Win One Thousand Dollars!

Go here to enter the Frommer's Fall Getaway Sweepstakes for your chance to win $1,000 to plan your perfect fall getaway, plus (yes, there's a plus!) win some Lug travel gear to help get you where you're going! I'm excited just typing this! (See all the exclamation marks!!!) So, hurry it up, and enter here!

Lug Fit Club: Getting Fit is Even More Fun

By now you should know that the Lug team is getting fit. But then we asked ourselves, "Selves! Why should we just get fit when we can have FUN too?"

Well, it was an easy decision to try to add more fun. But how? ... hmmm ...

MAKE IT A GAME!

So we did. Check it out (pictured).

Now, we're traveling across North America on a quest to make it across the continent and back. Sure, there will be challenges along the way (at each checkpoint you'll open an envelope that will hold your fate—will it be a physical challenge, like 10 burpees? Will it be a mental challenge, like knowing your geography? Or will you catch a pitfall and be banished until you complete a more difficult challenge?). But there will also be surprise prizes, and, of course, an ultimate winner!

Hope our friendly little office competition (which will continue through December) inspires some other LugNuts out there to get fit!

Tell us: What do you do to get fit?

And the Winner Is ...

Entry #3!!! That's right! You voted, and the grand prize winner of our Lug Video Contest is Entry #3. Congrats, superfan! Just to remind you of what you've won ... IT'S A PRIZE PACK VALUED AT $500!!!

We loved seeing all the Lug video love during this contest. A huge thanks to all our Lug lovers out there and to everyone who entered a video and told us how you LIVE LIFE IN COLOR! We have the best fans EVER! 

Friday Yoga: Finding Calm in the Crazy

So, last Friday our lovely Lugger Freda, who also happens to be a talented yoga teacher and leader of our Friday yoga class, decided to take the group outside for a little impromptu outdoor yoga.

"It was definitely a different experience from doing it in the gym," she says. "The idea was that it would be a serene outdoor experience; however, tractors and lawnmowers showed up midway to prep the lawn for back-to-school."

You Zen some, you lose some, eh? (bah-dum-dum-ching!)

But when clever Freda was served lemons, she made lemonade. "I used the metaphor of what this looks like for us in our daily lives, where sometimes there's a lot of noise trying to distract us from what's important, but it's in these times that we need to hone in and focus. Then, if we can get through it, the benefit is even greater!"

Brilliant! Brilliant, I say! Well done, Freda, and all you yogis out there. Way to rack up points in the Lug Fit Club!

What's in Your Bag?

It's always fun to take a peek inside someone's bag. Especially a Lug bag! I'm always amazed at what I can fit inside, so with that in mind, I thought I'd start a new blog segment called "What's in Your Bag?" ... Mkay, I'll start. In my Puddle Jumper (which just so happens to be my very first Lug bag [3.5 years and running!] and my very first Lug love), I have ...

1. My computer. I rarely leave home without it.

2. Because of #1, I've also got my computer cord and a random assortment of other computer accessories, like a flash drive, earbuds, usb cord, etc.

3. My notebook. I am a writer, after all.

4. Snacks. Girl's gotta eat.

5. Napkins. Does anyone else stuff the extra napkins you get at restaurants into your bag? Picked that habit up from my great grandmother.

6. Five lip glosses and a ChapStick. I'm addicted.

7. Cell phone. You know, when it's not in my hand.

8. Wallet & keys.

9. Sunscreen and sunglasses. (That sun sure shines bright deep in the heart of Texas.)

10. Book. (Currently David McCullough's The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris)

11. A couple of pencils and pens.

12. A random card from my mom. (Gotta love that.)

13. A watch that no longer works and a necklace that never made it back to the jewelry box.

14. A couple of random hair clips, spare change, and crumpled up receipts/grocery lists/coupons.

That's about it at the moment. So, whatcha got in your bag? Send me a picture and a list at katie@luglife.com, and I may choose you for my next "What's in Your Bag?" feature!

Lug Video Contest: VOTE NOW!

Remember when I told you about the Lug Video Contest? Well, the videos have been posted to our FB page, so now is the time to get voting! Go here, choose your favorite, and "Like" away! Once you vote, get your friends to vote, and get their friends to vote, and their friends friends to vote, and ... you know. Thanks to all those who submitted a video, and GOOD LUCK!

