Wedding Favors on a Shoestring Budget - Ideas For Spring

It's Spring and what a more beautiful time for a wedding. Every bride (and groom) wants her (and his) day to be fabulous. Weddings can cost a fortune. The average wedding in the United States costs over $20,000 and that doesn't include the rings or honeymoon.

Wedding favors don't have to be expensive and can still be a lovely remembrance of your special day. Here are a few ideas for thoughtful wedding favors on a shoestring budget.

When displaying the wedding favors place several boxes on the table and cover with a cloth that matches the table cloth or carries out the color scheme. Place the favors on top of the boxes as well as on the table. Variety in height makes the favors seem more noticeable. All the favors laid out in rows all the same height is boring.

Place a package of flower seeds in a cellophane bag that has a bit of colored straw at the bottom. Tie with curly ribbon in your wedding colors and add a card that's says "Watch Our Love Grow" with your names and date of the wedding. Starting several pots of the flowers is a nice touch and adds some color to the favor table as well. Guests will be able to see their gift in full bloom.

Candles are not expensive. Visit the dollar store or Goodwill store and buy an assortment of wine glasses, they don't have to match. Tie a curly ribbon around the stem of the glass with a card that says "Light Up Love" with your names and date of the wedding. Place a votive candle in the wine glass. You can stabilize the candle with just a dab of hot glue.

Candy kisses can be placed in the wine glass. Covered with plastic wrap and then tied to the stem with curly ribbon so they don't fall out. Order personalized M&M candies and do the same thing. Since the candies are not cheap, put a bit of crumpled colored tissue paper in the bottom of the glass and the candies on top. You'll use less candies and the tissue adds color.

One very personal touch takes a little time and effort but not a lot of money. Have a friend with a digital camera follow the bride and groom as they greet each guest and snap a photo. Or have the amateur photographer snap each guest with the bride and groom as the guest goes down the receiving line. The photos are then printed at the reception and pinned to a cloth covered bulletin board. As each guest leaves they take their photo with them.

Your wedding favors will be remembered and you can keep your wedding on a shoestring budget.

FREE Report Weddings on a Shoestring Budget. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. Find more budget wedding tips

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Candyland Party Theme - For the Sweetest Party of the Year!

For a colorful Candyland party theme, start with a rainbow of bright colors. Then add a few adorable Candyland characters, and you'll soon have everyone shouting, "Goody, Goody, Gumdrops!"

CANDYLAND PARTY THEME IDEAS FOR INVITATIONS

Candy Jar Invites - Fill empty baby jars with various candies. Create your written invitation on theme-related scrapbook papers, laminate, hole-punch and run a ribbon through the hole, tie to the jar, and hand-deliver your invites. Add a fun Candyland sticker on the front of each jar.

Alternatives: Attach your invite to a large colorful lollipop or a small bag of candy and hand-deliver.

CANDYLAND PARTY THEME DECORATIONS

This is the perfect party for going all out with lots of fun colors and making the Candyland game board come alive. Here's some ideas to help you turn your party area into the land of candy:

For an extra-special pathway, cut a wavy path out of large cardboard boxes, e.g., a refrigerator box and create your Candyland path by gluing various colored felt squares or foam squares to the cardboard.
Line your walkway with extra-large lollipops. These may be created with hot glue or by stapling two paper plates facing one another, spray paint the plates, cover with coordinating colored cellophane tied off with curling ribbons, and attach to yard stakes.
To start the Rainbow Trail, create a rainbow arch using balloons. If you have a wood arch available, all you have to do is attach the colorful balloons in a rainbow pattern to the arch. If you don't have an arch, then you can create one using PVC pipe for the sides and an aluminum rod for the curved portion at the top. Attach the rods together using duct tape or electrical tape.
You can make the Gingerbread Tree out of cardboard or plywood. Attach gingerbread men and plums to your tree. You can make and decorate the gingerbread men, wrap them in clear cellophane before attaching to your tree, and then hand them out as a party favor when the party is over. You can attach small dark purple balloons to the tree to serve as the plums.
Create a life-size Candyland board game by painting your squares onto the largest painter's tarp that you can find. Use an actual Candyland game board as your guide. The kids will serve as the Candyland pieces. Use the Candyland game cards to guide how the kids move on the board.
Make gingerbread houses to serve as table centerpieces.
To create Peppermint Stick Forrest, make extra-large candy canes out of cardboard. Spray paint them white and paint on red stripes. Use lots of red and white twisted streamers, curling ribbons, and balloons for this area.

CANDYLAND PARTY THEME IDEAS FOR FOODS
Cut sandwiches into gingerbread men and rainbow shapes using cookie cutters.
Serve individual servings of french fries in paper snow cones tha are decorated with a Candyland sticker.
Serve rainbow Goldfish crackers and rainbow Pringles.
Set-up a fun candy buffet by placing various candies into clear glass containers, vases, jars, etc.

Find more sweet ideas to help you create a Candyland Party Theme by visiting www.birthday-party-ideas-101.com, a party planning website written and edited by Professional Organizer, Elizabeth Chastain.

Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

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Ideas for the Best Kids Spring Party!

Spring has finally arrived, with longer, brighter days and what better way to throw your child a party than to have it outside in the spring sunshine!

With pretty flowers starting to blossom and the weather not too hot, spring is a great time to have a party outside either in a garden or a park.

Here are the top three children's themes for fabulous spring party:

1. A Flower Garden Party:

This is probably more tailored to girls than boys, but there is no reason why especially younger boys wouldn't enjoy this party theme too.

Send out invitations with a flower theme or be creative and make your own with lots of art and craft materials. This is sure to impress your party guests!

Try making your own flower decorations using tissue or crepe paper and string them up to make flower chains which can be hung between trees, bushes or fences.

You can also buy paper lanterns with a flower design which look great outdoors too.

Try grouping together some coloured balloons to form a flower shape.

Lay out the party table with flower themed tableware. You can decorate the table with real petals as confetti or have a fresh flower bouquet centre piece.

If you haven't hired a party entertainer there are many fun things you can do to keep the kids entertained that fit in well with this theme, such as:

Get Crafty - kids can decorate flower pots, or make paper bouquets.

Play games such as Relay races with watering cans, Pin the Petal or Bee on the Flower.

Face painting or Flower Tattoos

For food, you can make delicious cupcakes and decorate them with frosting and fondant flowers. Cut sandwiches into flower shapes or make flower shaped biscuits.

As a unique party gift, if the children have decorated a flower pot you can add some flower themed gifts like a packet of flower seeds, flower design accessories and some sweets and place each pot on a plain cellophane bag and tie each one with a ribbon. Children love to be rewarded for their efforts!

2. Bugs & Insects Theme Party:

Make your own Bug or Insect design invites and don't forget to tell your guests to come dressed as their favourite creepy crawly!

Make card cut outs of various bugs, such as lady birds, caterpillars, spiders, beetles, butterflies, dragonflies and bees which you can easily dangle from tree branches and bushes.

