BM* Update

Well, Bat Mitzvah season is officially here: Today Steph received her first Bat Mitzvah invitation! She said she was relieved because she had nightmares that she wouldn't be invited to any (me too). (She also said she has nightmares that no one will come to hers. Me too.) Today was also her first post-summer tutoring session, which she said went well.

Last week someone put me into a panic that we hadn't ordered invitations yet, so I quickly got in touch with an Invitation Lady, who assured me that I still have plenty of time. I got a quickie lesson on the vast range of invitation choices, and learned that you can spend as little or as much as you want. Apparently some people spend hundreds of dollars just to add a shiny liner to the invitation envelope, because we all know that ... everyone immediately throws away the envelope. (Am I right? I'm right.) Then there are options for endless series of envelopes within envelopes, and if you're not careful you end up needing four stamps to send out each one! I'd rather give those hundreds to charity, I think.

Speaking of charity, I'm trying to come up with an idea for table centerpieces that will tie in to Steph's Ma'asim Tovim ("good things" = community service) project, which is working with kids at Project Literacy. I was thinking of getting a bunch of children's books and wrapping them up with pretty cellophane and ribbons and a balloon for each table, then donating them to a needy school system later. That would make me feel a lot better than buying a bunch of flowers that will be dead in 36 hours.

So, to recap: Venue? Booked. Caterer, DJ, photographer? Hired. Invitation Lady? Contacted. Everything else? Not yet thought of.

4.5 months to go. EEK!

*Sorry, but that's the obvious abbreviation and is all over my calendar and notes.

Comments

[Di]

Love the book idea! We moved to Boca the year that Haley was Bat Mitzvah age. Oy vey! Haley didn't have one, but it seemed like she was invited to one every other week! Fortunately we got out of Dodge before my social butterfly Rory got to that age. There are no Jews in Fuquay-Varina, NC.

[Margaret]

I love your book idea! And I always throw away my envelope unless I need the return address.

[Sandy]

Book idea is great! In case you want to look internationally: My children's school is supporting "Room to Read", which supplies books to schools in impoverished parts of the world. My impression is that girls especially benefit because often their education comes last. The "Room to Read" website has instructions on in-kind donations, including books.

[Lisa]

You can also design your own invitation and have them printed which we did twice--the second time with Deborah's artwork--adds a personal touch. I know Steph is very artistic.

[Stephanie]

I love the book idea. Kids at our synagogue have done that. Here is an idea for Peter for his BM - sports equipment and donating them to a place in Boston.

Good luck.

I also agree . . . I throw out the envelopes. A simple, elegant invitation is my choice.

[Steve]

Love the book idea.

[Sharon]

The book idea is great!

[Kelly]

The centerpieces will be fabulous! Great idea.

[Katy]

Yes, we throw out (recycle) the envelopes, and on that note, the more extravagant the invitation, the less environmentally friendly. That's another fabulous excuse, along with budget, to keep things very simple.

[Elena]

I love reading about the Bat Mitzvah, but does this mean we can look forward to 5 months of posts with "BM" in the title??

[Kerri]

Love the book idea! That would be adorable. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE children's books. My son is only (not quite) 2 and he already has an embarassing, ridiculous number of books, some completely age-inappropriate just because I love them and wanted him to have them for later.

The other day we received a bat mitzvah save-the-date (or STD! Another lovely acroymn!) for my husband's eleventy-third cousin 14 times removed. It was a single card, but layered with a zebra-print background, a silver metallic border and a hot pink main section. I had to giggle. Clearly the special girl got to pick her own STD, and it was certainly one of the more, um, festive ones we've received.

Love the BM updates! (Hee hee.) Keep 'em coming!

[Nancy]

book idea great. donations could be to reach out and read or cool bookstore on moody street for at risk teens. they run it and you should check it out.

[Alissa]

We are doing the books too! Two huge baskets of books for the bimah, and then on the tables, stacks of books wrapped in ribbon. Easy mitzvah project/decoration in one!

[Naomi]

Echoing everyone else: the book centerpiece idea is terrific, and yes, definitely save money and trees on the envelopes. Good grief, the things some people can think of to waste money on...

Our synagogue has a "greening your simcha" committee, which shares ideas about keeping life cycle celebrations environmentally responsible within an individual family's comfort zone. (In other words, you don't have to have your BM in a yurt in order to be worthy of calling your simcha greened!!) Anyway maybe your shul has such a thing; if not, I can hook you up if you're interested. No pressure, of course.

Good luck with it all! I can imagine it feeling very overwhelming.

[hockey fights]

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