{GIVEAWAY!} and Review for the Pretty Peacock *CLOSED*

So this style of jewelry seems to be all the rage these days and makes for SUCH wonderful, treasured gifts for Moms, Grandmas, {even babies!} and all women alike! I bring to you customized, handstamped jewelry.

The Pretty Peacock offers such heirloom quality personalized "juju jewelry," as they aptly call it, and I would say it's a solid notch above most similar styles out there.  All pieces are handcrafted in Seattle using metalsmithing, flameworking and sculpting skills, and a plethora of options allow for you to find precisely what you're looking for!  From the color/s and number of gemstones to copper versus sterling silver and whether you'd like it hammered or not, you really can find exactly what you're looking for at The Pretty Peacock.

I received The Regal Family Tier, which is a multi-tier necklace showcasing none other than your beloved family, of course.  The necklace is comprised of 3 discs in 3 different sizes that gorgeously cradle one another.  My personalized piece includes the word, "love" {although you can, of course, select a different one} and my wedding anniversary gemstone, both my and my husband's names, and both our kids' names.  And I gotta tell you: it's stunning!  From the hook that the discs hang from to the style of the necklace they're actually strung on, this is a quality piece of jewelry.

Better yet?  The jewelry from The Pretty Peacock comes packaged adorably in its own jewelry box, complete with tissue paper, satin ribbon and a peacock feather to boot!  T.O.O. C.U.T.E!  And not only will you find lovelies for yourself {or a new mama-to-be!}, but you'll also find some stunning pieces for your husband or dad, like the cuff links and dog tag featured below:

Or how about keepsaking your wee one's foot or handprints {or even that special drawing they made for you!!} with a piece from their Tiny Touch Collection?

Want a piece for baby? Try their Personalized Infant Cuff.  Necklaces not your thing?  How about this absolutely gorgeous Embrace Keepsake Bracelet with Birthstones.

And the other component that I found to really exemplify their spectacular customer service, is that the jewelry also comes with cleaning instructions along with a sample of the cleaning cloths they sell on their site, as well.


 BUY IT!!  Visit The Pretty Peacock today to find your own amazing jewelry!  Spoil yourself or a Mom you know ~ these would make for some memorable gifts for a new Mom, too!  Score 15% off PLUS FREE SHIPPING on your order with code: ADAMS {good through August 20th}!


WIN IT!! One lucky Haute Tot and Baby Couture reader is going to win their own piece of stunning jewelry from The Pretty Peacock's Portal Collection {2 gemstones included}!  International entrants are welcome to enter, as well!  To enter, see below:

Mandatory Entry!

Visit The Pretty Peacock and come back here to tell me which jewelry piece you like best (1 entry)! Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through August 20th. Winner to be chosen August 21st, 2010!

Additional Entries!

Once you've completed the mandatory entries, do any of the following for more chances to win! {Again, please be sure to leave your email address in each entry!}

*Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect PUBLICLY (1 entry).

*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible; 1 via google and 1 via email feedburner (must be activated to count as entry)).

*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (1 entry).

*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry) and score coupon codes!

*Become a fan of the Pretty Peacock on Facebook (1 entry) and score discounts!

*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet, (1 entry - can be done daily):

"Win Portal Jewelry from The Pretty Peacock and @adamsblankie! Enter at www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).

*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post AND a picture of the prize!! (3 entries).

*Enter any of our other current giveaways for one entry each (up to 3 entries possible) and leave a comment letting me know which giveaway/s you entered.

*Email up to 3 friends about this giveaway ~ be sure to copy me on the emails! (3 entries possible).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

WINNER: CLAUDE

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

Cherishing Your Children's Doodle Art

So your child is an artist, and ohhhh, how to display the masterpieces being created on a weekly basis?? Here are a few fantasticly chic ways to display & cherish your children's artwork:

"Instant Masterpiece" - it's an inflatable old-world style frame for really bringing that "Monet" print into a museum-style format. Purchase for just $8.95 from Brooklyn5and10.com.

"Clips on a Clothesline" - I personally love this idea, and am looking to putting something like this in my own son's room. You just take some fishline, buy some cute clips and hang the artwork from the fishline in their own bedroom or craft room, should you be so lucky to have one of those! You can purchase the clips and line from Land of Nod for $12.95.


