Momfluential Media » Holidays at home

Happy Passover!

momfluential — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:17:11 +0000

Passover has always been one of my favorite holidays. Forget about complaining about the food! Since I cannot eat wheat, I’m not one to look a gluten free gift horse in the mouth.

Our family seders are legendary. Each year is a little different, the time we sat on pillows on the floor and draped the whole house like a caravan tent, the time we used a motion detector frog rigged to chirp and protect the Afikomen matzoh from being stolen by the kids (stealing the matzoh is an essential part/game of the evening), the year we used a black light and glitter dust to detect the thieves…

This year I put my energy into the food and the centerpieces and the kids once again stole the matzoh, despite best efforts to prevent this travesty. My brother brought fresh (blue!) eggs laid by his own chickens and a smoked homegrown turkey that was delicious, despite the fact that I am pretty sure we saw the gobbler gobbling away on his little farm a few weeks ago. My mom made the matzoh balls and her famous “I can’t believe this is passover cake” cakes and we all ate too much as we retold the story of the holiday. We were thrilled to share the holiday with old and new friends and family.

Happy Passover from my family to yours!

Your 24 hour Woman

momfluential — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:55:08 +0000

Apparently I was so busy being a mom and working my a$$ off 24/7 that I missed International Women’s Day this year. Kind of like my 15th anniversary, when we high fived a week after the fact, just grateful no-one barfed on us that week. While it’s a worthy reminder of hard won rights worldwide, at times it’s hard to muster the enthusiasm here in the recession ridden US. Many women in the USA today work harder than ever, despite their equal rights and elevated status in society. Part of that is the burden society places on us. Ever greater is the burden we place on our own heads. So many of us have such an unrealistic pallet-load of expectations on our noggins that it is a miracle we can remain upright.

I just read a funny post over at The Well Versed Mom and the post reminded me of this commercial, an anthem of my childhood. Perhaps all of us Supermom wannabes should file a class action suit against the makers of Enjoli. This commercial (you know all the words too, don’t you?) makes it look so easy, doesn’t it? That lady in the white dress? She’s a scam artist. She doesn’t smell like perfume, or even like cash. She smells like bacon. I’m betting she doesn’t ever wear that dress again either, after the kids hug her goodnight and get bacon grease all over her bum. By the time her man is ready for some lovin’? She’s out cold.

Ah memories! Happy International Women’s Day, friends. Next year, for the 100th Anniversary we’re having a party. Let’s all wear white and eat bacon. The men can make dinner. In the meantime, high fives!

Who Bakes your Birthday Cake?

momfluential — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:40:34 +0000

When it’s time to blow out the candles, what kind of cake do want to see? Homemade? Store bought? What about for your kids? Do you bake the cake? Use a family recipe?

I’ve always considered store bought cakes depressing. Not that I haven’t bought my share. It just makes me feel like a complete failure when I do. On the couple of occasions when I’ve had to buy cakes for my family members (birthdays on the road, one time when I was on bedrest) I’ve even gone so far as to buy a cake AND extra frosting and sprinkles, so I can dress it up and feel like I played a part in its creation.

In my mind the perfect chocolate cake is my grandmother’s chocolate cake recipe. It’s frosted with her chocolate coffee frosting and dotted with maraschino cherries and walnuts. This cake was famous for netting my mother boyfriends, or so the story goes. I think my mom’s resemblance to Marilyn Monroe may have also played a part.

Anyway you slice it, and no matter what you wished for, this birthday cake video from Good Bite made me smile. Need to smile some more? Check out Cake Wrecks and see why supermarket cakes make me laugh till I cry.

The Many Movies of the Holidays

momfluential — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:34:26 +0000

Do your holiday plans include a trip to a “Theater Near You”? Here’s our picks for holiday flicks to watch in theaters and on your very own couch. Tis the season to be jolly. Also tis the season to eat popcorn. Enjoy!

The 12 Days of Christmas Break by Jen Singer

momfluential — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:27:51 +0000

Jen Singer of Momma Said gives us all a humourous look at the days of Christmas Break that can seem rather endless to some of us. Watch this video and tell me you don’t relate! And send fresh batteries.

Simple Menorah Craft from She’s Crafty

momfluential — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:01:44 +0000

We’re in love with this simple menorah craft from Kara Noel Lawson of She’s Crafty. It’s easy enough for almost anyone to make and would look just lovely in a window or on a mantel during Hanukkah. Thanks so much to Kara for coming up with a menorah craft that our family can accomplish!