Making Intentional Choices

Do you know that feeling when you first meet someone, and you instantly click? The conversation flows because you both live by and communicate with the same ideas and beliefs. You know you're going to be friends because your values already align. 

That's how Elizabeth felt when she read about the inspiration and mission behind Eeboo Piece & Love. While looking for new inventory, Elizabeth discovered Eeboo. 

Mia Galison founded this woman-owned, mother-run toy company, and she based the whole business around designing toys to nurture children's creativity and curiosity while cultivating meaningful communication - all without a computer or phone. Mia wanted her children to grow up learning to free play, ask questions, and discover the world around them, but Mia didn't feel like the toys she found were delivering in those departments. She decided to fill the void with eco-friendly, no-tech toys (Paper) decorated with art by children's illustrators - a detail that made her new spin on "old school" classic games stand out in the market. We love how she took games we all grew up playing - Old Maid, Crazy 8s, Rummy, and Go Fish - and turned them into more beautiful and kid-friendly versions with vibrant colors and pictures on each card. 

Eeboo's values of cultivating more original thought, life-long learning, more personal communication, and creativity resonated with Elizabeth because it's what she aims to inspire in customers when they walk through her shop. At Be Amazing, we hope to inspire you to create something when you walk through our shop and see our calligraphy workbooks and pens, a card to send to a friend, or a book that piques your interest in a topic you'd like to learn more about. We focus so much on paper - cards, journals, and books - because we, like Mia at Eeboo, feel it's the time away from screens and notifications where it's easier to learn, feel inspired, and really connect with your friends and family. 

If you have littles in your life, come by the shop to pick up - remember these? - a paper doll set, an educational time-telling game, or puzzles for your preschoolers to learn colors and numbers. We're so glad we found such a conscientious toy company that believes as much as we do that old school is the best school when it comes to learning and being creative as a child and as an adult.

You can shop online on our website for these amazing products by CLICKING HERE!

International Women's Day - March 8th

"I raise up my voice - not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard . . . We cannot succeed when half of us are held back." - Malala Yousafzai 

For International Women's Day, today on March 8th, I want to spread awareness of amazing women and organizations who raise their voices for our community of Laurel, MS, and Jones County. 

For example, the Junior Arts League of Laurel and the Young Women's Christian Organization are women-run organizations creating change for inclusion and education in Laurel. I have enjoyed being a part of the YWCO and the amazing women who work to build community. We are super lucky that the director of the YWCO, Brandy Thornton, also works with us at the paper shop!

But there are so many women who do such special work...here are a few I would like to take a moment to recognize. Each woman below is committed to a mission that either sets up our children for a brighter future or supports and helps feed families in need...two of the most important missions in any community.

Crystal Phillips founded The Social Club in 2020. Her vision and mission is to provide inclusive play for children as well as education of sensory needs and disabilities for parents. Guiding her are the values of inclusion, acceptance, compassion, and education as she advocates for the special needs population. The Social Club and Crystal have made such a positive awareness and acceptance in our community. And I am so proud to have them right across the street from us at the paper shop.

Hope Staples, with her husband, founded the Glory House Global Outreach. The mission fueling the project is to share Christ with the community and the world. Hope and the many volunteers at the Glory House do an incredible job of orchestrating and promoting community service projects, worship, teaching, and providing food and personal care through the Bread of Life Center food pantry. 

Elizabeth Harris serves as the Board Chair of Nurture Our Future. This nonprofit funds the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the Laurel and Jones County area. They also have the Brain Bus that goes around the area to promote learning through play. Elizabeth and the other board members focus on ensuring children are set up for success with out-of-school learning opportunities and books so they can thrive from their very beginning. 

We are so lucky to have these incredible women and women-run organizations changing our community for the better! And trust me when I say that these are not the only women making a difference in our community...there are so many more! 

Take time this month and especially on Wednesday, March 8th to say thank you to all the women who work tirelessly to make a difference! 

We have some special cards in the shop for Women's Day. Email me if you want to learn more: efanslow@beamazingpaperco.com.

