I have a confession to make. I’m not a big fan of jumpsuits or pantsuits or really any kinds of suits when it comes my wardrobe. I’ve tried on my fair share and they just look, well, off. But Extra TV host Maria Menounos might have just changed my mind at the ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ red carpet premiere.

Is this not a “WOW” outfit to say the least?

Maria is a wearing sexy and stunning black jumpsuit by Gemy Maalouf. It’s the lace that makes my jaw drop. Gemy Maalouf is known for bold details and she did not disappoint with this piece of art work.

Here’s a look at the back. Drop dead gorgeous!

Maria paired it with a gorgeous pair of green earrings that in no way take away from the jumpsuit, but instead compliment it just right. Love it.

See more of the Gemy Maalouf collection here.

My latest fashion obsession, which you kind of see everywhere right now, is combining coral and teal together. My daughter and I had a little fun with this trend at a recent party we went to. I wore teal wedges, she wore coral. I painted my toes and fingernails coral, she painted her teal. Here’s a picture we took of our feet, because why not, right?

Wedges: Both from Khol’s (Pictured below)

Super cute huh? I love that my daughter and I wear the same shoe size. We both benefit greatly from this! Except when we want to wear the same pair of shoes, on the same day.

Have you tried this color combining trend? Here’s some inspiration for you with some outfit ideas and jewelry.

Coral and Teal

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Beautiful color combination isn’t it? It also looks fabulous as colors for nail art, home decor, wedding theme and food – such as for cupcakes and cakes.

Back Yard Ideas…

Inspiration. It’s what I am all about right now as we get ready to move into a new house towards the end of June. This will be the first time we’ve moved into a brand new house that is a clean slate. Even the backyard is a clean slate, so I’ve been doing some digging around to see what ideas I can come up with for the space. The backyard to me is another living space and it’s important for it to look and feel good.

I have some furniture already to work with. So really all I need to do is freshen up the space with some cushions & pillows and add some accessories. I have a yellow umbrella I bought last summer that I adore, so I’ll be pulling that out again. Would you like to see some inspirational back yard ideas? I thought you’d never ask!

13 Inspirational Back Yard Ideas

1. Not only did the deck grab my attention, but the two orange umbrellas and wooden furniture. Our furniture is similar to this, but in red. I would also love to surround the backyard in potted plants with some color.

Image: BHG

2. This Five Piece Dining set from Target adds style and comfort to your backyard. it also adds convenience. The small cushions can be moved around the yard easily for an impromptu get-together.

Image: Target

3. There are a couple of items that stuck out to in this picture. The ceramic side table and the container chilling the drinks. I love the idea of having a container ready to go with cold drinks for our guests. They can grab them as they please and not have to ask the host for something to drink.

Image: Pier 1

4. This truly looks like another room of the house, but just located outside. With the hutch, coffee table and added accent table, I can see a few members of my family curling up on that couch and reading for hours on end.

Image: BHG

5. The patterns on these pillows are stunning. And of course the unique table in the middle and  topiary caught my eye as well. It’s amazing how you can really change the look of a space with just the right pillows, isn’t it?

6. You can also go with neutrals if you want the space as relaxing and integrated with the outdoors as possible.

Image: ELLE Decor

7. Don’t forget about the outdoor lighting. From lanterns and candles, to lamps – having just the right lighting makes being outdoors in the evenings and at night… incredible.

Image: Target

8. You will love this before and after reveal one blogger did, courtesy of Home Depot. The colors she used – stunning! Looking at this just makes me happy.

Image: Hi Sugarplum

9. One of my must-haves purchases in the fall was a fire pit. It was used to make many delicious smores and helped host a few nights by the fire, with a guitar. There’s something about a fire pit that brings people together and makes you want to sing. Or at least hum.

10. This color palette is phenomenal. Bring a pop of color with blues and greens, plus neutrals mixed in and create a space that is ph so inviting. You have to see the before picture of this Hollywood Hills makeover.

Image: CoCoCozy

11. Dress up your patio table with dishes and place settings with some major color. These dishes from Pier 1 are so pretty.

Image: Pier 1

12. This patio is decorated with a modern twist. The black and white stripes give it a very sophisticated look, but not too stuffy. I also love that white ceramic piece to hold a drink or good book.

Image: BHG

13. This is one of my dreams for our back yard some day in the near future. A ‘drive in’ movie. How amazing does this look?

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Is your back yard space ready for those lazy days of summer? Here are a few affordable tips on how to freshen up the space:

• Purchase new pillows in a pattern you love
• Add some colorful potted plants
• Choose some lighting such as lanterns or candles
• Do you need shade for your yard? Invest in an umbrella in a bright color

Adding a few touches to your back yard space will make it an area you love to spend time in.

]]> http://momfabulous.com/2013/05/13-inspirational-back-yard-ideas/feed/ 0 http://momfabulous.com/2013/05/ten-things-tuesday/ http://momfabulous.com/2013/05/ten-things-tuesday/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 15:34:38 +0000 MomFabulous http://momfabulous.com/?p=1693 TweetPin ItTen Things Tuesday features 10 items I have found, tested, laid eyes on and just fell in love with. From fashion, gadgets and a cleaning schedule – here are 10 things that caught my eye this week. Candles | Loose Curls | Nautica Watch | TOMS Sandals | Pink Chicken | Pocket Monkey |Read More]]>

Ten Things Tuesday features 10 items I have found, tested, laid eyes on and just fell in love with.

From fashion, gadgets and a cleaning schedule – here are 10 things that caught my eye this week.

Candles | Loose Curls | Nautica Watch | TOMS Sandals | Pink Chicken | Pocket Monkey | Thrift Stores | DIY Lace Inset Jeans | Cleaning Routine | The Little White Dress

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Pocket Monkey

No, it’s not a real little monkey I carry around in my pocket. (Although how cool would that be?) It’s an all-in-one tool I carry around in my wallet. It has become my favorite gadget and the uses are endless. Use it as a: Bottle Opener, Phone Kickstand, Flat head screwdriver, Micro-flathead screwdriver, English Ruler, Letter opener, Orange peeler and banana nicker – just to name a few uses.

The Pocket Monkey retails for $12, and is available online at www.zootilitytools.com.

2. Weekly Cleaning Routine

Do you just want a list that tells you exactly what to clean every day in your home? Here’s a free cleaning schedule you can print out. This is going in my household notebook.

3. How to Get Loose Curls

Here’s a fantastic how-to on getting gorgeous loose curls. If only I could just wake up with these every day.

4. The Little White Dress

Hello summer. Hello to the Little White Dress. Check out some gorgeous dresses (some under $100) on Amazon.

5. Find a Thrift Store Near You

Do you love to shop at thrift stores or maybe you would like to start seeing what you can find at them? Just enter your zip code on this site and it will tell you where all of the nearest thrift stores are in your city.

6. Chic Home Accents

I love these candles found at TJ Maxx. Not only do they have some incredible fashion steals, but their home decor items are not to be ignored. Check them out!

7. TOMS Striped Sandal

Sigh. I have been eyeing a pair of these TOMS sandals since last summer, but have yet to add a pair to my wardrobe. Why? I have no idea!

8. Pink Chicken

I’m obsessed with this clothing line for kids and women. It’s described as bohemian chic and includes breezy summer tunics, pants and dresses that are perfect for the beach or everyday wear. You can purchase items on their website, at their stores (located on Amagansett and on Madison Ave), as well as  top retail stores like Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus and Fred Segal/Ron Robinson.

9. The NST 600 Chrono Watch from Nautica

This is one of Nautica’s newest watch styles and perfect for summer. It comes in fun, bright colors and has subdials that indicate day, seconds and 30-minute chronograph. Plus, it’s water resistant to 100 meters.

10. DIY: Lace Inset Jeans

I absolutely love this idea for so many reasons. One, I love lace. Two, both my daughter and I have some jeans that have rips in them and this would be a way to make them stand out. This is definitely something we are going to try!

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Which Ten Things was your favorite? Have you found anything you fell in love with this week?

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone, and I spent it with my favorite people – my family. Last year I wrote an article about what being a mother means to me. This year, I just want to say “Thank you” to my family and post a couple of pictures we snapped. It was one fun day.

My daughter Hannah and I. She’s 15 and growing up entirely too fast. Beautiful inside and out.

The kids and I. Hannah, plus my two sons Josiah and Aaron. Josiah went from little kid to young man in the matter of a couple of months. Sigh. Aaron is following closely behind. Soon, I’ll be the shortest one in the family.

To say I am one proud mom is an understatement. If you told me almost 16 years ago that having children would bring me more joy then I knew what to do with, I’m not sure I would have believed you. These three kids who call me mom – have brought a purpose to my life that I’m not sure how I ever lived with out.

I love you Hannah, Josiah and Aaron.

The Biggest Loser host, Alison Sweeney, covers the June issue of Ladies’ Home Journal, on newsstands May 14th. I grew up watching Alison on Days of Our Lives and it has been amazing to watch her transformation both on the outside and the inside. My 15 year old daughter loves The Biggest Loser and looks to Alison as a role model…and that makes me a happy mama.

