Homemade Baby Shower Favor

Simple Tips For the Perfect Food For Your Baby Shower

2008-10-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

So the baby is on the way. You've got your theme down, your colors picked out, the location picked. One major decision remains: What food does one serve at a baby shower? This guide is here to help you pick the perfect food for baby showers.

First off, you need some basics. You'll need to know how many people are coming. If you're expecting a large turnout, you'll want to shy away from the more complicated foods and find something more quick and easy to make so you don't run out of time.

The size of the group expected also affects how the food should be served. If it's just going to be you and 6 of your closest friends and family, you might consider a sit-down meal such as soup and sandwiches. If the turnout will be larger, it gets to be a hassle to make a complete meal for every person.

Finger foods are a much better option for larger gatherings - and even works very well for smaller get-togethers. One very popular idea is to make all the foods "baby" sized or "baby themed". Baby carrots, for example. Baby corn is another idea. Baby spinach salad, baby potatoes, and baby shrimp also work well. You're not limited to foods in the "baby" family, either. You can use any small or miniature food for baby showers.

One idea is to take two tortillas, and using an upside-down cup or something appropriate, cut out 4 mini circles from each tortilla, roughly the same size. Then fry them with cheese in the middle to make mini quesadillas, and cut them into fourths!

For miniature sandwiches, remove the crust from regular sandwich bread. You can make several different sandwich types, then cut each crustless sandwich into fourths. Stick a toothpick through to keep it all held together, and serve! Sandwiches have to be made right before they are served however, or they won't taste as good.

Another easy filler food is to buy a cheesecake - either a fresh one, or simply buy a frozen one and let it thaw out, then cut it into small squares. The cheesecake has a tendency to stick to the knife, so you have to be careful. Sometimes spraying the knife with a shot of pan spray helps keep the cheesecake from sticking. Once they are cut into small squares, just stick in a toothpick and serve! These can be cut up ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator with no problems.

Punch is the goto drink for a baby shower. A big crystal (or plastic works too) bowl filled with fruit punch, with something to scoop the punch into glasses. You may be tempted to use mini glasses (such as shot glasses) for the punch, but keep in mind it may simply serve to annoy your guests when they have to refill their glass after every sip.

These simple tips and food ideas help make your shower a memory that will last the rest of your life, and your guests will enjoy some of the most delicious food for baby showers!

About the Author

For more advice and information on baby shower party take a look at this site http://www.babyshoweretiquette.net/

Great Baby Shower Gift Ideas

2008-08-19T02:25:00.000-07:00

Baby clothes are an excellent way to go when you aren`t sure what to give at a baby shower. Babies go through so many outfits and you really can never have too many cute onesies. Plus, if you opt for baby discount clothes, you don`t have to spend a fortune on a baby shower gift and you can get even more for the baby-to-be. But you don`t want to be ordinary, so here are a few ideas on how to give baby clothes in a unique manner.

Baby Clothes Gift Basket Looking for a fun and unique idea? Get a baby tub and pack it full of items for the baby. Discount clothing, onesies, a couple of soft towels and some bath sponges are perfect. The new mom will have a tub for those first baths and plenty of baby clothes for dressing her little one in afterwards. Package everything attractively (wrap each item individually or simply roll the baby clothes into neat bundles) and use baby themed cellophane to cover.

Onesie Cake You`ve heard of diaper cakes . . . why not make one out of cute little onesies? It takes a bit of dexterity, but you can make a mini cake out of onesies and decorate with a couple of rattles, pacifiers or other baby items. If you don`t want to go to all that trouble, get a premade diaper cake and just twirl onesies into baby flowers to decorate it. Unique Onesies Buy a handful of plain onesies from a baby discount clothing store and decorate them yourself. Use fabric paint (make sure it`s non-toxic), felt cutouts or iron on transfers to create onesies that reflect the character of the parents. If the baby`s father is a golf fanatic, for example, you might do a green onesie with a golf ball on it and the words "Daddy`s Little Putter". Use your imagination and come up with some fun designs. These are bound to be a hit at any baby shower.

Gift Sets Rather than purchase simple, pre-made baby shower gift sets, make your own. Include a cute outfit or two from a baby discount clothing store, hand-embroidered or knit booties, a little hat and perhaps a tiny bracelet. What you add to the gift set should reflect the parents` personality and this will make it far more special than any pre-packaged gift.

Baby showers can be a lot of fun if you aren`t stressed out about the gift. Onesies and baby clothing in general is an ideal gift and one you can never get enough of as a new mom! Use the tips above to turn your ordinary baby clothing into something special and meaningful.

About the Author
Kathy operates an online kids discount clothing store

Baby Shower Food Ideas

2008-03-23T01:02:00.000-07:00

Ideal finger foods are easy to prepare, as well as light on the stomach. They also provide the perfect opportunity for hosts to get creative with the many different kinds of appetizers available for this memorable party.

It never hurts to pair classic finger foods with a few unique tasty treats. Cucumber sandwiches filled with cream cheese, deviled eggs with a hint of Dijon mustard, grilled shrimp, hearty potato skins, a mix of toasted almonds and honey-roasted peanuts, quesadillas, chicken wings, and stuffed mushrooms are just some of the popular finger foods to consider for a baby shower.

If children are attending the baby shower, you should also keep their tummies in mind. Homemade caramel corn, cheese and crackers, mini-bagel pizzas, or sliced apples with a fruity yogurt dip are typical crowd pleasers. Boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces covered in crushed cornflakes and baked in the oven can make the perfect low-fat chicken nuggets.

Fresh fruit is an uncomplicated food item to explore when creating a menu for a baby shower. Fruit salad is one of the easiest dishes to prepare. To spice up the visual presentation, you may attach slices of pineapple, bright red strawberries, and grapes to skewers and serve on a decorative platter.

Where there is fruit, vegetables are sure to follow. Another easy approach to satisfying the guests of a baby shower is to create appetizers centered on this healthy food choice. Consider using baby carrots, fresh broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and celery sticks to create a colorful vegetable tray - accompanied with your favorite ranch dressing. Making one or two creative dips can also break the repetitiveness of the overdone sour cream and onion dip.

Chips and dip is another easy menu item for a baby shower that doesn't take much time to prepare. Instead of serving the usual tortilla chips and salsa - consider the possibilities of an effortless spinach dip, guacamole, onion dip, rye bread dip, or artichoke dip. Cut pita bread into small triangles and you'll have yourself an impressive presentation.

About the Author
Randy Jodoin is a recognized authority on babycare, His site: http://www.babycareecourse.com provides a wealth of Free advice and tips on methods that work and methods that don't work in babycare... babycare doesn't have to hard ...if your ready...

Hot Ideas For Baby Shower Party Favors

2008-01-05T10:14:00.000-08:00

After a quick chat with my girlfriends and yummy mummies, weâ€™ve come up with a shortlist of baby shower party favors to give you a flying start when planning your next baby shower. Hopefully this will tickle your fancy or at least get the creative juices flowing! Ideas For Home-Made Baby Shower Party Favors

* Create â€œMerit Certificatesâ€� â€¦that you can give to the guest with the best memory, or best guess, or best player etc., in the games you have planned for the party/shower.

* Bookmarks - Reading material for new mums is always a great gift from things like baby care, nutrition or even getting fit after pregnancy, well, why not make your own bookmarks? Make them as interesting as you can. This clever idea should to leave a mark on your guests!

* Bakery Treat Bundles - Make some cookies or brownies and wrap them in translucent paper. It makes for a nice party favor. For the cooking buffs, you can bake bread or make jams and gift them as welcome prizes.

* Crafty Jewellery - If you have family members who love making jewellery, then this is a terrific idea for you ï¿½" make a collection of beaded necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and arrange them in a basket near the door. Your guests can pick their choice while leaving the party. You can even include key chains and such small items.

* Scented Soaps - You can even make soaps at home. It is easier than you think. Buy some glycerine soap cubes as well as molds from the craft store. Melt the cubes and pour it in the molds. Add glittering beads or shreds to it for a funky look and drops of your favorite perfume or scented oils. Your gift soaps are ready! They make great baby shower party favors.

* Gift Baskets - You can create baskets containing any of the cosmetic items, pens sets, scrapbooks, artificial jewelry pieces, and whatever utility items that you find suitable for gifting. You can even place edible items in your baskets such as chocolates, cookies, and others. Party favors donâ€™t have to be expensive to make an impression. It depends on how creatively you put together the gifts and present them to your guests so that they can cherish the baby shower party favors for a long time.

About the Author
Karen Manning is an accomplished blog columnist and official yummy mummy.
Need more ideas on baby party favors or showers gifts, how about a newbie parent that could use some baby care tips? Swat up on cool ideas and parenting tutorials here.

Baby Shower Favors Of Beautiful Crystal

2007-11-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

Crystal is one of the most elegant yet delicate things in the world, just like your little baby who is on their way into your loving arms. Crystal can be cut and shaped into the form of just about anything and it always reflects brilliant light and prismatic colors. Despite it's brilliant beauty, crystal is something that should be cherished and handled gingerly because it is so fragile.

What better comparison can you find to the baby you are carrying? Wouldn't you love to welcome that child into a world that shines like a beautiful crystal prism? If you're planning a baby shower anytime soon, you know that an important part of baby showers, bridal showers, wedding receptions, and other important events and parties is the handing out of unique and fashionable party favors, wedding favors, or baby shower favors to your generous guests.

Crystal is the perfect favor to give out at any baby shower because it is so like your new baby in its beauty and delicate nature. Commemorate this momentous occasion with some beautiful favors that you can use at your baby shower, or even at your wedding or bridal celebrations in hopes of becoming a shining, productive family that bursts with the eternal glow of crystal figures. Below are some suggestions of products that you can find bye shopping online quickly and easily.

Crystal Baby Carriage: This adorable crystal creation will snatch the hearts of all the guests at your baby shower. Its faceted surface and amazing detail (including spokes on the wheels and a delicate handle) are a perfect representation of the bond between you and your the wonderful baby you are expecting but have already grown to love. The figurine comes packaged in a high quality silver heart design box in a bed of satin topped off by an organza bow and heart shaped personal tag.

Crystal Baby Shoe: This little crystal shoe is a representation of one of the first shoes you will buy for your new baby girl or boy. It is accented with a realistic polished metal tie that criss-crosses in the front portion of the crystal shoe. Once your guests take this wonderful piece out of the crafty gift box they will be dazzled by the brilliant glows and ethereal light that the crystal throws around the room. It is a perfect baby shower gift that will fill you with even more excitement about soon putting a pair of shoes on your own baby's perfect little feet.

Crystal Pacifier: What is one of the first things you will get your child when he or she is born? A pacifier! So why not give your guests a beautiful recreation of one of your newborn's first products after you bring them into the world. This product will put the light of a smile on the faces of all your guests at your baby shower.

Crystal shower favors make the perfect favor for your bridal shower guest. They will feel the appreciation and the value of such a lovely gift.

About the Author
Joe owns an online wedding store offering wonderful wedding gifts such as wedding favors and bridal shower favors to assist you in your wedding planning needs.

Planning Fun Baby Showers

2007-10-08T00:49:00.000-07:00

It's your turn to plan the baby shower but you want to make it a fun shower that the guests will enjoy. Where do you start?

Let's get the basics out of the way first:

1. Decide on a location 2. Time of year is it and what time of the day will you hold the shower 3. Decide what to serve the guests (coincides with time of day) 4. Create the guest list

That takes care of the basics that have to be done for every party and event. You've already decided that you don't want your guests just sitting around while the baby shower gifts are opened. Face it, that's fun for the mom-to-be but after 10 or 20 presents have been opened the Oohs and Ahs start to slow down considerably. So how do you incorporate fun into your baby shower?

A great way to get the party rolling is by having a themed baby shower. There are so many fun themes to choose from that will make decorating a baby shower a breeze. If you already know that the baby is a boy or girl, then choosing a theme is a snap. You can have a nautical themed baby shower for a boy decorated in red, white and blue. Carry this theme forward with red, white, and blue snacks and drinks such as a fruit plate with strawberries, bananas, and blueberries. For those that can drink, serve white wine and for those that cannot a fun red fruit punch. Bring your guests into the theme by asking them to also wear something red, white or blue. Set up your tables in a round fashion so that everyone can see mom to be when she opens up her gifts. Round tables also encourage interaction between the guest tables which will keep the fun level up.

