Happy Holidays

Designing and styling are in full effect at AED—feeling incredibly blessed to be so darn busy with all my fab design and styling clients. You. Are. The. BEST!

And of course, having the most fun, warm, snuggly, sometimes-trouble-making family makes all the hard work worth it. They are the ultimate icing on the cake.

Week of Cheer 2012 // Friday

Wrapping up 2012's week of cheer (a week later) with our very own Espach Christmas card and lots of holiday cheer to all of  you. I hope you had a peaceful Christmas weekend and are ready to rock this upcoming new year. I know one little guy who's ready...

 TRUMP!!!

Week of Cheer 2012 // Thursday

What happens when there's one random snow storm in October (a few days after hurricane Sandy no less)? Christmas card photo shoot of course! I mean, can you get more festive than this?

And of course an outtake of with my favorite photo assistant's foot. Is there anything cuter than toddler feet? Uh, no.

Week of Cheer 2012 // Wednesday

When your little guy is this cute it's hard to pick just one photo for the ol' Christmas card. So this crafty Mama asked for a series of two and we changed up the back say either "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" (not shown). They also had some super exciting news to share about an upcoming move... so we used the back to spread the word (and include another adorable shot of this muffin).

Week of Cheer 2012 // Tuesday

These bad boys are working double duty as a Christmas card and Thank you note from this gorgeous newly wed couple.

Take a peek at their wedding invitations designed by yours truly as well.

Week of Cheer 2012 // Monday

After an emotional weekend filled with sadness but also thanksgiving for our blessings, I've decided to move forward with the 2012 Week of Cheer (and share my top 5 fave Christmas cards designed this year—one for each day of the week). After all, I think we could all use a little cheer.

Without further ado, Monday's Week of Cheer feature is this card filled with Love & Joy from some seriously adorable brothers (with seriously adorable names: Sebastien & Archer. Right?) and their Mom and Dad.

I also want to thank all of my 2012 Christmas Card Clients for hiring AED, especially since 100% of the design proceeds are being donated to help families affected by hurricane Sandy.

And one little weekend update... Santa Clause came to town!

BAM!

Move over Emeril, there's a new chef in town. I crushed Christmas Eve dinner with my own version of the Feast of Seven Fishes. (And yes, there were seven—I'm totally counting the cod fish sticks I made for the boys.)

Get those salivary glands ready:

Calamari, Shrimp, Artichoke Hearts and Olives

Shrimp Cocktail

Crab Rangoons

Clams Casino (with Spanish olives and bacon)

FISH STICKS & KETCHUP!

Filet of Sole

Caesar Salad with scratch anchovy dressing

Santa Came!

My two favorite presents from the boys. 

And Li'l G's first Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows. He's had it for breakfast every day since.

*Melt alert! I was putting away some folded laundry and found a printout that Santa McMuffin made of my wish list. What a doll.

Andrea xx 

Stuffin' that Stocking.

Growing up, my Mom Santa would take advantage of the stocking stuffers to make sure my Dad, Sister and I had all the necessities going into the new year. While deodorant and razors aren't all that exciting—these everyday essentials are!

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Merry. Merry.

p.s. For Christmas, I'd also like a few more 'like's on the ol' facebook page. Click on my name below to bring you there. Grazie mille!

Andrea xx

Santa Baby.

McMuffin does his best shopping with seconds left on the clock. What better time to drop my "letter to Santa" than now—at the last minute.

[1]  [2]  [3]  [4]  [5]  [6]  [7]

Dear Santa, 

Click on the handy-dandy number links to take you right to the store where these items are from. 

Love, Andrea xx

Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha.

AED's Week of Cheer was last week but let's keep it going with one more Christmas card.

Conceived by my office-mate, Jeremy Brittain, and his super creative wife, Tanya.
Photographed by their photographer, neighbor.
Design template from one of the online card shops.
Top it off with professional-grade modeling by his awesome kids.

Have yourself a very awkward Christmas!

Andrea xx

WEEK OF CHEER :: Friday

Of course, this week wouldn't be complete without some cheer from the Espach family! Hit it...

 

 

Love a gold pen on the address panel.

 Got these kraft stickers at Paper Source and plugged in all the address info to matchy-match the card.

Stay warm this weekend—I find that adding Frangelico to your coffee will help with that.

Andrea xx

Before and After :: Christmas Tree Hunt

Our friends host a tree hunt party every year and this is the first year we came back with a tree. So fun! Here's the 7 ft. beauty McMuffin picked out.

BEFORE

Choppity chop chop chop. My burly lumberjack and his assistants, Ray and Li'l G.

No help at all. Sheesh.

Jones Farm

Tree Hunters.

AFTER

And our first fire! (Which has left our living room smelling like a smoke house. WTF? We had the flue open the whole time—maybe too long afterwards? Any ideas on what the prob could be? Or how to get that smokey smell out?)

Anyway, who has fun party plans this weekend...this girl!

Andrea xx

WEEK OF CHEER: Thursday

Have yourself a merry little Christmas—from this adorably big baby. That's right this cutie is no toddler he's just 9 months old. Can you say "future NFL star"?

I can't believe how fast the week is flying by! Must be all that extra CHEER.

I'm hitting you with another festive post this afternoon. Check back!

Andrea xx

WEEK OF CHEER: Wednesday

Q: What do you get when you mix a moving card with a Christmas card?

A:This!

Check back for a fun double post later today!

Andrea xx