Get ready to brag about your favorite snack, be competitive, and have fun!

The Rules of Snack Memory:

1. Everyone has to bring one snack (something special and worthy for the game, like a chocolate bar, huge bag of chips, candy…)
2. Sit around the table. Everyone introduces their snack and brag about “why their snack is the best snack ever.”  (This is my mother’s favorite chocolate, This is the colorful gummy worms that I hide from my children…)
3. Put your snack  under the table on your lap so it’s not visible to anyone else.
4. The first person begins by choosing anyone at the table and asking, “Sarah, can I have your [onion flavored chips….chocolate covered almonds…be very specific as there may be many types of chocolate]. If you guess correctly, you get the snack.
5. Then the next person to the left goes. If she wants to choose someone with two or more items, they need to list all the items that person has. If that person has five snacks you need to list all five. If you get one wrong, you don’t get any of the snacks and you are out of the game. You can keep the snack(s) you currently have on your lap.
6. The only person you are not allowed to ask is the one who went right before you.
7. If you have a large crowd playing, stick to one snack per person. If you are playing with under 10 people, up the challenge and have every person playing bring two snacks.
8. At the end of the game, there will be one person left standing, and they most likely will be the person with the most snacks!

Have fun!

The post How to Play Snack Memory at Your Chanukah Party appeared first on Between Carpools.

It works in both dairy and meat versions. It takes a total of 20 minutes to prep. And it really pleases the crowd.

Need a dish to bring to a party and not in the mood of making something complicated? How about a dinner that takes 20 minutes to prepare and pleases pretty much everyone? Dairy? Meat?

This pasta salad will take care of all of the above. And 20ish minutes is all it takes to make enough even for a crowd.

Start by putting up a pot of pasta in the shape of your choice. This works with any shape, but a larger chunkier one will make it prettier to serve. While that’s cooking, you’ll prepare the dressing in a bowl large enough to toss all the pasta you’re making. The measurements listed are for one box of pasta, but just multiply as needed. Slice (or just use pre-sliced) the olives and sun-dried tomatoes and add to the dressing.

If you are making the fleishig version (and this is one of the most popular dinners in my house), prepare the chicken while the pasta is still boiling. If you’re making a large amount, use two skillets to save time. Toss the chicken breast with the oil and seasonings and pan fry in a liberally sprayed skillet.

When the pasta is ready, drain and toss with dressing (after removing some of the plain pasta for the kid who won’t eat it any other way…)  If you’re adding chicken, you can add it right away. If you’re adding feta cheese, wait a bit for the pasta to cool so you don’t melt all the cheese.

The post Why We’re Bringing This Mediterranean Pasta Salad to the Party appeared first on Between Carpools.

These fritters are a simple and nutritious side dish for any dairy meal!  For a pareve version, omit the cheese.

By Rivki Rabinowitz

Rivki is a mom of 3 girls who is passionate about cooking, particularly elevating the vegetable. Showcasing the veggie’s diversity in modern and innovative preparation is her happy place! Find her @rivkirabinowitz. For collab inquiries, DM on instagram or email rivkirabinowitz @ gmail.com

The post Looking for That Nutritious Latke? We’ve Been Enjoying These Zucchini Fritters appeared first on Between Carpools.

Bake this chocolate cake and you’ll be the most popular neighbor on the block.

By Malkie Hirsch

This is the favorite cake of all the block kids and among all of my friends who come over on Shabbos. This type of cake is called a “dump cake” because it starts with a mix, but then other ingredients are added to heighten the flavors. Chocolate pudding, chocolate liquor, coffee, it’s all in there. And it’s amazing. I bake it all the time and often top it with ganache.. Make it now and memorize the recipe because it’s easy and delicious! 

About Malkie:

Malkie Hirsch is a food writer, cook, and baker that resides in Woodmere with her husband and 5 children. Her mission in life is to find foods, besides eggs and pizza, that her impossibly picky 10-year-old Dovid would consider eating. She’s still packing chicken nuggets for him before Shabbos sleepovers. Follow her on Instagram @kissthekoshercook.

The post These Duncan Hines Hack Results in the Most Irresistible Chocolate Cake appeared first on Between Carpools.

The greatest gift does not need to cost you a penny. Yet it will be the best gift ever.

Whether you think Chanukah and immediately think “gifts” or you find the whole gifting thing wrong and inappropriate…is  irrelevant. Because here is a type of gift anyone can give. It’s a gesture, more than anything.

This “game” began one year when my little girl complained that she didn’t have any money to buy me something special. I told her she can draw me a pretty picture, but, she wasn’t too impressed with that suggestion. She wanted something more unique.

“Ma, I will bring you coffee every morning to your bed!” she volunteered, her eyes lighting up.

The coffee was mostly spilled by the time it got to my room, but it is still warming my heart 3 years later. Some gestures you don’t forget.

This is how the favors game was born. We play it every year come Chanukah.

I decided this was a great opportunity for any family member to look at the name that was picked and figure out “what can I, at my age/status,  do for him/her ?” It gets quite interesting. Think about it, what can a 6-year-old do for Tatty? What can a little girl do for her older sister?

So, before you get too confused, here is the gist of the game:

1. Write all the names of the people in your family on pieces of paper and create a ‘goral’ (raffle).
2. Everyone picks one name.
3. Each person then decides what they can offer/give/do for that recipient for the coming week.

Here are some ideas:

Prepare negel vasser

Bring coffee to their bed

Make their bed

Prepare their lunch/snack

Write a nice note daily

Help with homework

Read a chapter book (perfect for an older sibling who can read to the younger sibling)

Play/teach how to play (think a boy building a Lego set for a younger sibling)

Take child for a walk or to the store

Try it. You will be surprised how these little gestures can change so much in the atmosphere at home.

And please, add your own ideas in the comments!

The post The Gift of Giving: This Chanukah, Play the “Favor Game” with Your Family. appeared first on Between Carpools.

This Mushroom Romaine salad is one of those favorite recipes that’ll make its way into every household.

