Fretzels™: You'll Savor this Sweet Shower Gift
Salty and sweet. Velvety and crunchy. Twisted and smooth. Just like pregnancy cravings, Jill Frechteman's Fretzels are constantly evolving. Fretzels are hand-dipped, candy-coated pretzels sprinkled with all kinds of toppings – crushed peppermint candy, toffee and cookies.
Thanks to her insatiable desire to experiment with new combinations, Fretzels churns out new products and fresh packaging to celebrate the seasons. No matter when you throw your baby shower, Fretzels make a delectable party favor. We love how the Rainbow Non-Parelis Fretzels bring sprinkles of color to spring showers.
Add Jill's finesse as a graphic designer, and you've got an instant hit at your baby shower. The care Jill has taken in designing the packaging really pops on a table. Whether cellophane wrapped and ribbon-tied or boxed, Fretzels make any shower table vibrant. Personalized packaging, ribbons and tags are also available along with custom-colored chocolate.
Opening a package of Fretzels feels like unwrapping a gift. Tasting one starts as a quiet moment at a shower where indulgence is savored at first, then erupts into conversation. (Pssst… makes for great bridal shower, bachelorette party, birthday, corporate, holiday, father's day, football party gifts, hanukah, bahmitzvah, teacher appreciation, self appreciation day, what the heck day, why not day, a me too day … !)
Diva Tip: If you've already chosen your theme for your event, be sure your tags coordinate with the colors and style you have already created. For instance, if you've decided upon the Black and White Audrey from BadaBadaBingo, order some decadent dark chocolate drizzle fretzels and ask for the packaging to come sealed with no tag. Then, place your custom order for a matching tag and ribbon that will be identical to your Black and White "The Audrey" theme.
These are more than just pretzels. You can order espresso bark for $3.50 a single bar or $19.95 for a box of 4.
For the sports lover, what about a golf bag gift set for $55.00 (Psst – great Father's Day Gift!)
The traditional assortment of Fretzels™ is priced at just:
Half Dozen Box :$14.95
One Dozen Box :$28.00
My favorite new find is the Fractured Fretzel s Jill just announced where you can get a bag for just $7.95. Recently she announced a special where you can get a bag of these free with any purchase of $50 or more. I wonder how long that offer will last. Or, how long my credit card will hold out for those… hmmmm….
These pretzel pieces are drenched in Premium Belgium Milk Chocolate and generously adorned with a "Confetti" creation of lots of Jill's favorite toppings. Jill says it's "The Perfectly Imperfect Sweet n' Salty Treat." But I say, it's absolutely perfect! In fact, I think I enjoy these more than the "perfect" ones. I guess you'll just need to try them to know what we are talking about here at Diva Central! I'm about to place another order!
Why, you can even join the Fretzel of the Month Club where you'll be surprised each month with a new delicious treat each month.
Enjoy your savory, sweet delicious treat from a lovely woman from New York! She's a talented red headed graphic designer named Jill! Please send her my regards if you stop into her store, make an online purchase or just simply contact her. She is a doll!
Munch and crunch and sail away!!!!!
Mommy Magic: Tricks for Staying Sane in the Midst of Insanity
By Mary Sue Buhner
If you share parenting moments with a dear friend, this is a book you'll find yourself quoting time and again. In Mommy Magic: Tricks for Staying Sane in the Midst of Insanity. Mary Sue Buhner and 17 of her friends share the joys, challenges and the triumphs of motherhood.
From the boardroom to the baby's room (lessons the contributors admit they never learned in college), new and seasoned parents will be inspired by the stories here.
Buhner brings humor and grace to motherhood, along with a healthy dose of practical advice. Each chapter ends with a Trick of the Trade: things your mother never told you about raising a family (and Dr. Spock never shared).
Tucked inside this little tome are quotes, exercises in balance and encouraging real-life stories. Each contributor shares their unique experience: humor, humility, honor and encouragement are the threads that tie the stories and exercises together.
Short encouraging bits of advice pepper the chapters:
"Days are long, but years are short. Enjoy the grind as much as you can. It's fleeting and wonderful. Your dreams don't always play out as you imagined; they play out more richly, more vividly, and more grandly in real life. It's the friends who keep you laughing, who keep it real, that make this journey what it is meant to be. As moms, we have to stick together. Love each other and accept our vices, and laugh–a lot."
This group of mommies knows the score and they have shared stories of the dreams, mistakes and goals that are common to all parents.
Share Mommy Magic with your favorite parent: the heartwarming stories will be treasured for the chuckles, nods and warmth that are part of the parenting wonder for every mom or dad! Order online.
Pacimals™ 
Cuddly, comforting and oh so precious, Pacimals™ are one of our favorite gifts for new moms and babies. Lovable characters like Bailee the Bunny, Oole the Monkey, Dallas the Duck and other darling friends encourage baby's motor skills while keeping the "Paci" securely within baby's reach. Each huggable friend is sized for tiny babes and lightweight enough for little ones to cuddle near.
Dr. Monica Williams designed Pacimals™ for her own infant daughter with the comfort of both baby and mom in mind. The detachable, washable animal bodies pop in the laundry while the pacifier gets sanitized in the dishwasher. Plus, Pacimals™ are jointed so tiny fingers can curl around their buddy and snuggle closer.No more crawling under the crib for lost pacifiers or tears from wee ones over a lost "Paci".
For older toddlers who have outgrown their "Paci", simply remove the "Paci" holder from baby's friend and you're all ready for toddlers next stage of comforting, cuddly fun!
No matter which huggable friend you choose to bestow upon a little one, Pacimals™ is a welcome gift to delight both mom and baby. Order online at Pacimals.com.
Baboosh Tauts™ 
A modern version of an age old secret
Apparently the rest of the world has long been using some kind of wrap around the new mother's belly right after birth. Now TV celeb and Mompreneur Brooke Burke has developed an abdominal compression garment just for new moms. Some women use it to help restore their figure after pregnancy and Tauts™ may help reduce the size of the swollen uterus. That couldn't hurt, but the moms on Team Diva had a whole different take on the subject. Our minds went straight to the comfort aspect!
As in:
"Wouldn't this have been great during the first couple of weeks after delivery when you feel like your innards are going to fall out of your abdominal cavity!"
"Especially if you've had a c-section."
"Or for supporting your low back when you're aching from the delivery and even a 7 pound baby feels like lifting a cinder block!"
"Or when you're riding in the car and every bump makes you feel like your skin is stretching like Wile E. Coyote's cartoon catapult!"
The conversation sort of deteriorated from there but suffice to say, the consensus was, "Why didn't we have one of these right after we gave birth? You know, when a little abdominal support would have gone a long way towards allowing us to move around without groaning aloud?!?"
Indeed.
Tauts™ are easy to use. Just wrap the garment snugly around your midsection and secure the wide Velcro closure. There's a whopping 11" of adjustability in the closure so you can tighten it as your stomach begins to shrink. The inside lining is a very soft knit fabric—a lot like t-shirt jersey—which is very comfortable next to the skin. The actual compression garment inside all this pretty fabric is very firm but the back has a bit of contouring so it fits comfortably. Baboosh™ recommends new mothers wear their belly wrap for at least 40 days after the birth.
Whether your favorite Mother-to-Be wants her pre-pregnancy belly back ASAP or just needs some extra abdominal and back support to feel comfortable after delivery, she'll appreciate Tauts™. Chose between a plain or lace exterior in black or nude. Order online at BabooshBaby.com.
Pregnancy Time Countdown Clock
Nothing spells A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N like waiting for a baby to arrive. Babies will take their own time, won't they? Ah well, since we can't change that, might as well celebrate it! The Pregnancy Time Countdown Clock™ was designed to do just that. Program the Pregnancy Time Countdown Clock™ with your due date and it will start counting down to the big event in days, hours, minutes and seconds. When the due date arrives the display flashes for 24 hours. Then, the clock automatically switches to regular clock mode. The clock runs on a 5-year lithium battery so it will be perfect to use in baby's nursery.
One member of Team Diva put a countdown clock on her desk for a few days and reported, "Watching the tenths of seconds fly by is sort of companionable, and at the same time it makes me chuckle–you wouldn't think a digital clock could be this endearing, but it is!" In fact, we're so charmed, we're giving one away this month on DivaDarlings.NET!
The clock face is decorated with baby-themed images such as building blocks, a rubber duck, and a stuffed bear and the packaging is just as attractive as the product itself. The colorful gift box includes pregnancy trivia and notable quotes on the essence of parenthood. It even includes a reminder that few babies actually arrive on their due date - an important thing for first-time parents to keep in mind during those exciting last few days!
The Pregnancy Time Countdown Clock™ is 3" x 5" and costs $24.95. It is warranted against defects for 3 years and can be reset as often as you like until the year 2049.
Another option is the Baby Edition Time to Go Clock. This little charmer is 3 1/4" x 2 1/4" and includes four interchangeable face plates to use as baby grows. Each face plate celebrates another milestone in baby's life: Baby's Due Date, Baby's First Birthday, Baby's First Christmas, and First Day of Preschool. It can be reset as often as you like until 2024 and additional faceplates are available. It takes an AA battery and is also warranted. There are even "create your own" versions that allow you to design a custom faceplate. You could add a photo of the expectant parents or make a grandparents edition.
Diva Tip: This would make a particularly nice gift for a big-brother- or big-sister-to-be. Although it celebrates the expected baby, it's also a "big kid" item to own!
Order today at Countdown Clocks International.
