These are our new Shabbat candlestick holders.
So colorful, and full of nature and life, and it makes me happy.
I just wanted to give a callout to Mira (Pinki) Krispil from Ashdod, Israel who makes this beautiful artwork.
Her expertise is in using polymer clay and glass and making it very special.
You can find her Mira’s wonderful work on Etsy.
Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom!
Took a little hike on Sunday through Sligo Creek.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day.
Walking along the creek, we saw a mother and child wading in the water.
(Not sure that I would do that based on how clean or not it is, but they seemed to be cooling off and having fun).
Then crossing a little footbridge, we came across someone tossing this pretty big bolder over the side and into the same creek.
There was another guy at the bottom who seemed to be looking out for the big splash (or perhaps anyone happening by who would get clobbered by this thing).
Anyway, this was just a stark juxtaposition of people (including children) having fun in the water and the potential hazards from above.
This is life, one minute everything can be sunshine and roses, and the next bing bong!
Got to be grateful for every minute of peace, health, and prosperity-they are truly gifts and nothing is owed to anyone from the Almighty. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Just in time for the New Year you can shop at Jewish fashion site Hot Chani.
“Sexy things for heimish girls.”
Hot Chanis are modest and proper Jewish women who are still unbelievably sexy.
You can truly be a “good Jewish girl” and feel and be gorgeous inside and out.
Find your confidence, feel sexy, be beautiful, find love and romance…shop at Hot Chani.
Spice up your New Year and your life.
Be a Hot Chani! 😉
(Source Photo: HotChani.com)
Today, I heard a fascinating speech from Rabbi Haim Ovadia of Magen David Synagogue that put a beautiful new perspective on the Ten Commandments.
He explained how the commandments are not just commandments, but actually a covenant between G-d and mankind.
G-d gave man gifts of:
1) FREEDOM and choice (He is the L-rd who brought you out of bondage)
2) DIVINITY, a direct spiritual connection (Thou shalt have no idols)
3) PRAYER, heartfelt (Thou shalt not take G-d’s name in vain)
4) SABBATH (On the seventh day thou shalt do no work)
5) FAMILY (Honor thy father and mother).
In turn, G-d asks that we appreciate His gifts to us, and not take from others what isn’t ours:
1) LIFE (Don’t murder)
2) Another Man’s WIFE (Don’t commit adultery)
3) THINGS (Don’t steal)
4) DUE PROCESS/JUSTICE (Don’t bear false witness)
5) Someone else’s BLESSINGS (Don’t covet, and essentially bring an “evil eye” on them)
This interpretation is sort of the ah-ha in the Ten Commandments, which otherwise some would say, “what’s so novel or special about G-d telling us not to do these bad things–wouldn’t we already know (many of) these ourselves?”
But what is novel here is that the Ten Commandments is a whole philosophy of thinking about life, one where we appreciate G-d’s many gifts to us, but where we control our animal instincts and in turn act spiritually.
Thank you G-d for the many wonderful gifts, and for giving us the opportunity to elevate ourselves and be satisfied with our lot in life.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I took this photo in Washington D.C. of a bicycle messenger delivery with Valentines Day treats.
He was carrying an assortment of balloons and gifts (those are hiding in the basket under the balloons)!
What do you think chocolate, flowers, or something even more romantic?
There is enough hate and hostility in the world.
It’s wonderful when love is in the air and people show each other that they really care.
Going home from a day at work, and what can be nicer than someone waiting for you when you get there. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Japanese Anime is so cool.
They have these amazing characters that any kid would like to have.
With swords, shields, guns and well-honed fighting powers, these champions are ready for battle.
This one was at Barnes and Nobles for $34.95 this holiday session.
If I was still a kid, I could wrap my imagination around this, and help save the world from all the evil and stupid characters out there–unfortunately, both fictional and too often real. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Ok, this wins the prize for the stupidest holiday gift.
It comes from Brookstone, and it’s sand.
Yes, really–98% sand and 2% polymer to make it “soft and stretchy.”
You can get one jar of sand (12 ounces) for $14.99 or be even more stupid and buy 2 jars for $25.
Just imagine all the fun you can have playing with the sand, and you don’t even have to go to the beach or the dessert.
The bus fare or gasoline you save on the trip pays for this glorious sand in probably just one or two visits.
This is truly Pet Rock redux, where this guy sold 1.5 million rocks at the holiday time in the 1970’s and became a millionaire.
It’s amazing the marketing and branding brilliance behind this.
Imagine, you can sell rocks and sand and there are millions of people that actually take this seriously and buy it.
Next up, bottled flatulence (ok, I’ll just say it…farts!) 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
What do you get somebody who has everything?
Well check this out…
You can actually buy acreage on the moon through The Lunar Registry, “Earth’s leading lunar real estate agency.”
Based on The Outer Space Treaty, no country can own a celestial resource such as the moon, planet, or asteroid, but this doesn’t preclude private entities and individuals from purchasing a “lunar land claim.”
The Space Settlement Institute, which “promotes the human colonization and settlement of outer space” is lobbying for the U.S. to recognize these space land claims (PopSci).
According to their website, when you purchase real estate through the lunar registry, “your property ownership is permanently registered by the International Lunar Lands Registry in its annual publication, which is copyrighted and deposited in the United States Library of Congress and with international patent and trademark offices.”
You can view available properties here, from the Sea of Vapors (“moon on a budget” for $18.95 per acre–near Crater Manilius) to Lake of Dreams (“most popular” for $34.25 per acre and a special “Sweathearts package with 2 acres side-by-side).
Properties can be viewed at The Full Moon Atlas through The Luna Society.
I found Lake of Dreams by its reference in sector B-4, although I couldn’t really tell from the atlas whether this was a place that I’d like to settle down or not.
In real estate, they alway say “location, location, location”–when you’re buying on the moon, who the heck knows? 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I took this video of a flying drone at Brookstone at Avetura Mall in Miami.
The drone is flying among the crowds and actually goes right over my head a couple of times–I literally had to duck (as I think the salesperson was having some fun with me recording)!
The device is called the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 and sells for $299.
The drone is being controlled via wi-fi by a iPhone and also works with iPads and Droid devices.
The controlled flying as well as the stunts seemed easy to do.
It has a front facing camera (and I think the salesperson said it has a rear-facing one too).
You can capture the flight imagery and post the recorded video and still photos online.
The quadricopter has stabilization controls and hull protection to keep the device safe and in the air.
If you appreciate this technology and likes to have some fun, you may want to take this for a little spin around the yard, park, and beach.
Also, watch out at the mall–this flying gizmo may be coming right at you. 😉
(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)
So we’ve had our share of rain in the last few days with Hurricane Sandy.
But with the right umbrella even Frankenstorm can be tamed, a little bit.
That’s why I wanted to share with you this picture of the nicest umbrella that I’ve ever seen–it has dancing ballerinas all the way around.
And if you like the umbrella, there are bags and totes to match.
I found these hanging in the gift shop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Personally, I opted for a music box for someone special, but I still had my eye on that umbrella. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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