Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Great Baby Shower Gift Ideas

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

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Baby Shower Food Ideas

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...

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Hot Ideas For Baby Shower Party Favors

After a quick chat with my girlfriends and yummy mummies, we’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 “Merit Certificates� …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 �" 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 don’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.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Baby Shower Favors Of Beautiful Crystal

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.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Planning Fun Baby Showers

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.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

The Perfect Baby Shower Gift

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