A Lettered Life

Did you know??

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

Do you know the history of monogramming? Monogramming first appeared on coins in Greek and Roman times around 350 BC as a way of identifying their origin

It was also used by artisans in the Middle Ages to identify their work; especially when the trades were restricted by guilds as a means of preventing unauthorized participation in the trade. But, the monogramming with which we are most familiar is that practiced by aristocrats in the Victorian times. They used their personal monograms to symbolize their place in high society.

Today the monogram has become a fashion statement all itself. Showing up on everything from stationery to clothing.

And the traditional rules have given way to personal style making the monogram increasingly popular among all ages. But, if you're wondering what tradition dictates, you can read more about Monogramming Etiquette on our website.

Sneak Peek at Something New!

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

We've been working on a little something special lately...

We are SO excited to reveal our NEW WEBSITE soon!!! NEW design, NEW setup, and NEW items added constantly!! And, as if that isn't exciting enough; we're unveiling our NEW easy to shop mobile website too! Now, have personalization at your fingertips now matter where you are!

Just can't wait? Well, neither can we!! Stay up to date with our Grand Online Opening by following us on Facebook and Instagram. We'll even have a special for all of our online shoppers to help us celebrate!

This Week We're Loving......

2013-04-22T06:30:00.000-04:00

ANCHORS!! The go-to icon of summer fun, anchors have been showing up everywhere for some time now.

We love them on tshirts.....

koozies........

cups......

and anything else we can find! Feining for more? We have a Pinterest Board FULL of ideas!!

Anchors Away!!

A Mother's Day Special

2013-04-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

We're doing an in store special for Mother's Day with Alicia Haskew...

What mom doesn't want family pictures? Especially when they are this beautiful.....

Through Mother's Day, make $100 worth of in store purchases with us and receive $50 off a mini session from Alicia Haskew Photography.

You're Invited....

2013-04-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Another wedding season is upon us. I just read somewhere last week that the average couple has 2.5 wedding showers. Not sure where the .5 comes from....Who exactly is having one half of a wedding shower? Do you get double points if it's a couple's shower? I dunno.

ANYway, if you're lucky enough to have to plan a shower for someone, we've corralled some adorable ideas for Showering the Bride(or couple) with love!

I LOVE this one SO much, I may be using this theme for my own Anniversary Party coming up soon! And the best couple's shower gift? A laundry basket filled with cleaning products, paper products and grocery store gift cards.

I love the shoes and candy for a girly brunch or fun cocktail hour shower theme!

Whatever your theme, don't forget to visit us for custom Shower Invitations, Thank you cards, Hostess gifts, Party favors and more!! And check out our Wedding Shower Pinterest Board for more ideas.

What We're Loving

2013-04-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Scallop(Shell) pattern is turning up everywhere, and we sure do LOVE it!! We're seeing it in clothing; like this skirt and short from Lilly Pulitzer....

It's the newest design in Statement Necklaces like this one from Kate Spade...

And we love the Scallop Circle around a monogram ....

What do you think? To Scallop or not to Scallop???

Mother's Day Picks (just one month left to prepare)

2013-04-12T06:30:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is exactly 30 days away. Here are our picks for making Mom smile. If you're smart enough to start early, we love these Mother's Pendants.....(they will take about a week to 10 days to be done)

Not the type to plan that far in advance? We also like a spa wrap with a spa gift card and a coupon for babysitting or cleaning, or whatever other motherly duties would prevent her from redeeming the spa gift card....

But, as we all know, it doesn't take a costly gesture to make mom smile, just a little something from the heart is as good as gold. We love these ideas from The Celebration Shoppe

A Power Trio Lost

2013-04-10T05:59:00.001-04:00

This past week we lost three great women. It struck me that these three women, all with an amazing legacy, made their mark on our world in such different ways.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau was an American socialite, fashion designer, and style icon. She founded Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other such wares featuring bright, colorful, floral prints. As the brand is popular with high society, she was called the "Queen of Prep".In the course of working at the juice stand, she started using the fruit from her husband's citrus groves, Lilly found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes. Seeking to camouflage the juice stains, she designed a sleeveless shift dress made of bright, colorful printed cotton. She found that customers loved her dress, so she produced more in order to sell them at her juice stand. Eventually, she was selling more dresses than juice, and decided to focus on designing and selling what had become known as her "Lillys".

Margaret Thatcher, "the Iron Lady" was a British politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and is the only woman to have held the office. Thatcher has been credited with England's huge economic recovery in the 80's, where she brought the country back from high unemployment and poverty. "Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction." -Margaret Thatcher

Annette Funicello was an American actress and singer. Beginning her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve, Funicello rose to prominence as one of the most popular "Mouseketeers" on the original Mickey Mouse Club. As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer as well as establishing herself as a film actress,during the mid-1960s. In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation after announcing that she had been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis for years.

