Author Archives: The Jewish Lady

Do Moms Need “Me Time?”

Moms, when was the last time you took a “time out” just for yourself? Probably not lately! Luvs—the official diaper of experienced parents—conducted a formal poll of moms across the country to take a look at what parenting is really like and to uncover what they truly value most. The survey revealed that nearly 2 in 3 moms have never taken a day completely for themselves. (I am very guilty of doing this!)

As we welcome in the New Year, perhaps the best resolution for parents is to give themselves a well-deserved bit of “me time.” In 2017, I am setting aside 20 minutes every morning to drink my coffee, journal, and enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted moment without any distractions. This allows me to start off calmly and helps me to be more focused and less frazzled.

All moms know that parenthood is a roller coaster ride, but I try to take it in stride and not sweat the small stuff. Instead of dwelling on the negative, I look for little things that help me get through my busy days and make life easier. Using products that get the job done and don’t break the bank can be so helpful! That’s why I buy Luvs diapers.

 

Luvs recently introduced the new and improved Luvs Ultra Leakguard Diapers with NightLock Plus™. Softer and more absorbent than before, with large stretch tabs for easy fastening, ultra-leakage protection and a money-back guarantee, Luvs provide features babies and parents need for less cost than premium brands.
 
Also, to make sure everyone gets their share of value, Luvs is offering a  printable coupon, good for $1.00 off any one diaper pack. All Luvs diapers are included in this particular offer, except trial/travel sized packs.

Parenting can be difficult, but diapering doesn’t have to be when you choose Luvs. 

 

This review was made possible by iConnect and Luvs. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

Super Savings Saturday – 1/14/2017

Welcome to another edition of Super Savings Saturday!

This week’s deals mean a lot to me and I owe it all to my dear readers. By saving up affiliate credits, I was able to purchase a new microwave and slow cooker—for FREE. I can’t thank each of you enough! I enjoy blogging so much and I would truly do it for nothing, but earning a little bit of compensation feels wonderful.

Best Buy:

The microwave is a white countertop model made by Frigidaire that’s replacing an 8-year-old(!) Kenmore that had a broken turntable and barely worked. It’s much more powerful and heats up in a snap.

The slow cooker is a 6-quart programmable made by Hamilton Beach. My old one was smaller, only had a warm/low/high switch, and the stoneware was cracked after lots of use. Expect to see some new recipes in the near future after I’ve had the chance to try it out.

Food-wise, my best deal was finding a huge box of red onions on clearance at a local produce store. I’m not sure of the exact weight, but it was well over 10 lbs. Total price: $6.99! Only a couple were moldy or spoiled. We ate a few fresh with salads and the majority were sliced, bagged, and put into the freezer for future use.

I also picked up some reasonably priced produce: 2-lbs of zucchini and 3-lbs of broccoli for $0.99/lb each, 5-lb bag of russet potatoes for $1.00, and Gala apples for $0.88/lb. By shopping the sales, I’m able to stock up on lots of healthy fruits and veggies for very little cost.

 

Have you found any deals lately? Share/link in the comments.

Actress Leah Gottfried: Balancing Religion & Hollywood

Is it possible for an Orthodox Jewish lady to have a successful career in Hollywood? According to Leah Gottfried, it’s possible, but very challenging. She recently shared her personal experience, trying to balance the two, and often feeling unwelcome in both communities, stating: “I felt rejected. Rejected by the people of my faith who told me it wasn’t possible to be an Orthodox actor. Rejected by a Hollywood system that gave me that same message. And yet I loved both worlds and couldn’t imagine living my life in just one of them.”

While her experience is unique, everyone can relate to not fitting in, longing for a dream job that seems unattainable, and dealing with countless naysayers. Because of her beauty, talent and determination, Leah has been able to carve out her own path while staying true to her faith. Not only does she act, write, produce and direct, she created Soon By You, a comedic web series—which I’ve blogged about before—that centers on young Orthodox Jews dating in NYC.

Leah is living proof that one can be religious and have a career in the secular world, without compromising their ideals. Very inspirational!

Thursday Night Recharge

Little known fact about me: Thursday is usually the worst day of my week, and it’s caused by extreme exhaustion! You’d think it would be Monday, since that’s always my busiest day, but no, like clockwork, it’s Thursday. This year, I’m focusing on adopting healthier habits. A big part of that is accepting limitations, being honest with myself, and being fully accountable for my behavior. 

Realistically, I know that I need to rest and relax. I need to manage my stress and do a better job with time management. I try, oh boy, do I try! But it needs to be a lifestyle, not just a one or two-month experiment. Based on where I’m currently at, going at a slow pace is the best option. By cramming way too much into Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there’s nothing left by Thursday (no wonder!).

That’s why I had to do a recharge tonight, alone, focusing on myself! And, no, that’s not being selfish, it’s practicing self care. (It’s taken me thirty-five years to understand the concept.)

In the past, when I’ve needed some quiet time, I’ve done at home spa days. While I LOVE to do that, I couldn’t find the hours right now, so I decided to make a delicious dinner and watch some TV instead. That may sound like nothing special, but for me it was pure heaven.

Doesn’t this vegan stir fry look tasty? I tossed every veggie from the fridge into a pan, added a little lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro, then finished by mixing in some black beans. The effort was minimal and it took less time than heating up a frozen pizza (what I’d normally do).

Entertainment-wise, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the Season 2 premiere of Growing Up McGhee. For those who don’t know them, the McGhee family consists of two very likeable, down to earth parents and their adorable sextuplets. Unlike the other mega families, they don’t pretend to be living in paradise and openly discuss coming from poor, abusive backgrounds. I find it refreshing to see someone actually admit that having six kids all cry, scream, and freak out simultaneously not only happens, it happen a lot.

Did my recharge transform my life? Nope. Did it transform my night? Absolutely! And that is sometimes the best we can hope for.

 

How do you recharge?