Goose Creek Riding Rockers
What do you give a very special baby? Today's children rarely receive heirlooms to cherish throughout their babyhood and pass down to their own kids. In our plasticized world, children soon have rooms full of disposable toys, few of which hold their interest for long–none that will be named, loved and central to their memories of childhood. But when you're looking for a special gift, perhaps for a grandchild or for your sister-who-is-also-your-best-friend's first baby, you want an heirloom gift. You want Goose Creek Riding Rockers.
These enchanting riding rockers will be given a special place in the family room and the family's heart. This is the toy that will show up in holiday snapshots year after year, creating a lifetime of memories. It will ignite young imaginations, inspire love, and be ridden by every child who comes over to visit. It will be passed down to new generations and featured in family stories. But first, it will be the show stopper at the Baby Shower. Guaranteed, when a Goose Creek Riding Rocker comes out of the wrapping paper, every guest in the room will breathe "Oohhh!" and wish they had thought of it first!
One longstanding customer of Goose Creek Enterprises buys a riding rocker for each of his grandchildren because, as he says, "I love the heirloom quality and dedication plaque. We always put on our plaque "Happy 1st Birthday", the year, and "Love, Grandma & Grandpa" because when I'm gone, my grandchildren will have something from me to pass down to their children."
Goose Creek Enterprises offers their riding rocker in standard wood versions or customized designs in your choice of themes, patterns and colors. Choose from AppleJack the classic horse, pigs Petee or Milo, Penelope the flying pig, Ben the black bear, or Magic the unicorn. Every Goose Creek Riding Rocker features:
- Safe, eco-friendly construction. The Indiana hardwood is locally grown and sustainably harvested. All paints are non-toxic and zero to low VOC. Each rocker is engineered to exceed the highest government safety standards.
- 100% Made in the USA materials and craftsmanship. Local leather smiths and mills provide the foundational materials. Local artists create the painted models, donating 10% of sales to the charity of your choice.
- Sturdy construction designed to stand up to generations of youngsters. In fact, they are made so well adults up to 250 lbs can ride them. (And when they do, they request rockers in adult sizes. Turns out these artful toys also give an excellent ab workout!)
- A plaque you can personalize to memorialize your gift for all the generations who will enjoy it.
- No assembly required–just pull your Goose Creek Riding Rocker out of the gigantic shipping box and enjoy.
Stars like Tonight Show host Conan O'Brian and Golden Globe winning actress Jenna Elfman have Goose Creek Riding Rockers for their children and you can invite one of these extraordinary toys to join your own family at GooseCreekEnterprises.com or at select couture baby retailers.
Diva Tip: Share the expense of a Goose Creek Riding Rocker with friends and give it as a group gift! One Goose Creek Riding Rocker that is ridden every day trumps a toy box full of forgotten bits of plastic.
Aunt LaLa's Log
We all love new babies, but they are a handful, especially for sleep-deprived parents. Keeping track of feedings, diaper changes, and sleep schedules is a smart way to help the pediatrician track baby's physical progress, but let's be honest…when you're…zzzzzzz…up with baby… zzzzzzz …through the night… zzzzzzz …it's hard to remember… zzzzzzz...where you put the… zzzzzzz…scrap of paper… zzzzzzz…you're using to track feedings… zzzzzzz…let alone which side baby… zzzzzzz …nursed on last. And things only get more confusing when Mommy and Daddy switch care shifts or Grandma comes over to sit with baby so Mommy can have an afternoon out.
Here's an idea. Gift your favorite Mother-to-Be an Aunt LaLa's Log. This attractive, sturdy journal has plenty of spaces for noting feedings, naps, dirty diapers, illnesses, and growth spurts—all those details pediatricians want and parents struggle to track. There are tons of stylish cover designs, pages are sturdy, and the smart Moms at RosieBear.com used spiral binding so it lays flat for writing. Having twins? No problem, there's an Aunt LaLa's log for that as well!
By the time the log is full, Baby will be well past the first few months and settled into a routine that Mom and Dad will have a good idea of what's normal for Baby, and the log will eventually become a treasured heirloom of Baby's early days.
Sisters Deena "Rosie" and Lisa "Bear" developed Aunt LaLa's Log to stay organized after the birth of Rosie's first daughter and perfected it "on-the-job" so to speak. Since then, it's been a favorite of parents and pediatricians alike.
Order Aunt LaLa's Log online today.
Boogie Wipes™
Boogie Wipes
Gentle Saline Wipes for Stuffy Noses
So far, everyone we know who has tried
Boogie Wipes™ has instantly fallen in love with them. You know how miserable it feels to wipe your stuffy nose with a dry tissue until the tip of your poor little snout is irritated? And how it doesn’t seem to help because you still feel stuffy anyway? Imagine how that must feel to babies! And if they have dried-on boogies, OUCH! No wonder they move their head around and struggle when somebody walks up to them with a dry tissue. Give the babes a break with Boogie Wipes™. These saline-solution infused wipes are like a gentle bath for your nose.
