Saturday, May 23, 2009

CHOCOLATE PIZZA! Yes I am being Serious!

After spending the morning at the Taste of Summer Event at Blenhiem Palace, I walked away with one amazing find!
The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, everyone should take a look, what an amazing gift for someone, or centre piece for a party, making a delicious and striking pudding for your guests. We took just one slice away and my son, niece and nephew enjoyed it very much for pudding today. I will be going back for more soon, as they deliver nationwide and come in amazing authentic pizza boxes, large or small. Genius idea, putting a great big smile on all you chocolate lovers faces mmmmmm! 



Everything from Heavenly Honeycomb to Raspberrymac - Loads to choose from!

For all your children's gifts and personalised gifts to treasure, Illustrate My Name has lots to choose from and lots more coming soon. Enjoy your Bank Holiday Weekend x 

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Lights, Camera, Action........

Its really nice when our suppliers decide to take the time to commission photo shoots for their products, recently one of our suppliers has taken the time to picture their products in some great lifestyle shots! I think this pictured 'B' was probably the order I placed at Christmas time for a customer who just fell in love instantly with them and the lovely choice of fabrics! 



Our beautiful Letter Cushions are a huge hit, and are the first product I added to Illustrate My Name alongside my very own back in 2007.  They were my inspiration that out there were many talented individuals and businesses who could add to the delightful gifts on offer to our customers. Ranging from Little Hanging Letters to Giant Letters, they really make an impression, I love them so much I have bought them for lots of little people. I am also just about to order the Luxury Letter Cushions for mine and my husbands new bedroom! Look below, what a statement! I just cannot resist! 


For all the very best for your children's bedrooms, or even your own! Visit our ever growing range at Illustrate My Name.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

How Does Your Garden Grow?


After a beautiful day and the sun being so very kind to us in Oxfordshire, the question I am asking you all is.....How does your garden grow???

Whether you are green fingers mad or not, it was only last year when I was pregnant with Max that I really got the itch to make my garden somewhere I was proud of, well if only for the summer months!! I am still learning, with lots of help from family, who have given me cuttings and helped with showing me and telling me what works and what doesn't, much better than reading a book, you get to appreciate your garden and spend time with family who teach you something, its never too late to learn! 

Also a very special moment for me earlier this year was when my late Grandma's tree, which my Granded asked me to have in my garden, decided to bloom.  I had a tear in my eye when I first saw it, I do believe my Grandma is watching me and it was so beautiful, no wonder it was her favourtie, I am still trying to find out what its called, will upload a photo soon, see if anyone knows.  I am so lucky to have something that is so special in my garden, not to mention our beautiful Wedding Cake Tree which my Mother in Law bought my Husband and I as a wedding gift back in 2004! It has not only travelled to 3 different houses, it now resides in a beautiful spot outside my kitchen window! Adorable, and very special, reminding us of our special day!

This afternoon I felt it about time, as I have been slacking with the garden, to get down to the roots! So the gardening boots came out, my beautiful shabby gardening gloves (what I would do without them) made a spectacular appearance, and I seriously got down to the weeding! And don't I know it now (back is aching!), after an afternoon of trying to weed, around my boys either wanting mummy or trying to join in, I feel I have achieved something and now its time to hit the garden centers tomorrow for some inspiration! 

Don't get me wrong there is nothing established about my garden, but its growing and as with everything in life, it has to start somewhere, just like Illustrate My Name did for me back in 2006, when I started believing in myself to make a success of my own business working around my first child, and now 3 years on with 2 children, I am so thrilled to offer a great children's boutique, offering an array of personalised children's and baby gifts to the entire world. Only last week I sent products to Malta and Australia!

Please enjoy the gifts and treats, as well as my BLOG! I enjoy bringing a personal touch to Illustrate My Name!  So wake up tomorrow and enjoy the garden, I do believe the weather is going to stay for a little while!

Friday, May 08, 2009

Are you an Adventurer or Not!

I think we all have some kind of an adventurer in us, whether you are the kind to travel somewhere different and go on a simple adventure walk, or thinking back to some child hood books I read about amazing adventures, do you tend to try and find hidden places and remember the great adventure films like the infamous GOONIES!

Even now when we go away I play games with my son about being on an adventure, and having boys its always makes them smile, especially if we find things, my son was really into the WATER HORSE last year so when down by the coast near a rock pool, we found an egg shaped rock, well we kept it for a week in a bucket of water, as he was convinced he had found CRUSO! Bless him, we had to pretend he had hatched and gone back to the sea! Its great having Children, seeing the world through their eyes is the most fascinating thing to ever happen to me x

This link below is just a bit of fun! Honestly I know its a bit crazy really, I never usually have a go at these things, but worth a few seconds out to see if in an adventure scenario, who would you be like!!! It made me laugh :o)


Which Adventurer Are You?Quiz brought to you by
Tripbase - Vacation Ideas



Thursday, May 07, 2009

Freebies and Cheapies in London!

We are delighted to be offering London For Kids a £5 OFF VOUCHER from Illustrate My Name, which you can easily download and take advantage of by clicking on the link below. 

London For Kids - Freebies!

Not only does London For Kids offer some great freebies and cheapies to families in London, basically its a site telling you Where To Go for Kids in London, Where to Stay for Kids in London and What to see for Kids in London. So take a look! Activities, Museums, Theatre, Parks, Hotels, what more could you want all in one place, especially as we all like a day/trip to the Capital every now and then! 

I am just trying to organise tickets to take our son to go and see 
OLIVER in London, my husband and I went back in January and were lucky enough to see Rowan Atkinson make a legendary performance, not to mention Jodie Prenger also showing everyone just how 'Nancy' does it! A great show, and seen as though our son love the musical, we are so excited to take him to see it on stage, he will probably want to jump on the stage and join in just like his mother! 

If you are in the mood to spoil your son or daughter, then check out the gifts we have on offer from Personalised Cushions to Personalised Bookends and lots of great options to decorate your child's bedroom! The very best in Personalised Children's Gifts bought to you by Illustrate My Name

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Food Glorious Food

Oh I am so so excited that our new kitchen extension is almost complete, after buying some beautiful accessories over the weekend, polka dot baking trays and vintage scales, I can really feel a Nigella Lawson moment coming on. Just check out her wonderful recipes and ideas! Just love her, she is an inspiration to me and my kitchen!
 

I am just about to prepare an easy version of a Goats Cheese and Butternut Squash Lasagna! Yes vegetarian too, and so yummy, even my boys like it cause I also add some slices of sweet potato! Its so easy, just replace the layers of mince with thin slices of goats cheese and chunks or slices of butternut squash. At least dinner is prepared and I can get on with all the other chores! For a more detailed recipe try Waitrose. I have tried this and it really is a treat for all the family to enjoy.

I have to make a confession that my favourite cheese is Goats Cheese and I must use it in so many recipes, I know not the best for the waistline, enjoying cheese, but if its time to indulge then cheese it is for me, especially with some olives and a glass or two of wine :o)

If you are searching high and low for unique children's gifts to really make an impression, then try our Product Directory which will be working soon, it just shows our range at present but soon you will be able to search by product or occasion! Also its great to be attending two ladies evenings in the next few weeks, where a showcase of our products will be on display for all the ladies to enjoy browsing through and spoiling their little ones too, not to mention some yummy little treats for the ladies!

Illustrate My Name prides itself with bringing you the very best in children's and baby gifts for any occasion!