and the Notes on the back. Here is another example of how to print two notes on one page (in this case you select page 10,10).

As far as our Daily pages and Notes go…you can print them as many times as you want and place them anywhere in your planner. All the same instructions apply.

I know that reading these instructions can seem overwhelming, but if you read through them and make sure to do a test print BEFORE you waste ink, I promise you will have the hang of it in not time. But please also remember that not all printers are created equal, but if you run into any trouble, I will do my best to help :-)

Once you have your planner set up, be sure to download all of our other fabulous FREE planner extra pages!!!

This file includes 13 additional pages for your X-small/Personal planner. It comes with 2 party planner pages (Wish list and Invite tracker), Password tracker, 3 important Dates lists and 7 checklists, including a blank checklist that you can customize for your needs!

{Download Here}

***Please note that all FREE printables shared on ThePolkaDotPosie are for PERSONAL USE ONLY! You may pin these pages and share them with others, but always link back to this post and give credit when necessary. Thank you!***

Thanks so much for stopping by today to check out our brand new pages!!!!!

Happy Planning!!

FREE Thanksgiving Printables for your Planner or Home Management Binder

If you've ever been in charge of hosting Thanksgiving, you understand the importance of being organized. Between the timing of food going in and coming out of the oven and all the prep work that takes place BEFORE the big day...it's important to have all of your ducks turkeys in a row.

So to help all of my fellow Thanksgiving Warriors...here are some helpful printables that you can add to your Planner or Home Management Binder.

Thanksgiving Menu

Use this printable to help you plan your menu and assign different dishes to your guests. There is also a handy shopping list on the right so that you can make your grocery checklist while you plan.

Thanksgiving Schedule

This printable will work great in your planner or binder, but it would be just as useful hanging on your refrigerator. It includes an hourly schedule for planning when food goes in and comes out of the oven, a  "cooked" checklist of your food so you can keep track of what's done and a "Don't Forget" section for important reminders.

Thanksgiving Housework

Use this printable to help you with all of the cleaning, decorating and table setting that needs to take place before the big day. There is also a section just for "Kitchen" so that you remember to pull your turkey platter out of storage and have your gravy boat washed and ready to go.

Thanksgiving Blessings

In the middle of all the craziness of the holiday, it's easy to forget to count all the blessings we are truly thankful for. Use this printable to journal all of your blessings and keep it for years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving Coloring Page

Use this printable coloring page as a decoration for the big day, or as an activity to keep the kids busy at the table :-) These would be a perfect addition to a scrapbook too.

All of the links above are sized 8.5 x 11", but if you happen to carry an Arc Junior, Daytime Desk size or other planner that fits 5.5 x 8.5" pages...here is a small set just for you!

Small Thanksgiving Printable Set

Well I hope you all find these pages helpful!!

Happy Turkey Day!

***Please note that all FREE printables shared on ThePolkaDotPosie are for PERSONAL USE ONLY! You may pin these pages and share them with others, but always link back to this post and give credit when necessary. Thank you!***

Introducing our New SMALL Printable Planner Pages

UPDATE: The following print instructions are designed for any of our SMALL planner sets, as they all come two-to-a-page and are organized for front to back printing. Please email us at ThePolkaDotPosiePrintables{at}gmail{dot}com with any questions.

*******

The incredible success and positive feedback we received from our very first set of planner pages was OVERWHELMING! I can't begin to thank everyone who purchased our pages and took the time to share our shop with friends, family and coworkers. Your enthusiasm and planner-love makes all of my late nights on the computer so worth it!!!!

We would also like to thank all of you for the fabulous suggestions you offered regarding our future pages. One of the biggest requests we had was to offer TWO sizes of planner pages, one set that fits a standard 8-1/2" x 11" binder or cover (which we now call our LARGE Planner Pages)... 

And one set that fits a smaller/mini 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" binder or cover (which we will call our SMALL Planner Pages). 

