Totem opened last weekend and like other Cirque du Soleil shows, it did not disappoint. It’s only the second one I have seen. The other, Iris, was in a theater in Los Angeles with a high ceiling and lots of places for cables and platforms for the performs propelling themselves through the air. Totem is in a circus tent at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The seating is almost in a full circle and the performers come out on an elevated platform that slopes down to a circular stage. I’ve noticed that I spend a lot of time trying to figure out just how they do things.

Then the other time is spent asking myself, “Are they really doing that or is it just an illusion?” They are doing it.The conversation on the way home always starts with someone saying, “Is it too late in life to start training for that because I’d like to be in a show?” By the time we make the ten minute drive home, we’ve all convinced ourselves that even if it weren’t too late, the stunts are too scary, elevated high up in the tip of the circus tent, and the movements too fast. Especially for someone who had an enchilada for dinner that night.

Letters from Lilly circus design is safe at any height. Use it for birthdays or any other occasion that sure to be full of fun.

After yesterday, with my social media temper tantrum, I decided I needed to get back to basics. For me it means my products and designs and putting pretty things together for all of you. So I put together this inspiration board. Each picture speaks to purity, silence and luck, especially those pearls! I love the pearls and the shoes. The dress is also beautiful to me, but I don’t have an occasion to wear it. I didn’t have the guts to wear a dress like that for my wedding.

I hope you are each inspired now and will end your week with lots of luck.

My day picked up when new art passed my desk and I am thrilled with what is coming!

Like us on Facebook so you will see it first!

Image Sources:

Wedding dress /Stationery; Letters from Lilly / Bike / Lavender field / Wedding cake / Shoes / Cupcakes / Pearls / Gift

Somewhere between 2004 and today, I have been thrown into the circus ring of social media.  At first it was fun to connect with customers and friends and have a resource to get my business out and in front of people who might not otherwise see Letters from Lilly stationery.

Today I am not feeling the fun. I made a list of all my social media responsibilities and it stopped me in my tracks. Someone might tell me to hire someone to do it for me. I like to update information myself because I do want my customers getting my impressions of the industry and my take on the images, but sweet elephants! It’s taking up a big portion of my day.

Don’t worry, your orders come first, but the constant pull to update, refresh and keep up is … tiring. I’m new to Pinterest (this is where I ask you to go check out my boards. I’m under Letters from Lilly).  I’ve made my boards and have really had fun doing it, honestly, but then I came across a site to “help you organize your Pinterest boards.” Are you kidding me?

That is for another day.

Now that I’ve updated my blog, I need to post it to Facebook. I can’t forget to post it on the Letters from Lilly page (please connect here) and my personal page too. Then I’ll have to Tweet it on Twitter (please follow me here) so that’s up to the minute with my fun.

This is truly a circus.

“Run your own race, let the others catch you” was the title of her talk addressed to middle school and high school girls. She talked about the importance of knowing your strengths, sharpening your skills and keeping your eyes focused ahead rather than off to the side, concerned with what others are doing.

Patricia knew at a young age that she wanted to be a pilot. After her guidance counselor told her “Girls like you don’t do that,” she was more determined than ever to pursue her dream. Needing money for flight school, she was industrious and entered pageants knowing they awarded scholarships. The title of Miss California came with the scholarship she needed for flight school and off she went!

She has a book coming out called Crown to Cockpit, coming out this summer. Letters from Lilly has an airplane design, although Lilly and I don’t know how to fly…maybe someday.

He’s quite a quick wit,  just what you would expect from a sharp Irishman. He was on stage with two long tables, identically draped in black. He started behind one table with luscious lilacs and quickly whipped up a masterpiece of an arrangement, then snapped right over to the next table doing the same with peach blossom branches sprouting out of a tall, glass cylinder and then wrapping jasmine around the outer, bottom base. For two hours, he took what looked like dull, commonplace containers and made them magically transform, all the while encouraging us that we too could do the same at home. With every flower he touched, he taught us the meaning of each flower reminding us that “flowers feed our souls.”

Back in the day, men and women couldn't be seen talking with one another so flowers were sent and depending on the flower, you could be delivered a message of love, despair or the symbol of true friendship. Pink roses mean perfect happiness and red roses express passion and love. Flowers were used for communication, much as writing papers are used today.

I walked away learning things that were elementary to him, but keepsake suggestions I will use myself; bunch like flowers in arrangements rather than polka dotting them within, use containers of interest, and have fun with it. Rather than forcing flowers to hang a certain way, let them fall where they may. They will be happier and you'll end up with a more natural and beautiful display.

Above, see our bridal bouquet design on Letters from Lilly gatefold stationery, resembling the arrangement by Shane in the photograph, which is full of luscious lavenders to use for any event from birthday celebrations to weddings.

P.S. Shane got to see "the dress" before any of us!

The details of our writing define who we are, not only what we are trying to express.

Stationery; writing paper.

Stationary; a fixed item like a stationary bike.

Since I've been in the stationery business, I have seen and continue to see people spell stationery incorrectly. I've even had retail store owners submit requests to carry our products who spell stationery incorrectly.

So here's the easy way. Stationery writing paper is with an E like pEn and lEtter.

Just a tip. Hope it helps.

John vowed to write one note a day for a year. He set no guidelines about who the note needed to be directed to or what the subject matter needed to address. One note for each day.

