Passover blur

Passover is quickly approaching and i don't even have time to think. My eyes are blurred with shopping and to do lists. Last night when i went to bed i woke up in the same position i fell asleep in. I don't think i moved one centimeter, and to prove it half of my bed was still made! All i remember is my head hitting the pillow, and waking up in the morning. As much as i love Yom Tov and spending time with family and friends, i am also ready for this one to be over. I know I'm not the only one, i just got added to a Passover support group on Facebook, lol. Sorry my friend Passover, but you take too much out of me.
My biggest little one is home and that does make it better.

All around me, and right in front of my very eyes, spring literally shot up. I lovin it!

 And even on the busiest of days we have to find time to run, jump , and climb. Don't you think?

I love having all three of my loves right where i want them.

Happy cleaning we have one more week!

When i start to think that i cant take one more step, or clean one more shelve all i have to do is remember where i was last year, and that makes this year feel like cake.
Have a wonderful Shabbos everyone!

Giveaway winner, and a wait

I know i owe you guys a blog post, but I'm having a hard time digging myself out of Pesach cleaning. How is it when you start to clean things out you just end up with a bigger mess? I'm planning a post for tomorrow, and like these two you'll have to sit by the window and wait.

I do want to announce the two winners of the headbands from Leilani Finds    ... "Simply a Mother" and  "Keshet" please contact me guys so you can pick out your headbands myshtub@gmail.com

Friday Quick Tip

I'm trying out a new idea.... "Friday quick tips" some tips will be for everyone and some will not, but i hope you can all use at lease one of these tips.
Washing tzitzis has forever challenged me. So challenging that sometimes they get so gross that i wonder if they can walk themselves to Shul. Putting them in the washer usually equals a ball of strings. I've tried delicate bags and putting them in a sock. Ive even tried putting them all together in one loose knot. I've used Woolite and Oxiclean , but nothing works.
 I recently starting soaking them in Tide, and it actually works! I take a bucket of warm water and a cupful Tide and let them soak overnight. I rinse and hang dry stretching the strings straight and in the end i have beautiful not free tzitzis for my guys to wear. Good Shabbos everyone!
Please dont forget the giveaway!!!
If you are wondering what the heck tzitzis are here is a link!

On the spring mend...

I had my treatment yesterday and i did not go as well as i had hoped and i had a few blips on the way, but B"H im on the mend. I had another allergic reaction to the medication, and here is my theory why ( mind you i have no medical backing). The first time i had this medication i had a horrible reaction, i never had another reaction since so they started weaning me off the premeds. I was down to a bit of steroids and some over the counter allergy pills to help prevent an reaction, and that had been working great up till yesterday. Now here is my theory, i have been working really hard to detox my body from all this garbage and drinking a ton of green smoothies and in general sticking with only clean eating. I think my body was pretty "clean" and freaked to have this poison put back in. I spent my day with a heart rate way to high and some breathing issues, and was on oxygen it was very embarrassing. I know i should not get embarrassed over these things but that is my issue and im aloud to have it. I get embarrassed for people to see me sick. Ok i said it now lets move on. Today im feeling better and thank Gd i do bounce back well from these little set backs. I'm a bit tired and a lot achey but it will pass.

Even though im not feeling my best i didn't want today to pass without a blog post because it is "World Down syndrome Day" 3-21 get it like Trisomy 21. Through my aches and pains today i wanted to thank Hashem for picking our family to receive the best gift. My special little wild one and her extra chromosome. We love you Roze Bud! Happy Day!

BTW my new camera is in the mail so i wont make you guys suffer too long with my iPhone pics

Warm Weather Giveaway!

It is warm out, it is warm out, it is warm out!!!!! Do i need to say more. I have been in warm weather heaven. Enjoying all that spring has to offer.

 Outside play dates.

 The boots are packed up, and the ballerina flat has been introduced once again.

 I have finally recovered from Purim, but of course rest is only figurative and now Pesach is right around the corner. I am attempting to do a little bit everyday to prevent burn out, wish me luck.
I dropped my camera. Yes you read that right my camera fell from a box when i accidentally bumped it cleaning a shelf. I watched it  tumble to the ground and i heard the screen crack. My husband took it apart (he is one of those fix anything kind of guys) and he told me bits of plastic broke and jammed into the motor . My camera is no longer . I shed actual tears, and it felt silly, but this camera has gotten me through thick and thin these last few years and i wasn't ready to say goodbye. But life goes on and im in the process of ordering a new camera body and im actually upgrading and that eases the pain a bit.
Tomorrow is one of my 60 day maintenance treatment days and im not looking forward to the 8 hours in the hospital hooked up to tubes. Afterward im usually exhausted and my body is achy and flu like, but it only lasts a few days and im right back to my self. My last infusion i was kind of dragging my heels and the nurse looked at me and said "hey its not chemo" and she was right its not, that was what i needed and she put a big smile on my face.
I have been concerned about this treatment and even though it is not chemo it still is a highly toxic cancer medication that has a number of side effects that i will not go into here, so ive decided to detox. I have taken on drinking at least two green smoothies a day. Kind of looks like a salad at first right?

