Love is in the Air; So Are Mold Allergies
Even though Valentine’s Day is named after two Christian martyrs named Valentine—that’s at least one of the theories—a Jewish woman nevertheless worships this romantic holiday. She loves to be loved, and Hallmark makes it official. It doesn’t seem to matter that the price of long stem roses quadruples in mid February. Flowers are symbolic of love and romance, so there. Deep inside, she desires to be treated like the unsuspecting actress on the Zales Diamond Store commercial. Continue reading
Columnist Makes Confession of Secret Obsession
During the fun-filled, stressed-out 11 months that I’ve been writing “Mishegas of Motherhood,†I’ve developed a bond with my readers. Many of you have sent me supportive emails, and I encourage you to continue to give me all kinds of honest feedback via my new email: ellie@mishegasofmotherhood.com.
I feel that I can share almost anything with you, including secrets about myself that I don’t talk about with my best girlfriends, not even my own mother. My husband doesn’t have a clue about these innermost feelings either. It’s time that you hear the truth from me before any gossip sneaks out and the facts get distorted. Continue reading
Tu Bishvat Plants Deep Roots in Our Environment
In the dead of winter, cherry blossoms bloom in Brooklyn, New York. And in the Midwest, the unseasonably mild weather allows Jack to still wear gym shorts when he plays basketball in the driveway. Then again, he likes to trudge barefoot in the snow.
Seems innocent enough, but truthfully I wonder if this bizarre temperature pattern is a subtle warning sign that our environment is in trouble. Continue reading
Tu Bishvat Fruit Tree Wins Over Superbowl Fans
I’m not a football fan, except when the Rams win the Super Bowl, but I get excited about any sporting or entertainment event that gives my family an excuse to eat in front of the television. The only other show that justifies crumbs on my family room carpet is the season finale of American Idol. Let’s face it—the big game calls for some seriously playful finger food. Best of all, since the nation’s biggest sporting spectacle falls on the same weekend as Tu Bishvat, I thought why not extend the fruit eating ritual one more day and give my guests something truly unique and exciting to nibble on. Continue reading
Tu Bishvat Celebrates Symbolic Fruits and Nuts
Leave it to ancient and modern Jews to milk another holiday—Tu Bishvat—for all its glory. Tu Bishvat, also known as the New Year or birthday for trees, raises our awareness of the environment. On top of that, Tu Bishvat is also called Feast of Fruits, which celebrates the native and abundant delicacies of the land of Israel.
Sounds like a good excuse to satisfy my sweet tooth. Continue reading
Planning Dream Bar Mitzvah is a Nightmare
Let the countdown begin. It’s officially the time to freak out about my son’s bar mitzvah, which is scheduled in March 2008. I know what you’re thinking. What took me so long? What can I say, except that I’ve never planned this kind of lifecycle event, not even a bris, which only my obstetrician was invited to.
So far, this is what I have in mind, roughly. Continue reading
Start the New Year with A New You, Or Not
My New Year’s Resolution this year is to never make another New Year’s Resolution. And this time I’m sticking to it. I figure, why bother setting myself up for failure when any promise I make to shed a few pounds is usually broken before the Super Bowl playoffs anyway? As soon as I tell myself that I won’t mindlessly munch on as many carbs, I start to fantasize about Mr. Salty Pretzel himself. Likewise, if I make a commitment to be a better parent, I feel even guiltier when I daydream about the laundry instead of paying attention to my daughter’s drawn-out synopsis of gym class.
Still, for those of you who follow tradition to make a resolution or set a personal goal, then more power to you. To improve your chances of success, here’s what the experts advise: Continue reading
Happy Hanukah to All, And to All A Good Night
I dedicate this little poem to my daughter Sari, who turns 8 on Christmas Eve, and all the other boychiks and meydles who get ripped off every year because their December birthdays are caught in the middle of the Hanukkah hoopla. Continue reading
From Big Band to Jazz, Hanukkah Music Gets a New Spin
Today’s Hanukkah songs are hip, and that’s music to my ears. The Jewish jukebox of Hanukkah tunes are so cool, in fact, that my kids just might download “I Have A Little Dreidel†on their iPods this year. For centuries, Jewish themes and values are communicated through music, and this latest genre of popular Jewish artists are bound to rock all ages with their unique takes on the Festival of Lights classics and originals. Continue reading
Unwrap The Greatest Gift of Yourself
I fried so many latkes this past week that I can’t get the smell of onions and olive oil out of my hair. Even worse, I still find sticky globs of pureed sweet potatoes and carrots that exploded in the blender when I made tzimmes soup for the first time.
As usual, this past Hanukkah was excessive in food and fun. In fact, I might wrap presents professionally to earn some extra spending money. Either that, or I’ll start a new jewelry trend that includes recycled lapel pins made of crinkled gold and silver foil from chocolate coins and stars.
So now that the holiday season is almost over and many of my friends are sunbathing in Mexico or snorkeling in the Caribbean, I have a chance to catch my breath and ask my exhausted and financially depleted self, “What gift means the most?†To me, it’s when I give of myself and show my children through my actions that helping others less fortunate is what makes us rich. Continue reading