Tu Bshvat Tropical Sangria

I love the idea that the fashionistas at TheJewishHostess.com posted when I was recently surfing the net for great Tu B Shvat activities! Here’s a link to it for you: Tu Bshvat Tropical Sangria. What a great idea to do with kids or without if you want to explore your alcohol palette

If you haven’t been to the Jewish Hostess blog, you’ll find that it is a haven of gourmet kosher recipes and beautiful pictures of Shabbos and Holiday table settings- my fave! I am definitely going to look for the coral napkin rings that were recently featured, they are so stylish.

The 3 ladies that started the blog are always looking out for what’s stylish and chic in the kosher world, their Tu bshvat Sangria being a great example.

I love how they use real photos of table settings that they’ve and their readers have created. You almost feel as if your table could set itself with the easy ideas they provide

I’m always looking for great holiday table setting ideas. Over the years, I’ve accumulated things that I keep in a “holiday cabinet”. It’s simply an overstuffed cabinet in my office that is full of items for holidays

So this past Chanukah, I took out all of my collections and instead of randomly spreading them across the table, I chose to contain each collection in glass vases. As far as collections go, they look best when contained in holders that will fit snugly around them. They will also look best when grouped in odd numbers. Don’t ask me why, but odd numbers always work best. It’s a decorating principle.

In this picture, you’ll see a collection of bows, dreidels, silver wintery looking things, and candles. I also had a piece of white coral in there because I needed 5 items to make it a collection of odd numbers!

Anyhow, you can apply these holiday table setting ideas to practically any holiday you celebrate. Take out your collection of items, sort through them, purge what you don’t want and then decide how you’ll contain and display them.

I’d love for you to comment below and let me know what you think! Below are some pictures of the rest of my house

Floating dreidels

Decorating Your Sukkah to Enhance the Mitzvah

“Teshvu Kaayn Taduru” (Sukkah 28B)– Our Chachamim teach us that we need to live in the Sukkah as we dwell in our house. “Take the nice things out of your house and move them into your Sukkah,” the Gemara explains.

“Very nice,” you might be thinking, but my raw silk draperies are just not waterproof. And, the breakable glass just isn’t going to cut it (no pun intended) in the Sukkah that has seen its share of storms.

There are plenty of ways to enhance the comfort of your Sukkah, turning it into a real dwelling place as it is meant to be. Make your Sukkah homier by adding aesthetics. Even if you are not at all interested in interior design, for the sake of the mitzvah, add a few personal touches that will have the kids begging, “Can I please sleep in the Sukkah the whole week?”

Believe it or not, you have a lot of options for adding ambiance and aesthetics to your Sukkah. No matter what size or type of sukkah you own, you can create a comfortable environment. You may be familiar with the recent trends of “outdoor decorating” or “patio decorating”. There are increasingly a lot of materials that can withstand the elements and are used outside.

How can you start? Begin with the bare minimum, the 3-wall requirement.

Walls

Are you familiar with any home decorating principles that exist? Most of them are common sense. Think focal point, scale, proportion, and balance. You wouldn’t want to hang a tiny picture on a huge wall. Instead, hang a collection of pictures that fit the scale of the wall. Or, if you have a large dining room table, don’t hang a teeny microscopic light fixture over the table. It will not look proportioned.

One decorating principle that is unfamiliar to many is the concept of a focal point.

Establish a focal point in your sukkah so that when you enter the hut your eye has a place to rest. Without a point of “main attraction” your eye will travel all around desperately seeking the “best” part of the Sukkah, or any room for that matter. If a focal point cannot be found, the eye will roam around distractedly unable to rest. You know when you go into someone’s home or a business and you feel distracted, not able to concentrate on one thing in the room, and you keep looking around. When there is no focal point in a room, you’ve answered the question, “Why can’t I focus?”

