December 31st, 2009
It Could Be Verse turns your thoughts and feelings into warm, witty and wonderful poems and fabulous one-of-a-kind gifts. Whether it’s a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candlelighting, Birthday, Anniversary, Sweet Sixteen or reunion, they can say it for you with humor, taste and a little sentimentality thrown in.
They also have great gift ideas! Their candlelighting poems can be graphically enhanced, framed (5” x 7”) and wrapped for presentation for each candlelighter as a remembrance of the occasion. Using the theme of your party and your child’s favorite things, they create a border around the poem with appropriate graphics.
Candlelighting poems digitally enhanced and framed for your guests
They can also graphically enhance (3-D) any invitation to give as a special gift or keepsake of a very special event.
A 3-D framed invitation
To get started, give them a call and they will send you a detailed questionnaire.
If you are interested in learning more, contact them at info@itcouldbeverse.com or 732-679-8093 and tell them you found them on Mitzvah Market!
December 31st, 2009
Looking for an exciting way to highlight your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah? How about having a professional fireworks display that lights up the sky? Fireworks are becoming more and more popular at private events throughout the country, but there are quite a few things you should consider. We caught up the folks from Bay Fireworks to learn all the facts.
MM: What do we need to think about before considering a fireworks display for our Mitzvahs?
BF: The first consideration is having the proper venue for fireworks. For safety reasons, professional fireworks need a significant amount of open space. Country clubs are ideal as well as catering halls that have significant property.
Secondly, you must have written permission from the landlord or property owner that fireworks would be permitted at all. A letter on their stationery, or an email, will suffice.
Reputable fireworks companies provide fireworks, licensed technicians, pre-site visit with fire officials, all equipment and trucking, permit filing assistance, insurance and coordination with your event planner, DJ and/or caterer. This ensures that the fireworks are timely and synchronized to that evening’s schedule.
After the initial steps are taken, your chosen fireworks vendor can contact the local government or fire officials, and other appropriate agencies to secure permits necessary for the event. This should all be done several months in advance.
MM: What types of Fireworks exist?
BF: Please note that there are two types of fireworks generally available. Primarily, the shells that you see on the 4th of July are the most common. The second option is close proximity pyrotechnics that you may have seen on a concert stage or professional sporting event. These require much less space, burn quicker and do not go nearly as high in the sky. They do present many color and effect variations, and are a great choice when space is limited.
Typical fireworks displays start at approximately $5,000.00 plus permitting fees (if any), on land. If a marine display is required, or if you desire options such as a computer fired choreographed display to a specific musical score, the cost is naturally higher.
MM: How long should the fireworks presentation be?
BF: It is not recommended that the program exceed 10 minutes in length. Usually 6-7 minutes of vibrant and intense effects is best received by the audience at an event like this.
Understand that the fireworks vendor can not control the weather. Rain, unless very heavy and constant, does not stop the firing of the devices. Heavy wind, usually exceeding 25mph, would be more likely to prevent the performance, but that is usually a decision made close to the scheduled time and depends on the venue.
If you would like to learn more about having a fireworks presentation at your Mitzvah, contact Bay Fireworks at 631-390-8620 and be sure to tell them Mitzvah Market sent you!
December 24th, 2009
With all the details that go into planning your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah, there’s bound to be something overlooked!
Baskets for out-of-town guests add a nice personalized touch and are sometimes remembered at the last minute. Lisa Chalker from Family Affair Distributing Inc. can create a great basket based on your budget and the amount of time you give her to create!
In the example left and below, the Bar Mitzvah boy’s colors were black, silver and lime green. They brought in the silver box which was filled with delicious munchies the guests could snack on in the hotel room. The lime green popcorn made a big hit and so did the custom Hershey Bar with a laminated label, both of which added to the personalization of the basket.
The Hershey Bar had the Bar Mitzvah boy’s picture on it with lots of fun facts about him and about the Bar Mitzvah, all with full color graphics. The guests could then enjoy the Hershey Bar and save the wrapper as a momento, since it’s laminated.
The cost of the baskets begin at $30 (not including tax and deliver/shipping charges) and they try to customize it as much as possible depending on the amount of time given before the actual Bar/Bat Mitzvah date.
