Things That Make Me Giggle and Clap

Can you see that really cute little graphic above?

Now, go and look at the top of your screen, or the tab in Firefox or IE, and you will see that same little cute graphic (can you tell that it's my shoes from my blog header?) next to the name of my blog!!!!

It's called a favicon and I have wanted one for a while. But it was too hard to get Blogger to do it.

Then I came across this great blog called Blogger Buster and let me tell you, it rocks.

In this post about favicons, Blogger Buster Queen (Goddess?) Amanda tells you how to make it work in Blogger. And so I did it! (Then I shared with my husband, who agreed that it's cool. Big praise! For the big test: What do you think, Dad?) Personally, I giggled and clapped.

While we're on the subject of Blogger (which I'm quite content using, by the way), Blogger Buster is also running a cool contest.

Since I've never been shy about making my say, here's the feature I want from Blogger:
A simple, easy-to-use method for backing up my blog, for exporting all my posts and comments into an off-line site so that my paranoia about losing all my work on my blog can end. Please?

(Because this is the current method that Blogger recommends for backing up your blog. And it sounds scary and awful. No thank you. I'll stick with paranoia about losing it rather than actually doing the losing on my own!)

Oh, and numbered comments would be nice too. But I'll go with my first wish.

There. I've put it out there. And you can too -- go to the Blogger Wish List or visit Blogger Buster for your own chance to enter this competition and have your say!

What would you change about Blogger?

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Five Places I've Been This Week:

Cottage Cheese Roast (sounds weirdly yummy)

Honey-Baked French Toast (I'm on a cooking kick, obviously. This was made for Shabbat morning in honor of "land of milk and honey" in this week's Torah portion. It was so good.)

Wordle - I think this looks so cool but I can't get it to work, keeps crashing in both Ffox and IE. What's up!?

Official Jewish Tartan - kippah tip to Susan

Ephraim's Crossword Puzzle Pointers - kippah tip to my mom

from my del.icio.us - where have you been?

Memes & Five Places....

Meme #1: From Auntie Liz...(she sent it on email)
You can only use one word and it's not as easy as you might think. Now copy or forward, change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers.
1. Where is your cell phone? Counter
2. Where is your significant other? Here
3. Your hair? Curly
4. Your mother? Wise
5. Your father? Pal
6. Your favorite thing? Blog
7. Your dream last night? good
8. Your dream/goal? joy
9. The room you're in? playroom
10. Your fear? loss
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
12. Where were you last night? Ravinia
13. What you're not? Patient
14. Muffins? Yep.
15. One of your wish list items? DSLR (is that really one word?)
16. Where you grew up? Wisconsin
17. The last thing you did? Cook
18. What are you wearing? Comfy
19. Your TV? Nice.
20. Your pet? Children
21. Your computer? Laptop
22 Your life? Rockin'
23. Your mood? Calm
24. Missing someone? Harry
25. Your car? Hedwig
26. Something you're not wearing? Makeup
27. Your summer? Great.
28. Your favorite color? Purple
29. When is the last time you laughed? Lunch
30. Last time you cried? Movies
31. Who will resend this? Anyone!

(Feel free to play along....Consider yourself tagged!)

Meme #2: From Jendeis

This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. It's a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn."

The Rules
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

My six word memoir: "Blessings abound, it's not over yet!"

(Feel free to play along....Consider yourself tagged!)

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Five Places I've Been This Week

Sarah Silverman's Sister is a Rabbi!?

The Resume of the Future

Sustainable Shavuot Menu

ALA Recommended Reading List

Salmon and Feta Pasta...yum!

from my del.icio.us -- where have you been?

AND! Haveil Havalim is up over by Jack. It's wonderful, as usual...a great roundup of the week's Jewish blogosphere.

Chag Sameach!!!!!
(That means, Happy Shavuot!)

Haveil Havalim is UP!

FrumeSarah did her thing and let me tell you, it's great.

Go check it out. So much to read, so little time!

Some Shabbat Reading for you...

In case you haven't seen it, Jewish Week just published their list of 36 people under 36 years old who are the innovators in Jewish life. Check it out, very interesting to see.

I wrote this post on my other blog about learning conformity at a young age. Go check it out and leave me a comment to let me know what you think.

After yesterday's post on Lag BaOmer, check out BZ's post on why he doesn't observe the day. (I mean, he counts from 32 to 33 to 34, but he doesn't observe it as a holiday.)

