Working in the baby industry over the last few years has really opened my eyes to the fashions and trends of this area.  One of the first companies I dealt with was a franchise baby shower company.  I was really surprised that people in this country had them; I always associated them with America having seen them on programmes such as Sex in the City.

Anyway, I realised that most things from America eventually migrate to our country, especially as much of the TV in the UK comes from America.

I always wondered whether baby showers were actually necessary, were they just a way of getting yet more gifts, another excuse for a party or were they genuinely a meeting of women who could give support and advice to their friends or family member about being a mother.

Having recently got into social network Twitter I have seen many comments from people in America, moaning that they have to go to yet another baby shower!! It doesn’t seem that they particularly enjoy these events and they have become a bit of a chore.

]]>

A group of products that have emerged recently seem to be closely linked to the type of gifts you might take to a baby shower. One of the most amazing that I have seen are the nappy cakes, which are a set of Terry Towel nappies that are bound together to make what looks like  a wedding cake with several tiers.  The other one is baby clothes rolled up and wrapped to look like individual flowers, which are then wrapped into what looks like a beautiful bouquet.  It isn’t until you look closely that you can see that it is clothing.

The third one is huge novelty cakes that can be made in any shape, so you could have a Moses basket, a teddy bear or a cot.  There is a programme on at the moment called the Ace of Cakes; it’s about an American company who make huge novelty cakes made to order.

They are all amazing and beautiful products, but in the back of my mind I can’t help thinking that it is very over the top and materialistic.

I am really torn about my feelings towards baby showers and I guess as I have never actually been to one, I can’t really have an accurate opinion.  One thing though is for sure, it is only a matter a time before they are here in the UK with a vengeance and everyone who is expecting a baby will have one!  I imagine that it will bring with it all sorts of new companies and products designed as gifts or services, like catering or organisation, which are directed at this new market.  If you are looking for a new idea for a business, baby showers might be exactly the right way to go and you may be ahead of the game in this new market.

I have children myself and I write about products and tips which are useful to parents, they cover making life less fuss and more fun, saving time and getting out and about with young babies and children.  Some of my articles are interesting but they try to have a bit of fun and laughter about them.
Article Source

Baby showers are big events. Having a baby is one of, if not, the most important events in a couple’s life, and baby showers allow them to celebrate that with their close friends and relatives.  It also allows them to get some things they will need for the new baby. Couple’s cherish the memory of their shower for the rest of their lives, and one way they can show their appreciation is to personalize their baby shower invitations.

Your shower invitations can be as unique and funny as you like, but a personal message inside from you will mean the world to your recipient. By letting your guests know how much they mean to you, and why it is so important that they are there to share the experience and celebration with you, you will touch their hearts and make your event even more profound. The people you send your baby shower invitations to should be the most important people in your life. The gifts that they give you will be designed to make your life easier and your financial burden less. You’ll want to show them that you value them, their generosity, and their friendship.

]]>

When you send out your baby shower invitations, there are different ways you can personalize the cards. For instance, the handwritten note never goes amiss and there are other ways of making it more individualized, as well. Craft stores have lots of ways to make your invites stand out to each person. Stamps, stickers and glitter can be a lot of fun and give people the sense that you took time and care to make the cards unique. Emphasize the family. You could use baby stamps on cards for people with children, using one stamp per child, or you could use dog or cat stamps for people with pets. Stickers or some creative stenciling that represent how you know each other could make a good impression as well.

You will make the best memories with the people that you care about the most. By personalizing your baby shower invitations, you can make sure the people you invite to your shower know how much you value them, making your event unforgettable.     

I enjoy writing informative articles.
Article Source

Often at a baby shower the guests will not all know each other, especially if friends, family & colleagues have all been invited. Many party hosts worry that the guests will be too shy or self-conscious in such a scenario that they will hesitate to get involved in the baby shower games. However, there’s no need to ditch the games, instead go for team games that will bond your guests together and have everybody in stitches! Here are our top 5 baby shower team game ideas.

1. Baby Shower Charades

A fantastic twist on an old favourite. Get your guests acting out baby-related activities and you might be surprised by some of the guesses! You can buy these games already made to co-ordinate with many baby shower themed partyware.

2. Baby Taboo

Play in two teams with each guest taking a turn to describe the baby related word/s on the card to their teammates without saying any of the ‘taboo’ words. Easier than it sounds but actually very difficult to do under pressure!

