When it comes to baby showers, you typically expect a dainty afternoon of baby shower games, food and well wishes.  But, from the moment I stepped in the door, I knew this one was going to be different.  From the decorations to the clever games, they had taken just about everything they could to the next level.  (Kudos to the event planner for creating such a wonderful event!)  I was so impressed with the shower and all the creative ideas, that I just had to blog about it.  And, so, here it is–my magical, marathon baby-shower experience.

Well, if you’re going to be in a place for FOUR hours (that’s the marathon part), you might as well have fun.  I didn’t know that I was going to need long-lasting companionship when I arrived, but thankfully, I was sitting at a table with some lovely, chatty women.  Throughout the course of the evening, we got a chance to talk about EVERYTHING under the sun–from Obama’s healthcare plan to viewing pictures of their babies and discussing business strategies–interspersed between a myriad of baby shower games.  Don’t get me wrong, the time passed quickly, as every activity was met with spirited celebration.  But, hey, when a shower starts at 5:00 pm and you have to sneak out at 9:00 pm with the festivities still in full swing, you have plenty of time to talk.

Let the games begin!

In addition to the regular stuff, like purse scavenger hunts, they played one game that was unexpected.  It was called the “potty game.”  Since the mom-to-be had spent much of the past few weeks going back and forth to the restroom, they thought it a fitting tribute to play a game that mocked her inability to hold it.  As buckets were lined up on one side of the room, participants had to race their way to the finish line while holding two quarters between their knees.  Needless to say, their potty walk made the race a lot more interesting.  When they got to the “pot”, they had to release the quarters into the bucket.  In hopes of ensuring a win, one participant hopped her way to the bucket without dropping a single coin but then lost it at the end by not getting her quarters in the bucket.  She was foiled by the proverbial pee on the seat–and no one likes that!

But, the adults weren’t the only ones having fun.  To be sure that the 8-and-under crowd didn’t feel left out from the festivities, they also had another room set up with arts and crafts, coloring books, games and face painting for the kids who attended.  It was really like two parties in one.

The decor and favors

In between playing games and gabbing, we had time to take in all the beautiful touches of the pink-and-brown decor.  They spelled the baby’s name with large wooden letters around the gift area, which was a great idea since they could then be used to decorate the nursery, and had plenty of “It’s A Girl” signs draped in pink tulle.  The tables were full of baby shower favors, including personalized bottles of water decorated with bows and pink pacifiers, mini photo frames and favor boxes filled with sweet treats on a bed of pink shred.  Absolutely lovely!  But the thing that was probably the most amazing was their idea for a guest book.  Instead of signing a book, a baby cutout or even an autograph teddy bear, we signed her pregnant body–well, almost.  They had taken a cast of her torso from the breast to the bump, and there is was in all it’s pink glory for us to sign.  It was quite the experience to say the least.

Cakes for Mom and Dad

Now, I’m not sure if this is what they had in mind (or if they just were trying to accommodate the 50+ people in attendance), but having two cakes at the shower sort of put me in the mind of the wedding.  You know, at the wedding you have a cake for the bride and a cake for the groom.  Well, it seems they did the same, offering two different desserts for the guests to enjoy.  One cake was an adorable fondant cake shaped like a sundress with polka dots and the oh-so-obvious baby bump.  The other cake was a round layer cake with mounds of hollow chocolate spheres bubbling up on top.  Both were exquisite and delicious.   It was a sweet ending to a wonderful welcome for baby.

So, if you’re planning a baby shower in the near future, maybe some of the ideas from my magical, marathon baby shower will inspire you.  If so, write back.  I’d love to hear the details.

In a manner of speaking, naturally. I just wanted to show you a few cute and clever ways to use drinkable and drink-related baby shower favors when you host your next baby shower.  After all, spring and summer are just minutes away, and these first three favors dress up your tables, thank your guests in a unique fashion and quench their thirst.

How festive these scrumptious drink mixes will look on your tables! Trust me, everyone will ask where you got them. From left to right is “Main Squeeze” Lemonade Mix, “Razzle Dazzle” Raspberry Iced Tea Mix and “Mix & Mingle” Key Lime Margarita Mix!

