Who says the office has to be all spreadsheets and stiff chairs? Picture this: You sit down at your desk, coffee steaming, and instead of grabbing the same old generic notepad, you reach for your personalized stationery. Your name, your style, your flair—all elegantly embossed or beautifully printed on each page. Suddenly, a mundane Monday morning feels a little more… you.

Why Personalized Stationery? Because You’re Not a Robot.

Let’s face it: most of us spend more time at our desks than we do on a tropical beach. So why not infuse a little personality into your workday? Personalized stationery is like a breath of fresh air in a sea of sameness. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to remind yourself—and everyone else—that you’re not just another cog in the corporate machine. You’re you. And you have style.

Think about it. You could write your to-do list on a bland sheet of printer paper. Or, you could jot it down on a beautifully crafted notepad with your monogram shining at the top. It’s like the difference between wearing a tailored suit and a one-size-fits-all uniform. One feels distinctly yours; the other, well, not so much.

Boost Your Professionalism with a Dash of Personality.

Ever hand someone a note on your personalized stationery? The raised ink, the thick paper, the unique design—it says, “I pay attention to the details.” And in a world where details matter, that’s saying a lot. Whether you’re leaving a quick thank-you note or sending a handwritten follow-up after a meeting, personalized stationery adds that extra touch of thoughtfulness. It’s the difference between being remembered and being… well, forgettable.

Plus, there’s something inherently classy about pulling out your own set of stationery to jot down a quick thought or idea. It’s like owning a fountain pen in a world of ballpoints—an instant boost to your credibility and style. You’re not just another email in someone’s inbox; you’re a presence, a brand, a vibe.

Make the Mundane Magical.

Writing down action items? Jotting meeting notes? Drafting a quick memo? These tasks can feel mind-numbingly routine. But when you use personalized stationery, even the mundane becomes a bit magical. It’s like adding a splash of color to a black-and-white film—suddenly, there’s life, vibrancy, and a touch of excitement.

And let’s be real, who doesn’t need a little more excitement at the office? Personalized stationery is like a small daily luxury—a little reminder that the details matter, that quality matters, and, most importantly, that you matter.

Leave a Lasting Impression—Because First Impressions Are Overrated.

Sure, first impressions are great. But lasting impressions? Those are the ones that count. When your stationery is as unique as you are, it lingers in the minds of clients, colleagues, and even the occasional office visitor. It shows you’re someone who takes pride in their work and their style—a person who doesn’t just do things but does them with a touch of elegance.

So, What’s the Real Joy in Personalized Stationery?

It’s the joy of self-expression in a world that often feels too cookie-cutter. It’s the joy of making a statement without saying a word. It’s the joy of knowing that even in a sea of sameness, you’ve found a way to stand out—subtly, stylishly, and authentically.

So go ahead—treat yourself to that custom notepad, those monogrammed note cards, or that chic letter sheet. Because life’s too short for boring stationery. And the office? Well, it’s too full of enough blandness as it is. Make it yours. Make it unforgettable.

In times of loss, a well-crafted sympathy note can be a powerful source of comfort and support for grieving family and friends. Knowing the right words to convey condolences may seem challenging, but with a thoughtful approach, you can offer solace during difficult times. In this article, we’ll guide you through the proper way to write a sympathy note to family or friends, ensuring your message is sincere and compassionate, and brings a sense of warmth to those in need.

Express Your Condolences with Empathy:

• Acknowledge the loss with sincere and empathetic words. Express your sadness for their pain and let them know you share in their grief. For example, “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of [Name]. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time.”

Begin with a Thoughtful Salutation:

• Address the note with a gentle and caring salutation, such as “Dear [Name]” or “To the [Last Name] Family.” Starting with a personal touch sets the tone for your heartfelt message.

Share a Fond Memory or Reflection:

• If you have a cherished memory of the departed, consider sharing it in your note. Recall a special moment or highlight a positive aspect of their character. This personal touch can bring comfort to grieving hearts and celebrate the life that was lived.

Offer Support and Assistance:

• Let the grieving family know that you are there for them. Extend a genuine offer of support and assistance, whether it’s providing a meal, running errands, or simply being a listening ear. A compassionate phrase like, “Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything I can do to ease your burden” can be reassuring.

