How adorable are these matchbox valentines?? I love that they are created from little everyday matchboxes and are made to look so customized and special! I also love that Valentines falls out so close to Purim, and always lends me a bit of last-minute Shalach Manos inspiration! :)
So, I'm not complaining. But the weather here has been driving me crazy! A few weeks ago I got an email from Freida's school asking the parents to please send in winter coats, scarves, gloves, and hats! Meanwhile, last Sunday we were swimming all afternoon in our friends pool (thanks Lay!). The weather weirdness has me constantly checking to make sure I bring all of the above with me before leaving the house (with the kids in short-sleeve tees and flouncy little skirts!), and has left our skin (and electric bill!) in limbo as we go from heat to air nonstop. Anyways! As I said, I'm not complaining :)
Rummaging through previous year's winter stowaways has been fun and nostalgic (remembering our freezing cold trip to Chicago!), and Freida was so excited to pull out her little mittens! Mostly because of her infatuation with the book The Mitten. And I have to admit, the story is wonderfully enchanting and endearing...
The Mitten is a Ukranian folktale about a boy who drops his mitten in the snow and one by one animals snuggle inside the mitten for warmth, and Jan Brett draws upon the young readers to be imaginative and inquisitive with her animal descriptions and specifications. Freida loves asking "I wonder why they made room for the owl? Ohh because of his sharp nails!" etc. I love reading books that involve the readers, and Freida loves when I initiate a conversation based on the story - this book is the perfect aid to that.
Plus, famous books like this one always seem to have heaps of learning activities connected to them. Check out these ideas for doing a proper unit on winter and "the mitten".
I've been looking for some new additive-free snack ideas, some munchies that both the adults and the kids could enjoy, and these yogurt covered cranberries (via the kitchn) are at the top of my list for new things to try. Thought I'd share the recipe here, especially since it's been breaking news that cholov yisroel Greek Yogurt has finally made it onto the market (thanks for the tip-off Jana!)!!
Yogurt Covered Cranberries
1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon gelatin 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon honey Pinch salt 2 cups powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting cranberries 8 ounces (about 3 cups) dried cranberries
Combine the water and vanilla in a small dish or ramekin. Sprinkle the gelatin over top and whisk with a fork until the gelatin is evenly distributed in the liquid. Set aside for about 5 minutes or until needed. It will set into a thick paste.
In another small dish or ramekin, whisk together the yogurt, honey, and salt. Microwave on HIGH in 5 second bursts, stirring in between each burst, until the yogurt is liquidy and very warm to the touch. Don't let it start to boil or the yogurt will curdle.
Whisk the gelatin into the warm yogurt mixture. Whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Scrape the yogurt mixture into a small mixing bowl. Pour the powdered sugar on top. Whisk gently until the yogurt and powdered sugar combine into a thick, but pourable, frosting (see image above).
In a separate bowl, toss the cranberries with a tablespoon of powdered sugar until they are completely dusted. Pour about half of the yogurt coating over the cranberries. Stir until the cranberries are completely coated and you can see no more dry powdered sugar.
Line a baking sheet with wax paper or silpat. Drop the coated cranberries in clumps onto the baking sheet, separating them as much as you like with your fingers. They will be very sticky. Let the cranberries sit, uncovered, until dry to the touch, about 30-45 minutes.
Transfer the cranberries back into a mixing bowl and toss with the remaining yogurt coating to give them a second, thicker coat. Drop them back onto the lined baking sheet. When the tops are dry to the touch, move the cranberries around to make sure the undersides also have a chance to dry. (If you have a cooling rack with a small enough grating, you can scatter the cranberries on top for quicker and more even drying.) In total, the cranberries will take at least 6 hours or overnight to dry.
Store yogurt-covered cranberries in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep for several weeks.
New love always has me giddy with excitement and nostalgia...! So here's what's been going down that has just stolen my heart: my beautiful, sensitive, and intimidatingly-fashionable younger sister is engaged!!! I've been so excited I feel like my heart is full of sunshine! Her husband-to-be is so perfect for her, that when we're together with them it feels like the most natural family bond - like we've known him forever... I'm so excited to watch them grow together as a unit, and I'm even more excited knowing how intensely the relationship of sisters deepens as they become part of the sisterhood of wives, and of course, at some point, mothers. :) I love you so much Rivkee, and I'm so happy and excited, and overwhelmed with joy for you!!! xoxo
On that note, here are some links of love from the www that have made me look:
- For Like Ever. May be overexposed, but I still love it enough to hang it.
- Romeo + Juliet - what some rebranding can do to romance.
- I still love Helvetica.
- Most beautiful corset I've ever seen. Swoon!
Also, this love story by Pixar still makes me cry every time I see it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTBQYAE-pMk
Remember the Alexandra Ferguson pillows from 2010? They're still hot!! I keep spotting them popping up everywhere for Valentines Day, and I think these are the cutest, sweetest gifts of love! Stick them in the bedroom as a nightly reminder of where the party started! The day should not be over when the kids are down to bed...!! :)
