tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post2799737732627617772..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: Frugal baby showerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-6289054314879619492007-10-10T22:57:00.000-05:002007-10-10T22:57:00.000-05:00Just hosted a baby shower in our church basement (...Just hosted a baby shower in our church basement (free), used their white table cloths with center strips cut from a roll of baby wrapping paper, one person furnished punch, another who happens to be a professional baker donated the cake, and good old Dollar General had marked down miniature bassinets for take home favors. Napkins from the Dollar store had an animal print to go with our Noah's Ark theme, using miniature stuffed animals from my stash, a doll baby in a decorative buggy, and an ark for decorations. Twin sisters brought "onesies" on sale at Michaels along with fabric paint, and each guest decorated a onesie for the baby-to-be. We also furnished a guest book ($1 journal) with space to write advice to mom on one side of the page, to baby on the other. What fun!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-46407227458658929592007-10-09T10:21:00.000-05:002007-10-09T10:21:00.000-05:00Goodness, sorry about all the typos.Goodness, sorry about all the typos.Mrs. Darlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12911621891840832728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-69884760854780354612007-10-09T10:20:00.000-05:002007-10-09T10:20:00.000-05:00I dsont knwo if this baby shower has come or gone ...I dsont knwo if this baby shower has come or gone but I have just posted spoem food trays on my blog that I made for my daughters shower. You might get a few ideas for food there. I did it from scratch and of course there were sandwiches and veggie platters added to it. I just posted the trays I made not what the other grandma bought.Mrs. Darlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12911621891840832728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-84505623974147612142007-10-08T06:46:00.000-05:002007-10-08T06:46:00.000-05:00Lots of great ideas here - I gave a bridal and bab...Lots of great ideas here - I gave a bridal and baby shower for my sister out of town. One was at the home of a family member and one was at an icecream place which had an extra room for about $35. I took fabric strips and used them to decorate the tables, filled some helium balloons and it looked amazing! We let everyone go through and get ice cream for dessert instead of cake. My thought is to take as MUCH as you can with you - buying on the road or spur of the moment will be where the big cost comes in!Monica Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235919587298518908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-49535316628475457442007-10-08T01:10:00.000-05:002007-10-08T01:10:00.000-05:00Bellevue, WA here. At work at least, having a bab...Bellevue, WA here. At work at least, having a baby shower at a restaurant and everyone paying their own way + 1/# of people of the guest of honor's meal is standard practice.MommyLydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608956553350425075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-82471566202954985532007-10-07T17:41:00.000-05:002007-10-07T17:41:00.000-05:00I am a northerner, but Northwest. We have simple s...I am a northerner, but Northwest. We have simple showers here, but one where you had to go and pay for your own food would not be good, at least in our circle as we are not upper class, i guess you could say. <BR/>Anyhow, that said, we had a baby shower for my sister at a church that someone that went to the church let us use for free. We just had to have it clean when we were done. Someone made and decorated a cake, we had taco salad and a decorated with teddy bears. We had a bowl of teddy grahams and gummy bears, cake, punch and taco salad. It was cheap too! <BR/>We also had a nice basket with some wine glasses, sparkling cider, chocolates and a candle in it that we had a raffle for. In order to enter the raffle you had to bring a package of baby wipes or diapers. There were like 4 of us putting the shower together so we each bought something for the basket. Another gift you could do would be like a $15-20 gift card for somewhere. People didn't enter unless they could! One family got really excited and bought lots so they could enter more than once and won! <BR/>Anyhow, the new mom had lots of diapers and wipes to start out with.Martha A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02426112535240400393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-37032306129822791892007-10-07T06:30:00.000-05:002007-10-07T06:30:00.000-05:00hi, meredith. i was "appointed" (hosts usually vol...hi, meredith. i was "appointed" (hosts usually volunteer, lol) to host a churchmate's shower a few months back. i had no budget for it, but couldn't refuse, so decor came from my stock of arts and crafts supplies (it pays to be a packrat, lol). for favors, i bought a big bag of candy and just repacked them (tulle and ribbon from my art cabinet as well). i indicated in the emailed invite (i printed one for our church bulletin board for those who didn't have an email address) that the event was to be a potluck so i didn't need to worry about food. i included the option to bring drinks, plates, utensils, cups, and napkins in the invite instead of food and just organized the details when they rsvp-ed. the venue was our church. my husband provided his photography services for free. i just made a flickr account for the couple and uploaded the pics there (up to them to print:-p). i didn't have to spend much beyond the prizes for the games and they were just little tokens. for setting up, i coerced the youth group to come early and help me out, hee! i think the recipient of the shower was satisfied.:)<BR/>love your blog.:)<BR/><BR/>blessings,<BR/>ivyspinninglovelydayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06649241463501194118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-77852178799010360242007-10-06T23:46:00.000-05:002007-10-06T23:46:00.000-05:00This is nothing to do with your post, I am afraid,...This is nothing to do with your post, I am afraid, but I just wanted to let you know that I discovered your blog today though your lovely comment on mine and I really like it. I'll definitely be back later.