bouffe e bambini: October 2010

Little Milton

I just had to post a picture of my little Milton today because he's just too cute. Ever since he learned to walk he's toddling around causing more trouble than ever but he sure is C*U*T*E!!!!

I haven't been this excited about a new shop in a long time. Please help me give beso handbags a very warm welcome. I originally saw these absolutely G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S bags on Josiah's Nest, which is a lovely blog. Moriah has an adorable family and a great blog so go check her out! When I saw the handbags that shop owner Johanna was creating I fell in love, so much so that I am in the process of signing up to host trunk shows in my area. Yes, I absolutely adore her work. Johanna's handbags are stunning!! They are fashion forward with a modern design and a vintage look. beso handbags are all made from vintage fabrics from the 1950's, 60's and 70's, which means each style is a limited edition!! I love that! Your bag will be totally unique and be bursting with personality! You can either shop around for bags that are already made here in her shop or you can design your own bag here on her website by choosing the style of bag and fabrics you like! Plus, here's the best part, Johanna has so kindly offered my readers 15% off from now until Friday(12/3)!!! YAY!! I hope your going to start shopping now! Simply enter the code "HOLIDAY15" at checkout to take advantage of her amazing deal!! Note that all orders for Christmas MUST be in my December 1st to guarantee timely delivery.Have a look at a few of these gorgeous bags!! I just L*O*V*E them!! I can't wait to start hosting trunk shows with these gorgeous bags!

I was very intrigued by Johanna and her bags and wanted to know more about her and I figured you would too so here are a few snippets from her bio that can be found in entirety here.

"When I was a little girl, I used to make purses and wallets out of anything I could get my hands on. I loved to make paper dolls, and create their clothes and their accessories. I've always been a designer at heart."

"With my mom's hand-me-down sewing machine and fabrics that I chose because I loved, I started beso handbags at my dining room table, sewing while my daughter was at school, and my son was taking his nap, and sometimes, late at night while my kids and my amazingly supportive husband were all fast asleep. I've grown a bit since then, but I'm proud to say that beso handbags still reflects my passion for design and my love of fabric."

"I call my line beso handbags. Beso is the Spanish word for kiss. Spanish and English are spoken in our home, and beso is a word we use all the time. Often throughout the day, we ask the kids for besos, or kisses, and tell them we love them. Beso is also a word that just reminds me that I love what I do, and I'm now doing what I've always loved."

Johanna has a facebook page for beso handbags that you should all go 'like" so you can stay up to date on new styles, fabrics and discounts!!!

She also has an adorable blog that you can go follow and get a behind the scenes look at beso handbags!!

Honestly, I am just beaming about these handbags and I am so honored to have been able to introduce all of you, my lovely readers to beso handbags. Johanna's button is on my sidebar so if you feel like shopping just click on over and visit her anytime!

Also, stay tuned because sometime in the new year Johanna will be offering a giveaway!! Y*I*P*P*I*E! I can't think of many better things than that!!

So please help me show Johanna and her gorgeous handbags a warm welcome and head on over to her website and have a look around!!

And don't forget she is offering 15% off to my readers using the code"HOLIDAY 15" at checkout.

All Christmas orders must be in by December 1st!!

Happy, happy shopping lovelies!!!

Please feel free to grab the beso handbag button. It's TOO CUTE!

Handmade Holiday Gift Guide

Every week I like to post a Handmade Holiday Gift Guide to promote my love of handmade!!! I feel so lucky to be able to share all these G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S handmade things with you through my wonderful sponsors and giveaways.I hope all of you will consider giving some handmade gifts this year. They are so unique and special! Here are a few things I would L*O*V*E to have under my tree this year.
I"ll take this Newborn Teddy Bear Cocoon from Creative Dragonfly

One of these adorable custom bibs from lillybelle Designs

This adorable winter berry leg warmer and onesie set from B:Mod Designs

This adorable wooden alphabet puzzle from The Puzzled One.

These adorable baby boy booties from KathyDee's Cozy Toes

This gorgeous handbag made with vintage fabric from beso handbags

Please consider buying handmade gifts this year!!! These gifts are so magical!!

And if you'd like to win some handmade for your very own then please take *PEEK* at my giveaways.

And if your feeling extra generous Little Milton and I would love a quick vote for him in the Cutest Kid Contest. He has a chance to win $500 in prizes. THANK YOU:)

vote HERE

Thanksgiving With My Little Family

Food, cooking and eating are probably mine and my husband's favorite things to do. We both cook a lot and share a love of great food. Usually Thanksgiving is, as my husband would say, an Olympic Event for us, but this year with Milton working 3 jobs and me being 8 months pregnant, we just really didn't have the energy to go all out so we went to my mom's house for the day and my husband cooked a light Thanksgiving for us here at home. He brined a Turkey breast and made mashed potatoes and asparagus! It was just P*E*R*F*E*C*T for us!! Here's just a couple photos of my little family and our little Thanksgiving.....
Here's the homemade citrus, sage turkey brine

This an herb butter that he rubbed under the skin of the turkey before baking!!! YUM!

This is our beloved potato ricer. If you don't have one you should consider getting one! They make the potatoes SOOOO much fluffier and lighter!! We use ours all the time.

And here's our cute little turkey breast right out of the over!! The skin was cripy and the meat was SOOOOO juicy! That brine does wonders! He brined it about 24 hours before baking!!

