Summer Bucket List Creation

Ahhh, summer.  It’s here!  School is out, camp is in session, and families are adjusting to new routines. What time does sailing camp start this week, again? Where are the kids supposed to go next week?  Do they need water shoes and a rash guard?  

It can get a little nutty if you are not organized, so More Than Paper has some tips to help you manage these new schedules and create new routines.  Also, we have some tips to ensure that you get to enjoy the summer, too. Isn’t that what it is all about? This 2023 will be your best one yet!

 

STAY STRESS-FREE 

Stress usually arises from being disorganized or when there is a lot of unknown.  Take control and write it down!  Being organized and planning will help you feel in control.  We’re big fans of paper organizers where you can write things down (digital calendars just aren’t the same.) Here are a few cute options.  Fill this one in with your reminders and notes – water shoes won’t be forgotten, after all!

 

What about this one for getting the whole family organized?  We love that there are slots to include every family members’ activities by day.  The organizer is in pad format so you can tear it off when the week is done and start new! 

 

 

ENJOY THE SUMMER  

Even if you work and aren’t taking much (or any) vacation this summer, we hope that you will get to actually enjoy the season and the carefree nature that it can offer.  Make sure to maximize the weather, the longer sunlight hours and be sure to get outdoors!  This can be done by changing up your routine and walking in the morning or an evening walk when you get home.  Squeeze in a game of pickleball or tennis or take a swim in a nearby pool.  

 

Another idea?  Create a summer bucket list.  Create a list of all the things that you want to do this summer. Be it a drive-in movie, an adventure to the waterpark, or an alfresco seafood dinner – think big and be intentional about how you will create memories.  Jot the ideas down on a “bucket list” pad like this one!  You can even personalize the notepad with your name, last name or initials. 

 

 

We also love the idea of planning a dinner party with friends and family.  Do you have an outdoor dining area?  Create one! Use nonbreakable platters, plates, and other outdoor serving ware to keep your everyday (and good) china safe.  We have splurge-worthy entertaining sets at More Than Paper that actually aren’t much of a splurge. 

 

Planning ahead will ensure a fantastic summer so get on it! Enjoy all that this summer has to offer. We hope it is a great one! 

 

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!  

Getting Organized in 2021

The holidays are nearly behind us and with that in mind, our focus tends to shift to what lies ahead.  January is always a great opportunity to start fresh and prioritize.  Whether it is a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, stronger financial planning, getting organized, or anything else, we love taking a few minutes to think about our goals and write them down. What are your goals for 2021?

 

More Than Paper has a few products to help kick off your new year and get you organized. We are loving our new collection of desktop calendars which are pretty and functional.  Not an agenda or planner, a pretty desktop calendar helps you quickly identify the date and day of the week while planning. It’s the perfect accessory on your desk.  Here are some of the new ones in store. Which is your favorite?

 

If you are anything like us, you also find it helpful to write out your to-do’s and make lists to stay organized.  Why do that on boring paper when you can have a fun notepad?  We have many from which to choose.  See some of our favorite notepads and list pads here.

 

Sticky Notes can also be helpful in getting organized and there’s no reason they can’t be fun or personal, even.   At More Than Paper, we have a huge collection of sticky note cubes that come in a variety of colors, designs, and personalization options.  They look great on your desk and are the perfect complement to your other desk accessories.  With some of the cubes having as many as 675 sheets, you can almost use 2 per day!  How many sticky notes will you use?

 

Another great tool for achieving your organizational goals in 2021 are journals and notebooks.  We see two great uses for either here.   For one -- choose a pretty journal that you can use to write notes and reflect upon things each night or once a week.   Take note of how you are feeling, what is giving you strength, what is draining your energy, and other observations you might have.  Use this space to be reflective.  This isn’t a space to jot down your to-do list but check in with yourself regularly about your overall thoughts and feelings.  This will encourage mindfulness and allows your head to remain clear . In turn, it makes it easier to focus and accomplish what needs to be done.   Here are some of our favorite journals at More Than Paper.

 

The second idea is a notebook that you will want to carry around with you in your purse, workbag, or have lying on your desk.  In this notebook, use it daily or whenever needed to take notes, make lists, and keep track of just about anything.

Some of our most popular products for getting organized are our weekly planners. These are personalized with your family members names and can get you organized for the week!

These are just a few tools to help make organizing in the new year a little bit easier.  What tools do you have that you love?  Share ideas with us here or on Facebook!  Wishing you a Happy New Year and all the best for 2021.

Tips for Going Back to School in 2020

 It’s that time of year again! The summer is nearly behind us, and school aged children are getting ready to go back to school. (If you are in the south, there’s a good chance your schools already have!)  But like much of 2020, things look different than they have in years past.  Millions of children and their families are shifting gears and attending school virtually due to the pandemic.  Those that are attending in person face unforeseen challenges and a new way of learning.  We’re here today to explore tips and tricks to make the transition easier, in whichever way your school is going back.

