I am a fan of "top 10 lists" and love the idea of a prioritized list of goals.  Those are major lists/notes, but the daily short and sweet lists/notes are my favorite.  The kind you make when you set out to do errands
and list the order in which you will travel to accomplish the errands.  Or the list you give to your husband when he asks if you need him to pick up anything for you while he is out and about.  Then there is the sweet little list of reasons "why I love you" that you pack in a child's school lunch, or even a little reminder note to bring home library books.
  An obsession?  I think not - more of a "tool" that keeps me on track and is a visible reminder to myself and others.  In this age of iPads, iPhones and other Smart Phones, a paper list is not a necessity.  I just happen to think a fun little note pad to jot on works best for me and is a nice alternative to electronics sometimes.  Perhaps, if you have been making your note to self on an electronic device and not accomplishing the goal or task, it is time to take a break and go for the pen!  SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com offers lots of lists and note pads to give you fun and sweet choices.  Our Printswell store has a limited time 30% off sale on all note pads offered.  Our Donovan Designs bow pads make especially sweet little gifts for your favorite list makers!





Shopping is fun for this chef!




Dads need help, too!



Babysitter Lists are very important.




Keep it simple & work the list!


  Some lists are more appreciated than others and some are easier to make than others.  Great designs on some fun notepads just makes the task a bit more sweet!  Try it - we think you'll like it and it may even increase productivity!

With Sweet Grace,
Peg & Katie

     A few weeks ago, we wrote about the importance of being grateful, specifically expressing gratitude in writing thank you notes.  We hope there may have been a little something of value in that writing and maybe a bit of inspiration as well.  On the flip side of expressing thanks for a gift or kindness is the act of giving.
     Gift giving starts with gift shopping and we think SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com is a great place to start that process.  Because giving is an action word and one that requires some thought, the process of finding a gift can sometimes be an overwhelming and tedious process.  We think that SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com can help with that, but before the shopping trip, let's focus on the joy.
     Thinking about the recipient of your gift and what that person means to you will help you determine how personal you may want your gift to be.  Of course, deciding on your gift budget will be a factor.  These criteria or limitations do not have to influence your own joy of giving.  A thoughtful gift giver enjoys the art of choosing the perfect gift for the special person, or the hunt, if you will.  Let your creative spirit shine through!
     If you need a jump start to get the "creative juices flowing," think theme.  For example, if you are shopping for a wine lover, choose items that are wine-themed.  A wine bottle cooler and stemware would make a great combination.
Including a bottle of the recipient's favorite wine makes it an oh-so-special (and personal) gift.  Sports-themed (use a cooler for the packaging!), outdoor-themed, or stationery-themed might be your starting points. 
If you are putting together several items to support your theme choice, the items don't have to be expensive.  A compilation of smaller, inexpensive items add up to a great gift when thoughtfully put together.  Keep in mind the person you are gifting and the process will bring you joy.
     Of course, SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com has addressed the giving of tangible gifts, because that is what our little boutique is about!  But, the giving spirit doesn't have to end with gifts you purchase.  A handmade/homemade gift is so appreciated and all the more special when lovingly made.  Then there is the giving of your time through volunteerism.  Think about organizations that have a special place in your own heart...and go there!  A monetary donation in honor of a friend to a charity is also a meaningful remembrance.  You can see some of our favorites here.  An unhurried visit or phone call with a friend or a person who may need a friend is not only a gift to that person, but to you as well. 
     As recipients who have found joy in the hunt and the giving, we are particularly appreciative of gifts we receive that we know have been chosen especially for us.  Have fun in your shopping and in your giving!  When the "chore" becomes a joy, it is reflected in the gift.

With Sweet Grace ~ Peg & Katie

     We are so very thrilled to announce the addition of our new Printswell Store!  It's a "store within a store" and is where most of our stationery and paper will now be found.  You will find a link in SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com that will direct you to SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.printswell.com.  And you can click back to our main store site when you have finished your shopping trip in the Printswell Store. 

Pretty Patterned Party Invitation

     What we think is so exciting about the Printswell Store is all the great lines offered and the huge selection of products.  Who isn't excited about Prints Charming Paper, picme!Prints, Stacy Claire Boyd, Take Note Designs and Inviting Company, just to name a few?  All the lines presented in the Printswell Store are quality companies with on-trend designs on paper and other accessories.  Printswell's reputation for dependable fulfillment and excellent customer service makes us proud to be offering all the lines they represent.

