Last week, I watched a very touching video on YouTube that had gone viral. It was about a soldier and his fiancée. Shortly after he left to go overseas, she received a letter in the mail, telling her that he hid a small black box in one of their closets, and that she needed to find it. Eventually she discovered the box, and when she opened it, inside were 365 envelopes, each dated for every day her love would be gone.

Are you crying yet?

Inside each of those envelopes were custom printed note cards, in which the solider had written a small expressions of love for his fiancée; memories of their first date, the color of her hair in the sunlight, his anticipation of their wedding day, how the vision of her face will keep him strong while he’s away – really powerful words.

Now you’re crying, just like I did.

So that got me thinking; why can’t I do something like that? Sure, not on quite the grand scale as that soldier, but meaningful nonetheless. For example, my daughter is away this week on vacation. I decided to pull out my personalized note cards and write 5 notes for each day she’d be gone, sneaking them into her suitcase.

Day 1 ~ Have a wonderful time. I love you, Mom.

Day 2 ~ Thinking of you, hope you’re having a great adventure. Love, Mom.

Day 3 ~ I miss you, but wishing you the best. Love, Mom.

Day 4 ~ The house is too quiet, I’m missing you terribly. Come home soon.

Day 5~ Safe travels home, can’t wait to see you tomorrow! Love, Mom.

My daughter got home and told me that I was goofy, but she appreciated the surprise in her suitcase, the note cards put a smile on her face every day. Mission accomplished!

Now I’m thinking of doing the same thing when she starts school in a couple weeks.  I know she gets nervous the first few weeks, so I think slipping in a little ‘I love you’ note of encouragement into her lunch bag every day will help ease the transition.

How would you use your customized cards to make a difference in someone else’s life?

There are some events that occur so often that you hardly take notice. You find yourself on such autopilot that these events become second nature and eventually lose all meaning. As a singleton, you drudge through most of them in a catatonic state. This would include the art of grocery shopping. Must get butter, milk, pasta and wine. Check, check, check and check.

But once you become a mom, the art of shopping changes from a mundane activity to a full out Olympic sport.

As an Olympic athlete, one would have months, sometimes years, to study, train and focus all your energies towards this one moment that will go by so quickly, yet could possibly result in world wide recognition and gold medals for your display case. In this case, the grandiose of the situation is short lived, 3-5 days at most. When the milk is gone, you’re back to square one. There is a reason I call this event an ‘art’, not meant for the faint of heart.

Once in the parking lot of my chosen victim – sorry – retail establishment, there is a short briefing:

ME – “ok kids, we’re going in. There will be no screaming, running, kicking, grabbing, yelling, arguing, hiding, punching or foul play, understand? We’re going to run in, get what we need and then leave, ok?”

KIDS –“um, ok.” (Or for my 19-month-old son, the term of his acceptance would be a blank stare and an offer of a suck from his baba).

Yet, as soon as we walk in, all bets are off. The shiny, colorful boxes that are at my daughter’s eye-level immediately distract her; aisle after aisle of glamorous animation that promise great taste, multivitamins and FREE toy inside. Darn those cleaver marketers! At this age, she doesn’t even bother to ask my permission. After a quick grab and dump, it’s in the cart, whether I notice or not.

Which of course I don’t, because 2 minutes into this excursion, my son then decides to throw a temper tantrum, insisting I let him out of his grocery store cart bondage and set him free. Downdowndowndowndown!!! It’s at that moment I pick up the pace and warn my daughter that we need to hurry through this arduous task before my son has a complete mental breakdown that could result in nasty stares and possible eviction.

On occasion, to prolong the simple feeling of human contact, I have allowed my son to walk beside me or help me “push” the cart through the store. Usually, that feeling doesn’t last long, as the need to sprint down each aisle overcomes him and I’m the dork behind him pushing 20 pounds of groceries and screaming like a banshee to stopstopstopstopstop!

When the HECK did I become this crazy person?!

Regardless, once I capture the escapee and snap my daughter out of her retail coma, I desperately search for the checkout counter. It’s so close I can see it, almost taste it. I’m juuuust about there when I hear those magic words: “Mommy, I have to go pee”.

Really? NOW?!

So now I have to sprint across the entire store with a screaming toddler, a cart full of groceries (some frozen) and an 8 year old who walks with a slight limp as she desperately tries to prevent soiling her britches.