Back-to-School by Lug

Back to school. Back to school ... I got my lunch my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Ooooh, back to school. ... It's that time again. The start of the school year is quickly approaching (if it hasn't already), and that means school supplies! While we don't sell school supplies, we DO sell lots of brilliant bags and satchels and pouches to store them in. So, without further ado, here is our list of the top three school essentials by Lug:

1. A Brilliant Book Bag

Here we've got several options. You could go with our classic, the Puddle Jumper, with all it's pockets and pouches. Or maybe the sophisticated look of our new Taxicab Tote. If a messenger-style bag is more your thing, try the Hula Hoop for ultimate organization, or really streamline your load with the Flatbed Slim Laptop Bed for your essentials. The Gondola Slouch Tote and the Cabby Social Tote are great, more girlie options too.

2. A Leisurely Lunchbox

The Petals Lunch Tote is perfectly proportioned with it's cute curved shape. But if you think it's hip to be square, go for our Freight Box Lunch Cube.

3. A Pencil Pouch

All those pencils and pens can't just be rolling around your bag! Try the Canoe Brush Holder, the Clearview Envelopes, or the Punter Zip Pouch to keep organized.

Fitness Fun Progress Chart ... Looking Good, Luggers!

Remember when I told you about the Lug Fitness Challenge here? Well, the challenge is in full effect, and as you can see from the progress chart pictured, all the Luggers are doing great! And that's really something to be proud of, considering how busy we've been with all this Hoedown fun.

High-five to all you active Luggers!

Toronto Trade Show Fun!

We've been having a GREAT time at our Toronto trade show these last few days, so I thought I'd share a few pics of all the fun.

There's been lots and lots of booth action! We love all the Lug love!

Capital Hoedown Countdown

That's right. We're just one little week away from the Capital Hoedown, and we can hardly contain our excitement! (Eeeeeeee!!!!!!!) So, to just to be sure we're all prepared, I've come up with a little prep schedule to make sure we're all up to speed come the big day.

1. Friday (six days to go): Today you're going to want to buy your cowboy boots or dust off the ones you store on that top shelf in your closet. Put 'em on. Wear them around the house. Get comfortable in them. After all, there's going to be a lot of boot scootin' for the Howdown.

2. Saturday (five days to go): Speaking of boot scootin', you're going to want to polish those dance moves. Try to find a honky tonk and a cowboy and get after it. Or, if you're more comfortable testing out new moves at home, Youtube is the place to go!

3. Sunday (four days to go): After all that dancing, go ahead and take a break. Don't want to burn out. It is a three-day festival, after all.

4. Monday (three days to go): Today you should pick your outfit. That leaves plenty of time to do your laundry if laundry must be done and/or to go shopping, if you need something like chaps or a prize belt buckle. You know, the essentials.

5. Tuesday (two days to go): Since you've chosen your outfit, you'll easily be able to choose your coordinating Lug bag. I suggest something that slings over your shoulder messenger-style. You're going to want both hands free for dancing, clapping, and general good timin'. You're also going to want to pack it with the essentials—a little cash, sun screen, water bottle, and ... MORE COWBELL!

6. Wednesday (ONE day to go!): Today you can brush up on all those song lyrics you've been practicing and just relax. All your preparation has you in great shape to enjoy the festivities.

7. THURSDAY! ... Y'all have fun now, ya hear!

Lug Makes Fitness Fun

Today I wanted to take some time to share a little about how the Lug office is Living Life In Color!

We love our Lug team, and we want our team to be happy and healthy. That's why we're doing our in-office Get Fit Initiative! What's that, you say? It's our friendly little competition that's aimed at getting our team up and active. Here we are, two weeks into the competition, and we've made great strides to stay active. I've already told you about our Friday Yoga Bliss, and now we have Walking Wednesdays, where we take 30 minutes out of the work day to stretch our legs and get outside in the fresh air. Staffers can also do workouts in our office gym or at home or earn points through special events, like our upcoming Zumba class. Each activity is an opportunity to earn points, and the top three scores walk away with a fabulous prize. How cool is that? (I know, right? Pretty cool.)

We're always interested in fun, different ways to stay active. So, tell us, how do you fit fitness in?

Lug Video Contest Spoiler Alert: EVERYBODY WINS!

