An Excellent Planner for Perhaps an Excellent Year

Can't believe I have not found a decent, 2010 planner - and it's driving me nuts! I feel a bit picky, but no one knows how to produce great ones anymore. I used an excellent one for 2009, and unfortunately, haven't been able to find one just like it on its website or the store I purchased it from. I've also looked around at other bookstores, stationary spots, and all over the internet. Let me know if I'm being ridiculous, but here's what makes a great schedule book to me:

1) A full year or more (I came across "academic" ones that lasted until June). Also, my preference is the weekly planner with a monthly outlook. Less stressful viewing a weekly than a monthly, but good to have the monthly there to be aware of upcoming events later on.

2) Cannot be spiral-bound. I don't know about you, but spirals can get in the way of writing, they can bend, unravel, snag on something in your bag, and I've had a plastic one break! That list can go on...

3) Must possess a cute factor (basic ones are fine, but none of this ugly kitten picture stuff) and is "mature" - i.e. we are adults who organize our lives. Anyone professional who sees smiling robots will think otherwise.

4) Pockets, extra pages for notes, mentions of holidays, moon stages, and info like state capitals and measurement units are great

5) No tabs - makes a complication when you can't access the pages in between them

6) Elastic band closure - excellent easy opening, and is good at holding loose notes inside. A magnetic clip or cover flap gets in the way, and nothing to close it with causes the book to open easily inside your bag/purse. Ribbons are decent but you'd have to tie a knot/bow each time.

7) Creative. My '09 agenda had the coolest thing: Perforated edges were located on the bottom right corner available to tear off after each week, letting you find the date in no time (like the dog-ear flap in a book idea).

8) I favor a tough paperback, but can compromise with a hardcover - sometimes those are hard to open quick enough though.


Yep, call me picky (like I've stated), but I'm a trial/error gal and I know what works best. I could probably even design some and see if selling in the future is possible. Spending $14+ for generic ones that violate my proclivities aren't worth it... maybe if I get desperate enough.