After all necessary business is done, I announce that we are leaving the store and going home post-haste. Period. Once again, I can see the checkout counters in clear view. Suddenly I’m in the middle of a Spielberg movie: pull back, zoom in, like Brody watching the Shark attacking a victim for the first time. So close…and yet so far way.

It is only when I’m back in the car can I breath a sigh of relief. I’m not sure if I got 100% of what I needed, but what I have will due, at least for the next few days. It’s only a matter of time before this circus repeats. If I can’t laugh then I shall be hospitalized.

Ah, the joys of motherhood!

There is something about the month of August that makes me gasp with fear, frazzles my nerves and kicks my maternal preparation mode into high gear.

The start of the new school season is so close, I can almost taste the chalk. Right about now I am bombarded with letters from our local friendly school district about all the ‘necessities’ my daughter will need to enter the coveted facility us tax payers pay oh-so-diligently for. Shot records. Check! Dental records. Check! Residence confirmation. Check! School supply list….well, going to work on that within the next week.  A trip to Office Depot for a 10 year old is like a trip to Macy’s for Mama. “Pick out what ‘cha want baby, sky’s the limit!”. As the cart fills up with everything a 5^th grader needs, I can see the excitement build up in my daughter’s eyes…and dollar signs adding up in my mental calculator.

20 sticks of glue. Really?! Are they going to be gnawing on that crap during recess? 10 folders of very specific colors. As if they really care what color folder they bring home, covered in doodle drawings, random stains, and stickers? 100 index cards. So they can organize their thoughts according to the Dewey Decimal system? Forty-eight #2 pencils. Is there a lead deficiently I’m not aware of?  I thought lead was a toxic element for our kids. My bad! Multiple boxes of Kleenex. Because our children will be crying buckets when they learn how much homework is actually involved?

Ugh, the list goes on and on. And this doesn’t even count the amount of time I’ll be spending picking out a backpack and matching lunchbox adorned with my daughter’s ‘teen heartthrob of the moment’, only to be told half way through the school year that he/she is soooooo stupid that I need to buy another backpack/lunchbox set post haste.

And all of this happens before school starts. There’s still 9 months of excitement to look forward to. As a parent, are you prepared? Because personally, I’m already exhausted just thinking about it.

Back to school.

I know. The three most undesired words to hear in the middle of summer, but it’s true. That time is almost amongst us, and we need to prepare. Soon you’ll be buying ridiculous amounts of glue and loose-leaf paper off a never-ending school supply list and being dragged to the mall for ‘cool’ school clothes that are overpriced, but you’ll buy them regardless because you’re a ‘cool’ parent like that. And of course don’t forget the search for the perfect backpack. Heaven forbid they use the same backpack as last year because that’s lame, Mom! Last but not least is that dreaded trip to the grocery store to stock up on school lunch items and quick breakfast foods they can scarf down while running to the bus stop. Is it me, or does it seem that kids tend to eat double their body weight while in school?

So this year, instead of getting them something they need, why not get them something fun they’re going to want. Like cute, practical personalized paper. Unlike any other store-bought paper you’ll get them this school season, these cute tablets have a personality all their own. Cool designs, awesome colors and best of all, monogrammed with their own name, which is really great when sending notes to their teachers…or that secret boyfriend they haven’t told you about. Yet.

Grab your kids a few personalized tablets each at the beginning of the school year so they can spread them around; a pad in their locker so they can write down homework assignments, a pad for their desk at home to jot down ideas, and perhaps a pad in the kitchen so they can write a quick note to you when necessary. Special little notes like “hey Mom, I need more pens for school” or “Mom, all my underwear is dirty, can you do my laundry?” and most importantly “I love you Mom.”

Awe, now doesn’t that last sentence make up for all the stinky laundry you have to wash each week? It sure helps.

So encourage your kids to step away from facebook, stop texting and pick up a pen. The art of the written word is something they might actually enjoy. All they need are the proper tools to get them started.

Believe it or not, the 4^th of July is almost here. For most, it represents not just the middle of summer, but a time for getting together with family and friends, fueled by great beer and amazing barbeque. So how do you properly host the most amazing party celebrating this wonderful holiday? Here are a few tips:

1. Send out the most memorable invitations, something that not only encourages them to attend, but makes it seem that they’ll miss out on something big if they don’t!
2. Decorate your house in full 4^th of July gala, including red, white and blue balloons, cups, plates, streamers, tablecloths and of course personalized cocktail napkins and guest towels. Sprinkle them everywhere around the house; the bathroom, kitchen, living room, rec room and deck. You know they are going to be the most-used item all day, so go ahead and splurge!
3. Be sure that the bar is full and the music is pumping. Nothing expedites a party like good drink and great tunes to keep the rhythm of the moment flowing.
4. Serve the best food. Make sure to get premium hot dogs, scrumptious brats, angus hamburger meat and big, thick buns to hold in all that juicy, messy yumminess. Oh, and be sure to hand each of your guest a customized napkin with each plate, because they’re going to need it!