Keep it Simple and Sincere:

• Avoid clichés or generic phrases, and instead, focus on simplicity and sincerity. Use your own words to convey genuine sympathy. A heartfelt and straightforward message often carries more weight than elaborate expressions.

Close with Warm Wishes:

• End the note with warm wishes or a comforting sentiment. You might say, “May the memories of [Name] bring you peace and comfort during this challenging time” or “Sending you thoughts of strength and courage.”

Handwritten Notes Matter:

• Whenever possible, opt for a handwritten note. The personal touch of a handwritten message conveys sincerity and thoughtfulness. If handwriting is not feasible, ensure your typed note is still personalized and warm.

Writing a sympathy note is an art of delicate expression, but with these guidelines, you can navigate the process with compassion and grace. Remember, your words can provide a comforting embrace for those in mourning, offering solace and support during their journey through grief.

In the world of personalized stationery, where every detail speaks volumes about your style, Giftsin24.com is thrilled to announce an exciting burst of color to elevate your correspondence experience. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction drives us to constantly innovate, and we are delighted to introduce three stunning additions to our stationery line: Orange Envelope Lining, Emerald Ink Border, and Cherry Ink for Raised Print.

Orange Envelope Lining: A Warm Embrace

Picture the excitement of receiving a beautifully crafted letter with a warm burst of color. Our new Orange Envelope Lining adds a touch of vibrancy and energy to your correspondence. Whether you’re sending invitations, thank-you notes, or heartfelt letters, the orange envelope lining creates an inviting and memorable first impression. It’s the perfect way to set a positive tone right from the moment your recipient opens the envelope.

Emerald Ink Border: Timeless Elegance

Elevate your correspondence cards and foldover notes with the timeless elegance of Emerald Ink Borders. The deep green hue exudes sophistication and adds a refined touch to your personalized stationery. The emerald border is versatile, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions – from formal business communications to personal notes. Your words will be framed in a rich and luxurious shade, making your stationery a true work of art.

Cherry Ink: Raising the Bar in Stationery

Unleash the power of color with our Cherry Ink, designed for raised print stationery, envelope linings, and border color on correspondence cards and foldover notes. The bold and striking red shade demands attention and adds a level of prestige to your personalized stationery. Whether it’s your monogram, business logo, or a special message, the raised print in cherry ink ensures that your words are not only heard but seen in a truly unforgettable way.

At Giftsin24.com, we understand the importance of personal expression in every piece of stationery. Our new additions of Orange Envelope Linings, Emerald Ink Borders, and Cherry Ink provide you with an expanded palette to infuse your personality and style into your correspondence. From warm and inviting to elegant and bold, these colors are designed to make your stationery stand out and leave a lasting impression. Explore the possibilities and enhance your communication with our vibrant new colors today!

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your ghoulish gatherings! While costumes and decorations take center stage, don’t overlook the small details that can elevate your Halloween party to the next level of spooktacular. One of those often underestimated details is the Halloween party napkin. In this article, we’ll delve into the benefits of using personalized Halloween party napkins from Giftsin24.com to add a touch of eerie elegance to your haunted soirée.

1. Setting the Mood
   Halloween is all about creating a festive and spooky atmosphere. Personalized Halloween napkins can set the tone for your party theme, whether it’s creepy haunted house vibes, classic jack-o’-lanterns, or elegant gothic designs. These napkins instantly transform your party space into a Halloween wonderland.
2. Unique Personalization
   Giftsin24.com offers a range of customization options, from monograms to themed artwork. Adding your own personal touch to the napkins can make your Halloween party truly one-of-a-kind. Imagine your guests’ delight when they see their initials or a special Halloween message elegantly printed on their napkins.
3. Convenience and Cleanliness
   Halloween parties often involve lots of deliciously messy treats and beverages. Having personalized napkins on hand ensures that your guests can wipe away crumbs, spills, and sticky fingers without fuss. Plus, it adds an element of practicality to your spooky soirée.
4. Conversation Starters
   Unique and personalized Halloween napkins can serve as excellent conversation starters. Guests will admire the attention to detail and creativity you put into your party preparations. You might even hear a few “Where did you get these?” inquiries, giving you a chance to share your source of Halloween party inspiration.
5. Party Favors
   Looking for an easy and fun party favor idea? Giftsin24.com‘s Halloween napkins make fantastic keepsakes for your guests to take home. They’ll remember your hauntingly awesome party every time they see their personalized napkin.
6. Photo Opportunities
   Your Halloween party is incomplete without some Instagram-worthy moments. Incorporating personalized napkins into your décor adds a level of sophistication to your party setup, making it picture-perfect. Encourage your guests to snap and share their spooky napkin photos!
7. Easy Cleanup
   After the party is over and the last ghost has left, the cleanup process begins. With personalized napkins, cleanup becomes a breeze. Simply gather the used napkins and dispose of them. The convenience of disposable napkins means you can focus on enjoying the party instead of worrying about the post-party mess.
8. Complete the Look
   Every detail counts when it comes to hosting a memorable Halloween party. Personalized Halloween napkins are the finishing touch that ties your decorations, table settings, and overall ambiance together in a cohesive and stylish manner.