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

If you’re going to serve champagne or wine at the shower—it is, after all, a celebration—why not gift your guests with personalized glasses? The cool thing about these glasses is that they can be personalized with a cute design, a line announcing that it’s “Jane’s Baby Shower” and the event date, all in your choice of several colors. The champagne flutes are on the left, and hip, new stemless wine glasses are on the right:
A
A
A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

I’ll leave you with a wonderful toast you can make to the mom-to-be at the baby shower…

May your arms and hearts always be full
May your homes be full of laughter and sunshine
May your children grow with wisdom and love
May your house be a house of love and forgiveness

When most people think about St. Patrick’s Day, they usually don’t think about babies!  Bars, yes…babies, no.  But, we’re here to change all of that because it’s actually a wonderful time to celebrate the new little leprechauns in the family.  Here are three ways to make it happen!

#1 – Irish Baby Shower Theme

If you’re expecting and your baby shower happens to be in March, make it a St. Patty’s Day theme.  Have everyone bring Irish-themed baby gifts and decorate the place with green clovers.  You can even make Mom feel special with an Irish corsage that’s actually a handkerchief that she can use to wipe away the tears of joy.  It’s a wonderful way to wish the Mom and baby good luck.  And, believe you me, they’ll likely need it.

#2 – Baby Baptism

After the baby is born, it’s time to begin him or her on a life-long journey of faith.  And, having a baby dedication or baptism is a wonderful way to preserve and celebrate your Irish heritage.  Invite family and friends for the service, and offer a traditional Irish blessing over the baby and the family.  To commemorate the spiritual significance of the day, you can bring a keepsake bible or baptismal bib as a baby gift.  The family will truly appreciate the thoughtfulness, and it will surely become and instant heirloom.

#3 – Adorable Baby Costume

Your baby might not be a leprechaun, but wearing this baby outfit is sure to bring a lot of luck his way.  With a big green clover on the front and the words “Lucky Baby”, could it get any cuter?!  It’s the perfect thing to wear to a St. Patrick’s Day party or just bopping around town.  But, don’t think of this as just something cute to wear.  It’s really a tribute to your history and a way to keep those Irish eyes a smiling–which is what everyone will be doing when they see your baby wearing this bodysuit on the 17th or any other day for that matter.

There you have it!  Three ways to keep the babies in the mix because they’re born to have a good time!

Have you seen the new collection of unique baby gifts from Baby Aspen called “Big Dreamzzz”?  This line of  “future fame” sleepwear is too cute for words, and it gives the new Mom, Dad and baby something special to look forward to! Baby Aspen just launched the fourth in their ever-growing line—”Big Dreamzzz” Baby All-Star.

Unless you’re one of those individuals who believes girls should aspire only to traditionally female careers, this outfit will look just as cute on a girl as it will on a boy. Yes, I know people will automatically assume the baby in this outfit is a boy, so socially enlightened moms just need to be ready with a response to “Oh, what a cute little boy!”

Mom’s response: “Good guess, but no. This is my daughter Emerson Rose. We want to teach her from a young age that she can be anything she wants to be when she grows up rather than conform to society’s gender-biased expectations. Besides, we think this outfit is adorable!”

Not to worry! “Big Dreamzzz” has something for the traditionalists, too. Here’s the dainty and delightful Baby Ballerina sleep set. Ironically, I don’t believe what I said above holds true for this outfit. It’s clearly a girly thing. It’s highly unlikely a new dad would let his newborn boy be seen in Baby Ballerina, but you never know.

A

A

Meanwhile, there’s still “Big Dreamzzz” Baby MD and Baby Camo, both of which I believe would work for either gender, depending on baby’s parents. They may be doctors, members of the armed forces or avid hunters, and they would be proud to h ave their children follow in their footsteps. I can see an outfit like this becoming a keepsake—framing it after baby outgrows it and using it as nursery/wall decor to remind their little one of all the possibilities! As always, you’ll find these fabulous baby gifts first at Corner Stork Baby Gifts!

Moms and Dads on the go will thank product guru Karim Rashid for designing this unique mealtime baby gift.  It’s sleek, sophisticated–and it heats itself!  That’s right!  No more waiting to warm the milk or figuring out what to do when you’re away from home.  This innovative baby bottle actually does it all in no time flat, leaving you plenty more time to spend with your precious little one.

In about four minutes, it heats milk without the use of batteries or electricity–an organic heating cartridge is all it needs.  Just think about the freedom this little device brings! You can heat up your baby’s milk in the car, on the airplane, at the beach, at the mall…just about anywhere you decide to go!

