Video from this week:
Week 3
Video from last week:
Week 2
Video from the first week:
Week One
As someone who did not attend overnight camp, I am thrilled that the camp started to do this on a weekly basis. While I love the weekly photographs, I get the sense of camp. I now know why my son LOVES camp! The community, the fun, the love, and because we could never see Shabbat at camp, Shabbat! What fun!
Camp came alive to me. I looked forward to the weekly videos not just to see my own children, but to feel camp. It reminded me of USY Pilgrimage to Israel, and it reminded one of my co-worker of his recent Birthright trip.
No matter what it is, Jewish Overnight Camp is a fun and safe place to be.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Things that have kept me busy
Just in case you were all thinking what a relaxing 3.5 weeks this would be . . . . . HA! Reality check. On July 3, I was driving the mini van, with my husband, brother, sister in law and niece in the car. I was stopped at a red light, when we got rear ended. . . . . and then rear ended again! It was quite a shocker. No one was hurt, but we were all surprised. The man that hit us, twice, was 90 years old and his foot slipped off the pedal (twice?). So, I have been busy speaking with my insurance company (I love USAA), the appraiser and now the auto body shop. Never a dull moment.
But, if that wasn't enough excitement . . . . On Monday night, I went to use the bathroom before bed, and when I turned on the hot water, NOTHING came out of the faucet. Tried the cold water, and it was fine. Looked under the sink, and no leak. Stumped. Called Adam . . . . and he too was also stumped.
We decided to go down to the basement. . . . . and when we opened the door to the unfinished basement, there was a little puddle of water, just outside of the tray that holds the hot water heater. The tray was full of water. So, after watching a few online videos we turned off the water supply to the water heater, turned off the gas to the water heater and cleaned up. We left a voicemail for our plumber . . . . please call as early as possible.
The next morning, I had an email and a replacement would be installed that day. Amazing. Federal Plumbing is the best. Put me back in hot water!
But, if that wasn't enough excitement . . . . On Monday night, I went to use the bathroom before bed, and when I turned on the hot water, NOTHING came out of the faucet. Tried the cold water, and it was fine. Looked under the sink, and no leak. Stumped. Called Adam . . . . and he too was also stumped.
We decided to go down to the basement. . . . . and when we opened the door to the unfinished basement, there was a little puddle of water, just outside of the tray that holds the hot water heater. The tray was full of water. So, after watching a few online videos we turned off the water supply to the water heater, turned off the gas to the water heater and cleaned up. We left a voicemail for our plumber . . . . please call as early as possible.
The next morning, I had an email and a replacement would be installed that day. Amazing. Federal Plumbing is the best. Put me back in hot water!
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Salted Caramel Brownies
Another to DIE FOR recipe by Ina Garten.
INGREDIENTS
2 sticks unsalted butter
8 oz chocolate chips (in one bowl)
6 oz chocolate chips (in a second bowl)
3 oz unsweetened chocolate
3 large eggs
1 1/2 T instant coffee granules
1 T vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 T sugar
1/2 cup of flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t kosher salt
5 oz caramel sauce
2-3 t flaked sea salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Pam on a 9 x 12 inch baking pan.
Melt butter, 8 oz of chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl combine the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the eggs and cool.
In a medium bowl, stir the flour, the baking powder and salt. Add to the chocolate batter. Add in chocolate chips (make sure the mixture is not too hot, or else the chocolate chips will melt). Spread into baking pan.
Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Take out of the oven, and put on wire rack, and drizzle the caramel sauce on top of the hot brownies (you might need to heat up the caramel sauce). Sprinkle with sea salt, and let cool.
INGREDIENTS
2 sticks unsalted butter
8 oz chocolate chips (in one bowl)
6 oz chocolate chips (in a second bowl)
3 oz unsweetened chocolate
3 large eggs
1 1/2 T instant coffee granules
1 T vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 T sugar
1/2 cup of flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t kosher salt
5 oz caramel sauce
2-3 t flaked sea salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Pam on a 9 x 12 inch baking pan.