Little ones will love either the Fresh or Great Grape scents. Moms and Dads will appreciate that Boogie Wipes™ are hypoallergenic, alcohol free, phthalate and paraben free, and use gentle ingredients such as Vitamin E, Chamomile and Aloe to moisturize. Plus, Boogie Wipes™ are much stronger than a regular old tissue - like the material used for diaper wipes instead of a paper tissue - so bring on your really big mucus messes. Boogie Wipes™ are up to the challenge.
One Shower Diva staffer suffers from allergies in the spring and early summer. Poor thing wakes up every morning feeling stuffed up. She’s traded her old dry tissues for a pack of Magic Menthol scent Boogie Wipes™ and reports this eucalyptus and rosemary blend gives instant relief from mild congestion "like a mini dose of vapor rub." She was so impressed she passed a package of the original Fresh scent wipes to her 71-year-old Father. Like infants, older folks have very delicate skin and this Diva’s Daddy is on oxygen therapy—which means his nose gets very, very dry inside. Boogie Wipes™ to the rescue! He loves how soothing they are to his beleaguered nose.
The smart Moms from Little Busy Bodies, Inc. who invented Boogie Wipes™ offer them in a big 30 count package and handy little individual packs called Boogies on the Run™ that you can throw in your purse or your kid’s backpack. Buy online or at retailers nationwide. Moms-to-Be will be thrilled to receive a supply of Boogie Wipes™ at their Baby Shower and you’re going to want some for yourself too!
Diva Tip: If you've wandered over here from the Bridal Shower aisle and you know a Bride-to-Be who is fighting a cold or suffers from allergies, Boogie Wipes™ would be a smart addition to her gift basket. Nobody wants to walk down the aisle looking like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Stash a few of the Magic Menthol Boogies on the Run™ in the wedding day emergency kit, too, in case someone in the bridal party develops the sniffles.
Boutique Pink Flower Stretch Baby Soft Crochet Headband from Aimee’s Hairbows
These soft, stretch hairbows for baby girls are the prettiest we’ve seen and handsewn instead of glued so they don’t come apart. If you’ve ever seen the havoc tiny hands can wreak on glued accessories, you’ll truly appreciate Aimee’s fine craftsmanship. The band comes in your choice of cream or white and both are beautiful against the bright pink flower. The crocheted band is super stretchy so it will fit long after baby grows up! They’re just $9, so if you’re as charmed as we are, pick up a Double Ruffle Bow Headband for another $6 and give your favorite Mother-to-Be a baby accessories gift pack!
If the Baby-Girl-to-Be has a Big Sister, Aimee’s has hairbows for her too. The Big Sister Bow makes a beautiful gift for celebrating the new arrival with Sisters-to-Be. For only $5, who can resist adding this little charmer to their gift package? It comes in your choice of Alligator Clip, French Barrette, or Pony O Elastic styles.
The bow above is seen on Susan's 3-year old daughter, Emily here.
Aimee’s Hairbows can be ordered online, or, at this time purchased at retailers in Indiana and Florida.
The Snuggly by Cover Me Collections
Mmmmmm…The Snuggly must be the very best thing next to being wrapped in your own mother’s arms. Divas-in-Training Tori and Emily (shown here in the arms of Susan “The Shower Diva”) tested this product for you and they love it, love it, love it!
Tori particularly admires the sweet posies that edge the satin binding. When asked if their Cover Me blanket improved their sleep quality, both girls were found napping. We assume that means yes.
This is a top-quality, year-round weight blanket made of pure New Zealand merino wool. If you’ve never had a premium wool blanket, don’t confuse this with the cheap, itchy kind. Good quality wool is very soft, naturally hypoallergenic, and the best choice for people with eczema or sensitive skin. Wool is a superior insulator that absorbs and wicks away moisture and keeps the body comfortable on hot or cold nights. Best of all, wool is a very durable fiber. Read: Baby will have a hard time ‘loving it to death’!
Emily points out that the The Snuggly version is particularly well suited for playing hide-and-seek.
Order online only because The Snuggly is only available from Cover Me Collections in New Zealand. Prices start at $199.
Go Baby Nursing Bracelet
New Moms have to remember 10,000 things on any given day: schedule an appointment for vaccinations, pick up no-tears shampoo, throw a load of clothes in the washer, find a way to get spit up out of a silk blouse! In the meantime, snuggle, change, and play with baby and don’t forget to feed the little one on time! It’s a blessed roller-coaster of events, but all the action - and lack of sleep - makes it easy for Mom to forget important little details. That’s why The Shower Diva loves Go Baby’s Nursing Bracelet.
This ingenious little reminder tool has a clock face hidden amongst colorful Czech glass beads. Mommy can use it to remind herself of baby’s last feeding time or next scheduled time, and which side she nursed on last. Or, she can track diaper changes, remind herself to call the pediatrician at a certain hour, even leave it with Grandma to track bottle feedings. It would be very helpful for remembering baby’s medication schedules. When baby’s a little older, she can use it to remember what time Mommy and Me starts at the community center. 
