The verdict is in - Edie Grace was nicer than she was naughty this year!  Santa arrived in full flair and helped her check off everything she asked for on her list.  As I watched her this morning it was so wonderful to re-live my childhood and all of those wonderful Christmas mornings through her eyes.  Even our cat, Thelma Lou, enjoyed Santa’s visit.  The boots Edie Grace is modeling was a little gift for me from Santa.  Of course, she had to try them out first.  This was a very special Christmas for many wonderful reasons.  We are truly blessed.  Hope you had a great and wonderful Christmas!  

  Edie Grace was an angel in the school play and wanted me to share one of those images here also.  She is my angel and as you can see - she seems to steal the show - no matter what role she is given.  Wonder where she gets that from?

  Edie Grace is now all snug as a bug in her bed as visions of sugar plums dance in her head!  We have had a marathon day and I am afraid it is only beginning.  Tonight Edie Grace helped wrap a few special presents then we made dinner, baked special cookies for Santa, prepared and spread reindeer food directly on our roof, (she said that it only worked it she spun quickly three times in a circle!) read “twas the night before Christmas” and now a good nights sleep.

We hope this is the most special Christmas ever for all of you!

Merry Christmas!

p.s.  Just a quick note…our friends Laci and Robby that own the new Hugos restaurant downtown will be open on Christmas nite!  Join them for oysters and some football!

I have been telling you that this has been an incredible year - but it has exceeded our expectations making this officially our best Christmas Card year ever! By now, nearly 10,000 homes have been brightened this Christmas with a custom created Lori Grice Christmas card.  The feedback has been amazing so far.  This year is not only our largest number but also our most creative.

If you sent or received a Lori Grice created Christmas card - please reply here to this blog and let me know what you or your receivers thought?  People love feedback on their Christmas cards.  I would love to share your thoughts.  Many of these cards have created quite a buzz.  That is so much fun!

Enjoy a sideshow of a few of this years Christmas Cards:

Merry Christmas!

Through our blog and emails we have asked you to email us and let us know about the buzz your Lori Grice Christmas cards are creating.  Nearly 10,000 homes throughout the world will be a little brighter this Christmas thanks to you sending them a Lori Grice Christmas card created especially for your family.  We want to hear from some of you who received a Lori Grice card that brightened your Christmas.  Comment on this blog or email them to us at info@lorigrice.com. 

The best story from a sender or from a receiver will get dinner for two on us from Statesboro’s hottest fine dining experience the Blue Moon.   No matter if you sent a Lori Grice  card or if you simply received one - you are still eligible for dinner on us.  What are you waiting for…get busy writing!!!

Our hundreds and hundreds of faithful blog readers are looking forward to your comments.

Here are two of our first:

Hi Lori!  We got a card from Doug and Karen Lambert - IT WAS ADORABLE - you did great!!!!  5 stars!  Do again next year! Julie and Kenny Stone

Lori,
I went to the funeral of a dear friend in Hazelhurst yesterday and took my Lori Grice Christmas Card with me to show long time friends how much my children had grown.  While showing it to one friend, she commented how much “these two” (Jonathan and me) looked alike, then pointed to me in the picture and said, “Now, how old is this one?”.  I played along with “…um…..29?…yes, 29.”  She replied with, “Karla, you know you don’t have one 29 years old!”  Needless to say, I had to ride home with my head out of the window of the car because it wouldn’t fit IN the car.  You GO LORI!  You can make me look as young as my children instead of the mother of my children!!!!!  I’m still not over it today!
Thanks for every compliment and wow we’ve gotten from our/your cards.
Karla Collins

your family is rarely all together…

Let us make your

family memories last forever!

Appointments available during the Christmas Holiday while all of your family is in town…

December 21, 24, 26, 27, 28 and 31st

Complete packages begin at only $180.

Email or call today 912-764-7274 or email dewayne@lorigrice.com   

Thanks for the emails and the calls regarding my delinquent blog entries.  This seems to be our busiest Christmas season ever!  Our staff of elves are working around the clock - literally - to make sure we get all of your Christmas surprises ready for you.   I simply have had NO additional time to blog as we are putting all of our energy into getting your Christmas portraits ready.

We are keeping the office open extended hours through next Friday, December 21 and plan to open at least half a day on Christmas Eve.  We will be offering delivery and hanging services for all of the portraits.  Thanks for your patience.  This is going to be a very good Christmas!

The best way to reach us the next few days will be by email at dewayne@lorigrice.com  If you leave us a voice mail please let us know how late we can return your call.  We are trying to be as responsive as possible - but it is a little more challenging this time of year.