A relaxing Victorian Tea Party is an afternoon baby shower theme that can be considered on the calm side but still plenty of fun. Ask guests to dress up a bit. Decorate the party with calming pastels. Serve a variety of teas and bakery items such as sugar cookies, cupcakes, pies and other items. Now what woman do you know doesn't like to have a relaxing afternoon chatting with other women while munching on goodies that she normally wouldn't eat? Incorporate old fashion baby shower games and give each guest a baby shower favor that will remind them of this day. A great favor would be "Baby is Brewing" teapot favor.

Have you noticed how many baby showers are now attended by both men and women? Men, whether they like it or not are now just as much included in the baby arrival as women are. So take advantage of this by hosting your own couple baby shower. Match the baby shower theme with baby shower favors that either a man or woman would like for example personalized baby mint tins are neutral enough for the men and might just end up in the glove box of their car for emergencies. The best couple baby shower idea is a backyard or beach barbecue. You can keep the men busy manning the grill and when the men are busy, the women are happy. Great party favors would be flip flop candles or the thanks for hanging out place card holder that does double duty as a photo frame after the shower.

Are you having your baby shower in the cooler months when it's just not practical to go outside, an indoor sports theme shower is a fantastic idea that again will let the men feel right at home. You don't want the men feeling out of place at an event typically for women and typically decorated more on the girly side.

When you incorporate a theme into a baby shower, it makes not only the planning easier, but also your guests will have that much more fun.

About the Author
Denise is the owner of http://BuyWeddingFavorsOnline.com which features an extensive catalog of baby shower favors, baby shower decorations and baby shower gifts. Use coupon code NL3 and receive 10% discount.

The Perfect Baby Shower Gift

2007-09-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to choose that perfect baby gift. If you find yourself in this situation and want a gift that will always be remembered consider a new baby gift in the form of a blanket. A new baby blanket that has been crocheted is a wonderful gift as well as being a keepsake. This is the kind of gift that can be kept for the child as he or she grows up. It seems that when people hear about a pregnancy one of their first instincts is to purchase something for the baby. There are so many items that are available for infants. It is amazing the amount of money people will spend to purchase things that will be used for a matter on months.
There are also people that want to make something for a baby. Many times these are people that do not make any other homemade items. When my daughter was born we got a lot of be blankets as gifts. Though most of these were store bought, we did get a few crocheted baby blankets from friends and family. Many of these blankets were useful, but some of them had to be given away as there only so many babies by get you can use it once. Though I really liked the crocheted blankets, I found that many of them were not suitable for a newborn. I ended up giving a few of them away, and putting the rest away until she was older. The crocheted baby blankets looked as if they might be the warmest blankets, but there was a problem that we kept having with them.
My daughter's tiny toes and tiny fingers would often slip the holes causing her discomfort many times. She would cry when she got her fingers or toes caught, and this would wake her up in the middle of a nap. Because of the nature of crocheted baby blankets, they often aren't the best things for newborns. Unless you have one with very tight stitches, it might cause your baby some discomfort. There is however, something very comforting about crocheted baby blankets. These are often given as gifts from friends and family, and that makes them extra special.

Many times they are made in the colors of your nursery, or can be pink or blue, depending on the sex of your baby. Quite often crocheted baby blankets are something that you will wish to save long after your child has outgrown them. I know that most of the baby blankets I have saved from when my daughter was an infant are indeed ones that were crocheted for me by family members. And also my sister is one of these people who want something for her baby. When she was still in high school our oldest sister became pregnant with twins. My school aged sister decided that she was going to make crocheted baby blankets for the twins. She was just learning to crochet, so this was a big project for her. This was back in the day when the sex of the baby was not known prior to the birth.
My sister decided that she would make the crocheted baby blankets in soft pastel colors. She would make each one different so that people would be able to tell the twins apart. She started on the crocheted baby blankets when our sister was five months pregnant. It took her several tries to get the baby blankets started. She knew how to do the chain stitch and how to single crochet, however the instructions for the crocheted baby blankets included double and triple crocheting to create a pattern. Our mother did not crochet, so she was unable to help my sister. After several trips down the block to visit a neighbor woman that knew how to crochet the blankets started to grow. My sister had the first blanket completed and had started on the second blanket when our pregnant sister had to go on bed rest. She was starting to dilate and she still had six weeks to go before the twins would be developed enough to live. My pregnant sister was very bored laying around waiting for the twins. My mom suggested to my other sister that she should teach her how to crochet.

This would give her something constructive to do to pass the time. My two sisters got together and the crocheting began. This was the beginning of a hobby for both of them. To this day they both crochet. My two children still have their crocheted baby blankets that they received from their aunts. I also have Afghans that they have made as well as beautiful dollies. The two of them get together for coffee and crocheting at least twice a month. This has been a rewarding hobby for both of them. If you have a collection of crocheted baby blankets for your newborn, make sure you watch them properly. Use the gentle cycle on your washer, and make sure used baby detergent when washing them. Do not put crocheted baby blankets in the dryer. When you're done washing them you want to lay them out a flat surface to dry. You can lay them on a towel to get them to dry faster if you want to, but remember a dryer will probably ruin them. If you take good care of them they will be around for a long time to come.
They are something you can save to remind you of when your baby was still a baby. Babies often become so attached to the blanket that they keep it for years. Remember also that you and your baby will spend a lot of time in his or her nursery. So make sure all the blankets, beddings and décor make it a place you both love to be. So relax, take your time, and release your imagination and select the baby blankets and bedding to make our child's sleep time perfect.

About the Author
Crizza baby blanket

Baby Formula For Your Child

2007-09-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Baby formula is a nutritionally balanced substitute for a mother's breast milk. Most baby formula is made with a combination of ingredients, primarily either soy or cow's milk. It is manufactured under dozens of name brands and sold in powder, liquid, and concentrate forms. Besides breast milk, baby formula is the only recommended infant milk recommended by medical experts - and that recommendation come with severe qualifications.

In recent times, as medical research has shown the benefits of breastfeeding, the use of baby formula has declined dramatically in many nations. Nevertheless, doctors will still recommend baby formula over breastfeeding in some special rare cases.

Early History

The earliest baby formulas were homemade and meant to provide a means for mothers to feed their children without breastfeeding or use of a wet nurse. These early formulas were usually made from animal milk or what was available to their economic means. As food manufacturing and technology advanced, commercially produced baby formula became a staple of baby nutrition.

By the 1920s evaporated milk formula was readily available through much of the United States, and breastfeeding diminished as mothers increased formula use. In the 1950s, agressive marketing of Similac and Enfamil provoked a shift away from evaporated milk formula to formulas that chemically approximated real mother's breast milk. These campaigns were so successful that by the 1970s more than 75% of American babies were fed on baby formulas.

The success was short-lived. With increased women's liberation and a publicly fostered return to breastfeeding, the use of commercial baby formula quickly diminished. At the same time, medical research began to show breastfeeding offered vastly superior health benefits to babies over commercially produced formula, including the prevention of ear infections, asthma, and many other disorders.

Baby Formula Ingredients
All baby formula manufacturers are required by law to meet nutritional guidelines supplied by the Food and Drug Administration. These guidelines are taken from recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on nutrition.

Baby formula must contain protein, niacin, folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 and B12. There should also be minimum percentages of calcium, iodine, and iron.

The recipes for baby formula vary according to each manufacturer, with each one advertising they have the most healthy ingredients or the most recommended by pediatricians. The choice of baby formula for each child is then left to the parent or family doctor. Overall, however, any store bought baby formula brand will at least satisfy your baby's most basic nutritional requirements.

Baby Formula & Breastfeeding
Pediatricians warn against the use of baby formula as even a supplement to breast milk, for fear the mother's lactation will slow due to decreased demand. Recent studies attempting to bolster baby formula's public image have also been of mixed success, with little conclusive results.

Corner Stork Baby Gifts offers a complete selection of unique baby gifts, baby shower gifts, baby shower favors, as well as diaper cakes and hundreds of lovely baby gift items. Visit http://www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com to visit their online catalog and browse our complete selection.

About the Author
Michael Kabel is senior staff writer for www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com. Stop by for parenting and baby resources, unique baby gifts, baby gift baskets and baby shower favors.

Gifts And Delights For A Baby Shower

2007-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

The first question to ask is who should host the gathering? In the past only non-related womenfolk hosted a baby shower, groups such as friends, co-workers and church cells. Time changes traditions and it is currently more common and acceptable for mothers, aunts, grandmothers and sisters to host showers too. Someone has to take the first step to host the shower and the person generally becomes the hostess. A baby shower is a wonderful display of showing love and caring for a growing family and specially helps to welcome a new life into the world. A baby shower can be hosted either individually or as a group; in fact it might be more fun and exciting for a group to share in the excitement and responsibilities of planning out and hosting this extra special event. This will help to alleviate some of the stress of planning should the burden of hosting be shouldered alone.

As for the guest list, you would most likely have a rough idea of those you think should be invited to the event, but it is best to make sure the mother to be has a look at the list beforehand to ensure that no one is left out and that you leave out people that she doesn't want there. Although the written invitation is still the most preferable way to kick off a shower as it adds a personal touch, you can invite guests using more modern methods such as via phone calls, sms or e-mail. Baby shower e-card invitations templates are readily available online for free or at a nominal cost. Regardless of the type of invitation used, you must double check to make sure that all pertinent information is included. This may be in regards to themes, a map or written directions to the shower, the address of the hospital the mother to be is at or any other item that guests should know about.

Planning for the date of the shower is crucial too. Never have it in the last trimester of pregnancy, during which the mother is most uncomfortable. Make room so that she can still source the things that both she and the baby needs.

When deciding on the gifts, think of basic necessities. Things the baby would need when it arrives. Towels, diapers or even cloth basket will do just fine. Try to be more creative by arranging the stuffs in the basket so that it looks delightful. You can also use a bathroom bucket and fill in with bath essentials like soap, lotion and shampoo. Arranging the items into a cake made of towels and other goodies is also appealing. A few simple things like rubber, tape and ribbons should do the job. Homemade baby things are a joy to have. Patchwork covers are indeed a delight for mothers and baby. So are knit wears

A baby show need not take too long to carry out. It all depends on the visitors present. If they know each other well, they might want to stay longer.

Although there are many different variations on shower events, but a simple schedule for baby showers is shown here in this article which should be useful as a rough guideline. Any part can be added, removed and re-ordered to your personal tastes. Firstly as the host you should receive the arriving guests and greet them. It would be a good idea to serve some light snacks or finger foods. Once all or almost all guests have arrived, walk around the room and get each guest to introduce themselves briefly and identify how they know the mother-to-be. Play a few simple shower games at the beginning as ice-breakers many wonderful game ideas are available on the internet. You have to bear in mind that some of the guests may not know anyone else there other than the mother-to-be. Once this is over is over allow everyone go and eat the available food.

Once everyone has been served and satiated, the mother-to-be can start to open her gifts. An important note is to be sure to have a designated somebody jots down what each gift is and who it came from. This will make returning thank-you notes a lot easier for the future mother. The guests may leave at different intervals usually a few at a time depending on how well they mingle with the other guests. Make sure the mother-to-be has the opportunity to say goodbye to everyone. As the hostess or hostesses, be sure to thank the guests for attending. If the hostess has any shower favors, they should give this to the guests at this time.

About the Author
Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs, baby shower favors and so on.

Baptism Ceremony 101

2007-07-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

Christians have many rites that mark certain stages or transition in their lives. One of these rites is baptism when water is put on the forehead of the baby to symbolize the baby has joined the Church or becoming a Christian. Parents are free to choose whether they want to hold a grand celebration out of it, or just throwing a simple reception. In early times, baptism has to take place in moving water to symbolize the movement of the Holy Spirit in human life. Nowadays, baptism ceremony normally take place in the church with a priest leading the ritual.

Whether you are hosting the party or being a guest, you must know a thing or two about gifts-giving. As a host, you may wish to prepare thank-you gifts for all your guests. The gift does not necessarily have to be big and expensive; a small thoughtful present is equally appreciated too. As a guest, you may pick gift items that have religious connotations, in line with the baptism theme. Like baby showers, the host and guests must know the importance of gift giving as a sign of gratitude and well-wishes. Once you have decided on the type of ceremony you like to organize, you can proceed to do the necessary matters such as fixing the date, contacting the church and booking the venue for the reception. For a religious Baptism you will need to meet with your local clergyman to discuss the details of the ceremony. Decide where you want it held, be it at the church, your garden, home, hotel or another locale. Investigate the guidelines for the ceremony different Christian denominations have differing customs and rites; is it performed during a regular Sunday service or is it something that is done on a separate day and time that you need to schedule. You may even have to take special Baptism/Christening classes before the event. Usually you would also have to select Godparents for the child, these persons are normally friends which whom you feel can lead your child in his or her spiritual growth and are willing to commit themselves to this task. Traditionally, in many faiths, baby girls are given two Godmothers and one Godfather, and baby boys should have two Godfathers and one Godmother, but it's really up to the parents to decide how many they want. You will also want to take into consideration how the chosen Godparents may handle the responsibility of becoming your child's full-time guardian should the need arise.

