Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

My Dad came from a proud line of Master Butchers - and his shop and the house I was born in reflected this on the verandah signage, boldly declaring - 'GRAHAM'S MEAT SERVICE - Quality at Lower Prices'.

The shop was typical of its day - out front, a mosaic tiled wall beneath large glass display window, with the same proud sign-writing on the glass - and of course, the obligatory small, set-back, step-up entrance into the 'customer front' of the shop. This was a roomy space, to enable some people to be perusing the window display, whilst others waited their turn to be served in front of the neatly organised serving counter that divided the sales and working areas of the shop.

In Japan they rake coarse sand and fine pebbles to make symbolic shapes, patterns and designs to define their world and their most basic spirituality. In South Australia, in the 1950's, one Butcher's young daughter raked the sawdust that covered the floor of your average, suburban Butcher's shop. The practicality of the sawdust was to absorb any blood drips from the meat. And it extended into the front of the shop, where the customers stood, because my Dad would come out to the front window display to carry the chosen 'cuts' back to the counter for wrapping.

But my deepest pride came from the perfectly even and artistic patterns I could create, whilst walking backwards, so all designs were perfected. Diamonds, swirls, chequer-board - ALL patterns were possible - only limited by one's imagination. How come it never mattered that the first customer of the day would ruin all a young girl's creation in just a few unthinking steps? I have no clue - I just DID it, that's all!

The wide counter defined the customer side and the 'business' area - and it was memorable. Firstly, there would be discussion about the meat required, usually with my Dad establishing what the customer was planning for their dinner - and making recommendations on the cut and often the cooking method as well. Then the trusty scales played their part - wherein the meat was placed on a piece of greaseproof paper and checked against the customer's wishes and approval.

Next came the old silver cash register - a work of art looming huge in my memory. All those rows of press down keys, and the magical pop-up tabs in the 'window' at the top, showing the individual prices and then cleverly calculating the sum of the price multiplied by the weight. No message of how much change was due - in those days, all who served the public knew their 'sums' exceptionally well - and every Butcher scribbled the individual prices on the white wrapping paper with the trusty pencil tucked behind his ear - and quickly totalled them - so the customer had a written record of their purchase, actually enfolding their meat.

The white wrapping paper came on a large roll, cut (by the apprentice or the Butcher's son/daughter into big tidy squares, and piled up, ready for action, with greaseproof paper on another roll, to lay down first for safe and total wrapping. The only other thing I can picture on the counter is an order book, where my Dad would take notes about future requirements. And maybe also a daily turn-over calendar.

The customer paid, and then came a pull of the handle to make the cash drawer of the register open (and the important thing to remember was the size and bulk AND weight of this drawer when it 'sprung open'). One collision was usually adequate to indelibly impress upon your mind the need to make a hasty sidestep or backstep to avoid contact.

What a treasure trove when this drawer was opened. Numerous compartments with curved bottoms towards the front, to enable 'scooping out' of change. And wire spring clips to hold down the various denomination notes - and this whole arrangement was a complete lift out, with important things like cheques and special delivery dockets hidden below. And let us not forget the trusty spike to push the dockets onto.

These were written in a docket book by the person manning the cash register, as a record for my Dad to reconcile the monetary takings of the 'till' (or cash register). In quieter times, my Dad dealt with these matters, but when the busier days happened (like Fridays), then my Mum was there, taking the money and doling out change and conversation with all the locals.

And so this was the 'sales' side of the shop - on the other side of the counter was the 'working' side of things, where the Butcher plied his trade.

穢 2011 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved

Is your home in need of a make-over all those walls looking dim the carpet not so new anymore then give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. Take your attention and your guests off the walls that need to be painted and the carpet that needs to be replaced by altering your room using decor with colorful crepe paper flowers.

It is not only easy and enjoyable but cost effective to give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. You can choose any color you like and make any floral arrangement that suits your fancy.

Crepe paper floral arrangements are easy to make. Being surrounded by bright beautiful colors is always certain to chase the winter blues away. And know that the rainy spring months will bring real flowers just like your paper flowers in a few short weeks.

