Apr
1
Indiana weather takes us on an adventure this time of year. It’s a rollercoaster of anxious ups filled with sunshine and warmth and gut-wrenching downs filled with clouds and chilly winds. There are some days that take us from 0 to 60, which is acceptable when referring to a rollercoaster and miles per hour. Alas, we all know 0 to 60 degrees is much more likely. And if we are really lucky, we get to witness an April snowstorm. Or an early March tornado. Adaptability is a top strength for the inhabitants of the Hoosier state. The one constant to spring has always been the Easter holiday. We take solace in knowing we can gather with close friends and family to celebrate. Easter egg hunts, more chocolate than we know what to do with, hard-boiled eggs, and that fake, plastic grass that seems to shift into every crevice of the house are some favorite trends to the holiday. A favorite of mine has always been enjoying the holiday with my younger siblings. They wake up to find an Easter basket filled with their favorite treats, they battle over who will gather the most plastic Easter eggs, and then we decorate...Read More
Mar
30
Currently, I am on vacation in Florida. I have never been here before and so far I enjoy it quite a bit. I have to say though my favorite thing thus far about being this far south in the middle of March is the flowers! I am in love with all the flowers, the shrubs and the smells of them! The sun is great, the beach is amazing but, seeing all of this vegetation makes me anxious for my garden when I get back home. Even though it will still be a little early to plant much of anything still. So while I am basking in the sunshine, I will enjoy the flowers and the view and dream of all the pretty things I am going to plant back home in Indiana. The Garden Correspondence Cards are a very fun and inviting choice to send out to all of your loved ones. The flat single panel card allows for a short or longer message. The top is personalized with your name just above a neat row of pretty pink flowers. The green bottom appears as a light grassy area and even shows a small flower with a tiny lady bug!...Read More
Mar
23
Too many people go into a marriage thinking that it’s going to be great fun and not much different than any old long-term relationship. Living together with another person, who is both a lover and friend, has its ups and downs, and it is certainly a whole lot different than regular dating. Experience comes with time and plenty of couples eventually learn to live in relative harmony with each other, but it always helps to get a basic understanding of what you are getting into beforehand. We all come into marriage with a set of mostly unconscious ideas about how great things will be—that no human spouse can meet. “Expectations like ‘Everything will be fabulous, this is my one true love, this person will make me finally happy, I’ll avoid every mistake I’ve made in the past. In your first year or so together, it can all seem like sunshine and rainbows between the two of you. Your relationship is still fresh, you are slowly learning about each other, you have sex all the time and you spend some time away from one another regularly, so every time you see each other, there is plenty to talk about. However, once...Read More
Mar
16
Even though many of us are still digging out of the snow, we know that soon it will be thawing. Before you know it, Easter will be here. The Easter season is a joyous season for many and is also a time when most of us gather with friends and family. It can become a hectic time like many other holiday seasons as we are all busy planning meals and buying new colorful clothes. Of course there are many things here at American Stationery that can help you keep from becoming worn out before the big day. For instance, item number 2450. This item is ideal for the kids table at Easter dinner. The adorable design features a blue sky with some decorated eggs and a baby chick. The placemat can be personalized with a name which means you can place one at each table setting so everyone knows where to sit. They are heavily laminated for easy clean up and the guests can take them home to use or leave them at your house for next year’s dinner. The colors are vibrant with these digitally printed mats and the 17.5″ by 11.5″ size is perfect to hold a full...Read More
Mar
9
An Easter Egg Hunt is a fun, inexpensive, and stress-free party, enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Though Easter might not be the most common day to host a kids’ party, it certainly can be fun. With the spring weather, Easter egg hunts, party crafts and good food are sure to be a hit. Neighbors reconnect after being inside all winter. Adults watch kids experience the thrill of discovery. Kids of all ages can participate. And after the eggs are all gathered, you sit around and eat candy. What could be better? In short, an Easter Egg hunt is a fabulous occasion. It requires only a modest investment in time and money, but gives a tremendous reward in fun. Decide on the time and date. First you need to decide on the day and time on which you want to throw the Easter party. Remember on the Easter day itself people have family dinners and gatherings to attend. Selecting the day before Easter should be good option. The best and most commonly opted option is for late morning or afternoon. If you are planning to host the party on Easter Sunday, opt for an afternoon event. Design an Easter Egg...Read More
