Tag Archives: Pesach

Giveaway: Let My RV Go! A Frum Pesach Novel.

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Well, Pesach is just two weeks away!  Some of us are up to our ears in preparations, and others of us are still in denial waiting a bit longer to begin.  My friend Ruchi has an excellent post on doing Pesach cleaning in one day and maintaining one’s sanity.  Chaya Kurtz has a guest post on Pop Chassid about the importance of cleaning for Pesach without stress and misery.  I agree.  We don’t need to go crazy, and dust is not chometz.  That said, I did find the turning over period, where some rooms were clean for Pesach and others weren’t, a bit stressful.  I should’ve used Ruchi’s method!

Anyways, imagine if all you had to clean was the kitchen of an RV?  That’s all the protaganist in Nicole Nathan’s new novel has to clean.  But she has some other dilemmas, like parenting a number of small children in an RV on a long road trip, and how to get a box a matzah that was foisted on her by an unknown man to its recipient, whose address she doesn’t have.

see - clutter!I was contacted to do a giveaway of this new frum novel, Let My RV Go!  The book is sitting on my (cluttered) desk, just waiting to be mailed off to the winner of this giveaway.   So, to enter, just leave a comment telling me your favorite, or least favorite, part of the house to clean for Pesach.  The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, March 17th.  I will contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave your email address in the comment form!  

Some other posts you might enjoy:

 

Menu Planning for Pesach!

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Grandma and Bubby feeding the baby (a/k/a grand mommies in totally bliss), last Pesach

This is the first year we’re staying home for the entire Pesach.  A couple years ago, we went to my in-laws for the first days and came back chol hamoed, hosting my in-laws for the second half of Yom Tov (they are easy guests AND helped cook, so it was actually pretty fantastic).  I don’t recommend traveling and making Pesach if you can help it, but if someone has to work chol hamoed, there’s not always a choice.

Anyways, we’re staying home this year.  Since I had had some meager experience with “making” Pesach that one time, I’ve been pretty calm.  I started cleaning and planning a couple of weeks ago, doing a little here and there, and, overall, have not been stressed out.  Then, last night, I sat down to do a menu plan and my head exploded.

Usually, I enjoy menu planning because I’m extremely type-A it helps me function efficiently.  When I don’t menu plan, I end up running to the store multiple times a week, which I prefer not to do.  Not making a plan for Pesach would mean a lot of shopping guesswork, probably a lot of unused items and wasted produce.  I don’t have the time or energy for that, so I strongly prefer to plan, then make a shopping list, and go from there.  It’s just how I roll best.

One of the big hurdles I didn’t consider is the awkward limbo phase when the house isn’t quite kosher for Pesach. I found this wholly overwhelmed.  When would my kitchen be turned over?  I wasn’t sure.  What food could I make when?  And where?  How and what was I going to feed my family?

So, after royally freaking out, and posting said freak-out to Facebook and Twitter, I did the most sensible thing I could.  I walked away from the menu planning, called my mother and moved on to a completely different task.  Namely, putting away kitchen items I knew I wouldn’t be using from here on out (bye-bye coriander!  See ya, toaster!).  After making substantial progress, I felt much more calm and clear-headed.

Then, although it was late, I sat down to tackle the menu planning.  The theme of this menu plan is KEEP IT SIMPLE!   I scoured Facebook (one of my neighbors made a great page – a Passover Support Group.  Fantastic idea!) and blogs for menu ideas, and emailed recipes to myself so I could print them off and put them in my Pesach notebook.  Also, my mother-in-law is coming Thursday (Yay!), and she will definitely help with the cooking, so that’s a big relief.

Here is what I came up with:

the Pre-Pesach days

Monday, April 2nd - kind of almost totally cleaned for Pesach.  Except not.

  • lunch – Pesachdik noodles with cheese for the kids, roasted veggie salad for me.
  • dinner – eat out

Tuesday, April 3rd - turn the kitchen over today, major limbo!

  • lunch – more Pesachdik noodles for the boys, salad for me
  • dinner – Bagels and cream cheese picnic on the patio.  Serious vigilance will be exercised.

