Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you! 2009 does promise to be full of positive change. For years I had to glam it up for work on New Years Eve, but now I thoroughly enjoy being home in my jammies with my kids, my husband and my Grandmother, having our own little party. These badges from Shirley at www.Hudsonsholidays.etsy.com look like a great little project to do with the boys to liven up our pj's. The best is that you can purchase them and download immediately, so that you'll have them in time.

If I were Going out on the Town, I'd be wearing...

What an entrance I'd make in this hat! When times are bleak, it's time to bring out some bling! You can see this stylin' top hat at www.cuddlebugeeshi.etsy.com

This is the perfect Little Black Dress! Visit Titi at www.chezkevito.etsy.com for more.

Tips for Feeling Your Best over the Holidays

When you want to Sparkle in your Holiday pictures, but have tired eyes from not enough sleep, Collyre Bleu eye drops from France are what all of the models and makeup artists use. One little drop will make your whites as white as snow, and your eyes as crisp as can be!

You can buy them at http://www.verseo.com/bleu.html

Fernet Branca, a medicinal digestivo made from herbs is the cure-all for many different ailments. It has an acquired taste, but sipping it slowly or adding ice smooths the bitterness. A definite staple in our home. Click on this site to learn more about it.
http://www.romefile.com/foodanddrink/fernet-branca.php

To get rid of the Holiday bloat and weight gain, juicing is the way to go. Dr. Sandra Cabot has juicing recipes for any ailment... and they work! Her Liver cleanse diet is also excellent, I have done it many times. Her recipes are delicious, it is a great way to get back on track for the New Year. You can get her books and info at www.sandracabot.com. If you do not have a juicer and want a quick fix, you can buy fresh carrot or watermelon juice at the store... it is better if it is freshly juiced though! I always feel my best when I am juicing.

My Favourite Gift that I Gave...

This was my favourite gift that I gave to my boys...Although it may not have been theirs...yet! The finest Italian Alabaster from Volterra. I'll give periodic updates on our progress! Following are some pictures of a couple of my sculptures. I work all by hand, with no power machines. I am very excited to see what my boys (Marcello,7, and Lorenzo,5) will come up with!

Here I am in Volterra, the alabaster capital in Italy. A kid in a candy store, it was alot of fun hand carrying my stone back to California...at the airport security, Customs was sure it was a bomb!

"Volterra" was finished in 1996. Here I am with my teacher and mentor, Stan Mock.

"L'Ala," completed in 1999. This took me almost three years to complete. My husband is the only soul allowed to transport my treasures...I am such a nervous Nelly when they have to be moved!

One of my favourite gifts!

The footage in this documentary of great Italian Cinema, and some of my favourite cities, transported me ... Viva Italia!http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m37COVQCSOAQ1

Christmas, Vegas Style

Like everything else here in Las Vegas, Christmas is over the top. Living here, about 45 minutes from the "Strip," it becomes a destination, that is visited on rare occasions. Christmas is always a favorite time. The Bellagio Resort really puts on a spectacular show, using unbelievable amounts of fresh flowers and greenery. It changes seasonally, and every year is different. Enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love!

Nathalie

Glass Artist Dale Chihuly's incredible million dollar ceiling.

We always have to stop at Jean-Philippe Maury's for chocolate crepes. The Santa and the airplane are made entirely of chocolate.

The world's tallest and largest volume chocolate fountain pumps close to 2 tons of chocolate. It travels throughout the shop. I'd like to jump right in! La Dolce Vita revisited...

The Four Seasons Pastry Chefs have been slaving for months over this incredible Gingerbread Village. Even the working carousel is made of gingerbread. The houses are all auctioned off in support of the Nevada Cancer Society. It is truly magical!

This would be the house that I would buy!

My boys could not understand where the gingerbread was...

Is 2009 Catching You Off Guard?

Let them eat cake! Any Francophile or Princess wannabe would love this in her boudoir. You can see this and more at

http://www.digitalpaperie.etsy.com/

I don't know about you, but 2008 flew by, and I am just now starting to think about 2009! Here are a few of my Etsy Artisan Favorites to keep abreast of the coming year. It is much more satisfying and interesting to buy direct from skilled artists than going down to the local mall. And you get such great handwritten notes of gratitude! Buying Handmade directly supports the arts (and makes you feel really good on top of getting things no one else will have!)

IThese Calendar Tags by Shabby Chic are so elegant and would look great posted over the telephone in the kitchen for a quick reference! Check them out at http://www.vmilan.etsy.com/.

Modern Pop has such a fresh approach to keeping current! I would love these in my boys room, against blue walls. Check them out at www.ModernPop.etsy.com.

A Present from Me to You...

In honour of the season of giving, and for subscribing to the launch of dolcevitamamma.blogspot.com, I would love to send you one of my lovely hand embroidered personalized lavender sachets! Many thanks to Las Vegas Woman Magazine who just featured these in their Gift Guide. Please e-mail me your initial, a preferred color, and an address to send to, and I will have one on it's way to you as a way of saying thank you! This offer is good while supplies last...

Nathalie

Winter Wonderland in Las Vegas

Wow! It doesn't happen often... we got four inches of snow here in Las Vegas two days ago, and are expecting two more today! It hasn't snowed here for 3 years. Being a California gal, driving through heavy snowfall has been interesting! The mountains surrounding us are blanketed, making it truly a magical scene. Let's hope that it holds until the 25th...

Who knew Vegas was Green???

Republic Services, the Reycling Company for Las Vegas, decorated this tree at Opportunity Villages' Magical Forest. I love the decor ideas here! The water bottle curtain was very cool, with clear marbles in to give weight and jingle. It's amazing what your mind can come up with when you open your eyes up a little wider. Kids have such great imaginations, giving them some recyclables, paint, glitter, and string will produce custom works of art...