Elevate Your Halloween Party with Personalized Napkins

As you prepare to throw the most spooktacular Halloween party of the year, consider the benefits of using personalized Halloween napkins from Giftsin24.com. These napkins not only enhance the visual appeal of your party but also offer practicality, personalization, and convenience. From setting the mood to providing unique party favors, these napkins are an essential addition to your Halloween celebration. So, get ready to impress your guests with an elegantly eerie touch that makes your party truly unforgettable!

In today’s digital age, there’s something undeniably special about receiving a personalized, tangible piece of communication. Whether it’s a heartfelt note, a thank-you card, or a beautifully crafted letter, personalized stationery adds a touch of elegance and thoughtfulness to your messages. At Giftsin24.com, we take pride in curating an extensive collection of personalized stationery that’s sure to make a lasting impression. In this article, we’ll explore the world of personalized stationery and how Giftsin24.com can help you express yourself with style and sophistication.

Top 5 Reasons To Create Your Own Stationery Today

1. Unveiling the Beauty of Personalization:
   Personalized stationery is more than just ink on paper; it’s an artistic reflection of your personality and individuality. With Giftsin24.com’s wide range of lettering styles and monogram options, you can create stationery that truly speaks to who you are. From elegant cursive fonts to modern and chic designs, there’s something for everyone.
2. Elevate Your Correspondence:
   In a world inundated with digital messages, receiving a personalized note on high-quality stationery creates a sense of warmth and authenticity. Whether it’s a heartfelt thank-you or a simple greeting, Giftsin24.com’s personalized stationery elevates your correspondence into an art form. Each piece is meticulously crafted to make a lasting impression on both the sender and the receiver.
3. A Perfect Gift for Every Occasion:
   Personalized stationery from Giftsin24.com makes for thoughtful and cherished gifts. From graduations and birthdays to weddings and anniversaries, personalized stationery sets are both practical and sentimental presents. Show your loved ones how much you care by giving them a personalized gift they can use and treasure.
4. Unmatched Quality and Craftsmanship:
   At Giftsin24.com, we spare no effort in providing the highest quality personalized stationery. Our stationery is made from premium materials, ensuring that every writing experience is smooth and enjoyable. With attention to detail and expert craftsmanship, each piece is carefully produced to meet the highest standards.
5. Easy and Fast Personalization:
   At Giftsin24.com, creating your personalized stationery is a breeze. Our user-friendly website allows you to customize your stationery with just a few clicks. Choose from an array of designs, colors, and lettering styles to make your stationery uniquely yours. With our efficient production process, you can expect your personalized stationery to be shipped in no time.

Quality, Experience & Charm

Giftsin24.com has mastered the art of personalized stationery, offering an exquisite collection that allows you to express yourself with grace and charm. Whether you’re sending a heartfelt note or presenting a thoughtful gift, personalized stationery adds a touch of sophistication to every message. With unmatched quality, expert craftsmanship, and a seamless personalization process, Giftsin24.com ensures that your stationery experience is nothing short of exceptional. Elevate your correspondence and delight your loved ones with the beauty of personalized stationery from Giftsin24.com. Shop now and discover the joy of making every word count.

After years of regular hand sanitizing, it’s time we all treat ourselves to beautifully made soap that won’t dry out our hands and that smells lovely. Introducing a new line of personalized engraved soaps featuring the quality and design you expect from Gifts in 24.

