Thursday, July 12, 2012

When Should You Order Your Party Favors

The most optimal time to order your favors is when you have all your replies from your invitations.  This is usually around 4 weeks before your party.  This way you will have your favors in plenty of time to do any wrapping or tagging you might want to do.  Also while we have never not delivered ordered favors on time, it gives us some leeway in case a problem does crop up.  For example, several years back when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, we had ordered some favors from one of our vendors in that area.  Their shop was completely destroyed in the storm before they could ship our order out but because our customer had ordered early we were able to find another vendor to produce the favors and they were delivered on time.  The lessen to be learned here is place your order as early as you can.

Taking the above into consideration there are plenty of people who for whatever reason either forget to order the favors or decide at the last minute to hand something out.  In most cases we can still get the favors delivered in time.  Depending upon how late you order we sometimes have to go without a proof if you are imprinting or we have to order the goods without an imprint.  Earlier this year we actually had someone call us on a Tuesday for a party that weekend.  We were able to find an acceptable favor at a vendor who offered 24 hour service and the item was delivered that Friday.  We made a party giver very happy and since then she has referred two of her friends to us, thankfully both were ordered in plenty of time.

In closing it is always better to order your party favors as early as you can but for those procrastinators out there, we can still help you, just give us a call.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bar Mitzvah Favors Or Bat Mitzvah Favors - What to Give and How Much to Spend!

Before the recent financial crisis there seemed to be no limit on what parents were spending on their sons or daughter's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. It seemed to be a "can you top this" situation where one party was more extravagant then the next. The decorations were over the top, bigger and more elaborate venues were being used, bands with 10, 11, 12 members, food from the top chefs, and party favors that were unforgettable all without a budget in mind.

We went to a Bat Mitzvah held in an airplane hanger. This venue obviously started out as an empty space, they had to lay flooring throughout the hanger, bring in tables and chairs, ovens for the chefs, lighting for the whole area, build walls around the area being used, a sound system, set up parking areas and god knows what else to make this a usable place to hold a party. They had an elaborate video made, that included a trip on a private plane and numerous other settings. They had a huge band and then to close the night they actually had the original or what is left of the original "Village People" perform. They had all kinds of things for the kids to win, electronic items, clothing, etc., etc. They gave out several party favors when the whole affair was over. Was the party unbelievable, absolutely! Was it over the top, absolutely! Did everyone have a great time, absolutely!

Was it necessary to do all this, how can anyone count anyone else's money or tell them how to spend it, but I can guarantee since the latest financial hit there are a lot less of these kinds of parties going on across the country then there used to be.

With parents cutting back on how big and how elaborate of a party to give, they are also cutting back on what they spend on their party favors. Even though supplying party favors is our business and of course we make more when people are able to spend more, we understand and appreciate what is going on in the country. We also understand it is not how much you spend on your party favor but what you give and how you imprint it (to be covered in another article).

Your budget is your budget, spend what you are comfortable spending. Take beach towels as an example, this is a great gift, but depending on how you decorate the towel it can get a little pricy. In this case think about imprinting with a one color imprint versus embroidering them. Another example is a drawstring bag, you can get one for $7.00 or $8.00 or one for less then half that cost. Does the more expensive one maybe have an extra pocket or sharper looking design to it, probably, but in these financial times you have to think is it worth the extra money? In some cases it will be, in most the less expensive item will work just fine. Your child has their heart set on a sweatshirt, think a crew neck one versus a hoodie with pockets, less expensive but very desirable as a party favor.

But don't make the mistake of choosing your end of the night giveaway solely on cost. We have so many parents contact us and the first thing they say is "this is my third bar mitzvah, I just want something cheap, so I can be done with this". You can get something less expensive but still have some usefulness to your child's friends. Why even buy something cheap just for the sake of giving something out at the end of the night that will be thrown out the next morning. A good online party favor company should have a large selection of bags and other items that are less expensive, but with the proper decoration would still be appreciated by your child's friends. Of course if you really are on a tight budget, think about doing a white t-shirt with a one color imprint, inexpensive and who can't use another t-shirt, whether it is to sleep in or play sports in.

Just remember these are 13 year old kids, do they want to receive a party favor at the end of the night, most definitely. Do they really care how much it costs, absolutely not. They just want something they can use.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Dress

I'm just back from a beach vacation which I throughly enjoyed. Whenever I take a beach vacation I like to take a book to read on the beach. Usually something light and easy to get through quickly. Anyway it turns out that in the book I chose there is an upcoming Bat Mitzvah. The mom and daughter have very different ideas about what they want from this special occasion. The mom wants a low key meaningful experience and the daughter wants all the bells and whistles. The mom is conservative and still thinks of her daughter as her baby and the daughter feels that becoming a Bat Mitzvah means she is becoming a young adult. Which is hard to argue with since that is what becoming a Bat Mitzvah is about.
So where do you draw the line? I personally feel that you need to let your daughter have some input regarding the party. Of course this does not mean that she should be wearing a dress that is inappropriate or that you have to blow your budget not only for the Bat Mitzvah but for the whole year. As much as it is difficult to see our children growing up it is part of the process so you need to find a happy medium. Your daughter does not need to look like a sex goddess she should feel like a teen princess. This is after all her special day and you want her to shine not only through the service but at her celebration. So just think back to when you were her age and whether or not you were being Bat Mitzvahed remember the aches and pains of growing up. It wasn't easy then but it truly wasn't as hard as now.

