How Pregnant Moms Should Prepare for a Baby Shower

You’re nearing the end of your pregnancy which means one thing: someone’s going to throw you a baby shower. Well-meaning friends and family have been looking forward to this day since you shared the news of your new family addition. There are going to be a lot of people who will be vying for your attention and wanting to spend time with you. Here are some tips for how a pregnant mom should prepare for the baby shower.

First of all, plan ahead for the big party day. Tell your husband/partner the time and date ahead of time. Have him drive you to the event and pick you up afterwards. There will be a lot of gifts to bring home, so have him drive the mini-van or SUV or borrow an appropriate car from family or friends.

Buy yourself a new outfit. So often when you’re pregnant, you don’t feel like getting dressed up in a new dress or skirt. Splurge on something fun and comfortable to treat yourself as being the guest of honor. Take time with your hair and makeup and enjoy being the pampered star of the day.

Don’t be the first person at the party. Ask your hostess when the best time is for you to arrive. She may have surprises planned for your entrance…or not. Have her tell you the best time. Once you get there, mingle around early while you’re fresh and your feet and back won’t hurt as much. Thank everyone for coming and then find a comfy spot in the middle of the festivities to watch the party unfold.

Have a great time. Baby showers aren’t dull events with a too-dry cake and sweet punch. They’re so much more. There are themes for most of them, with food and games to match. Get into the spirit of the event. Check out the decorations and choices of appetizers, finger foods, and desserts. Compliment the hostess on her creativity and enjoy laughing and playing along with the games.

Be easy-going. The hostess has put a lot into the party, inviting your friends, and family, and planning the activities. Smile and have fun, but don’t be afraid to step away for a breather or bathroom break for time to yourself. Pregnancy can tire you out easily, so pace yourself and you’ll have a great time.

Make sure you get the names and addresses of everyone who attends the party so you can send them thank you notes. You might also consider bringing a hostess gift to whoever is throwing the party to show your appreciation.

Take lots of pictures. These are memories both you and your baby will forever cherish. Document the event with snapshots of friends, family, the decorations, the cake, the food, everything.

Above all, have a great time celebrating the joy of life and your new addition.





Criss White is a professional writer that enjoys boy baby shower parties and also writes about other baby shower ideas. Criss enjoys hosting parties for friends and family when not writing.

Planning for a Family Reunion on the Beach

You’ve been chosen to arrange a family reunion at the beach and need to know how to pull it off. Not a problem. It’s all about organizing, attention details, and planning ahead. Reunions are fun and festive and a great time to catch up with those relatives you’ve lost touch with and see how cousins have grown up. The key is to plan something that will appeal to the group as a whole for fun and fellowship.

Here are some great tips for planning a family reunion, party, or vacation on the beach.

Location, location, location
So you know everyone wants to have the reunion at the beach. How do you choose the right one? Take a look at where your family and relatives are scattered about. What beaches are close to the majority of people? Where is some place that a lot of people have wanted to visit? What beaches aren’t overrun with crowds or partiers that would be best for your event? You can even choose a beach close to you for convenience in the planning process.

Banquet Space
Once you choose the specific location, you need to find an ideal space to host your reunion. You can look at banquet space in a hotel, VFW halls, churches, etc., but since you’re at the beach, why not build the theme into the party space? Visit local restaurants that might be on the beach or overlooking the water. Price out options where your family can watch utilize the beach setting for volleyball or cooking out during the day and watching the sunset or stars at night. Be sure you write out all of your requirements (bar, menu, music, handicapped accessibility, bathrooms, etc.) so you can interview venues to find the best possible one for your reunion. Have a backup indoor location in the event of rain or inclement weather.

Accommodations
Contact a beach hotel in your location of choice and speak to the sales department. Negotiate a room block and reduced rate for your group. Don’t over-promise filling rooms. It’s always better to error on the lower end to fill the block of space. Get quotes from several hotels and, if needed, play them off each other if you’re trying to get into a particular space. Find out what amenities are offered for extra benefit like free parking, breakfast included, a pool, free wi-fi.

Invitations
Pick an invitation with a beach theme to relay what’s in store for your family. Send out a “save the date” card so everyone knows it’s coming up. Then, follow-up with the formal invitation two months before the event. Keep a spreadsheet of who is or isn’t coming to help with your headcount and activities you’re planning.

