October 13th, 2009
The word on the street is that interactive entertainment is a lasting trend in the party-planning world. Giving your guests the chance to actively get involved in the event’s agenda not only lets guests feel personally connected to the event, but it might also give them a cool, personalized favor to take home.
One example of a vendor that offers an interactive service is A Charming Affair, based in Woodbury, NY. A Charming Affair team member sets up a table at your event (Mitzvahs, birthday parties, Sweet 16s, etc.) and guests (boys and girls) are encouraged to design their own keepsakes. Each child chooses from a variety of chains and charms. A Charming Affair offers sports, crystal and themed charms that might reflect each guest’s favorite sport or hobby.
Interested? Feel free to contact A Charming Affair at 516-496-8391 for more information. Or if you are feeling really daring, consider trying to organize your own interactive jewelry-making station at your next special affair.
October 12th, 2009
Book Review
We like to spread the word about good Mitzvah-related topics, including good reads for Kids and Moms. To help us recommend You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, we looped in 6th grader and Mitzvah Kid Mikaela Adwar of Jericho, NY. Thank you, Mikaela, for your help! Here’s Mikaela’s review:
You are SO not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah By Fiona Rosenbloom is a great tween book that offers a great storyline and hilarious scenarios. Stacy Friedman is starting to prepare for one of the most important events of her life, her Bat Mitzvah. She has always dreamed of the perfect one which would include the perfect dress, friends that are popular and even the perfect guy, Andy Goldfarb.
Then things start to turn upside down.
Stacy’s torah potion is not going so great (she can’t sing for her life), her crazed mom makes her get the ugliest dress EVER times ten, and Andy gets interested in some other girls. Her Mitzvah projects haven’t been going so great either. Since her parents separated, her dad has found a “Malibu Barbie-type” girlfriend who he’s taking to Stacy’s Bat Mitzvah. Then something so unpredictable happens that causes Stacy to say those fateful words. “You are SO not invited to my Bat Mitzvah!”
I recommend this book to girls 10 and up. Any girls who loved The Clique, Camp Confidential or Lauren Myracle’s books would adore this series. I loved every page of this book, and I bet you will too! You should SO not miss this book! – Mikaela Adwar
October 12th, 2009
Another Book Review by Mikaela
Back in November, we enlisted the help of 6th grader Mikaela Adwar to help us review the Mitzvah-related book, You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!. We thought it only right to ask Mikaela to help us out again to review the book’s sequel. Here’s Mikaela’s review:
We Are SO Crashing Your Bar Mitzvah! by Fiona Rosenbloom is the sequel to You are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!. I think it was even more witty and funny than the first book. The whole time I read the sequel, I was doubled over with hysterics! I promise you will be ROFL (Rolling on the Floor Laughing) too.
Stacy Friedman is back and better than ever. She has just arrived home from the best summer of her life. She and Lydia went off to camp and met the COOLEST girl EVER! She taught them everything cool from straightening their hair to wearing awesome rocker tees.
So when they come back they are stoked to show off their new look to Kelly (their other bffl or best friend for life) and The Chicas (the popular girls). But it turns out they’re the ones in for a surprise….
They turn up to see Kelly has lost some weight (she looks AH-MAZING!); she got her braces taken off (she looks AH-MAZING!); she has like a perfect tan (she looks AH-MAZING!); and by the way, she looks AH-MAZING!
So when Eben (One of The Chica’s cousins) invites the Chicas and Kelly to his ultra-exclusive Bar Mitzvah (it’s supposed to be AWESOME) and not her and Lydia, Stacy isn’t happy! Soon Kelly and The Chicas become super cozy and totally are excluding Lydia and Stacy. So that’s when Stacy comes up with one of her famous plans which leads her to say those fateful words: “We are SO crashing your Bar Mitzvah!”
This book was hilarious and I loved it. I recommend this book for girls 10 and up. It’s up to you to decide if it’s as good as the first. I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out!
October 12th, 2009
A Great Resource
Our MM readers keep us on our toes! A few hours after sending out last week’s Mitzvah Family Spotlight story, we heard from two readers. Mitzvah Dad Jeff wrote in to say he wished he could have worn sneakers to his Bar Mitzvah like Max Adler did! We also heard from Mitzvah Mom Suzi who tracked down Leslie Adler to find out about those tie-dyed bags. We are impressed with your scouting, Suzi!
If anyone else is interested in learning where Leslie found these bags for her favors, she bought them through http://www.startrackinc.com/.
October 12th, 2009
Friday Night Lights
We love hearing from you. We recently received an email with this question:
“We’re in the process of planning a ‘football theme’ Bar Mitzvah in S. Texas for June ’09. Any ideas for football parties?”
