Happy Camper!

 

Freida started day camp on Monday! I was mommy-ed out, and freaking about how much I had to get done before the end of the month... So! I signed her right up to Camp Israel @ Shaarei Tefila, and we've been a duo of Happy Camper and Blissed-Out-Mama ever since. :)

The camp is down our block, so we walk there together in the morning at 9am (sometimes joined by her best-buddy cousin Zali), and I take Hudi for a walk in the stroller to pick her up at 3pm. It's perfect.

She cried plenty on the first day when I left, but 30 minutes later my phone dinged with a photo-text from her counselor featuring a happy-faced Freida sporting hot-pink goggles in the pool! :)

While Freida's camping happy, I've been feeling like I'm racing the clock! 10 whole days to myself (Hudi doesn't demand much - a variety of toys, a walk for fresh air, and some good food pretty much keeps her smiling!) have proven insanely useful! My task-list seems to be a mile long (preparing my home for PLAY involves baby-proofing, outfitting the outdoors, baby toy and gear roundup, First Aid + CPR training, and lots more! Plus, planning Babyccino 2013 is super-fun and creative but super time-consuming as well!), but I'm making so much headway without my little ladybug in tow!

Walking her to camp is totally dreamy for me. I grew up in the suburbs and always had to carpool for 20 minutues minimum to get anywhere! While Skokie is beautifully awesome (!), I kind of always wished I had friends to walk to on Shabbos or neighbors to play with after camp etc. It's so blissful for me to walk my little girl down the block with her lunchbox and meet the whole entire neighborhood on their way to one nearby camp or another. Even her best-friend next-door-neighbor goes to another camp in the same building and they see each other at drop-off every morning. And the concept of being able to walk there with the baby to get her, stop at Coffee Bean on the way, or head for ice cream on the way home is SO fantastical to me! Ah, the little things in life.. :)

Anyways, while Freida's off at camp and Hudi is currently napping, I'm going to tackle re-organizing my kitchen pantry and laundry room (which includes making a list of things I need to buy to make the storage spaces more efficient), meet up with some girlfriends for lunch at RFD, head to The Container Store (and once I'm in Century City I'll probably make my way into Kate Spade :)), pick up Freida from camp, play a few mellow rounds of matching game with the AC full-blast, and run a warm bubble bath for the girls to enjoy together before dinner. As I said, it's been blissful. :)

Huge thanks to wonderful staff and people behind Camp Israel!!! You folks obviously know what you're doing!

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?

Weekend Round-up!!

I took off this weekend and headed across the expanse of the western desert to visit my sister in Scottsdale. When I left LA early Friday morning, the city was a sight of rare rain-ridden terrain, and I got a little nervous about the drive with my 4 month old. I'm not usually one to get overly nervous about a drive or a trip, and panic-y feelings I started having made me realize just how much I needed to get away! Do you ever get randomly anxious or suddenly go overboard with the worrying? I feel like whenever I find myself getting to that place, where the smallest things can take me over the edge - I really need to relax and take some time out. Thankfully, my husband was avidly on-board with my travel plans, and I really can't thank him (and all of Freida's amazing aunties!) enough for taking such good care of her while I was on leave!!

Once I took to the road and was halfway through an iced latte I eased up a bit and felt much better... My drive out here was lovely (all but the hour of monsoonal torrential downpour - most frightening hour ever!), and Hudi was a joy to travel with!

It took a little more than 5 hours - with two road-side feeding stops. It was so fun to be with Hudi in such a one-on-one setting. I was fixated on how simple it was to travel with one suckling babe; no snacks, no toys, no potty-stops - just some breastfeeding on my lap and a sporadic diaper change on the passenger seat!! Pie! :)

Anyways, while I lap up the last of my mini vacation here in the desert - sunbathing, swimming, and sister-chatting, here are a few things I've been meaning to share with you this week, and I'll be back in full-swing on Monday! Hope your weekend was a happy one!

- I now understand how important it is to find your neutral - it does wonders for ones complexion!

- Quinoa sushi, anyone?

- Garden hose envy!

- A really beautiful kitchen-goods shoppe.

- When art is good art.

- This made me laugh so hard at first. And then just left me feeling grateful...

- One of the reasons I love living in a big city/community.

Square Foot Gardening

Yesterday I mentioned a square foot gardening idea. This morning I discovered this - awfully pretty - tutorial! (I've been browsing some raised-bed gardening concepts because I'd love to create a kids garden for PLAY.) Anyways, if gardening has piqued your interest at all recently, or if you'd love to be growing some plants or veggies but feel like you have 2 black thumbs (like me!), this may be just the tutorial to try: