Truly Stylish...Truly Organized

Can you believe that 2008 is almost over? Keeping track of the dizzying number of tasks, duties and events vying for our time can be overwhelming. Luckily, you can stay organized (and sane) while looking stylish with a planner from Truly Mom. The ingenious (and did I say stylish?) tri-fold planner is perfect for keeping track of you---and the kids! While many of the planners on the market have all sorts of random accessories (Think: Conversion chart in your 1980's Trapper Keeper), the inventors of this beauty culled it down to just what you need! Inside the planner, you'll find weekly and month-to-month calendars, a phone number and address book, several useful pads, including one to completely organize your day. There's also a “note from mom” pad, and a handy post-it note pad.

The planner folds flat to become a mini portable desk. When folded, the magnetic closure serves a dual purpose as a place to secure your list for easy viewing! These would make great gifts---go ahead treat yourself or consider gifting it to a new mom or mom-to-be! Get a head start on your New Year's Resolution to get (and stay) organized.

Holiday Scents

With the Holidays upon us, I thought I'd post about Candles---there are so many great seasonal scents out there (and they make great gifts)! Aside from standard fire safety measures, be sure to properly maintain your candles. I recently learned about candle maintenance myself! Don't worry, there are only a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Keep wick(s) trimmed to 1/4” at all times
• Burn only in 3-4 hour increments

Following these simple candle maintenance rules will help your candles burn longer and are essential for a clean, smoke-free burn. (If your candle does smoke, extinguish, trim wick & re-light).

My favorite candles are from Nouvelle Candle Company in Louisiana. I love them year 'round but their special Holiday Scents are the best! They come pre-wrapped and ready to give. Try Mandarine Spice or Savannah Holly...

And...Keeping up with the blogging is quite a task. I've been so busy (who isn't?) but I'm going to make an effort to try and blog weekly---an early New Year's Resolution!

Too Little Time...

Since my last post, I've been running around town hitting all of my favorite shops--Holiday Shopping Card in hand. You'd think stores were giving away their best goods for free with all the excitement.

I had a great day full of shopping and each purchase was made with my Holiday Shopping Card. I love the savings! First, I started off at Andre's for breakfast. Then I made my way down the shopping center to Carlton House where I bought my niece and nephews some fun Halloween treats. Today was the day I ordered my Christmas Cards at Houston Invitation Service. I did end up with a Page Stationery design, but not the ones I originally thought about---I fell in love with another great one! I'll see if I can find a pic of it online and post it. I got great Christmas Gifts down at River Oaks Bookstore for some of the bookworms on my list and ended up completely losing time in there chatting! Next, I hit West Gray and Luke's Locker where I checked a few more items off my Christmas Gift List! My favorite toy store is also participating so I popped in Fundamentally Toys too!

Wheh. Where to next?

Shopping for a Cause

It's that time of year again! The Holiday Shopping Card Event starts tomorrow! A chance to get discounts at my favorite local merchants AND support the American Cancer Society? Count me in. For a minimum donation of $70, you can save 20% on purchases at participating stores--and some restaurants too!

Every year, The Holiday Shopping Card Event serves as my official Holiday Season Kick-off. This year, with the economic gloom, saving money on Holiday Purchases is even more appealing. I'm making my list and mapping out which stores I need to hit over the next 10 days---the Holiday Shopping Card is valid through November 2nd.

Stay tuned for Great Gift Finds from participating merchants--I'll post them as I see (read: buy) them.

For more information about Victory, our special local branch of The American Cancer Society, click here.

Creative Christmas Cheer

Tired of the sending the same type of Christmas Cards year after year? The designs from Two Punks and a Princess are just the remedy for boring Holiday Invitations, Cards and Photocards. Here are a couple of designs from their latest release. The designs are so creative and all of the illustration is original artwork by the the company's in-house designer (and owner). Such a fresh take on the traditional. Makes me want to start planning a Holiday Soirée--or two!

Desk Doldrums?

Is the doom and gloom of the current economic state getting you down? While you research the stocks you want to buy at a bargain, why not have a fun, vibrant mousepad by Kate Sumner Designs to help you surf your way to success? Get one to complete your office look or pick something fun and fabulous to spice up your desk--and your mood!

And, while you are at it, check out the fun kids' items.

Kate Sumner's got you covered with mousepads, correspondence cards, enclosure cards, and more. So cute. Budget friendly and on-trend? Sign me up.

Printing Process Primer

Will you Engrave, Blind Emboss, or Thermography your stationery? Perhaps Letterpress printing is more your style? With so many options, choosing which one to use can be daunting. Fear not, see below for the ins and outs of some of the more Common Printing Techniques. I suggest sitting down with a local Experienced Stationery Retailer to get a true feel (literally, you want to feel the weight of the paper and appreciate the differences). They can also help walk you through which items are best suited for the different techniques!