Turkish Tile iPhone Case

     With this large selection of stationery and paper in place, we hope to continue to add (at a faster pace!) even more gift items from some of our favorite, very sweet vendors, including Boatman Geller, Donovan Designs, Heartstrings and others.

Stylish Multi Color Floral Note

     Please grab your sweet tea (or sweet wine!) and take another tour through our little boutique.   And, we'd love it if you want to share our address with your friends, "like" SweetGraceGiftsandPaper on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter & Pinterest!

With Sweet Grace ~ Peg & Katie

  Writing a thank you note is so important...so why is it sometimes such a chore? Often when there are many to write after an event like a party, shower or wedding, it is simply a matter of procrastination or time. Isn't a verbal "thank you" enough? Not really according to www.emilypost.com .
  A written thank you is always most appropriate. If there is ever a doubt in your mind to write or not to write - write it! And, if you have procrastinated, better late than never - write it! It's never to late too express your thanks and never too young. Children can help parents with expressing thanks as soon as they can hold a crayon to draw a picture or write their names. Fill-in thank you notes for kids are great guides to help writing notes become a natural response to gifts or kind deeds given to your child. Just signing a note you have written on their behalf is a good tool in teaching a child the importance of being grateful and expressing it.
  Some general guidelines as far as the basics of the thank you note are:

Length - Write three or four short sentences about the gift - why you like it, how you might use it, or its very special meaning to you.
When - As soon as possible, but within two weeks is acceptable. Wedding gifts can be acknowledged within one month after the wedding. Again, it's never too late to say thank you.
How - Handwritten notes are a warmer, more personal way to express your thanks. Be specific about the gift or kindness in your note. The exception to specificity would be in writing a note about a gift of money. "Thank you for the generous gift" would be a good way to acknowledge without stating the actual dollar amount. If the recipient is a close friend with whom you speak often, email is probably fine. However SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com opinion is that a handwritten note is more personal and meaningful to the recipient.
Why - Well, let's just say that one act of kindness deserves another! The best expression of thanks is a sincere one. Living with an attitude of gratitude will make expressing gratitude to others second nature. One way to fine tune your attitude of gratitude is to daily count your blessings. Even with young children, daily naming all the things and people for whom to be thankful, begins to cultivate gratitude.




Keep note writing material handy with a Notetote!

 


As a mother-daughter business team, we thought a good day to post our first blog entry would be Mother's Day.  We sit in two different states, 750 miles apart, but the mom is just elated that we are now in the same country!  The early days of SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com began in Haiti and Texas, but that's another story for another writing.

Getting to the "doorstep" of SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com has been a long and thoughtful journey for us.  (Finding sweet grace was easy!)  But, the actual "let's go for it" has been in the back of our minds, probably since around the time of a certain Aggie graduation in 2003.  So near the end of 2012, with the anticipation of Katie's year-long mission work in Port au Prince ending and her return to Nashville, we began to seriously act on our plan.  From those plans, SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com was born.  It is certainly not the "grand finale" or the "ultimate goal" - there's more to come, hopefully, in the story.  For now, though, SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com, the web retail business is where this chapter begins.  We view our business as a little boutique, filled with some of our favorite things, waiting to be shared.  We seriously like stationery/paper and all things personalized with at least an initial.  We both share history in careers related to retail, paper, gifts and hospitality, so it seemed natural to start a shared business reflective of those interests and experiences.  We have a couple of guys in our lives, as well, who are big "cheerleaders" for us, not just about SweetGraceGiftsandPaper.com, but us in general!  We're just so grateful for their support and encouragement. 

Going forward, we will try to keep our Sweet Blog informative, fun, meaningful and always positive.  It will mostly be written by me (the mom), but Katie (the daughter) will have her opportunities, too.  We would love to hear what you would like to see us share or write about.  We may occasionally share our passions about what we call our Sweet Things.

 Meanwhile, we hope you will "like" our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest, visit and shop www.sweetgracegiftsandpaper.com often.  We promise to give sweet Southern hospitality customer service and to continue to add great products and lines to our website.

Happy Mother's Day to all women who have inspired, loved and nurtured others!

With Sweet Grace ~ Peg & Katie