Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

... And if you haven't picked up your copy of The Night Before Christmas, you better go get it.

Also, for all the kids out there, you're going to want to keep track of Santa here. And to stay on his "good list," here are some Christmas cookie recipes.

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

Agent Turnberry: Bear About Town and Attendee of Children's Aid Foundation Celebration

Agent Turnberry is a real cool cat (he's got a lot of this, and he's got a lot of that). This past Sunday he stopped by the Children's Aid Foundation's 31st Annual Holiday Season Celebration, which is a fabulously festive party that spreads holiday cheer to hundreds of children in the care of child welfare services in the Toronto area and their families. Of course, he was delighted to attend such a worthwhile event, and we've just gotten word that he was an (almost) perfect gentleman at the affair.

"He was very well behaved and really brought smiles to the faces of all the children at the party! ... We had a hard time keeping him away from the blue raspberry lollipops, but never the less he is welcome back anytime!"

What can we say? He loves those darn blue raspberry lollipops!

Lug Gets Fit for New Years

We're halfway through December (man, time flies!), which means it's about time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions. And why not get a jump on it? We did! The whole Lug gang (only partially pictured) took a trip to two of our favorite local running shops—Running Free in Markham and Luke's Locker in Dallas—to get foot assessments and stock up on new kicks for the new year. Looks like there are going to be lots of happy feet running around the Lug offices!

What will your New Year's resolution be?

Lots of Lug Love!

Still got some holiday gift shopping to take care of? The Succulent Wife is here to help with gift guides for all kinds, from pets, teens, kiddos, and hostesses to the men and women on your list. And on that Gift Guide for Women is our Nap Sac Travel Blanket and Pillow Set. We couldn't agree with you more, The Succulent Wife. The Nap Sac is a brilliant gift for keeping the women in your life comfortable while they travel.

And here's a little more Lug love from Nate Berkus—this time on his blog. Once again, WE LOVE NATE!

Color Theory Thursday: Notable Navy

I don't think anyone would disagree that the holidays can be hectic. So for this Color Theory Thursday, I thought it smart to review a calming hue like navy blue.

With so much blue all around us in the sky and the sea, it's easy to see why blue is a favorite color for so many. Did you know that the color blue actually causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming? (Learned that right here.) This insight kind of makes you want to paint your house blue for the holidays, right? Or maybe just your bedroom—a calming retreat. Blue also symbolizes trust, wisdom, and stability. Go for navy blue if you're looking for an honorable hue.

Holiday Travel Tunes: Updating Your Travel Playlist

Any lengthy trip requires a host of diversions—books, movies, games, and, of course, music. And it's only natural that holiday travel would require holiday tunes. A little mood music, if you will. Here's a little inspiration to update your playlist:

First is Amazon's list of 25 Essential Holiday Albums. Lots of classics on this list, plus a little something from a range of genres—jazz, country/bluegrass, rock, soul.

But as I looked through the Amazon list, I realized that there was no Mariah. *gasp* It's just not Christmas without Mariah Carey. She's put out many since this album, but the original Merry Christmas is hard to beat.

Of course, there's Josh Groban and Michael Buble for great male leads, and Susan Boyle and adorable little Jackie Evancho, two amazing voices to come out of talent competitions.

Then, during my research, I came across this NPR story: The Best, Worst and Weirdest in Holiday CDs. And that is what I will leave you with. Happy listening!

A Call for Comments

Millions of you packed up and hit the road over the recent holiday weekend, and with more holiday travel likely on the agenda in the coming weeks, I thought it would be nice to share some travel advice straight from our lovely Lug fans.

If you recently traveled with some Lug gear, tell me about it. Post a comment here, on Facebook, or on Twitter. I'd love to hear what you used and why you love it. Then, I'll compile a smart and supremely useful Lug guide to holiday travel, straight from the first-hand accounts of Lug fans around the world. I can't wait to hear how you use your Lug!