05/01

to: mom

Motherhood is complete happiness for me. My children amaze me everyday and I can honestly say wouldn’t want my life any other way. As a mother, I have grown as a woman and a human being.

Having said that, I have also never been so tired, dirty, worried and had my patience tried so much as a mother. šŸ™‚

I have an unbelievable amount of gratitude for my mom and all she did for me and a high level of respect for all the wonderful moms doing the best they can to raise happy, healthy children.

Today, we have a few treasured finds to show your mom you care on Mother’s Day.

{P.S. You should order today as Mother’s Day is 12 days away}.

FOR THE ANTIQUE LOVING MOM
Rewired Basket, Home Decorators Collection {$24}
{this would be adorable filled with short glasses, a bottle of vino, bread, cheese, grapes and some meat along with a soft blanket for a picnic…it would double as a gift and a fun Mother’s Day outing}

Ā Ā FOR THE FUN IN THE SUN MOM

Two Color Striped Floppy Hat, Echo Design Ā {$42}

Ā Ā Ā FOR THE COLORFUL MOM

Gecko Bangles in a variety of colors, Fornash {$25}

FOR THE BEGINNING GARDENER MOM

Flowers in a Can, FredFlare.com {$15}

FOR THE NEW MOM
I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Noble, Amazon {$13}

FOR THE MOM WHO DESERVES A BREAK AND A LITTLE PAMPERING
Lollia Relax Evening Bubble Bath, Lollia {available for purchase at Fleur de Lis, a paperie for $34}

FOR THE SENTIMENTAL MOM
My Mom Scented Candle, Curly Girl Store {$17.95}

FOR THE CUTE, SPORTY MOM
Mom’s Toms Shoes, toms {$54}

FOR THE CLASSIC MOM
Echo ‘Pear Label Conversational Scarf’, Nordstrom {$38}

Ā {images via Home Decorators Collection, Echo,Ā Fornash,Ā FredFlare.com,Ā Toms, Curly Girl Store, Lollia, AmazonĀ and Nordstrom}

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04/27

pinterest picks of the week

We are obsessed with Pinterest. We find daily inspiration for fashion, parties, wedding, DIY projects and home decor. It’s genius – pin pictures from all over the web to create categorized boards. They can be vision boards, party ideas, portfolios and inspiration – all stored in one, easy and accessible place.

Ā Become a Tutto Bella Pinterest follower and you will see why we’re so addicted.

This week, we’re loving…

Unique Wedding Bar, Green Wedding Shoes

Custom Memory Journals from Paper Coterie, found via How Does She?
{visit How Does She? to find the $15 credit to Paper Coterie}

Mini Milkshake Shooters,Ā Hey Gorgeous
{visitĀ Hey GorgeousĀ for the complete how-to tutorial…how cute is the chocolate/sprinkled rim glasses…this is a MUST at my next party}

Baffin Bags Chevron Organizer, Etsy {$18}

Homegrown Monogram Mug, Anthropologie, $8
{this is a cute mother’s day gift filled with a Starbucks card or ingredients for her favorite hot drink}

Individual 7-Layer Dips, The Girl Who Ate Everything

{images via Baffin Bags, How Does She?, Anthropologie, Green Wedding Shoes, The Girl Who Ate Everything, Hey Gorgeous}

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04/24

books made for royalty by i see me

As you know from previous posts, I LOVE the custom books I See Me Personalized Children’s Books creates. I believe they make every child feel special with each book customized with his/her name and they make the perfect new baby, christening or birthday gift.

We own My Very Own Name and My Very Own Fairy Tale – and I cannot say enough good things about them. Seriously, I love them!

We were lucky enough to be among the first to view their new custom books for boys and girls, My Royal Birthday Adventure.

So, I have a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year -old girl, and they both loved I See Me’s Royal Birthday Adventure books. My son loves dragons, knights and medieval imagination, so he felt so proud to be named a knight for the day. And, he loved seeing his name on every page, whether it was in the text, or on flags, scenery or stars in the sky. And while my daughter was a bit young for the book, she loved the castles and being called a princess.

My favorite part about the book…they made my children feel special, while teaching them the importance of being who they are on the inside.

The words and images take children on a wonderful medieval adventure filled with castles, royalty, magicians and animals. And the images are detailed and colorful, which makes it read like a piece of art children can continuously discover.


One of my favorite lines from the book, “Dear {child’s name}, you are our brave birthday knight {or princess} today because you are special in every which way. You’re a striking young boy {beautiful girl} ,but that’s only one part. It’s the inside that counts. It’s what’s found in your heart. You’re generous, caring, creative and kind, curious and humorous with an intelligent mind.”

Ā We’re not just going to talk about these wonderful books and not offer you a chance to win one.

