chairgal's Profile

Wow, this kid's party is way cooler than EVERY party I have ever had and I'm 35. *sigh

I love EVERYTHING about this place. One day when I finally hit the Powerball, my home will look just like this. LOVE!

I was 21 and just moved into my first apartment without roommates. I bought a black leather sofa from Ikea. This was back in the day when you could only get $300 a day from the ATM and no one had a check card. I had to go to the ATM four days in a row to get enough money. Then I literally almost passed out after paying for it. I started sweating and getting light-headed as the cashier rung me up. She was the sweetest, older lady who gave me encouraging words about growing up and becoming independent. Almost 15 years later, I still have and love that sofa mostly because of what it symbolizes.

I have to agree with your boyfriend on this one. Christmas is a Christian religious holiday. If you aren't religious, why are you celebrating it in the first place? If you aren't religious or don't identify as Christian, then you shouldn't be celebrating the holy-day at all.

When I first spotted this at the local Target I literally ran to from a few aisles over. Up close, I was so disappointed. It looks super cheap and all the ones at the local stores were dented. It wasn't even worth it once these went on clearance.

Memphis!!!! It's Mid-West and Southern!!!! I'm so excited, I might just have to go for it!

Here in Memphis, all of the Dollar Tree stores have battery operated paper latterns....and they are only a $1.

*can't decorate for themselves*

OJ - Have you seen Jamal Simmons on CNN? YUM!

OK, I'm a former JCC Youth and Camp Director and Hebrew school teacher so bear with me on the explaination on why Challah is braided:

The three braids represent the commands to observe the Sabbath as commanded in the Ten Commandnments. One braid represents the commandment to remember the sabbath A second braid represents the word "Shamor" - to guard and honor the sabbath. The third braid is for "b'Dibbur Echad" - that the commandments of remembering and guarding the sabbath were said by G-d as one commandment.

Another thought is that the sabbath represents and reminds us of three different concepts: The Creation of the World, the Exodus from Egypt and the Messianic Era to come.

A final thought is that challah is braided much like the havdallah candle that is lit to end the sabbath in order to remind us of the different twists and turns that life tends to take.

By the way, the "challah" mentioned in the Torah is not referring to the challah that Jews eat on the sabbath and holidays. It refers to the command to separate a small amount of the dough when baking bread. In the times of the Temple this portion was given to the the preists at the Temple. Today there is a rabbinical command to separate a portion from the dough - the challah - and burn it. Technically, it's not challah or at least kosher challah in less this portion has been taken.