Roundup: Woman's Sleepwear

I recently found myself without a decent looking sleepwear for summer. Sure, I got tons of wife-beaters and old t-shirts, but let's admit - once you pass the breastfeeding period and your children sleep all though the night, there is really no excuse for looking drap and un-sexy in your sleepwear. So I set out to find myself a comfortable (!) and good-looking, feminine summer sleeping outfit.

 I toss during the night, and I really hate to get all tangled up and twisted in loose pajama pants or a nightgown. I quickly learned that during summer my best oprion is a fitted long tank top and shorts.

I am sharing my findings here in case you need to update your sleepwear too.

What do you wear to bed? And what qualities are you looking for when selecting sleepwear:
fiber, price,cuteness, sex appeal, comfort, classic feel, luxurious feel, elegance? Tell me in comments below!

Top row: 1 2 3 4
Bottom row: 5 6 7 8

Organic Skin Care you will want to eat!

My good friend Romana, a certified make-up artist and cosmetics guru, just recently introduced me to a new line of organic skin care - Eminence.

This is something out of this world, you guys!

Just browsing their extensive collection of divine cremes and moisturizers, and masks, and serums, makes my mouth water!

Literally.

Persimmon & Cantaloupe Day cream, Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant, Citrus & Kale Masque...

Hmmm.... Yummy...

Are you hungry yet??

If you are not sure where to start, here are a few TRIED and APPROVED products YOU WILL LOVE!!

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• Clear Skin Probiotic Masque- for oily skin 
• Yam & Pumpkin enzyme peel, 5%
• Pear & Poppy seed microderm polisher

They also send you small samples of other products to try, along with your order. So follow a good advice I once received from someone :

"Don't be stingy on products that touch your skin, especially your face"

I am ordering a few things right now and let you know my favorite.

Please share your own experience in the comments below!

Disclosure: All opinions are mine only. No gifts or money has been exchanged for this post. Simply sharing my experience.

DIY Facial Mask that fights pimples

Did you know that a good facial mask does not necessarily require a trip to the salon?
Just 2 ingredients that I guarantee you have in your kitchen, can help you dramatically improve your facial skin.

Introducing....

OATMEAL+EGG WHITE FACIAL MASK

It comes together so easy!!

Simply grind some oatmeal into a powder. ( I used my NutriBullet.)
Separate the yolk from the egg white. ( Discard the yolk or use it the custard cream)
Beat the egg white with a folk until foamy.
Add 1-2teaspoons of oatmeal powder to the egg white, until you make a mass resembling baby food. The consistency is up to you - it should be easy to apply to a face. ( I ended up with 2 spoonfuls  per 1 egg white)
This masks will help to fight skin inflamation and nourish it with nutrients it needs. I love the fact that it contains no chemicals and is completely natural.

Still, you will most likely have too much of the stuff, so share it with your friend, mom, sister!

After applying it your clean face, wait 10 min, than rinse. I find it easier to use paper towel to remove.

Apply moisturizer. Best if used 2x week.

My skin felt velvety and smooth all day..I am not kidding!

Try it today and tell me if you liked it in the comments below!

Etsy Talent - ISRAEL

If you don't like to browse Etsy - we can't be friends. So much talent there, it is simply impossible to keep emotionally calm. Every other minute I'm like :

"Oh, that is so cool!"

or

"Damn!, why didn't I think of it" ( pouting face)

I add a lot of items to my favorites, and when i feel completely un-inspired  ( yes, those days happen),
I re-visit my loooooong list of visual candy.

During my last 'inspirational session', I noticed that many Etsy artists that I favored, work and create in Israel. What a talented country!

Enjoy some of my favorite fashion goodies.

Have you ever bought clothing from Etsy?
How was your experience?
What about shoes?

Tell me in the comments below!

( All sources are on my Pinterest board "Etsy talent")

3 tiny things to a better YOU!

Pinterest

We all make big goals and resolutions at the beginning of the year ( remember New Years Eve?) But more often than not, by the time spring rolls around, our BIG and AMBITIOUS dreams and goals are likely to loose its glamor, and that special diet and that promising exercise routine slowly but surely, loose their grip. 

Seriously. 

Who wants to be stuck at the gym when the weather is finally up in the 70s, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the allergies are flourishing...well, I am getting off topic here....

 A-a-a-achoo!!!

And before you know it, 10 pounds have crept back up to your waistline and settled cosily in their little houses: the Love handles.(the name is so romantically deceitful!) 

