davening on the train

Do you ever daven on public transportation?
Do you even take public transportation?
I used to say NO for both those questions.
But now ever since I moved to THE City a little while ago (didn't I tell you that yet?) where parking is not even an option, the subway is my ride.
When I first started being part of the morning commute, my iced coffee and dark shades were all I needed to get me through the rush.
And then, one Tuesday morning, I saw this super cutie davening away.
Maybe because watching a guy get all shtark is a total turn on,
Maybe because I wanted him to know I was Jewish too,
Maybe because I felt guilty for skipping out on my Brachos before I drank my java,
I started davening on the train.
I used to feel awkward saying the words in my silent mumble,
Now I feel proud to have my siddur in my hands,
Protected while I say my Tefillos,
And I couldn't really care less about the people around me,
Who must all think that I've just learned to read and still use my lips.
Or that I'm some crazy maidel that talks to herself
Which may not be such a bad thing if it keeps the other crazies at bay,
And maybe,
Maybe,
That super cutie will be on my train again...

Whoever said that material can't lead to maidel?

i sold my chametz!

Thank Hashem for Lubies!

Click here to go to the Chabad.org Sell Your Chametz Online Form!

Don't forget to sell the Chametz you keep at school & work!

color me wicked

I started getting my nails done every week. Yes, I am one of those girls.

I used to prefer the au naturel look - still kinda do. I hated spending money on something that would only last a few days. And then there's that whole waiting period where you wait for all your nails to grow out to the same length so that you can get a decent manicure. And that hardly ever happens. Nails break.

But then I got my nails done three times in two weeks. First for my cousin's Auf Ruf, then for his wedding, and then for the Shabbos Sheva Brachos.

And now I'm hooked.

Like almost every other Jewish woman, it's become my Friday afternoon ritual.

There's something about that little bottle of Essie that makes me happy.

Wicked, A-List, Ballet Slippers, Flirt, Fancy Delancey, Picket Fence, Marshmallow, Bahama Mama... Just a few of my favorite things! (feel free to suggest more!)

Colors really do influence the way you feel. Try Wicked - you'll feel it.

My friend Rosie said I looked Lubie when I wore Fishnet Stockings.

I go with Waltz when I'm trying to fit in at Yeshivish chasunahs.

I notice that when I go dark or bright, people notice.

And while that may not be so tznius,

it's a whole lot of fun ;)

the proposal

They say you should be careful what you wish for.

I remember when I was much younger, I had a cousin who was constantly in and out of the hospital for weeks. The doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. I felt so bad. I prayed to Hashem that she should get better, and I remember wishing I was the one who was sick instead of her.
A few days later the doctors realized that it was my cousin's ruptured appendix that was causing her pain. And sure enough, one week later, I had my own appendix removed for the same cause.

Maybe this isn't such a great post for MM.... I should be more careful about what I tell you ;)
And like I said, what I wish for.

Maybe because I'm so fed up already of singlehood, I prayed to Hashem that someone would propose already. And someone did. Just not the right person. At least, I don't think it's the right person.

Sometimes I doubt myself at these moments - what if this person is my beshert and I'm the one who's responsible for 'missing the boat'?

Maybe I should have worded my tefillah a little more thoughtfully that night...

Maybe I shouldn't have written this post...

my beshert

nuff said.

talking to boys = very very bad

I think I've finally realized that maybe my Sem Rebbes were right about this. Talking to boys just isn't so kosher.

This week, two boys at work asked me out. You think I should be flattered? I'm not. Definitely not Potentials. (I will say that both are very nice, kinda cute and if you are interested, I would totally set you up)

I think my problem is that I'm a little too chatty. If you're my friend reading this, I know you're laughing right now because I'm finally admitting to this! lol As my friends will attest - I talk to everyone. And it's got me into some interesting situations in the past. Like this one - where I have to work with people who want to get involved in some office romance (which I am definitely not interested in unless it comes with a nice promotion).