If you really want to brighten up your home you can use summer flowers such as roses, daisies or lilacs. Make them in any color you want and make a centerpiece or a few for the rooms you spend the most time in.

Let us look at some ideas for floral arrangements. A nice idea is to fill a window box with bright colored flowers and of course set it in the window then whenever you look outside at the piles of snow or mud you will be reminded by your window sill paper flowers that warm weather is not far away.

The living room or family room is another ideal place for your paper flower arrangements. A nice medium to large size centerpiece made up of several colorful assorted flowers will always brighten your day.

One of our favorite paper flower arrangements is what we call the floral shapes it is very easy to make and can be a family project. Certainly you have seen flowers arranged to form an object. A few good "starters" are a butterfly, a star or a heart. These are the easiest shapes to make. You can allow them to be free flowing and in the shape you desire or you can attach the flowers to a piece of cardboard and hang them on your wall. The flowers should be small this makes them easier to work with. Once you have your paper flowers made just arrange them into the desired shape. If you are going to attach them to a piece of cardboard, cut out the cardboard so it is the shape you want to use, this will also work as a pattern. Using a clear drying glue attach the flowers. You can leave the arrangement on the table or even hang it up.

Another favorite arrangement is a centerpiece filled with an assortment of different colored roses with some baby's breath and greenery. To bring out all the colors of the centerpiece simply layer it. By that we mean cut some of the stems shorter than the rest and you will have one flower that is tall then one that is slightly shorter then a tall one etc... layer the flowers so they alternate between tall and slightly shorter. Place the baby's breath near the center and spread the greenery out between the different size flowers.

These are all great ways to give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. I'm sure you can use your imagination and come up with some great ideas of your own as well.

Having a beach house or just decorating your home to give you that free and easy feeling can be done without great expense. Beach house style is cool, breezy, clean and crisp. To achieve a beach style motif you must take all your decorating clues from nature. You can bring the elements of the sand and surf into your home and relax in a serene setting. Below are a few of the top nautical home decor ideas and secrets to making your home reminiscent of the beach.

First thing you will need to do is to get rid of the clutter. Beach decor is a minimalistic tableau. Less is really more when you see the awesome ways you can decorate without having a lot of items strewn around.

Choose sea inspired colors for your walls. Any of the cool hues on the color wheel will do nicely. Pastel blues, pinks, corals and other soft natural colors will give you a great canvas to work from.

Make liberal use of stark whites, this will give an open and airy feel to any room.

Use plank like paneling in the bedrooms to give it that beach shanty appeal. Keep it simple and basic. Using colors that complement each other.

Use wide slat blinds and/or gauzy type curtains for your window treatments. The entire effect should be one that brings to mind a fresh ocean breeze, and the window treatments blowing in it.

Natural wood floors are great in a beach setting. The use of throw rugs that bring out the warmth of the wood will be a good addition as well. Again stick with the lighter colors.

Tile floors can also be a great beach decorating option. You can enhance the cool tiles with rugs; the balance of smooth with texture gives you the contrast found in the great outdoors.

Use slip covers that match the rest of the decor to give your home that "vacation like" feel. Make liberal use of ottomans, not only do they look great, they also provide extra seating, or you can just throw your feet up and relax.

Wicker furniture has long been a favorite of decorators when planning a beach house theme. The furnishings add to the image of being in an ocean front bungalow. Glass vases filled with colorful flowers will compliment any decor.

Do not stop with the indoors carry your theme out onto the patio with a great set of Adirondack chairs and a matching table. Use candle lanterns to add a warm glow to the night as you sip a glass of wine and admire the sunset.

If you follow these tips you are sure to have a home that will take your breath away each time you enter through the doors. Use plants that are found near, in and around bodies of water to complete the effect.

