Mishloach Manot Madness
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant
I’m giving away candy one hundred percent
And I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny
But a random Purim gift is both good fun and funny
Can you tell that we went with a Dr. Suess theme for this year?
Each year, our Purim baskets have a theme. Last year, it was hard drinking, and the card came with a quote from a Purim drinking song (St. Patrick’s Day has nooooooooooooothing on Purim drinking. Noooooooooooooooooothing). This year, in honour of the leap-month year (remember, two Adars) we grabbed Thing Two and Thing One from the Cat in the Hat and went with a two-tastes theme. Every cookie and candy has something complicated going down.
There are Coffee Toffee: a coffee-based dark brown sugar toffee enrobed in dark chocolate (bitter meets sugary); Thing One and Thing Two Caramels: chocolate caramels with sea salt (salty meets sweet); Sweetzles: pretzels dipped in white chocolate (smooth meets crunchy); Mr. Mippie’s Chocolate Chippies: tri-chocolate chip cookies (a bonus taste! Three kinds of chocolate in one); Horton’s Hamantashen: black cherry hamantaschen (sour meets sweet); and Dr. Suess’s Two Taste Blend: a cinnamon Columbian roast (mellow meets sharp)–which Lindsay can vouch is insanely good since we all commented on each other’s drinking habits “damn, we never have a second cup at home.”–and comes in both decaf or caffeinated blends depending on where you are in your cycle.
And that doesn’t even cover the last minute contenders that will be added to the mishloach manot list this week as I get ahead in the candy making and decide to stress myself out more by adding more work to the list. There is a butterfinger-like peanut butter based candy that I am playing around with at some point. And after watching Unwrapped last night, I asked Josh if I should try to work cayenne pepper into chocolate somewhere (spicy meets sweet). Cayenne truffles? For those vomiting a little in their mouth, there’s a place in Madison that serves chocolate ice cream with cayenne pepper in it and it is so good.
In honour of MLO’s blogoversary give-away a few weeks ago (which I won), I’ve decided to pay-it-forward and give away one of my Purim baskets. And, of course, since community is my defining noun, there is a connective element to the prize. More on that in a second.
I’m going to draw a name out of a hat (literally, one of Josh’s nasty baseball caps) on March 14 and announce the winner in the Roundup. And then I’ll send the basket on March 17 (if you are reading this after 11:59 p.m. on March 13th, still add your thoughts below, but you can’t win the basket). You will need to give me a place to send it (it will probably arrive on a Wednesday so you can have it sent to home or work) so if you’re squeamish about giving an address, you can pass along the gift to another person (don’t place addresses in the comment section–I only need it if you win). If you don’t have a blog and you don’t plan on checking the Roundup, leave a way to contact you with your comment. Actually, leave a way to contact you period so we can discuss food allergies and aversions so I don’t send you something you hate. If we’ve ever emailed before, I have your address still. And you can always reach me off-blog if you win. Here’s what you need to do to win:
- Leave a comment below (yes, a box full of candy for the low low price of one comment!)
- Tell me one of the following things: (1) somewhere you left a comment already today–and feel free to leave, write a comment somewhere, and come back AND/OR (2) something that you read on another IF/loss/adoption blog in the last few days that touched you–either something very moving or funny or thoughtful. If you can provide a link to that other blog in the comment section or tell people where to look, I’d appreciate it. If you don’t know how to provide a link within a comment, write the name of the blog and the section where they appear on the blogroll so other people can find them quickly.
- Think of it as if you are creating the Friday Blog Roundup in the comments section. Honour another person’s writing today–either generally by telling where you left a comment or specifically–stating a post that moved you.
- If you can do (1) and (2), all the better.
- And then leave my blog afterwards and go comment on at least two other blogs today.
I’m obviously not going to check up on each person and make sure they really did comment on two blogs afterwards or comment on one blog beforehand. This is all done in good faith. And it is meant to draw attention to moving or interesting things you’ve read recently since the Roundup usually only contains 4 or 5 posts and I read many many more than that each week; it’s simply a matter of space.
