Travels With Bella Figura USA

We're Giving Away Gorgeous Gifts on FaceBook

Don't forget - just three days left to sign up to be included in the Bella Figura USA drawing!

How to be included?

   * If you're already a Bella Figura USA  Fan on Facebook, and on the boutique's mailing list, just drop us a line at Contact Us and say "include me in the drawing."  Make sure your name and email address match the address you signed up with.

    * If you're not a Fan - become one now on our Bella Figura USA Facebook Page.  Then click on over to the boutique's Home Page, and sign up on our Mailing List (box in the upper left side.)  That's it - easy as pie!

The drawing will take place on Monday, October 19, and we'll announce the winner on the 20th.

Don't delay - sign up now!  We're just itching to give you a a beautiful gift from the Bella Figura USA boutique.

Another Bella Figura USA Give-Away - Yahoo!

Yes, it's that time - time for another drawing for our FaceBook fans! 

This one will have a longer sign up period: October 5-16.  And the sign up process to be included in the drawing is the same as last month

• If you're already a Bella Figura USA  Fan on Facebook and on the boutique's mailing list, just drop us a line at Contact Us and say "include me in the drawing."  Make sure your name and email address match the address you signed up with.

• If you're not a Fan - become one now on our Bella Figura USA  Page on FaceBook..  Then click on over to the boutique's Home Page, and sign up on our Mailing List (box in the upper left side.)  That's it - easy as pie!

The drawing will take place on Monday, October 19, and we'll announce the winner on the 20th.

And the prize: one of our best sellers - and one of our personal favorites: the Twist Pencil Box.  This gorgeous box is made of natural hardwoods and is accented by the beautiful inlay, then covered with a hand poured lacquer finish.  It's great for pens and pencils, jewelry, bits & bobs, whatever your heart desires!

Good Luck!

Are You on Facebook? Win Free Goodies!

Everyday it seems I read yet another article about the huge number of people joining Facebook.  I can understand why: it's a great way to stay in touch with family and friends (especially easy to share photos) and if you've joined for professional reasons, it's a fabulous resource to meet other business people, strike up online friendships, and exchange ideas, frustrations, etc.

But did you know that the boutique in now on Facebook?  Yep, we have our own Bella Figura USA Facebook Page.  And why should you care about that?

Free stuff!  That's right - we've just started monthly drawings for our Facebook Fans, and the winner receives something fabulous from the boutique!

We completed our first drawing this week, and the winner received a gorgeous, eco-chic Escama Tonia clutch. 

Wish you'd won that?  No problem - just connect with us right here on Facebook (or click on  the Facebook tab in the left bar) hit the Become A Fan button at the top of the page, and you'll get your chance to nab some free stuff too!

Cool & Refreshing: the Grapefruit Gimlet

We're in the dog days of summer - hot, humid (at least in our area) and things seem a bit wilted.

That means it's time for a refreshing cocktail!  And today we have one for you, courtesy of the folks at bon appetit magazine (love them!)

The Grapefruit Gimlet

Ingredients:

1/4 C Charbay Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
1/4 C vodka
!/4 C fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons simple syrup*
Ice cubes
Lime slices (for garnish)

Pour first 4 ingredients in cocktail shaker, and fill with ice.  Cover and shake vigorously for 8 seconds.  Strain into 2 martini glasses.  Garnish with lime slices.

*Simple syrup:  Stir 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons water in small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil, then cool.

And don't forget to serve in some gorgeous Alan Lee martini glasses.  They make everything taste better!

       

The Scents of Summer: Emozioni in Toscana - Natural Soaps from Italy

They say scent memory is the strongest of all our memories.  I've never doubted it. 

Think back to an old love - I bet you can still recall their perfume/cologne.

Or have you ever been in a crowd, caught a whiff of a fragrance and turned to see if it was the person from your memory?  Or maybe you walked into a room and were momentarily startled - startled because it smelled like the house you grew up in.

Yes, scent memory is very powerful.  Why else would fragrance be added to everything from detergents to hotel lobbies?

