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?

Haveil Havalim WINNER

As promised, one lucky commenter on this week's Haveil Havalim post will win a signed CD by The Josh Nelson Project, the new release Lift.

And the winner (thanks to random.org) is commenter #12, Marci B!!!!!! (I'll be in touch.)

Here are your random numbers:

12 

Timestamp: 2008-05-22 04:00:27 UTC

Thanks for playing along.
Submit your posts for FrumeSarah's version of Haveil Havalim here.

I wanna win....

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

Remember how I said I was on a streak? Wouldn't this rock...

And...Stay tuned...beginning next Monday is the
All-Green, All-Trees, All-Week Celebration of Tu B'Shevat,
the Birthday of the Trees!
***with FIVE giveaways***
Come back and visit!

Ooh, pick me!...and 5 Places I've Been

I can't figure out why I'm so intrigued by the contest/giveaway aspect of the bloggy world. Is it all about getting something for nothing? I'm not sure. But either way, as I said before, I'm on a winning streak...which seems to continue...

I won a t-shirt from Tees for Change at Crunchy Domestic Goddess's recent Green Girly Gift Guide Giveaway! I'm so excited for my Seek Balance t-shirt.

And I even won a giveaway while I was at the Biennial Convention! Who knew...

So here I go again...

Musings of a Housewife is giving away a really cool Lands End diaper bag.

ACED magazine is giving away Season 7 of the Gilmore Girls.

Mod*Mom is giving away a year's supply of Dropp's Laundry Detergent...a pretty cool looking new product.

And I usually don't enter these kinds of contests (I like to think I have a chance of winning...) but I'm entered for a cruise at the DIY network...because the contest ends on my birthday. So maybe...

plus a few others....have you ever seen Prizey?

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Five Places I've Been This Week (wow, it's been busy!)

It's Only Stuff

Five Things People Say About Christmas That Drive Me Nuts

FreeRice (a new obsession, let me tell you)

December Group Writing Project Finale at MamaBlogga

Amazing Art Journals from Ali Edwards

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

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...

Spiritual Parenting - Best Shot & a Giveaway

Updated - comments closed. Winner annouced after Shabbat!

It's hard to look into these eyes...

and not see God.

It's hard to look into this face and not think that something Incredible out there has created this amazing little being. How can I make her continue to see that she is created in the image of God, even as the outside world seems to be working against me??

Along those lines...
For my first ever blog give-a-way, I will be giving one copy of
10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting: Nurturing Your Child's Soul
by Mimi Doe and Marsha F. Walch

This is a beautiful and wonderful book full of ideas and inspiration for bringing parenting back to a spiritual level. No matter what your spiritual tradition, this book is full of warmth and thoughts on bringing holiness into your life. The chapter titles alone are inspiring: "Be a Positive Mirror for Your Child" and "Add Magic to the Ordinary" are two of them. I very much enjoy this book and I hope that you will too.

Here's how you can win this book:
1. Make a comment here. Tell me how you balance your family life. This is your entry!
2. If you feel so inclined (I'd like it a lot), post on your blog or tell a friend about this giveaway and link back to me.
3. Don't forget to give me a way to get in touch with you if you win!
4. Contest ends on Friday, November 2nd at 5pm. I will post the winner Saturday evening after Shabbat is over.

See more giveaways here:

And see more Best Shot Monday here.

Magical Fingers...Works for Me

My husband was introduced to the work of Dr. Darren Weisman, and his book The Power of Infinite Love and Gratitude. I'm not good at explaining the whole thing, but basically, he speaks about owning your own power in creating your own health in your life.

One of the things that Darren advocates or speaks about is using the power of love to heal. He uses, as his logo and sort-of trademark symbol (although I'm not sure you can really trademark the sign...) the "I Love You" ASL sign.

In our house, we've started using the ILY sign for lots of things. Bumped your head? Let me give you some love. Baby's tummy feeling gassy? Rub the ILY sign on her belly. Headache? Hold the ILY sign to your head. Mommy comes home stressed out? Daddy says -- go give mommy a hug with the ILY sign.

It's been a great way to "send love" for those little bumps that are more about the hurt pride than the hurt knees. It's a great way for us as a family to share the love when we say goodbye.

Even though the little ones (2 y.o. and baby) can't make the sign, I know that they feel the love that we spread around. I think it's so important and fun to figure out secret family codes that indicate love. What's yours?

(The ILY sign pictured here is my baby brother, Harry, who's leaving tomorrow for about 18 months of study in Israel. We're so proud of him but of course sad to see him go!)

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

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Did you notice my new layout? I'm still trying to be Pink for October.

And you can go to 5 Minutes for Mom to win a pink digital camera! (or don't, so I can win.)