The design and functionality of our pages stayed the same, but you will notice a slight variation in colors for the Small Planner Pages. Also, our cover page got an update and I am LOVING the bright new pattern!! We will no longer offer a custom cover as part of the set, but you will have the option to purchase one of 6 different custom covers for an additional add-on price of $2.50. We did this in order to keep the price of the Planner Sets to $10 :-) And just look at the 6 adorable options you have to choose from now!

And finally, based on MANY requests, you now have the option to order your pages with or without meal planning on the weeklies!! Just make sure you select the right set at checkout.

Here at ThePolkaDotPosie, we are obsessed with the Arc System by Staples and our planner pages are sized to fit with all of their covers and accessories.

One of the biggest reasons we didn't offer the smaller set at first was because the assembly of the smaller pages is a little more labor intensive. We've done everything we can to make it as simple as possible, but to print your own smaller planner pages at home, you will need to set aside a little "project time". But trust me when I say...IT WILL BE SO WORTH IT!! So pour yourself a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and collect your supplies. Here are a few things you should know BEFORE purchasing and printing your pages:

1. Our Printable Planner Pages are what they say they are...printables. This means you receive a PDF file when you purchase a set from our Etsy shop and then you choose how you want to print them. The most cost effective way to print is at home (and I will walk you through some steps below), but you can also have them printed and/or bound by a copy/print shop.

2. If you choose to print at home, you will want to invest in a fresh ink cartridge and some higher quality print/copy paper. I prefer 24lb paper for durability and quality.

3. Most printers have the option to select the type of paper you will be printing on (i.e. photo paper, card stock, plain paper, etc.) and you want to make sure you select "plain paper". Many color printers will default to photo paper, which will use 3 times as much ink.

4. The 78 page PDF file your receive is organized and designed to be run front-to-back, so you need to print them IN ORDER (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, etc).

5. Printing the Smaller Planner Pages at home will require cutting, which is an extra step from our Large Planner Pages. Although some printers will give you the option to print on special 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 paper...most do not, which is why mine are designed to be printed on standard 8-1/2 x 11 paper and then cut down the middle. Please keep that in mind when determining which size to buy.

So, if you have taken all this into consideration and are still like, "YES!! THIS IS THE PLANNER FOR ME!"...here's what to do next:

Download Your Planner Pages: Visit our Etsy shop to purchase the Small Planner Pages and download them.

Choose a Binder or Cover: Our Small Planner Pages measure 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" so they will work with any binder or planner cover designed for this size. As I said above, we LOVE the Arc system from Staples. The cover I am using for my smaller planner is the Arc Customizable Leather Notebook System in Pink. 

I am also using the Arc System Tab Dividers (Junior Size) and because of the thickness of the planner, I upgraded to the 1" Notebook Rings. Although I love Arc, there are also a lot of other great options for this size planner. Avery makes a 1" mini binder that would work perfectly, and I LOVE these Mini Three-Ring Binders from The Container Store.

Grab a Whole Punch & Paper Cutter: I realize that not everyone has these things laying around the house, but if you really want to use this planner to its full potential, you will want to invest in a punch (or go in on one with a friend). If you choose the Arc System, the punch is an investment but WELL worth it (be sure to always search for a coupon too). You can also opt for the smaller version here. As far as paper cutters go, a simple scrapbook cutter will do the job (it's what I use in the instruction pictures below). But I did call Staples and for $2, they will cut your whole stack of printed planner pages for you :-)

So, once you have all of your supplies, it's time to start printing!!

Here's how to print your pages…

Step One: Download your file and pull it up on your screen. My Mac automatically opens Adobe for PDF files, but I almost always choose to view the files in Preview.

Step Two: Once your files are pulled up in Preview and you've selected to print them, you need to change the size from US Letter to Borderless 8.5 x 11 in. You will notice on the screen that the planner page pulled up does not bleed to the edges. The added white border is a waste of space, which is why we want to go borderless if we can.