Past the practical, imagine the day when baby is all grown up and Mother gifts this bracelet to her grown son or daughter as a memento of the early years they spent together.
The Nursing Bracelet is easy to use and pretty enough to wear anywhere. One size fits all and slips on and off easily because the beads are strung on memory wire that wraps around your wrist all by itself (read: no clasps to fiddle with when you have a baby in one hand). You can choose between a pink or blue bead for the marker charm and it comes in a pretty organza bag with instructions. Order today at GoBaby.com or stop by a retailer near you. $29 plus shipping and handling.
Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green with Baby
By Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog
Going green is going mainstream and these days Mothers-to-Be are searching for eco-friendly advice they can trust. That’s great news because choices that are healthier for Mother Earth are healthier for tiny babies too! But, there are so many green choices out there, and so many things to consider, it can be confusing. Which plastics are toxic for babies? What’s the real story on the best diaper option? What the heck are PBDEs and should you buy a crib mattress that has been treated with them? And, do you have to buy the $800 crib made from sustainable birchwood or are there budget-friendly green options???
Fortunately the eco-friendly experts at Itsabelly Baby Concierge™ service have published the definitive guide to helping Mothers-to-Be welcome their baby into a safe, earth-conscious environment. With over 300 product reviews, expert information and insight into non-toxic products, and loads of green-living tips, this little tome is the perfect Baby Shower gift for your favorite Mother-to-Be.
Sample some of author Melissa Moog’s tips for creating a green shower and order your copy of Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green with Baby: Mom-Tested Tips for a Healthy Baby and a Happy Planet today for $17.95.
Tummy Honey® by Bella B
Every Mother-to-Be worries about stretch marks, and that’s just the half of it during pregnancy. Without proper moisture, her rapidly growing tummy can becoming itchy and uncomfortable. Tummy Honey is the ultimate solution for preventing stretch marks and soothing tummy tickles.
This all-natural, hypoallergenic moisturizer comes in a butter or easy-apply stick for preventing stretch marks and there’s a cream version for fading existing stretch marks. Although it’s an oil-based product, it’s not greasy and has a very light scent, which is important when your pregnant and any strong smell can be nauseating. All Tummy Honey products are hypo-allergenic, contain no petroleum or lanolin (which comes from sheep's wool), and include anti-itch ingredients. Their formulas are chock full of good stuff like cocoa butter, shea butter, wheat germ oil, aloe vera, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E and much more. Mothers we know rave about it!
Honey Butter is $19.95 for 4 oz., the Tummy Honey Stick is $17.99 for 2.8 oz and, the stretch mark fade cream is $24.95 for 4 oz. Or, you can buy all three in a sweet gingham-trimmed gift bag for $57.95. Order online or at a retailer near you.
Bazzle Baby Paci Clips
These chic clips keep baby’s pacifier off the ground and close at hand. Bazzle Baby offers them in 23 trendy designs that range from the demure Sheer Champagne to an eye-catching Urban Camo. Inside the clips is a plastic clothes protector to keep Baby’s duds in good shape and at only $8, they’re priced right to buy a whole wardrobe of these fashion-forward essentials. Shop online or check their store locator for a store near you.
The buti-bag co's: The Pod
The Pod is one of those ingenious products that we wish we had thought of first! A simple, heavy-weight vinyl pouch that you can tuck baby wipes into and they stay clean and moist for months. It’s flexible and compact, so it takes up a lot less room in the diaper bag or car, and it’s phthalate free (we can’t pronounce it either, but it’s not healthy to expose babies – or anyone – to phthalates). It’s reusable and has a handy center zipper for easy dispensing. Buy online, or call 704-372-1009, they come two to a package for only $8.50, so you might want to pick up an extra set of Pods for yourself!
SnappyBaby Birth Announcement System
Announce your new arrival the easy way! SnappyBaby allows you to pre-record an introductory greeting and set up an address book of up to 100 recipients. After your baby is born, all you have to do is call the toll-free SnappyBaby hotline right from your hospital room and enter your PIN number. The Snappy switchboard will guide you through recording baby’s birth facts along with anything else you want to say. Once you press “send,” Snappy calls everyone on your list and delivers your personal birth announcement! Packages range from $9.99 + $0.49/call to $29.99 + $0.29/call.
Baby Buzz'r: Like giving Mommy an extra pair of hands
This amazing little device won the "2007 Creative Child Toy of the Year" Award for its ability to calm restless babies. Baby Buzz'r was invented by a physician who accidentally discovered his vibrating pager had the singular ability to capture his baby's attention and turn a case of the fussy wiggles back into a cheerful baby. It vibrates, plays classical lullabies, and blinks. Baby can teeth on its ears and it has a safety mirror on back. It's sized for a purse or pocket and easily attaches to strollers. Brilliant!
