SuzeBlogz

It's an Illusion

The Lenster and I always make a trip into NYC somewhere between Christmas and New Years. See...he even has a deli named after him! and next to a Sushi place no less......LOL!

The city is always full of lights and holiday decor

 

we took Jen and Jared with us to see "The Illusionists" on Broadway. A show featuring seven star magicians, including ones you may recognize from TV talent shows and YouTube.

and, after the show Jared got to meet Dan Sperry (The Anti-Conjuror) who puts “ick” in a trick using a Life Saver mint and a strand of dental floss he seemingly threads into his neck. Jared, of course, LOVED it all !

then, what's a trip to NYC without a stop by the always crowded Rockefeller Center Tree and skating rink

 

and the street people in their costumes

 

New York pigeons...or, as we call them, rats with wings are

everywhere !!

and Jared gets to pose with a faux Statue of Liberty

 

next day, up to our son Marc and Pattis house for a visit with the rest of the east coast grandkids (still have another son and family in TX that we all chatted with over FaceTime)

Here's Michael (19) and Jared (12) with Jett and Mochi

and Jen, Jared Mochi and our new kitties Chloe and Zoe.

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Now..before closing...tomorrow is New Years eve...

I wish you all a FABULOUS 2015

and it would be so wonderful if you began your new year with a gift to yourself...just click on the link below.....

CREATIVE JUMPSTART

it will be the most fabulous treat you can give yourself.

trust me !!!

and....stop by my ETSY shop too while you're online !!!

CATCH YOU IN THE NEW YEAR !!!!

 

Chanukah, come & gone

and here we are...Chanukah/Hanukkah time again....and tonight its over. Tonight is the 8th & last night. Boy that went fast !

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Why is the holiday spelled so many different ways? Is it Hanukkah, Chanukah, or Hanuka, or something else? - Because Hanukkah is actually a Hebrew word, it’s transliterated in different ways into English. So, spell it however you want! 

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first we celebrated the 4th night which was also Shabbat (the Sabbath) at our synagogue, Congregation Kol Am, Freehold, NJ with our Rabbi, Brooks Susman

members of the congregation bring their personal menorahs to services and we all gather round and sing the blessings...we just couldn't get everyone into the snapshot !

 

Chanukah/Hanukkah always falls on the same date on the Hebrew Calendar – it’s the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. But, because the Jewish calendar is both solar and lunar (whereas our standard calendar is just solar), the dates on both calendars don’t correspond directly. So, the Jewish holidays move around a bit on the secular calendar. I know....It’s confusing. For us too!

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then, last night, the 7th night, we had a big Chanukah party at my house.... an annual event...just for us gals..

everyone brings something delicious to eat, and we bring anonymous gifts to exchange

and we LOL and eat a lot..

 

Absolutely no one knew whose gift was whose and mine happened to be the first one selected !  My friend Judi (below..center in black, on chair) got it......and felt so lucky that even with all the stealing no one managed to get the necklace I'd made away from her. Judi  went home with one of my favorites.

 

 

 

as I mentioned, we get to 'steal' each others gifts...so I got this fabulous set of glasses, which I stole from another friend...and which I LOVE !!...especially the Schmooze one.

 

and one of my very best friends, Connie, sits with a big bowl of fortune cookies on her lap and 'senses' which one goes to which person....like a 'fortune teller" and it's hysterical..

even the 'Mensch on the Bench' had a great time !

The little kitties, Chloe (rear) and Zoe (front), stayed in the big bathroom cause all the noise and people would have been overwhelming

so...on that note....we end Chanukah/Hanukkah, the miracle of the cruise of oil that lasted 8 days

Now let me wish all my wonderful friends a very Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate.

Just promise me...

NO INFLATABLES !!!!!!!

its another artful day in Cali

well, after the rain there is always the rainbow to look forward to...

and so we head into another beautiful sunny day....

in Capitola...

 

where my sister in law, niece and I took in some of the local shopping

and zipped over to another of my favorite haunts "Many Hands Gallery" 

  

and then The Lenster and I headed over to another of our all time favorite places Saffron and Genevieve in Santa Cruz

always a visual treat

But today the rain made a return visit so we used that opportunity to visit one of our best Cali friends Judy and Joe Stabile.

Judy is one half of the sister team (Wendy Aikin being the other half) that owns WaxWorksWest in Corralitos. Wendy was away up in Oregon.

Joe and Lenny just love each other and more uncanny is their resemblance to one another...they tell people they're brothers from another mother.

