Neon Be

for the love of all things pretty

Archives for November 2016

Baby’s First Christmas-Gift Guide

Neon Be

​It can be quite a challenge shopping for a baby but its so important to make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed no matter how young they are! I have compiled a wide range list of gift ideas for your baby’s first Christmas!

1. FIONA WALKER ENGLAND FELT FEATHER HEADDRESS – BLACK AND WHITE

A fun stocking stuffer idea for those moms who love to have photo/dress up props!

2. PLANTOYS SUBMARINE

Another bath time hit for those little babes that love bath time!

3. FAT BRAIN TOYS – TOBBLES NEO

For babies 6 months+ this is a great hands-on toy that is sure to keep your baby busy!

4. KID O MOLUK PLUI CLOUD

This adorable cloud is perfect for bath time, Fill it up with water and make it rain!

5. NATURSUTTEN ORTHODONTIC PACIFIER – BUTTERFLY

This is a practical gift idea that you will get lots of use out of if your little one likes the pacifier!

6. BANNOR TOYS CLASSIC RATTLE

This simple wood rattle is the perfect stocking stuffer for a teething baby!

7. DOCKATOT DELUXE DOCK BABY LOUNGER & SLEEP POSITIONER – PRISTINE WHITE

This is a gift that will keep on giving, your sleep and baby’s sleep will thank me!

8.BINXY CART HAMMOCK

I can’t tell you how many times I have been stopped at the grocery store and asked about this! It’s amazing!

5 Ways to update your living room for the holidays

Neon Be

During the holidays we usually stick to the traditional green Noble Fur, holiday scented candles and an assortment of holiday theme nick knacks. This year I wanted to create more of a cabin, cozy, with touches of green, red and white. I took a lot of the extra tree trimmings and spread it around the house in various places to add the touch of the Christmas tree greenery.

1. Add Existing Elements 
Instead of multiple strands of Christmas tree lights we opted for this single strand, big bulbed lights from IKEA. I threw on some strung wooden beads to tie in the natural wood elements we have on our shelves and coffee table. I also added our angel topper has been in my family since I was a young girl, It’s symbolic to our Christmas traditions.

 

2. Add Layers and Texture
I wanted to bring some warmth and more texture to our living room, so I decided to layer this animal hide rug. I’m obsessed with textures and layering even the simplest things like throws and rugs! Such a simple way to add that coziness during the winter months.

3. Add Greenery
I went a little over board with the wreaths this year, I am pretty sure I have one in all the rooms in my house. I wanted to spruce up my new frames from Frame Bridge with some Christmas touches. I simply took some extra tree trimmings and added them into a vase, Found this adorable metal banner from target and hung this gorgeous olive wreath from Allmodern.com.

4. Extra Seating
We always tend to have limited seating arrangements in our home since its pretty tight and we don’t always host guest. Around the Holidays we have a lot more family and friends coming by from out of state and for holiday get together’s. I loved this seating option from AllModern.com, its portable and it’s stylish! Another great site is Furniture.com, they offer a great variety in living room furniture and accesories!

5. Battery String Lights
I found these battery operated lights in the dollar section at target and they fit in so well with our handmade garland. Which we made with extra tree trimmings!

There so many different decor styles you can adapt these methods with too!

A special thanks to Frame Bridge and All Modern!
Get 15% your order with Frame Bridge here!

Happy Holidays!

Simplify your cleaning-with bObi Classic

Neon Be

I was gifted bObi Classic to review and share my experience. All opinions are mine alone. 

This Holiday season is in full swing, Thanksgiving was a success! I was very happy to have been able to spend time with my family away from work and the hustle and bustle of life. Jude had most of the week off, Israel had three days off that week which made it that much better for all of us.
I tend to be the baker in our family out of 3 sisters and my mom, I bake for our gatherings. I absolutely love it, I baked a couple Pumpkin cheese cakes and some Red velvet, cream cheese, peppermint brownies. It was a whole day thing for me which left me feeling super guilty at how much time I spent doing that vs. spending time with my husband and kids.

​I was beyond excited when I received my bObi Classic in the mail, I honestly didn’t realize how often and how much time cleaning my floors took out of my day. With Orbison, our mini bull terrier, and two kids and a husband, keeping our floors clean is a constant battle.

bObi Classic is a vacuum robot with 5-1 multi-tasking capabilities:

  1. A vacuum that picks up dirt and dust
  2. Larger brushes that bring in bigger bits to be vacuumed
  3. Attachable mopping pad
  4. UV light that kills floor bacteria
  5. Hepa air filter

I love the ease of knowing that with a simple press of “GO” on bObi’s remote, my worries and stress of finding the time to clean my floors fades away. I find myself complaining less and less about the messes and just enjoy our meals and snack time that much more knowing bObi Classic has my back.