What kind of focal point can you establish in a sukkah? You can go as simple as a nice laminated poster that is bright with vivid color or up your style ante a bit with a mirror. Of course the material of your sukkah wall dictates what can actually be hung! A wood sukkah does allow a little more flexibility for hanging objects but even if you don’t use a wooden sukkah, here’s how you can display large objects instead of hanging them. (I just love the picture posted here of a hand-made sunburst mirror made from a recycled book courtesy of creativejewishmom.com-I even made one for myself)

Leaning objects against a wall instead of hanging them is a design practice that is often used for creating focal points as you can see here in this picture.

(Of course, seating space in the Sukkah is limited so don’t take too much of it up with décor, but a nice flat mirror leaned against the wall will give the appearance of having a lot more room.)

Bring in objects from your home that you love and lean them against your sukkah wall. Choose objects that can withstand rain, as we are not permitted to touch our decorations during Sukkos.

If you don’t wish to lean, you can hang beautiful fabric or even a favorite flat sheet that you love to cover an entire wall. If you have time, you can search through fabrics that are water resistant, using them as a tapestry or as drapery panels. There are even ready-made outdoor drapery panels available at www.smithandnoble.com.

If you’ve ever slipcovered furniture or will in the future, you can use beautiful outdoor fabrics and when Sukkos comes along, move some of those pieces into the Sukkah. Sunbrella makes outdoor fabrics in so many patterns, many of which you may have used for indoor pieces!

Ceiling

Again, the material you use for your schach determines what you can actually hang in the sukkah. Bamboo poles are easy to tie or hook onto, while a schach mat will not give you as much room to play around.

Hook a chandelier around one of the bamboo poles. If you have a schach mat, use the sukkah poles instead for hanging. The chandeliers don’t actually have to light as long as you have other lighting options for your sukkah. The goal is for a homey environment that you want to spend time in (there’s the ruchnius!) so whatever you can do to accomplish that goal is wonderful.

Chinese lanterns also give a “chandelier” appearance and if you can find one you love, use it as a focal point. Or hang many of them throughout the Sukkah.

Ask your Rabbi how big of a chandelier you can hang and if there are any requirements as to height of hanging objects.

Floors

Finding an outdoor rug used to be a difficult task. With the increasing trend of patio decorating, you now have a load of options with regards to outdoor, water resistant rugs. I recommend you go to your local hardware store and check out the options for outdoor rugs or look on the internet.

Doorway

Just about every sukkah has a doorway and there are a few simple things you can do to enhance your opening. One is to put out potted trees, real or silk, around the doorway. If you don’t already own a potted plant, I suggest you simply buy a large garden pot, fill it with sand, and then stick whatever object you’d like into the sand. For example, tiki torches work well, branches, tall silk plants, rose branches; anything that is tall will work. Citronella Tiki torches will keep out the mosquitoes and give you even more light. Ask a shailah about lighting them before Yom Tov for the meal.

Again, for my frugal readers, all of these recommendations are splurges designed to make your sukkah living experience more like a home. After all, isn’t that what the mitzvah of living in a sukkah is all about?

You do not have to go out and buy new things, start by bringing in what you already have and perform some “Interior rearranging”. If you do not have any objects that can be used or rearranged in some creative way, you can go to a local crafts store and pick up a few inexpensive items. And of course, there are many homemade crafts that also add to the ambiance of the Sukkah. But I guarantee that even the most practical family without any sense for interior design can find a few objects that when put in a sukkah will catch your eye and put a smile on your face.

I woke up this morning realizing that things are so much fun when you do them with a friend, such as dieting or exercise, and even organizing! I’ve been following and checking off the to-do’s on my Master To-Do List that is included in my Rosh Hashanah Perfectly Organized ebook and I realized that I would personally have more fun if I did it with someone else.

Then I thought of all of you! Wouldn’t it be fun to create a mass master to-do list right here on Jewish-life-organized.com or on Facebook by gathering up each of your to-do’s? Post them on either location and then I will compile the HUGE list into one MASTER list for you?