Flat
Technically known as Offset/Lithography and is recognized by clean edges and smooth print.
Thermography
Freshly printed inks are dusted with a powder compound. After the excess powder on the non-printing areas is removed by vacuum, the sheet passes under a heater, which fuses the ink and powdered compound. The printing swells or raises to simulate the look of engraving, but shiny.
Engraving
Letters and designs are cut or etched into a copper plate. The plate is inked so that all sub-surfaces are filled with ink, then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the depressed (or sunken) areas of the plate. The paper is forced against the plate with tremendous pressure, drawing the ink from the depressed areas. This produces the characteristic indented or bruised impression on the back of the paper.
Blind Embossing
Similar to the Engraving process, but without ink. The plate is pressed into the paper creating a raised look to the text or design.
Letterpress--My Personal Fave!
The oldest and most versatile method of printing was originally produced from cast metal type or plates on which the image or printing areas are raised above the non-printing areas of the plate. Ink touches only the top surface of the raised areas; the surrounding (non-printing) areas are lower and do not receive ink. The inked image is transferred directly into the paper. Sometimes a slight embossing (because of denting) appears on the reverse side of the paper. The letterpress image is usually sharp and crisp. A heavier, more substantial paper is typically used.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and get in touch with paper!

Making "Green" Gorgeous

Eco-chic never looked so good. Say farewell to the days of "green" looking drab and way too "recycled." Smock's new line of Letterpressed Wedding Invitations and Social Notes are so beautiful! Smock is the first and only print shop in the U.S. to offer printing on a luxury bamboo paper.

Why bamboo? Bamboo is a truly sustainable and renewable resource. It needs very little water to grow, grows quickly and doesn't require pesticides or fertilizers. It's extremely soft, luxuriously thick, and elegantly textured--the prettiest paper around! I know I've said it before, but this is definitely a paper you've got to feel to believe!

Letterpressed Wedding Invitations are definitely front-and-center in all of the Wedding Magazines. Discerning Brides looking for elegant, distinct invitations are opting for letterpress in droves!

Ignoring R.s.v.p. is R.u.d.e.

R.s.v.p. is short for the French "Repondez s'il vous plait." It means "Please reply."

The trend toward disregarding the reply process completely escapes me. What is the point? Someone took the time to think of you and include you on their invitation list, does it really take that long to dial the phone number or shoot a quick e-mail to the address listed and indicate whether or not you will be in attendance? We are all so busy, but how hard is it to mark the Response Card, put it in the envelope (which should have postage already applied) and drop it in the mail? Now, on occasion, you may encounter a Formal Invitation that does not include a Response Card. They did not forget it. In this case, write your reply on your own formal stationery and mail it to the host(s). Simple as that!

Beyond exhibiting poor manners, not replying leaves your host(s) unsure of how to plan--something that can be quite an expensive gamble. If you do not reply, they will likely not plan for you so DO NOT DROP IN. And if you said you will be there, honor your commitment.

Make it easier on yourself by responding to the invitation as quickly as possible. That way you minimize the risk of misplacing it or, as is often the case, completely forgetting about stashing it in your "Things To Do" file!

Tip: When I receive a Wedding Invitation, I promptly reply (see above) and also put a little square on the top of the invitation. Once I send the Wedding Gift, I check the box. As I pull out the invitation to head to the wedding, if the box remains unchecked, I put the invitation in my purse as a daily reminder to send the gift.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

...Christmas, Hanukkah, and all things Holiday! Can you believe it? Thankfully local retailers are at least giving us a break by offering Special Early Bird Pricing---makes seeing Holiday Decor a whole lot more palatable! I'm trying to decide between these Page Stationery designs. They are beautifully letterpressed and so unique. I guess the decision will be made for me--if we don't get a good picture, we'll just go with the nice sentiment!

Houston Invitation Service has all kinds of Holiday Cards and Invitations (including the ones I'm eyeing from Page!) from totally distinctive to ultra traditional. And, they are on sale! I'm ready to do my part to get the economy moving! I wonder, will getting my Christmas Cards ordered early help me get them out on time? Hmmm...

Hurricane Hangover

Looking for things to keep the kids occupied while you try to get back to "normal" following our recent visit from Ike? Get a copy of 100+ Activities for Houston Kids and you'll be set! This book was written by a Houston Mom and is full of fun family ideas, kid-focused community events and even family-friendly restaurant suggestions! Be sure to check out the Kids Activity Queen Blog too---she's got tips and advice on what to do with your little ones as well as fun personal anecdotes sure to make you smile!

Here's the only Hurricane I care to see for a long, long while...Enjoy!

May I Say Who's Calling?

Calling Cards are all the rage. These cards are a great way to inject personality into your Stationery Wardrobe. And, they definitely beat handing over your personal information scribbled on the back of a Starbucks receipt! Check out this recent Time Magazine article about Calling Cards and their increasing popularity. Consider getting some cards for you, the kids, and the fam! Depending on what you have printed, these little cards could serve a dual purpose as gift enclosures---just opt for the coordinating envelope and voila! What about getting some cards made touting your cottage business---jewelry designer, personal shopper, interior decorating? Above are some different designs from William Arthur. From colored papers to the perfect font, let the inner designer in you create something totally customized and so you!

Fairy Princess Party

With all the turmoil that has surrounded Hurricane Ike, maybe it's time for a little make-believe! Fairy Princess Parties are still so popular with little girls and moms alike. I recently received a great invitation by Cid Pear Stationery. The invitation is not too cutesy and features fantastic watercolor art on textured ivory paper and a coordinating lined envelope. Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of the invitation but I did find the coordinating thank you note and it is too cute!

There are such fun accessories to really "theme out" your little one's party. Have you caught cupcake fever? Try the cupcakes at Crave and then think about getting these adorable princess cupcake wrappers by Paper Orchid.