Archive for the ‘Baby Shower Stuff’ Category
Sometimes I feel like, as a woman, drama is something that I just have to deal with, no matter what. In my years on this earth I’ve learned that no matter what the situation, no matter who the players, drama is just going to find a way to slip into just about any situation and make it, well, dramatic. Never fails, trust me. It doesn’t matter if something has been planned so meticulously that there is a 99% chance it will go off without a hitch, that 1% will find a way to produce at least some drama.
With that said, there are a few times, very few and far between, where, for some reason, everything just sort of works out drama free. When this occurs it’s the most shocking thing in the world. You can’t really enjoy it, though, because the entire time you expect it to fall apart. It’s not until afterwards where you can bask in the beautiful, drama-free experience that just occurred.
For example, a few weeks ago I was put in charge of finding some baby shower favors for my friends’ upcoming baby shower. Personally, I hate being put in charge of getting stuff for other people’s parties because, like clockwork, something always happens to make the process that much harder. Typically it happens like this: about halfway through my search friend either changes her mind or decides that her original idea needs expanding on. This usually leads to either more work on my end or some hurt feelings.
So when I was able to track down and purchase baby shower favors quickly and get instant approval from my friend about what I was about to purchase, you can believe that I was still mildly skeptical. I assume it’s like how Chicago Cubs fans feel when their team is going to the playoffs. You want to believe that everything is going to go ok, but frankly you fee l in your heart of hearts that it’s all going to fall apart.
So it wasn’t until after the baby shower that I finally felt secure that the favors I picked out would work. They did, everyone loved them, especially my friend. She loves owls so I was able to track down some awesome owl themed favors which were met by oooo’s and awes during the event. When I got into bed that night and thought back I realized I did the impossible: I got through an event without drama. If I could bottle and sell that feeling I would.
Kimberly Green hopes that shopping for other supplies is as easy as shopping for baby shower favors.
What is it with women and cute? Why is it that someone like me, a person who prides themselves on not being a “girlie-girl”, still melts at the sight of some stupid animated baby animal? Is it just locked in my DNA or something? I can go into a zoo and look at a baby koala climbing on the back of its mother and I’ll just say “Ah, that’s interesting”, but if I pass a gift shop with a t-shirt featuring a cute, animated alligator I’ll stop in my tracks and go “aaawwww”. Seriously, alligators are not cute. They could eat me. Yet if you give it big eyes and a smile, yep, let me give it a hug.
I bring this rant up because I found something evil on the internet the other day. I was looking online for baby shower stuff as I’m in charge of planning a friend’s baby shower. I went on this site that sell’s packets of product based around baby shower themes that features everything you need for your party, from napkins to plates to favors. Anyway, I went on their theme page and they had… ummm… just about every cute, baby animal theme you could think off. The moment I came upon the page I could feel the change come over me. I assume it’s what the Grinch felt when his heart grew four-fold that Christmas morning.
Furthermore, it wasn’t just cute baby animals, it was cute baby animals with their parents. An animated owl and child… I was done. I had to remind myself that I was buying this for my friend and not for me. I’m sure my husband would not have been pleased when a 64-piece owl baby shower set arrived at our front door for no apparent reason.
And by the way: why is it that owls have such a strong hold over us women? Have you ever seen them at the zoo? They are by far one of the most boring animals you can watch. I mean, they are fine, they just aren’t, you know, worthy of praise. But put them in an animated pose, add a few hearts and a phrase like “Whooo loves you?” and suddenly they become a must have purchase. I mean they kill field mice with their sharp claws for goodness sake!
So anyway, yeah, I don’t know what comes over us. I ended up buying my friend the alligator themed card. You know, the same ones that eat baby gazelles. The animated ones are too damn cute, though.
Kim Green loves to help her friends find the perfect baby shower themes for their parties.
Women can like sports, right? I mean, usually we are into fashion and reality TV and stuff, but is it cool if we pause all that stuff to enjoy a little sporting event every once in a while, correct?