Adam Trest Wine & Cheese Reception!

What an amazing evening last night! I am so thankful for all of the amazing people who came out and supported the shop and Adam Trest Studio!

A special thank you to Mrs Kim’s Boards for this beautiful charcuterie board that everyone really enjoyed! And to Sarah Moffett Hinton for this beautiful arrangement! It is so wonderful to have so much talent in our community!

Also a special thank you to Adam Trest for spending his evening with us and all the people that came to see his new stationery.

Stanley Comes to Visit Laurel!

My granddaughter Riley sent Stanley Lambchop to visit us in Laurel and learn a little bit about our history. So I wanted to share Stanley’s adventure with all of you.

So here we go…

Oh, my goodness…we loved having Flat Stanley visit us in our “HomeTown” of Laurel, Mississippi!

Papa and I enjoyed showing Stanley around our little town and sharing some history and fun facts about Laurel. For those of you who might watch HGTV you might recognize our town Laurel, Mississippi because of the TV show called “HomeTown” with Ben and Erin Napier.

Ben & Erin Napier from HGTV HomeTown

Grandma Elizabeth & Stanley at the Mercantile.

Over the last 7-years the community of Laurel has been working to revitalize their downtown. There wasn’t much left downtown after Hurricane Katrina came through. So many homes and businesses were damaged, and life changed a lot.

However, the community has worked hard to revitalize the downtown businesses and the homes in the area. Ben and Erin work hard to bring new life into many of the old homes by renovating them so that new families can move in them.

New businesses have opened, and the downtown is now a beautiful and quaint little town with restaurants and stores to shop in. Tourism from the HGTV show has impacted the community and allowed us to continue to improve and grow our little community.

One of the fun things about Laurel is our collection of murals around our town. Part of our economic development with the Main Street Organization is to create spots around downtown where our artists have created murals and we took Stanley on a tour of some of them to share with you Riley, and your class.

Riley has been to visit us in Laurel so she may recognize some of these spots!

Another fun fact about Laurel is the Amtrak Train runs right through Laurel and you can jump on the Crescent Line Train and hit three major destination such as New Orleans, Louisiana, Birmingham, Alabama and New York!

Here is Stanley with the Amtrak mural on top of the Scotsman Store and our train station.

I think Stanley had a great time with us and enjoyed his time with us in Laurel. Stanley is heading back to Largo, Florida on Monday and I can’t wait to hear what you thought about his fun trip with us!

Thanks Riley for sharing Stanley with us. I hope you enjoy reading about his adventures.

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PS - Stanley hung out with me at the Be Amazing Paper Company which is my business downtown. So Stanley got to learn all about printing, paper and books! I think he is a real fan of reading books now and writing letters!

Be Amazing Paper Company, Downtown Laurel, Mississippi

Stanley hanging out on the book table.

National Employee Appreciation Day

National Employee Appreciation Day was one of my favorite days when I was in a leadership position in corporate America. It was that time when I got to show my team how much they meant to me and how appreciative I was to have them working alongside me.

I knew that I would not have been able to accomplish what I did without their support and hard work, and I always wanted to make sure that they knew how blessed I was to have them with me.

Things are a bit different now, but I still have a team, and I respect and appreciate them as much as my corporate team. They work with me in the shop, making sure that our customers are taken care of and that our message and mission are shared and lived.

My team loves books, paper, and writing happy notes as much as I do...you see I picked them to be a part of my team for a reason. I couldn't do everything I do without them, and they mean the world to me. 

So this Friday, March 3rd, take some time to let your team know how much you appreciate them and what they contribute to your business. Let them know that every time they work a shift for you, pick up extra duties...it relieves some of the stress and makes running your business a whole lot more enjoyable.

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How Can We Help?

Be Amazing Paper Company can help you show your employees some love in a few different ways:

THANK YOU CARDS:  We can print customized cards with your logo to share with your employees! There's nothing better than a handwritten card from someone showing your appreciation!

CUSTOMIZED CANDY CARDS: We can print small customized candy cards with the message of your choice and attach a piece of candy. These are fun little hand outs that you can place on their desk. It's small but mighty! 

