Baby Shower Hostess Tips

Some basic things to keep in mind as you plan your party.
Here is a guideline on the do’s and don’ts of hosting a party. Simply keep your guest’s comfort in mind.

Do’s:
·  Send invitations in a timely manner. Always give enough time for guests to RSVP.
·  Include directions in the invitations
·  Greet all guests at the door as they arrive.
·  Provide name tags if you have a large attendance
· Introduce guests to one another at the beginning of the party. If you have a seating arrangement, sit people together who know each other or have something in common.
·  Provide tables for your guests to sit and eat if a meal is planned. Please don’t expect them to eat with their plate in their lap.
·  Bring the gifts to the mom-to-be as she opens gifts. She shouldn’t have to carry anything – especially anything heavy.
· Write down which guest gave a certain gift. This will help the mom-to-be when it comes time to send thank you cards.
· Be sure to have enough party favors on hand. A little extra is good just in case!
· Get the party started on time and keep events moving at a good pace. You would be surprised just how long it can take to eat, open presents, play games, talk and eat cake.
· Walk guests to the door as they leave.

Don’ts:
· ”Attend” the party – meaning: you should run the party, not sit back and relax.
·  Eat before your guests do. Serve the mom-to-be first, then guests, then yourself.
·  Leave first. Just plain rude.
·  Exclude inviting guests that the mom-to-be wishes would be there.
·  Forget to thank guests for coming as they leave.

Who Hosts the Party?
Traditionally, the host of a baby shower would be a close friend of the mom-to-be. Now, just about anyone can host the party. Mothers, co-workers, friends, sisters, cousins and so on.

When should we have the party?
Baby showers are normally given anywhere between the seventh and ninth month. You don’t want to have the party too close to the due date just in case she delivers earlier than expected. But, at the same time, its fun when she has a large belly at the party, so don’t host it too early. Check with the mom to see what works for her.
Where should you host the party?
Most baby showers are held in someone’s home. But, restuarants, churches, and parks can all be nice places to hold the party. It depends on your budget and how comfortable you feel having the party in your home.

So Many Eco-Friendly Party Choices

With the “go green” attitude of late, you can find numerous supplies for your party that are eco-friendly. Like these wedding favors made from special seed paper in the shape of butterflies. They are gorgeous!

Butterfly Wedding Seed Favors

And you can even find Bookmarks for baby showers made out of the same kind of paper.

Baby Shower Bookmarks made of Seeded Paper

There are so many recycled papers and beautiful handmade papers that you can make your party invitations part of your “green” effort. So, in addition to reducing your carbon footprint on the world everyday, you can also do it during special occasions. Check out stores that use recycled paper for their tableware items such as napkins and plates. I found this great store that has just the type of Earth friendly tableware that I was thinking of. Poshtots has many great ideas on how to throw a “posh” birthday party and show kids how to respect the Earth at the same time. Way to go!

Monkey Magoo Blanket Gift Set Givaway

Monkey Magoo Blanket Gift Set Giveaway

Congrats to Nadine on Winning this cuddly gift set!! By using Random.org, she was chosen. This contest is now closed. But, look for some more fun giveaways coming soon!

You can win Monkey Magoo! This adorable personalized plush baby blanket! has an embroidered image of Monkey Magoo himself. You also get a cute plush 18″ Monkey Magoo that hangs on the creative banana style gift box that holds the soft yellow-colored blanket. This blanket is 30″ x 36″.

If you don’t have a baby or toddler to give this to, then it will make a great gift for a friend or family member. This Monkey Magoo blanket is so adorable! We know you’ll love him! Valued at $35.45

How to enter this givaway:

1. Go to http://www.abcfavors.com and look around the website.

2. Come back to this blog and leave a comment about your favorite item. It can be a baby gift, favor, tableware, whatever. Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win.

3. You can enter as many times as you want, but it is limited to one entry per day.

4.Get bonus points by blogging about this giveaway on your blog and including a link back to us. Make sure that you comment that day and tell us where to find the link back. (don’t worry if your comment doesn’t show up right away – they have to be approved first)

5. Although it is not required to win, if you make a purchase on abcfavors, come back here and tell us what you bought and we’ll enter your name again!