He made the decision to be grateful.

John started out by writing a note to a barista who made his coffee  everyday. He thanked her for remembering his name and order everyday. Then he wrote to colleagues and thanked them for their referrals, he wrote clients and thanked them for paying on time.  One note, each day.

Guess what happened? When people replied, they reflected the same kindness back to John. Things got better.  His colleagues referred more clients to him, his current clients paid faster, he was happier and felt like exercising and he lost weight; got healthy. Positive energy reflects back.

Make the decision to be grateful and show your gratitude to others. It will make you feel good to drop that note in the mailbox. It will make the person receiving it feel even better.

Letters from Lilly has a heart design that is used a lot during February, the month of the Valentine, but feel free to use it all year long to tell someone you love them.

Years ago, I came across the neatest teapot gift that I'd like to share with you. Blooming teas are made and sold by a little company in Georgia, Rariteas. You just have to see it to believe how beautiful these teas can be. The blossoms open when the steaming water is poured over them, into the glass teapot that comes with your teabags.

I think it's the perfect gift for someone to show how much you care and give them a little treat to enjoy with a friend or just by themselves.

The Letters from Lilly teapot design comes with flowers too. Even though our flowers are painted and not real, like those from Rariteas, you can still send it to bring friends together.

The holidays are here and with that comes parties, gifts, and the dreaded thank you notes that follow. The thank you note that should follow.

In this short blog update, I’m going to teach you how to write a thank you note in less than a minute.

I have two rules in my home about thank you notes. First, if someone does something nice for you, send them a handwritten note. Second, your note may only be three sentences.

Three sentences is all it takes to properly thank someone for hostessing a party, giving  you a gift, or expressing your thanks for any other gesture.

Dear Audrey,

Thank you for the delicious homemade, mint chocolates! They arrived the same day that my family did for the holidays and we are sure to all enjoy them.

You are so kind to remember us over the holiday season this year.

Merry Christmas,

Janie

First sentence; thank them for the gift, specifically naming it.

Second sentence; tell them how you plan to use it.

Third sentence; mention the holiday or occasion they acknowledged.

A birthday note might read:

Dear Janie,

Thank you for taking me to Pastries for lunch on Tuesday. You know I have been dying to try that new restaurant since it opened!

You are sweet to remember my birthday and I’m so glad I could share it with you.

See you soon,

Mary

Why the three sentence rule, you might ask? Because then your thank you notes aren’t a chore. You can write three sentences in thirty seconds. Just write the first thing that comes to your mind, address the envelope and mail it. Don’t make a project out of it. It’s not a big deal.

The big deal is on the receiving end when your friend, family member or neighbor gets the note in their mailbox. How nice that they know you appreciate their time and effort extended to you.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am both celebrating my first year of cancer free health and taking the opportunity to remind you to get your mammogram.

A portion of the following was printed recently in Stationery Trends, Summer 2011 Issue.

I added the pink ribbon in support of breast cancer awareness years ago when a best friend from high school started her own battle at the young age of 37. I felt it was the best way for me to help, given the position I had within my company, to make a difference in awareness and at the same time contribute financially to the cause. Never did I think that the cause I encouraged others to support would turn and bear its ugly head towards me.

“These cards are in honor of my dear friend Jeanne,” it shows in all our stationery albums, “A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Jeannebean Dream Team to continue research, education, and support to those fighting breast cancer.”

Over the years I’ve watched orders come through from women who band together to meet before races, or to give information for a speaker on the disease, still others are simply a name on a piece of stationery including the pink ribbon. My favorite order came about a year ago. It was for stationery with a woman’s name at the top and then at the bottom it said “Get a mammogram, it saved my life.”

I’ve always been a good patient, going for yearly mammograms, taking good care of my health and well being. Sure, I overwork, overstress, and over do like many women who run their own businesses. It’s just the way I am. So imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer the spring of 2010.

I have come forward with my diagnosis for two reasons.

First, I want to remind you that it can happen to any woman. One out of eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. It’s not in my family. I was only 43 when diagnosed. I worked out every single day and ate organic meat, fruit, and vegetables. I went for yearly mammograms. Over 95 percent of my customers are women and it is you who I want to remind to go, get a mammogram.

I’m lucky. Even at stage 2, mine was caught early enough that with multiple surgeries and my body make up, I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. I might not have been this lucky because I threw away my mammogram Rx. I was going on spring break, I was busy, and I always had to go back a second time and I just didn’t have time for it. I don’t know what made me pull the yellow Rx out of the trash can and go. Probably my type A personality knocking, but I went. I now know that if I had not gone, the cancer that was too deep in my body to feel, would be taking over my body. The mammogram showed a small tumor; surgery discovered a tumor twice that size. Catching my cancer before it entered my lymph nodes means that I have a much different treatment plan than I might have, had I let it go.

The second reason I am sharing such a personal aspect of my life is that I want to remind us that as business owners, we can make a difference. We can contribute to causes that are important to us through our work and I encourage you to do so.

Most importantly, if I can convince one person to go get a mammogram, coming forth with my own diagnosis has been worth it.

Please share this information with friends and family and remind them to get tested.

-Gay Grossman, Owner of Letters from Lilly lives in La Jolla, CA with her husband and 14 year old daughter, Lilly. She is now fully recovered from multiple surgeries for breast cancer.