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Hi all, I've been working hard at a new blog that is actually under my name, if you are not redirected automatically, please visit me at Brenda in Sunny So Cal. Please re-register for your e-mail feed.

Paper Basket on the stairs

I have not done a Works for me Wednesday post in a while, so here's one before the year is over...

I wish I had the budget to take the Organizing 101 workshop at Simplfy 101, untill then, I keep this basket on my steps, the incoming mail, school papers, notes, receipts go in it during the week and on Sat. AM with coffee in hand I tackle it, that way I only deal with paperwork once a week.

Here's to an organized and sane New Year!

5/14/2003 - 12/10/2009

R.I.P Canon S2IS

I love thee, we shared happy times and bad times, I will miss you forever.

This was the first camera I picked on my own, this was also the best camera I've had so far, great picture quality, even though a bridge camera, I had full manual capabilities, short of exchanging lenses.... love every second and every shot, the models that have come after have not gotten as good reviews, so we'll see what do I replace you with, you will be missed....

On the Eight Night of Hanukkah...

we built a janukiah...


and yes a Menorah is 7 arms, a janukiah is 9....


This project as of today is still in progress, my goal is to have this one made by our 3 year old, my eldest made one when he was in preschool, and now is the little one's turn -easier said than done-.

I got the tiny pots at the craft store, on the woodcrafting section, 8 small, 1 a bit larger...
Craft paint in your choice of colors, brushes and a 14" wood ruler (not shown)

Paint the little pots, in your choice of colors, paint the ruler too. With your glue gun or rubber cement (you want the bond to last your kid's lifetime, my mom still has the ones I made at school every year) adhere the pots to the ruler then melt the wax of one candle (or a stick of hot glue from the gun) inside the tallest (shamesh) pot, so the candle sits higher than the others.

Enjoy! and Happy Holidays to all....

On the seventh night of Hanukkah...

We made a latke plate...

Sorry no picture today, the cell's battery died and it is charging....
On my first year of marriage, I went to a paint your own ceramics place and made a nice large platter for latkes, we use it every year and it is a reminder of our life together.
As a bonus, here's my very rudimentary eggless latke recipe:

5 potatoes
3 tbs of flour
salt and pepper to taste (and really, taste the mix, if it doesn't taste salty it will not have flavor)
Enough oil for frying

In a skillet, add enough oil to cover a latke and set to medium heat. Shred the potatoes, add the flour, salt and pepper, mix together, grab a small ammount into your palm and squeeze out as much liquid as possible, and place in the hot oil.
Oppossite to popular beleif, the potatoe does not need eggs to keep it together, just squeeze the water out and it will work....

Enjoy!

On the sixth night of Hanukkah....

We took all the books out....

Ths one couldn't get more simple, all the hanukah books in a basket next to the fire place ready to cuddle up and read....

On the fifth Night of Hanukkah...

we made another sign....

What you need:

search for a Hebrew font online and upload to your computer, in your word processing program, or better yet your die cut machine program, write your sentiment, then either print and cut, or just cut the letters, use the negative part of the letter as a stencil.

Go to your local hardware store and get them to cut a 4 x 2 in your preferred size -HINT: my local store was kind enough to give the wood for free since I agree to take the wood that was actually for shipping the real wood they sell, the pallet sections-.

I painted the wood blue and then stencilled the words and shapes in silver.