You can enter two or three or five hundred times by leaving more than one comment below (it would be helpful to have only one other blog listed in each comment–so if you read three cool things, list them separately in three comments or it gets a bit too cluttered), but your name will only be added to the hat once. I will also love you forever if you read down the list and click over to read the other posts listed in the comment section. If the commentor only provided the blog name and post title, you can find them on the blogroll. And not just the first ones at the top of the comment list. Make sure you hit some of the people in the middle or bottom of the list and leave them a comment telling them that you agree with the original commentor–their writing does rock.
My usual blog rules apply: any spam is deleted–the point is to honour another person, not drum up business for a Viagra website–as well as anything rude.
Part of my brother’s mishloach manot basket–I made his early this year
This is all about sweetness–we could all use some sweetness in our lives. And if you are so inclined, pull together your own gift some time soon and send it along to another reader. And may the most randomly-picked person win.
47 comments
Another great way to connect us…and hell, the goody bag prize is great motivation=)
Today I left a comment for Luna at:
http://lifefromhere.wordpress.com/
She has a great post about not being able to escape reality and her reality being: infertility.
A fun post of 100 things to know about Alison over at:
PS- Jendeis–thanks so much for your kinds words about the RB post–they are working on the system now.
Oh, those caramels look yummy!
I left a comment this morning at From Here to Maternity ) and everyone else should too, because she needs some love.
The post I’ve been musing on for a while now is from Niobe (http://deadbabyjokes.blogspot.com/2008/02/st-elmos-fire.html). The part that’s got me thinking is the very last line “…when you look back, by some trick of the light, all roads seem to lead inevitably to exactly the place you’re standing.”
Wow!!!! Mmmmmmmm. Those sound amazing! Just so you know, I was going to comment on that scrumptiousness even WITHOUT a contest. 😉
Here’s a sweet blog that I think gets missed sometimes:
My comment is on today’s.
I’ve been reading so much wonderful stuff lately. Natalie at Relaxing Doesn’t Make Babies has been pouring her heart into her blog about her loss. But be warned, it will encompass you too.
Akeeyu at HerVeryOwn (herveryown.typepad.com/herveryown?)
has some as usual funny yet heart
tugging posts. The most recent is pretty funny at the end. I chuckled to myself.
mmmmmmm Chocolately, sweet, salty, sour-y goodness! All looks & sounds incredible, Mel!
For my comment, I sent Chicklet some virtual support as she gears up for IVF #2.
I’m number one (at least in my browser’s window)! I would love some Purim-y goodness from the Corned Beef Rock Stars!!
I attempted to comment on JJ’s latest post for Redbook – a moving article about IF and baby showers, but Redbook doesn’t like me and the system is down.
Here’s something hilariously funny. (Warning, not an IF/loss/adoption blog.) Ashley is holding an Embarassing Photo of Me as a Kid contest. And it is hilarious.
http://ashleyforrette.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-challenge-day-1.html
(I don’t know how to leave a link in the comments, can anyone tell me? I just know how to paste the whole address in.)
Yum. I’m left a comment for Amy at a Somewhat Ordinary Life and for bonus points, I just happened to re-read a post by Sharah on adoption that continues to reflect how I’m feeling on that topic:
http://sharah.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/musing/
Hahaha I laugh every time I think of the Corned Beef Rockstars…thanks to Jendeis for bringing that up again! 🙂
Your salty caramels. Oh.My.Gosh. I may have to beg you for the recipe. They look delicious.
I left a comment on Serenity’s blog (http://serenitynowinfertile.wordpress.com/) today. She’s getting so close to that baby of hers! GO Serenity, GO!
You are going to post these recipes at some point, right?
I commented on Tash’s Awful but functioning. She has a powerful, beautiful post about how grief floods every aspect of your life, robbing you of those things that mattered most, those things that make you you.
What? Seriously? Because I was reading your description of all the candy and my mouth was watering. I was feeling light headed it sounded so good. And we can WIN some? Too exciting. (I do have to disagree with your Purim vs. St. Patrick’s Day assessment though and suggest that perhaps you have never seen the *right* people celebrating St. Paddy’s. Look for pictures on Wednesday when I have recovered from Monday. You will be awed.)
I haven’t left any good comments today, but I have commented on a couple people’s blog just to let them know I’m reading and supporting.
