Posts Tagged ‘parents’

The Baby Shower Theme Makes the Day

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Although the classic “Its a Girl” and “Its a Boy” themes are lovely classics, there is so much more you can do with a baby shower. There are various sweet baby shower themes that will make your shower shine and stand apart from the rest. Themes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Noahs Ark,” and “Candy Land,” will make your shower unique and unforgettable. This article will provide some basic baby shower themes from which you can get ideas from, and adapt them to your needs.

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is a beautiful nursery rhyme inspired theme that will fill the room with sweet vibes and tenderness. This theme is also easy to assemble at any location, whether it be a house, a restaurant, a banquet hall, or a hotel. Finding basic star- shaped decorations will definitely not be a problem, and making them is not difficult at all. For example, for centerpieces, you can fill star-shaped baskets or containers with baby-themed items, flowers, candy and confetti. For a special touch, you can also throw shiny star-shaped confetti on the tables.

Have nursery rhymes playing as background music, and decorate the room space with quotes from the poem, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” You can also buy pre-packaged cookie dough and use moon and star-shaped cookie cutters. For a little something extra, decorate the cookies with sprinkles. Another great idea is to buy white chocolate chips and moon and star candy molds, melt the chocolate, and fill the molds in with the melted chocolate. Put these in little star-shaped decorative boxes and give to the guests as party favors. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is very versatile, and there are countless ideas that you can use for this theme.

The theme, “Noahs Ark” makes an adorable setting for your shower. For this idea, purchase or design your own ark mural and post on the wall. Make sure it is big and top-notch quality, because this will make a great background for taking pictures. For each table, use different animals for centerpieces. You can buy different types of stuffed animals like bunnies, giraffes, elephants, and bears, and use these as a foundation for your centerpieces. Decorate cute baskets, fill them up with candy and baby items, and place the stuffed animals inside of the baskets (a different animal in each basket). Make little animal-shaped chocolates, and hand out Noahs Ark themed invitations.

Candy Land makes a fun theme, for men, women, and children of all ages. For invitations, send out candy in personalized wrappers. You can have candy wrappers customized in several websites online, or you can use a candy wrapper template, also found online, and make them yourself. Buy big, colorful, and yummy candy, and use them to design centerpieces. Use Candy Land board games as the base of your centerpieces and decorate with more candy! Purchase or make your own candy posters, and place them all over the room. Remember to use a lot of confetti, decorative party strings, and colors!

Tips brought to you by SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. Free shipping (lower 48 states) and lowest price guarantee on unique personalized baby shower favors and baby gift baskets.

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Tips For Planning a Co-ed Baby Shower

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Although you can never go wrong with a classy, traditional baby shower, cute new trends are emerging that have proven to be successful. From serving strictly fondue lunch or dinner items, to hosting a Hawaiian Luau party, these new baby shower trends and crazes are fun, hip, and exhilarating!

Fondue has become a new trend not only for baby showers, but also for all types of events and socials. Melted cheese with crackers and melted chocolate with fruits are light but filling appetizers that will satisfy cravings. Cheese dip can be melted and served with veggies like broccoli and carrots, along with assorted crackers. Many chocolate fountains are inexpensive and can be used to melt chocolate and serve with fruits, marshmallows, biscotti, and pretzels.

The art of scrapbooking has become increasingly popular over the past few years. So much so, that it has become a popular theme among social gatherings and events like baby showers. In recent scrapbooking-themed baby showers, hosts sent out scrapbook-themed invitations to guests, tying into the theme. At the bash, each guest is given a different baby-themed layout sheet, with supplies like stickers, letters, cutouts, glue, and scissors. The guests then design and decorate the layout sheet for the mommy-to-be. All these sheets can then be put together into an album for the new coming baby. This makes a great memory and keepsake for the expectant mother.

Hula and Luau-themed Hawaiian festivities are now ranked as some of the most popular baby shower ideas of this decade. Luaus can be fun and colorful, yet inexpensive and easy on your pocket. Leis can be given out as souvenirs, and you can play tropical, Caribbean tunes as background music. Fruit platters and fun drinks like Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daiquiris will add to the Hawaiian setting. Luaus are original, entertaining, and can fit any budget. Even on a tight budget, you can impress your guests and seem like you spent a fortune on your baby shower.

Another popular tendency in todays society is to host co-ed baby showers. In past times, baby showers were considered a womens affair, therefore, women were the only ones allowed to participate. Today, that taboo has been debunked, and more women are choosing to allow their husbands and other male members of their family and friends circle to participate. For a long time, men were shut out from being able to take part in baby-welcoming festivities. Now, this has become absolutely normal and even encouraged in North America.

