Blogging

Free Printable Blog Planner 2017 Edition

December 31, 2016 38 Comments Blogging

The 2018 Blog Planner is here! Click below to head on over to the new planner and the brand new website, A Well Crafted Blog.

Have you made your goals for 2017 yet? I know that some of you had because before the New Year came around I had several requests for the 2017 free printable blog planner— bloggers ready to get started making their 2017 blogging goals happen!

I’m excited to get my first to do item marked off my 2017 list… the 2017 Free Printable Blog Planner is ready for download! Read on to see what is included and to sign up for your free printable. If you are already a subscriber, go to your last email from me and log in to the subscriber only library to find the full new set of printables!

Build Your Ideal Blogging Planner

First, this is a “build your own” style of planner. The reason I chose this style of planner is because one does not fit all in the blogging world. Some bloggers blog multiple times a month, others blog once a week. Some bloggers are hobby bloggers and don’t need pages of financial planning while others use their blogs as a business and welcome a little financial organization. The pages included in this planner all coordinate with one another. Pick and choose which pages will make the perfect planner for you. If you are just looking for one quick download then I also have a planner built into a PDF that is a fairly complete and general planner. You just need to download and print!

There are over 45 different downloads to help you build your ideal planner, including:

Blog Brainstorming Worksheets:

Blog Resolutions
Focus Your Blog Worksheet
Post Brainstorming Worksheet
Year of Ideas Worksheet

Organization Tools:

Affiliate Program Tracker
Finance Tracker
Pitch Minder
Project Budget Worksheet
Sponsor Tracker
Collaboration Tracker
Contact Tracker NEW!
Stylesheet Worksheet
Password Tracker
Analytics Tracker
Social Media Platform Tracker
Monthly Income Report
Post Maintenance Worksheet
Weekly Blog Maintenance Worksheet
Monthly Blog Maintenance Worksheet
Year in Review Worksheet
To Do Lists NEW!

Calendar Planners:

(Note: I keep all my planners without dates listed on them so that they can be used at anytime. I always hated it when I had some bad months and didn’t use a dated planner and then had to simply throw it out when I hit a new year!)

Month at a Glance Planner (List)
Monthly Blog Post Planner (Calendar View)
Weekly Blog Planner (7 Days)
Three Posts Weekly Planner (3 Days)
Three Posts Daily Planner (For those over-achievers out there or large blogs out there)
Two Posts Weekly Planner (2 Days) NEW!
Two Posts Daily Planner NEW!
Single Post Planner
Social Media Planner

Covers:

(I love having inspirational quotes on the covers. This year’s quotes are also a bit of a nod to some great artists that passed in 2016.)

2017 Blog Planner Cover
Plan the Work, Work the Plan
Money, Money, Money
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
April 2017
May 2017
June 2017
July 2017
August 2017
September 2017
October 2017
November 2017
December 2017

What’s new?

Each year I go through and modify pages from the previous years and adding new pages as I see fit. I fixed some mistakes on the 2016 edition and made a couple of the sheets more user-friendly. In addition, I added in some new worksheets, including:

– Brand Contacts Sheet— Use this to keep all of your contact information at your finger tips.
– To Do Lists – Print off several to use throughout the year.
– Year at a Glance Planner— See the dates for the entire year.
– Two Posts Weekly — Many bloggers are now posting only twice weekly and this planner is for them.
– Two Posts Daily— Occasionally I get a request from someone who is really creating a ton of content. This sheet is for them! Plan out two daily posts with this worksheet.
– Monthly Covers – I’ve changed up the quotes on the monthly covers.

Obviously, this isn’t a lot of new items. Part of that is because I’ve developed this so much over the years that I didn’t find a lot of new areas of need. The other part is because I have been developing a FREE E-Mail Course on Finding Your Blog Passion. Finding Your Blog Passion e-mail course will launch in the next couple of weeks!

** Thinking about starting a blog, but unsure of the steps? Check out my post on starting a self-hosted blog!***

Access the 2017 Blog Planner

A Well Crafted Pantry

Thanksgiving Potlucks & Free Thanksgiving Printables

November 23, 2016 1 Comment A Well Crafted Pantry

I had the pleasure of participating in a pre-Thanksgiving potluck of sorts and share tips for the Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving on The Simple Kitchen with Missy Maki this past weekend. Check out the two hour show for tips and LOTS of laughs. (I’m sharing tips in hour 1!) It would be a fun listen while you’re prepping your bird this Thanksgiving.

We had a star line up for the Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving show including Ryan from Aria Gin, Bee from The Spicy Bee, Marlynn from Urban Bliss Life, Melissa from MelissaKaylene.com, Lindsay from Rosemarried, myself, and Missy Maki from The Simple Kitchen and Missy Maki Cooks. We all brought in foods and beverages to sample while speaking about Thanksgiving for two hours! A wonderful time was had by all.

The whole show was full of fantastic tips and really interesting double entendres! We discovered that you really can’t speak about the Thanksgiving meal without some funny double meanings.

Thanksgiving Tips from our Simple Kitchen Show:

There are a TON of tips on the Thanksgiving show, but the ones below are some of my favorite for having a stress-free potluck Thanksgiving:

Organization

Erin from BakeryBingo and Meredith from Martha Chartreuse called in and shared their party planning tips for hosting a holiday Friendsgiving brunch. One of the tips that really hit home was the tip to stay organized with all who are participating online through Google Docs. I also love the many different online potluck planning sites (like Perfect Potluck) for organizing your holiday meal.