Wednesday, April 4th

  • lunch – eggs with hash browns as a side (with ketchup, yum!)
  • dinner – fish, matzah meal couscous and sautéed zucchini

Thursday, April 5th

  • lunch – tuna patties and sweet potato fries
  • dinner – scrambled eggs with some veggies, salad and egg matzah

First Days of Yom Tov

Chol HaMoed

Monday, April 9th

  • lunch – eggs, salad (Romaine with cut-up veggies)
  • dinner – leftovers from Yom Tov

Tuesday, April 10th

  • lunch – hot dogs and spaghetti squash
  • dinner – Meatballs and Smashed Potatoes

Wednesday, April 11th

  • lunch – Matzah Pizza
  • dinner – Salmon with Israeli salad and matzah brei

Thursday, April 12th

  • lunch – eggs, salad and fried potatoes

Second Days of Yom Tov

And there you have it!  The menu plan for the first Pesach I’ve ever really made.  What’s the simplest thing on your menu?  

Freeing myself from a bad habit

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this isn’t me, but I would like that hat, or scarf. Whatever it is, I like it.

Happy Sunday!  When I logged on this morning, I discovered that I had won the “define Heffaloftus” poll over at Renee Schuls-Jacobson’s fantastic blog.  Woohoo!  What a nice treat.  If you’re here visiting from Renee’s blog, welcome!  If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Renee’s always interesting and entertaining blog, hop on over and see what Lessons from Teachers and Twits is all about!

As you might have noticed (hardy har), Pesach is soon approaching.  As we discuss the narrative of our ancestors’ liberation from Egyptian bondage, we can also think about what is enslaving us, so to speak.  Which habits or behaviors are holding us back from actualizing our potential?  Each holiday on the Jewish calendar brings down a specific energy from the spiritual realm, making certain physical actions easier.  Pesach is known as “zman cheiroseinu,” the Time of Our Freedom.   Meaning, this is prime time to break free of negative behaviors and/or bad habits that have crept up on us.  I had a friend who used this time of year as an opportunity to stop biting her nails.

One habit that has been weighing heavily on my mind is my unproductive use of the internet.  I don’t know how many of you can relate to this, but I’ve developed an unfortunate groove of sitting down and logging on mindlessly.  I find myself frequently checking to see if anything “new” is happening.  New messages, new updates, new whatever.  I could be doing something productive  online (like writing a blog post), but I just spin my wheels.  Worse, when I’m egregiously unproductive, the guilt I feel for not doing my household duties is exponentially magnified.  It’s a yucky feeling.

Two weeks ago, our computer was out of the apartment from Friday until Monday.  Now, I don’t have one of those smart-phone thingies like all you hip kids, so no computer meant no at-home internet access.  For three-and-a-half days.

It was a great freebie.  I didn’t have to exert any willpower to change my bad habit because the object of my habit was simply removed.  This enabled me to take a more objective look at my routine, to stop and reflect on how I wanted to change.  Because I do want to change.  I recognized that I was stuck in a rut and I didn’t like being there, but inertia and lack of willpower (or maybe it was just fatigue, not an unreasonable assumption) was making it awfully hard to change the pattern.

Without the computer, I found myself having to find {gasp} other things to do around the house.  I got more housework done (no shocker there), read more, spent more time with my kids, got more exercise, went to sleep earlier.  It was amazing.  Now, I’m not about to get rid of the internet or anything, but this forced separation did allow me to get a glimpse of what my life could be like if I exerted just a little more self-control in this area.  If I took myself off the auto-pilot I was on.

So, you know how it is when you start paying attention to something in your life, and then all of a sudden it’s everywhere?  Yeah, that happened.  I was listening to a shiur last Friday, and the Rabbi quoted the Ramchal’s essay, Derech Etz Chaim.  He said that one of the most important things a person can do is to contemplate the actions in his (or her) life.  That to actively think about, to be conscious of what I am doing is a tremendous protection against making bad choices and actions.

Whoa, right?  Sign me up!  I’d like to be all contemplative and in-the-moment and be protected from bad decisions.

I’m stoked about changing my non-productive pattern.  Still, I’m realistic about the strength of ingrained habits, and I don’t expect to be instantly “cured” of my rote behavior.  That said, I certainly intend to harness the spiritual energy of this time of year to develop new habits to replace the old ones.  Practically, this means waiting to log on in the morning until after I’ve accomplished a certain amount of things, not logging on after Shabbos until I’ve picked up the toys and (somewhat) cleaned the dishes, etc.  Sometimes it could even mean just waiting five minute before going to the computer to check my email or Facebook page.  In those five minutes I’ve created a window to insert consciousness into an otherwise thoughtless action.

