Picking up where we left off on our picture of the month, here is our favorite picture, recently sent in by Elia from Houston TX:
Personalized Coffee Cups
Baby Showers on a Budget
When a new baby is about to arrive, it is a time to rejoice with your family and friends. Unfortunately, due to this harsh economic climate, finding the money for a celebration is sometimes difficult. Here are some great tips to help you plan a wonderful event that can fit into any sized budget!
- Host the party at someone’s house.
When choosing a location, remember that a loved one’s home provides a personal touch that your guests will enjoy. The comfort and intimacy of this venue will create the relaxed and fun atmosphere that is perfect for this joyous occasion. - Use Evite Invitations.
Instead of spending money on printed invitations, send your family and friends an evite! One website that can help is evite.com. Available in a wide variety of styles and themes, these internet invitations will let you contact everyone for free! In addition, evites alert you when your guests respond and they keep track of who is attending so you don’t have to. - Use home photos, childhood books and treasured toys for decorations.
Some of the most precious and nostalgic items in the world are free! So go to the attic and retrieve all those fantastic items that meant so much to you when you were a child. - Encourage guests to help with the party!
From menu items to decorations, your guests are a great resource that can make the difference at your event. Have guests bring in some of their favorite books or baby pictures. Include menu items that guests can bring with them. Not only will you have a wonderful diversity available to you, your guests will all feel that they have played an important role in the planning of the party. - Use the internet as a great source of games and entertainment.
Every shower includes a wide variety of games to keep the guests involved and excited throughout the event. Instead of going out and purchasing games, you can research some fantastic ideas that cost very little. At www.BabyShowers.info, you will find some great ideas from personalized crossword puzzles welcoming the new addition to traditional games like ‘How Big is Mom’s Tummy’ or ‘Guess the Baby Food.’ - Provide inexpensive but lovely favors for your guests to take home.
Finding the perfect token of this momentous occasion doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Go to www.FavorFavorBaby.com to find unique and fun favors that can fit into any budget. We even have a section with favors under $.99 each.
Don’t let the economy keep you from celebrating this incredibly wonderful moment for you and your family. Whether you use all of these ideas or just a few, you can enjoy a fantastic event that doesn’t break the bank!
Our 5 Favorite Baby Shower Games
At baby showers, one of the main things most guests look forward to (aside from the great food) is the fun – the activities or games. There are many creative games that can have all your guests laughing, talking, socializing, and having loads of fun together. Here are five of our favorites.
- Baby Bingo
Baby bingo is an old stand-by at almost every shower. Its enduring popularity may be due to the fact that it is one of the easiest games to administer.How it works:
You can create or find a baby bingo board to give to each guest. Many hosts like to personalize the boards and, from what I’ve seen, many bingo boards are based on gifts that the mother-to-be has put on her wish list. The goal is to scramble the gifts on the bingo boards so that each board layout is different and only one person ends up winning at a time. You should also provide writing utensils so that guests can mark the boards. Tell guests to mark the present on their bingo board if the present on their board is opened by the mother-to-be. Make sure you keep track of the gifts that are opened so you can verify that the right gifts were marked by the winners. The first person to get five presents called in a row on their board is the winner! Usually the shower planner will give a little gift or a keepsake to the guests who win each round of the game. Some beautiful and affordable favors can be found right here at www.FavorFavorBaby.com. - Don’t say the “B” word
No, not that word! Don’t say the word baby. At most baby showers, it is very hard to avoid saying the word baby. After all, the baby is the reason for the party. People start chatting and talking about their babies and how they gave birth and so on. It sounds easy, but it’s really quite difficult to not say BABY!How it works:
As guests arrive, give the guest a small keepsake such as any one of the adorable items found at the website listed above. I’ve seen people give simple clothes pins or baby pins, or more elegant items such as crystal baby carriage ornaments. When this item is given to each guest, inform the person that everyone gets one and each person who says BABY and gets called out on it must give their item to the person who caught them saying the B word. The person who ends up with the most keepsakes is the winner at the end of the shower and usually receives a special baby shower favor. - Unscramble the baby words
This activity is highly popular because it is so easy and inexpensive. Plus, guests enjoy it because it’s quick and makes them use their noggins.How it works:
Prepare handouts with scrambled baby words, just like this: tltebo____________ (for bottle-but don’t put the answer next to it). When you distribute the scrambled words handout, you must also give writing utensils. Also, just so it is fair when you hand them out, tell the guests to turn them over and not to peek so that the guests who haven’t yet received their handouts have a fair shot. Once everyone has one, you can tell them to turn them over and the first one to unscramble the words is the winner. - Guess the size of the mom-to-be’s tummy
This is an interesting and fun game to determine guests’ perception of how big the mommy to be is.How it works:
You just need a ball of yarn or a ball of string and a scissor. Let each guest cut off a length of string that they believe represents the circumference of the mother’s belly. After everyone has their string, take another string and tie it around the mother-to-be’s belly and cut it to that length. Then, let everyone come up to you and match their string to the accurate one. Whoever is closest is the winner. - Guess how many there are
And lastly, another fun game I’ve seen a lot of is the magical jar with candy such as jelly beans or clothes pins or other baby related items.How it works:
Fill a jar with some small items then have guests fill out on a piece of paper their name and their guess of how many of that item is in the jar. Before you start, though, make sure you know the exact amount in the jar. The person who is closest or guesses correctly is the winner.
