Purim - mishloach manos / dress up theme: Master Thread

[sky121]

http://thejewishhostess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DSC_04251-300x199.jpg

http://www.estherodesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MG_3921-002.jpg  - still cheaper than $7

[RoboJam]

It's not THAT big! :)I agree 1000% but still need to make actual mishloach manos. I guess around $7 max?
I need 10 of them to include something REAL like a dish or something to that effect.. I'll listen to ideas for that too... Thanks! This is a start! Will suggest it..

We did a Yerushalmi theme one year. A 2/3/4 or similar cheap plastic sectional (fits right into the theme) filled with sunflower seeds, assorted dips, or any Isreali style foods...
We did a Yersushalmi lukshen kugel as well, which was really the hit, since my wife has the authentic recipe.
Came out to be about $5-$7 a pc
We also got a hold of those shuk plastic woven bags and carried them around in those.


Wasnt classy or all that pretty but authentic and cheap (with some killer kugel) won the show that year.

[alexk.]

Still trying to convince my wife to do the "leftovers from Shabbos" theme this year...

[Mordy2]

Still trying to convince my wife to do the "leftovers from Shabbos" theme this year...

Good one!

[Cholentfresser]

Still trying to convince my wife to do the "leftovers from Shabbos" theme this year...

lol what would it have, like some leftover cholent ?

[MosheP]

We like to visit lots of family and friends on Purim. I agree the Mishloach Manos craze has gotten out of control. We put together around 50 pieces and try to keep each one at less then $2 total. They may be viewed as "nebbish", but they are always original with a nice chap. We then put together 3-4 nice ones for boss, Rebby/Rov/R"Y, kids Morah etc.

Total cost= $120 maximum

People we get to see and bring smiles to= at least 50

[alexk.]

I like to make fun of the whole theme idea...

Everyone tries to be original... So we did one year an "Original" theme. Everything in the Shalach Manos was labeled "original". Like "Original" Seltzer, original apple sauce etc...

Also did recession themed one a few years ago.

Did a recycled theme: We recycled purim baskets and containers from previous years and even tried to match it up if possible to some of the people who had given it to us in the past. We then put the most common Shalach Manos items; like grape juice, hamentashen, etc... with a nice little poem of how everyone recycles shalach manos and feel free to pass this one on as well.

Also did a morning after theme: 2 Tylenol, melba toast, powerade and rice cakes. All of these had nice little poems as I wouldn't expect most people to get it without explanations...

[Barryg]

We like to visit lots of family and friends on Purim. I agree the Mishloach Manos craze has gotten out of control. We put together around 50 pieces and try to keep each one at less then $2 total. They may be viewed as "nebbish", but they are always original with a nice chap. We then put together 3-4 nice ones for boss, Rebby/Rov/R"Y, kids Morah etc.

Total cost= $120 maximum

People we get to see and bring smiles to= at least 50

Any examples?

Last year kids dressed up as firemen and we gave water, hot tamales and bbq chips in a fireman hat (and we considered but didn't add in a burned pastry). Was less than $2 each!

[txtmax4]

This thread is cracking me up! Right on cue with Adar!

That's a nice sum of money per each one. You could probably get away with spending less for some people, no? Does everyone need to get a super nice one?

$7 is for the people who are getting "our" mishloach monos (people at the purim party we're going to who me MUST give all the same or family members etc. you get my drift..), then there's obviously other people who come and we give them recycled ones..

Why not do simple but shtark? I saw a small bottle of flavored Vodka with an apple wrapped nice. I always like the less is more approach.
Looks nice, less $$.

http://www.estherodesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MG_3921-002.jpg  - still cheaper than $7

LOVE!

Just one.

Um... Are you married?

Still trying to convince my wife to do the "leftovers from Shabbos" theme this year...

ALOL!

$2 total. They may be viewed as "nebbish", but they are always original with a nice chap

Would love to hear examples of original with a nice chap for $2, please post!

I like to make fun of the whole theme idea...

Everyone tries to be original... So we did one year an "Original" theme. Everything in the Shalach Manos was labeled "original". Like "Original" Seltzer, original apple sauce etc...

Also did recession themed one a few years ago.

Did a recycled theme: We recycled purim baskets and containers from previous years and even tried to match it up if possible to some of the people who had given it to us in the past. We then put the most common Shalach Manos items; like grape juice, hamentashen, etc... with a nice little poem of how everyone recycles shalach manos and feel free to pass this one on as well.