My personal favorite - "Jewelry Art" - the most clever way to show off and forever cherish the masterpiece: have it made into a jewelry piece! Mommytags.com has one they call "Doodle Tags" ($95) that inscribes the art on a sterling pendant, or you can visit any number of Etsy shops (if you know me at all, you know I love Etsy!), like Eclisse Creazioni for the art to be permanently stuck onto tile pendant bracelets, charms or necklaces (range about $25-85).

Best Baby Shower Gifts for 2009

When it comes to purchasing a gift for a baby shower, we all want our gifts to be special, unique and undeniably adorable, eliciting the best round of "oooh's" and "aaahh's" from the crowd. But how does one go about digging through the gobs and gobs of choices out there with minimal time on all our hands? Well, I've saved you all the legwork, and have compiled what I consider to be the best baby shower gift ideas for 2009, and they fit any budget, ranging from just $5.50 to $150.00 Here they are, in random order:


Personalized Alphabet Book
Every baby needs a new book, and better than just any old book out there, why not give him or her one that will not only begin to teach the basics and be beautiful to look at, but also personalized with his or her name on the cover. What a true treasure to hold on to forever! The recipient can also choose the exterior color of the book (green, blue or pink), choose the option to add spanish, french or italian to make the book bilingual, AND choose hard or soft cover. You can order the book from www.sweetartsdesign.com.


Owie-All-Gone Bags
I love this idea for taking care of baby's bumps & bruises they undoubtedly will collect when learning to walk and bumping into everything in sight! You can toss the small ones in the freezer and pull them out at the drop of a hat to use to soothe baby's owies, and all without the sting of ice and in sleek, sophisticated fabrics! Check Adam's Blankie to purchase.


Baby Silk Delicate Skin Comfort
This liquid powder goes on like a lotion and then transforms into a silky powder that is designed to keep baby's crevices cool and dry. The powder contains marine silk, vitamins E and B5, aloe, shea butter, corn starch and licorice extract to refresh the delicate skin of baby. It is hypoallergenic, contains no mineral oils, has not been tested on animals, and is made in the USA. Find the powder at www.mdmoms.com.


Monkey Organic Hooded Towel
This hooded towel comes from 3 Sprouts, is organic, and comes in your choice of gray or yellow. Measuring 29"x29" and running you $37.00, the towel is absolutely adorable!


Lovie (Security) Blankies
These are fantastic gifts for baby, as they are constructed with ribbon loops to help keep baby stimulated and soothed at the same time. Babies loves to feel & rub the ribbons between their fingers, not to mention they find the both the sight of the ribbons and the sound of them rubbing together fascinating! They are handcrafted with designer cotton fabric on top and plush minky for cuddling on the back. These are truly a multi-functional blanket that every baby should have, and at 12"x12" square, they're the perfect size for small hands. They come from Adam's Blankie in all styles and colors, and if you don't see what you're looking for on the site, they also welcome custom orders!


Going Green with Baby
Get this book from Amazon for only about $17.00. It's a great guide for all baby products & finds out there. As one Mom puts it, "This book is a great resource! It covers everything an environmentally responsible mom needs to know when making green choices- from how to be green on a budget, to why certain products/ingredients are better than others, to where to find the products you want."

BabySitter Notes
I use something very similar to these babysitter notes all the time whenever we get a babysitter for our son. The topics listed ensure you won't forget anything the babysitter needs to know, including your phone number/s, what's for dinner, what time bedtime is, and what is and is not okay. Sure, we could all print something similar off our computer at home, but these are conveniently made in a notepad style and ready to use at any time, not to mention they look cute. The notepad includes 50 sheets and is only $8.


Rockstar Bib & Burp Set
Among the many chic and modern baby choices for bibbie and burpie sets ($22.50) from Adam's Blankie, this set is a favorite for boys in particular. It is handcrafted, made of 100% designer cotton fabric on top and a plush chenille on the back for extra absorbancy. They also close with a strong pearl snap for both a designer look and longevity of use (they don't use velcro, because velcro wears down over time, not to mention baby can pull a velcro bib off!). So forget the plasticky types that are uncomfortable and totally unnatural, and go for something ultra mod, sophisticated, natural & plush with this choice! Check their website for more options for girls, boys and for those friends not finding out the gender, as well!