Food, Decorations, Entertainment
Depending on the venue you go with, you’ll want to decide on food that will satisfy the majority of appetites in your family. Be sensitive to those with food allergies or issues such as lactose intolerance, diabetes, vegan, or vegetarian. Talk to the banquet manager to see what decorations they will provide. Most restaurants will include linens of some sort and candles. Bring your own items to spruce up the space with the beach theme – a surfboard, flippers and snorkel, sea shells, nets, sand, sea creatures, etc. Play up the decorations and have fun with it. Also, look into hiring some sort of entertainment for the evening festivities. Consider a DJ or a live band. Again, work with your beach theme to make the party sparkle. Get everyone dancing, doing the limbo, or joining in one of those crazy line dances.

Finally, arrive at the beach ahead of everyone else to make sure everything is in place and ready to go. Remember, no family is perfect and there will be people who complain about this, that, or the other. Your job as the planner is to keep things moving, shine a smile brightly, and make sure people have fun. Stay at the beach an extra day or two to pamper yourself for a job well done. So whether you are just getting together with family, having a baby shower or special event, or just want to get away for awhile, just remember these tips for your next beach trip.





Criss White is a professional writer that writes about food and other party planning topics like food for baby shower parties and other baby shower ideas. Criss enjoys hosting parties and cooking when not writing.

5 Punch Recipes your Guests Would Enjoy

People have parties all the time for various occasions and punch is one of the most popular party drinks. There are so many different recipes and flavors that you can use when creating your own punch. For your next event, whether it be a family reunion, wedding, or baby shower, try out one of these delicious and easy-to make punch recipes that your guests will enjoy and beg you for the recipe on their way out the door.

1. Poinsettia Punch

1 carton pulp-free orange juice
1-2 cups pomegranate juice
2 bottles Sprite, 7-Up, or Ginger Ale
1 lime sliced

Place the orange juice in a mold and freeze until solid. Loosen with warm water and set inside a punch bowl. Pour two bottles of your favorite sparkling soda over the frozen orange juice and then add pomegranate juice. You can add more or less pomegranate juice to taste. Add lime slices and serve.

2. Lemon Slushie Punch

48 ounces lemonade (from mix, carton, or bottle)
2 bottles Sprite
Large freezer bag

Prepare or pour lemonade into large freezer bag. Seal and allow lemonade to freeze. Remove from freezer and let it thaw a bit. Then break the lemonade up with a kitchen hammer or the bottom of a pan for a slushy consistency. Pour Sprite into a punch bowl and then add the slushed lemonade in and serve.

3. Cape Codder Punch

32 ounces chilled cranberry juice
1 frozen lemonade concentrate container, thawed
1 liter chilled club soda
Small ice cubes
1 lime, sliced

Mix cranberry juice and lemonade concentrate in a punch bowl. Slowly add club soda and ice and layer in lime slices. Enjoy.

4. Lemon-Lime Sherbet Punch

2 containers of lime sherbet
2 liters of Sprite
1 large can of pineapple juice
Sliced lime
Sliced lemon

Pour everything into a punch bowl before your party starts. The Sprite and juice will help melt the sherbet into a delicious mixture. Serve and enjoy.

5. Orange Sherbet Punch

1 half gallon orange sherbet, slightly softened
1 half liter cold ginger ale
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1 package strawberry gelatin
1 and a half cups sugar
4 cups of water, divided

Boil two cups of water. Add gelatin and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Add two cups cold water and the fruit juices. Chill until you're ready to serve. Before your guests arrive, pour in ginger ale and spoon in the orange sherbet. These punch recipes will be sure hit at your next party, whether it be a birthday party, baby shower, or any other event.

Criss White writes about family, pregnancy, and baby topics. To check out some baby shower food ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

Diaper Cakes and Other Fun Gifts You Can Make from Diapers

These products of creative genius are called diaper cakes and are a perfect blend of form and functionality - they’re pretty enough to be used as table decorations and yet, their contents are exactly what a mom to be needs in order to take care of her little one.

With diaper cakes, the possibilities are limitless; if the baby is a girl, why not choose butterflies for your theme? Butterflies are colorful and easy to work with as they do not limit you on the things you can put on your cake. So go ahead and take your pick from all the forms butterflies come in.

Once you have selected your theme for your diaper cake, do some rolling and tucking, even some pinning if you wish to make the layers of your diaper cake. As with real cakes, your bottom layer will be the largest, followed by the smaller second layer and if you fancy, a third layer which should be the smallest. After that’s done, decorate the cake with a sprinkling if confetti here and there, maybe throw on some glitter, add some ribbons, add your paper or fabric flowers and some silk, plastic, nylon and rubber butterflies. The materials mentioned above are pretty easy to find and are available in most craft and toy stores. Think outside the box and go to the bookstore where you can find materials for your diaper cake as well. If nothing in the store catches your eye, you can always check online for ideas and even order your materials from an online store, just make sure you order them well before the party date to give ample room for the delivery time, returns and exchanges.