There's more than one way to enhance a home's decor with the addition of a hall table. Many designers and decorators know that a well placed table can improve various spaces in a home such as:

Front Entrance - The front entrance of a home is the first impression that every visitor is given of the space, the decor and even the occupants. Having a strategically placed hall table will anchor what could ultimately be a forgotten space as well as give the eye visual interest and give the arriving guest a more welcome, homey feeling. This is true for any style home from traditional to mid-century modern to contemporary. The right size and shape table will bring the entryway to life and keep it looking more organized and give homeowners a place to display fresh flowers or family photos. It's also perfect for weighing down a fine piece of artwork or a wall mirror.

The Hallway - A long hallway can feel drab and uninteresting. It can simply come off as a way to get from point A to point B. With a hall table displaying a lamp and other decorative objects or one that contains storage in the form of a lower shelf or cabinetry, the hallway will become another feature of the home rather than a forgotten space.

The Family Room - Is an excellent space for a hall table. The table can be placed against a wall or behind a sofa. Many people refer to this as a "sofa table." Placing a table behind a sofa helps to add storage space as well as visual height if a large, tall object such as a big vase of flowers or a statue or other form of art is placed upon it.

The Bathroom - A large bathroom is perfect for this versatile piece of furniture. One with shelving or cabinetry below can be utilized to hold towels, toiletries and extra linens. It can even be used as a vanity that hold makeup and items such as a hair dryer. The hall table in a bathroom can actually make the space look larger and give what can often feel like a cold, impersonal room a more cozy, spa look and feeling.

Other spaces in the home for hall table decorating include bedrooms, dining rooms, dens, home offices and guest rooms. As long as the table is proportionately sized for the space and is not in the way of the normal traffic flow, then feel free to add one to any room. Place it against the wall, at the head or foot of a bed or behind a loveseat or sofa to bring interest to the room and a surface for decorative items as well as extra storage.

Here are three cheap wedding ideas to cut your wedding expenses dramatically:

1. HUNT FOR BRIDAL BARGAINS

Weddings are big business and there are many wedding vendors out there all wanting your business. ?So where do you start? ?

Well there are many ways to find wedding decorations, cakes, flowers and invitations at very competitive prices, if you just know where to look.?If it is difficult for you to find cheap wedding ideas and items locally, then the internet provides a wonderful resource to search for bargains.

Websites such as eBay, Etsy and wedding forums are a great place to look for cheap deals or exchange ideas with fellow brides. Many brides all over the country as well as overseas, now use bridal forums to swap ideas and share wedding costs. In fact, some brides with weddings on the same weekend buddied?up and shared the costs of furniture hire, lighting, decorations, catering equipment and much more. This is a great way to cut your costs by?half?our costs and still have the wedding theme and decorations you dreamed about.

Another alternative is to ask for help from family and friends. ?Maybe you know someone who sings or plays a musical instrument. Perhaps a friend's mother or sister is a florist or cake decorator. In addition, you probably know someone who is a great cook or who owns a catering business. if you think about your network of family, friends and work associates, you'll be amazed how many people you know or can contact directly for a good deal.

2. BUY PRE-LOVED WEDDING GOWNS

Choosing a stylish and beautiful wedding gown is still achievable even if you need to be mindful of your budget. If you have your heart set on a designer wedding gown, then there are still ways you can achieve your vision without using up your entire wedding budget.?

Wedding gowns are an important element to every wedding and their prices can vary from a few hundred dollars right through to designer gowns in the tens of thousands. So it is no surprise when you start shopping for your wedding gown, how easy it is to become overwhelmed with the variety of styles and pricing options on offer.

Chances are you will end up wanting a gown that costs more than you budgeted for. However, if you plan for this problem ahead of time and have some alternatives in mind, it will help you avoid the temptation of buying a dress way beyond your means. ?

Start by searching online bridal websites for pre-loved wedding dresses. They are a great way to find the designer gown of your dreams for only a fraction of the regular price. Only you have to know your secret, because it will be almost impossible to tell the gown?was worn?before.?In addition, most of these bridal sites allow you to post an ad for the ideal type of gown you are looking for. ?Other brides and wedding gown suppliers can then respond to your ad with suitable offers.

