For two years I’ve sighed with great envy (yes, great envy) reading other bloggers accounts of the National Stationary Show. There it was, right here in New York City, and I was shut out, a mere wishful blogger, and not an “industry insider”.

NO MORE, my friends. No more. This year Amber was going to the NSS.

Ok, I know. It’s not that exciting. But it totally was for me. I walked into the Javitz center the angels went “Ahhh!”

There are three pages of notes, stacks of cards and a handful of press kits to go through. My desk has literally become infested with pretty paper. I’m not going to do any major, in-depth coverage of it because there are so many others who are doing that way better than I could, but I will be highlighting the handful of beautiful, wonderful things I’m really excited about, both here and over at the Sideshow

The experience was new and I might not have done it “right”, for instance, I felt pretty awkward asking to take photos. I had my camera, but I just couldn’t bring myself to ask. I figured websites would have better photos anyway, but in retrospect, I think I’d rather have my own shots. Lesson learned for next year.

Winning the award for the nicest person in a booth (because in the end, it’s all about the humanity for me) is La Familia Green. This husband/wife duo makes cards, some out of cut paper and some that are printed.

“Who would buy an ‘I love Michele Obama’ card?” I asked.

He shrugged. “You’d be surprised. Who would buy a ‘James Franco, you’re so dreamy’ card? But people do.”

I started to laugh. “I know exactly who I’d buy that one for!”

“See,” he said. “There you go.”

They also had a card that featured their beloved Stickers. It read, “Hooray for rescue dogs!”, which I imagine you would send to someone who has acquired a new dog via adoption. Clearly, these are my kind of people.