Glass Baby Bottle & Siliskin Protectors
With all the concern over unnatural chemicals (BPA) leaking out of plastic bottles and getting into baby's system, I highly advocate considering glass bottles as an alternative. You may be asking yourself, "Yes, that sounds wonderful, but what about them breaking - aren't they impractical??" Well, that's a fantastic question & concern, and my answer to that would be the bottle protectors from Siliskin. While they won't absolutely prevent the bottles from breaking, that is the idea behind them, and if they do happen to break, the protectors will likely contain any glass shards within the "wrapper." They are also dishwasher safe and come in a palette of soothing colors. You can click here for more reviews, or check out Amazon to purchase.
Adiri Natural Nurser Bottle
When we had our son, I never knew these existed (or maybe they did, but I didn't know it!). At any rate, I LOVE the idea of them, as they seem like they would make the transition from nursing to bottle-feeding so much easier. You can find them for about $12.99 from Babies R Us.


Plush Teething Giraffe Rattle
Here is not only an adorable stuffed animal baby can touch & tote around by him or herself, but it is also a natural teether AND rattle ($12.00)! Adam's Blankie carries a variety in many designer fabrics, but this one in particular is special with its black, red and white colors, in that they are the first colors baby's eyes can recognize! Use the rattle as a gift-topper for a package for the baby shower, and later as a decoration in the nursery in addition to its purpose as a rattle & teether!


Lullaby Exercises DVD/CD
Here's a fabulous gift from Chicks-n-Chickens for every Mom who swears they'll be getting into those "pre-baby jeans" in no time! The set includes a 35-minute DVD with high-energy music and a "sleep" mode CD to cool things down and send baby into naptime.


French Dried Lavender Sachets (3)
Lavender is known for soothing people in general, and this does include babies, of course! What a great idea to give to Mom for use in baby's diaper drawer, clothing drawers, closet, diaper bag, wet bag, or laundry! What I especially love (besides the $5.50 price for a set of 3) is that they are one hundred percent natural (versus some room sprays out there laden with chemicals), contain no fillers, and you can choose the fabric in which they are handcrafted! Check Adam's Blankie for choices & purchasing - custom orders are welcome from any of their fabrics on hand! (P.S. I'd also advise getting a set just for Mom to have for herself during those rough first couple months!)


Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Portable Placemat
We got this for our son, and I cannot begin to tell you how many times we got asked where we got this thing! It's an absolute must for outings with your little one, and makes clean-up a snap, not to mention you don't have to worry about baby getting into all the germs on the table!


Beaba Babycook
I wrote about the Babycook ($150.00) last week, but couldn't resist bringing it back to our "best of" list for shower gifts for 2009 because I think it is such a gem! It saves Mom time, takes the place of a few kitchen gadgets she'd otherwise need to do what it does, and makes healthy food for her baby right in her own kitchen!


Sterling Silver Hand-Stamped Necklace
I purchased one of these from SilverMePendants and absolutely love it! I realize this is, of course, not a gift for baby, but I'm a huge advocate of gifting something just for the Mom-to-be at a shower...any one out there who has given birth knows she absolutely deserves it, after all! Get it custom made with the baby-to-be's name hand-stamped on the pendant, and embellished with a (birthstone) swarovski crystal or sterling silver heart. Mom can enjoy the necklace both before and after baby arrives, keeping her baby close to her heart!

Any of the aforementioned gifts would make fantastic gifts, I'm certain! You can feel confident you've purchased something both exquisite, practical or beautiful with any of these selections.

Stay tuned for how to host the best baby shower ~ tips & how-to's coming this Monday, May 25th!

Fabulous Finds for Mother's Day

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I'm sure many of you are in a panic wondering what last-minute gift you can find that she'll actually like! Well, here are a couple fabulous ideas that are on my own wish-lists. They all come from the wonderful world of Etsy, which you simply MUST check out if you haven't done so already! Here are the links: mushroom garden art, cafe mocha soap bar, french lavender eye pillow, or garden stakes. Hope you find something lovely for Mom this year!

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on the Custom Onesie Give-Away in order for a chance to win it! (See post below for details!).