Naturemoms had this really interesting article on avoiding commercialism with kids. But the header graphic was the most arresting part of it all, I thought. What an image.

Do you get this e-zine in your inbox? If not, you should. It's got really interesting discussions and articles for Jewish women. This month's issue just came out. Go check it out.

Crunchy Domestic Goddess is tackling the issue of obstetric fistula. Go read her article and be properly outraged. Then do something.

As we embark upon this holiday weekend, Leora helped to remind me that Memorial Day has a deeper meaning than eating barbecue...

Have a great Shabbat. May rest and relaxation find their way into your life.

P.S. Haikus will return next week. I was just too tired this week. I'll go back and do Bechukotai another day...

Haveil Havalim is up!

Haveil Havalim is up over at Simply Jews...check it out. It includes this post of mine.

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means "Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'

Please send your posts for the next edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival via the Blog Carnival Submission Form. I found [me too!] this to be very helpful in organizing your posts this week. If you're interested in hosting or receiving more information about the carnival, please contact Jack at talktojacknow-at-sbcglobal-dot-net.

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Tulips and brunch are tried and true… but this Mother’s Day, surprise mom with a gesture that shows you care about all women:

Every spring Jewish Women International's Mother’s Day Flower Project sends beautiful bouquets of flowers to 150 battered women’s shelters across the U.S. in time for Mother’s Day, while it raises funds for programs that help victims of domestic violence throughout the year.

What a fabulous way to honor your mom or any other woman in your life. Click here to make your gift! Do it before Monday for Mother's Day delivery of your card.

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Five Places I've Been This Week

Sweet Ribbon Valance -- for Yael's room?

How many of me?

Mama Focus Photo Contest

Harry Potter is Jewish?

How to make a coil bowl

from my del.icio.us - where have you been?

I'm a winner!

I am an award-winning blogger! My matzah brei recipe won the contest over at Jewish Holiday Cooking, Jayne Cohen's blog and website. Wow.

And I haven't been blogging this week.

But I will!

Opportunitiy to Help...and Five Places I've Been

The Bloggers helping Jeni auction is now up and running, arranged by the amazing Bella. This is an amazing opportunity to help out Jen Ballantyne, who blogs here at The Comfy Place. She is currently in hospice but still blogging, her latest post was about how much she wants to help others. Go check out the auction by clicking here to go straight to the ebay store they have set up.

There are over 130 items in the auction, including:
* photography
* one of kind services and gifts
* gift certificates to online boutiques
* Hand Crafted items
* Yummy Bath Products
* Toys and clothing for baby and child
* Jewelry
* much more!

The auction will be up and running until Thursday, May 1st.

I think this is truly harnessing the power of the blogosphere. It's amazing that most, if not all, of the people who are participating have never met Jeni IRL (in real life). I find that to be awesome....

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Five Places I've Been This Week...

Toyota 2009 Corolla...welcome to the family, Hedwig the Corolla! Stay tuned for pics;-)

Healthy Living Organic T-shirts

Hadag Nachash lyrics...my latest music obsession

Family car stickers ...I had no idea I was such a trend-setter? follower?

Flourless chocolate-walnut cookies

from my del.icio.us -- where have you been?

Cool Blog Stuff Goin' On....

There is some cool stuff going on in blogland this week.

Jen is going to Rwanda. It's pretty neat what she's doing. You can help her out...be part of a Hope Revolution.

The Crunchy Domestic Goddess is giving away an amazing array of earth-friendly stuff in honor of Mother's Day and Earth Day. Go check her out!

Don't forget that 60bloggers is still going strong, celebrating Israel each day with a post from a different blogger. Mine was up on Monday!

Oh, and if you like post-Pesach pizza, check this auction out (although I suppose it helps to be in Brooklyn on Motzei Shabbat)

What have you seen around the blog-world that is cool?

...and to all a Chag Sameach!

It has been a wild week for me in blog-land.

I won a cookbook from Nosh with Me.

Bella interviewed me.



I won an Honorable Mention in Scribbit's Write-Away Contest for this post on the Seder. (Wow! I'm so excited about this!)

I agreed to be an upcoming host for the Haveil Havalim Jewish Blog Carnival. (Thanks, FrumeSarah...)

And I cleaned my house! (okay, that was IRL but you get the idea.)

Wow. I need a break.

So...chag sameach (that's Happy Holiday), a zissen Pesach (a sweet Passover), and Shabbat Shalom.

May this holiday of freedom bring the blessings of hope and peace to our whole world.