3. Teddy Racing

Great for playing outside in the garden or park, you’ll need two dolly sized toy buggies and a couple of teddies. Set up a little obstacle course with baby related objects such as baby t-shirts, disposable nappies and baby bibs. A person from each team race each other down the course, pushing the teddy in the buggy and dressing him along the way. Once the first person has fully dressed the teddy and returned to the beginning the next person has to take each item off along the course. The winning team is the one whose members have all had a turn and got back to the start first. This one is especially good for baby showers where men are also invited and can get very competitive!

]]>

4. Baby Family Fortunes

Like the TV programme family fortunes, the questions are set in advance and people are surveyed to collate the answers. You don’t have to do a real survey but write down baby related questions such as ‘name one item you would find in a hospital bag’ or ‘name one item you will need to change a baby’. Write down five answers to each question in the order that you think of them. To play put the guests into two teams, and a guest from each team goes head to head to guess the most popular answer. The guests ‘buzz’ in to answer and the first person to buzz gets to answer first. If they get the top answer they score a point. If they don’t get the top answer then the other guest has a guess to try and get the most popular answer. Each guest will take a turn and the winning team is the one with the most points at the end.

5. Baby Trivia

Make up some questions all about pregnancy, birth and babies and research the answers. Make sure you get the accurate answers! You can play by asking each team alternately a question and giving them a point if they are right, and giving the other team the chance to answer if they are wrong. Or read out the questions to all teams at the same time like a pub quiz and have them write down the answers to score all together at the end. Cue lots of frantic whispering and covering up answers to stop cheaters!

Best Baby Shower is one of the UK’s leading online baby shower specialist stores. If you are looking for baby shower games look no further! Choose from a huge selection of games including some exclusive to Best Baby Shower plus some which co-ordinate with the themed baby shower decorations & tableware.

Jo Fazel set up her baby shower internet business in the UK in 2008 when she was expecting her first child.  Since then she has had her second child and grown the business to one of the leading baby shower specialist sites in the UK.  Alongside the huge range of themed party supplies and gifts, Jo also creates her own unique baby gifts such as her nappy cakes and baby bouquets and has also designed her own range of exclusive baby shower games.  She regularly writes articles and blog posts with ideas for themes, venues, decorations, games, favours and gifts and has also written a comprehensive baby shower guide with further ideas, available to her newsletter subscribers.
Article Source

A Baby Shower is a way of celebrating the pending birth of a baby by giving gifts to the expectant mother (or the parents together) at a party. This is largely an American custom, and although mothers in the UK and Europe are often ‘showered’ with gifts, this is typically after the baby is born and is often associated with the baby’s Christening.

The origins of the baby shower, as with many modern customs, lie in the ancient world, ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. Although neither had baby showers as we know them they did celebrate childbirth. Historians believe they have found evidence of rituals pertaining to pregnancy and birth and although we’ll never know the details, it seems the celebrations took place after child had been safely delivered.

In ancient Greece all that attended the Mother’s confinement made an aloyge or strident noise; on either the fifth or seventh day the baby was welcomed into the household in a ceremony called Amphidromia where the father would walk round the hearth several times and on the tenth day the mother returned to her place in society, marked by a meal attended by friends and family. Mothers would dedicate gifts to the birth-goddess Eileithya, such as dresses, girdles and things associated to birth. For many women of that time, giving birth was the only way to gain recognition in a man’s world.

The Baby Shower as we know it started at the end of World War II and may be a result of the Baby Boom. Traditionally, only female friends of the expectant mother were invited. They were expected to share their wisdom and experience of childbirth with the new mother.

Because it revolves around the giving of gifts, the baby shower was usually hosted and arranged by a close friend rather than a family member as it was thought to be the height of bad manners to ask for gifts on behalf of close relative.

However times have changed and whereas early baby showers consisted of ‘showering’ the mother and her new baby with gifts the trend has turned full circle and the celebration is now held at least a month before the baby is due. The shower is usually organized by a close friend, but these days can be organized by almost anyone (other than the mother to be or her mother) and is usually held at home. A small meal is traditional, usually based on cake and finger foods. Other differences are that earlier festivities were limited to ladies only, where not even family was invited; now all members of both ‘expectant’ families as well as friends can attend. In some cases mothers-to-be will attend multiple showers arranged by different friends. 

The party host must know the likes and dislikes of the Mom-to-be and must make sure that she is comfortable with both the chosen games and theme. Among the most popular baby shower themes are ‘Princess’ and ‘Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice’ for a baby girl, and ‘Sailboats’ and ‘Little Sport’ for a baby boy. Unisex baby shower themes like ‘Winnie the Pooh’, ‘Stork’, ‘Rubber Ducky’, ‘Safari’, ‘Cupcake Baby’ and ‘Family Tree’ are high in popularity too. There are also games all arranged around the theme of the party.

