Unboxing My First Hemlock & Oak Planner | Surprised Thoughts 😅

[@CreatingSelfCarePlans]

The normal version of Hemlock & Oak has more goal & reflections pages. So at least you got the minimalist version. I love the H & O paper.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@CreatingSelfCarePlans agree I love thick paper for functional planning! Eek I forgot to mention that in my video! Another reason H&O was my choice 😅

[@vanessasmith9646]

I love a minimal planner too. No extra stuff to fill out. It makes me feel like I’m in school haha

[@Rosyrespark]

@@vanessasmith9646 yes! That’s what it is, it feels young when it has so many extra stuff with directions 🤣

[@gloriamoore1205]

This was my first Hemlock and Oak planner and got the horizontal version. I love it because I don't need the times. I think it's the time in your life that can make the difference between which planner you choose. I love the planning pages because I am focusing on developing self care habits right now. I want to see my progress, so I like the monthly reviews. I think this has a fairly minimal section for life review and habit cultivation compared to the Power Sheets and Makeslife. I am retired and so journaling and exploring what's important to me at this stage in my life is something I like to do. I may have a different view of this planner after I use it for a while. As for the Passion Planner...I have looked at this one a lot, but I too dislike not having lines on the months and the darkness of the headers and the times really bothers my eyes. Thanks for your review. I like hearing how people think through using a planner and sharing what helps them make a choice for a particular planner. P.S. And yes the gold foil is very visible on the darker colors.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@gloriamoore1205 Oo is the horizontal h&o grid lined too? I haven’t looked into power sheets and makes life, will be googling them tonight lol if I stick with h&o next year I’m going to n get a darker cover color so the gold shows better 💕

[@pffan10]

I use the reflection pages to do a daily gratitude list for the month. And then I use then overview pages to serve as where I put my upcoming tasks for that month. I often have a lot of future tasks that need a home, and that’s a good spot.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@pffan10 that’s not a bad idea! I just filled in my January overview today but the right blank side is still blank for now 😅

[@deborahsmith6782]

I chose this planner mainly for the monthly lines and the Monday start. The monthly pages are gorgeous! Once in a while I use the review pages, sometimes just for lists or extra writing space for project planning.

[@Rosyrespark]

Yes agree! I love a gridded monthly section. And the paper thickness is just perfect 🤌

[@n_marie_yt]

The minimalist at least does not have the goal setting and habit cultivation setting in the beginning that the regular weekly has. The blank page can at least be used for anything so it's not so bad. I got the B5 this time and I love the size of it. It's not that much heavier but also does not seem that bulky but the grid is slightly bigger and just a bit more space total. I love it for functional planning. The gold foiling looks gorgeous in the other colors, especially the darker ones. I think the lack of contrast between the gold and this light cover color was probably one of the reasons it didn't work out. I have 4 books from them this year and they all look gorgeous.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@n_marie_yt yes you’re right it doesn’t have the goal setting type of stuff so it does eliminate some pages in that respect. I love the planner overall so much and want to try it anyway so I’m totally ok to overlook the other stuff haha what color did you get?? 🤗

[@n_marie_yt]

@Rosyrespark Riviere which is so beautiful but I think it's sold out now for the B5 size. it also has the coating so it's more resistant to spills and damage. But I've had their planners for 3 years now and even without the coating they've always held up well.

[@Rosyrespark]

@ o I didn’t even know some Of them had a special coating! Love that

[@sambbbb]

Out of curiosity - since you like the Sterling Ink, have you considered getting the SI A5 or B5 vertical? It seems to meet all the qualifications of being very minimalist, having the grid lines everywhere, etc.

[@Rosyrespark]

Yes, I actually did get the SI in B6 Slim horizontal for another purpose (and I LOVE it), BUT it's still the paper thickness in the end that made me go with H&O for functional planning for me

[@allthingskristine]

The extra pages I put photos or ephemera from the month

[@Rosyrespark]

@@allthingskristine o that’s a good idea! I do have a canon ivy that I can use for it. Does h&o handle phot and ephemera bulk well?

[@allthingskristine]

@ I only put a couple pics in a month and it bulks well. The cover sits at an angle when closed now due to all the stickers I use but it still looks good and the binding holds up. I have used H&O for 3 years now.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@allthingskristineok good to know! I wasn’t sure bc they are hardcovers but now I won’t be too worried about it if it gets chunky 😂

[@BlackPearlMinistries]

The daily doesn't have any of those pages, but then again it's a daily. It does have less - the weekly planner has way more pages. I dislike all the extra goal planning pages too.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@BlackPearlMinistries I was so close to getting the daily planner. I love how h&o has the hardcover. It feels like a little novel of my life 😆 what color did you get?

[@edithabouwiak]

😍👍👍👍❤

[@Rosyrespark]

@@edithabouwiak 💕💕

[@javapick]

I was sad to see that it had those PP pages. I hate those pages in PP.

[@Rosyrespark]

@@javapick I know.. I was perplexed at first but I think I decided to overlook it bc it had better weekly layout and monthly grid lines 💕

[@javapick]

@Rosyrespark looking forward to seeing how it goes for you.