"Life is trying things to see if they work" - Ray Bradbury

A few of you have asked me how I made this refreshing summer drink.
I will give you the individual ingredients.
But don't count on me to give exact measurements!
I usually do my own thing and hope for the best.
Most of the time it works.
This time it worked great!
2-3 frozen concentrate pink lemonade
orange juice
lots of seltzer (added right before serving)
Ice cubes
mint leaves
one thinly sliced lemon
rasberries
juice of canned lycees (best ingredient ever)
and best of all LOTS OF VODKA!


You don't need a party to make this.
Perfect for a Shabbos meal too.

Favorite blog Monday

The summer has started.
How would I know that?
I live in Miami and the weather doesn't change much.
Instead it rains.
And rains.
That's how I know it's summer.
I remember well when my children were young.
Summer meant lots of time to entertain the little ones.
Now that I've passed that phase I still can't help but miss it.
Not in reality, in theory!
Which brings me to my favorite blog this week.
I used to buy many arts and crafts book looking for ideas to do with my kids.
Now all you need to do is check out THIS BLOG.
Creativity oozes out of this lady big time.
Such fantastic, creative and most important, easy ideas you can do with your kids.
Her instructions are clear.
Her photos are clear.
Her ideas are fun.
Check it out.
Take a minute.
Let me know.
(I always say that and I'm still waiting for a few responses!)

Don't forget to takes pictures of your children's crafts.
When Chayale was younger she sat in her room for hours writing and illustrating this cartoon.
I was blown away when I saw what she could do all on her own.

Our children have so much potential.
It doesn't only have to be in arts and crafts.
Whatever it is, take a picture.
Do they hug the best?
Take a picture.
Do they yell the loudest?
Take a picture!
You get the picture!!!
Meanwhile go check out my favorite blog.
You can thank me later.

“Family is not an important thing, it's everything.”

This week I've been busy with wedding festivities.
No time to scrap.
But lots of time to celebrate.
So today instead of posting layouts I'll just give you some photos 'raw'!
It's been a great week and I can't wait to commit all the beautiful moments to memory books.
Meanwhile here are some highlights...

These two kids have brought my worlds together.
Love them for that!

After the wedding we celebrate!

Sheva Brachos at my house...

The new Mr. and Mrs...

Lots of happy people.

And what's a celebration without music and singing,,,

Sometimes you just have to live.
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
― Mary Oliver

Once upon a time there were two friends who became sisters.

“When we honestly ask ourselves
which person in our lives mean the most to us,
we often find that it is those who,
instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures,
have chosen rather to share our pain
and touch our wounds
with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us
in a moment of despair or confusion,
who can stay with us
in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing,
not curing,
not healing
and face with us
the reality of our powerlessness,
that is a friend who cares.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey

How many of us are fortunate enough to have a friend of this description?
I think if we do we are merely the recipient of G-d's blessing.
Our friendships are the most valuable relationships we have.
We can talk to our friends in confidence about things we wouldn't discuss with our families.
They keep us going when we sometimes feel we have no strength to carry on.
The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, 
among other things, 
that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman 
whereas for a woman, 
one of the best things she could do for her health 
was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
Women connect with each other differently.  
They provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences.
Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships.
I write this blog to share my thoughts on life through scrapbooking.
What I am sharing now is very close to my heart.
I have a friend who is brilliant, beautiful and wise.
How did I get so lucky? 
I have no idea.
Now I am about to get even luckier.
My best friend is about to become my family.
After next week 
my parents will be my best friends daughter's grandparents.
For us to be forever connected not only by choice
but by blood.
This is one of the the greater gifts in my life.
There have been numerous studies that prove that friendships have an effect on longevity.
I hope and pray that we will live well in to old age together.
L'chaim!
To health, family and friendship.

So many years...
So many memories...

This one is from 8 years ago!

It may be a very simple layout
but the message is clear...
If you're not a scrapbooker you can take a different lesson here.
Nurture your friendships.
Reach out to one of your friends today and tell her you love her.
Send her a text.
Bring her a flower.
Bake her a cake.
Just because.
Because you love her.
Because you love yourself.
And friends are good for your health!

Favorite blog Monday

My favorite blog today is one I've been going to every few day for a couple of years now.
Especially on Wednesday when this fantastic lady creates a page in her journal on video.
I love watching her creative process.
I always learn something new.
She starts off with an empty page and her ideas just flow.
Although I don't know anything about being a professional artist
I still can appreciate what this talented lady inspires me to do.
As she talks her way through the process you too will be inspired.
Take a minute and visit my 'friend' Donna .
You will be so glad you did.
Let me know if you love her blog as much as I do.
I'll be waiting!

And before I go I want to give a shout out to my girl.
I am continuously amazed by her strength.
I am not surprised by her growth.
I am so proud of her.
It's a beautiful thing to watch your child find her true colors.

Love you Shlam...

Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old.

I wonder about this alot...
Did my grandmother miss her grandchildren as much as I miss mine?
She lived in Canada and we lived in New York.
I have memories of our family going for visits to her home.
I remember the screen door banging shut as we ran to play in the back garden.
I remember the peonies that blossomed in the front garden.
She took great pride in her green thumb.
I especially remember her strict code of 'you eat what you're served'.
Cereal and orange juice.
Eat it!
(Not like nowadays when I say, 'what would you like for breakfast honey'!)
I close my eyes.
I can evoke the smells and sounds in my mind.
My Grandfather humming tunes to the words as he sat learning.
The smell of Gefilte fish cooking before Shabbos.
It's etched in my memory like a permanent marker.
And I wonder...
Did she miss us when we left?
Did she feel bad she missed our birthdays?
Did she wonder like I do, how to make up for not enough time spent together?
The only way for me to stay connected is by scrapbooking.
You guys know that already.
Yesterday was my first grandchild's birthday.
I've made dozens and dozens of layouts about her.

My two babies 6 years ago.
I was a new Bubby.
And a scrapbooking beginner...

She was so tiny.
And now she is SIX!
My mother always says 'Time walks, years fly'
Sounds better in Yiddish!
So when did she get from here............

to here............

I remember every minute we have together.
What will she remember...

“Grandmotherhood initiated me into a world of play, where all things became fresh, alive, and honest again through my grandchildren's eyes. Mostly, it retaught me love.”
― Sue Monk Kidd

Favorite blog Monday...

Summer has definitely begun here in Miami.

You're probably wondering how I can tell the difference.

Yes, it is always warm/hot here.

I actually love this tropical weather.

Although sometimes  I miss watching the leaves change colors.

Once in a while I wish we had seasons.

Just to be able to look forward to a sunny day.

And then I catch myself and realize that there is a deep appreciation that mostly every day is a sunny day.

I can still look forward to the morning sun streaming through my window most every single day.

I can anticipate the cooler 'winter months' with renewed energy.

I am even looking forward to the summer months where the heat makes you lazy.

When the water is warm enough to swim at any time of the day and night.

Now let's get back to the subject at hand.

Monday favorite blog choice!

Today I am choosing a favorite blog that I love for several reasons.

Stacy Cohen does the kind of scrapbooking  I envy.

A creative perfectionist.

An oxymoron in my book.

I am always envious of beautiful perfection.

She makes layouts that are stunning to look at.

She is definitely one of my favorites.

Check it out!

Let me know what you think.

PLEASE!