You are tired before noon, and exhausted by 5pm, and your skin is drab and dull even under that expensive foundation you bought.

 The answer is easy!

INSTEAD OF BIG RESOLUTIONS YOU CANNOT STICK WITH,

CREATE NEW    small   HABITS FIRST!

Here are the 3 simple things I will be doing for the next 30 days:

1. DRINK MORE WATER

More than 75% of people are dehydrated on a regular basis. I totally made it to that group!! 

I only drink water when my mouth is actually too dry to open or speak.

I won't bore you with all the health problems that can and do occur due to lack of water in our bodies, but I will tell you this:

- If your ultra-smooth, super-expensive, Oprah-approved liquid foundation cakes on your face- you need more water!

-If you find yourself paying visits to the porcelain throne without much success ( no need to be grossed out here- its all medical talk here)  - you need more water!  

- If you feel tired and sleepy after that 3rd cappuccino-macchiato- frappuccino thing - guess what?

YOU NEED MORE WATER!

So be a darling and drink more water, ok?

I will be taking it super slow, with 3 full glasses a day and work my way up to 5-6.

2. DO LUNGES

Sounds simple, right? And totally un-ambitious. "Shouldn't you write here WORK OUT FOR 45MIN EVERYDAY ?"- you ask me. 

And the answer is NO. Because that would be another BIG goal. That will most likely fail after a few days. We want to stick with something small, remember? 

Sure you can find 9 min a day to do 3 sets of lunges!!

Your thighs will thank you. 

( But If you find yourself in a situation, where you are ready and willing to do 30-45 min workout, please DO IT. )

3. WASH YOUR FACE BEFORE BED

Every self-respecting woman knows that sleeping with your makeup is a big NO-NO! But we do it anyways. With a million excuses up our sleeve:

Does BB cream count as makeup?

I cried, and the tears washed all my makeup away.

I need the smoky eyes tomorrow

I am too tired ( well , that's a classic)

I did not wear that much anyways

I am lazy, I admit it!

Well, well, well. We have all been there. Just pull yourself together, girl, and DO IT!

Wash your face with a facial cleanser every night! No excuses! 

Don't overwhelm yourself with a complicated nightly routine, with all the toners, and cleansers and serums and moisturizers... Just wash your face- this is our tiny rule to stick to.

 If you reach for a moisturizer after the wash, because your face feels like a dry tatami mat ( no pointing fingers please) - that's great! If not, leave it be! You did what you were supposed to for now, so pat yourself on the shoulder.

So here there are, my 3 tiny things that will lead to big changes! 

DRINK MORE WATER- feel better, energized, restore your bowels, plump up your skin.
DO LUNGES- tones those thighs, butt and core.
WASH YOUR FACE BEFORE BED- let your skin breath, restore and glow in the morning.

Care to join me? Let's do it and share results afterwards!

Love me some Neon...

My recent Color Love... Neon+Neutrals

All images are in my Neon & Neutrals pinterest board

"How about we" make dates nights FUN again!

Dating is usually associated with single people. But married couples need date nights too, sometimes more desperately than anyone! "How about we" is a dating site that originated for singles, but now not only it  helps you find your significant other, but it can assist you to plan fun and refreshingly interesting dates with your wife/husband!
Members get exclusive, custom ideas straight to inbox( and good deal on them) on what to do when your mother-in-law takes the kids for sleepover. Anything from Brunch dates to Artsy dates to Skills dates, the selection is very rich and diverse - cool, fun dates customized for you!
Husbands! Check it out now and plan your special date on the upcoming Mother's day. Your wife will appreciate the thoughtfulness and the effort you put into it. The site will do all the work for you, you just get the credit for it :)
 Yes, the flowers are nice, and so is a card, but trying something new together as a couple, on a date, surely beats anything!

Gender Neutral Nurseries and Kids' Rooms

A themed nursery that would be fun for a boy or girl

Decorating nurseries as “gender neutral” has been a growing trend for a couple of years now, 

perhaps linked to more parents’ decision to wait until birth to find out the sex of the baby? This trend toward neutrality can also continue as the child grows, with gender neutral kid rooms, especially with shared spaces. When it comes to decorating for kids, what does gender neutral mean? What picture comes to mind when you think of that phrase? 