And on that note, I am off to do some dishes!

Here’s to freeing ourselves from bad habits!  Chag Sameach everyone!  Have a great Passover!

What would you like to free yourself from this year? 

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The Most Important Word of the Seder

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I am so thrilled to have my friend (IRL), band sistah, fellow blogger, and someone who I just all-around look up to, Ruchi Koval, guest posting today.  Ruchi has a fabulous blog, Out of the Ortho Box, that I highly recommend you go and check out.  It’s one of the only places I’ve seen on the web where people with very disparate opinions and beliefs  talk nicely to each other about contentious issues.   I know that Ruchi is genuinely interested in understanding where people are coming from, which seems to be a rare thing sometimes.  And it’s  great content, the amazing atmosphere aside.

Ruchi has plenty of experience with making Pesach, and running a Seder, so I asked her for some tips on how to make the sederim meaningful, for everyone.  Here’s what she has to say:

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Word association game:  Seder.

What do you think of?

Brisket.  Matza.  Family.  Bitter herbs (maror).  The Four Questions.  The Four Cups.  Afikoman.

Yup, all those are features of the seder.  But I’ll bet the most important word is the one you haven’t thought of.

Communication.

Amidst all the traditional foods, cousins, and hoopla, it’s easy to forget that the actual mitzvah of the seder, its raison d’etre, is to talk to your children about our national history.  Kids: we’re here.  We’re Jews.  And we used to be in Egypt.  And God saved us.  Miraculously!  And then he gave us the Torah!  And we still have it till today!  We’re so happy and grateful!  Let’s eat.  After we do some other stuff.  ‘Kay?

If you don’t have kids, talk to someone else’s kids!  If you’re not with kids, talk to each other!  And if you’re alone, well, the Talmud actually says you should ask yourself the Four Questions, and then answer yourself.  Not a sign of dementia, just a sign that communication is the name of the game.

So before the Seder, ask yourself these Four Questions.

1. What is it that I would like the next generation to know about Judaism?
2. How can I communicate that message most effectively?
3. At what part of the Seder can this be done?
4. What will I, personally, get out of this process?

Blessings on the journey – and have a wonderful holiday!

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Crowdsourced Pesach Tips

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chometz - be gone!

It’s starting to feel like crunch time over here (and I’m not talking about all that matzah we will soon be eating).  It’s that time when I’m no longer purchasing chometz.  I’m getting creative with my dinner ideas, using up whatever is hanging around my pantry (and still edible).  And, of course, I’m cleaning and planning.

Pesach is almost here!

 

Last week my friend Brina shared some of her tried and true advice.  Today I’m going to share some crowd-sourcing wisdom from my Facebook friends.  A couple weeks ago I polled my fabulous friends for posts, suggestions, tips, anything.    Here are their nuggets of wisdom and experience:

from Leah: 

When my kids were little, I basically covered everything in foil, locked up the cabinets, and did paper and plastic. I tried to make it easy on myself. I also did not bake very much, just cooked a whole bunch of easy food.

from Emily: 

The single best thing I ever did was take a class on the real laws of cleaning for Pesach from a Rabbi where I used to live.  It is amazing how much people confuse “Spring Cleaning” and “Cleaning for Pesach.”  Once you really know the laws, you feel a weight lifted off of your shoulders and you realize you don’t need to start cleaning 8 weeks ahead of time.

As far as the seders go, go small with small kids.  It’s all great to want to tell the story and get them involved, and you can do that as long as it doesn’t go too late.  I know some families go nearly all night, and that is great, but that NEVER worked for us.  The kids became nightmares.  So do little things that get them involved:  paper bag puppets of the main players, little doodads like plastic frogs in the water glasses, model animals on the table–that kind of thing.