 

their house is also filled with wonderful eclectic art

 

 

then down to Moss Landing for lunch

 

tomorrow Chanukah begins and we'll get home just in time..so, next time...more from New Jersey.

Stay Tuned !

meanwhile here's a glimpse of my brother & sister in laws dining room table decoration for Chanukah They've collected the dreidels for years, since their now grown kids were babies!! Can you imagine !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the sun'll come out....today !!

after an all day journey from NJ to CA....the horrible rainfall in northern CA finally cleared up so we could attend the JINGLE BELL WALK in Pacific Grove in support of the Arthritis Foundation.

and we came to support my brother...Dr. Lester Miller, a rheumatologist in Santa Cruz who personally helped to raise close to $17,000 for the foundation, which has so far collected almost  $100,000 for the cause.

it was a fantastic event...so well attended and such gorgeous weather. It was a blessing !! Lots of games for the kids...

 

Lots of really fun costumes and outer worldly decor !!

 

 

Fantastic scenery

SUPERB runners....and walkers...who did a 3 mile run (or walk)

and...they were off...

 

 

It was a triumphant day for everyone involved !!

even the spectators...!!

and there was the "best dog costume" awards...

 

but, as far as we're concerned THAT award goes to my niece and nephews dog POSEY...our favorite of the day (except for Mochi who is our top favorite) !!

so, congrats to my brother

and my incredibe sister in law Muffie (l)

it was a wonderful day..

and remember

arthritis is not just one disease...it is literally hundreds...and there are great strides being made.

 

 

 

FRIENDS

It doesn't matter that friends live far from you. When good friends, especially artsy friends, want to get together they figure out a way!

Today I was thrilled to have 2 friends from North Jersey and one from Pennsylvania (all about 2 hours from me) come for the day just to have lunch and schmooze. We didn't even craft or make a thing !

We're just good friends !

 

Leslie Marsh (rear L), Linda Hahola (rear R) and in front Colleen Colquhoun...you did get a load of our matching sweaters ?? (Free People) 

Now, my friend Linda is an ARCHIVIST with a masters degree who loves to craft and is inspired by everything around her. We have been friends for years and have gathered together on many occasions to eat, create, schmooze...

 

and she brought me the most fabulous dish towel as a prezzie

  

Wrapped in this darling button closure

My friend Leslie makes GOOOOORGEOUS books...

 

and she brought me one of her HAND MADE SCARVES as a gift.

I mean, seriously....can you believe it ! She absolutely knew how much I loved a neutral palette and anything hand made.

 

and Colleen is known for her magnificent hand made paper clay dolls

The doll below is one that I made in a class that Colleen taught.

 

She also used to own a fabulous store called "THE ARTSY SOUL" (about an hour from me) that carried the most 'to die for' art & craft supplies because she has a terrific eye for finding the greatest 'stuff'.

She came loaded to the gills with prezzies...

I about drooled over all the jewelry components

 

we had such a great day. Now we're trying to work out a plan to do it a lot more often...it's a must!

 

 

 

 

Tis Shopping Season Indeed

Yes....I am required to own up....

Bah Humbug...I AM a SHOP-A-HOL-IC!!

especially if it's an artsy kinda funky store owned by our friends Mark and Penny, and it's CALGO GARDENS, IN HOWELL, NJ!

OH YEAH....you've heard me carry on before about this store...I'm just slightly obsessed with it all!

TONIGHT THEY HAD AN EVENT PARTY...

ACCOMPANIED BY A B-I-G SALE

I'm There !!!

home made food

 

 

 

 

I found a bracelet to beat all other bracelets...The lovely Lenster bought it for me.....He thought the pricetag said $38...what a deal...but when he got it to the register it was actually $138..he didn't see the '1'.....nice guy that he is ....when asked if he still wanted it HE SAID OF COURSE !!!

and do I LOVE it to death !!!

 

Cause I always love a good understated glitzy bauble...right!!

to say nothing of this clock!!! Like H-E-L-L-O !!!!!!!!

the store simply stocks the most wonderful things

 

  

Owners of the shop

 

Ran into our friend Annette and her daughter Debbie...

Temple members.

and so so much more in the way of beautiful holiday pieces, clothing, bags and jewelry...

.....and toys

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So...here's a couple reminders...

Dont forget to sign up for the

CREATIVE JUMPSTART 2015.

IT'S  $1 A DAY FOR 25 AMAZING DAYS OF AMAZING ARTISTIC VIDEOS

Sign Up by clicking RIGHT HERE

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and, dont forget to take a wander over to my ETSY shop where there are some lovely items to buy for yourself or to give as gifts cause they are all one of a kind, made and designed by MOI !!!