Lisa likes to talk with the family to find out what their budget is and what they might like in the baskets.
After they load the basket with munchies, they seal the baskets with printed cello and a custom-handmade bow.
Contact: Lisa Chalker, President and Owner of Family Affair, for a free consultation. She can be reached at lisa@familyaffairdist.com or 516-797-8770.
December 20th, 2009
Here at Mitzvah Market we sometimes get carried away about women’s fashions and forget about the men in our lives. Well here is a great Mitzvah Find for your son, husband, father and/or grandfather.
Tiecrafters.com is a design-your-own-tie company. You can choose your own fabric, bring it to Tiecrafters or mail it to them and they will make custom ties, bowties, and pocket squares.
This lets you add a personal touch to the menswear at your Mitzvah. Based in New York City, they also widen and shorten ties and after they all get dirty, Tiecrafters.com will clean and press them as well. Hand painted ties can be requested too. Check out their Website for more information.
December 20th, 2009
Saturday December 19, 2009 was the date for Bari’s Bat Mitzvah – the forecast wasn’t good. “Record breaking blizzard with whiteout conditions,” that’s what the weatherman said. The Havdalah service was at Temple Or Elohim on Long Island followed by a party 1/2 hour away in Island Park, NY.
Jodie and Rich Yorke had to make a tough decision, and at 3:00pm they decided to postpone their daughter’s party but go ahead with the service which was now going to begin 4:30pm. They hoped Bari’s friends and family would still make it to the service despite the weather.
Bari did a great job and the sanctuary was filled with her friends and family who drove in the snow to be there with the Yorke family as Bari became a Bat Mitzvah.
Then something wonderful happened…
No caterer, no staff, no centerpieces, no photobooth or games for the kids, no placecards, no DJ, MC or dancers, no bartender, no cocktail hour, but one terrific impromptu party began!
The Yorke’s have great friends and they arranged to have tables with paper cloths set up while the service was going on and also arranged for beverages and a local Italian restaurant to deliver some pizza and hot food.
Hot food on a snowy night for the guests to eat
Bari’s friends present her with special home-made gifts!
Thankfully, Temple Or Elohim recently renovated and has a spacious room with a built-in dance floor, lighting and sound system. Random CD’s were found in the DJ booth and guests took turns playing music so everyone could dance, even the horah with the family up in chairs! Somehow a cake was there for a mini candlelighting as friends took digital pictures and even the montage was played.
Bari’s friends smile for a candlelighting photo
The Yorke’s are so grateful to all their friends, especially Andrea and Marc Wiener for helping to make this party happen!
All the adults looked around the room and realized the kids and everyone in attendance were having a great time in spite of the lack of usual entertainment provided at Mitzvahs. It was a great lesson to all of those in attendance that you just need to celebrate what’s truly important – being together.
Guest Steve Garten plays DJ!
Congratulations Bari and the Yorke family on your daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. A celebration all of us will be talking about for years to come!
See more Mitzvah Family Spotlight stories here.
December 20th, 2009
The year of your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah, there is a good chance you and your family will attend many a Mitzvah. Between the classmates, camp friends and Hebrew school buddies, your child (and you!) will most likely be invited to your fair share of events. Is your wardrobe ready? Here are some ways to maximize your wardrobe (and your daughter’s wardrobe!) without breaking the bank, when you are a guest at an upcoming affair:
1. Rent a dress. Websites like WearTodayGoneTomorrow.com and RentTheRunway.com offer amazing designer dresses for you to rent. Brand new styles by designers like Vera Wang, Michael Kors and Tuleh are available for the borrowing for as little as $50 to $200. The same dress would retail for $400 to $3,000! You can’t beat it! But plan ahead; there could be a waiting list for the style or size you have in mind. And as a member of RentThe Runway.com, you have online access to a fashion stylist who can help with just about anything from advice on fit to finding the perfect accessory.