Why do boys seem to mistake my friendliness for flirtiness? (that sentence probably doesn't make sense, but who's checking - anonymous maybe?)

I think from now on, when I see a guy, I'm gonna do the yeshiva boy look-down, avoid making eye contact, just walk by and not say a word, not even a smile.

Unless of course, he can get me a raise....

what's wrong with me?

I met this guy while out with friends and thought he was so cute and quite possibly Potential.

Then he asked me out.

He's really nice.

And he keeps telling me how he's so into me.

And how he can't wait to get to know me better.

And he constantly messaging me little love notes.

But for some reason, it all just freaks me out.

What's wrong with me?

keeping up with the ex

I was having dinner recently with some friends when a guy walked into the restaurant. One of my friends had gone out on one date with him about three years ago. Nothing disastrous, just really not for her. And yet, for some reason my friend was determined to avoid him at all costs. We literally had to slink through the exit (back entrance was blocked), try to keep our heads down, sunglasses on, avoid any form of eye contact with Guy X. Utterly ridick.

I personally belong to the 'stay friends with the ex' group. Ok. Maybe not all my ex-es. There are some that have earned permanent spots on my Facebook and IM blocked lists. (the ones I refer to in this post when I talk about how happy I am to have no regrets about past non-experiences. Well, almost no experiences. ;)

But for the most part, if I saw someone I dated (whether it be someone I went out with once or someone I dated for longer), I try not to do the stop, drop and exit routine. It looks pretty pathetic if they actually notice you when you're doing that whole spiel.

Just a few nights ago, I saw an ex at a wedding, and actually said "Hi" with a big smile in a warm, I'm happy to see you, kind of way. Maybe I was just happy to see someone familiar. Or maybe I just still like the guy as a fellow human (and definitely not as a Potential).

We had a pretty good chat - as friends - and BONUS - he asked for my number so that he could set me up with some of his friends. (although, i noticed that he actually still had my digits on his phone... ). Anyhow - this bonus is pretty huge. It also teaches all of us singles a great big lesson in dating life - never end things badly! Because you never know... Maybe that nerd you went on a horrible first date with is best friends with an ultimate cutie!

kosher cooking carnival now up!

Click here to check out the latest KCC carnival over at Kosher Cuisine!

just a flirt

I think my last post needs a follow up. So here goes!

Is it ok to be a flirt?

One night in seminary, my friend (on her way to true BT-hood) and I were flirting with some cute Israeli boys at the local pizza shop. They were cute. We were flattered by the male attention (something you don't find - or rather shouldn't find - in an all-girls seminary). We told them to meet us later in the park in the back of our dorms. We later learned that it was in that park that those cute Israeli boys would watch us through the dorm windows getting dressed and prancing around in our pjs and nightgowns (apparently some girls think nighties are more tznius, but I'll save that for another post....).

Anyhow - where was I (sorry, sem memories get me sidetracked) - what I remember most about that night with the boys was how later, as my friend and I walked home, she told me how she felt so disgusted with herself for having acted in such a 'goyish' (her word, not mine) manner, and how we hadn't conducted ourselves in the way of true Bas Yisroels. I just thought we'd had a lot of fun.

Did the guys actually think we'd hook up with them later that night? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe they were used to getting teased by flirty sem girls.

But was it wrong for us to flirt? To be teases?

(Anonymous - maybe the Oxford English would not recognize the word 'Tease' as a Noun, but colloquially, I think it works)

There have been times where I have felt horrible about my behavior. I remember throwing up once after a particularly sketchy incident (although it might have been the alcohol). Nope. Not sharing that story with you. MM needs to keep some of her secrets....

prude prude prude

Is there anything wrong with being prude?
Obviously, for someone who keeps Shomer Negiah, touching is not an option. But is that the same thing as being prude? Can't you be prude and still shake someone's hand? Or is being prude more about a person's views on non-prude behavior?
I've been called prude on many occasions - by guys who wished I would do more touching - and if that makes me prude, then so be it. Call me a tease, call me a prude, but at least I've got my pride intact when we break up.

