Tiny notebooks with personalized messages For a wedding, its nice to give out CDs with the couple's favorite romantic songs and their picture. For a milestone birthday party, whether celebrating the 40th or the 80th, it's fun to give out little joke books about reaching that age." Karen Tessler, who grew up in Oak Park and now lives in Scottsdale, is a chocolatier with hundreds of molds that come in handy when she plans custom-made, edible favors. "I've made chocolate bowties, golf clubs and hearts to go along with party themes," says Tessler. "I think of chocolate as a comfort food and don't know anybody who doesn't love it. I believe it's cool to serve chocolate, sometimes in different colors, with a theme." Dorie Shwedel of Franklin recalls a favorite favor she received at an party anniversary. The favor was a large chocolate bar with a special wrapper showing a picture of the couple being honored. Andrea Solomon, a local party planner geared toward budgeting, has found favors that range in price from $1 to $50 apiece. She looks for diverse favors in specialty stores, cata- logues and on the Web. Favors can serve specific party functions. They can be centerpieces, place-card holders and food cues when guests have entrée choices. While it's not uncommon to find table centerpieces consisting of a collection of indi- vidual potted plants, one for each person at the table, it is uncommon to find a centerpiece made of different paperback books from which tablemates can choose. Sue Horwitz of West Bloomfield is an avid reader who received a novel by favorite author Katherine Neville at a bar mitzvah party. "The books at each table were geared toward the age group at that table," Horwitz says. "Because they were paperbacks, they made each table very colorful." Sue Terebelo of Southfield often thinks of favors as good organizational tools and keeps both the ones she has chosen as a party hostess and the ones she has received as a party guest. When Terebelo gave a shower for a sister-in-law-to-be, she found colorful tiny notebooks with different messages, from inspirational to humorous, on the covers and used them to hold the place cards and menu selections. "After the party, I hope guests will keep them as sweet memories of the event," Terebelo says. Elana Lofman of Southfield, now married and the mother of three, decided to make tie- dakah part of her own bat mitzvah and involve guests with the charitable gestures. Because the name "Elana" is rooted in the Hebrew word for "tree," her family planted a tree in Israel in honor of everyone invited. On a lighter note, Kim Graziosi has provided small, inscribed bells for every guest at wed- dings. Graziosi, JVS communications director, used to be a party planner and had the bells inscribed with a limerick instructing people to use them, instead of the silverware, when they wanted the bride and groom to kiss. Leah Fox of West Bloomfield, a crafting hobbyist, has hand-painted vases for shower guests, making each one slightly different but in the party color scheme. She hopes recipi- ents use the original pieces for a long time and think of the party when they do. Janice Cherkasky, an area party planner, has arranged for model car pencil sharpeners and wheel-shaped measuring tapes as favors for guests at auto show galas. She also has hunted down fans as favors for those attending outdoor weddings. Cherkasky, ever mindful of the economic climate as she helps with celebrations, has a continuing suggestion for budget-primed favors. "Instead of buying something specifically as a favor, hosts and hostesses can make use of the floral centerpieces," she says. "One person can be assigned to wrap flowers into little bouquets, with or without personalized ribbons, given as guests are preparing to leave." Full-service catering, our location or yours • Showers • Shiva Meals • Anniversaries • Corporate Events • House Parties • Weddings • Carryout Meals • B'nai Mitzvah • Bris/Baby Naming Mimi Cohen Markofsky 248.592.0200 elitekosherinc@aol. corn 6800 Drake Road • West Bloomfield (inside Cong. 13 .nai Moshe) 1,'ES.51C, an. additional 20% all ricasw, • all temaintl winter met Cettiltigg fey wawa mut eidateg Gila . aid Aceemetio 0 Commerce • 248-438-6136 • www.shopatsway.com CATERING AVAILABLE... CALL US FOR YOUR CELEBRATION! ILLAGE Call Johnny or Robert 248-682-3400 ALACE A Family Diner Serving Breakfast, Lunch Sc Dinner 4170 Orchard Lake Rd.(near Pontiac Trail), Orchard Lake, MI 48323 Sun. — Thurs...6:30am — 10pm, Fri. & Sat 6:30am — lam ' menu item.s & more celebrate! March 2009 B 4 .9