Appetizers & Drinks

When people arrive and you are in the kitchen trying to get everything done and on the table hot you will want to have something to occupy your guests time. Absolutely put them to help if you have something to do, but more often or not you just need people out of the way! A batch cocktail and delicious appetizer will help keep guests busy.

Appetizer ideas:

– Lindsey shared details on her Brussels Sprouts and Shallot Dip that sounds (and looks) out of this world delish
– A beautiful charcuterie plate will WOW a crowed and keep everyone coming back for more. The above platter was created by the lovely Melissa of MelissaKaylene.com and it was a show stopper to say the least. Check out her tips on creating your own charcuterie platter.

Drink ideas:

– Batch cocktails are where it is AT for the cocktail hour or dessert beverages. Myself and Ryan from Aria gin shared a few favorites: Gin Old Fashion, Gin Creamy Goodness, and a good ole fashion Gin and Tonic on tap from Aria Gin- Recipes here and I shared my Spiced Pear and Vodka Cocktail
– Wine is a mainstay at our Thanksgiving table. Marlynn from Urban Bliss Life shared her Best Thanksgiving Wines . Check out my Thanksgiving pairing tips as well!

Main Meal:

– Flip your turkey. You don’t want to let the turkey breast get dry!
– MASH your potatoes with a potato masher so that there are still some yummy chunks in there.
– DO NOT stuff your bird with your stuffing. Make the stuffing a delicious side. (This Sourdough Stuffing with Andouille from The Spicy Bee would fit nicely at your Thanksgiving table!)

Desserts:

– Keep it simple with a yummy holiday bark. It is easy to eat and isn’t too filling.
– Go ahead and buy that store made pie crust to save time. It’ll be okay. (Though, if you really want to make your own here are my tips on making the perfect pie crust!)

Free Printable Thanksgiving Potluck Cards

While I am a fan of all food, I am also a fan of hosting a dinner party where everyone can feel comfortable eating and enjoying themselves within their own dietary restrictions. In a potluck situation it can be difficult to know what is in each dish. I don’t know about you, but I do NOT want to pull out an epi pen during Thanksgiving! These free printable Thanksgiving Potluck cards are an easy way for guests to know exactly what they are eating without having to find out and question each person who brought in a dish. Simply had each person a card and pen when they arrive and ask that they label their wonderful contribution for the safety and enjoyment of all attendees!

Listen to the recording of The Simple Kitchen’s Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving show for more tips on hosting Thanksgiving!

Have a happy, happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

Kid Friendly FREE Halloween Printables

October 27, 2016 2 Comments Halloween

Halloween this year falls on a Monday. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time on a Monday to do an elaborate meal and then go trick-or-treating. I love the idea of trick-or-treating with a group of friends (safety in numbers and more fun) but couldn’t pull off my normal Halloween shindig and work all day. It got me thinking that I needed some cute, fun, and EASY solutions for making Halloween special and still provide some real food to my kiddos before the candy hunt begins.

These printables make for a fun store-bought (or homemade) party or for a really cool Halloween Day lunch!

Check out the printable’s TV Debut!

Included in the Free Halloween Printables Package:

This post contains affiliate links marked with *.

Monster Tongue Printables—Designed to be cut and taped onto the top of individual snack-sized Pringles* (I got mine at Target)
Monster Tongue Party Circles— Designed to be cut and used as a label for a can of Pringles or label a chip bowl.
Sandwitch Party Circles— Designed to be printed on label paper and used on a sandwich package or to be attached to food picks and stuck in a sandwich
Ghost Juice Water Bottle Labels—Designed to be printed on label paper and used on water bottles
Food Table Tents —Designed to be printed on cardstock, folded, and put where you are displaying food items
Brush Your Fangs Favor Tags—Designed to be printed on cardstock and attached to a toothbrush

Download Your FREE Halloween Printables

Directions:

Monster Tongue Printables—Print in full-color on white cardstock, cut around design, adhere to top of individual snack-sized Pringles* with double -sided tape or glue.
Monster Tongue Party Circles— Print in full-color on white cardstock or label paper*. Cut around design. Adhere to full size cans of Pringles, individual Cans of Pringles, individual bags of chips, or sprinkle on table in front of chip bowl!
Sandwitch Party Circles— Print in full-color on white cardstock or label paper. Cut around design. Adhere to sandwich packaging, sandwich bag, or to food picks that you stick inside the sandwich.
Ghost Juice Water Bottle Labels—Print in full-color on label paper. Cut as per markings on document. Wrap around a water bottle making sure the “100% Guaranteed to Disappear!” side of the label is attached last. It will overlap the first side of the label.
Food Table Tents —Print in full-color on cardstock, cut per markings on the document, fold along white line, and display with food or beverages.
Brush Your Fangs Favor Tags—Print in full-color on cardstock, cut per markings on the document. You can punch holes in the two “fang” marks or use them to guide where you’ll tape the toothbrush. Attach an individually wrapped tooth brush* by placing through the holes or taping to the paper. Because I was using these with just my family I didn’t not get individually wrapped toothbrushes. Because of that I chose to bag my favors in cellophane, but if the toothbrushes are individually wrapped you can really go without the extra bag.

Download Your FREE Halloween Printables