Among all the trends and new practices in baby shower events, the most affordable yet incredibly chic seems to be the contemporary simple look. Classy, clean-cut, and simple dcor shows fine taste and a flair for decorative trends. Today, the predominant style for interior design is contemporary chic, and this look can be accomplished even on a tight budget. If you have a knack for planning and design, coordinating a simple and classy event should be a breeze. These days, the phrase “simplicity rules” is key.

Tips brought to you by SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. Free shipping (lower 48 states) and lowest price guarantee on unique personalized baby shower favors and baby gift baskets.

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Mother’s Day: The Origins

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Mother’s Day? Well, save for the fact that we feel we must honor our mothers for their incomparable love. The Mother’s Day celebration in the United States was first observed thanks to Anna Jarvis. Although it doesn’t have a commercial impact then, the Mother’s day we observe today became one of the Hallmark Holiday. The giving of Mother’s Day gifts is a manifestation of it having a commercial purpose.

Historians though that the contemporary Mother’s Day celebration dawned from an old custom in ancient Greece from a festival in honor of Cybele, the great mother of Greek gods. Mother’s Day gifts were also offered to her honor. The said festival was originally held around the Vernal Equinox to Rome. This festival starts from March 15 to March 18, at least two months earlier than the present Mother’s Day.

The Romans also have a similar celebration in honor of Juno, a Roman goddess and the mother of Minerva, Mars, and Vulcan. She is the wife of Jupiter, a protector and special counselor of the state. This celebration is called the Matronalia. The giving of Mother’s Day gifts is also practiced during the celebration.

The Anglican and Catholic denomination of the Christian religion also hold records of Mother’s Day celebration. It is observed during the fourth Sunday of the Lent season to commemorate the immeasurable love of the Virgin Mary and in honor of the mother church. It is called the Mothering Sunday or Laetare Sunday in the liturgical calendar. Giving Mother’s Day gifts and ridding the mothers of their tasks like cleaning the house and cooking mark the observance of this celebration.

During the 1870, Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation was written by Julia Howe to call for the celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States. It is however has a political drive to react to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Russian War. In its first day of celebration, Mother’s Day gifts, usually roses are given to mothers all around the United States.

With or without Mother’s Day gifts, the most important thing to remember is why we celebrate this once in a year holiday – to honor our mothers. They don’t need extravagant gifts. A kiss, hug and a sincere “thank you” are all it needs to make them feel special and truly appreciated. No amount of flowers, sweets, and gifts could ever replace true sincerity and most especially a mother’s love.

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Getting Past The Anxiety Of Breast Pumps By Being Informed

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Maternity is very exciting, and often a little worrying. Anything that may make it less complicated will be worth looking into. Finding methods to ease the nervousness is hard to do, but when you have overcome a few of these feelings, being a mommy gets far easier. Many new mums are particularly wary of a breast pump. It concerns them vis whether they do it right or not. Learning that it is nothing to fear is a vital step.

You may give yourself a little liberty when you can master this beneficial tool. Your baby will have the nourishment it needs if you need to be away. If you\’re just starting out, you may want it for the relief it will give you from engorgement. If you have been nursing your baby for a while, you can use it to bring your milk supply up.

When starting on the pump you\’ll want to go slow. Just like getting sore as you start to breast-feed your new baby, a pump can have the same affect. You will need to choose a setting on your machine that is light until you are certain that you can handle it. If employing a manual pump it is simple to go slowly. An electrical pump is rather more likely to have a more robust suction ; it should have one or two speed selections as well as suction decisions.

You will have one or two different sizes to choose from so you can achieve the best suction. Each side of pumping is going to take ten to fifteen minutes. If you choose a dual sided pump, you can cut this time in half. Don\’t rush this process. Pick a quiet place that you can relax. You will want to be as comfortable as possible.

It\’s a fairly straightforward thing to choose the perfect breast pump if you know what to go looking for. Just consider what you will be using it for, how frequently, and how frequently. Pick a model that\’s easy for you to assemble and take apart for cleaning. You will want to clean up it before and after every use so that your baby will be safe from any likely germs. Freeze your milk for when you\’ll need it. Keep them labeled and rotate them continually.

Your baby merits the best. By conquering all anxiety, for their comfort, you are sure to have a healthy, happy kid. Visit Breastpump.com for more on the basics of breast feeding.

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