When working with a tight budget that leaves no room for pricey shopping, work with what you have. Rummage around your house for some clothespins and coffee filters. You can use the coffee filters for the butterfly’s body by splitting it in two while, being careful not to rip the folded area. Take some pieces of tissue paper and roll them, once done, glue them along the fold. Now you have the body. Next, just use your coloring materials to decorate the wings and with the use of the clothespins, attach to your diaper cake.

If you know the baby’s name, you can also include it in your cake using letter cut-outs; include some bottles of baby shampoo, oil, maybe even a bar of baby soap. Whatever you put in your diaper cake, any tired parent will be sure to appreciate.

You can also make diaper teddy bears, ducks, or dolls. Just roll up the diapers and tie them up with rubber bands or ribbon. These will be the units that you will use to build your crafts. You can roll the diapers long or shape them into spheres.

Finally, the diaper wreath is another popular diaper craft, especially around Christmas. Roll the diapers lengthwise and tie them together with ribbon, tape, or rubber bands. Avoid using staples and glue but instead use fasteners that are easily removed so that the diapers can easily be reused. Lastly, feel free to add other useful items to your diaper art like pacifiers and baby bottles. The new mom will be sure to appreciate this creative gift.

Party Tips: Deciding Between Disposable Tableware and Household Tableware

As far as party planning goes, the tableware issue always pops up, shall we use the disposable tableware or not? This issue appears particularly in planning baby showers wherein getting the green light from the future mom to use disposable baby shower tableware is crucial.

Some people are okay with using disposable utensils during a party. On the other end of the spectrum, you have people who are opposed to using plastic spoons, forks and knives. To help you decide, here are some things to consider.

Pros of Disposable Tableware
First pro to consider is the cleaning time. Using disposable tableware during the party cuts your clean-up time considerably once the celebration is done. Your choice of plastic tableware could be plain or fancy, but once everyone has left it’s the person in charge of the cleaning who will be stuck with the tedious job of tidying up the place and make sure all traces of the party are gone. With your choice of plastic tableware, there is no need for washing as these can go the recycling bin right away.

Second thing to take into account is the party theme. Plastic tableware comes in a plethora of colors some of which are sure to fit your chosen theme perfectly like Disney’s Little Mermaid which calls for some funky green, blue, yellow and red cutlery that only the disposable plastic kind can deliver.

And thirdly, disposable tableware is inexpensive.

Cons of Disposable Tableware
Number one on this list is the environmental concerns some folks may have, especially as people become more environmentally aware. If your guests are environmentally conscious people, then using regular dishes might be a good idea to consider.

Next point is some of these cheap utensils are not too sturdy. Sometimes the plastic prongs on forks can break off into the food and if people are not careful, then these parts can be ingested. Also, it is sometimes harder to use plastic utensils than silverware to eat with.

Ultimately, whether you use disposable tableware or not is up to you. If the thought of cleaning up afterwards is stressing you, then by all means go ahead with the disposables. For smaller parties, regular dishes will do just fine.

If children are present, an adult can be asked to keep an eye of the little ones who aren’t quite used to feeding themselves yet to make sure they don’t break their plastic forks and spoons in their food. Also, remind the older children to be careful lest they become too excited and start running around with plastic forks and knives.

What ever your party plans, don’t dwell too much on the tableware issue as the constant worrying might dampen your mood. Talk to the other people that are planning the party with you and decide on which is the best choice for your party.

Budget Conscious Decorating Ideas for a Baby Shower

When it comes to choosing baby shower decorations, it all comes down to how much money you have and are willing to spend. The organizers need to agree on a price range so that they can each start coming up with the cash to be pooled until they reached the agreed-upon amount. The details of the amount limit can be discussed among the organizers. How the baby shower turns out comes down to the organizers’ budget.

The Penniless Budget!
Cease your panicking, there’s a way to this. You might not have the big bucks to spend for decorations but you may still have your party and still enjoy yourself. This means a lot of creativity and economizing on your part. Use decorations that you already have around you whether it’s at your house or at your other chosen venue. Why, even the gifts and food people bring can be used as decorations. Consider asking people to bring unwrapped gifts if they are to be used as decoration anyway. If they do insist on wrapping said gifts, request them to wrap them as festively as they can manage. They’re sure to brighten up the room when placed on tables as centerpieces.