My absolute favorite part aside from clean floors is that I have noticed my allergies ease up because of pet dander and dust bObi Classic cleans up. Before bObi Classic I dreaded bringing out our traditional bulky vacuum, Orbison would bark up a storm trying to get our old vacuum and with bObi classic he’s absolutely fine, He sits and watches her roam around the house. I would be lying if I said we didn’t all stop and watch her do her thing, it’s pretty amazing!

I would recommend bObi Classic to anyone looking for more time in their day or just looking for an awesome cleaning robot! 
Learn More on bObi Classic or buy your own here!

Simply delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe with video!

Neon Be

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. You can use a store bought pie pan or assemble a 9-inch nonstick springform pan, with the raised side of the bottom part facing up.
  2. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter until moistened; press firmly into bottom of pan. Bake until golden around edges, approx 10 to 12 minutes.
  3. Make the filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on low speed until smooth; mix in flour (do not overmix). Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; mix just until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.
  4. Pour filling into springform or pie pan, and gently smooth top. Transfer to oven; reduce oven heat to 300 degrees. Bake 45 minutes without opening the oven. Turn off oven; to prevent the top from cracking, let cheesecake stay in oven 2 hours more (without opening).
  5. Remove from oven; cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. Unmold before serving.

 

ROCKETS OF AWESOME- A BIG BOX OF STYLISH KIDS CLOTHING RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR STEP!

Neon Be

If you’re anything like me you have the hardest time finding time shopping in a retail store and dread it especially with a infant and 6 year old! I’ll admit I basically shop for everything online these days from groceries to diapers. When I came across Rockets Of Awesome my jaw dropped, I thought I had seen all the subscription boxes out there but the mom prayers were answered!

Rocket Of Awesome sends you 8-12 items four times a year! Shipping is free and you are only charged for what you keep and no styling fees! When signing up you take a quiz to curate your child’s style and box. One of the coolest things is that they make their clothes and design styles to fit your child’s style. I couldn’t even contain my excitement when our first box came in. Jude was excited, everything was personalized to tailor to Jude’s style.  I had him try everything on, But what was awesome is that we weren’t in some small dressing room rushing to try on anything, we were in the comfort of our home which made this process enjoyable for all of us!

Jude’s box contained:

  • 2- Pants
  • 3- Sweaters
  • 1- Shorts
  • 1- Jogger Pants
  • 2- Long Sleeve Tee Shirts
  • 1-Vest
  • 1- Button up Flannel
  • 1- Pair of Socks

We received so many great items and that are on trend and get this nothing is over $40! I know AWESOME! We had so much fun creating some looks he got tired and bored in the process so lots of breaks for snacks were had, which wouldn’t have been possible at a retail store!

We ended up keeping everything in Jude’s box, this was a success! His fall wardrobe has never been easier to shop for and not to mention budget friendly!
P.S The box makes a great coloring project!

Want to try it for yourself? click here to sign up for free!

FAMILY ROAD TRIP- PACKING TIPS

Neon Be

Planning a road trip to California with my family is easy, the packing which is 99% of the time left up to me, is the hard part!

I usually overwhelm myself with the infamous “what if we will need this?” or “maybe I will wear that” I can come up with so many excuses why I should pack something that’s not necessary for the trip. I’d like to think after so many trial and errors I’ve gotten better at packing and organizing our luggage’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I struggle to minimize the clothes I bring on trips so I have found some tricks on how to pack more by taking up less space:

  • Roll your tops and bottoms instead of folding them
  • Fold Thicker items such as jackets, or any starched item’s
  • Layer your packed clothing (think cake layers) Rolled pants on bottom and rolled tops at the top.
  • Try not to pack more than 2 pairs of shoes (I know ridiculous right?!) A pair of sneakers and some sandals or flats unless you have a formal occasion on the trip pack some heels too!
  • Slip shoes into a bag to avoid any contact with clothing or any other item.
  • For the Kids pack a pair sneaker and/or a pair of sandals
  • Depending on the length of your trip, packing 1 pair of Pajamas for 2 nights is ideal for you and the kids. Always bring an extra pair just in case of any emergencies.
  • It’s a plus to pack yoga pants, leggings, or sweats that can double as pajamas too!
  • 1 outfit a day is sufficient, every child is different and some require multiple outfits a day so be sure to pack according to those needs
  • Bring along a bag/s you can pack dirty laundry in
  • Shove accessories in your shoes like charging cables, jewelry, sunglasses etc.