You’ll love the two tantalizing scent options — Shea Butter or Lavender.

And right now, there are two designs: Family and Classic Monogram. But our collection is ever growing, so stay tuned!

Two Engraved Soap Designs…and Counting

The Classic Monogram is the same one you know and love — always among the most popular monograms on our site. The Family lettering style is the L96 lettering style, another crowd favorite.

Your monogram or name is carefully carved right into the creamy soaps — not too shallowly, and not too deeply. The personalization will hold up even after many uses. Our experienced team has always been killing it behind the printing machines. Now they have mastered these new engraved soaps. And a bonus: the workshop smells ah-mayzing!

Plus, we’ve boxed the soaps beautifully, making them perfect for birthdays, the holidays, house warming presents and host/hostess gifts. You can buy single bars of soap or in sets of three.

Engraved Soap & Guest Towel Gift Sets

For an even bigger statement, you can order a gift set featuring three bars of soap and 25 printed guest towels with matching personalization. Fancy, right?

The next party you host, you can deck out your powder room with this pair. Or maybe your best friends invited you to an end-of-summer weekend party at the lake — fret not, we got you — this is the perfect gift for your hosts.

And as for that hand sanitizer? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, washing with traditional soap and water is more effective at removing certain substances from your hands. Plus, a beautiful ceramic soap dish adds elegance, and won’t clog up the landfills like plastic sanitizer bottles, do.

So there you have it…the ins and outs of our new line of engraved personalized soaps. Enjoy!

When it comes to personalized printed party napkins, it’s nice to have the right amount of choices. Too many, and it’s too hard to make up your mind. Too few, and you can’t make your vision a reality. With our new Printed Napkins & Guest Towels, you have the perfect palette of ink colors and fonts. It’s easy to create personalized napkins that match your party theme or decor.

Here’s your guide to creating the best personalized party napkins for your next event. Here are your best choices for all kinds of occasions.

Dinner Party Napkins

If you love to host small dinner parties with friends, family and work colleagues, here’s your secret weapon: Delavan Monogrammed Printed Napkin. It’s a classic design with your choice of monogram, plus 17 ink color choices. The monogram is printed using a four-color ink process. It’s not foil. It’s not thermography. The ink is flat and matte. If your decor is gold or silver, modern or classic, bright or neutral, you’ll find ink shades and monograms to match.

Wedding Napkins

On the other end of the spectrum, wedding receptions and wedding showers tend to be larger gatherings where the special couple is the focus. The Derby Napkin can be your go-to choice for cocktail hour, with the bride’s and groom’s names elegantly printed in gold ink on crisp white paper. For dinner, choose the coordinating Derby Guest Towel.

Birthday Party Napkins

Our Full-Color Photo Napkin is a natural for birthday parties. Whether the honoree is 1 year old or 100, a full-color photo napkin is the perfect way to mark the occasion. Wouldn’t it be cute to send everyone home with a tiny framed version of the photo as a party favor?

Work Event Napkins

For company picnics, team-building outings, client parties and more, you want to make your company brand stand out. Print your logo with our full-color printing process on triple-ply printed party napkins on our Custom Napkins. You can rest assured that the printing will be crisp, the colors will be true-to-life and vivid. And, the resulting product will be professional and polished.

Anniversary Napkins

Your wedding anniversary will stand out with the Joyous Printed Guest Towel. These dinner-sized napkins offer a choice of 17 ink colors and 10 lettering styles, so you can find a color and look that matches your party decor. And with up to four lines of personalization, you have room to say what you want to say about the happy couple.

Our Printed Napkin & Guest Towel collection includes 54 items to select from, including full color custom logo designs, digital photo options and many of our most popular designs in your choice of 17 ink colors: Black, Blush, Cardinal, Citrus, Emerald, Fuchsia, Gold, Lavender, Navy, Pear, Pumpkin, Purple, Red, Royal, Sky, Slate, and Tropic. With all of these choices, you are sure to find colors and designs that match your vision for your event.

Looking for a go-to gift that’s versatile, easy-to-order, and affordable? We’ve got it! It’s rare to find gifts under $5 that are also high quality and a joy to give…but this one is the trifecta perfecta!

