Marisa – Page 17 – Marisa Meidle's Baby Showers

Photo Booth for Baby Shower

It is the activities you pick for the baby shower that will make the party either super fun or a bit boring.

Baby Showers are intended to make the parents-to-be, especially the mom-to-be feel special. In doing so, you would want to make the ocassion memorable by putting together fun-filled activities. And ofcourse, you want to document and preserve these memories for the parents-to-be, and what better way to preserve memories than taking photos.

Photo Booth is a favorite and a sure hit in any parties. Set-up a photo booth to allow opportunity for some fun and exciting photos. While you have the games to get the fun started, photo booth on the other hand will add to that and make the party even more fun.

How do you set-up?

First, pick a spot or lacation in the venue of your baby shower, pick the spot that is out-of-the-way, but strategic and is visible to your guests.
Then, decide on the decoration and props. You can either decorate that the booth on your own or you can include them in the package or photo service you hired. There are plenty of photographers/videographers that offer photo booths in their packages. You can opt to hire one.

Personally, I prefer to go DIY on this. You can ask the parents-to-be to help or some of the guests (whom you know), they would be more than willing to help. Choose props, decorations and backdrops that matches with your shower theme. I have shared many baby shower theme ideas in my previoua posts. If you are looking for one, go check them out for inspiration.

You don’t have to buy new stuff or fancy art material or whatsoever for your decorations. You can be creative and practical with it by making use of some old materials and combine them with new stuff (if you really need to buy new).

To create the fun, gather some props like fake mustaches and wigs, trendy-oversized glasses, cool hats, signs, and or baby-related stuff like oversized pacifiers, baby bottles. You can also have some adult-sized onesies, diapers and other baby stuff that can be worn for the photo.

You can also create your own photo booth props using some cardboard or cut-out empty cantoon boxes and colored papers. You can use color pens or paint. Aside from props, you can also create your own huge frame using cartoon boxes or styrofoam, cut-out baby-related stuff or theme-related and paste them on the frame. There are a lot of video tutorial on DIY Photo Booth ideas on various video streaming and social media.

Then, don’t forget the camera – have a good one, if possible. Provide a camera, if you have. You can also ask your guests to bring cellphones with good camera or birng a camera if they have. Then, in between games or activities during the party, ask your guests to take each other’s photos on the photo booth. They can do solo, by pair or in groups.

Select a hashtag or you can ask your guests to come up with a cool hashtag of the day, and ask them to share their photos on social media using the hashtag. This will be a great way to collect and document fun and special memories.

Ladies Only Baby Shower Ideas

Traditionally, baby showers are all about the mom-to-be, with no intention of excluding the dad. But, it really used to be ladies only party – it’s all about the mom-to-be and her girlfriends.

Well, you can organize several baby showers, so it would be great to have one for the ladies only. A baby shower that focuses on the mom-to-be alone. Don’t worry, we’ll have the dad-to-be and his friends in another baby shower.

Here are some ideas on what activities to do for an all-girls baby shower.

1. Girls Night Out

Every girls night out is fun. So, gather all the mom-to-be’s closest girlfriends and head out for a fun, fun night. Wear your lovely dresses and do your hair and make-up, and head out for some night life. You have to remember though that your guest of honor is a prego, so choose a decent, safe but cozy bar where you can listen or sing along to live band.

You can also spend the night at one of the girlfriend’s place, wear your PJs, prepare snacks and popcorns, and binge-watch chick flicks or sing karaoke or do some fun dancing.

If you prefer to have it a little formal and quiet, you can book a space at a fancy or fine dining restaurant. Put on your lovely dress and enjoy the conversation and laughter over exquite meal while listening to some jazz music.

2. Pamper Mom-To-Be

Pregnancy and child birth for second time, third time or so moms-to-be, takes a lot of toll on their body. Since the focus of the shower is the mom, how about pampering her with full body and beauty treatmemt: massage, facial, manicure and pedicure and the likes. Wow, isn’t that relaxing?!

Gather all the mom-to-be’s girlfriends and book a salon all for yourselves for a day or hire home service. But the salon is more ideal and fun. Everyone gets a full beauty treatment while having chats and laughters.

Then, reserve a room or space at a lovely cafe or pastry restaurant. While you are having your favorite deserts, ask the mom-to-be’s girlfriends to present their gifts to her and then ask them to say some good words, some advice, tips and some parenting wisdom. It sure is going to make the mom-to-be feel special.

3. Tea Party

Ladies love some tea and pastries. That sounds yum and relaxing. So, bring out your lovely teacups and teapots, and prepare some colorful pastries and tea sanwiches or biscuits, and bring out your china and your flavourful tea.

A tea party is not going to be one, if you are not wearing a tea dress. So, make sure that when you send the invitation to the mom-to-be’s girlfriends, you inform them of what to wear. You can have this type of party indoors or outdoors. Personally, outdoor and daytime is the best venue and time.

