Mensch: You Saw It HERE first!

I am so happy for the makers of the new "Jewish Elf on The Shelf." You know, the one with the similar name to my Mensch on the Mantle???!! The makers took a great idea and worked hard to make it a reality, so kudos to them. Just remember that the Mensch on the Mantle was here LAST year (before all the hype about this new little guy) and that I shared the idea with the world for free!!!

"Mom’s Summer Nights"

I have been so swamped with the kids that I am not sure that I'll ever get to the Flashback Friday series, but I did have time to write this little song about what I have been up to!


"Mom’s Summer Nights"
(to the Tune of Summer Nights from Grease)
Summer laundry, piles up so fast
Summer laundry, kids had a blast
My two kids crazy for me
Loads of wash for mommy
Summer days drifting away
To, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you get out the stains?
Tell me more; tell me more
Towels “drying” out in the rain!

Summer laundry, piles up so fast
Summer laundry, kids had a blast
My two kids crazy for me
Loads of wash for mommy
Summer days drifting away
To, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you travel far?
Tell me more; tell me more
Six whole hours in my car!

She swam twice at, J C C camp
He played golf, getting all damp
Sidewalk chalk, down on the ground
Made mud pies, knees are all browned
Summer sun, something's begun
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you wash every night?
Tell me more, tell me more
Do you sort dark and light?

Took them bowling in the arcade
We went strolling; spilled lemonade
We made paintings without a smock
then stayed up till nine o'clock
Dirty swings don't mean a thing
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more
But you don't gotta brag
Tell me more, tell me more
'Cause it sounds like a drag

She was sticky ice cream in hand
Well, she got filthy down in the sand
By nighttime, we’re not vey clean
Smell like outside, you know what I mean
Summer heat, bug spray and feet
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more
Lots of play dates that never end?
Tell me more, tell me more
Can they call their friends?

It turns colder; then will it end?
Me and whirlpool, we'll still be friends
So I’ll make my laundry vow
I’m okay if it not all done right' now
Summer clothes ripped at the seams
But, oh, those summer nights
Tell me more, tell me more

Divya and Andrew's American Celebration

I recently had the pleasure of styling an event for Divya and Andrew, a New York City based couple, whose love affair has taken them around the world. Their fairytale romance includes not one, but two, dreamy weddings—one in India and another smack dab in the middle of the US ! When I first spoke with Divya over the phone, she and Andrew had just returned from their multiple-day Indian wedding celebration. Divya’s dear friend, who just happens to be a Bollywood producer, planned all of the events with a swoon-worthy amount of fabric and floral that is simply unrivaled in the US. The Indian wedding truly had it all—except some American friends and family who could not make the trip.

Never fear, Andrew's mother DJ was planning a second celebration back on US soil. Andrew’s sister, Kate, is one of my dear friends from law school. Since I virtually hijacked the planning of Kate’s wedding a few years back (coming soon to my Flashback Friday series), DJ knew who to call for help!

DJ had already reserved the Colonel Bolton Home, a picturesque historic home with a quaint white barn on the property. She hoped that I could give her some floral ideas. Immediately sensing that any floral we could produce would pale in comparison to the celebrations in India, I suggested that we nix expensive floral arrangements in favor of rustic American decor! I began dreaming of bunting, party lights, sparklers, mason jars, apples and burlap. Not only have these items been on trend the past few years, they were just perfect for a barn wedding as American as apple pie.

With Andrew and Divya in New York, DJ in Jefferson City and me here in St. Louis, we began a series of phone calls and emails to find out the couple’s desires for their big day as well as the constraints of pulling everything together from three cities. I integrated the information from our communications into a vision board. Divya not only embraced the ideas, she got into the act and started on-line shopping for all of the items. We quickly realized that the cost of shipping items from multiple stores was too steep and, frankly, confusing. Thus, my “Teamwork” Package was born. I shopped my wholesalers and usual sources for décor, adding some handcrafted details and gave the whole box as a kit to the family along with instructions for how to put it all together. The kit included burlap runners, rustic french pots, worn tool boxes planters, and small details (Spanish moss, bunting to adorn the tool boxes,and even the rafia to tie on the mason jars). The couple assembled the components the day before the wedding with charming results. Click on the collage below for a few sneak peaks from their big day(I am awaiting the photographers' pictures):




Thanks to DJ, Divya, and Andrew for allowing me to be a part of their special day!

The world didn't end but it feels a little like it

I didn't believe the world was going to end. I figured maybe the Mayans just got tired and weren't ready to start a new calendar; I have felt that way from time to time.

Ten days ago, content in the knowledge that the world was not coming to an end, I was really enjoying my new hobby of blogging. My kids were having fun with our "Mensch on the Mantle." I was feeling the rush of doing something creative, chronicling our adventure, and reveling in the excitement of an actual comment appearing on my little blog. I was also in the middle of preparing for a fabulous party when I heard the devastating news about Sandy Hook. The tenderloin was ordered, the champagne was chilling, the flowers were perfectly arranged, and the candles were just waiting to be lit, but it all felt somehow wrong.

