The Original Influential
Every year we keep a bunch of gift cards on hand for teacher gifting. We also like to recycled used and new (zero value) gift cards for other projects. This year we made a wreath out of Starbucks gift cards, that came out so lovely, it had me thinking. One of our favorite things to…
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…
The Ugly Hanukkah Sweater Round up is here! Finally there’s some festive holiday clothing for us members of the tribe. Shopping for an Ugly Hanukkah Sweater is a real thing now No more resorting to lame DIY attempts with a dreidel and glue gun. You can do better than that. In fact, these knit monstrosities…
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…
I am obsessed with finding peppermint chapstick, mint lip balms and the best mint lip glosses. My obsession probably started on a brutally cold east coast winter when some kind soul handed me a tiny tub of Carmex. Sweet cooling relief! How could I go back to a non minty/mentholated lip treatment? I’ve since ditched…
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…
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…
Dieting is hard work. Keto travel can be tricky. It’s not like you’re likely to encounter a keto buffet at an all inclusive resort, right? Could I navigate my way past the cream puffs and still have a great vacation? I visited Beaches Turks and Caicos for Social Media on the Sand and part of…
Does your Dishwasher get your dishes clean AND dry? Is that too much to ask for? Here’s the answer if you have been looking for a dishwasher that dries. Thanks to Best Buy for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. I’ve spent years looking for a dishwasher that dries everything. Not just the…
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and leaves his (or her) family feeling floppy. Hotel Irvine has the remedy, having created a hybrid hotel that serves the needs of both families and business travelers beautifully. It’s genius. A hotel like this makes perfect sense here in Orange County – we’ve got…
No holiday travel plans for us this year. We’ll be spending the holiday at home in Southern California. I guess I will just have to plan a holiday staycation – complete with the typical Instagram travel style photos I usually take when my holiday travels take me farther afield. I wish I was jetting off…
Last February we went whale watching in Baja and we still can’t believe what happened on this family bucket list trip. Sometimes, when traveling, you wake up in the middle of the night and aren’t sure where you are. When you wake up to the splashes and explosive exhalation of massive gray whales cavorting in…
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…
Thanks to Beaches Turks & Caicos and Social Media on the Sand for introducing me to this resort. There is travel and then there are vacations. I won’t lie and say they are one and the same. They both have their merits. It’s hard to do both at once. Sometimes you can cram both into…
Our family loves to go whale watching in Southern California. No matter what time of year, there is an abundant variety of marine life to be seen in Southern California, including many types of whales. This post shares everything you need to know to head out and hopefully spy whales in So Cal! Consider yourself…
I first heard about the Jerusalem escape room experiences at Jerusalem Puzzle Quest from my friend Joanna over at Fun in Jerusalem. Joanna is the authority on everything amazing there there is to do in Jerusalem (and beyond) with kids. So I trusted her, completely. But I had no idea what a hit this escape…
Have you ever wondered how to make a round braided challah (or any kind of round braided bread)? It’s easier than you might think. And it all starts with a hashtag! Watch the video below for the simple steps to make a round braided challah, and scroll down to the end of this post…
Gamification makes everything more fun, including this interactive Jerusalem scavenger hunt tour. If you have any plans to visit Israel and tour Jerusalem, you need to order up this Experiential Guidebook to Jerusalem by Author and Adventuress, Tali Kaplinski Tarlow. It’s an off the bookshelf adventure that’s better than any of the typical off the…
Jewish holidays can be tough when you are gluten free. Like most cultures, we’re heavy on the carbs when it comes to comfort foods. Think about it – bagels, matzoh balls, kugels, challah and in my family, honey cake. Every year my family celebrates the Jewish new year, or “Rosh Ha shana” which translates to…
Back to school is upon us and the Jetson Quest Electric Scooter is here to take you for ride! Commuting to class just got a lot more fun, safe and easy for your student. This post has been sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions are my own. Let the Jetson Quest take you back to…