Baby showers continue to be a much loved tradition in the USA and are growing in popularity. Originally held to celebrate the expected birth of the first child only, Mothers-to-be now often enjoy a ‘shower’ for each impending birth.

In need of handmade baby quilts, baby girl bedding or baby boy bedding ? For unique baby crib bedding, sets and nursery accessories visit TheQuiltFairy.com – an online boutique which offers from traditional to contemporary nursery bedding in wide range of colors and themes to satisfy the most discriminating tastes.
Article Source

Let’s admit it; baby shower foods play a very important role in keeping the party guests happy and energetic. If it weren’t for these, they would probably have snored their way through the entire event or worst, they would have been grumpy with a fixed frown on their face. That may be an exaggeration, but the food does play an important role in making sure everyone stays up and awake through this important celebration. After all, it is just right to fill the guests’ tummies and make them feel gratified for they have grazed the party with their blessings and presence.

A baby shower is a rare event in every couple’s life. To some, it may just happen once but in general, it takes some time before it is celebrated. This light-hearted event is the warm welcoming celebration for the baby who may either be newly-born or soon-to-be born. It is also the time when loved ones, mainly family and close friends, give their blessings and support to the mother by means of their presence and endearing surprises. This event is very special which is why it is meant to be made memorable and some of the good memories, as some people say, comes with the baby shower foods.

Baby showers are some of the typically themed parties of all time. Since it celebrates birth, vigor, and blessing, every planner makes it a point that it is well prepared. With the utilization of a theme, the planning becomes easier and people get to feel the celebration vibe better. Luckily, baby shower foods can also be incorporated to the theme which is why having a themed-party tends to pay off better. Having a menu based on a theme is already fun since guests get the opportunity of eating new dishes or they get the opportunity to marvel at wonderful serving styles.

It is a basic rule for the baby shower foods to be served accordingly to the schedule of the celebration. This way, guests won’t feel like they have been deprived from their regular sustenance. So if the party is held during lunchtime or dinnertime, the menu must be consisted of a full meal. If it is in the mid-afternoon, then light meals or snacks would suffice. The meal must also be properly accompanied by a delightful beverage. Alcoholic drinks must be avoided at all cost since this is not a for-adult party only and it is more fun and safe to keep everyone sober.

Overall, there are no general specifications on what baby shower foods may be served for the said celebration but it is best to make sure that the menu is favored or approved by the mom-to-be because she is the other star of the party. Since the little one still can’t decide for himself, allow the mommy the honor of planning the menu except if the party is a surprise. If she’s happy, then surely the rest will follow and when everyone is happy, good memories is shared.

Edie Mindell writes for Simply Unique Baby Gifts. They offer free shipping (lower 48 states) and lowest price guarantee on adorable unique baby gifts and  baby shower favors.
Article Source

When it comes to throwing a baby shower, there are many ideas that people can come up with to celebrate the birth of an umborn child. The first thing with a baby shower involves planning. Planning involves choosing a baby shower theme, sending out invitations, setting a date, etc. Coming up with the ideas is last, but also most important.
Baby shower ideas can widen depending on what you want the baby shower to consist of. You may want to involve games in the baby shower, or you may not. Games such as “Guess Mom’s Tummy Size,” is a game that can be played for various prizes. Games such be well planned out in advance though. You can get many game ideas online.
Having a photographer is another good idea for a baby shower. You can take group pictures, individual pictures, etc. Whatever you want the photographer to capture, he can make that happen. Having a photographer is a good way to make sure that those memories always stick with the expecting mother. Always consider the cost, if you decide to go this route, but it is relatively a great idea.
Consider decorations to make the baby shower look fulfilling. Consider having food and drinks to cater to the people that are attending the baby shower. When considering food, always consider what the mommy-to-be can and cannot eat as well. Fresh fruit, and finger sandwiches are a couple of foods that always go good with any baby shower.
You can always add some fun and humor into the baby shower. Finding silly, funny baby shower jokes online to use at a baby shower will have everyone laughing. Jokes can be a good way to keep a baby shower alive and not so dull, and boring. Always consider giving gifts to the expecting mother for her unborn child. Gifts are one of the main reasons that people throw baby showers. They shower the expecting mother with gifts and other exciting things. No baby shower will be complete with the giving of gifts. If you are a guest that was invitied, remember that anything counts.
If you are throwing a co-ed baby shower, meaning that men, women, and children are invitied, then that means that you need to plan accordingly. If you know that the father is going to be attending, invite men as well, and not just women. If you are planning on having children come, let the invitees know that as well. Come up with other baby shower ideas that men and children can get involved in as well. It doesn’t have to be for just women all of the time. It just all depends on the family. So do find out if the father is attending the baby shower, that way you know just how to plan out the whole thing.
Baby shower ideas can include whatever you want them to. It doesn’t always have to be simple. It can involve a little more. Make the ideas always count.