I find it really helps having a good durable Luggage case with the right packing space. With this Gabbiano Authentic Collection 29″ we avoided packing multiple bags! Each side features a zipped enclosure and a zipped pocket for additional storage. Its super light weight and the wheels have a 360* spin and has a very beautiful and timeless look which we love!

Packing toiletries for so many different needs can be tricky, I’ve found that it helps to pack items that we can all use ie. Toothpaste, Razors, Lotion etc. Best way to secure your toiletries:

  • Pack them in Zip Lock bags or plastic lined toiletry bags
  • Secure similar items together
  • Pack separately from clothing
  • Opt for travel size products or put your favorite product in a smaller travel container

Packing for kids is a whole different story! In our case we are packing for a 5-hour drive to California so here is what we are bringing along with our clothes and toiletries:

  • Activity/Coloring books for Jude
  • Headphones and an Ipad
  • Towel just in case you never know!
  • Blankets one for each kid
  • Kid pillow
  • A small “soft” cooler with drinks and snacks
  • Sanitizing wipes
  • Diaper Bag with Eli’s necessities
  • Extra tote with Diapers for the 4-day trip
  • A toy or two
  • Paper towels
  • Flip flops for easy and quick pit stops
  • Small bag for trash
  • Travel crib for Eli- This Gauva Family Travel Crib is super light weight and not bulky perfect for travel!

I hope you have found these little tips as useful as I have! Adventure Awaits!

 

BED SIDE VANITY TUTORIAL

Neon Be

 

One of our main issues with this current master bedroom is the lack of space, I’m sure some of you can relate. Instead of a glam room, I got creative and created a bedside vanity space!
Let’s start by talking about the actual vanity table, I had the hardest time finding anything big enough, too small or just overpriced for the space I had to work with. One day while I was strolling through Target (like I do most days) and I came across this “writing desk” that actually had two drawers and has two outlets and USB plugs built in! I knew instantly this was the “vanity” I was looking for. I also picked up a can of this copper spray paint for the legs to match this round mirror and brass lamps.

The Chair was my second challenge because I couldn’t decide what style I liked or wanted for this space. I found this super adorable Acrylic ghost arm chair in Smoke. It’s perfect in this little space and meshed well with my vanity vibes. I’m a freak when it comes to home decor and accessories and actually found some adorable items to complement this feminine space without screaming “tacky vanity stuff” I’ll include a list below with links!

Materials needed:
– 1 can Devine Color Spray Paint by Valspar

List of items with links:
– Writing Desk
​–Ghost Arm chair in Smoke
–Pawn Marble Vase
​–Gold Round Mirror
–Brass Lamps
–3 Clear compartment brush holder
–Acrylic make up organizer tray
–Oversized fuax fur pillow
​–Standard Shag Rug

I’ve gotten so much use out of this little vanity space, No more standing over my sink or sitting on the ground in front of a mirror. I hope this has inspired you as it had me. I was that girl dreaming of the perfect vanity “room”, but bringing this corner to life with this bed side vanity has been so amazing and will be so useful for me. Please feel free to comment down below with any questions!

HAVING OUR SECOND BABY AFTER 5 YEARS

Neon Be

I wanted to share our experience with introducing Eli to our family and how Jude reacted to his sibling brother. I was so sure Jude would suffer that “only child” syndrome and how I would be as a mom to both boys, I was really struggling on how to approach these challenges.

I’m a bit ashamed to admit I was terrified the day my c-section day came. I cried a lot, afraid of how this little baby would change our family dynamic and Jude having had my full attention for the past 5 years. I was afraid I would be less of a mother to Jude and Eli because how would I possibly manage two equally.

I was so excited and happy and ready when we finally decided to get pregnant. I had prayed my whole pregnancy that I wouldn’t have these emotions that I had heard so many other moms-to-be go through. It terrified me so much that I was crying the day before Eli was going to be born.

Our sweet Jude was nothing but excited throughout my whole pregnancy right along with us. He would often talk to Eli and hug my belly, He would constantly ask us if he was coming yet. I knew he was ready to take on the big brother role and that brought me so much peace of mind.

As my C-Section date came and went, my worries faded completely and my heart was so full. I felt like the luckiest woman alive, I had these amazing healthy boys and this supportive helpful husband. Jude never once acted out in jealousy, I was amazed how it just happened so naturally, It all fell into place and it felt right.

It just makes me smile when I see Jude so genuinely happy to see his brother in the morning when he wakes up or after school. I’m so proud of him and how he has just taken his role as a big brother and done his best with it.

Jude has been my biggest teacher in parenting and any parents out there struggling with this my tips to you are:

  1. Have open communication with your spouse/kids and family
  2. Trust yourself
  3. Trust your child/children
  4. Pray, Pray, Pray

I hope a glimpse into my journey with this helps ease any fears or anxieties of yours!
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