We're inching closer to the Bar Mitzvah. Meanwhile, I've put out a printed newsletter for my Hadassah group, made progress on the work I have on two committees for a Jewish outreach organization (which is having its big launch party on Wednesday), dealt with a big proposal and a newsletter at work. Began (barely) my Passover shopping (first seder is at our home).
Biggest frustration is how few RSVPs I've received, as well as having received a few from relatives who I'd hope would come, but cannot. And then there are those not staying for the Sunday lunch... I'm beginning to get nervous that we won't reach the minimum amount I need for the restaurant...
Okay, one thing at a time. I've got to get a little bit of work done this morning before I head for the airport (going to a sales conference through Wednesday for work).
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Some Sunday extras
Since the theme is magic, I want to emphasize it further. I purchased small magic hats from Oriental Trading. I'll use them for centerpieces, perhaps filled with candy, and they may hold table numbers.
I also decided to make favors--chocolate-covered pretzel wands, with white chocolate on the tips, like a wand would have. Pretzels cost $1 or so a bag. Milk chocolate chunks for baking (actually heating up in a microwave) and white chocolate chips for the tips. We made a batch this past weekend, and it seems as if they defrost too quickly. Anyway, I also purchased clear plastic bags at Party City and ordered ribbon with my son'sname and date on them. $3 set up fee and then 22 cents or so per ribbon, I think. alogether $25 for 100 ribbons.
Last item, I purchase magic kits from the dollar store and created sleeves to wrap around them. Took the Jewish star motif, added a top hat, hiding some of the star, and I wrote, "I had a magical celebration at XXX's Bar Mitzvah."
This will be fun!
I also decided to make favors--chocolate-covered pretzel wands, with white chocolate on the tips, like a wand would have. Pretzels cost $1 or so a bag. Milk chocolate chunks for baking (actually heating up in a microwave) and white chocolate chips for the tips. We made a batch this past weekend, and it seems as if they defrost too quickly. Anyway, I also purchased clear plastic bags at Party City and ordered ribbon with my son'sname and date on them. $3 set up fee and then 22 cents or so per ribbon, I think. alogether $25 for 100 ribbons.
Last item, I purchase magic kits from the dollar store and created sleeves to wrap around them. Took the Jewish star motif, added a top hat, hiding some of the star, and I wrote, "I had a magical celebration at XXX's Bar Mitzvah."
This will be fun!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday's lunchtime Bar Mitzvah party
I wanted to hold the Bar Mitzvah "party" somewhere not far from the synagogue--or actually, not far from the Marriott Courtyard where the guests are staying, as it has a free shuttle up to a five mile radius.
I also did not want to spend a lot. I checked out event facilities, caterers, restaurants, etc., but in the end, decided upon brunch at an Italian restaurant which sounded nice (found it after a lot of online sleuthing and telephone calls to area restaurants). A co-worker vouched for them as well. I contacted the proprietor and he sounded amenable. We discussed my only requirement--no meat (to keep a semblance of kashrut). We went in one Sunday morning for brunch, to try out the menu, check out the ambience, see what the service was like. All quite wonderful.
Some time later the proprietor contacted me to tell me that they had cancelled their brunch menu. So we proposed a lunch menu instead for the same price, and he agreed. Instead of 10:30 am, the invitation would call for 11:00 am.
For $18 a person, including tax and tip, they will serve green and/or caesar salad (family style), rolls and garlic knots, an entree. Adults will receive their choice of stuffed shells, gnocchi with choice of sauce, or fettucini alfredo (he requested we get this info in advance--it was put on the RSVP card); children will have spaghetti and ravioli to choose from, served family style. For dessert, each person can choose either cannoli or Italian ices. Refillable soft drinks, coffee, tea are included as well. One of our guests asked me about this--she liked the idea so much--as she needs to plan a high school graduation party for her oldest daughter (a wonderful girl who tutored both my oldest son and now my middle son for their Bnei Mitzvah).
