Game Day

There is an undeniable magic to autumn weekends. As the air turns crisp and the leaves shift colors, a new season is ushered in.   One of our favorite parts of the season is settling in for one of America’s favorite weekend pastimes: football!  

While going to a stadium live has its thrills, there is truly no better place to experience game day than from the comfort of your own living room. Cozied up on the couch with loved ones, whether you are fully engrossed in the game or only half watching it – there’s nothing like a football Saturday or Sunday at home. 

 

We love to create a warm, inviting atmosphere where our teenagers are around and their friends are all welcome. We have found that the best way to do that is to have food – and lots of it (we have 3 boys.) Football season at home isn't just about football, it’s about creating an environment to come together around.  Here is your guide to creating the perfect game day at home.  

Effortless Game Day Entertaining 

The secret to a successful home tailgate is keeping things relaxed but make it feel special enough that it’s not just another day at home. To pull off a seamless game day gathering without spending hours in the kitchen, lean into these simple entertaining strategies so that you (as the host) can also enjoy the day: 

• Embrace the Self-Serve Station: Instead of individually plating food or serving complex multi-course meals, build a central snack zone. Set out a mix of finger foods, dips, and bite-sized treats on the coffee table or kitchen island. A self-serve setup keeps the energy casual and lets everyone graze at their own pace.  We often make sliders. From bbq chicken sandwiches or burgers, sliders are the perfect size and game day food. 

 

• Master the Mix of Homemade and Store-Bought: You don't need to make every single item from scratch. Pair a signature homemade dish with high-quality store-bought shortcuts. Buy pre-cut vegetables, artisan potato chips, and pre-made salsas, then focus your effort on one standout hot snack that brings the room together.  We’ve found that Walmart’s queso is better than anything we can make or get at a restaurant. Try it and find out! 

 

• Keep the Decor Simple and Warm: Michael’s recently had 2 or 3 endcaps with football themed décor. We stocked up on serving trays, paper decorations, napkins and more. We love our personalized football themed serving tray that is ideal for serving sliders or fried chicken.  Shown below are a couple of great personalized and non-personalized football themed items that we offer at More Than Paper. 

You can even go so far to have personalized football themed napkins at your at-home tailgate! 

 

• Set Up a DIY Beverage Bucket: Fill a galvanized tub or deep cooler with ice, canned sparkling waters, local craft beers, and sodas. Place it near the living room so guests and family members can grab a fresh drink without missing a single play. We use our personalized servingware  found at More Than Paper when entertaining our guests (football games or otherwise.)  These virtually unbreakable personalized wine glasses, beer glasses, and tumblers work well for day drinks.  

Mix up a pitcher of margaritas or a non-alcoholic mocktail and have it ready to go: 

 

 

Serve drinks in these lowball personalized glasses: 

Invest in the entire set and have a personalized ice bucket, pitcher, serving tray, and 4 high ball glasses! On-sale for 10% off at More Than Paper: 

Sheet Pan Loaded Queso Nachos

Nothing brings a room together during kickoff quite like a piping-hot, shareable pan of nachos. This recipe takes traditional nachos up a notch by combining rich, melty queso (mentioned before from Walmart!) with classic baked toppings. Making them on a single sheet pan ensures every layer gets maximum cheese coverage and keeps cleanup to a bare minimum.

 

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6–8 continuous grazers

 

Ingredients

For the Nacho Base:

 

• 1 large bag (13–15 oz) restaurant-style tortilla chips
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey (cooked with 1 packet of taco seasoning)
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup sweet corn (canned or thawed from frozen)
• 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese

 

For the Quick Warm Queso – store bought from Walmart, or try making yourself:  

• 8 oz white American cheese, cubed (from the deli counter)
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

 

Fresh Toppings for Serving:

• 1 avocado, diced (or 1/2 cup fresh guacamole)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pico de gallo or salsa

 

