12/06

{giveaway} i see me personalized children’s books

I love when I discover a new, fabulous and unique product that makes the perfect gift. I get giddy…seriously! I love it even more when I get to share it with all of YOU.

I became familiar with I See Me Personalized Children’s Books because I received My Very Own Name from a good friend {thanks McKenna} when I had my first child. It was one of my favorite gifts I received. Not only because it was personalized {who doesn’t love the added touch of personalization?}, but because it was a beautiful, lasting book that engaged my son with words, letters and animals to teach him his name.

There is something for everyone at I See Me! Whether you’re an uncle or aunt, grandparent, godmother or godfather, brother or sister, friend or neighbor ~ you can make a child smile with the gift of words and pictures beautifully bound in a story they can keep forever.

Your little one can have a magical holiday with A Christmas Bear for Me or A Hanukkah Bear for Me. Your fairy princess will star in her own magical fairy tale in My Very Own Fairy Tale as fairies bring letters one by one to spell out her name in rhyme {my daughter loves this book and actually tries to smell the flowers on every page}. Sea creatures will spell your child’s name in rhyme in My Very Own Pirate Tale. The newest member of the family will feel even more blessed and loved when he or she receives God Love You! Personalized Book for his/her christening. And big brothers and big sisters can feel extra special and rewarded with The Super, Incredible Big Brother/Sister personalized books.

I love these books! In fact, I loved these books even before I knew the hottest Hollywood celebrities coveted I See Me books for their children.

Today, I See Me is offering one lucky Tutto Bella blog reader a FREE personalized My Very Own Name book. This giveaway is worth $29.95 plus shipping. Thank you I See Me!

My Very Own Name is a beautifully illustrated personalized children’s book that helps children to learn to recognize letters and spell their names. In this hardcover, professionally bound book, animals bring letters one by one to create the child’s first and last names in rhyme. A jackal brings a J, an ostrich brings an O, and so on. At the end, the animals celebrate because they’ve created the perfect name.

As an added personal touch, this award-winning book includes the child’s birth date, a printed dedication from the sender, and an illustrated encyclopedia of 61 animals. This storybook is made in the USA and written by Maia Haag.

Click here to order “My Very Own Name”, a personalized children’s book

To enter the giveaway, you must:
{1.} “Like” I See Me on 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 to three times}
{2.} Visit I See Me on Twitter and become a follower. Then tell us you did it.
{3.}Visit I See Me, then come back here and leave a comment telling us which book is your favorite {you have to leave a comment in order to enter your name in the drawing}.

Winner will be chosen via random.org. Must enter by Sunday, December 11, 2011. 

{images via I See Me}

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12/05

our favorite things {for the new mama}

New moms have to adjust to 9 months of their body changing and growing, and once their child is born, their lives are turned upside down {in a good way} with diapers, sleepless nights, milk and baby talk…and the endless joy and unconditional love that miraculous babies bring.

All moms ~ pregnant and post-birth, moms of one, two or three or more children and moms of children of every age ~ DESERVE to be pampered. They dedicate their lives to their families and deserve to be given a little something special this holiday season…and always.

We put together a list of sweet gifts for the pregnant mom and new mom that is sure to bring a smile to their face…and their tiny tots too.

All products have been given my highest stamp of approval because I received these items as a new mom and absolutely LOVED them all!

1. Hanky Panky Lace Thong, Nordstrom, prices vary but range from $18-23 per pair: Comfortable, pretty, no pesky underwear lines and wearable even with 50lbs of baby weight because it’s one size fits all. Gotta love it…I know I do, whether I’m preggo or not.
2. Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth, Jenny McCarthy, Amazon.com, $10.98: This book will make her laugh and give her an honest and hilarious insight into the changes a preggo mama goes through. Read an excerpt here.
3.  Mama Mio Tummy Rub, Amazon.com, $35: She will love to massage this on her belly to try to prevent stretch marks as her belly grows, but will come to love the routine of massaging and rubbing her sweet baby bump daily.
4. My Very Own Name, I See Me Personalized Children’s Books, $29.95: Animals bring letters one by one to spell out your child’s name in rhyme. This is a gift that will keep on giving. You can personalize the mom to be’s child when he/she is born or personalize for a big brother or big sister. I LOVE this book and so do my kids!  
5. Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag, Petunia Pickle Bottom, prices vary: The new mom will stay fashionable with her designer diaper bag that fits all her new baby needs.  
Check back here tomorrow for our wonderful giveaway and how to enter. It’s a good one you won’t want to miss.

{images via Nordstrom, I See Me, Amazon and Petunia Pickle Bottom}

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11/29

{giveaway} doodle design shop

{FOR A FRIEND} giveaway: Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hat from Doodle Design Shop

Creative crafter and mompreneur {mom and entrepreneur}, Jenny at Doodle Design Shop,  creates one-of-a-kind hats adorned with unique and colorful handmade blooms. The distressed military style caps are my favorite, but she has something for every style and season – fedoras for the fashionistas, crochet winter head wraps and cute beanies to keep warm during the winter months, straw cowboy hats and even youth flower hats for your little tots.