So, spread this word to as many people as you know so our “to-do” list can get as COMPREHENSIVE as possible, and don’t worry if the posts you share have already been contributed by someone else. It doesn’t matter, as I will remove the duplicate posts and then compile them into one huge list.

Let me know if you have any questions- this list writing will continue till about August 31st.

Hi, I’m Rivka Slatkin and I’m an Avoider. Sounds like I’m at some sort of addiction meeting, doesn’t it? What’s an avoider? Believe it or not, there is a real mental health diagnosis as Avoidance Personality Disorder.

I don’t know if I can claim an official title to the Diagnosis, but as my long time Jewish-life-organized.com readers know, I believe that unless we live life with “eyes wide open”, we are living a somewhat “limited” life and cannot fully use all of the tremendous talents and gifts we have as capable Jewish women.

How do you know if you are an avoider? If there are things you “avoid” knowing about- in other words, if you find yourself thinking or saying, “I don’t want to know about that” or “Let’s not talk about that”, you are avoiding something and thereby holding yourself back from experiencing the pleasure of accomplishment and the satisfaction of living fully in the present.

There are a few examples that come to mind specifically from my life. Money was (and still can be at times!)  one of those sticky topics that seem to have triggered much avoidance for me. I would spend money but not really want to know how much I spent or if I was spending according to our budget, I just had a “rough” idea of what was coming in and out.

When I finally realized that I had to take a look at my money situation and not avoid it anymore, even though it was painful to get started, I’m proud to say that I can now look at money with my eyes wide open. It was hard and the honest truth was that it wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it would be.

What are your stuck points? What are you avoiding?

This is a very timely topic for beginning the Jewish New Year as Rosh Hashanah is approaching. The Hebrew word for Year, Shanah, is related to the Hebrew word for change, “Shinui”. Meaning, that Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of Change.  The opportune time for change is leading up to and on Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of human beings and it is interesting to note that what makes man unique, different than an animal, is our ability to choose. Animals, conversely, are creatures of habit.

We have the ability to make distinctions and to become conscious and aware of what we are doing. Instead of doing same old thing and following habit, Rosh Hashanah is time to take stock of who you are and what you’ve been doing until now and deciding to act consciously. Make a kabbalah or a commitment to be different this year.  Live your life with the lights on and be fully present with yourself and your family, even with those topics that just seem too scary to face. Like getting organized perhaps? Or dealing with relationships? You can do it, and there is always plenty of guidance when you begin looking.

Yom Kippur Fasting Tips – Hope these will help you fast easier.

I don’t know about you, but I get anxious about fasting. I’ve read up on any possible yom kippur fasting tips and here is what I can tell you.

• Water-You have to up your intake of water for at least one day before the fast. Drink 8-10 cups the day before. Much of the difficulty in fasting can be alleviated by becoming more than adequately hydrated.

If you like, follow this suggestion from a wonderful Chiropracter, Dr. Neal Blaxberg. Put the best possible electrolytes you can get into your water and drink it 1-2 days before the fast. That electrolyte is Braggs Amino Acids (tastes like soy sauce) available at any health food store. I tried it this year and I must say I was exhausted and hungry, but not dehydrated.