(FYI - we handed these out in the shop for Random Acts of Kindness Day and they were a huge hit!)

CUSTOMIZED NOTE CARDS: Want to give your team notecards personalized with their names? We can create a pack of 10-cards for them. 

If you have something in mind and need our help - give us a call at (601) 699-7694! 

We're happy to help!

Spread Joy by Being Kind!

We are big believers that being kind to others not only makes them happier but it makes you feel good, too. February 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. To celebrate, we're doing something special on Friday morning down at the paper shop. Stop down and see Brandy - she will have a little happy for you. (While supplies last!)

How are you going to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day? 

Be kind to anyone you can today - strangers, family, friends, and yourself. Pay for the coffee of the person behind you, hold a door for someone, or let someone with less groceries go ahead of you at checkout. For family and friends, intentionally ask and listen about their day or their current struggles. If an article or quote made you think of someone, share it with them so they know you have them on your mind. Don't forget to show yourself some kindness by going for a walk outside, cooking your favorite meal, or writing down three things you're grateful to have in your life. 

Sometimes, it's the smallest gestures that make the biggest impact on our mood and turn a bad day into a good one. 

Still not sure what to do? Follow this link for more ideas: randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas 

Our personal favorite way to be kind - and we are biased - is by sending a card or handwritten note to surprise a loved one and brighten their day. We think funny, inspirational, or thinking-of-you cards are perfect to send as a random act of kindness, and our Hey There Girl card line is perfect for sending happy mail to your gal pals. Drop by the shop and pick up a couple or shop our card selection online! 

We hope we've inspired you to take part in National Random Acts of Kindness Day! 

Valentine’s Day is Almost Here

Girls, tell your guys we're staying open later tomorrow, Friday, February 10th, until 6pm so they have some extra time to shop before Valentine's Day! We'll have our team here to help them shop for the perfect gift. 

Love letters may be "out of style" - or more like out of our comfort zones - but giving a card can make your gift even more special. It's not all about the gifts on Valentine's Day but the feelings you have for that person. Put those feelings into words with a card that resonates with you and your sweetheart's humor or your mushy side. 

Me & My Galentines 

February 13th is officially Galentine's Day, and we're excited about a day devoted to celebrating and acknowledging the women who lift us up and make our world more positive and fun.

The tradition of spending time with your friends the day before Valentine's Day came about, believe it or not, because of the popular TV series Parks and Recreation when Leslie threw a big Galentine's Day celebration for all of her gal pals. 

Now, Galentine's day parties are pretty common and can be celebrated in so many ways - a movie in your pjs with popcorn and wine, or a night out all dressed up. If you have a fun Galentine's Day get-together planned, share it with us in our blog comment section!

Whether you have a Valentine or a handful of Galentines, everyone can appreciate a small token of love and appreciation with a card and a small happy. Be sure to stop by the shop - or remind your special someone to stop by - and pick up the perfect card for Valentine's and Galentine's Day!

Show Someone You Care...Send Them a Card!

Sending cards is a passion we all share here at Be Amazing Paper Co but sometimes we feel like there aren't enough holidays to show the people in our lives how much they mean to us. Luckily, with National Send a Card to a Friend Day, there is one more day of the year to show your appreciation for their influence in your life. We love filling our friend's mailboxes with something unexpected and kind to brighten their day. 

Shaking up how you acknowledge the people in your life will make them feel special and loved, and we've designed and printed the perfect card for you to send! 

You may be asking, "What makes a card better than a text or a social media post," so we prepared a few points to consider. 

• It's an act of love. Thinking up your message, writing it in your own hand, and putting it in the mail lets your friend know you're taking the time to make them feel seen and appreciated.

• It's a memento. Cards can be saved and looked back upon. Social media posts get lost in your feed, but a card can be put on display for a time on the fridge, the counter, and then put away to be looked back on when walking down memory lane. 

• It's more intentional. Writing out your message lets you pull from the heart and writing thoughts tends to go deeper than anything you would put in a text message or an email. It allows you to relay thoughts and feelings that you otherwise would never "voice" through other mediums of communication. 

