The Motzei Shabbos Special

I ran this series a few times in the past, but after people were talking on message boards about how I was being needy and posting all the things I hoped people would buy for me, I figured I'd put the kabosh on it. Now that I live in Israel and the truth that these are just things I think that are awesome and not things I expect people to buy for me, I figure it's time to revive the series! So here we go on another round of The Motzei Shabbos Special!

Just Press Start
I'm a huge fangirl of Apple products, and when I spotted this iNecklace, I couldn't help but kvell. It also comes in cufflinks, so you and your fellow Apple sweetheart can make sure that you're properly fanning it up.

Oh Homer, Where Art Thou?
I was never a big donut eater growing up, despite my family's love of stopping at Krispy Kreme whenever we were in Omaha to pick up a freshly-baked batch of the heart-stopping glazed variety. I liked watching them processed through the machine, but they were too sweet -- even for me. When I discovered that there were some mass-produced gluten-free varieties, I gave them a go, but again the sweet factor just killed me. Thus enters Gluten-free Sugared Gingerbread Cake Donuts from The Urban Poser, which look like the perfect amount of donut with the perfect amount of sweet.

Jerusalem of Nosh
I've been watching as Serious Eats has been posting recipe after recipe of amazing nosh from the cookbook "Jerusalem." The book has gotten some negative reviews because it doesn't honor the kosher keepers, but the truth is the chefs who got together to write the book aren't of the Haredi variety (one is Palestinian, so, we can't hold him to kosher, folks). Mejadra is just but one recipe, and I have to say I am stoked to give it a go after having tried the Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Onion with Tahini and Za'atar, I am pretty sure it's going to kill. I guess I'll have to buy the cookbook now!

Get Up, Get Going

I have to say I'm intrigued and perplexed by the holistic UP bracelet by Jawbone. Apparently, it tracks your sleep and movement patterns and then an app (only on iTunes) on your phone displays the data, letting you add things like meals and mood. The app then provides you with insights to help you moving forward. I've seen other devices that do this, and I've also been skeptical, but this one seems like a no-brainer. The bracelet itself is $129.99, and I'm assuming the app is included. For me, this would be a wonder, as my sleeping habits are getting crazier and crazier by the day. 

Letters for Your Heart

If you're not a complete and utter devotee to xkcd.com (it's a web comic), then you're really missing out. Yes, there are weeks that the craft goes above and beyond my head, but most weeks it's genius if not romantic and heartfelt. So buy a print already. 

Campaign for a Cause

Last year at the 2011 ROI Summit, I had the pleasure of meeting the man behind NU Campaign, probably the coolest T-Shirt business on the planet. You see, there's a cause printed in graphically awesome ways on the front of the shirt, and then on the inside (of the shirt, yes) you get the explanation of the cause! The big push right now? The One for Israel T-Shirt!

Let's Get Visual! Visual!

I love infographics. They are all the rage, and if there's anything in the world that will get your message or cause or information out there, it's a really well-done infographic. Where do I find my favorites? I hit up Visual.ly, because it's sort of a clearling house for just about any infographic you could possibly imagine. Case in point? This one. 

Scrubbin' Bubbles I need one of these, hardcore style. Yes, it's a Shower Squid, and it will hold EVERYTHING you need in the shower, from your razor to that slippery bar of soap. Genius!

Come On Baby Light My Menorah I'm a huge sucker for chanukiyot (aka menorot to the rest of the world), so this time of year is like magic for me. I keep walking by amazing ones with boxes (the standard here in Jerusalem), but I have yet to buy one. I didn't bring mine with me because the one I prized was a heavy iron one, so I really have to find a long-term keeper for this Chanukah and all of those to come. Here are a couple I spotted online that are absolutely festive. 
Bronze Chair Menorah via UncommonGoods.com

Olive Branch Menorah by Michael Aram

Have something that you're raving about and want to share? Let me know!

Motzei Shabbos Special

I know, I know -- I said that this would be a regular thing, but, well, let's make it semi-regular since life doesn't always seem to be nice, clean, and easy for me these days. Thus, I give you, the Motzei Shabbos Special!

A Cook's Life for Me
I spend a lot of time in the kitchen chopping veggies and fruits, and cleanup is a pain in the tuches. Well, hello there Cutting Board w/Collapsible Bin! It holds up to four cups of your scraps so you don't have to keep chucking scraps.

Keep Your Fingers Cool ... or Warm?
I'm a junkie when it comes to these things. I have a Starbucks one and a Whole Foods one (the latter, of course, I feel a lot better about because it was donation-based). But I like the branding on this -- the Java Jammy. Maybe I should print up some Kvetching Editor(tm) ones, eh?

