Babyccino!

We've landed! Calling all babymamas of the greater Los Angeles area: join us on Mondays for a morning of baby-style rock 'n roll, super sensory explorations, and physical interactive activities and play. Meet and chat with other modern mamas, share a parenting tip or two over a steamy cappuccino, and relish in watching your little tykes explore and discover the world around them.

Come and check out what's about to go down at our free/trial session this Monday, November 21 at Shaarei Tefila - 7269 Beverly blvd! Come for the kids; stay for the fun!!

Feel free to contact me with questions or for more information: babyccino@shaareitefila.org

The Glow

While browsing the www for some chic, new maternity threads (it's time), I happened upon a simplistic photo-themed website called The Glow. While there is nothing particularly extraordinary about this collection of images, to me there is something so intrinsically magically maternal within these shots; everyday motherhood, and the shine that comes with it.

I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way, but somehow I find that our circle of religious mothers seem to perpetually focus on the rigorous aspects of motherhood; from negative body changes, to no-sleep cycles, to loss of social life, to malnutrition due to lack of time etc. Generally speaking, there is plenty of kvetching going on. And while the complaints may all be more than validated, without focusing on the wonder as well - it simply takes away from the essential beauty that comes within the gift of mothering a child.

I know I may very well be one of those people who live in a dream world, and have a la-dee-da attitude about life, but it works for me. Finding the good and beauty and the whit and the whimsy makes me feel good. It makes me function well. And, as a bonus, it makes me happy. It may not always be the easiest thing for me to do, especially when I'm looking at a just-been-cleaned room strewn with toys, or a sensory exploration gone awry all over the subjects clothing and hair, or an early-morning wake up call after a rather sleepless night... but there is always something within all of that that can bring about a smile.

There's always some glory within the mess to wonder about. There is always a cheeky 2 year old smile, a witty and genius kid-sized response to the wrongdoing, a set of pudgy little hands reaching up for an embrace... it's all there within the day-to-day rigor of parenting in general, and mothering in particular.

I may need a grande latte to get to that vantage point, but when I'm there - everything is better. And more beautiful. And when we're looking at beauty, we radiate beauty. If we choose to look at the agony, that's what we'll look like. Our bodies may be warping, but if we choose to keep our self-image intact throughout the many changes, we will in fact be more beautiful than ever before.

I know I'm ranting. More to myself than to you all, but this little collection of glamorous photography has inspired my morning! :)

So weather you are packing up perpetual lunches for your 5 children, whipping up a gourmet breakfast for your one and only, or rubbing your first growing belly, try to find that glow! And capture it.

Well I'm off to the park for the next few hours with my baby girl and my baby bump! Wishing you all a glamorous day in the motherhood! :)

On the Move + Weekend Round-up!

So much commotion has been going down in the cozy little home of ours! We are so excited to announce that, thank God, we signed off on a duplex lease last week and are mid-move to the glorious city of Los Angeles!!  While we have been looking to move for about a year now, we did not expect it to happen this fast (but some incredibly undeniable offers have been thrown our way and so we jumped at opportunity!), and we're still sort of in shock-drop-and roll mode; packing up boxes, picking paint colors, but not quite grasping the entirety of the transition just yet... But, with the hecticness of the holidays behind us now, and on the recovery from our annual post-Tishrei sick week, reality should be hitting home any time now. :)

About those opportunities; Manasseh has been offered a really fulfilling job that is right up his favorite alley - revamping the youth program for our new Shul and community, Shaarei Tefilah. We are supremely excited to be joining such a young, growing, and thriving community, and can't wait to get started. The first plan of action will be renovating the youth rooms (Freidafroo style!), and the before and after photos should prove to make some really fun blog posts in the next few weeks - look forward!

Also (yes there's even more!), I'm so totally stoked to be announcing that I will, God Willing, be starting a Mommy & Me class!! As a collaboration between Congregation Shaarei Tefilah and a wonderfully kind group of women behind the organization Yad Le'Ima, I was offered the job and can not be more excited to get it off the ground!!! If you live in the greater Los Angeles area, have a child under 2 years old, and are looking for an insanely awesome way to spend a weekday morning (a creative round of exploration and bonding for the tots, a lovely morning of coffee, socializing, and parent-networking for the moms!), stay on the lookout for the exact dates and times and how to get yourself and your brood signed up to the classes! I will keep you posted, but if you know you are interested right off the bat, please email me (freidafroo@gmail.com) so that I know if I am looking at some crazy number of mamas! :)

At the moment, I am pondering how will get through our last Shabbos in Long Beach, being that Freida has diligently dumped all her toys into some empty moving boxes and her room is practically reeking: vacancy. On the upside, she's been sleeping in our bed, which has proved to be super cozily delicious!  Thankfully, our move in date is Tuesday, November 1st (!!), so it won't be long now. Can't wait to give you a peek at the new place, and share the transition and home improvements with you all...!

On a side note, being that I've been so swamped, I've been feeling guilty and figured I'd at least leave you with a little weekend round-up to make up for lost posts. Here are some things I would have blogged about had I had the time:

- Crewcuts for Babies debuted this week - sheer deliciousness!

- Clever wall treatment for a shared bedroom.

- How to make your own pinatas!

- These office prints made me laugh out loud.

- Great gift for moms of boys!

- Handmade Charlotte at Anthropologie!!

- Black smoke is back!

- Hoooked Zpagetti looks awesome!

- Autumn soup at it's best!

Wishing you all the lovliest of weekends!! Enjoy the beautiful fall weather, and take advantage of all the pumpkin patches and fall festivals going on in your town! I'm very much looking forward to the peace of Shabbos, and relishing in the last weekend with our family here on this side of town.... here's to bittersweet beginnings!

Garlands Gone Wild

I know that, for the most part, two days prior to the chag is not the very best time to land upon design ideas for the inside of one's Sukkah - as you're all likely bringing the heat in the kitchen. While I'm not yet blessed with a yard of my own, nor a Sukkah that can hold and entertain guests, I am blessed with a wonderful sister who's home (and outdoor dwelling) I will be frequenting this holiday; therefore I am only just happening upon and curating some last minute Sukkah decoration inspiration as I am not a slave to the stove this holiday season.

Garlands have made a gigantic comeback as a well-welcomed blast-from-the-far-away-past, and seem to still be lingering as an "it" item on the decoration front for the 3rd year in a row! Charming, peaceful, and whimsical, it's no wonder this simple strand of happiness graces everything from children's rooms to party buffet tables - the concept of this string of things is simply wonderful. Here's a little roundup of some of my (easy and not-so-simple) favorites - especially as a way to deck out those wooden walls!

Paint Chip Carnival Garland - easiest no-budget, no-sew DIY ever!

You can make this in any color combo out there, but my favorite is going with a one-color theme in a myriad of shades (you can check out the pinks one I made for Freida's room). Of course, some natural shades of autumn would be just perfect for the Sukkah-vibe...

Dixie Cup Lights Garland - low on time + low on money: you've got yourself an enchanting strand of night lights!

Little Dixie cups, an assortment of pretty paper, and a strand of Christmas lights come together and bring you to the most fabulous form of DIY outdoor/indoor ambiance-enhancing lighting!

Tissue Paper Tassel Garland - Confetti System craving? DIY!

Tassels just might be the hottest thing out there at the moment, and these little tissue paper duds truly deliver! Easy-as-pie tutorial makes this party-on-a-string something for every party-girl to covet for their wooden walls!

Yarn Balls of Light - the most fun and fantastical way to light up!

I've been obsessing over the French lighting company La Case de Cousin Paul, and finally discovered a way to make a similar DIY version of these colorful little yarn balls - just add a strand of brilliant light! While I can't wait to create some of these beautiful rows for Freida's bedroom, I also think these would be fabulous Sukkah lighting options - bring some enchanting wonderment to the natural nighttime eatery.

Nix the Nausea

While I'm not quite certain where the term "morning sickness" came from, I genuinely despise the b*tch who came to make us believe that pregnancy nausea is something that dwindles as the noon hour approaches. It should simply be called "sickness" as it can last all day and well into the night! Thought I'd let you ladies in on 8 little things (specifically properties of citrus and ginger) that really seemed to work-it and quell my perpetual nausea:

1. Cranberry Juice Spritzer - Natural cranberry juice + sparkling water = best sunrise to sunset tonic ever. Plus, with no cocktails in long sight, there's no denying what a bright glass of fresh pink sparkle can do for mood swings! :)

2. Tangerines - I must have consumed tress full of these natural sweets! You can always be sure to find one or two of them at the bottom of my day bag; waiting for a their after-meal moment.

3. Diet Hansen's Ginger Ale - a God-sent blessing! This all-natural soda pop features ginger brewed to such an intensity that it actually burns - in the best of ways! Ice cold, with a straw - instant relief.

4. Hubert's Lemonade - this all natural citrus infused refresher is sure to expel the queasiness - specifically the pink raspberry flavor. Plus, it's just another way to stay hydrated.

5. Yogi Ginger Tea - steep one of these glorious bags in a teacup full of hot water, add some honey, and melt away as this intense remedy helps ease your stomach back to pre-pregnancy normalcy.

6. Ice - can't say enough about it's magical prowess. Suck on some to ease an unsettled meal, and add lots of it to everything you drink - the ice-cold factor seems to dispel all feelings of uneasiness.

7. S.Pellegrino Limonata - while this little can of lemony goodness is way too chock-full of sugar to consume on a normal basis, the sheer tartness of this fizzy citrus concoction is extremely helpful in a dire moment on-the-go: you can find this little number in most coffee shops across the country!

8. Grapefruit - nothing helped me more than tearing open and sectioning a mid-morning, perfectly pink citrus fruit!

Hope this little list helps even one of mamas-to-be out there!! Best of luck getting through your next meal! :)