Let It Shine

The holidays and holiday parties call for glam, merriment, and the wearing of multiple shiny, glittery articles of clothing. Sorry, subtlety and demureness are obviously not my forte. These newest light-bending items are souvenirs from my recent trip to London. Topshop...man, does that store own me. It's a good thing for my closet there isn't one in LA yet. Though, seriously, when is Topshop coming to LA!?!

The Longest Night

Today is the Winter Solstice (i.e. the shortest day of the year). I have to be honest-while I love cooler weather, I hate the short days that winter brings, and the lack of energy I feel to do much once the sun sets, so I am not exactly celebrating today so much as acknowledging it begrudgingly. I suppose thinking of it as the longest night is one way to make it worth celebrating, though. Especially when it means more time to celebrate!


Image by Paul Moody via Flickr

Chappy Chanukkah

What is up, my Jews? Who's ready to spin your dreidels?

For those of you who are gentiles and don't know, Hanukkah starts tomorrow. While everyone in America basically thinks Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas, it's really not, and actually isn't even all that important in the almost unending procession of major Jewish holidays. But when you're a kid and collecting presents each night of the eight- or want to fit in with all of your tree-decorating, Santa's lap-sitting friends- who is going to complain about the semantics? Hanukkah to Jewish kids is the most important holiday in that sense, so I'm going to continue to celebrate it even though now I know better than to make it a big deal. After all, it's a lot harder to whip up a guide for that rollicking good time known as Yom Kippur anyway...

Right now I'm using an old menorah from my dad's house, but I don't love it. In fact, I hate it. I don't know that I've ever seen one I truly love 100%, but this menorah would probably be in my home if I had major funds to throw around right now.

I do have this collection of antique hanging oil menorahs that I display year-round and which are pretty special to me. Mark's inner pyromaniac wants to light them, but I'd rather not burn down the apartment building.

The most beautiful dreidel I've ever seen, available here in blue, clear, and orange. I would love to buy a few of these and scatter them across a mantle full of various decorations and menorah. 

The all important sufganiyot (jelly doughnut). So much better when homemade and eaten warm, here's a recipe to try if you're feeling ambitious. After growing up with a mom who would make them for us, I can't even bother with bakery versions.




Menorah via DesignSponge

Reconnaissance Work At Trader Sam's

For months people have been asking Mark if he's checked out Trader Sam's the new(ish) tiki bar at the Disneyland Hotel. So finally, we had a proper chance to check it out so the mister can regain his street cred as a tropical drink-pouring bartender. The verdict: I love the decor and the fun kitsch of it all, which feels perfectly "Disney," right down to the friendly bartenders who throw water and ice at you if you order a drink like the aptly named Shipwreck on the Rocks. The drinks we tried were a mixed bag. Some were amazingly good and really refreshing (Mosquito Mojito), while some would have given me diabetes had I finished them (Shrunken Zombie Head, which would have been lovely if the touch of passion fruit had been a little lighter). We tried the ahi poke after I realized I was otherwise going to be on the floor thanks to the mid-day booze, and we both really enjoyed it.

A happy little tiki on the door welcomes us.

Just slightly off-kilter after a few cocktails...