Soapchick’s going in for an IUI in 90 minutes. Actually, it’s probably done by now.
http://soapchick.blogspot.com/2008/03/iui-is-in-about-90-minutes-from-now.html
Also, as always, Shinejil http://sluggishbutterfly.blogspot.com/
has insightful things to say:
“On days like today, I know my life can’t be about this one thing. I can’t sit in this non-place with no dimensions or qualities, longing for the past when I was ignorant, longing for the future when I may be delivered from my disappointment.”
Especially since I often find myself obsessing over IF and feeling like I can’t do anything in the rest of my life, this was moving to me.
I’ve left comments on all my regular sites this morning, one was at and I’ve just gone back and read most of the posts in this comment section here.
I reeeeaaaaaalllllly want that candy basket full of Melly-goodness. Can I bribe you with my firstborn?
Oh yeah. I don’t exactly have one of those.
But I do have a lovely post here from Jessica about loving the baby that will be hers someday, the love that precedes and encompasses manifestation.
http://evenmoretmi.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-im-feeling-right-now.html
It’s sweet. Like the basket of candy. The one that I really, really, really want.
yum those look amazing!
I left a comment on LIW’s blog about finding trust in lower technology of hte dopplar once coming out of fertility treatments. It was just one simple comment made by your midwif – but it spoke volumes to me and I wish i was told this in the earlier stages of my pregnancy myself.
http://amarie-purgatory.blogspot.com/2008/03/is-non-pregnancy-related-stress-good.html
oh boy, a chance to win mel’s toffee caramel cookie chocolatey double goodness! how exciting. my mouth is watering already.
I commented on both of these posts that made me nod and think:
(1) I was touched by irish girl’s recent experience at her niece’s birthday party (I wrote a similar post recently and can definitely identify with that one).
(2) I was also intrigued by peesticksandstones recent ponderings on whether it’s too soon to think about adoption after an discouraging beta (especially that she took issue with her resolve counselor suggesting it was too soon after “just” one failed IVF).
~luna
OOOOOO! Pick me! Pick me!
I visited Seussgirl and snuck a peek at her beautiful little guys!!
http://www.seussgirl.blogspot.com/
I left a comment for Io over at Who Shot My Stork (http://damnthatstork.blogspot.com) today. Of course, I try to leave her comments everyday because SHE ROCKS.
She’s waiting on a call back from a medical office, which, of course, is a scenario we all can relate to. Why is it that some offices are SO DIFFICULT to reach! Geez!
And I’m not Jewish, but Purim makes me wish I was! It’s just such an awesome holiday. And your basket ideas are super creative. Awesome.
I left a comment for DD over at
http://tko.typepad.com/tko_more_or_less/
She rocks and has given me a lot of support lately!
I visited the unlucky 20 percent. She had a moving post where she talks about her raw emotions after finding out about the birth of her nephew (who should have been the same age as the child she lost). She then goes on to tell us that she finally decided to tell the family that she is pregnant again and all that she wants from it. She also talks about the fact that her family is relying in her to determine when they are okay to feel excicted. Which after experiencing loss is normal. Alteast it feels the same for me.
http://theunlucky20percent.blogspot.com/2008/03/telling.html
I left a comment for “Lady Bits” over at:
I found her through cyclesista. She’s just started the blog but she writes well and has obviously already been through alot.
I left a comment over at The Happy Hours offering support for her ectopic pg since I have been there done that and I understand how difficult it can be to get support from those around you. I have to admit, it was my first time to her blog.
We’ll see if I got the link thing right.
Fun giveaway!
I have been so moved by Natalie’s reflections after her loss. The image of her husband pushing the empty stroller brought me to tears.
I was struck by Chicory’s post that covered many many topics. The most moving (in a this-may-be-me-soon way) had to do with choosing grace over painful struggle. I know that I’ll be back to read that post many times.
I like the idea behind this collection of comments and roundups. The amount of interest, support, and sharing in this part of the blogosphere… it’s staggering. I also like the candy idea. You’re a giver!
Oh so excited about possibly winning a great basket. I commented on http://orlifeisabedofroses.wordpress.com/
And I double Barbs sentiments about Akeeyu – I love her posts.
Count me in for the contest for that yummy looking basket you made!
I commented Sunday night (does that count?) on Natalie’s blog, but keep thinking about what struck me so much about her “Sleepless Nights” post that day: http://lunardreams.net/baby/?p=1057
In her post, Natalie wrote:
“That truly was his biggest gift to me: he showed me how to live in the moment and appreciate everything I have, to live with no regrets. He made me feel truly alive, he gave my life purpose.”
