Schoolhouse Planner review... surprised by God!!

I love being surprised by God... He does it often.  He chooses to surprise me with something when I least expect it.  He did it again...


...through my connection with The Old Schoolhouse Crew... a review writing contest.  I review and use The Schoolhouse Planner and at the same time enter a writing contest for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  How cool is that?!


See this...

...this is amazing!


...this is incredible!!


...this is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!


THIS is the 2010 Schoolhouse Planner published by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!!!!


Three years ago I saw this and wanted one but always maxed out my homeschool curriculum dollars-to-spend before I got to the list of "Mom's stuff...".  So, The Schoolhouse Planner never got ordered.


The funny thing is... I was going to write a review on this planner even before seeing it for myself.  Seriously!!  This is ALL of that... and the whipped cream on the top!  Everything I've seen and read about this impressed me, so I figured I could write a review on my impressions.


Apparently, TOS (The Old Schoolhouse magazine) feels that their reviewers should get to see... read... play around with... their products before they write a review, instead of writing on impressions.  So, they sent me one to review!!  WOO HOO!!  


...this planner is the ONLY planner I have ever seen that is designed for the homeschool mom in mind.  One of my most difficult challenges in homeschooling is balance.  How do I balance being a wife, mom, teacher, laundry maid, housekeeper, and shopper?  How do I do it well?  ... with the Schoolhouse Planner!  There are lists, charts and guides for every area of my home and all of it is conveniently housed together in one location...

...address book, contact info, doctor info...

...year calendars, monthly calendars and daily schedules...

...menu plans, shopping lists and kitchen helps...

...this planner is ELECTRONIC!!  Seriously!  I am on my computer too many hours in a day.  Now I can update the kids schoolwork right on my computer using this planner.  For me, it doesn't get any easier than that!!


...this planner includes articles and helps to keep homeschool parents informed...

...and I can choose to print pages that I may need at any time!


Honestly, this planner is over 600 pages of organizational tips, charts, forms for state reporting, calendars, planners, helpful articles, and information.  I can't think of anything that the folks at TOS forgot.


Now having seen this and played around with it, I can honestly say that I wish I would have purchased it three years ago.  The cost of $39 (for the downloadable version) is more than reasonable for all that The Schoolhouse Planner has packed into it!


The Schoolhouse Planner is also available on CD ($44) , for those who prefer a CD over internet...however, you do have to wait to have it shipped to you rather than the almost instant option of having it emailed to you.


I love it when God surprises me with things that I've wanted to own but have waited for.  This Schoolhouse Planner is definitely one of those things.  It makes me excited to start school this year!


**I received the Schoolhouse Planner as a member of the TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review of this product and to enter a contest for prizes.