A couple of months ago, we celebrated our son’s Bar Mitzvah.  I blogged here about my excitement at planning the event.  Well, the pictures from that lovely weekend in September have arrived and I wanted to share a few memories.  It is amazing when all of the planning and organization come together to make a meaningful, fun, and love-filled event.

The Bar Mitzvah boy – what a poser!

How fast the years fly by.  I cannot believe that my baby is almost as tall as me now.

I love this picture.  Even though it is staged and did not take place during the actual religious service, it conveys the joy and special bond between father, son, and our tradition.

Candles were lit for Shabbat…

Seating charts worked out and looked pretty!

Beautiful flowers graced the dining tables…

We danced our hearts out.

I adore this photo of my son boogying with his 92-year old great-grandmother.  It is a perfectly captured memory.

Dear friends!

Celebrations are meant to bring the important things into focus.  Our son’s Bar Mitzvah weekend reminded us of the many blessings in our lives: family, friendships, community, love, and faith.

Every Friday, I share some thoughts of gratitude, mostly through photos I have taken during the week with the help of my iPhone and the lovely little app called Instagram.

I love food!  Especially sweet things.  This week was full of them.

The special bread we bake for the Sabbath is challah.  I must say this batch came out as a little slice of heaven.   In my eyes, a slice of warm challah with a schmear of butter is a perfect comfort food.

One of my Fall favorites is a ginger cookie.  It is a perfect treat.  Not too sweet, slightly chewy, and full of gingery flavour.  I made a batch for my fam for dinner and some for our cousins because I love them.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a new amazing looking pattiserie callled Faubourg. I peeked inside. The sweets on display were picture perfect!

I helped to bake for a lovely cousin’s Bat Mitzvah.  Not only was it fun to be in the kitchen with a bunch of women, but I was also really grateful to learn a new quick and delicious dessert recipe – palmiers.

My aunt masterfully whipped up some of her famous chocolate mousse.  Later the mousse cups were topped with pomegranate seeds.

Tell me about your week?  What are you grateful for today?

Will you be opening your doors to overnight guests this holiday season?  Hosting family and friends can be fun, but stressful as well.  See the first picture below?  It is a photo of my mother’s guest room in our home.  Talk about stressful !  Nevertheless, I believe that hosting is a great motivator for getting organized and my mother’s visits always motivate me.  All of the photos in this post tell the story of how I prepare for my guests’ visits.  I highly recommend pre-hosting organizing for you as well!

Russians joke that even before a cleaning lady comes into our homes, we clean.  Maybe it is due to a fear of embarassment, but that is not the point here.  Coming from a culture that considers hosting as an honour and a responsibility, I try to anticipate the needs of my guests and invite them into a space that is organized, clean, comfortable, and cozy.  Ask yourself the following questions to get your act together before your guests’ next check-in:

1.  Prior to the guests’ arrival, have you inquired about their food allergies and dietary needs?  What do they like to eat for breakfast? Visits begin even PRIOR to the arrival.  It shows you care and look forward to spending time with your guests.  If you are expecting “kid” visitors, prepare some toys, games, kid-friendly snacks, and/or videos that they will enjoy. 

2.  If you have pets, have you disclosed that fact to your guests? Some might have allergies to certain animals.

3.  Have you offered to pick up your guests from the airport? If no pick-up is needed, have you arranged for someone to be home to properly greet your visitors?

4. What will your guests see when they arrive at the door? A clean, well-lit, and seasonally appropriately decorated exterior is inviting.  Think “CURB APPEAL” If applicable, walkways should be shovelled or raked and the grass mowed.

5.  Is your entryway clear of clutter?  What will your guests smell when entering your home?  Does the coat closet have enough room to hang a few more coats? Continue with the good first impression.  Have room for your guests to come in, put down their luggage, hang their coats, and put away their shoes.

6.  Where will your guests sleep?  Are the bed linens clean, ironed, and smelling fresh?  Will the blankets provide sufficient warmth?   Can you provide a couple of pillows of varied firmness? Use your very best for your guests!

7.  Is there a closet for your guests to hang their clothes and/or a drawer in a dresser to arrange some of their smaller items? If there are no dedicated closet and dresser, make sure to make some room for your guests in other areas of your home and notify them of the plans you have made.

8.  Is the bathroom your guests will be using thoroughly cleaned and de-cluttered? Have you provided bathroom linens for your guests?  Are the towels in good shape, clean, and smelling fresh?

9.  Is the bathroom stocked with extra toilet paper and spare toiletries that your guests might require during their stay? Supplying a small kit with the basics would be very thoughtful.

10.  Would your guests appreciate some reading material? Magazines, newspapers, or a good book?

11.  What is the condition of the common areas in your home? Will your guests feel comfortable?

12.  Does your fridge need a good cleaning? Trust me, if you are going to have guests in your home, at some point, they will open your fridge.  Clear it out, stock it with healthy snacks and drinks that your guests will appreciate.

13.  Should your guests be supplied with a set of keys to your home?

14.  Are there particulars about the workings of your home that might be worth sharing with your guests? A lock they should not lock or a TV button they should not push? Do not overwhelm them with too many details, but important ones should be passed along.

15.  What else should you organize or prepare in advance to make people feel welcome?

I hope these questions will help you to take small advance steps to prepare for visitors and, thus, alleviate some of the pressure.  Most importantly, they may help you and your guests enjoy each other’s company a bit more this holiday season.

It is going to be a hectic day as we get ready for the Jewish New Year celebrations, which begin tonight.  I look forward to a spiritual experience in the synagogue and connecting with family and friends throughout the next few days.  Shana Tova!

I derive great joy from entertaining.  There is nothing like good company, great food, and last, but not least, a beautifully set table. I believe strongly in setting the tone and creating a special atmosphere for the time I want to share with the people I invite into my home or to an event that I plan.  My essentials for (almost) effortless entertaining are:

- A FOOL-PROOF MENU

- AN INTERESTING CENTER PIECE

- MY BEST DISHES, SERVING WARE, GLASSWARE, AND FLATWARE

- CRISP LINENS

- A BIT OF A “WOW FACTOR”

- ALWAYS CLEAN AND ORGANIZED SURROUNDINGS

Here is the look for a little dinner party in the yard I would share with the ones I love.  Tablescape design by me in my backyard. It was photographed for a contest entry for Pizzazerrie.com.  Beautiful photography by Lando Images (thank you, Rachel!). The napkins were sewn by my friend (thank you, A!).   Lovely menu cards that also double as place cards are by talented Emily at Invitations by Emily.

What are your essentials for entertaining?  Is it usually fun or a chore?