A final Pesach treat...here's a funny new song from Michelle Citrin.


See you Monday! (When I'm posting on 60bloggers.com -- this just keeps getting better and better!)

Haveil Havalim is up...

Haveil Havalim #162 - Pesah Edition is up over at Esser Agaroth... and it's great!!!

(Not to mention that one of my posts is in there...)

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means "Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'

Go check it out!

when you don't feel like writing a post...

You Are Bare Feet

You are a true free spirit, and you can't be tied down. Even wearing shoes can be a little too constraining for you at times! You are very comfortable in your own skin. You are one of the most real people around. You don't have anything to hide. Open and accepting, you are willing to discuss or entertain almost any topic. You are a very tolerant person. You are accepting and not judgmental. You should live: Somewhere warm You should work: At your own business, where you can set the rules

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

As I did the quiz, I was, of course, in bare feet. We have a shoes-off policy in our house, partly because of our pretty new carpet, mainly because I think it's healthier not to bring all that outside dirt into the house, but also because I'd much rather be barefoot! How do you think the computer knew that?

May her memory be for a blessing...

I'm so sad to report that during the day today I learned that Helena from Thrice-Blessed Momma, a strong and amazing soul, has died, less than two years after her husband Andrew passed away. Her 5-year old triplets have now lost both their parents in the space of 2 years.

I have been wondering where she was lately, with no posts to speak of, but this wasn't the kind of thing I ever thought would happen. I can't stop thinking about her and her sweet triplets, the center of her life, who are now without their father as well as their mother.

It's hard to believe that we never met, because I counted her as a friend. This blogging-world is so strange and different and yet wonderful all at the same time, because it opens up the world and brings us new and amazing people...like Helena.

If I could, I would be at the funeral. I will be thinking of her and her family on that day and probably for many days to come. I can't bring myself to remove her from my feed-reader...

May her memory be for a blessing...in the lives of all who knew her, and especially in the lives of her children.

Follow me, folks...to Israel!

I am so excited that I'm going to Israel today!!!!

But fear not, loyal readers, I will still be posting. Thank you, Blogger, for creating Mail2Blogger which makes it so easy to post! (Data service on the Bberry is super expensive and I'm not not not taking my laptop.)

A bit about my trip: I'm leading my congregation's first-ever Women's Mission to Israel. We will be seeing and doing lots of incredible things while we're there for 9 days...most of our time is spent in Jerusalem but we're also spending a couple of days up North (Tzfat, the Golan, Tiberias) and one day at the Dead Sea, plus twoish days in Tel Aviv. I'm so excited! There are 20 women plus me (and including my mom!) and I know it will be an amazing experience. I haven't been in Israel in 2 years (since before Sam was born) and I just can't wait.

Plus I get to see my brother (<--that is a link to his blog btw. He is very cranky that he thinks I don't blog about him enough. See the cute sidebar button for his blog now? That's because of a snarky comment he made a few posts ago...) AND meet Robin (hopefully this will work out!) and give her the prize she won in my Tu BiShevat giveaway last month!

So...if you're looking for something to read in the next 10 days, I'll be posting about my trip here and also at my other blog.

(Oh, and I think I'm going to try and post my Haiku Torah Fridays (hosted here) -- they are all written...so stay tuned. We're into a great part of Exodus! For those of you who aren't followers of Haiku Friday, each week I write haiku versions of the week's Torah (Scripture) portion...check some of them out here. Come back each Friday for my Haiku Torah!)

See what works for other people over here.

Thoughts on House (TV)

Some of you asked my opinion on last week's (this week's?) episode of House...so my thoughts are up at my other blog.

What did you think?

Year-End, Blogs, and Five Places I've Been This Week

What a year it's been for me!

I began 2007 pregnant and started blogging not long after my 3rd baby was born in February, while I was on maternity leave. Since then, I've written 200 posts* and have been having a ball in blog-land. I blogged about Passover, my favorite Jewish children's books, but things didn't take off until I joined a 30-day blogging challenge in August. Definitely kick-started me, and I'm now hooked on comments and contests. I took a bottled water challenge, and I started writing haikus, which led me to join in the Haiku Friday fun with weekly haikus of the Torah portion. My oldest child started kindergarten, and I was there to blog about it. I joined in the Wrapped Emotions party and I was even chosen to be a guest blogger. I participated in some group writing projects and I've gotten some awards. I went to the mikveh, and, you guessed it, I blogged about it. I hosted a Chanukah Countdown Party and, possibly my coolest blogging achievement, I was invited to be a Biennial Blogger for the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Convention. (Plus, I've actually done things outside of my blogging life!)