Instructions

1. Prep the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2. Make the Warm Queso: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cubed American cheese, milk, and diced green chilies. Whisk frequently until the cheese is completely melted and smooth. Keep warm on the lowest setting.
3. Layer the Chips & Fixings: Spread half of the tortilla chips evenly across your prepared baking sheet. Top with half of the seasoned cooked meat, black beans, corn, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Repeat with a second layer using the remaining chips, meat, beans, corn, and the rest of the shredded cheese.
4. Bake to Melt: Place the sheet pan in the oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the shredded cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and the chips are lightly toasted at the edges.
5. Drizzle & Decorate: Remove the nachos safely from the oven. Immediately drizzle the warm queso generously over the entire pan. Finish by scattering the fresh avocado, sour cream, cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and pico de gallo across the top.
6. Serve Right Away: Place the sheet pan directly on a heat-safe trivet on your coffee table or counter, hand out the napkins, and let everyone dive in together while it's warm!

 

Settling In for Game Day

Once the food is hot and the drinks are cold, the only thing left to do is kick back, wrap yourself in a blanket, and enjoy the rhythm of the afternoon. We love the revolving door of teenagers in and out on game day and wouldn’t trade it for the world!  It may be neighbors or friends or other family for you! Whether your favorite team is winning or losing, a home filled with people, food and good times always feels like a victory. 

Ultimate Camp Visiting Day Guide

With soft trunks packed and buses loaded with smiling campers, the countdown to visiting day has begun.  While you spend the next couple of weeks scouring camp photos online, traveling with your husband, or gutting closets and restocking household essentials, take a few minutes to plan how you will make camp visiting day special this summer. 
Visiting Day is often a whirlwind of mixed emotions. Just when you have just gotten into a routine of being away from your camper, you’re suddenly back with your son or daughter but this time not at home.  You’ll get tours of the bunk, meet their friends, and enjoy a cookout but then you don’t get to bring them home.  It’s a tease! To help you navigate the big day seamlessly, we’ve put together the ultimate playbook on what to do and not do to keep visiting day smooth and emotions in check. 
 
Visiting Day Dos and Don’ts 

Do: Let your camper be the tour guide.
This is their summer home and they are the experts! Let them pull you by the hand to show you their favorite activity, their specific seat in the dining hall, and their bunk. Ask them to introduce you to their counselors and bunkmates and lean into their world completely. Try not to have too many expectations and throw an itinerary out of the window.  Go with the flow and enjoy living in the moment with your camper. From being at the waterfront to the tennis court, you will find whatever activity you are doing special, just because you are with your camper! 

Do: Keep the focus on their experience.
It’s natural to want to catch them up on everything happening at home, but try to keep the conversation centered on camp. Ask about their favorite evening activities, what they hope will happen for breakout, or what skills they are working on. 

Don’t: Linger too long during departures.
The end of the day can bring a sudden wave of homesickness, even for the happiest campers. When it’s time to say goodbye, keep it swift, upbeat, and reassuring. A long, drawn-out goodbye often makes the transition back to camp routine harder for them.
 
 
What to Bring: The Essential Pack List
Food is always a major highlight of Visiting Day but be sure to check your camp for rules and guidelines about what you are allowed to bring. Our cabinmates from New York often had fresh H&H Bagels (they always shared!) and there was always a lot of candy and homemade baked goods. Beyond your camper’s favorite snacks, the best things you can bring are items that refresh their camp spirit for the remaining weeks. Adding thoughtful, custom details makes the day feel even more momentous. At More Than Paper, we have lots of personalized camp gear that make small gifts and practical essentials. 

By week three or four, your camper has likely burned through their initial stationery supply or lost a pen or two. Bring a fresh set of personalized stationery. More Than Paper has camp note cards, fill-in-the-blank camp stationery (perfect for younger campers who need a little prompting!), and custom return-address labels. It gives them an instant boost of excitement to write home for the second half of the summer. 

Camp life is tough on gear. Visiting day is the perfect time to replace lost water bottles or a towel. 

Surprise them with a personalized clipboard from More Than Paper featuring their camp colors or their favorite activity. It’s perfect for storing their stationery and writing letters home or to friends during rest hour. 