Some salad recipes go around from friend to friend with no clear credit. As they move along, one adds one ingredient, another removes a different one. This is the particular way that salad recipes get passed from one person to another. Years ago, there was a popular Portobello mushroom salad with ketchup in the dressing. I must have seen 10 versions of it. And so this recipe is the same. Make it your own based on the ingredients in your fridge. Have fun!

The post This is That Mushroom Romaine Salad That Everyone Loves appeared first on Between Carpools.

What the secret to that super white grout? Or those shining floor mouldings? These cleaning products are the answer to practical and perfect home maintenance.

By Ruchmy Schwartz

Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Finish and Polish –

Best wood cleaner/polisher. It makes the floors look like they’re just refinished.

Downy Wrinkle Release Spray

Clorox CLO 04690 No-Splash Dual-Tip Bleach Pen

For any white grout in bathroom or caulking near the toilet or tub. This will make it sparkling white again.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original, Cleaning Pads with Durafoam, 8 count (Packaging May Vary)

Best things to keep all your molding white and dust-free.

Dust-Off Compressed Gas Duster, Pack of 4

For dust in fake florals or any small hard-to-get-to place

Windex Touch-Up Cleaner Multi-Surface Disinfectant – Glistening Citrus Fragrance 10 Ounce

Keeps handles and faucets shiny without fingerprints.

Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser Premixed Formula | 13-Ounces | (2-Pack)

Best cleaner for granite and quartz

Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner with Stay Clean Technology Aerosol Spray, 17 Oz (2 Pack)

The only stainless spray that protects and keeps the surfaces streak-free

Ultimate Grout Cleaner & Grout Brush

Keep your grout clean with these products. First spray, then clean with the brush.

CLR Complete Cleaning

For any rust-like discoloring outside your house on concrete, this is your solution

About Ruchmy:

Ruchmy Schwartz is a designer in Lakewood that takes special care in the details, maintenance, and practicality of caring for your home. Every aspect of your home should work well with your family dynamic while also suiting your taste and style. Be in touch at Interiorsbyrs@gmail.com on Instagram @Designsbyrs

The post Top 10 Cleaning Products That’ll Make Your Home Sparkle appeared first on Between Carpools.

Or knockerlach, as we call them. Add this tomato soup to your dinner menu.

My sister-in-law Devorah has been making soup for dinners for as long as I know her. When I first got married, soup wasn’t something I would make often. I definitely made chicken soup every week, but during the week, soup was rarely on the dinner menu. Flash forward quite a few years and I realized my kids really like chicken soup so much that I started making a variety of soups during the week. After a bit of trial and error, we decided on our favorites. This recipe from Devorah is comfort classic at its best. For those picky eaters, I convinced them that it’s practically just like eating pizza sauce (it really is!). Paired up with some knockerlach they can’t get enough.

The post Our Family’s New Favorite Comfort is Tomato Soup with Dumplings appeared first on Between Carpools.

He’s not jumping out out of the crib yet…or maybe he is. But is he even mature enough for a bed?

I am currently the proud owner of three cribs and three Pack n’ Plays.

Yes, really.

(That’s the great thing about having twins first — you have way too much of everything!)

Two of my cribs are full-sized and have been the sleeping place of my twins since they were about 4 months old. The third one is a mini-crib that holds my too-big taby (that’s a kid who’s not quite a baby anymore and not yet a toddler) all night + for long naps.

And, since I absolutely categorically refuse to purchase another full-sized crib, that is where he will stay until my girls are ready for beds.

…er… until I’m ready for my girls to be in beds.

Because, in all honesty, my girls could stay in cribs until age 5 for all I care—they don’t climb out, they love their cribs, and they still fit just fine, thank you very much.

But, I know that that’s not the case for all kids—some little toddlers master the sport of Crib Jumping before their second birthdays, or seem to abhor their cribs, or just aren’t great sleepers to begin with. So some mothers start thinking about beds when their toddlers are still more tabies than toddlers – Will moving him to a bed help? Is it safe to switch her yet? How do I know if he’s ready?

And while, of course, every child is different, there are some pretty good general guidelines that you can use for every single child.

First things first: prevent it!

Yes, you CAN prevent your child from becoming a crib jumper (there’s no Olympic sport for it anyway, so you don’t have to worry about him missing out on his chance for fame and fortune)… but you’re going to have to plan a little bit in advance.

If your kiddo’s already started jumping out of his crib, it may already be a lost cause (but don’t throw in the towel yet! I’ve got some tips for you below). But if you’re just reading this article because you like to know random stuff (can we be friends? I’m like that too), and your baby is still a baby and still sleeping well in his crib, then NOW is the time to take action.

I call it a sleep sack.

Your baby calls it “Oooh this is cozy and cuddly and I like this.”

But your toddler would call it, “What is this crazy thing that makes me not be able to jump out of my crib?!? I want it OFF!” (And that’s why if your toddler’s already jumping out this probably won’t work for you.)

Introducing a sleep sack from when your baby is a wee lil’ one will not only keep him warm the whole night without you worrying about the blanket falling off, and create a SIDS-safe environment, but it’ll also keep him from even being capable of jumping out of his crib if he would decide to give it a go when he’s old enough.

I love Halo’s sleep sacks — they’re reasonably priced, they have them in cotton and fleece and as regular sleep sacks or as swaddles, and they’ll fit your kiddos for quite some time.

OK, so my kid is jumping out of his crib and wasn’t in a sleep sack – can I put him in a bed now?

Haaaang on just a second there—let’s talk about what your toddler is capable of and what he’s not capable of and how we can best set him up for success.

The great thing about cribs is that (so long as your kiddo isn’t a jumper), your child can’t get out. That means that your baby, who’s not capable of chapping that he needs to be careful of the edge of the bed, won’t fall off. Good.

But that also means that your curious little scientist of a toddler, who loves exploring and has a severely underdeveloped prefrontal cortex (that’s the part that makes rational decisions—it’s not fully developed till about 25) will be in a safe environment—where she can’t go explore the knife block on the countertop, or discover the sucking candies in the pantry while everyone is asleep.