achashverus parties

Are you going to any good Purim parties tonight?
I'm still trying to sort through all of the Facebook invites I've been getting to parties all over my town. My crew will probably do our annual party-hop where we stay at each Party for a half hour before deciding that it's lame, that we know everyone there and we move on to the next.
Some Purim parties feel less like a celebration of a Jewish holiday and more like something that Achashverus would have thrown. You know what I mean, right? Parties where girls seem to have bought their costumes from Victoria's Secret catalogues, where no one knows who Mordechai was (let alone the difference between him and Haman) and where alcohol isn't the only mind-altering substance being passed around.
But I wouldn't really know. I only stick to Kosher parties ;)
(and cmon, if you're that out of it, you're missing out on the real reason Purim parties were invented - to meet guys/girls!)

goodbye mm

It's time to say goodbye to MM!
Thank you all for reading my thoughts
and for sharing your comments
for these past 10 months.
It's been a pleasure writing and posting!
But all good things must come to an end!
Feel free to stay in touch,
Love,
MM







PS - just kidding!
Happy Purim!

worth a watch - funny Israeli commercial

cheating?

I went out with this guy last week,
Had an ok time,
He was kinda cute,
Easy to talk to,
Pretty charming,
But then I just checked OnlySimchas,
And turns out he got engaged last night,
To someone else!

I don't really mind that my name isn't next to his,
But what would his fiancé think,
If she knew that her fiancé
Was out having dinner
With other maidels
Less than one week prior....

all you need is some good music

My good friend Yehudis got married last night! (mazel tov Mr. & Mrs. R!!!)
I gotta say - the music was amazing!
Everything about the wedding was gorgeous, the flowers, the food, and especially the Bride (obviously, I'm only friends with gorgeous girls with good taste).
But I gotta say, the music was exactly what every wedding needs to have.
No need for a 12 man orchestra or to hire Shweky when you have a great DJ who knows how to play a mix of all types of songs to keep the party going.
Seriously, after dessert, when all of our stiletto-ed feet were blistering with pain, we couldn't stop dancing to the music.
I love when a good DJ knows how to change a song before it gets boring, knows how to mix in some Gad Elbaz and Elvis Crespo with the classics, and keeps a beat going even during the meal.
Can't wait for the next wedding!

my reputation is in ruins

I came home to my aunt's house in Flatbush the other night at around 2 AM.
My aunt tells me the next day that 'Girls who stay out late around here get bad reputations'.
I told her that back at home I sometimes walk into the house after 3 or even 4.
Guess that makes me a ho.

mini marthas

What's with all the Martha wannabes in Brooklyn?
I appreciate the talent of some women to create gorgeous cookies and cakes and challahs and table settings, but when everyone is just out to out-Martha the next housewife, it gets kind of lame.
I hate how people will serve certain dishes just because everyone else is.
Like how the 'in thing' right now is to serve peeled mandarins in a crystal vase (seriously, I like to peel my own fruit, thank you very much, and I probably won't touch it knowing that someone else's hands were all over it).
Or how literally everyone in Brooklyn serves a sweet apple or other fruit 'kugel' alongside the main course (this is not really new, but unfortunately never went out of style - I mean let's call it like it is - it's cake, not kugel, and cake and chicken don't go together where I come from).
And then there are all the Susie Fishbein ideas that everyone uses - I have to say her cookbooks are really creative and have good recipes - but does everyone need to make the exact same chocolate cake?
I don't mind that women try hard to make a Shabbos table look and taste nice (you know I do the same in my house, and I'm not even a housewife - yet [IYH]). But some originality would be appreciated. Or am I expecting too much from women who all dress alike?

american history x

According to my 11 year old cousin's Rebbe, Abraham Lincoln was shot because he freed the slaves.

Yup, apparently because Ham was cursed with blackness and slavery, Lincoln went against the Torah when he abolished slavery. And so he was punished by being shot and killed.

Should I be happy that at least my cousin is learning some version of American History in his Yeshiva?