You can purchase single cards or a pack of 10-cards! Stop by the shop and pick yours up or order them online!

Celebrate National Sticker Day!

It's National Sticker Day! Did you know that the first stickers began as tax and postage stamps in the 1800s? They have come a long way since then and there are a variety of uses and styles today.

We love seeing folks come into the paper shop and sift through our bowl of stickers!

How do we use stickers in the shop?

• Brandy uses stickers for just about everything. Journaling, in her planner, on the happy mail she sends out... They adorn her YETI and her laptop. The sticker on her bathroom mirror serves as a reminder of how to carry on every single day.

• Elizabeth loves using stickers in her daily planner and her monthly goal planner, in letters and on envelopes. She also loves sifting through the sticker bowl to find fun ones to mail to her grand babies…

Stickers decorate, make things happy, make things personal... Finding stickers that represent our personality is so fun! People also love to collect stickers when they travel…sharing stickers of our favorite shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Our stickers can tell a story all on their own!

Tell us in the comments what you use stickers for…

My Favorite Books for 2022

I read quite a few books in 2022 and normally my book genre of choice is business books. I have read them most of my adult life and I have learned so much from them. I will never pass up a good business book, but this year my attention moved toward books that dug a bit deeper both personally and for the paper shop.

While I have read a ton of fiction books this year as well…these four books made the most impact:

1.    Little Stories of Your Life – Laura Pashby

2.    If you find this Letter – Hannah Brencher

3.    The Forever Letter – Elana Zaiman

4.    I Want to Thank You – Gina Hamadey

The Little Stories of Your Life book by Laura Pashby was my most favorite. The book shared all about storytelling using pictures and your words. "Find your voice, share your world and tell your story." I've always loved to take pictures of things that create an emotion within me. If anyone were to look at the pictures on my phone they might be confused as to why I took the picture - and that is why I fell in love with this book. It teaches you how to create stories around the pictures...how to share the emotion of what you were feeling at the time you took the picture. How to share memories, observations...snippets of time.

If you find this Letter by Hannah Brencher was the book that started the Laurel Love Letters program. I loved reading Hannah's story about how she started writing letter to strangers and the impact those letters had on others. Those letters helped Hannah almost as much as they did the strangers she wrote them too...her memoir was moving and it helped me create some love in Laurel and we will continue to do special events with Laurel Love Letters!

The Forever Letter written by Elana Zaiman was another one of my favorites that I happen to stumble upon and I am so glad that I did. This book was inspired by a centuries old Jewish tradition called the ethical will. Zaiman shares her mission of why it's so important to write that forever letter to your loved ones. It's about passing on "wisdom, humbling experience, dreams, and love from one person to another." If you're not sure how or where to start...Zaiman gives you all the instruction and direction you will ever need!

I Want to Thank You by Gina Hamadey was a book about her project of sharing a year of gratitude through thank you letters. Her reasoning for doing this project was to 'reconnect parts of her life that she missed, to put something positive out in the world, to return to something she loved which was to write with pens and paper, to get in touch with people who mean something to her...and most importantly to see what would come of it.' She chose 12-themes (one for each month) and it was so interesting to hear her process of how and why she sent thank you cards to specific people.

You may not have heard of any of these books before or these authors, but I think that is always the fun of finding new books and learning from them. While it is fun to read fiction...it's not always my favorite. I much prefer a good book with a good message. Something that teaches, mentors and shares an opportunity for growth!

How about you? What are some of the books you've enjoyed this year? Share in the comments below.

Christmas Cards Will Always Be a Priority for Me!

Sending Christmas cards is something that I look forward to every year! This passion of loving on my people has been with me for a long time.

Every year after Thanksgiving I sit down and start preparing my cards and writing out my messages. It seems that our world is full of technology these days and not enough personalized messages, right?

…that handwritten special note that lets people know you’re thinking of them.

I remember one year my husband said to me as he looked at the cards hanging in the doorway of our Tampa apartment…you send out a lot of cards, but you sure don’t get many sent to you.

