New Years Resolutions & January 2023

What is it about a new calendar year that makes so many of us (re) evaluate our lives?  Call them resolutions, intentions, or goals, millions of people turn the pages in their agenda to a new year and ask themselves… what do I want from the year ahead? 

Do you? 

 

We have found varying degrees of how people approach this process but it tends to be extreme! There’s the busy Mom who indulged in food and wine throughout the holidays but on January 1^st went vegan and is (attempting) to no longer eat sugar or drink alcohol.  There’s the man who has listed 12 resolutions that include: getting fit and eating better, spending more time with his family, taking a boys trip in 2023, vacationing with his wife, working harder at the office, and enjoying dinner parties & time out with friends. 

 

What is problematic (and mostly obvious to all of us) is that these resolutions are not only unrealistic, but are unsustainable, too. How is one supposed to work harder at the office but also take a boys trip, vacation with his wife, and spend more time at home? 

 

Why must these resolutions be so radical? Sometimes, too, they feel like they are in direct competition with one another. 

 

We’ve heard experts say that the key to meaningful change is making gradual changes.  In 2023, we advise you to take some pressure off yourself.  You don’t have to be a completely different person or change too much of who you are!  We like the idea of getting 1% “better” every day.  What’s more is that you should define what “better” is to you!   1% “better” in whatever way you see fit will make meaningful change by the end of the year. 

 

Take some time to write out what “better” means to you and break out how you will get there. If “better” means working harder at the office, does that mean your shift your habits to less distractions on your phone, less frequent water cooler breaks, or something else? Being specific about how you will achieve your “better” is important. 

 

Don’t forget something else that is important. You are already great.  Don’t let the calendar tell you it’s time to make changes when change might not be required.  Practice gratitude by writing down all the things for which you are grateful.   When people go through this exercise, many are helped by realizing how great they already have it.  Focus on the positive and all that you have done throughout the previous year and all the days to come in 2023.  

 

One new product we love that might help you on this journey are these Gratitude Finder Journals.  Beautiful colors and tons of stickers will motivate you. But no worries – these are not dated so you can start and restart whenever you like!  Choosing the color palette that speaks to you has the power to make this exercise feel more special and more impactful than just a scrap piece of paper.  There are even 3 that are specifically faith-based.

 

Feeling a little preppy, check out this one:

 

We feel this one brings a sense of calm:

 

These are for the kids (or for the adults who like to think like kids!):

 

After spending the year filling up this journal, you will have a wonderful momento to remember all the great things that happened – which will hopefully inspire you further in the year to come.

 

Another tip for the New Year?  Get organized, as best as you can.  When life feels overwhelming and schedules are busy, having a strong organization system is key.  Sometimes you just need reminders! We have a great selection of memo pads and sheets.  We like these for jotting something down real fast.  This acrylic holder looks great on your desk, too! 

 

And these new Reminder Binders are awesome at helping you keep track of the day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month. And who doesn’t love all the colors and stickers! And for a limited time, get a free monthly desktop calendar with purchase!

 

Whatever your thoughts are, journaling and writing are great ways to get it out of your head. More Than Paper’s journals, notebooks, and notepads are here to help you with this process in January and all year long! 

 

Wishing you a Happy New Year from everyone at More Than Paper!  

Thanksgiving Recipes We Love

Thanksgiving may be affectionately known as “turkey day”, but no Thanksgiving feast would be complete without the side dishes. From appetizers to desserts and everything in between, the love and attention that you put into your food can be felt around the table.  Rest assured all the hard work will be worth it.  After all, these days are what childhood memories and holidays are really made of!  Here are a few tips for making your Thanksgiving less stressful, as well as a few recipes that we have rounded up. 

Tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving:

 

1.     Planning is key! Create your menu at least two weeks in advance. Put some thought into your guest list and any allergies or dietary restrictions that you might need to be considered.  Create your shopping list at least 1 week in advance.  Plan to go to the grocery store several times to get all the items that you will need, but having a comprehensive shopping list will really help reduce trips to the store. 

2.     Delegate! When your guests ask you – “is there anything that I can bring?” be sure to tell them something!  A good host does not have to do everything from start to finish. Outsource an entire course like an appetizer or dessert like a pro! 

3.     Prep work can be done days before!  Pies, cakes, and stuffing can be made days in advance. Turkey should brine or be pre-salted at least one day before. Pay close attention to your dishes and how far in advance you can make them.  You want to avoid the amount of work you have to do on Thanksgiving day itself! Planning ahead and starting early is key. 

