Ring in the new year

Whether you plan to party it up until three am like this 1950s couple or have a quiet night in, we hope you have a wonderful night with family, friends, and maybe a little bubbly! 

We wanted to share just a few of our own New Year's resolutions this year.

Elizabeth says:

1. Organize, print, and put in albums our photos. 

2. Streamline the music situation in our house, we have iphones/ipods and use spotify so need to tie them all together.

3. Get hiking – both kids have big enough legs that we want to get out and take advantage of all the coast, country and castles that Northumberland has.

Sona says:

1. Get back to cloth diapers. With our first child we cloth diapered 80 percent of the time. With our second, it dropped to more like 50 percent. With this baby, we've maybe done 20 percent cloth. This year I'd like to get back up there to the 80 percent mark. I mean, we have all this cloth... might as well use it!

2. Take my vitamins. I'm so good about making sure my kids take their vitamins, but I take mine about once a week or bi-weekly. 

3. I was supposed to have more??  Elizabeth's list has made me feel like a slacker. I better re-evaluate my list! The photo organizing one is good... and the music organizing... and the hiking... 

What are your New Year's resolutions this year? Do you have the same resolutions every year or do switch it up? 

And hey, if your New Year's resolution is to have your holiday cards out earlier, you still have time to order up a fun New Year's card like this one or customize any of our photo cards to make that perfect New Year's card to ring in 2014.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

For some it's Black Friday. Others, the first snowfall. For us, it doesn't feel like Christmas until we have seen Santa.

We start seriously early in our house. It's completely normal to watch a Christmas movie, or listen to Christmas songs from November 1st. The tree was up and the house decorated by Dec 1st. But for some reason, it's just not Christmas until we've seen the man in red.

We have done a few different trips. My favorite is going to Centre Parcs at the end of November and having the weekend away in a lodge. You can hire bikes, go swimming, and all sorts of sporting activities. Rebecca took a pony ride to the Elves workshop where she got to meet Santa. Although that is really early, I figure since we don't have the time off over Thanksgiving to relax with family, that seems a nice way to kick off the holiday season.

This year, we went to Wallington Hall. We found Santa's sleigh and Reindeer statues on the lawn!

Test driving Santa's Sleigh

Rudolph outside the clock tower

There were a lot of positives with this.

1)  It's local and we go there a lot so the kids are comfortable there.

2)  It looked gorgeous all decorated as only an old stately home could.

3)  We have been to other special events there like the Queens Jubilee so it's nice to be there at Christmas.

4)  It was cheap (only 8 pounds to see Santa).

5)  They had a lot of activities on like cookie decorating and carol singers.

Cookie decorating in the old fashioned kitchen

But most importantly, we saw the real Santa! I walked out of our visit and told the lady on the door in my most embarrassing American voice, "that was totally the real Santa!" I don't know who was more excited, us or the kids!?

The kids talking to Santa

Merry Christmas, Santa!

Yes these events can be gimmicky, and yes, they can be expensive, but when the magic of the day is fading and the kids are asleep in the car, I do think these are love and life moments to cherish as they won't be little for long. We'd love to hear your traditions! Do you do a Polar Express? Annual trip to the mall to get your photo with Santa? Please share your stories and photos with us!

Say cheese

I am always so impressed with those who have already ordered, received, and even sent out their holiday card by December 1st. I planned to at least have my card designed and off to the printer by the time we headed west for Thanksgiving this year. But now on failed photo attempt number three, still no card. Shame on me right? Of all people, I should be ahead of the game on this. Two years ago, I blogged with "tips for taking the family photo." You can see more on that here. This year, try as I might to get a photo of my three kids, I am just not having a lot of success. 

Photo shoot number 1 went something like this:

That's OK, we'll get one in the snow when we are home for Thanksgiving. And voila, I give you photo shoot number 2:

Why does is seem like someone is always crying? Oh right, because they are. At least we managed to have some sledding fun!

And lastly, photo shoot number 3. This one has me going back to look at some of the shots from photo shoot number 1 thinking maybe these are good enough.

Do you have any tips for getting all of your children to look at the camera and smile? If yes, could you please share them with the rest of us? And if you are like me and still struggling to get that perfect or even halfway decent shot, this is to let you know that you. are. not. alone. 

It was so cold on that last day that as we were getting back to the car, my five-year old said to me, "Mom, I wish it was summer." And that has me thinking she might just be on to something that possibly all of you organized people already know. Take the shot in the summer. Or better yet, hire a professional... in August! :)

Giving thanks

We wanted to take a moment this week to say thank you.

Elizabeth is thankful for

• The Chenango Bridge Fire Department for saving most of my parent's house :)

• Good health (mostly) of my family and friends
• Two little darlings who keep me smiling

Sona is thankful for

• A house full of wild, loud, happy kids and dogs

• Long peaceful and quiet runs around the lake

• A warm fire and hot cocoa after a trip (or 10) down the sledding hill

And we want to thank YOU—our customers, our friends, our family who make it possible for us to continue to create and do what we love!

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

xo

Elizabeth & Sona

Don't forget the flip side!

We want to take a minute to remind you about the back side of your holiday card. Love and Life Cards designers make sure your card has a personal touch on both the front and reverse of your card. Check out our pre-designed backers below or create your own custom message, photo, or both, on the back of your Love and Life card design! 

Ornament

Polaroid

Three Boxes

Two Boxes

Blank

And don't forget, any design on the back of your Love and Life card is included in your card price at no extra charge!

One card, three (or four) ways

Have you ever looked at a holiday card designs and thought, "I like that design, but wish I could have it in a different color," or "I wish I could just change the format to fit my photo."  Well, you can! Our Love and Life Cards designers are happy to make any changes to our designs to make sure that your card is the perfect card to reflect your family this holiday season.

This option is where we began with last year's card for one absolutely gorgeous family.

Then we tried something a little different because of the orientation of the original photo. We ended up with this. Nice... but maybe too busy for this particular photo.

Getting closer this time around, but still not quite there.

And one little tweak and we have a winner!

When you place your order, your online preview is just that, a preview. We send and electronic proof via email of every order before sending it to the printer. So go ahead and place your order with confidence. Specify any changes you'd like to make in the comment section and you will receive an email from one of our designers who will work with you to make sure that your card is just right.

Happy card making! 

These are a few of our favorite cards

We are having a lot of fun this year designing away and are just loving this holiday season at Love and Life Cards! We want to share a few of our favorite designs. We hope these get your creative juices flowing and we can't wait to hear from you to get started creating your 2013 holiday card!

Classic Snowflake

Holiday Hope

Merry Type

Ornamental Doodle

Twinkle Lights