 Step 3: Once we go borderless, the option to select two-sided will no longer work on my printer {and many others I suspect} so in order to print these pages front to back without doing each one individually, you need to select "Preview" and search for "Paper Handling" in the pull down menu.

Step 4: In "Paper Handling," under the "Pages to Print" drop down menu, select to print "Odd Only"

Step 5: Then select "Normal" for page order.

In Normal order, your odd numbered pages will come out like this...

When they are done printing, you need to simply feed the pages back into the paper tray exactly the way they came out.

Step 6: After selecting Borderless again {it restores to default after each print}, go back to "Paper Handling" and select "Even Only" now.

Step 7: Then select "Reverse" order

You will notice that the view page switches to Page 2 (because we are on Even Only) and this should print on the back of Page 1, and so on and so on.

And there you go! An easy way to print front & back when your computer doesn't let you :-)

UPDATE: If you haven't visited our shop in a while, please let me introduce you to our newest set of Small Planner Pages.

What makes this new set unique is the flexibility it offers. You can choose between three different undated weekly layouts and print as you need them. The color scheme is also consistent throughout and it coordinates with a wide variety of planner covers and binders.

When printing the Monthly Pages in this set, please follow Steps 1-7 above.

*IMPORTANT: If you are doing odd/even printing, be sure to remove page 13 before printing evens (since there is no page 14 that follows).

Because the weekly pages are undated, you have the flexibility to print as many as you want at a time. The print order for weekly pages is as follows.

Printing weeklies is incredibly easy because you simply print the same layout on the front and back of a page. However, if you only print weekly pages, you will find that the first and last page of your set is only half of a week. So when you first start to print your weeklies, be sure to include a page that has the weekly layout of your choice on the front, and the Notes page on the back. Doing this will give you a Notes page at the beginning and end of your weekly set, instead of halving just half of a week. Then you can print as many weekly pages as you want to fill in the middle. 

Once your pages are all printed, it's time to cut them!

Although it can be rather time consuming to use a scrapbook paper cutter {because it can only do 1-2 pages at a time}, it is a good option because it allows you to be precise with every page. Just make sure you line it up properly...

The page order may seem confusing when it is still in 8.5 x 11 format, but once you cut it...it will all make sense!

Once your pages are printed and cut, the hard part is over!! WOOHOO! All you have to do now is punch!

If you are using the Arc punch, you will first want to switch the slide to "Junior" sizing:

You can punch up to 8 pages at once if you have the heavy duty punch so take advantage and save yourself some time.

As you punch each stack, just slip them into your rings.

And then you are DONE!!!!!!!! When you see it all put together, I swear the time will be worth it.

Isn't she pretty?!

I hope this post helps you get your planner all set up, but if you still have questions, please don't hesitate to email us at thepolkadotposieprintables{at}gmail{dot}com.

With the holidays around the corner, now is the PERFECT time to get organized...and why not do it in style?!

***Disclaimer: All opinions and recommendations for the Arc System and accessories are my own. I was not compensated in any way for writing this post. They are simply my favorite and I like to share them with others :-)

FREE Printable Halloween Treat Tags for all Your Little Peeps

Are you looking for a super cute & super EASY Halloween treat this year? Well we have you covered.

I don't know about you, but my kids are obsessed with marshmallow Peeps. Last year, they had these adorable ghost and pumpkin Peeps out for Halloween and we decided to buy them for our fall camping trip to use for s'mores. Because so many kids were camping with us, I decided to make up individual treat bags to pass out to each of them. They ended up being such a huge hit, we've decided to make them again this year!! 

Here are the supplies you will need to make 24 treat bags:

1 Bag of small clear treat bags (they usually come with 50)

1-2 boxes of graham crackers

4 packages of Hallween Peeps (I did 2 ghosts and 2 pumpkins)

2 bags of Halloween Hershey Kisses

White cardstock for printing our FREE treat tags

Balck/white twine or ribbon

A regular hole punch and a 2" scrapbook punch

Assembling the bags is so easy...you can even ask your kids to help {but beware...they may eat half your stock}. 

