Summering

Happy, happy Summer time!! Wishing all you mamas heaps of glorious sunshine, golden tan lines (even through that SPF), graceful summer sunsets, and a generous amount of do-nothing relaxation moments!

I can't get over how much Freida grows each summer!! I love when each season ends and another begins; watching life, and change, and growth. It makes me so appreciative of every healthy happy moment....!

I hope you are all whittling down your Summer Bucket List! I've been working on mine, but we are on the precipice of some (gigantic and exciting!) new developments around here which will change around my schedule, location, and planning quite a bit... But here are some of the things I was planning on knocking out this Summer:

- Tim Burton Exhibit at LACMA

- Building an outdoor sandbox

- A Sunday spent on a boat at Sea

- Date-night BBQ on the beach

- Street Art Exhibit at MOCA

- A Sunday hiking Torry Pines Reserve + dinner in San Diego

- Homemade fresh strawberry sorbet

If you're still needing some more Summery-goodness inspiration, check out this awe-inspiring Summer Bucket List from Meg!!

In the Garden

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know the tone of yearning in my writing when I dream about owning a home with a yard and a fruitful garden... Well, the next best thing is having a friend who has one! Freida has been immensely enjoying the benefits of the Berkowitz's (remember Zalmy?) backyard and garden these past few months. We head over there every week on Wednesday morning (the day her garden-savvy dad comes out from Huntington Beach to tend the earth and plant and reap) and hang out in the shady haven. She digs and rakes, and scouts for worms in the dirt, munching on garden bounty straight from their vines as she plays. Her garden-guru, Zevi, teaches her how to identify and uproot weeds, keeping the vibrant garden plot clean and cared for. :)

I'm such a strong believer in the importance of teaching children that food comes from a much more valuable place than the market! Watching the fascination on Freida's face when she sees fresh basil (an all-too-familiar kitchen ingredient) growing from the earth (I guess windowsill herb gardens are not nearly cool enough) was completely priceless! She walks around the garden looking at all the tags and asking Zevi which plant is where and which flowers will bloom which vegetables. It's totally adorable, and it makes me so happy to know that she is learning about the earth's resources and also able to begin to understand the concept of making specific "food group" blessings over food.

It's also incredibly peaceful to watch her pick and munch on her own choice of veggies. The sugar snap peas are out of season just now, but for a kid who only ate peas of the frozen variety, she sure consumed her fair share of fresh peas in this garden! Loved knowing all the crunchy consumption was not just fresh garden bounty, but organic, to boot!

It's just so satisfying to know that my ever-curious little person is slowly learning about where food stems from and a bit about how to tend the earth to make it grow there. (Thanks Berkowitz Family!!!!!)

Paper Beads

Well, we're still laying low today. Freida is still running a mild fever, but thankfully slept through the night peacefully, and seems to be doing much much better. Getting her to eat is apparently going to prove difficult today - she keeps saying "no! don't want to frow up again on the floor!", so we're still taking it slow in the meal department (eg. cups of warm soup. applesauce. yogurt.), but I suppose that means she doesn't truly have an appetite.

Anyways, being home for another morning was nice and peaceful, but since she is on the recovery and not quite as under-the-weather as yesterday, she wanted to actually do something. While playing with the lacing cards and shoestring in her bedroom, she asked me if she can make a necklace... I didn't have any beads on hand, and I wasn't keen on a cheerios-around-the-house mess, so I thought I'd make some paper beads with her. I had seen a tutorial on Mini-Eco (via Creative Jewish Mom) a while ago, and I knew I had all the components on hand, so we got busy!

You basically just need some paper (I used colored card stock, but magazine print works fabulously as well) and glue (I added some glitter; at the point with Freida, sparkle = fun). Just cut isosceles triangles from the paper, wrap it around something like a pen, skewer, or paintbrush, and use some glue to hold it together. Then slide it off, let it dry, and get to lacing!

And while she still wasn't feeling well enough to do much else before lunch, she smiled proudly each time she fingered her glittery beaded jewelry. :)

Weekend Round-up!

This iLog totally made me smile. What do you know? Lag BaOmer meets 2011! (Humor aside, this wooden iPad charging dock would make for a fabulous Fathers Day gift, don't you think?)

Here are some other links from around the web that I have been meaning to share:

- A shocking and most fantabulous Target collaboration!!!

- Honest Pinocchio - most charming of classroom supplies.

- San Francisco audacity!

- Summer decorating tips from the pros via Anthropologie.

- Most awesome baby moccasins: gilded leather + neons stitching.

- H.D. Buttercup's "Almost-Giving-it-Away Sale"!

- Shout-out of thanks to those creative and childish minds at Classic-Play for the mention!! :)

Also, if you are in the greater Los Angeles area, my supermom of a sister-in-law's (Esther Schwartz) closest-to-homeschooling preschool, Gan Chai, is now open for 2011-2012 registration!! If you want the benefits of homeschooling + the social and developmental achievements of a preschool that will help instill independence and cultivate young jewish pride - visit Gan Chai online for more information. Freida is a die-hard fan! :)

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! Enjoy the food + fire festivities!!

Trends of the Feather

I don't know what exactly it is about the festival of Lag BaOmer, but somehow I've always associated this bon-fire, barbecue-ing, band-of-brothers holiday  with feathers. Perhaps it's the archery...? Anyways, feathers seem to be an item. The current "it" theme. Here's a few of my favorites: Royal Icing Cookies from Cookieboy

Feather-themed House-wares Roundup, via Apartment Therapy

Fantastic Vintage Arrows DIY

And while I generally prefer to keep this a politics-free-zone, (after today's infuriating speech; i don't really mind making a jab!) this cartoon said it all... the (lone) feather in Obama's hat.

Also, on Good Day LA this morning Jillian was rocking the most retro sweatshirt-y top displaying a cluster of graphic scrawled feathers - was so rad!! But you would have already known that, seen the picture, and see where she got it, if you'd follow FreidaFroo on Twitter and join the party!!