Why be a Vegetarian? (and contest & 5 places)

Tomorrow is World Vegetarian Day. I'm a big fan of any day that gets people to think about the food that they put into their bodies.

I am a vegetarian, although technically, I'm a pescetarian because I do eat fish on occasion. (Someday, I think our family might end up being best classified as "flexitarian" There are a number of reasons for this. First, I think it's healthier and better for me and my family. When I was beginning to feed my oldest (now almost 6) solid foods, I did a lot of research and was very concerned about food additives/hormones. I decided that the best choice would be to go meat-free for him, and thus for our household. My husband still eats meat, either out or whenever he can convince my dad to make him a steak (which is pretty darn easy). The other reason for eating vegetarian both in and out of the house is the concept of kashrut, or keeping kosher. We don't technically keep kosher, but by not mixing milk and meat (because there isn't any) we keep a form of it. I read labels rather than hechshers (the markings that indicate a kosher certification) because I feel that organic products are often a better "kosher" choice for me -- as in, they are usually environmentally-friendly, worker-friendly, etc., things that a kosher certifcation is largely unconcerned with.

I have a dream (spurred by an article that I read once -- anyone else read this article and can remind me where I read it?) that one day there will be a new kind of kosher certification -- one that takes environmental and fair business/labor/land practices into consideration along with the Jewish dietary laws.

So go veg for a day or for the whole month! I guarantee you won't regret it:-)

Tomorrow....I'll find one of my favorite vegetarian recipes to post in honor of the occasion. (Along with my Best Shot Monday, I'm sure!)

Stop by Crunchy Domestic Goddess (definitely a favorite read of mine) to read more about World Veggie Day and also to see the adorable t-shirt that she's giving away from her online shop Cute as A Bug...which by the way I'm planning to win, so you don't even have to go enter her contest (ha ha).

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Five Places I've Been This Week

Remembering Marcel Marceau (did you know he was Jewish?)

Tees for Change (positive message shirts)

Etrog Liqueur (I am so buying some of this next year. Etrog-tinis anyone?)

One Laptop Per Child

Downtime from Murder (NY Times Op-Ed...SS officers frolicking)

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

Chazak Chazak - May we be Strong (100th post!)

Rabbi Harold Kushner teaches, "When I pray, I speak to God. When I study Torah, I keep quiet and let God speak to me."

One of the ways Jews worship is through study. Through examining and wrestling with the text of the Bible, we find meaning and purpose in our lives. And it's not just a personal wrestling -- usually our study is in groups or pairs, known as chevruta.


Each week, members of my congregation engage in our Shabbat Morning Torah Study. It's a relatively small group, varying from 10-15 people each week. Most of them are "regulars" and most are much older than I am. Most have been through the cycle of Torah reading many many times before.


Because that's what it is. We re-cycle the Torah each year. There is a set rhythm to the year, as we end at the end and begin at the beginning again on the holiday of Simchat Torah (this year on the night of October 3rd). The Torah, divided into its weekly portions, guides our lives, guides our seasons...it's fall, and I know it's time to read Genesis. We come into the winter and I know that we are onto the story of Joseph and his dreams. As the weather gets colder, we sing the Song of the Sea and as spring begins to dawn, we explore the priesthood. We travel with the Israelites through the desert as spring turns to summer, and as the heat turns up, we begin the sad and uplifting final moments as Moses imparts his wisdom in Deuteronomy...and it all begins again in the fall. And it happens each year. Each year we study the exact same words, the exact same portions.

And it never gets old.


I never grow tired of reading and sharing and studying and learning the text of the Torah. I never find it boring, I never find any of it to be dull or ordinary. Each time I re-read the text, I know that I am finding something new. Rabbi Ben Bag Bag said in Pirke Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers, "Turn it and turn it and turn it, for everything is contained within it."


How true.

How powerful.


To know that for my whole life I can be consumed with the study of this one book -- and all the peripheral knowledge that the Jewish people have collected and written alongside it, the ancient and modern writings that accompany the Torah -- to know that there will always be new books written that will try to illuminate and illustrate its ideals, to know that Judaism will always have this learning...it is powerful. It is inspiring. It is amazing.


To know that the Torah will not change but that I will. That each time I read it, I come from a new and different place, a new and different perspective, a new and different opportunity to find wisdom.


May my learning continue to bring me closer to God, with each word that I study. As we come closer to the end of our cycle, may this end bring us strength. The words that we say as we come to the conclusion of a book of the Torah are "chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek" -- Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened. Each conclusion brings the strength to begin again. May it always be so.

Written as part of Scribbit's Write-Away Contest...the theme of Learning.
(and hey...it came out to be my 100th post. Chazak Chazak v'nitchazek!)