Used Books. Jewish Used Books! Books That are Used and Jewish!
I have a book habit. Everyone who is anyone knows this, of course. The apartment I'm staying at in Chicago has some good books on the shelf, and I happened upon a few that I'm now dying to pick up. Where can I find them? Jewish Used Books! This is #winning, folks. (I'm looking at the Mishneh Torah Yad Hachzakah and The Kuzari: I and II. I should probably also pick up some of the Laws of Kashrus and Hilchot Shabbat, eh?) Oh. You know what, find your favorite Jewish book there and post it in the comments. Maybe I'll buy it. Maybe I'll buy it for you. Who knows. (And they have more than books and seforim, too!)

Show Your State Pride

Okay, so I already have an awesome apron that I got while married that was a highly contested item because, well, my ex didn't believe in fancy aprons. For $20, I have to say the apron I have is pretty awesome and for the amount of time that I use it, it was totally worth it. So if you don't have a nice apron yet, I suggest you shimmy with state pride and order one of these for double-chai -- a mere $36! (Note: There's no Nebraska. What gives!? I mean, it's a beacon of home-cooking! Come on now!)

Hipster Babies

Oh man. Yes, you've seen the "I Bike ..." shirts everywhere. Places like Seattle and New York and Chicago and Denver all have them. It's like the bumper sticker that says "My other car is a bike." Well, even your little Timmy or Susie can hop on the hipsters-on-wheels bandwagon with these cute outfits. I'd get them for my nephews, but, you know, they're only for 6-12 monthers and my nephews are a spritely 17 months old now!

Bite-size Bits

These kind of remind me of Larabars, but they're more bite-sized and hail from the land of the Danes! Made in Denmark, $13 gets you four bites of three flavors of Kur Delights -- Dark Chocolate Mint, Brownie, and Coconut Cream. Not bad, if you ask me. (It's OU-D, too!)

Manifest Your Inner Vegan!

I'm a sucker for cookbooks, and I'm hoping to land this one once I can validate the expense (yes, every expense these days must go through a serious vetting process). From the mind behind www.manifestvegan.com is this gluten-free and vegan cookbook -- Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats: Cut Out the Gluten and Enjoy an Even Healthier Vegan Diet with Recipes for Fabulous, Allergy-Free Fare. And if you go to the Amazon site, you'll even get a free recipe to try out to see what you think! Brilliant! That's ultimate advertising, folks, because you get buy-in before the consumer really buys in. 

Don't be Toddy to the Party

Summertime is cold, iced coffee time for me. Back in the day, I used to just strong-brew some coffee and then put it in the fridge once it cooled down. Bam! Cold coffee! But not really. There's actually a way to cold brew coffee, folks, and it's called the Toddy. The big difference is that if you cold brew and you do it right, you get rid of more than 50 percent of the acid that comes with normal coffee brewing. BUY THIS: Toddy T2N Cold Brew System ... your stomach will thank you.

And that concludes this installment ... have a product you love? A website you can't live without? Let me know in the comments!

The Motzei Shabbos Special

In order to keep myself honest and my blog consistent, I've decided to start a few traditions. Yes, I know what you're thinking: You've done that before! You've failed! And that's true, but I like making lists, and people like being exposed to awesome new things, so this is going to be The Motzei Shabbos Special. More than likely, this list is compiled on Friday, but it's possible that I get lazy and don't write it up until Saturday night. With that, I give you the inaugural Motzei Shabbos Special.

My Newest Obsession 
Without cable, and "borrowing" internet from my elderly neighbor, I have quickly become obsessed with Game of Thrones. Not for the weak of stomach of modest of eyes, mind you. But it does make me reminiscent of the much more tame days of Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess.

The Bibliophile
Every few weeks, I spend some time in a bookstore ooing and awing over all the books I want to read. This time around, It's the illustrious Augusten Burroughs' This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike. Essentially, it's the anti-"Self-Help Book."

For the Conscious Cook
With my adventures in Vegan Cooking, I wouldn't be able to do it without Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook. Vegan Sloppy Joes? Delicious homemade BBQ sauce? Spaghetti and Bean Balls? Yes. Thank you.

For the Father
Father's Day is coming up, and now that my older brother is also a dad (with two adorable babies Owynn and Oliver), I have to think a lot more about dads. This one is kitschy (as far as I know neither my dad nor my brother are beer drinkers, but ... ): A Beer-Tasting Toolkit, completely with paper bags!

For Dad's Dog
Every daddy's dog needs a stylish collar. How about a bow tie?

Your Daily Halacha Needs

I love this book. LOVE. In fact, I often find myself reading through an entire month on the halachot or laws of onions before realizing that I am about 29 days over my daily limit. 

Made for Modesty

I've been a devotee of Kiki Riki shells for many moons now, but largely because it's been the only option for me. As a busty girl with large arms, I've found it hard to find cotton half-shells that are breathable, nonrestrictive, and comfortable in summer. Enter Half Tee. I'd been hoping to write a much longer review on the Half Tee, but I've put it off too long. I requested the largest size to review, which turns out to be a little too big for me, so I'm going to order a size down. But overall? Love it. The sleeves are so comfortable and not tightly bound, and the fabric is so soft. The Half Tee can be worn two ways, with one side being higher necked than the other. However, I know a lot of y'all out there won't be comfortable with the coverage. For those of you who are, BUY THEM NOW. There's sleeveless, boyfriend length, 3/4-length, turtleneck, and more. (I'll post some pictures of me in the Half Tee once I get a different size.)