Adapt games to fit the theme, such as Pin the Spider on the web or Pin the Wings on the Butterfly.

Be creative with the party food. Chocolate Rice Crispy cakes topped with a jelly worm will go down a treat. Juice could be labelled as 'Bug Juice' or Sausage rolls as 'Bug rolls', but be careful though not to put children off eating the food!

3. Teddy Bears Picnic Theme Party:

This is a wonderful theme for a spring party, especially for younger children.

Instead of asking each guest to bring along their favourite teddy or soft toy, they can make their own teddy as part of the entertainment. There are many easy to make soft toy kits available. Parents can also get involved and help out too!

Lay out a good sized blanket or tablecloth on the grass ready for the picnic feast.

As an alternative to plates, use party food boxes. They come in a range of bright colours and various themed designs and are great to fill with sandwiches, party snacks and a carton of juice.

Take along a 'Pass the Lucky Dip box', which is filled with pre-wrapped gifts. When the music stops they pull out a gift!

As party gifts, each child can take home their Teddy creations.

You could also buy small wicker baskets with handles which can be decorated with ribbon and filled with treats and a piece of birthday cake.

For more ideas for a perfect spring party, visit Best Kids Party where you will find kids party tableware, decorations, party boxes, fun handmade kids party bags, birthday gifts and lovely dressing up outfits.

Sign up to the newsletter to receive a 10% discount.

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How to Host A Princess Party

There are not too many little girls I know who don't love playing princesses. Dressing up and wandering about in frills and tiara's seems to be a favorite pastime for most girls under 6. When it comes to having a birthday party for your little princess or princesses, there is nothing better than throwing a glittery princess party.

Firstly you need to send out the invitations. They can be completely hand made, or you can buy some invitation cards and write in the names and addresses. The other option is to have them completely printed up. Personally I like the handmade approach.

To make a nice princess invitation card, start with a large piece of pink cardboard and cut it up into a large crown or tiara shape. Then using some glitter and some sparkly stickers enjoy decorating the jewel tips of the card. Write on the bottom half of the card the date and time of the party and include an RSVP time and phone number. Make a note too that the girls should come dressed up as a princess, to help make the party atmosphere all the more special.

It is polite to have these in the mail about 4-6 weeks before the party to give people enough time to make arrangements and buy a gift.

Decorations for a princess party can be a fairly simple affair; balloons in pink and silver are a nice touch strung up around the party area. You can also use pink and white crepe streamers twisted together. A nice activity for that the kids can help with is to make paper chains to add color. Just cut up thick rectangles of paper in your chosen colors and link then together with a stapler is the easiest way.

Every child's party needs some party games. You could play one called "The princess and the pea" where an adult hides about 15-20 Peas (ping pong sized balls of scrunched up crepe paper) The princesses have to find the peas, the winner being the one who finds the most. Then to wind down after the games you could choose to read a princess story. Perhaps "The Princess and the Pea" would be a good choice if you do the game mentioned before.

Princesses need to have their royal banquets, so lots of pretty food will be necessary. Some thought should go into the crockery and cutlery too. The easiest way to do this is to buy and use plastic plates and cups, and these can be bought in practically any colour so you'll easily be able to find something to match your theme. It might be fun to find some old odd bits of china, saucers, cups and plates to add some extra fun to the table.

The food for the princess party might include, dainty sandwiches cut into shapes like butterflies or stars. Some fairy bread and of course some little cupcakes or fairy cakes. Princesses love their milk shakes; so you could make up a few different flavors and let the girls choose their own paper straws.

Gift bags or goody bags to take home from a princess party should be as sparkly as possible. Consider, pens or pencils the sparkle, glitter glue, or some face paint. Bath items like lip gloss, hair gel, bubble bath or sparkly hair accessories are also ideas you can use. Wrap up whatever you choose in clear cellophane with some stars and glitter in it, will make it shine and look wonderful. I hope these ideas will help you and your daughter enjoy her princess party.

Glenys Power is the owner of an Australian e-store called Cupcake City where you can purchase lovely items such as cupcake carriers to help with your own home cooking.

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Self Seal Bags For Many Uses

Self seal bags are convenient modern packages. The diversity of options that these items come in, allows anyone to find suitable items for their specific needs. These plastic bags can come in virtually any size, color, material, density, opaqueness, and numerous other options to choose from. The best point is that any of these diverse containers will have a convenient adhesive reseal strap on them, which can be sealed as many times as needed.

Some of the most popular materials for self-sealing items are cellophane, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Cellophane is an affordable and lightweight bio-plastic; it is less durable than other materials. Polyethylene is more durable; it can come in a number of densities, including LDPE (low-density) and HDPE (high-density). Polypropylene is yet more durable; it comes as regular PP or OPP (oriented polypropylene).

The self seal bags can be crystal clear or colored. The colored film can have varying degrees of opacity - it can be semitransparent or 100% opaque. The crystal clear plastic is perfect for displaying the contents. The shaded semitransparent plastic is great for color-coding stored items. The most common colors for totally opaque film are black, blue, and amber. Black opaque film is great for hiding the contents. Blue opaque film is typically used to mail documents and other lightweight items. Amber opaque film is known to protect the contents from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

You can find sealable bags in all styles of film, such as flat, gusseted, and bubble. Depending on your needs, one type of material can suit you better. For instance, the flat material is great for any type of use. Gusseted material is perfect for gift and food (cookies, candies) wrapping. Bubble material is perfect for added protection of delicate items, such as jewelry or crafts, as well as for posting/mailing anything that needs to be protected from damage. Moreover, any of these types of bags can come in any shape, including square, rectangular, oval, and round.

The self seal bags can also come in assorted sizes - they don't necessarily have to be small. In fact, you can find those that are as large as 10"x15", and more. Even the largest items are extremely lightweight, which can help you save on postal costs. They will also help you save space, as they don't take up much space either. In fact, they are so thin and lightweight that they are sometimes sold by weight rather than by count.

There are many other custom options that a sealing plastic bag may have. For instance, the seal of the item can be located on its side or bottom. The item can feature antistatic material or the material that's completely safe for storing food (FDA approved). It can have a tamper evident seal for the protection of the contents from unauthorized access. You can also have custom printed products made to your order - these can feature your marketing information, gift message, or your company logo. All in all, the convenient and affordable self seal bags are perfect for storage, retail, presentation, gifts, and many other common uses.

For more information on self seal bags visit Promotional-Merchandise.org.uk. Here you will find more articles and tips on marketing items as well as a Quick Quotes form where you can conveniently submit your request in one form and get responses from multiple suppliers so that you can find the best price and promotional items for your marketing needs.

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Barbecue Secrets - Checklist of Essential Items For Competition

This is an article for people who are new to competitive barbeque and preparing for their first competition. I have assembled a list of things that will keep you on top of your game and ready to take on the big boys.

