New Ideas For Baby Shower Gifts

Well kittens, I have about 4 weeks left until I give birth. Due to the fact there is a 6 1/2 year spread between this baby and my last baby, needless to say we got rid of all of our baby gear years ago. Therefore I have buy all new stuff! Its been fun, but this time around I am only getting things I KNOW I will use. But that doesnt mean I havent seen some really cool things out there. I thought I would post a few of my favorites for those of you who are also expecting or are going to baby showers and need gift ideas.

Diaper Clutch:

The first time around I got a really cute turquoise diaper bag and filled it with everything I needed: diapers, wipes, burp cloths, pacifiers, change of clothing, snacks, diaper rash cream, lotion, powder, toys, blankets, etc. I used it for about 2 months and then realized I really didnt need so much crap and frankly, the bag was heavy! Living in Los Angeles I drive everywhere, so I could keep the majority of items in my car and only take the bare minimum with me where ever I was going with the baby. So this time around I am skipping the fancy diaper bag and only getting a diaper clutch. This is basically a changing pad with an attached pocket to keep a small amount of wipes and a diaper or two. I find this to be very convenient because it is light and I can just throw it into my regular purse.

 

Monthly Onesies:

One of my favorite blogs, Making It Lovely had the best idea for her daughter. She made a pin that could switch out numbers so she could attach it to a pink onesie and take monthly pictures of her daughter (seen above). I thought this was the best idea ever, so when I got pregnant I looked to see if I could buy something similar and here is what I found:

How cute are these Grow Baby Grow Onesies? It comes in a set of 12 and these come in 3 different color choices. They are expensive at $75, but I have no problem paying for adorable. Due to the fact it comes as a set of 12, I think you could easily go in with another person if you wanted to give this as a baby shower gift.

Another less expensive idea would be to buy these Monthly Onesie Stickers. These can be attached to any outfit and only cost $9. My concern is as the kid gets older, they tend to pull stickers right off.

Hanging Mobile:

I never used a mobile with my first two kids, but I saw how my sister in law used hers above the changing table to keep my nephew distracted and thought it was brilliant. I think this one is beautiful, and I especially like the purple and yellow combination. But there are plenty to choose from on Etsy if this one isnt right.

Nursing Cover:

These nursing covers didnt exist when I had my first two babies- we had to use blankets to cover ourselves up in public. Being shy and frankly my first son was a horrible feeder, I never got the hang of feeding in public. But this time around I am hoping this will be the ticket to discreetly feeding my baby in public. The Baby Au Lait is one of the most popular brands, but you can find some great ones on Etsy.

So those are just a few baby shower ideas that will make your gift stand out from the crowd of diaper cakes and Sophie the giraffe. If any of you dolls have other suggestions, please leave links in the comments.



Taking Inspiration From Weddings

Sometimes, when I am planning a party, I run out of inspiration! Yes, I know that sounds shocking, but it is true. So when I need to get my creative juices flowing, sometimes I check out wedding blogs or Martha Stewart Weddings.

One of my favorite things at MSW is her 'good things' section. I went through her 'spring' ideas and found a few that I think can work for a regular party- not just a wedding! Check these out:

Aren't these orchids gorgeous! I thought this would be a beautiful centerpiece for any dinner party. And the best part is, after the party is over you can just place the flowers around your home to enjoy for weeks to  come.

Can't you just smell these roses and peonies! I bet they fill the room with the sweet scent of heaven. These arrangements were made with latte cups. You can find these at Williams-Sonoma and other kitchen supply stores. Or you can troll your local Salvation Army and find used ones. Then fill the bowls with green floral foam, and stick large flowers into it.

These baskets of candies are supposed to be wedding favors, but wouldn't it make a fun centerpiece for the kid's table at Easter!

Talking about kid's tables, I like this idea of using butche paper as a placemat. Martha wrote the utentil names down, but I think it would look cool if you did an outline of the knife, fork, and spoon using a sharpie. Then you can write each kid's name above their place setting. Then, when they are done, all you have to do is throw everything away!

