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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11/28

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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11/21

it’s here…

Tre Sorelle’s Favorite Things

“When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad.”

{I can’t help it…yes, that quote is from the classic The Sound of Music}

We’ve remembered our favorite things of 2011 {all at a reasonable price…in fact, today’s list is 5 gifts under $50} to bring a little bit more joy to the season of giving!

A Favorite Things list wouldn’t be complete with giveaways! That’s right, each of you will have a chance to receive a free gift each week leading to Christmas. Every Monday you will see new and wonderful favorite things, and the following day we will offer a giveaway from the list. All you have to do is comment {look for ways to enter tomorrow}…it’s that easy!

This week, think about the lovely HOSTESS in your life…or in you {and add it to your list for Santa}

1. PSA Essentials custom stamp, $40, sold at Fleur de Lis, a paperie: Whether you customize with an address, from the library of or from the kitchen of…this is a gift every hostess will love.
2. Rub A Way Bar, $7.50, Crate and Barrel: Rub away the odors from garlic, fish and other foods with this genius “soap-like” device.
3. Casserole Tote, $48, Vonny: Carry your casserole hassle-free and in style to your next party. {They also started carrying pie totes for $68 that are absolutely adorable}.
4. Red Tartan Plaid Napkins, Set of 4 for $49, Williams-Sonoma: Give a personalized gift your hostess can use throughout the holidays with monogrammed, festive tartan napkins.
5. Onion Goggles, $19.99, Bed, Bath and Beyond: With Onion Goggles you can say goodbye to tearing, stinging and irritated eyes when preparing, chopping, dicing or mincing any kind of onion.  

{images via PSA Essentials, Crate and Barrel, Vonny, Williams-Sonoma, Bed, Bath and Beyond}

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07/27

totally totes

If you have guests traveling to your wedding, it’s a nice gesture to surprise them with a “welcome bag” upon arrival to their hotel. You can get creative with these and make them unique to you and your fiance, the city where you live or the place your going to say “I do.”

We have some fabulous ideas below with adorable totes {that would work for any city you’re getting married in} that I want to buy for myself!

If you’re from NYC, treat your guests to a copy of The New York times, along with black and white cookies from the Black and White Cookie Company and don’t forget a sugary snack from Dylan’s Candy Bar. This To Have and To Hold Tote, from Melangerie Inc. is the perfect bag to hold your items.

If you have roots in Chicago, fill this Custom Map Tote from Map Tote with samples of the famous Garrett’s Popcorn, travel-size Frango mints and a match box from your favorite Chicago-area restaurant.

P.S. All of us Colorado folk have to wait for our state to be represented…until then, this west coast tote will do just fine.  

And, if you’re from the Rocky Mountains {or getting married in the mountains}, pack your welcome bag with goodies like Mountain Man’s Purple Mountain Majesty nut and fruit mix, bags of Boulder Chips, Coors or Fat Tire beer, Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea and all the essentials needed for the “morning after” a big party {and the high altitude} – a custom-made water bottle filled with Advil and Emergen-C.  

The PERFECT bag for all these local favorites…a tote from The Wedding Chicks with the phrase Love…at a Mile High. My BFF Shannon and her hubby Bryan came up with this idea for their guests attending their Denver wedding…and I love it. Here’s Shannon sporting the tote on her honeymoon. Looks good on you girl!

Another cute idea for a Rocky Mountain wedding is to fill straw cowboy hats with custom gifts. Guests at Katie and Chips wedding, in Beaver Creek, Colorado, enjoyed “ear snacks,” which were the couple’s favorite songs saved to a USB drive, water and snacks, along with a welcome letter and activity guide. Guests wore their hats for the rehearsal – so cute!

{images via Melangerie Inc., Map Tote, The Wedding Chicks and Liz Banfield}

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07/21

something for the host{ess}

We all love to bring that perfect little something to say thank you for being such a lovely host and/or hostess. Well, here are a few host/hostess gifts we think are just great.

Jodi just bought our aunts and grandma pairs of Toms shoes {in one of her wedding accent colors} to show her gratitude for the nice bridal lunch they hosted for her upcoming wedding. So comfortable and cute.

Lisa at With Style and Grace has a brilliant idea for “morning after” hostess gifts – all the ingredients and recipes for a Bloody Mary and Mimosa cocktail –  beautifully presented, of course. Love it.

Martha Stewart Living has a fun and creative game{s} on gift. Games are a perfect gift for the host and/or hostess…and the newly married couple with no money that need to be spending most nights in throughout the week to save their pennies.

Martha also came through with the simple, yet great, idea of a bar in a box.

Get some funny cocktail napkins at Fleur de Lis {a paperie}.

Who doesn’t love a personalized gift? Monogrammed stationery from Fleur de Lis would be oh so thoughtful.

Buy the reader in your life a PSA Essential stamp {also available at Fleur de Lis} that he or she can stamp From the library of… inside the cover of all his/her books.
Or, give the host and/or hostess a PSA Essential stamp with his/her address.

{images via Tutto Bella, With Style and Grace, Martha Stewart Living and PSA Essentials}

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