Contests...and Five Places I've been This Week

I want to win this cool pouch being given away at From Dates to Diapers. The pouch is from Rockin' Baby Shop and let me tell you, it is rockin'! They sell slings and pouches that are all awesome and they have pictures on their site of daddies wearing babies...yay! Check out their gorgeous designs (that link is to page 3 of the slings, which has my personal favorite, "fell in love with a girl")!

There's also a great giveaway going on at Tangled and True...for 2 pieces of Lisa Leonard jewelry...don't go enter, please, so I can win:-)

Last one...Mum's the Wurd is giving away a $100 gift certificate to Natural Pod...I love these playsilks and felt balls...I seriously want to throw away all of our toys after all this China stuff, and these look like the perfect replacements. Birthdays are coming up for all my kidlets...but this giftcard would make it all better! (This xylophone is cool too...)

Hope you had a great weekend...I'm trying to finish my Yom Kippur sermon...how can I work in blogging?

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Five Places I've Been This Week


A Little Love for the Ladies...at Jewcy, one of my favorite sites

Project Peanut Butter

Biggest Loser slideshow...I love this tv show!

Freud as Defender of the Faith? (from the NY Times)

Mommazen's Block Party (see who's there!?)

from my del.icio.us...

Where have you been?

A Dad Blog!?...and 5 Places I've been this week

So there are lots of stay-at-home-dads, right? Not as many as the moms, sure, but dads can, indeed stay home. In fact, my husband is one of these SAHD...which is a bad acronym, since when pronounced, it sounds like "sad"! He is very good at taking care of our young 'uns, and he works part-time outside the home as well. There's another SAHD in our neighborhood, but overall, he doesn't have a lot of support in the real world. He is not really one for blog-reading (unless I pass them on to him)...but I am! And I found a Dad-blog this week, Stay At Home Dad, Geek Style. AND he is having a Stay At Home Dad Digital Camera Give-Away. (which I'd very much like to win)...not only a camera but free stuff from smugmug.com too.

He has a very adorable daughter that he features in photos (I love photos) and they hosted a tiny chocolate lab puppy for a few days that was beyond cute with the little girl. I like reading about how he's trying to make the blogging part of his parenting as well as his work, which is a lot like how I see my blogging as well!

So go check him out...and you too can enter his contest:-)

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Five Places I've Been This Week

The Mindset List from Beloit College...the mindset of entering college freshmen. Wild.

How to Fold a One-Page Book...just because it's cool!

Spell with Flickr

From Momma Zen...on balance

The Fall TV line-up - I can't wait for my favorite shows to return:-)
(from my del.icio.us )

Menu Planning Contest...please pick me!

I love to cook. I love to plan menus. But I'm always looking for a new idea or way to make it all easier since I work so many weird hours and my husband does not like to cook. Can I double bold that???? Maybe these menus would work better for him!??

Anyway, Nell over at Casual Friday Everyday (the one who is sponsoring my 30-day-blog challenge) is giving away a full year of this menu planning from Menu Planning Central. It's a pretty cool site...and actually not so badly priced....

So maybe I'll win!!!!

A Contest ..and Five Places I've Been This Week

Check out this awesome "dad-vest" that's being given away at Mom Views. It is way cool and I hope I win it. You can enter too but it's almost over!!!!!

My hubby would be the perfect guy to wear this...

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Five Places I've Been This Week....

...Check out these cool notepads at See Jane Work.

...1 Bag at a time, reusable grocery bags. These are the first ones I've seen that are actually reasonable and affordable. Maybe we should all get some!!!!

...Tea and Cookies wrote a great post about caprese salad. I really want to plant some tomatoes and basil next year. Can I plant a mozzarella plant too?

...Radar's Day at the Library, a cool tabblo shared

....Backpack, an interesting site for organizing yourself

(based on my del.icio.us)

My New Contest Obsession....Today it's Milk!

So I'm into the blogging give-a-ways. Today I've entered this contest at 5 Minutes for Mom to win $300 worth of Horizon Organic products...

Gotta love free milk. Here's hoping I win!

Adorable T-Shirts - Cute as a Bug!

Check out this great little cafepress store from Amy over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

So cute.

And you can enter her contest to win one of her adorable t-shirts. This one is my favorite...

I entered the contest and you can too.

Sling Give-A-Way

This is my first time doing something like this...I'm very excited to link into the rest of the blogging world. I read other blogs a LOT and I am very interested in the way other people live their lives and blog their lives....but I've never linked into soemthing like this before! So here goes....I'm very excited. Stick with me:

There’s a contest going on over at The Whole Family (a very nice blog that I got to through Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess) to win a solarveil (Sun Protection Fabric) sling.

So here I am...linking and entering the contest!

(I must admit that I have a solarveil sling and I am loving it, but I know exactly what I would do with another one if I won!)

Later...I will try to get a picture of me and Yael with the sling that she loves.