Can’t you hear the angels singing– aaaaaahhhhh– as if the heavens are opening up and rejoicing over this one?  I know I sure do.  But, even if the heavens aren’t rejoicing, Mother Nature sure will be because this bottle has plenty of eco-friendly benefits that would make Mama proud:

• No BPA, PVC, Lead or Phthalates.
• Accommodates Dr. Brown’s, Meda, Pigeon and Nuk nipples
• 100 % organic disposable heating cartridge , that only contains salt and water.

Curious to see how it works?  Check out this cool–or should I say–hot video!

With Valentine’s Day just past, everyone was thinking about romantic rendezvous, candlelight dinners and plenty of smooching.  And, you know what all that love-making leads to, right!?–Babies! So, for about 11,000 of you couples out there (that’s the estimated amount of babies that are conceived on Valentine’s Day), it’s time to start thinking about baby showers.  In just nine short months, your little one will be making his or her debut.  Considering how the whole thing got started in the first place, let these heart baby shower favors share the love at your shower!

For a simple idea that’s easy to make, this heart-shaped case can hold your favorite candies to thank your guests.  And, because it comes as a do-it-yourself favor kit, you won’t have to run around trying to find everything you need.  It’s all included, except for the candy, of course!

For the Mod Mom, this heart luggage tag sends you and your guests off on a journey that began with love.  Accented with white dashes that resemble flowers, this distinctive black baby shower favor is a useful way to carry baby’s first photo–and you’ll always be able to identify your luggage at the airport!

Speaking of useful gifts, here’s another one of my favorites.  This silver bookmark is perfect for people who like to read–and even for those who don’t because it can be used to mark recipes in a book, a page in your diary, or even a calendar page in your daytimer.  There are so many uses for this sleek bookmark, your guests will be glad you chose it.

Now that we’ve got the baby shower taken care of, come back in November when the baby is born for some cute baby gifts .

According to one retailer of baby clothes, Dawn Torress, who has eight years’ experience running her own online baby boutique,  infant fashion for 2010 will be highly influenced by social responsibility.

She says, “Parents have a new sense of social awareness and are optimistic for what the future holds for our children. They continue to want the best for their babies, but what’s changing is what they consider “best.”

A Change for the Better!

The new “best,” Torress says, is unique baby clothes that are free trade, sweat-shop free, preferably made in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Europe or Australia. And the best is even better if it’s eco-friendly, made from sustainable fabric, organics and bamboo. The new fabrics are richly colored and ultra-soft against baby’s delicate skin.

I wholeheartedly agree with her. What a wonderful opportunity for parents to “think globally and act locally!” Every positive thing we do to improve the economics and sustainability of our planet, no matter how small you think it may be, is one more step in the right direction. The fact that these new sustainable fabrics are less scratchy and more comfortable for baby makes them doubly worthwhile.

What’s Hot for Tots?

Styles for baby clothes this year, Torress says, are “preciously classic, yet relaxed.” Warm pinks and sky blues are in again with argyle and kimono side ties. Colorful whimsy prints—orange owls, rich chocolate trims, turquoise guitars and animal prints are now popular, too, especially among celebrities in Los Angeles, where Torress is based. Little girl dresses are taking their inspiration from “the storybooks of Renaissance princesses and a midsummer’s night dream.”

Of course, with their sense of style as yet undeveloped, babies determine their favorite fashions using the “itch” factor. If it doesn’t itch, baby’s good to go!

Giving new meaning to the phrase “Bun in the oven,” you can decorate your “baked goods” with a little henna.  Turning your ever-rising roundness into a creative canvas is the latest way women are embracing the joy of motherhood.  What a unique way to celebrate the beauty of the belly and give burgeoning pregnant women an opportunity to recapture the gorgeous, sexy feeling that seems to slip away during this awkward stage.

I recently read about a photographer and henna artist in Colorado who have teamed up to provide this unique service.  Leah Reddell has been a professional face painter for years and began painting intricate henna designs on “preggo bumps” three years ago.  For her, it’s a ritual — a sort of rite of passage marking the final days of gestation.  “I also see it as a shift of perspective toward a new opening of beauty. The pregnant belly isn’t exactly glamorous, between stretch marks, that weird dark line, blotchy, itchy, dry and generally irritated skin.  Then pop goes the belly button.  Good God. By month eight, most women`s big concern is how in heck to get the baby out of there ASAP — not how to relish the last few weeks of pregnancy,” she says.  But, she has found a way to do just that.

How it works?

Clutching what looks like a pointy pastry bag, she slowly squeezes brown paste onto the woman’s pregnant belly, creating beautiful designs freehand.  Only limited by your imagination, she has created designs from symbols of peace and strength to flowers.  Capturing the process and the finished product on film, her partner photographer Maureen Sullivan stylizes the photo with interesting props, scarves and poses.  It’s Glamour Shots for baby bumps!

