Phone calls made so far...

4 Entertainment/DJ companies
a few photographers
1 Airbrush Artist
1 Balloonist
2 Hotels for Rooms
**************************
still searching for wholesale sweats perhaps for airbrushing...

ideas that are inspiring me...

pieces of wood + a router = place card holders:
http://www.etsy.com/place-card-holders

t-shirts + styrofoam balls = flower bouquets:
http://sewmamasew.com/tshirt-flower-bouquets

laser cut acrylic candle holders:

Easy-to-make glass candle holders:
http://www.craftstylish.com/decoupage-candle-holders

and of course, my very own larger-than-life chanukah menorah - which i aspire to adapt to centerpiece size faux candleholders of some kind...

oooo - how about this idea:
http://cheryl-comfort.blogspot.com/pvc-candle-tutorial
(but i would skip the faux wick and carve out a spot for a battery operated flickering votive maybe)

like this?!



love these:

This just in...

For those of you just tuning in... :)  No, I don't have any pressing details to announce with all of the Chanukah preparations going on around here...  I do think we've firmed up the 'where' in the equation, but I won't feel too much relief from the stress without firming up the photographer and DJ.  I am getting closer though.  I have a lot of unique 'half-baked' ideas that need some more direction.  I'd love to see more pictures of other people's events - specifically their decorations, centerpieces, and other logistical touches...  Stay tuned - you know there's more coming!

guilty

My work on the Shabbat Shalom Facebook page has provided me with a lot of valuable information on our daughter's Torah portion for her Bat Mitzvah.  Turns out that today was the day her portion was read in synagogue.  Jackpot.  It felt a lot like spying, but I am happy we went to services today; obviously we had a nice opportunity for prayer.  We also had a rare opportunity to glimpse into the future and hear her Torah portion, as well as the Rabbi's commentary.  Like I said, I feel a bit guilty, but I think we have G-d on our side.  :)

a real education

I started a Facebook fan page called Shabbat Shalom that was intended to help me on my own rediscovery of Judaism, along with a Twitter page too.  I planned to post local candle lighting times, Havdalah times, and the name of the weekly Torah portion.  The page now has over one hundred fans!  I'm very proud of that, along with the fact that the page has grown to include daily Jewish History facts, links to educational blogs, current events, and so much more!  I've found and shared many different sites and even videos that explain the various Torah portions.  Some of these links are simple and family friendly, even for those with little to no Jewish education or background.  Other summaries are detailed and lengthy for those who want to dig deeper.  Before this year I might have been able to name 2 or 3 Torah portions.  Now that number is a lot higher, and more importantly, I can even remember a few of them!  Explaining what I've learned to friends and family becomes something I can actually do, and we can relate to!  Watching the videos with our kids, and even using them in the Kindergarten religious school class I co-teach, has been a priceless learning experience for all of us!  I guess we're all on the road to preparing for the big mitzvah!  Thankfully, we're enjoying the journey.  Now if we could only get something checked off the party-planning list!  :)

Why not?!

How about a bowling Bat Mitzvah bash?!
300ShadyGrove 

Facilities, Catering, and Kashrut - Oy vey!

I feel like I'm totally backpedaling on the most urgent question of all - WHERE?!  Hotel?  Restaurant?  Synagogue?  Kosher?  Elsewhere?  I feel like almost all of our choices are places that our daughter has never even been to!  She's definitely not going to be very comfortable with that...  If we could figure this question out and get something checked off the list, that would be great.

Wow - I had no idea - Secular Judaism

Judaism without God, rules, or rituals...  Interesting article.
jta.org