Last week I blogged about how I ordered a new daily planner from Kate Spade and it arrived yesterday!

My only complaint is that it does not offer a daily calendar view. (It has a monthly view instead.) However, I almost prefer this since I can see all my appointments at a glance. There is ample space at the end for writing (in the Notes and Doodles section) and blank pages surrounding each month for additional notes.

(My favorite entries so far.)

(The markers I’ve been using for my random to-do lists look a lot prettier in the new planner.)

There comes that point every year in which you start seeing next year’s daily planners being stocked in your local stores/bookstores and that, my friends, is a magical time indeed.

People who don’t use paper-based daily planners and instead rely on iCal (eh), Outlook (boring) or phones (stressful) don’t know what they’re missing out on. There is something so much more fulfilling about crossing out an item on your to-do list with a really great ink pen than simply clicking a button to delete.

If you’re one of those people who don’t use a paper daily planner, then maybe 2011 is a good time to start. Here’s a hint: if you use a Kate Spade daily planner, you might even WANT to start crossing things off the to-do lists.

Kate Spade 2011 Desk Calendar, $22, (free shipping until Oct. 4. use code SEPT)

My love for Kate Spade has only increased exponentially since reading this book Brandon bought me. 

But, as you all know, this is an affordable style blog, and $400 handbags don’t really fit in!

However—if you want a little slice of Kate Spade for yourself, here are three items that are chic and also less than $50!

• Par Avion Airline Cosmetics Pouch, $39
• “Hand in Hand” Bangle (portion of proceeds go to charity), $48
• Drop Needle Tights, $26

For one of my birthday presents, Brandon bought me Style by Kate Spade.

Full of adorable little sketches and watercolors, it also offers solid tips on wearing color, what movies have great fashion and how to dress up white during the winter.

It’s $15 on Amazon, but Brandon bought it at a used bookstore for a mere $4. How else are you going to get Kate Spade for $20 or less? :)

Do you have a favorite style/fashion book?

Sometimes my co-workers or friends will ask me why I don’t use iCal for my daily planning and organization. It’s a valid point: I use technology in every other possible area of my life, but when it comes to my daily planner, the paper is sacred! I like the physical pen-to-paper experience and there’s nothing better than crossing something off a list by scratching it out with a Sharpie until you can’t even read what it said.

Here are some of my picks for best daily planners to buy for 2010:

1. Moleskine Daily Planner - $14 - There are a lot of variations on Moleskine’s daily planner, but my favorite is the day-per-page view to give you lots of room for writing.
   
2. Cavallini Daily Planner - $32 - Megan used this daily planner when we were in college together and I loved the vivid colors. You can also get this embossed, so it makes a great gift.
3. Lilly Pulitzer Organizer - $25 - Pretty, preppy and pink!
   
4. Kate Spade Canvas Agenda - $75 - The ultimate in paper goods: everything Kate Spade does is beautiful and clean.
   
5. Post Impressions Metallic Appointment Journal - $38 - Gorgeous metallic colors!