Depending on the host's efficiency and planning skills, it may take between 2 weeks to one month of effective planning to ensure the baptism ceremony and reception goes well without any glitches. Invitation cards should be sent out to guests early, preferably a week or two weeks, so that they have sufficient time to make necessary decisions. This would also allow busy guests to conveniently arrange and squeeze your special occasion into their hectic schedules.

In a traditional Baptism/Christening your baby will wear a gown during the service. This gown would be a long white or cream in color, it is worn by both girls and boys. Your family may have a gown that has been passed to them from other generations, but always purchase a new one easily.

The actual service and act of baptizing would only last at most about 20 or 45 minutes, and then you may decide to hold a small reception afterwards. If you do plan to have a reception, you will need to decide where you're going to have it this is because you may need to book the venue in advance should you decide to use a restaurant or a hall.

Light foods like burgers, drumsticks, fries, salads and soups are delightful treats for guests at the baptism reception. It is appropriate for the host to serve soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks to his guests at the reception. It is important not to go overboard with the foods and drinks if the host does not wish to blow his budget. Another easy way is to order foods from the catering companies. If the host wishes for their guests to contribute or bring their own food to share with the rest, he may do so and inform them earlier about it. This is to allow ample time for the guests to make preparations.

It is a good idea to prepare a small favor for your guests. These are akin to baby shower favors and can be any small gift or trinket that your guests can take home to remind them of the ceremony. The baptism favors can be given at the ceremony, the reception, or both. It is also a common practice to give a small gift to the godparents. Guest also normally hand out small gifts to the parents, these usually consist of religious items for the baby such as bibles and rosaries unlike baby shower gifts .Last but not least don't forget to send thank-you cards or letters to all your guests to show your appreciation for coming to your child's Baptism.

About the Author
Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs, baby shower favors and so on. Please visit peculiarstuffs.com to read her other highly regarded work on such details as baptism favors, baby gifts, photo mugs and so on.

5 Baby Shower Decorating Ideas

2007-07-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Decorations turn an everyday room into an occasion. Decorating for a baby shower doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Keep things simple and stick to a theme. Themes can be colors, animals, baby items or decoration themes. Having too many themes at your baby shower will make it seem unorganized. Colors work well with other themes. For example, pink & green colors with a frog theme.

Let us first focus on the tables. Whether a buffet table, a table for your guests to sit at or a gift table, you will need to cover them with fabric or plastic table covers. While I am not opposed to plastic table covers, make sure they are thick enough so you can't see through to the table below. Fabric table covers can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of tables. Most party rental stores will rent fabric table covers.

Now that your tables are covered you can decorate them. Centerpieces create a focal point on the table. I went to a baby shower where they had a round table with a 5" high by 4" wide centerpiece. The table was 60" so it looked so empty. Take the size of your table into consideration. You can purchase something that mom to be can use such as a baby sock bouquet or diaper cake. You can have your favors as a centerpiece such as a lollipop bouquet or create a ring of favor bags or candles. Other table decorations, such as confetti, are optional.

If you are catering your baby shower make sure you put out plates, napkins, cups, and utensils. If you are using disposable plates and utensils make sure they will be sturdy enough so they won't break.

I love balloon bouquets. All you need are some latex balloons. Bunch them up in groups of 5-6 balloons. Mix up the colors - pink & green, pink & white, blue & yellow, blue & white, etc. You can even substitute a Mylar baby shower balloon for one of the latex balloons. Weigh down the balloon bouquet with a balloon weight. Balloons, ribbon and balloon weights can be found at most party supply stores. Place balloons strategically around the room. I have to say that I'm not a fan of balloons on the floor. You run the risk of someone tripping on them and hurting themselves.

Walls can be decorated with baby shower banners or homemade posters of baby pictures of guests, mommy to be or daddy to be.

Decorating for a baby shower can be easy, inexpensive and fun. Be creative, keep things simple and enjoy your baby shower!

About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Christina has written a Baby Shower Planning ebook called "Baby Showers: Tips, Tricks, and Ideas". Baby Shower Depot offers affordable baby shower favors, baby shower games, new daddy gifts, baby gifts, baby gift baskets, baby dia

A Guide To Baby Shower Etiquettes

2007-06-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

A lovely baby shower party with proper baby shower etiquette is one of the best ways to welcome the new baby. If you want everyone to carry lovely memories at the end of the baby shower, put a little knowledge into baby shower planning while organizing the merrymaking event.

The traditional rule with a baby shower is that anyone can throw it except for the couple that are having the baby.

The proper baby shower etiquette says that someone who is not related to the couple should throw the baby shower. The reason for this is that it won't look as though the family are asking for gifts. But this isn't necessarily true and we don't always follow tradition anymore. It should be that anyone who is close to you and willing to plan your baby shower should do so.

It is good to do baby shower planning prior to the birth of the child. Hosting a baby shower after the arrival of the baby would not be so much of fun without the pot belly mother. The best time for hosting a baby shower would be somewhere between seventh and the ninth month when the mother has a big round belly. Take care not to plan the party just before the due date, in case the baby arrives sooner than expected.

On the other hand a baby shower party in the first few months would not be as exciting without the bulging belly.

Before any invitations are sent out, the mom-to-be needs to decide on a day that would suit her and also go through the guest list to make sure that no one has been left out. If it is for a second or third baby, the guests would normally just be close friends and family.

Normally, for any baby shower, it is just women who are invited. Though men were not normally invited, but it was quite common for the man to show at the end of the party to help his wife with the presents. Now days, it seems that it is fine for men to a part of the baby shower.

Baby showers are quite commonly held at country clubs, parks, restaurants, bars or any other place where people are able to get together. It is, however, a bit more personal and more comfortable if it is held in someone's house.

It is only fair that the person who is organizing or hosting the baby shower should pay for it. It should be considered as a gift to the mom-to-be. The rest of the gifts should be practical. As a baby shower could work out quite pricey, multiple people could throw the baby shower, which then helps with splitting the costs.

Any food can be served at a baby shower. It can be anything from finger foods, appetizers, candy on tables, to having full meals at restaurants. Gone are the days of having just light snacks. Often, people have a buffet with cold beverages, coffee, wine and other drinks. However, it is still standard to have a cake.

Have you learned something useful from the baby shower etiquette above? At the end of the day, baby showers are supposed to be fun, so have a good time.

If you are in need for for more ideas for baby shower, Qing Gu shares with you loads of helpful articles here for baby shower beginners...plus many advanced topics: http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/babyshower.html

Also sign up with the Planning A Baby Shower FREE eCourse, you'll be enjoying all the fun and innovative ways to make sure your baby shower party a great succes: http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/planning-a-baby-shower.html

About the Author
Qing Gu is a party planning expert, freelancer, and owner of a few websites about celebrating holidays and special occassoins. Learn the essential keys to plan a baby shower and get free monthly tips and how-to advice by visiting http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com

Precious Baby Shower Favors

2007-05-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Baby shower favors are the fun part baby planning! Favors do not have to traditional. Favors can be anything that reflects your style.

Tea party favors are the perfect bridal shower tea parties and baby shower tea parties. They feature trendy shoe or purse designs. The perfect theme for the perfect young lady. These are also great for gift tags or little girl tea parties. Each "matchbook" is personalized and features either purse design or shoe design. You can choose either a tea bag, "Love is Brewing", bag of seeds, "Love is Blooming" or wrapped mints, "Mint to Be". We have unique crochet baby shoe favors filled with tea candy. The blue and white has champagne and yogart flavored candy and the pink has strawberry and yogart flavored candy. These crochet baby shoes are perfect for unique baby shower favors. Boxed Daisy Baby with Almonds. Each daisy baby box has 5 almonds in them. Your guests will talk for weeks about these wonderful gifts. Personalized flip flop cookies are great favors for weddings, showers, announcements, and parties. Each personalized flip-flop cookie is personalized with 1 line. The standard packaging is shrink-wrap. Shrink wrapping keeps that cookies fresh and is the best way to ship sugar cookies. Seashell candies are PERFECT for your beach or garden baby shower! They are imported from France. The seashell candies are hard candy shells with fillings. Baby pink or blue hot chocolate drink mixes are perfect for unique shower favors or baby announcements. These traditional tins are filled with a pink or blue hot chocolate drink mix. Each tin has a built in hook to tie a ribbon or announcement. You can also personalize by adding a personalized label up top above the design. Something hot, or cold for a hot momma. This hot momma cappuccino mix is great for bridal and baby showers or girl night out. It can be served hot or iced. The packaging is really cute also. Each 1.25 oz packet can easily be personalized with a personalized label or personalized ribbon. Beach chair candleholders are perfect for beach baby favors or beach decorations. The beach chair candleholders do not have candles included. The beach chairs are ~5". Price is per beach chair candleholder. Chocolate candy candles make a great gift for the chocolate lover. They are no fat with all of the smell and beauty of chocolate. The chocolate candy candles are chocolate scented and make great bridal or baby shower favors. They burn up to 8 hours each. Cinderella coach candles are perfect for fairy tale wedding favors. All little girls dreams come true. These coach candles are a great way to say thank you to those who are sharing that dream with you. Gold "It's A Boy" or "It's A Girl" seals add a final touch to invitations, favors, or just about anything. These personalized diaper pin seals are perfect for baby announcements or baby shower invitations. Flip flop cookies are adorable! They measure ~ 2.5" long. The flip-flop cookies are sold as a pair. They are shrink-wrapped. The design on the flip-flop cookies will be a baby assortment. You can choose boy, girl, or both. Great for a beach baby shower favor. Baby Shower coaster invitations are truly unique! Letterpress printed on genuine coaster stock that will insure that your sentiment will be absorbed. What is alligator swamp cake? Chocolate pudding, graham cracker crumbs, and much are to make a delicious swamp pudding cake in the bucket; serve with the shovel and garnish with gummy alligators. Great tasty treat for all ages. These are great for children party favors and gifts. Duck coasters are the perfect baby shower favors. They are colorful and functional. The duck coasters are made of recycled rubber. The duck coasters are also great for kid's wedding favors. Cinderella pencil sharpeners make great unique party favors. They are boxed, so the Cinderella pencil sharpeners will easy to favor wrap. We have personalized gift-wrapping paper to make it a truly unique favor.

There is a large variety of baby shower favors to choose from. Take a look. You will not be disappointed.

Go to www.PreciousBabyShowerFavorsonline.com to view our entire selection of unique baby shower favors.

About the Author
Precious Baby Shower Favors recently launched. But the members of the company has worked with baby showers, gifts and gift ideas since 2000 and is dedicated to offering affordable favors for your special baby shower party.

Are Baby Shower Favors Necessary?

2007-05-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Making the decision to host a baby shower for a beloved friend or family member is more then inviting a few people over to open gifts. There are many aspects involved in planning a baby shower, so before you dive in head first, take the time to create a plan that will help you stay on track.

Today's busy lifestyles make it easy to get caught up in finding the quickest solution that will solve our needs, and unfortunately that sometimes means cutting corners to save time. This doesn't mean that you have to follow every rule ever created for hosting a baby shower; but there are some things that are necessary for creating and hosting a successful event.

During the planning phase, you will eventually reach the point where you must decide if you want to give baby shower favors to your guests. But, before you make a hasty decision that you may regret later, it's important to take into consideration the people who are making this baby shower possible.

Your guests will be spending a few hours of their time with the Mom-to-be and they will also be bringing a gift. While it's true that your guests will come for no other reason then to show their love and support, it's only fair that you return their kindness in the same way. After all, the word "favor" means an "act of kindness."

Giving out baby shower favors to your guests is a wonderful way for you to show your respect, and thank them for all they've done to make the day special for the guest of honor. So yes, baby shower favors are necessary; in fact, most people will agree that this is one of the "golden rules" of hosting a baby shower. However, there's no need to go to extremes to find the perfect thing to give, nor is there any reason to invest a lot of time and money into this particular phase of planning. In truth, you'll find that selecting and packaging baby shower favors will be one of the most enjoyable aspects of arranging the entire event.

As you'll soon discover, there is a vast array of baby shower favors available on the market today, and as a result, you may find it hard to decide what to give.

There's really no right or wrong choice, it's more a question of what your overall shower theme is, what type of guests you will be inviting, and what you think you would like to give them.

