(California) The Key to a Great Baby Shower
No commentsBy Dwain Griffith
Now, anyone can throw the Baby Shower and it’s not just for the women! Men are attending showers, even having their own.It’s all about celebrating a new life, and welcoming a new baby to the world. And all babies, not just the couple’s first child, are a cause for celebration.
Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby.While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.
Proper etiquette is very specific about the Baby Shower - never should the mother-to-be’s family throw the shower, lest people think they were asking for gifts.
Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby.While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.
Now, anyone can throw the Baby Shower and it’s not just for the women!Men are attending showers, even having their own.It’s all about celebrating a new life, and welcoming a new baby to the world. And all babies, not just the couple’s first child, are a cause for celebration.
Skipping the surprise shower can really ease the planning of any Baby Shower.If it’s not a surprise,the parents-to-be can help out with the guest list and help you avoid scheduling conflicts.
Grandma and Grandpa may not be the guests of honor, but you don’t want to find out too late that the most important guests can’t attend.So check with the parents-to-be to make sure you haven’t left out anyone who should be included, and lets get this party started!
Once you have a general idea of the number of guests, you’ll want to start thinking about where to have the Baby Shower. You can host at your own home, reserve tables at your favorite restaurant, rent a reception hall, picnic at a park if you’ll be including children, or if this is a small group of female friends, why not make it a day at the spa with a catered lunch?
If you’re planning to rent or reserve space for the Shower, check on these details when looking around:how many guests will this location hold,is it available on your chosen date,can you decorate prior to the shower,what is the cost,what does it include,who is responsible for clean up.
It’s always a good idea to schedule the Baby Shower about two to three months in advance of mom’s due date. Unless, of course, you are having the shower after the baby is born.
“Hello World, Here I Am” Showers are a popular way to ensure everyone gets to see the new baby, and you’ll want to wait at least a month after the baby is born for this one.
The time of day to host the shower is personal preference, and can be used to determine appropriate food and drink. If you just don’t know, ask the mother-to-be what part of the day she usually feels her best, and go from there.
Finger foods set around the room work great and encourage guests to mingle. If you don’t want to prepare the food yourself, many bakers or grocers make deli trays of vegetables, fruit, or meats and cheeses.
They’re arranged beautifully for any occasion and can be a life-saver, as well as a time-saver.When choosing drinks to serve, remember to include on-alcoholic and decaffeinated alternatives.
Coordinating is the easy part, but you probably don’t want to do everything by yourself on the big day. Depending on the number of guests, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and miss some of those small details that mean so much.
With all your planning, don’t forget a gift for the parents-to-be. Maybe your gift to the parents-to-be will be the Baby Shower itself, but if you’re looking great gift ideas, try a customized baby basket, diaper cake or something just plain adorable from the baby gift store.
Don’t lose sight of what this day is all about…a celebration! So remember to relax and have fun with your planning and hosting.
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Recipes for Your Baby Shower
By Dwain Griffith
Baby showers are generally held in the later stages of pregnancy (in the last 2 months, for instance). There are, however, certain cultural beliefs that make people purposefully wait for the baby to arrive before having a baby shower. Adoptive parents, at times, wait until after the adoption is final and the baby has arrived in their home.
Baby showers are generally organized by close friends, relatives, or co-workers of the expectant parents (because baby showers center on gift-giving, it is considered inappropriate for a family member to host such events).
In its early form, baby showers were held exclusively for mothers-to-be, and only women were invited to attend the party. In addition, baby showers were traditionally held only for the first child. Today, however, many people arrange baby showers for both parents, and they can now be also arranged for every succeeding children (even children who have been adopted).
Activities in a baby shower typically include games, special activies, presents, and, most especially, food.
