Autumn & Atonement

While this past weekend heralded the start of the crispest season, here in LA it's been feeling like smack-dab-middle of Summer!! So while I crave a curb in the heat, I thought I'd share some links I've been loving (especially since I've been too busy lazy to properly post about them!):

- Cutest "Jonah and the Whale" craft ever! Just swap the sailboat for a little man!

- A. This sandwich looks delish! B. Can't believe this kid ordered it! C. How great is the photography??

- Gilded booties for fall! Link anyone?

- Freida and I have plans to make this honey cake together this evening after bathtime. (It became a bit of a tradition for her to stay up late and bake honey cake with me the day before Yom Kippur).

- Butternut Squash Bowling!!

- This family's camping trip took my breathe away! Looks incredibly delicious (especially the picture of those yummy little children peeking out of the tent all bed-headed)!!

- Cuddly Kaporos. :)

- Was kind of disappointed MadMen didn't bring home an Emmy last night... Isn't Don Draper a tzaddik??

- Cookie Monster has had our house rocking to Share It Maybe!!

- Gorgeous fall lips!

That's all for now. :)

Six Months!

Last month we celebrated little Hudi in the most delicious of ways! One morning I casually mentioned to Manasseh that it was Hudi's half-birthday, and when Freida heard that...! The half-birthday party planning ensued: she asked a million questions about "half-birthdays", months, years, old people etc.! :) And that was that. There was simply no getting around this one. Not without a cupcake, at the very least. So, we made a trip to Babycakes NYC in search of the perfect cupcake for our baby girl...

All I can think of when I look at these pictures is the quote "I love you more than a fat kid loves cake"!!

I definitely think this was the most fun she's had. Ever.

Thanks for idea, Freida! Best big-sister ever!

P.S. I can't believe she's halfway to year already!! Insane!

Natural History

There are some wonderful exhibits going on right now at the Natural History Museum of LA, and I thought I'd share the details in case you've got the kids on your hands in between school and camp for a few more days (is Freida the only one who starts school after Labor Day?). Truth is, Freida has been weirdly and wildly obsessed with dinosaurs for a while now, and we really trekked out to NHM (which we usually reserve for a trip to the Butterfly Pavilion) for the Dinosaur Encounters (since she had become interested on her own, I had been searching for local exhibits and such to cultivate her curiosity and work with her natural excitement). But once we were there I was thrilled to see they had a exhibit of animal horns - perfect trip for Elul!

They had a completely interactive hands-on display of all sorts of horns and antlers! I was even educational for me - I never realized quite how many different shapes and forms horns can be! And it was interesting to me that horns and antlers are made up of two completely different things - I always thought they were kind of the same thing and that we only use certain kosher animals horns for a Shofar, but it turns out antlers are made of solid bone and can not be hollowed as opposed to horns which are actually made of the same thing as nails. #JudaicWeirdness. :)

Aside from the horn exhibit, we had a crazy-cool time at the Dino Encounters!! It was fantastic! Check it out here.

And, of course, the Butterfly Pavilion is always a favorite! It's only around for another week or two, so if you got the kids on your hands go check it out!!!

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)!!

Weekend Round-up!!

Happy weekend, girlies! We here in this house are overjoyed by the fact that it's Sunday - been a filled week, and we are relishing in some family downtime! We're half-way through Summer, and while it's been a lovely low-key, slow-movement month, I definitely feel like there are some trips, home-projects, and activities I'd like to fit in before Summer's end... So! While I (finally) take off my PJs and get dressed for the day, here are some things I've been checking out:

- This windshield rainbow would bring instant "coolest mom" status to first week of carpool.

- I made this hilariously easy ice cream cake for a friend this weekend, it came out a little boring but the concept is a great dessert canvas! Add in some chopped candy bars, flavored coffee, cookie crumbs etc. for more of a gourmet effect.

- I'm suddenly feeling like I need an instant adult-only vacation!! Dreaming of lolling here.....

- This + sparkling spritzers makes a great date-night dinner for the 9 days!

- Swooning over this little swing.

- I love Dwell Studio, and I'm going nuts over their new kid pattern wallpaper!!

- These army men alternatives made me laugh out loud!

- Herringbone nails?