Perhaps you have chosen the baby shower theme to evolve around baby carriages. So you may want to look for items that fit that theme, for example: baby carriage candle holders or decorated cookies shaped like a baby carriage. Make a list of all the things that relate to your theme and refer to the list for ideas when you go shopping.

Another thing to take into consideration is your guests. Will you be inviting children, teenagers, and older women or will your guests be close in age? If there is a diverse age group, candles may not be the best choice, whereas most anyone will enjoy a cookie or candies. If you're really stuck on giving a particular thing, you may want to purchase more then one baby shower favor, such as picture frames for the adults and treats for the children, so that everyone gets something they like.

Once you make the decision to give favors to your guests, write down some ideas and then review them based on your individual event. Eventually you'll narrow your choices and ultimately find the perfect baby shower favor that will have your guests glowing as they head out the door.

About the Author
Charlene is the owner and operator of http://www.thebabblingbaby.com and http://www.lifes-favors.com . She has spent the past 5 years consulting with families as the plan baby showers, baptisms, christenings, and other special events.

Throwing Baby Showers

2007-05-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like parties and some would even say that the more parties and fun occasions where you can be together with friends and family. You can have all sorts of parties and one of these is the popular baby shower party where you celebrate the baby and his or her mother and shower them with gifts and blessing.

When you are planning a baby shower it is not different from throwing any other party and you will need to plan it to make it a successful event. It might be an overstatement to say that the more you plan and the more you go into the details the better but naturally everything is a question of the time involved. The point I am trying to make is that you should not overdo it.

A baby shower party has the elements of most other parties plus one additional element which is the games to be played. First thing is to invite people. Without any guest there won't be much of a party and therefore you must start by deciding who you would like to invite and how you are going to invite them. You can send out invitations by post and design a beautiful baby shower card or you can design an email invitation and send that out to friends and family.

Before you send out anything you will need to decide on a date and to be sure that as many as possible can attend the party it is a good idea to set a date at least a few weeks into the future. Most people are very busy in today's society and will need more than a few days in advance to clear their calendar.

Now that you have invited people you should start planning what food to serve, if any decoration is required and what games you want to play. For these individual items I strongly suggest that you use the internet for ideas and inspiration if you are not full of ideas yourself. You can find tons and tons of great ideas and loads of information on both baby shower meals, how to design baby shower invitations and even what types of baby shower games are the most popular to play.

In the end it all comes down to being with friends and family and having a good time. It doesn't have to be an extravagant event with a 5 meal dinner and live music in order to have a great party. As long as you give it your best effort you have done your part and the party will surely be a successful one.

One last thing that you will need to consider is what types of gifts that you would want for you and the baby. It is a custom that the guest brings gifts of all kinds and to make sure you are prepared when the guests call you to know what you would like to have. Now all that is left is to have a great and fun baby shower party.

About the Author
The best baby handprint poem can be found at Mikael's baby footprint site along with tips on creating baby handprint and other baby keepsakes.

Party Favors To Say Thank You

2007-04-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

Birthday parties are designed to have a good time, they are festive and fun, and there's lots of good food and great party favors. From the time we are small children, whether we like to admit when we get older or not, when someone throws a party on our birthday - it's a big deal. At your child's birthday party, you should get party favors for the birthday.

If you as parents are giving a birthday party for their child, you should think about many different things. Be sure to make a full set for the birthday star. While birthday party favors may include gumball machines, cups, bowls, dough sets, princess purses and make-up and anniversary favors include items such as watches, glass set, picture frame, wallets, pocket books or purses.

Often times it is easy to personalize a party favor all you need to do is wrap the object in cellophane and tie a ribbon on around it. This could be everything from the personalized treat bag to the designer costume. Many couples who are creative like to give candles, picture frames and personalized items.

Almost anything can be personalized or engraved to commemorate a special occasion. It appears that party suppliers have found a way to turn the pencil or pencils plural into a small personalized gift.

One of the most common acts during a baby shower is to give party favors to your guests, it is a special way of saying thank you for coming to my celebration. Keep the baby theme in mind when choosing what it is you want to give.

From dough sets to cereal bowls, there is no limit what you can give depending on the theme of the party and the financial anything can be given depending on the suitability of the occasion and the financial potential of the person giving the gift. Many people like to create their own favors by creating a treat bag with many items inside, like toys, candy gift certificates and anything else that you can think of to put into the favor. Often times more should be spent on the party favors so that they can serve as a small gift for the guests.

Baby shower party favors do not need to be extravagant or expensive. Any baby shower you attend today the guest will receive a party favor, this is classy way of saying thanks to your guests. Homemade baby shower party favors are great to create and fun they can be used as prizes, or party favor gift the possibilities are endless.

Wedding favors aren't just a little souvenir of the wedding: they're also a token of appreciation to the guests for their efforts in attending the ceremony or reception and for their love and support. Traditionally the favor is used to say thanks, thanks for coming and giving me a gift and sharing this special day, wedding party favors can large or small items, one idea is to make the favors meaningful. Another popular party favor that can be given to guests is fortune cookies. When you are doing your planning, you should try to leave a little room in your budget to have your guests leave your party with a little something.

About the Author
Melissa Fishman and David Marc Fishman are the owner of personalized party favors Mailordermommy sells personalized party favors

Baby Shower Moon and Stars Theme

2006-12-11T21:50:00.000-08:00

Using a Baby Shower Moon and Stars Theme by Tim Brandt

When using a baby shower moon and stars theme a hostess needs to consider all aspects of the shower. Considering everything from invitations to games is important so the theme remains a constant idea. A baby shower moon and stars theme is focused around the colors yellow and blue, as well as having a night time or bedtime feeling. This is important to keep in mind when planning the baby shower.

There are some great baby shower moon and stars theme ideas for invitations, decorations, favors, games and the cake. For invitations a great idea is to use invitations in the shapes of moons and stars with a verse that reflects the theme of night time. The party could even be an evening party to work in the theme. Decorations and favors should be in the colors blue and yellow. A good favor idea is individual sugar cookies cut into moon and star shapes. Decorations can reflect the feeling of being outside under the night sky, like having the moon positioned in a corner with stars hanging randomly about the room. Games that could be used to go with the theme are word games associated with baby's bedtime routine or simply changing games names slightly, like the 'Dress the Baby' game could be called "Dress the Baby for Bed'. The cake at a baby shower usually plays an important role. It is important to carry on the moon and stars theme with the cake. A cute cake could be a large moon shaped cake with smaller star cupcakes.

These are only a handful of the many things a hostess could do with a baby shower moon and stars theme. Once the ideas start coming it will be easy to plan the party while also sticking to the theme.

About the Author
For more information concerning baby showers, please visit: The Baby Shower Zone a website that specializes in baby showers and baby shower moon and stars themes

Christening and Baptism Favor Ideas

2006-11-12T04:29:00.000-08:00

Christening and Baptism Favor Ideas by Criss

Baptism and christening ceremonies are an important event that signifies the start of a child's spiritual life. As a common courtesy to guests who attend these ceremonies, the parents of the child or the host of the event often obtain party favors as a gift. Here are some themes and ideas that are appropriate for these occasions:

1. Cross - The holy cross is by far the most common theme for baptism and christening favors. There are many interpretations of the meaning of the cross. However, the cross is widely accepted as the sign of Christianity. Some favors with this theme are cross- shaped soap, candles engraved with the cross symbol, and chocolate bars with a cross on the customized wrapper.

2. White - The color white symbolizes life, joy, happiness, and purity. Yellow is another color that is often used as it can also symbolize goodness, happiness, and brightness. Sometime these colors are used together, for example, a white angel with yellow halo.

3. Doves - Doves are a popular theme. These calm, quiet, and elegant birds symbolize purity and peace.

4. Angels - Angels symbolize light, goodness, and divinity. They are often portrayed as humans with wings and halos and have much religious significance in both the Old and New Testaments. Angels are a popular theme on invitations, candles, and personalized candy wrappers.

5. Priests and Holy Men - Priests and holy men offer blessings and guidance to people in spiritual matters.

6. Candles - Candles are commonly used in meditation and religious events and make a great gift or favor for any religious ceremony.

7. Bible - The bible is a symbol of religious perseverance. Most bible themed favors are drawn as a white, black, or brown book with a holy cross on it.

There are various other themes for christenings, but these are some of the most common. Most guests that attend these events are religious, so these ideas will be helpful in finding the right favors. Nevertheless, many people choose to give favors that do not have these themes, but instead have baby- related themes, like stork and baby bottle themes.

Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. for more baptism favor ideas and for baby shower supplies, information, and more baby related articles by this author, visit My Baby Shower Favors

Tripling the Fun with Baby Shower Games

2006-10-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

A baby shower is not usually organized by the mother or father-to-be, but by their close friends or family members. These parties are designed to make the prospective parents feel that the people closest to them are celebrating their good fortune and are happy about the coming addition to the family. Parties like these are usually fun and full of good will, but they can be even more enlivened with baby shower games. These games provide more laughs and smiles, and they can be instrumental in bringing friends and families closer for an auspicious event - the coming of a baby.

A baby shower can have guests from a few couples to several dozen. Sometimes the larger the party is, the greater the chance that the guests do not know one another. People from all walks of life may find themselves in one room together for a few hours for the party: from Dad's colleagues at work to Mom's high school gang. Baby shower games are a great way to break the so-called ice, make the guests feel more comfortable with one another and remind them that they are present for a common cause: to celebrate the coming of a baby, the child of their friend or relative.

Organizers of baby shower party games should remember to keep activities short and simple. Games that are too complicated will not achieve the desired goal of letting the participants feel at ease with one another. Also, having complicated activities runs the risk of breeding boredom or resentment, either of which could cause guests to make a beeline for the door - something that the parents-to-be will not appreciate. So what party games would be ideal for a baby shower?

If you're the party organizer, you would not want for game ideas; there are literally hundreds of suggestions and tips offered on web sites. Arguably, the most popular game would be the "Baby Food Game." Participants are required to guess the name of the content of baby food jars whose labels have been removed. Variations of this game include placing the jar's contents in a diaper and having the guests identify the baby food in the diaper, or having a guest describe a kind of baby food in unattractive ways (such as "mashed monkey food" for "banana") and getting other game participants to guess the food being described.

Another example of baby shower games that is guaranteed to bring on the guffaws and jibes is the "Who Am I?" game. This activity needs a bit more preparation, but it may well be worth it. Basically, what this game entails is to show baby pictures of guests and game participants do their best to guess the identity of the person in the baby picture. An easier variant of this game would be to have the emcee announce something about the character trait of a guest, and have other people guess who he or she is referring to. For instance, the host can say something like, "When this person was a child, he or she always drew on the walls with crayons. It's not a surprise then that he or she is now an artist."

Another example of fun party games for baby showers is something called "What Am I Drinking?" Participants are blindfolded and asked to drink from baby's bottles. All they have to do is identify what they're drinking. The one with the greatest number of correct guesses wins the game. Another great guessing game would be "What's in the Bag?" As the name of the game implies, participants are asked to name the contents of a bag and the person who gets the highest number of correct guesses wins.

It would be even more fun if prizes are awarded to game winners. But organizers of baby shower games shouldn't think that they have to give expensive prizes or awards. Remember that these party games are all in good fun; games with too high a stake might just foster unnecessary feelings of competitiveness. Token awards are ideal, such as pens, candles, foodstuff, or perhaps a kiss or hug from the mother or father-to-be? That would certainly bring on lots of cheers and good-natured laughter.

Organizers should also remember to keep the number of baby shower games in moderation. Don't plan ten games for a two-hour party; two or three games will suffice, and spare enough time for eating, chit-chat, and gift-opening. Planned and done right, these party games will make any baby shower an affair to remember.

About the Author
Your-babyshower.com provides you with information on all kinds of babyshower related issues like baby shower games, invitations, gifts, cakes and more. Come take a look at http://www.your-babyshower.com/

Unique Baby Shower Gifts - Spreading Cheer

2006-09-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Getting invited to a baby shower can be a very exciting event. But sometimes it can be nerve-wracking trying to find just the right gift to give to the parents-to-be. Of course, you'd want to give a gift that would be appreciated, useful, and enjoyed - perhaps even give one that stands out from the rest. This isn't as hard as it seems to be. With just a little creative thinking and a bit of initiative and cash, you can make your selection from among the many unique baby shower gifts offered online and in specialty stores.

But with the abundance of choices available today, wouldn't a person feel overwhelmed at the sheer variety of high-quality and delightful gift suggestions out in the market? If you go shopping unprepared, then this might be so. Thus, it's very important to take a few considerations when trying to find unique baby shower gifts.