There are so many games that are just perfect for baby showers. The best part is that you can personalize or be creative with these popular games in your own way. Keeping your guests interested and involved will make a great baby shower experience for everyone!
Our Top 5 Baby Shower Themes
Are you looking for a creative way to herald the arrival of your beautiful new addition to the family? Take a look at the hottest new ideas in themed baby showers. We’ve selected our five favorite baby shower themes:
- Cutesy Baby Animal Themes
Baby animals are simply adorable! In fact, baby ducks, lambs and puppies, are almost as irresistible as a newborn baby boy or girl. If you can’t decide which baby animal you like best, Noah’s ark provides an excellent backdrop for a host of baby animals. There is just something so innocent, honest, and loving about baby animals that they are naturally an excellent theme for baby showers.
- Nursery Rhyme Themes
One would think that maybe newborn babies are too young to know about nursery rhymes, but mothers and guests alike simply love this theme. Popular nursery rhymes include “Jack and Jill,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Hey Diddle Diddle,” “Humpty Dumpty”, and more.
- Princess and Dolls
If the mom-to-be knows she’ll be having a girl, a doll or princess theme is an excellent idea. Many mommies like to think of their daughters as their little princesses, so fill a princess or doll-themed shower with lots of pinks, glittering tiara or wand motifs, and maybe even an exquisite glass Cinderella pumpkin coach favor or two. You’ll find a wide selection of cute princess or doll-themed favors at www.FavorFavorBaby.com - Circus Theme
Once again, baby animals and baby humans just seem to go together. The festive atmosphere that surrounds a carnival or circus, though, is more the focus of a circus-themed baby shower than just the cuteness of baby circus animals. Remember that clowns, magicians, the lion tamer, toys, games or rides can complement those little baby circus elephants and adorable show ponies.
- Sports
Mothers-to-be seem to love helping to shape their little baby boy’s sports preferences (of course it helps, too, if baby learns early from dad which teams to root for). You can choose from generic sports themes such as just baseball or basketball paraphernalia, etc. to actual team-themed showers. This way, the baby will already have picked his favorite team before he is even born!
Picking a theme for your baby shower can be a fun and rewarding experience. It can also make it easier for your guests to buy gifts, if you haven’t registered anywhere. Whether you pick one of these themes or get creative on your own, remember to do what feels right and have fun doing it!
An Unforgettable Baby “Shower”
Timing and teamwork really do go hand in hand, and nowhere is that more true than when planning a party. This past summer, I was a co-planner for my best friend’s shower. I was supposed to collaborate with her mother, Elaine, but working together was harder than one might think. We couldn’t make up our minds on anything. Elaine had this glamorous image of how the shower should be, with the best of everything and all sorts of fancy accoutrements. Meanwhile, I wanted a down-to-earth, less expensive party. I wanted a personal affair where the mother-to-be, Rebecca, could enjoy herself and socialize with all of her guests. Something quiet and simple at Rebecca’s house would have been perfect, since the house was huge, with a lovely, spacious backyard. (more…)
Showers for twins can be twice as fun
A world of wonderful opportunities awaits for those planning a baby shower for twins. With fun and exciting themes, games, foods and favors, this will surely become a memorable event any expectant mother will adore. Friends and family will enjoy helping while knowing that all their work will provide some of the necessary accessories a new mother of twins will need.