Today,Ā I See Me Personalized Children’s Books is offering a lucky Tutto Bella reader a chance to WIN A FREE PERSONALIZED I SEE ME ROYAL BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE BOOK for your little one.

To enter the giveaway, you must:
{1.} ā€œLikeā€ I See Me onĀ Facebook. Come back and leave a comment telling us you did {you have to leave a comment so we can enter your name in the drawing}.

For additional entries:
{which means you can enter the giveaway up toĀ four times}
{2.} Visit I See Me on TwitterĀ and become a follower. Then come back and leave a comment, telling us you did it. If you are already a follower, then leave a comment to tell us that you are.
{3.} Follow I See Me on Pinterest, then come back and leave a comment telling us you follow them.Ā If you are already a follower, then leave a comment to tell us that you are.
{4.}VisitĀ I See MeĀ to look at their wonderful books, then come back here andĀ leave a comment telling us which book is your favorite.

Winner will be chosen via random.org. Must enter by Friday, May 4, 2012.Ā 

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04/23

italian terra cotta love

I have always loved terra-cotta {or baked earth translated in Italian} pots because they remind me of being in Italy, and they remind me of summer and beautiful flowers.

I’m heading to Home Depot this week to make this for my son’s teachers, and might have to buy a couple more terra-cotta pots to make the projects below. It’s the time of year for planting, so it’s the perfect time to start these easy, affordable DIY’s.

Chalkboard Pots, Martha Stewart
{These would make for great gifts, escort cards, favors, place cards and home garden}
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Terra Cotta Gift, Martha Stewart
{fill the terra-cotta pot with seed packets, top the pot with the saucer and tie a bow on top with twine for a lovely, affordable gift}
terra cotta diy gift

ImageDIY Potted Banana Bread, Style Me Pretty
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Thank You for Helping Me Grow Teacher Gift, Giggles Galore
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DIY Cupcake Stand, Once Wed
{This idea can be used for a wedding, a birthday party or a shower. It’s an affordable way to make a cupcake stand the color and design of your choice.}

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Graphic Pots for any Celebration, Chicago Home and Garden

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Favors and Wedding Decor, Snippet and Ink
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DIY Terra Cotta Pot Coasters, Joy is at Home

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Pretty Pots, Christine Chitnis
{click here for her tutorial}
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{images via Once Wed, Martha Stewart, Giggles Galore, Style Me Pretty, Chicago Home and Garden, Joy is at Home, Snippet and InkĀ and Christine Chitnis}

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04/17

POST-IT party for the grad

I am so excited about this idea because we all useĀ Post-itĀ® notesĀ {my sister Jenna is about as obsessed as Oprah} and what a relevant product to decorate a party with forĀ a new grad. The colors are bright. The ideas are endless. The cost is affordable. The cuteness is unbearable. Here are some of my ideas ~ now I just need a party to put them into action. Anyone want me to plan their Post-itĀ®Ā Grad Party? šŸ™‚

David Stark is a genius planner {his recent book David Stark Design looks fabulous} and I am so impressed with his Post-itĀ®Ā decor on a recent episode of The Nate Berkus Show episode and aĀ party seen below.
{yes, those are vases covered with colored pencils, rolling hills with pencils and post it notes and pencils for guests to doodle at each place setting ~ all of which are totally doable for a grad party}

This David Stark DIY Fridge Project featured on Design Sponge provides excellent how-to details for a Post-itĀ®Ā backdrop for your upcoming grad party, or simple fridge decor.

I absolutely LOVE Chris from Celebrations at Home ‘A Bright Future‘ graduation party. Because Post-itĀ® NotesĀ are bright, some of her ideas would work wonderfully with our party theme. You must check out her entire party post here, but for now make sure your guests can enjoy bright-colored candy {to match your Post-Its} placed inside light bulbs in honor of your ‘bright’ child. Chris, you are so creative.

This Post-It Mini ClipboardĀ for $4 by Acarrdian CardsĀ on Etsy would be an adorable favor for friends to take home.

For all your single minglers or forgetful minded guests {like me}, your guests can exchange numbers at your party with these Post-It-shaped Watches available at Paris Boutique PA Design for $13.60

Create a Post-itĀ®Ā Note tree or wall where people can grab notes individually and write notes of advice to the new grad. Once they write a note, have a table close by with a 8.5×11 book for 6 spots per page forĀ Post-itĀ®Ā Notes. It will serveĀ as a ‘guest book’ for the grad to keep forever.

Other ideas:

Work with Jenna at Fleur de Lis, a paperie, to create a Post-It Note Invite. She can work with you to design it. I promise it will be cute.

Design a background that says ‘congrats’ with Post-Its, along with Post-It message, like Martha Stewart did in the top photo on kraft paper.

{images via David Stark Sketchbook, Design Sponge, Celebrations at Home,Ā Acarrdian Cards, PA Design, Modern Kiddo}

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