Dana Torres

Born and raised in Israel with a ten year interval in New York, Dana considers both places her home. She first made the choice to commit to a frugal life when she signed up for a degree in the Humanities. Today she loves nothing more than to share her newly learned skills and experience in thrifty living with others.

How to Survive a Long Car Ride with Young Kids

I recently had to drive to visit family that lives approximately 280 miles away from us. Unfortunately, my husband was away on business. So, it was just me, the kids, and our old Subaru Forester. I love my kids. But, the thought of being in a closed space for six hours with nobody but my two little kids, was extremely …

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Ways Small Businesses Can Give Back

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on many business owners. Those who had the resources to adapt to restrictions and mandates survived. But even they have had to deal with inconsistencies, lockdowns, and unpredictability. So, it is surprising that statistics on consumerism during the 2021 Christmas season paint a positive picture. Consumer and Retail Statistics for Christmas 2021 Statistics …

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Dor HaBonim Beach Nature Reserve

This holiday vacation I went with my family and a group of friends to Dor Habonim Beach Nature Reserve. Dor HaBonim Beach Nature Reserve is located near the historic city of Zichron Ya’Akov in Israel. It boasts a 4 km long coastal strip with many bays, inlets, and lagoons. We hiked in the early afternoon for three hours, keeping a …

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Giving Thanks: How Gratitude Benefits out Lives

Thanksgiving post-2020 is not the same Thanksgiving as before. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our sense and meaning of holidays. Getting together with family and friends for a meal, something once taken for granted, has now become a great privilege. As a society, losing so much these past two years has ironically presented us with an opportunity to be grateful …

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Hacks for Making Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes

A typical Thanksgiving meal usually consists of a roasted turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin pie for dessert. Every family has their go-to recipes for preparing this special meal, ones that are usually passed on from generation to generation. The following hacks on how to get the best taste for each dish work with every recipe, regardless …

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Halloween: Origins and Transformations

Growing up in New York City, I have only fond memories of Halloween. Trick or treating, decorating our house, and going to Halloween parties are some of the things that spring to mind when I think back to my early childhood. The magic of Halloween that came every year on October 31 made a big impression on me as a …

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My Favorite Parenting Blogs

Today I want to pause from sharing my own homeschooling journey so I can actually shed some info on the best parenting blogs that I’ve found online. All three of them have inspired, supported and strengthened me during my two years of motherhood. By reading them and implementing their ideas, my time with my son has become more productive, educational and …

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My Favorite Homeschooling Activities

My son is still really small (only 1.10) so when homeschooling him I put a lot of stress on fine and gross motor development, playing outside and taking walks. I also try to include him in as much of my daily tasks as possible, such as cleaning, organizing, going to the post office, etc. Sure, I’ve had to get used …

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My Journey To Homeschooling

The times I grew up in are a lot different than nowadays, when my son being raised. Even though I am aware that every generation tends to say this, I’m still pretty sure that I want to give my son a childhood that’s as innocent, relaxing, playful and wonderful as mine was for as long as possible. And the times we …

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Our Daytrip to Tel Afeq National Park (Antipatris)

The holidays here are almost over and the weather is making it extremely difficult to go back “to normal”, i.e., work. It’s sunny, warm and flowers are blooming everywhere. We try to spend as much time as possible outside but since every place is packed with people on vacation, we tend to stay close by to home and not venture …

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