Is this the diary that will change my life?

[Gentleness]

(Cross post - I put it in AIBU because this seemed more housey but they recommended here as a fount of knowledge about all things organisational.)

I am fed up of trying and failing to manage a purse size diary, a wall calendar and a A4 notebook I use to make lists, organise priorities etc. Oh - and a large whiteboard in the kitchen which I temporarily can't reach because Someone has dumped stuff in front of it. Oh - and Google calendar to whack stuff straight into from emails etc. Oh - and a printout I use for meal planning. Too many options, not enough motivation to keep them all co-ordinated.

What I want is a diary/notebook combo with plenty of well laid out space but not so huge I can't fit it in my handbag. And someone to tell me about an amazing alternative to a wall calendar, which is the thing that gets filled in least but looks pretty. I'm a visual/chart/spreadsheet/flow-diagram sort of person and great with projects but not with the ongoing keeping track of things.

Is this as good as it looks? Diary made by someone who must think a bit like me.

Anything else out there going to change my life? (apart from cbt).

I've been searching this week for the same thing. I bought an A5 academic mums diary for a couple of quid from amazon for the kitchen so we can see at a glance what's on. Now I need an A6 week to view organiser, I've seen quite a few in paperchase I like or I'm also liking the look of a Filofax.

I have the Collins, it worked well when I kept it in the kitchen on a cookbook stand. But that was in my old house where the kitchen was massive.
In this house it is on a shelf and hardly gets looked at now, out of sight = out of mind. If they had a smaller version it would be ideal.

For those using the Collins one, where did you buy? I can't find it on their website or by googling...

I've done a bit of a spendthrift thing and bought a 2012 organise-us diary so i can see how it works for me over the next 4mo without spending the full hideous amount. And I've been investigating printing diaries on Lulu - seems like that will be the best way to get something functional for me, but won't be very handsome sadly... Unless of course this diary works so well that dh gets a heavy hint for Christmas present!

The MUM'S Diary is great - nice-looking and not expensive. No stoopid stickers (what are we? 5?)

For me, the critical thing is to have something with five columns - one for each member of the family. For the last few years we've used a Simpson's Family Planner, which works perfectly, as we have a DS, DD1 and DD2, corresponding nicely to Bart, Lisa and Maggie. Not sure how I feel about being Marge, and married to Homer though.

I use the exact same Moleskine as sueflay. I love, love, LOVE it. Lots of room for my mad-person scribbles and not "mumsy". The medium sized one fits in my bag but also has a soft cover so it can open flat to leave on the counter.

I used the compact OM one for 2 years but last year clocked that the Cath Kidston one is way prettier, marginally less yummy mummy, no silly stickers (I have issues with the phrase "Life Book" too grrrrrr) and ticks all my boxes.

It has a week to view on one page and a blank space for lists on the other. The tiny collumns in the OM blank page bugged me, I'm not neat enough for them.

It also has lovely wee perforated bits at the back where you can tear out wee notes for people.

here's the baby, buy one quick they sold out fast last year and people were flogging them for nearly twice the price on ebay!

Mmmm - I don't exactly buy into the CK brand but it IS pretty. And a lot cheaper on Amazon! Wish they showed you the inside though...

Oooh - however, reading the reviews on Amazon they've changed the design this year anyway.

I have used this years and I have next years bought already and they've not changed the design a lot. My local Waterstones has it for a tenner so if you don't have a CK shop where you can go look, you might find one there. I have liked a lot.

www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00500139/

This is the type I used to use, might go back to it for next year

I hated the organised mum ones too.just didn't work for me. I have tried hundreds of diaries. so far my favourite is this from paperchase (although mine has different cover - but same layout) works great with one page for appointments etc then facing page for reminders, meal plans, lists etc...
has pockets too - great for letters from school, party invitations etc etc...
and I have ditched the wall calendar and white boards and have instead painted a wall in the hall with blackboard paint and use it to write up schedule for everyone ( I have 6dc!) for the week ahead and then to jot reminders/shopping lists/important info etc on...
I am tending to use my calendar app on phone a lot more though...great for alarms/reminders etc but not as visual...
I still live in hope that one day I will find THE perfect diary that will make life as a working mum of 6 dc run smoothly LOL

Right... I just bought the moleskin one that's the diary in the left and the note page on the right... I think it's kind of what I'm looking for, I like to make notes and lists. The diary is only one page for the whole week though so I'll see how it goes.

One thing I find odd is that it's a year and a half diary?! I like diaries that go through the academic year, but this lasts an extra 6 months?

I've been using the Collins Home/Work diary this year - it's changed my life. Seriously. The concept of 3 daily to-do lists works brilliantly - just sits on top of our work top gently reminding me what I need to do all day long! If something doesn't get done, I just transfer it to the next day's list.

I've been periodically checking the Collins website to get another for next year - doesn't seem to exist so far! Pleeeeeeeeease tell me it's not being discontinued...

Both diaries from organise-us are great, the mid size is about A5 in size and the larger Organiseher has even more room to write. It has lots of space to write lists and make notes and you can choose to add a line for your children as well. There are a lot of notes pages at the back and it works really well.

I use this diary - it's great for keeping track of my life as well as DS's! I was recommended it by my sister and have since converted quite a few of my friends to their products (I particularly love their calendars too).

Just went on the website to get the link and noticed they have a midyear version too.