3. DITCH THE BIG CEREMONY

Many couples are now ditching the big ceremony and choosing a civil ceremony instead. Venues such as City Hall or alternative locations without the need for religious elements, are increasingly becoming a popular way to tie the knot?easily without the expense.?

Another cheap wedding option is to get hitched Las Vegas style! ?Las Vegas has always been a cheap, fun and unique way to get married. There are plenty of pretty, fascinating and even quirky wedding chapels to choose from - all of them set up to make your wedding ceremony quick and easy, yet still romantic.

You can easily cut down your wedding costs by half when you look for alternative options. A little imagination plus networking with friends will provide you with cheap wedding ideas that still make for a fantastic wedding day.?

We have all seen the occasion, either in person or on television or the movies: the beautiful wedding with all the accoutrements. The beautiful blushing bride standing next to her nervous, but happy, groom in the flower-adorned religious facility, flanked by the wedding party in traditional gowns and tuxedos, being lovingly viewed by the congregation gathered. At the apex of the scene, between the bridge and groom, stands the clergyperson delivering customary and appropriate words of inspiration. The entire process leads to the climactic moment when the bride and groom gaze into one another's eyes and the clergyperson says those very familiar words: "by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you man and wife." Exuding joy and elation, the newly married couple shares a symbolic kiss and exits the religious facility in newly wedded bliss to enter a car, dragging tin cans in its wake, to announce their nuptials.

Amidst the joy and happiness, no one stops to wonder at what seems to be a very obvious question: what if the "power" was not "vested" in the clergyperson to marry the engaged couple? One York County couple, however, did think to ask the question in the case of Heyer v. Hollerbush, Court of Common Pleas of York County, Pennsylvania No. 2007-SU-2132-Y08 (September 7, 2007). In Heyer, the couple was married by a Universal Life Church minister. After about one year of marriage, Heyer filed a Motion for Declaratory Judgment against Hollerbush requesting the Court to declare the marriage invalid. Heyer argued that the "power" to marry a couple was not "vested" in a Universal Life Church minister by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania vests the power on clergy to marry individuals under 23 Pa.C.S.A. Section 1503. Section 1503(a)(6) states that "the following are authorized to solemnize marriage between persons that produce a marriage license issued under this part: A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation." Heyer argued that a "minister" "ordained" in the Universal Life Church does not fit the criterion laid out under Section 1503(a)(6).

The Universal Life Church "ordains" interested individuals over the Internet or through the mail via a simple application. No seminary, training, endorsements, or sponsorship is required; indeed, beyond a completed application there are no requirements for ordinands whatsoever. Ordination is considered conferred upon review of the application by a human as the Church believes that people are born ordained and the completion/review of the application merely acknowledges this fact. The Universal Life Church has no meeting places, no form of religious observance, no holy book or sacred traditions, and is entirely non-ecclesiastic. Its creed consists of one undefined, unexplained and unexpanded upon sentence: "Do only that which is right." Given the preceding, the Court in Heyer ruled that a "minister" ordained in the Universal Life Church does not fit the requirements of Section 1503(a)(6). Essentially, the Court reasoned that as such a minister does not have a "regularly established church or congregation," and Section 1503(a)(6) therefore does not vest the power to marry on him or her. As a result, the Court ruled that the couple in Heyer were never actually married, declaring the marriage void ab initio (i.e.: from its inception).

Following the Heyer decision, the American Civil Liberties Union took on this issue by filing similar cases in the counties of Philadelphia (In Re: Ryan Allen Hancock and Melanie Bilenker Han, No. 080201774), Montgomery (In Re: Marriage of Peter Goldberger and Anna M. Durbin, No, 2008-21497), and Bucks (In Re: Marriage of Jason O'Neill and Jennifer R. O'Neill, No.: 2008-01620), requesting the Court to declare the validity of those marriages. Similar to the Heyer matter, the cases in Philadelphia and Bucks Counties each involved a wedding presided over by a Universal Life Church minister. In each of these cases, the Court disagreed with the Heyer Court and ruled that a Universal Live Church minister does fit the criteria of Section 1503(a)(6). The Court essentially ruled that the Court in Heyer narrowly and incorrectly interpreted Section 1503(a)(6); that a "regularly established church or congregation" does not exclude ministers without a congregation or physical church. Further, the Court was persuaded by the fact that the Universal Life Church is a well-established religion recognized as such by its tax-exempt status. Finally, it appears that the Court simply refused to involve itself in the affairs of religion, consistent with the tenor of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Ultimately in these cases the Court declared the couples validly married.

