Make Your Packages Pretty with Maison De Papier!

Not too long ago I discovered Maison De Papier, a fabulous stationary company with a whole lot of southern flair and it's based right here in Atlanta. The creator, Jennifer Stephens, offers high quality stationary with a wide range of products and of course everything is customizable from embellishments to colors to fonts. Her collections include Family, Women's, Men's & Sporting and Children and from within these collections, clients can choose from gift tags, calling cards, blotters and flat cards with coordinating envelopes... really anything your heart desires!

Jennifer Stephens' cards make these pretty packages pop!

Gift Tags

Calling Cards

Blotters

Flat Cards & Coordinating Envelopes

My absolute favorite product she carries would have to be her gift tags... these are perfect for a practical person like me. I must admit I'm not big into Hallmark cards. Rarely do I go out and buy a card that says 'Happy Birthday' or 'Congratulations' to accompany my present. It's not that I'm cheap... I'll spend the $3 on a card, it's just that half the time I can't find one worth reading. The cards I pick up are either not as humorous as intended, or they sound cheesy as if in need of something sentimental. Not to mention it takes too much of my time going through all the selections only to settle on one I'm not really crazy about. So all too often I find myself bypassing the card, which is exactly why Jennifer's gift tags are perfect for me. I just tie one around my gift bag, maybe write a short and sweet line or two on the back and there you have it... a pretty and customized topper for your package!


To purchase 24 gift tags you spend $24 so they're a great buy in my opinion. Recently, I purchased two sets from her, one bearing our last name and the second with my daughter's name, and needless to say I've put them to good use! You can see a picture of these below. I've enjoyed using them so much that I plan to buy more and give them as gifts!

These I like to drape over a bottle of wine and give as a hostess gift when invited to a dinner party.

Toddlers' birthday parties are a big part of our world these days so I knew having some customized for my daughter would be a wise spend.

One last thing, as I was perusing Maison De Papier's website I noticed they were featured in one of my favorite magazines, Garden and Gun. This is a publication my husband has been in love with for some time now and I too have been sucked in by its literary charms. If you have never read a copy of Garden and Gun and you have an appreciation for the finer things the South has to offer, then I highly recommend this magazine. It's more sophisticated than the title may imply, but I think the name is befitting considering the wide range of topics their articles cover. It's a real honor that Jennifer's lovely paper products were featured in this publication. You can read their tribute to her craft here.


Catherine

a little Mardi Gras revelrie...

Is it really almost February?!  How did that happen?  I still feel like we just rounded the bend after Halloween and are heading full-speed ahead to Christmas.  But then I shake off the ol' noggin fog and realize... no, it's mid-winter, almost February, and before you can say "Happy Valentine's Day!" -- it'll be warm out!  How does that happen and, more importantly, can we slow this ride down?



Gosh, I didn't know Father Time moonlighted as the Grim Reaper (check out that scythe)!  I guess everyone was doing what they had to do in ye olde 1880's and 1890's to make a shilling.

Homemade Fudge Recipe

My nanny - Betty, who was just like a grandmother to me, use to make this fudge when I was little and the taste of it alone brings back so many fond childhood memories. I can still see Betty (or Beb as I so affectionately called her) sitting in the kitchen stirring a batch of hot fudge over the stove top... it didn't have to be a special holiday or occasion either, she would just randomly whip up this homemade chocolatey goodness for all of us kids. Beb helped raised me from the time I was brought home from the hospital and remained in my life even after my parents no longer needed her childcare services. Both of my grandmothers lived out of state so in many ways she filled in the gaps. Still to this day my mother will say how grateful she was to have her around. Beb is no longer with us, I believe she's gone on to a much better place, but I'll never forget that special lady who always had so much love for me and my siblings and often showed us that love through her cooking.

Know your colors, ladies....

Bear with me readers.... today I want to get a little artsy-fartsy on you.  I want to talk about colors.  No, I don't mean your own individual colors that we girls used to be taught about, i.e., whether you are a cool person or a warm person or a neutral person.  Doesn't it seem no one really talks about those things anymore, at least not as much as they used to?  (Somewhere, Mary Kay Ash just sat up from the grave and wants to slap me silly. But really, I'm just not sure those rules are as important as they once were.  I'll bet you a pink Cadillac not as much as they did 50 years ago.  But I digress).

Miss Mary Kay Ash herself.  Glamorous til the end.

We're Ringing in the New Year with this Butterscotch Cake Recipe!

Happy New Year!

By now I'm sure your collard greens (symbolizing a prosperous new year) and black eyed peas (representing good health) are on the stove top, but if you're still unsure of what to make for dessert then allow me to suggest a delicious butterscotch cake! It's truly one of my favorites... I got the recipe from my sister-in-law and everyone I've made this for says it's amazing! It's simple to whip together too... below is all you need to know!