Dear Ayelet z’l,

The world has lost an amazing neshama. A neshama that gave strength to people around the world who had never even met you. You touched all of us in your short two years in such a profound way that it is hard to put into words anything that would suffice.

I know your mother since we were young and my first impression of her was one of confidence and strength. I remember thinking that if that girl wants something she will get it! I have heard stories of your father and have read his words over the past five months and can tell he too is an amazingly strong person. So with such a background how could anyone think you would be anything less then the fighter that you were?! When things seemed at their darkest you pulled us together in prayer and good deeds and G-d would give you the strength to hold on a little longer and keep us all going.

Even though you are no longer with us, you are still pulling us all to be better people. To thank Hashem for what we have. To donate to a charity that will help other children in your situation. To continue to pray that the world will no longer know suffering like this.

You came into this world a fighter and you left it a fighter and you displayed the strength of your parents and grandparents who love you dearly. You will be missed by so many! Myself include.

Xoxo

-Carla

For Hindy and Seth:

May God comfort you Among the othermournerS of Zion and Jerusalem.

I asked her who taught her this trick and she said that she taught herself but it was the way that she put it that was so funny.

She said “I tried when I was a baby and again when I was little and then when I turned 3 I finally did it.” All I could do was laugh because she made 3 sound like so old…according to her she has been practicing this her WHOLE LIFE.

It’s the little things that make life so enjoyable. Please share a funny/sweet story in the comment section because we all need to focus more on the things that make us laugh and happy…especially on a snowy Wednesday.

xoxo

-Carla

My friend’s husband told me about this amazing product that I just had to share with all of you.

I live quite far from my family and they always feel like they are always missing out. Now there is this great product from a company called pix-star that can make them feel part of everyday life.

These picture frames connect to wi-fi and are set up with an email address so that pictures can be sent directly to the frame. You can snap a picture (or 10) a day email them right from your phone or computer and share it with all your family.

To me this is a great idea. My siblings and I are all over the place but with this my mom can get pictures daily. Even more, MY grandfather can get great-grand kid pictures from me, grand kid pictures from his grand kids on all sides who live all over and his children who also do not live in the same city as him.

They come in 3 sizes and a few models can tell the daily weather as well.

It’s just a really nice way to keep connected. And, with the holidays coming up it’s a great idea for a gift that will keep giving. Check it out by clicking here.

xoxo

-Carla

I was at my friend’s house one weekend and her child (who is known to sometimes be a more difficult child) took a real liking to me and played very well with me. This got me thinking about how I feel that being a mom is something I am great at. I am great with children.

Now I am not saying this in a “I am so great and better than others way” but I have friends who are great at math and are accountants or great at designing and are interior designers or fashion designers. My talent lies in being good with kids. Don’t get me wrong, I am good at other things and could have made a career from one of them if I wanted to, but what I love and what I feel I am best at is being a mom.

This thought made me smile because I get to do what I love and what I am great at all day everyday…so why was I afraid to write this post.

Firstly, I did not want to insult anyone by writing this. I know not everyone has the opportunity or option to be a stay at home mom. I am lucky that right now I have the choice.

Second, not all moms can do the stay at home thing. I have friends who love what they do at work. They love their children just as much as I do but they love whatever it is they do and they love having a part in an “adult” world as well. So I was scared that by writing this these moms would be insulted. I am hoping that by putting down my whole thought process you (if this describes you) will see that that was never my intention.

I just think that it is important to focus on the positives in life. And so, although I felt trepidation about it at first, I decided to write this post. I get to spend my time teaching my children how to live and show them personally what it means to be the type of person i hope they will grow up to be. I get to see all their firsts and share in all their special moments.I chose to write this because I get to do a job that I feel I am Fabulous at everyday.  I chose to write this because today i actually felt like a FABULOUS MOMMY and I wanted to share that with all you other Fabulous Mommies out there too.

xoxo

-Carla

~Author Unknown

xoxo

-Carla

xoxo

-Carla

The first one is so cool I could only share it by posting the video below. Check out the new Origami stroller:

(and don’t worry it doesn’t need batteries! There is a built in generator in the wheels so walking charges the stroller completely.)

The second amazing product is called mamaRoo. It’s a bouncy chair designed to move like a mother bouncing her baby up and down. It moves in a figure 8, a bouncing motion they call “kangaroo” and 3 other directions.  Check out the video below to view all the motions.

The other great things about this chair…the comfortable cushion is easily removed and washable. The mobile features beautiful pictures from famous artists. There are different choices of white noise and if you want your baby to really boogie hook up your ipod and let him or her get their groove on.  And of course, it can recline to any degree along it’s axis.  It really is an ingenious little device!

Thanks 4moms for helping all moms be more fabulous.

xoxo

-Carla

I am in the middle of trying to teach myself how to speak French and let me tell you IT IS HARD.

That is why I am so excited that I found this great new product that I am dying to try out.  It’s called Early Lingo and it’s a program to teach children new languages at a very young age.

Studies have shown that when children learn a second language at the same time as their primary language it gets organized and stored as neatly as the first. Studies have also shown that bilingual children score higher in other academic areas.

The total immersion aspect of this program allows the child to watch the videos alone (or with an adult) and be completely engrossed in the story line, and language. They have Italian, French, Chinese, Spanish and English.

So if I can help my children learn a new language earlier so they don’t have to go through what I am going through now with French, I am all for it.

Check it out here and if anyone has tried it please feel free to comment below.

xoxo

-Carla