Babyccino In Space!

Just wanted to put it out there. If any of you want to join our mod moms meet on Monday mornings, now's the time! We're already 3 weeks into our Spring series, but there is still an astronomical amount of outer-galactic fun to be had!! Here are the deets:

While creating this space-themed series, I spent lots of time browsing the www in search of any and all creative concepts revolving around space, galaxies, planets, elements, and anything other-worldly. There is such a plethora of creative people and projects out there - doing creative research like that always makes me reflect on what a magical place the internet is!!

There were many many things that caught my eye, but this animated short film by Pixar called La Luna, totally stole my heart - the way a great film should. Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/60381274

P.S. We also had a great time with these simple yet wonderful sensory discoveries: Moonsand, Galaxy Dough, and Space Putty (scroll down a bit)!

The Best Moms Know the Heimlich

You know how at times we're all in awe of that mom that cooly click-clacks in her heels across the toy spillage on the living room floor on her way out the door for a date night, while blowing a freshly-lipsticked kiss to her neatly pajama-ed little boy? Well, that's about how I feel when I see a mom in total control during crisis. It always freaks me out that as a mom my job is to take care of my children, and I'm always worrying about what would happen in the case of an emergency where I don't know what to do and am completely out of control. Take choking for example, I know what I'm supposed to do, I'm just not sure I know how to do it properly. And so I wind up worrying about it in a really unproductive way...

During our previous Babyccino series ("Neighborhood and Community Helpers"), when we were chatting on "Doctor" week, some of the ladies requested a CPR course for moms - specifically geared toward infant and child CPR. And there it was. The simple solution to all the worrying. A proactive way to nix the nagging anxiety about childhood emergencies. One of the women (thanks so much Chani G!!!) took this by the horns, and worked on finding the best CPR trainers, locking down the dates, and organizing the program. We held the first one 2 weeks ago, and while I thought my mommy-brain attention spam might just not make it through a 90 minute lecture, the whole thing was entirely entertaining! The trainer was funny and engaging, and the course was very much hands-on (the dummies, that is). There is another one being held here in LA tonight, and I thought I'd let you all in on it since there are still a few open spaces.

Come join us tonight for a literally life-saving 2 hours! And enjoy some donut holes and hot chocolate to boot! :)

RSVP to babyccino@shaareitefila.org.

P.S. Feel free to RSVP for a babysitter, nanny, or grandmother - this course is easy, cheap, and saves lives!!

Toys at the Table

I recently spent $5 on one of the most useful toys ever! I was in Lakeshore, and happened upon this mini bead maze at the checkout counters (you know, when they drop a bunch of random little tchotchkes that are just cheap enough to remain under-the-radar and just cute enough that you need to swag one?). The only reason I even thought to buy one is because I remembered my sister Shterni had an adorable little classic bead maze with a suction cup underneath it that she used at her kids high chair years ago - she said it kept his fingers occupied for a few precious little minutes before the snack actually landed on his tray.

I bought one on a whim thinking I'd somehow figure out how to attach a suction cup to it, at some point... But, of course, I failed to remember all about my crafty husband and his ingenius ideas; he whipped out a roll of heavy-duty velcro from his (impossibly random!) tool bag and snipped a little strip off to secured the toy directly to Hudi's high chair tray. Of course that's not as clean as a suction cup, but I figure it will stay fixated there for a while now, and when I really want to rid of it - a little GooGone and a warm sponge should ease off the adhesive easily.

Hudi has been loving it! It gives her something to fiddle with while she waits for me to settle her sister (who seems to need her toast cut into very precise pieces lately), fry up an egg, get her afternoon snack together, or finish the dishes (she's happy to play around with that and munch on some cheerios while I speedily wash some breakfast plates).

Anyways! I tried to find this one online, but strangely had no such luck. So I browsed around a bit to find you something similar. Here's: one with a suction, a cuter one with a suction, and an ever cuter Eric Carle version a lot like mine.

Paper Play

One of the reasons I completely adore hanging out with kids is that they are constantly reminding me to appreciate the littlest joys in life. Like, shredded paper, for example.

I had originally bought few packs of crinkle-cut packaging paper for my Babyccino "postman" class. And the kids had a really great time messing around with it there - literally, it ended up in every corner of the room! I had stuffed some of it back into a ziploc bag and whipped it out yesterday to entertain Hudi for a bit on a whim...

I had no idea it would be this much fun! Watching her play with the stuff was totally the highlight of my day, maybe even my week! She was so involved and excited and stimulated! Plus, she didn't even try to eat it!

Seriously, this smile is totally worth the few bucks it costs to buy some sensory stimulants! I'm definitely going to be looking into some more common-use materials for her to play with... But for now, here's a link for crinkle cut paper!

Easy Fasting + Weekend Round-up!!

Mourning the destruction of the Temple, and in essence, of an era, always lands me in some fantastical daydream of what the world would be like... I start off reading Eicha and wind up imagining our life, modern age as it is, in Jerusalem with the Temple! Do you ever think about that? iPhones, facebook, instagram and sacrificial offerings?

Anyways, while I try to make it all jive in my head, and keep my energy up through this long and grueling fast... here's some things I thought you might enjoy checking out:

- My mom bought me this print a few years ago, and it's display on a shelf of siddurim in my living room continues to inspire me and force me to remember the Temple each and every day.

- Also, this photograph gives me chills.

- Looking forward to haircuts + music? The mashup! :)

- Missing your weekday meat? Here's the most summery steak recipe ever!

- I'm 4 lbs. from my "lose 10lbs." goal (yay!!) - here's what helps me.

- Here's what doesn't help me :)

- Get through the heaps of laundry tomorrow while dreaming of this dreamy laundry room...!

- Cola Bombs will get the kids outside + kill some time this afternoon.

- I'm currently in middle of this book, and it's been a great read and an intense eye-opener.

- Get through the last 2 hours after the kids are in bed with this.

Wishing you all an easy fast!! Hope the kids behave and the milk supply doesn't run too low (I know I shouldn't be nervous, but I am)!!