The Paradise B’not Mitzvah Family Spotlight

Samantha and Eliza Paradise celebrated their B’not Mitzvah on March 10, 2012 with a service at Congregation Rodeph Sholom followed by an afternoon party at The Edison Ballroom in New York City.

Their theme was “Dubble Trubble” using an adorable logo that was a take off of “Dubble Bubble” gum.

As Mom Stacey explains, “We did as much as we could to make both girls feel special on their milestone day.”

JoVon Photography provided all the pictures and the rest of the vendors are listed at the bottom of this spotlight.

This family is quite unusual due to second marriages by both Mom Stacey and Dad Steven. These lucky twin girls have 2 step siblings, 4 half siblings, a stepmother and a stepfather!

Pictured above L-R: Half brother Nate Kushlefsky, Stepfather Noah Kushlefsky, Mom Stacey, Bat Mitzvah girls Samantha and Eliza, stepsister Zoe Kushlefsky, Dad Steven, Stepmother Joslin and half sister Marielle Paradise

Mitzvah Invitation & B’not Mitzvah Service

Their Checkerboard invitation was created by Maria Pappas-McKenzie of Sealed with a Kiss.

Their Checkerboard invitation was created by Maria Pappas-McKenzie of Sealed with a Kiss

Their service took place at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City

All the siblings, both half and step, are pictured: L-R: Nate (4), Jaden (13), Eliza, Zoe (15), Sophia (1) on her lap, Samantha, Caroline (2) and Marielle (5)

Yarmulkes were from www.mazeltops.com with an inscription that read, “I had double the fun at the B'not Mitzvah of Samantha and Eliza Paradise"

Mitzvah Style & Venue

The Edison Ballroom, with its art deco design and large dance floor provided the dance club atmosphere that this family was looking for. 

The girls' matching dresses were from Nikki's Dressing Room in Huntington, New York. Samantha is in pink and Eliza is in blue

Their red carpet entrance

They used their "dubble trubble" logo throughout the party including two giant billboards on either side of the red carpet entrance

 Mitzvah Details

Lighter Than Air created lamp shades with a hot pink background and the "dubble trubble" logo

They also provided giant feather centerpieces

Mom Stacey created their sign-in books using Shutterfly

The pages inside featured their school logos, their camp logos and pages that said “family” and “friends” etc., so guests could sign on the page that reflected their relationship with the girls

 Music & Entertainment

Maximum Entertainment with owner/MC Joey M. and co-MCs Deano and Evan provided the music entertainment for their celebration.

Samantha and Eliza make their entrance!

The spacious dance floor allows all guests to have a great time

Everyone enjoying!

The Maximum Entertainment crew in their “Dubble Trubble” t-shirts

The girls singing with co-MC Evan

Trivia Expert Gene Jones of Gimme A Hint! wowed the guests

The Bumbys performed

Guests could make fun photo flipbooks...

...and photo candy boxes!

There were many special moments during this celebration, like Mom Stacey’s speech

Samantha and Eliza's friends gather around the cake for a group photo

All smiles as Mom Stacey and Stepfather Noah light a candle with Eliza and Samantha

 Mitzvah Video

Mom Stacey found Carl Hartman from Green Cheese Media Group on Mitzvah Market. Their montage included many celebrity shout outs.  

 Watch the montage here 

Mitzvah Cake & Favor

Their cake, complete with the “dubble trubble” logo was created by Jane Kantor.  The girls’ Uncle, Marshall Goodman, president of Firehouse clothing, created the favor and their aunt, Sabra Waxman designed the logo.

The top and bottom layers of the cake matched the invitation and the middle layer featured their logo

The girls received white zip-up hooded sweatshirts with the logo on the back and the boys received dark grey hoodie pullovers with the logo

The sweatshirts were given out in these bright blue bags with lots of dubble bubble gum thrown in! Name tags with the Dubble Trubble logo were created on www.vistaprint.com saving lots of time and money!

 Mom to Mom

Mom Stacey who was also the party planner has this advice:

“Organization is the key. Make file folders for each aspect of the party – a folder for dresses, for invitations, for DJ, for entertainment, for party favors, for décor, etc. Put all your notes, receipts, price quotes from vendors and so on in those separate folders. Excel spreadsheets are great for keeping track of RSVPs and adding up the number of people attending! Get a “support group” together of other Moms who have already planned a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or who are also in the process of planning one. At a certain point, your husband will tune out and will just refuse to tell you whether the candles should go on the cake or on the table around the cake! Lastly, a big glass of wine certainly helps!”

 Mitzvah Project

Samantha did a drive for The Colored Pencil Project, a non-profit organization created to increase the access of art supplies to children in developing countries by distributing art supplies, specifically colored pencils and paper, and providing art curriculum to children in various orphanages, schools and rural villages in those developing countries.

Through the generous donations of family and friends, Samantha was able to donate dozens and dozens of pencil sharpeners and packages of pencils to The Colored Pencil Project.

Eliza participated in the Gift of Literacy Program, through the JCC in Manhattan, an early intervention program for struggling readers who are performing significantly below grade level. She tutors a 2nd grade student at an upper west side public school one after afternoon every week throughout the school year. The experience has been incredibly rewarding for her.

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Eliza and Samantha’s celebration special. If you give any a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.

Venue: Edison Ballroom, 212-201-7650
Party Planner: Mom, Stacey
Music Entertainment: Owner/MC Joey M, Maximum Entertainment, 516-826-8632

Invitations: Maria Pappas-McKenzie, Sealed with a Kiss, 631-697-998
Photographer: JoVon Photography, 516 922-3535
Party Entertainment: Trivia Expert, Gene Jones of Gimme A Hint!
Performance Artists: The Bumbys, vtantula@gmail.com
Flip Books: Richard Lincoln, Fun Flips, 508-786-2989
Photo Station: Maximum Entertainment, 516-826-8632
Montage: Carl Hartman, Green Cheese Media Group, 818-934-8990
Cake: Jane Kantor, 917-750-5903, jkantor@gmail.com
Décor: Richie, Lighter Than Air, 516-933-3210
Sign-In books: Shutterfly
Logo’d cocktail napkins and bathroom paper towels: www.foryourparty.com
Yarmulkes: www.mazeltops.com
Dresses for girls: Pat, Nikki’s Dressing Room, 631-659-3622
Make up: Brittney from Scott J. Aveda salon, Brittney@scottj.com
Videographer: Maximum Entertainment, 516-826-8632