Also, pick a good hagaddah, one that has meaningful stories for both you and the kids.  Accept the fact that they will probably not make it through, and know that it is a far better education to have them in a warm and loving home than a home where the parents are rushing or forcing the kids to stay awake.  Everyone is different, but that has worked for us and we had the added bonus of my husband being in [medical] residency for the first two sedarim, so I was completely on my own and he was cranky and exhausted.

from Heather:

I do one room at a time— this week I’ll do the attic, and then no more chametz allowed in the attic. Next week I’ll do the bedrooms, etc etc until the only place chametz is allowed is the kitchen/dining area. Then those get a last minute cram session.

from Yonit: 

I have a journal I update every year of what I bought, what we used, what I made, who came to meals. This way I have an idea of how much to buy. Also, my rule is: if a toy can’t be thrown in a soapy bathtub or in the washing machine, it gets locked up for Pesach. I might buy a couple of new things from Big lots to “make up for” the lack .  Right now I have a puzzle in the closet waiting!

from Ohio Kosher:

Have to quote the Lubavitcher Rebbe here with the best advice- “Dust is not chometz, and the kids aren’t the Korbon Pesach!” [the Pesach offering]

from Chavi:

Get invited out for all the first day meals so you don’t have to clean and kasher until just a few days before – seriously! That is the only way we have made Pesach so far and it’s been great.

from Devorah:

When you have little kids, you really have to clean last minute because you can’t count on them not to bring a bagel into a room you already cleaned!  Also, I second the Lubavitcher Rebbe quote.  Don’t be so “holy” that you think cleaning for Pesach means being a crazy lady.

from Amy:

How about, “If you take food out of the dining room, I’ll sell you to the gypsies.”

Honestly, I clean starting the farthest from the dining room and moving closer the closer it gets to Pesach. I make loud announcements about where has been cleaned.  I have to keep a closer eye on my toddler, because he likes to grab food and wander.  In the past, at some point I usually switch to just kitnios, but that will be harder given his limited diet and extreme pickyness.

I also would not survive making Pesach if it weren’t for my lists.  I have a list of everything that has to be cleaned, by room, plus the extra to-do list like cars, getting the kittel washed and ironed, taking suits to the cleaners, etc. I have shopping lists with notes, etc.  I make notes during chol homoed and after Pesach so next year’s list is the updated (don’t buy more than x amount of y; the best place to get milk is z, etc.)

Echoing something Emily mentioned, I was on bedrest before Pesach one year.  Matt took my cleaning lists to our Rabbi, and the Rav just started crossing stuff off it because it was unnecessary.  So now I know which stuff that is nice to do if I have time, but not necessary.  I also try to schedule things week by week, starting a couple weeks before Pesach, so it doesn’t get overwhelming.

from Miriam:

I have a full system for little hands and chametz. It involved one essential piece of equipment:  Baby gates! When my kids were younger I did the main floor of the house in no more then two weeks and would section off the eating areas from the cleaning areas. This was so helpful. I still put up the gates now that my youngest is six because they can’t ‘forget’ like that.

from Chaya in Baltimore:

I think even when you do bare minimum it is very challenging.  I do NOT combine spring cleaning with Pesach cleaning, but the sheer amount that has to be done, in a short amount of time, (clean fridge, oven, stove, bring up Pesach boxes, kasher, cover, cook, etc. etc.) is often overwhelming.  Finances allowing, I recommend taking advantage of Pesach camps.  I can work with a clearer head without a child vying for my attention. I agree that we have to be so careful not to “lose it” with our kids.  I buy Pesachdik or kitnios snacks for week before.  I also have my Pesach notebook with lists from year to year.  Helps keep me organized and thinking straight.

I do want to mention that on erev Pesach itself, it’s important to remember to make food for the day.  We get so busy cooking for Pesach, can’t eat chometz anymore, can’t eat matzoh, and suddenly we’re all starving.  Recipe for disaster!  So either cook a little extra, or buy something so tummies will be full on what is probably the busiest day of the year!

One more note.  I would want to share the “mood” of it all.  When my oldest was a baby, say 3 and under, I was basically doing the work solo, just getting the chores done, but once she started to understand, there are certain parts of the preparation that actually became nice.  Like going together to vacuum car, “looking” for chometz behind couch, etc. etc.

I understand that people would want to buy seder plate ready, but the preparation last year was beautiful.  As I roasted the shankbone, talking to daughter about Beis Hamikdosh, having her take whiff of marror when grinding it, and her running out of kitchen.

Amongst the hardships of all the preparation I felt I was able to capture really nice moments.  And this is all part of transmitting the Mesorah (Heritage) to the next generation.  The sights, sounds, smells, stay with us forever and are often stronger than any “textbook” knowledge of our Exodus from Egypt.

from Chaya in Cleveland:

I used to clean out clothes closets and wonder why.  Then I found cookies in the children’s closet.  As they grew older, I stopped dealing with the clothes before Pesach–we still need warm clothes, anyway.