Send them home with a unique gift bag. Whether it’s a mini cupcake in the shape of the American flag, a mini bottle of their favorite wine or amazing chocolates, be sure to fill one of those beautiful napkins you had specifically made for the occasion, wrap it up in clear cellophane and tie it with a bow. BOOM! Done.

Someone once said to me “do what you like, do it often and do it well”. Now that statement can be left open for interpretation, but for me as a writer that meant keeping pen and paper on hand and scribble down every random thought that enters my head. Jot down every inspirational haiku someone may share with me. Pen the details of a ridiculous event that happened to me that day. It sounds trite, but it could be the start of a wonderful piece of work. Real life is always more interesting than fiction, and there are countless things going on around me that are SO crazy that even the most seasoned author couldn’t possible make this crap up! So if I were going to invest all my time and inner thoughts to such an undertaking, the receptacle would have to be well deserving of my words.

My addiction to collecting journals began at a young age and has gotten progressively worse.

I have approximately a dozen journals in my bookcase. Some have been written in, others have yet to see the light of day. But they all have the same qualities in common. All are leather bound, either a chocolate brown in color or another rich earth tone that caught my eye. Most are softbound and genuine leather, a smell that reminds me of when I use saddle up and go horseback riding as a kid. Funny how certain smells hold strong memories. The softer and more broken-in it looks, the better. Since I tend to toss in random loose pieces of paper, I prefer it have some sort of strap or clasp to keep all my goodies from falling out. And if there’s a slot for my pen somewhere, bonus!

But I don’t choose a journal just on the cover alone. I’m just as particular about the paper on the inside as well. First, it has to be lined paper. As a leftie, I am a notoriously sloppy writer, so I need those lines to keep my words from falling off the page at a weird angle. And the color of the paper has to be either an off-white or some version of eggshell, something easy on the eye. Bright white paper is just too sterile for my taste. And I prefer if the paper had a texture to it, a bit grainy and rough to the touch. I’ve seen journals with pages made from pulp, bamboo, even panda poop (yes they do exist). Sure I may have to force my pen across paper a bit more than it’s smooth counterpart, but I relish the challenge.

Needless to say, every time I set foot in a bookstore, I am immediately drawn to the wall of journals. I could spend hours just touching the paper and smelling the covers. I’m shocked some store employee hasn’t had me kicked out for inhaling the inventory. I realize that I don’t need yet another journal, but most times feel compelled to buy the one I fall in love with and add it to the collection.

After all, one day when I take the time to fill them all in, I’ll have quite a story to tell!

When you hear the word calling card, what’s the first thing that pops into your head?

Usually you picture an intelligent, sharp-dressed, well-spoken man or woman, sitting in a tastefully decorated office, offering you some type of product or service that could possibly improve your life. They want to make sure you keep in touch with them, so they give you a business or personalized card with their information to encourage future communication. The card is easy to read, visually pleasant to the eye and filled with all the proper information.

Sound about right? Well, step outside the box and try to imagine this:

You’re at the grocery store with the kids, sporting the best yoga pants, no makeup and messy bun look you were able to throw together first thing in the morning. As the kids are running up and down the isles screaming (with you screaming at them to stop screaming), struggling with a full cart which, by the way, has a bum wheel and tends to pull to the right, followed by a loud announcement from your toddler that they pooped in their pants on the one day you didn’t throw a change of clothes in your purse ~ only then do you bump into an old friend you haven’t seen in years. At first you’re embarrassed by your exhausted, disheveled state, but find the strength to greet her with a smile and a hug. You talk of getting together for future play dates, cookouts, girls night out and other events of debauchery.

So as you’re preparing to exchange information to contact each other at a later date, you dig through your purse and realize that the only thing you have to write with is a crayon, melted onto a sippy cup filled with 3-day-old milk. Yuck. But low and behold, you eventually, in the depths of your wallet, find a pure, pristine business card. Brilliant cardstock, beautiful font, filled with all the info needed to get ahold of you, this card is worth gold in your current situation. So you pass this on to your friend, and pray she quickly forgets your state of disarray at that moment.