WearTodayGoneTomorrow.com offers this Teri John fitted one shoulder silk taffeta gown to rent
2. Swap. Call your sister, your neighbor or your friend and see what she’s got stashed away in her closet. When you find an item to borrow, decide on a policy for giving it back; pinky swear that you will return the dress by a certain date, completely dry cleaned and ready for the next big event. For the cost of dry cleaning, you’ve got yourself a frock that is new to you!
3. Recycle. There is nothing better than getting more mileage out of something you already own. Do you have a little black dress in your closet from days gone by? Give that dress a facelift. Doll your favorite LBD with a few bright and shiny accessories. Have fun with baubles or brightly colored or metallic shoes. Either dig through your jewelry box or indulge in a new trinket. You can go with as low-end as Target or as high-end as Tiffany & Co. and have a ball choosing jewelry. The idea is to pick something that sparkles.
The little black Donna Rico dress from Nordstrom’s get’s a whole new look with the sparkly brooch in the center
4. Shop consignment. Don’t dismiss it if you’ve never tried it! You can shop high-end consignment and find yourself with an amazing deal on a designer frock that costs a fraction of what the dress cost originally. You might even find a dress on consignment that still has the original tags on it! Looking for an appropriate consignment shop near you? Go to our Website’s search bar and type in “consignment.” In the past we have reported on Jade Formals, MINT and Best Dressed Secret.
5. Go with pants. Black pants are really a girl’s best friend. And for a Mitzvah, black pants paired with a bright, fun top might be the way to go. When you go with black pants, let your top be the star. Choose something fun or sophisticated. You can always rent a top from
WearTodayGoneTomorrow.com or RentTheRunway.com, swap with a friend or recycle one you already own. If you choose to wear a sweater, make sure you layer. A crowded event can mean for a warm room, and you may wish to take your sweater off.
This Rebecca Taylor top, also from WearTodayGoneTomorrow.com would work great with black pants and it’s under $35 to rent!
December 16th, 2009
Samuel M. Attias of Shaker Heights, Ohio, had his Bar Mitzvah back in April. He knew he wanted to do a Mitzvah Project that incorporated three things that are important to him: kids, Israel and sports.
The Attias’ contacted Schneider Children’s Medical Center, and together as a team, they brainstormed to create a personalized project.
Here’s the scoop on Sam’s Mitzvah Project in his own words:
MM: Tell us about your Mitzvah Project.
SA: I asked my guests to consider making a donation to the hospital instead of giving me a gift. I was able to give the hospital over $5,500. With that money the hospital purchased exercise equipment. After my Bar Mitzvah, Dr. Stein, a doctor from Schneider’s was visiting his in-laws in Cleveland and I got to meet him. He explained to me that kids who get exercise are given less morphine during their chemo treatment. Also, the kids who get exercise while in the hospital are more able to quickly return to a normal life after they are released from the hospital. I also learned that the bicycles that were purchased with my donation were customized to fit a child’s bed! I thought that was very cool.
MM: Tell us about the hospital that benefited from your Project.
SA: Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel is the only comprehensive, highly specialized care hospital of its kind in Israel and treats kids from all over the Middle East. The hospital dedicates itself exclusively to the well-being of all children from newborns to 18 years olds. There are 250 beds at the hospital and 107 of them are used in the Intensive Care, Neonatology and Burn units. Their Website is www.mdinyc.org.
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project/charity?
SA: I was looking for a project that combined three of the things that are important to me and my family: kids, Israel and sports. At first I wanted to collect soccer uniforms and send them to Israel but it turned out that the kids in Israel did not need them so badly. My mom found the hospital for me.
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bar Mitzvah?
SA: For my Bar Mitzvah I only wanted a couple of gifts, like an iPod and new hockey pads. That is how I came up with the “suggested gift” idea to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel. I have been raised in a family and community where it is normal to have a tzedakkah project. The question was not whether to have a project; it was more like finding the right one.
Sam doing what he loves…hockey!
MM: How did you let people know about your Project?
SA: To spread the word, I talked about it with everybody and the local newspaper eventually wrote an article about it. I also included an additional card with my invitation. Here’s what I wrote:
As a suggested gift, please consider helping me raise money for the Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel in Petach Tikvah. The money we raise will go toward soft sporting equipment, such as door hoops for basketballs and a customized exercise bicycle that will be used to help children during physical therapy.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel is the only comprehensive, highly specialized care hospital of its kind in Israel and treats kids from all over the Middle East. The hospital dedicates itself exclusively to the well-being of all children from newborns to 18 year olds. There are 250 beds at the hospital and 107 of them are used in the Intensive Care, Neonatology and Burn units.
