Archive for November, 2009
Planning for a baby shower can be a real ordeal – not for the expecting mother, of course, but for the ladies in her life who are charged with making the day a storybook success. It all starts with sending out invitations well in advance of the date so that friends and family can coordinate their calendars. Then there’s the matter of registering at stores for possible shower gifts. Last but not least, it’s up to the party planner to secure a venue.
The last time I planned a baby shower, I had every facet taken care of right down to the most minute detail. I was sure to get reservations to my friend Laurie’s favorite restaurant, and I put the invitations in the mail an entire month ahead of time. Unfortunately, in all the hubbub and commotion I forgot to buy a shower gift. In a panic, I started shopping around on the Internet and found the perfect newborn baby gift baskets. No one ever could have known that I left it to the last minute.
When preparing to attend a baby shower, there are hundreds of different gift choices for new mothers; everything from bottles, bibs, and blankets to toys for girls and boys. The choices can be a little overwhelming, and even if you find a perfect gift, there’s a chance that someone else will have thought to buy the same thing as you. Here are a few unique ideas for baby shower gifts:
~Baby gift baskets, you can find them online or in specialty stores, and they contain a variety of different gifts, some gender specific, some not.
~Clothes for 6 months to 1 year, most people will buy clothes for a newborn, but a mother will greatly appreciate a few sets of bigger clothes she won’t have to purchase as the baby grows.
~Baby skin care products, keeping a baby’s skin healthy is essential, these products will pamper the infant and also make them smell ever sweeter.
He’s the man who taught you how to change a flat tire, how to throw a baseball and – perhaps most useful – how to earn the title of grillmaster at any outdoor social event. He’s your dad, and there are a few times each year when it becomes necessary to thank him for all he’s meant in your life. While it might be tempting to get him yet another Brooks Brothers tie for Christmas, perhaps it’s time to think outside the box for a change.
My own father can be a real humbug during the winter, as he hates being cooped up indoors. He would much rather be outside fishing, performing home improvement projects or just lying in a hammock on some tropical isle. Unfortunately, the weather conditions in Northern Michigan conspire to foil those plans like clockwork every year. Still, that didn’t stop me from getting him a summer-themed gift last year. Gift baskets might not scream masculinity, but certain gift baskets for him – including the grill barbeque kit – are major exceptions to the rule.