On a Jet Plane...

Took a flight out to Arizona to spend some time with my family. My parents came in from Chicago to spend some of Chanukah with the Scottsdale-based grandchildren, and Freida and I flew here to meet up with them for an extended weekend together. Apologies in advance if the postings are sparse... P.S. There is something so magical about the expressions that splash across the face of a child during an airplane trip... It was one of our most sweetest hours together. She cried when it was time to get off the plane! Had the whole Southwest crew cracking up by saying, "don't wanna get off! wanna sit down fly again!". There is so much joy in observing the little ones discover the small miracles of the universe...

(Granted, it was a one hour flight - don't think I'd be so la-dee-da on a 4 hour.) :)

About those Yellow Boots...

For those of you curiously wondering about the availability on a certain love-at-first-sight sunshine yellow rubber boot by one Stella McCartney - they're here, girls! At long last, from the designers kids label: Tammy Boots. At $47.00, these round-toe mid calf natural rubber boots with cotton inner lining and water-lock zippers just might be this seasons most desired accessorie. No joke... They are reportedly the most asked-about item for spring. People want them. Bad. :)

Dreidel in a Jar

Introduce this sweet and simple classic Chanukah gambling game with a whimsical dreidel game in a jar! Here's to cheap thrills!

Remove the label from a baby-food jar (these are useful for so many things!), and add a coat of spray-paint to the lid. Fill with chocolate gelt and fasten a dreidel to the top with some hot glue. A cute ribbon and colorful label wouldn't hurt either!

Macaroons on Chanukah!

We are currently loving the Macaroons Chanukah songs!! In the car, Freida has requested a constant repeat of "Hurry Up and Light the Candles", and at home this week all she sings is "Dreidel Bird". The Macaroons are produced by JDub (the guys that originally signed Matisyahu back in the day), and a spin-off of their (potentially fatal) band the LeeVees, are now gearing their critically acclaimed musical instincts toward Jewish rock-out kids songs. They provide a bit of kosher tunes that the children will love, and the parents won't mind. At least I know I'd rather have "Mezuzah" stuck in my head over "I have a Mezuzah"...  :)

You can check out and purchase their music on iTunes here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Wbkelvzkw]

Hope you're all having a rockin-Chanukah!!!

Light Up with Magnets

Happy Chanukah, dear readers! I hope you all enjoy these eight crazy nights - to the fullest. Chanukah is the most delicious when it's spend with family - so get snuggly, indulge in some greasy goodies, and savor the bright light your family brings to your life...  Here's to those miracles!

I decided to dodge out of the impending power-struggle that would surely ensue every Friday night following us allowing Freida to light her own Menorah. She had been begging to light Shabbos candles for months now, and while I'm not against a two-year-old lighting in theory... I do feel it's unnecessarily dangerous. Three-year-old girls lighting their own candles was perfect guidance - seems to be just the right age for understanding the importance and the responsibility. I knew if I let her light her own candles on Chanukah, I would never hear the end of it come Shabbos. Therefore, I nixed the idea of crafting her Menorah altogether, and went with a simple magnetic flame cut-out.

I cut up some construction paper and let her stamp it out her style - via, do-a-dots. She also used some stickers left over from her Chanukah crown (thanks Sara - they went a loooong way!). I cut out some flames from foam sheets, and glued some magnets on the paper and on the flames. Much more toddler friendly, much more fun, and way less nerve-wracking. She can light her own candles next year, once she's three. Until then, it's magnets for my little dreidel-loving maydel!

Chag Sameach, Mamas!!