In her interview, she talks about not being the most popular mom when it comes to her snack choices for the kids, being skinny in the crazy world of show business, how she stays motivated to go to the gym and much more. Here are a few excerpts from the magazine article:

On maintaining a positive body image in a profession that values being skinny: I was on an airplane and the flight attendant was surprised that I said yes when she offered me a meal. She was like, “Oh, I didn’t think you’d eat.” I was so happy to say to her, “Actually, I don’t believe in starving myself. That’s really not good for you.” So I believe in championing a healthy lifestyle. Being overly skinny is out of style. People are much more attracted to someone like Jennifer Lawrence, who’s thin but healthy. She can kick anyone’s butt any day of the week.

On staying motivated to go to the gym, even when she doesn’t feel like it:  I try to work out four or five times, mixing it up between spin classes, running, and yoga. But some weeks I don’t have time to work out at all. If you don’t work out four days in a row, going back on the fifth day is especially hard. If you work out most days it’s a lot easier to stick with your routine. So when I don’t have time to work out, I at least try to do something physical, like 10 push-ups. It helps get my muscles burning and blood circulating.

On what to do when craving something sweet:  If I’m really craving chocolate I’ll break off a little piece of dark chocolate and take some almonds and make a dark- chocolate crunch. One of my favorite treats is Greek yogurt with a handful of blueberries, agave nectar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It tastes sort of sweet because of the agave but it’s full of protein and the blueberries give you an energy boost. I allow myself treats all the time, but I use portion control. My husband gave me chocolate-covered strawberries the other day and I had one. It was delicious. I loved it. I just didn’t have six.

Read more here, plus in the June issue of Ladies Home Journal.

A bundle of ebooks covering fashion and beauty topics for only $7.40? Yes please! You can receive 5 ebooks all about beauty and fashion for $7.40, this week only, which is 75% off the retail price. Get yours here today.

Here are the 5 ebooks included in the bundle:

Embracing Beauty by Trina Holden
In this candid and sometimes hilarious book, Trina shares her journey to embracing beauty in the season of motherhood. Every chapter is crammed with practical inspiration and tips for defining your style, choosing clothes and accessories that work for you, and combining it all into a look that will bring joy and confidence to your day.

The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan
The No Brainer Wardrobe is a book to help women learn to love the clothes they have, lose the clothes they hate, and shop for items to fill the gaps. Hayley offers images outlining outfit selections, tips for how to shop, and instructions for creating a lookbook plus encouragement to help you save time and money and feel great in what you wear.

Energy Explosion by Arabah Joy
Energy Explosion will give you the plan you need to regain your energy. In this 7-day guide, Arabah gives step-by-step instructions for jump starting your energy by addressing your body, mind and spirit, plus printable charts and checklists to track your progress!

Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae
Getting dressed in the morning often makes us more hospitable, more productive, more playful and more energized. In Frumps to Pumps, a one-month motivotional (motivation + devotional) from popular author Sarah Mae, you’ll find encouragement and practical tips to help you get into the habit of getting dressed so you can love people (and yourself) well.

100 Pound Loser by Jessica Heights
Jessica’s 100-pound weight loss story is inspiring, encouraging and motivating. In this short but candid ebook, she shares her story plus practical advice to help readers conquer their weight loss goals and appreciate their bodies, regardless of the numbers on the scale.

The Beauty & Fashion bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 5/20. Get yours for $7.40 today.

I am so excited about this Old Navy Coupon the store is featuring on their Facebook page. From May 9th until May 22nd, shoppers can save $5 off $25 in store only.

I love Old Navy for their jeans, shirts and shorts – but it’s their dresses that keep me coming back. Why? For starters, they usually cost around $25 to $40 and I love the way they fit. Here are a few I found, some of which you could use the coupon on just the one item, because they are $25 or more.

Old Navy Dresses

Cute aren’t they? Head on over the Old Navy Facebook page to print off your Old Navy Coupon today.

Do you need some cute outfit ideas for this weekend? This is Cute Outfit Ideas of the Week Edition #3 and it’s all about one thing: a pop of color. From bright skinny jeans and pumps to cardigans and dresses, you will feel so confident in these colors.

Walk into your closet and see what color seems to be most prominent. Is it black? That was once my issue. Black everywhere. I finally decided to step out of the dark and bring more color into my wardrobe. I am so glad I did.

Here are some of my favorite outfits with a pop of color that I found throughout the week.

Cute Outfit Ideas Edition #3

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A yellow dress. 

