From the RIU Team in Stuart FL, warm wishes for a very Merry Christmas!!!  Check out this awesome RIU cake our photographer gave us as a Christmas present – it’s so RIU!  (Thanks Robert!!)

See you all next week for an exclusive preview of our Spring 2011 collection!!

Tags: 12daysofxmas

Hi everyone!  It’s been a busy start to our week over here at RIU HQ.  I’m finishing up some great new updates to the website, so today’s blog post is brought to you by Carrie in our Sales Department!  Since our countdown to Xmas is almost up I had her share with us all one of her favorite Christmas traditions… Enjoy!!

(image via weheartit)

Wrapped or Unwrapped is the question!

Growing up ,I remember waking up way before dawn on Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought me and my sisters.  We would all sleep in the same room that night and it happened to be the room closest to the Christmas tree!  I would be the very first one up, ready to see what Santa left for us the night before. I always wondered how Santa worked so hard at our house putting the doll house together and the sparkly new bike and all displayed to perfection, when he had a million other homes to go to that night! See, my Santa Clause didn’t wrap the presents that he brought us.  He would have them out for when we woke up to play with right away. In our house it was a “rule” that we were allowed to play with the new toys from Santa, but we had to wait to go C-R-A-Z-Y ripping and tearing  open the other gifts until after Mom and Dad had their coffee.

Last week RIU held their annual Holiday luncheon. I must say it was a great time full of laughs and a very good debate. At the end of the table that I was sitting at, the question came up, “did Santa wrap his presents to you or did he have them unwrapped and displayed?”  Well, we all know Santa left my presents unwrapped. I would love to know how Santa left your presents!

Did Santa leave your presents wrapped or unwrapped?

Tags: 12daysofxmas, holiday tradition

The final weekend for Christmas shopping is upon us!  How the heck did that happen?  Does anyone else feel like December has just flown right by?  Just wanted to remind everyone that Sunday night is the last time to get FREE Ground shipping in time for Christmas on www.roomitup.com. Here’s wishing you all a fun and safe final weekend before Christmas!  This weekend I want to make some holiday cookies – what are some of your favorite treats to make over the holidays?  I saw these adorable (not to mention perfect!) cookies on the cupcakesandcashmere blog this week.  Maybe I’ll give those a try – but I’m not sure mine will turn out as pretty.  See you all on Monday for the final countdown until Christmas!

(via Emily at cupcakesandcashmere)

Tags: 12daysofxmas, cookies

For the 3rd Day of Christmas we are having a great HOLIDAY promotion!!  Now until December 31, we are offering 30% off select Holiday items – Ruffle Aprons, Dish Towels, and Stockings!!  Prices are priced as marked, plus you can get FREE shipping on $40 orders with code FREESHIP10.  How sweet is that?

Tags: 12daysofxmas, holidaypromo, riu

For today’s 12 Days of Christmas installment I thought I would roundup a few fun ornaments I have found recently online.  I have had my tree up since the weekend after Thanksgiving and was just thinking that I needed to find my annual ornament to add to my collection.  I usually stick to a white, silver and red theme, but seeing some of these fun ornaments makes me want to expand and find something fun and unexpected.  Below is my Polyvore of some of the ornaments that have caught my eye recently.  How do you decorate your tree?  Do you stick to a theme or are you more eclectic with your decorating incorporating a bunch of different colors and styles?  BTW, be sure to enter our Holiday Sweepstakes if you haven’t yet!  $200 RIU dollars are up for the taking!!

Tags: 12daysofxmas, ornament

It’s the final 12 Days until Christmas!  Today I wanted to share with you a couple of my new and old favorite holiday songs.  What are some of your all time favorite songs for the season?  By the way, the classic: Nysnc’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” for sure came on the radio as I was driving back to office after lunch… it may have been what inspired this post… just sayin!

a new favorite this year:  Glee’s Last Christmas

A Mariah Carey Classic.  I wish this video was the Love Actually version, but it’s not… le sigh

Manheim Steamroller’s Carol of the Bells – This live version is pretty cool

I love me some Michael Buble, and his version of Let It Snow.

And last, there’s always the classic ,Feliz Navidad… it’s just so festive!

I hope you have enjoyed my holiday song round up!  Did I leave off your favorite?

Remember to enter our $200 Shopping Spree Sweepstakes on our Facebook page!!!

Tags: 12daysofxmas, holiday songs

Just because we heart our customers so much – FREE shipping and FREE mirror with pouch with purchase at Room It Up!!  Keep the mirror for yourself or give it away to a friend!  Also doubles as a great stocking stuffer or secret santa gift!  Offer valid now through Dec 15th! Happy Holidays!!

Tags: free gift, free shipping, promo, room it up

Below is my first Holiday Gift Guide via Polyvore – featuring two of my favorite things:  Sparkles and Polka Dots!!  So enjoy!  Today I also added some new Room It Up Gift Wrap to our website!!  I’m so excited about all of this cute stuff – we should have all of it in stock + ready to ship on Monday or Tuesday of next week!

Tags: holiday10, riu gift guide, room it up

Well, everyone like it or not it’s definitely here:  Holiday Shopping season!  Last week I was at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach and just about every store was playing Holiday tunes – getting those shoppers in the give + get mood.  To get all of you pumped for the season, and in an effort to show you what awesome things I have been spotting in my favorite stores, blogs, magazines, etc.. I am going to start creating some Holiday Gift Guides for the weeks leading up to the Holidays!!  I’m still working on them, so today I will leave you with some previews of some TV shows, AND movies, that I am looking forward to seeing this season!

Tonight’s GLEE episode featuring Gwenyth Paltrow

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Morning Glory – which appears to be a loose interpretation of one of my favorite shows, The Today Show!

What are you looking forward to this holiday season?  Back tomorrow with my first Holiday Gift Guide!

Tags: glee, harry potter, holiday2010, morning glory

I am loving our cute new coordinated limited edition Ruffle Dish Towels and Ruffle Aprons for Holiday 2010!  Perfect for all of that upcoming Holiday baking and cooking – not to mention a great coordinated gift!!  Available in Candy Swirl, Houndstooth and Confetti Dot.