6. If you are not a blogger and want to earn extra entries, email this posting to three of your friends and cc audrey @ abcfavors.com .Make sure to cc Audrey otherwise we won’t know that you sent the contest to your friends

7. We will never sell/distribute/trade your email or any personal information to anyone at any time. We respect your privacy.

There are so many ways to win!! The winner will be chosen at random and will have 5 days to claim the prize. We will contact the winner for his/her full mailing address to send the prize (shipping costs are included). After day 5, we’ll contact the next winner in line. This giveaway lasts until 8:00 am ET May 17, 2009. Must be 18 to enter and a US resident.

Good luck and Have Fun!

Weather can change party plans

Ohio weather is so unpredictable during this month. That is why indoor party planning is still the norm during this time of the year. This past weekend, we enjoyed warm, gorgeous blue-sky days. It was great! Now, it is Monday and we’ve dropped 40 degrees and have gray cloudy skies. But, the weatherman says that blue skies are coming back later this week.

See what I mean? So, if you have the perfect bridal shower tea or baby shower garden party in mind, you may want to wait for the summer months. You can find some really neat locations to host parties indoors that make you feel like it is summer. In Ohio, there is a wonderful place called the Franklin Park Conservatory. Many weddings and receptions are held here during the winter months. Brides and moms-to-be having baby showers can find a venue that is guaranteed to be warm.

Every area of the country has their own weather challenges. Go up north and you have the cold/ice, go down south you’ll find heat and humidity, central states will have the threat of tornadoes several months out of each year. Go west and find earthquake-prone areas (not too likely) which can make some party planners shake in their high-heeled shoes.

If you are going to plan your baby shower or any of life’s special events outside, always have a back up plan. Hopefully you won’t need plan B, but you’ll have some peace of mind knowing that you have Mother Nature covered – just in case…

Candybar Wrappers and Labels HOT

In our current economic state, most party planners and brides are looking for cheaper alternatives to the extravagant parties of years past.  From cutting guest lists to searching for the perfect wedding gown at discount or second hand shops to having a buffet instead of the ideal sit-down reception.

One way that brides and party planners are reducing costs is by making their favors for a baby shower, birthday party, wedding or any of life’s celebrations. Hershey kiss labels that are personalized are a fun treat and you’ll find many candywrappers for any occasion. Just by doing this one little thing themselves, it will help in maintaining a tighter budget.

Creative Bobblehead Wedding Gifts

Anyone can read over a couple’s registry and buy a wedding gift from those stores. I remember getting married (oh, some 12 years ago now) and registering. I really had no idea what I needed/wanted. So, I registered for the normal household things. Towels, pasta strainer, pot and pans, utensils, sheets, etc… I did need these things to start our home. But, a very dear friend embroidered a throw with my husband’s and my name and wedding date on it. An aunt had a frame engraved for us. These two things were not expected at all – so they were a wonderful surprise to us. I cherish them both and really appreciated the thought that went into the purchase.

I’m not saying that I didn’t like the other gifts – they were much needed and appreciated as well. But, these were a surprise and fun to receive.

I ran across a website that makes custom bobbleheads/frames from a couple’s picture. They are a little pricey, but they are fantastic. The amount of work that goes into carving these has to be extensive. Some couples have used them as a topper to their wedding cake, which is a fun twist to the traditional topper. These bobbleheads are not the plastic kind that you are thinking of, they are actually carved by an artist who looks like he/she knows what they are doing.

So, there are romantic personanlized gifts for wedddings and, as I’ve found, some creative ones for the fun-at-heart.

Tips on How To Throw A Great Party in Tough Economic Times

So, you’re sister is pregnant and the baby shower will go on regardless if we are in economic crisis or not.  It has to!  This is her first baby and, by God, she’s going to get the best baby shower ever!

 You are such a sweet sister, friend, co-worker, etc.. to take it upon yourself to throw a party in our current “depressive” climate.  With jobs being reduced by major corporations, it has become second hand for a lot of people to hold their checkbooks close and keep the pencap on.

 

Throwing a baby shower, or any party, can be an expense.  But, if you can cut back on a few things and make a few adjustments, it’ll look like you went “all out” and at the same time you won’t break the bank.  Because, come on, we all need a little cheering right now and what better way than a party?  Plus, your sister will never speak to you again if you just put up one streamer and call it her baby shower.  I’ll walk you through some easy and inexpensive ways to create an awesome baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party, or just a plain ol’ Friday night party.