What is lovely about tea party is that it makes for great photo opportunities while you enjoy the party. And if you don’t have the teapots and all, and the time to prepare snacks, then you can opt to hire catering services.

Finally, whatever activity you plan to do and whichever venue you choose, you can never go wrong as long as your goal is for the mom-to-be feel special while enjoying and relaxing with her girlfriends. Don’t forget to take pictures or better yet, turn on the video recorder.

I will be sharing more baby shower ideas in my next posts. Until then, enjoy the baby shower.

Just-For-Mom Baby Shower

In my previous post I have shared some baby shower ideas: activities and location. Here is another awesome baby shower idea – this one is focused on the mom-to-be. Traditionally, baby showers are ladies only, wherein the party is all about the mom-to-be and her friends.

If you plan to have an all ladies for one of the baby showers you plan to organize, then here are some ideas to help you be creative and plan out a fun, exciting and memorable baby shower.

This is especially great for second, third time or so moms-to-be. Although it works well for first time moms-to-be, but more so for the latter. Why? The experience of pregancy, childbirth and parenthood really takes a lot of toll on a woman’s “body.” That is why they deserve EXTRA tender love and care (TLC).

So, if it’s mom’s second, third or so baby, maybe this time she’ll need something for herself than baby items. Instead of buying baby gifts, focus on gifts for mom.

When you send invitations to your guests, inform them of the plan for a just-for-mom baby shower. Ask them to bring gifts for the mom – something she can use now (like maternity dresses, soothing moisturizers) or after childbirth (like certificate for house-cleaning or pampering services).

They can either gift her with some practical mom stuff or some pampering or even both. Here are some gift ideas:

– Stretch Marks Set Skin Care
– Pre-Baby Date Night Restaurant Gift Card
– Maternity Sleep Wear or Maternity Dresses
– Compression Socks
– Home-cooked Freezer Meals (to help her with the hassle of cooking while pregnant)
– Recipe Book (for baby food)
– Aroma Scented Candle and a Book of her favorite author (for relaxing)
– Salon Gift Certificate for whole body pampering (maybe few months after childbirth)

There are many other gifts you can give the mom to be. As her friend, I think you know what she’ll love. And if you’re a mom yourself, then you know what she’ll need during and after pregnancy, and what would make her happy.

Ideas for Baby Shower – Location and Activities

Why do we organize baby shower? What’s it really for? The goal of baby shower is not only for the gifts, but to show the mom-to-be or the parents-to-be love and support, to help them prepare for the responsibility of parenthood. Above all to celebrate the joy of a new life that’s about to come, and to make the mom-to-be or parents-to-be feel special.

Traditionally, baby showers are ladies only – it’s about the mom-to-be and her friends. But, these days it has also become special for dads-to-be, and so baby showers have become more fun with both the mom and dad’s family and friends.

Here’s a couple of ideas to help you organize and get creative on your baby shower. Ideas on what activities to do and where to have them.

1. Co-ed

Like I said, it used to be that baby showers are ladies only – it is about the expecting mom and her friends having fun. Today, you can mix it and also have the dad and his friends. You will be surprised at how cool dudes (dad or single) can be on baby showers. Their presence makes for the fun activities.

If you decide to go Co-ed, you need to consider the following things:

– go for gender-free or neutral decorations
– have variety of food, mix pastries with some burgers or barbecues for instance
– have drinks that works well with the ladies and the gents
– put together games that allows guests to mingle or work together, instead of working individually

Co-ed baby shower is really fun, you only need to plan it well and the best way to do it is to work with the parents-to-be, make sure to include the dad-to-be in the planning.

2. Take it Ourdoors

Indoor parties with awesome decors, food and exciting games is fun, but there is something about having party outdoors that makes it even more fun.

Perhaps its the sunlight, the fresh air, and the natural surrounding that sets-up the mood, lifts your spirit, and makes you feel comfortable even with people whom you are not acquainted with.

The only thing that could be a problem is the weather. But, if the weather is perfect, consider to have an outdoor baby shower. You can set-up some barbecue grill, organize outdoor games like frisbee golf course or tossing water balloons and other fun activities.

You can order catering too, and set-up some tents if needed. You can go DIY and set-up some hampers for example or you can hire set decorators to work on the theme you decide on.

What’s great about outdoor parties is the space, guests can move around easily and mingle. And it allows you to do a lot of fun games.

3. Couple’s Buffet

If you are looking for a simpler and quicker way of putting together a baby shower, perhaps due to time constraint. Then, you can actually host one by inviting certain number of guests on a buffet or eat-all-you-can.

You can reserve for a lunch or dinner at restaurant. You can book a room or the outdoor area or certain area of the restaurant (ex. the whole rigth side of the resto). Most restaurants if not all, will also allow you to set-up some decorations, as long as you remove them afterwards.

