It's All In The Christmas Bag

It's often challenging to find ways to be eco-friendly and resourceful around the holidays.  Recycle, re-use are words that are sometimes put away because we receive and give so many gifts during the season but we have the answer to your problems.  This year, why not try our amazingly cute Holiday Sacks.  These bags, made by Cocoon Couture, come in a variety of options with hand embroidered critters - from a dove to a reindeer.  Each decorative bag is made with 100% cotton yarn dyed stripe or polished cotton.

So, give away and re-give away that perfect gift this holiday season!  Check out our latest fashions of holiday sacks.

Dream Dove Red

Swinging Santa Blue

Little Reindeer Mint

First Give Away of the Holidays

Enter to win a Oobi Blanket (Striped Bunny Rug) in stripe print! Comment
below and share the name of your favorite children's holiday story or a memorable holiday moment. You may be the one curling up under this soft and snuggly blanket with a good read of your own! Enter before 6pm pst by December 1st, winner selected randomly and announced evening of December 1st.

Remember to leave your email with the comment (we remove this before it posts - its just so we know how to reach you). Good luck!!

Tracey

It's the Holidays...almost

I have a nice long break coming up in December and for some reason I am trying to remind myself that my holiday hasn’t started just yet.

I am walking around the office singing holiday jingles “its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas….” and feeling rather jolly rather than crazy busy like I usually feel.

Maybe its because my dad is in town visiting and I always feel like his little girl when he is around. We have our first big holiday celebration this weekend – the annual ‘pre-Thanksgiving’ dinner with all of our friends in Los Angeles. We are having 70 people over for a pot luck Thanksgiving feast! Yummmy!

In my holiday spirit I thought that today’s blog should include a photo of our newest model – my nephew Jeff Junior who is super adorable in his overalls and with the reindeer hopper. Actually he is just 100% adorable no matter what he is wearing but add some Cute-ture and he becomes edible!

Happy Pre- Holidays!

The Original FLATOUTbear makes the hot list in Philly

Three years ago when a little teddy bear inspired me to start Cute-ture, I had no idea of how quickly my dream would take off. Now three years and 2000 stores later, the adorable and original FLATOUTbear is still tugging at heart strings - particularly those of infants and toddlers. My brand new niece Lucy Rose has one and my nephew Jude is the proud owner of three!

I was so excited when one of the stores that carries our lines emailed to let us know the FLATOUTbear was back in the news - this time featured in the holiday hot list in Philadelphia Magazine.

So today I celebrate all that is fluffy! Thanks Philly.

Give the Gift of a Crocodile

The holidays are fast approaching and with the economy on the slide and each of us becoming more aware of the effects of climate change, wars, poverty and hunger, there has never been a better time to buy a crocodile and can of worms as a gift.

What you ask? Okay – so if a crocodile for mom and a can of worms for your nephew are not quite your style, how about a spinning wheel or a pair of oxen.

Tracey has lost her mind I hear you say….

This year, my family are going to get some of the funkiest and fun presents I have ever sent and it will all be in the name of helping others. The incredible team at OxFam have come up with the most interesting items that will help others around the world.

Here is what a crocodile, can of worms, two oxen and spinning wheel provide - click here to visit Oxfam Unwrapped.

Raise a Crocodile:
It's not for everyone, but it's a gift that's got some bite! Help raise a crocodile in areas where the caiman population has been depleted. This resilient reptile is more than just a jaw-gnashing croc; it also provides ecological and economic benefits—as well as food!

Can of Worms:
Here's one can of worms that friends and loved ones sure won't mind opening! More than a can, our pound of worms provides farmers with an indispensable tool for cultivating their land. Not only do these squirmy creatures produce fertilizer, but they also break down organic compounds in the earth and enrich land for farming. Now that's a gift that should worm its way into anyone's affections.

The Oxen:
A mighty gift! Legend has it that Paul Bunyan's ox dug the Grand Canyon. Imagine what Paul might have accomplished with two! With a pair of oxen to cultivate their land, small farmers can increase their yields from 200 to 400 percent. And they can rent their animals at a reasonable cost to other farmers. Oxen reduce the time women spend doing manual labor—like tilling fields and hauling water—and allow families the time and space to diversify their crops. Sound like a tall tale? It's not: it's a larger-than-life gift.

Spinning Wheel:
Help women spin themselves a better future! The gift of a spinning wheel is an important way to help women make a living. Used to spin fibers for crafting baskets and rugs, this gift makes spinning more efficient and consistent, which reduces women's workloads and also means higher quality products to sell.

So get whacky and feel wonderful this Christmas for changing a life.

Holidays - So much to say thank you for

I LOVE the holiday season. I love the decorations, music and the energy that is created by all the kids counting down the days until they get those wonderful gifts! I love seeing family and this year I get the bonus of my mother coming to visit from Australia (and see my house for the first time). I love dressing my house up like a Hollywood pooch - ribbons, garlands and a tree with flashing lights and I love eating way to much on Thanksgiving and then falling asleep in the armchair in the afternoon in a food coma. I love waking up to pancakes on Christmas morning and seeing the neighborhood kids out on their new bicycles or playing with their new balls.

With all the negative news and terrible job losses this year, its time we give ourselves a break and remember all the reasons we enjoy this life so much. There is so much to be thankful for and I am loving every day as I choose my path forward.

When I started Cute-ture, it was to have something of my own that enabled me to set the rules and live by the values that matter to me. It was to have a company that put people first (especially the little one's) and that cared about the future. It was to provide a place where I could create, laugh and work in a way that was open and enjoyable. I am blessed to have my family behind me and my husband on board as my co-pilot. And I blessed everyday to have children playing with our toys and wearing our clothing while knowing that in doing so - we have been able to help those that can't afford to buy new toys and wear new clothes.

So today - in a day of more market drops and anxiety - I challenge you to write down what you are thankful for and sing it out loud. We are all in it together and while I may not know you personally I am here for you. Have a great day!