Why Henna?

Unlike a tattoo, which can be painful, the henna paste feels cool and relaxing when applied.  Smelling of lavender and lemon juice, it’s also very calming–a great thing when you’re eight months pregnant.  A temporary tribute, the stain lasts about three weeks and fades as your skin exfoliates, so you don’t have to worry about how it’s going to look on your flatter stomach post-delivery.  But, before you rush out to try it, be sure you know what’s in your henna. Henna paste is safe for a pregnant belly, but make sure your artist doesn`t use black dye, which can burn your skin.

Don’t stop at the baby bump–make it a fun baby shower theme!

Whether it’s the beautiful design or the frangrant aroma, be inspired by this unique experience.  Turn this private celebration into a party theme for your baby shower.  You can show off your hand-painted artistry while your guests get their own henna design.  Talk about unique baby shower favors!  This one may fade in a few weeks, but the memories will last a lifetime.   You can even ask guests to bring treasures from the East as baby gifts, like this feng shui plush bear.  It’s adorable and meaningful, since many believe that that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth and personal relationships.  These black damask compact favors are also a wonderful complement to an Asian baby shower theme, as well.  You can even bring in a masseuse and treat everyone to a relaxing massage.  Can’t you just hear the water trickling down the fountain and the soothing spa sounds while you read this?

We all love babies, don’t we? Yes! All the time? No. Babies, particularly crying babies, aren’t so cute when you’re seated next to one on an airplane or when mom brings her newborn to the movie theater.  How about four babies in a movie theater, exercising their new little lungs?

Due to be released in 2010, Babies: The Movie is described as “a visually stunning and joyful new film that simultaneously chronicles the lives of four of the world’s newest human inhabitants – in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo, respectively — from first breath to first steps, on a journey at once universal and amazingly original.”

Judging from the trailer, the movie delivers on its promise to be visually stunning. We, as the audience, get a rare look at parenting in other countries and watch how babies develop skills. By the end of the movie, we’ll want to run out and buy them all first birthday gifts!

Here’s a peek at Babies: The Movie:

Who could have imagined we’d pay money to hear babies crying in a theater!

It’s been widely known that babies can hear inside the womb and even respond to a person’s voice.  But, to think that a tiny, motionless embryo can feel–and even thrive–when rocked outside the mother’s womb…well, that’s just amazing!

While trying to improve the survival rates of embryos during the IVF process, researchers came across this astounding discovery.

Just like Mom used to do

According to MSNBC, “by gently rocking embryos while they grew during in vitro fertilization, scientists increased pregnancy rates in mice by more than 20 percent. The same rock-a-bye procedure could lead to more success for in vitro fertilization in humans, the researchers say.”  Statistics show that only a small portion (about 35%) of fertilized eggs survive the implantation, so these efforts to increase their viability is encouraging news to waiting parents with infertility problems.

“One of our goals for years now has been to modify how we grow embryos in the lab to be more like how they grow in the human body, because we know that the human body grows them most efficiently,” said Gary Smith, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The hand that rocks the cradle…

It’s been said that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.  But, what happens when it’s a scientist that does the rocking?  In this case, it can make a world of difference.  Mimicking the motion embryos experience in the body as they make their way down the woman’s Fallopian tube to the uterus, Smith’s device gently rocks them to their destination. “By making the cells feel more at home, we get better cells, which is key to having better infertility treatment,” said study researcher Shu Takayama.  An added benefit–the device allows nutrient-rich fluids to flow in and waste to move out.  The periodic “rocking” by the fluid flow fosters a more healthy environment.

Rock on, baby!

Amazing that such a simple thing can have such extraordinary results.  If the swaying motion can affect a budding embryo like that, just think what it can do after the baby is born.  With that in mind, it’s just another example of why rocking horses, cradles and swings make great baby gifts.

Get baby moving in the right direction with this cradle baby gift that has a full layette set, including hooded towel, Velcro bib and burp pad, receiving blanket, hat, undergarment and booties in a decorative metal cradle.  This on’e available in pink, blue or yellow, so you know you can’t go wrong.  But, just so you don’t think that rocking is just for babies (and embryos), this rocking chair makes an adorable toddler gift or sibling gift when the next new baby arrives.  There’s even a place to insert your little princess’ photo for a personalized baby gift that’s sure to be a family keepsake.