I am currently 24 weeks pregnant w/ a baby girl w/ serious CHD that will likely not survive in utero. I still try to hope for the best, but also prepare for the worst. I am trying so hard to make some sense out of all of this and reading Natalie’s insight about learning to “live in the moment” from carrying and then losing her son really touched and inspired me.
I was touched by (& left a comment this morning on) Luna’s post (Life From Here), which JJ already mentioned. She sums up so well how totally family & kid & pregnancy centric our culture is, and why it hurts so damned much for those of us living outside that world, not by choice.
I have also been reading Natalie’s heartbreaking posts about the loss of her son (Relaxing Doesn’t Make Babies), & trying not to cry at my desk here at work with the vision of her husband pushing an empty stroller in the basement going through my head. 🙁
I’ve already followed a few of the links other people have mentioned here!
this little competition made me cry several times today, both at AMS’s site and Natalie’s. I’m not sure I can handle a roundup mid-week! or maybe I just need some yummy treats to get me through my reading… ~luna
Pick me! Pick Me! 🙂
I left a comment over at Miss E’s because she had a great fert report.
I also commented several times at Baby Dreams and discovered we have something in common. 🙂
Ok, you know how last time you posted about your Purim baskets you said that photographing chocolate makes it look like poo? Well that top photo? It looks AMAZING! The light in it is great, and the candy looks delish. (Totally enticing me to leave a comment, of course).
I just came from Somewhat Ordinary’s blog (PP). A is like 4 days past her due date, and she is on shpilchas. I wish I could speed up time for her. I can’t wait for her to meet her little boy!!
My taste buds wept a little when they saw those photos. Tears of bittersweet joy. Not because the sweets looked bitter, but because they were photos.
How about making some endometriosis cupcakes?
Bea
caramels….want….
I commented over at Alexa’s today. http://flotsamblog.com/2008/03/10/dear-simone-2/
If you’ve never read, you’re missing out. She writes a treat and right now she could use a virtual laying-on of hands. I’ve never stood where she’s standing, never lost my son while his twin sister, born at 25 weeks, fights for life in the NICU. I cry every time I read a post. And I think how much a miracle it is that any of us arrive here intact, let alone grow up to become who we are today. I look at Simone and I marvel that she has made it to her one-month birthday. I didn’t need it but she proves again the existance of God to me.
~Flicka
After posting here yesterday – I started perusing other spots.
Here is the link to a lovely post by Searching – the imagery of God whispering into each of our ears a life secret or two gave me chills. Some of her posts are simply amazing and I always enjoy reading them.
I also visited some of the blogs mentioned in these comments and reading about Natalie’s dh and the empty baby stroller – wow – I am still crying a day later, such a poignant picture, absolutely heartbreaking.
Off to visit some more – I’m really enjoying this, like finding treasure almost! Really it isn’t about the chocolates anymore – well, okay, maybe a little – food for the soul and food for the belly!
1. I left a comment on Flotsam (http://flotsamblog.com/) this morning. Alexa and Simone are doing so well. I check every day, hoping that they are both okay.
2. I guess it was either on Sunday or Monday when I read about Natalie (Relaxing Doesn’t Make Babies, http://www.lunardreams.net/baby/) losing Devin, which broke my heart. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it. The grace and courage she has displayed in her posts since the birth is amazing.
Oh my goodness, I would love to win these treats:)
Here’s something I read that impacted me; Growing Family has a post about leaving their home. They’re moving and she writes an incredibly beautiful post about leaving the house where so much has happened to them. It’s gorgeous.
http://growingfamily.typepad.com/growing_family/
I commented over at The Baby Chase today – http://the-baby-chase.blogspot.com
She’s a human being who made a mistake, and is being hard on herself about it. Oh, can I relate.
My desire for that candy is made all the stronger by the fact I’ve eaten no sugar at all for the past month. If there are any parasites or fungus still in my system, I’d love to feed them with those caramels.
Just came back to say that Spicy Sister has a beautiful post about how difficult and consuming this emotional journey is. Her writing is just perfect here – capturing the heartache and the vulnerability of this path.