Here's Milton and I

This is me trying to take a photo pf the three of us! Not frame-able but cute at least!!!

I really hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were blessed enough to spend time with family and friends!!! I am so grateful to have a happy, healthy family and I cannot wait to meet my little Ginger! I know having a little girl is going to be a whole new experience and I can't wait!

Jill Lauren Dropstitch Cowl GIVEAWAY and HUGE Black Friday SALE!

Okay......okay......I'm going to try to contain myself but I am VERY excited to introduce you all to an AMAZING Etsy shop!!! Please give Jill Lauren a very warm welcome!! Her shop is packed with G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S handmade knits!!! All her designs are original and made with the finest, most luxurious yarns. I am in L*O*V*E with everything in her shop!!! After I had visited Jill's Etsy shop, I couldn't stop day dreaming about her Super Chunky Cowl so I contacted her and she sent me one.........S*W*O*O*N Look how amazingly gorgeous it is!!! It's SUPER warm and soft!! I have been wearing it everyday even when it's not that cold because I love it so!! The color is so vibrant. It is the perfect accessory, especially for a huge pregnant lady who doesn't look good in anything else!!! Honestly, I couldn't be any happier! The attention to detail is amazing! It's beautifully knit and is adorned with HUGE handmade tree buttons that are amazing! Even down to the tag which is made from a thin wood. It's like a work of art. Plus you can wear it as a cowl or a hood or a mini shawl. So versatile!!! I give Jill's shop my absolute highest rating!!! I LOVE it! Just look how gorgeous it is.........

So, Here is some of the best news I've heard all week. Jill Lauren is offering 40% off all in stock items in her shop TODAY ONLY!!! This is HUGE! And I'm doing a little happy dance because I just bought the Super Chunky Cowl in the color "blossom" as seen below and I can't wait to alternate that one and my orange one!! Honestly, this is an amazing sale. If you like what you see you better get on over there because it's today only and when they're gone, they're gone!!! No coupon code necessary, everything is already marked down!!!

G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y..........G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y............G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y

So here's some other A*M*A*Z*I*N*G news for you. Not only did Jill send me that gorgeous cowl but she has offered to give one of you your choice of any color dropstitch cowl of your choosing!!! Yes, she's going to knit one just for you in whatever color you like best and look at all your choices......

And here's a couple photos of the winning item!!! I L*O*V*E this giveaway!!!!

BUY IT.................Head on over to Jill Lauren and take advantage of her A*M*A*Z*I*N*G Black Friday sale! 40% off everything!!!!! Honestly, you don't want to wait! Her items are so gorgeous. They are flying off the shelves. I already snapped up the pink cowl I've been eyeing.

WIN IT........ENTER TO WIN THIS GIVEAWAY........RULES TO ENTER:

THE PRIZE: Winner will receive their choice of any color Dropstitch cowl OPEN WORLDWIDE. Come one, Come all!!

MANDATORY ENTRY. Go visit Jill Lauren's Etsy shop and tell me what your favorite item is

WANT MORE CHANCES TO WIN? Each task is good for ONE addition entry. Leave a separate comment for each:

1. Become a fan of Jill Lauren on facebook and please leave a comment thanking her for this amazing giveaway.

2. Become a follower bouffe e bambini on twitter

3. Become a fan of bouffe e bambini on facebook
4. Vote for my little Milton in the Cutest Kid Contest VOTE HERE

5. Tweet, blog, or facebook this post: Enter to win a GORGEOUS hand knit Cowl http://bouffeebambini.blogspot.com/2010/11/jill-lauren-dropstitch-cowl-giveaway.html(one entry for EACH task done, leave one comment for EACH task)

6. Enter one of my other GIVEAWAYS and comment back here which one.

You MUST be 18 years or older to enter

Giveaway OPEN WORLDWIDE

You MUST leave separate comments for each entry and please leave don't forget to leave your email address

Giveaway will be open until Friday December 10th at midnight

One winner will be chosen at random and contacted by me via email

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

If you like this giveaway....PLEASE come check out my others.......ALL my GIVEAWAYS are handmade and gorgeous!!!!!

SeamsMod Thanksgiving Sale

H*A*P*P*Y T*H*A*N*K*S*G*I*V*I*N*G!!!!!
I'm sure you all remember a few weeks ago I hosted an amazing giveaway featuring SeamsMod. Well, I am so pleased that shop owner Heather has decided to give my readers an extra treat this weekend. She is offering 20% off anything in her shop PLUS free shipping from now thru cyber Monday (11/29). Simply enter the code "BOUFFEEBAMBINI" to take advantage of this amazing discount she is offering you!!! I use the diaper clutch that I received from SeamsMod every single day! It has become my go to bag! It's perfect because I can sling it around my wrist and still be hands free to carry Milton and juggles groceries or the other million tasks I have to do on a daily basis. I highly recommend the diaper clutch. It is the perfect size even if you don't have a baby! I actually don't use it to carry diapers. I carry a bag of crackers for little M, my wallet, my keys and a few other little items and it's perfect!!! Since I featured her last she has added TONS of new styles or you can even design your own bag and she'll make it custom just for you. Here's look at some of her G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S bags but please head on over to her shop to scope out the rest of the amazing things she has to offer. These make a great gift for any lady in your life. I would be THRILLED to receive this as a Christmas gift!