I thought of something I learned long ago. The last night of Chanukah (which was the next day) is always the darkest night of the year. That is the night we light all of the candles and bring the most light we can into the world. Everyday thereafter the sun shines just a little longer--the world will incrementally be brighter. I felt so much better remembering that and thinking, "This is the worst it is going to be." We went forward and had a somewhat more sedate evening than we may have otherwise. According to the musician I "nailed" the party. I was glad he thought so, though I am still not jovial enough to post what few pictures I took. At least I gave a little escape to a few of my friends for a few hours.

I have many friends from all stages of my life and I cherish each one. While I am not sure anymore who my definitive “best friend” is, I am lucky to have many friends who are the best. Some of them are simply woven into the fabric of my life in every way possible way.

It is that way with my friend B and her husband. We had double dates before we were married, and as newlyweds our first houses were right around the corner from each other so that we shared many nightly walks. It was while babysitting for their daughter that David and I decided we wanted to start a family--their second daughter and our first are just six weeks apart. The girls are great friends. After Annabelle had her first seizure, we were told that she may have trouble acquiring new language. I was on pins and needles for her to say a new word--any new word. As fate would have it, it was B's name. No sound was ever so delicious (by the way, that girl has more than enough to say). Over the years there have been lake trips, family camps, and even a grown-up get away to Hawaii together. Together we have celebrated Christenings, Jewish baby Namings, birthday parties, holidays, and annual outings to the pumpkin patch. While we both moved from our first homes, we are in a new neighborhood less than a mile apart. B, our other friend B, and I had lunch nearly everyday while our kids were in preschool. We have shared carpool duties and planned class parties. We have gotten to know and love each other's parents on their many trips here. When I was in the hospital last year my kids had a "weeknight sleepover" at B's house that is still mentioned with awe! I am certain she will be at my girls bat mitzvahs and their weddings--I. am. certain.

That is why I feel like the world stopped for just a moment last Monday when my dear sweet friend B had an unexplained seizure and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Echoing my own thoughts from a few days earlier, I kept thinking hoping, "this is the worst it is going to be." I am not sure that I see the world getting brighter just yet, but I do know that hundreds of people have come to B's aid and shared their love. Like me, B has many friends who are the best--I am just one person with whom she shares her life. Her Care Calendar filled within minutes and the phone rings non-stop--everyone wants to know what they can do. The love that has surrounded B let's me know that, while it may feel like it, the world didn't end just yet.

A Moment of Silence

No Mensch OTM, no party talk, no pictures of glamorous my friends on their custom holiday cards--just a moment of silence for the victims of today's school shooting in CT. I am so lucky to hold my babies when I pick them up from school today.

"Can" you Handle it?????

Last night, the girls found the Mensch playing dreidel with some teddy bears and a note that said, "A Mensch Visits the Elderly." N promptly asked exactly how old the bears are; I quickly retorted that the bears probably represented the senior citizens they would be visiting that night (perhaps this one was a bit of a stretch). In any event, we were off to serve latkes, color pictures, and play dreidel at a Senior Center. This was our first night of service, and I couldn't be more pleased with the girls’ good attitude celebrating Chanukah with the seniors. Today, they will find the mensch prepping soup boxes for our Temple's walk-in food pantry. Everything needed for an easy tortilla soup along with the recipe will be included. The girls will have to finish where the mensch left off. He left a note with instructions!

By the way, the soup is really easy and so yummy. I always have the ingredients in the pantry for nights when we are out of fresh stuff or just feeling really lazy. Relying on pre-made stock and salsa gives it a long-simmered taste in just minutes. The reciepe follows:

1 Can Low Sodium Chicken Stock
2 Cans Black Beans--Drained and Rinsed
1 Can Mexi-corn--Drained and Rinsed
1 jar of your favorite salsa

Dump in a pan and heat. Top with cheese, tortilla chips, cilantro, or enjoy plain!

The Mensch on the Mantle Recap (For Those of You Just Tuning In)

I am linking up with Kelly's Korner to talk about what I hope will be my family's new Chanukah tradition: The Mensch on the Mantle! Yes, I do know that is all that I have been talking about for a week straight both on the blog and in real-life, but for anyone still willing to listen, here's the short version:

My friend Stephanie and I pondered how to make a Jewish equivalent of all the magical elves who are so popular these days. While my children were missing out on some of the fun by not celebrating Christmas, we are very fulfilled with our traditions and the beliefs to which we adhere. If I was going to add something else in, I knew it would have to be real and lasting. Anything too magical or that I was going to have to back-track about later was simply out of the question. I want my kids to know that G-d is real and miracles are real--those are the messages of Chanukah.

That is also why we chose to use a mensch as opposed to a gnome or an elf. A mensch is not mythical or made-up. Mensches are simply good people. The "magic" of a mensch is that we all have the inherent capability to do good. Rather than spying on kids to see if they are good just to get presents, our mensch is actually going to be doing mitzvot (good deeds). My kids will find their mensch each day engaged in an activity with a note describing why a mensch would be doing that particular act. For instance, the night that we volunteer to play dreidel at a nursing home, the mensch will be found playing dreidel with barbies and a note that reads, "a mensch visits the elderly."
Read and download his tale here:


There are oodles of pictures of several mensches in action--just click the "Mensch on the Mantle" label to see them all!!!