Three great women, each doing what they love and leaving their mark on our world. Food for thought on this Wednesday....How can I use the things I love to leave my mark on those around me?

Oh Sugar Sugar

2013-04-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for a good sugar cookie. I can't bake, I can cook all day long; but baking is not my thing. The general consensus of my friends seems to be that I lack the patience to exactly measure the ingredients and follow the directions..."it's science" they say. Makes sense, I never liked science. Whatever....I like to just throw things in the pot until it tastes good!

Thank goodness Liz's daughter can bake. They whipped up some awesome sugar cookies they found on good 'ole Pinterest. Here's the original:

And here are theirs:

Lookin' good, don't ya' think? Wanna try it out? You can find the recipe at Vintage Revival.com, or just click on the picture to go straight there.

Calling All Lilly Lovers!!!

2013-04-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

OMG!!! How many of you Lilly Pulitzer lovers have old agendas lying around just because you can't bare to throw away such beauty??? Raise your hand.....yep. I thought so. Look at all of these ideas I've come across for repurposing all of those pages....All you need is an old agenda and a little Modge Podge

Coasters

Mirror

Bangles

Wall Letters

And here are a few recommendations from Lifeguard Press:

Use the patterned monthly divider pages as unique scrap-booking paper or decoupage paper.
Cut out and frame the monthly "Lillisms" (sayings, rhymes and quotes on each monthly page) for cute and clever artwork.
Use the decorative pages as wrapping paper for small gifts.
Cut or tear the patterned pages into a variety of geometric shapes and create a collage by gluing them to a piece of paper, then slip that into the exterior clear insert sleeve of a ring-binder to create a Lilly-patterned binder.
Cut out dress-shapes from the patterned sheets (being sure to include tabs at the shoulders and around the waist) to create Lilly-patterned paper doll dresses.
Cut the agenda's patterned sheets into squares and use as unique Lilly-patterned origami paper.
Make rolled paper beads from the more colorful pages of the agenda and create unique jewelry, hair accessories, or even a beaded curtain.
Glue or mod-podge your favorite patterns or pages to blank ceramic tiles and then coat them with polyurethane for DIY coasters.
Using a variety of sizes of hole-punchers, punch out small circles or shapes to create Lilly Pulitzer confetti!
Re-purpose your favorite pages into note cards or gift tags

Want more? I'll be pinning these ideas and more over on our Pinterest page!
Follow along with us at http://pinterest.com/mmmonogramming/

Here Comes the Sun

2013-04-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Despite the Groundhog's mistaken predictions, things are FINALLY starting to heat up around here. Here are our picks for summer's must have monograms....

Monogrammed Fishing Shirts

Monogrammed Spikers

these nifty sand spikes keep your drinks, keys, phone and more out of the beach sand

ANYTHING in straw!

We love this clutch for tucking away the necessities without the bulk of a bag.

Don't forget the sunscreen!

It's No Joke

2013-04-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, you can hardly believe your eyes....a post from us! I'll admit, it's been awhile. Busy is good in the world of retail; so I'm not complaining, but WOW has it been busy!! But, with Spring comes a time of new beginnings, and so we shall, begin again to blog! Look forward to seeing some of our favorite ideas for monogramming, cooking, crafting, and well, just life in general!

And that's NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE!!!

Tasty Tuesday #28

2012-12-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Carrot Cake Cookies with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze....a mouthful to say, AND a mouthful to eat! They look like little cake servings...oh and they're made from CAKE MIX!! Thanks to Kerri over at Shaken Together for sharing the recipe for these little bites of Holiday goodness!

E and I are going to a Cookie Exchange and Brunch this week. I think I'll be trying to bake up something with lemons since we brought a ton home from a visit to the hub's family this past weekend. What have you been cooking up this Holiday Season?

This Week We're Loving....

2012-11-28T17:16:00.000-05:00

What we're loving? Those adorable Boutique Boot Socks! What we're not loving....the price. So, we thought we'd make some of our own. What else we're loving? They make the perfect, inexpensive stocking stuffer!

Here's what you'll need:

1 pair of knee socks, or over the knee socks depending on how high your boots are

some lace, some buttons, a needle and thread

First, measure the widest part of your calf. You'll want to put enough lace in the sock to fit over your calf. Then, cut off a piece of lace 1/2 in longer than your calf measured.

