It's beginning to look a lot like...

Brrr... it sure is getting cold out there. Even though today is Halloween, it's beginning to look a lot like... well... December out there! October is early for snow, even for us New Englanders, and even though a Halloween Snowman isn't customary around here, I'm not complaining. In fact, I am really looking forward to winter this year. I'm sure I'll change my tune come February, but right now I'm welcoming winter. What's not to love about the holiday season? I'm looking forward to curling up next to a warm fire when it's cold outside, sledding, spending time with family, baking, decorating, watching my 3 year old get excited about receiving presents, and watching my 3-year-old learn that giving gifts can be exciting too.


There is something extra special about welcoming a little one around the holiday season. That's why we are designing a new line of birth announcements geared specifically toward winter babies. We know that life is busy—especially with a new baby—so why not announce the arrival of your holiday gift while wishing friends and family a happy holiday season in one very special photo card? 


Whether you decide to announce the birth of your little miracle with a simple and elegant card like this:

Or "tweet" it to the world with a fun and playful card like this:

You just can't go wrong with Love and Life Cards Winter and Holiday Birth Announcements! So curl up next to the fire with your laptop (when you finally get the wee one off to sleep) and visit Love and Life Holiday Cards to choose your perfect card—any holiday design can be customized to become a birth announcement. Enter the holiday code LALH at checkout until November 20th to receive 20% off your entire order. We'll take care of the rest. Oh yeah... and don't forget that shipping is on us too. Happy shopping!

'Tis the season

We are so excited to announce our 2011 holiday card line! Our holiday assortment features a variety of festive styles to show off those smiling faces. Each design also has an option to personalize the back of the card, giving it just that much more of your own personal touch. 

We hope you will find a design that is just perfect to show off your family. But just in case you don't see exactly what you're looking for, we also offer holiday custom design service at the same low prices as our regular line of cards. And don't forget to save by ordering before November 20th—just use the coupon code LALH for 20% off your order at checkout!

Teni and Chase's Rustic and Lovely Wedding

Last month we shared some details from my sister Teni's wedding shower weekend including maple leaf cookie cutters with recipe card favors. I am so excited to reveal the couple's beautiful stationery and personalized wedding held at the bride's family home last weekend! T&C were both equally involved in all of the invitation and stationery design. Teni knew she wanted shades of orange and chocolate with a fall theme. The groom was dedicated to the process and actually sketched a maple leaf design for the invitation, as well as had the idea of the acorn around the couple's initials on the reverse of the invitation. Here is a picture of the whole stationery suite. 

I particularly love the retro photo booth style of the save the date cards.

And the whimsical, yet classic invitations and RSVP cards. The RSVP cards are postcards which is a great way to save money and paper, as well as let guests know that your event will be casual and fun. 

The couple have many amazingly talented friends who helped make this wedding very special and personal. These paper flowers were made by a close friend and were just gorgeous.

Another friend commissioned these super cool personalized wine labels. This is just one of the four designs—one for each type of wine offered.

And I just cannot resist sharing a photo of the happy couple, Teni and Chase.

Beautiful photo of T&C courtesy of Nancy Hinckley.

Pretty cute right? The wedding weekend was SO much fun and I am so sad that it's over. Good thing we're still working on thank you notes so it isn't completely over for me. I can't wait to see more photos of the big day and hopefully I'll be able to share a few!   

Ten "must do's" for Fall

How can you not love the sounds and smells of the Fall, especially if you live in the North East!  Here is our "must do" list for this Autumn:

Pumpkin Picking
So many choices, so little time.  How much fun is it to pick a huge one to carve and not to mention all the little ones to decorate your house with?  By far one of our favorite ways to spend an afternoon!

Hay Rides
Why not round off the pumpkin picking with a hay ride and maybe some tasty donuts!

Leaf piles
Kill two birds with one stone...entertain the kids for a few hours as well as tidy up your yard...it's a win win!

Hot Apple Cider
After working in the yard, bring the gang in for some delicious hot apple cider.

Here is a great recipe:

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple cider
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions

1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

Fall Crafts
Projects like leaf rubbing or pumpkin painting are a great way to bring the beautiful autumnal outdoors in!

Apple Picking
Weather you have an Indian Summer and manage to wear shorts one more time or the chill is in the air...there's no better place to enjoy the blue skies of the fall than at the Apple Farm!

Football Sunday
Nothing says welcome back to the Autumn like a big pot of Chilli and all your friends and family around to watch a game.  Get yourself some flags and have a game out in the backyard at half time.


Pumpkin Carving
You've picked them, you have decorated the house and yard with them, now it's time to get carving!  Not so handy with a knife?  Get creative with cookie cutters and a mallet!

Bake Bake Bake
With all that apple and pumpkin picking, surely you can create some culinary masterpiece.  And if not, try the Betty Crocker App for the iPhone:)

Go Trick or Treating
One of the best parts of being a kid and one of the privileges of parenting is the Halloween tradition.  Yes, there are the pitfalls like walking around in the cold and dark while you knock on strangers houses.  Then the daily candy negotiations everyday following Halloween for about a month, but when else can you completely embarrass your children and they won't hate you for it?

Trees for the future—it's amazing what one seed can build

Since 1989, Trees for the Future has been helping communities around the world plant trees. Through seed distribution, agroforestry training, and country programs, they have empowered rural groups to restore tree cover to their lands. Planting trees protects the environment and helps to preserve traditional livelihoods and cultures for generations.

From the first day we here at L&L started talking about the possibility of Love and Life Cards, we knew that we wanted to partner with Trees for the Future. We watched this video—50 Million Trees and Counting by Dave Deppner, founder of Trees for the Future. We were and continue to be inspired.  If you have 8 minutes or even if you don't, but you want to be truly inspired, take a break to check it out—we think you'll be glad that you did.  Just beware, it may make you want to move to Kenya and start planting some trees!
  

To quote Deppner, It's amazing what one seed can build. And remember, every order placed with Love and Life plants a tree with Trees for the Future!