• Caffeine (This you know)- if you suffer from caffeine withdrawal, start cutting down 1 week to 2 weeks in advance. Start by cutting your caffeine intake by half and then the last week, cut it out altogether.
• To prevent a caffeine headache, drink or eat something with caffeine during the pre-fast meal so you do not get a caffeine withdrawal headache in the morning.
• The adverse side of drinking caffeine is that caffeine is a diuretic, and water loss will this occur, increasing your body’s need for water.
• I had always been told to eat noodles and grapes before a fast. Why? Because complex carbs holds the water that is in your body, preventing dehydration. That is why many people feel sick on a fast day, because they are dehydrated. So eating complex carbs sustains the water in your body which keeps you hydrated. Protein actually attracts and leaches water from your tissues.For 3 days to 1 week before the fast, eat complex carbs and foods high in fiber to keep the water in your system, not protein. Foods like salt-free popcorn, pasta, fruits, rice, potatoes, nuts, and vegetables with skins. Avoid foods with salt, as they will make you more thirsty.
• It is best to break your fast on something that is a simple sugar to establish your glucose again. A cracker with honey or a fruit juice since we have used up our glucose during the 24 hour fast.
• The day before a fast, try not to overexert yourself. Stay out of the sun and only exercise minimally.
• Pray! Try to release your anxieties about fasting by praying and getting conscious about what it is that gets you nervous about fasting and then accept it and release it. I’m saying this because I am someone that feels anxious about fasting, and when I understood why and then accepted myself regardless, I was able to release that fear.
• Lastly, do get a copy of Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur/Sukkos Perfectly Organized. You’ll learn more specific suggestions for how people make it through Yom Kippur with kids and fasting and all!

Have an easy fast!

Post Chanukah Pesach Cleaning

In the past, I’ve spoken to many expert balabustas who start
thinking about Pesach right after Chanukah. What exactly are they
starting to do?

I believe they are cleaning out one drawer at a time. When you read Pesach Perfectly Organized, you know that I always have you start working on the rooms that are most out of the way and least likely to come in contact with Chametz.

Although, if your home is really cluttered and needs a good cleaning, now would even be a good time to open up one kitchen drawer at a time and wipe it down, so when the time comes that you MUST clean the drawer, it will be that much easier.

I’d love to know more about what you think you can start doing now, to make Pesach preparations all the more easier.

Welcome to the Yom Tov Planning Center!

Receive a FREE C.H.A.G. Resources Guide for Every Major Holiday

Rosh Hashanah	Yom Kippur	Sukkos	Chanukah	Purim
Pesach	Lag Baomer	Shavuos	Three Weeks	Tisha Bav
Shabbos

What exactly is a C.H.A.G. Resources Guide?
You may be looking for information on planning the Jewish Holidays, but what is a C.H.A.G. Resources guide?

First off, the word CHAG as you may know, in Hebrew means Holiday or Festival. In my Rosh Hashanah Perfectly Organized book, I mention that the formula I use for beginning to get any major holiday organized is CHAG. That’s Cuisine, Halacha (Laws pertaining to the holiday), Aesthetics (of you and the house), and Guests/Guidance.

Thus, the C.H.A.G. resources guide available here on this page, explores these 4 aspects to beginning the planning stages of any Holiday with you on Jewish-Life-Organized.com. For deeper detail and step-by-step holiday planning, I recommend you take a look at the Perfectly Organized Collection where I go through the Yom Tov with you, weeks before, to get all the steps of planning and actually making the Holiday, complete.

Just click on one of the Yomim Tovim below and in an instant you’ll have more organizing tips for the holidays than you’ve ever dreamt was possible on the internet!

When do the Jewish Holidays in April fall out again? Resources designed to help you.

You’ve got to tell your non-jewish associates when you won’t be available due to the busy Jewish holidays in april, especially (dum de dum) ahem Pesach.

And, it would be ideal if you could tell them with plenty of time in advance, preventing misunderstandings and mishaps.

I was guilty of not telling my associates IN ADVANCE about when I’d need off, intermediate holidays, main holidays, fast days, and had run into some uncomfortable situations.

Then, my father said, “I have this Chagim software on my Palm, do you want to use it?” I’ve bought several Palms since then and transfered it over to each one.

It’s essential. And you can download it as a free trial. After your 30 day trial, I believe the cost is $15. Grab your copy of Chagim here.

Resources to connect you to other Jewish Homemakers

It always helps to connect to other people when you need assistance.

Here’s a link to a site that is specifically geared to bringing the frum community together. The best way to benefit from it is to “help and be helped”. Someone may be posting a question you can answer or perhaps your business could offer a service to someone else that may need it.
www.frumcommunity.com