Melt butter, 8 oz of chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl combine the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the eggs and cool.
In a medium bowl, stir the flour, the baking powder and salt. Add to the chocolate batter. Add in chocolate chips (make sure the mixture is not too hot, or else the chocolate chips will melt). Spread into baking pan.
Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Take out of the oven, and put on wire rack, and drizzle the caramel sauce on top of the hot brownies (you might need to heat up the caramel sauce). Sprinkle with sea salt, and let cool.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Childless Weekend
For the first time in 13 years we had no children for an entire weekend.
On Friday night we went to a Persian restaurant in Watertown, MA. We started with the homemade pickles which were fabulous and homemade pita bread, which was average. The waitress brought butter with the pita, which I thought was unusual. I had a Persian chicken skewer dish with basmati rice and Adam and an eggplant stew like dish, which he really liked, and that also came with the rice. I thought that the rice was the best part of the meal. The restaurant tables and chairs were average, but the other diners ranged from families with young kids, to two to three couples dining together. I would return here again.
On Saturday, after sleeping late, we did our errands which included buying a new lawn mower. After 17 years, our Toro electric lawn mower, just didn't start. It was already missing the grass bag. Time for a new one. This time we purchased a battery operated lawn mower.
We also went and saw Jurassic World at the Jordan's Imax Theater. If you are going to see a movie that requires great sound, the Jordan's Imax Theater is great. The sound MAKES this movie. And even though you know when the dinosaur is going to try to get the humans, the sounds make it amazing. An amazing movie theater. And the dinosaurs were cool too!
Then off to dinner at Vinebrook Tavern in Lexington, MA. We started off with homemade cornbread (amazing and dense and buttery) and a tomato salad with burrata cheese (yum). I then had seared scallops with mushroom risotto and Adam had a tofu taco with a side of amazing corn. It is a farm to table restaurant that we can bring the kids to when they return.
On Sunday we were going to go to the SOWA market, however the tropical downpours changed our plans. Instead we went to The Biscuit, which used to be Panini's. This is where we used to go to eat back when we were dating. . . . and home of the original lemon scone, which I had for breakfast.
Sunday was a great day to watch a movie . . . . . I watched, You're Not You, We Bought a Zoo and A Few Good Men. Flipping the TV brought me to A Few Good Men, and I just can't flip the movie off until I hear Jack say "You can't handle the truth."
And we are also speeding through season three of House of Cards.
On Friday night we went to a Persian restaurant in Watertown, MA. We started with the homemade pickles which were fabulous and homemade pita bread, which was average. The waitress brought butter with the pita, which I thought was unusual. I had a Persian chicken skewer dish with basmati rice and Adam and an eggplant stew like dish, which he really liked, and that also came with the rice. I thought that the rice was the best part of the meal. The restaurant tables and chairs were average, but the other diners ranged from families with young kids, to two to three couples dining together. I would return here again.
On Saturday, after sleeping late, we did our errands which included buying a new lawn mower. After 17 years, our Toro electric lawn mower, just didn't start. It was already missing the grass bag. Time for a new one. This time we purchased a battery operated lawn mower.
We also went and saw Jurassic World at the Jordan's Imax Theater. If you are going to see a movie that requires great sound, the Jordan's Imax Theater is great. The sound MAKES this movie. And even though you know when the dinosaur is going to try to get the humans, the sounds make it amazing. An amazing movie theater. And the dinosaurs were cool too!
Then off to dinner at Vinebrook Tavern in Lexington, MA. We started off with homemade cornbread (amazing and dense and buttery) and a tomato salad with burrata cheese (yum). I then had seared scallops with mushroom risotto and Adam had a tofu taco with a side of amazing corn. It is a farm to table restaurant that we can bring the kids to when they return.
On Sunday we were going to go to the SOWA market, however the tropical downpours changed our plans. Instead we went to The Biscuit, which used to be Panini's. This is where we used to go to eat back when we were dating. . . . and home of the original lemon scone, which I had for breakfast.