We love Jenny for creating these hats, and also because Jenny is kindly offering Tutto Bella readers a FREE Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hat! It’s a fashionable gift {for a friend} or yourself, worth $38.

All three of us own a hat like this and absolutely LOVE IT. In fact, we’ve given to friends and family as gifts, and they too LOVE the hat.

A bad hair day has never looked so cute with a Doodle Design hat to cover it up.

To enter the giveaway, you must:
{1} Visit Doodle Design Shop and leave a comment telling us which item is your favorite.

For additional entries:
{2} Visit Doodle Design Shop on Facebook, and leave a comment telling us you became a fan or “like” Doodle Design Shop.
{3} Visit Fleur de Lis on Facebook, and leave a comment telling us you’re a fan, or you “like” Fleur de Lis.

Eligible to U.S. Residents only. You must comment by 10 am MST by Friday, December 2, 2011. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

{images via Doodle Design Shop}

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Filed Under: decor, lifestyle
11/28

favorite things {for a friend}

I am truly blessed to have a loyal group of girlfriends I can always count on, and who love me through it all. Just thinking about all of them makes me smile. Everyone needs a good friend in his/her life…it’s therapy you don’t have to pay for! 🙂 Think about your girlfriends this holiday season, and if you can’t afford to buy them something, make them dinner or send a card letting them know how much you love and appreciate them.

We have terrific gift ideas {FOR THE FRIEND} this holiday season that will be sure to delight…and come back here tomorrow to enter in our giveaway because we have a giveaway item from the list below you won’t want to miss!

1. Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hats, $38, Doodle Designs Shop
2. TOMS Herringbone Shoe, $54, Toms
3. East Cloud Grey Scarf with Sequins, $48, Kitson
4. I heart Italy {insert your favorite place} necklace, $55, tru.che {Stevie at tru.che kindly offered Tutto Bella readers 10% with code BELLA this week only. Shop her etsy store – she creates beautiful jewelry ranging from $8-$100. I am in LOVE with the I heart Italy necklace…think about that special place for you you’d like to keep around your neck and close to your heart this holiday season and always}
5. Voluspa Candle, $18-$28, sold at Fleur de Lis, a paperie

{images via Doodle Design Shop, Kitson, Toms, tru.che, Voluspa}

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Filed Under: fashion, lifestyle Tagged: , , , , ,
11/25

new food contributor + recipe debut

She approaches love and cooking with Reckless Abandon…our kinda girl. We took one look at Rachel’s blog, appropriately titled Reckless Abandon, and knew we wanted to give her recipes a try…and get to know her with a glass of vino in hand.

That being said, we have some exciting news at Tutto Bella

…{drum roll please}…

Rachel, author and creative cook behind Reckless Abandon, is our first contributor here at Tutto Bella. You will see her recipes here and please browse her site for recipes – your taste buds will thank you.

Her debut recipe does not disappoint…{and our bellies are in need of a healthy salad after stuffing ourselves with turkey, potatoes and gravy and pumpkin pie yesterday}!

Spinach Salad with Cajun Pecans and Poppy Seed Dressing
{recipe by Rachel at Reckless Abandon}

Ingredients
2 bags baby spinach salad
8 ounces pecans
1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges (or two smaller ones), drained
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning (I use Tony Chachere’s)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing Ingredients
1.5 cups sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
3 cups (plus 1 Tbsp) vegetable oil
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp chopped white onion
1.5 Tbsp poppy seeds

Directions
Make the dressing, which can be made days in advance and kept in the fridge. {You will need a food processor or blender to make the dressing}.
First combine the sugar, dry mustard, chopped white onion, cider vinegar and 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in the food processor.
Process for 2-3 minutes {I know that seems long, but it needs awhile}.

Add the poppy seeds to the mix and pulse a few times.
Slowly add the 3 cups of vegetable oil while the food processor is running. Or just pour some in, process for 20 seconds, add more, repeat, and so on until all the oil is incorporated in the dressing.
Pour in an airtight container. {I used mason jars}.
NOTE: The dressing will separate over time, so just shake again before using.

 In a medium bowl combine the pecans, 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning.
Toss with a spoon until the nuts are evenly covered in the spices.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes and 375 degrees.
Allow to cool before making the salad. {You can also make these a few days in advance}.

Right before dressing the salad, thinly slice the red onions and drain the mandarin oranges.

To make the salad, in a large bowl, toss together the spinach, pecans, onion, oranges and dressing. {Just don’t forget that you can always add more dressing, never remove it…so I start with less than I think I will need, toss and then add more if needed}.

 In Rachel’s words: The mix of flavors is what really gives this salad the wow-factor.  You have the sweet dressing and mandarin oranges with the spicy pecans and a kick from the onions.  I promise this you will make this salad again and again!

{images via Reckless Abandon}

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