And yes, I’m serious about that.

Because in order to stay in a bed that doesn’t physically keep her in it is going to require some self control, a deeper understanding of cause and effect (if I come out of my bed, Mommy will X), and, yes, a level of rational decision making.

So when IS it okay to put my toddler into a bed?

Great question! And I’m going to give you my favorite answer of all time: it depends. It depends on your kid’s personality and maturity.

Your toddler is ready for a bed when he’s mentally capable of staying in the bed the whole night long. For most kids, that’s somewhere around their 3rd birthday, though girls tend to be ready a little earlier than boys (yes, really.)

That’s nice in theory, Chaya Shifra, but my kid has been jumping out of his bed, so clearly he is NOT capable of staying in a bed… now what?

Fear not, my dear! I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to help you solve this.

Option #1: Take out the mattress support, and put the mattress on the floor in the crib. This will only work if your crib sides are the full height of the crib—if your kiddo will be able roll out between the bottom of the crib slats and the top of the mattress… #nogood. The idea of this is that there’s more height between his standing surface (mattress) and the jumping bar (top of crib), so it’ll be harder for him to get out.

Option #2: Turn the crib around. If one side of your crib is higher than the other, make the higher side face you rather than the wall. I’ve had clients see great success from this.

Option #3: Build ‘er up! Ok so this one is slightly crazy, and I’ve never actually tried it or recommended it to a client, so I don’t have all the deets for you, but I had one of my listeners on Akeres Habayis tell me that she used lattice and zip ties from Home Depot to make the top of the crib higher than it actually was. (I’ll be totally honest—I’m not sure how she got the kid in or out… unless it was against the wall? Not sure about this one.

Option #4: You can always try a sleep sack…

But what if my toddler really IS ready for a bed?

Stay tuned for How to Transition Your Toddler Into A Bed… coming to a website near you soon!

About Chaya Shifra:

Chaya Shifra Sadoff is the mother of twins and a singleton, and a miracle worker (under the guise of a Certified Sleep Sense Consultant and Lactation Counselor). She works with mothers across the world to build the motherhood they dreamed of by transforming their children (newborns, infants and toddlers) into superstar sleepers. She would also would love feedback from YOU! Shoot her an email chayashifra@kinderwink.com, call 847-868-9465, find her on instagram @kinderwink or check out www.kinderwink.com for more great tricks, tips, and info.

The post How Do You Know When to Switch Your Toddler to a Bed? appeared first on Between Carpools.

 Tired of paying so much for out of network coverage? Your child’s therapy can now be covered in network with Horizon!

Parents of children who need ABA therapy know that obtaining the right insurance to make those essential therapy sessions possible is a frustrating maze.

First, the agency tells you that you’ll need an out-of-network insurance plan to use their services. Out-of-network plans (where any provider can bill an insurance company) are so expensive, often upwards of $1900 a month, just to cover you and one child! And still, even with the out-of-network coverage, one never knows just what the insurance will pay.  

That frustration is now gone because Achieve Behavioral Therapy, Lakewood’s premier therapy center, now accepts Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield! Your child can grow and flourish as they receive the highest quality ABA Therapy in an environment where your child can reach his or her potential.

Your family’s not covered by Horizon? That’s no problem either! In-network plans for your child alone are low-priced and affordable.  Whether your family is covered by a different insurance or by Jersey care, you can have peace of mind knowing that your child’s therapy is affordable and sustainable if you’re enrolled with Horizon in the next 2 days (before open enrollment closes).

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield has the largest list of in network providers in many states, including New Jersey, and great plans for those needing therapy.

Speak to your insurance agent today to make sure your child is covered by Horizon. There’s only two more days left until open enrollment ends on December 15th!

Mini Mine Preschool: The New Preschool Program at Achieve ABA

Often, parents are worried about the stigma of therapy and its effects on yeshivos, seminaries, and shidduchim when the child is basically a toddler and that there is still a stigma surrounding therapy. “Parents often overlook the fact that for children with behavioral challenges, ABA therapy is a simple solution to give children their greatest chance of success in life.” When it comes to child development, it is critical to address any signs of challenges at the earliest stages of development. 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5. Achieve believes that it is important to provide high quality and enriched behavioral support during these formative years. This is the optimal time to effect positive behavioral changes that will lead to a better school experience. That is why Achieve has launched a specialized preschool division focussed on the needs of younger children to set them on a path for success.

Click here to learn more about Achieve Behavioral Therapy and how they can help your child.

Listen to the podcast of Malkie Nussbaum of Achieve, and Abe Weiss of Sterling Insurance Concepts discuss all you need to know about insurance before open enrollment is over.

The post Yes! Your Child’s ABA Therapy Can Be Covered by Insurance! appeared first on Between Carpools.

If your children’s pajamas drawer is full of mismatched sets, it’s time to replace ‘em with some new cozy pairs. And they don’t have to be expensive! These PJs are the best deal all around.

A few months ago, we included Vaenait Pajamas on our baby layette roundup. But if you’re not in the market for layette, then you most likely missed it. And since Vaenait Pajamas are available in children’s sizes from 12M through 7T, they’re amazing for little kids way beyond the baby years.

We debated whether we would share this one with you and risk all our sizes and preferred colors selling out too fast. But sometimes, a deal is too good to keep a secret.

There’s 3 reasons why we love Vaenait Pajamas!

1. Price. Most styles are $14.99 – $15.99; they’re a really good deal. Some are even cheaper!
2. Style. Unlike other low-priced pajamas, the styles are both classic and up-to-date. While they do make some prints, it’s the simpler colors and pattern that have won us over.
3. Quality. Our kids have been wearing some pairs for months now and even after many washes, the colors are just as bright and rich and the fabrics are as soft as when they were new. We’re totally sold!

Here’s some of our favorite styles.