Obviously, your smoker!
A portable pop-up tent or something to work under
Lights for the tent if electricity is available. If not, lanterns with batteries or a portable generator
At least two 20 pound bags of charcoal, maybe 3 or 4 to be safe. And if at all possible, use 100% lump charcoal, not briquettes.
A charcoal chimney or propane torch for lighting your fire
A supply of wood for your fire
A lighter
Aluminum foil pans
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Heavy duty cellophane
A couple of 5 gallon jugs full of water
A couple of plastic tubs for washing utensils
Dishwashing liquid
Plastic scrub brush
Several rolls of paper towels
Wet wipes
Bleach solution in a spray bottle
Large plastic cutting board
1 or 2 long fold out tables with extensions on the legs that allow you to stand comfortably and work
Electric slicer
Sharp knives
Meat thermometers
Flashlight with extra batteries
At least two coolers with ice
Heat resistant gloves for removing hot meat from the smoker
Spray bottle with plenty of apple juice
Rubs, spices and sauces
Tongs and basting brushes
Plastic bucket for brining poultry
Salt for making brine
Box of latex gloves for prepping meats
Aprons
Trash bags
Large zip lock bags
Lawn chairs, sleeping bags & pillows

Of course, you will bring your meats, greens for the turn in boxes, beer, sodas, snacks etc. but the list above would be considered essentials. As you grow in experience, you will begin to add things to this list. Good luck and have fun!

For more information on barbecue secrets visit me at barbecue competition checklist.

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The Top 10 Practical Christmas Gifts

For many of us, Christmas gift shopping has become more of a nightmare than a series of pleasant excursions to the local malls and shopping venues. Gone are the days when you'd browse the shops for prettily packaged soaps and bath salts, the latest bestsellers, or next year's calendar or diary. Christmas gift shopping has become more complicated for a number of reasons:

1. Christmas is now big business.

When I was a child, people could anticipate finding an acceptable Christmas gift for under $20. Books, stationary products and bathroom gift packages were always good choices if you didn't have the knowledge (or the budget) to buy someone what they really wanted. Everyone seemed pleased by these simple gifts and no one was left seriously in debt after their Christmas shopping spree.

The nature of Christmas gifts has changed over the years from small generic items to more specific choices. Children are given the latest must-have toys, while both teens and adults often receive gadgets and appliances such as ipods, mobile phones, cameras, computers, sound systems and televisions. The cost of the average gift has risen substantially, with the result that we're are often faced with large credit card bills after loading up our cards with Christmas gift purchases.

2. Most people already own whatever they need.

In the age of ready credit, most people tend to buy things as they need them. We're not necessarily talking about big ticket items like cars or big-screen televisions, but items like technology, household items, appliances and clothing. Children and teenagers from upper middle class families seem to be especially well equipped with "toys" of all kinds. As for adults, as long as they're making good money, they tend not to skimp on life's little luxuries (as well as necessities), so you're often hard-pressed to find a gift that they'd actually want but haven't already bought.

3. Most people have very specific preferences.

Even with small items you can run into problems:

Does the book lover in your family already own the latest bestseller? Has he or she moved on from reading legal thrillers to spy novels? The same questions apply to DVDs.
Do the women in your family still wear the same perfume, or have they chosen a new favorite scent?
If someone uses a calendar or a diary, what type do they prefer? Many people like a specific size or page layout and won't use a calendar or diary that is different.

No matter what the item, do you know the brand or label someone prefers? Most of us are very clear on what we like so it's a waste of your money to buy something that doesn't fit that category.

My Top 10 Practical Christmas Gift Ideas

So how do you buy for people who, on the surface at least, have everything they need? Here are my solutions after wasting far too much money in the past on Christmas gifts that weren't appreciated.

1. Give cash.

Handing everyone a $50 bill enclosed in a pretty Christmas card may seem crass but it solves a couple of problems. The recipient can buy exactly what they want with the money, plus you've eliminated all the stress of gift selection. Everybody wins. We instigated this system in our family once the children reached their teens.

2. Set up a one-gift-per-person system.

Everyone in the family writes a list of 5 choices (within a specific budget) and places it into a bowl. Each family member then selects one list and buys one item on it. At Christmas everyone gets something they actually want and the expense is kept to a reasonable limit.

3. Give gift vouchers.

If you know someone loves a particular store, buy them a gift voucher from that store. Again, they can purchase an item that they really want.

Unless you know their tastes extremely well, don't be tempted to create some other kind of homemade gift that they'll feel obligated to keep because you put so much effort into it!

4. Make up a gift basket.

Buy an inexpensive basket, some cellophane and a ribbon, then fill the basket with a dozen or so small items. The best choices are bathroom products (check out the person's bathroom first for preferred brands) and food items (check out their cupboards and fridge!).

5. Buy clothing and accessories judiciously.

Unless you know a person's tastes very well, it's difficult to buy clothes for them. The exceptions are items like bathrobes and luxurious underwear, but always keep the receipt so they can exchange the gift if they choose.

6. Buy a membership or subscription.

No, we don't mean a gym membership or something that requires active participation - unless you know the person really wants it. Depending on their tastes, you can buy a membership in clubs like wine of the month, coffee of the month, flower of the month and so on. You can also buy a subscription to their favorite magazine or newspaper.

For children you can buy a series of swimming classes, martial arts classes, etc, that they've requested, or you can sponsor them for an event or field trip.

7. Buy tickets.

If you know someone is a fan of a particular performer or sport, buying them tickets to the next event can be a very appreciated gift. If the tickets aren't on sale yet, print up a voucher on your computer that spells out your offer. And be sure to follow through!

8. Give a travel voucher.

This is more suitable for a romantic partner or spouse. Book a surprise weekend getaway but be sure the dates are convenient. If it's too early to set the dates, create a voucher on your computer and honor it.

9. Give a service voucher.

Create a service voucher for items such as an annual spring-cleaning or monthly gardening service for an elderly relative, a series of massages, romantic dinners, etc, for a spouse or partner, and so on. You can do this for any task, and either perform it yourself or outsource it.

10. Give them exactly what they want.

If you've checked with other friends or family members and you know FOR SURE that someone has been pining after a particular item, providing it's within your budget, buy it! It's not often you get an opportunity to please someone like this.

So rather than searching online for a one-size-fits-all list of the top 10 Christmas gifts this year, take a step back and consider what the people in your life already have and/or really want. Then choose something that fits their wants and needs as well as your budget.

Happy Christmas gift shopping!

Marguerite Bonneville is a contributing writer at Romantic Gift Ideas Online, a resource site dedicated to researching the best romantic gifts for all occasions. To download your free copy of our guide to choosing a romantic gift, visit the site at www.romantic-gift-ideas-online.com.

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Two Peas in a Pod - Baby Shower

Every year, around 3% of births in the U.S. are twins, and that number has been slowly increasing. Of course, twins mean twice as much as everything for the parents, and you'll want to throw an extra special kind of baby shower for them.

Consider planning a themed baby shower, as a theme will determine the decorations, invitation style, etc. With these parameters in place, the baby shower is easier to put together, and a "two peas in a pod theme" is the perfect baby shower for twins!