I bring this up because I had a crazy, crazy idea. I was put in charge of going over baby shower ideas for one of my best friends. She came here from England when she was young and, well, while you can take the girl out of England you can’t take England out of the girl. She is a giant soccer fan. I’m talking jerseys, yelling at the screen, and throwing things at said screen. This is why we probably get along so well as I am also a die hard soccer fan (US, not Britain, may I say) and have found myself throwing my fair share of popcorn at the screen.
It turns out that she planned her baby shower on the first Saturday of the World Cup. Oh, and at the exact same time as her beloved England is playing their first match. Oh, yeah, and it’s against the United States. Since we don’t want to miss the match and we don’t want to cancel the baby shower, we came up something a bit unorthodox: a soccer themed baby shower. Yeah, I know, it’s not the typical baby shower fair. It’s supposed to cute animals and Chinese food, right? But with soccer being my friend’s lifeblood, why not do something that she will enjoy.
And by the way, this isn’t just an excuse to watch the soccer game during the baby shower. Trust me, we would be doing that anyway. No, we are going all out for this party. All the typical baby shower stuff: cake, plates, centerpieces, etc. We found a place that will make a soccer cake (black and white with, umm, an English flag… her decision), and a website that has soccer related decorations, plates and cups. And for food? Why, it’s an all English theme… and no, not all English food is bad. We have bangers and mash (sausage and potatoes), some fish and chips (breaded and not breaded), and plenty of British snacks and drinks.
I’ve never been so excited for a baby shower. Besides the fact I get to watch an important soccer game with my friend, I think everyone else is going to have a blast. We told everyone to dress accordingly and have the right attitude coming in. And be ready to shout at the TV.
Author Kimberly Green is always looking for great baby shower ideas to share with her friends and family.
As with any party, the success of your baby shower is going to hinge on one simple thing: are your guests enjoying themselves? Most of this enjoyment will stem from the idea that their interest is being kept. For the most part your set: chances are everyone will enjoy themselves during the meal. Heck, everyone loves to eat, especially when it’s free catered food. Have you ever been to a bad office party when it’s catered with good food? Didn’t think so.
No, the true test of any baby shower occurs after the meal is served. This is the point where everyone will be full and truly need to be entertained to enjoy themselves. This entertainment usually comes in the form of baby shower games- specialized games that were developed to relate to the overall theme of the party: babies. These are games that are supposed to keep the attention of your guests, make them laugh, and let out that competitive nature that is inherent in women.
Besides the obvious baby connection, most baby shower games have something else in common: whimsy. These are not serious games, these are games that are, in a way, designed to highlight the more humorous (or gross) sides of having a baby. Take for example one of the stranger games in the baby shower arsenal: the melted candy bar in the diaper game. For those of you who have never played it, well, the description of the game is pretty much in the title. First you place a candy bar in a specially made diaper (umm, a clean diaper of course) then you melt it in a microwave until it looks like, well, you know. Next you bring them out and have guests attempt to figure out which candy bar is in which diaper using smell, texture and taste. Surprisingly, this always seems to be a hit at baby showers, probably due to the gross- out factor.
Continuing on the “whimsical” route, shops and websites offer games like ‘My Water Broke” where guests try to be the first make an ice cube containing plastic babies melt (get it, “water broke”?). Another popular game is the scratch-and-sniff “Who Smells The Stinky Doo”, where guests scratch off a special card and if they are the lucky (?) recipient of a smelly card they win the game.
Sometimes, though, the most popular games are the ones that are the simplest (and cheapest) in the arsenal. One of the most beloved games is one where you try to guess the number of squares of toilet paper it takes to fit around your pregnant friend’s belly. Sometimes money is involved as you can give the mother-to-be a dollar for each square. It’s a basic game, but can always enjoyable.
Kim Green loves to share her favorite baby shower games in the hopes others will have as much fun as she has.
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