The marriage at issue in the case in Montgomery County was presided over by a Jesuit priest ordained by the Roman Catholic Church. The Jesuit priest was an itinerant priest who had no congregation of his own and no assignment to any parish. The Court again disagreed with the Court in Heyer using similar logic as found in the other two cases. However, it ought to be noted that reaching this decision regarding a Roman Catholic priest was much less groundbreaking as the previous cases because he was ordained by a well recognized and time-honored religion with extremely defined and established doctrines. This case, however, is significant inasmuch as it lends support to the principle that a clergyperson does not need a physical church or congregation to formally and officially pronounce a couple married.

At this point, there is no standard interpretation and application of Section 1503(a)(6) across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a whole. Only the four counties mentioned above have addressed the interpretation and/or application of Section 1503(a)(6); the remaining counties have yet to make a ruling. It is doubtful that there will be any uniformity on this issue until it is addressed by at least Superior Court, but it will likely require a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Therefore, if one intends to be married, one should take consideration of whether the clergyperson presiding over the wedding does, indeed, have the power vested in him or her to do so in the county in which the wedding will occur. Who knows, perhaps reviewing a clergyperson's curriculum vitae will become a standard part of wedding planning for the foreseeable future. However, whether these married couples will live together until death parts them is another story altogether.

A wedding is a momentous occasion in a man's and a woman's life. It marks the start of new beginnings for both individuals as husband and wife. Most people plan their weddings a year in advance. For some three to six months is enough preparation. There are lots of things to consider when planning weddings. Most brides and husbands to-be hire professionals like wedding planners or wedding organizers to make sure that attention to detail is paid to every aspect of the wedding. Some couples enlist the help of their very close friends to help plan their wedding. For people who are on a tight budget, the latter is the best option. Weddings are great occasions to bond with another and rediscover friendships.

Regardless if a couple prefers beach weddings or church weddings, the aspects of a wedding are similar. After the exciting proposal and giving of Cushion cut engagement rings or Asscher cut engagement rings, it is time to get ready for the big day. Wedding invitations constitute a large part of the preparations. This is the formal letter that guests will receive informing them about the upcoming wedding. Budget should be allotted for the invitations. These can cost a large sum, depending on the material, designs and the number of invitations. For most people, it is better to purchase DIY wedding invitations kits and make the invitations themselves.

Making Your Own Wedding Invitations

DIY wedding invites are a fun, creative and economical way of giving a wedding flair and style that will stand out from other weddings. Not only will you get to design the invitation itself. You will Invitations can be made by professionals for couples who will soon be married, so why choose making your own. Read the points below to find out why more and more people are choosing DIY wedding invitation kits.

Advantages

繚 Saves money. You could save half the amount you would normally spend on ready-made wedding invitations. If you are the artistic type then this is the avenue you should take. You'll never know, you might even end up beginning a business making wedding invitations.

繚 Gives wedding invitations a unique and personal style. When you purchase DIY invitations for weddings, you are your own master. You can make them look exactly the way you want. When you look for readymade invites, it might be a little difficult to find exactly what you want. However, with DIY wedding invites, there are limitless possibilities. You can make sure that you get exactly what you want.

繚 Makes the invites a sentimental aspect. Most readymade invites are impersonal. They do not really convey the love story of the couple about to get married. DIYs, on the other hand, can be kept as mementos. Do away with the bland and generic design of store bought invites. DIYs are keepsakes that mark the major milestones of a person's life.

繚 Looks fabulous and chic. You can make this happen by using several desktop publishing tools.

