Can we rewind and talk about Sukkot?

I've decided that Sukkot is officially my favorite Jewish holiday. I have always, or least since moving to LA, loved the holiday, one that was often overlooked growing up because by the time Yom Kippur was over it was back to "normal". There was one at my synagogue but the rotting fruit and fading paper chains that hung from it were far from appealing. It was only in recent years that I kind of became obsessed. In fact, we've been known to shamelessly invite ourselves over to people's homes for dinner just to be able to sit (and eat) in their sukkahs when we lived in an apartment and didn't have our own. I had a bad case of sukkah envy. I think it's because I really love fall - even though in LA fall lasts about a week, and Sukkot almost always is during an Indian summer. I did live in New England for 3 years, so I have a true appreciation for the season. And there's something terribly romantic and soothing about eating outside...I do have an obsession with patio furniture, remember? 

When we moved into this house with a real backyard, the first thing I thought to myself was "Now we can build a sukkah!" (And then I marveled that we had our own washer/dryer...a close second to a yard big enough for a sukkah.) Well that first year proved to be more difficult that I imagined...we had less than pleasant neighbors with whom we shared the yard (despite them being Jewish, I'm sure they would have tattled on us to the management company for cluttering the yard or something), and I found out that they're not exactly cheap. We did not have $300+ kicking around, so I spent the fall of 2009 in major sukkah-lust.

And we all know what happened last year during Sukkot...! Suffice to say my pregnant and bed-rest state put me in no position to build a sukkah, and it turns out I missed half the holiday anyway. Too bad because the record breaking heat last year would have made for so many perfect outdoor meals. But I happen to think it's so cool that Sidney's Hebrew birthday is the first day of Sukkot...all the more reason to love the holiday. That, and the fact that we got to have his bris in a sukkah...couldn't have scripted it more perfectly.

So now we get to this year. I was determined to make it happen, come hell or high water. But if we didn't have $300 kicking around 2 years ago, we certainly don't have it this year...so I was trying to be creative about how we could do it on the cheap.

And then I saw it...finally, my Extreme Grouponing was really paying off. A daily deal for a sukkah kit!!! But still, it was $175...hmm. I posted the deal on Facebook with a call out to anyone who might want to share the cost (and rights to using the sukkah too, of course), and my friend Sara (love you!!!) saved the day. Or, rather, saved Sukkot...

Birthright Israel NEXT was offering sukkah grants to any birthright alum who wanted to build a sukkah, for up to $200!!! Faster than you can say "schach", I had that application filled out, submitted and approved. Best Sukkot EVER - a free sukkah!

The deal was bought, and after some minorly-shady business transactions with a lovely man named Yehuda (he had me write the check for the delivery fee out to CASH...), we had all the pieces in our yard about 12 hours after the most rockin' Yom Kippur in history. The exuberance from neilah and the break fast spilled over into the next day and we built ourselves one amazing sukkah.

Daddy's little helper...

Mike was a naysayer before this all happened...and when he saw how easy it was to assemble he quickly converted over to Team Sukkah and got really into it. We loved shouting "schach!!" as we piled discard palm branches onto the top (which I collected from the green landscape recycle bins in our alley, just like a real Pico/Robertson Jew!), and both kids were just mesmerized. And then the real fun began - decorating and meal planning. I went a little overboard with my ambition, including a failed decoration project and more meal invitations than I could possible follow through with. But it was worth it...we ate every meal outdoors, and I could not have been happier. They don't call it the Season of our Joy for nothing.

How could you not feel warm and fuzzy sitting in here?

I just love this temporary dwelling so much (or the tent in the backyard as Mike's boss called it). In fact, I can't bear to take it down...the holiday has been over for more than a week, and it's still standing. Well, really because we haven't had time, though I'm still a little wistful about having to pack it up. But it is temporary - like everything - and we have a whole year ahead of us of new challenges and joy before next fall when we force ourselves out of the comfort of our home yet again.