Ribbed Sets are $15.99 and come in 10 colors! The girls sets/colors have a pretty shirring at the neckline and the boys sets/colors have a nice crew neck instead. Colors like Navy come in both girl and boy versions.

Love these boys ribbed sets with plaid patches. So now.

Solid colored half neck PJs also give your freshly bathed kids a clean and yummy look.

The cloud set is one of my girls’ favorites. Also comes in blue, grey, and yellow.

This colorblocked style is another favorite. It also comes in multiple colors.  

Loving both the polka dots and kitty kats shown here.

Are you a tie-dye fan? They have those too, in pink, blue, and more…

Some boys are just too cool. And that includes boys in racing stripe PJs.

See the entire line and let us know which styles you like!

The post 3 Reasons Why We Absolutely Love These Kids Pajamas appeared first on Between Carpools.

This white soup is so velvety and creamy…and it’s pareve!

I first played around with this soup recipe on Tzom Gedaliah and by the time the boys had come home from school, the soup was ready and simmering on the stove. My boys (under bar mitzvah age) had not yet broken their fasts.

I didn’t intend to tempt them! After all, this was a vegetable soup. It’s not like I had taken pizza out of the oven.

When they walked in, though, they couldn’t resist. They made themselves a bowl and broke their fasts.

“Ma, you can’t have the creamiest soup ever on the stove and expect us not to!” one son said.

I was happy they loved it and I had another comforting soup to add to the repertoire for this coming winter.

I use white sweet potatoes in this soup, a potato that we don’t often think to pick up. After all, it’s not orange like what you’d call a yam, and it’s not a staple like a regular potato. Having a sweet flavor while retaining the white color is what makes this soup unique.

We garnished this simply with toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

*Can’t find white sweet potatoes? The regular orange sweet potatoes/yams found at all groceries will work as well.

*If you don’t have leeks on hand, just double up the onions.

*Light coconut milk will keep the soup from being too rich, but classic coconut milk will make it a real treat as well. You won’t discern the coconut flavor…just the creaminess!

The post Craving the Creamiest Soup Ever? Make a Pot of White Soup. appeared first on Between Carpools.

Explore the city, visit Jewish neighborhoods, see all the famous sites, eat in great restaurants, and easily catch minyanim…all in one day in Paris.

Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and caters to people from all over the world. It is fairly tourist-friendly and easy to get around. It is a classic European destination city, complete with rich history, culture, landmarks, and attractions. You can spend days there, but I wrote this post to help with a day or so in Paris, which is usually the time spent on a stopover (find the right flight on Do-All’s search engine). I have been to Paris on a 16.5-hour stopover, from 7 am to 11:30 pm, which I thought was the perfect amount of time to get a good sense of the city.

Jewish Paris
There are two main areas with concentrated Kosher stores and shuls which cater to tourists and locals: Champs Elysees and the 4th Arrondissement (A.K.A. Pletzl, the Marais, Rue Pavee). There are Chabad houses in each area and other local businesses offer very resourceful websites to help you plan your stay. There are a variety of shuls and restaurants, plus options for affordable hotels. I haven’t stayed there for a Shabbos but Chabad is known to be accommodating and offers meals which may require advance reservation. Bear in mind that many restaurants and shops close for two hours during the day (app. 5-7) so make arrangements accordingly. Some kosher items will not bear hechsherim, but can be located on kosher lists to help you find products you may need. Some hechsherim found can include hashgachas from Amsterdam, London, or Antwerp.

Here’s some helpful links:
Chabad Champs Elysees

Restaurant List
European Kosher Product List

Minyanim (Check mapview on desktop site to search neighborhoods)

Kosher Delight General Kosher Info
General Info Contact: Mrs. Razeil Paperman can help with general kosher/local travel qs: papermanr@gmail.com

Good Apps for your Visit:

RATP: Local map guide for the trains around the city (English)
Consistoire: Useful app with Kosher info (Shuls, Kosher products, etc.)
Manger Cacher: Kosher Restaurant Guide  

Getting Around
There is no need to rent a car in Paris if you are traveling from the airport to and around the city. It will be very expensive, and parking and traffic can be a hassle. The public transportation system is very efficient. It seems confusing at first, but after studying the rail system a bit you should become fairly familiar with the network. RER (letters) run around the outskirts of the city (ie RER-B will bring you from CDG into central Paris) and the metro (numbers) will transport you within the city (ie Metro-6 will take you to the Eiffel Tower). Taxis, including Ubers, are very much available, but can be considerably expensive to use. Scooters and bikes are lighter options to quicken travel around Paris.

Attractions
If you want to get a general overview of the city without going into too much detail, especially if you are short on time, consider taking a tour. Tours are available in almost any form, including hop-on-off buses, segways, bike tours, scooter tours, walking tours, and the like. I booked a 3-hour bike tour and was very happy with the guide and stops. Obviously types of tours will depend on weather, season, etc.

I have used the website Getyourguide.com in several European cities for various attractions. It bundles packages and offers skip-the-line options as well. I booked my bike tour with them, as well as my Eiffel Tower passes.

Speaking of which, the Eiffel Tower is arguably the most famous attraction in Paris and lures millions of sightseers a year to climb up. There are several options for visiting the observation landings of the tower:
Stairs – Cheapest option, around €6 per ticket, but can take a while depending on traffic and physical shape. The height of the second level is nearly 400 feet!
Elevator – The most popular option is the classic and historic elevator ride. It will run you around €25 but lines can vary from 1 hr to over 3 hours! You don’t want to waste your day standing in line, but you may get lucky and have a small wait. One common tip is to arrive as early as possible in order to shorten your wait in line.
Skip-the-Line Pass – Bookable on various tour sites, including getyourguide.com, this will be the priciest option, but IMO very much worth it. I bought a timed skip-the-line bundle together with a 1 hour cruise on the Sienne. It cost around $45 total and I went straight into the elevator without any hesitation. You will need to stop by an office there to pick up your hard tickets first. The cruise leaves every hour from the foot of the tower, and it was a very scenic and relaxing way to end the day.

