Hey Busy Jewish Moms -- Here is a reality check:

Purim is THIS FRIDAY!

Do You Know Exactly:

- What you and your child will be for Purim
- What you are giving for shaloch manos
- Or what you will make for your Purim Seduah (festive Purim meal)...

If you answered "no" to any of these questions -- don't worry! I have something that will help you with all of the above -- and more!

The unique ebook "Purim Made Easy: Everything You Need For A Fun Holiday" contains instructions for over 70 simple, no sew Purim Costumes, lots of Shaloch Manos ideas, a Purim Seudah Meal plan and more (and it costs a fraction of the price of what you'd pay for a store bought costume or shaloch Manos basket!)

Check it out at http://www.EasyPurimGuide.com

As you may know from reading this blog, I'm quite a foodie. I love food. I especially love healthy food.  I took macrobiotic cooking classes (Though I'm not strictly macrobiotic. I have one religion -- that's enough!). I have more cookbooks than one person should be allowed to own by law and a bazillion recipes that I have cut out of various magazines or printed from the internet  and I have organized  them into over 20 binders!

Oh yes, I am quite a foodie. It's in my blood. My family has been in the food business for 5 generations!

As you also probably know, I'm Jewish. An orthodox Jew to be exact (I wasn't born into an orthodox family, I chose this way of life. To learn more about how and why you can read my essay "The Selfish Shabbat" by clicking here.)

I like to say "I live a traditional life, but I'm still a very modern woman!" 

Anyway, as you might imagine, keeping the Jewish Sabbath (shabbos) is a big part of my life -- on a weekly basis!

I have always wanted caputure my shabbos recipes in a digital format and maybe even publish a cookbook one day, but I  never wanted to take the time to capture ALL of my recipes in one shot.  Then I realized that, with blogging, I could enter one recipe at a time and have some fun with it! So I invite you all to go visit my new blog at http://www.healthyshabbat.com

At the blog I'm also giving away a FREE ebook called "Meal Planning Made Easy - The Kosher Version"

This same ebook sells for $14.99 elsewhere, I just made the information and recipes kosher (no ham, no references to cooking milk and meat together) and I added some special sections about meal planning for shabbat and kosher resources on the web.  

Even if you don't keep kosher or you're not a "Memeber Of The Tribe" (i.e. Jewish)  you can still enjoy the ebook and  all of the yummy, healthy recipes at HealthyShabbat.com -- so please come and visit! And let me know how you like it!

This entry is for all of my Jewish-Mom readers.  (Don't worry, more solutions for everyone to come)

This certainly is a busy time of year! How are your High Holidays going? More importantly how are your preparations going?

I'm lucky, I went to my sister-in-law's for Rosh Hashana, but still had to do a day's worth of cooking (no fair sticking her with all the work)

To get organized for the rest of the chaggim, I'm pulling out my copy of Rosh
Hashanah/Yom Kippur/Sukkos Perfectly Organized by Rivka Slatkin.  If you don't have a copy yet, I suggest you grab it now! Rivka has lowered the price to $27 PLUS she is including Purim AND Pesach Perfectly Organized - so you'll be organized for the  whole Jewish Year!

Here are some great tips  from Rivka on getting ready for Yom Kippur. There's lots more where this came from in her ebooks so if you're 'domestically challenged' like me, I highly recommend it! You can get them at: http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/yomtovperfectlyorganized

Things To  Consider & Prepare For Yom Kippur
by Rivka Slatkin
http://www.Jewish-Life-Organized.com 

 
- It is a custom to make kreplach, so if you want to, make sure to have the ingredients you need on hand.

- Create a menu and shopping list for your pre & post-fast meals. Consider if you  want to eat the same foods post fast? If not, remember to include a few extra dishes for your post fast.

- Do you want to invite guests to the pre-fast or post fast meal?

- Prepare your list of questions to ask the Rabbi about fasting, ifyou are pregnant or nursing, for instance.

- Post the davening, candlelighting, and babysitting times for yourshul in an easy to find spot in your home. Hire extra help if needed.

- Drink a lot of water in the next week and wean yourself off of caffeine.

- Make sure you and your family each have non-leather shoes that fit.

- And last but not least, charge all of your phones, pdas, palm
pilots, cordless phones before Yom Tov. Otherwise you risk dead
batteries :) (It was a close call when I turned on my palm pilot
motzei Rosh Hashanah, won't happen again!, phew)

Sarah' Bonus Tip:
For Great Tips on Fasting Check Out:http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article.htm/aid/431178/jewish/Tips-for-an-Easier-Fast.html

As I think I've mentioned on this blog before, Kelly McCausey, of WAHMTalkRadio.com recently started the "Family Foodies" Podcast. I just love it! This week I was on the show, talking about kosher food with Rivka Slatkin of Jewish-Life-Organized.com If you've ever wondered what keeping kosher is all about, I hope you surf on over and listen in!  Here's the link:

http://familyfoodnetwork.com/blog/2007/family-foodies-episode-7-what-is-kosher/

It's that time of year, Passover is just 2.5 weeks away. How are you doing with your preparations? If you already feel behind, don't panic, I've got some great tips from Rivka Slotkin, the  Premire Jewish Professional Organizer!