Friends and Family Tablet Sets. Make these your go-to gift. Many of our customers swear by them.

Here’s the concept: Check your calendar for upcoming birthdays for the next few months, give us 8 names, we’ll send the tablets to you by the end of the week, and you can put them in your gift closet until the birthdays roll around. So easy, right?

Easy-to-Order

With one order, you’ll purchase 8 personalized gifts at once. It’s an easy, efficient way to create thoughtful gifts for a group. Think officemates: Add “Samantha” to one tablet, “Grace” to the next, move on to Abigail, Veronica, Madison, Taylor, Sheila and Ann. Press “order” and you’ll receive 8 personalized tablets in 2-5 days (depending on where you live) and they’ll arrive ready for giving.

Your officemates will never know it was so painless for you. All Samantha and the others will see is their own name carefully and beautifully printed on a high-quality note pad in a vivid ink color. They’ll think you worked for days planning, tracking down, and creating this thoughtful gift. Only you will know it took you less than 5 minutes to order and arrived at your door in a matter of days.

Versatility

Same goes for your children’s teachers, kids’ party favors, bridal party gifts, Christmas gifts and more. Just add a name to each of the 8 tablets (Mr. Seymour, Ms. Brown, etc. or Preston, Declan, Aiden, etc.), choose your ink color, and we’ll print them for you in 24 hours and ship them out to you. Voila–thoughtful, attractive gifts under $5!

We offer our classic design, as well as a new Santa Cruz line with a snappy double-border introduced in 2020. Both offer a choice of 10 lettering styles, including our ever-popular Anthony font, and a choice of ink color.

Affordability

Here’s another beautiful thing: At the regular price of $29.95, each tablet works out to $3.75. And if you add another item to get to the $35 free shipping minimum, the picture just keeps getting better and better.

Each tablet is made with our high quality paper. Each sheet is 80 lb text, like nice thick copier paper. There are 100 sheets per tablet. And each sheet is a generous 4.4 inches x 6 inches, so there is plenty of room to write.

So get a jump on your 2021 gift-buying for birthdays, graduations, new homes, and end-of-year teacher gifts. You’ll avoid the mad scramble… and your bank account will thank you!

Family & Friends 8-Tablet Set

Santa Cruz Family & Friends 8-Tablet Set

What is good typography? We can all spot good design in a telephone, car or clothing: You know quality when you see it. It’s the same for personalized stationery. It’s easy to see, but hard to pull off. Modern typography follows a long heritage — back to typesetters who used to place small blocks with letters on them into a printing press. They used rules that are still alive today. So it’s good to know your typesetting terms, so you can know good personalized stationery when you see it.

Our professional designers spend a lot of time getting the look and spacing perfect for each and every letter in all of our exclusive fonts. A name or monogram should have good spacing between the letters, and the style of individual letters should relate to one another. Shop with care: other companies don’t always pay attention to these important rules.

Here is a glossary of typesetting terms to help you understand the ins and outs of good design on personalized stationery.

Vocabulary about Letters

Here are some typesetting terms that related to the shapes of the letters.

Upper Case – A letter that we learned in school as a “capital letter.” Fun fact: Employees in old printshops kept these letters in the upper drawers of their cabinets…hence the name “upper.” We use upper case letters for proper names and the beginnings of sentences.

Lower Case — The small letters we use for most words in a sentence and for names. Often, we use upper case letters in monograms, but not always. Our Elise monogram uses lower case letters. Sometimes it’s fun to break the rules, as in this fun new font on our Luna Card, which features all lower case letters and no upper case ones.

Serif – A tiny embellished notch that appears at the tip of the stroke of a letter. Many serif fonts have a traditional or classic feel. They can also, but not always, feel more formal. Fonts with a serif tend to be easier to read. It’s thought that the little hooks on the ends of the letters help your eye track more quickly from one letter to the next. The font used in this blog is a serif font.

Sans Serif Lettering – A more modern-looking style of lettering that tends to be more plain, clean or simple. One of our most popular sans serif lettering styles is here on our One-Line Note. It has a “Mad Men” feel to it, doesn’t it?

Roman Lettering – A kind of alphabet that features small, decorative serifs at the tips of each letter. The Magnolia Note has a roman lettering style.