A screen-grab from a product review.

Unnecessary, Yet Cool 

This probably takes the cake for the most ridiculous unnecessary kit, but being able to plug your iPad into a classic typewriter? Amazing. 

Manage a Subscription
I have several magazine subscriptions that I couldn't live without, and this is one of them. I know, aren't I all high tech and paperless? Well folks, there's only one thing to do on Shabbos other than sleep and eat and spend time with loved ones, and that's READ! VegNews -- serving up the latest in meat-free news, food, travel, politics, and buzz -- is probably one of the few magazines that I read quite literally from cover to cover.

Speak Now
One of my coworkers produced this nifty speaker from her bag several weeks ago to pop into her computer's USB slot, and although it's a little out of my price range, this iPhone Bullhorn Speaker really has me jonesing at a mere $10.

For After the Wedding
I got married two years ago, and around this time two years ago I was in my sheva brachot (the week of celebration after you get hitched), and I was already on my way to giving my wedding dress to a gemach (that person who collects stuff that other people can't afford so they can rent it out). Although I opted for no bridesmaids, I can't imagine what one would do post-wedding with their dresses. So, I give you, the Recycled Bridesmaid Dress from Uncommon Goods.

Shop for a Cause
While perusing Sugarlicious in Cherry Creek for a classic comfort candy (the Chick-o-Stick) after a really bad day last week, I discovered lots of cute bobbles, buttons, and bracelets. I couldn't help but pick up one of the Pura Vida bracelets -- they're simple, classy, and only $5. The cause? Every bracelet purchased helps provide full time jobs for local artisans in Costa Rica.

Kosher Nosh
I try really hard not to buy anything processed these days, but I've been waiting for what seems like years for Udi's Gluten Free Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops (Case of 6) (the food folks, not the unfortunate style choice). I saw them at Whole Foods and just had to buy them. Thus, I did. Believe it or not, I wasn't disappointed.

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub
I saw a deal on Vegan Cuts a few weeks back and was tempted to purchase, but I wanted to make sure the product wasn't going to rip my delicate skin apart. You see, often facial scrubs are just bad news for my sensitive skin, so when I saw the Sprout Exfoliant, I contacted their help desk and asked if they could send me a sample to make sure the investment was worth it. They complied, I got the scrub, and I love it. It comes as a powder, you mix with a bit of water, and bam. Face scrub. The Brooklyn-based store makes everything in small batches for small bottles, so what you get is made with care -- very carefully.

Clothing that Counts
Yes, it might be $30, but come on ... look at it. A shirt made from 100% recycled goods? Maybe I've become too Boulder for my own good (I do own the "Only Kale Can Save Us Now" shirt), but I love this one. Eat Like You Give a Damn from Herbivore Clothing. If you think about it, it's the Jewish way.

Kitchen Bobbles
You love tea, you love robots, you love this Robot Tea Infuser because he crawls into your mug and steeps your tea for you. Never let go!

A Simple Arrangement
A sucker for all things that Very Jane sends out, this simple $5 offering offers a rustic means to arranging your favorite flowers. (Seriously, who thinks of these things!? I wish I were this creative.)

Bag It
I'm not a purse collector, although I have many friends who are. I view purses more for utility than style. But as I go the Vegan way, I've realized that leather is such a no-no, so I'm fully entrenched in the vegan leather way. Enter the Laguna Bag from Namaste Inc. Drool. At $65, you can't complain. But I'll do it anyway!

Guiltless Pudding
I'm a sucker for sweets, but I've never been a fan of pudding. Something about the texture makes me want to gag. But I decided to be adventurous and give Chocolate Chia Pudding a try because the ingredients were simple and the recipe called for an nutritionally action-packed seed. The result? Heaven.

• Ingredients
• 3 cups dark chocolate almond milk
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1 tsp organic vanilla
• 2 Tbls agave

• Instructions
• Mix the first three together and chill in fridge 1 hour, then add the agave and mix well. Divide into six bowls and top with berry of your choice).

VOILA!

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Websites from which you should be getting updates:

• VeganCuts.com || Vegan Cuts is run by a vegan couple, John and Jill, who really want to see more people shopping with vegan ethics. A commitment to buying vegan food is a great start, but you can also make a positive difference by choosing vegan options when purchasing clothing, shoes, accessories, body care products and everyday household items. This is why Vegan Cuts features a range of vegan products and encourages members to shop vegan by promoting opportunities to save money while eschewing animal cruelty.
• VeryJane.com || Provides daily boutique deals from amazing Etsy.com shop owners.

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Note: Unless I mention it, all of the things in this post are things that I find on my own and just want to share with the world. No one's paying me for this (I wish!).