Passover Seder Inspiration

 

Now that we have reached the first day of Spring it's time for one of my favorite holiday traditions - searching the corners of the Internet to create a new Pinterest board! This time it's for Passover, which starts on Monday evening.

The ecard above is telling it true. Unless you attend or host a themed Seder, (have you been to a 1960's flower child Seder? We have!) it's a holiday that doesn't call for much more than a beautifully set table and a vase or two of fresh flowers. Passover is one of the only holidays that we don't have a box of decorations for. The main focus is the Seder table and the story of the exodus from Egypt.

Even so, I have decided to post a collection of my favorite Passover entertaining ideas and recipes that I found this year. If you need inspiration or ideas for your Passover Seder, this Pinboard will help you out.

 Seder place setting with a Spring color palate

Charoset dippers

Matzah name cards

Seder Plate Collection

DIY Haggadah Cover

Beautiful Matzah Tray

Passover Brunch

Be sure to check out my Passover Seder board for even more beautiful home decor and party inspiration!

What are some of your favorite Passover entertaining ideas or traditions?

Celebrating the Light in the Darkness

This past weekend I took a long weekend away from Raleigh and traveled home for my cousin, Ilana's Bat Mitzvah. I flew into BWI on Thursday night, which was nice because I had an evening at home with my parents before the weekend craziness began. 

I slept so well that night that when I woke up on Friday morning, I was so confused and didn't remember where I was! The rest of the day was about relaxing and taking it easy. Mom and I caught up on Glee, had brunch and watched the Sandy Hook coverage on the news until we left for Friday night services and Ilana's Bat Mitzvah dinner in Silver Spring. 

This is the best part - when we got home Dana was waiting for us! 

On Saturday morning we all went back to Silver Spring for Ilana's Bat Mitzvah servcie where she read beautifully from the torah and get a speech about the message of Hanukkah and about bringing light to those in need when times are dark. She did a great job! We are so proud of her!

Later that evening she had her Mermaid themed (!) party in the basement of the synagogue and Dana and I were in charge of the tye-dye t-shirt station where party guest could make shirts that will be donated to a local shelter. We had so much fun! I'm so glad that I got to catch up with family and friends that I don't get to see very often.

On Sunday morning Dana and I made 2 batches of Rum Balls (one of our favorite Christmas cookies) and then we went for a walk around the neighborhood before I flew back to Raleigh to be reunited with Aaron and Skwisgaar! Burt Hummel said it best this week on Glee, "You've got to hold the people you love the most close to you, no matter what." I got to hold most of mine all in one weekend!

Even though we didn't have enough time to do everything that we wanted to get to over the weekend (hot tub, going to see Anna Karenina, watching Brave together, or having lunch at Wegman's) it was a really good weekend. 

Hope you had a good weekend too!

Thanksgiving Break

Is it seriously Monday already? 

My Thanksgiving 4 day weekend in Raleigh was so relaxing! We enjoyed out Honey Baked Ham turkey and fixin's on Thursday and the leftover carried us through the entire weekend.

On Thursday we decided to go see an early afternoon screening of Argo at our local theater. There were maybe 10 cars there and our showing was sparsely populated (that's how we like it!). The movie was good, but it wasn't really the feel good holiday movie that I wanted to see. 

On Friday morning Aaron went into work so I got up and walked around Lake Lynn. It was a brisk 30 degrees outside, but my walk/jog kept me warm. I saw mallard ducks, white ducks, Canadian geese, and a blue heron on my way. They like hanging out in the shallows by the boardwalks on the North side of the lake. 

On Saturday morning we ventured out to Best Buy and Costco. At Best Buy we found the sound bar that Aaron has been eyeing for months marked down at half price. We set it up right away when we got home and it sounds amazing! I spent the rest of the day reading Mindy Kaling's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). 

On Sunday morning we slept late then went to brunch at Brigs on Creedmoor. They have amazing eggs Benedict plates. The rest of the day was for laundry, reading, and watching movies that we had saved to the DVR from the weekend. 

Hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend!

Gobble Gobble!

Today I’m thankful for…

Being engaged to my best friend.

My sister - she is totally amazing.

My family who I feel close to, even though we are celebrating a few states away.

Our kitten, Skwisgaar, who always has love to give.

The friends we have all over the country.

All of the new friends that we have made since we have moved.

My awesome job and team!

Having an awesome family cruise to look forward to!

Health and happiness in this season of joy. 

Aaron and I went to a Friendsgiving last Sunday at our friend Cassie's house to celebrate before our friends went out of town. We are staying in Raleigh and celebrating our first Thanksgiving on our own. We are starting new traditions and honoring standing ones. 

We ordered our Thanksgiving meal online from Honey Baked Ham. When I went to the store to pick it up yesterday there were cops stationed out front to make sure no one would run off with a free turkey, crazy! 

We are going to enjoy free movie channels, go see a movie, video chat with friends & family, give Skwisgaar his first taste of turkey, and enjoy a festive meal in our new home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Will you be a lover or a patriot?

Happy 4th of July!

I know that the holiday doesn't officially begin until tomorrow, but we are starting tonight!

Iris is coming over and we are all going to enjoy our farmers market watermelon for dinner, then we will light sparklers down by the lake, and then we will continue our celebration with my favorite 4th of July Eve tradition, watching 1776! It's the film version of the Broadway musical comedy that tells the story of the birth of our nation!

Maybe we will even play a round of True American....

Tomorrow (after our kitchen table is delivered!) we are celebrating the day in downtown Raleigh at The 'Works! featuring: a watermelon seed spitting contest, pig pickin', ice cream and hot dog eating contests, an ice carver, food trucks, corn hole, games, and of course, fireworks!