Monday, June 1, 2009

It's Summer !!!

I love this time of year school is out, the clocks don't need to be set, and we don't need to be on such a structured schedule. Everything slows down a little the snowbirds go home, we can get into restaurants and you don't need to hound the kids about homework and studying. I could live without the humidity but other than that what could be better.
I also find that summer is a great time to try some new recipes.

So I'll share one I just found I haven't tried it yet but is sounds so refreshing.

Cucumber-Avocado Yogurt Soup
This recipe will serve 4-6 people, but can easily be doubled for a crowd.

2 medium or 4 small cucumbers (best to use organic or English cucumbers)

1/2 avocado, ripe (it would also be fine to use a whole avocado, if you really love avocados)

1 8-oz container plain low-fat or non-fat yogurt

1 tablespoon lime juice

Soy or skim milk, or water, to thin soup if necessary

Salt and pepper to taste

1) Peel cucumber and scoop out seeds with a spoon. Chop coarsely and add to blender.

2) Remove pit and scoop out avocado flesh and add to blender with cucumber. Add yogurt, lime juice, salt, and pepper and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. If soup is too thick, add milk or water in small increments to thin soup to desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings.

3) Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with salsa.

Salsa Garnish for soup
This is a great garnish for soups, or even to eat with chips alone.

1/4 cup chopped bell peppers (various colors)

1/4 cup diced tomatoes, seeds removed

1 tablespoon diced red or sweet onion or sliced scallions (green and white parts)

1/4 cup diced unpeeled cucumbers, seeds removed

1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno peppers, seeds removed (keep some seeds if you want it spicy)

Splash lime or lemon juice

Splash olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, taste, and adjust seasonings. Refrigerate until ready to serve, and garnish soup with salsa. Serve any extra salsa with chips or bread.

If you try it let me know what you think.

Friday, May 22, 2009

What makes BarMitzvahFavors.com Special?

A child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah is truly a coming of age experience in the Jewish religion and within your family. When a child turns 13 they are entering young adulthood. This means they usually if they haven't already are voicing their opinions and think they know everything. It isn't until they are truly adults with full responsiblitiies that they realize that you never stop learning and having to make decisions.
With this all said we know how difficult it can be to put all the pieces together for the perfect celebration for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah child. From picking the event venue, photography, music, games,favors etc.
At BatMitzvahFavors.com we take the headaches away. We will help you find the perfect item and create just the right imprint that fits your individual families needs. We aren't about telling you what you must do; we want to make sure you have what you want and what fits your special day.
Each Bar/Bat Mitzvah favor that we do is special because it is for your child. Nothing means more to us than making sure that your child is pleased with the final product. With that in mind you will see a large selection of favor options on the website but if you don't see what you want or you need assistance in figuring out what you should give just contact us.
You can either call 561-750-8683 or e-mail us at info@barmitzvahfavors.com for "Favors that will be remembered long after your party is only a treasured memory".

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Weekend

Bar/Bat Mitzvah's have become more than just a ceremony with a party to celebrate after the service. They have become an all encompassing weekend event. Starting with making arrangements for the out of town guests including space reserved in a hotel so family members can all be together, a welcome bag so they have goodies to snack on after their trip, a shabbat dinner so their stomaches aren't growling at the Friday night Shabbat service. Saturday is the actual service with a kiddush lunch to follow if the party isn't until the evening. Then the party celebration including cocktail hour for the adults and children, entertainment for the children, dancing, dinner and a favor to remember the event. Sunday brings the closing of the weekend with a brunch to recap the weekend and say goodbye to your out of town guests.

The one thing that should without a doubt be sent home with your out of towners is a guide to dieting after the celebration. Mazel Tov!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Why do we give out favors?

I have loved favors since I was a little kid. I remember I couldn't wait for a party to be over so I could get that special something. Then I became a Mom and again I was obsessed with favors. I couldn't wait to hunt out that special favor to make my child's birhtday celebration just a little bit more special. So it wasn't that unusual that when my oldest was getting ready to have her Bat Mitzvah that I again would be in search of that Special favor. This favor had to have a logo so that it would commemorate the occasion. I had a hard time finding someone who could show me something and create it for me. I finally did find it but I also decided to follow my favor passion and help other people come up with that Special favor. So 6 1/2 years later I not only have a showroom for my local clientele to visit I have an e-commerce site to assist people all over the country. So call me or e-mail me and let me help you find that Special favor that will be remembered long after your party is only a treasured memory.
info@barmitzvahfavors.com or 561-750-8683