Some sights around the city you may not want to miss:
Arc de Triomphe
Louvre (Displays the Mona Lisa painting; Closed on Tuesdays)
Tuileries Garden
Quaint blocks with artists
River Cruise on the Seine
Route 1: Toward the Statue of Liberty
Route 2: Toward Notre Dame

Other interesting activities if you have more time:

Catacombs
Palace of Versailles
Disneyland Paris (Quick Fact: More visited than the Eiffel Tower)

MISC
Money: The Euro is the accepted currency in Paris. If you’re coming from Israel, change money there. Otherwise, try to find a non-touristy change place in the city for half-decent rates. You can also withdraw cash from an ATM, but check the current rate before withdrawing, as some have terrible exchange rates.
SIM: Verizon’s $10 per-day travel pass is available in Paris. Some Israeli providers offer service in Europe for free with premium plans. Local SIMs are available in the airport, convenient stores, and in tourist shops. You may consider getting a European SIM if you are on a multi-country trip. Most hotels and public buildings provide wifi, which may be an alternative to paying for phone service.
TIPS:
Applicable to most tourist spots in Europe: watch your pockets. Check your belongings frequently and stay away from strange people. Sense your security at all times.
Some cities in Europe tend to be more prone to anti-semitism and terrorism than others. The truth is, no place is considered safe from these possibilities but you should be aware of several points that should help keep you safe:
*Avoid walking around dark, quiet areas, especially alone
*Try to blend into the average tourists in the city you’re visiting. Don’t wear loud clothing or attract any unnecessary attention to yourself. It’s better to wear colored shirts and caps than “rabbinic” garb in public places. In my opinion, it isn’t worth the stares or hate shouts you may receive. Most shuls and Jewish neighborhoods there have high-level security, so dressing appropriately for davening is generally fine.

Safe travels!

Ready to fly? Search for flights here!

About Yakov:

The post How to See Paris in One Day appeared first on Between Carpools.

Sure, it’s fun to receive packages. But this time of year, the most fun package of all to receive is a new fresh cozy sweater. Here’s the picks we want to add to cart.

Imatra Mock Neck Pullover.Love those lines.

The Sheridan Ribbed Sweater. So ladylike.

Ruffled Cable Knit Sweater.Too many reasons to add this to bag.

Nutcracker Sweatshirt. Cozy and sweet.

Winterscape Peplum Top. Comfy enough to jump right in.

The Ribbed Dress. I’ll take two.

Funnel Neck Cashmere. Full of class.

Split Hem Sweater. Because it goes with everything.

Kimball Colorblock Sweater. Colorblocks just always work. This one especially.

Pattern Knit Heart Sweater.

Our Favorite Cable Sweater. Been searching for a great cable? Here’s another at less than half the price.

Asymmetrical Colorblocked Sweater. Something about this blue.

The Classic Crew.Great for layering.

The Bowneck.Instant outfit.

Marled Cropped Turtleneck. Can they ship same day?

The post All I Want to Wear is A…Sweater! 14 We Absolutely Love (Bonus: They’re on Sale). appeared first on Between Carpools.

 I was 19 the first time I mourned a loss. And there wasn’t really anyone around who could understand.

At the age of 19 we think we’re invincible. We may know that bad things happen, but we never think they’re going to happen to us.

I got married at 19. My husband and I were part of a group of couples who got married within an 18 month time span. Two of our couple friends already had children and a short time after our wedding, I found out I was expecting. We were ecstatic, we were thrilled—and maybe a little bit thrown. We were only married a few months and we were enjoying being a couple. But the thought of adding another person to our lives was something that made us happy.

I had my first doctor’s appointment and the reality clicked—we were going to be parents.  And then I started staining. I went for an ultrasound and they told me there was no heartbeat. I may be 52 today, a mother and a grandmother, but it takes just a few minutes to become that 19-year-old girl feeling as if her life was over. I was overwhelmed with sadness and grief, as was my husband.

We had no privacy. Everybody knew about our loss—my mother, my mother-in-law, my aunt, my grandmother. As a matter of fact, I remember walking out of the sonogram place and getting into the car with my aunt and my grandmother. I can’t remember anymore why there were there, but I do remember my grandmother saying, “At least you know you can get pregnant. Some people don’t even get that.”

I know she meant well; I think I even nodded in agreement with her. Was is comforting?  I don’t think so.

I knew about miscarriages.  My aunt had had a traumatic one. My loss wasn’t traumatic, not even emotionally. It just made me very sad. I remember being at a friend’s wedding shortly after and feeling an overwhelming sense of grief.

The years passed and, baruch Hashem, we were blessed with four children. When our youngest was about four, I miscarried again, and again, and again. I don’t remember much about that year except feeling obsessed. I had to have another baby. And each time I experienced a loss, I didn’t feel sadness or grief, just this overwhelming sense of, “I have to have a baby. I have to. I have to.”

The third miscarriage changed all that. It was an erev Shabbos and I was staining. I called the doctor and he told me to come in right away. We were having a house full of company. It was my cousin’s aufruf and my grandparents were sleeping by us, as was my mother and some other relatives.

It was a short Friday in January.  When we got to the hospital, the doctor told us I needed a DNC. I don’t remember a lot about the rest of the day, except for the doctor telling me that by the time I woke up it would be Shabbos.

It was.  The hospital staff was great.  They put us in a private room and we stayed there all Shabbos.  Once the nurses saw that I was okay, they came in just periodically.  That Shabbos was an oasis in time; just me and my husband alone on the Lower East Side. It  was a great gift.

Throughout that year, I had no one to share my feelings with. I did have one friend who had experienced loss and I could talk to her.  But that’s it. There was nothing to read, no one to call.

It has been more than 20 years since that loss and today I run A TIME’s pregnancy loss support program, HUG. I have had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of woman who have experienced loss in various stages: early miscarriages, second trimester losses, stillbirths, babies who lived only a short time.