The blog is going private

Too many creepers out there...there's been some sketchy activity and I have to protect myself and my kids. But I still want to share stories from my life and photos, so I will give you permission to continue following if I know you, or if you can tell me through whom you found the blog...I know there are friends of friends that follow, but I need to verify your source. Leave your email in the Comments section, or email/message me directly.

Thanks!

Fastest year EVER

And just as quickly as he charged into our lives, Sidney turned 1.

WHAT?!

Ivy's first year felt like, well, a year. Sidney's felt more like, oh, 20 minutes. I remember exactly this time last year when I was a nervous wreck, just trying to keep him inside through High Holy Days. And then he arrived, and our world was changed. He is the absolute light of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Here is my birthday letter to him:

Sidney-

On your first birthday, I wish you many more days and years of curiosity, adventure and love. May you find many more cords, wire hangers, and remote controls to play with...just don't hurt yourself. May you learn to stand up for yourself when Ivy loves you just a little too hard and you fall down. And may you continue to make me smile and my heart burst every time you walk into a room. I love you so much and have so much more I could say, but frankly I'm too tired. (And may you also learn to sleep past 4am.)

Love you,
Mommy

Does he know how to rock 1, or what?

There's always a silver lining - will shoot for food!

I've often pondered the idea of taking my photography to the next level. I love taking pictures, I do a decent job at it, and it would be a great way to earn a some much-needed cash. But I have a few problems with the idea.

1. I know I’m not a pro, and I don’t want to insult those who are. I would never pretend like you’re going to get something professional-quality because frankly this is my hobby...I wish I could dedicate my every day to this and learn more techniques, spend more time editing, buy top of the line equipment, etc. And professionals cost what they do for a reason - they spend a lot of time on the photos, between traveling to shoots, taking the photos, editing them, and printing them, not to mention the cost of their camera equipment, editing software, and other supplies. I would be offering something much less expensive, but again I have no desire to drive the market down (not that a few measly photo shoots by me would do that, but it’s the principle). And even if my work was professional quality, I would essentially be shooting myself in the foot with the low price I would charge.

2. I don’t want to come off as one of those people who’s like “Oooh, I have DSLR so OBVIOUSLY I’m qualified to have my own photo business!” I mean, I never shoot on auto, I know my aperature from my ISO, and I’m pretty good at getting the best white balance for a shot. But still...just because I have a nice camera, a bunch of lenses, and a speedlight doesn’t mean I’m any better than the average mom with the same equipment and hobby. Nothing wrong with just being a momtographer!

3. I’d feel weird charging people I know money. It’s just awkward, mixing business and friendship. But maybe I need to get over that...and if I don’t know you, I’ll accept cash or check! Besides, my time isn’t exactly free - I have a lot of things to do, so unfortunately I can’t really give too much of my spare hours away for nothing, even though I love taking pictures.

All this being said, I thought I had found a happy medium. My dad is also a photographer, and the person from whom I inherited my love for this pastime. You could call him an advanced amateur but really he’s semi-pro. It’s not his primary profession, but he does get a lot of jobs as a photographer. And he doesn’t even always get paid in cash. He’s much more of a fan of the barter system. That’s right. Bartering.

I couldn’t even begin to count the number of free meals my family has eaten in Little Italy or how many pounds of brisket live in my parents’ freezer thanks to my dad’s photos. He’s shot weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and nearly every family event for the Bussalaccis.

When my friend Kitt asked me to take some photos of her family, I decided this was it. So it is with minimal fanfare that I announce the commencement of my photography “business” - Silver Lining Photos (like my last name, get it?). I am available pretty much only on Sundays (and weekdays, until I start working again full time) and I like most foods...I’m kosher, mostly vegetarian, have a serious sweet tooth, and usually available for Shabbat dinner. Oh, and Mike and I need a date night...have I mentioned how wonderful my kids are to babysit for?

Here’s what you’ll get - some really nice pictures. And it will be affordable...not to take aim at pros (again, for the most part I think their prices are fair, but we are living in a DIY age), but we all know that professional pictures are not in everyone’s budget. I do have prices, but I will also barter...in fact I've already done a family shoot in exchange for a night of babysitting!

Take a look - I can't believe I'm doing this! http://silverliningphotosbykim.blogspot.com

It really IS the most wonderful time of the year! Sort of...

Back to school always reminds me of the Staples commercials where the guy would ride through the store on a shopping cart with the Christmas carol "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" playing in the background. Yes, yes it is. Ivy's 6 week break ended this morning as we both happily shipped her back to preschool. The whole vacation thing was really starting to wear on me, and her. She loves structure and was so excited to be back with her friends and teachers. Cause for celebration, and I did with my friends next door at Bloom for breakfast. The only thing missing was mimosas. Oh well, maybe next year.

Truth is, it was a bittersweet day. I was a little wistful that my big girl is now in the older kids' class at school (where has the time gone? etc) but it will be nice not having to scramble for childcare when I have work to do. Which is where I start to really get bummed out. Despite my numerous consulting gigs and projects that I'm juggling, I'm still technically unemployed. And while I'm certainly as busy as someone working full time, I don't have much to show for it my bank account and that's troubling. I had hoped today would be a fresh start for both Ivy and I - school for her and a job for me. But alas... I've gotta land something soon, or else...well, I'm trying not to think about it.

At least now that I have a specific period of time during the day in which I can focus, I am really working to get my photo stuff up and running. I hope that will be my next post, as early as next week even. It just takes time, and I keep getting distracted by other things. Clearly self-employment is not for me in the long run.

So when I need to get out of the house to be free from home distractions I head to Paper or Plastic, or IKAR satellite office as it has become. I always see people I know there, and today I threw all productivity out the window because of it. First, I find myself sitting next to an Obama dead-ringer...who turns out to be an Obama impersonator. Fascinating. He was really cool, and actually from Chicago too. And then my heart went all a-flutter when my Food Network hero walked in the door - can you say Aarti Party?! Since I have no shame, I went right up to her and said I was a huge fan. Hugging and laughing ensued, and we were old friends by the time she left. Needless to say, I got nothing done from that point on during my first day "back to work." Oh well, that's what tomorrow is for.

I should have worn makeup today, and not a shirt that makes me look pregnant...

Sid, meanwhile is now running all over the house and I don't know how he gets cuter by the day, but he does. The big birthday is coming up, and my head is already swimming with all the baking and decorating projects I'm going to have. I could not be more excited, and also in utter disbelief that we're closing in on a year. Poof - gone in a flash!

I have no clever title for this post

Ivy's summer vacation is a little more than half way over, and so far we've been having a great time. Man, I miss the days when I had a summer break. You know what else I miss? Meal plans. Not dorm food itself, per se, but just showing up somewhere, swiping a card, and someone else has prepared food for you to eat. But I digress...

Anyway, it's been an interesting month. Sid has started walking, which still blows my mind because Ivy didn't start until 14 months, so I was a bit caught off guard. I shouldn't have been since he had been showing signs for a while, but I swear we cannot baby proof fast enough. Also, different from Ivy, he still does a lot of starting and stopping. Walks a few steps, falls, crawls, maybe gets up to try again. When Ivy started she just stood up one day, took a couple practice steps, and then was off and walking. Sid is perfecting the art, apparently. It's adorable because he totally does the Frankenstein waddle. And yesterday he turned 11 months (I have a sticker pic but I'm too lazy to upload at the moment). Again, disbelief over here that the next monthly milestone is his friggin' FIRST BIRTHDAY! Party planning has kicked into full gear.

Ivy spent a week at Camp Rogoff - aka my parents' house. It was grand. She went to dance camp from 9am-1pm everyday and boogied her little tush off. There was even a little recital at the end for the families. Wow, did I cry. It was so cute. She was the littlest one in the class and spent most of the performance waving to me in the audience. They did three dances, and there's video of one below. When she wasn't at camp, Nana took her swimming, made all her favorite foods, and Papa even took her on her first visit to Chuck E. Cheese. Better him than me...

Note to self - maybe not the greatest idea to sit in the front row...

We also had a great week with Grandma, during which Ivy went to the park, a Dodgers game, and the Peterson Auto Museum. All big hits. And speaking of hits, that week for me was marred by an unfortunate car accident, leaving us with one car for the week (in LA, this is akin to going without showering). Thank god, everyone was okay - I was alone in the car, no kids, and some dude turned left in front me and stopped in the middle of the intersection, not giving me an opportunity to avoid him. Fortunately insurance is putting the liability on him, and let me tell you dealing with all of that was no picnic. I was also fortunate to have several friends drive by (since we were all on the way to the same breakfast meeting) so they stopped and helped me out. Made all the difference, but still put a damper on my week. Now I'm driving a Rogoff Rental from my parents and Ivy is thrilled to pieces with her new car seat. So it all worked out, and I'm very lucky to say the least.

Lest we forget, on the job front, I'm still pounding the pavement for that perfect (or least decent) full time gig and that process still totally sucks, BUT I have found something interesting to do in the meantime and then hopefully in addition to whatever job I end up finding. I'm a Local Business Consultant for Juice in the City, a daily deal site by moms for moms and families! Shocking, you say? Working for a daily deal site? Woulda never imagined it! Well, it's perfect for me (I am the Extreme Grouponer, remember?), and I already have my first list of proposed vendors approved so time to start hitting them up! It's perfect because it's not a huge time commitment and the idea is that I'm sourcing businesses that I already frequent. I'll keep you posted on my progress as I make my first foray into the world of sales... If you're so inclined to help me out, please sign up for the daily deal emails. And if you're interested in applying to be an LBC, talk to me - I would love to refer you!

And finally, I'm almost ready to unveil my long-awaited other part-time on-the-side gig...just putting finishing touches on the new blog. Here's a hint - it has to do with photos. Again, shocking right?

Signing off for now - I promise to try to post again before Sid turns the big 1.

42 Days of Summer

Even though it’s officially been summer for a while now, it’s only just kicking into high gear today. Ivy is off school until September 12...that means 42 whole days of vacation! I’ll be interested to see how she does, because she loves structure and her friends and teachers. But I know she’ll also appreciate the downtime and relaxed schedule, not having to run out the door in the mornings and then be cranky at dinner time when she normally gets home. Mike and I created the Master Calendar for the next 6 weeks, figuring out various childcare plans (since we both have to work) and other activities. I’m grateful that I can be flexible this month but I still have tons to do, so it will be an interesting balance.

We have a bunch of great activities planned, starting with today - going to see Ivy’s first movie, Winnie the Pooh! We’ll also be hitting up the beach, crashing as many pools as we can, and she’ll be spending a week with Mike’s mom here and a week with my parents in San Diego where she’ll also go to a dance camp. And we’ll hopefully hit up the LA County Fair...what fried item should I get this year? I gotta start thinking about that. Of course, there will be lots of down time, too, hanging out at home and in the backyard just playing.

Not to be outdone, Sid is also awesome these days, of course. He can stand unassisted and is moments away from his first steps. He sees something he wants to go after and propels himself forward, only he hasn’t figured out how to lift his feet to do it! It’s so cool to watch. Ivy, who started walking MUCH later than this, just sort of stood up and started walking one day. I like watching Sid try to figure this out in baby steps, as they say.

It’s also hard to believe that in less than 2 short months, he will be turning ONE. What?! Yeah, I know. I’m already starting to plan his birthday party...oh, who am I kidding? I started planning months ago. I feel like there are 2 camps when it comes to first (or any age) birthdays - those who avoid the parties because they kid won’t know the difference (though I beg to differ) and those who throw bashes in celebration of the kid and the parents...because let’s be honest, WE are the ones who kept him alive for the past year! And if you’re Sid that’s not always a small task. He can be in a room full of toys and he’ll speed across the room to find the one teeny-tiny bead that fell off Ivy’s necklace and attempt to put it straight down the hatch. Just yesterday he was splashing his hands in the kiddie pool set up in the backyard and he ended up diving in head first. Fortunately we scooped him right out, and he was less than fazed.

Here’s to summer and not going totally bonkers without school! It’ll be the ultimate test of sanity...for all of us!