they can look on Facebook and see recent posts and
recent parties and see if that’s the feel they want for their party,”
she said.

On the other side of the decorating spectrum, Pamela Rosenthal
used social media to look for ideas for her twin daughters Remi and
Julia’s B’not Mitzvah on Oct. 17. (For more about the twins, see p.

16.) However, Rosenthal decided to do everything herself as far as decor,
just as she had with her older daughter, Abby, two years ago.

When she and her husband, Steve, picked the date, the coordi-
nator at their synagogue, Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, asked who
their decorator would be. Rosenthal answered, “That would be me,”
she recalled with a laugh.

Rosenthal decided on thematic decorations for both the service
— and the following luncheon — and the party.

As they are twins, Rosenthal specifically wanted Julia and Re-
mi’s parshah to be from the story of Noah, to go with the “two
by two” motif. For the service, mitzvah baskets with doves will
be set up on the bimah and during a luncheon following the serv-
ice, there will be balloons of all colors of the rainbow as well as
more doves.

The decision to do the centerpieces and decor for the party Sat-
urday night following the rest of the big day was in large part a fi-
nancial reason, but it also gave Rosenthal the chance to contribute
more directly to her daughters’ day.

“It’s definitely easier to hire people, no question. But it has to
be the right decision for each person,” she said. “My husband says,
‘Why put yourself through this?’ If I can save the money, I will.”
Doing this part of the planning became a way for her to “mirror
all the effort they put into it,” she said, citing all the work the girls
have put in studying their Torah portions and preparing for their
big day. “I thought I should do that as well.”
Julia and Remi have both offered to help, however, which Rosen-
thal appreciated, as it served as a lesson for them.

“It feels good, too, to see that I’ve contributed the time, not just
the dollars,” she said. “It’s a lesson I want my girls to learn.”
Rosenthal looked online and did simple Google searches to get
ideas to go along with the girls’ music theme. While she didn’t specif-
ically focus on sites geared for DIY projects such as Pinterest, she did
find ideas for cardholders online. Otherwise, she had her own ideas
to make the party unique — and these ideas required hot glue guns.

She found time whenever she could to work on the centerpieces
and boxes that fit the theme and also featured the girls’ names as a
keepsake for after the party is over.

“It does bring some pressure because I’m not counting on any-
body else to get it done,” she said, “I have to divide my time very
carefully.” She bought everything from local stores, like A.C. Moore and
Michael’s craft stores, and the flowers were from a local florist.

In the end, choosing to decorate is a personal decision. Rosenthal
has always loved crafting and finds it relaxing. That may not be the
case for everyone.

“When they’re all finished, I will be feeling on top of the world,”
she said, laughing. “I really enjoy the process and sitting there and
tinkering with them.”
DIY parties are successful depending on the person, said Sheri
Lapidus, founder of the Mitzvah Market, an online resource for any-
one planning a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

“Either you’re a DIY person or you’re not,” she said.

She wouldn’t call “DIY” a trend because it really isn’t, she said.

See DIY, Page 14
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