At first, I felt hurt…he was right...very few people had taken the time to send us a card that year. I think we got about five Christmas cards and that might have even included the one from my paper boy. But then I felt grateful for the five people that did think of me and took the time to send us a card.

You see…it’s not about how many I get in return…it’s about letting my people know that I love them, see them, and think of them. That is important to me…it’s not about only sending cards to people who took the time to send me a card…and it never will be!

Sending cards is not for everyone – I get that! I also hear so many people when they come in the shop and see the Christmas cards say… “who has time for that?”

I hear the discussions with their friends as they shop… “I used to send cards, but I just don’t have the time anymore.”

There are just some things that I refuse to not make time for in my busy life and one of them is sending out Christmas cards!

Why?

Because it was a tradition that my dad took the time to do and it’s one that over the years I have never let slip. I always make the time. Even when I had kiddos at home and life seemed like we couldn’t fit one more second in it…I made the time.

I made the time because it was and still is important to me.

“I don’t have time means…it’s not a priority. We always have time for what matters to us.” Laura Vanderkam

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How To Make ‘Christmas Card Sending’ Fun!

We all know that some folks love to send special cards and others just feel good when they can purchase a box of cards and get them addressed and mailed. And no matter where you fall on this scale…no one is judging! (Especially not me!)

I will feel successful if I can get you to fall on the “at least I got them mailed” scale.

But here are just a few tips to help you make the process more fun and enjoyable:

• First create your list of folks you want to send cards to…
  I change and update my list every year. Some new people are always added and yes some do get removed…whether our paths are no longer crossing, or they are no longer with us.
  
  Whatever the reason is…life changes and so should your Christmas card list. This is the first thing I do, and I like to grab a cup of coffee and turn on my Christmas music and think about each person on my list. I love remembering the year and how I interacted with that person. Sometimes the memories are good, and funny…and sometimes they may have been sad and challenging.
  
  This is when I think about the things, I want to say to them…how I want to wrap up the year and let them know what they mean to me or how they impacted my life in general or during the year
  

• Purchase Your Cards or Make Them
  Whether you purchase yours at the store or make them yourself…either does the job perfectly.
  
  I am not a crafty person so making my own cards has never been an option. However, when my kids were little, I did encourage them to make cards for their teachers and grandparents…and it was a fun family activity.
  
  There are so many options when purchasing cute, beautiful, and fun Christmas cards so start looking for them at the beginning of November and you will be sure to find something that fits your personality!
  
  It's also fun to take a family picture and have it made into a card for you. I don’t know about you, but I love getting those cards from my friends and family…sometimes we don’t get to see everyone throughout the year so getting an updated family picture makes me so happy! (And yes, I keep them!)
  
  No matter what you decide…remember it’s about the thought not how fancy or beautiful the card might be.
  

• Addressing the Envelopes
  I probably shouldn’t admit this…but addressing the envelopes is always my favorite part of sending my cards.
  
  I know…weird right?
  
  Well before you roll your eyes and think that I have lost it…let me explain. I love writing the name and address on the front of the envelope in a beautiful way. And I love to dress the back of the envelope up with beautiful washi tape.
  
  Over the years my hands have suffered the unfortunate side effects of arthritis and it does affect my handwriting. So, I have learned to write with a guide which helps me keep my hand from jerking and messing up my writing. It keeps me writing straight and looks beautiful.
  
  No one would ever know…except that I am spilling my secret because my dear friend said to me on the phone a few weeks ago.
  
  “I got your card the other day…thank you so much. If I could write like you do, I would send more cards…but I hate my handwriting.”
  
  Problem solved – use an Addressing Stencil to create beautifully addressed envelopes!

I hope some of these tips help you get your Christmas Card project underway, and I hope that you have fun and enjoy it as much as I do!

And remember, if you need cards, address stencils or fun Christmas washi tape – stop and see me at the Paper Shop! We can get you fixed up!

Happy Christmas Card Sending!

