6th Annual Paper Style Pumpkin Carving Contest

Each Halloween, Paper Style celebrates by creatively carving pumpkins!
Each year brings a few new ideas, and always a great time! Here are some pictures of the completed Jack-O-Lanterns! Which do you like the best?
Left: Piggy Pumpkin, Right: Vampire Pumpkin, and Bottom: Old Man Pumpkin

Your Bridal Shower: Start To Finish

One of the best ways to make your shower a success is to tie it together with a theme. For Emily’s Bridal Shower, the invitation was the inspiration for the theme. Shown here is item 109-IN-096 (Glamour Girl Bride Blonde Shower Invitations).

(Left) Using the blue, brown and white color patterns from the invitation, the centerpiece was accessorized with a blue and brown dotted ribbon. Large “diamond” baubles were strewn across the table for a little extra flair.

(Right) As a token of appreciation for the guests at the shower, each guest received a Love Measuring Spoon, in a brown box. The gift was tied together with blue and brown ribbon along with a bag of personalized M&M’s. They were placed on a light blue place setting with brown napkins.

(Below) The cake… is a masterpiece. The cake was made by a local bakery, who applied the blue accents to the white frosted cake. An old doll couch was painted black, with the blue and white gifts created out of paper. Using a Barbie doll with wedding gown accessories and black sunglasses, the cake recreated the invitation design theme. It was displayed next to the invitation that the guests received in the mail.

(Right) For a fun photo opportunity, Emily is pictured here posing to match her invitation and cake.

A little creativity in the planning will ensure that your guests will be discussing the shower or party with all their friends! Be careful though! If you do a really good job, you might become the official party planner!

Happy 10th Anniversary Paper Style!

With a sample deck of 400 invitations, a user friendly website and a cup of coffee; PaperStyle.com officially went “LIVE” on September 21st, 1999. Founded on the ideas of quality customer service, and the desire to provide customers quality products without going to a local stationary store – Paper Style is proud to announce our 10th year of business!

Our motto and vision is best summarized by the phrase “World Class Customer Service.” To us, that means that if you aren’t happy – neither are we! We do everything we can to make sure that your order is exactly what you wanted and delivered sooner than expected! We’re now proud to offer the highest level of speed through our ‘Print and Ship Today’ program. Orders placed by 12 noon ET, Monday-Friday ship the same day or your shipping is on us!

Ten years is a great milestone, and we wouldn’t have made it here without a passion for what we do and the support of our customers. If you’ve got a comment or story about your Paper Style experience, we’d love to hear it! Email us at service@paperstyle.com. To thank you for your loyalty and support through the years, we would like to give you free ground shipping all this week. No promo codes needed. Just login and place your order!

Happy Birthday

Paper Style!

Tailgate Party Recipes!

Now that you’ve planned your kick off party, it’s time to start prepping your table!
Here are a few easy party recipes from the Paper Style Kitchen!

Nutrient-Rich Fiesta Salad
Great for a healthy alternative to dips and heavy snacks!

Ingredients:
2 cups brown rice
1 8-oz can of corn, rinsed and drained
1 red pepper, chopped
2-3 green onions, chopped
¾ cup dried cranberries
1 carrot, grated
3 tbs fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, crushed or minced
4 tbs low-sodium soy sauce
2 tbs lemon juice
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup roasted slivered almonds
¼ cup roasted sunflower seeds
Ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a large bowl combine rice, corn, red pepper, onions, cranberries, carrot and parsley.
2. In a separate bowl blend garlic, soy sauce, lemon juice and olive oil.
3. Pour olive oil mixture over salad to evenly coat. Add roasted nuts, sunflower seeds and black pepper to taste.

Submitted by Terri

Sausage and Cheese Dip
This is an office favorite, and does not often last very long! Consider making two batches - one to share and one for yourself!

Ingredients:
1 Cream Cheese package – 8 oz.
1 can of Hot Ro-tel
1 pack of Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage
1 bag of Scoop Fritos

Directions:
Brown sausage in a skillet and drain. In a crock-pot or separate bowl, mix cream cheese, Ro-tel and sausage. Mix together until cheese is melted.
Best served warm. Small crock-pot works best.

*If guests like things mild, substitute a regular can of ro-tel and regular sausage.

Submitted by Diane

Creamy Guacamole
Very easy to make, done in 5 minutes and ready to eat! Great for an on the spot entertainment snack! Good for about 3 cups of goodness!

Ingredients:
3 avocados
2 tablespoons of lemon juice(or about half a lemon if you have it fresh)
3 tablespoons (1/4 of a medium onion) finely diced onion
¾ teaspoons salt
3 ¼ teaspoons olive oil

Directions:
Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds and scrape the pulp into a mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash the avocado. Stir in lemon juice, onion, salt, and olive oil. I’d recommend putting it in the fridge to chill for about 30-45 minutes. If you just can’t wait any longer, you’re ready to serve. (It rarely makes it to the fridge at my house!)

Submitted by Andrew

Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding
Great presentation, and excellent for that sweet tooth!

Ingredients:
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5 ounce) box instant French Vanilla pudding
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping – thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions:
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes a great presentation! Originally a Paula Dean recipe.

Submitted by Megan

Embossed Graphics Tablets Currently On SALE!