You’ll have to clean areas where the children–both minor and adult–may be bringing chometz.  I work my way towards the kitchen: Clean the living room, because we do nosh in there; work on the shelves in the dining room, such as putting away challah covers, except for one, bag the bentchers.  Start boxing or bagging things from the kitchen that you can do without for a few weeks. Can you skip baking for the duration? Put away pans and ingredients and start cleaning those shelves.

Start using up the UFOs-unidentified frozen objects.  I clean the refrigerator in advance, and cover the shelves with paper towels, so I can replace the chometz food, then remove the paper towels before putting in the Pesach-dik food.
I also make lists at the end of Pesach so I don’t have to buy things like spices, cocoa, plastic wrap, candles, unused jarred or canned foods when they will keep from year to year.

Another thing I do is cook the meals the day before Erev Pesach. That’s for those of us who don’t change the kitchen over ten days before the holiday.  On ErevYom Tov, I make the items for the Seder plate, set the table, make a lunch, polish the silver.

from Rivka:

I keep lists from year to year, for shopping and cleaning.  I found that a middle grade, large food processor is a MUST for this holiday where I cook almost everything from scratch. We have an opportunity to go away for Pesach this year but I said NO, because otherwise our house will remain dirty for another year! I use this time for spring cleaning even though  I don’t have to.  However, last year when I had a baby end of Adar 2 [the month before Pesach], we did the bare minimum.

from Shimona:

ORDER THE SEDER!!!! I’m telling you, last year was my first year doing it.  It came with a ton of food: seder plate, matza, etc.  It and wasn’t that expensive.  I’ve already ordered for this year.  The food isn’t as good as making it yourself, but who cares?  It’s as if I have prepared all this stuff already.  Woohoo!

from Alan:

My wife buys special toys just for Pesach.  Just a few each year and then they are PUT AWAY.  While she is washing the dishes to be put away at the end, it is the kids’ jobs to find all the missing pieces to the toys and put them in the bin which will come out the next year only when the kitchen is flipped.  Then she can cook in peace.  As the kids get older it is cute to watch them “teach” the younger ones how to use them again.

from Mandy:

One important tip – If a family is going away for Pesach to a retreat or to other family… to still clean their own home. Close family friends of ours go away EVERY year and always clean their homes ( all 20 of them.. 3 families )… a few years ago, one of them fell seriously ill while away and the whole family had to all go home immediately.

Well, there you have it  A wide variety of advice, which hopefully was helpful on some level.  Now I have to go get to it!

What are your additions?  Any pieces of great advice or wisdom that really stand out in your experience?

Let the Pesach Prep Begin!

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Well, it’s definitely that time of year.  Pesach prep has begun (for some of us, at least).  In the weeks leading up to this holiday of freedom, I want to share some tips, tricks, and wisdom from around the web.

It’s understood that everyone has their own preferred method of cleaning, planning, and procrastinating.  Obviously not all of these pre-Pesach posts will resonate with everyone.  However, it’s my hope that by sharing a variety of experience and opinions, everyone will  find at least one useful tip.  Or maybe you would like to share some of your own useful tips!  Contact me if you would like to guest post, or if you just have some practical experience you would like to share.

Today’s post kicks off the Pesach planning with a post from my friend Brina, who likes to share her yummy recipes over at Mi Kosher Cocina.  Here are her tips.  Enjoy!

Little Man (back when he was really very little!) studying his haggadah

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I love Pesach, I do really. After the house is clean and my kitchen is up and running, Pesach is one of my favorite yomim tovim. Maybe its because I experience a spiritual rebirth each spring, or maybe because I thoroughly enjoy watching my children participating in the sederim using their school-made haggados.   Whatever the reason, I love Pesach.

Now let’s backtrack a bit. I said I love Pesach, not the weeks leading up to it. That is because my husband manages a kosher department at a grocery store, and this is his busiest month of the year.  Thus, it is also my most stressful month of the year because I am a “single mom” from 7 am to 8 pm every day.