Check it out online!
Boudreaux's Butt Paste: A name only a Mother could love – and they do!
Long known in its native Louisiana, Boudreaux's Butt Paste® is now a nationally-celebrated diaper rash ointment because, bottom line (pun intended), it works! Fast. And not just on baby bums, either. It's good for chapped skin, burns, poison ivy, and all kinds of abrasions and rashes anywhere on the body. And, unlike a lot of similar products, it's easy to clean off your own hands after you've finished doctoring junior. So forgive dear old George Boudreaux for having a laugh at the rest of us when he named his product and grab a tub for your favorite Mommy-to-Be.
Learn more about Buttpaste.
Baby Banz: The ultimate in children's sun protection
If you are looking for a cool way to protect your child's eyes this summer, then you have to check into Baby Banz line of complete sun protection items with 100% UV protection! These glasses not only protect but they are stylish, trendy and kids love 'em!
See more photos here at a Baby Sprinkle in 2009!
To buy a pair for your favorite munchkin, shop Baby Banz online.
Baby Candy: "Sweet" Gifts for Baby with No Calories!
Baby Candy makes customized onesies and toddler tees in many designs that feature the parent's names. They come wrapped like fancy candy too! Their shirts are made of extra soft and comfortable 100% combed cotton that has been pre-washed to reduce shrinkage. The expandable lap design at the neck allows for easy dressing. Rib binding along the neck, arms and legs provides comfort, durability and a polished look.
One of their designs is the "Made in USA Custom Onesie & Toddler Tee" as shown. It is surprisingly affordable at only $21! Please visit their website BabyCandy.com and tell him a big happy hello from The Shower Diva! We just love their designs, prices and packaging! Ooh, sweet! And just in time for the 4th of July!!!
For more information, visit babycandystore.com.
Your Pregnancy Week by Week
Search no more for that Pregnancy book! We ran across this book recently and found it to be a great resource for pregnant women. Your Pregnancy Week by Week is in its 6th Edition now and has been written by Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H. and Judith Schuler, M.S. and is endorsed by Elizabeth Warner, M.D., OB/GYN.
It is touted to be the only best-selling guide to be written by a doctor with over one million copies sold! We've done some research for you in bringing you some sellers, but of course you may have your favorite bookstores already!
- $9.57 (BookPal) - Minimum order is 25 books (Hey, if you know a lot of pregnant women, it'll make great gifts!)
- $10.85 (Amazon) And at the time of this writing 64 new and used as low as $5.99
- $31.96 (Audio Books) This is perfect for those of you moms on the go and have little downtime to actually read a book! Put this in the car on the way to work!!
gDiapers: Earth-friendly diapers you can flush, compost or toss:
gDiapers are breathable natural diapers that are designed to keep your baby dry and the planet a little happier. gDiapers consist of a washable, cotton outer “little g” pant and a plastic-free diaper refill that you can flush, compost or toss in the trash. They are made of breathable material just like sports clothing. Your babies will stay dry and happy and will be less likely to get diaper rash.
gDiapers are good for the planet because they will break down in your garden compost in 50-150 days. In contrast, 50 million disposable diapers enter the landfill every day, where they sit for up to 500 years.
To buy, click here: gDiapers.
Gift Him With A Baby Daddy Shower!
June 15th is Father's Day so there's no better time to fete Dad-to-Be! Daddy parties are making it onto the baby shower scene big time but this hot new trend has its own rules, so let's go back to shower school!
Since no one in her right mind expects Dad-to-Be to sit on a mommy throne, open frilly packages and sip punch out of a dainty tea cup, a bit o' masculine thought needs to go into the planning!
First, the shower theme needs to have a “guy” feel about it. Instead of labeling the event “a shower,” use humor! “Baby Daddy” and “Who's Your Daddy?” parties – as well as the rite of passage party such as “Jim Is Our Kid's Hero,” “Jim -- First Time Dad of the Year,” etc. -- are perfect ways of taking that lacy edge off the male style “shower.”
A daddy party is best kept casual. Even if the party is co-ed, there needs to be a separate location set aside that's designated “Guys Only.” For example, if you throw a barbecue, treat the outdoors as dad's domain. Let the yard become a male sanctuary where dad and his pals can hang out, toss a football or shoot hoops and talk that weird, alien planet jabber known as “guy talk.” Ladies stay clear!
If a barbecue works better as a co-ed event, Dad could opt for a guys only game room where he and his pals can play a few hands of poker, shoot pool, or even watch ESPN on the Big Screen TV. If your Baby Daddy party takes place during an all sports day, he and his pals can hang out and eat some good all American Hot Dogs, Brewskis and enjoy the festivities!
No matter what party style best suits Dad-to-Be, his shower is one that requires plenty of Big Man food – spareribs, pizza, steak sannies, cold cuts, cheeses, breads and condiments. If dad says he wants his signature cocktail to be beer, don't dare bat an eye! Have plenty of the brew on ice!