It is a small storefront restaurant in a historic area near quaint railroad tracks. For added entertainment, I found a magician who will perform "strolling magic," from table to table. Again, I did my detective work online, googling for magicians in my area. I checked websites (some were part of nationally affiliated companies), wrote to them all, and found out pricing from those who answered (they began at $200 and hour and increased from there). Later on I contacted one more I had stumbled upon. He quoted me $300. When I told him I was looking for less, he told me that anyone under $200 isn't likely to be good. Then I told him I had found someone for $200. He asked for the name, and when I told him, he was surprised that this particular magician worked at that price...since he is so good.
I figured I didn't need to call the references he gave me with an endorsement like that!
While it would be good advertising for me to give his name and website, as well as that of the resturant, at this point in time, I am still not supplying factors which would help identify me or my location. This may change...
I have a "few tricks up my sleeve" for carrying out the magic theme, but will save them for another entry!
I also did not want to spend a lot. I checked out event facilities, caterers, restaurants, etc., but in the end, decided upon brunch at an Italian restaurant which sounded nice (found it after a lot of online sleuthing and telephone calls to area restaurants). A co-worker vouched for them as well. I contacted the proprietor and he sounded amenable. We discussed my only requirement--no meat (to keep a semblance of kashrut). We went in one Sunday morning for brunch, to try out the menu, check out the ambience, see what the service was like. All quite wonderful.
Some time later the proprietor contacted me to tell me that they had cancelled their brunch menu. So we proposed a lunch menu instead for the same price, and he agreed. Instead of 10:30 am, the invitation would call for 11:00 am.
For $18 a person, including tax and tip, they will serve green and/or caesar salad (family style), rolls and garlic knots, an entree. Adults will receive their choice of stuffed shells, gnocchi with choice of sauce, or fettucini alfredo (he requested we get this info in advance--it was put on the RSVP card); children will have spaghetti and ravioli to choose from, served family style. For dessert, each person can choose either cannoli or Italian ices. Refillable soft drinks, coffee, tea are included as well. One of our guests asked me about this--she liked the idea so much--as she needs to plan a high school graduation party for her oldest daughter (a wonderful girl who tutored both my oldest son and now my middle son for their Bnei Mitzvah).
It is a small storefront restaurant in a historic area near quaint railroad tracks. For added entertainment, I found a magician who will perform "strolling magic," from table to table. Again, I did my detective work online, googling for magicians in my area. I checked websites (some were part of nationally affiliated companies), wrote to them all, and found out pricing from those who answered (they began at $200 and hour and increased from there). Later on I contacted one more I had stumbled upon. He quoted me $300. When I told him I was looking for less, he told me that anyone under $200 isn't likely to be good. Then I told him I had found someone for $200. He asked for the name, and when I told him, he was surprised that this particular magician worked at that price...since he is so good.
I figured I didn't need to call the references he gave me with an endorsement like that!
While it would be good advertising for me to give his name and website, as well as that of the resturant, at this point in time, I am still not supplying factors which would help identify me or my location. This may change...
I have a "few tricks up my sleeve" for carrying out the magic theme, but will save them for another entry!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A little about Saturday Night's dinner
We are not having a big to-do on Saturday night (the party is a Sunday lunch at a restaurant).
We are having a dinner and a Family Game & Movie Night at the Marriott Courtyard where the out-of-town guests are staying. The restaurant is not open for dinner, so we can use the space, as long as the food is cold only. I'm bringing in kosher deli...and since there's no reason to rush home afterwards, we're also bringing in lots of games and using one of the meeting rooms to show a movie (Transformers). To round out the theme, I purchased popcorn bags and a banner from Oriental Trading. Trader Joe's has pareve popcorn.
For centerpieces, I'm stealing and modifying an idea I saw at a Hadassah function. I found great plastic containers that look like popcorn boxes at Target for a dollar each and tons of non-dairy non-Halloween-looking candy at 75% off (post-Halloween--the store overbought for the holiday). I then went to the dollar store and bought the cubes of the green stuff you use with artificial flower arrangements and pipe cleaners. I'll put a cube in the container, cover it with tissue paper, stick some pipecleaners in (twisting the tops of them prettily), and throw in a lot of candy. Viola.
The centerpieces will go on the many tables dotting the lobby restaurant (where the game playing will take place) and the popcorn will be waiting for the kids in the meeting/movie room. We'll all hang out together--it should be nice.
