Baby Showers: Celebrating the Mom- (and Dad- ) To Be

Good morning on an unusually cold spring day here in the city. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend. 

This week's topic of discussion is baby showers. I confess that I didn't attend a baby shower until two years ago. In my religion, baby showers are not customary because it's forbidden to give a gift to an unborn child. We also do not prepare the nursery until the child is born. Gifts were once thought to draw the attention of dark spirits, which marked a recipe for disaster.  However, attitudes about this superstition have relaxed in more liberal circles and baby showers have become more common.

The baby shower is typically arranged by either a family member or a close friend of the mom-to-be. Baby showers can range from an intimate gathering at someone's home to a fancy affair at a restaurant. This all depends on ones budget and party style. It is recommended that showers should be held later in the pregnancy. By then, the mom-to-be should be sure that all is going well. Traditionally, baby showers were given only for the family's first child, and only women were invited. However, we have seen the rising popularity of co-ed showers over the last several years because men want to be included in the celebration, too. 

A baby shower theme can pull everything together and give the party a "wow" factor. Although some of these themes are boy- or girl-centric, many can be gender-neutral. Here are some popular ideas for baby shower themes:

Baby Feet (Pitter-Patter)
Owls
Ladybugs
Sports
Safari/Jungle theme (Monkeys, Zebras, Elephants, etc.)
Retro
Teddy Bears
Cars
Circus
Gender Reveal
Sea Life (Whales, Starfish, Crabs, Coral Reefs, etc.)
Nautical
Retro
Books ("Goodnight Moon," Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle books, "Pat the Bunny" etc. For this type of party, one would ask guests to bring books for the baby's library).
Farm Life (cows, pigs, rabbits, lambs, etc.)
Wild West
Music
Cute as a Button
Bees
Pea in the Pod (for twins)
Noah's Ark (for twins)
Two Scoops (for twins)

For invitations, it should be mentioned where the parents-to-be are registered so invitees can get ideas for gifts. Sometimes, several people will chip in to buy a big-ticket item.

Playing games has always been a big part of baby showers. I'd like to present some of the games we offer from the shop, and we will be adding more in the near future. As mentioned previously, our games are 100% customizable to fit your party theme, with your choice of event name, color/background, font, and wording. First up, we have three matching games. The first is called "What's In a Name?" In this game, party guests match celebrities with their unique-named offspring.  The sample shown below is for a nautical-themed baby shower.

The second game is called "TV Moms," where party guests match TV matriarchs with their children. This game can also be used for a Mother's Day get-together or invitation. In the sample shown below, I've used a retro flower theme.

Finally, we have a game called "Who's Baby Is That?" I took this title from a "Flintstones" episode. Party guests match the names of animal moms with the names of their babies. Some of these are easy while others are more tricky. In the sample below, I've used a farm theme.

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Women's History Fun Fact of the Day: Each May, Forbes magazine publishes its list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2014, holding the #1 position was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. At #2 was Janet Yellen, the first woman to hold the position of Federal Reserve chair. Also included was Mary Barra, the first female CEO of General Motors. 

Later in the week, I will present some food and decorating ideas for baby showers that I found online. This Friday, I will divert from the baby shower topic to talk about crossword puzzles and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. This is an event I had attended in Brooklyn over the last several years. However, with its move back to Stamford, it was logistically not possible for me to attend this year.

Have a PRINTASTIC Day!

Kathy

Is It Spring Yet?/Celebrating World Poetry Day

Good afternoon on the official first day of Spring! It looks like Old Man Winter wants to hang around a bit longer since we are getting 4 to 6 inches of snow here in NYC today.

Spring is officially called the Vernal Equinox. The name "Vernal Equinox" comes from the Latin language: "vernal" means "spring" and "equinox means "equal night." At 6:45 p.m. EDT tonight, the sun will appear overhead at the Earth's equator. There will be exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. While we welcome spring here in the northern hemisphere, it is the first day of autumn in the southern hemisphere.. This year, it has an unusual distinction of coinciding with both a supermoon and a total solar eclipse. This phenomenon hasn't happened since 1662!

It is said that you can stand a raw egg on its end during the first day of spring? Is this true? Most experts say yes, but you can try this (with patience) any day of the year.

I enjoy the warm weather that spring (eventually) brings, but it wreaks havoc on my allergies. Although the flowers of spring--daffodils, dandelions, lillies, tulips, irises, and lilacs--are pretty to look at, I am highly allergic to the pollen they produce.

You're a Poet and You Know It. Tomorrow, we celebrate World Poetry Day. Poetry is one form of writing I could never master, but I enjoy reading works by others. This celebration is an initiative of UNESCO and was first proclaimed in 1999. The organization recognized the importance of poetry in the arts and wanted to promote the efforts of small publishers who produce poetry books and magazines, as well as the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry. Poetry is strongly associated with other forms of art such as dance, music, and painting. The combination of music and poetry is especially beneficial to children.. Both teach children to develop rhyming skills and notice rhythim in language. To celebrate this day, here will poetry readings at local bookstores, cafes, and schools.Check your community calendars for more information. For an introduction to poetry, along with a list of recommended resources, check out the website Poetry 101.