Please make a donation by visiting the Medical Development for Israel website at: www.mdinyc.org or, you could send a donation to: Medical Development for Israel, 295 Madison Ave #1705, NY, NY 10017 212-759-3370
With your help, kids can heal and have some fun too. Thanks in advance, Samuel
MM: How long can people donate to this charity?
SA: People can always donate to Schneider’s as a charity because the kids could always use their help. Donations to Schneider’s also go toward extra stuff like tutors, hospitality for families and special therapists
MM: Anything else we need to know about your Mitzvah Project?
SA: A friend of mine from Cleveland wanted to visit the hospital for me when she was vacationing in Israel. While at the hospital her father videotaped their tour given by the head Oncology Dr. Stein. The video highlighted the wonderful care the kids get when they are at the hospital. Sometimes the kids are at the hospital for 3 months or longer. Dr. Stein also told us about the advanced technology like the ventilation system that that keeps the air clean for the kids. The video was very cool because even though I did not get to see the hospital in person I still got to see what the hospital looked like. This spring my 8th grade Schechter class gets to go to Israel and I am excited to visit with Dr. Stein and the kids at the hospital.
We want to thank Sam for sharing his gift of giving with Mitzvah Market. If you are interested in having your Mitzvah Project benefit this great cause, check out all their ideas here.
December 13th, 2009
A Mitzvah Makeover by Debra Schonfeld
Let’s be honest, most women are unhappy about something relative to their body and wish they had the guidance to help them make a change. This particularly comes to light when faced with a big event, like their child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They know that they will be in the spotlight as well as their child and want to look their best. It’s all about being your best YOU, not looking like someone else.
We got the chance to speak with Debra Schonfeld, a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner who is giving us the lowdown on injectables and great information if you are considering a little makeover for yourself.
MM: Please explain your credentials.
DS: I am a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. We are registered nurses who obtain a Master’s Degree in Nursing and get board certification in a particular specialty. My academic training encompasses all areas of women’s health. My initial training in aesthetics is from the Aesthetic Enhancement Institute, which is a nationally recognized training institute that has certified thousands of Physicians, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in anti-aging treatments for 20 years. I also regularly attend medical conferences to remain current on trends in the industry.
As an NP, I have a collaborative practice with an MD. This means that he is available to me 24/7 for consultation. I have been a nurse for 30 years, an NP for 16 years and Oh So Vain, my aesthetics company, just celebrated 5 years. I am currently on staff at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn since 1994, where I am a hospital administrator and have a large women’s healthcare practice.
MM: What types of treatments do you specialize in?
DS: I am very familiar with Botox® and fillers such as Restylane® and Juve’derm® to diminish fine lines and enhance lips. I also have a lot of experience with mild to moderate medical grade peels that do a tremendous job brightening and freshening up skin tone. I also work on spider veins with a treatment known as sclerotherapy. It is quite amazing what results you can see with just one session with any of these treatments.
MM: Who should consider minor cosmetic enhancements?
DS: Anyone and everyone. Considering aesthetic procedures are not covered by insurance, this is a reasonable and cost effective way to reverse aging. There are safe, effective and affordable treatments available that can provide the change you’re after.
MM: What should we be asking about before getting an injectable?
DS: Any competent practitioner will entertain a discussion about risks and side effects prior to any procedure. What is the down time? How long is the procedure? What safety measures are in place incase of an adverse reaction? What measures have been taken to provide pain relief?
MM: How can Mitzvah Mom’s take advantage of your services?
DS: Plan ahead. As a 4-time Mitzvah Mom myself, the momentum of the event has a life of its own. As the date gets closer, there are more and more demands for your time and never enough money to take care of them all. If this is something that you have dreamed of for yourself, but there was never the right time, consider a free consultation. Call me 2-3 months before the event to discuss it. Maybe you would just like your skin to have that healthy glow. Consider a chemical peel. Your skin will feel better and your make up will look better. Get the facts from someone who does the same thing over and over. I am not a jack-of-all-trades, just an expert in a few. This is also a nice thing to gift to a sister or mother, who might not be inclined to indulge themselves in this way.