Once everything is together, download a sheet of our treat tags here, print them on 8.5x11 cardstock and then punch them out with a 2" scrapbook punch.

Place a standard hole at the top, string some twine or ribbon through the hole and then tie up the bag with a cute bow.

And that's it! Easy peasy. This makes a great snack for camping, parties and trick-or-treating. We hope you have as much fun with them as we did!

Happy Halloweenie!

Putting Together Your Planner & Making it Work For YOU!

When we launched the academic set of our planner pages in August, I had several immediate requests from people wanting to see our pages "in action". I completely understand the desire to see how all these pretty little pages would come together and if they would be as useful and functional as I claim them to be.

So today, I decided to take some more detailed pictures of MY planner to show you how I am making all of it work together. 

About 10 years ago, Franklin Covey made a set of planner pages that were bright and fun and had little seasonal comics on the bottom of each page. I remember sitting in class and smiling when I would open up that beautiful little planner. I made doodles in it, used stickers, different colored pens and markers...I made it my own. And I enjoyed opening it and using it everyday. And to me, if you don't enjoy looking at a planner and if it doesn't meet your needs...you are not going to use it.

Period.

So that's why I tried to make these pages bright, colorful and FUNctional. And of course, I needed an equally adorable cover to put them in. There are really so many options out there, whether you get them professionally bound, put them in a cute 3-ring binder (Target has some ADORABLE ones right now) or put them in one of the Arc or Martha Stewart Discbound planners from Staples...the whole point is to find a cover that works for you and makes you happy.

And this pretty little Martha Stewart cover made me VERY happy :-)

Now that I've used a discbound planner...I honestly don't know if I can ever go back to anything else!! There are so many ways to customize it and I think it's fabulous that you can purchase different size discs to give you more space in your planner. I upgraded the discs that came with my Martha Stewart cover to the 1" discs that Arc makes. And what a difference in space!

As I said in my last post, the thing I love best about this system is that it lays flat when it's open and that I can still get all the great accessories that typically go with a standard binder, like this plastic zip pouch that is part of the Arc system.

In it I have just a few sheets of note paper, a blank card, some business cards and a pack of stamps. Just a few little essentials that I like to have on hand when I am writing in my planner and realize that I have to mail a thank you note or give someone a business card.

At the top of my planner, you will notice two plastic clips. My sis-in-law Meagan gave these to me for Christmas and they are the BEST planner accessory ever. They are Oli Magnetic Clips and you can find them at the Container Store.

I use them to hold my plastic pouch to the front cover of my planner (so that it opens like it does above) and I also use one to mark the current week in my calendar pages...

Because they are magnetic, they are extra strong and flexible and can hold a nice chunk of paper.

While you are out buying these other great accessories, be sure to pick up my favorite Ink Joy pens. They write so smooth and never bleed through paper.

I know it isn't necessary, but I love writing out my weeks with different colors :-)

Using the weekly and monthly planner pages are pretty self-explanatory, but sometimes all the extra printables and tabs can get overwhelming. It's tempting to see all these free printable lists on Pinterest and want to print and use them ALL...but my advice is to really think about how you will use each one and if you think you will actually look at it on a regular basis. For example, I have printed out several different blog planning printables over the years and as hard as I've tried to schedule posts and plan ahead, that's just not how I operate with my blog. I pretty much just wing it around here and if I do happen to get a good idea for a post, I like to just jot it down in a note. But again...that's just me. Many people are making blogging their career and if that is the case, you NEED a blog planner. 

So again...choose the printables that are helpful and not just cute :-)

Under my "Holidays & Events" tab, I printed our Special Dates list so that I could jot down the birthdays and anniversaries in our immediate family. It' nice to have just a quick reference guide to find these things when you don't know them by heart. I forgot THREE anniversaries last year and TWO birthdays. No bueno. So this sheet is going to help me a lot. As you can see from the picture, I have also included my Christmas Planning Pages. These may be totally useless if you are not someone who plans ahead for Christmas, but I for one start planning in August.