Think In Pairs

Two peas in a pod has become a popular enough theme that you will find several companies offer invitations, custom labels, thank you cards, decorations, and party favors all in this theme. As you shop around and compare companies, you'll want to look for several things:

Pick a company that can supply as many of the products you need as possible. This enables you to coordinate all the elements together, with a consistent look, colors that match, and one font throughout.
Look for a retailer who doesn't require a minimum order - this way, you can order just the number of invitations you need. Also, if the retailers offers you a couple of extra mailing envelopes, that's a bonus!
Many companies or printers offer the two peas in a pod design with the "little sweet peas" in a variety of ethnicity. This allows you to get the perfect invitations, party favors, thank you cards, etc.

Twice As Nice

Once you've chosen your baby shower invitations, you'll need to plan food and refreshments and party favors.

Keeping within the two peas in a pod theme, any dishes that include peas, snow pea pods, or even food that looks like peas (such as grapes) will work. Asian-inspired salads of snow peas, mai fun noodles, and julienned carrots in a ginger-miso dressing are a perfect first course, especially if served in round green bowls. Another option is pasta tossed with early spring vegetables, like fresh sweet corn, diced baby carrots and sweet peas, tossed in a light broth and citrus sauce. A fruit salad of grapes, melon balls and kiwi quarters completes the theme.

Party favors are a snap for a two peas in the pod baby shower: scented soy candles in green, topped with a two peas in the pod label is a great beginning. Add to that, cellophane bags ofwasabi peas or green-dyed mini popcorn balls. Finish with chocolate bars wrapped in personalized two peas in a pod candy wrappers, and your guests will be delighted with their fantastic gift bags!

Planning and throwing a baby shower to welcome a pair of twins is easy with a two peas in the pod theme. With a little research and creativity, you're sure to host a baby shower that is more than twice the fun!

The author lives and writes in beautiful southern Oregon. She is the head copywriter for Candles & Favors, a leading online retailer of all you need to throw a successful two peas in the pod baby shower: invitations, thank you cards, personalized labels, soy candle tins and other party favors.

Pea in a Pod Shower Theme
About Candles & Favors

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Homemade Baby Shower Favors Ideas

If you're throwing a baby shower for a friend or loved one, you want to send guests home with a memorable party favor. You may find it particularly meaningful to create your own favors. Consider the following ideas:

Candy jars: You can buy small plastic or glass jars at your local craft store. Then fill them with your favorite candy. You may wish to display pastel colors, especially pink or blue, or you can even choose colors that match your party decorations. M & M's come in all colors and can be specially ordered with the baby or mother's name on them. You may also wish to tie a colorful ribbon on the jar as a finishing touch. Your guests will appreciate this tasty homemade baby shower favor.

Bookmarks: Choose a design that fits the theme of your shower. Popular ideas include teddy bears and old-fashioned strollers. Then cut colored paper in the shape of the design and write the date of the shower and name of the event on each shape. Laminate the bookmarks and tie a piece of colored string to the top of each one.

Photo frames: Small wooden frames are available in bulk at many stores. Decorate them with paint, sparkles, and any designs you'd like. Baby stickers in the shape of footprints, rubber ducks, rattles, and others can be added to each one. You may even wish to put the guests' names inside each one and use them as place settings. Including the date on each frame will ensure everyone remembers where they received this fun, reusable gift.

Sachets: You have so many options when making sachets, from placing lavender in a tightly-woven organza bag to sewing and stuffing scented material into a cloth one. There are many tutorials online that will take you step by step through the process of creating your own sachets. For baby shower favors, be sure to start with some pretty, baby theme fabric.

Boo Boo Bunnies: This is a handy homemade baby shower favor created from a washcloth and formed into the shape of a bunny. It's purpose is to hold ice cubes for use as a cold compress. All you need are washcloths, rubber bands, and ribbon. For directions, search "how to make a boo boo bunny" online and you will find many sites that offer visual directions.

Bath salts: Find a fun glass or plastic container. Jars, plastic martini glasses, and glass candle holders all work well. Fill the containers with bath salts and wrap with clear cellophane if your container does not have a top

Joyce Kreger is a party planner and recommends these fun baby shower pens offered at Cool-Party-Favors.com.

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Irresistibly Cute Ideas For Baby Shower Decorations and Favors

Want to plan a cute and memorable shower for a mother-to-be? These ideas for fun baby shower decorations and favors will help you get started. Decorating doesn't have to be expensive or exhausting to be cute and effective. Most of the items required for a successful shower are affordable and easy to find and can end up being useful gifts for the mother-to-be that that will come in handy after the birth of her child.

Coming Up with a Shower Decorating Theme

The first step you must take to create cute, unique items and favors is to come up with a theme for your party. This is usually the most difficult step in planning a shower but having a theme is essential if you want the whole party to look elegant and not like it was thrown together at the last minute.

The easiest way to decide on a party theme is to find out what theme the mother is planning to use to decorate the nursery and go with that. For example, if a mom-to-be is decorating the nursery with an angel theme, you can give small angel dolls as favors for the guests and decorate the walls with paper cut-outs of angels.

Ideas for Baby Shower Decorations

While it's best to stick with your central theme, there are some DIY decorating ideas out there that are universal and can be used no matter what theme you decide to go with. Items that can serve both as decorations and gifts for the mother-to-be include baby bath tubs, diapers, bottles, booties, baby clothes, pacifiers, and baby bottles.

If you want to make use of a baby bath tub at your shower, fill it with punch and let a little rubber ducky float on top or fill it with useful gift items like baby shampoo, soap, and lotion. To decorate the ceiling or walls, hang baby clothes and booties on a clothesline. Diaper cakes work great as a decorative centerpiece and gift. Baby bottles with nipples cut at the tips and straws poked through can be used to serve drinks while pacifiers can be used as napkin holders.

Food and Favors for Your Shower

When exploring food ideas for your shower, consider going along with your central theme. For example, if you are using a ladybug theme, make ladybug cookies or a ladybug cake to go along with the decorations. If pacifiers are a part of your decorative theme, make small pacifiers out of two wintergreen lifesavers and a jellybean. Stick the candy together with vanilla frosting and you will have little candy pacifiers that can be used both as decorations and snacks.

If you are decorating your shower with pastel-colored decorations, use food coloring to make pastel green, blue, yellow, or pink rice crispy treat as color-coordinated snacks. Use cookie cutters in the shapes of pacifiers, buggies, and rattles to make cute cookies as snacks to serve at your shower. These cookies can also be placed in colorful cellophane bags and used as favors for baby shower guests. Some other ideas for baby shower favors include bath bombs, flowers, candles, small potted plants, and baby booties filled with candy and tied with ribbons. Use tissue paper, cellophane, small boxes, and sachets to package favors elegantly.

Now that you are armed with these ideas for your shower, start brainstorming themes, decorations, food, and favors so you can plan a special, personalized event for yourself or a loved one. Planning a shower can be a very fun experience and your imagination is your only limit for coming up with new and interesting ideas. Use these baby shower decorating and favor ideas to help you get started. With the right amount of preparation, creativity, and planning, you are bound to have a shower that is fun, elegant, and memorable for the mom-to-be and guests.

