v 5 issue 16: Make it Personal

This week we review products that are personalized for your little ones. Products include clothing, blankets, room decor and more. Great gifts!

Cover by Carrie Steffe










1 Sentimental Silver creates petite sized pendants engraved with initials or a name. Recycled silver composes this hefty pendant with equally impressive delicacy provided by the accenting gem. A cherished addition to any neckline. Enter code: SALE for 20% off your purchase.

2 Invitations, announcements, and even recipe cards can be personalized with a "look-alike pose" at PosePrints. Design and preview cards instantly by following a simple step-by-step process. You'll find a wonderful assortment of backgrounds and accessories to make cards, notepads, or magnets feel just like you. Enter code: ttw2009 for 15% off any order thru 11/30/09.

3 Quality craftsmanship is sewn into each stitch of the Carnival Bloom Bib from Julianne Originals. A thick chenille is backed with a vibrant floral fabric and enhanced with an initial of the same funky print. Infant and toddler sizes available, as well as personalized burp cloths and tees. Enter code: TTW15 for a 15% your purchases.

4 As the cold days and early nights settle in, thoughts of tasty treats tickle our hearts and tummies. Moms can prepare children for the somewhat instinctual joy of cooking by gifting a child with an adorable monogrammed apron from the Get Dolled Up Boutique. Enter code: TOTS15 for 15% off your purchases.

5 Honor an expecting Mom with a pendant necklace from gobellygo.com. Each polished zinc pendant is strung from an 18" sterling silver chain, and comes packaged in a keepsake tin. Pendants are stamped with "DUE IN" and the estimated month of arrival. Make it super special with an engraved message on the back!

6 EM Tanner Designs now has a Me 2 an Indian tee available for Thanksgiving. Like all Me 2 a Tee designs, numerous choices are available to make accurate characterizations of your little Indian! Enter code: TOTTRENDS for 20% off purchases thru 11/28/09.

7 The Zoo Blue Initial Blanket offers opposing sides of chic mink plush and designer printed cotton mediated by a monogrammed circle of blue. A favorite item from the personalized baby essentials found at Two Tinas. Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases thru 11/28/09.

8 Spell out your child’s name or one of your favorite phrases with this museum quality heavy canvas wall art by Cathy Heck. Using their interactive website you can choose the sizes, colors, characters, and letters of your liking. Making room decorating personal has never been so much fun. Really cute!


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 choices 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