Christmas Open House

Downtown Laurel will be celebrating our 2022 Christmas Open House on Sunday, November 6th. Don't miss all the fun downtown - it's the perfect time to get started on your Christmas Shopping and take advantage of the different offers and specials with all the downtown merchants.

Each merchant will have their own specials and hours, so make sure you check out your favorite stores! We will be open from 12PM to 4PM so stop by and see us!

The Paper Shop will have several specials and a give-away:

Spend $75 and receive a FREE 8oz Holiday Candle or

Spend $125 and receive a FREE 12oz Holiday Candle, while supplies last.

We will also have Adam Trest's 2022 Holiday print available on a holiday card. You can purchase an individual card or a box of 8-cards for $35.

We will have some inventory in the shop available for purchase during the Open House and will take orders if we run out.

We're Moving!

326 N. Magnolia Street, Laurel, Mississippi

We're so excited to share with you that we will be moving to a new larger location in the next 30-days!

We are expanding our shop to include a new design shop which will house our print shop and give us so much more room to produce more orders for you!

We love that you love our custom printed products and in order to be able to handle the volume of printing you've been giving us...we need more room! Our new space will house the paper shop in the front and give us more room there to bring you more products!

The design and print shop will be in the back of the space complete with new work tables and more storage!

This space is located at 326 N. Magnolia, Laurel, MS 39440 - we will be just down the street from our current location. What I love about this space is the character that comes through in the old tile floor and the wood ceilings...we don't plan to change much except to give the space a little bit of clean up by giving all the current white areas a new clean coat of white paint.

One wall will be all of the greeting cards and notecards...while the other wall will house all our books (we have more coming by the way - now that we have more space). That leaves the middle of the space to fill up with lots of new things and some of your old favorites!

We look forward to sharing our progress with you and you can follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Laurel Love Letters

I started this fun project on August 15th and I wanted to make sure you knew about it.

#laurelloveletters

We're gearing up for a special Central Ave Block Party on 09/10/2022 and to celebrate we will be hiding love letters all over Downtown Laurel...but we need your help!If you're interested in writing a love letter for us to hide downtown...to be found on Saturday morning, 09/10/2022 then you will want to click on the link below to get this scoop.Our goal is to share some kindness on Saturday, 09/10/2022 and light up the Laurel Social Media pages with lots of love using the hashtag #LaurelLoveLetters!

But we can't do this without letter writers! If you love to write encouraging letters then we need you!! Click the link below to learn how to participate. And if you have any questions, please reach out...I am here to answer them for you.The deadline to turn letters in is September 6th...so get writing and drop your letter off in our cute little mailbox at our register and we will be sure to slip them into the perfect place so they will be found on Saturday morning!FYI - You can write more than one! We'll take as many as you want to give us. And...if you aren't from Laurel and want to participate you can mail your love letter to me at:Be Amazing Paper Co513 Central Ave. Suite ALaurel, MS 39440

When Was the Last Time You Sent a Love Letter?

When was the last time you sent a love letter? And I use the term 'love letter' loosely...

If you didn't think that a handwritten letter could change someone's life then you've never met Hannah Brencher.

Hannah has written three books but her global community: The World Needs More Love Letters has found a place in my heart.

Her first book is a memoir about living in New York City and feeling so alone that she started to write, what she called, love letters to people to let them know that they were seen.

She thought that other people had to be feeling the way she was...alone.

Sending letters and cards to people in my life has been a passion for as long as I can remember. And it seems that in the past 12-months I've been on a mission to find stories from other people who feel the way I do about sending a little love in the mail.

A few weeks ago a young woman came into the shop and she fell in love with our card selection and bought several cards for special people in her life. She confided in me that she loved sending cards to her friends but unfortunately they weren't avid card or letter writers.

Even though she said she was used to it...her face told me otherwise.

On a different day...A woman came in the shop to purchase a birthday card for her daughter-in-law. She asked me if all my cards were blank on the inside. I said they were and that there was blank space on the inside to write a nice little note. She told me she was looking for a card that already had writing inside...she was a 'boy' mom and she wouldn't have the slightest idea what to write to a girl.