Plus I've made lots of new friends and found a whole new community out here in blogworld.

What's on tap for 2008 here at Ima on and off the Bima?

You can look forward to a Tu B'Shevat Tree Celebration Week (maybe I'll come up with a better name) in January. How do you find someone to give you a giveaway??? I need one. Anyone out there in the Internet want to give me something to give away to my loyal readers? For Tu B'Shevat, it might be best to have a "green" themed giveaway. Or a tree.

Other than that, stay tuned. Who knows what I'll have up my sleeve here! I'm traveling to Israel in February so hopefully I'll be able to blog that trip as well.

In honor of this little wrap-up, I thought I'd share some linky-love to some of my current favorite blog-reads. One of the first posts I ever wrote was about blog-reading so it makes sense to list a few more! These are not all the blogs I read (love my Google Reader) but they're some of the ones I check for new posts first! Go visit my friends.

Around the Island -- Robin (in Israel) can always be counted on for great writing and interesting stories.

Beyond the Map -- Bella is thoughtful and thought-provoking. I love reading her posts.

Cheerio Road -- Karen is the author of Momma Zen and her blog really shows how she puts her writing into real life practice. Good for her for showing that she's not all talk but really lives her message. (read her book, it's great)

Frume Sarah -- is a new "real" friend that I met at the Biennial, and I'm so excited to have found, as Anne Shirley would say, a kindred spirit. She writes a great blog (and poor baby, her whole family ended up with lice this week. Visit her and give sympathy!)

Scribbit -- Michelle at Scribbit is a mom living in Alaska of all places, and she shares things like winter camping (why???) and hosts a writing contest each month too.

UPDATED: My brother insists that I link to his blog here too. He is having an Israel adventure and posting all sorts of fun things. Go visit him and comment. I'm trying to teach him how addicting much fun comments are!

for some other blogs I read (like this one, this one, or this one), go here.

*Crazy isn't it -- this little wrap-up post is #200!!!

Happy New Year to all y'all out there....may this year bring blessings and peace. Keep on visiting!

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Five Places I've Been This Week...

Holiday Muzak Kills Brain Cells

Eco-Friendly Promo Products

Coffee Cozy Tutorial

Benazir Bhutto assassinated!

Breaking the Code of Ritual Observance

from my del.icio.us. Where have you been?

Biennial Dispatches!

My first post about the Biennial is up at my other blog... http://rabbiphyllis.blogspot.com

Come see me there and come see me at the Biennial Blog!

Bloggy Buttons on PhotoBucket

I'm so excited that I'm blogging at the URJ Biennial blog. I even made myself a little button:



(and it's camped itself out in my sidebar over there <---- too!)

I have finally figured out the button thing thanks to PhotoBucket.

(I know, you're thinking, do I need another image site? I already use flickr....)

You make your cute little graphic. I use Gimp but you could use PhotoShop or a paint program or whtatever. Gimp happens to be free.

Then you upload to PhotoBucket and it gives you lots of choices for your graphic -- including the code for embedding. I just change the code so that the link is to my own site (or wherever I want it to go) and the "alt" is for something more to my liking, so that when you run your mouse over the graphic, you get whatever words I want you to see! (Run your mouse over my button to see...)

Maybe lots of people already knew this but I didn't! I love it when people give me code to do their buttons instead of having to right-click and save their graphic...so I finally figured out how to do it! Hooray!

Now I'm off to San Diego and I'll be posting hopefully lots of fun stuff from there...and hope that the ice storm doesn't affect my flights!

See more Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer.

See all my other Works for me Wednesday posts here...some are darn good, if I must say so myself! Like this one. Or this one. I like this one too.

Winning Streak!

I'm so excited that I am on a winning streak!

I won a purse way back in the Fall Y'all Giveaways from Shana. That kicked it off for me.

I won a book from Carolyn at Juggling Frogs, called "Can I have a cell phone for Chanukah"

I won a "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" sticker from Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog in her World Series Giveaway with Amy (Crunchy Domestic Goddess)

I won a purse in the Mum's the Wurd Holiday Blog Scavenger Hunt Party...it's really pretty!

So now that I'm on this streak, I decided it was time to enter a few new giveaways...so here they are:

Crunchy Domestic Goddess is giving away one of four prizes in her way cool Green Girly Gift Guide Giveaway (how's that for alliterative!)...check her out. I'm gunnin' for the t-shirt, fyi...so pick something else, y'all!