Sunday was a great day to watch a movie . . . . . I watched, You're Not You, We Bought a Zoo and A Few Good Men. Flipping the TV brought me to A Few Good Men, and I just can't flip the movie off until I hear Jack say "You can't handle the truth."
And we are also speeding through season three of House of Cards.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Camp Drop Off
Camp drop off went very well. Naomi kicked me out of her bunk after she was unpacked and was ready to explore camp. Mark was ready for Adam to leave, so we left.
First stop - Outlet Mall! Every year I go to the Merrimack Outlet Mall after CYJ drop off. I have found the Kasper Outlet to have amazing prices, wonderful staff and the clothes fit me! This year I was shocked to find out that all the Kasper Outlet stores will be closing. Kasper will be focusing on department stores. I managed to find a few dresses and shirts.
After we returned home, we realized that we could go any where for dinner. We decided to hit OTTO's pizza in Brookline. We love the unusual pizzas there, but our kids our firm cheese pizza eaters. On Wednesday night we ordered a white bean, spinach and garlic pizza. It was delicious. There were large cloves of roasted garlic all over the pizza and the white beans were wonderful. And we had enough to take home for lunch for the next day.
Thursday morning was strange. I woke up and realized that I didn't need to pack four lunches and one snack! Time saving right there. There was no need to hurry anyone along! Adam and I had our cereal, read the paper and listened to NPR, which was a treat. We usually have music playing, because our son, can get sucked into the news stories, which can cause him to be late every day.
Thursday night was a women's dinner for me at 52 Seasons, and movie night for Adam! We each had a great time.
Who knows what tonight will bring!
First stop - Outlet Mall! Every year I go to the Merrimack Outlet Mall after CYJ drop off. I have found the Kasper Outlet to have amazing prices, wonderful staff and the clothes fit me! This year I was shocked to find out that all the Kasper Outlet stores will be closing. Kasper will be focusing on department stores. I managed to find a few dresses and shirts.
After we returned home, we realized that we could go any where for dinner. We decided to hit OTTO's pizza in Brookline. We love the unusual pizzas there, but our kids our firm cheese pizza eaters. On Wednesday night we ordered a white bean, spinach and garlic pizza. It was delicious. There were large cloves of roasted garlic all over the pizza and the white beans were wonderful. And we had enough to take home for lunch for the next day.
Thursday morning was strange. I woke up and realized that I didn't need to pack four lunches and one snack! Time saving right there. There was no need to hurry anyone along! Adam and I had our cereal, read the paper and listened to NPR, which was a treat. We usually have music playing, because our son, can get sucked into the news stories, which can cause him to be late every day.
Thursday night was a women's dinner for me at 52 Seasons, and movie night for Adam! We each had a great time.
Who knows what tonight will bring!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
No Rest for the Weary
Yes, we are still on the high of the Bar Mitzvah. Yes, I am still waiting for the photographs. Yes, the thank you notes have been written. Yes, I am still reliving that great day in my head over and over again, and yes, I love when people ask me to talk about that special day. So many great things. However, as much as I could think about this forever. . . . . . life is speeding by and it hasn't stopped.
Both kids are going to sleep away camp on June 24, which means they have to be packed by then. I have been packing Mark for three summers, so I thought this would be a breeze, until I realized that Naomi has NOTHING for camp. So, during the last weeks of prep for the Bar Mitzvah, I started ordering things online (huge duffles from LL BEAN, stadium seat from LL Bean, ponchos from Amazon, pajamas from Target, ec). Shortly after that boxes were arriving, as we our centerpieces, table signs, hospitality bags. My dining room was a mess!!!!
Fast forward to June 13 . . . . Naomi and I drive to Target for a few last minute items. I had forgotten I had only purchased two sets of sheets and she needed three sets. I had forgotten a rug (which boys don't need or want). I had forgotten to purchase sunscreen (how that happened, I have no idea). So, we come home with a few massive Target bags.