Partyhound is a directory where you can find ideas for your baby shower and shop for baby shower items.
As the owner and manager of Partyhound as well as an entertainment company for parties and events, Ted Bilodeau knows exactly what it takes to plan a memorable baby shower.

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Halloween Wedding Favors Ideas

 A Halloween reception promises to be out of the ordinary, so be sure to send your guests off with a unique treat.  Here are some ideas for some delicious wedding favors:

Halloween Bags and Candy

Give your guests a "Trick or Treat" experience, right at your reception.  Before the party begins, place containers full of wrapped candy strategically throughout the room(s).  Have an attendant give each guest an empty bag as they enter the hall or party location.  Encourage them to fill their bag from containers of candy throughout the facility.  This not only allows guests to take home some yummy candy, but encourages them to go to different parts of the room and mix with new friends.

Containers and Candy

The possibilities are endless when you think of pretty containers to use at your Halloween wedding reception tables.  There are personalized glass jars, glassware, custom tins, and boxes, just to name a few.    Many brides choose to fill clear glass containers with candy matching their wedding colors.  While others select silver tins or covered boxes, so that they have a choice of any candy filling.

Halloween Cupcakes

Turn ordinary cupcakes into Halloween wedding favors with a few simple decorations.  Here are some ideas:

Bugs - Starting with a frosted cupcake, add gummy bugs or worms.

Gravestone - Place an oval cookie half way through the cupcake.   The Pepperidge Farms Milano sandwich cookie is a great size.  Decorate both sides with the initials R.I.P. 

Ghosts  - If you use vanilla or a light colored frosting, you can use thin pieces of black licorice to outline the shape of ghosts.  Think of an upside down "U" which will give you the ghost's body.  Use small candies for the eyes.  

Pumpkin - Use orange gel frosting to draw triangular pumpkin eyes and mouth on the cupcakes.  Wrap each cupcake in a clear bag and tie it with a ribbon.

Spooky Brownies

This recipe by Betty Crocker is so easy to create and fun to display.  It consists of making brownies and placing a marshmallow on top of each one.  The marshmallow is the head of a ghost or monster.    Add frosting and some simple decorations.   For the final touch, wrap each brownie in a clear cellophane bag and tie a ribbon around the open end. 

Kathryn Hilton is a theme party planner. She offers many more Halloween Wedding Favors ideas including a custom jars, tins, candles, mints, glassware and others. She also provides advice on practical wedding favors

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How I Threw a World Class Party With Sesame Street First Birthday Party Supplies

I am writing this article to help all of you moms out there that are looking for first birthday ideas for your baby's first birthday. Ya, you can go out and purchase first birthday party supplies, have some cake, a few people over for an hour or two and leave it at that. However, the first birthday is the most special birthday of them all and that calls for a special party. In this article I am going to explain how I threw a world class party for my daughters first birthday and how you can do the same.

As my daughter was approaching her first birthday, her most favorite thing in the world was Sesame Street and her Elmo doll. So when I started to plan her first birthday of course I chose Sesame Street as the theme. After I purchased the Sesame Street first birthday party supplies the real fun began.

Decorating The Scene

We had three main areas where the party was going to take place. The Living room, the dining room and the kitchen. I chose red as the primary color for the theme and green, yellow and blue as accent colors. In the foyer, which is open to the living room, I set a long rectangular table and placed a solid red table cover on in it. I baked ABC and 123 cookies and covered them with green, yellow, red and blue sprinkles. I placed the cookies around the edge of the table.

Just inside of the cookies on the right I set a Sesame Street centerpiece and on the left a small two-tiered cake with white frosting, Big Bird candle in the center and Rebecca's name along the top edge of the cake. The cake was set on a small glass cake plate with a white cake skirt. I cut several red, yellow and blue curling ribbon into 3 inch pieces, curled them up and sprinkled them over the cake. For a finishing touch I pushed a small Cookie Monster and a Elmo figurine candle into the front of the cake on either side.

Centered over the rectangular table, was a custom made banner. The banner consisted of a green "1st" on the left and a red "1st" on the right. I had "Brought to you by the letter R and the #1" printed in the center of the banner in black lettering on yellow background. I had made up several balloon bouquets, made up of red, yellow, blue and green latex balloons with a Sesame Street Mylar balloon floating in the center I attached them all to a red balloon weight. Two of these balloon bouquet masterpieces were placed flanking the table.

The living room was dominated by a large Sesame Street scene setter hung over the fireplace. Almost the whole Sesame Street gang, including Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Elmo and Abby Cadabby were printed on the front with "Happy Birthday" at the top. To the left of the scene setter was the punch table with red tablecover, Sesame Street cups and crystal punch bowl. The punch bowl was filled with blue punch and yellow rubber duckies lazily floated around just like Ernie's duck pond. A four inch Bert doll proudly overlooked the whole ensemble. A Sesame Street happy birthday banner hung above the large couch and on the coffee table another balloon bouquet was placed.

To the left of the couch I made up the favor table on a end table. The favor table was covered with a red table cover and the ensemble consisted of a balloon bouquet, Sesame Street party hats and blowouts. Several picture refrigerator magnets staring Rebecca's smiling face were displayed on the edge as keepsakes for our wonderful guests. As a special treat, clear plastic cellophane favor bags filled with yellow and blue, custom M&M's that said "Happy Birthday" and "Happy Birthday Rebecca," tied off with red curling ribbon, were placed in the center of the table.

The dining room table was covered with another red table cover. I placed two Sesame Street centerpieces in the middle of the table a few feet apart with a clear ABC and 123 Mylar balloon in the center. Another Sesame Street banner hung over the table.

The kitchen was kept simple with a long buffet table and red table cover.

The Menu

When you party, you have to eat and the food spread was just amazing. Here is the menu:

(2) Fruit and Cheese platters Potato Salad Bowl Mediterranean Salad Bowl (Sun dried tomatoes, olives, three cheeses, chicken, shell pasta and secret dressing) Shrimp and shrimp cocktail platter (2) Sandwich Platters (Ham and Swiss, roast beef and cheddar, and Turkey and American sandwiches)
Party Games

This was a first birthday party so the party games were kept simple and few in number. Pin the nose on Elmo was played with a $10 Target gift card as the prize. Scratcher tickets tickets were also handed out and several cash prizes were awarded.

Rebecca had her own fun activity to enjoy. A Sesame Street plastic tablecover was laid on the floor and her very own cake presented. After a little prodding and egging on, Rebecca dove right in and covered herself with frosting and cake.

Not bad for a first birthday huh? With a little creative thinking we turned a few Sesame Street First Birthday Party Supplies into a world-class party. Everyone had a great time and Rebecca had a first birthday she will be telling her grand kids about.