What I have learned is that there is no one way to grieve this kind of loss—the loss of potential, the loss of hope, the loss of a dream.  For every woman, for every couple, it’s different. The common denominator is the need for validation. Every couple needs to hear from the family and friends one thing: I wish this hadn’t happened to you.  I wish you weren’t in pain. I am here to help in any way you want me to be, even if that means just sitting here and being silent.

I know that’s what I wanted to hear.

And today, no couple has to bear this pain alone. A TIME/HUG provides services in many ways: a comforting packet filled with self-care goodies and chizuk related material, monthly support groups, national teleconferences, our Kol Chaya line with recordings of all our programs, community events with great speakers.  We also help arrange for Chevra Kadisha when needed, comfort doulas to be with couples during DNE and inductions, and meals for the first night at home. In addition, our medical consultants are experts in the field of reproductive health and can guide couples in making the best choices for their particular situation.

It’s comforting to know that all a couple has to do is pick up the phone and a wealth of support is waiting for them.  Don’t ever think no one understands; we do.

About Chumi:

Chumi Friedman is an editor at The Jewish Press and directs HUG, A TIME’s pregnancy loss support program.  She can be reached at chumi@atime.org.

The post One Woman’s Story: How It Feels to Miscarry appeared first on Between Carpools.

No fuss delicious chicken and potato dinners like these simply make life easier. If it wasn’t for the amazing aroma, your kitchen wouldn’t even know that you cooked a thing.

The recipe might be basic. But don’t let that fool you.

This is the one chicken-on-the-bone recipe that my entire family will agree upon. It’s comfort food, with a twist of umami. And, best of all, it’s ready in just over an hour. In a 9×13 pan.

Need I say more?

The post The 9 x 13 Life: Chicken And Potatoes In One Pan. This Is Not Your Bubbie’s Recipe. appeared first on Between Carpools.

Few things make a woman feel as satisfied as having an organizing home. These favorite boxes and bins will help you get there.

There is nothing as satisfying as having an organized house. That organized house is a place where everything has a home and you never spend hours searching for that one thing you know you put somewhere. While having an organized home doesn’t always entail buying new boxes and storage containers, who are we kidding? They make the processes so much neater looking. So we asked two of our favorite organizers Shira from @organizedbyshira and Shulamis from @real_life_organizing for their favorites from The Container Store and added in some favorites of our own.

Card Boxes 

No more cards games roaming around. Store them in this neat case (it comes in 12 or 16 ). 

White Bin Clip Labels

Not all bins can take a nice P-Touch label. Whenever a sticker doesn’t work, these clips do.

Plastic Storage Bins with Handles in Clear OR White.

Well priced bins that work for pantries, little items that get pulled down from high shelves, or anything you want to containerize neatly but on a budget.

Spice Rack

Low on space to store your spices? Take advantage of the hight and store your spices in this pretty spice rack.

White Nordic Storage Baskets with Handles

Love these pretty storage baskets for closets when you want a pretty closet but the items are small and cant be on display.

Shoe Boxes

These shoe boxes last forever (my mothers has hers for over 20 years!) Great when stacking shoes and they also work great in toy closets for small games.

Get the larger mens size for larger games. Since they come in so many sizes these are a great option for the entire toy closet. Neat, clear very well pice you can choose the sizes you need based on the toys you have. All with the same clean lines. (Bonus: You can buy them cheaper in packs of 5 or 20, or buy individually based on what you need). Buy them here.

Extra Photos Storage Box

You know all those loose photos, random sizes that either aren’t organized in a photo album or don’t fit? I know some rarely print photos these days but many have older photos sitting around. Place them in a box, and have them looked semi organized while you think for the next decade what you plan on doing with them.

Expand a Shelf

Can’t see the cans in your pantry or cabinet? Use a shelf!

Clear Stackable Drawers

Not enough room in your bathrooms? Utilize under cabinet or tight spaces with these drawers. The larger size comes with dividers so that you can easily divide smaller items within one drawer.  

Clear Stackable Bins

Want to keep those piles of sweaters or shirts neat and avoid them from toppling over? Use these bins to create neatly divide up a shelf.

Gray Drawer Organizers

Your husband (or boys) deserve some closet love. Store their belts or ties rolled up in these beautiful drawer organizers. You can also stand them up on a shelf as a nice tie display.

Sewing Box – Hobby Case

Instead of looking around for that needle or that extra button that came with your child’s coat, keep it in this sewing box.

The post 12 Favorite Bins and Boxes from The Container Store appeared first on Between Carpools.

Peak into one day in the life of Nurse Practitioner, Mom of Two, and Food Blogger Shushy Turin to learn how she squeezes that sourdough into her busy day.

The question I get asked most frequently is, “How do you find time to do what you do?” I get asked this question more than, “What is miso?”, “Can I have the recipe for your bread?”, and “What are you even talking about with that food word?”; people always want to know how I manage my time.
Here’s the truth, I don’t know.
As a full-time working mother of two I love that I have time to do the things I love somewhere in between my daily commute and tucking my kids in at night but with life being as busy as it is, it’s almost impossible to get everything in, so how do I make the most of my days? I figure the best way to explain it is to take you through one of my ideal days. If everything goes perfectly by some kind of miracle and no one wakes up sick in the morning, here’s how my day usually goes.

My daily schedule is as follows:
6:30 a.m. Wake up, I’ll probably run down and mix a sourdough and leave it on the counter for later to shape or take a couple of shots of a dish I have yet to post and put some toast in the toaster before running up to get dressed and put on a full face of makeup for work.
7 a.m. Wrestle the kids out of bed, encourage dressing and tooth-brushing while putting kids snacks and lunches in their respective bags. My husband leaves later for work so this is where I turn the kids over to him.
7:10 a.m. Big smacking kisses for everyone, grab the lunch I prepared the night before, a coffee that is larger than my face, and run out with toast between my teeth.
7:15 a.m. Commute begins. I take public transportation because I use the opportunity to catch up on articles that need writing, orders that need to get done, a couple of davenings, and plans for the week. Finish with a walk from the train (I get off a stop early) which constitutes as half of my exercise for the day.
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Work! I love it and it’s amazing. I hopefully scarf down lunch at some point.
5:05 p.m. Walk to the train, the other half of my daily exercise. Once I get to the train I think about what I plan to do that night. Dinner is already made and the babysitter should be feeding it to the kids after their bath. Post to Instagram, if there’s anything to post….gotta stay relevant.