Time Issues with DIY Wedding Invites

Most people are apprehensive about making their own wedding invites because of time constraints. There is an answer to this. Get help. As mentioned earlier, enlisting the help of friends will go a long way. Creative friends and family members can help make the project fun, exciting and truly one of a kind. Brainstorm about designs and styles that can be used for the invitations. Use the Internet to pick out papers and supplies. To help speed up the process, use blank cards to make the invites. All that is needed is to print whatever design you like on the outside and design the inside. Use the services of a local copy shop to have the invitations cut and folded. You can also ask them to print text on the paper. This is cost effective and fast. Set aside time each week when you, friends and family members can work on the project. This is not only a great way to spend your time creating the perfect wedding; it is also a great time to bond with each other. Just makes sure to work though, you might enjoy talking too much, you will not accomplish anything.

When you're getting ready to ship something with your courier company you will have to fill out a request for a delivery. This is sometimes done through paper forms that they have given your, or often through an online interface today. One section that your courier service will have on those forms is something called declared value.

This is something that you will have to state for every package that you ship with the courier company. That is because this is the figure that will be used should you ever be forced to file an insurance claim with the company of any kind. When you tell them what your declared value is, you are telling them how much your package is worth. This is the maximum amount that you would be permitted to claim should something happen to your package which required an insurance claim to be made.

Filling out this section isn't necessarily as clear cut as simply putting down how much your package is worth. The reason for this is because of the size of the insurance policies which you courier may take out for packages being transported in certain sized courier vehicles. Their insurance is going to have a maximum declarable value for each package. That means that you can't claim more than that amount as a declared value, even if your package is worth more. This also means that should you make a claim, you will only receive that maximum declared value, not more, even if your goods were worth more.

This is why people sometimes buy their own insurance to add on to the policy which is already in place with the courier company. Many times this is done especially if they are shipping something which is worth a large amount more than whatever that maximum declared value figure should be. That way, they are able to receive adequate compensation should something unfortunate happen to their package.

Keep in mind that the declared value that you have stated does not always mean that you will receive a payout of that size should you be forced to make an insurance claim as well. As always, making an insurance claim is a complicated business in which many factors figure. You will have to provide proof of packaging, for instance, to show that you have done everything which was within your sphere of responsibility to make sure the package did not become damaged.

You are all excited and you want to get an idea of how to make your wedding invitations. More importantly addressing wedding invitation envelopes. You would love to have them done by a calligrapher but it is so expensive.

What are your options. If you have beautiful penmanship than hand addressing them would be great. Use a high quality pen and test the ink to make sure that it will look good when it is dry. You don't want a pen that will offset, or have an imprint on something else. Fast drying is a must here!

If hand addressing them scares you, and you are thinking about labels, OOPS! I don't like labels on an invitation. The subconscious mind has already determined that a label with their address delivered to them is junk mail! Some say that a clear label is fine, I prefer not.

So what is the other option. You can't afford a calligrapher, your handwriting is terrible, and you don't want to use labels. What about addressing them on your computer to match the invitations. Use the same font and colors that you have in your invitations. Addressing wedding invitation envelopes can be fun.

If you made your own wedding invites you can easily match your cards to the envelopes. If you had your announcements done from another company than use some scrap and try to match what you chose from them. Fonts are different, but if you come close that will be fine. If you don't have anything close use a font similar to calligraphy. If you can't match the same color use a black ink.

Another point that you can remember is that if you use an epson ink jet printer that uses water proof ink, you won't have to worry about your invite getting wet. This can make them streak and that isn't a good look. If you are using another printer and it doesn't use a water proof ink, spray them with a mist of hair spray this will coat the ink with a protection. Some printers will be fine even if they don't have the waterproof ink. Some streak more than others.

In many cases addressing your envelopes to match the wedding card, will make an expensive looking invitation package the whole way around. If you didn't get your RSVP envelope addressed you can also print that on your computer printer too.

Again I have been doing this for years. It really isn't difficult and I get compliments all the time. When someone new gets into the line of receiving these invitations they tell me how nice they look. I love that! It also makes them feel important to see their name in a beautiful script on your wedding announcement.