I wonder if sometimes people don't send cards or letters because they just don't know what to say?

I have to admit that I am not the most eloquent letter writer...and as I constantly remind myself, it's not about writing the perfect note. It's about sending the note itself and saying...hey, I was thinking about you. It can really be as simple as that...

"I was thinking about you so much that I am sitting down here right now and writing you a little love note, addressing it and putting a stamp on it and dropping it into the mail for you. Because I want you to know that you're on my mind."

And as it always happens, to the people I send notes to, they reach out and say...'how did you know I needed to hear that' or 'how did you know that I needed that hug in the mailbox today?' Just like that it reinforces why I send happy mail through the USPS!

Come Celebrate With Me!

Mark Saturday, August 6, 2022 on your calendar...why you might ask?

Well for one thing it is National Stationery Store Day and you know we will be celebrating! But it's more than that...we will be celebrating our 1-Year Anniversary!

Can you believe that our little shop will be one-year old in August?

I am not sure where the time has gone but I have to admit it's been one of the best years of my life! Who would have thought that our crazy idea of opening a paper / stationery store at the end of a long COVID run and on a street in Laurel, Mississippi that was under full construction would have gotten us here?But I am thrilled that we are still here and not just surviving but thriving and it is thanks to all of you! Your support and love of paper has started to create a movement here in Laurel and it just makes me giddy with happiness!And to celebrate we are having a week of fun - so don't miss it!

Here's a sneak of our current schedule - we will post more on our Instagram and Facebook pages next week!

Monday, August 1, 2022 - National Girlfriend Day

Take a look at the new Hey There Girl card created for National Girlfriend Day 2022!

These will be available in the shop and online on July 27, 2022 for purchase. Don't miss the opportunity to let your girlfriend know how important she is to you with this sweet little note. Blank on the inside and ready for your heartfelt message!

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AND THE BIG CELEBRATION…

Saturday, August 6, 2022 - National Stationery Day & Be Amazing Paper Company 1-Year Anniversary CelebrationYou might be wondering what National Stationery Day is, am I right? National Stationery Store Day was created to help support local paper and stationery stores. Support is more than stopping into the shop and spending money…support comes in many forms. -Supporting your local stationery shop means sharing their social media so that others can learn about them and what they do.-Supporting your local stationery shop means referring them to your family in friends when you find something you love there!-Supporting your local stationery shop means buying local instead of on Amazon and big box stores!-And on 08/06/2022 - support means stopping into the shop and celebrate with us! Stop by between 11AM-2PM to celebrate!

Here's a few ways we're celebrating...

-For the first 20-customers who spend a minimum of $10 you will get one of our amazing goodie bags filled with fun paper and stationery goods! There will also be some discounts and 5 people will receive a special customized offer for a box of stationery for FREE!

-Don't worry if you're not one of the first 20...we will still have something for you too! You'll get one of our limited edition one-year anniversary notecards to mark the occasion. And we have more goodies to give away too!

-Bring the kiddos - because you know I always have fun goodies for the kids. Getting kids excited about paper, pencils and all the things in letter writing is my passion, so we do our best to make sure it's fun for them.

PS - We'll have some yummy food and deserts for you to enjoy as well! You don't want to miss it!

Who Needs to Know That You See Them?

Who in your life needs to hear that you’re thinking of them and that they are loved? 

Someone out there needs to know that you see them. 

The other day, a dear sweet friend of mine posted on her social media that she felt invisible and that just tugged on my heart to know that she was feeling that way. Sometimes our strongest people may feel invisible and we need to make sure they know they are loved!

It's so easy to get caught up in our own lives and not notice that someone has gone quiet. 

That’s why I created this ‘Hey There Girl’… I use it exactly for this purpose! 

I know sometimes I feel invisible and unappreciated…face it…we all do. Sometimes we work so hard to make a difference and we end up feeling like it didn’t really matter or that it wasn’t noticed. 