Also did a morning after theme: 2 Tylenol, melba toast, powerade and rice cakes. All of these had nice little poems as I wouldn't expect most people to get it without explanations...

Yeah, it's either racking your brain with a cute one and having to write explanation or doing E-Z pass and shelling out hard cash.
I'm sure the former is most appreciated, at least from my point of view, but you need to spend more time on it usually.

[sky121]

Um... Are you married?

Lol- I just meant according to Halacha.
Even though yes, in the past few years I've cut down tremendously.
 

I send more than one. Probably around 15-20 depending on the year.

[ybeeds]

+1

No kids, but my wife is making chocolate cover pretzels, which usually cost $8 for 12 and I think we spent a little less than $10 for 90, but we're not sure what else to put with it. Any ideas?

A drink of some sort...

[ybeeds]

I need 10 of them to include something REAL like a dish or something to that effect...

I saw in amazing savings 6 small nice glass cups (meant for deserts) for $2.99... you could fill them with different small nosh, chocolates, or a mouse stlye dessert with small spoons... etc.

[txtmax4]

amazing savings

My wife is there as we speak... Keeping my fingers magen david until I see the receipt

[txtmax4]

My wife is there as we speak... Keeping my fingers magen david until I see the receipt

$67... for now...

Cheap relatively..

Now comes the food part. Wish me luck!

[kracked dude]

i've never seen a better system than montreal: there's no mishloach manos dilemma. Tomchei Shabbos charges 2$ per name, the more people that give you the bigger your mishloach manos is, and all proceeds go to tzedaka. Dilemma solved. I don't know why it isn't implemented in other communities, I guess it can only work in smaller out of town communities

In Cleveland, Mosdos has been doing the same thing for years

[Yeki89]

Att all those who know they are getting mishloach monos from me! Do not read this post or you will not be suprised.

Again, this is your last warning.

Here is my idea, I plan on doing a onion garlic theme.

I'm not sure exacly what is going in, but some of these will:

-Onion soup (or a mix)
-onion roll
-garlic croutons
-onion rings
-onion garlic chips
-onion garlic popcorn
-onion bissli
-a bottle of mouthwash!

[MosheP]

Would love to hear examples of original with a nice chap for $2, please post!

One year we dressed as cards, queen of hearts for my wife , queen of diamond for my  daughter and king of spades for me. Shaloch Manos was a cellophane bag with cards on it, filled with club soda, heart lollipop, diamond ring pop and a spade shaped cookie and a cute poem about the jack"ace" Haman.

Another year we were Hawaiian themed. My daughter was a flamingo, wife and I were wore Hawaiian themed clothes. Shaloch Manos was  a flamingo inflated coaster meant to float a drink in a pool. We put in a can of Hawiaan Punch and home baked Piņa Colada biscotti.

Another year we all wore leopard print and gave out animal crackers and other animal themed snacks in a plastic leopard print derby hat.

Never cost more then $2.00 each!

[txtmax4]

One year we dressed as cards, queen of hearts for my wife , queen of diamond for my  daughter and king of spades for me. Shaloch Manos was a cellophane bag with cards on it, filled with club soda, heart lollipop, diamond ring pop and a spade shaped cookie and a cute poem about the jack"ace" Haman.

Another year we were Hawaiian themed. My daughter was a flamingo, wife and I were wore Hawaiian themed clothes. Shaloch Manos was  a flamingo inflated coaster meant to float a drink in a pool. We put in a can of Hawiaan Punch and home baked Piņa Colada biscotti.

Another year we all wore leopard print and gave out animal crackers and other animal themed snacks in a plastic leopard print derby hat.

Never cost more then $2.00 each!

Costumes are a must for those.. Did you factor in their costs as well?

[yaakov s]

Att all those who know they are getting mishloach monos from me! Do not read this post or you will not be suprised.

Again, this is your last warning.

Here is my idea, I plan on doing a onion garlic theme.

I'm not sure exacly what is going in, but some of these will:

-Onion soup (or a mix)
-onion roll
-garlic croutons
-onion rings
-onion garlic chips
-onion garlic popcorn
-onion bissli
-a bottle of mouthwash!

Sounds good how do I get on your list

[MosheP]

Costumes are a must for Purim. We put them together from Ebay, TJ Maxx and some homegrown creativity. They usually cost les then $50 all in, so figure the whole Purim at less than $200