<BR/><BR/>The Proverbs 31 woman is an inspiration, isn't she?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-83035476309505899052007-10-06T17:15:00.000-05:002007-10-06T17:15:00.000-05:00WHAT A SWEET BLOG!IF YOU HAVE TIME, STOP BY MY BLO...WHAT A SWEET BLOG!<BR/>IF YOU HAVE TIME, STOP BY MY BLOG AND ENTER MY "BIRTHDAY GIVE-AWAY!"<BR/>I'D LOVE TO MEET YOU!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07075313642309338412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-73640239399864790692007-10-06T15:38:00.000-05:002007-10-06T15:38:00.000-05:00Wow - talk about timely!At our church, we have a o...Wow - talk about timely!<BR/>At our church, we have a once-a-month event called "V-Clubs": Virtue Club for girls, Valor Club for boys. At the end of the month, the Virtue Club will be having some new moms with babies and moms-to-be come and teach the girls a bit about the joy of babies. What the moms DON'T know is that I'm secretly teaching the girls (that is, I'm about to be - hence the timeliness of your post and the comments!) about 'how to host a shower' - since women so often have that job.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to try and teach it to them in a Proverbs 31 kind of way - showing hospitality and good financial stewardship, too - so I'm enjoying all these ideas!<BR/><BR/>Thank you!Donna-Jean Breckenridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458231034482560795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-39551165893580504502007-10-06T14:24:00.000-05:002007-10-06T14:24:00.000-05:00oops forgot to say that i'm in the northwest.Anyth...oops forgot to say that i'm in the northwest.<BR/><BR/>Anything pretty much goes here: cake and punch, full meal, guest favors, no guest favors, no host restaraunt. I don't think anyone would expect any particular kind of shower. Although I do like food so I like trying new kinds of appetizers, etc!3boysmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04681527386218906722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-65995619575880798842007-10-06T14:20:00.000-05:002007-10-06T14:20:00.000-05:00Meredith,On the topic of no-host restaraunt shower...Meredith,<BR/>On the topic of no-host restaraunt showers:<BR/>I think it depends on how well you know the guest of honor. I have a close group of girlfriends and we would have no problem getting together for dinner and calling it a "shower" for one of the gals who is expecting. We are all on our 2nd, 3rd or 4th babies so we are laid back. We all bring diapers for the mom instead of a gift. Its just our way of honoring the arrival of the new baby. (and an excuse to get out of the house for a night of mom chit-chat without kids)<BR/><BR/>For first time moms in our group we would be much more formal--Hosting a traditional shower and not expecting guests to pay for their meal.3boysmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04681527386218906722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-85713178887248201712007-10-06T12:41:00.000-05:002007-10-06T12:41:00.000-05:00Hi Anonymous in the UK!You're correct...a baby sho...Hi Anonymous in the UK!<BR/><BR/>You're correct...a baby shower has something to do with having a baby!<BR/><BR/>We have a party and "shower" the mother (or bride) to be with gifts.<BR/>It's generally a ladies-only kind of thing.<BR/><BR/>When I was little my mom took me along to a shower. It was in someone's basement and there was a curtained off area which to my little eyes looked like a shower curtain--I asked if that was where we'd take the shower!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-6507751143354182212007-10-06T11:54:00.000-05:002007-10-06T11:54:00.000-05:00I'm intrigued by all this! It's not just cultural ...I'm intrigued by all this! It's not just cultural differences between North and South - I'm in the UK and haven't a clue what a baby shower is, though I'm guessing it's do do with someone expecting a baby! If anyone's got the time and inclination to explain a little I'd be glad to learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-80998687254442781102007-10-06T09:10:00.000-05:002007-10-06T09:10:00.000-05:00When the original reader wrote to me, I didn't eve...When the original reader wrote to me, I didn't even think of something obvious. Perhaps her friend's restaurant suggestion was made to spare the <EM>financial burden of hosting</EM>, not the trouble of hosting itself. <BR/><BR/>Since my reader and I come from similar backgrounds, I'm guessing that she--like me--didn't know that no-host, guests-pay-their-own-way showers were that common.<BR/><BR/>I have really enjoyed seeing the cultural differences in traditions like showers and funerals.<BR/><BR/>The way I was raised, it would be unthinkable to ask guests to pay for food at a social function to which they were invited...just as our Northern readers would be horrified at an afternoon shower with punch, cake, and tea.