Themes
Twins provide a plethora of decorating options for any shower planner to choose from. Some of the most popular themes include:
Two Peas in a Pod
Noah’s Ark
Double Trouble
2 Wonderful for Words
Two of a Kind
Once you have selected a theme, you can include it in all areas of the shower, from invitations to table decorations. Whichever theme you choose, remind your guests so they can participate as well. For example, if your theme is Noah’s Ark, guests can bring in pairs of stuffed animals, Noah’s Ark baby blankets or sheets, and theme related outfits for the babies’ first months.
Games
Baby shower games are always a lively, exciting way to celebrate the new arrivals. When expecting twins, you can incorporate twice the fun into your entertainment. Some clever games include ‘Double Diaper Tag Team’ where you and a partner try to diaper a doll with one hand tied behind your back; ‘How Many Pairs?’ has guests sort through mismatched baby socks to find pairs in 15 seconds; ‘Baby Shower Concentration’ challenges your guests’ memories as they try to find hidden pairs; ‘Juggling Twins’ similar to the traditional game of hot potato but with two baby dolls; and ‘Baby Babble’ where participants list as many pairs as they can think of. Remember to always keep your shower games running quickly and smoothly so your guests don’t get bored. By asking them to actively participate, guests will become more involved and excited about the event.
Foods
When deciding on the menu for your twin baby shower, have fun thinking of ways to incorporate your theme or pairs into your menu. From actual pear flavored items to double berry punch or two layer dip, you can find a wide selection of delicious foods that your guests will enjoy and that will also reinforce the theme of the event.
Favors
Twin favors are a lot of fun to pick out. Once you have selected a theme, or even if you’re still searching for one, at www.favorfavorbaby.com you’ll find a host of gift options that your guests will absolutely adore. From personalized options to twin themed candles, bookmarks and key chains, the favors you pick from the wide selection of wonderful gifts will surely make your guests smile. Then, after your shower, guests will treasure their keepsakes of the twins’ momentous occasion.
When planning your twin baby shower, remember to have fun, get everyone involved and bring a wide variety of items for the new mom to use when she arrives home with her two bundles of joy!
A world of wonderful opportunities awaits for those planning a baby shower for twins. With fun and exciting themes, games, foods and favors, this will surely become a memorable event any expectant mother will adore. Friends and family will enjoy helping while knowing that all their work will provide some of the necessary accessories a new mother of twins will need. (more…)
Live this down! Baby shower embarrassment for mom-in-law
I was just recently married to my husband Tom and his obnoxious family, when we received the happy news that Tom’s younger sister, Hailey, was pregnant. Or at least we thought it was happy news. The problem Tom’s family had with it was that it was to be Hailey’s first child and she was only 20 years old. Hailey was an irresponsible college student at the time, and could barely keep a job. So of course, the news of her pregnancy was nothing short of a scandal in this family. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law, Teresa, was not concerned with the logistics of what Hailey would do to raise this child. Instead, she was more concerned with what the neighbors and her friends would think. (more…)
November 2009 Picture of the Month
As always, our customers have sent us a great selection of pictures over the last month. We took a vote and this picture, sent in by April from Centerville OH, came out as the winner:
Baby shower picture frame favors - April's setup
The baskets and ribbons were a great way to display the favors!
How to pick the fairest favor in the land
When attending a special event such as a baby shower, it’s always pleasant to look forward to receiving that favor at the end of the party. It’s like going on vacation and coming home with a neat souvenir. It’s funny, though, how all favor ideas are not created equal. It’s important to consider the age of your guests as well as the type of occasion when choosing a favor for any event. Considering your tastes, too, is important when choosing the right favor. Whether you are planning to give candy, soap bubbles, handmade crafts, candles or other decorations, remember that some favors can be useful and others could have been more well-thought-out. (more…)
The Christening: a celebration of your child
Your child’s birth is a tremendously momentous occasion in your life. Celebrating his or her arrival into the world with family and friends is often a wonderful way to surround your new addition with love. Whether you’re religious or not, there are a variety of traditional gatherings that will allow you to introduce your new arrival to family and friends. Usually held within the first year of the baby’s life, these events always include a photographer to capture every smile and an elaborate outfit for the new baby. (more…)