Donate Leftover Food!
We thought this Mitzvah Find was worth a mention. AmpleHarvest.org will help you find a neighborhood food pantry in your area.
Simply type in your zip code and discover places just around the corner that could use your help. Might make for a nice Mitzvah Project idea too!
Recently a Mitzvah Mom wrote in to ask about appropriate gift ideas to give “kid to kid.” We thought that was a great question, and recently came across another idea that might be useful! Check out this clever Website, SimchaBucks.
SimchaBucks was created to help guests figure out how much money they should spend on a present for a special occasion, such as weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, baby showers and graduations. Additionally, the site can help event organizers manage the thank-you note process by recording the names of the gift givers and the gifts given.
In order to figure out how much money you should spend, you simply use a calculator on the site and supply information specific to your situation. This is taken into account along with other variables such as the month of the year and the state you live in.
Check out the Website and let us know if it is useful!
NY Party Works is one of the premier New York entertainment companies, covering the entire Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas. Whether you’re looking for event planning and/or party rentals in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or any other state in the area, NY Party Works has it all.
The full-time staff of event coordinators and event crews at NY Party Works care as much about your party as you do and will do everything in their power to make your event a success. Margaret Fescina of NY Party Works answers some basic questions about being entertainment specialists.
One of the many rentals: an inflatable mechanical bull
MM: Tell us about your business.
MF: NY Party Works is a service-oriented, family-owned company that has been in the business of entertaining people for more than 30 years.
A Photo Booth
MM: How is your business unique?
MF: We have a very wide range of entertainment, from photo systems to inflatables and arcade games. Our staff of event coordinators work closely with our clients on each event. We care about their events like they were our own. We ask lots of questions to be sure that we really understand their needs and the specifics of each party and venue.
A Candy Wall
MM: What can people expect when they hire you?
MF: They can expect us to be on time, professional and completely involved in their event from start to finish. We will try to live up to all of the clients’ expectations and more.
Great Advice!
NY Party Works recommends that you always provide some form of entertainment for the “non-dancers” who attend your Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It is also nice to give each guest something to take home as a reminder of the event, such as a photo favor, or even a DVD of a music video or Pop Noggins performance.
What A Deal!
NY Party Works is offering $150 off any order of $1,000 (not including tax and delivery). Tell them Mitzvah Market sent you!
by Stacy Lawrence of Make An Impression
When you visit an invitation retailer, you realize how many choices you have when selecting a design: color combinations, fonts, invitation sizes and styles, enhancements like appliques, layers and pocket folders, and so much more. Not to mention, everything can be customized. This is the “traditional” approach to ordering invitations, and the reputation is that going this route can cost a fortune. And it can!
As an alternative, families often consider making their own invitations. Going the “DIY route” allows you to add a personal touch to your invitations and it can be a serious cost-saving measure. However, more often than not, when you create your own invitation (unless you are a designer by trade), the finished product lacks the finishing touches a professionally designed and produced invitation would have.
The good news is, DIY invitations are not the only way to save money. Here are some ideas on how you can cut costs when ordering professionally designed and produced invitations:
* Order a fold-over invitation so there is more room to house all the details of the event on the same card.
* If you order a vertical invitation, address the envelopes horizontally to save on additional postage.
* Instead of sending direction cards, include the venue’s Website, which usually has directions posted.
* Skip the RSVP card; ask for a call or an e-mail.
While the DIY option feels like a real money saver, there are hidden “costs” – both monetary and time costs. Realistically, when you consider how much time it takes to conceptualize, research, print and assemble a DIY invitation, it can end up being more costly than some of the affordable professionally designed invitations on the market. A good invitation retailer will work with any client’s budget to come up with a beautiful and unique invitation that will look as elegant as the rest of your event.
Stacy Lawrence owns Make An Impression a five-star Yahoo rated invitation and party planning store in River Edge, NY. Check out her Website. And thanks for the advice, Stacy!
We wanted to throw out this idea. Instead of a wearable favor, why not try something a little different as your Mitzvah favor?
We know kids love gum and this customized gumball machine can serve as a practical, yet colorful favor. And our research tells us, it can cost you about half the price of a wearable. Again, this idea is not for everyone, but most Moms tell us their kids have too many sweatshirts to wear as it is! We want to thank Lisa Chalker of Family Affair Distributing Inc. for this fun favor find! Please contact Lisa at 516-797-8770 or at contactus@familyaffairdist.com for more creative favor ideas.
From the cocktail hour to the dance floor, the music at your event will come to life using the outstanding, professional entertainers, bands, disc jockeys, and specialty acts that EJ The DJ has to offer.
EJ The DJ Inc. utilizes its worldwide resources to customize entertainment for your affair. They continuously explore and expand what is upcoming and available in the industry to provide you with the cutting edge innovations in entertainment services. The result is a unique event to remember, which could not be made possible by any other company.
TIP: Ed Jacobs, the Owner/CEO since the company was founded in 1985, suggests that your DJ/entertainers should arrive at least 1 hour prior to your cocktail hour. Additionally, your DJ/MC should do a final meeting (in person or over the phone) to get to know the family and assure you that every detail will be carried out to perfection.
EJ The DJ can be reached at 1-800-ejthedj.
To learn more visit their extended Vendor Directory profile page and watch this Vendor Video Series.
Areyvut enables Jewish youth to infuse their lives with core Jewish values of kindness, charity and social action. It’s time for their Annual Bnai Mitzvah Video Essay Contest!
Create a video that captures why and how you incorporated (or will incorporate) the values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social justice) into your Bnai Mitzvah celebration. Grades 5 through 10 can participate and all the details can be found on the Areyvut Website. Mark you calendars! The deadline is Friday, December 25, 2009.
