On Sunday, I made a quick trip to New York to finally deal with a wig I had ordered for Menny’s Bar Mitzvah. When it came, the color was too dark and I had to send it back. But since it was the height of the war, everything was taking longer, so I didn’t end up having it in time.

Living in Montana, maintaining a wig is just so hard. Every time you really need to work on one, you have to fly in, and sometimes it takes a couple of years before you actually get a wig exactly where you want it.

A lot of women learn how to wash and set their own wigs because they can’t easily travel to get them done, and people are always telling me, “I can teach you. You can learn.” And I’m like, I’m not interested in learning. I don’t want to do that myself. I have to be self-sufficient in so many areas of my life, and I just do not want to wash my own wigs. I know I can learn. I know I’m capable. I don’t want to. So sometimes I wait months and months, and sometimes I literally fly to New York just to take care of my wigs. It’s not something I do often, but it is, apparently, part of what I’ve got to do.

Buying a wig is also such a strange mix of risk, faith and hoping for the best, because you truly have no idea if you’re going to love it until you buy it and start wearing it. I’ve had wigs that were amazing from the start, and I’ve had wigs that, no matter what you do, just never work. It can be a lot, and it can be really stressful, but I’ve learned not to get too caught up in it or expect perfection. A wig is a wig. It’s never going to be your hair. I’ve stopped trying to make it look exactly like my hair or feel exactly like my hair, because it isn’t. Sometimes it might even look like you’re wearing a wig and guess what? You are!!! Accepting that has helped me let go of a lot of the anxiety around it. Thankfully, this trip was a good one. I really like how it came out so far, and there is honestly nothing better than leaving New York with your wigs fresh and clean.

On my way to the sheitel appointment.

What the wig studio looks like.

My wig after a six month wait! The first time around, the hair was so dark we had to send it back.

Making sure it fits perfectly.

The master @salonleah at work.

Wearing it for the day to see how it feels and if I want to change anything,

I don’t have much more to report back to you guys except my interview on Human & Holy came out last week and I’m so excited about it. Tonia is amazing and I loved being in her studio in person and getting to play the role of guest on a show for once, waltzing in and just having the most delightful, deep conversation that Tonia is such a master at cultivating. Must listen. Or watch!

Yesterday’s episode on Totally Unexpected! was an absolute first for me. Sonia is the daughter of a Jewish mother and Palestinian father. She wrote a book, The Roots of the Guava Tree, about her struggle to understand her identity. It was fascinating to hear the story from her first hand on the pod. Take a listen!

Chaim Shaul and I went on a runaway! I really needed a few days to come up for air post Bar Mitzvah to regroup. Also, summer is right around the corner. The kids are wrapping up school and tourists are starting to show up so this was a good moment to take a breath.

I also must tell you about the episode we just released yesterday with my dear friend Paola. She lives in Bozeman and she runs the yoga retreat I go to in Mexico that I’ve told you guys so much about, like here:

She has impacted my life in such a big way and I love that I finally get to share her with you. She is a yoga instructor and Ayurvedic healer, and every ounce of this episode is soaked with wisdom, inspiration, and brilliant life hacks. Listen and let me know what you think!!

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

While I’m out of town, I’m recording a little something special which I’m excited to share with you soon :). I also got a few special love notes from some people who listened to the episode yesterday and I was so touched that I wanted to share it with you guys:

Anyway, that’s my little check-in from the road. More soon.

Love,

Chavie

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Reporting live from Bozeman… I truly can’t believe this day is here. After months of planning, prepping, coordinating, stressing and more than a little spiraling, our Bar Mitzvah weekend is in full motion. The house is full, family and friends have come in from all over, there’s energy in every corner, and everything is starting to come together. I’m trying to pause in the middle of it all and take it in… my only son is becoming a Bar Mitzvah today.

I’m going to keep things short and sweet, but if you haven’t had a chance to listen to yesterday’s episode yet, here it is:

This interview was recorded exactly a year ago, so I’m so excited that it’s finally out in the world. Listen to the intro for all the deets ;)).

Also, this week’s Hot Take segment is pretty juicy: Jewish Books vs. Non-Jewish Books—Where Do You Draw the Line? This prompt is a follow-up from last episode’s Book Buddy convo. It made me wonder where we all draw the line when it comes to secular culture. Stick around until the end of the episode for the Hot Take segment, where I play your voice notes reacting to this prompt, it’s always one of my favorite parts. And make sure to look out for my next prompt so you can send me your hot take. I’m dying to hear what you think on all these juicy topics!

Love,

Chavie

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Hi guys!!

I’m trying something new here :)). This isn’t the ordinary essay that I deliver on Tuesday’s, just a quick little Pesach greeting to the loyal readers of this blog I love so much. Sometimes, when holidays come around we skip a week of essays so I figured, instead of skipping, I would just keep it short and sweet, and of course throw in behind the scenes of all the prep.

As promised, here is Chana Laya’s private tour:

Here are some the most recent episodes we released on the podcast. Stay tuned for a special episode next week! And when I say special, I mean it. It’s something totally new, we’ve never done before and we are releasing it as a bonus companion to your Chol Hamoed entertainment!

Rivkah Slonim

Chaim Bruk

Anna Sherman

I hope you have a wonderful and liberating Pesach (at least once all the cooking, cleaning, and prep is done!)

With so much love,

Chavie

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