A Spring Baby Shower Soirée

As the cold and dark of winter finally gives way to the warming weather and rebirth flowers of spring, it is a great metaphor for the new beginning with the birth of a child. A baby shower in the spring can be just great! Here are some ideas for a “spring themed” baby shower.

First, check out Pinterest for decorating ideas and recipes when planning a baby shower. This is a great way to start to spark ideas when you are in the planning stage. Also, think about how many people will be invited. This will directly affect where it will be held, what everything will cost.

When you pick the shower invitations, carry that spring theme in your invites. Even let the guests know you are going with a spring theme and ask them to join in by bringing a spring thing baby item! You can create the perfect spring baby shower invitation at TinyPrints.com.

If it will be a small event, consider having it in someone’s backyard that has a lovely garden or a restaurant with a garden room. This will be a picturesque backdrop for the spring theme shower.

For a cute, and simple, centerpiece and decoration, pick up some bunches of tulips, daisies and other seasonal blooms and get simple pails in spring colors at your local craft store. This will show off some great spring colors and be an inexpensive way to have some lovely spring flowers incorporated into the event.

Instead of having a big cake, consider doing spring themed cupcakes. Each cupcake can have frosting in spring colors, which are also great baby colors. Top them off with butterflies, dragonflies, and flowers. It will be a yummy way to top off the party! Wilton Products’ website offers helpful step by step tutorials on how to make baby shower cupcakes. For a perfect spring theme, we love this cupcake design! Of course, the flower bouquet colors can be changed by purchasing different colors sugar sheets.

Guest Post by Rachael McAdams 
Photo source: Wilton.com. “Bouquet cupcakes”. Photo. Wilton.com No Date. 18 Mar 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from Mommy Couture Designs

Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends all come together to relax, reflect, and eat lots of delicious food. It can also be a perfect time to share and appreciate what we have. From our family to yours we want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving... May your day be filled with hope, happiness and that you are surrounded by all the people you love!

Shop for a Cure and Help Support Research for Breast Cancer

We support many organizations throughout the year, but we love the month of October because we have the pleasure of supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation by donating a portion of our sales toward research that will one day help find a cure for breast cancer. If you don't have a need to shop with us, please make a direct donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation by visiting their website at http://ww5.komen.org/donate/donate.html. Together we can make a difference!!

What to Expect When You're Expecting Giveaway (CLOSED)

So you’ve just found out that you are pregnant! Whether you're a brand new mom-to-be, or a veteran mother, the “what to expect” books have probably graced your shelves keeping your mind at ease throughout all your pregnancies. If you are not familiar with the book series by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, this “must have” read for parents to be is filled with all kinds of information from the planning stages and beyond. According to USA Today, 93% of all pregnant mothers who read a pregnancy guide read What To Expect When You’re Expecting. The series has been described as America’s Pregnancy Bible.

What are the Prizes:
2 lucky readers will win their own set of What To Expect books. Each set is comprised of the following books:

1. What To Expect When You're Expecting - by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

Completely new and revised What to Expect When You're Expecting pregnancy guide covers each pregnancy month in detail and what to expect, including FAQs at each stage. There is also a section for dads (which is pretty cool), and even a chapter on pregnancy complications. You get the lowdown on everything from lifestyle trends to birthing options. It's all here!

2. What To Expect The First Year - by Heidi Murkoff, Sharon Mazel, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N.

The What to Expect The First Year has all the same flair as the first What to Expect but covers each month of your baby's growth including doctor visits, birth weight, feeding, bonding, caring for baby, stimulating baby, sleeping, teething, and so much more. This all in one guide is jam packed with all the answers to your questions, along with the most practical tips on all things baby.

3. What To Expect The Second Year - by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

This America's Bestselling Parenting Series, What to Expect The Second Year, covers every aspect of parenting from their first birthday to their second. You will find more and more challenges as your child grows and this book will help you understand your toddler's needs, while keeping them safe and healthy.



Also you will want to check out  What to Expect.com and join their online community where you get to network with other moms and support each other, too!

How to Join:

Enter below for your chance to win a set of What to Expect books. Giveaway will run through September 3rd and the first winner will be randomly chosen through Rafflecopter and be announced the following day.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONGRATULATIONS.../ Kayla Nicole Marthers Land and Barbara Mayes are the winners!! 

Summertime Activities for Fashion Inspiration

When we think summer, we think warmth, sunshine, crisp clean air, fluffy white clouds, wild flowers, sleeping in, staying up late, star-filled skies, and juicy fresh fruit. While these romanticized images of summer don't necessarily come to fruition for all of us, there's something about the warm summer months that makes us think of brightness and freshness. With these easy and breezy thoughts of summer, come our summer favorite summer outfits. Whether you are home from college for the summer or you're dressing the kids for their three month vacation off school, summer can inspire some truly whimsical outfits. Consider these three fun-filled summer activities for fashion inspiration for both you and the kids.

Go to the Zoo

Going to the zoo is a classic summertime trip. With the kids home from school all day and the sun welcoming us all outside, there are few better places to spend an afternoon than with your family at the zoo. For moms looking for fashion inspiration for both yourself and your kids, the zoo can be a great spot. Spend time learning about the animals and their environments, while also picking up ideas for summertime patterns, color schemes, and textures. Animal print fabrics, feathers, and natural color schemes are bit hits for summer outfits.

Take a Picnic

Summer is all about spending as much time as possible out in the sun and with nature. Things like fresh salads and fresh fruit are staples of summer and few things are more fun than a summer picnic. Pack up some fresh lunches with sandwiches, juice, salads, and fresh fruit and head to the nearest park. Sit in the grass with your kids and enjoy the beauties of nature. Take in the blue sky, the soft grass, check out the wild flowers, and the summer clouds. Not only are these wonderful things to enjoy in their own right, they make for fabulous inspiration in the fashion world. Floral prints and summery colors are all inspired by a summer picnic in the park. Consider the bright tones of blue and green and the vibrant floral collage for your kid's summer outfits.

Laze on the Beach

The beach is another classic summertime excursion. While waves and sand aren't available to everyone, many people travel just to catch sight of the glistening coast. Take a beach holiday or make a weekend drive out to the coast with the kids. There are few things more summery than a day lazing on the beach and in the salty waves. The beach can be a wonderful design inspiration for fashion and art. With so many classic and cool colors, the beach setting can help parents put together some very peaceful outfits for their kids. Think about the shades of blue in the ocean and the lightness of the sand. The way all these colors work together can be a wonderful inspiration.

Aniya Wells is one of the most passionate writers you'll ever meet. Though her writing interests run the gamut—from personal finance to health to fashion to current events and more—her primary interest is modern higher education. She serves as a reliable online degree guide for students considering taking advantage of the conveniences inherent in distance learning. Don't hesitate to contact Aniya for questions or comments at aniyawells@gmail.com.