Once word gets out that there's a Baby Daddy party in the works, don't be surprised if some male genius gets the bright idea of taking dad out for a sort of kind of – well – drinking bash. The kind of bash that's loosely translated from the original Klingon as “It's Jim's Last Night Out As A Guy Who Doesn't Have Kids.” Again, the language used by dad's Chief of Crass falls into that category we cited above: weird, alien planet jabber known as “guy talk.”
Just as long as there's a sober designated driver who gets everyone home safe (and Mom-to-Be doesn't mind if dad happens to imbibe more than he might otherwise) its all systems go!
As you might guess, there are plenty of cool daddy shower gifts on the market these days. Hey, why shouldn't the guy who helped the lil' punkin' come into being have a few dedicated gift products too?
For fun, throw in a Wheel of Responsibility while you’re at it. It’s has a moving part so the men at the party will probably think it’s a machine. ($11.00). Get a couple of these and you can entertain the guys for hours! Can’t you just see them spinning this thing around and cracking jokes? Oh, to be a fly on the wall!
More Divine Diva Delvings:
Breakfast in Bed – an economical and thoughtful way to celebrate Mom-to-Be or new mom at any time. Check out this feature article and scrumptious recipes at Allrecipes.com
Visit Hot Coupon World and learn where and how to get the hottest, low cost deals on everything from groceries, diapers, baby supplies, eco-friendly pet food, to yoga mats and more! This site is for champion money savers of all stripes. There’s a whole community of smart shoppers and bloggers just waiting for you to join. (It’s free). Online Couponing is the new chic!
Diva Coupons:
TSD2 $2 off your order of $25 while shopping at BadaBadaBaby.com or BadaBadaBride.com
TSD5 $5 off your order of $50 while shopping at BadaBadaBaby.com or BadaBadaBride.com
Two Top-Ranked Exercise DVDs:
It's the dreaded “E” word again. Exercise. The word itself is a 4-letter rant multiplied times two! But you can't beat the benefits, and no one stands to gain (not weight!) more than Mom-to-Be.
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Seven Good Reasons: The Baby Center gives seven good reasons why Mom-to-Be should commit to a fitness routine during pregnancy and afterwards. That is after she's cleared her options with her OB/GYN! |
Prenatal Yoga Series
“Leading fitness expert and licensed marriage- family therapist, Sara Holliday, MFT, has coached and trained thousands of women on how to develop a fit body and mind and now brings her successful fitness programs to powerful DVDs for expectant mothers . . . The ONLY yoga programs tailored for each trimester of pregnancy!”
Sara Holliday's Prenatal Yoga Series (2007) gets top marks by raters at Amazon.com. What women liked best is that you don't have to have previous yoga experience to enjoy these exercises. You get three separate DVDs (45 minutes for the first trimester, 35 minutes for the second trimester, 37 minutes for the third trimester) which keeps the routines from getting boring. There's great stretching and strengthening techniques combined with breathing exercises. It sounds to me like the perfect prep for labor!
Pilates During Pregnancy
Pilates pros don't have to go into withdrawal during The Preg either! You guessed it, there's Pilates During Pregnancy. What a perfect gift!
Niece Pecenka, developer of Pregnancy Pilates, says her program is a “routine adapted for busy women in all trimesters who want to feel fit, healthy, and fabulous.” This Pilates routine helps mom-to-be focus on conscious movement and revitalizing breath – the prime energizers that will help her control her weight and get her muscles ready for labor.
Bonus: she'll also have a head start on getting rid of baby belly after delivery. These Pilates moves are “OB/GYN endorsed and follow the guidelines set forth by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.” Do the routines twice a week to stay toned. Be sure mom-to-be checks with her doctor before undertaking this or any other exercise program.
What's the Buzz?
Burt's Bees of course! The hum is all about Burt's Mom-to-Bee and Baby Bee grooming products. There's no sting in this bling because you're going affordably natural!
Mama Bee Belly Butter
Give Mom-to-Be this belly rub moisturizer that's saturated with Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E. It helps maintain skin elasticity and relieves the dry itchies that crop up during mom's nine month Stre-e-e-e-ch! She can use it after baby arrives too! Belly Butter helps bounce that belly bump back into shape!
Mama Bee™ Leg & Foot Creme
Oh, the pressure on those feeties! Mom-to-Be could sure use some relief from the calves down, especially during the late stages of pregnancy. In fact, she might just need help most about the time you're planning to go to her shower! Burt's Leg & Foot Creme is laced with relaxing Peppermint Oil and circulation-friendly Rosemary Leaf Extract. ZZZZZ! I can hear Mom-to-Be humming Rimsky-Korsakov now!