We are having a dinner and a Family Game & Movie Night at the Marriott Courtyard where the out-of-town guests are staying. The restaurant is not open for dinner, so we can use the space, as long as the food is cold only. I'm bringing in kosher deli...and since there's no reason to rush home afterwards, we're also bringing in lots of games and using one of the meeting rooms to show a movie (Transformers). To round out the theme, I purchased popcorn bags and a banner from Oriental Trading. Trader Joe's has pareve popcorn.
For centerpieces, I'm stealing and modifying an idea I saw at a Hadassah function. I found great plastic containers that look like popcorn boxes at Target for a dollar each and tons of non-dairy non-Halloween-looking candy at 75% off (post-Halloween--the store overbought for the holiday). I then went to the dollar store and bought the cubes of the green stuff you use with artificial flower arrangements and pipe cleaners. I'll put a cube in the container, cover it with tissue paper, stick some pipecleaners in (twisting the tops of them prettily), and throw in a lot of candy. Viola.
The centerpieces will go on the many tables dotting the lobby restaurant (where the game playing will take place) and the popcorn will be waiting for the kids in the meeting/movie room. We'll all hang out together--it should be nice.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Lesson No. 11 - Lessons never learned
1. Don't bite off more than you can chew.
2. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
The combination of these two is lethal!
2. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
The combination of these two is lethal!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Bar Mitzvah preparations continue
I mailed out the invitations yesterday afternoon and the first one was already received (my husband got a call complimenting him on them)! To be honest, I think I'm more excited than my son is. I can't wait to see the RSVPs come in (hopefully with lots of yesses!).
I asked my mother to tell me--honestly--if she thinks they look too unprofessional or not. Safe (or poor?) choice, in that she's always biased towards anything I do, as is my father. At any rate, everyone should have them within a few days. I truly hope my cousins and out-of-town relatives can make it. It would be so nice to spend time with them all.
So, with the invitations out of the way, this weekend I can finish making the Candy Torahs (see this blog entry). I'm using the same artwork on them as I did on the invitation. I'm also using that same star on water bottle labels I've prepared (but still have to glue on). I won't use it, though, on the centerpieces I'm putting together for Friday night dinner, Saturday night dinner or Sunday's lunch. But I may use it on one of the two favors I'm making for Sunday. We'll see. I like the idea of tying things together visually.
This weekend, at any rate, I also have to prepare a four page newsletter for my Hadassah group. And this coming week, I have another meeting to do with the Jewish outreach group I'm involved with--event planning, in this case. Right now, I've got to finish up some work before I head home.
Making this all a bit worse is that we lose an hour of sleep this weekend when we change the clocks. I need that hour!
Shabbat Shalom.
I asked my mother to tell me--honestly--if she thinks they look too unprofessional or not. Safe (or poor?) choice, in that she's always biased towards anything I do, as is my father. At any rate, everyone should have them within a few days. I truly hope my cousins and out-of-town relatives can make it. It would be so nice to spend time with them all.
So, with the invitations out of the way, this weekend I can finish making the Candy Torahs (see this blog entry). I'm using the same artwork on them as I did on the invitation. I'm also using that same star on water bottle labels I've prepared (but still have to glue on). I won't use it, though, on the centerpieces I'm putting together for Friday night dinner, Saturday night dinner or Sunday's lunch. But I may use it on one of the two favors I'm making for Sunday. We'll see. I like the idea of tying things together visually.
This weekend, at any rate, I also have to prepare a four page newsletter for my Hadassah group. And this coming week, I have another meeting to do with the Jewish outreach group I'm involved with--event planning, in this case. Right now, I've got to finish up some work before I head home.
Making this all a bit worse is that we lose an hour of sleep this weekend when we change the clocks. I need that hour!
Shabbat Shalom.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Bar Mitzvah Invitations
This week my husband and I printed up the invitations and response cards I had designed. We've still got the envelopes to go, but we're almost there.