6 p.m. Home! Kiss the kids! Ask them about their day; put the phone away for the hour to give them the attention they need. Put dinner in the oven so that I can eat after they get into bed.
7:15 p.m. Begin the round up for bedtime. Each kid gets their own “5 minutes of cuddles” to tell me about their day. We sing Shema and they get tucked in. I try not to get too excited that it’s mommy time now.
7:35 p.m. Sit down for dinner. It feels like the first time all day that I’ve sat. I’m probably still wearing my sheitel and heels from work. Catch up on emails, texts, and DMs as needed.
7:50 p.m. Music goes on! (It helps me work faster) I make dinner for the next day. Don’t forget to write instructions on top of each container so the babysitter can heat it properly! Also story it because.. Instagram…
8:30 p.m. Shape sourdough time 1  
8:35 p.m. Get started on Shabbos prep if necessary. Prep is as follows:
Sunday: Breads, cakes, cookies (bake and freeze)
Monday: Appetizers (freeze and bake), marinade meat and stick it in the freezer
Wednesday: Dips, salad dressings, kugel
Thursday: Chicken, veggies, soup
Friday: Sear meat, bake anything that needs to be finished.

9 p.m. Shape sourdough loaves and get back to Shabbos cooking. Put kids to bed again.
9:40 p.m. Husband gets home! Dinner, talking, catch up on things that need to be done.
10 p.m. Time to shower and do some light stretching before bed.
10:15 p.m. Watch a show while checking Instagram, Facebook, and logging my food diary if I’m feeling ambitious (I’m not usually).
11 p.m. Sleep time! Get ready to do it all again the next day!

Certain gaps that get filled in on Sunday:
My menu planning happens on Saturday night after cleaning from Shabbos is finished. I look at recipes I wanted to make, things I have saved to try and see what will fit in with our needs. I aim to make one new type of food we haven’t tried and then usually make something we have on heavy rotation that can be prepared in advance like zaatar and blueberry chicken and rice, meatballs and spaghetti, or pad Thai. I also have at least one night a week where we order out. Momma needs a break every once in a while. Then I make an order to deliver food for the week.
I try to make a dressing that I can keep in the fridge along with a sealed container of washed and checked greens so a salad is never too far away. If I have a couple extra minutes on Sunday, I’ll also roast some vegetables or slice some veggies to make a more interesting salad and have available snacks for the kids but it doesn’t usually happen.

I’ll also check and make sure our freezer stash is full…lachme bajin, lahmancun, Yebra, Kofte borekas, meatballs and spaghetti, kugel, cakes, cookies, biscotti, broth, lasagna, mini pizza, and various dips. If something is missing I aim to fill it so that I lessen the workload for Shabbos or have a fall back once a week when I need chill time more than usual.

On Sunday I’m also catching up on freezer stash that needs refilling, Instagram photoshoots, packing lunches and snacks for the week so they are ready to go, and most importantly, spending time with the kids.

My life is full bH! Having a great planner, a supportive husband, and a reliable babysitter makes it easier. I cut myself breaks all the time. There have been weeks when all we have had was eggs and wacky Mac for dinner, yogurt for lunch, and spent Shabbos by parents because I needed to rest. All and all I love the way my life is! I love that it’s fast-paced, pretty well organized, and allows me to have the time to express myself and engage with others. It makes my world so much bigger than it is.

The most important components of making everything run smoothly are:
*Take those breaks when you need them
*Be realistic about your goals for yourself, don’t try to do too much too fast or you will burn out quickly.
*Delegate when you can!
*If you aren’t enjoying it something needs to change.
*Planning ahead cuts your time in half.
*Things won’t always go according to plan, more often than not you’ll end up with something that doesn’t work out or a kid that gets extra cranky. Know your priorities so that you can toss the things that are less important or put them off for another time.
*Have a kvetch friend. Everyone needs one!
*Good luck everyone!! You got this!

About Shoshana:
Shoshana Shine NP, FNP-BC
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY Shushy has always had a great love for delicious food. It wasn’t until a year getting married that started learning about the different places foods come from, different culinary styles and great techniques. Her Instagram account @cookinginheelss is a peek into her daily food adventures and her obsession with shoes. Her recipes have been featured in Ami Magazine, Binah Magazine, Joy of Kosher, FYI Magazine and several blogs. She lives in Teaneck with her husband, two children and 47 pairs of shoes.

The post How One Working Mom Gets It Done appeared first on Between Carpools.

Once Shabbos is over in the wintertime, there’s a long cozy (homework free) evening ahead of you. Plan ahead and make some great family memories and nights to remember.

Come winter, motzei Shabbos features super long evenings, cold weather, and kids that need food and entertaining. If you don’t prepare in advance you’re left with cranky kids and none of the right ingredients in the house. With a bit of thought and preparation, motzei Shabbos can be turned into memorable family time that your kids will fondly remember for years to come.

Here are 8 ideas for super fun activities that can be enjoyed at home with kids of all ages. Invite some friends or keep it low key; put on some music and have fun!

Waffle Bar – Mom makes waffles and kids prepare the toppings. Chopped up fruit, yogurt, chocolate chips, whip cream, jam, sprinkles etc. They can also plate their waffles and take pictures of them, with the prettiest plate being the winner. Try our recipes here. 

Cookie Bake Off – Prepare a few different cookie doughs (can be made on Friday and refrigerated) and have the kids scooping, rolling and decorating. Make sure to have enough rolling pins and cookie scoops to prevent fighting and stock up on some fun sprinkles, colored sugar etc. Alternatively, you can use ready baked cookies and buy edible markers or make different colored royal icings (confectioner’s sugar, bit of water, and a drop of food coloring will work for decorating).

