Shabbos Flowers

On Aveilus and Purses....

I went to a wedding last night without Avram. It was the first big simcha to fall in his ovel year, which precludes his attendance.

While I love a good simcha, I really hate going without my husband. I know what you're thinking... "What does it matter with separate seating?".

First of all, I'm not averse to meeting my husband in the common areas during the stiletto-stomping portion of the evening and spending a little quality time together trying to be heard over the blaring music.

Secondly, I've lost the fun of wending my way to the kitchen to interrogate the cook about all of my husband's unusual food allergens (why he doesn't do this himself - - - that's another post entirely). I can now say hazelnuts and cumin in three languages.

But lastly, and most importantly - I abhor having to take a purse with me. For goodness sakes, that's why I got married in the first place!!!! (Bad4Shidduchim has an ongoing series entitled "Reason #___ for Getting Married". She should totally include this one). I've lost a place to keep my lipstick and brush and all the other little things I never, EVER use during the course of the evening but must bring along anyway and have been forced to shlep along a purse which becomes a big liability during dancing. And you know how much I love the *dancing*.....

Who Doesn't Love a Giveaway Contest?

Hadassah over at In the Pink has a free giveaway contest going on.

You can win a free gift from coveryourhair.com.

The rules may be a little complicated, but watching you all scramble is fun for Hadassah and we know she's a bit bored with her husband currently 333 (3,000 sounds so much better) miles away . So go - entertain her a bit - enter her contest!

What Happens When You Teach Fondant Flower Making To Creative 12 Year Olds...

This was the project an my daughter's bas mitzvah party.

I think her friends did a super job, don't you?

Jennifer looks really happy in the pic. And that's before the surprise video presentation I had for her....

Little did I know, she had a surprise presentation for me as well......

You Got That Right!

OK, I know that I should be posting about our wonderful Shabbos company and Jennifer's Bas Mitzvah celebration (which turned out even better than we imagined it would), but I'm a little overwhelmed now and I will try to return and update you on those topics shortly.

Just a tidbit for tonight....

All the whirlwind activity (see above), coupled with the fact that a few of my friends/co-workers haven't been feeling too well of late, and the fact that I'm swamped at work, have left me feeling a bit drained. Therefore, when I popped into our local Duane Reade drugstore on my way home from my workout this evening, I was uncontrollably drawn to the chocolate display. I really needed a pick me up and I seldom splurge this way especially on the way home from the gym but that's another sad story. I guiltily grabbed a favorite of mine (ok, ok, and another one I've never tried that was on SALE, for goodness sakes.... you can't very well pass up a sale on gourmet chocolate, can you???) and then set out to find the items on my original list.

I was still feeling a bit sinful when I approached the checkout counter, until I noticed a sign (advertising the store's new line of snack foods) posted at the front of the store that completely validated me (Now I'm sorry that I didn't take my camera with me because I couldn't find an image of the sign on line).

The sign said:

"Sometimes what you need to feel better isn't at the pharmacy counter"

You got that right!

Hang In There... Bas Mitzvah Shabbos Is Coming

Today is my "baby"'s Bas Mitzvah.

Sigh........................................

Good Shabbos to all!

(All those who didn't come help me peel potatoes before Shabbos, can still make up for it by coming and helping me cook tons of pasta on Motzoei Shabbos in preparation for the party.)

When It Rains, It Pours....

Yes, yes, I know Parshas Noach is done and gone, but I'm referring to Shabbos guests, not liquid precipitation.

We haven't had a table so full that we had to turn away guests since Succos but this week... wow! Where did everybody come from? Did somebody put out a classified ad for guests in our name? We are expecting a full house with old friends and new guests in attendance and we had to make rain check arrangements for the overflow.

I'll be serving my Lox Quiche as an appetizer and since it's been a while since I shared a recipe with you, I thought I'd include one now:

Lox Quiche

2-3 onions -- sliced into rings

garlic powder -- to taste

1 large package lox

dill -- to taste

4 eggs

1 cup parve "milk" (coffee rich, soy milk)

1/2 cup hot water

4 Tablespoons flour

2 pie shells -- unbaked

Sauté onions in a bit of oil. Add garlic powder.

Place lox, dill and onions into pie shell. G6 Tip: Lay the lox down smoothly first and then weigh it down with the onions. Otherwise it will float to the top during baking and dry out.

Whisk eggs, "milk", water and flour together. Pour on top. Sprinkle with additional dill.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes - 1 hour.

This recipe freezes very well.

There will of course be more traditional fare, including my awesome potato kugel.

So who's coming to help me peel potatoes?

Shidduch Request - Seeking Havdalah Girl....... ;)

Nice Jewish Family seeks new "Havdalah Girl"......