A Small Budget
When the organizers are able set aside a small amount for the budget, then go all out and buy balloons, candles or colorful disposable tableware. Gone are the days of boring paper plates and equally as boring clear plastic cutlery. Today’s paper plates have colorful prints - spoons and forks come in every color of the rainbow and even glasses and cups are brightly colored and come in some really fun shapes. Even disposable paper napkins come with cartoon characters printed on them. Also, bring in some of your smaller flowering shrubs from the garden. Balloons are cheap and can either float or stay on the floor. Sprinkle in some confetti and string some ribbons made of crepe paper to add an extra kick.

The Rockstar Budget!
This is for people who don’t have a limited budget and just want to throw a great party. Why not hire a decorator and or event coordinator to do all the work. You can leave it up to the professionals to decorate it anyway the host or mom-to-be wants it. Remember though, it is still wise to keep an eye on the event planner just so you get the results that you want and no surprises.

Wherever you fall among the three categories, always remember that the point of your party is to have fun. You don’t need megabucks to enjoy a party and not spending a ton on decorations is okay as long as they are nice looking and tastefully done.

How to Find Supplies and Decorations for a Baby Shower

Baby showers are a great way to celebrate the coming birth of a new baby. Gathering together to surprise the about-to-be mommy will involve all the planning and the decision making on what to serve, how to decorate and more. People who have never thrown a baby shower before may not know where to start looking for all the necessary baby shower supplies.

Supplies needed for a baby shower are very easy to find if one were to know where to look for them. Party planners already have a directory full of names and numbers of suppliers to make their lives easier. Most of these suppliers have websites that can be easily found online. Ordering and paying online is easy to do and the delivery can be done within a matter of days, some as soon as overnight.

The invitations are the easiest. They can be ordered from the printers and they could also be bought off the rack. There are also those who can make a custom made invitation just for the baby shower party. Remember though, when choosing custom made ones that some places will have minimum orders. If you only need a few, then it might be economical to print them yourself or use a local print shop.

For party souvenirs, again online shops are the easiest places to go to. There are literally thousands of these e-supply stores and they operate 24/7 so even going through them in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning is not an issue. Again, ordering, paying and delivery are easy. Talk to the mother to be and show her the choices that had been narrowed down for her. Let her have the final say on the souvenir and order ASAP so there would be no question of delays.

The local bakery is the best choice for a cake to order, but then again there are also online bakers which can have the cake delivered unscathed and in edible condition. There are really some fantastic choices out there so it is worth taking a look around. However, it is still safest to order from the local bakeshop since there is no risk of the cake being damaged in transit or arriving late due to shipping issues. Also, there is always the choice of making one yourself for the party.

Decorations for the party will greatly depend on the theme and the budget. There are some themes which are cheap and then there are others which can be very expensive. Choose items that are inexpensive like colored plastic and paper tableware. Disposable tableware is easy to clean up as well. Other baby shower decorations include streamers, balloons, and a diaper cake or some other baby shower centerpiece.

The food can be catered, homemade or pot luck. The choice really depends on the planners and how many people are invited. If there are too many people coming in from all over the place, catering would be the simplest solution.

Finding supplies needed for a baby shower party is easy, if you know where to look for them. You might even enjoy searching for these and browsing through the many ideas for hosting a baby shower party.

Ideas for Unique One of a Kind Favors for Baby Showers

For parents who have been waiting a long time to have a baby, having a baby shower planned for them will make them happier. Getting together with friends, family, and loved ones can be a time of re-bonding and acknowledgement for the couple at this special point in their lives.

There are times when the friends either give a group gift or simply bring in individual gifts for the baby. The excitement of opening up the gifts in front of the friends and the delight of the new parents-to-be is a time for taking more pictures and having great fun.

For the one planning for the party favors this can take a lot of time to think and plan on. However, one idea for unique baby shower favors is to add a unique item, personally chosen for each guest that attends the shower. This is especially possible if there are only a few close friends are invited.

First of all, prepare something that can be commonly given to all the girls. Prepare the usual items like bath gels, bath salts, candy and whatever else. And then add something totally unique in the loot by placing something that will be special to that one person who gets it.

If you have a friend who likes to garden or simply adores flowers and is known for her green thumb, include in the bag or box several packs of seeds of her favorite flowers and plants. Imagine when after she sows the seeds and they start growing and blooming – what a delight to see that the gift gave her such pleasure. Seeing her flowers bloom will remind her of the day of the baby shower.

If you have a friend who likes to sew stuff, then consider including a quilting kit or design. Quilters are known for their fanaticism with fabric and getting an unusual fabric makes their artistic mind open to all sorts of possibilities. She will forever remember where that material came from when looking at her finished quilt.