 

Tip #1:

Hold the party at a place that doesn’t cost anything.  This seems simple enough, but is overlooked by many.  Ideas are:  your home, a church cafeteria, a park, the common area in your neighborhood.  These are comfortable places with lots of room and it’ll save you a ton!

 

Tip #2:

Don’t hire a caterer – cut the food yourself.  Save on food cost.  Have a buffett style party instead of a sit-down meal.  That will save a bundle.  Make the food yourself, don’t hire a caterer.  In doing so, you can also save more money by cutting those darn carrots and celery yourself and not buying them in the “veggie tray” pack.  You’ll get a lot more and it’ll cost less.  Ask for help in creating some dishes.  Have each guest bring a dish – really, it’s ok to ask this.  Most people don’t mind and think about it – if everyone brought one dish, you’ll have a lot less to cook. 

 

You can serve the food on paper plates, but to save on the cost and to make the meal look nicer, use your everyday dishes.  So, you’ll have more to clean in the end, but once again, it’ll save on the cost.

 

Tip #3:

Do-it-yourself on favors, decorations, invitations, etc…  There are some really neat baby shower favors and decorations out there that you probably couldn’t reproduce on your own and this is where you’d need to buy the items.  But, you can find hang tags, labels, boxes and bags to make some nice favors.  Buy a few cool decorations and supplement them with some inexpensive streamers, decor, etc… that will bring it all together for you in the end.  Get the “fill-in-the-blank” invitations, which will take some time to write out, but will save you from spending money on custom printed invitations.  If you still are wanting printed invitations, then do-it-yourself with your home computer and printer.  There are many invitations out there that are made for you to print at home and have instructions within the packaging.

 

Overall, it really just takes a lot of TIME if you want to save on the money.   If you don’t have the extra time, then you may need to just buy the favors finished for you, the invitations printed for you, the food cooked for you, the place decorated for you….which is nice if you can afford it right now. 

 

On a big side note, it dawned on me, while writing this blog entry, that this is a vicious cycle.  By you not hiring the caterer, not having the printer print your invitations, not renting out the dance hall/restaurant, not buying the favors from, (oh I don’t know – abcfavors.com), it puts our economy into greater stress since the spending habits of Americans (you) is what is driving the country.  Let’s take a look, shall we?  (Big breath!):

 

You spend money on the party = the companies make some money =  their employees keep their jobs = those employees have a paycheck = those employees buy something from the company where you or your husband work = that company stays in business = you or your husband gets a paycheck = you get to spend more money on another party.  Whew!  That took some thinking.  Need some coffee – be right back.

 

OK back.  Let’s hope this all gets better soon and the entire US can through a huge gigantic party when its all over!

 ;-)  hugs- Erica

http://www.abcfavors.com  party supplies, favors, tableware

Goodie Bag Mania!

My daughter and I followed a child into one of the many birthday parties on our list for the month.  To my astonishment, the 7 yr. old boy walked up to the mom who was hosting the party and asked “Where can I get my goodie bag”?  Like flies to a light, three other kids asked the same thing all at once!

What happened to fun party games and eating the cake?  The party favor bags have become expected by kids nowadays.  I had never heard of them before my kids started having parties of their own.  Most of the time, it’s just a bunch of tiny plastic toys that’ll be chewed up by the dog or forgotten in the backseat of the car.   There are other more meaningful favors that can be given to kids, especially at my daughter’s age.  What about personalizing some bookmarks?  Make sure they are laminated!  Kids this age are finding out how fun reading can be and a bookmark can be something they can use.

Overall, the party was fun and my daughter was given her “goodie bag” at the end – filled with tiny plastic throw-away toys and some stickers.

Getting RSVP’s: Which Way Is The Best?

I was just wondering what the best way to word invitations to entice people to reply in a timely manner.  I’ve seen a few ways done in the past. 

1.  Please RSVP to (phone number) or email by (give set date here)

2.  Please RSVP to (phone number or email).

3.  Please RSVP Regrets Only

The first one let the guest know that you need to know if they are coming by a certain date.  This is nice so that you can have a deadline and you can get your supplies in order.  Plus, there is some urgency on the side of the guest to get back to you with a reply.

The second one lets the guest think about coming up to the day of the party.  This is nice if your guest is able to come at the last minute.  But, on the other hand, you really won’t have a good count to order your supplies and food for the party.