The second round of the NCAA tournament started last night and will conclude tonight. There have been some surprising upsets and a lot of drama. Today's Freebie Friday is called "March Madness Matchup," where you will match 20 college teams with their nicknames. As usual, just right-click and print. This game is for personal use only and not for resale. Answers will be published next week.

We unveiled a new game for graduation-themed parties at the shop today. For just $7.00, the customer will get two games in one! In the first game, party guests will match famous people with the high school he/she attended. In the second game, guests will try to figure out whether 20 celebrities were either valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class. 

Celebrating milestone birthdays next week are:

Happy 25th!

Lincoln Parrish (3/22)

Keisha Castle-Hughes (3/24)

Taylor Atelian (20)

Happy 30th!

Keira Knightly (3/26)

Happy 40th!

Guillermo Diaz (3/22)

Melanie Blatt (3/25)

Juvenile (3/26)

Fergie (3/27)

Happy 50th!

Richard Grieco (3/23)

Sarah Jessica Parker (3/25)

Happy 60th!

James House (3/22)

Reba McEntire (3/28)

Happy 65th!

Martin Short (3/26)

Ronnie McDowell (3/26)

Tony Banks (65)

Happy 75th!

Anita Bryant (3/25)

James Caan (3/26)

Austin Pendleton (3/27)

Happy 80th!

M. Emmett Walsh (3/22)

Julian Glover (3/27)

Still Going Strong!

Stephen Sondheim (85 on 3/22)

William Shatner (84 on 3/22)

Marty Allen (93 on 3/23)

Alan Arkin (81 on 3/26)

Rosie the Riveter

Women's History Month Fun Fact of the Day: During World War II, many American women entered the workforce to support their families while their husbands were in combat. "Rosie the Riveter" was the star of a government campaign to recruit female workers for the manufacturing industry and is still an iconic image today.

In addition to my addiction for word puzzles and trivia games, I am an avid postcard collector. Tomorrow, I will be attending the Mary Martin Postcard Expo at the Holiday Inn on West 57th Street.

Update: I've just learned from a very reliable source that today is National Proposal Day. This holiday is set aside for one who truly knows his/her partner and is prepared to pop the question. There are a number of creative ways one can propose marriage. This coincides with the first day of spring, the season for love. For a unique card idea, check out the wedding/bridal shower section of our shop, or you can order a custom crossword for your intended.

Next week's topics will include baby showers and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

Have a PRINTASTIC weekend!

Kathy

It's All About the Green--Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Good afternoon! Hope your weekend was relaxing. Yesterday, my husband and I attended the Manischewitz Experience at Chelsea Market, where we had a chance to try new products. I sampled a s'more with chocolate-covered matzoh, a cupcake created from Passover marble cake mix, a piece of "matzoh-pizza," and a potato pancake. Manischewitz was showcasing their latest products, and they've come a long way since the days of chocolate marshmallows and plain matzoh.

Tomorrow, the Irish (and those who are Irish in spirit) from around the world will don their green and celebrate St. Patrick's Day  This day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. You many not know that St. Patrick was not Irish but was actually born in England. According to legend, St. Patrick was about 16 when he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland as a slave. He eventually escaped, returned to his family, became a cleric, and returned to western Ireland. By the end of the seventh century, he was declared the patron saint of Ireland. 

On this holiday, it's customary to wear shamrocks, along with green clothing. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to explain Christianity to the pagan Irish. Another major part of the Irish legend is the leprechaun. The leprechaun is a tiny, mischievous being who sometimes plays tricks on humans, and plays traditional Irish musical instruments such as the tin whistle and fiddle. They say that there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but one has to catch the leprechaun first.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete without the traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. This is not an Irish tradition but one that began in America, where the Irish settlers could only afford to eat meat once a week. Since beef was the least expensive, that became their meal of choice. 

Many towns and major cities (such as Boston, Philly, and Chicago), already had their St. Patrick's Day celebrations over weekend. The granddaddy of all celebrations will take place tomorrow along Fifth Ave. in NYC. The New York St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the oldest in the U.S., and it will be streamed live on local stations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's grand marshal will be Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The MTA will be adding extra trains to help those traveling to and from the parade, but please read carefully regarding the purchasing of train tickets and MetroCards. St. Patrick's Day is one of the most popular holidays for drinking, and just about every bar will have some sort of celebration. The MTA stresses that alcoholic beverages will be strictly prohibited through 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. Check your local newspaper for celebrations happening in your area. Have a great time, but please use good judgment when drinking. 

New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade

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Women's History Month Fun Fact of the Day: In 1830, Mississippi was the first state to grant married women the right to hold property in their own names, independent of their husbands. . . . We'd would also like to wish Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a very happy 82nd birthday! 

I did a lot of networking with the WOBC over the weekend and increased traffic the shop's Facebook page. I can't wait until my first Twitter Tuesday. 

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy