Holiday Traditions

Now that the Christmas spirit is in full swing, we've got holiday traditions on the mind. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be sharing some of our faves and we're dying to know some of yours!! Ever since I {Anna} was little, my mom has chosen "ornaments of the year" to give to my brothers and I. This is the first gift we get to open, usually on Christmas eve and then we each find a spot for them on the tree. The idea was to help us build a collection of our own so that when we get married and have families of our own, we can take those memories {and the ornaments} with us. I had the honor of helping my mom choose this year's ornaments, and I must say that they're pretty stinkin' cute. My favorite part though?? Our new addition to the family ornament collection: one for my beau. :) Anyway, being her side-kick in this selection process got me thinking: if I were 100% charge of choosing, what would I go with? Something kitschy? Classic? Maybe something more on the elegant side? Here are some super cute ones that I'm digging...

{via West Elm}

{via Pottery Barn}

 {via Raw Bone Studio}

{via Crate and Barrel}

{via Pottery Barn}

 Okay, now that I shared one of my traditions, now it's your turn!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's finally here- an entire day devoted to celebrating all of the blessings in our lives. We hope that your day is filled with delicious food, football, resting, lots of laughing, good memories in the making and last but not least, the knowledge that you are so very blessed! We're thankful for you!!!

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xo, Paper Moss

Let's get festive

Happy BLACK FRIDAY! Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are recovering quite nicely. Today we're thrilled to turn on some Christmas tunes, sip on some cocoa and break out the holiday decor!! We've been bottling this up for months now, so while many are battling the crowds to jump start their holiday shopping, we're just going to enjoy a relaxing day at home, letting all of this pent-up festive energy out!!

{via/via}

What are you up to on this infamous day of the year?! Braving the malls or kicking back and relaxing?

Giving thanks

The fabulous thing about November is that the entire month has a vibrant undertone of THANKFULNESS. I don't know about you, but it's been so refreshing to see on Facebook and Instagram, people posting about things and people that mean the most to them. Seriously, we're just super thankful for this time of year and the opportunity to be surrounded with optimism and encouragement.

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While we're all gearing up to feast on delicious food this week, we're thankful for the opportunity to try our hand at some new recipes. We're feeling a little adventurous and determined to perfect some pies this season... and these little mason jar pies are the challenge of the week.

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And how cute are these festive pie cutters from Williams-Sonoma?! With how much we obsess over details, we think these little leaves couldn't be a cuter addition to a Thanksgiving dessert. What recipes do you have your eyes on this year??

Holiday Card Giveaway!

Today we have a super special holiday giveaway just for you! Just a couple of weeks ago, we launched the Paper Moss Holiday Cards and in the days to come, we're offering a chance to win a set of 35 letterpress cards {pictured below} and matching envelopes!!! What a great way to get ahead on your holiday to-do list AND extend your well wishes to those near and dear on some gorgeous paper! JUMP ON IT! "How do I enter to win?!" you may be asking... well, leave a separate comment on this post letting us know that you've done each of the following:

{1} "Like" Paper Moss on Facebook

{2} Follow Paper Moss on Twitter

{3} Share the link to our 2012 Holiday Cards on your Facebook page

{4} Tweet about this contest AND tweet about the holiday card collection

Easy-peasy, right?! Goooooooood luck! The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 21st so hurry up and enter!!

Happy Veterans Day!

Just in case you're cozied up at home in honor of Veterans Day, we wanted to send along some inspiration for a festive brunch... or even breakfast for dinner!! Red Velvet Pancakes are guaranteed to be delicious and topping them off with blueberries and fresh whipped cream just puts them over the edge! Agh!!

 Get the recipe {here} and ENJOY!!!

Happy Veterans Day to all and a huge THANK YOU to all of those who have sacrificed so much to serve our country. We are so blessed by your service!!

Planning ahead: Thanksgiving

Though it's still a few weeks away, we needed to share this adorable Thanksgiving serving set with you IMMEDIATELY. We just love the hand stamped labeling on each of the vintage pieces... so adorable and a "must have" for the holiday! If you're planning to travel for the holiday, wouldn't this make such a sweet hostess gift for whoever is doing the cooking?! Order now so you can make sure it arrives in time for Turkey Day!!

{via}

Happy Friday!!

2012 Holiday Cards are here!!!

We can hardly believe that the time is already upon us to make those holiday plans... and to think about holiday cards- our favorite part! :) While we always offer the option of custom designed cards, this year we're rolling out some fun "ready to order" designs as well. If you’d like to get on top of this holiday stuff & cross something off your to-do list, send your loved ones a stylish and unique holiday greeting by following these easy steps:

1. Pick from one of the designs below {or} let us know if you'd like to go the custom route

2. Email us {holiday@papermoss.com} with your choice & quantity, along with personalized requests: names, wording, photos, color, etc.

3. We will email you back with detailed info and a proof. Upon your approval we will be off to print!

Please note: Each order takes about 2 weeks and the "deadline" for ordering these little guys is *DECEMBER 1st*

I do

Maybe it's just me being unobservant, but Fall weddings in New England seem to be far more popular than they were in the Northwest. In the spirit of Halloween landing on Wedding Wednesday, we figured that a little bit of wedded pumpkin art was only appropriate. If you had an autumn wedding, would you have pumpkins present?!

{via}

Have a happy & safe Halloween, lovelies!!

Fall faves!

Since moving into New England, fall is pulling rank and could possibly be considered our favorite season. As we finish off October, there are a few things that we're looking forward to for the latter half/ colder half of autumn. We'll share our list with YOU, but we're also dying to know what you're most looking forward to... :)

{1} Feasting on Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi

{2} Crafting Monogrammed pumpkins for a festive little decoration

{3} Crunching brightly colored fall leaves

{4} Cozying up in a warm, chunky blanket

{5} Sipping on the occasional Spiked Cider

{6} Hosting festive get-together... and seizing the chance for a seasonal table scape

*Photos courtesy of respective sites

 

 

DIY: Pretty pumpkins

Hey friends! How was your weekend? Did you have a chance to do something super festive? In the midst of fighting off this darn cold, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather on Saturday and drove up north to explore Rockport. While the intention of this excursion wasn't to go leaf peeping, it was impossible not to be captivated by all of the firey colors that lined the highways and accented this cute little beach town. Fall in New England is simply the best. :) Now that some serious autumn inspiration was ignited over the weekend, it's time to tackle the first DIY of the season:

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Completely adorable, right?! Get the "how-to" over on Twig & Thistle and spice up your fall decor! Happy crafting!

Let the games begin!

Tonight is going to be epic. Yes, it's the opening ceremonies for the Summer 2012 Olympics... and it's going to be AWESOME!!! Are you going to watch? Of all the things that inspire us, the Olympics are up there on the list... there is something so magical about seeing hard work, discipline and determination pay off, and there is such a distinct art to each competition!

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Whether you'll be joining us in viewing the ceremonies or not, we hope you have a super fabulous weekend!

xo

Patriotic & Proper

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY!!! Whatever you've got planned today, we wish you sunshine, safe celebrating, lots of smiles and a heart of gratitude that we live in a free country. In honor of a day that revolves around our nations flag, we figured it only appropriate to share some flag etiquette that we stumbled upon.

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**Display the flag only between sunrise and sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs**

**The flag may be displayed for twenty-four hours if illuminated in darkness**

**Do not display the flag in inclement weather**

** Always make sure the canton of stars is visible on the upper left-hand side**

**Do not let the flag touch the ground**

**The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously**

**A flag that is damaged/ can no longer be displayed should be destroyed in a dignified way by burning**

** When not displayed, the flag should be folded into a triangle, symbolizing the hats worn by soldiers in the Revolutionary War**

Who knew there was flag etiquette?! Happy 4th of July!!

Insta-party: 4th of July

Yes, we have the 4th of July on our minds and really, can you blame us?! You're probably in the same boat, either securing plans for the holiday or locking up those last details for hosting your own soiree or barbecue. If you're into details like us, you'll surely appreciate this score we found for printable Independence Day party decorations. Yes, we're talking things like drink wraps, favor tags, party flags, cupcake wrappers, pennants and more. It's basically an insta-party.

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Brilliant? We think so. :) If you're hosting your own party, give this a try and bring all those details together!

Thursday purseday- Cinco de Mayo

It's Tres de Mayo and you know what that means... Cinco de Mayo is in just a couple of days! Sadly, this Saturday is also shared with the Kentucky Derby. This means one of two things: the derby will be over-looked OR we'll be eating enchiladas and drinking margs while watching the horse races. Probably the former will happen, but I have high hopes for the latter. What do you have planned? We felt it only appropriate to choose a Cinco de Mayo inspired handbag for today... and low and behold this one from Anthropologie was too perfect to pass up!

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Bright but not too bright, and aren't those stripes adorable?! This cute & casual tote is just perfect for those lazy sunny days!

Stay tuned {tomorrow} for some more festive ideas for your weekend celebrations! Don't forget to enter to win the Lucia K. monogrammed giveaway!

Easter Festivities

Not only is it Friday, but it's GOOD Friday! Yes, the Friday before Easter and we couldn't be more excited for the festivities that will take place this weekend. Between spending time with family and hosting an "Eggstravaganza"on Sunday, this weekend is going to be AWESOME! One event planned for Sunday is of course, egg decorating. This year, we're obsessing over using washi tape in lieu of dye. Aren't these super fun? And the best part... you won't have colorful fingers for the days to follow!

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Egg decorating aside, this weekend is one of the most meaningful weekends of the year for Emily and I. We are so excited to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and in the midst of all of the silly shenanigans {& bunny cake}, we'll be reflecting on the true meaning of this holiday. Come Sunday, we'll be uttering... "He is risen!"

Happy Easter weekend, everyone... and have a GOOD Friday! ;)

*Photo courtesy of BHG

Oh my Guinness!

It's FRIDAY!!! No, not just any ordinary Friday... the one before St. Patrick's Day! Growing up this holiday was always recognized {who want's to get pinched for not wearing green? Not I.} but it wasn't truly celebrated like it is here in Boston. All the festivities are unreal- the annual parade, the St. Patty's Day 5K in Southie, bars flooded with people covered head to toe in green, even morning drinking! No, this is not a holiday for the kids anymore and while many people in our beloved city aren't so concerned with "keeping it classy", we wanted to highlight some of our favorite classy ways to celebrate the day. This brings us to...desserts. Obviously desserts are classy, especially when they involve Guinness. :)

{Guinness Pudding} {Guinness Float} {Guinness Cake}

Let us know if you try out one of these delicious recipes this weekend! Happy St. Patty's Day!

President's Day

Happy President's Day! I'm not sure how you're planning on celebrating but when 5:00 rolls around, if you're hankering for an adult beverage, take your sips in honor of our Presidents. Herbert Hoover described the cocktail hour as “the pause between the errors and trials of the day and the hopes of the night." Thank you, Mr. Hoover, I can drink to that! Apparently FDR is credited for making a Dirty Martini {one of our faves} well known, so if you're looking for a festive cocktail that's not all patriotic {red,white & blue} and sugary sweet, this is one classic way to celebrate!

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Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! Alas, the day is here and we're just beaming with love for so many things, you included. :) We hope that whether you love this day or hate it, whether you spend it with your significant other or with your dearest friends, whatever your day holds... you know that you are LOVED by many. In the event you weren't planning on it, you should probably celebrate tonight!! Even if you're celebrating your family, your friends, your strength and hope for the future... there is so much love to rejoice over and that's what today is for. So here's to you... and pretty Vivian Westwood heart shoes! *Photo courtesy of Style Unveiled