These are chocolate bars covered with photos of the happy bride and groom, but I thought this would be a perfect idea for an adult birthday party such as a 30th, or 40th birthday. You could also do the same thing as favors for a baby shower- just use pictures of the mommy to be when she was a baby! Wouldn't that be cute?

So the next time you need an idea for a party, just check out some weddings and I bet you will come up with a million ideas!

Fall Asleep With Dita

Have you dolls seen this yet?

It is a limited edition sleep mask designed by Dita and manufactured by Moschino!

This glamorous housewife actually sleeps every night with a face mask, so I am tempted to buy. However, at $130, I wonder if I would actually use it or just keep it for fun?

Etsy Valentine Roundup

With Valentines Day quickly approaching, I thought it best to do an Etsy Valentine Roundup of my favorite cards.

Sure it is easier to run to the drug store and pick up a hallmark greeting card, but why not support your fellow artisans this year? Plus, you can find some really funny, irreverent, and retro styled cards you just can't buy at CVS.

(as usual, the title of the card is the link)

Amusing Cards

You Complete Me

I thought this one was just so cute!

Twilight and Blogging

So true, so true

Woody

Perfect for your super masculine husband. Does he really want pink and flowers?

I Love U More Than Cheese

Petite Mort: This is for you :)

Young Love

I just love the rendering on this card. It is so adorable- like a vintage children's book.

Retro Valentines

Vintage Paper Doll Valentine

Love the apron- so kitschy!

Lab Partners

Goodness knows my house often feels like a science experiment and my husband is my lab partner. Turns out our chemistry made two human beings!

Vintage Love

I love these cards, but I thought it was a bit odd to sell them in sets of 3. Who are they for- hipster polygamists?

Kiss Me

I love the use of an old lipstick ad in this Valentine

Irreverent Valentines

iLove

Straight and to the point. Loves it!

Zombie Love

This one brought tears to my eyes with its poetry. Tears of laughter!

Together

What could be more romantic then Siamese twins?

Bull$hi!

This one is my favorite. (because really? Isn't Valentines Day kind of bogus? I tell my husband we celebrate our love every day. He usually responds with a loving belch.)

Hope you enjoyed my Etsy Roundup. Tomorrow, I will teach you how to make your own Valentine decorations!

Etsy Thursday: Holiday Gift Guide- For the men in your life!

I thought it would be fun to attempt some Etsy gift guides this year. I think it is important to support our fellow crafters and give some of our hard earned money to folks, not corporations. Oh sure, we have to give our money to big business most of the time, and there is nothing wrong with that. But it is also good to give monetary support to artisans and craftspeople who are making things just because they love to.

So to start, I thought I would pick the group that I consider to be the most difficult to buy for: MEN!

Due to my Etsy restriction, I found a ton of things for guys ages 16-45, but not so much for Grandpa or Dad. So if you have anyone in this age group you have to buy for, please consider the following:

For The Carpender, Wood Worker, or General Craftsman:

Silver and Wood Ring

Argyle Box

Wood Tie

Wood Soap

Woody Wallet

Wood Grain Belt

Ruler Box

For The Zombie Afficianado:

Oh sure, Vampires get all the publicity these days, but did you know the real fear should be Zombies?

Zombie Messenger Bag

Zombie Sign

Global Domination Notebook

Zombie Scrub

Zombie Tshirt

Zombie Art

For The Guy Who Won't Grow Up:

Atari Duct Tape Wallet



Darth Vader Cuff Links


Lego Notebook


Space Invaders Soap

Is There A Doctor In The House?

Medical Messenger Bag

Vintage Anatomy Paperweight

Organ Diagram Tshirt

Anatomy Stickers

For The Foodie:

Kitchen Lab Coat


Retro Food Magnets

Masculine Spice Rack

Burger Oven Mitt

Tofu Sign

Apocalypse Recipe Cards

So that concludes the first Holiday Gift Guide here at Tales Of A Retro-Modern Housewife. I figure this will be the only gift guide with zombie scrub! Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed it and what other gift guides you would like me to blog about.