phyncke

So celebrating the Sabbath is as much about preparing to do it, as doing it. What I remember growing up and in all the Jewish lit I have read is that the house should fairly sparkle from the sabbath preparations. All is to be ready and in order. There is a real cleanliness to it. I think traditionally it is women's work but I do know that my friend at work B***, who is a guy, does his own sabbath prep all day on Friday, during the day before sunset. He has reduced his schedule so that he can do that.

I do mine on Thursday night...a real clean of the house from top to bottom--putting things away, vacuuming, clean the bathroom, dusting--- so that when I look around-- my apartment has that sparkle so that I feel ready for Shabbos.

I like this weekly rhythm and I find that it is giving me focus and a built in schedule to things. It is also nice not to have to do chores all weekend either. The only thing I have is laundry left to do on Sunday (not such a biggie).

So this is what I do. Just sharing. My house is ready. My candlesticks all set up for Sabbath tomorrow.

Just sharing some thoughts on this and how it is working in my life.


by cherany at amillionblinks

So I don't know if you realize this but I live in California AND I work for the state university. Double whammy and financial crisis. I have had a pay cut. This means I am looking for ways to save money. Call me cheap, call me frugal or call me thrifty, I don't care what you call me but I am GOING to cut my expenses and tell you all about it too.

Here is what I have done recently to alleviate the bottom line here:

-bring lunch
-cut my soda pop consumption on meals out (at 2.50 - 3.00 a drink, adds up)
-no more lattes. Lattes cost 3.60 - 4.00. I get regular coffee (1.50) or bring my own (0.00)
-I dyed my own hair (4.69 for the dye). I usually spend 75.00 on that at the salon.
-I switched to Supercuts for my haircut (20.00 including tip versus 50.00 at the spendy salon)
-cook more and eat out less
-menu plan so I am throwing out less food.
-shop the sales - food and clothing and other things
-have clothes mended as opposed to buying new pants (I just did that and saved 40.00)
-consign clothes and purchase on consignment
-bring my own food to the movies - lord, do they charge too much

On my hair. You might think it would not look as good but, I am observant and I noted how my hair stylist applied the color. Using his technique, I got an even shade and I used a permanent color so it really did cover my grey. I have gotten nothing but complements on it, so much so that people ask, "Where do you go?" Heh. With the cut, I went to Supercuts with a very specific idea in mind of what I wanted and showed them a picture of the cut I wanted. This works with them. Do not describe verbally what you want them to do...and do not ask them to interpret that. SHOW. You will get exactly what you want and they can cut hair there. The stylist I got had 20 years of experience with hair and was moonlighting for extra money. I will go back to him.

The rest works for me and going out to eat must become a luxury or real treat. Not a routine but an exceptional thing. I am getting better at putting together nice meals and really enjoying what I cook. The key is effective shopping and planning.

/frugal fanny.

This morning I had some nice shabbos toast with my challah bread (the sweet braided loaf) with butter and the unsweeted strawberry jam khylea sent me for crimmas. It was fabulous. Jam does not need sugar and you can really taste the fruit this way.

I am going to see Avatar again today. Yips.

This was an update, imagine that?


by cherany at amillionblinks

So tomorrow I go back to work. The end of my freedom, the end of sleeping late, not that I do, as I am up by 8:00 am most days here. I will have to get up at 5:11am tomorrow. Why 5:11? So I can snooze to 5:20. :P There is a mathematical reasoning behind that. I would like to say I am ready to go back to work, but I have been enjoying my time off and been a combination of productive and creative. I did not get to writing but I got to some graphics I wanted to make and that was fun. So back I go.

Today, I got something done that I have wanted to do for a while. As you know, I spend much time here posting about Hanukkah and the ritual is a good feeling, the observance. It is centering and grounding in a way that makes me think that Judaism really is a part of my life. Sooo. I have for some time been pondering adding in the observance of Shabbat into my life. This is the weekly thing and I am sure I will bore you with more details on that later but I got myself over to the "Afikommen" (the Judaica store in Oakland) and did some shopping. What I was looking for was the candle sticks for sabbath, the candles and a small guide on how to observe and the symbolism of it all. I found everything I needed and made some connection in the community as well. We haggled prices which was very fun and seemed very true to the experience to me. I just had a whole bunch of fun with that.

So, behind the cut are my shabbat candles and candle sticks.

( Shabbat shalom... )

I bought a guide called "The Sabbath" by Samuel Dresner and I think this will all get me started. They tried to sell me the snazzy candles (6 for 20.00) but I got the big box of 72 candles for 10.00. I am Jewish and that was the better deal. I am going to burn these candles, not look at them right? No meshugeneh here.

Cheers and good night.