MM: Can you give us some timelines for injectables?
DS: Injectables: Botox and fillers- 3-4 weeks ahead because we always worry about small bruises and touch-ups.
Veins- 8 weeks or more ahead because there is always bruising and they get darker before they go away. We also never know how many treatments you need.
Skin care- 2 weeks before. There can be slight peeling after 3 days that you want completely resolved before your big event.
MM: Any new industry trends?
DS: There’s a new competitor to Botox called Dysport. Same price, but works a few days faster. There are all types of fillers on the market. The leaders are still Restylane® and Juve’derm®, both because they have an extremely low profile for side effects. Juve’derm® lasts a few months longer and is a little more expensive, but I think it’s worth it.
Chemical peels and good skin pharmaceuticals (pharmaceutical grade skin cleansers and creams that are only dispensed from a licensed professional and can’t be obtained over the counter) are the way to go particularly in the 30 and over crowd. At the same cost as those fancy packaged brands from Nordstroms (and we all know who they are), you are getting more bang for your buck. Over the counter brands can only effect dead tissue, need to be applied often to see their effects, and will ultimately not make a lasting change in skin quality. At the very least, get the Clarisonic facial brush (like the toothbrush only for your skin) and a good moisturizer with sunscreen. Sclerotherapy still beats laser therapy for surface spider veins in my opinion. It hurts less, the treatment area is often bigger and it less expensive.
Thanks Debra for all this great advice. If you would like a free consultation, you can reach Debra at 516-315-5882 or email her at oohsovain@aol.com. Be sure to tell her Mitzvah Market sent you!
December 13th, 2009
What are you going to do with all the Bar/Bat Mitzvah pictures that you didn’t have room for in your album?
Hallmark Cards and Smilebox.com have come up with a great solution. The Hallmark Digital Scrapbook product features Smilebox technology that lets you easily personalize designs with photos, music and text and share or preserve them on DVDs or digital photo frames. You can even share the completed scrapbook online via e-mail, blog or social networking sites or transfer it to a DVD and watch it on your TV. Their Website features a great “how-to” video explaining everything.
When you purchase The Digital Scrapbook you get a USB Flash Drive inside the box. All you need to do is insert the USB Flash Drive into your computer, click on the Hallmark icon and then you are taken to the Smilebox website. There you can upload up to 50 of your favorite photos. There are templates to accommodate any picture (both vertical and horizontal). All you need to do is select which template you want, drag the picture over to the place on the template and you are done. You can zoom in and out and even make the images go in black & white or color. Once you are happy with the design you click “next” and you can do the same thing for another picture.
Another fun feature about the Digital Scrapbook is the music. You can add one of their tunes or use your own music. And if you have a digital photo frame you can transfer the completed digital scrapbook over to your digital photo frame and it can play the music along with the pictures.
We think it’s easy enough for anyone at any tech level to handle! The Digital Scrapbook makes a great gift and for available at Hallmark Crown stores and retails for $19.95.
December 9th, 2009
Don’t gifts feel more special when you wrap them up?
Here’s a great Mitzvah Find that will channel your inner Martha Stewart and works double duty for the holidays as well as for your child’s Mitzvah celebration. Nashville Wraps offers a great variety of bags, boxes, tissue, bows, baskets, tulle, tags for all occasions at wholesale pricing. The company has some great packaging ideas, color schemes and wrapping products and with an easy Website to navigate and a three step ordering process, you can buy anything you want! Nashville Wraps stocks more than 5,000 items and can ship in 24 hours — even during the busy holiday season.
We also love that they are green – Nashville Wraps specializes in eco-friendly gift and gourmet packaging. White tissue paper made from 90 percent recycled paper and colored tissue made from 75 percent recycled fibers are available through their Website as well.
With this Website you can start making beautiful, fun, and creative statements for the holidays or for your child’s favors….and save money as well.