Below are some of the most common baby shower recipes:
Pizza Sandwiches
Pizza sauce (can be store-bought or homemade)
Cottage cheese (lowfat)
English muffins
Parmesan cheese
1. Mix 2-3 tbsp of pizza sauce with 2-3 tbsp of cottage cheese.
2. Spread the mixture onto one half of the English muffin.
3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
4. Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve.
Creamy Tomato Soup
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 can tomato soup (condensed)
Milk
1 tbsp basil
Mozarella or croutons (for toppings)
1. Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the tomato soup.
3. Add milk (approximately the same amount as that of the tomato soup).
4. Add basil and cook slowly on low heat (do not boil).
5. Top with a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella and croutons. Serve.
Cheese Balls
1/2 lb cheese (cheddar or grated)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 pack cream cheese
4 oz Tabasco sauce
2 tsp onion
Chopped nuts
2 tsp catsup or chili sauce
1. Mix all ingredients together using a mixer or a food processor (the cheese should be at room temperature).
2. Empty mixed ingredients on small bowls lined with plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. To serve, remove wrap and sprinkle with nuts. Serve with assorted crackers.
Chicken Puffs
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2 cups cooked chicken
2 tbsp olives
2 tbsp wine
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1. Melt butter in boiling water.
2. Add flour.
3. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball.
4. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
5. Add egg and beat briskly until smooth.
6. Stir in cheese.
7. Scoop 1 tsp dough into a greased baking sheet.
8. Preheat oven to 400F.
9. Bake the puffs for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and split.
10. Combine the remaining ingredients with the finely chopped cooked chicken, pimiento, and olives.
11. Fill each puff with 2 tsp of the mixture. Serve.
There are just some of the baby shower recipes, there are numerous others to choose from - from sandwiches & finger foods, to snacks and dips and sweets - appetizing, yet simple and very easy to prepare.
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Great Baby Shower Ideas
By Dwain Griffith
Baby Showers - let us face it ladies raising a baby can be an up hill struggle keeping up with their demands like the feeding, burping and diaper changing followed by the demand for designer gear as the child grows older. Take action now with a celebration of a Baby Shower Party before all the joys of motherhood becomes reality.
Baby Showers are events held celebrating the news of a new baby, so it is a wise move to start organizing the occasion as soon as the word is out.
If you want the baby shower party to be a success on the day then all you have to do is greet all the guests with a smile along with a colourful decorated room.
Your choice of decor for your baby shower gathering may just involve an allotted space like the decorating of or around the banquet table. Tablecloths and napkins with cartoon characters or baby pictures emblazoned over them will brighten up that specific area - you can even place multi coloured figurines in and around the edibles.
If the gender of the baby is known at the time of the baby shower celebration then hang a pink or blue sheet behind the feast table and decorate accordingly with paper cut outs of toy boats or girlie dollies. By keeping to a particular area to decorate in the home or venue - you will have saved on time and space by not over cluttering. The space you saved will allow game activities to take place more comfortably than be confined to a certain spot.
Baby Showers need not be expensive - another penny saving idea and very cost effective one too - is to hand each guest a colourful paper hat on arrival. Personalize the headwear with a printed quote or saying, this will add a touch of uniqueness to your baby shower party. By doing this you are killing two birds with one stone, e.g. adding fun and colour to the occasion as well as it being your thank you gift donation. Novelties as such can be kept as keepsakes.
Remember the guests attending your baby shower party are not there to pass judgement on how you celebrate the good news of a baby on the way or on how you have decorated the room - this is about baby right so that is all that matters.
Cutting costs this way can give you enough savings to put by for the next edition to the family if there is to be one. Some women holding Baby Showers have no option but to cut corners with cost effective ideas to meet the needs of the child growing up. Babies are not babies for long.
Baby Showers need not cause the pocket sorrow. Plan carefully because babies of the future tend to grow up with friends - namely Tommy Hilfiger - Gucci and Reebok. That is why saving with cost cutting ideas in the early years may just help you to keep up with the childs demands even though you may not be happy with their choice in friends.
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