Check her out: http://spicysister.blogspot.com/
I was very touched by Freya’s post regarding her grandfather’s funeral. She speaks of talking with a real life IF veteran and one quote struck me most of all:
“Not who she was or wasn’t or could have been or should have been. But who she is and who she wants to be.”
It was a good thought to have at a point in my life where I am heading into retirement so to speak. I have to admit the thought of what do I do now after 15 years of fighting and being so focused on this fight has been prevalent in my mind.
Definitely a good find at a good time.
Also wanted to give a shout out for Loribeth’s The Road Less Taken. She answers Mel’s question about who her doppelgangers are and mentions me! Aside from that though – she puts up some of the most thought provoking posts.
I left a comment on “Relaxing doesn’t make babies” http://www.lunardreams.net/baby/
as her loss has touched me – especially in my own time of loss. Her loss was quite more profound than my own and it helps my heart to heal a little bit by sharing her journey with her.
I love your Dr. Seuss theme!
I left a comment on a food blog I really like: http://smittenkitchen.com/ (My comment is under a different name there because it’s not a Blogger blog.)
I don’t know whether I’m eligible for your giveaway (I’m Canadian), but I really like your idea here – I don’t even come close to commenting on all the blogs I read, so the reminder is helpful, and it will be interesting to see the blogs that other people link to.
i swear I commented yesterday, but I can’t find it, so even though I think it is too late to enter the contest, i want to let you know where I commented. Thinking Miracles (http://since10122007.blogspot.com/2008/03/its-11th-again.html) had a very sad day yesterday and posted about it. It was a very sad and touching post to read. About something I wish no one had to go through. She had the funeral for her Blueberry.
I read B’s post on Some Things at The Shifty Shadow. It broke my heart. She said, “It wasn’t the end of sadness, but it was a beginning. I had strength to enter my grief. ” It broke my heart but moved my soul.
I would love to win and you can just bring me the basket. 🙂
*Its too early to link it.
I left a comment on owlhaven.wordpress.com, since she was asking for comments about mail. I told her about the card my parents sent me just before I graduated, telling me how proud of me they were 🙂
Rebecca @ Clumsy Kisses
The treats sound too yummy to be let into my house. And yet I can’t resist.
Plus, I just think everyone who is remotely near academia or was once should read Jenny F. Scientist’s musings on things worth giving up.
Your sweets are soooo tempting right now…as I eat Twizzlers. 😉
I was very touched by this post:
http://amendingheart.blogspot.com/2008/03/life.html
I loved the line “I lost my baby and in the words of our pest guy, yes, “that screwed [me] up bad for awhile”.” Yet, she goes on to say “I’ve got enough pieces to be able to piece them together and make sense of what is important in the here and now.” I was very in awe of how she can put her perspective on where she was and where she is now… I strive for that.
I just want some of the caramels w/ sea salt (seriously, everytime you mention, I drool).
~So here is my comment.
~One of the comments I left today was to Miss Chicklet, ) on her “meh” posting about not being too hip with excitement for IVF#2.
~yes ma’am!
HEy! I really thought I posted on this the other day, but I don’t see me. And you KNOW I want to be eligible for those amazingly delicious looking Purim treats.
Today I’ve mostly been commenting over at the forums on theivp.com, where we’ve been sadly reminded of the unexpected risks of tummy-sleeping in the infant loss/mc thread. (New member but longer-term blogger (http://lizardjee.livejournal.com/) Jaxens Mommy’s 19 day old premie daughter was put down on her stomach in the NICU and died of SIDS; it’s been 1.5 years but I still remember the heartbreak of her original posts on it, and on returning all the twin gear for single child gear.)
Ooh ooh, I want to play, am I too late, it’s only 11:04.
This post is a few weeks old, but it really struck me, warning children are mentioned, but it really speaks to the upside of infertility. A must read!
And I left a comment for Jen at http://allroadsleadtofamily.blogspot.com/2008/03/thoughts-on-preventing-preterm-labor.html via the Lost and Found about pre-term labor
I left comments all over blogland today, particularly on my Clicker beat.
niobe’s post from Tuesday titled “bargaining” http://deadbabyjokes.blogspot.com/2008/03/bargaining.html prompted me to think extensively (and subsequently write) about the topic of hope.