For some families, neutral is the keyword. With tone-on-tone whites or grays, for instance, the color scheme is distinctly neutral. These neutrals provide a soothing, calming space and work well for both sexes and varying ages, making it also a good fit for shared spaces.

 Simplicity in color palette

 

Sometimes, gender neutral means not focusing on traditional colors of blue for boys and pink for girls, but using other colors for either sex.

A blue with green undertones plays well with a bright yellow

 

You can also play with using traditional colors in nontraditional ways.

The navy add sophistication to this bubble gum pink

 

Green and orange add a new twist to the traditional baby blue

 Remember the shared spaces mentioned above? Certainly, having kids share a room is nothing new! There has been increased interest, though, in how to decorate those rooms to make them enjoyable for both kids, whether boys, girls or a mix. Usually when having a little boy and girl share a room, the palate centers on a neutral color, such as white, with small pops of color.

Having a neutral foundation with pops of color helps this room work for a little girl and her baby brother

 

 Another great way to decorate a gender neutral room is to base it around a theme, instead of a color. For kids, neutral themes such as safari, circus, chevron, woodland, or zoo would all work well, as would a favorite children’s story, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

These beautiful murals carry the theme throughout the room and would transition well as the child grows

What is your favorite nursery style?

Random Polka Dot fever

You probably are aware of the Polka Dot trend that has been going around, but the latest twist on that is Random Polka Dot. And it not necessarily dots- could small specks, brush strokes, splash stains, or any other small shapes scattered in a random pattern.

Now, to keep up with this, go ahead and get yourself a Random Polka Dots dress, or a pair of shoes, or a pillow, or even a manicure with littlest random  polka dots!

1. 2. 3  4 5  6. 7 8 9 10 12

Color I love now - Radiant Orchid

Since Pantone's announcment that the color of this year, 2014, is Radiant Orchid, I cannot help but notice it everywhere. It is rich, royal and absolutely gorgeous!

What about you? Do you like it? Have you been inspired by it? Comment below!



















1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Re-caulking a shower

Did you know that between designing fabrics, raising kids and making dinners, I also re-caulk showers?

Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Simple mix of water+bleach, 1:1 proportion.Scrub with this, and for especially dark grout lines, make paper towel strips soaked in the same mix, and leave them on top of stains for 10-15 min.
Once you cleaned all the gunk, remove loose caulking and re-apply new. Let set, no water for 24 hours.

HINT: Clear caulk is so much more forgiving than white. Even if you mess up, it won't be so visible!

 I also used masking tape to make the caulk go on straight and even. Just like you would with paint. Just make sure you remove the tape right away before caulk attaches to it.

Color I love right now - Cobalt Blue

Lately, I've been noticing this color everywhere... So rich, deep and simply magical....

 From left to right: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Painted Ceiling

My daughter's room desperately needs a makeover!
When we moved in into our freshly renovated house, she was a under 2 year old, and LOVED to draw.
So when I was too busy being pregnant, nesting and unpacking boxes and organizing our stuff, she would draw on walls with a ballpoint pen. She managed to be pretty sneaky about it, and i missed to noticed it for a while... Anyways, between her drawings and greasy fingerprints I decided it was best to leave the walls as is and some time later just paint the whole room again.

Now this time has come and I cannot take it anymore.

I NEED to paint her room. Hence the makeover.

I was considering the new color, but after a while I realized, I am really drawn to white-walls- nurseries and kids rooms. Still I wanted a punch of color somewhere, and yesterday while browsing Pinterest I saw this:

Source: artisticdesignsforliving.com via NewMomDesigns- unique textiles on Pinterest

I just loved the simplicity and neatness of this room. But notice how the walls are pretty quiet, while the CEILING gives the color punch. This is what I want now: white walls & colored ceiling.

My daughter requested color yellow for her room walls, but I am sure she will love seeing it up there instead.
It will look something like this:

Source: escapadeblog.com via NewMomDesigns- unique textiles on Pinterest

Here are some more cool spaces where ceiling brings the A game:

Source: gorgeousshinythings.blogspot.com via Sandra on Pinterest

( Love the colors and modern, Scandinavian inspired pattern)

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Emily on Pinterest

( Very elegant and classic)

Source: mentalfloss.com via Olivia on Pinterest

( How cool is that?!! Ceiling in the smoking area)

Source: vtinteriors.blogspot.com via Angel on Pinterest

( Soft and barely there...but it does the trick)

Source: houzz.com via Shannon on Pinterest

( Black is not easy to pull off and it scares many people with its boldness, but when done right, can be quite dramatic and exquisite)

Would you paint your ceiling some color other than white?

Do you know what murmuration is? Then watch this.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

This totally blew my mind! You have to watch this video! Nature is one amazing thing....I would never thought that this black, swirling mass  are the birds! It reminds me of the "black smoke monster" from "Lost", remember??

( found via DesignMom)

How to make a tablecloth

I would love for my dining table to be exposed like this at all times:

smooth, dark espresso finish, with beautiful wood grain....

But with kids in the house- it is simply impossible.

All sorts of activities take place on our dining table: drawing, play dough, chopping ( when Alina is helping with dinner), cutting/pasting/gluing, etc.

So a durable, protective something was absolutely necessary! A regular fabric tablecloth just would not do it.

So when a few years ago, I saw somewhere in blogosphere a tailored oilcloth tablecloth, I knew it was a solution for me.

You have probably noticed my old black/white tablecloth on the background of these photos, here or here.

It did served me with loyalty for around 3 years, but it is time to replace it with something fresh.

The only problem is that there is a limited selection of oilcloth fabric out there, most are too bright and flowery and do not blend into my living/dining area.

It has taken me a while to find a suitable pattern/color for my new tablecloth. 

I  have finally settled on Ty Pennington Spice Fabric in laminated cotton. This is how my table looks now:

neat, tailored, with small geometric pattern.

If you up for making yourself a tailored tablecloth, here are the instructions in visuals:

Fashion+Funny = I love it!

I have just discovered this really cool fashion video-blog and  wanted to share it with you.
I completely fell in love with Wendy! So adorable, funny and has a great sense of style!
Just watch one of her videos and you will love her too:

Hope you enjoy!

Chevron Rug for sale

Anybody up for a zig zag rug?
I bought it for my bedroom, but it just did not fit into the surroundings, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that it COULD work.
Great quality, 100% wool, looped, 5'x8'.
I absolutely love it, I so wish I could use it, but it conflicts with my "serenity" themed decor.

If you want to buy it, please contact me: newmomdesigns {at} yahoo {dot} com. Price $240 +shipping.

Slowly, but surely...

Just like many other projects, my gallery wall beautification project, which I have started so enthusiastically, came to a halt. No, no, it is far from being finished... I just lost my inspirational wind, so to speak.
Slowly, I have been trying to gear myself up to the task, browsed through endless Etsy pages in hopes of some bright enlightenment, but nothing so far.
At times, I think I just take it way too seriously - it is just a matter of a few frames I have to fill with SOMETHING!!! But then again, I start to argue with myself - that SOMETHING is what we all going to look  numeruous times, everyday. And I want to be pleasing to the eye, well... not just my eye, but everyone in my household at least ( I already gave up the idea of pleasing everyone with my choices, it is really impossible!)
So while I still have3 large frames that are still empty... awaiting..., here are a couple of new additions I wanted to share:

My $2 wood carved elephant I picked up at a discount store. I had to freshen it up with some paint, as the original woody surface looked dingy and dirty (weirdly, on the photo it looks good as original, but trust me... it did not in reality!)

My take on a weathered painted patina....

I may paint it again with a brighter color, to pop more against the wall. Unless I paint the walls, then...not sure.

And another new resident on my wall is a photo collage of my kids:

Not only it did bring some color to the wall, but every time I look at it - my heart smiles!

That's what I mean by the "right" selection for the frames. Of course, I don't expect to smile by looking at every single piece on my wall, but I am searching for something special..:)

To read the beginning of my gallery wall adventures click here.

What to do with kids artwork?

Yesterday I got a bit tired of looking at the empty frames on my wall, waiting for the inspiration to strike. 

I decided to take action and use what I have in the house to fill up a few spots.

Guess what this is?

If you guessed "your daughter's first watercolor painting",  you guessed right!

She did it last year, when she was 3 y.o., and I found them fascinating, and kept them in special folder.

She painted a few pages in a regular ruled composition book, and I cut out the irregular shapes and pasted them together on a white background.

Looks like a great abstract piece of art! 

Here is another example:

These were done with colored markers.

Simple and effective!

How do you display your kids art? Leave a comment ;)

Looking sharp...

One of my newest followers, my hubby ( Hi, hubby! Thanks for the link!) send me these incredible photos the other day. It is hard to believe people have such patience...

Made by artist: Dalton Ghetti