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by Michelle MaliZaki, Founder of Pen Paper Palooza When I was four years old, I met my first true love — a box of Colleen colored pencils. I can still see them lined up like tiny rainbows in their plastic case, all perfectly sharpened and full of promise. I remember the smell — that mix of wood, wax, and pure happiness. I spent hours arranging them: by color, by favorite, even by “who looked the nicest.” (Pink was always the friendliest.) That’s when my lifelong obsession wit

by Michelle MaliZaki, Founder of Pen Paper Palooza When I was four years old, I met my first true love: a box of Colleen colored pencils. 🎨 I can still picture them — neatly lined up in their little case, all perfectly sharpened and glowing like tiny candy sticks. I remember the smell too — that mix of wood, wax, and wonder. I spent hours arranging them in rainbow order, then by favorite color, then by which ones “looked the most polite.” (The pink was definitely the frien