 The benefits of green smoothies are numerous and im hoping to counter all the bad stuff in my veins. They are actually pretty good here are my ingredients...
Large bunch of spinach, wheat grass,  or kale
Cucumber
Celery
Green apple
cup of soy milk
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Peaches
and a drop of honey to help with the flavor
Trust me im the pickiest of the pickies and this taste good
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How about a giveaway just in time for Pesach and Yom Tov shopping...
Leilani Finds is giving away to headband to two different winners here on MyShtub. These are gorgeous bands and would look great with so much, you must check out her site.
Here is all you have to do to enter this giveaway
1. Go to her page here and come back and comment on this post what your favorite item is.
2.  For an extra entry you can favorite her on Etsy
3. Last but not least make sure to like MyShtub on Facebook, if you haven't already.
* Leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I will pick a winner this time next week. Good luck!

Purim was here and we were so happy!!!!

Im currently recuperating.

 I love Purim but i went overboard and worked too hard. By the afternoon my body went into shutdown mode and pretty much told me "Sheva i'm done", but i kept pushing because Purim only comes once a year. Then Shabbos came and my body said "please rest i'm soooo done", but i pushed again.
My close friend son's bris was on Shabbos and the 2 mile walk was worth getting to hold that tiny bundle, but when we came home i slept from 4pm through the night. I woke up the next day with a new sinus infection. See my body was trying to tell me ,and i didn't listen.
Its hard to accept my new limitations, especially when coming from the girl that never understood or accepted any before. Its a hard fact to accept that i cant do it all. Don't laugh doing it all use to be my middle name.
Next year im going to have to try and figure out how to do Purim so my creative side is satisfied and my physical side is not begging me to stop.

Even with all the exhaustion we just had sooo much fun.I did face painting at the carnival at Dovie's Cheder.

 Rozie was having so much fun painting the Purim Mural at the carnival. Little did i know she was actually having more fun painting her specially fitted European brand new shoes. Luckily it washed off.  

We spent time with the best of friends!

Went to the funniest magic show after the first Megillah reading. I was worried Dovie might be scared but obviously he was laughing too hard to be scared. It was worth the late night to see those smiles.

Of course we also made Shalach Manos. Dovie helped me make this one for his teachers. I got the idea on Pinterest. Oh how I love you, ever so addicting Pinterest.

We made these for Dovie's  friends. This is also from Pinterst the note says "I hope you cereal-ously have a Happy Purim" and i glued each kids name initials on a spoon from a make your own name bracelet kit. 

For our family i went with a theme.I have never done this before but i was in the mood. We dressed as our favorite storybook characters. Amelia Bedelia, Curious George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and Madeline.

 We gave a little book with treats inside, a book mark tied up with gummy "book worms", and an apple.
 
 
 
Even though Mel wasnt here to join in the Storybook fun he was home one Shabbos and we whipped up the coolest suit to wear at Yeshiva on Purim!

 I hope all of you had a happy and safe Purim!
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Get ready we will be having another amazing giveaway this week from a wonderful sponsor!
Check out her stuff Gorgeous!!!!
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/leilanifinds
You can also be a sponsor at MyShtub more info here.

A Purim tease.....

I promise more pics to come, but for now I hope everyone had a Healthy, Happy, and Safe Purim!
Now presenting .....
Amelia Bedelia, The Man with the Yellow Hat, Curious George, and Madeline

Good Shabbos everyone!

Purim Gragger DIY

I hoped to post this earlier, so you guys can make it in time for Purim, but as you read in my previous post I've been a bit busy in my overextension.
Here it is anyways... my do it yourself, from what you probably have in your pantry, show stealing, if i don't say so myself, Purim Gragger ( noisemaker)

 What you'll need.....
1. scissors , or an exacto knife
2. Paint
3. Glue ( i used hot glue to save time)
4. Small oatmeal can
5. Beans or lentils
6. Ribbon or string
7. Large beads
8. Wooden dowel, small

First you need to cut the oatmeal can down. Leave the bottom on and cut it about 3 inches up from the bottom. Save the plastic lid.
Second peel the label and let the kids paint the top, bottom, and sides

 Third poke three holes in the can , one on each side for the ribbon, and one on the bottom for the dowel.

 Bead the beads and tie a tight knot

 Fill the can with lentils or beans.

Put the plastic lid on and glue shut.

 Now this looks great as is, but i wanted to add something more, so i added the kid's pictures to the plastic lid by gluing them on. I made the tiny crowns with scrap paper. All Finished!

 I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and freilichen Purim. More Purim fun coming soon!
* a quick note i decided when the whole thing was done to glue the holes where the ribbon is and the dowel. I just dabbed on some hot glue. I did it as a security so that things don't go flying in Shul during our gragger shaking and spinning.
We also have a winner for a free Kippah from Captain Kippah and the winner is.........
Shaindy from My Happy Hectic Life blog please email myshtub@blogspot.com

Knee deep in fabric cookie dough

Purim is MY time of year. I am not a huge fan of cooking large meals, but the idea of making creative gift baskets and costumes from scratch. Now that i can wrap my head around. It feels like i start planning Purim right after Purim and think of it all year long. Last year i was hospitalized shortly after Purim and i feel like i got jipped, so this year i made up my mind to go overboard.

 
I am sorely regretting that decision now. I am knee deep in cookie dough and fabric. My dinning room table looks like my art studio in college, and my house is all on hold. "Sorry kids string cheese and cereal again tonight for dinner, mommy has to sew." Last night i knew i had hit rock bottom when i did some last minute measurements on Dovie while he was sleeping, and even came back and tried a shirt on him , again while he was sleeping.

I'm too knee deep in this so there is no turning back, but i should be all worth it, right? Don't worry i'll have tons of pics and ideas to share.
 
Don't forget about the Giveaway ending soon! These Kippas are too cute to pass up! Click here for the Giveaway!