Annette and Karen grew up in Miami, steeped in cafecito culture, telenovela drama, and the unshakable work ethic of immigrant parents who left Cuba in the 80s to build a new life. Annette’s the ultimate doer. She's a public school educator with a master’s degree in education administration. She's also a grassroots organizer and can whip up the perfect flan while running a political campaign. Karen’s a Pisces — a professional dreamer. She's a creative writer with a master of fine arts degree and two decades in multicultural marketing. She's also a master organizer who still treasures her very first planner (Harry Potter, naturally).

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Together, they’ve spent years swapping big, sometimes wild, business ideas. Yes, there’s an actual spreadsheet of t-shirt slogans and, one day, a jello-shot catering empire will happen. But when they landed on paper goods, they knew they’d found their true niche.

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Through Pen & Papel, Annette and Karen create beautifully designed planners for people who live in the both/and—balancing structure with self-discovery, productivity with healing. Their work is rooted in personal experience, having navigated their own journeys through trauma and recovery, and guided by a shared belief: everyone deserves tools that help them grow, organize, and thrive. And from day one, they’ve committed to honoring their community, giving back, and infusing every page with culture, heart, and unapologetic authenticity.