Mar
2
It’s time for the next holiday to start taking over local department stores. With Valentine’s Day over and Easter around the corner it must be time for St. Patrick’s Day. Personally I’ve always loved this holiday. Sure I have Irish ancestry like so many Americans do but, there is something about the joy this holiday brings without rigidness. The happiness that comes with this holiday makes it a fun holiday for young and old alike. If you have a lot of correspondences to send this March consider the Irish Fold notes item number 5855. These gorgeous fold notes feature a green Claddagh in the center. With raised ink these notes are ideal ways to send correspondence any time of year with the Claddagh sign a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship. For $29.95 you will receive 25 notes with plain white envelopes. As always if you wish we can print your return address on the back flap of the envelope for an additional fee. If the Claddagh symbol is not what you would like there are many other Irish designs to choose from like a leaping leprechaun, a Celtic note, or a shamrock. Once you open the inside of the...Read More
Feb
26
Well, the red hearts and candies have vanished from the department store shelves and now novelties of every sort are covering the shelves all with one thing in common, everything is green. Saint Patrick’s Day will be here soon and the parties are being planned as well as the outfits. If you are looking to throw a party or attend one, American Stationery has many things to get you in the Irish spirit. Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious celebration that has occurred annually on March 17 for many years. Depending on which country in this world you call home, it could have been celebrated for 200 years or more. The date is significant as it is the death date of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. This holiday is quite a big deal here in the United States, particularly so in areas of high Irish ancestry. Some cities have large parades and host many different activities for their communities. Many restaurants and pubs have special events that night from green beer to special Irish themed foods and drinks. If you yourself plan on having a party for this popular holiday consider item number 2407. You will definitely want to place your order...Read More
Feb
23
In our hyper-connected world, with its text messaging, the good, old-fashioned handwritten letter has nearly become extinct. Which is a shame because when it comes to sharing one’s true thoughts, sincere sympathies, and deepest gratitude, words traveling along the invisible digital superhighway will never suffice. Sending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door. Ink from your pen touches the stationery, your fingers touch the paper, and you seal the envelope. Something tangible from your world travels through machines and hands, and deposits itself in another’s mailbox. The recipient handles the paper that you handled and they see your personality and individuality conveyed in your handwriting. If you are writing a casual letter to a friend or family member, quality stationery is a nice touch, but definitely not necessary. Your friend is not likely to take note of the excellent texture of your paper. But for some kinds of correspondence, only real stationery will do. If you are writing a love letter, a sympathy note, a thank you card, or a letter of congratulations, you don’t want to send such meaningful musings on paper you tore out of your spiral notebook. Quality stationery adds...Read More
Feb
9
As I am writing this, we have just 49 days until the first day of spring! I am so excited for spring. Currently, they are forecasting that my area of Indiana will have about a foot of snow by this time tomorrow. I know that we aren’t under anywhere near the among of snow our east coast friends are, still some of us (including myself) are ready to say good riddance to this sticky white stuff and hello to sunshine. My family and I are actually heading out on a nine day vacation the first day of spring. I have been counting down the days until I am sitting in the sand and not shoveling my driveway. With that said it’s important to think about things American Stationery offers that will be good to take with you on vacation, or just remind you of being on vacation somewhere warm. With two kids, I cannot go anywhere without at least one extra bag besides my purse. There are just so many different things that you may need to take with you. Because I am a sucker for stripes, item number 3256 would definitely be something I would like to take with me...Read More
Feb
2
A Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival, it is celebrated in many countries around the world–mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations–on the day before the religious season of Lent begins Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year. According to historians, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the meat, eggs, milk and cheese that remained in their homes, preparing for several weeks of eating only...Read More