Handdrawn Lettering — Some lettering styles mimic handwriting or printing. Our Anthony lettering style is one of these, which is shown below on our Anthony Studio Card. We often have developed lettering styles from real people’s handwriting that we admire. Read this blog about the development of our Sally Script font.

Vocabulary about Spacing

Here are some typesetting terms that related to the spaces between and around letters, words and lines of texts.

Kerning – The distance between letters inside of a word. When letters inside a word touch each other, we describe the kerning as “too tight.” When there is so much space between letters that the words are difficult to distinguish from one another, we say the kerning is “too loose.” We pay enormous attention to the kerning when letters are combined in a name or monogram, as you can see in the photo below. It’s our Circle Monogram on our Henley Grand Monogram Note.

Leading — Pronounced “ledding,” this is the blank space between lines of type. Wedding invitations usually have “open” or “expanded” leading, while the text in books usually has a “tight” (compressed) leading.

Flush Left – The alignment of the left side of all paragraphs is a straight line as you look down the page, such as this one. This is typical for many publications.

Flush Right – The alignment of the text down the right side is a straight line. This paragraph is flush right. It’s a little unusual, and so it catches your eye. Some of our products that use flush right are X and X.

Ragged Left and Ragged Right — “Ragged” means that the beginning or ending of a line-of-type does not line up vertically with the other lines of type. When you format text to be flush left or flush right, the opposite side of the paragraph will be ragged. Most paragraphs on this page flush left and ragged right. But oftentimes, wedding and other formal invitations feature text that is ragged left and right, like this paragraph is. We also call this type of text “centered.” You can see this on our Yorkshire Invitation Card.

Of course, you can depend on all products by Gifts In 24 to feature excellent typographical design. Check out our monogrammed products. Or look at our best-selling folded notes.

When you scour the advice columnists such as Ask Amy or Miss Manners, it seems like one out of every ten questions is a frustrated query from an auntie or grandmother about why the young people in their lives won’t write thank you notes.

It seems to be a widespread problem, and where there’s a problem, there are solutions. If you have young adults in your life who do not express gratitude for the gifts you give them and the things you do for them, then maybe they need some tools. We’ve put together this brief guide to help you.

The Tools of Gratitude

The tools of gratitude are simple and easy to gather: 1. Give them their own stationery. 2. Model for them how to write a proper thank you note.

Giving stationery to member of Generation Z — those who are currently in their late teens or early twenties — may seem counterintuitive: They use their phones for everything right? Snapchat and Instagram and texting are their primary mode of communication. Even email seems hopelessly old-fashioned to the average 20-year-old.

We can all agree that a young person’s first instinct after a birthday party or receiving a beautiful gift in the mail is not to run to the store and buy a package of thank you notes.

So you can do this for them. Create a thank you note toolkit of sorts: a set of beautifully personalized thank you notes, a book of colorful stamps, a smooth-writing pen, and a print-out or digital file of the family addresses they can program into their phone.

Now that young person has the writing tools. We’re almost there…

Go a step further and model for them how to write a thank you note. The rhythm and structure is simple, as you know, being a regular thank you note writer, of course!

Here is collection of blogs we’ve written that explain how easy it is. They cover all the bases, ranging from writing thank you notes for birthdays, weddings, teachers and business occasions. You can send them that link, or you can sit with them in person or over the phone and go over the basics — salutation, name the gift, how you’ll use or enjoy it, hope for a future meeting, close.

Lack of Handwriting Skills?

One barrier you won’t be able to help them with is that many young people may not have learned to properly write in cursive. If they print the thank you note, or render it in a mixture of printing and cursive, who is to judge? Nothing’s perfect in this life, and if it’s the difference between sending a thank you note and not sending one, I’ll take the printed or badly scrawled thank you note any day of the week.

Stationery Choices for Young Adults

Let’s say this first: there is no right or wrong choices for personalized stationery. Some young adults are working in fields, such as the law or the corporate world, where a formal monogram or their name in plain block letters at the top of a folded note would be perfect.

Other young people might love that very same stationery simply for its classic feel. Still others might prefer stationery with a more youthful attitude.

Ultimately, the stationery you choose to give them depends on their personal taste.

You can also simply give them the link to the Gifts In 24 website and let them choose. Good luck and thank you for helping the world be a little kinder and gentler.