We should never be judged by sheer appearance alone, especially when caught off-guard. So why not be prepared with an awesome calling card that will represent the cleaner, more put-together side of yourself. Then be prepared for some amazing playdates!

It’s almost that time again….that time of year that a mom could either fear more than ever or welcome with open arms. Depends on your outlook.

As a suburban wife to a hubby who commutes to the city every day, the mom of two rambunctious kids and running a business of my own from home, I have a very busy life. Things can get a bit crazy at times, especially when the school season ends. Suddenly you have to add the title of Entertainment Director to your title. For 10 weeks in a row, the kids wake up and ask that dreaded question ~ “So what are we doing today mom?” Most of time I can answer that question with a quick, enthusiastic response. But some days, I’m at a loss, fresh out of ideas. And nothing is worse than 2 bored kids (and one exhausted mama) suffering from cabin fever.

So to avoid the problem of sometimes not knowing what to do on what days, I bought the Organize by Week Slab. With seven columns per page, one for each day, it allows me to quickly, easily schedule a week’s worth of summer activities in minutes. My goal this summer is to fill each slot with something that will keep the kids brains and bodies occupied, as well as save my sanity.

Living in a big city, I have the advantage of so many opportunities right in my back yard, and, surprisingly, most are free. For example:

*Free admission days at most museums, art institutes and aquariums downtown.
*The public library, offering an endless summer of reading and age-appropriate activities every day of the week.
*Man-made beaches. Sure, it’s not quite the same as being on a real beach on either coast, but a few miles of sand and some welcoming water can be a break from the norm. The kids can swim and play for hours, and, you have the excitement of the city within walking distance.
*Most movie theaters offer discounted shows before 6PM. So if it’s dangerously hot outside, nothing is better than slipping into a cool, dark theater for 2 hours to escape reality.
*The nearest park can provide hours of fun for the kids, and some alone time for mom. As they run around completely exhausting themselves, I can be taking advantage of the citywide free Wi-Fi and catch up on emails, facebook or write a great blog (like I’m doing right now.)

The possibilities are endless, it’s just the matter of time management and proper planning. Any personalized notepad makes it all easy. So what are you waiting for? Summer is calling, so fill ‘er up!

Am I the only one, or does everyone have that certain family member that tries to out-do the other? Every family event I go to, it seems that my cousin Susan is judging every tiny detail. Between the decorations to the food to the beer available, she always seems to have a snarky comment about it, as if nothing is good enough.

So sure enough, Susan will try to out-do everyone by having some over exaggerated version of the previous party.  Whether it was more decorations, expensive catered food or special entertainment like a party clown or live band, nothing is too much. We all roll our eyes and go with it, but in the end, does all this whoopla really make a difference?

No, didn’t think so.

What really matters is the small details, the little things you don’t think people notice. But in all actuality, they do. It’s not about how many decorations you have, but whether or not they compliment each other. Stick with a specific color scheme and overall general theme so everything blends beautifully. If you choose to do a potluck or cook everything yourself, serving personalized food made by hand will make the event even more special. And nothing like distracting entertainment can replace good old-fashioned face-to-face chats with your loved ones. For an extra special touch, toss a few dozen personalized napkins on the serving table, in the bathroom and other high traffic areas. Personalized with the name and date of your choice, they’re sure to be a memorable part of your event.

I bet cousin Susan didn’t think of customized napkins ever, now did she?

Old habits are hard to break, and new ones are even harder to integrate. So what better time than fresh into a new year and at the beginning a new spring season, to make a few small changes that could result in big rewards later on?

Inspired by something I read in a magazine, I’ve decided to write one note per day, on the subject of my choice and to whom ever I wish. It could be a simple love note to my children or my husband, a quick “hello” note to a friend I haven’t talked to in awhile, or an inspirational note to myself to keep me motivated. Personalized notepads are perfect for my new endeavor. It’s hard to resist beautiful paper stock that is personally monogrammed with my name on it. I keep the notepad on the island of my kitchen, not only for easy access but also as a visual reminder. I can quickly tear off a sheet and write away, then pass it on to my intended or slip it into an envelope to read for my own personal enjoyment at a later date.

Regardless of how trivial I think each message is, the point is to keep writing! Every day, without hesitation. Proactive habits are born from proper mindset, diligence, a lot of patience and, at times, some forgiveness. So break out your own customized notepad and get started. What are you waiting for?