How about adding a recipe book for someone who really loves to cook? It doesn’t have to be something expensive. Get something that has great pictures in them that it is good enough to be placed on the coffee table for her to flip through.

What about adding a pack of melting chocolate that the baker friend loves to use for her chocolate creations? She can always invite the gang over to sample her latest creation and everyone can laugh about the inspiration from the loot bag of party favors.

How about that friend who likes pasta? Why not send her off with a recipe, some fresh Italian noodles and parmesan cheese? She can mix up her favorite pasta dish for herself alone or for the group.

Coming up with something unique for a friend is easily done if one knows who the friend really is. Any party favor can be unique and much appreciated if people get something unique for themselves.

A Few Great Keepsake Gifts for Babies

When a child gets older there will be questions about what happened before their birth. As they grow up, children eventually want to find out where they came from. When they find out that their mother had a baby shower, they will also be curious to see the pictures and souvenirs of that special party.

Personalized keepsake gifts are the simplest way to record the name of the child and the date that the child was born or that the baby shower was held. Having it done in a specialty shop or online is easy enough done, but it can always be done at home as well. This lends the personalize item more importance for it was not just ordered, it was made for the occasion by an important person – a friend or even the mother herself.

Baby Shower Favors – Be sure to save a few of those personalized baby shower favors that you handed out at your baby shower. These will make cute mementos for a child when he or she grows up.

Sweats for the Baby – There are always cool and cold days and babies should be kept warm. Simply buy the sweats and have them personalized with the name of the child. The theme of the baby shower or child’s nursery theme can also be printed along with the baby’s birthday or baby shower date.

Rattlers – Babies adore rattlers, especially those with teethers on one end. Have the rattlers personalized by tagging them on the handle with the name of the child.

Towels – Choose from the different sizes of towels or get a towel set. Have them custom-stitched with a unique monogram with the child’s name or initials.

Towels are really appreciated by all who receive them as these are the most useful and functional of all types of gifts, for the adult or the baby. What’s more, imagine the child’s wonderment when they realize that the towel they were using was a gift to them even before they were born. Warning: always reserve one for posterity’s sake as towels can suffer through wear and tear.

Diaper Cloths – There are diapers of cloth material that are super soft and gentle on the baby skin. These are great gifts for the mothers who are environmentally conscious and through the years will also result in lots of savings from not having to buy disposable diapers.

Baby Scrapbook – This is one way to keep all the photos of the party and can even include the invitations and a CD holder glued on to one page. The child could just flip through the pages and see for themselves what went on at the party and who attended it. Personalize it by placing the name on the cover of the scrapbook and the date of the party. The mother could then just add on more pictures as the child gets older.

Ideas for personalized party gifts are just too many to list, but at least the above list is enough to give someone a good place to start.

Suggestions for Baby Shower Food

Baby showers are fun parties and as a host, it is your duty that every aspect of the party will satisfy your guests. The time, venue, activities, games and food should be well thought out to ensure that everything will go smoothly. For your menu, here are some ideas on what to serve during a baby shower.

Finger foods and finger sandwiches are your best bets for a fun party. Easy to hold, easy to make, fun to eat, and great-tasting, these foods can be the only ones you can serve in a party so that no one will get hungry. Other food additions in a baby shower are for variety, but for satisfying food, you can never go wrong with finger sandwiches and other finger foods.

You can also serve the baby shower cake during the party to satisfy the sweet tooth of your guests. Baby shower cakes are generally large in size as they come with different themes or shapes. This cake should then be enough to be served to everyone, or you can have lovely cupcakes which guests can help themselves with as well.

Take out your baby or wedding cookie cutters and grandma’s secret recipe and work it out in the kitchen. Cookie cutters for wedding, birthdays and other themes can be used for baby showers as well, such as butterflies and hearts. Nothing can be more special than homemade cookies, but if you don’t have the time, or the skills, just head off to your local bakery to get some. Pizza can be considered as a staple or one of the official food for fun parties. They will never be out of place for your baby shower.

Vegetables and fruits can be cut in bite size pieces and are great and refreshing treats. You want something that can appeal to the health conscious people.

In planning a baby shower, you first start off with the important details of the party such as date, venue, and guest list. After these details, you can now work on your menu. Adjust your menu according to the time and place of the party, and not the other way around. Opt for a pineapple shake when get to finalize that you’ll have an afternoon shower outdoors, but do not change your venue or time only because of your menu. There are other alternative yet fun menu options that you can have.