For instance, are the parents musically inclined? Then perhaps they might appreciate a gift such as antique music mobile from BabyBeddingTown.com. Or are they young parents who appreciate high-tech gadgets? Then maybe the Dreams-in-Sight mobile from OneStepAhead.com would be ideal for their baby. This remote control product is a three-in-one baby mobile, projector, and music box. Perhaps the parents are artistically inclined? A colorful alphabet art canvas from GoToBaby.com would most likely appeal to their aesthetic senses. This gift is customizable; you can have the baby's name placed at the center of this work of art.

If the parents are sports enthusiasts, there are many special baby shower gifts that would be suitable for their coming baby as well. For instance, a baby creeper outfit - complete with bib and booties - patterned after the uniform of the Chicago Cubs baseball team is sure to make an impact. Or if Dad is a football fan, you might want to consider giving a Reebok Miami Dolphins (or any other football team) Infant three-piece set from BrandNewDad.com as a baby shower gift. Or perhaps Mom has a sentimental streak for her old college basketball team? Then you can indulge her nostalgia by giving infant accessories and clothing designed after the logos and colors of National College Athletic Association (NCAA) teams.

For more whimsical and sentimental special baby shower gifts, and if budget is not an issue, you might want to consider giving baby jewelry. Numerous establishments offer items such as silver or gold bracelets, necklaces, and baby rings. And these items can be customized in various ways: for instance, have the baby's name engraved on a bracelet, or choose a bangle that has meaningful charms dangling from it, such as the baby's anticipated zodiac sign. Another unique baby shower gift suggestion would be a birth certificate, hair and tooth memory box, such as the one offered by BabyGiftIdea.com. This is a very elegant gift; it evokes a feeling of timeless elegance. A rosewood box houses silver-plated canisters in which the parents will place their baby's birth certificate, his or her first tooth, and a locket of the baby's hair.

Of course, you might want to give something that is more practical in nature, something that would save the new parents some time and money while caring for their new baby. Practical gifts would still be special baby shower gifts, depending upon the presentation. You can opt for appealing gift baskets that contain useful items, such as diapers, milk bottles and other feeding paraphernalia, or baby bath supplies and accessories. Just wrap the entire package in attractive materials such as a sheer, colorful net and tie the handle with a ribbon, and don't forget to attach a gift tag that says in one or two lines your wishes for the parents and their baby.

You can also consider group efforts when trying to come up with ideas for unique baby shower gifts; this can help bring down costs while not compromising the quality of the gift. You can have friends and relatives of the parents-to-be write something about the parents themselves or their hopes for the new addition to the family and compile everything in a scrapbook. Each one can also contribute to making the scrapbook look as attractive and unique as possible. This would be a unique gift and all the more priceless because the content is as personalized as it can be.

With these and other ideas for unique baby shower gifts, you can be sure to have a significant part in letting the soon-to-be new mom and dad feel that the people closest to them are wishing them well as they count the days to their baby's arrival.

About the Author
Your-babyshower.com provides you with information on all kinds of babyshower related issues like unique baby shower gifts, invitations, cakes and more. Come take a look at http://www.your-babyshower.com/

The Baby Gift with Heart

2006-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking: The Baby Gift with Heart by Lisa A. Koosis

Diaper bags. Engraved silver picture frames. Cute little outfits covered in teddy bears and puppies. These are the tried-and-true classics when it comes to gifts for welcoming a baby into the world, the things every Mom-To-Be needs or wants, and no baby shower would be complete without them.

Still, there are times when you just want to give a gift that's a little bit different, something that will enable you to add your own personal touch. So if you're looking for a creative idea for a baby gift, you might not have to look further than your local crafts store.

The craft of scrapbooking has become a popular pastime over the past few years, a way to commemorate special events in your own personal way. For exactly that reason, scrapbooks make wonderful gifts for many occasions -- and what better occasion to give a gift of memory-safekeeping than the birth of a child?

When it comes to gift-giving, the great thing about scrapbooks is the sheer variety of supplies and choices. For those who are completely unfamiliar with the world of crafts, and who might find giving such a gift daunting, there are pre-made kits that include everything you need to start. Often those kits are geared specifically to certain occasions, such as a new baby and can even come in pink and blue.

For those looking to go the custom path, however, a scrapbooking gift is rich in possibilities. Most major craft stores have a minimum of one entire aisle and often more than one aisle dedicated to scrapbook supplies and other assorted paper crafts.

If you've decided to purchase a scrapbook as a baby gift, you'll want to make a trip to your local craft store. Although scrapbooks are available for purchase at major greeting card retailers, photo shops and even department stores, for selection, your best bet will be a craft store or a retail store that has a reasonable selection of craft products.

Scrapbooks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from pocket-size to others the size and shape of larger, coffee-table books, with a corresponding price range, so the amount you've decided to spend on your gift will potentially be a factor. Beyond that, the possibilities are still numerous -- color, texture, binding style, personalization, etcetera.

Once you've chosen the scrapbook, then it's time to accessorize. Accessories for scrapbooking are nearly limitless these days with some creative thinking. There are standard accessories available in the scrapbook and paper craft aisle of the store.

Essentials include the actual paper that will form the pages of the scrapbook, and these days even choosing the paper can be an adventure. Multi-colored packages of paper are available in varying sizes. Some scrapbooks don't actually come with pages included, so make sure, if your chosen scrapbook doesn't, to match the size of the paper to the size of your album so that the recipient will have pages to set directly into the scrapbook.

You can also purchase packages of assorted smaller sizes and shapes that make nice backgrounds and mats for individual photographs and keepsakes. Many craft stores also sell specialty papers that you can purchase by the sheet, mixing and matching as you see fit. Many of the papers are unique and beautiful and they vary in price.

Other essentials for the intended scrapbooker include stickers, rubber stamps and stamp pads, and photo-safe markers. There are also hole-punches in assorted shapes such as hearts and stars, glitter pens, specialty scissors that create artistic edges on paper, and assorted baubles for decoration, including specialty trims and item tags. Of course, you won't want to forget the basics such as glue, double-stick tape, and photo corners to keep the photos in place without ruining them. And why not include a few rolls of film, a disposable digital camera, or a gift certificate to the local photo-processing lab?

There are also other possibilities for those wanting to spend a little more money, such as software for designing scrapbook pages on the home computer, and even digital cameras and photo printers. The possibilities really are endless.

Finally, you'll want a basket, or a beautiful gift bag to make the presentation of your gift as pleasing as the gift itself.

This is also something that would make a wonderful gift for the sibling of a new baby, something interactive and fun, to encourage their involvement in the preservation of precious memories.

More than anything, this is a gift that's fun and functional and shows that a whole lot of thought went into it. And isn't that what gift-giving is really all about?

About the Author
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower

2006-08-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower by Susan Anderson

A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.

As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.

Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.

After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.

Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.

You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.

Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.

The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.

About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. BabyShowerFreebies.com

10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered

2006-08-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered by Christina Cermak

A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.

Who Should Host a Baby Shower?
At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a baby shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.
Is It Acceptable to Host a Baby Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?
Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.

Who Should Be Invited?
Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.

When Should a Baby Shower Take Place?
The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.

Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?
A baby shower theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.

When to Send Invitations?
You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase. It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.

Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?
In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.

Do I Need Baby Shower Games?
Baby Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.

Should I Send Thank You Cards?
As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.
Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.
A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.

Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?
Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.

About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.

4 Easy Steps to Baby Shower Theme Ideas

2006-07-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

4 Easy Steps to Baby Shower Theme Ideas by Sam Smith

Organizing a baby shower can be a lot of fun but it can also be frustrating. Often times people try to hard and get caught up in finding the perfect baby shower theme ideas. This can really work against the goal of pulling off a great baby shower as a person gets more concerned they are not able to be creative or have fun. After all baby showers should be a wonderful joyous celebration of new life and not another big task that has to get done.

By following the steps below you can find a lot of really great baby shower theme ideas and then easily narrow it down to find the perfect theme.

Research First you will want to do some reaserch on baby shower themes. This will help get the mindset and preload the brain with possible ideas. One of the best places to research baby shower themes is online. Going to any major search engine like Google or Yahoo and typing in keywords like baby shower theme ideas or fun baby shower themes will come up with a ton of websites and lots of ideas. Be careful not to latch on to any one idea to early on. Instead just take it all in and maybe make a few notes of themes that seem appropriate for the situation. One can even narrow the search down and find more specific results using the search engines. For example if it is known that the mother is having twins then type in the search term baby shower themes for twins. Also if the sex of the baby is already known then using specific search terms related to the babies sex can generate some great ideas also. Using terms like baby shower themes for girls or baby shower themes for boys will give some great ideas. List Next after doing some initial research it is time to turn off the computer. Get out a paper and pencil and start generating a list of baby shower themes. Some of these themes might come straight from the research that was done online but be creative and think of unique baby shower themes also. Creative ideas will often make the best baby shower themes because they will be new and unique.

Try to generate a list of at least 20 baby shower themes that will work for the event. Don't worry about censoring any of the ideas out just be creative and list as many as possible. If this is too hard and no ideas come quickly then just start writing down whatever comes to mind even if it is not a baby shower theme. Eventually the mind will start kicking in some great ideas.

Narrow Next take the list and start to narrow it down less then five themes. Think about the decorations that would go with each theme and the availability of clip art that would go with each theme. If nothing comes to mind for a particular theme then just eliminate it from the list.

Decide Now it is at the final stage out of the five topics that are potential candidates for the theme pick one of them. Often it will help if there is time in between each of these steps. Simply getting away and doing other things for a while will allow the best baby shower theme to rise to the surface of one's mind. If it is still too hard to pick just one theme then call a few friends or the expectant mother and read the list off and discuss the potential themes with them. This will often generate one great theme that can be used.

The most important part is too not get to caught up or stuck on just one idea. Instead generate a lot of fun ideas and then pick the one that stands out. Given a few days time to mull over all of the options often one will become the clear winner as the perfect baby shower theme.

About the Author
Free 5 day Baby Shower Planning cours

Couples Baby Shower

2006-07-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Couples Baby Shower - A Quick Planning Guide By Ann Neville

Believe it or not, but many husbands would really enjoy going to a Couples Baby Shower with their wife. A baby shower is a fun get-together with friends and family to celebrate a new little baby. Often, the father-to-be would love to be part of that celebration. It helps him get excited about his new son or daughter. And whether he admits it or not, his heart will melt when he opens up a baby shower gift and sees a little pink dress or a little pair of denim overalls.

How to Know if You Should Invite the Guys
Simply ask the mom-to-be if she wants her husband and his friends to be at the shower. She needs to enjoy the shower first and foremost. So if she doesn't want the men there, then that's the answer. After all, the baby shower is primarily for her. However, if she likes the idea of a coed baby shower, then ask her husband if he would like to go, just to make sure it's ok with him. Some guys might feel uncomfortable, which is understandable. But he might be honored by the invite and excited to participate. You never know until you ask!

How to Plan a Couples Baby Shower

1. Make up the guest list with both parents.
Have them list both her friends and his friends. He'll feel a lot more comfortable with some of his friends there.

2. Decide on a theme that both parents-to-be would enjoy.
A general baby theme is always a great choice, or a sports theme, or other hobby of the husband's (cars, cowboy, outdoors, John Deere, etc.) are some fun themes that the dad-to-be might really get into.

3. Make and send out the Couples baby shower invitations.
Have the invites match the theme you chose. You could make the invitations in the colors of the dad's favorite sports team, or buy some outdoors or cowboy / western paper, or whatever the theme may be. This lets the guys know right from the start that the theme will be something they enjoy. Also, having more than one guy there might make the dad-to-be more comfortable & more enjoyable. It's the whole "strength in numbers" thing. Be sure to mention in the invitations that it is a Couples Baby Shower.

4. Plan the food.
This is one of the most (if not the most important) aspects of a Couples baby shower that you can plan. After all, the way to a man's heart (and hence how much he enjoys the baby shower) is through his stomach. Meat is usually a good choice for your coed baby shower food. Definitely have something more hearty than salad and bundt cake. BBQ, casserole, or enchiladas are some good choices.
5. Should you have games at a Couples baby shower?
You could do it either way. This is a great question to ask the expectant mom and dad. Often, at a coed baby shower, games are not played. Instead, everyone talks, tells stories and shares parenting advice which makes for a fun, intimate party with friends and family. However, almost always, when the guys actually play the baby shower games, they really get into them. They love competition! So, games or no games, everyone will have a great time.

