Monogrammed napkins

Cocktail Napkins from The Stationery StudioThe other night I was having an impromptu cocktail party when my mom asked me whether I had any cocktail napkins. I said “Yes” and handed her a bunch of plain white ones. She politely sneered at them and said “Don’t you have anything more colorful?” All I had were some dinosaur ones leftover from Ted’s second birthday party.  So the theme of my adult soirée became dinosaurs. And yes, something is a miss if your adult soirée theme is dinosaurs and you’re not a paleontologist. Plus, for someone who loves monograms, why do I not have monogram napkins on hand at all times?

Napkins from The Paper House OnlinePart of the reason is that it seems frivolous to have them. But, clearly, I spend money on paper products since I had the white ones — and the dinosaur ones — on hand. So why buy plain white ones that appear just slightly fancier than the ones takeout places give you? I ought to be spending that same money on having napkins that make me happy. Napkins that match my décor. Obviously, one day I’ll have my Carolyn Brackenridge custom monogrammed linen ones.

This is an approximation of what I actually, recently used for my guestsBoth the Stationery Studio and PaperHouse Online have them in just about any color. The Stationery Studio offers the blue ones pictured up top at $39 for 100. PaperHouse Online is a little pricier at $30 for 50 but they do seem more customized. Plus if you buy a ton from them you get a discount and then you will always have them onhand for impromptu cocktail parties. Thereby avoiding my fate, i.e., serving grown adults crudités on a stegasaurus’ face.