Entertain Outside!

Backyard barbecues never looked so good!

Find this stylish stuff here, here + here!

New Goodies!

Let me just drop this one on you - you'll want it, need it, HAVE to have it!

Available sometime in July - I'm waiting on mine....

XOXO
{FM}

Fun for the Fourth!

Kate's Paperie, one of our lovey-dovey retailers, has these oh-so-perfect laterns, just right for the Fourth!

Guest Blogger: Tips for the Rookie Hostess

We have a guest blogger today - Kelly! She's one of our layout designers here at Fontaine Maury, so she's probably had her hot little hands on the goodies you've ordered!

Here are her tips for the Rookie Hostess:

I am not a natural hostess, so I have to work at it. The good news is that I am improving with each party that I host.

If you are following this blog, then you are probably already a fabulous hostess.

However, I suspect that some of you may be like me. You might need a little help.

Here are a few concepts to embrace so that you can survive (and enjoy) hosting a party.

• Plan and prepare ahead.

If it can be done ahead of time, by all means, do it ahead of time.

Preparing before the day of the event will go a long, long way to helping a hostess relax and enjoy the festivities.

Hosting newcomers may want to leave only light cleaning and the set-up of an hors d'oeuvres buffet as the remaining preparations for the day of the event.

• Be calm and carry on.

A hostess should always be gracious and adaptable when spills happen, guests arrive early or uninvited, and any other unplanned events occur.

Being stressed-out and frazzled can make guests feel uncomfortable or even worse... unwelcome.

• It's not about you.

After all the work that goes into planning and preparing a party, it can be easy to lose focus on what's important.

Sometimes a hostess will forget her manners and think the party is a reflection of her genius, but thankfully, it is not.

Parties are about the guests and in particular, any guest of honor.

Don't worry if every detail does not go exactly as planned. Just ensure that the guests have a good time. In the end, that is what a party is all about.

*Firecrackers!*

Yippee for the Fourth!
What do you do - stay home and grill out? Head to the beach + watch the fireworks all the way up the coast? 


The {fictional} Young Family has the utmost taste - they barbecue, and serve it up on their 4th of July plates!

Get your not-so-fictional family some here!

Pool Party!

One of our creative customers came up with a great way to use our party tubs....

They're not just for drinks - they're perfect for poolside parties! We can write just about anything that'll fit on your very own party tub, it doesn't have to be a monogram!

Yummer for Summer!

If I were to have a brunch, and if it were outside in the garden, and if it wasn't too hot - I would be having..... this!

Bless the Charleston Crepe Company - they'll mail you one! Order yours here!

I Heart My Tray

A running joke here at FM is that we order lots of this monogrammed goodness for our friends + family, and none for ourselves. Haile may have a monogrammed station wagon, but I can almost guarantee you she doesn't have a drink tub or a note pad or probably even a key chain. BUT! When I was ordering a tray for a friend, I ordered one for myself! Well done, me!


And should you drop by for a drink (I make a mean, I say MEAN, Hurricane Punch), it'll arrive on my tray! You'll also see this at my tailgate, because of course I ordered UGA colors! Get yours here!

Gift For Grads

Kick the can openers and laundry hampers to the curb - wanna know what I got for my cousin going to college?

A stack of monogram decals, that's what! We call them cell phone decals, but they'll stick on just about anything! Perfect for monogramming your car, computer, shower caddy, storage bins - just about anything in your dorm room!

Congrats, Megan!

Get some for your grad here!

Southern Hospitality

I know, I know - we have not cornered the market on hospitality. I have been very graciously entertained in places such as Pennsylvania and New York state. But we do obsess about it, don't ya think?

My go-to gift for weddings is serving pieces. Why? Because here in the South (perhaps in your region too!) we will always present food and drink to our guests, no matter how short their visit. Entertaining is a way of life and most of us just love to have guests. One of my favorite wedding gifts was a platter.

Of course, our trays are divine, but don't forget about our custom melamine plates - a set of 4 or 8 with the new couple's monogram would put all the blenders and fondue pots to utter shame!

Summer is for Entertaining!

Haile had a garden party potluck and it was as fun as you're thinking! Super-casual, bring the kids and dogs + your favorite dish.

There was baked mac-n-cheese, a watermelon + arugula salad, the obligatory (and highly edible) BBQ, a red cabbage coleslaw (ask Haile for the recipe!), and lots of other summer delicacies. What a way to welcome a season!

Tubs + trays are handy dandy for every summer occasion!

Awww, We Love You Too, Frances!

Our dear friend Frances gave her readers a little update on the Stationery Show - and gave us a shout out!

Thanks Frances!

Check out her blog, 400 Square Feet, here.