6. What kind of baby shower favors & prizes are good for a Couples baby shower?
Anything Edible! Guys are very predictable, which makes your job as hostess easier! Candy bars, rice krispy treats, beef jerky, cinnamon rolls, etc., inexpensive t-shirts that relate to the theme (sports teams, automobiles, Carhartt, etc.) are fun favors & prizes. Other ideas include: packages of football, baseball, or basketball cards, movie rental gift certificates, pocket-sized outdoor equipment like little flashlights or pocketknives, etc.

7. What kind of gifts are good Couples baby shower gifts?
The gifts at a coed baby shower shouldn't be much different than gifts given at a traditional girls baby shower. If this is the only baby shower a mom-to-be will have, then traditional baby shower gifts are a must, because she will still need all the diapers, clothes & burp cloths that she can get. But one or two of the gifts intended for the dad-to-be is a great way to honor and congratulate him. Be sure to have the mom and dad-to-be sit together and take turns opening the baby shower gifts. This really helps him get into the baby excitement.

Some other fun ideas for a Couples baby shower:
• Have a surprise baby shower for the dad-to-be at his office/work. Call one or two of his coworkers to plan it. He is sure to have friends at work that would love to celebrate & congratulate him on his upcoming son or daughter.
• If he is into sports, have the party during a game where everyone can eat & chat during the game and open the gifts afterwards.
• Have a cookout BBQ - Any get-together that involves an open flame is definitely a masculine party!
It is becoming more and more common to invite the men to baby showers. And, although a coed baby shower is still not quite the "norm" for traditional baby showers, most people find that Couples baby showers are usually among the most fun and memorable types of baby showers.

About the Author
Find more of Ann's baby shower articles and resources at http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com.

Baby Shower Favors: A Labor Of Love

2006-07-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

A baby shower is a very important event for an expecting mother, as it is one way of giving a warm welcome to a new life. Normally, the mom’s friends host baby showers whether they come from the office, church or school. However, the idea of a baby shower hosted by a sister or another close relative is becoming more and more prevalent.

Being invited to a baby shower also signals that the expecting mom highly values your presence in her life and wants you to share in this very happy and exciting experience. Of course, as invitees we want to make sure that we give a gift that will express our love and affection not only to the mom but also to the baby. While, there is a plethora of baby shower favors available in the market, why not make the gift more special by doing it yourself?

A homemade baby shower gift is something made out of hard work and the willingness to go the extra mile just to show we care for the baby. Here are some ideas on how to make baby shower favors:

Make your own homemade baby shower envelope.

Materials needed:
Decorative papers with different designs,
Stickers,
Glue and tape,
Ribbon

Making a baby shower envelope is easy to make yourself. First, cut out an envelope pattern, crease it where needed and stick adhesive to assemble. Put a small amount of tape to the envelope’s flap, and attach it to the backside of the next envelope. Repeat the process until several envelopes are attached with each other and eventually resemble an accordion.

Close the envelopes and increase the size of the final flap in order to match the width of the album. For a special touch attach an attractive sticker to serve as an album seal. When this process is finished, the cards that will be placed inside the album should be decorated. Select the decorative papers that best go with each other and make cards that list the following information.

birth data,
souvenirs,
photos,
list of gifts given during the shower

Each envelope should contain the handcrafted cards. All the envelopes containing the cards should then be placed inside album. Tie a ribbon around the album to complete this perfect homemade baby shower favor.

Homemade Baby Shower scrapbook

Choose papers and embellishments that perfectly match the theme of the baby shower. The book’s color can be selected based on the baby’s gender, if this is already known. However, yellow and green are appropriate for showers if the expecting mother does not know the baby’s gender.

Encourage your guests to write a special note in the album. In order for the notes to be written neatly, insert a journaling template at the back of each page. Prior to the shower a complementary photo and decorated page should be made ready. Snap a picture of each guest and take a group shot as well.

Choose the best photos for the album. Once all of the embellishments are put in, apply finishing touches and present the complete album to the expecting mother.

Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com. She provides more helpful tips on how to make baby shower favors at her site.

Types of Baby Shower Cakes

2006-07-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

Different Types of Baby Shower Cakes by Sam Smith

Planning a baby shower for a friend and have to decide what todo about the baby shower cake? While there are tons of ideas on the internet and you can probably think of a lot of different cakes to make on your own. However, you will first have to decide what type of baby shower cake you want. This will depend on the amount of time, skills and creativity you have. Once you have chosen the type of cake that you want to go with you can think about the decoration for the cake.

Since a baby shower cake is really no different from a regular cake used for any special event your options are pretty much the same. The main difference between an everyday cake and a baby shower cake is in the decorating.

Store Bought Baby Shower Cake This of course is a great way to go if you have extra money and no extra time. You simply go to your local bakery or even supermarket and have a cake made to order. This of course is the most expensive option yet the quickest and easiest for the host.

Homemade Baby Shower Cake Another option if you have time and the inclination is to make your own homemade baby shower cake. This can be a lot of fun for the host and also the guest of honor. Having something specially made for you is a real honor and a treat for the guests. A homemade baby shower cake can also be used as a table centerpiece to really show off the artwork and talent of the baker. If you are planning on making your own baby shower cake you should make sure that you have enough time and have planned ahead so you will not feel rushed.

Diaper Cake Diaper cakes are rising in popularity at baby shower and have really caught on big. Part of their popularity is they can serve as a decoration centerpiece, and as a big gift for the mother to be. You might think to yourself wait a minute a cake will be eaten how is this a gift? Well, this is typically true except a diaper cake is made out of diapers. This in fact is not a cake at all but it is made to look like one. A diaper cake is essentially made up of a group of diaper all stacked together and then decorated to look like a real cake. Gifts for the baby can then be stuffed inside the diaper cake and given to the mother to be. This can be a real focal piece for the party and add a lot of decoration quickly to the event. You can either make this yourself or have one made easily.

The biggest decision that you need to make is how much time versus how much money to you have to spend. If you have more time then money then you will want to make the cake on your own. However if you have money and absolutely no time left at the end of the day then make it easy and pay someone to make the cake for you.

About the Author
Free 5 day Baby Shower Planning email course

Homemade Baby Shower Party Favor

2006-07-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Homemade Baby Shower Party Favor by Vincent Chua

When throwing a baby shower you are not obliged to give party favors to your guests. But still, it would be nice to hand out a memento of the special occasion. Worried that you might spend a fortune buying ready made baby shower party favors? Then why donít you just make the party favors yourself.

Below are some creative ideas for baby shower party favors.

1. Buy baby bottles, baby socks or even cloth diapers (if you can still find one) then fill it up with an assortment of goodies like candies and chocolates. After filling the items, you could tie cute little ribbons around them. The items would prove to be useful. Some of the guests may even give them back after a few weeks.

2. If you bake then you can prepare cookies (choco chip, butter, sugar, oatmeal, etc.) in the form of baby bottles, baby rattles. Babies and other baby related shapes. You can package the cookies in colorful plastic or paper wrappers.

3. As you probably already know, candles are a big bit among women. That why they probably would be a big hit for the guests on your baby shower party. Buy scented votive candles. These candles are usually sold in sets to make them cheaper. Then decorate the candles with ribbons. Colors of course will depend on your personal taste or to the theme of your baby shower. Of course it would usually be blue if the baby is a boy and pink if the baby is a girl. The candles smell great and they would even look great when they are wrapped. Candles are an ideal party favor for any occasion since they mix very well with any theme.

4. If you have a green thumb and likes plants in general then maybe you can give away some of plants in your garden. All you have to do is buy some small seedling pot. Graft a stem on some plant and plant them into the pot. This type of party favor is symbolic since your gusts would be obliged to take care of the plant just as if they have their own babies. You could also buy coffee mugs or wine glasses and a bunch of flowers. Then put a flower in the mug or glass as if they are flower pots. This baby shower party favor would definitely be a big hit.

5. Baby bath items like baby soap, baby shampoo, baby oil, baby lotion, etc. can also be a big hit among your guests because they can be either used for their very own babies or for themselves if they are single. You can also include other bath accessories like sponges, hookahs, scrubbers, small towels, etc. You can arrange the items in mini baskets or hampers. Then tie a ribbon in front of it for it to look cute.

There you are, five creative homemade baby shower party favor ideas that your guests will surely love. Who knows, you might end up making a business out of your masterpieces. Remember, all you need is some creativity and wild ideas to make these baby shower party favors.

About the Author
© Copyright Vincent Chua, All Rights Reserved.
Vincent has dozens more baby shower related articles and tips at his site: baby shower theme, check them out today!

Water Bottle Wrappers Baby Shower

2006-06-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

Water Bottle Wrappers for your Baby Shower---Now that is a favor worth keeping! by Kelly Jezek

We have all left baby showers with little baby shower favors like soap or candles; while we appreciate the gesture and the thought, did we really use those items? Why not give your guests something that you know they will use, maybe even on the way home from the party? Water Bottles with personalized wrappers are a fun, clever way to send your guests home with a hydrated smile. They are also easy to make yourself baby shower favors.

As long as you have the software or know how to make labels on your computer, you can design your own. Make sure that you choose an appropriate color, pattern and font when creating your own water bottle wrapper. So many websites sell a variety of water bottle wrappers that you can personalize for your shower. You can put the mother to be's name on the label along with the date of the baby shower. Find a clever rhyme to put on the label, or even a picture of the new mom and dad. Even use empty water bottles and fill them with tiny candies or miniature baby pins and put them around the party room as decoration.

Looking for other practical, clever baby shower party favors? After a quick internet search, I was able to find some baby shower favors to complete a wonderful party. Personalized tea bags and cappuccino packets were a creative, trendy idea. And how about some personalized mints? Every one could use a mint after eating and talking at a shower for two hours. You can also purchase some personalized chocolate bars or lotion bottles. If you don't want to order online, almost all of these products could be easy to make yourself baby shower favors. Whatever you decide to give to your guests, make sure that it is something that shows some thought as well as your appreciation for their participation at the baby shower.

About the Author
Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com. She provides more helpful tips on planning the perfect baby shower at her site.

Etiquette For Baby Shower

2006-06-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Etiquette for baby shower used to be quite rigid, but rules have relaxed in the past several years. Etiquette is a word that strikes fear in the heart of many party planners. You don't want anyone to get upset or think that you are being rude. There are several rules of that you should be aware of. Whether or not you follow them is up to you.

It used to be that etiquette for baby shower said that mothers of the new parents should not plan a baby shower. Some people may have viewed this as a gift grab by the family. Even sisters were not supposed to plan the baby shower. However, in past years this rule has fallen by the wayside. If you are related to a new mom, go ahead and plan her baby shower to your heart's content. The next etiquette for baby showers rule you need to consider is whom to invite. If you know the new mom well, most of the guest list will be obvious. However, you should show her the list to make sure that no one has been left out.

If the shower is a surprise, run the list by a few people that are close to her. This way they might notice some names missing that you may have forgotten.

Invitations don't follow any sort of baby shower etiquette rules anymore. People still enjoy receiving baby shower invitations in the mail, but you can phone guests or email them as well. Just be sure in the case of email that guests actually check it regularly! Etiquette for a baby shower says that you should not ask guests to bring anything. You should not even imply that they are to bring a gift. This is obvious, but no one likes to be directly asked to spend money. If you are asking people to pitch in for a large gift, this is considered acceptable.

You should also not ask people to bring food with them. Most people will feel insulted that they are expected to bring a nice gift and now make some food as well. This is your job as the hostess. If you are doubtful that you can make all the food yourself, ask only close friends and relatives. Be sure to make them feel appreciated.

Etiquette for a baby shower also says when the best time to have the baby shower. Typically you should have it one to two months before the baby's due date. This allows the mom time to put gifts on her registry. She can also have some time to purchase anything that she did not receive at the shower.

Party favors used to be expected. This is not at all necessary anymore, but still a lot of fun for the guests. Consider a small bag with baby related items, especially edible ones! You can find adorable chocolates and candies that are perfect for baby showers. A final note on etiquette for a baby shower. You may be wondering if it is considered insensitive to invite someone who has recently miscarried. While attending a baby shower may be difficult for her, you should always give her the option of coming.

Baby shower etiquette is important, but not so much as with other events such as bridal showers. If you take other people's feelings into consideration you will probably follow all necessary etiquette. Every group of people is different and something that offends one may not offend another. Try not to let etiquette determine too much of what you do, but listen to common sense. The perfect baby shower can be a piece of cake.

About the Author
Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Centerpieces.