We found something a similar width and shimmied the sock over it to get the sock to the width we wanted it. The lace will not stretch like the sock, so you have to stitch the lace around the sock while it is large, otherwise it will come apart when you put the sock on.

Then, we just stitched the lace around the cuff of the sock.

You can embellish with buttons, or a monogram!

We're linking up to these great parties...

House of Hepworths

Somewhat Simple

Tasty Tuesday #27

2012-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Fall goodness continues...thanks to The Pretty Life Anonymous! I'm going to have to try these mini apple pies. They look like the perfect ending to a nice Fall dinner.

What have you been cooking up this week?

Tasty Tuesday #26

2012-11-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and my mouth is watering for yummy desserts featuring Fall flavors. I'm loving this Apple Pecan Crisp from Dining with Debbie!

Are you planning any special Thanksgiving recipes? We'd love to hear about them! We're extending Tasty Tuesday to last until Monday of next week; so post away!

Tasty Tuesday #25

2012-11-06T09:17:00.001-05:00

Sorry I'm a little behind schedule today. It's been a busy week of parties and school projects AND we're freshening up the storefront with some new paint and a few fresh display ideas. I hope you will all exercise your right to vote to today! And now, on with it... This week I'm loving this Healthy Pizza Alternative from Potholes and Pantyhose!

Well, I've got to get back to painting, but I'd love to hear what you've been cooking up in your kitchen this week!!

Tasty Tuesday #24

2012-10-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

The weather has gotten colder here and we are thinking about our friends in the Northeast weathering this bad storm. We wish them well and hope everyone stays safe.

This week I'm loving the Ham Spinach Cups from Joann Growing in Grace. I never knew that ham could cook to form a yummy container for spinach and cream cheese! I made these last night and the whole family agreed that they were a winner!

What have you been cooking up this week?

Tasty Tuesday #23

2012-10-23T06:43:00.000-04:00

You know by now I'm a sucker for a cocktail. Smart School House made a sweet one that will work at the next Fall or Halloween party. I haven't made this one because I couldn't find cupcake vodka, but I did find cake vodka and whipped cream vodka. I'm thinking of experimenting with those to see if I can recreate this Halloween concoction!

What did you make this week?

Tasty Tuesday #22

2012-10-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

So, I've decided to start sampling the recipes that we feature every week on Tasty Tuesday. Last week I made the cake and it was gone in a flash! I had to make it late in the evening and the smell was so good that the kids complained of not being able to sleep! It tasted delicious too! And I had no problem letting my family devour it since it has so much pumpkin in it. I figure it's practically a vegetable serving, right?

This past week Mary over at Go Ahead...Take a Bite made my mouth water with her recipe for Saltimbocca alla Romana. I'm actually preparing to cook this tonight for my own family. I love that she uses chicken in place of what would normally be veal. The chicken is much less expensive than the veal, so I get to stretch my dollar for my very active family of four!

What have you been cooking this week?

Tasty Tuesday #21

2012-10-09T07:16:00.000-04:00

Joan over at Chocolate, Chocolate and More! shared a cake recipe that had our mouths watering! This recipe for Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cake uses real pumpkin and chunks of chocolate. I can't wait to try this one for a family fall gathering.

We'd love to see what you've been cooking up this week!

Tasty Tuesday #20

2012-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's officially October! Time to put out the first round of seasonal decor. I've never been one to really decorate for Halloween. I'm not in to the scary witches and ghosts, but I do love a cute jack o lantern here and there. In fact, most of my Fall decor revolves around pumpkins. Perhaps that is why I am loving Lizy B's Pumpkin cookies this week!

And how about you? How do you decorate this time of year? Fall or Halloween?

Tasty Tuesday #19

2012-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Raise your hand if your child likes spinach. Anyone, Anyone, Buehler???? Yeah, that's what I thought. I am fortunate that my kids will eat raw, baby spinach in their salads; but that gets old and I'd love to have other ways to prepare it.

Spinach is such a super food - boasting high levels of the good stuff (vitamin A, Iron, Protein) and little to nothing of the those things that we tend to overeat (calories, fat, sodium). Marigold Mom showed us how to make something super tasty from our green little friend, the spinach leaf.

What have you been cooking up this week? We'd love to know!

Customer Cuteness

2012-09-20T14:10:00.003-04:00

Fall is quickly approaching and Friday is the official last day of Summer. This dress is such an adorable way to usher in the month of October. We're in love with this pumpkin applique' a customer had done for her little pumpkin!

What is your favorite Fall trend for kids??

Tasty Tuesday #18

2012-09-18T06:39:00.001-04:00

Keri over at Shaken Together make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Graham Balls. These look like a great treat to take along to tailgating and holiday parties....