I like to think that in most cases our efforts are appreciated, but life gets in the way and we forget to tell people that we appreciate everything they do for us, for our family, our community…So today, I ask you to think about those people you appreciate, and maybe take a few minutes to send them a handwritten note or card. Let them know that you see them and you appreciate them!

 It’s such a small gesture that can mean so much. 

When is the Last Time You Danced?

It’s been too long since I danced...

Our life over the past year has been nothing short of a tornado. Coming out of COVID lockdown, scouting out a new place to live, moving from Florida to Mississippi was just the start. My consulting business was becoming overwhelming and I knew in my heart that I couldn’t keep up the pace.

That was over a year ago that I surrendered to that voice that whispered in my ear that said…"this is the place and this is the time…for you to do that thing."

Richard and I love our Alexa in the kitchen. Not for what you might think. Yes we love that we can yell out what we need to add to the grocery list…but more importantly, for us, she plays Pandora music and we love to listen to music when we’re in the kitchen cooking together.

But over the last year Alexa hasn’t played much music…instead she sits quietly in the corner and her biggest job this year has been to give us the weather, when asked.

Music and dance have been missing from our new home and I didn’t even realize it until last week. While cleaning the kitchen I asked Alexa to play my channel as I started cleaning the kitchen…and just like that…it hit me that I hadn’t really played music 🎼 in our new house and I hadn’t danced in too long!

What is whispering in your ear? What do you need to surrender to so that you can dance again?

It's Never Too Early to Start!

One day this week I posted on social media that Emily Ley's book released. It's her new children's book called You're Always Enough. One of my customers texted me to ask me to hold one for her daughter. She wanted to come by and pick one up for her as she was having a bad week.

You see her grandmother passed away a bit ago and she has been struggling with the loss and her Mom thought the book might help brighten her day. So yesterday she texted to tell me she would be in later in the afternoon.

My heart felt compelled to create a special gift for her daughter, who I have gotten close to over the last few months. So I grabbed one of the children's journals off the shelf and wrapped it up in pretty tissue paper and put it in a bag. I also wrote her a sweet little note to let her know to keep smiling. I asked her to keep creating beautiful art and to write in the journal to help her feel better...and I signed it...Mrs Elizabeth.

I put the little package in the special mailbox we have in the shop and waited for her to come in. When she did I told her to check the mailbox as there was something special in there for her. She was so excited and went over to the little area in the shop where we have chairs. However, she didn't sit in the chair but instead dropped to the floor to open her special gift.

I left her to open it by herself and went over and chatted with her mom. She wondered over to her mom and asked her if she had a pen she could borrow. She sat on the floor intently writing on one of the postcards that came with her new journal...and when she was finished...she handed me this...

This sweet little girl gave me a "Thank You" note! How special is that? 

One of my missions in opening the paper shop has been, since day one, to get more people writing to each other. To send more cards to say thank you, or I have been thinking about you...and she knew just what to do to say thank you for little gift.

If her momma is reading this...thank you for raising the most sweetest and politest young lady! You are definitely doing something RIGHT!

I hope you will keep writing!

Adam Trest Studio Stationery

Yesterday morning the bell rang on the shop door...I walked out of my office to find Adam Trest making his way into the shop, out of the smoldering Mississippi heat, with his two "Doodle" dogs in tow. He quickly relaxed in the chair soaking up the cool air-conditioning. 

His calm demeanor and easy going conversation is always a great way to start your morning. Talking to Adam is like talking to an old friend that you've known for 20-years...even when you've only known him for less than a year. 

I couldn't feel more blessed to work with Adam and Lily to bring Adam's art to life in stationery form. Having his stationery line in our little paper shop has bought me so much joy!

Adam recently brought back a few of his Classic Prints and we wanted to make sure you had a chance to pick up the ones you want. Not only are the notecards great gifts for HomeTown fans, but if you just flat out love Adam's art, these cards make the perfect size for smaller framing in those more cozier spots in your home. You can purchase any of Adam's notecards in our shop or online. His full line is available here by CLICKING HERE.

We hope you see something you love - and stay tuned for some brand new prints in the next month or so...as well as some holiday surprises!