What we're up to this holiday season...

This serene setting is an outdoor dining and lounge area overlooking our garden and stone fireplace where we sit and enjoy the soothing sounds of our fountain cascading into the pond.  

Where are we you might ask?  Well, contrary to this peaceful scene we are, (as usual) in a flurry of activity, rushing to finish up the last of the wrapping and baking and gift basket deliveries to our family and friends.

l&l at home - holiday gift baskets in progress

This year, we decided that we'd like to do a little less for each other and a little more for those in need and so we've been busy shopping and wrapping clothes and toys and other fun items for a family of five recommended to us by a local church. 

We're going to remain anonymous and can hardly wait to make the delivery tonight. We're still not sure of the logistics...exactly how we're going to manage to get all these gifts stacked on their doorstep without being seen but that's the challenge and just part of the fun of it all—(wish us luck!)

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday.

  Merry, merry!

  Last minute gift: 

Send a gift card  

via email or facebook 

or it's super easy to  

print out at home - you can even

personalize with your own photos.

{Shop Gift Cards Here}

We decided to pare down in every way this year—even our tree. (Last year our tree was over 10 ft. tall.) This year we elected to go with this diminutive,  simply decorated,  faux (gasp!) tree and adored our pretty little "lady" immensely. 

Holiday Quick Links

holiday playlist & last minute gift ideas

   

we're now at:

www.linenlavenderlife.com

2012 Holiday Giveaway ~ How you can win a Kindle Paperwhite!

Yes!  It's true!  A Kindle Paperwhite 

will go to one lucky l&l reader!

If you already have an email subscription to l&l, you are automatically entered and can receive additional entries by referring your friends:

If you aren't already a subscriber, you can sign-up below...

Subscribe by Email ~ Suscripción por Email ~ Inscription par Email ~ E-Mail-Abonnement ~ Cadastro de Email ~ Pассылка по электронной почте ~ 電 子メール経由で購読

...then return to this form to submit your referrals and earn additional entries.  

Happy Holidays!

LeAnn & Alex

questions?  write us  [here]

linenandlavender.blogspot.com

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A Christmas Gift

...from me to you:

A special playlist I put together for the holidays.

Tip:  Right click on the playlist link and open it in a new tab so you can enjoy uninterrupted music play as you browse.

{l&l's Holiday Playlist}

I've put one of my favorites at the top:  "All I want for Christmas is You" the Olivia Olson version from Love Actually, a heartwarming movie that has become a holiday tradition at our house. By the way, if I'm missing one of your favorite songs, write and let me know.  I'll be happy to add it for you if I am able.  

Wishing lots of love to you and yours.  
May your days be merry and bright!  

xo~

image via: Côté Sud

linen & lavender

  GIFT CARDS 

ship free, overnight.

-Or- you can elect to send via email or Facebook for instant delivery any time.

-Or- you can even print at home with options to include a personal photo.
New!  Create your own video.

All Gift Card Options HERE

visit our new site:

www.linenlavenderlife.com

Holiday or Hostess Gift Idea - Limoncello!

A wonderful, unique gift idea for your neighbors or friends is a bottle of limoncello. Whether you choose to make it yourself (how-to video following) or you buy a favorite brand, this sipping liqueur is a welcomed treat and makes a perfect holiday or hostess gift.

As budget permits, a fun addition would be a set of sipping glasses like these by Bormioli Rocco:

                                                                              ..

Wrap everything up in linen towels:

and arrange in a wire basket or charming wood caddy.  

How to make homemade limoncello:

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Suggested bottles for homemade limoncello:

Bormioli Rocco Bottles, set of six for $32.

or for many other options,

go to

the emporium

 [Pantry & Storage]

(us) ~ (fr) ~ (uk) ~ (ca) ~ (de)

If you don't want to make your own or you just prefer gifting 

an authentic limoncello from Italy, try:

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Limoncello di Capri

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Recipe for Limoncello Cheesecake Squares

Another idea:  
include a card with a recipe for making limoncello or 

a recipe where limoncello is one of the ingredients.

Tip:  If you decide to gift this to several people on your list, you can break up the set of limoncello glasses and gift two to each person stretching one set out to be part of 3 gift baskets.  

Of course,  a bottle of homemade -or purchased- limoncello is gift enough all on its own, so don't hesitate to keep it simple.  

Cheers!

linen & lavender

visit our new site:

www.linenlavenderlife.com

Looking for more gifting ideas?  Go here for more gifts plus gift wrap and gift basket ideas:   

{w i n e  ~  essentials & gifts}

&   {a p o t h e c a r y : Natural Health & Beauty}

shopping days...

  image via Côté Ouest Dec01-Jan02

I'm all cozy at home shopping on-line today...making my way through my list of family and friends.  I thought I'd take a moment to share one of my favorite gift ideas- a magazine subscription.

Here is how you can make a magazine subscription special and on par with any gift you give this year:

If you can opt for a bit of a splurge, it's fun to gift a foreign magazine in their favorite genre...whatever they are passionate about.  For me, living here in the U.S., that would include anything from Côté Maison or say, Belle (Australia) or the French edition of Elle Decor...These range in price from $39-$110 and up.  

Once you decide on the magazine, make it special by printing out a photo found here or elsewhere on-line or pulled from a magazine if you happen to have something that will work well.  You are looking for something that is best representative of the magazine's content...a dreamy image of a chateau for a French design magazine, for example.  

Put the image in a simple black frame (or any frame you think they will like/re-use) and wrap in a box along with a handwritten note expressing your holiday wishes and why you thought they would enjoy this particular magazine.  (Include the subscription start date, length and any other pertinent details you received when ordering so they have all the follow-up info handy.)

Of course, the very best part is that this gift continues on for months after... They will be thinking of you each time they open their mailbox to find another issue waiting for them!  

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shop our other gift suggestions:

 {shop}

visit our new site:

www.linenlavenderlife.com