I posted this guy last year, but I couldn’t think of anything more creative to post for Passover 2012.  Please enjoy…AGAIN.  Happy Passover, y’all! 

Tonight marks the first night of Passover.  Jewish folks all over the world will sit down this evening to have a traditional Passover seder with friends + family. 

For those who are unfamiliar with this holiday but curious about it, the Q+DD is here to help!  I’ve put together a Passover “quickie” guide below (many thanks to Slate.com) for your reference covering all major seder points.  (Fact: LK + I actually used this as our seder program two years ago.)  Check us out below with our homemade charoset.  Oh yeah, our seder was 80′s-themed.  Don’t judge…

Two key items critical to the Passover seder are matzah (unleavened bread) + kosher wine…lots of it.

So here we go…

The Passover seder, the oldest continuously observed religious ceremony in the world, tells the story of the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt.  Jewish tradition says that people of each generation must imagine that they personally departed from Egypt + the sages say that each generation must retell the story in its own terms.

(The sages probably did not intend this.)

Opening prayers:

Lighting of the candles

Blessing over the wine

Prayer over the matzah

Pour a glass of wine for Elijah.  This is NOT like “spilling some out for your homeys.”

Thanks, G-d, for creating wine.  (Drink wine.)

Thanks for creating produce.  (Eat parsley.)

Overview:

Once we were slaves in Egypt.  Now we’re free.  That’s why we’re doing this.

(Drink wine.)

Four questions:

1. What’s up with the matzah?

2. What’s the deal with horseradish?

3. What’s with the dipping of the herbs?

4. What’s this whole slouching at the table business?

(Drink wine.)

Answers:

1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry.  There was no time for making decent bread.

2. Life was bitter, like horseradish.

3. It’s called symbolism.

4. Free people get to slouch.

(Drink wine.)

A funny story:

Once, these five rabbis talked all night, then it was morning.

(Heat soup now.)

The four kinds of children + how to deal with them:

Wise child – explain Passover.

Simple child – explain Passover slowly.

Silent child – explain Passover loudly.

Wicked child – browbeat in front of the relatives.

(Drink wine.)

Speaking of children:

We hid some matzah.  Whomever finds it gets a surprise.  Yippee!

(Drink wine.)

The story of Passover:

It’s a long time ago.  We’re slaves in Egypt .

Pharaoh is a nightmare.  We cry out for help.  G-d brings plagues upon the Egyptians.  We escape, bake some matzoh.  G-d parts the Red Sea. 

We make it through; the Egyptians aren’t so lucky.  We wander 40 years in the desert, eat manna, get the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple + enjoy several years without being persecuted again.

The 10 Plagues:

Blood, Frogs, Lice, Flies, Pestilence, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness + Eliminating the Oversensitive 1st Child…OY!

(Drink wine.)

The singing of (one chorus of ) Dayenu:

Ilu ho-tsi, ho-tsi-a-nu,

Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim,

Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim,

Da-ye-nu!

CHORUS:

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Dai, da-ye-nu,

Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!

(Drink wine.)

If G-d had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would’ve been enough.  If he’d punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would’ve been enough.  If he’d parted the Red Sea…

(Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now.)

(Eat matzah.  Drink more wine.  Slouch.)

Thanks again, G-d, for everything!  We promise we’ll remember!

SERVE MEAL. 

(Drink wine.)

The seder is complete.  Next year in Israel!

Well, there you have it.  You’re welcome + happy Passover to all! 

xx, L

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I feel like a total GEEKAZOID admitting this, but I think I really enjoy Fantasy books. 

I mean, I’ve been obsessed with Harry Potter and the Twilight series, and so many of my favorite shoes have to do with the supernatural (The Walking Dead, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, the list goes on…)  So, I guess I am a Fantasy geek.  Whatevs.  I’m totally entertained, at least!  

Anyway, I felt a little left out of all the commotion (and y’all know how much of a pop culture freak I am) about The Hunger Games movie coming out last weekend + I kept hearing my friends talk about how much they loved/ quickly read the book.  So naturally, I HAD to buy it. 

Ummmmm, I had no idea what I was in for!  This books is SO unbelievably addictive – I may need a support group.

(1) I’ve never read a book so fast in my life.  I haven’t been sleeping to finish it.
(2) I’m completely OBSESSED with it now!  Move over Harry Potter…
(3) I can’t wait to see the movie this weekend!!  It’s pretty much all I can think about.

Are y’all reading?  Are y’all reading??

I’m taking a two-day breather + then diving into the 2nd book in the series, Catching Fire!

May the odds be ever in your favor,

xx, L

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So, I am officially OVER vampires…

adios, cullens!

