April 2010

At my work, the “pregnancy bug” seems to be going around. Whether it’s their first or second child (or their sixth in some cases!), expecting mothers agree having a baby is an exciting time. All the planning and preparation can be overwhelming, especially when added to the unbalanced hormones. Baby showers are a welcomed escape because you get to leave the planning to someone else! Many women have multiple showers thrown for them by family, friends, and co-workers.  

A few years ago I threw a baby shower for a close friend of mine and I wanted every detail to be perfect. When it came time for celebrating my own pregnancy, I could truly appreciate all the time, love, and effort that go into planning such an event.  

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Guest Blogger Michelle Kelley is a marketing specialist advisor at FedEx Services and has been with the company for almost eight years. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two daughters and loves to plan parties down to the very last detail.  

When planning my daughter Anna's first birthday party, I searched for ways to make her party special. More than that, ways to make her guests feel special. See, it doesn't end with great invitations and a fun theme. Once the party is over, we try to always say thanks for the gifts that people have given. Remember that expression, "It's not over until the fat lady sings”? Well at our house, it's not over until the thank-you notes have been sent! ...read more

As a follow-up to Jenny’s post from last week, I thought I would share with you some fabulous shower ideas I’ve come across. Whether you’re planning for a boy or a girl or need to keep the party gender-neutral, Creative Party Place has some wonderful inspiration and ideas to create a perfect party experience. From themes and decorations, to games and spreads, this site is adorable. I love the variety of themes they offer like the “Bumble Bee” shower or “Nautical” shower. MyPunchbowl is another amazing one-stop party planning site worth checking out as well.  ...read more

Have you ever hosted a baby shower for a friend or relative? I remember how much I enjoyed my own, and I’ve had my fair share of opportunities to help organize these special occasions, too. My favorite part is designing the invitations. I love to personalize the invites and find unique ways to tie the theme of the party to the style of the invitations. It’s easier than you might think!

You can create your own design with programs like Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Photoshop Elements and use colorful borders, patterns and adorable clip art that match the theme of the shower. Shower themes can range from pastel-inspired parties to spa showers or tea parties. Whatever theme you decide on, don’t forget to weave that style into the decorations and invitations to create a consistent look throughout the party. There’s nothing more confusing than getting an elegant, formal event invitation, but you show up and it’s a very casual, informal affair!  ...read more