Okay June.

In my "Health & Fitness" tab, I've decided not to include a fitness tracker because I already track all this info in my Nike app and on my weekly pages. No need for ANOTHER page to fill out. But what I do include in this section is any paperwork for races I have signed up for, any great workouts I rip out of magazines, and of course, our family health info.

One sheet that has really come in handy for me is the Annual Appointments list.

I find it so hard to remember when we each have our dental appointments, when I have my yearly lady doc appointment, when I have my 6-month dermatology appointments, etc. so having this sheet to refer to is incredibly helpful.

This page is then followed by our Physicians List so that all of doc's numbers are close at hand when it's time to schedule an appointment.

Out of all the printables I've made over the last year or two, the ones I use the most are my Monthly Menu page and my Weekly Meal Planner.

In my new planner, I can actually set up the pages up so that I can see them both while I work.

I try to plan the month first and then each week with a shopping list.

Obviously, printing out menu planners ever week/month can be kind of a pain, but one way to alleviate all that paper waste is to use a plastic page protector or discbound folder, place your Monthly Menu calendar inside of it and then use a washable dry erase marker to plan your month!

I prefer the Crayola Washable Dry Erase markers because they dry without smudging and wipe perfectly clean with a damp towel.

As for the Weekly Menu Planner, I still prefer to print one out for each week because now that I have the discbound system, I can pull out the page and take it with me to the grocery store. No need to transfer the grocery list to another piece of paper.

Menu planning has done wonders for our budget this year and now that I have my new planner all set up, I know it will only get better :-)

If you do purchase a pack of the plastic discbound folders, be sure to use another for your weekly Cleaning Schedule. This can also save you 4 sheets of paper a month.

Over the years, I have found that my planner becomes more than just a place to keep appointments and phone numbers. It also works as my journal in a sense...a diary of our daily activities and milestones. Something we can look back on and even keep in a scrapbook :-) One thing I have loved in some of my other planners was the space to do some journaling each month, so I made sure to include that in my pages as well.

After setting up this planner and getting some excellent feedback from all of you, I've decided to create some additional FREE Printables that are now part of our Planner & Home Management Binder Printables Kit.

Our kit still includes:

Emergency Info

Special Dates

Annual Appointments

Physicians List

Cleaning Schedule

Monthly Menu Calendar

Weekly Meal Planner

And now, thanks to all of your fabulous suggestions, the kit will also include:

A Contacts List

Annual Renewals list {for tracking yearly memberships and subscriptions}

Holidays List for 2013-2015

Password Tracker

Favorite Websites 

{for jotting down all your favorite online shops and blogs like ThePolkaDotPosie}

Account Register

Weekly Budget Worksheet

And as an added bonus for all you teachers out there, a standard weekly Lesson Plan

I have really had the BEST time putting together this planner and creating enough resources to meet everyone's organizational needs. Of course there is ALWAYS room for more lists so be sure to stay tuned for some updates to our holiday printables this fall.

And as always, the best suggestions and ideas come from all of you so please feel free to share any ideas or feedback you have about the planner and binder pages so I can take them into consideration for the future. It's because of all of you that we now offer SMALL Planner Pages that work with the small/junior size discbound notebooks. You can read all about them here. Isn't this a beautiful sight?

Also, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see pictures of YOUR planner in action!! If you take pictures and/or write a blog post about how you are making your planner work for you, be sure to share it with me so I can add it to this post!

My friend Sarah from Happily Edwards After just posted about her beautiful planner and if you are someone who is a little worried about the print-at-home process...she will certainly ease your fears.

I have several other great pics from friends and some other blog posts in the works so be sure to stop back by and check those out as I add them :-)

Thanks so much for EVERYONE who has made our first planner launch such a success. 

Now let's get organized!!!!