Tips for Virtual School in 2020

1.      Set up a workspace/desk.  Ensure a consistent workspace and positive learning environment by setting up a workspace that your little one can use every single day for virtual school. You will want to make sure that the desk is sturdy, you have a comfortable chair, it is well-lit, and it is free from noises and distractions. (And far from the X-Box!) We recommend letting your kids decorate it so they feel ownership over their environment and have them take part in making it a special, happy place.

2.      Shop for supplies.  Just as you would for in-person school shopping, take your little one shopping or shop online together for necessary school supplies including binders, loose leaf paper, notebooks, a calculator, colored pencils, highlighters, pencils, pens, erasers & more.  Your school will likely provide a list!  We also think letting your children pick out a fun pencil box is an easy way to get the kids excited about supply shopping, without breaking the bank.  Try our embroidered cosmetic pouches, which double as a pencil/pen case! 

3.      Boost your internet.  No one likes a frozen screen with an ugly face captured during a zoom call. Consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet service or looking into a boosting device for your internet. These devices don’t tend to cost an arm and a leg and allow you to feel confident your internet connection isn’t going to drop spontaneously when you need it most.

4.      Dress for success.  Have your children wear their uniforms to school or get dressed as if they were going to school.  Dressing the part helps them psychologically prepare for the day and gets them into the mindset of interacting with people, just as they would at school. Avoid jammies and sweats!

5.      Keep routine and structure. Your school may have a set time that requires you to log in, or it might be more flexible.  If it’s flexible, we recommend setting a start time and end time daily and staying consistent whenever possible. This will help your children feel the routine that school normally provides.

6.      Pack a lunch.  For working parents especially, it’s difficult to stop your day in the middle and make lunch.  A cute idea would be to pack your child’s lunch for them, just as you would if they were headed off to school.  For older children, they can do this themselves!  Consider packing it in a cute new lunch bag for added excitement.  Hey, it’s the little things!  Isn’t it? 

 

Tips for In-Person Learning in 2020

1.      Keep health and safety top of mind.   Paramount to in-person learning and its success are healthy children and classrooms.  Continue to teach your kids to wash hands and to use sanitizer. Avoid touching, hugging, and even little things like sharing pencils/erasers.  Safety is #1.

2.      Wear a mask.  Whether it’s mandatory or not, we’re in the camp of wearing a mask! There are plenty of “cute” masks out there and child-sized ones available. Unfortunately, it does seem you have to try several options until you have found one that is sustainable for hours on end. But it’s worth it once you do. We’ve found that the disposable surgical masks are great for kids. They are light and breathable unlike some hand-made options which although they are cute, can be very stuffy and hot. Also, we suggest practicing wearing a mask for long periods of time before you go back to school. You may want to take a Saturday/Sunday before school starts and have them wear it for the day.  You want their teachers focused on their education, not reminding them to keep their masks on.

3.      Pack a lunch & snacks!  Many schools are doing away with the cafeteria to avoid large crowds of students, so packing a lunch is mandatory.  We think packing a lunch is more fun with cute water bottles, bags, and accessories.  Try some of these ideas to spruce things up! 

In whatever way you and your kids are going back to school this year, we think it also helps to splurge on some items to dress your desk.  Whether at home or at school, a stylish new personalized clipboard, or preppy personalized mousepad, will help get the job done but also lift spirits.  Little luxuries like these can make a big difference in your mood and your approach to getting work done.   We all need whatever we can get right now! So, choose things that bring you joy.   

We wish you luck as this unprecedented school year begins! Share your ideas, tips and tricks with us on our Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

Baby Gifts

A new baby is incredibly exciting! There is so much joy for a new family and such promise for the future. How do you welcome a baby? At More Than Paper, we have great ways to welcome baby. 

Find these products here, from top to bottom, left to right: 

Personalized Address Stamp

Nobody Sleeps Creeper

Personalized Baby Frame

Personalized Boy Frame

Diaper Bag Tag

Any new mom quickly learns that to determine her baby's schedule, she needs to keep careful records of what the baby is doing.   Writing everything down becomes your guide for the future.  

For this reason, this helpful organizer by Robin Maguire for Chatsworth lets Mom (and Dad) keep careful track of bottle or breast feeding, diaper changes, nap time, awake time, and helps document milestones which can be transferred to a baby book later. Specify a single line of text on the top.  You get two 8.5 x 11" pads, each with 30 personalized sheets, all for $39.00. 

Specify your text color and choose your typesetting to further personalize this gift.  An organized mom is a happy mom, and we think any parent will find this baby organizer useful in the first few months of life.   

What are your favorite gifts for baby or mom? Share them with us here or on our Facebook page!