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.

 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, Hey Gorgeous
{visit Hey Gorgeous 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}

{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}

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}

DIY photo lantern

photo lantern

One of my fave DIY projects has made an appearance several times on this blog…diy photo lanterns. I’ve made them for a several parties, and people continue to make comments about how much they love them. So, I’m going to keep a good thing going and attempt to share my how-to instructions to make this easy, affordable DIY project that will impress your guests with their personal touch and warm, soft glow…and have you looking like a little Ms. Martha Stewart.

You’ll Need:
black and white vertical photos
vellum paper
lanterns {I bought mine from Pier 1, but have seen adorable lanterns at Pottery Barn Home Décor too}
double-sided tape
scissors
candle {real or fake will work}

How To:
Measure the openings on the lantern where the photos will be placed
Edit black and white photos on a computer program to the exact size of the lantern openings {I just used Microsoft Word to adjust the size accordingly}
Print the photos on vellum paper on a laserjet printer
NOTE: An ink jet printer does not work as well because the ink is too wet once printed on the vellum
If needed, cut the photos and adjust them accordingly
Place a small piece of double-sided tape on the corners of the lantern opening
Place the photo on the glass and press gently on all sides and corners
Put a candle inside the lantern and light it before party guests arrive
voila

photo lantern with candle

{p.s. this makes a great gift for your mother or mother-in-law with photos of the grandkids, or a bride with engagement photos}

photo lantern with candle inside