You can also consider a small gift like our new slippers, activity pads that will keep them busy during rest hour, or bunk pillow cases. 

The secret to a successful Visiting Day is balancing the excitement of seeing each other with the reality that they still have a wonderful summer ahead of them (without you!) You will feel mixed emotions, for sure. 

Before you leave, slip a hidden note under their pillow or inside their trunk. Use a piece of your family’s personalized notepad to write a quick, loving message. You can say something like: “We are so proud of your independence. Can’t wait to hear all the stories when you get home!" 

Finding that note at bedtime, after your car has driven away, is often the exact comfort a camper needs. Enjoy every second of the hugs, the camp cheers, and all the joy of Visiting Day! 

Creative and Stress-Free Ways to Celebrate Graduation

Graduation season often carries a specific, high-pressure image of large parties, grand gestures, and elaborate gifts. Moms are often so consumed with planning the graduation party that they miss the ability to enjoy the moment and be present. For most families and many graduates, the truly meaningful celebrations are the more intimate ones full of personalized details and touches.

Memorable graduation celebrations all boil down to one common theme: recognition.  These festivities are all about pausing to say: "I see how hard you worked, and I’m proud of who you’ve become." Whether your student is finishing high school, college, or even a master’s degree, the goal is to create a core memory that feels personal and makes the graduate feel seen for all their hard work.  It doesn’t have to break the bank. It doesn’t have to be over the top! 

If you are looking to honor your graduate without the stress of an elaborate production, here are several creative ways to celebrate the milestone and thoughtful, personalized gift ideas found at More Than Paper that make a lasting impact. 

Host a brunch 

Instead of a 100-person open house or renting a restaurant/bar, consider an intimate brunch with just the people who were truly alongside your student.  This may include family, a favorite mentor, or a few close friends. In a world where there often feels pressure to serve alcohol (and knowing that alcohol and teens don’t mix), a brunch is great way to sidestep this potential pitfall.  Breakfast and brunch food also tends to be a bit more affordable than dinner items. Plus, you can get really creative and are likely not to run into a lot of other graduation celebrations at the same time. 

For a fun twist to your brunch, decorate your table using a timeline of photos. Instead of streamers, balloons, flowers, or other decorations, use photo holders and display everywhere. Use custom napkins or frosted cups with the graduate’s name and class year for a personal touch. 

 

Do something personal 

Looking for a gift for your graduate?  Try something truly personal and one they will treasure forever. Identify five key people (or more) in the graduate’s life to write letters to be opened one year from graduation day. These letters can offer advice for the first year in the real world, or advice for college, or simply reflections on the graduate’s character.  Compile the letters and present them in a personalized folio or memory keepsake box. The graduate can open them a year later and read the thoughtful messages from those that helped them along their journey. 

The Comforts of Home Graduation Dinner

Many graduates are exhausted by the time commencement rolls around.  With all the final exams and year end festivities, sometimes the greatest gift is not having to be on for a big party. 

Consider hosting a “favorite things” dinner at home. Every dish served should be a childhood favorite or a specific comfort food they have craved during school.  It doesn’t matter if the menu isn’t cohesive – if you end up serving Crumbl cookies, stuffing, mac and cheese, and waffles (what our kids would choose)– so be it!  If you want to add a personal touch, elevate the home-cooked meal with our personalized lucite trays, custom napkins, or any of our serving wear. These personalized touches make the casual, informal meet feel intentional and celebratory. 

The Gift of Dorm Life Prep

You don't need to buy an elaborate tech gadget, piece of jewelry, or expensive gift to make a graduate feel special. The most appreciated gifts are the ones that solve a problem or task that they will soon encounter. 

• The Laundry Solution: A high-quality, personalized laundry bag with their name in bold embroidery is a rite of passage. It’s practical, prevents lost clothes in a dorm or laundromat, and feels more special than a plastic hamper.