This is my fifth Pesach on this schedule, so I’m used to it, but it’s still hard nonetheless.  I am also fortunate that for the third year in a row my parents are coming the day the kids get out of school to help take them out of the house as I clean and cook.  I have gotten Pesach prep down as pat as I can, and I have devised a list of pointers that can hopefully help you get ready for Pesach too.

  • Start planning the day after Purim. Your kids are going to receive nosh on Purim regardless so try not to make them feel guilty that Pesach is coming. They still have to eat for the next month.
  • Make a no chometz outside of the kitchen/dining room rule year round. I do this so I only have to spot check the bedrooms and down stairs play area, leaving my focus on the two trodden rooms.
  • Give your kids cleaning jobs instead of constantly leaving them with a baby-sitter or mother’s helper. If they are 3 or older they have learned about Pesach prep in school. Let them take the magnets off of the fridge, sweep the floor, use wipes on the legos, etc.  Later, show them how to peel vegetables and help prep the Seder plate items.  Even if it might seem more stressful, the kids are grateful to spend time with mommy.
  • Enjoy chometz until you possibly can’t.  I don’t switch over completely until 3-4 days before. This year the Shabbos before will be chometzdik [bread will eaten] and we will be cleaning the kitchen, dining room, garage, and car for the next three days.  This gives me three full days of cooking time.
  • Keep a chometz freezer and sell items if possible. No reason to make yourself sick eating that last bagel or shnitzel if you don’t have to.  Remember, your family has to eat after Pesach too.
  • Indulge a little.  I usually buy a few quality chocolate bars to help me through the cooking.  Along with a glass of iced coffee, I can relax a little during all the hard work.
  • Finally, cook on yom tov if you have to. This year is only a two-day yom tov, so I will try to have most things done before the Sederim. But if not, I can always stick a chicken in to roast or meat in the crock pot during the day.  These are long days, so take advantage of the breaks in between meals.

I hope this list will make Pesach prep easier for all of you.  I know not everyone has a husband in the kosher food industry, so it might not be quite as stressful in your house.  Regardless, the last few weeks can be a daunting task for everyone.

With that in mind, I use a cliched “don’t sweat the small stuff” and wish all of you Life in the Married Lane readers a happy and kosher Pesach.

Can I go to the break room now?

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Hy-Vee

where there's a helpful smile..in every aisle

When I was in high school I had an after-school job at a local grocery store chain.  Many of my classmates also worked at this chain, and it was a good way to make a little extra money.  State policy dictated that for every three hours worked, an employee must have a ten-minute break.  Our manager was very scrupulous about this law (fine by me).

I found that even though ten minutes is a relatively short period of time, it was enough to have a small snack, read a magazine article, or just relax, which was enough to energize me for the rest of my shift.

Our baby started crawling shortly after Pesach, and my toddler has been both thrilled and dismayed at this development.  Thrilled because now his brother can actually follow him around, and dismayed because, well, his brother can actually follow him around (and chew on all his toys!  The nerve!).  Because of this, my job as mom-referee has kicked into high gear.  And I am exhausted.

The amount of down time I’ve had has been basically cut to nothing, and the down time I do have is so short that it’s difficult to accomplish much.  From my meager motherly experience, I know that once this phase mellows, or I find a reasonable way to manage the current situation, I’ll have more time to accomplish what I need (and want) to, which is fine.  But right now, I really just want a manager to come and say, “Okay, time for your break.”

What are some ways you take a “break” when life is at its more hectic periods?

Keeping the mitzvos in mind

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When I was a seminary (and immediately post-seminary) girl, I spent a lot of time preparing for the different holidays that arise during the Jewish year.  I would attend classes, read books, refresh myself on the laws of the specific holiday, and, in general, imbue my experience with as much meaning as I could.  I remember thinking that it would ALWAYS be like that and I would NEVER do the mitzvos without massive amounts of concentration and intention.

Hahahaahahhahahaaaahahaha.  Aahhhhhhh.  Whew.

This morning we burnt whatever chametz that was leftover before the start of Pesach.  I said the phrase which nullifies my possession of chometz.  But I said it kind of as an afterthought, and, frankly, I didn’t even remember that we said it until I was saying it.  This seems to have become a sort of entropic trend in my life as of late – do the mitzvah first, think about it later.

So, here’s my question:  How does one stay focused on the mitzvos when the mundanities of life loom large?  What are your strategies for keeping the mitzvos in mind?