Every day we are getting wonderful calls and emails from your family and friends telling us how AWESOME your Christmas cards are.  I must say that we have really really had an amazing year of card sales.  We doubled last year and believe that it is going to be our largest year ever.  Much of this I have to attribute to Sean Haines our in house designer.  Sean is a graduate student at SCAD and has really ratcheted up our look this year. 

Next week we will mail our personal cards and will post it here for all of you to see.

We hope this is your best Christmas ever and we also hope that Santa brings you EVERYTHING you deserve!

Tonight Edie Grace, DeWayne and I accepted the invitation and encouragement of long-time client and friends Kristen and Jeshua Grach to attend The Journey.  This is the sixth year their church, Savannah Christian, has produced this interactive Journey to witness the birth of Jesus.  If you have experienced this - then you understand how powerful this experience is.  They have recreated the city of Bethlehem, complete with live animals and a market.  (Including a camel!!!) 

As a traveler in biblical times you will travel along The Journey to witness our Savior’s birth.  You travel as a member of one of the 12 tribes of Israel for census and tax collecting in Bethlehem.  Along the way, you encounter Roman Guards and get to meet Mary and Joseph.

This is a must do Christmas experience.  The cast and crew comprises over 1,000 volunteers from the church all eager to make this the most incredible Christmas gift you will receive.

Next Wednesday through Sunday will be your last chance to participate in The Journey.  Log onto their web site to purchase tickets, get directions and learn more about The Journey.

Thanks to Kristen and Jeshua we have refocused on the real meaning of Christmas.

p.s.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.

I know, I know we are the ONLY CITY in America that has a downtown Christmas event on a Thursday night.  Yes I know that every child who is at the age to be most excited about the arrival of Santa in this trade area has a spelling test on Friday.  We hear you - loud and clear and I promise that we have registered your valid concerns to our city leaders over and over again - to NO avail - but at least they know you want to come but simply can not.

In spite of it being on a Thursday night - the event drew hundreds of you downtown for a beautiful Christmas parade, chili cook off and some world famous Lori Grice FREE popcorn.  Even though many….many…..many of you simply could not get out on a school and work night to participate - the event was a HUGE success.  We appreciate all of you who waited in long lines all night to sample our FREE popcorn.  We began this tradition years ago of rolling out our vintage popcorn machine and making old fashion, not so healthy, but VERY good popcorn.  It is a small way we can say THANK YOU to those of you who support our business and all of Downtown throughout the year.

This year the organizers combined the event with a tour of homes on Savannah Avenue.  Next year hopefully we can expand the event down West Main street.  This and all downtown events have so much promise.  We appreciate your support and would like to also thank the City of Statesboro, the Downtown Development Authority, the Averitt Center for the Arts and the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau for organizing a beautiful Christmas event downtown.

If you missed the event tonight - come downtown tomorrow night (Friday) for First Friday.  It is a fun, cultural event that draws lots of people to our vibrant downtown.  Hope to see you tomorrow night!

Now is your chance to make this Christmas one to remember for the people on your list.  There is only one thing better than getting a Lori Grice gift certificate for Christmas and that is getting it for HALF PRICE!  As part of our downtown Christmas Celebration we are offering Christmas gift certificates for half price.

We want to make your shopping easier…MUCH easier! This is another one of our “It’s our birthday…but we are giving the gifts to you” celebration events to mark our 20th year in business.  Beginning on Thursday, December 6th at 12 noon until Friday December 7th at 8PM you can take advantage of our first ever “Double Dollar” gift certificate sale!

Here is the 411:

Purchase a gift certificate for any denomination up to $400 and pay only half the face value of the gift certificate.  In effect, we are doubling your gift - instantly!  Pretty cool, huh?  You can purchase in person at the studio or by calling 912-764-7274 or emailing us at info@lorigrice.com

Gift Certificates can be used for our “Home for the Holidays” promotion.  The week between Christmas and New Years is a perfect opportunity to allow me to create the family portrait you have always wanted while all the family is in town.

Now for the fine print:

One per customer - unless your purchasing them for multiple clients for multiple sessions.

Maximum gift certificate available at half price is $400 - you pay only $200

Does not apply towards sitting fees…only can be used toward your session deposits or purchases from previous sessions

Gift certificates are only good for the purchase of portraits gift sizes and portraits up to 30×40.  Frames, custom sizes, purses, jewelry and other “non portrait” products are excluded.

Gift certificates are only valid for use from December 21, 2007 through February 15, 2008.

Certain other exclusions may apply.

Look forward to seeing or hearing from you Thursday or Friday!!!