 

Here are some recipes that we think will enhance your Thanksgiving! 

 

 

PUMPKIN BROWNIES

For those people who want to (pumpkin) spice their meal up this year, try these amazing pumpkin pie brownies from The Cookie Rookie. These can be served at Thanksgiving or all season long! 

What you’ll need: 

•   18 ounces brownie mix 

•    ¼ cup water

•   ⅓ cup vegetable oil 

•   1 large egg 

•   ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips 

•  7.5 ounces pumpkin puree (note: NOT pumpkin pie filling) 

•  6 ounces cream cheese 

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

How to combine: 

1.     Preheat the oven according to the box mix (325°F for Ghirardelli). Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.

2.     In a medium bowl, make the brownie mix according to the directions on the box. Above are the ingredients for Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies. Adjust ingredients to fit your box mix. Add the chocolate chips to the brownie mix and set aside.

3.     18 ounces brownie mix, ¼ cup water, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 large egg, ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips

4.     In a medium bowl, mix the pumpkin, cream cheese, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together until very smooth.

5.     7.5 ounces pumpkin puree, 6 ounces cream cheese, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

6.     Pour half of the brownie mix into the prepared pan and spread out so the entire bottom of the pan is covered.

7.     Spoon the pumpkin filling onto the brownie batter in chunks or spread it out evenly, then cover the pumpkin with the rest of the brownie batter and smooth out the top.

8.    Now you're ready to bake! I added 10 minutes to the directions on the box. You’ll need to cook them longer due to the pumpkin mix.

9.     Let the brownies cool before slicing and serving.

CRANBERRY RELISH

What about some cranberry relish to go with your turkey? The salty, briney turkey tastes great with the fruity and bright cranberry accompaniment.

 

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries 
• 1 orange with peel on 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 

 

To combine: 

1.     Slice the very edge root ends off of the orange, just until you see the flesh. Leave the rest of the skin ON the orange and slice it into 8 pieces.

2.     Place the fresh cranberries, orange slices and sugar in your food processor and process until smooth (or until no large chunks remain).

3.     Refrigerate until ready to serve (it tastes best after being in the fridge for at least an hour) or for up to 1 week. Serve over turkey, chicken, pork loin etc.

 

 

 

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS 

 

Looking for stylish and festive ways to serve your Thanksgiving? Look no further than More Than Paper. We have a huge selection of beverage trays for festive cocktails, and platters fit for turkey drumsticks and the likes!  We even have many options for personalized beverage, dinner napkins and guest towels! Shop all of our Thanksgiving dinnerware by visiting here!  And don't forget your personalized napkins and guest towels here. 

The Art of Crane

The holiday season is around the corner and those that get ahead will get to enjoy the festive time without the stress.  Are you starting your holiday card search? Ordering your holiday cards early will certainly put you ahead!  Our luxe holiday cards by Crane are currently on sale. Now is a great time to order! 

Stationery and holiday cards by Crane are a go-to for stationery lovers. What makes Crane so special? We’ve dug a little deeper. Here’s why: 

 

The history is rich. 

The history of Crane is over 250 years in the making! That’s right. 250!  In 1770, entrepreneur Stephen Crane founded the business and purchased the Liberty Paper Mill. Paul Revere was one of its earliest customers and Crane printed the American Colonies' first paper money. It’s evolved over time but has remained deeply rooted in tradition. The Queen famously used Crane Stationery! 

 

The secret is in the printing. Not necessarily the paper. 

People often mistake Crane being known for incredible paper, but we feel the true magic is in the printing process. (Don’t get us wrong, their high quality paper made from cotton feels luxe in your hands, but other manufacturers do tend to have heavier papers. It’s not just about the paper in our eyes - it's more about the meticulous craftsmanship which really stands out in the printing!)   

 

Crane’s multiple printing processes allow for cards to really stand out from the crowd. Some of their cards when examined closely are truly exquisite. Many of Crane’s cards are a composite of multiple printing techniques, and some of the most artful printing methods that exist.  Your Crane card may have engraving, thermography, letterpress, embossing, foil stamping, or digital printed. It may be a combination of several of these techniques! 