Secrets to An Amazing Passover Seder this year, and for years to come

By Rivka Slotkin
Author of Pesach Perfectly Organized 

1.. Seder Meal Planning - "Autopilot" is my secret word for observing Passover. The more things you can put on AUTOPILOT the better. Why? Because we forget how to do it year after year! Talk to a woman who is cleaning her entire house. If she has a plan for how to do it year after year, she is not nervous. But for someone who has no clue where to start, that is when stress can really mount.

Let's put your meals on autopilot. Come up with a list of recipes that you have used in the past. Not only meals you made on Passover but for Shabbat meals, or Thanksgiving meals. What did you make? What did people love? What do you know how to make by heart?

Write down your recipes. Put them in a binder organized under categories- Soup, Salads, Poultry. You can create your meal plans from these recipes. Designate a separate Passover binder and use it year after year.

No more guesswork about what to make. Put your meals on autopilot. Even if this is your first time making an organized Pesach this will work for you. If you do not know what you made last Passover, start thinking about what you made last week for Shabbat. Or for Wednesday night dinner? Can you convert it into a Passover recipe? Write down recipes, put them in your new Passover Binder and begin again now.

2. Seder Table Decorating

What's the first step to any home decorating project? Choosing a focal point or an inspiration object. You know that from watching design shows!

Do you want your Seder Table to look like a professional set it? Here's how you can achieve the look you want.

Have you seen a picture of a table setting in a magazine that you would love to duplicate? Or do you have a religious object that you just love using year to year? Choose an inspirational object to focus your table around.

When you choose an object to set your table around, your table will look classic. Your table will look intentional. All the rest of the pieces on your table will compliment your special object. No, your table will not look coordinated in the boring, predictable sense. Elegant and beautiful in the WOW sense! Clean, streamlined, and inspiring.

Next, what color is your object of choice? Any kind of designer typically works with 2, 3, or 4 colors in any type of design project- graphic or interior.

You can do the same with a table. Pick at least 2 colors to start with. What colors are in your inspirational object? Or in the picture you�ve cut out?

And the next question is: what other items do you have to go with the color scheme? No you don�t have to go out and buy more pieces. Just inventory what you have and write it down so you know right away how to set the table.

In my own palm pilot, I have a list that looks like this for my Sabbath table settings.

4 color combination Brown, White, Green, Silver -silver bowl from sue -brown meat dishes -chrome pedestal bowl -white china teapot -silver coaster -brown everyday meat mugs -green salad bowl

3 color combination Blue, Gold/Amber, and Red Blue Shabbat China Amber color glasses Blue Kiddush cups Amber Chargers Amber Water Pitcher Red cake stand

Here�s a blank chart for you to create for your Passover Seder Table setting.

Seder Table Color Combinations

1. _________ + _________+ __________

Pieces that fit into the collection: (make a list)

One year, I happened to cut out a picture of a beautiful, traditional table setting that utilized all white dishes and red roses at each setting. I knew it would work for me because my Passover china is all white. I purchased 8 small bubble bowls and stuck in a red rose at each person's setting. I purchased red cloth napkins to match.

A guest asked me what color flowers to bring. I asked her to make sure there was red in the bouquet. My centerpiece.

On Passover, if you stick with the same color scheme year after year, you will not feel bored. If you set your table the same way every Shabbat, then boredom might surmount. But on Passover, just taking out your tableware will instill fond memories and an excitement for the Seder!

Knowing what your table will look like for every Seder year after year, actually puts things on autopilot and works for you not against you. I'll talk more about this a little later.

3. Take Notes! Make notes BEFORE and AFTER Passover (and during the preparation stages) about what worked and what didn�t work. How many bottles of wine and matzah you bought. What kitchen items you would have liked to have.

I do this the MINUTE Passover is over. You know why? Because I will forget. Guaranteed. Last year I wrote in my Post Pesach notes that I would have liked to vacuum my strollers earlier. And I would have liked to invite my guests earlier.

I would not have remembered this had I not made notes last year. And you know what? If you do this, you will have an INSTANT Passover guide for your needs.

  Pesach Perfectly Organized talks about how to make Pesach from start to finish with a schedule of what to do every week and day for 6 weeks leading up to Passover. Cleaning, cooking, shopping, you name it. Talk about putting tasks on autopilot!). It's just one of the great solutions for Busy Jewish Mom's that you'll find at Jewish-Life-Organized.com (I also recommend her whole Yom Tov Perfectly Organized Collection!)