Your source for Unique Baby Gifts and Baby Shower Favors for that special little person.
Article Source

The old American tradition of giving of baby showers appears to have begun trending in the U.K. as well. Mums-to-be are now being made the guest of honour at these gatherings and having loads of fun in the process. Baby showers are a wonderful way to show mums-to-be some honour at such a special time in their lives.

What Is A Baby Shower?

A baby shower is simply a gathering of friends, family and co-workers in a party-like atmosphere to celebrate the impending arrival of the new baby. It is also a way to help the mum-to-be get some of things that makes life easier for a new mum. It is always about enjoying oneself whilst being practical at the same time. Invited guests bring gifts for the baby or items that will pamper the new mum. Guests can be invited by using printed invitation cards or even hand-made ones.

Organising a Baby Shower

Baby showers can be grand affairs held in large, rented spaces or simply a small gathering of the new mum’s closest friends. Big baby showers can include party decorations like balloons, streamers and confetti. There is usually a celebration cake and nibbles served too. Some baby showers are planned in secret by a close friend, making the event a total surprise.

Gift For New Mum And Baby

Baby shower gifts can be practical in nature. Items like nappies, bottles, teething rings, blankets and nursery room accessories are typical gift ideas for showers. Other gifts can be just for the mum-to-be to enjoy. A day of pampering at the spa or any gift that lets the new mum relax and feel special works for a shower gift. Some buy similar items to Christening gifts, beautiful keepsakes for the new baby.

The Americans have registries located at fine department stores that let mums-to-be make a wish list of baby items that they need, just like a bridal registry does. Invited quests that have no idea what to bring check can the list for ideas. 

The baby shower trend in the U.K. will be a great celebration of new life coming into the world.

Free online content for your website, if you’d like to use this article, please keep the links in.
Article Source

Expecting a new baby to be born is a long but thrilling time, especially for the expectant parents. For the would-be moms, preparing for the baby’s birth can seem to be an overwhelming thing. If you are a close friend or a relative of a woman who will be giving birth soon, you might want to host a baby shower for her. If you never have thought about baby shower planning ideas before, you could make use of the following tips of helping the new mommy to have a wonderful part of her lifetime as a pregnant woman waiting for her baby to be born.

Choose the best and most convenient time of scheduling the big day for the would-be mom and her baby. Baby showers are recommended since there are more available people that the new mommy knows that can attend the shower than during the weekdays. Also, plan the baby shower about six to eight weeks before the expected due date of the new mommy.

Decide on the people to be invited on the shower. You may ask the help of the mother-to-be on having a list of the invited people, as she has the knowledge of who must be invited and who must not. This will be based generally on her personal reasons and preference, as she may choose to have a small party rather than a big one.

Also, determine the location and the capacity of the baby shower’s venue so that you would know how many guests will be invited. Once you are done on the list of the invited guests, mail the invitations three to four weeks before the big day. Having this allotted day will allow the guests to respond to the invitation at the right time whether if he or she will be attending the event.

After having been done on the invitations, plan the menu for the baby shower. Finger sandwiches, fruit and vegetable trays, and chips and dips are baby shower staples, as well as non-alcoholic beverages or punch. Have them served on a light impression, as it is a baby shower.

Decorate the venue of the baby shower with a nice time. It can be a gender-specific colored theme, such as the typical blue for a baby boy, or a usual pink for a baby girl. You could also have a theme of popular baby characters and incorporate it with the shower. You could also apply the theme on the menu, if possible.

Plan the allotted time to be spent on each activity that will be held in the baby shower. Try to begin with serving the food and having conversations as the guests have just arrived and let them be for an hour. Then, after having all settled, you could host some fun games to be played for a more entertainment value in the shower. This can also create an opportunity to dig deeper about the would-be mother and her baby.