Metropolitan Mama is giving away a pair of Robeez Booties...too cute.

BabyLegs is giving away a gift basket...oooh!

and if that's not enough, Jackie at Adventures of a Twenty-Something Mother is giving away a pair of BabyLegs! I have entered so many contests to win a pair of these suckers, I think I should just buy a pair!

I'm off to San Diego for the URJ Biennial Convention...from which I'll be blogging live from the floor! Stay tuned for fun updates from there...

Learning to Edit? - Best Shot Monday

So...how many of you out there have tried Picnik? I've been playing with it for a while and it's about to come out of beta testing, which means that all the fun parts will become a fee-service. There is still a bunch of free stuff, and it all links directly into flickr, which I use somewhat...

Okay, so here is two versions of a picture that I edited using Picnik. What do you think? Which do you like? (if any)

So many of us try to document our children...with my second and now my third I'm working on monthly photos. This is part of the 8 month pics that I took of my girl. I love looking at her growth each month...as I love looking at the growth of all my children and my friends' children...

Finally...just one more because it's adorable. This is what you get when you say "Smile, Sammy!" Hmm...guess we'll have to work on this one!

See more Best Shot Monday here at Picture This. This is definitely one of my favorite days of the week. Have I mentioned that I love to blog?

Awards....and 5 Places I've Been this Week

Ooh am I behind in my blogging manners. I am so bad at these awards, let me tell you! Which doesn't mean that I don't appreciate them:-)

You Make Me Smile, from Robin at Around the Island (I giggle a little, because she passed this award to me in a post entitled "World's Worst-Mannered Blogger" which I feel now applies to me instead!) If I could, I'd re-gift the award back to Robin, since her posts always make me smile. She is a great writer and won an honorable mention that was well-deserved in Scribbit's Write-away contest this month! I pass this award on to Brad at the Egel Nest. I enjoy all of his posts, but I have to make sure you read this one that definitely made me smile. Or this one. Or this one. Hey, he deserves it!

Blogging Star award, from Helena, the Thrice Blessed Momma

This award is for bloggers who shine their light throughout the Blogosphere. Some do it with humor, others with creativity, and others with their kind and thoughtful natures. We all know more than a few of them so why not give them some recognition?
Here's what to do if you receive this:
* Proudly display it on your blog along with a link to who gave it to you.
* Mention that it originated here at Skittles' Place so I can follow its journey.
* Pass it on to any blogger(s) you think should have it.

I have to admit, I would again re-gift this back to Helena. Her story is so inspiring and I love to read how she handles her wonderful (three!) five-year-olds. Plus, she sure knows how a mom needs a day off, and I agree and appreciate that one.

I gift this award to Melody at Slurping Life and Wrapped Emotions. She has been going through a lot lately, and her light shines through it all. The creation of the Wrapped Emotions project-blog has, I think, been an incredible addition to the blogosphere. Each week she challenges her participants (anyone!) to unwrap themselves just a little bit more through artistry. She is truly amazing, which you will see when you read either of her blogs.

Community Blogger Award from Marci...

This award was created by Sultana Blog. It is a Community Blogging Award designed to "celebrate people who reach out and makes the blogger community a better one."

I am super-honored by this award because I just wrote an article for my synagogue newsletter all about my blogging life and how I feel that it is all about building community! Marci, I think, understands me better than most since she is a fellow rabbi! She, too, deserves this award!

I am passing it on to Amy, the Crunchy Domestic Goddess. Amy was one of the first bloggers I started reading regularly, back when she was pregnant with her second baby. I was pregnant with my third, so I enjoyed reading her updates as I also got bigger. I am so impressed with the change and growth in her blog over the past year or so that I've been reading (wow, a year?) and the way that she "puts herself out there" to create the kind of bloggy community that she (and I) want to be a part of.

All of these awards truly make me speechless with joy. I am so honored that there are folks out there reading along with me as I post each (almost) day...it's so much fun and such a blessing in my life to be a part of the blog community. Thank you!

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Five Places I've Been this Week

Butternut Squash Risotto, at Simply Recipes

Teen Faces Punishment for Long Hair ...oy.

Right Brain vs. Left Brain (thanks to Rocks in my Dryer for this link)

Your Modifier is Dangling (New York Times)

Codes for Background and Text Colors in HTML and XML (who knew these things were so important!)

from my del.icio.us