…and I’m fully on the ZOMBIE TRAIN.  Kev + I have been Netfix-ing The Walking Dead, and I am totally, 100%, completely, helplessly addicted to it!

Are y’all watching?  Are y’all watching?

I think it’s the most addictive show on TV since 24 (only 24 seasons 1 – 3 to be exact), and I. can’t. peel. myself. away.  All zombies all the time.  They are nasty, they eat your brains, and they are AWESOME!  The Walking Dead is filmed in/ takes place in Atlanta (represent y’all), which is just icing on the cake.  The cast is pretty bomb, too.

the walking dead line up

What the heck is The Walking Dead??  Here’s a little wiki info for ya:

The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic television series based on a comic book of the same name.

The series stars Andrew Lincoln as Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes who wakes up after being in a coma to find the world dominated by zombies or “walkers.”  He sets out to find his family and other survivors along the way.  The Walking Dead premiered in 2010 on AMC to wide acclaim, and was nominated for several awards, including the “Best Television Series Drama” at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.  Based on its reception, AMC renewed the series for a second and third season.

This Sunday night is the season 2 finale, sooooooo if I’ve convinced you to start watching it, please start with season 1 on Netfix.  Do not watch Sunday.  It won’t make sense.  But, when you’re all caught up + as addicted as I am, you’ll probably want to check out the weekly viewing party at The Albert in Inman Park.  Info below:

So cool.  Wishing you all happy zombie-watching!  The Walking Dead is where IT’S AT.

xx, L

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I want to invite you ALL to a trunk show this SUNDAY featuring all of Marty Alterman and Emily Mak’s AMAZING clothes.  You may remember my previous post, but if not, check it out HERE.

I have literally been LIVING in my  Legginskirt™ and my jackets and shirts.   They are SO cute and so comfortable and SO flattering.   I swear, I lose 10lbs as soon as I slip them on.  Everything is slimming:  the shirts fit a little longer, the fabric is a little sturdier and more forgiving, there’s strategic ruching and ruffles and best of all –everything is very fresh and young, but very sophisticated. 

in my Legginskirt Uniform in Italy

Come see for yourself this SUNDAY at Shanghai Alterations in Sandy Springs and check out all the new SPRING styles!  Marty tells me she has SIX new styles of  Legginskirts™ and I am be.side.my.self.  I can’t wait to see! 

See ya at Shanghai at 12:00PM on SUNDAY!

xx, L

Shanghai Alterations

222 Johnson Ferry Rd NE

Atlanta, GA 30328

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Kevin is a twin, and he typically blames not being a big “birthday person” on the fact that he’s shared the majority of his birthdays with someone else and feels odd having all the attention on himself now that he lives in a different city from his twin.  As someone who loves any reason to celebrate, I’ve completely disregarded Kevin’s birthday-blahs over the past few years.  Last week, I threw him a pretty awesome (if I may brag a bit…), birthday party at The Varsity: The World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant!

WHAT'LL YA HAVE?!?!

The Varsity sits on more than two acres and can accommodate 600 cars and over eight hundred people inside.  On Georgia Tech football game days, up to 30,000 people visit the restaurant.  The Varsity sells more than two miles of hot dogs daily, a ton of onion rings, 2500 pounds of fresh cut potatoes, 5000 homemade fried pies, and 300 gallons of chili, all of which are made from scratch each day.  The downtown Varsity is also the world’s largest single outlet for Coca-Cola.  Fun fact for ya…

Most menu items at The Varsity are under $2.75, so we could keep it supa-casual for everyone (which Kev loved), while I still got to plan a party (which obv. I loved)!

Here’s another peek inside:

I strongly encouraged everyone to sport the traditional Varsity hat.

And, we all sat down to celebrate with the birthday boy!  (I went a little crazy in the toy section at Party City…)

Kev got balloons.

A Superman cake.  (My favorite is still that some kid walked by the cake table and goes, “Woooah!  That guy is turning 29!!!”)

Buddies.

Girl buddies.

Chili cheese fries + onion rings.

And, a few chili cheese dogs.  Mmmmmmm…  Man, were they good!

Some of us ordered up The Varsity’s famous frosted oranges.

behold!

But, none of us enjoyed them quite as much as little Avery! 

Kev ended up having a really fun + memorable birthday!

Don’t forget about The Varsity.  It’s been y.e.a.r.s. since I’ve eaten there, but it’s totally worth the visit + every, single, chili-covered calorie!  This Atlanta staple is an excellent place for a pre-sporting event bite, a lunch destination for tourists, and birthday parties for kids of all ages!

“What’ll ya have?  What’ll ya have?  What’ll ya have???”  Um, EVERYTHING.

xx, L

The Varsity
61 North Avenue
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.881.1706
www.thevarsity.com

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