I just love a good Lug contest, but this time our fearless leaders, Ami and Jason, have really outdone themselves! Why, you ask? Because for this contest EVERYBODY WINS! That's right, EV-ERY-BO-DY. Just submit a short video (30 seconds or less) telling us why you love Lug and how you LIVE LIFE IN COLOR! The more creative, unique, magnificent, marvelous, awe-inspiring the video, the better! Every Lug Nut who submits a video and "likes" Lug on FB will get a $20 Lug gift card, and as if that wasn't awesome enough, you will be entered to win the grand prize, the big kahuna, the mac daddy of all Lug prizes ... drumroll ... a Lug prize pack valued at $500!!!

The Deets:

1. Submit your video to splash@luglife.com by August 7. Remember: 30 seconds or less!

2. Voting takes place throughout the month of August on Facebook, so be sure to tell all your friends to "like" Lug then "like" your video.

3. The grand prize winner will be announced September 1.

Now, go ahead and get your Spielberg on!

One More NEW From Lug: All-New Taxicab Tote!

If you like our original Taxi Tote, you'll love the new and improved Taxicab! It's got the same classic shape as the original, but the new quilted fabric gives it a fresh, more sophisticated look. We kept all of the original features, like the three front pockets, water bottle pocket, and luggage strap, but we kicked it up a notch by repositioning its accessory pockets, making this classic tote even more clever. We can't wait for you to see it in person!

More NEW from Lug: Introducing the Mambo Sun Tote!

I don't know where you live, but down in Texas, it's HOT, HOT, HOT! And when it's HOT, HOT, HOT, there's nothing better than a beach or a pool, or, heck, even a sprinkler in the backyard. ... While we can't bring the beach to you, we can supply the perfect tote to bring to the beach! Enter the Mambo Sun Tote. It's super lightweight but big enough for beach towels. Plus, it's got soft-lined pockets for gadgets, and three front pockets to keep other beach/pool essentials (magazines, sunglasses, etc.). There's even a removable mirror and a key fob! We can't wait for you to see this cute bag's new quilted clover fabric detail in person. You'll be mad about Mambo too!

Available this Friday!!!

More NEW from Lug: Introducing the Shimmy Shoulder Pack!

Add a little Shimmy to your shake with our newest shoulder pack! This lightweight bag will keep that pep in your step. Though it may be small in stature, it's big on organization, with all the clever features you've come to expect from a Lug bag—durable, fully adjustable strap, hidden water bottle pocket, cell phone pocket, soft-lined pockets, and a removable key fob. The deep front pocket has a magnetic closure for quiet access. And just like the Two-Step, the Shimmy features our new quilted clover fabric motif. Cute to boot!

Available July 15!

More NEW from Lug: Introducing the Two-Step Cosmetic Case

All of the Lug ladies are cheering for this one! Our new-for-fall Two-Step Cosmetic Case is large enough to corral even the biggest collection of cosmetics. It's got two separate compartments, each with a clear plastic coating for easy cleaning, keeping this bag looking great. The larger bottom are has a zip pocket and clever elastic straps to keep products in place, and the top section has another big zip pocket and brush holders to keep your makeup brushes organized. It also comes with a bonus Clearview Envenlope! Don't you just love it when we add extras?

And check out the too-cute quilted clover motif, our new fabric accent for fall 2011. We hope you LOVE IT!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Happy Canada Day, everyone! We hope you have a wonderful day full of parades, festivals, barbeque, and fireworks. ... And if you see Wills and Kate up there, be sure to say hi!

Lug Birthdays Celebrated With ...

... CUPCAKES! What better way is there, really? How cute are these!?! A big THANKS to Marlena from the Lug office, who made these cupcakes for everyone "just because you are all so FABULOUS!" How sweet is that?

Love this so much!

More NEW From Lug: Introducing the Hula Hoop Carry-All!

Versatility. That's what this bag has. Well, that and a whole bunch of AWESOME organizational features! The Hula Hoop Carry-All is a super smart messenger-style bag that sits slim against the body, keeping your hands free to tackle other tasks (see left—super stylish, right!). There's an easy-access cell pocket, two water bottle holders, and all the organizational pockets inside you've come to know and love from Lug! Best part is, what's sure to become your favorite new carry-all doubles as a BABY BAG! Yup. We've added durable stroller straps, a changing pad, and a removable drawstring bag (for dirty diapers or clothes). So baby on board or not, this bag is bananas! (B-A-N-A-N-A-S!)

Lug Love from British Vogue!

Check it out! Our Undercover Bears made the July issue of British Vogue, and we're SO EXCITED! Here's what they said:

"Children love the fun and funky design whilst their Parents love its functionality."

We think that's "right royal!" (Had to pull out some British slang to show our excitement.)

Cheerio!