Scavenger Hunt – Prepare some clues and hide them around the house. Where does Zaidy like to nap? Where does Mommy hide the good chocolate? Call Bubby for the next clue etc. For younger kids the clues can be drawings or close-up pictures. Have a little prize waiting for them at the end.

Game Night – Take out a bunch of board games and have fun! Make it super competitive by keeping track of the winners each round and giving out prizes for first winner, runner up etc. For game recommendations see this post or this one.

Movie Night – Pop some popcorn, make hot chocolate and cuddle up for a fun movie night. You can rent Jewish movies from Torah Treasure, Mostly Music, Amazon Prime and other sites.

 Chopped Competition – Leah Shapira’s Chopped competition idea is great for older kids. Set out some ingredients and have them prepare a gourmet dish in an hour. Read more about it here.

Escape Room – You have one hour to solve all the riddles and escape the room/crack the code! Super creative moms can get some ideas off Pinterest and create their own Escape Room activities. Otherwise you can purchase ready-made Escape Room bundles for a few dollars off Teachers Pay Teachers (creating an account is free) and other sites.

Show Time – Take out all your Purim costumes, old wigs and high heels and have your kids prepare a show. Mom takes an hour to rustle up some snacks (or relax!) and the kids practice. Older kids can write their own script and make it super-professional. See Esti Waldman’s tip about theater curtains here.

Share some of your own ideas below and tell us which of these you tried at home!

The post 8 Fun Activities for Motzei Shabbos appeared first on Between Carpools.

Taking the kids along on your next trip? You’ll need to plan some activities between your trips to kvarim and Gedolim. These ideas will keep the whole family happy.

Traveling to Israel with kids is a completely different experience than an adults-only trip. Most children are not cut out for a week or so of holy sites, tefillah, waiting for brachos from gedolim and visiting distant and/or elderly relatives. With preparation and education beforehand, they can appreciate all of these, but in smaller doses than a mature adult. So the key to a successful and memorable trip for young children is to mix these moments with some fun ones.

Because most families base their trip in Jerusalem, the attractions we are recommending are either in Jerusalem or within a short drive. Also, we’ve focused on children approximately 4 years old and up. Any younger than that and you should just stick with activities they enjoy at home. Playgrounds are very plentiful in Israel!

Another thing to keep in mind when planning your activities is that while younger children will have isolated memories of this trip later on, in our experience, 7 or 8 years old is when they will start having real meaningful memories of what they saw and did. Save the most memorable and important sites for older childhood and the teenage years.

Food Experiences:

Every child, regardless of age, should have a chance to experience Shuk Machane Yehuda. Whether they go for the mountains of colorful fruits or the mountains of colorful candy, it’s an experience unique to Israel. The shuk is also a great place to teach about the mitzvos of growing produce in Eretz Yisroel and why it’s the one place in the world we can’t assume that all fruits and vegetables are kosher. (Bonus points if you go during a shmittah year.) If you are going with really young children, try to go early in the day when the crowds are thinner. Friday afternoon is the most intense and fun time to go if your kids can handle crowds. And don’t go after dinner time when the vibe becomes one that is not child-friendly.

The Galita Chocolate Factory Workshop is a short and fun activity where kids get to make their own mehadrin chalav Yisrael chocolates. This is fun for the whole family, but particularly for children up to about 12 who enjoy crafts – and chocolate. Call ahead to schedule your workshop.

Pat Bamelach is an artisan bakery with two locations in Gush Etzion. They offer workshops at their original smaller location at Rosh Tzurim. Everyone in your group will make their own bread products based on the workshop you choose, but you will also learn lots of interesting information about bread and its history. Do yourself and the others in your workshop a favor and don’t bring any children under about 4 years old.

History Experiences

An absolute must-do for the whole family is the virtual reality “tour” of the Beis HaMikdash. All the way on the left of the Kotel plaza is the entrance to a room facing the Kotel where you can be transported to the Beis HaMikdash and look around to see all the details we’ve learned about from the very beginning of our school years. The tour is short and appropriate for children about 5 and up. Tickets can be purchased online here.

The Gush Etzion Museum tells the story of the settlement of Etzion bloc and its struggle and fall during the time of Israel’s War of Independence. It is a heroic story, but unfortunately a tragic and violent one, so this is for older kids. This is for kids 10 or older, based on your child’s sensitivity level. Their website is a bit out of date, so it’s best to contact them here to schedule a showing in English.

The evening light show at the Tower of David is a beautiful audio visual show presented on the walls of the tower, telling the history of Jerusalem. Younger children will enjoy the effects, but a basic knowledge of the history makes it more interesting. Give your kids an overview before the show and they’ll be fascinated. Dress appropriately because this is an outdoor experience and evenings can be significantly cooler than daytime in Jerusalem.

One of our favorite places in Israel is the Ein Yael Living Museum. The whole family can learn about life in Israel in ancient times. Agriculture, food, music, crafts – so much hands on information is available.

Workshops are available in a variety of areas – papermaking, mosaics, pottery, and many more. The museum is not always open to the public, so it pays to call ahead to schedule. Also, there is no official English program. Most guides do speak some English, but it might be best if you have a fluent Hebrew speaker in your group to help translate.

Active Experiences

Deer-Land Park in Gush Etzion is also fun for the whole family. With a natural reserve that is home to many animals, and a petting zoo for smaller animals, it is also home to some extreme sports – including the longest zipline in Israel. There is a smaller zipline for kids who are too small for the big one, so everyone gets to have fun. Bring along a picnic!

Gan Sacher is a large green park in the middle of the city where everyone can run around and burn off some energy. There’s a large playground for the younger kids, but there is also a unique set of manual exercise equipment available nearby for anyone to use. This is a lot of fun for older kids and teenagers. One thing to note is that this is a popular park for families with dogs.

These are just a few of our favorite activities in Israel. There are many more – and we’d love to hear of any you’d recommend!

The post What to Do in Israel with Kids appeared first on Between Carpools.