Once all things are set, you could find some help from your friends to make baby shower planning ideas into a reality. Assign your friends specialized tasks in order to systematize the creation of the event. This will make the progress of the baby shower timely and efficiently rolling.

Edie Mindell writes for SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. Check out the trendy newborn gifts and baby shower party gifts for your event.
Article Source

Realizing that a woman is about to become a mom is an exciting phase in one’s life. As with all joys and excitements, sharing it with the people closest to that person can make the feeling more meaningful. This is the reason why friends and relatives often hold baby showers – to share the joys being a new mom. If you are the one holding a baby shower, one of the ways you can make it more fun is to have a number of games. Here are some baby shower games ideas for your friends and family to enjoy.

Coming up with baby shower games ideas might seem like a daunting task. To make it less so, one of the things you have to keep in mind is that you, as the organizer, should take into consideration the age of the guests. It is also pays to consider the personality of the guests who would be coming over. Keep in mind that some people prefer mind games over those that require physical strength or agility. If possible, encourage the male guests to join in on the fun. This can easily be achieved by having the soon-to-be Dad participate himself on the games.

While waiting for all the guests to arrive, you can keep those who are already in busy by displaying a big baby bottle containing jelly beans. Have the guests guess how many jelly beans there are. The one who gets the closest item wins a special baby shower party favor. You can also have the guests bring a baby picture of themselves. Collect all of these and assign a number. Have the guests write down on a piece of paper who they think the babies in the picture were. Keep in mind, though, that these can only work if all the guests know each other.

The previous set of games is usually done by individuals. Team games are another baby shower games ideas. You can pair up the guests and have them play the cotton ball scoop game. All you have to do is blindfold the guests, give them a spoon and then, when it’s their turn,  have them scoop all the cotton balls that they can from one bowl and then transfer it to another bowl. Since all the guests could feel is the weight of the spoon, all the spectators would have a fun time watching the other guests outdo each other without really knowing if they are getting ahead or not.

The “Try Not to Say Baby” is another one of those great baby shower games ideas. First, you hand out baby pins to all of the guests. They would need to pin it on their clothes during the entire party. The aim of the game is to catch anyone mentioning the word, “baby”. When this happens, the person who heard the word “baby” being said would need to confiscate the pin. The winner is the one who has the most number of pins.

These baby shower games ideas are meant for fun, laughter, and enjoyment for everyone in the family. The baby shower is a chance for the family to experience the happiness and blessing of having a newborn child. With these tips and ideas, you can be sure that this experience will be a memorable one.

Edie Mindell writes for SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. Visit the site for trendy unique baby gift baskets and baby shower favors for your event.
Article Source

As offices have become second homes for many business oriented people, the office party has begun to slowly evolve from a standard store bought birthday cake to something more. Now everything from upcoming baby births to anniversaries are being celebrated at office buildings, and birthday cakes and streamers are being replaced by gourmet cupcakes, gift exchanges and even designer baby gift baskets for office baby showers.

While different companies will have different policies on what can and cannot be offered at office parties (some will even allow wine… party down), there are some things to remember when trying to plan the best office party for a fellow employee. Whether it’s a surprise party or something that they will have the final say on, office parties are best done as a temporary celebration, and distraction, that can be quick, fun, and ultimately allow people to get to work quickly before anyone gets in too much trouble. Because these parties must be done within office guidelines, be sure to run each step by a manager, or someone in charge. Make sure your get-together follows the guidelines put forth in your employee handbooks to a t so that no one gets in trouble for it (that would be bad).

Probably the main reason people will attend an office party will be for food. Let’s not kid ourselves, while they like the person you’re throwing the party for, the idea of free food during the work day is usually the main attraction. Since the current economy might limit the amount of food that a company is willing to buy for a said party, the best way to get everyone well fed might be a potluck. While the word “potluck” has gotten a bad rap, work potlucks usually have some pretty good food. If everyone is not up for a potluck then maybe you can have everyone chip in a few bucks for catering.

Once the food is out of the way, you can now focus on the other important part of any office party: gifts. Usually the two biggest office celebrations are birthdays and baby showers. While gifts for birthdays are usually a personal preference, for baby showers co-workers usually like to combine their funds for a “big” gift. This can be anything from gift baskets to strollers to cribs. Make sure you collect the money first and that you get a gift that the mother to be doesn’t already have. This way the party can be a success and the fabled tradition of office parties will have another great entry.

Author Kimberly Green gets the most beautiful baby gift baskets online @ BabyStuffGifts.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/how-to-make-a-successful-office-party-1756141.html