YULETIDE CHEER: advent

Initially I had hoped to make an advent calendar for the boys - something unique and fun that would allow for something other than candy each day. In fact, I've hoped to do this every year for the past few years. But after realizing that I still need to finish embroidering the denim stockings I made 4 years ago, I accepted that a handmade advent calendar is just not going to happen. At least not if I'm the one making it! And so began an Etsy search for the perfect advent calendar.

Most of the ones I found were simple fabric panels with attached pockets; pretty, but without the fun factor I was hoping for. Then I found Reeves Farm and the pattern to crochet a super fun string of Christmas light pockets! It is perfect: cute, fun and can be used again and again over the years. Since I know myself well enough to understand there was no way I was going to crochet a string of holiday lights, I asked my friend, and owner of this shop, Jaime to make it for me. It came out beautifully and is lovingly displayed on our stairwell.

There are a few lights with chocolate coins or mini candy canes hidden inside, but most of the "treats" are activities for the kids together. Making and sending postcards to relatives, going on a tour of the neighborhood holiday lights and buying food for the local food bank are all on the calendar. Yesterday's treat was to snuggle up with some popcorn and watch the Pixar cartoon special on ABC Family. So far it has been a nice way to make us all slow down and enjoy the holidays together.

On a side note, if you need kid gifts or warm weather gear for your children, stop by Jaime's shop. Her Danish earflap hats are super warm and really well made. It is next to impossible to find something so nice for children, and completely impossible to find it at such a good price.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: holiday photocards

'Tis the Season! Christmas, in our house, officially begins the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not insane enough to hit the black friday sales. In fact, for the first year ever I may have all my holiday shopping finished before Thanksgiving! GASP! On November 27th we will deck the halls, sip some egg nog and listen to Christmas music. We're celebrating at Tulaloo a bit early with a holiday sale on our newly added holiday photocards! Custom photocard designs are normally $15, but through the end of November you can get yours for just $12. You can then take your photocard and have an unlimited number printed at your favorite photoshop! Want Tulaloo to take care of the printing for you? No problem - we offer photocards on photo paper, heavy matte or glossy stock or even as magnets! Just contact us for pricing and details at info@tulaloo.com or call the studio at 860-417-2587.

The images above are just a sneak peak - see the entire line up here.

YULETIDE CHEER: yarn wreaths

Seeing store aisles lined with Christmas decorations in October make me cringe, so believe me when I say I thought long and hard about making a Yuletide Cheer post before Halloween. I tried to stop myself, but this Antartica Yarn Wreath was practically begging me to share it! Want to know all the reasons I love it? Sure you do!

1. Unusual color palette - not a smidgen of red or green!
2. It isn't holiday specific, so you can hang it on your door until the snow melts.
3. It isn't cute. Eeeeew.

But what I love most about this wreath, and others by Knock Knocking, is that it strikes the perfect balance between kitsch, homey arts and crafts projects and 60's mod. Cool, fun and cozy all at the same time. What's not to love?

YULETIDE CHEER: merry christmas

Happy holidays to all my lovely readers! I hope that you are spending Christmas with your families and loved ones. Enjoy that time, because it is a true gift. I know that many of you have loved ones that can't be with you this holiday, because they are serving over seas in the military or "protecting and serving" here at home as first responders. My Christmas wish is for all our brave men and women to make it home to their families safe and sound.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

YULETIDE CHEER: wintersong

Oh how I love Christmas music. Up until last year my favorite Christmas album was "Merry Christmas" by the McKrells's, an Irish group from New York. BUT, last year my friend gave me "Wintersong" by Sarah McLachlan and I am forever in her debt. I honestly think that if I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life, this would be it. Yes, I would listen to Christmas music in July if it could be this album. She sings like an angel, and I am not the type of girl to make romantic, flowery statements like that. It is positively ethereal.

YULETIDE CHEER: christmas cookies

Tomorrow is our annual Cookie Swap/Holiday Party! Captain and I have been baking away all morning. We are making butter sandwich cookies, filled with sweet cream cheese and rasberry sauce. Although I am certain they will be both beautiful and delicious, they were probably too ambitious a choice for this year. They are fairly labor intensive which would be ok if I didn't still need to plan and cook party food, clean the house and shop all while entertaining the boys. And there is the small task of finishing the 200 holiday cards that need to ship today too! Did I mention that I have a spouse who works midnights and tons of overtime and is rarely home and awake to help out? Oh well, sleep is totally overrated.

Enough of my pity party and back to the cookie party! I really am thrilled to be hosting this party and spending my time cooking with the boys. Captain has been watching the Food Network recently and likes to host his own cooking shows for me and Chunk. I found plastic bread under the blankets on the bed yesterday. He had put it there to rise. Perhaps he'll become the next Gordan Ramsey or Tom Colicchio, make millions and fund a lavish retirement for his parents. A girl can dream, right?

BESPOKE: marian and john

I L O V E custom designing stationery. Most of the custom work I do is wedding stationery and birth announcements so I was extremely excited when Marian contacted Tulaloo for help creating her perfect holiday cards this year! Marian and her family have had a really blessed year; a daughter has celebrated her wedding and they have welcomed a brand new grandaughter into the world! Of course, she wanted to share memories and photographs of these joyous occasions with her friends and family through her Christmas cards.

Tulaloo designed an accordian fold pocket card to present these precious family photos. It uses a palette of cream, taupe and crimson and features an elegant damask print. The photographs are double sided and printed on a luxurious linen stock; they actually resemble small paintings more than photographs! During her consultation Marian mentioned that she always signs her name "Love & Peace" and that she would like to have this sentiment incorporated into her cards. Of course we obliged, and the words "love, peace and joy" are the key element that tie the entire piece together.

I am thrilled with the way these cards turned out and I hope Marian enjoys them as much as I do. She is possibly one of the most gracious and lovely clients I have ever had the pleasure to work with and I am so glad that she found and chose Tulaloo! (And doesn't she have the most beautiful family you've ever seen?!?)

YULETIDE CHEER: elf yourself

I love the elf yourself program sponsered by Office Max and JibJab every year! It is too much fun! And this year is even better because you can tweak the elves and choose dance styles!

I'm not clever enough to know how to embed the video on my blog so you'll have to follow this link to see it. But it is funny and worth it - trust me! When you are done watching my husband shake his groove thing make your own elves and post the link here in the comments section. I'd love to see your inner elf dance!