Yellow is not a color I wear often, at all, and I’m not quite sure why. I think at one point in time I decided I didn’t look good in yellow. Summer is the perfect time to add yellow to my wardrobe. It’s a color that looks great next to sun kissed skin! This yellow dress looks cute and comfortable.

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Pink skinnies.

I love these bold pink skinnies! And when you pair them with a neutral top like white and nude heels, they really let those skinnies be the focal point of your outfit. See how easy it is to put something really cute together?

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Pink Pumps.

This is a pop of color at it’s best. Not only is  the blue and white chevron print dress out of this world gorgeous, but when you add a pair of bright pink heels to the mix – wow, just wow!

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Yellow skirt and flats.

Here’s the color yellow again. Can you tell it has my full, undivided attention? Pair a bright colored skirt with a white tank or short sleeve shirt, add flats in the same color and voila! – the perfect outfit for a day out on the town.

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Pink top.

One of my favorite outfits to put together is a bright top and jeans. It’s perfect for just about anything – even a casual dinner out. Layer on some jewelry, a nice handbag and wedges and you have an outfit that makes you feel so confident and fashionable.

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Teal denim shorts.

Another must-have item to add to your summer wardrobe is a pair (or two, or three) of colored denim shorts. You will get more wear out of these than you possibly can imagine. As you can see from the photo above, all you need to add is a white tee and a few other accessories.

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Did any of these cute outfit ideas with a pop of color grab your attention? Spruce up that summer wardrobe by adding a few key pieces in bright bold colors.

I’ve talked about how maxi dresses can be for all heights and now it’s time to talk about the different ways you can wear a maxi dress. If you thought all you could do with one was slip it on and add a pair of cute shoes…am I about to surprise you. There are so many things you can do with a maxi dress to change up the look.

Let’s get started with 3 maxi dresses I am drooling over right now and that discount I mentioned. I recently had the pleasure of receiving a maxi dress from ETSI, which stands for Everything Simple. I love the name. But more than that, I love the clothes, from the quality and the fact that the company was started and is run by two mothers. Do yourself a favor and browse through their site. You can read about the company and you’ll see some gorgeous items. Speaking of their gorgeous items…

3 Maxi Dresses from ETSI

SPARKLY POCKET RACER BACK MAXI DRESS

This is the one I currently own. The material is very high quality and so comfortable I could sleep in it. (Not that I would, but oh I could.) In another feature, I’ll post a picture of me in it. The sparkly jewels on the pocket make it feel dressy enough for dinner out with my husband. When I showed my daughter, that’s the first thing she said she loved about it. Me too!

HALTERNECK STRIPE DRESS

This green and white striped halter neck maxi dress is absolutely adorable. The black ribbon detail really adds a nice touch to this dress. This dress is perfect for every day wear. You can wear it to the store, out to dinner, running errands. Imagine how amazing you would feel in this dress running errands, rather than a pair of blue jean shorts. There’s nothing wrong with blue jean shorts, but there are days when a dress is in order. Don’t you think?

BLACK THIGH SLIT MAXI DRESS

Three words come to mind when I look at this dress: Hot, hot, hot! Wouldn’t you agree? It’s made with 100% washed silk, which I can’t even imagine how that feels next to your skin! And then add a thigh high slit. Like I said – HOT. It also comes in red and yellow. This is one I know my hubby would like to see me in. Heck, this is one I would like to see myself in! Phew.

Now, about that discount. I have a promotional code for you that will give you 10% off your purchase for the next month. Use the code  SPRING13 at checkout. The coupon can not be used in conjunction with any other promotions.

So, what do you think of those 3 maxi dresses? Gorgeous right? Now let’s talk about some of the different ways to wear a maxi dress. You can take one foundation piece in your closet and turn it into so many different outfits. That’s what I love about fashion and just getting dressed every morning. It’s fun to stand in my closet and say – ‘what outfit can I create today?’

The Many Ways To Wear a Maxi Dress

With a Blue Jean Jacket

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Belt It

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With a Cardigan

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With Heels to Dress it Up

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With a Scarf

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See all of the ways you can change the look of one simple maxi dress? You can also layer it with a shirt over the dress. Just make sure it’s fitted on the bottom so it doesn’t hang like a tent.

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Do you own a maxi dress or two? Have you wanted to own one but didn’t think you could pull it off? Try one of these looks and see how you like it. A maxi dress just might become one of your best friends for summer. (And, you can wear a maxi dress in the fall by layering. Bonus!)

Disclosure: MomFabulous received product for this write up. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. I only help promote and write about products that I truly love and would purchase myself.