• The Stationery Kit: In the digital age, a handwritten thank you note is a superpower. Plus, they will need stationery for all the gifts received or interviews that they will soon be going on. Gifting a graduate a set of personalized notes with their name and new degree credentials is a sophisticated way to prepare them for networking and professional gratitude. We think this is a gift that sets college graduates up for professional success! 

Create a Community Advice Jar 

If you are inviting a lot of family and your adult friends, consider asking people to share their wisdom with your graduate. Skip the traditional guest book and consider using a beautiful glass jar.  Place a stack of personalized sticky notes or small gift enclosures personalized with “Advice for ____ (name of the graduate)”  Ask visitors to write a singular piece of advice that they can take with them.  Place the enclosures in the glass jar for a fun display! The graduate can keep these notes from friends and family for years to come. 

Commencement Day Experience 

Instead of a party, some families choose an experience to celebrate commencement. This could be a hike to a beautiful view, a visit to a museum they love, or a trip to the beach. If you choose this route, pack a custom tote bag with the graduate’s favorite snacks, a beverage, and a new insulated tumbler with their graduation year. This turns a simple experience into a festive one and shows the graduate you went above and beyond to make their celebration special. 

Personalization Matters

Personalization shows the recipient you took the time in advance and it wasn’t an afterthought or last-minute gift at the mall. A custom notepad or an embossed set of stationery carries more weight than a generic gift card is because it requires this forethought. Gift recipients notice! It shows that you sat down, thought about their name, their style, and their future, and ordered something specifically for them. Whether it’s a laundry bag for their first apartment or a set of professional stationery for their first job hunt, these items are thoughtful ways to show how proud you are of the graduate. 

By focusing on small, creative and sometimes personalized gestures and gifts, you can honor the graduate in a way that feels special and not flashy.  So skip the stress and focus on your memories, thoughtful words, and personal touches this year.  

Final Gift Ideas 

Consider a tote bag in the school colors!

A weekender bag: 

 A Dopp kit: 

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation (TA) Week is a nationally celebrated event where school administration, parents, and students recognize the hard work of teachers and staff by writing notes of gratitude, supplying breakfast or lunch, volunteering, or giving small gifts.  People can get creative and it’s an exciting week for teachers who get showered with affection and treats.  

 

In 2026, the official TA Week is Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8.  But if you have ever heard of or experienced May as “Maycember,” you know that May can be extremely hectic (often like December) with year-end events such as Field Day, band or strings performances, school fundraisers, and graduation parties, not to mention Mother’s Day.  Maycember is not for the faint of heart! As a parent, you know the struggle is real running from one event to the next. 

 

One school we know decided to move this national weeklong celebration to a week in March. Who says you have to celebrate it in May anyway?  This school is celebrating TA Week March 16 – March 20^th, which happens to fall on St. Patrick’s Day.  Therefore, the Parents Association choose to theme the week: “So lucky to have you.”  With creative minds and some help from ChatGPT, each day has a different theme and activities! 

This particular school is fortunate to have a budget that can cater several lunches from local restaurants.  The Parents Association has also assembled volunteers for a “Pot of Gold Breakfast” with donuts, muffins, and bagels.   On Wednesday, the PA has organized lucky charms – students and parents are asked to bring in a “lucky charm” for their teacher. The lucky charm could be anything from a gift card, a coffee, their favorite candy, or flowers.  Some room parents went above and beyond by collecting “Teacher’s Favorite Things” and creating a sign-up genius so the teachers are getting exactly what they love.  From a breakfast parfait to Mike & Ike’s, these teachers will receive items from their list of favorites from generous parents willing to make the teacher’s day special. 

On Wednesday, the lower school has organized students to write notes to their teachers. They sent home supplies a week earlier with instructions for parents. They’ll bring them to school on Wednesday!  The middle and upper school room parents will stand at a table during break to organize the older students to write quick notes (with a prompt provided) to teachers in exchange for a piece of candy.   (Sometimes bribery is necessary!) 

 

On Friday, there will be Chick-fil-A and a latte station in the teachers’ lounge for the grand finale.  

