29.12.11

Unisex

Urrrr... it's cold... no rain to feel cosy, no clouds to take nice pictures, just hard sun and cold! At least I don't have to spend money on rain coats, boots, scarfs, umbrellas and gloves!! Talking about saving money...I just realized all I have to do is buy big brother unisex clothes, after all my favorite colors are gray and red! Little sis will be happy with his beautiful pullover... Have a great weekend! xoxo

28.12.11

Recognizing numbers

Looking for a creative way to teach big brother to recognize numbers. I arranged his favorite tools on the table (only 6 from this set.. guess  he will have to learn 7 8 9 10 by himself...) attached the numbers using photoshop and printed it as a size of a placement. Now I'm off to the local photo store to laminate it. Dinner tonight: new placement, tools , numbers, shnizel and pasta! 

27.12.11

DIY it's easy!

Before little sister was born everything was ready. Way before. I had a list of all the things I want her to have, and I knew I want it all to be hand made. Luckily my mother in law was here with her talent and patience and it  was a team work... As I looked around the internet trying to find some new compositions to shoot a new born I became aware of little baby headbands. Immediately I knew I want to make one. Choosing the easy  way - I bought this beautiful ready made flower (they sell them by meter so you can make some for your friends ..(: ) and using hot glue (!!!) I attached the flower to an elastic ribbon. Very simple! You can cover the back with a peace of fabric (with hot glue) to make it cleaner. Now go take some pictures...

26.12.11

Priceless moments


Sometimes in a middle of a crazy crazy day my two little ones are being nothing but angels. Big brother after a crisis on his way back from kindergarten stopping to pick a leaf for daddy, and little sister sleeping like an angel after a long morning with no sleep. I love them so much!

p.s -  the recipe for this week is stuck in the customs. Seriously, how difficult is it to get corn syrup in Tel Aviv? 

Holiday yay!

My husband is half and half, so we get to celebrate x-mas!! every year his family sending us x-mas stuff. how fun? a-lot!!!

25.12.11

Mommy is always right.

Taking my son toy a toy store is like taking a kid to a toy store...(: He is so overwhelming with the variety that he gets confuse. He likes trains a lot, he likes big packages and from some reason he likes the cheep stuff (are you really my son??). Trying to convince him to follow my choice is not easy. The last time we visited a toy store I chose this playmobil airplane and he chose the blue train. 1:0 to mommy! Now the airplane is one of his top 5 toys, and the blue train??  the blue train is broken somewhere in his messy room...
As being a daughter to a mother as well... I'm being mistaken as well...We went to the mall to buy big brother a Hanuka gift. I looked at the toys and felt in love with a photogenic helicopter (I need some new props...). Trying to convince him to choose it was not easy as he already held in his hands a huge (!!!) box with a train and a railway. My mom was taking his side. Few days later I realized this time I was the kid who (almost) made the wrong choice. We both absolutely love his new gift. Thanks mom!

22.12.11

A decision to make

As a new blogger I have one unsolved issue. If you ask me questions about photography, concept, style and text regarding my blog, I will answer you with confidence. But the decision whether or not to share my kid's pictures is unsolved. Since day one my kids saw the lens in front of them as part of my face... they have tons of pictures, and fully confidence I can say that the best pictures I ever took are theme's. I'm taking this weekend to make up my mind..
and by the way, HAPPY HANUKA!

....some little guy ate all my props last night...

21.12.11

Make a memory

This morning I woke up to find my little princess is not feeling very well...It made me sad.. so I decided to give her a present today. I collected the toys she likes the best, her tutu and her first dress,  opened my love Instagram and shoot this four photos. Now a memory of her first favorite things will last forever...So I'm off to see the doctor, then to the photo store to print it and finely to frame it and hang in her room! I think she'll like it...

20.12.11

No winter here

We are so ready!
Everybody knows we don't have four sessions here in Israel, but can we have at least two??? Who is in charge? Can I talk to him?? My kid's winter clothes are getting smaller when days go by...

19.12.11

Steve Jobs and us

Our home is full with craft supplies. My desk is a huge mess of punches, washi tape, lots of fabrics, crayon stickers, to make it short - big mess. When I first became a mom I had this ideal dream that me and my son will play with play-dough all day and at nights we will paint and cut and saw all cute things. Few weeks ago I printed some  figures from a cool blog  Toy-A-day (watch out this blog is addictive!) and gave it to my son. It's not that I chose Albert Einstein or Edgar Allan Poe... All I gave him to play with was Bob and Thomas (builder, train). He was happy with the gift for few minutes and then he came to me and asked: "mom, he doesn't speak, where is the push button???"  This made me laugh. If I want to please my son I better give him my iPad  or my iPhone. RIP Steve Jobs. We love you.