Unique baby shower favors

2006-06-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

unique and sweet baby shower favors

The guests come to a baby shower party to shower the yet-to-be-born-baby and the would-be-mother with love, affection, good wishes and gifts. In return, it's only a nice gesture on the part of the host/s to offer some gifts to the guests as a token of appreciation of their attending the party and making it a joyous occasion. It could be a little tricky for the hosts to find out something really sweet and unique to give away as favors.

Chocolate candy is the first choice that comes to the mind when planning for baby shower favors. Few can resist the temptation of a scrumptious bar of chocolate. It's the sweetest thing to give away to the guests to remember that the little one is on its way. Personalized delectable chocolate candy bars are also available in flavors like dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate. A range of designs and messages could make really special chocolate candy baby shower favor.

However, when it comes to design and different flavors candies come second to none. Sweet candies could be of different flavors: mint, strawberry, chocolate center, champagne and you can name it. Sweet candies could taste like Jordan almonds that are typically given away during many occasions. Sweet candies are as colorful as varying in taste.

Instead of handing out cigars at the end of the baby shower party, hand out candy canes from boxes that resemble cigar boxes can be a unique gift. Candy canes may be decorated with babies made of delicate icing. Sweet candies can be given away in baby bottles, small candy bags and pillow packs. The containers for the candies can be found in craft shops or the candies in the containers can be purchased directly.

Creativity in making chocolate candy shapes has resulted in chocolate candies in the shapes of teddy bear, baby bottles, cigars and sleeping baby etc. While sweet candy in cigar shape can cause some laughter among the guests, cigars made up of chocolate could lead them to believe those to be real cigars.

Thanking the guests politely at the end of the baby shower party with sweet and unique favors is the perfect way to end a baby shower party. When popped in to the mouth, each sweet candy would remind the guests that the little one is on its way. As the chocolate melts in the mouth, the message of the baby "Thank you for coming to the shower to be with my mother" would be remembered by the guests.

Natalie Aranda writes about family , love and relationship. Instead of handing out cigars at the end of the baby shower party, hand out candy canes from boxes that resemble cigar boxes can be a unique gift. Candy canes may be decorated with babies made of delicate icing.

Baby Showers for Adoptive Parents

2006-06-01T00:34:00.000-07:00

Baby Showers for Adoptive Parents by Amanda Baker

We all hear about baby showers for expecting parents, but what about for adopting parents? An adoption baby shower is more than acceptable - it's encouraged! Adopting parents have the same needs as any other new parents would, but with a few minor considerations.

You should steer clear of planning a surprise celebration on the day the family brings their child home. This can be a very emotional time - the new parents and child (especially if the child is older) will need a period of adjustment. It is very important to be sensitive to their needs. In this case, delivering care packages and planning your celebration for a later date would be acceptable and appreciated. Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out what their wants and needs are before you set a shower date. Your shower invitations should be sent out three to four weeks in advance, and should include the time, date, and location of the shower. Don't forget to set an RSVP date with your telephone number and address. If it is at all possible, include the child's birth date, as well as when he or she was officially adopted or welcomed into the home of his or her new parents. This will help your guests to pick age appropriate gifts. In the case of foreign adoptions, you could also add information about the birth country to inform your guests.

As with other baby showers, the theme for an adoption baby shower should be the same. However, if the child that was adopted is older, you should tailor your party to suit their age and favorite things. For example, a small girl might love everything that involves the Disney princesses and may go absolutely crazy over the color pink. In turn, an older boy may be fascinated by soccer and anything green. Don't be afraid to be a little creative to help make the party a special celebration to welcome the new child into your circle of family and friends!

Baby shower games are important too! However, stay away from games that are maternity-related. It's very important that you keep in mind that you are celebrating the gift of adoption. Your games help set the tone of the party, and should be mixed in with any other activity going on. An average shower lasts about two hours, so look at playing two to three party games. If the new parents are adopting an older child, make sure your games reflect that as well. One great adoption party activity is to organize a Welcome Book for the new child. Ask guests to bring pictures of themselves and their families to assemble into a scrapbook page they will create at the shower.

All of your shower decorations will naturally depend on the style, theme, and number of people attending. Balloons and streamers are standard, but there are a lot of creative and fun ideas to make the party extra-special. You're truly only limited by your imagination here.

If the adoption is an international one, you could use decorations that reflect the child's place of birth, and include recipes from his or her home country. For guests, it will be a learning experience. As with decorations, party favors should match your shower theme and party size. Your favors can be used as place settings, prizes, or they can be handed out at the end of the party. A very popular idea for adoption showers is a special program for guests to keep. Written inside should be commitments to the child from his or her new parents, poems about love, family, and adoption, and prayers for the future. When labeling your favor, keep in mind that your party is, again, in honor of an adoption, not a birth. Your wording on gift tags should reflect that.

Adoption is a very exciting time for the new parents. A baby shower or welcome party allows friends and family members to share in on the family's joy. When you host or even attend such a party, it is very important to know the needs and wants of the parents. Be sure to know ahead of time how old the child is. Find out if the parents have registered anywhere. Parents who are adopting should be reminded that they can actually register for older children as well as newborns.

By planning and hosting an adoption party, you are helping the new family formalize the acceptance of their child into their circle. You will be creating an occasion that will be documented for the child to look at in the future and remind them how much they were welcomed and loved from the start.

About the Author
Amanda Baker writes for All Things Pondered: http://AllThingsPondered.com

Party Favors For A Baby Shower

2006-05-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

Elegant Party Favors For A Special Baby Shower

You have been asked to plan a baby shower for a dear friend. One week into your planning, you get a call saying that your friend's great grandmother will be coming as well as her three Aunts. Not only that, but they are all the type to wear white gloves and carry a pocket sized version of a well known etiquette book in their purses. Before you start to panic, be comforted in the fact that you can find some beautiful, elegant party favors that will dazzle even the most formal guest.

Remember, half of the battle is the presentation. You can take an ordinary favor and dress it up with a beautiful organza bag or fancy container. A quick internet search can help you find ideas for packaging. You can buy organza bags in larger quantities and one website had an adorable square tin with a custom label forfor your shower. Precious baby shower boxes with cute gingham designs come filled with a variety of candies or chocolate. If you are having a tea party type shower, look online for gourmet tea organza favor bags. They are beautiful and would be a lovely addition to any shower. When all else fails, give fine chocolate as a party favor!

If you are setting a more formal table for your guests, a small silver frame to hold the place cards makes an elegant party favor. Clear favor boxes shaped like mini handbags can hold the place card as well.

You might be worried that elegant means expensive. This is not necessarily the case. Many websites offer elegant looking favors for reasonable prices. Do a price comparison. Search a variety of online stores. Most websites sell by the dozen which often keeps the price down. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to try making your own elegant party favors. If you see an idea online that you like, go to a local craft store and see if you can find similar materials. Then see if the store has weekly coupons and save some money that way. Whatever you decide, don't stress yourself out trying to find the perfect baby shower favor. Remember that this day is for the mom to be and your goal is to honor and celebrate her.

About the Author
Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com. She provides more helpful tips on planning the perfect baby shower at her site.

Cute Baby Shower Cakes For a Cute Shower

2006-05-24T00:54:00.000-07:00

Cute Baby Shower Cakes For a Cute Showerbr>

If you are in charge of hosting a baby shower, don't let the idea of finding the perfect cake get you in a frenzy! Baby shower cakes are cute, simple and fun! Many shy away from baking their own cakes, but they really aren't that difficult if you have the proper tools.

The first step is to figure out what kind of a baby shower theme you are going to have. You can either choose it yourself, or ask the parents-to-be if they have any preferences, such as the nursery theme. Once you have the theme picked out, you can them begin choosing a cute baby shower cake!

A great way to get your creative ideas flowing is to search the internet. There are plenty of websites out there that showcase pictures of baby shower cakes and directions on how to make them.They are bursting with clever ideas and also give step-by-step instructions for making them yourself.

If you find the perfect baby shower cake but decide that you just don't have the time or patience to make it yourself, go to your local bakery. Give them a picture of the cake and see if they can make one similar. If not, take a peek at their baby shower cake selections. Chances are, you will find a gem!

Remember not to go overboard. You can keep it simple and still come out with a masterpiece! For a quick but striking presentation, bake a round cake (2 stacked on top of each other), frost it pink or blue, pipe some white polka-dots all over it, place a cute cake topper on top (found at craft stores) and viola! You have a baby shower cake that guests will love! Don't forget to take pictures before it gets eaten!

About the Author
Amy Cordray owns a baby shower website http://www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/

Baby Shower Favors

2006-05-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: Damian Sofsian
www.e-babyshowers.com

Baby showers symbolize the joyous celebration of welcoming a newborn into the family. Baby showers are the parties thrown for expectant mothers. They are generally non-relative- in the sense they are usually given by friends or co- workers. Baby showers bring excitement along with loads of gifts for the baby as well as the mom-to-be and the people who throw the shower.

Baby shower favors are the gifts given to the guests who attend the baby shower. They are given by the host or hostess. Although they are a common feature, baby shower favors may not be a tradition in some areas, while they may be a compulsory feature in some regions. It is better to gain some information from some local friends or by attending some baby showers to know if baby shower favors can be given to the guests.

Baby shower favors are generally small cute gifts like candies, candles, decorative pieces, or potpourri wrapped beautifully in small kits. They can be homemade to provide exclusivity or to conform to the theme of the baby shower. Some examples are candies in baby socks, baby-themed crosswords, cookies shaped as fun characters, small plants, small mugs, shower soaps and gels decorated according to the theme, fridge magnets decorated with a picture of the mom and/or the baby, baby bottle shaped candles, or baby booties filled with candy.

There are many stores that offer baby shower favors exclusively. There are also personalized gifts according to the theme of the baby shower. There is also a lot of information on the internet in websites that offer exclusive information relating to baby showers that also contain some great ideas and even ready-to-assemble kits for baby shower favors. In any case, it is a good chance to be as creative as possible and to make the baby shower a memorable occasion for the parents-to-be as well as for the guests.

Baby Shower Decorations

2006-05-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

Baby Shower Decorations
Submitted by: Criss White
My Baby Shower Favors

When decoration for a baby shower, there are a few key aspects that should be considered:

1) Will your baby shower adhere to a theme?
Visit our baby shower theme for ideas about selecting a theme. If you are using a theme, then it is good to be consistent. People are most often impressed when decorating follows a selected theme. However, note that it doesn't have to be as specific as just rubber ducks. You can use baby items as a general theme and mix it up if desired.

2) Plates, cups and napkins.
If you are serving food, like most baby showers do, then baby themed tableware is often appropriate. If possible, try to make sure that the plates, cups, and napkins all match. Some places also have baby themed table cloths that are great for showers.

3) Confetti, banners, and streamers.
The most common banners and streamers are "It's a Boy or Girl" streamers and can be attached around the walls. These decorations are usually very affordable and an easy way to decorate. Confetti can come in shapes like rocking horses, ducks, or bears. It usually takes more time to clean up confetti, but it may be worth it for some parties.

4) Yard signs
Yard signs, particularly the popular stork yard sign, is a good way to announce a new baby and also let your neighbors know about your baby shower. Another benefit is that guests will be able to easily locate the house that the shower is being held at.

5) Centerpieces and placecard holders
A baby shower cake is the most common centerpiece for a shower. Other ideas include floral arrangements, baskets, and bouquets.

Themed placecard holders are commonly available for purchase online. You can also make your own by purchasing a regular placecard holder and attaching a clip-on stuffed bear for example. Flower shops often carry such items.

Decorating can be a challenging, but fun task and carefully selected decorations can really set the atmosphere for your baby shower party.

Homemade Baby Shower Invitations

2006-05-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

writer by Sam Smith

Easy Steps for Free Homemade Baby Shower Invitations
Trying to save costs on a baby shower can be very important. The family to be will have a lot of new expenses with the coming of a new baby. They will have all the csots associated with the birth like hospital and doctor bills along with having to feed, cloth and entertain a new family member. These costs can add up quickly so any way to save on the expenses associated with a baby shower can really help.

Using free baby shower invitations can be a big savings and if done right no one will even notice!

Pick By Theme Before getting to the baby shower invitations it is important for the host to think about the theme. To really carry the theme and tie the event together it is important for the host to tie all of the things in with the theme of the event. So if the theme for the bay shower is Winnie the Pooh then of course the host would want to pick invitations, decorations and baby shower favors that have a Pooh theme.

Clip Art One easy way to save money with baby shower invitations is to make homemade invitations. You can easily to this and keep to the theme of the shower by using free clip art that you can find almost everywhere online.