Thanks for reading this article,

Visit my party store for more first birthday ideas or to purchase first birthday party supplies

Julie

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Gigantic Penis and Greater Stamina? You Have Got to Eat These

When it comes to getting a bigger penis and a greater stamina during sexual intercourse, you do not need to be a genius to understand why all men are interested in this matter. As a matter of fact, almost all of those that have interests are willing to go all out to achieve this. Some have tried pills as well as surgery, though they are very well aware of the underlying risks. Anyway, there is a very safe way of enlarging your penis naturally and it is through the intake of certain food. Keep reading to know more.

As much as for the growth of other parts of our body, nutrition plays a very important role in enlarging your penis and giving you a better stamina with it. Vegetables and fruits are particularly important in the sense that they contain a lot of niacin and zinc. These nutrients are very beneficial to your penis in the as they will help to promote the flow of blood in your penis and hence enlarging it in the long run. Besides, a healthy diet in general will also give you a better stamina on bed.

Besides, you should increase the intake of food which is rich in protein. Generally, protein is needed for the growth of your muscles as well as tissues that include those that are around your penis. Common sense has it that your penis can only grow when the tissues around it grows as well as become stronger.

Apart from what you should eat, you should pay extra attention to what you should not consume as well. Generally, you should try to avoid alcohol as well as caffeine for the reason that they will lower the blood pressure in your body. With a decreased blood pressure, it will be harder for you to have a strong penis as well as to maintain an erection. In other words, you might as well forget about penis enlargement and better stamina if that happens.

Jay has been writing articles online for a couple of years now. Not only does he write about a wide variety of topics such as health issues and dating tips, he has found a new interest on cellophane gift bags lately. You can check out his new website about gift bags wholesale by clicking on the links.

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A Christmas Birthday Party Needs Christmas Party Favor Ideas To Create Glad Tidings!

If you're looking for some Christmas party favor ideas for your upcoming Christmas birthday party, an office party, or your annual Christmas shindig, then here's some snazzy and jazzy options to consider. Your guests will indeed believe this to be the most wonderful time of the year!

MUG FULL OF YUM - For the chocolate lovers in your life, fill a Christmas mug full of Hershey's Kisses, envelope the mug with Christmas-printed cellophane, tie off with some fun ribbons, and hang a glitzy snowflake ornament on the outside.

ANOTHER MUG FULL OF YUM - Capitalize on chocolate and fill a Christmas mug with an envelope of hot chocolate, a small clear bag of mini marshmallows, and a package of creamer to make your hot "toddy" a bit more decadent. Once again, envelope the cup in a decorative cellophane and tie it off with coordinating ribbons and a dangling ornament.

CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS TREE - Melt green chocolate candy melts and pour the melted chocolate into a Christmas tree-shaped candy mold. Lay a sucker stick into the warm chocolate. After the chocolate hardens, pop your trees out of the mold. Wrap the trees in cellophane and tie off with a ribbon.

If you want your tree to have decorations, then prior to pouring the green chocolate into the mold you'll need to "paint" your decorations onto the inside of the mold using a craft brush. Wilton's candy melts come in an array of colors, which makes it easy to paint on your ornaments, lights, garland, or whatever floats your boat!

WHIMSICAL WREATH ORNAMENTS - Buy some mini craft wreaths and decorate them with Christmas ribbons, berries, dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, holly, etc. Create a hanger by gluing a ribbon loop on the back.

In the alternative, you could decorate each wreath to coincide with your guests' interests. For example, if Suzie likes to sew, decorate your wreath with spools of thread, ribbons, scissors, etc. For Fisherman Frank, decorate his wreath with fishing lures, hooks, sinkers, rubber worms, thin rope, etc.

SPA DELIGHT - Make or buy a sugar scrub and put into small mason jars or decorative glass jars, which have tight lids. Decorate the outside with Christmas ribbons, cinnamon sticks, a sprig of holly, berries, etc. Tie a small spoon to the side, along with written instructions for use.

COOKIE CUTTERS - Print out your favorite cookie recipe on a recipe card. Place Christmas-shaped cookie-cutters into a decorative cellophane bag. Tie it off with colorful ribbons and attach your recipe to the outside.

CHRISTMAS CD - Download a mix of your favorite Christmas songs and create CD's for your guests. Add a decorative CD label, put into green or red CD sleeves, and close with a Christmas sticker.

If you're still looking for some additional Christmas birthday party favors or Christmas party favor ideas that could be used for an office party or to help make your home a sled full of fun, then you might want to visit our website. You'll also find lots of ideas for invitations, decorations, party food, and cakes, along with a fun assortment of Christmas games, which will complement your Christmas splendidly!

Find additional Christmas party favor ideas for your Christmas party or Christmas Birthday Party by visiting www.birthday-party-ideas-101.com, a party planning website written and edited by Professional Organizer, Elizabeth Chastain.

Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

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Creating A Sympathy Gift Basket

Following the death of a loved one, prayers and well meaning words of condolence are appropriate but sometimes people feel the need to reach out and find other ways to express support for the bereaved. One option is through the gift of a homemade sympathy basket. While there are many fine prepackaged gift baskets that can be found in stores and online, being aware of the preferences of the recipient will make a homemade basket a welcome and memorable present. Here are some suggestions for assembling such a heartfelt gift:

FOOD AND SNACKS - One of the advantages in giving a sympathy gift basket to someone you are acquainted with is that it allows you to personalize the basket and provide food items that the recipient is fond of. While the purpose of food in the sympathy gift basket is to offer quick snacks for the bereaved, many times the grieving may not be hungry or have time to eat. Due to these factors, food that may spoil should be avoided. Fill the basket with food items that are prepackaged so when the recipient is ready to partake of your gift it is fresh and tasty. Some examples include teas, cookies or crackers, non-perishable cheese spreads, nuts, candy, and gourmet popcorn.

MEMORIAL ITEM - Another suggested item for a sympathy gift basket would be an inspirational or memorial gift, which the bereaved will find comforting long after all the food items are eaten or forgotten. Such gifts could include:

Memorial Picture frame with a photo of the deceased, if available
CD with soothing music; classical or instrumental would be appropriate
Memorial Angel figurine
Book - Many books on coping with grief are available. Some people may prefer journals to capture their feelings and memories, and assist them through the grieving process.
Keepsake Box to store pictures or mementos of the deceased

SPA ITEMS - The grieving are dealing with what is probably the most stressful time of their life. Incorporating products, such as lavender bath salts, a sleep mask, or candles will soothe and pamper.

THE BASKET - A wide variety of inexpensive baskets can be found at most craft stores. Discount outlets may also have suitable baskets for gifting. The basket color should be deep enough to hold the gift basket items. Avoid loud and bold colors.

ASSEMBLY - To allow for different heights and to stabilize the basket, foam blocks and/or newspaper/craft paper is used. If using newspaper, first wad the paper and create indentations within the paper for the sympathy gift basket items. To keep the basket items fitting tightly, pack the space between the items with the filler paper. Shredded paper, confetti, or curling ribbon is most often used within a basket as filler. For an enhanced presentation, the taller items should be placed toward the back of the basket. GlueDots are available in most craft stores and can be used to anchor items to the basket or to other items within the basket. The final step is to wrap the basket in cellophane. Cellophane bags are available, as are cellophane rolls. For an attractive presentation, a bow with ribbons can be draped around the basket.