The third is for “regrets only” to call.  No one likes to have to explain why they can’t make it to your party.  So, if no one calls you, then are you supposed to assume that everyone is attending.  It is highly unlikely that everyone will come, so you’ll take a chance on this type of RSVP notice.

If all fails, you can send out a last minute check by email or phone to those who haven’t replied.  It is quite bold, but if you need an answer, then you need an answer.  I’m sure your guests can understand.  Almost everyone is in the place of the host at some time in their lives and can understand why you need to know. 

I still don’t know which one is the best way.  Any thoughts??

~ Erica  http://www.abcfavors.com

A “Backwards” Birthday Party

With the economy the way it is, my husband and I, like most other people, have been cutting back on the unneccessary spending in order to conserve cash for the important things such as food, shelter, etc…  So, birthday parties would fall into this category.  We agreed that with the upcoming birthdays of our children that we would have “home parties” as opposed to renting out one of the many birthday places here in town.

On the approach of my youngest child’s 7th birthday, I was really at odds at how to create a fun “home birthday party”.  We’ve done the gymnastics party, the ice skating party, the jungle gym party, and many types of “rented places” parties that kids would enjoy.  But, how on earth was I going to entertain up to 15 of her friends at our home?  I new that I had to come up with a party that had several activities that would keep the kids’ attention long enough to get through a two-hour party.

My mother gave me the idea of having a backwards birthday party, which is perfect for my daughter’s age group.  Any younger and they wouldn’t understand, any older and they’d think it was “baby-ish”.  I talked to my daughter and asked her what she thought on this new idea.  She absolutely loved it!  Just be sure that the children are at a reading level.  1st and 2nd grade is perfect. 

We planned the party together and explained, in a fun way, what we’d do at the party.  On the invitations, I wrote that “we’ll play backwards games, sing backwards songs” and even asked them to “wear their clothes backwards”.  I let them know that when they came to our door, that we’d say “good-bye” and when they left the party, we’d say “hello”.  It turns out that this party was a hit with these kids.  Here is a break-down of what we did:

1.  Before the party, I wrote out the word to the song “Happy Birthday to You” on paper and made plenty of copies.  The kids thought this was hilarious and they are all at a reading level to have fun with this song.  We sang the song slowly and they read it as they sang it.  A great way to keep their attention (and their hands out of the cake)! 

2.  Backwards obstacle course.  I set up two relay race courses and created two teams.  I had bought colored crepe streamers and gave one team green and one team blue.   They tied their piece of paper on themselves in their own creative way and, presto, we had two teams.  Make sure that you are the one to assign the teams, not the kids – it’s much easier that way.  Each team had to do the crabwalk between orange cones, run backwards to a hopscotch grid (that my daughter had fun making in sidewalk chalk before the party) and hopscotch backwards to the top, then they put a balloon between their legs and hopped backwards to the next teammate, who had to get tapped before he/she could start the obstacle course.  The first team to have everyone through the course wins.  Be sure the all areas are clear from large debris since you don’t want anyone falling and bumping their head

3.  A simple thing to add to the party is nametags.  As each kid arrived for the birthday party, I gave him/her a nametag and marker and asked him/her to write their name on it backwards and place it on their shirt.  Then, the rest of the time, we would call each kid by their “backwards” name.  It was really funny sounding them all out. 

4.  The party was run “backwards” as I explained to everyone once the party began.  We normally play games first, then eat cake, then open presents.  But, at this party, we opened presents first, then ate the cake, then played the games.

5.  I added a fun element at the last minute.  It really wasn’t a backwards thing, but the kids enjoyed it.  I recruited two of the moms who stayed at the party to paint the kids’ faces.  I lucked out in that I had a fine arts graduate among the moms who agreed to help.  It was great fun and kids love face paint!

I hope this helps anyone out there who is looking for a unique ‘at home” birthday party.  It definitely helped in saving money by staying home.  We saved half the cost of past parties by hosting it in our home.  And the kids had just as much fun, if not more fun because this party was something different.  Let me know your thoughts and any other ideas that could be added to this posting for others to enjoy.

Now, on to my oldest daughter’s 9th birthday party….starting to plan.  I’ll let you know the progress.

~ Erica
   http://www.abcfavors.com