The Original Influential
It’s December, which means it’s time for sharing some Hanukkah blessings! I can’t wait to show you this year’s handmade Hanukkah menorahs, Hanukkah crafts and our latest DIY Menorahs for kids. Hanukkah has always been one of my favorite holidays, and not just because there are presents and sufganiyot/doughnuts, though it’s a potent combo. For…
Do you or a loved one have a story to share about your battle with cancer? Are you currently battling or supporting friend’s or family who are being treated? Read through to the end to enter to win one of four $100 Amazon gift cards. Cancer, impacts 1 in 3 Americans. Someone in my circle…
This year for our neighborhood Boo treat fest, I decided to do some Zombie themed care packages. Naturally I wanted to make some Zombie Brain Pops, but I wasn’t finding great instructions out there. I was at a bit of a loss until I spied these Brain Freeze ice cube molds at Home Goods. Thanks…
Math was never my favorite subject as a kid. But candy was always a hit. I loved trick or treating in costume, but I think I loved sorting and analyzing my Halloween candy almost as much as I loved eating it. Halloween was part of the early childhood experience that led me to a career in…
I’m no master chef but I do have a few trusty tricks up my sleeve. One of them is my Homemade Challah Dough in a Mixer recipe. This is easily one of the most popular posts on my site. I have had people sending me photos and emails for years, excited to share their success….
I’ve always wanted to make a Disney Small World themed menorah. For 2020 we decided to bring Disney Holidays home with a giant 9×12 ft Small World Lawn Menorah. “Go Big and Stay Home,” I say! If we can’t go to Disney Holidays, we’ll bring Disney Holidays and Small World to our own neighborhood. …
“No, no, no… I’ll tell you the BEST place to get Jerusalem Sufganiyot….” It’s a week before my trip to Jerusalem and my inbox is filling up with bakery suggestions. Debates are breaking out on the Facebook group where I asked for opinions. Forget about Middle Eastern politics for a moment. ETA: This post originally…
I’ve always wanted an oil menorah to use in my home at Hanukkah. But I thought oil burning menorahs were difficult to make/use. Turns out they are super simple! Here’s how we made ours. Making an Oil Menorah is Easier than Most Candle Burning Menorahs! In the past when I researched turning a regular candle…
My family wanted a Disney Marvel Menorah for Hanukkah this year. So I came up with this project and after some amazing transformations, I made the Marvel Menorah a thing. Who’s a superhero now? 2019 was the year I finally embraced the MCU (Marvel Classic Universe). So naturally, I made a Disney Marvel menorah to…
Let me tell you about the things that are not a part of my life January through November. These include: Donuts Chocolate filling Anything fried This explains the (hopefully temporary) weight gain I experience each December when I set off on my quest to make the perfect gluten free Hanukkah Donut (aka Sufganiyot). I like…
Gorgeous, easy, fun Hanukkah cookies!
I’m grateful for my grandmother’s recipes that have stood the test of time. She is the inspiration for these charming pumpkin-pie spice scented Thanksgiving Pinwheel Cookies. There’s a lot of heart in these! Of all my cookie recipes, my grandmother’s Pinwheel Cookies are my favorite. I’ve used the same basic recipe and adapted it to…
Updated: This corn pudding/ corn kugel recipe was originally shared when Hanukkah and Thanksgiving overlapped. But it’s a staple for our annual Thanksgiving table. My kids would kill me if I didn’t make the Thanksgiving Kugel! We Jews know how to work a sweet potato, and casseroles are our happy place. Toss in Jewish holiday…
We love to share Thanksgiving and this week we are ready to take the show on the road, bringing a Gratitude Jar when we attend Thanksgiving dinner at a family member’s house. We have so much to be thankful for. For starters – I am thankful that we are being hosted this year. The perfect…
I’ll come clean and confess. I’m not a huge fan of Hanukkah’s starring food item, the Latke. The poor lowly latke. From such humble origins of shredded potato…. It’s a Hanukkah staple and the holiday would not be complete without this fried potato pancake. Recipes abound for them. Sweet potato latkes, regular potato latkes, baked-not-fried…
I decided to work with the Yes on Prop 22 campaign because I am a fan of the gig economy. Gigs make sense. They make it possible for people to earn extra money, and work on a schedule and in a way, that works for them. Gigs also make my life a lot easier. Any…
ProjeX came to the rescue for us during the quarantine, providing a fun activity for all ages – home arcade style. Disclosure: I recieved a ProjeX game for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own. Question: What do you do to have some fun at home during quarantine, when you are stuck…
Need a quick, simple mask pattern for donation masks or for making a bunch of easy to wear and wash masks? Like the idea of a mask that doubles as a headband so you are unlikely to forget it or lose it? Ta da! I’ve finally done it – I cracked the code for an…
With all the DIY masks on the market right now, I can’t help but wonder how well DIY masks really work, especially compared with the traditional disposable medical masks we are all more familiar with – you know the ones that cannot be found now for love or money. To be sure, something is better…
Who knew that Animal Crossing New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch would be the ticket to us surviving the Quarantine without losing our minds? Nintendo provided us with a download code for Animal Crossing New Horizons for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own. When this soothing game came out, I thought…
Today is National Brothers and Sisters Day… I’m celebrating with my husband’s family and my kids. Not that we’re doing anything super fancy or special. But that is the thing about kicking back with your siblings. You don’t have to get dressed up. This post has been sponsored by Top Agency. All opinions and goofy…