Category: Real Life & Practical Wisdom

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The Best Freebie of All: Prayer

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

I wish summer reality would be like the nostalgic memories of my youth:  refreshing water activities , cold treats, fun outings.  I cling to these images while I shvitz in hot, humid weather while multi-tasking, managing squabbling children and afflicted with itchy bug bites. However, these petty summer nuances can dissipate in an instant. Illness, terror attacks, and even someone’s kvetching can put these smaller issues into perspective. When trying to process distressing events the only place to turn for solace is to Hashem (G-d). Only the Master of the World is there to hear me.  How does one connect … Continue reading The Best Freebie of All: Prayer

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Life Lessons

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

Job loss is unfortunately part of life. I sensed this event was forthcoming but now it’s reality. Gam zu la tova (this too is for the good). I know a window will open somewhere. Just help me find the Windex so I can locate the window. If there is one thing to be learned from my first office non-teaching experience it is OK to be a non-coffee drinker in a world of coffee drinkers. Others may think me odd for not participating in coffee culture, but what’s a girl to do? I will unapologetically drink a green smoothie with spirulina … Continue reading Life Lessons

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Facebook Reactivated… Temporarily

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

I was blissfully enjoying a six month hiatus from Facebook and loving every minute of my detachment from social media. Except for one thing: I sorely missed the support and guidance from a group for mothers of special needs children, support I was not receiving from any other source. For this reason alone I reactivated my account. I rejoined two other groups I had found useful, so just in case anyone sees my name there I feel I need to disclose my participation, as not to be a hypocrite. I haven’t forgotten about any of the reasons why I deactivated … Continue reading Facebook Reactivated… Temporarily

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A Post in Memory of my Grandmother

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

One year ago, on the 3rd night of Chanukah, my grandma Beverly Zoot Tatz passed to the next world. Since I don’t know what a granddaughter can meaningfully do on a grandparent’s first yahrtzeit, I posed the question and received two replies. One person suggested giving tzedakah in her memory.  Another said it is a custom in their family to eat the favorite food of the departed and tell stories about him or her. Since I don’t know Grandma’s favorite food, I hope she enjoyed latkes because that’s what’s frying up in the kitchen right now. I don’t have any … Continue reading A Post in Memory of my Grandmother

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“What time does the supermarket open and how long are the lines.” A pre-yom tov mussing with a history lesson

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

Pardon the long title, as an inspiration for something more concise didn’t come to mind.  This post is about two books I recently read and how it has affected my thinking in regards to recent events and observations. I love reading, especially children’s literature in the historical fiction genre. Last month I read two books that had a similar theme. One was Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.  The other was The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig. Historical events from these books had me pondering modern “problems”, which seem inconsequential to the challenges faced by the protagonists in the books. … Continue reading “What time does the supermarket open and how long are the lines.” A pre-yom tov mussing with a history lesson

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I’m Busy

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

It’s been a long while since I’ve had a chance to write.  Even as I type this, I don’t have the time to write.  Due to an exhausting day, I passed out probably around 8 pm while settling DS 20 months to bed.  He woke up 2 am in need of a drink and diaper change.  While not bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I am wide awake and he is once again asleep.  The part of me that says go back to sleep is losing out to the other half that wants the solitude of a quiet house and sleeping occupants. “Busy” seems … Continue reading I’m Busy

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A Day in the Life: Summer Vacation

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

Does anyone remember the “A Day in the Life” series of books?   Photojournalists were sent to different countries to capture what a day was like in a country from early morning to late at night.   I should do the same thing and call it “A Day in the Life: Summer Vacation”.  Here is a sample of a day in my life: 6 am.  I am awake. I would rather be asleep. The baby (17 months) is sleeping in the crook of my arm.  My 4 year old curled up next to me with his head close to my hip.  I really … Continue reading A Day in the Life: Summer Vacation

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The How-to-Get-Unaddicted to Facebook Post

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

Hi.  I’m Karen.  I’m Facebook addict.  Or at least I used to be.  It was a mild addiction, if there is such a thing.  Or maybe I came to the realization FB was a big time suck and I needed to DeKlutter it from my life. I had about 200 Friends, belonged to a couple dozen groups, and followed many pages.  My original goal was to use FB to stay connected with close friends and family, get inspiration from quotes, and maybe find a good new recipe or two. However, I have spent way too much time on my tush in front of the computer screen not accomplishing those … Continue reading The How-to-Get-Unaddicted to Facebook Post

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The Journey of a Broken Arm

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

I generally write about de-cluttering and organizing, but every so often something noteworthy happens I want to share. Yesterday one of my kids broke their arm.  The result of a split second incident was a hairline fracture to the left arm.  The child is now in a cast to the elbow.  Luckily, it wasn’t the dominant hand.  My mommy battle scars over 16 years include bumps, bruises, stitches, and an occasional visit to the ER for other random things.  This is my first broken bone. In the first 24 hours since the the accident, I have come to appreciate things I have taken for … Continue reading The Journey of a Broken Arm

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The Nail Post

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

I’ve been thinking a lot about nails.  Not the kind that hang photos, but fingernails. I have unanswered questions such as “What is the obsession with long nails?”  “Why are ladies decorating the ring finger nail differently than the other four digits?”  What’s the difference between acrylics and gel–or is it the same thing? Are sparkly, glitzy, decaled nails for fun?  A status thing? A fashion trend? As a massage therapist, I keep my nails short.  Occasionally I will polish them at home by myself.  The perfection lasts less than 48 hours.  Today I saw the coolest pair of nails on the bus: three of the fingers … Continue reading The Nail Post

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The Bus Post

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

I ride buses a lot.  It’s a way of life where I live.  I also commute three hours a day or more when there is traffic.  This gives me lots of time to people watch. There are acts that make me smile and think to myself ‘somebody’s mother should shep nachas from them right now’, specifically,when someone gives up their seat for another.  Saying thank you to the driver is another nachas moment.  I silently applaud these folks. Then there are acts where my fellow humans utterly disappoint me.  A lack of thanks to the bus driver is an example.  Sometimes a bus is ready to drive off and the … Continue reading The Bus Post

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Send in the Clowns

Karen Furman, The Klutter Koach

This blog is about organizing and decluttering.  However, I was very moved by an experience yesterday and wanted to share it. My baby had to go to the hospital for an endoscopy.  My baby, literally, is a baby.  He’s 11 months old.  He’s always had a temperamental tummy.  He’s on a very $$$$$ non-dairy non-soy formula called Neocate.  Since we don’t know what’s bothering Baby the doctors wanted to rule out celiac. Due to an insurance fiasco that needed to be settled before they could start the procedure, we had a much longer wait in the waiting room than planned.   What do … Continue reading Send in the Clowns