CARD - The basket should contain a sympathy card with a short, personal note using the name of the deceased.

Using these basic suggestions and a little creativity, a homemade sympathy basket provides a comforting gift during a difficult time.

Memorial gifts and sympathy messages for a sympathy gift basket are available at Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts.

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A New Kind of Sticker Shock

It used to be that when you went out shopping for a
new vehicle, you just might get a case of "sticker
shock". We all have experienced that first attack
but then the shiny exterior, and that aroma of "new
car" convinced us that while we may have to struggle
to pay for this vehicle, it was well worth it - we may
not really have needed just this one - but we bought
it anyway.

Enter the year 2008 and an economy that is about as
stable as a bowl of Jello. Speaking of jello, there is a
new shock in the lifestyle of the working class, and that
is "sticker shock" at the grocery store. It has not happened
overnight; in reality, it crept in slowly, along the dairy
aisle, then into the fresh fruits and vegetables, and even
down the bread/cake aisle. It is a slippery demon and it
has no mercy and no heart. The difference between the
sticker shock with a new car and one with food is that you
need the food, there is no resale value, and it won't last you
years. If you have children, it might make it from the car to
the house, as cellophane is ripped open, banana peels are
peeled back, and those chips are crunched and munched all the
way into the house.

Some savvy shoppers come armed with coupons, cents off, and
rebates for UPC symbols. If you are like most people, you stand
at the register and the fear of "how much is left in that checking
account" and do I really need eggs, bread, milk and laundry soap.
You put back the laundry soap and swear you will keep the kids
in cellophane so that no dirt gets where dirt can hurt. Good idea
but when three square meals a day for growing families comes into
play, then the ritual of rationing, cutting back, and even eliminating
is the battle plan. There is no whipped cream on the pudding, and
there are potatoes with every meal. You also slice the meat before
it gets to the table, and there is no more "family style" meals. They
are plated and they are weighed so that while everyone gets their
fair share, the bags of food you hauled home will last longer - you
hope.

The cost of feed is to blame with the triple increase in wheat. All
animals need feed so right there you are racking up double digit prices
on every meat package you pick up. Cereal at above $4.00 a box would
make even Jerry Seinfeld stop with all those cereal boxes on display on
his TV show - oh, that's right, those are reruns so he bought them when
prices were "sane." You then reach for that loaf of bread which the
experts are saying will reach well over $3.00 sometime this year. That
brings to mind a Bible verse that said, "a day's pay for a loaf of bread."
While we may not be quite there yet, cruising down the grocery aisles
now means sneaking up on all those free samples and making sure that
every child gets his share. Of course, mom and dad have to sample too
and make sure that the product is worth their consideration. Nice try,
but those sample ladies are probably being trained to spot those double
dippers - you just might be surprised to have your hand slapped as you
reach for just one more nibble - a preview of things to come -
Something to think about

©Arleen M. Kaptur

March, 2008

Arleen M. Kaptur has written many books and articles on everyday living and finding peace and joy in all we do.

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The Mighty Reusable Peanut Butter Jar

Storage is an issue for almost everyone. Some people earn a living by helping others learn how to store everything they own. This article concentrates on the small things, especially food storage in the kitchen. How to store small bits of leftovers can be a puzzle.

Many people toss leftover food because they don't know how to store it or they just don't want to mess with it. How wasteful! Maybe they don't own storage containers. Or maybe they have lots of containers, but they are all stuffed in the back of a cupboard. Lid? Who knows where the lid is? Did that ever have a lid?

Plastic storage containers are available in endless sizes, shapes, and styles. Most seem to be flat; that is, wide and shallow. Some are a bit taller, either round or square, and have proportions sort of like a cube. The down side of such containers is the amount of space they take up in your fridge or cupboard. Even if they are clear, the plastic is cloudy and not much surface area is exposed. It's difficult to tell what is inside, especially if you stack the containers to save space. Without picking it up or finding what you wrote on the lid (yes, you can write on the lid), the contents remain a mystery.

Enter: the empty peanut butter jar! I love empty peanut butter jars for storage! Look at their advantages:

They are unbreakable.
They are completely clear.
Their footprint in the fridge is small.
They're lightweight.
You can stack them.
You store them with the lid on, so it's never lost.
They're recyclable.
And they're free!

Plus, they have a wide opening, and you can pour liquids from them without spilling. They are a wonderful container for storing almost any food. (OK, not a leftover roast turkey.)

Nuts for baking and cooking (pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.) come in plastic or cellophane bags, which are not very sturdy for long-term storage. I transfer the nuts to a peanut butter jar and store them in the freezer to stay fresh longer.

A small amount of uncooked pasta, dried beans, or lentils stored in a peanut better jar is easier to manage. It won't accidentally come open and spill the contents into the far corners of your cupboard. You can snip cooking directions from the label and tuck them into the jar. An extra benefit is that the jar is insect-proof, if that is a problem in your area.

We eat fruit on our cereal every morning. Whether I buy fresh or frozen fruit, I store it in a peanut butter jar in the fridge. If fresh, berries remain plump without getting smashed. If frozen, the jar holds enough thawed fruit for just a few days, so it's always fresh. When I dice the fruit in advance, such as frozen peaches or strawberries, the no-spill, no-mess guarantee of a jar is welcome in the morning fog.

I use peanut butter jars to store small amounts of orange juice, gravy, and creamy salads. If we open a large can of pineapple juice for summer cocktails, peanut butter jars offer the perfect way to store the leftover juice in the freezer. I'm sure you can think of a dozen other uses for peanut butter jars!

So fix lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for your grandkids, and remember that it's a protein-rich lunch for yourself. Then save and reuse the mighty peanut butter jar!

Copyright 2010 by Linda Manley

Linda Manley, a retired university research director, writes website articles on topics that interest her, such as retiring in warm places, staying fit and healthy, and saving money while doing both. You can find more of her articles at http://www.CheapPlacestoRetire.com

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Healthy Kids' Snack Ideas - 6 Must-Pack Snacks For Moms on the Go

If you're a mom on the go, you know how tempting it can be to hit the drive-thru or the vending machine when your kids' tummies start to growl.

But there are healthier and less expensive alternatives. To ward off last-minute munchies, keep a bag packed in your car or in your fridge with some of the following:

1. Healthy granola bars

It is possible to find healthy, organic varieties of granola bars, but you'll have to look at the label carefully. Look for a brand with high fiber and whole grains and no high fructose corn syrup.

Once you find a variety that you and your kids love, you can save money by buying in bulk. (Look online for deals if you don't belong to a savings warehouse.) Once you are well stocked, you'll want to stash an extra box or two in the trunk of your car for emergency purposes.

2. Fresh fruit

There's nothing more satisfying and easier to prepare than fresh fruit. It comes in its own packaging! Bananas, grapes, apples and pears can all be taken along in the car. If you're eating before heading out the door, you can enjoy kiwi, oranges and mangoes.

