Maternity Henna

I wanted to tap into my Moroccan-Israeli roots and what better way than to stain my pregnant belly with henna. The last time I did any henna was right before our wedding. Our palms were smudged as we were honored with good health, fertility, wisdom and security. The guests then smeared the henna on their palms to bring good luck. Then it's party time! Music and dancing. Sweets and drinks. Good times.
My friend, Monica, is a natural when it comes to the art of henna. No stencils here! She has a sweet henna hookup that comes perfectly wrapped, like you're about to decorate a dainty cupcake.We got together last Sunday to have a little fun with it. And, of course, we made sure to include Ayla in the process. Surprisingly, she sat pretty still for a spirited three year old. Here's how it all went down:

Shiny Happy Monsters

I signed up to do a Halloween craft at Ayla's school this week. As i'm scrambling for ideas, i'm working hard at avoiding anything cliche. You know...pumpkins, bats and ghosts. Also, I have a crazy stash of random fabric scraps,  fuzzy pom poms, pipe cleaners, yarn, googly eyes etc. I'm thinking, these things need to get used up!

 

We made "Friendly Monster" masks and they are as spooky as a black cat on Hallow's Eve. This is a great craft for preschoolers because it helps them use their imagination and work on creative expression. Such a fun, easy project that requires just a few supplies and a bubbling imagination.



Here's what you'll need to create your monster: foam circles, craft sticks, tacky glue and googly eyes.  For the rest of the decorations, use what you have around the house and get to it!

Savor the Moment

Every so often, you get a chance to capture your family as a whole just being who you are as a unit. Usually, you're probably the one taking the pictures, so there's never a chance you'll be in them. My sweet friend and neighbor Kim of Kim Lloyd Photography makes the magic happen. She has a way with making the photos resonate with you forever. It's about catching that moment where the photo comes to life. If you ever think, I wish we had a good picture of us or if only I can get one good shot, then you should get in touch with Kim. She is fun, easy going and a pleasure to work with.

 Here is a preview of our session a few lazy Sundays ago:

Shape it up!

The Perfect Tortilla Pan set makes eating way more fun. It's so simple to use any day of the week and is a total party pleaser. You can make taco bowls, salads, desserts etc. The possibilities are endless and it makes a great serving dish for your favorite dip. On this week's Try It segment, I put this product to the test.

Sneaky Sweet Potato Waffles

Hey there! Here is a great way to sneak veggies into some of your favorite foods. What better way to kick off Fall than with sweet potatoes! I decided to make sweet potato waffles, mainly because I've been craving them and also to get Ayla to eat more veggies. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene, which offers up a hefty load of Vitamin A. Beta-carotene is fat soluble, so that extra butter on your waffle will only aid in absorption. Eat up and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Waffle recipe:

1 cup all-purpose flour                                1 cup milk
1 cup whole wheat flour                              1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder                                1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp kosher salt                                     1 tsp. orange zest
1/2 tsp cinnamon                                       1 1/2 cups sweet potato (mashed)
                                                                 6 egg whites

* Use room temperature ingredients for a better batter.

Sift the flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a mixing bowl. In another bowl add milk, brown sugar, butter, orange zest and potatoes, mix until incorporated. Beat your egg whites in separate bowl until you get medium peaks. Add your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and stir until the batter just comes together. Next, you're going to add your egg whites in three batches. Mix just until blended together. Preheat your waffle iron to medium. Once up to heat, spray with non-stick cooking oil and pour in about 1 cup of batter. Close lid and wait about 6 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with butter and maple syrup or for a dessert add a scoop of butter pecan ice cream. You can also let waffles completely cool and then freeze them for a quick, easy, healthy breakfast.

No Schtick!

Try It Before You Buy It is the cheat sheet of product testing. Channel 10 news of Tampa Bay runs this segment weekly for your viewing pleasure. I had the joy of testing a few items, but The Schticky was my fave by far! The name alone makes you want to laugh, which makes it a winner! Check out the video below...

Is there a product you've seen that makes you question its performance?

Leave a comment below to put a product to the test!

Quick and easy jewelry organizer

How many of you are suckers for the dollar section at Target? Well, I happen to be one of those suckers. The metal mesh storage bins are on sale at 70% off, which makes them an affordable 75 cents! Woop woop! I decided to take on organizing my jewelry, especially my earrings. Here is what I came up with:

It fits an array of earrings. Simply hang them through the mesh holes. 

Don't forget your studs!

You can also store goodies inside of it. I found a random 'S' hook for my necklaces and a cute bowl for bracelets. Get creative and use what you have to make your accessories accessible.

Tada!! This makes me want to go out on the town. 

If you have any other good ideas for getting your jewelry in order, feel free to share.

Happy weekend!

Mountain Therapy

This week is about gaining perspective and finding inspiration. We're heading to the gorgeous state of Colorado to visit some good friends and see three nights of live music by a little band called Phish. This vay cay is long overdue...we are ready! Here's a little fun fact for you...Colorado has more sunny days per year than Florida. As much as we love our Sunshine State, we're ready for some mountain therapy. Fresh air, beautiful landscapes and travel adventures will pave this road to awesometown.
What are your favorite getaways?

See you next week...

Hello, nice to meet you!

Hey there! My name is Orel and this is my very first post on Our Creative Cloud. I'd like to take this time to introduce myself and let you know what's in store for us. I'm currently cruising into my 7th month of pregnancy with my second baby girl. My daughter, Ayla, is an awesome three year old who enjoys crafting and making delicious food with my husband Matt and I.

The whole point of this blog is to create an online community of tips and tutorials of everything DIY. I like to re-purpose, create, teach and learn. Think of it as a smorgasbord of fun projects to make for you, your kids or home. 

When I have extra time, which is rare these days, I work on my first 'baby'...One Off Designs.  I'll be featuring one-of-a-kind wares that can be viewed at my Etsy shop. Keep your eyes peeled for free giveaways of sweet product! And who doesn't love free?

I want to thank you for letting me share the things I love most with you. Please enjoy!