The great thing with buffet party is that it is hassle free – the place and the food are ready. The only downside is that you cannot do activities or games that needs moving around. And you can’t have too many guests at one time.

Still, there are fun activities you can do that doesn’t require guests to more around. Often, this kind of party is more intimate and special because you are closer to each other. So your activities can really focus on the parents-to-be.

Finally, there is no right or wrong baby shower. It is about what you and the parents-to-be wants, and what will make them feel special.

I will be sharing more Baby Shower Ideas in my next posts. Hope these ideas would help you in organizing your baby shower.

Virtual Baby Shower Game Ideas

A baby shower or any form of party isn’t fun or complete without some fun activities and games. Virtual party is not an excemption. If you are wondering, “how can do I get my virtual guests to play games? What games should we play? Is it even possible to play virtually?” Well, well you can, and there are lots of games you can play. Infact, most of the games I have shared in my previous posts can be turned into a virtual game.

Here are a few game ideas that are classic favorites that can be played virtually. Hopefully these games will give you idea on how you can give a virtual spin to other party games.

1. CHARADES

I am pretty sure you have already tried playing charades or if not, you have heard of it and have watched how it is played. This is a hilarious and exciting game. It is always good for laughs, especially when you can’t act out the words and had to improvise. You’ll be surprised at how goofy people can be, and it brings out people’s creativity and acting skill.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– list of baby-related actions to act out

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the shower, list down number of baby-related actions. Divide your guests into groups of 3 or 4. Write them down to take note of the members for each team. Then, divide your list into equal numbers of baby-related words.

When you send out invitation, include a note for the game and the list of baby-related words assigned for their team. Then before the game starts, announce the members of each team and confirm that they have received their list of action words.

Groups will take turns in acting out their words, one group after the other and one word at a time. Members of the groups will also take turns in acting out. While one group is acting out, the memmbers of the other groups will all have the chance to guess the word, but before answering, they will have to raise their hand. Watch your screen carefully with the help of the parents-to-be. The first person to raise their hand, gets the chance to guess first, and if their guess is correct, the point goes to his/her group. If the guess is wrong, then others will have to raise their hand on your que. Once all the baby-related words are acted out, the group with the most correct guesses wins.

2. WHAT’S THAT SONG

Who doesn’t love some nursery rhymes or lullaby/baby songs? You must have your favorites. This game is a classic one too, often it is called “name that tune.” This brings out your guests musicality.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– snippets of nursery rhymes and baby songs/lullaby (10 to 15 seconds)
– master list of titles of each snippet
– paper and pen/marker (to be prepared by the guests)

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the party, prepare recordings or snippets (10 to 15 seconds) of popular nursery rhymes or baby songs/lullaby. You can actually access or download these nursery rhymes and baby songs via streaming sites. Make sure that write down the title for each.

You can divide your guests into pairs or small groups or they can play individually. For this game, guests will need a paper and pen/marker. Make sure that when you send out the invitation, you include a note where they will need to prepare paper and pen/marker for the game.

During the game, ask your guests to guess the title of the nursery rhyme or baby song/lullaby. You will play the prepared snippet twice, then give your guests 10 to 15 seconds to write their guess on their paper. After 15 seconds, you will say GO! and all of them must show their answer on the screen. The guest or pair or group who makes the most correct guesses wins.

3. WHO

This is a cute and fun game. Like the previous 2 games, this is also a twist to a game played in usual baby showers (face-to-face) and it’s a classic as well.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– baby pictures of each guest
– paper and pen/marker (to be prepared by the guests)

HOW TO DO IT:

When you send out invitation, attach a note that they will prepare paper and pen/marker for the game and ask them to send you an e-copy/scanned or screenshot of their baby photo. Take note which guest does the photo belong to.

At the beginning of the baby shower, make sure that you have properly introduced each other. Remind them to remember each other’s names or have their full name/nicknames displayed on their screen.

During the game, you will flash or show the baby picture one at a time. Ask your guests to guess which guest it belongs to. They will write the name or nickname on their paper. When you say GO! they will raise their paper and show it on their screen. The guest/s who gets the most correct guesses wins.

These are but few game ideas that you can play virtually. If you have noticed they are all classic games played face-to-face. I have shared a lot of baby shower games in my previous posts, most of them can be played virtually. Take note of the simple spin or changes we made with the above games to make them into virtual games. You can do the same with other games played face-to-face.

It is quite easy to convert games to be played virtually. The only thing that you needed to do is notify your guests ahead of time on what they need to prepare or if they need to send you something (pictures, information, etc).

Finally, it does not make baby showers less fun doing them virtually. In fact, it is more practical and it allows more family and friends to share their love and support to the parents-to-be. Especially, for those who couldn’t come in person due to distance or health reasons. And you can actually have more than one baby shower, why not organize one virtually. It will be great help and support to the parents-to-be.