chanukah

For my family, Christmas day is all about food and movies, movies and food. Traditionally, we gather at someone’s house in the morning, drink endless amounts of coffee and mimosas and eat my mom’s famous egg and cheese soufflé. Oh, and bagels too. Because you can never have enough carbs after you’ve had Chinese food on Christmas Eve. After we stuff ourselves (again), we head off to the movies (You don’t think we go empty handed do you? Please, we stuff candy and cookies into our purses like little old ladies who save Sugar packets). Tradition, people! Tradition! One year, for a holiday celebration, I had to bring Star of David-shaped  cheese sandwiches to Jonah’s preschool ...Read More
Right now, as you read this, Nana and her boyfriend Burt are on a cruise around South America. In just 46, excuse me 48 months, (because Burt did correct my husband on this number on Thanksgiving lest anyone get it wrong) these two 85 year old love birds have been to China, New York, the Caribbean and up and down the coast at least a dozen times, just because. Spend 5 minutes with them and you’ll see that their love of all things life only gets greater each day. It’s inspiring, awesome, and frankly, makes me downright excited to know that life just gets better and better. I could go on and ...Read More
12.22.11
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Recently many family members asked me what Jonah wants for Chanukah. I would often respond with a “he doesn’t need anything” (an answer that grandmothers cannot accept) and follow up with “okay, um….okay… he’s in to robots and science stuff…” But at a recent westside “be a better parent” group, I learned from the jedi parenting master that 4 year olds are in such a “gimme gimme” stage, that now would be the time to talk to them about giving back. That instead of them telling us all the things they want and need, we should encourage them to think about what we can do or give to others. So I ...Read More
12.13.11
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When J first started preschool, I always seemed to get stuck with the stuff on the sign up sheets outside the classroom that NO ONE would wish on their worst enemy…. Taco salad for 35 people, muffins (without dairy, wheat, nuts, or flavor), kosher egg salad, etc… I cursed the gods (and moms) of preschool and complained that no one understood the plight of the working mom. Sorry I’m not at all the pick up and drop offs wearing a stupid cardigan, skinny jeans and flats, and getting all excited and nervous about what to sign up for on THE list. OH, that GODDAMN LIST. Well this year, somehow (and I ...Read More