On June 14, I instruct both kids to get 16 T shirts from their rooms. Mark is to leave his in the dining room and Naomi is to start a pile in the living room. Then they had to get 6 pairs of PJs, 12 sets of shorts each, etc. The piles were growing, until I asked for 16 pairs of socks. . . . . Mark only had 7 pairs of socks. Added that to the Target list. The pile was growing, and I started to label each item of clothing with a LABEL DADDY label. Added that to a new shopping list for Target.
And now this weekends Target list includes:
Mark socks
Flashlight for Mark (purchased one for Naomi, however Mark's turns out to be dead . . . . new batteries are not making it work).
Soap for Mark
Bug spray (how did I forget that one?)
disposable camera
I am sure that the list will be growing. Each of them is about 80% packed, and things are in the dining room in a HER pile and a HIS pile. I am sure I will get everything done, including a hair cut for Mark on Saturday and one for Naomi on Tuesday. I am sure there will be tears from me on June 24, and I am sure that my back will hurt on June25.
I hope the kids love the time at summer camp. They have earned it from working hard at school, from snow shoveling and from working hard for the Bar Mitzvah day.
Both kids are going to sleep away camp on June 24, which means they have to be packed by then. I have been packing Mark for three summers, so I thought this would be a breeze, until I realized that Naomi has NOTHING for camp. So, during the last weeks of prep for the Bar Mitzvah, I started ordering things online (huge duffles from LL BEAN, stadium seat from LL Bean, ponchos from Amazon, pajamas from Target, ec). Shortly after that boxes were arriving, as we our centerpieces, table signs, hospitality bags. My dining room was a mess!!!!
Fast forward to June 13 . . . . Naomi and I drive to Target for a few last minute items. I had forgotten I had only purchased two sets of sheets and she needed three sets. I had forgotten a rug (which boys don't need or want). I had forgotten to purchase sunscreen (how that happened, I have no idea). So, we come home with a few massive Target bags.
On June 14, I instruct both kids to get 16 T shirts from their rooms. Mark is to leave his in the dining room and Naomi is to start a pile in the living room. Then they had to get 6 pairs of PJs, 12 sets of shorts each, etc. The piles were growing, until I asked for 16 pairs of socks. . . . . Mark only had 7 pairs of socks. Added that to the Target list. The pile was growing, and I started to label each item of clothing with a LABEL DADDY label. Added that to a new shopping list for Target.
And now this weekends Target list includes:
Mark socks
Flashlight for Mark (purchased one for Naomi, however Mark's turns out to be dead . . . . new batteries are not making it work).
Soap for Mark
Bug spray (how did I forget that one?)
disposable camera
I am sure that the list will be growing. Each of them is about 80% packed, and things are in the dining room in a HER pile and a HIS pile. I am sure I will get everything done, including a hair cut for Mark on Saturday and one for Naomi on Tuesday. I am sure there will be tears from me on June 24, and I am sure that my back will hurt on June25.
I hope the kids love the time at summer camp. They have earned it from working hard at school, from snow shoveling and from working hard for the Bar Mitzvah day.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
New Side Dish
If you are a frequent reader of my Facebook posts, you will notice that one of my favorite side dishes to make is honey glazed carrots. Super easy and the kids like them. I have a few other carrot recipes that I use, but last night I tried a recipe from Boston Organics, and I really liked it as did the kids.
One pound carrots, quartered lengthwise, and then cut into two inch logs
1.5 T olive oil
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place the carrots in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme.
Spread in an even layer onto the baking sheet. Cover with foil, and place in oven for 25 minutes. Uncover, and turn down to 375 and cook for ten more minutes.
Serve!
Easy!
One pound carrots, quartered lengthwise, and then cut into two inch logs
1.5 T olive oil
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place the carrots in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme.
Spread in an even layer onto the baking sheet. Cover with foil, and place in oven for 25 minutes. Uncover, and turn down to 375 and cook for ten more minutes.
Serve!
Easy!
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