Great question! We scored some good ideas from Lori Bellan, Party and Event Coordinator for Fantasy Music and NY Lounge Décor. Here are some of Lori’s ideas:
1. Incorporate the colors of the child’s favorite team in the theme – the lighting, tablecloths flowers, etc.
2. Place a life-size stand-up in football gear near the sign-in table.
3. Consider creating a ticket booth where you pick up your place cards.
4. The DJ can dress us like a referee and introduce your child as the MVP of the evening.
5. Create a “half-time” show.
6. Depending on the budget, you could hire a professional player to visit.
7. Jerseys make great giveaways.
8. For the kids’ seating, you can use bleachers and create lockers for their belongings.
October 12th, 2009
Centerpiece Question
Oh, we love mail! We recently received an email from a Mitzvah Mail reader who posed a great question. Here it is:
“I am planning my son’s bar mitzvah in April and am trying to think of non-traditional, creative options for decor. I am not having a specific theme … and we are having a luncheon at a local country club. I am thinking about centerpieces (for the adults’ tables) consisting either of attractive plants, which would then be donated, or perhaps something funky such as goldfish in cylindrical bowls, with a mirrored circular platter beneath. Any thoughts on decor alternatives to flowers but more exotic and upscale than balloons?”
To help us answer the question, we reached out to Nancy and Lisa of Wizard Events, party planners extraordinaire, who serve the NY/NJ/Conn area. The Wizards sent along some photos as inspiration, and they sincerely encourage MM readers to give them a call (914-576-8900). They love to talk shop, and a consultation is always free!
This centerpiece is a very cool lamp that adds drama and ambiance
This centerpiece uses orchids as a simple yet elegant focal point
Centerpieces using hot air balloons are inexpensive and can still be dramatic
Thank you again to the party planning experts at Wizard Events for sharing their photos and ideas with us.
October 12th, 2009
Zap Photographer Feedback
Last week, we posted a question one of our Mitzvah Market Mail readers from Warren, NJ, sent in. Here was her question:
We’d like to have a roaming photographer take pictures and then post them on our screen at our Mitzvah. We have the screen. We just need the person to take the photos and be able to post them during the party. Do you know any reasonably priced vendors in my area for this?
Thank you to those of you who replied! Here are two responses we thought we’d share:
MM reader Darlene B. writes in: We had a photographer as well as the DJ company provide us, at no additional cost, the person to take the zap photos. The other option I would recommend is a company called The Main Event. They do photo booths and games but can also walk around and take additional pictures. You may be able to work it out with them for zap photos on your screen at a reasonable price. They are excellent! (You can contact The Main Event at 800-427-6359 or visit their Website.)
Bob Fine of Robert P. Fine Photography wrote in to say that he does what our reader was looking for. If anyone would like to learn more about Bob, he can be reached at rfine@rfinephotography.com or 914-773-4291.
October 12th, 2009
rock CAN roll’s tagline is “Where The Heart Of Rock Can Feed A Soul!”
rock CAN roll is a non-profit hunger relief organization/think tank that works with rock concerts, schools, corporations and private individuals to collect canned and non-perishable foods. Once collected, the organization distributes the goods to local agencies and into the hands of children, seniors and families who live with hunger and in poverty.
Visit rock CAN roll’s Website to donate food, goods or services. You might even consider making your next event a rock CAN roll event!
October 12th, 2009
Showcase Success
Sheri and Erica had a blast at yesterday’s Celebrate! Party Showcase event in Teaneck, NJ. We want to thank Elyse and Flora, the event’s organizers, for inviting us. See photo of Sheri and Erica with Elyse Davis on left.
If you are in Mitzvah or any type of party planning mode, you should consider attending a Celebrate! Party Showcase.
October 12th, 2009
New Release: Raising A Child With Soul
We all want the best for our kids. But sometimes our best efforts to give them “the world” doesn’t seem to be the answer. How can we raise our kids to be respectful, grateful and self-confident? We think the book Raising A Child With Soul might give us some direction.
Author Slovie Jungreis-Wolff
Slovie Jungreis-Wolf, daughter of renowned rebbitzen Esther Jungreis, founder of Hineni International and author of The Committed Life and The Committed Marriage, and mother of five, is the author of the new book Raising A Child With Soul. This just-released book aims to provide real solutions for parents wishing to deepen their connection with their children. In the book, Jungreis-Wolff calls upon the lessons she learned from her mother, a Holocaust survivor, her Rabbi father, and her over ten years of experience teaching Hineni Young Couples and Parenting classes at the Hineni Heritage Center in New York.
In Raising A Child With Soul, Jungreis-Wolff shows how even the most difficult challenges that parents face: discipline, sibling rivalry, and fostering self-esteem, can be met through integrating the lessons of the Torah into the home. It contains insight for both Jewish and non-Jewish families on all aspects of raising a child.
To learn more about Slovie Jungreis-Wolff and her new book, Raising A Child With Soul, please visit her Website.