 

Here's a closer look at the possible techniques: 

 

• Engraving:  Truly an art-form, an engraved design is highly detailed and executed by a professional. This professional engraver carefully etches the design and/or text into a copper plate, known as a die. Ink is applied to the die and then the paper is delicately and precisely pressed between the die and a handcrafted counter to yield a beautifully detailed and raised imprint. The raised ink design is often intricate and you can typically see delicate indentation of the text and graphics on the reverse side of the cardstock. Engraving is especially beautiful with metallic inks like silver and gold. 
• Thermography: Less expensive and faster than engraving, thermography somewhat mimics the look of engraving, although the ink is typically has a slight sheen. Thermography uses a polymer plate to transfer ink to the top of a paper. Then a resinous powder is added to the wet ink. Lastly, heat is applied activating the powder which results in a beautiful raised ink.
• Letterpress: Developed in the 15th century, this process is labor and time intensive. Prints are made one at a time with each print having its own variation. Details and type are set in reverse on a plate - so really the opposite of engraving.  Plates are inked and pressed into paper, usually through a printing press. Your text and designs will look indented into the paper - which is traditionally a cotton letterpress stock. Crane's Lettra paper is not only used by Crane but by many, many other printers in the industry. The soft fibers make it a perfect medium to absorb the inks during letterpress printing.
• Blind Embossing: The process is like engraving because a raised image is produced using a copper plate, but no ink is used leaving a more understated and classy impression.
• Digital Printing: Practical and cost effective, digital printing is a form of flat printing. There are no raised letters or plates. Ink is “sprayed” onto the paper rather than imprinting it. If you are having Crane print your family photo onto your holiday photo card, that photo will be digitally printed. While many printers offer digital printing these days, the combination of Crane's state-of-the-art printers and beautiful smooth, bright papers makes for a dazzling result.

 

Want to see an example? Take this Crane holiday greeting card, "Merry Ornaments." This card uses engraving and embossing on the cover and thermography printing on the inside. Look up close at the beautiful details! 

 

Here’s another example of this beautiful combination of printing in "Surprise Snowstorm Holiday Greeting Cards." The bronzed and silver engraved with blind embossing winter scene depicting deer in the woods is a perfect holiday greeting. 

This intricate Crane holiday greeting card, “White Christmas Church” has exquisite detail. Intricately engraved and embossed, your holiday greeting can be printed inside with thermography printing to give it a personalized touch. 

Aren't they beautiful? We have clients that frame their Crane holiday greeting cards each year - they are truly works of art!

We so appreciate the time and attention to detail that is used to produce these cards and hope you can, too. Seeing them in person really makes one say "wow!" Get your orders in soon so that you can take advantage of our sale - and get your cards in time for the holidays. As always, Debbie is available to help you design your one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Feel free to reach out for help!

Shopping Early for the Holidays

As September draws closer to the end, it seems like things are moving quickly into the holiday season. Once November hits, crunch time begins, and we start mapping out the following month of December. December is a beautiful time of year spent with friends, family, and lots of amazing food, but planning for this season is an entirely different story. While filled with joy, December can also be filled with stress. Getting everything you need in time isn’t easy, but we hope we can take some of the heavy lifting off of you this year. Here are some things you can start ordering now to get them off your very full plate come the holidays. 

Boxed Holiday Cards

These beautifully boxed cards are the perfect way to send season’s greetings to all your family, near or far. They come in a pack of ten and have a pre-printed sentiment inside so that they are everything but addressed when you get them. These come in a wide array of printing methods and price points. Boxed Holiday Cards tend to sell out early in the season, so be sure to shop early to get your favorite designs. Find these and more like them here.

Personalized Holiday Gift Tags 
 
Gift tags are an important thing to grab enough of during the holiday season, and it's always these small extra things you tend to forget about. You can personalize all of your text on these, and they come with a pre-drilled hole and string to attach to your gifts. These are great for keeping your gifts organized! With the hustle and bustle of gift wrapping, there is bound to be some confusion, and these will help! There are a variety of designs and colors, so you can choose from this one and more here.

Holiday Bottle Tags
 
These bottle tags are the perfect way to bring holiday cheer to any ordinary bottle or wine or liquor. Wine and liquor make  great gifts, These bottle tags can make something simple look like something well thought out and fun. Personalize with your own text to fit the holiday or occasion. Find this one here, or look at the many other styles of bottle tags that More than Paper has to offer here.