Other efforts at this school include decorating the teachers’ lounge with a St. Patrick’s Day luck theme and hanging custom banners for teachers.  At More Than Paper, we offer custom teacher banners perfect for acknowledging the hardworking group and wishing them a happy teacher appreciation week. 

This banner can be customized for individual teachers and student names, or it came be made generic. To make generic, just add the name of the school and the word “teacher,” and then from “all” students.  There are 3 different sizes from which to choose, and you can add grommets for a small additional fee to make hanging easy. 

 

We’ve seen all sorts of themes for teacher appreciation week during our years as a parent. The “Lucky to Have You” idea is a cute one but here are some additional themes for teacher appreciation week below.  

• "Eras" / Taylor Swift: Focus on how teachers "never go out of style". Activities can include a friendship bracelet station and handing out "Fearless Educator" awards.
• Wicked / Emerald City: Use a "Defy Gravity" theme inspired by the Wicked movie. Decorate with vibrant greens and "Wickedly Oz-some" banners.
• Hooray for Hollywood: Treat teachers like stars by rolling out a red carpet and assigning them stars on a "Walk of Fame."
• Willy Wonka: Transform the lounge into a candy land with "Golden Ticket" gift surprises and chocolate fountains.
• “Thank you for helping us grow” – focus on a garden theme including seed packets as gifts, and a tree of gratitude with messages from students. Food can be healthy and green to fuel the teachers for their days! 
• Summer / Beach Theme – gift a gift like our school did with engraved tumblers that read: “beachin’ not teachin’” and bring a vacation vibe to the teachers’ lounge. This is a great one if you are doing it in May when summer is near! 
• Spa and Self-Care – focus on pampering gifts and spa like activities. 
• “Nacho Average Teacher” – have a fiesta theme, build your own taco bar, and festive banners around school.
• “Teachers are Superheros” – create superhero-themed decorations. Create comic-book style POW! And BAM! Signs.
• “Out of this world” – a cosmic themed week of treats and activities.  We think this is a really creative one that could be fun! 

Ideas for honoring teachers with small gifts (aka “charms”) are gift cards to Starbucks, Amazon, VISA/Mastercard to treat like cash, grocery stores, Barnes and Noble, or popular local restaurants.  No one needs to break the bank here – a $10 Starbucks gift card is plenty to show appreciation and will really add up if multiple students bring in. 

 

Looking to go beyond a gift card for bringing in a charm?  Here are some more personalized gifts for teachers that we love found at More Than Paper.  These teacher themed folded notecards are personalized with your choice of text and are appreciated by teachers to write notes home to students/families.

These notepads look cute on your desk and are a small gesture to show appreciation. The tear off pad comes with 100 Sheets for quick and easy note writing. 

 

We love these personalized “Best Teacher Ever” notepads 

that come with 300 sheets, now on sale for 10% off. 

We also love these monogrammed apple notepads, sold in sets of 2. Each pad contains 50 sheets and can be personalized with 1 line of text at the bottom and 2 initials at the top. 

Another fun idea is to put a bunch of little things such as notepad, stationery, gift cards, favorite candy, a Starbucks gift card into a personalized tote.  More Than Paper has a huge selection of tote bags, check them all out here.  It would be really cute to do personalized lunch totes, like the one below, and add in a few goodies!

We find that ordering a personalized gift for a teacher shows a lot of thought and that it wasn’t a last-minute grab at the grocery store. Taking the time to order a personalized gift for your teacher shows real intent and will go a long way in making your teachers feel special.  Combine it with a handwritten note from you, as a parent, and a handwritten note from your student and you have a thoughtful way to honor teachers in your life. 

 

Whatever you choose for teacher appreciation week, we hope you find the time to make your teacher feel honored and appreciated.  It doesn’t have to be over the top, we think that a little goes a long way especially when everyone participates. 

 

What teacher appreciation gifts, themes, or activities have you seen that you find special? Share them here with us on our blog or on our Facebook page!