Top 8 Hanukkah Gifts for the Hipster Jew /  by Amanda Marks

As procrastination goes, this list of the Top 8 Hanukkah Gifts is hitting the inter tubes pretty late I know. But inspiration strikes when it does and I've been busy playing with my dreidel.  We all have special people in our lives: Spouses, best friends, the cashier at the package store.  But this list is dedicated for that Hipster Jew in your life. Ya know, that millennial cousin who's usually judging your parenting AND social media skills during Thanksgiving dinner -- that guy! So here's the list. I've checked it twice.

#1 The Hanukkah Sweater (A lovely variety at ModernTribe)

#2 The Dr. Dreidel (By Artist Hannah Rothstein)

#5 Take My Wife, Please! Henny Youngman's Giant Book of Jokes

#7 Dog Yarmulke and Tallis (For the future Bark Mitzvah)

An Open Letter to Ryan Gosling /  by Amanda Marks

Dear Ryan Gosling,

Let me be frank, I stalked you today and it was disappointing.  The only reason I went looking for you is because my friend Brooke, who is 40,000 weeks pregnant, was stuck at work and she couldn't stalk you. I was her proxy. My only lead was: The Facebook. And the fact that you had been in Criminal Records about 20 minutes before I arrived on scene.

I'm not built to be a Paparazzi, Ryan Gosling. But I did come up with a check list of what I needed to do to prepare, much like The Meisner Technique.

Evidently, I was either not incognito enough or you had left the locale before I got there. Either way, I was looking good and I was looking for a Hanukkah present.

Unfortunately, I did not really find what I needed: Neither you, nor gift.  But as the saying goes:  

It wasn't over. It still isn't over.

Perhaps, tomorrow I'll head Downtown, where you're shooting a movie. Plus, I hear there's great shops at The Underground.

Yours truly,

@mallofamanda

What did the bookcase say when she got an iPhone? Time for a shelfie. /  by Amanda Marks

I'm obsessed with my reflection. I'd like to say this was a problem I've had since childhood, but honestly I see it as a benefit. I've been posing in front of the mirror, since I first glanced at a looking glass and haven't stopped.  It's an art form really and a confidence booster.  A self-confidence booster and you cannot get that from anywhere else, see, because only yourSELF can give that to you, see. Like most girls, I've come up with a jillion justifications to need a picture of myself-- Facebook profile update, artistic prowess, lipstick application.  Judge me all you want. I'm judging myself. And I vote ADORABLE. You're looking pretty cute yourself. What's the most ridiculous selfie you've taken?