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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Forever Grateful




I pretty much squealed when I opened up my package from Elle's Studio to discover the Forever Grateful project kit. It's chock-full of unique and creative supplies, designed by the awesome Jenni Hufford, and still available for purchase!

And the best part? Elle created tags specifically to fit in the printer's tray. How cool is that?

Here are some close-ups of my take on the project:


Since I'm still so in love with the photos Alexis Hardy took of us last fall, I decided to feature those on my tray, along with a few other favorite "couple photos." I'm thinking of displaying it in Bunny's room (when Bunny actually has a room that is, which won't be for a little while!)

I had so, so much fun making this. I also love that it reminds me how happy I am in my little family. And speaking of that little family, Bunny is doing well as per our last appointment! There is still one thing we need to monitor, but thankfully it's nothing to worry much about. All of the stress this week though, plus finding out the gender, really made my love for Bunny grow in leaps and bounds. I'll probably be one of those moms who cries hysterically during preschool graduation at the rate I'm going:)

And in case you thought the Jewish holiday bonanza was over, think again! This Wednesday begins Sukkot! I have always contended that if any Jewish holiday needs a PR team, it's this one, so here's my very-very-fast attempt to explain this holiday.

On Sukkot we celebrate our time with G-d when He took us out of Egypt and we lived in the desert. To bring back that "trusting G-d in the desert" theme, we eat our meals in huts like this:

Although unfortunately, weather.com is predicting lots of rain, so we'll probably eat most of our meals in a regular dining room. But here's hoping!

We also use a lulav and esrog, shake them around, and say a blessing. A lulav looks like a collection of leaves and an esrog is a sort of lemony-fruit. They look like this (see below) and each item represents a different approach to living and relating to G-d.


I want to explain more about the deeper meaning of Sukkos, but I'm running out of time at the moment. Luckily though, the holiday continues to next week so I can share more then! In the meantime, if you're curious, Aish has some great basic information about Sukkos right here.

Coming up is another three-day holiday, so that means three full days with no internet, TV, radio, etc. It's actually quite lovely but definitely involves being very organized beforehand! Between holiday prep and obsessing about baby names (anyone else do that?), life has been keeping me busy.

And while we're on the holiday topic, what's one fun/weird family or religious ritual YOU celebrate?

24 comments:

  1. Hi Keshet! I love your take on the Ella Studio project. I am still trying to find the right photos for mine. We are planning to choose some photos of my daughter and my Dad from his recent holiday with us. I am planning to give the tray to him at Christmas.
    I really appreciate you taking the time to eplain the Jewish holidays especially some of the lesser known ones. Growing up in New Zealand and Singapore I only really heard about the major holidays. it has been really interesting hearing more about your faith.
    My husband is Japanese so we try and celebrate some of the Japanese holidays. I really like Boys Day and Girls Day which really make children the focus. As a non religious family we do not really celebrate many holidays. Living in Singapore though we certainly get to enjoy celebrations from so many cultures and faiths. We are very lucky.

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  2. Keshet, I'm not even thinking about getting pregnant yet, and I still obsess over what we're going to name our kids someday!

    As far as weird holiday traditions, I'm not sure we really have any. My family is Norwegian, and I'm just the fourth generation born here (with my great-grandmother, age 96, being the first generation born here). So, for the big holidays, we still serve lutefisk, which is cod, soaked in lye, and then baked or boiled. It's not very good, but it's traditional. :)

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  3. Love your printer's tray! It turned out great!
    Glad to hear that you and Bunny are doing ok :)
    Hag sameah!

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  4. It has been a while since I checked your blog. Congrats on having to obsess over baby names! Love your printer's tray. They sure are a lot of fun aren't they? I have one that I am dying to share but it is for my MIL who reads my blog. :-O LOL Enjoy your holiday!

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  5. What a great project! Love the pics you used.

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  6. Love your tray!
    And those photos of the two of you are fabulous!!!

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  7. I used to work with two boys from an orthodox family and I loved seeing them put up their little hut in the back yard every year. The one boy, a child with autism, loved it so much he wanted to hang out in there all the time. Love your posts about Jewish holidays and traditions. My husband was raised Jewish and I catholic. Though neither of us are organized religion types, I love seeing how traditions we grew up with are still part of our lives.

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  8. Love your printers tray. I've never seen one with photos in before and I love it. Becky x

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  9. Love your take on the project. I hope the weather holds out long enough for you to celebrate outdoors!

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  10. It's a great looking tray and glad to hear that bunny is doing well :)

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  11. Great tray project!! I have one collecting dust - what a great inspiration to work from! Thanks for the reminder :)

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  12. WOW Keshet! That tray turned out beautiful:) I LOVE that picture of you and your Husband on the bench...FANTASTIC! So happy to "see" you so happy. Can't wait to "meet" Bunny!

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  13. The printers tray is beautiful. Great pictures of you and the DH. So glad to hear that Bunny is going so well!!!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I love hearing your thoughts:)