Top 5: March 2020

March has been a liiittle bit crazy. But here’s my Top 5! What’s been good for you this month? Let me know in the comments!

1. Yeti Tumbler

Since I’ve had to part ways with 7Eleven for now (I know, it’s very hard for all parties involved), I’ve started drinking LOTS of tea. Thank goodness I loooove my tea. But I started using a regular mug, and my tea was getting cold before I could drink it. So I switched to my Yeti , and my tea is literally still a perfect temperature 4 hours after I make it (or more!). Get one. You’re welcome.

2. Mr. Nobody

I just read this book, Mr. Nobody, after I read Something in the Water. I didn’t really like Something in the Water very much, but I was intrigued by the blurb for Mr. Nobody. And I’m really glad I read it. I was confused and on edge for more of the book than I normally am, in a good way. Meaning, I could barely predict what was going to happen, and I wanted to keep reading. A very easy read. Highly recommend.

3. #SwagMags for a Cause

I am so proud of this initiative I started to benefit Shalom Task Force, Libenu and the Chicago Chesed Fund. But let me explain. I’ve wanted to create swag for a while, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. After a lot of thought, I created quote magnets that made me happy, and I thought would make others smile as well.

But as we rounded the corner into this strange time of unknowns, I realized that I could use my #SwagMags for a cause. I chose to sell my swag at $8/magnet, which will cover the costs of production, and then the remaining proceeds (approx. 20%) will be split between 3 organizations who I KNOW are in desperate need of help right now.

Shalom Task Force

Shalom Task Force is an organization that helps women who are in domestic abuse relationships. Imagine being stuck at home (literally, stranded) with someone who abuses you. I can’t. And I don’t want to. 

Libenu

Libenu is a Chicago organization that helps provide services, housing and medical care for adults with special needs. They also run afternoon programming for children with special needs. They are exceptional. Everyone in Chicago knows about Libenu and the work they do. They also know the residents because the homes are very much in the community, and the residents are a part of our community too.

During this time, it is incredibly important to keep their residents quarantined, as they are especially medically fragile. But the residents don’t have the cognitive knowledge to understand why they a) can’t leave or b) go home, as many of them grew up in the Chicago community, so “home” is close by. They are also paying the full-time staff to be quarantined with the residents during this time. If you can imagine the costs (medical, food, overtime) — they are exorbitant. To top it off, they had to cancel their annual gala, which is their biggest fundraiser. They need our help.

Chicago Chesed Fund

And finally, the Chicago Chesed Fund does so much good for the Chicago community. They provide food, clothing, supplies, funds and much more for those in need, and the need is much higher right now. So to make up for the extra need, they need our financial and goods donation support.

Please support me in this important initiative to help others. Helping in the ways we can (donating our time, goods, money, spreading awareness, staying home) — these are the ways that will help bring an end to this horrible virus, so our lives can get back to normal!

4. White Board Morning Meeting

I decided to buy a white board for a few different reasons:

1. Our home was in need of a command center. I wanted someplace central in our home, where I could write messages that everyone can see. Although only my husband and I can read for now, by having sight words on the board, I hope it will help my kids start to recognize certain words as they get older. 
2. I had an empty space on my wall, and I didn’t know what to do with it. 

Today’s morning meeting:

The first three lines are constants, and then I change the words at the bottom depending on the day.

• Good morning! (Shabbos Kodesh, etc)
• Today is _______!
• How do you feel? (Round Robin answers) Get excited because something is in the works to make this part of your morning meeting over the top!
• Site words, etc. Over Shabbos, I had their names in English and their names in Hebrew. Today, I wrote their names again (Miri is great at recognizing her name and Azi’s name already), and then I added our almost-immediate family members (including our nanny and Lucille, my dad’s dog, of course). And no, I am not comparing Martha (our nanny) to Lucille (a dog). It just happens to be that they were the only two “family members”, who aren’t exactly family members, on our list.

5. Spring has “kind of” sprung!

Day by day, I see my beautiful, baby blossoms beginning to come up! We planted a lot of new things last Fall, and I’ve been waiting and waiting for them to come up so we can see the fruits of our labor. As you may know, gardening gives me such joy, and I encourage you to give it a try, if you can. There’s something about being outside, getting your hands in dirt, and giving something literally everything that it needs. And talk about pulling weeds — it is SO therapeutic.

Over the last two summers, I’ve cultivated a gardening community in our family, and the kids really enjoy it as well. It is definitely my favorite time of year. Now that we’re inside for a while, and it’s not quite warm enough to be outside all the time, I just bought this Beetle & Bee See Thru Garden View set to grow some vegetables inside with Miri and Azi.

Here’s hoping that my March Top 5 has brought you some happiness during this incredibly strange time. I wish you and your families health and success during this time and forever. May this difficulty bring us closer to the Messiah every day.