In case you didn’t notice, we’re in the thick of wedding proposal season.

With so many holidays to celebrate, this is a very family-oriented time of the year. People tend to be more whimsical and happy and couples capitalize on the opportunity to add an extra fun edge to the holiday.

And what better way to amuse the family than with a marriage announcement? However, after you say yes, a lot of wheels will start turning. To keep your sanity, order is crucial.

Lock in the big details right away

So how soon after getting engaged should you start the initial planning steps?

It depends on when you want to get married. If you’re engaged in the Fall and want to plan for a May to October wedding, you’ll need to start moving fast.

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It’s never too late to host a great holiday party.

Whether it’s a holiday (we’re looking at you Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s!) or any other excuse you may have for getting your friends and family together, you can still have a great party even with a busy schedule.

As host, the greatest and most time-intensive task inevitably revolves around supplying the food. Whether you go for a full spread or settle on snacks and appetizers, having to plan a party during the holidays can seem like an impossible task for many.

Catering by Michaels can offer a convenient solution to this problem by preparing and delivering your holiday meals to any location within Chicago. All you have to do is tap a few buttons.

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This year, Rosh Hashanah, which translates to “head [of] the year,” starts on the evening of September 29th and ends on the evening of October 1st.

It is a two-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the creation of the world and the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that ends in the Yom Kippur holiday. These two holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) are the highest holidays in the Jewish religion.

Aside from ushering in the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year in the Jewish calendar. Because Jewish texts vary, some celebrate the holiday in a single day, while others celebrate for two days. Work is prohibited, and people spend much of the holiday attending synagogue.

However, unlike the raucous New Year’s celebrations celebrated at the end of the calendar year, Rosh Hashanah is more subdued as it is a contemplative holiday.

Rosh Hashanah Traditions

The Rosh Hashanah holiday reflects both happiness and humility.

After the temple services are over, many people celebrate by opting to wear new or special clothing, and by having a festive meal rich in symbolism and tradition. The meal typically begins with the ceremonial lighting of two candles and features food which represents positive wishes for the new year.

Typical Food in a Rosh Hashanah Spread

Some of the items you can expect to see on a typical Rosh Hashanah spread include:

• Apple and honey. One of the most popular Rosh Hashanah customs involves eating apples dipped in honey, usually after saying a special prayer. It is believed that apples have healing properties, while honey signifies the hope that the new year will be sweet.
• Round challah. During Jewish holidays, there is always challah (traditional braided bread) present. On Rosh Hashanah, challah is baked in a circular shape to symbolize the crown of God or the cyclical nature of life.

If you’re planning to attend temple all day, you don’t want to be concerned meal preparations for your own Rosh Hashanah spread. So, why not opt to have a delicious holiday spread delivered straight to your door?

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We love showing off all the wonderful people who work at Catering by Michaels. When we all work as a team, we are all Michaels!

This week, we’re talking to Alex Rufus, our Delivery Manager, who shares some of the details of his role with us… as well as some things he enjoys outside of work.

Q: How long have you been with Catering by Michaels?

A: It’s been 4 years now! I’ve worked for multiple different companies prior to this job but this is the first company I’ve dedicated this much time to. The management here is different than what I’ve been used to — they truly care about employees, even outside of the workplace.

Q: What do you do for Catering by Michaels?

A: I’m one half of the delivery management team. Along with another delivery manager, we run the delivery department.

Q: What brought you to Catering by Michaels?

I’ve worked with food in the past, which is what made me look into Catering by Michaels in the first place. I started here, liked it, and stuck around.

Q: What part of your job makes you proud?

A: The ability (and choice) to provide excellent customer service — I like seeing people in a good mood. It brightens my day! I like being part of making sure everything goes well.

Q: What company values best align with your own?

A: I think the Catering by Michaels value that best speaks to me is that of Pride. In every aspect of my life, I like to be the best I can. I believe that at this company, everyone tries to give their best and I strive to do the same.

Q: For your birthday, what would you have Catering by Michaels deliver to your home?

A: The white cheddar mac and cheese is my favorite thing. But I also love the Chicken Vesuvio. So, I’d pair that with the mac and a salad for the perfect birthday treat!

But my favorite food ever is pizza, hands down.

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On February 3, 2019, people all over the United States will gather together to cheer on their favorite team (and scream at the competition!).

The Super Bowl is somewhat of a sacred day for most Americans, with delicious food as a major focus of the festivities.

If you’ve been charged with acting as a Super Bowl party host, this guide will help you to throw an awesome party that won’t soon be forgotten.

Keep Things Interesting (And Fun!): Off And On The Field

Super Bowl commercials have a reputation for being the very best of the year and those who don’t consider themselves as sports fans are thankful to have many fun ads to watch, interspersed throughout the game. To spark up some competition, guests can rate commercials and make predictions about them before the game.

Alternatively, if you’re hosting a Super Bowl party for die-hard sports fans, print out trivia questions and pass them out for your guests to fill out.

Another fun way to keep people excited for all 5+ hours of the big game is football squares. You can either make your own or print out a pre-made template. Hang it up and let everyone initial the squares they want to buy. Put everyone’s money in a pool and award winners at the end of the game.

Score Fan Fare With Awesome Food

Having delicious food probably seems like a no-brainer, but the finer details can slip through the cracks at the last minute.

Let’s take the slider for example. It’s a staple, but instead of just offering cheeseburger sliders, kick things up a notch. Give your guests something to cheer about with a selection of extraordinary miniature sandwiches.

Bring out a selection of Pulled Chipotle Chicken Sliders, Grilled Portobello Mushroom sliders (for your vegetarian friends), and Vietnamese Pork Bahn Mi sliders.

We assure you, these little delights are always a touchdown with party guests.

Buffalo chicken dip is always a good idea, but consider upgrading to the next level with Buffalo Chicken Monkey Bread. Just imagine sinking your teeth into this knotted bread dipped in blue cheese, jalapeño peppers, and green onions.

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