 

Holiday Photo Mount Cards
 
Holiday photo mount cards are an elegant and fun way to share your beloved photo with family and friends. While adhering the photo does take a little more work than a digitally printed photo card, the end result with mounting your own photo holds no comparison   Most cards can accommodate either a horizontal or vertical photo and most cards come with self-adhesive that you use to apply the photo to the card. Many of our cards are not only customizable in terms of the text on the inside, but you can also create the color scheme for the outside too which will most enhance your photo. This sample allows you to not only choose the foil color for the garland surrounding your photo, but also the background color!. You can view this design here or peruse through our vast collection of Holiday Photo Mount cards here.

 

Personalized Ornaments 
 
To make your tree feel like yours, personalized ornaments are a great place to start. These tasteful ornaments come with a gold cord and a pre-drilled hole, so it's ready for hanging. All you have to do is find the perfect spot for it!  Personalized ornaments are perfect for gifts or just for spicing up your own tree this year. We have tons of different designs and colors, find this one and many others here.

            
Getting ready for the holidays doesn't have to be done last minute, and it doesn’t have to be a stressful time! With these picks, you can have your cards, gift and bottle tags, and ornaments done before it begins to stress or worry you. Get ready now, so you can relax and really enjoy all that this joyous and wholesome season has to offer!

New Totes are in!

Just in! Brand new totes, coolers, and bags that we love are now available at More Than Paper. 

With any luck, your end of summer plans will include some water parks, pool days, or beach trips. Packing for the perfect outing can be daunting. Snacks, water, towels, suits, a change of clothes, books, sunscreen and more—you have a lot to carry! With the new totes that we have rounded up and added to More Than Paper, packing for your beach day has never been easier. (BONUS – you can use ALL of these year-round for other activities!) 

This hot pink striped knotted rope tote is the perfect addition to your summer days. It has a large capacity! Rope handles make it comfortable to carry and the front is monogrammed so you can really make it yours. Get yours here at More than Paper!  

No one wants to be in the car on the road with a hungry kid or a hungry adult for that matter, so use these spacious totes to keep your food and drinks cool during road trips. They’re also perfect for transporting dishes to dinner parties. 

This has plenty of room, so you can fit food, snacks, and drinks for the whole family. It has 2 straps for easy carrying. The bag has a USDA approved cooler lining and features a front zip pouch to store more goodies. Find it here at More than Paper!

This jute and leather tote is perfect for shopping trips and running errands with the little ones or by yourself! It’s spacious and comfortable on your shoulder, but also has the perfect soft design for everyday usage. 

The straps are secure and strong, and it's got an easy top opening to throw things in as you go. The inside has a zipper pouch for phones or a wallet, and also smaller compartments for valuables you don’t want to dig for. The front is personalized with your name, and you can pick the color too. Find it here at More than Paper. 

Up next, meet this large, insulated lunch cooler that is customizable with your name and initials. You can choose the colors of the embroidery to really make it yours. The straps are long so you can get it up on your shoulder without struggling, and the spacious, large design is perfect for extra things you may need to pack at the end. You can find this one here at More than Paper! 

For days you aren’t planning a big trip, but you still need an insulated bag for the office or school, this small canvas cooler bag will do the trick. This bag is an insulated lunchbox style and also has a pocket in the front for an extra dessert item or a phone for safe keeping. Personalize it as you see fit – choose the style of your monogram and color! Get this one here at More than Paper. 

#6:

This boat tote is a classic and a best seller! Perfect for bringing your stuff to the beach or pool, this tote comes in a variety of colors and sports your personalization in our beautiful embroidery style. This is a must have for any family for sure! Comes in medium and large sizes. 

How to write a sincere thank you note

 Writing a thank you note from the heart is easy in theory but getting into it can be a totally different story. It can be daunting sometimes to think of the perfect words to say to someone important, especially when thanking them for their kindness. If you’re at a loss for words when it comes to writing a sincere and meaningful thank you note, follow these tips and tricks!

1.)   First and foremost, picking the perfect stationery is more important than you might realize! A solid thank you note is only as meaningful as its presentation, and that's not to say a simple thanks wouldn't do the trick, but for a real eye catch, it's always great to be prepared with a stack of thank you notes for every occasion! 

 

For some beautiful stationery options, click here or go to www.morethanpaper.com!

 

2.)   Next up, when writing the actual letter, start off by keeping it simple, address them how you normally would whether it be “dear,” “to,” or just their name, and begin expressing what you’d like to thank them for. A good way to start this is by saying “Dear [name], I am so appreciative for what you did for me, and wanted to say thank you…”

 

3.)   After writing the base outline, begin expressing what you were able to accomplish because of their kind gesture. For instance, if they babysat for you with short notice, you could explain that because of that, you were able to attend the important event you needed to, or if they gifted you something, you could tell them what you did with the gift! Seeing firsthand what their kindness has done for you is a great way for them to feel appreciated. 

            

4.)   A small gift along with a note to say thank you is always a sure-fire way to get your point across as elegantly as possible!  Save this for big gestures and only when it feels appropriate. 

For gifts like this one and more, click here or go to www.morethanpaper.com.  

 

5.)   If you’re feeling like you want to return the favor, you can always let them know that whenever you need them, your door is always open! Being there in return for someone can be such a solid reminder that they really do mean a lot to you. If they live further away from you, being a phone call away is also totally acceptable and more than appreciated. To ship a thank you gift to them, feel free to check out some shipping labels to help you. 

 

Click here, or go to www.morethanpaper.com for more! 

 

6.)   Lastly, a great thank you note coming from the heart should simply come from your heart! Tell this person what they mean to you in an honest way and tell them how much they enrich your life on a daily basis! Every little word counts in a note, making yours full of love and admiration is guaranteed to be the perfect note. Even if you don’t feel like it's enough to thank them fully, having someone tell them how much they are loved can brighten someone's week in an instant.

 

Writing a sincere thank you note is the perfect way to express your appreciation towards someone who’s done something nice for you, so go forth and feel confident in your writing! It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be perfectly and authentically you. As long as you get your point across clearly and let them know they are appreciated, whatever you end up writing, they will love, because chances are, they love you! 

 

 

Ways to Celebrate The Graduate

Over the last decade, high school graduation rates have climbed into the high 80s and low 90 percent across the country. It’s a sign our education system is headed in the right direction. About 38% of our U.S. population aged 25 or higher has graduated college or another higher education institution, which is a sharp contrast to 1960 when it was just nearly 8% of the population! 

There are many barriers to education (the expense being one of them!) and to earn your high school diploma or your college degree, one must work really hard.  There are no short cuts. There is no easy button.  For these reasons, we think all graduates should be celebrated in a big way.  Note though, that a “big way” doesn’t mean expensive gifts. Here are thoughtful ways to show your graduate that they are celebrated. 

1.     Host a graduation party.  The party can be as simple as a dinner party with family and a few friends.  Cook the graduate’s favorite meal, bake their favorite dessert, and celebrate your graduate. What about putting together a slide show of photos to share with the group or pulling first day of every school year photos and organizing on a poster? If you are interested in hosting something larger and want some extra flair, consider personalized frosted cups for graduation and personalized graduation napkins to add special touches to your party. A party is a great way to show the graduate that you are proud.   

2.     Send graduation announcements.  Graduates will feel honored and special when you formally announce how proud you are of their accomplishments! Sending announcements to family and friends is a great way to get the word out and inform loved ones about next steps, too. We have a huge selection of announcements for graduation. See many options here! 

3.     Get them ready for the next step. Did your graduate finish high school and are they headed off to college in the fall?  Start getting them ready for the next step early.  One of our favorite inexpensive graduation gifts are these buckets. You can fill with candy, gift cards to restaurants, books, collegiate apparel, and more. https://www.morethanpaper.com/EJ-LittleBin-UniversityBold.htm

4. Write them a thoughtful note.  We aren’t talking about a last-minute card with your name signed on this one. Really take the time to tell your graduate how proud you are of him and how much you recognize her hard work.  Pull out your finest everyday stationery (if you don’t have, you know where you can find some!) and start writing. We always suggest using specific examples rather than broad statements.  “Chemistry and biology were tough subjects, but you showed determination and worked hard to achieve the grades you needed in those two classes. Remember that night you pulled an all-nighter?” This is an example of being specific. It’s more personal than a blanket statement like, “You worked hard. Good job.”  This tends to resonate more with people and make them feel special. 

 

Graduation is certainly an accomplishment to be celebrated and we have plenty of ways to honor the graduate here at More Than Paper. What are your favorite ways to celebrate graduates? What about for students that aren’t your own children?  Are there gifts and ways that you honor others? We’d love to hear from you!  Leave us a comment or write to us on our Instagram @morethanpaperusa or Facebook @morethanpaper