So if you are thinking about addressing wedding invitation envelopes, look no farther than your computer. It can do the job much cheaper than the $1.50 an envelope calligrapher. Why not give it a try?

How many of you are tired of attending a baby shower and playing the same old games? How many of you are sick of guessing the size of mommy's belly or tasting melted chocolate in napkins shaped like diapers? You are probably thinking, especially if you are getting ready to throw a shower, that there has got to be something better out there! Surely there are games that exist that not everyone has played and is sick of. Well, you're in luck; we would like to give you a few ideas for some truly unique games.

1.)   What's in the bag? This is a great game, especially if tired of trying to remember what was on the diaper cake. You play by getting several brown paper bags and putting one baby item (rattle, disposable diaper, pacifier, etc.) in each bag. After you put an item in the bag, either tape it or staple it closed and number the bags. At the shower, everyone gets a piece of paper and a pen, and then they try to guess what is in the bag by feeling it through the bag. The person with the most right is the winner.

2.)   Never Say Never. For this game you will need to purchase a piggy bank. You can usually order one offline that are specifically for babies. You might also find one that goes with whatever the mother's theme is for the baby's room. Once you get it to the shower, have all of your guests take out some or all of their pocket change. Be sure to have some extra in case someone doesn't have any on them. Then go around the room and have each guest name something they have never done before (I have never been out of the country, I never learned to ride a bike, etc.) As each person says what they have never done, everyone who has done that places a coin inside the piggy bank. You can either pass the piggy bank around the room, or have each guest come forward. After everyone has had a turn, you give the piggy bank to the mother-to-be.

3.)   Who's time is it? Get an egg timer and set it for five to ten minutes at a time while the mommy-to-be is opening her baby gifts. Whenever the timer goes off, whoever's gift she is opening gets a door prize.

4.)   Baby Name Scrabble. This is a great game if the parents have already selected a baby name. Write the baby's whole name out on a white board or on several slips of paper to pass out. Give each guest a piece of paper and pencil and give them five to ten minutes to come up with as many words as possible using only the letters from the baby's name. The person with the most words wins.

5.)   The Price Is Right. Purchase several baby items (bottles, pacifier, a can of formula, jar of baby food, etc.) and set them out on a table, be sure to remove price tags if they are visible on your purchases. Then give each guest a paper where you have typed up three possible prices for each item. They need to be exact ($3.30, $4.50, $1.24, etc.), and give the price that is before tax, so have your receipt handy when you are typing them up. Each guest files by the table and circles the price for each item that the think is correct. The guest with the most correct wins the door prize.

6.)   Create a Time Capsule. This is a great thing to do if there will be lots of family and close friends attending the baby shower. Before the baby shower, ask each guest to bring something that represents them or era the baby is being born into. Get a good sized, heavy duty card board box. At the shower hand out 3x5 cards and have each guest write what they brought and why their item represents them or the era. You might also have the write a word of advice for the baby. After the guests are finished, have each guest come up, tell about what they brought, and place it inside the box with their card. When everyone is finished, tape the box up really good with packaging tape and instruct the mother to save it and give it to the baby on his or hers eighteenth birthday and a birthday present.

As you can see, there are lots of games out there that are definitely out the ordinary, but still as much fun. A few extra tips would be:

1.)   When purchasing baby items for the baby games, be sure to purchase new items and then give them to the mommy-to-be after the shower.

2.)   When purchasing prizes for the games it is up to you whether you purchase baby type things, that way the winner has the option to give it to the mommy-to-be, or you can purchase things every woman enjoys like hand lotions, journals, photo albums, etc. That way they can keep it for themselves.

3.)   Be sure to purchase extra prizes in case you have two winners for one game.

As with any shower the goal is to make your honoree feel comfortable and make sure your guests are having a good time. Don't ask anyone to do anything you think might make them uncomfortable. Think about the group of people you've invited and their personalities, and try not to play super hands-on games if you don't think the people you invited will enjoy them. Remember, just because you are hosting it, doesn't mean its about you and only what you think would be fun.