Havdalah this past Motzoei Shabbos was much quieter than usual. Oh, sure! There were the usual "quick draw" games as to who can blow out the spare candle (that's a whole other post... Does anybody else out there have the minhag to light an extra candle during Havdalah?) first. But something, or rather someONE was obviously missing. Where was the laughter? Where were the exclamations of "cool" and "awesome!"?

Our dear friend and sometimes commenter Louisa got married in Berlin (!!!) this past Sunday. We were not able to attend her nuptuals but thanks to Eric we received hourly photo updates and it looked like a beautiful simcha.

The truth is, Louisa is completely irreplaceable. Her simchas chayim coupled with her devotion and respect for her adopted community was a joy to behold. Her new community is very lucky to have her join their ranks.

So to our dear Louisa and Jehoschua we say:

Zu Ihrer Hochzeit wünschen wir Ihnen von ganzem Herzen masel tow und alles Gute für eine glückliche Zeit zusammen. Mögen Sie ein vorbildliches und freudiges Haus aufbauen.

(On the occasion of your wedding we would like to wish you mazel tov and all the best for a happy life together. May you build an exemplary and happy home.)

I'd Rather Be Indignant....

Some people read my blog for the recipes. Some people read my blog for the homey feeling they get. Some people read my blog for the humor or the nostalgia factor. Others avidly read my blog for the occasional rant that slips out.

I don't think there is a problem with ranting.

I think there is a bigger problem when people STOP ranting.

I've discovered that there IS something worse than being indignant - BEING APATHETIC.

Indifference and apathy are far and away worse than exasperation.

People around me have been piqued lately about several issues. For a moment I was indifferent. And then when I had that realization, I got very sad.........

How do we stop this tidal wave of indifference?

We're Feeling A Bit "Blue" This Shabbos

And that's no reflection on the *awesome* company we are expecting :D .......

(Kind of makes me wish I'd gotten a pedicure to match.........)

Goodbye Daylight Savings Time

This Sunday at precisely 2 o'clock in the morning, we here in New York (and many other places) will "fall back" and say goodbye to Daylight Savings Time once again. Of course if you live somewhere like South Bend, Indiana, you do nothing and just wake up in the morning trying to figure out in whose time zone you are this month.......

In my house, Daylight Savings Time is an event approached with a reverence reserved for those of true German extraction.

Immediately following havdalah (for which great pains have been taken to avoid rushing through), Avram sets out to the task at hand. First the oven and microwave timers are set with great precision, making sure that the time is correct down to the second. From there we move to various Shabbos clocks and timers scattered throughout the house. This is followed by all manner of wall clocks and alarm clocks (did you know that many Yekkes have clocks in their bathrooms?). The final step, hopefully completed before the appointed hour, is the "Changing of the Watches". It's quite a ceremony... you should come by some time.

Avram's Got a Bravo

You might have an iPhone or a Blackberry, but look out technology buffs! Avram's got a brand new Bravo!! (though he only gets to keep it for 48 hours....)

"What's that?", you ask. It's a super cool new technology to constantly monitor his esophageal acid. Basically, they implant a capsule sized device directly on to his esophagus and it stays there and monitors the conditions and transmits the data to a device he wears on his belt for two days. In a few days, the device sloughs off and passes harmlessly through his system (Jen wants him to look out for it so she can see it..... yikes....).

Watch an explanatory video here.

So the next time you pass Avram on the street, ask him to tell you his current acid level (but please be prepared to host me in your home for the evening {grin}...).

Amazing Savings

I bought Chanukah paper goods yesterday. "Why?", you ask. "Why do people climb Mt. Everest?", I ask. Because it's THERE.

Following a trip to Party City (... why was half the store in line for Purim costumes anyway {wink}??... are we having fun yet?!?!?) in search of Bas Mitzvah Party paper goods ("Mommy, nothing too 'elegant'. No flowers, but it shouldn't look like a five year old's birthday party either... stripes or polka dots would be good"....), I swung by Amazing Savings because I hadn't yet totally maxed out my Visa card.

Avram likes to call this store "Amazing Spending", because you go in there not needing anything and come out lugging bags the size of which could conceal two small children inside. After all, who could resist their wares? At the risk of making efrex completely jealous, I'm gonna admit that I purchased a set of earthenware soup bowls with handles so I can finally make french onion soup at home and not shlep out to Shelley's (whose french onion soup with garlic bread and mozzerella is *awesome*, by the way). Now if only I had a recipe.....

Let me also mention that I discovered a new mathematical principle yesterday. $1.49 times a lot, adds up to a lot. Who knew? The stuff seemed so cheap. There were a few books for the grandchildren (such a bargain... I'm tellin' you.....), a silicone soup ladle (OK, this I really needed. You don't want to know what mine at home looks like....), a spare pop-up hamper (you never know when you're going to need one, right?), Terra Chips (Hey! Shopping makes you hungry!) and of course, Chanukah paper goods, because after all, Chanukah is right around the corner.......

More Parshas Noach Humor...

A Little Parshas Noach Humor.....