I love stationery. Once upon a time, I got married and took his last name. My initials then represented: Sexually Transmitted Disease, so I kinda avoided the whole monogram thing *despite loving bedding like this shown.* Now I’m married to a man with the coolest last name ever: BEER. This is why I have a parenting category on this site titled "Raising Hops Into Beers." Still, after the nightmare that was my Oncewife Life, I vowed never again to change my name for anyone, even if it meant my own children wouldn’t share my last name. I stuck with my "K" monogrammed chair, and I boxed up my personalized stationery. And I miss it.

The thing is, I had it made special. Went to a Crane’s retailer and ordered a tri-fold card wrapped with a satin periwinkle ribbon. It looked like an invitation or baby announcement and opened to a small frog embellishment, then opened again to my full name, engraved. It was my personalized stationery, and it made me happy when I needed to send a thank you note, a love note, a "I know you don’t like me, and I don’t particularly like you, but why don’t we go ahead and fake it for your son’s sake" note. I loved that the envelope liner matched the ribbon, that each time I wrote on it, it felt like a small luxury. I also love that thank you note are also known as "informals." I’m pretentious that way.

I opened the box yesterday and asked my assistant, "Think I can just scribble out the last name, and write KLEIN over it? Then you know, make a joke about it?" Yeah, not so much. Damn. I want new stationery. If I were in New York this May 17 – 20, I’d go to the National Stationery Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and order up some new stationery. I’m determined now. New social calling cards, correspondence cards, oooh and gifts. I think personalized stationery makes the most decadent and thoughtful gift. Oh, how I want to now order some for Abigail Ruby and Lucas Beckett!

4 YEARS AGO: 050505
5 YEARS AGO: Burri[ed]