Do you use one of those school-year calendars that go August to August? For the last couple years, I have. It’s in August that I begin to think about all of the practices, after-school activities, doctor’s appointments, snacks I have to bring, and all of those things of which a mom must keep track.

Back-to-school is the time each year when I have to forget the lazy days with no schedule and buckle back down (although 5 Minutes for Mom and my new 5 Minutes for Books site have kept me busy so far this summer).

Actually, it was my work with 5 Minutes for Mom, as well as participating in blog events and book blog tours on my personal blog Snapshot that first convinced me I needed one good place to keep track of everything.

Last year I reviewed the Busy Body Book here on 5 Minutes for Mom (twice actually). I have been using it faithfully all year. Each week I use the unique five-grid system to keep track of contest ending dates, hours worked, to-do lists (there’s a nice list page opposite of the weekly grid), phone calls to return, appointments, dinner menus–you name it.

I just received the 2008 – 2009 Academic Year BusyBodyBook. I would not have guessed that it could get any better than the system upon which I’ve come to rely–but it has:

• There is a separate flexible plastic cover for the front and back making it even more sturdy (although my heavy wax cardboard from last year held up just fine.
• The bar at the top with the week’s date range is a little darker, so it pops.
• The cover colors are brighter.

I can’t wait for the calendar to change so that I can break in my brand-new BusyBodyBook.

If you would like to win one of 4 Academic Year (August 2008 – September 2009) BusyBodyBook planners, leave a comment here, letting us know which design you prefer. We’ll announce the winners on July 24.

You can also save 10% on BBB brand new 2009 Wall Calendar if you order it now and enter the code “BBBWALL” in the comments section at checkout.