Michael's and Office Depot sell wedding invitation kits meant for use with an inkjet printer. I bought mine at Michael's (with coupons, of course). They sell the kits, which include 50 invitations and envelopes, and 50 response cards and more envelopes, for about $30. I bought two boxes, one with a 50% off coupon and the other 40%... They're a nice weight card stock, and I chose a simple pearl color with a border. If designed well, there's no reason anyone would even think wedding invitation.
I found nice "Jewish art" online. In general, two of my favorite places to go are MorgueFile for photos and Microsoft for photos, clip art, etc. I found mine on the Microsoft site. When taking material off the internet for printing, always be sure what you take is royalty free and copyright free and that it is meant to be copied and used. Otherwise, it's stealing. Also, make sure it's high resolution. Printing requires at least 200 dpi; a monitor only needs 72 dpi.
I picked a beautiful font (FlairRoman) for the body of the invitation and another (Blair) for putting my son's name inside the star. I then "eyedropped" a brown from the picture so that the font color would complement the art. I think it looks nice--hope others will agree.
It's also nice that it doesn't weigh too much. That is, I doublechecked--the two envelopes, invitation and response card--and a small card from the hotel--together weigh less than 41 cents, so I won't need extra postage. (By the way, postage goes up on May 12--it's time to stock up on Forever stamps!). I actually designed two versions of the invitation and the response card, as out-of-towners and family are also invited to dinner Friday and Saturday nights. I considered buying additional insert cards for the additional meals (many people use different inserts when not everyone is invited to everything), but decided that the advantage of printing it all myself meant that I could prepare custom invitations. (Actually, for my oldest son's Bar Mitzvah and my wedding three years ago (yes, all in one weekend!), I created four different versions!).
I asked the Bar Mitzvah boy to look at the Post Office website and pick out the stamp he preferred. Must say it's much easier for girls (more choices than for boys, I think). He chose the somewhat generic, but always happy, Celebrate.
All in all, the invitations cost me around $35 (without postage and without ink)--so much better than the hundreds most printers charge! They're not difficult to do--the kit even comes with design and wording suggestions--and it's an easy way to save money....Anyway, they should go out before the end of the week. Yea!
Michael's and Office Depot sell wedding invitation kits meant for use with an inkjet printer. I bought mine at Michael's (with coupons, of course). They sell the kits, which include 50 invitations and envelopes, and 50 response cards and more envelopes, for about $30. I bought two boxes, one with a 50% off coupon and the other 40%... They're a nice weight card stock, and I chose a simple pearl color with a border. If designed well, there's no reason anyone would even think wedding invitation.
I found nice "Jewish art" online. In general, two of my favorite places to go are MorgueFile for photos and Microsoft for photos, clip art, etc. I found mine on the Microsoft site. When taking material off the internet for printing, always be sure what you take is royalty free and copyright free and that it is meant to be copied and used. Otherwise, it's stealing. Also, make sure it's high resolution. Printing requires at least 200 dpi; a monitor only needs 72 dpi.
I picked a beautiful font (FlairRoman) for the body of the invitation and another (Blair) for putting my son's name inside the star. I then "eyedropped" a brown from the picture so that the font color would complement the art. I think it looks nice--hope others will agree.
It's also nice that it doesn't weigh too much. That is, I doublechecked--the two envelopes, invitation and response card--and a small card from the hotel--together weigh less than 41 cents, so I won't need extra postage. (By the way, postage goes up on May 12--it's time to stock up on Forever stamps!). I actually designed two versions of the invitation and the response card, as out-of-towners and family are also invited to dinner Friday and Saturday nights. I considered buying additional insert cards for the additional meals (many people use different inserts when not everyone is invited to everything), but decided that the advantage of printing it all myself meant that I could prepare custom invitations. (Actually, for my oldest son's Bar Mitzvah and my wedding three years ago (yes, all in one weekend!), I created four different versions!).
I asked the Bar Mitzvah boy to look at the Post Office website and pick out the stamp he preferred. Must say it's much easier for girls (more choices than for boys, I think). He chose the somewhat generic, but always happy, Celebrate.
All in all, the invitations cost me around $35 (without postage and without ink)--so much better than the hundreds most printers charge! They're not difficult to do--the kit even comes with design and wording suggestions--and it's an easy way to save money....Anyway, they should go out before the end of the week. Yea!
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