My ideal would be to send mishloach manos in packaging that is both reused and reusable, but that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Use It Up: The Purim Edition
These Boots are Made for Walking (Away from Shopping)
At the beginning of November, I set an intention not to buy anything except food and household necessities that month. I called it a "Mostly No-Buy November Challenge," and it's good that I included the word "mostly," because I mostly accomplished my goal.
No New Clothes?!?!
I usually go into chagim and chol hamoed all caught up on laundry. But the week leading up to the Nine Days, and I started off with three full loads of dirty laundry that will have to wait until next week. Luckily, I had enough time to get them sorted and ready to go. I’ve... Continue Reading →
Growth and Perfection
When I trimmed the hose to right before the first kink, the remainder was just long enough to water all but a pot of sage and two tomato plants. Was it perfect? No, but it’s a good reminder that “perfect” is the enemy of “good enough.” As Ben Zoma taught, “Who is rich? The one who is happy with what he has.”
A Very Late, Very Short, Mostly Low-Waste Purim Wrap-Up
One week before Purim, I had a goal: I wanted to make the mishloach manot that my husband and I give to friends as plastic-free and low-waste as possible. Unfortunately, what I didn’t have was a plan for how to make that happen. I had come up with two great ideas, but both ideas required... Continue Reading →
Open Your Eyes!
Zero-waste crafting and a reminder about opening your eyes to possiblity.
Making the Light Last
On low-waste shopping choices, finding value in all of HaShem's world, and a way to wipe out plastic drink bottles before and after fast days.
Hakol B’seder?
“This is the key to time management: to see the value of every moment.” —the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L After reading that the average person spends 30 minutes every day looking for stuff, I went on an organizing kick. (I’m assuming that number doesn’t include work hours; I spend a lot more than 30 minutes a... Continue Reading →
Direction, Not Perfection
This week I reached out to a mentor of mine, Ruchi Koval (she’s an inspiring author and speaker), with a question about teshuvah. How should I approach doing teshuva for not having kept a mitzvah 100 percent if I still don’t think 100 percent is achievable for me in 5781, I asked. She wrote back,... Continue Reading →
Handle (Me) with Care
I remember when my kids were babies. They felt so fragile to me, and I was fanatical about knowing what was in their foods, their lotions, and their soaps, anything that touched their bodies. I would only use things my pediatrician or a mom I really trusted recommended. I read the bottles and googled around... Continue Reading →
The Bal Tashchit Balabusta 