Here at the boutique, we've all been raving about the wonderful fragrances in our latest sets of organic soaps from our friends at Nesti Dante.  The new collection is called Emozione in Toscana.  The name, itself, is sublime.  These new sets contain six beautiful natural soaps; check out their descriptions:

• The Golden Countryside - nourishing soap
• Mediterranean Touch - invigorating soap
• Thermal Water - therapeutic soap
• Blooming Garden - intoxicating soap
• Villages & Monasteries - relaxing soap
• Enchanting Forest - re-oxygenating soap

Scent memory - powerful, evocative, often romantic.  Emozione in Toscana - powerful, evocative, definitely romantic. 

Romance for $40 a set?  Yeah, I'd say that's a really good deal!

Check Out Our Birthday Bash Sale!

We promised a Birthday Sale weeks ago - it's finally here!

Go to the Bella Figura USA Birthday Bash Sale page to check out all the items.  Everything is 30% off, and included in the sale are both styles of the Shu Juan Lu evening wraps, several pieces of artisan jewelry from the Barbara SilverStein Collection, plus straw handbags and handtooled leather passport covers.

Check it all out and treat yourself to some great artisan products - at great savings!

A Father's Day Sale at Bella Figura USA

That's right, folks.  Father's Day is right around the corner; and you don't want to forget about Dad.  And this year we say, "No more gag gifts - no more cheesy ties - argh!"

That's right - your Dad is special and unique in all the world, right?  So, get him a gift that reflects his uniqueness - his individuality.

Our pick?  Why handsome artisan items, of course!

All of the hand tooled leather goods in our Travel and Office/Study departments are on sale, and we've added some more bestsellers.

Bestsellers like our most popular box from the Lacquerware Collection: the playing card box.  Yes, this little gem hold 2 decks of cards, or cuff links, golf tees, you name it.

Also in the sale:

• one of our most requested inlaid Egyptian boxes - perfect for watches and other keepsakes

•  the horn cuff links and both styles of letter openers from the Natural Horn Collection (very masculine and very eco-chic)

• both styles of our pencil boxes (they'll make Dad's desk better looking and neater - a place to stow all the odds and ends - or pens - or pencils!)

• and the uber-manly (though we know the ladies love it too) Philosophia Scrub spa soap from Nesti Dante.  Dad can lather up with one of those hefty bars and think, "Michelangelo used soap like this - but not nearly as nice!"

So, don't miss out.  The Gifts for Dad Sale is happening now!

A few samples:

    

Another Sale at the Bella Figura USA Boutique!

Technically, we're calling this sale the "Gifts For the Grads" Sale.

But just among us friends, it's the "Yahoo - I'm Outta Here" Sale.

We've reduced everything in the Leather Goods department.  That's right: all items in the Travel category, and all items in Office/Study.

A few samples of these hand tooled leather products:

Left to right: Stainless steel & leather flasks, Hardcase card holders, Journals.

And don't forget:  Father's Day is right around the corner.  These make unique, "WAY better than a tie" gifts for Dad!

Come With Us to the Riviera

Since our Ooh La La Sale (in honor of the Cannes Film Festival) has begun, we thought it would be fun to visit the south of France.

But since, to our everlasting dismay, we're stuck here at home, we're having to do our visit by video.  But what a video - lovely music by Avy Marciano, and lovely photos.

Close your eyes a bit, and you can almost imagine you're there!

Don't Miss the "Ooh La La" Sale at Bella Figura USA

Yes, the Cannes Film Festival is now in full swing; and as promised in our earlier post (May Sales & Specials) we have our own celebration to correspond with the Festival: zee ooh la la sale!

Our fabulous French shea butter bath products are 30% off. That's right: 30%!  They've never been this low before.  And all the items are included in the sale: natural bath soaps, hand creams and shower gels.

    

In addition to the fab shea butter products, all of the French (Canadian) wine bar accessories are reduced by 20%.  These are the handsome and eco-chic natural horn products - all handcrafted and approved by GREENPEACE.  Totally cool!

    

So, come visit us - and score some great deals!