18.12.11

Best cake ever

On Thursday evening I posted my blog address for the first time, and on Friday morning all I wanted was to celebrate! Thank you all 250 readers for visiting me that evening. So I baked myself my favorite cake, yummy.. I like to bake. Very much. It's a therapy for me. Big satisfaction... The original recipe was giving to me by a lovely lady in Long Island 3 years ago, and ever since it's a huge success in our family.  How to:
First separate the eggs we need only the white .Put egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whip, first on low speed, then slowly progressing to high speed, until soft peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes.Slowly sprinkle the sugar  a little at a time over the egg-white mixture, and whip until glossy peaks are formed, about 4 minutes. Draw 2 circles as big as your serving dish on a parchment paper, divide the  meringue to two and make two nice circles on the paper with a flat knife or a spatula. That's the base of the cake and the middle. Bake on turbo 1 1/2 to 2 hours on 110 c. I like mine a bit chewy so I don't care if it's not dry all the way.  Now the fun part comes, it's like playing  lego with your kids..You have to build your cake! On a serving dish layer one meringue circle. Melt the chocolate in a microwave and spred one half of it on the  meringue. Use half of he nuts (you can first crush them a little) on top of the chocolate, over the nuts use one half of the strawberries (cut them first ..) to cover  the circle. Whip the heavy cream (make sure it's cold from the fridge) and spread half over the strawberries.Second part goes like that: the second meringue than chocolate than nuts than cream and on the top as many strawberries you want! Did I say corruption?! The best cake ever! 

14.12.11

WELCOME!

Welcome!! This is the first post that you see, and I'm embracing you my friends that you are here with me! How exiting are new starts? Creating this blog kept me busy for a while, and all I wanted is to have great readers like you! So thank you again for being here with me...
I hope you will find this blog interesting and fun like I want it to be. At the Welcome page you can read my goals, what to expect when you enter MY LOVELY MESS.. Many visitors and comments is the reason I'm here :) 
So now it's official! MY LOVELY MESS is on air and many great posts are waiting to be share. Go tell your friends!

This cute Welcome sign took me 15 minutes to make it's easy.. find some nice papers (you can use magazines adds or unused books, cereal box or - paint nice ones on a card stock) draw and cut letters, attache double side tape on the back and add a nice string (I used baker's twain - love it) and that's it! Hang it on your front door or give to a new baby to hang above the crib...
As Mickey Mouse says: "see you real soon!" 
xoxo Efrat

12.12.11

Think out side the box
























Blog world is a cool place. People are nice to each other, they have on jealousy against other colleague. Blogers are optimistic they are there to have fun. That's why it's no surprise to find links to other blogs at the side bar, and blog guests ans blog swaps. One of the first blogs I ever started to follow was  Made by Joel. A super talented crafter/father. Many of his great ideas are owned by big brother now. All is very simple and accessible, all is kids friendly and most of all - FUN. I made this dog few months ago and I can tell you about two or three times I walked our poodle out  and big brother walked the box...
                                

My brother in law

























There is Pottery Barn, there is there prices and there is the fact that I live in sunny Tel-Aviv...
When big brother was born we lived in New York, my husband and I.  My mom came to visit us at my third trimester and we went shopping for the baby.That was my first date with Pottery Barn Kids! And it was so fun to discover that somebody is making exactly the things I want my baby  to have. After 6 month we moved back to Tel Aviv and PBK is not around the corner any more...Thanks god they have a web site! The second part of the story is that my brother in law is one of the talented carpenters I know, and more than that - I think he is really having fun making his  nephew cool stuff. 
Now how cool is that books holder school bus??? Love it!  And the truck mobile?  

Retro Cars

























Last week we traveled  to Hifa (yes..traveled, I count on one hand the times I have been there so it's traveling to me..) and big brother scored this amazing gift from a very lovely lady. I wanted to yell "it's mine! it's mine!" but I hold myself as I was very pleased to see my son know how to recognize a real treasure.. Those 30+ years old cars came with me to the park when big brother was not around. And it was my turn to play.

11.12.11

Priceless moments

That beautiful little girl was the last session I did before my own little one came 3 months ago. That photo remind me to look and recognized the very special moment in life that usually we don't pay attention to...So next time you take a picture make some clicks in between the posing, cherish little moments.  

A message for you!

I dream about having a blog for a while , and now, it's happening! I'm not a person of big changes, but dealing with creation - it's a must.. so for now that's the look of my blog, but I'm pretty sure some changes will appear sooner or later. Love to here comments from you, how do you find this blog??? 
xoxo

10.12.11

And more blanket

This one is in a process, but I have a feeling that when it is done it's going to be top rated one....
The text on the fabric created by using rubber stamp (mine are from amazon, find them here) and fabric paint. Be creative!!!

Handmade mobile

Pottery Barn wanted 100$.
So I asked Martin to build it.
He did.
Better.
much better
.

What do you eat for breakfast?

Usually i don't eat breakfast but when I do i prefer it to be chocolate and banana muffin or pancake... oatmeal is good  as well... This recipe is from the joy of baking ant it's a favorite in our home! enjoy!
1 cup (115 grams) walnuts or chocolate chips 
1 3/4 cups (230 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white  sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon  baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs lightly beaten
100 grams unsalted butter melted and cooled
3 ripe large bananas (approximately 1 pound or 454 grams), mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon pure  vanilla extract

Banana Muffins: Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and place the oven rack in the middle of the oven. Line a 12 - 1/2 cup muffin pan with paper liners or butter or spray with a non stick spray.
Place the nuts (if used) on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.  
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nuts (or chocolate chips, or both). 
In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky. (The important thing is not to over mix the batter. You do not want it smooth. Over mixing the batter will yield tough, rubbery bread.) Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins. Bake about 20 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool for five minutes and then remove muffins from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Makes 12 regular sized muffins.



My obsession with blanket

I have 3 obsession right now :
my son's (bad) eating habits
photography
making blankets

It's my first post!!!



It's my first post and I'm sooo exited !!!