You want to pick clip art that tie in with your theme. One easy way to find this is to put your search terms in quotes. For example "Winnie the Pooh pictures". This will help you find exactly what you are looking for.

Online Typically you can find many sources of baby shower invitations online. These are not always free but they can often give some good ideas for creating your own cheap baby shower invitation. So use these resources for ideas and then make your own.

Customize One of the best things about making your own homemade baby shower invitation for free is that you can easily customize it. If you have not found what you like online make your own by customizing the graphics. You can easily change the inscriptions, clip art colors and graphics of your own custom baby shower invitation.

Personalize If you are making your own free baby shower invitation you can easily personalize it by adding things like the guests name and the details of the event.

Homemade Baby Shower invitations will not only save you money on the overall shower they will allow you to customize and personalize the invitations. You can then get the exact look you want.

Fun Babyshower Games

2006-05-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Babyshower Games can be the best part or the worst part of a baby shower. Not everyone likes to get up and do the baby dance or embarrass themselves in front of a group they may or may not know well. It is easy to find free babyshower games online and, if you spend some time reading through them, you will most likely find some fun baby shower games that all of your guests will enjoy.

Before the shower, ask each guest to bring a baby photo of themselves and then display all of the photos on a decorated bulletin board. Be sure to include the guest of honor! This is a nice way to break the ice and allows the guests to mingle and get to know one another a bit. It might be a good idea to start with some non action, writing games. You can make a word search online and fill it in with baby words. Or have a name game where you mix-up popular baby names and the guests unscramble them. The first person to complete the page should receive a prize. As the guests begin to warm up, you can offer some more unique baby shower games.

One game is to fill newborn diapers with small amounts of crushed chocolate candy bars. The guests then smell the diapers and decide if it is a Butterfinger, a Snickers bar or just plain milk chocolate. It is funny to watch the looks on people's faces as they see people sniffing tiny diapers! You can have them write out their guesses and then give the person with the most correct answers a prize.

If you have more time on your hands, you can adapt some of the more popular board games like Pictionary or Taboo into baby shower games. For Pictionary, make some cards that would ask your guests to draw different baby items like bottles or diapers or pacifiers. For Taboo, follow the directions for the game, but again, substitute baby words on the cards. Just remember to have a buzzer on hand, as the guests like to buzz any words that shouldn't be said!

If you are still at a loss as to what to play, you can find hundreds of printable babyshower games for a small fee. With delicious food, good baby shower games and a celebrated mom to be, your baby shower will be a great success.

About the Author
Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com.

Baby Showers Gift

2006-04-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can be a challenging task. Baby showers are a great way to help support a new mother with her new baby. New mothers can sign up at a gift registry to avoid duplicate gifts and to indicate her gift preferences. Here are some good gift ideas for baby showers:

A Diaper Cake is very easy to make and a great all in one gift.
To begin making the cake, you start by rolling diapers and securing each diaper with a rubber band. Stand the diapers up around a paper towel tube. Secure the diapers by tying ribbon, yarn or string around the first row of diapers. Next add a second row around the first the same way. Repeat these steps until you have the desired amount of rows.
For the second cake layer, roll more diapers and attach around the tube just as you did the first layer. Also, do the same for the third layer of the diaper cake. Once you finish each row, you could wrap a thicker type of ribbon around each layer. This will help keep the layers secure.
Now, you can add baby items like rattlers, pacifiers, teething rings, socks or anything a baby may need into the ribbon around the cake. You could also place a teddy bear or some type of stuffed animal on the top. You could even take small soaps wrapped in ribbon and secure them around.

How about a "baby themed" gift basket? I made a gift basket one year for my sister-in-law and she loved it. I simply took a huge white wicker basket and stuffed it with all kinds of goodies. I included towels, washcloths, socks, boxed cereal, bottles, stuffed animals, one of my handmade picture frames, two cross stitch burp cloths and whatever else I could fit in the basket.

A cute centerpiece would be a decorative can filled with goodies or a big plastic baby bottle. You could decorate the can with scrapbook paper, clip art and pictures printed from your computer. You could add all kinds of little goodies into these.
Music also makes a wonderful baby shower gift.

There are many music CDs on the market. These make nice baby shower gifts because music is entertaining as well as soothing. You can chose from music baby shower gifts that are rousing or quiet. Musical baby shower gifts may feature vocalists or instrumentalists

Parents are very concerned about providing quality videos for even the youngest of children. There are baby shower gifts that are made especially for infants. These baby shower gifts are videos and DVDs that feature vivid colors and cool sounds. Babies as young as one month old are captivated by these videos and DVDs. Baby shower gifts that stimulate the youngest of children make great gifts.

Don’t forget about Mom. I’m sure she could use a "relaxation" gift. Fill a basket with a soothing CD, candles (maybe Lavender scented), a bath pillow, a bath set, eye mask, a good book or anything that Mommy could use for a time out.

Baby Shower Gift Baskets

2006-04-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

So you have received a special invitation to attend a friend's baby shower party, now headache time wondering what gift to purchase for the expectant mother. Do not worry you will have no problem in deciding as the list for what to buy for new born babies are endless.
More and more people are turning to baby shower gift baskets as an alternative to picking out one special baby gift. Baby shower gift baskets make perfect sense, because they are the perfect gift when filled with practical and playful things a baby needs.

The best idea worth considering when giving presents is to give several of them in a baby shower gift basket. You will be certain that one of the goodies you placed into the basket will surprise and excite the receiver. In a Gift basket expect to find all sorts from blankets, undergarments, changing pads, teething toy, soft toys, hats, sleeping gowns, cuddly bears and more.

Contents of a gift basket are very useful for mum-to-be for when she brings the new arrival home. Your particular gift basket can be made up by yourself but if you prefer there are people who are trained in this department and fully aware of the needs of mother/baby. Expect to find gift basket organizers to be mothers themselves which is better as they know what is best to help mother when raising the baby.

Baby gift shower baskets are a wonderful present to bestow. The variety of essentials contained in the basket for baby's well being is warmly welcomed.

Themes and styles are normally used in the presentation of a Baby shower gift basket. You have bath time goody baskets filled with towels, comb, hairbrush, baby soaps and smellies like talcum powder. Then we have the beddy bye creel laden with hanging mobiles, cuddly toys, bedding, and fairy tale books.

Prices of a gift basket differ total cost depends on items chosen to fill the baby shower gift basket.

White lemon and peach are colours that trail behind blue and pink for most popular shades behind a theme. If the sex of the baby is unknown when you place your order for the baby gift basket then opt for white or lemon this way you can not go wrong.

Baby shower gift baskets can be bought online if time is a problem for you. Online shopping for gift baskets is so simple you even get to see what is included in the baby gift basket before you make a purchase. Prettily packaged, gift wrapped and tied with bows is how the finished product looks. Do not forget to place a card inside with a personal greeting from you to mother and baby wishing them both well.

I would like to put my penny worth in and break tradition. I would fill the basket with envelopes containing gift vouchers for different mother/baby shops. This way no headache trying to decide on what gifts for inside the basket and no headache for the mother in returning presents that are not to her taste. A happy Mother-to-be is one with a fist full of vouchers before the birth or after.

Host a Unique Baby Shower

2006-04-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Host a Unique Baby Shower - Four Fun and Fabulous Ideas to Honor Mom-to-Be!
By Cheryl Salto

Baby showers can unfortunately be so formulaic, we’ve all been to one or even thrown one that has similar decorations, plays similar games (usually accompanied by many groans), and gives all the guests similar personalized baby shower favors that were given at the last one we all attended. So why not get away from the “usual” and try something different that everyone will remember – especially the mom-to-be!

Party décor and baby shower favors don’t necessarily have to be baby themed. Although we tend to immediately think of pink or blue, tiny little feet, storks or cradles, this isn’t the only way to represent the little one at the shower. Choose one of these four creative ideas or use them for inspiration:

Baby, It’s YOU! – Tribute the mom-to-be – when she was a baby! This is an especially great shower if lots of family will be present who can help you carry this off. It’s a delightful way to connect the dots of the generations and remember back. Use her baby picture on invitations and choose a personalized baby shower favor that fits her character. To customize it, use the same or a different picture and add a “did you know” quote about something endearing she did as a baby such as “did you know one of Amy’s first phrases was “who bought this?” or “…her favorite book was The Gingerbread Man”. You can use her favorite colors to decorate and serve her favorite foods, if they’re available blow up pictures of when she was little for centerpieces or to hang and if her mom has saved them, pull out the treasure box of her childhood artwork and toys and have them displayed around. During the shower, have family members or lifelong friends tell stories about when she was little using phrases like “I hope your baby takes after you (or doesn’t!) because when you were little you ____” It should be a fun filled time and a pleasant trip down memory lane for everyone!

It Takes A Village -- Have a project focused baby shower - what could you do to help the mother-to-be that would be a boost? Has she been focusing so much on the baby coming, or maybe been having a tough pregnancy that she hasn’t had time to paint a room she’s been wanting to paint in her home, do spring cleaning, plant the vegetable or flower garden or maybe even decorate the baby’s room? Just like an old-fashioned barn raising, coming together is a powerful way of showing your support for the guest of honor as well as rewarding for all that participate. You may need to bring her into the planning on this one – but it is something that can be a real gift to her and a lot of fun for everyone at the same time. As hostess you’ll have to be very organized in advance with tasks thought through and supplies gathered to make things go most smoothly. Set up the schedule for the day realistically, make sure the guests know there will be an activity involved and to dress accordingly and then relax all together after the project is done and celebrate the group accomplishment and honor mom-to-be with a light meal or coffee and cake. Send guests home with a baby shower favor that is a treat for them to enjoy after their efforts – maybe a cocktail mix and special glass to enjoy it in or a yummy custom cookie treat personalized with the date and a nice phrase. It’s all about YOU! -- Does mom-to-be have a favorite hobby that would be appropriate for a shower theme? – For example, does she love gardening? Use a garden related theme complete with décor and personalized baby shower favors that represent her hobby. Include the little one by decorating with child size garden tools and gloves usually available at any garden center. They’ll add a cute flair and will be useful when Mom passes along her green thumb in the future and will bring back memories of this special day. A rose to be planted in honor of the baby is a lovely thing for everyone to chip in on and present as a reminder of the day. As hostess, or together with a couple of other guests, your baby gift could be other gardening type clothing for baby that could also be used to decorate such as tiny overalls and t-shirts or sun hats or items with garden theme prints on them. They don’t have to be infant size – up to a year is great and gives mom clothes to look forward to putting baby into after those initial growth spurts. Send everyone home with personalized baby shower favors of seeds to plant in their own garden to honor Mom and baby on the way. Several other hobbies or interests of the mom-to-be work great with a shower like this – think Beach or Travel – lots of possibilities for a fun event.

Take a Deep Breath…it’s Spa time! This is a wonderful time to be nurturing Mommy-to-be in anticipation of the down time she’s likely to lose soon! Create a spa day at home for mom and her guests. Be as luxurious as bringing in a couple of massage therapists for neck and shoulder, or hand and foot rubs for those who would like them or have a masseuse (or you reading from a book) give instruction to all the guests while demonstrating on mom-to-be. (This way you all can take the knowledge home with you too.) You can practice on one another while tranquil spa music plays and you sip on herbal tea, sparkling waters or a refreshing mint julep. Have a few friends or as hostess, put together a mommy gift that she can use in the future to keep the relaxation going – a nice bubble bath, a meditative CD (great also for putting baby to sleep) – calming bath products for baby (that will work on mom as well when she slips into the tub with the little one) or perhaps mommy and baby hooded terry robes to be cozy in. You can decorate with soothing colors, flowers and candles and serve light and healthy spa cuisine. Personalized baby shower favors could be spa candles customized with an inspirational phrase instead of just the traditional mom’s name and date of the shower. It can be a girl’s day for pampering all together.

Although every group of family and friends will be different, as hostess you will likely be able to choose what type of event will be most appropriate for your guest of honor’s special day. Of course the baby shower is meant to honor baby too – gifts should still be baby focused, (especially if the mom-to-be has registered for things she would like or needs) but as you may have noticed in each idea above, it’s also lovely to give a special little something for the guest of honor personally to recognize that she is doing a lot of work herself over these nine months! Just think “Mommy and Me” as you work out your event plans and it becomes easy to have the little one be included in all ways on this special day for Mom. It is baby’s pending arrival that has you gathered after all!

Copyright 2006 AllInOneFunFavors.com

About The Author
Cheryl Salto loves helping to make celebrations personal and meaningful as the owner of AllInOneFunFavors.com specializing in providing an extensive online selection of event favors for life’s special celebrations. http://www.allinonefunfavors.com