Anthony Tablets with Holder: 23-EDP241

Desk, car, easy chair bedside table - everywhere you are, you can have a page to fill. Currently at 50% off the regular price, these tablets provide a personal touch to your notes - whether around the office or around the house. They also make a great gift!

• 7 tablets of 100 sheets each with exquisite white-wrapped holder.
• Only available in white paper.
• Tablet sizes: smallest 3.2" x 5", largest 5" x 8"
• First name comes on 2 tablets and Full name comes on 5 tablets.

Sale offer available up to and including July 31, 2009!

Get yours today!

Friday Afternoon Cookouts

At Paper Style, we realize that as busy as we might be - we still have to make some time for fun and comraderie!

Today we turned on the discoball in the warehouse, raised the volume on the radio, and fired up the grill for lunch! After a terrific lunch, we're back to work with full stomachs, a satisfied sweettooth, and big smiles!

Here are a few pictures from lunch. Yum!

PaperStyle is now on Facebook and Twitter!

That's right!
Check us out and follow us for great updates, special promotions, and coupons!

You can keep track of us on Twitter at : http://twitter.com/PaperStyleNews

Our Facebook page is : PaperStyle.com, Inc's Facebook Page

Saying Goodbye...

One month ago today, I lost a very loyal friend and Paper Style lost a very loyal employee. My golden retriever Meadow lost a battle with cancer.

The reason I felt obligated to include this in our blog is that Meadow came to Paper Style with dad every day of her life, including weekends. She was raised here, considered it her home and loved it more than anything. She couldn't wait to go to work each day.

After being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, word spread quickly that Meadow may not be with us much longer. We had a party for her, took pictures, gave her all the love we could... we celebrated Meadow. I spent the night with her on Thursday at the office, on the floor and pet her all night long letting her know what a pretty girl she was. I'm not sure either one of us slept.

The joy Meadow brought the entire Paper Style Family... and especially me, will always be cherished and never forgotten.

We'll miss you sweet girl.

Chris

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top O' the Mornin' to Ye!

For those not lucky enough ta be born Irish, it's ok. We'll let ye pretend!
But if ye plan on being Irish today, ye have ta know what yer sayin' and why yer doin' it!
Listen up for a quick Irish crash course.

Erin go Bragh (air-inn-guh-braw) - is the English spelling of the original Gaelic term. It's used to express allegiance to Ireland. Often translated "Ireland Forever".

Sláinte (slaan-cher) {Editor's note: One of my favorite terms based on pronunciation. Think "It's a lawn chair" quickly spoken.} - This is a common quick toast, meaning "Good Health" in Gaelic. I'll raise a pint to that!

Now, for a little common English in Ireland!

How are you? - Unless the person asking you is a doctor, nurse or paramedic this simply means "Hello!" Do not start any long sentences. Just reply with the same phrase or the common "And yourself?

Good man yourself! - A phrase denoting agreement or thanks and a bit of respect. Also used as a sort of non-sequitur reply to the ubiquitous greeting "A'right?" or "How are you?"

Yes and No - Irish does not really have a definite "yes", neither a final "no". This explains the abhorrence with which the use of these words is treated. They are avoided as far as possible. Only if pressed a clear answer might be given - the implication always being that both "yes" and "no" are in a state of flux and synonymous with "well, maybe, we'll see".

Irish Toasts -

May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and
quick to make friends. And may you know nothing but happiness from this day
forward.

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

About St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish. He was born about 389 A.D. in Northern Wales, which at that time may have been part of England or Scotland.
Saint Patrick had an adventurous life. He was captured by pirates at the age of 16. The Irish pirates brought him to Ireland to tend the flocks of a chieftain in Ulster. Six years of slavery made him a devoted Christian. He escaped to France and became a monk. In 432, a vision led him to return to Ireland as a missionary bishop. He brought Christianity to Ireland and taught there for 29 years. He used the shamrock, a 3 leaf clover, (Ireland's national flower) to explain the Blessed Trinity. St. Patrick founded 365 churches, baptized over 120,000 people and consecrated 450 bishops.
Many tales sprung up about this popular saint. One of the most popular legends was how he charmed all the snakes of Ireland down to the seashore to be drowned by the water. The only certain writings of St. Patrick's are his Confessions and a letter written to a man named Coroticus (See Tripartite Life of St. Patrick by Stokes and Lives by Todd, Healy, Bury and Lusack.). His Confessions are written in crude Latin.
According to some Irish writings, St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 A.D. The anniversary of his death is celebrated as St. Patrick's Day. It's interesting to note that the shamrock clover flowers around that time of year.
The first official celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the United States occurred in Morristown, New Jersey in 1780. It was authorized by George Washington. Today St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish as well as many Americans with parades, parties, wearing of green, Irish songs and jigs. People wear green on this day to represent the lushness of Ireland - The Emerald Isle.

Erin Go Bragh

"There are only two kinds of people in the world,

The Irish and those who wish they were. "

.

If you are in either category, that is reason enough to celebrate! St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner - Tuesday, March 17th! Have you made your plans?

This year, we are pleased to share a number of Paper Style Exclusive designs for St. Patrick's day! Whether you are looking for a low key gathering, or an all out Irish event, let your guests know with these memorable and cheerful St. Patrick's Day Invitations!