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08455517419708043340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-27510216102044908452007-10-05T23:56:00.000-05:002007-10-05T23:56:00.000-05:00I had no suggestions of my own but liked reading t...I had no suggestions of my own but liked reading the comments that did have some good ideas.Scribbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-41184105684917333332007-10-05T23:04:00.000-05:002007-10-05T23:04:00.000-05:00I like the idea of cold platters or simply a gorge...I like the idea of cold platters or simply a gorgeous dessert. The "baby" food idea is cute. Have baby carrots and other bite sized foods spread out for a snack feast and one delicious cake. Is the guest of honor willing to host the party as long as you take care of everything? Maybe you could go early and tidy up her house as a no-stress treat or pay someone to touch up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-77291138525269341862007-10-05T23:01:00.000-05:002007-10-05T23:01:00.000-05:00If you are able to talk with any of the friends/fa...If you are able to talk with any of the friends/family that live in her town, ask if they are willing to help to simply locate and connect you with a church or their own church hall or other location. Maybe someone would be willing to cohost by opening up their home and letting you do all the set up and clean up as someone else suggested. I can't imagine your friend expected YOU to pay for feeding everyone on a restaurant unless she knows you have plenty of money or perhaps she wasn't thinking of the expense. (And a lot of people might not be willing to pay for a meal, give up a Saturday, AND buy a gift). You have to think about how dear a friend this is. Talking $ can get uncomfy; so perhaps asking her to set you up with a contact person (who can help you find locations) is the frugal-friendly way to go. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-49352956612498433842007-10-05T20:07:00.000-05:002007-10-05T20:07:00.000-05:00Many restaurants have the facilities for a large r...Many restaurants have the facilities for a large reservation, meaning that you all can show up as "Jane Doe, party of 15" rather than the Doe baby shower paying $X for the back room. My husband got the local taxpayers' association in the black with that one.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976054517657015951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-5745480869861142512007-10-05T16:56:00.000-05:002007-10-05T16:56:00.000-05:00Not only is a full buffet with a cake and full cof...Not only is a full buffet with a cake and full coffee component at a baby shower, a nice take-home favor for each guest is expected...at least in my corner of the Northeast. Same is expected for a bridal shower. IMHO, the best course of action is to have heart-to-heart with your best friend and be honest about what you can afford. I know conversations about money and what you can swing aren't always comfortable, but the honest route is always the best, and I'm willing to bet your friend will be just as relieved as you'll be to have everything be out in the open. <BR/><BR/>I hesitated to comment on this topic for the same reason I didn't comment on the wake/funeral customs because what I was typing made us Northerns sound so, I don't know, snobbish and overly concerned with the $$ factor of everything. And, maybe that is the case in some respects, but it isn't for me, personally. I'm just as frustrated as the next by how overly elaborate and costly all of this can be. <BR/><BR/>JBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-67849174595340058662007-10-05T13:36:00.000-05:002007-10-05T13:36:00.000-05:00A cake and punch reception sounds wonderful. HEre...A cake and punch reception sounds wonderful. HEre in the Northeast, a full sit-down meal is expected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-86797110819045246872007-10-05T12:38:00.000-05:002007-10-05T12:38:00.000-05:00Does the mom-to-be have family in the town where t...Does the mom-to-be have family in the town where the shower will be held? If so, perhaps one of them would be willing to open her home for the shower. They wouldn't have to worry about anything other than providing the location. The hostess could still be the one to bring in paper goods (unless the host home is willing to use their china), transportable foods, etc. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise, I'd probably see about having it in the fellowship hall of the honoree's church, assuming she goes to church. <BR/><BR/>Having a no-host shower at a restaurant is fine, I suppose, but it makes for an awkward invitation, and as somoeone already stated, it may take away from whatever gifts the new baby may receive. People with tight budgets might find it hard to swing a meal out AND a gift.Anne Marie@Married to the Empirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16600919522369171555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-51805719960417656392007-10-05T12:27:00.000-05:002007-10-05T12:27:00.000-05:00I can think of several small cafes where entree an...I can think of several small cafes where entree and drink would cost about $10. <BR/><BR/>Catering and rental places generally charge more per person than the average, small, cute restaurant where women like to lunch. Even someplace like the Spaghetti Factory, with its private dining rooms, would come in at $10 a head or less.<BR/><BR/>Then again, most places in the South are cheaper for things like that than the equivalent in the North.<BR/><BR/>Just another reason for y'all to move!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-9717840431580530512007-10-05T12:08:00.000-05:002007-10-05T12:08:00.000-05:00Several of the banks in our town have beautiful me...Several of the banks in our town have beautiful meesting rooms, free to use.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142994274994642731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-86123611533951045102007-10-05T12:07:00.000-05:002007-10-05T12:07:00.000-05:00Our church charges $50 use our fellowship hall an...Our church charges $50 use our fellowship hall and that also includes the cost of the kitchen (you have to know a church member) if you do all the clean up then it is returned to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com