MIXEDBLESSING 2005 PRESS RELEASE

FALALALATKES! CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH FALL ON DECEMBER 25TH, 2005

MixedBlessing expands offerings of interfaith holiday cards, interfaith holiday books and Chrismukkah merchandise.  A complete resource for interfaith families.

RALEIGH, NC. May 2005 - When MixedBlessing started over 15 years ago, Elise Okrend never imagined that her Star of David/Christmas tree holiday design would blossom into a line of interfaith greeting cards sold in major department stores, shown on Good Morning America and stir up controversy about interfaith marriage. But, it did.

As evident in Elise's own family and among friends, the number of Jewish/Christian families are growing. A recent study of American 5.2 million Jews showed that nearly half of all Jewish newlyweds had married non-Jews. "The holidays are meant to be shared, and that's just what we're doing." said, Elise. "Our cards represent the way people live and the way they spend the holidays." This season, with Christmas and Hanukkah falling on December 25th, Elise estimates they will sell over 350,000 of their MixedBlessing interfaith and multicultural cards.

MixedBlessing features the largest selection of creative interfaith holiday cards mixing symbols from both Christmas and Hanukkah. For example, one card features Santa cooking up a batch of potato latkes, the outside reads FALALALALatkes. In a more subtle scene a magical winter wonderland shows a boy and a girl pulling sleds, one sled with a Christmas tree on it, the other with a glowing menorah.

This year mixedblessing.com has expanded its website to be a total resource for interfaith families during the holiday season. As well as offering interfaith holiday cards, the site will sell interfaith holiday books for the whole family, gorgeous handpainted interfaith ornaments, Chrismukkah merchandise as seen on Fox's trendy series "The O.C.", framed cards for holiday decorating, MixedBlessing sweatshirts, mugs and interfaith handmade cards.

Included in this year's holiday book offering is Blintzes For Blitzen, written by Elise and Philip Okrend, creators of MixedBlessing. Fun for the whole family, read along as blitzen wanders off from Santa and the other reindeer, and finds himself celebrating Hanukkah with Bernie the Deli owner, and his family, renowned throughout town for their delicious mouthwatering blintzes. Bernie's famous blintzes recipe is included.

MixedBlessing holiday greeting cards are available at $14.00 per box of 10 on the web at www.mixedblessing.com and in the following fine stores: Borders Books & Music, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale's and Barnes & Noble or call 1-800-947-4004 for a free catalog. -0- 5/18/05

Elise and Philip are available for interviews. Card art is available for usage in your publication with permission. Review copies are available.

CONTACT: Elise or Philip Okrend, founders of MixedBlessing, Inc. 919-847-7944