A Proud Ima

Yesterday was a day full of nachas for this proud Ima.

First, I attended YS's graduation from his 3 year-old class. Unlike all past performances or events I have attended at his school, this time he actually participated fully, sang loudly and proudly, did all of the hand motions, and actually seemed to enjoy himself! I could tell that he was proud of himself, and of course I was beaming with pride. It was a big year academically for YS! He now knows all of his letters and how to write them, both in English and Hebrew. He knows much more parsha and probably knows more about some of the chagim than I do! When he colors, he stays within the lines! He has developed (or maybe just unearthed) a deep love and appreciation for learning, and it's wonderful to observe. He is truly saddened by the end of the school year, even though he will spend his summer playing and learning at his yeshiva's summer camp.

AM also amazed me yesterday! He said his longest sentence yet: "I want more water in my cup please." Atta boy! I was worried about him being able to communicate his needs now that he's starting camp in a week, but after last night, I'm a little less concerned.

What a good day to be their Ima!

So far so good!

The nay-sayers can say nay, but my new life as a couponer is AWESOME! Yes, it takes time. Yes, it takes preparation. But, in just two shopping trips (one to A&P, one to Harmon Beauty Supplies), I have already saved $88.68!

You may say nay. I say, "$88.68 IS A LOT OF MONEY!"

The whole experience was truly invigorating. First of all, we all know I love a good project (remember when I was going to teach myself ballet from the Encyclopedia?). This project is full of math and spreadsheets and binders and organization...basically all of the things I love the best. Second, when I got to A&P yesterday, a woman actually came up to me and asked, "Are you a coupon lady?" I was schepping nachas. Third, as I stood at the register, I got to feel fear and trepidation. What would happen? Would the dollars come off like I had anticipated? Would I accidentally overspend? Fourth, without snorting coke or shooting up heroin, I got to experience a great, natural high when the final total showed up on the screen. SUCCESS!

I did not buy stupid stuff we don't need or want. I bought cereal and salad dressing and ice cream. We all know how much I love ice cream! My children are not sleeping on top of piles of cat food (we have no cat). My clothing is not being put into storage to make space for contact lens solution (we don't wear glasses).

I have yet to leave the store with $900 worth of groceries that cost me $0.01, but I did save $88.68, and that's not too shabby!

A final plus: as I was looking over my receipt last night and cutting new coupons, YS was asking me questions, and I was able to give him a good lesson about saving money and being cost-conscious. It was a teachable moment!

I love my new hobby. :)

My Work Family

It's hard being away from my family all day while I'm at the office, so my partner-in-crime got me a little work family to keep on my desk.

For some reason the orange "Rachel" shmooshie-chicken-ball is balding. The AM shmooshie-chicken-ball isn't a chicken ball at all. It's actually a light-up ring (I tried to take a photo of it lighting up, but it didn't turn out).

These family members don't talk back. They don't run around trying to hit me - or each other. They don't wake me up at ungodly hours of the morning.

They also don't bring me delicious salmon avocado salads for dinner. They don't give me cute little slobbery kisses. They don't get excited when they see me each day.

I guess every family has its ups and downs.

My New Hobby

On my last night in Miami, I stumbled upon an "Extreme Couponing" marathon on TLC.

If you know me, you know that I love tv shows like this one. If you know D, you know that he would rather be stabbed in the eye than watch reality tv.

So we struck a deal. He promised to watch a few episodes if I promised to become an extreme couponer and save our family thousands of dollars in grocery savings each year.

Who am I to pass up a deal like that?!

So there I was, Sunday morning, at the Miami airport before 6am, hurrying to the newsstand to pick up a paper and start couponing. Between Sunday and Monday nights, I spent approximately 8 hours clipping and logging 300+ coupons. I've reached out to friends and family to send me their unwanted coupons. I've enrolled in online savings programs. I've had several coupon anxiety dreams. Bet you didn't know you could have an anxiety dream about coupons!

I think D has created a monster.

I see this new hobby going in two possible directions:

1. I get bored of it in two weeks or less, fail to use any/many of the coupons in a timely manner, and find them expired in my drawer in six months.

2. I grab onto this new "hobby" with two hands and become obsessed. I refuse to quit - just like I refused to stop being a vegetarian - because after all: a promise is a promise, and I can be as stubborn as the best of them. I save our family money, but probably not thousands, and at the same time devote copious amounts of time and energy couponing.

What's your vote?

A Week in Paradise

Before I begin, let's get a few things straight. I love my job. I love my kids. I love my shul.

Ok, now that that's out of the way...

I just spent a week (7 full days and nights!) on a kid-free trip* to Miami Beach, and it was GREAT! My days consisted of sleeping until whenever I want**, eating enormous portions of delicious food, swimming in the pool and ocean, reading novels, and taking long walks with D.

I started my days with the breakfast of champions:


Moved onto a little dip in the sea...



Read a few hundred pages:


Jumped into the pool to cool off:


Took a walk to sight-see:


And ate...and ate...and ate...

While the weather in NY was a total washout, the weather in Miami was PERFECT! The lovely people at the Chabad were so hospitable and friendly, and we enjoyed sharing Shabbos meals with them. The rest of the week, we ate like kings (and queens!) at the many amazing kosher restaurants on 41st street. Overall, it was just a wonderful - and truly well-deserved on D's part - vacation.

It was really sad to see the week end, but we get to have a vacation booster shot in a view weeks, when we'll return to Florida for a great friend's wedding.

*Lest you worry about my children, they were enjoying themselves in NY with Bubbe, Bubbe, and Zayde, who no doubt spoiled them rotten and showered them with love.

**Sadly, it took until the last day of vacation for my body to adjust to the lack of alarm clock, and I still woke up waaayyy earlier than desired.

Guilt-Free Snacking!

Ben & Jerry's is starting a new ad campaign featuring Greyston Bakery! Check out this awesome billboard that will be hung all over the country this summer! There's also a really cool video that you can see here.

There's No Place Like Home