Make it a habit to keep a bowl full of fruit salad in the refrigerator. This way, you can scoop some up in a to-go container at a moment's notice.

My kids love to eat fresh fruit pieces by spearing each piece with a toothpick. We buy the decorative toothpicks with colored cellophane or flags at the top to make it more fun.

3. Fresh vegetables

Baby carrots are the perfect on-the-go snack because they require no prep work at all. They can be kept in a plastic bag in your purse at room temperature and eaten on the go.

Other vegetable choices require some forethought, but they are very simple to prepare, too. Try celery sticks, pepper strips, cucumber rounds, radishes and broccoli stalks to add variety to your diet. Again, it will be a lot easier to take these with you if they are already washed and presliced.

When you get home from the grocery store each week, take a few minutes to wash and prepare your veggies. We find that we throw out a lot less produce if we get it ready right away (instead of accidentally pushing it to back of the fridge where we too often forget about it.)

4. Whole grain crackers and peanut butter

This snack is tasty and good for you too. With whole grain crackers, you'll be able to get those important grains without all of the additives and empty nutrition of regular crackers. Adding the peanut butter makes this snack balanced between protein and carbohydrates, which will help keep you fuller for longer periods of time.

5. String cheese

This is another kid favorite that is perfect for moms. If you don't want to go the traditional mozzarella route, there are a variety of different cheeses available in portable packaging. Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack are all easy to find these days at the supermarket. Of course, you'll want to eat these within a few hours of leaving home.

6. Hard boiled eggs

Boiling a dozen eggs a few times a month and keeping them in the fridge will provide you with healthy and quick snacks. These are best eaten at home because you don't want to go too long without refrigeration, but hard-boiled eggs are easy to prepare, easy to eat and have a lot of nutritional power that your body needs when you are on the go. Just be sure to clearly mark the carton that holds the hard-boiled eggs so you don't end up with any mishaps!

With a snack bag packed with some of these items (and some water, of course), you'll be ready to satisfy your kids' hunger and maintain the high energy levels you need as a busy mom.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com where you can find the latest discounts on baby gear as well as her favorite discounts on kids' clothes.

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How to Throw a Frugal and Fun Baby Shower

I work with predominantly males, and one of my male coworkers was going to have his second child soon. My boss realizes that I love throwing fun creative parties for a frugal price (I had a baby shower for him too), so he asked me to throw my coworker and his wife a baby shower party. The couple knew they were having a girl, and with a household of all boys, I jumped at the chance! What fun buying little pink girlie things!

We all pitched in with what we could afford but we're a small group. With about $50 that I collected, I had to buy plates, napkins, a card, ribbon, gift bag, food, and a respectable gift. I want to share how you can throw a frugal, thrifty, and fun baby shower.

The couple already has a 2-year-old son, so luckily they had a lot of the big items. I began with a pretty basket that was donated to me by a Longaberger basket consultant who worked in my group; that was a great addition to the overall gift since the couple can use the basket long after the child grows up. You can also use any large pretty basket.

We have a new large dollar store, the Dollar Tree, near our house. I knew I could find some great items to add to the basket. After lining the basket with pale green tissue paper, I arranged all the items in the basket, placed it down into the cellophane bag, made the bow, and tied it all up. I tied the rattle to the bow, and tucked the rose into the middle of the bow. I actually forgot to include the mesh bags, but it turned out for the better. I placed the extra diapers that I couldn't fit into the basket into one of the mesh bags, and tying the balloons to it, used it as my balloon anchor. The mesh bags are wonderful to hang wet tub toys, or to use for a number of handy uses.

It turned out so cute! The plates, ribbon, picture frame, and rattle all had the same pink and lime green color. Even the mesh bags were lime green! I was really proud how everything color coordinated. The Longaberger consultant loved the way I had decorated her donated basket and took lots of pictures of it to show at her parties.

Here's what I found at the Dollar Tree to put in the basket, plus some other frugal finds from other sources:

Square Paper Plates with Pink and Lime Green Flowers: $1
Large Square White Napkins: $1
Wired Ribbon with Pink and Lime Green Butterflies: $1
Breck Lavender Baby Wash: $1
Breck Lavender Baby Lotion: $1
Breck Flushable Baby Wipes; $1
Fisher-Price Newborn Socks with yellow trim - 3 Pack: $1
Baby Spoons with Soft Pink Handles - 2 Pack: $1
Bottle Brush with Pink Handle: $1
Pink Snack Holders - 3 Pack: $1
Lime Green Mesh Bags with Drawstring - 4 Pack: $1
Small picture frame with Pink Flower: $1
Greeting Card: $0.50 (cards are 2/$1 at Dollar Tree)
2 Mylar Helium Balloons; 1 Pink Heart, 1 Welcome Baby: $2 ($1 each)
Clear Cellophane gift bag - 2 Pack: $1
Pampers Newborn Diapers: $9.72/pack from WalMart
Store Brand Desitin: $1.76 from WalMart
Grandma's Photo Album (Wrapped & New): $0.75 from garage sale
Rubber Duckies; Mommy and Baby - New: Donated by Geri
Rattle with Pink and Lime Green Rings: $2 from WalMart
Artificial pink rose: FREE from around my house

Dollar Tree Total: $15.50 WalMart Total: $14.62 Misc. Total: $0.75 Gift TOTAL: $30.87 (excludes tax)

With the money left over, I bought the following food. Look for specials on in-season fruit and use your coupons if possible! I've always wanted to make one of those cute baby carriages carved out of a watermelon. It was relatively easy, and this was a big hit with both the women and men attending the shower.

Whole watermelon
Pineapple
Strawberries
Blueberries
one Orange
4 grapes
Individual sponge cakes: 2 packs of 6 each
Cheese tray with 4 different varieties
Whipped cream: FREE from my house

TOTAL: almost $20

Watermelon Baby Carriage

If your melon is wobbly, cut a small piece off the bottom to flatten the underside. Carve out the watermelon, and chop the reserved melon into chunks for the fruit salad. (You'll have more than you need!) You can add a decorative edge to the top if you like. Save the extra rind for the carriage handle. Cut the rest of the fruit into bite-sized pieces. Mix with the watermelon chunks. Fashion a stroller handle out of the leftover rind using my picture as a guide. Attach the handle to the body with toothpicks. Slice the orange into 4 pieces, and using the grapes too, attach with large toothpicks to the melon for the carriage wheels.

I brought the carved melon unassembled to work in a large white plastic trash bag, and the fruit salad separately in a large covered bowl that I kept refrigerated. Right before serving, place the carriage on a platter, assemble the handle and wheels, and spoon the salad into the melon. Serve the fruit salad with the sponge cakes, whipped cream and cheese tray.

This simple yet elegant party served about 18 guests, and everyone had a wonderful time. The gift basket and food were a big hit, and the 2-year-old loved playing with the balloons.

Carol Etges and Geri DeLand co-author Strive to Simplify about getting back to basics and simplifying your life with a common sense approach.

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