Winding up 2014

The past few weeks have been FULL.

First, we had a beautiful Chanuka together as a family!

Then, Ellie had the cutest little Chanuka play at school!

We also celebrated Moshe turning ONE!

Someone experimented with her Minnie ears:)

And the babies had fun together:)

We also celebrated Anniversary # 6! (lots of celebrating this month)

So that's what I've been up to!   What has been the highlight of YOUR December?

A Season for Miracles

Last night was the last night of Chanukah--and this year was a good one, with not one but two happy babies.

Last year, we had three menorahs for the three people in our family:

For her gift, Ellie got her beloved toddler CD player, which she plays and rocks to to this very day!

I was pregnant with Moshe, and received a cute little "Watch Me Grow" frame to fill up with his photos.

Besides for all of the fun and games (and food fried in oil.....mmmm) Chanukah is about celebrating the big miracles in our lives--the moments where the seeming randomness of the world falls away, and you can so clearly see G-d moving.

Last year, on this very day, I gave birth to a baby boy--who was so sick, we weren't sure for days if he would survive at all, and what kind of quality of life he would have.

This year, I have a beautiful and completely healthy baby boy:

And we now have FOUR menorahs lighting up our home, within and without:

Today, we will celebrate one year of the sweetest little boy. And we will also remember to take note of the miracles--the ones we see and the ones that hide in small moments and happy coincidences--that fill our lives, day after day.

Happy holiday season to everyone--from our house to yours!

On Gray Days

The past few days have been hard....a few major stresses, lots of little things going wrong, and then a steady stream of rain and snow that makes the days feels endless and my commute interminable. Most of the time I really enjoy everything I spend my time on, but every once in a while I just feel overwhelmed (anyone else??)

So after one too many gray days, here a few things that keep me happy:


This guy (and my new hair. See HERE for an explanation of said new hair)

And these crazy folks.

A finished project (doesn't that seem like a miracle!)

And running through the halls....

And also happy about these new boots that are awesome in the rain!

So that's what's keeping me cheerful on these gray days:)

A Tiny Peek into Life Right Now

Things have been a little quiet here lately--my days are usually very full and while I like it that way, sometimes I need more rest in life and the past few weeks have been like that. I've been doing less, and reading and sleeping more:)

But I wanted to pop in and write about this photo because it's such a reflection of where our life is right now. Moshe is almost one years old (!!) and has the happiest, cutest disposition. (As a side note on mothering--I will admit here that I DO NOT LIKE THE NEWBORN STAGES. Too much poop, too little sleep. But this "older infant" phase? With smiles and giggles and shiny new teeth and first steps? THE. BEST.)

Also in that photo  you can see the giant red exercauser left over from the days when putting M in there was the only way I could make dinner, and the toy giraffe stuffed into said exercauser. Most days, my living room looks like a stuffed animal daycare, with toys in the exercauser, the swing, the doll stroller, etc.

A little slice of life that I don't want to forget.

Five Things I Love About FALL

So today I'm continuing the "five things" trend I love so much, but with a focus on my favorite season...fall. Now that it's starting to be winter in these parts, I figure I better get this fall post up now!

I finally got my kids to a pumpkin patch! It was late in the season and CHILLY but we had a good time anyway:) The farm we've been going to the past few years has a pumpkin slingshot, which is so much fun!

I love making soup in the fall/winter. It's quick, filling, healthy, and easy to make with frequent interruptions from small people--so win win!

THIS soup is the bomb.com. Go make it now!

I decided to embrace all things pumpkin this year and give THIS SOAP a try (gentle foaming only--the best!). It smells delicious and not overwhelmingly pumpkin-y!

I have been LOVING doing some fall photoshoots in this beautiful weather:)  My new favorites are these ones of some adorable kids! Check out more on the PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG.

I'm really enjoying the softer palette and warmer tones of fall--THIS tortoiseshell necklace is a new addition to my collection, and it pairs so well with dark colors, boots, and winter patterns.


So there are some of my loves for fall:)

What is YOUR favorite little thing that's been bringing you joy lately?

Five Things: Jewish Edition

So I'm a big fan of Five on Friday, but let's be honest...day-of-the-week specific blogging activities are a challenge for me! So here are Five Things (on a Thursday), and today I'm going to keep it Jewish around here.

I've been doing a lot of challah baking lately. I made tons and tons over the holiday and now I seem to be out again....hmmm. So another challah baking marathon is in my future!

If anyone is interested in giving challah baking a try, let me know! I have a good recipe to send over:)

One of my longtime dreams has been to build up an Orthodox women's blogging network, and now it's finally coming to fruition! You can check out our intro post HERE and there will be a new post today over HERE!

I came across a wonderful website dedicated to the late Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, that aims to be a source for connecting Jewish women--check out the website HERE for more information!

I got new hair!  Some of you who are unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism may not realize this, but in our community we cover our hair after we get married, with scarves, hats, wigs, etc. I personally am a fan of wigs and have been saving up for a new one for a while now! I visited a friend of mine who had a wig consignment shop and came away with this one:)

So far, I love it--nothing like a new haircut (or in this case, a wig--the more expensive version!)

Ellie was the "Shabbos Ima" in nursery school this week--which led to some of the most hilariously cute photos I've ever seen! Think "Fiddler on the Roof" meets toddlerhood:)

Check it out:

I almost spit my drink out laughing looking at this:)

What funny photos from YOUR childhood do you remember?

A new venture....

Recently, I've started on a new little venture--you can check it out right HERE:)

I've been in love with photos for a long time. As a kid, I would pore over my baby albums and wonder at how people could have changed so much over time. As a scrapbooker, I loved working with photos that made me think, and remember, and feel.

This is one of those things that doesn't make much logical sense, since I have so much on my plate already. But there's just something I can't ignore that pulls me to try this, and challenge myself to grow as much as possible.

(On a side note, I'm still scrapbooking, and often--just not sharing it as much. Somehow that last stage of photographing the layouts kills me!)

So for now, I'm taking a leap. You can check out the website HERE and Facebook page HERE!

And now, a question for you: What dream would YOU pursue today if nothing was stopping you?