Hello All!
We hope by spotlighting this Mitzvah Family, you will be inspired to take some of their ideas and make them your own.
The Cohen Family wanted an elegant, yet fun party in honor of their daughter Danielle’s Bat Mitzvah at Glen Head Country Club. For their theme, they decided to use Dylan’s Candy Bar as the inspiration. Dani did a special photo shoot surrounded by candy themed pillows and used that photo for her sign-in board. They also had a big “Dani’s Candy Bar” sign hanging in the kids lounge area. As you will see from the photos, that fun, brightly colored candy theme was used on many details throughout the party!
We want to thank the Cohens for sharing their party details with us. Pictured left to right: Adam, Bat Mitzvah girl Danielle, Tammy and Drew.
The Cohen Family all looked great! Mom Tammy’s dress was from Tallulah in Woodbury, NY, and Dani’s was from Clyde Jr., a store that has since closed. Reminder: All Vendor info is at the bottom.
Dani with her Mom Tammy
The entire room decor including the beautiful flowers were mostly done in various shades of pink. Stefan’s was responsible for the fabulous decor and Brett Matthews did the “candy” photo shoot as well as all the photography for the party.
The room looked warm and inviting as guests made their way inside
Adorable centerpieces for the kids’ tables
The Cohen’s has some nice touches for Dani’s Bat Mitzvah that they wanted to share with our Mitzvah Market readers:
Dani’s creative sign in picture now hangs in her room
Even the socks for the kids matched the theme!
The Cohen’s had a rockin’ crowd who danced most of the night. Their MC was Echo, now with Fantasy Music.
Dani with Echo and the dancers
Dani “Made Her Entrance” in a grand way….when the DJ announced her name, she surprised her guests by breaking through the big sheet hanging by the main entrance to the room.
The stage is set when your invitation arrives. The Cohens used Shwamy Creations. Dani’s invitation had a harlequin theme with a hand beaded “D.”
For Dani’s candlelighting ceremony, Sweet Things created an unbelievable cake that perfectly coordinated to match the motif of the invitation, including the special “D”!
Dani studied with Hebrew tutor Michael Marcus who performed her outdoor service at the Glen Head Country Club on a beautiful Friday night in June.
Michael Marcus conducting the ceremony at Glen Head Country Club
Tammy learned alot during the planning of her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and has this advice, “I absolutely loved Bnai Mitzvah Party Planning software. It kept me completely organized with my RSVPs, seating charts and guest information. The best part is that now I’m all set for my son’s Bar Mitzvah in 2011!”
Here is a list of the Mitzvah Vendors who helped make Dani’s Bat Mitzvah special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com. Thanks!
Tallulah’s in Woodbury – 516-367-8010
Stefan’s in Cedahurst – 516-239-2402
Shwamy Creations in Chicago – No longer in business
DJ Echo with Fantasy Music – 516-935-1111
Brett Matthews in Roslyn Heights – 516-621-4242
Michelle Weissman/Creative Specialities – 516-637-0493 or mlw682@aol.com
Sweet Things in Oceanside – 516-255-5290
Michael Marcus – 888-3-227-228
Glen Head Country Club
Sarah Tract of Brookville, NY, will become a Bat Mitzvah in November and wanted to come up with a Project that helped others and used her skills and abilities. She is very creative and came up with a clever plan. Mitzvah Market Mail caught up with Sarah and this is what she told us in her own words:
“Recently my hebrew school, Temple Beth Sholom, had my class visit Winthrop Hospital Outpatient Facility for Children with Cancer. When I saw these children who were getting chemotheraphy I felt so bad for them and I really wanted to do something to help. Also, due to all the problems in Israel lately, I also feel bad for the Israeli soldiers and would like to help them as well. Friends of the Israel Defense Force is a great place to donate money I can raise.”
“In the past few months,” Sarah continues, “I have created packages of greeting cards. These cards will help me raise money to support both of these two organizations I know can use our help.”
Sarah created two types of cards, one is a general greeting card and the other is a Judaica card
In exchange for her hand designed cards, Sarah is suggesting a donation of $18 to benefit either Winthrop Hospital Pediatric Oncology or Friends of the Israel Defense Force. To date, Sarah’s Mitzvah Project has raised $1,000 for the hospital and $500 for the Friends of the Israel Defense Force. If you are interested in learning more about Sarah’s cards and/or making a donation, please email Sarah at smtract@optonline.net.
Great job, Sarah!
The Event Of A Lifetime created a film premiere Bar Mitzvah celebration for a Bar Mitzvah boy who is a budding film maker. Using the garage, driveway and basement of their home, their house was transformed for this fun kids party!
This film premiere party took place at their home where the Dad brought in his collection of classic cars.
When the young guests arrived and got off the bus, they made their way up the driveway’s the red carpet
Along the way, paparrazzi snapped their pictures and yelled out to them, “Who are you wearing,?” and “Over here,” “Angie – where’s Brad?” When they reached the top of the driveway, the bouncers made sure their names were on the VIP list!
Their garage (before picture above) was transformed into the VIP lounge
The transformation into the VIP Lounge
Seating areas were created
The above film strip blow-up was used as the sign-in board
Custom pillows and napkins were used
Guests could take photos by the Dad’s car collection
A tent was placed over the basketball court
The basement (pictured above) was also used and transformed into a club for the after party
The basement included a white dance floor and DJ set-up for the after party!
Of course a film premiere party needs a fun Hollywood voiceover set-up
The incredible cake!
Guests could enjoy a candy bar
Candy bags featured his logo
We thank The Event Of A Lifetime for sharing this celebration with our readers. For more information, visit their Website.
