v 3 issue 8: Personal Point of View

In our pursuit for fabulous personalized gifts for this weeks issue we found many fun products including jewelry that lets you wear your memories with style.

Cover by Carrie Steffe










1 Bling on the leggings! A word or name of your liking is bejeweled onto a pair of leggings to add an unrivaled zing to any outfit. Available in black for a truly brilliant effect. Check out paperlili.com for these and other great personalized items. Enter code: FRIEND for 20% off thru 11/28/09

2 You will love Gina Alexander designer photo handbags. Upload your personal photos and whala you have mementos that travel with you each day, reminding you of the people, places and things you love! Professionally designed, each bag is handmade from scratch in Hollywood, California and will arrive at your door in 4-6 weeks.

3 A hand-sculpted & hand-stamped pendant of sterling silver gets gussied up by a sweetly sized heart pendant and a sterling silver rolo chain. Whether it is stamped with an initial of a loved one or your own letter of recognition, the initial charm bracelet from Patricia Carolyn Designs makes a perfect gift. Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases thru 12/5/09.

4 Identify your style with a necklace from the Big Girl Workshop. Choices galore offer girls the ability to make a necklace that's all their own. Necklaces can be enhanced with charms of letters, icons, crystals...just about anything to exhibit a spirit of individuality.

5 Keep the world organized on a weekly basis with a Monday-Friday Magnetic Planner. A polka-dotted planner has spots to jot down activities of Monday through Friday, while saving space for the ever important weekend plans. Easily identify each family member's planner with your choice of five colors and a name written on top @ emtannerdesigns.com Enter code: TOTTRENDS for 20% off purchases thru 11/28/09.

6 Polka Dot Tot allows you to completely personalize this fabulously soft oversized adult throw with over 45 different fabrics. Use their easy to follow website that will walk you through the process easily. Totally reversible and available in 6 sizes. Enter code: PoshTrends20 for 20% off your purchases.

7 Deck the walls with the funky letters of Twelve Timbers. Each letter is 10.5 inches tall, can be glitzed with glitter, and coordinates perfectly with available funky wall shapes. Find them at thefrogandprincess.com in a wide array of colors.



Making chores and daily tasks fun
Instill a positive attitude about helping around the house from an early age.

Kids as young as 2 can help with household chores. Remember to keep it fun, keep it age appropriate, and set a routine. You need to organize and plan age-appropriate chores for them so that they grow into skillful, happy and responsible adults.

Chores are an opportunity to teach your children important skills and instills a sense of responsibility in the child.

Always praise, appreciate and reward your child's contribution, this will reinforce positive feelings. Just think of the smile it will put on their little faces if they feel that you are pleased with their work.

Give kids choice when assigning chores. A chore chart can be very helpful as a starting place to keep track of chores. Change up the list often so that they are always trying new tasks.

Try these products that promote confidence while having fun.
Easy daysies is a teacher invented product that teaches responsibility through visual display. The Chores & Rewards package Includes 9 durable picture magnets for use on fridge or white board. Use the included dry erase marker to check the white boxes below the task your child completes. Once all six boxes are checked they receive a reward of your choosing. Made with 70% recycled material! For ages 3-12.
Enter: TOTTRENDS at checkout to receive FREE BLANKS KIT (2 blank magnets plus a blank clock - $6.00 value!)

Deck of Chores is an oversized deck of playing cards (5.5 X 3.75 inches) that come in a sturdy box with lid. These cards have colored pictures on the front side with chores that are easy to read for early readers and can actually be played as a card game for older children. We love that it includes 4 blank cards for writing in your own chores. Well worth the $14.95 to encourage fun while teaching responsibilities.




Showcase: Couture Invito
Couture Invito specializes in custom and personalized stationery and gifts.

With Couture Invito’s Holiday photo cards, you can share your family’s smiles with unique and custom-designed cards. Express your style — Choose your design color, font and greeting. Plus, FREE digital proof and ships within 3-5 business days after your approval. With over 35 designs, the design possibilities are endless... every card is professionally designed, so if the card needs to be modified to fit your picture, or if you would like to add a verse... we can do that!

Looking for the perfect gift for under $20? The best-selling Holiday gift item is the Custom Photo Notepad... Use your favorite picture to create the perfect 100-page notepad, where your photo is featured on every page for as low as $14.25. A wonderful Holiday gift for yourself and others! Free personalization and quick turnaround time.




Stationery is a wonderful gift for yourself, gifts for mom, friends and teachers, and Holiday gifts! Create personalized stationery with your child's artwork featured on the back. Couture Invito also offers over 60 stationery designs. Have fun while choosing your font, your color and your envelope to create stationery that is truly unique!






Do you like being "green"? Couture Invito does ~ Couture Invito prints all Holiday Photo Cards, stationery, birth announcements and stationery on recycled 100 lb. cardstock that is manufactured using wind power.

Shop CoutureInvito.com for Holiday Photo Cards and Gifts.

Enter code: HSTTW129 for 20% on your total purchase now through 12.15.09