Snookus paper company produces stationery with sass

I recently discovered Snookus – a local paper-product company that produces one-of-a-kind notepads, cards and organizational products. But if you're thinking "not another cutesy box of note cards," think again. Snookus' founder Paulette Denman describes her company's products as "high on wit," – they're sort of like a high-style, irreverent Hallmark – with perfect comic timing.

Take her "Rate My Date" notepad, for example (40 sheets, $8). With nine categories to fill in – from style to intelligence – you can actually give your date a "score" at the end of the night (sharing the information with him is, of course, optional). For example, under the "connection" category, give him five points if you "talked all night" or zero if you were so bored you "almost cried."

But you don't have to be a singleton to make use of Snookus' designs. When several of Denman's friends had babies recently, she picked their frazzled brains to find out what products would help parents, which led to the creation of "Let's Go Kids" ($6, a packing list for those traveling with little ones) and the "Sitter's Cheat Sheet" ($9, a must-have list of write-in essentials for the babysitter). These two 40-sheet notepads promise to make busy parents feel a bit saner.

You'll find Snookus products at PaperTree in Bellevue, the Real Card Company in Seattle and elsewhere. Or, purchase online at www.snookus.com.

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