Baby Bee Getting Started Kit
How cute is this? A mini-bee kit for baby! I love this. It's portable and affordable. It's chock full of Burt's Baby Bee products. Burt says the containers are smaller, but they're for awfully little people. Oh, be still my heart! This is a fantastic Mom-to-Be shower gift topper!
Check out all of Burt's Bees natural cosmetics, including his extensiveMom and Baby lines, at his hive – http://www.burtsbees.com
Safety First!
Bumkins is proud to continue their legacy of putting child safety first. They offer products that are not only high-quality, but safe as well.
In light of recent product recalls, Bumkins would like to remind customers that all of their products, including our waterproof items, are all PVC, vinyl and phthalate free! This includes SuperBibs, aprons, art smocks, cloth diapers and covers. Additionally, all waterproof products are MADE IN THE USA with American-made fabric!
For FAQs and to find a list of recalled items, go to: Lead in Baby Bibs FAQs
For further reading go to: An Unnecessary Poison: Babies, Bibs, and Lead (Acrobat PDF)
Goddess Garden:
To cheer Mom-to-Be spring, summer and early fall, the gift of an easy-to-do Goddess Garden is a great idea! Pick a patch of yard and surprise Mom-to-Be by planting easy to maintain seasonal blooms. Impatiens and pansies are nearly fool proof! Get some inexpensive, but colorful plates to place around plantings to give the garden punch and originality! Sink plates in a standing position about one inch deep into soil to serve as garden borders. You can place them strategically behind bloom clusters for a different looks! Colorful rocks, gravel and seashells are highlight Diva nature! If you can really splurge, pop for a mini-fountain! The gentle splashing of water is soothing and meditative! If Mom-to-Be has a favorite animal or spiritual icon, you might incorporate one or two ceramic figures among the blossoms!
Start your gardening adventures at the Home & Garden TV website! Their gardening section is amazing! Get tips on flowers, water features, organic gardening and more!
Re-Invent the Wheel!
If you don't want to dig in the dirt, here’s another easy gift idea! Get a child’s red wagon and fill it with plants and flowers! A gardenia bush, a jasmine bush and some lavender plants can be part of the array because they add fragrance! Be sure to check with Mom-to-Be first to see if she has any fragrance aversions! Mom-to-Be can pull the wagon around in the yard and position it anywhere she likes! She can wheel it indoors, too! If she has a sun room and likes to sit there, you can add puzzle books and paperbacks! Mom-to-Be can read, relax and bask in beauty all at the same time!
Pop a Wheelie With This Gift!
Fill a child’s wagon with environment friendly, nonallergenic household cleaners and laundry products! Mom-to-Be’s who are allergic or want to go “green” will love the products and go ga-ga over how easy it is to get chore products from room-to-room! Throw in some sponges, scrub brushes and rubber gloves while you're at it! Once Mom-to-Be starts showing, lower back problems make it difficult to bend over and grab products stored in low-lying cabinets. This handy-dandy wagon will ease the burden! Check out Method products! 100% natural and never tested on animals! Also check out Seventh Generation. Hot tip – they have chlorine free diapers and baby wipes!
Alice-In-Wonderland Tea Party:
If Mom-to-Be’s baby shower guest list goes over the top (because you've got people from age 1 to 101 coming!), consider the Alice-In-Wonderland solution! Let Mom-to-Be’s special theme be the Mad Hatter’s tea party! It’s a great idea if this party can be held outside!. Get a couple of long tables and decorate them in Alice-In-Wonderland colors. Alice style party favors such as classic story figures and an inexpensive copies of “Though The Looking Glass” will entertain little ones while more sophisticated gifts such as lotions and candles always please grownups!
Mosquito netting draped over a pole adds exotic flair when draped overtop a “throne chair” for Mom-to-Be. She can hold court from her royal seat and open her gifts! Silk flowers placed around her feet and the throne give a majestic feel. Serve tea, both hot and iced as well as lemonade. Cookies, ice cream and small finger sandwiches fill the tummy! Why not have the guests come wearing their own mad hatter bonnets? People can be as creative and outlandish as they dare! Skip over and check out affordable mosquito netting. Talk about ambiance!
don't forget your sure-fire lemonade proportions: 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water to 1 cup of lemon juice. That way you'll have the perfect mix every time! Gingerbread, lemon poppy seed cake and lemon drop cookies are a spring and summer favorites! They go well with tea, iced-tea and “ade” drinks!
Bug tip: Basil plants will repel mosquitoes and flies! Put plenty of fresh Basil around the party area! It smells good, too!
Picture Perfect:
Here’s a big favorite of Mom-to-Be’s everywhere! Before the shower, contact all the guests and have them submit a photo of themselves for inclusion in a specially made Mom-to-Be scrapbook! Get a baby picture of Mom-to-Be from her (or her mom) and also a picture of Mom-to-Be sporting her baby bump! Place these photos on the first page of the album, but leave space on that page for inclusion of a photo of her newborn! This shower photo album will feature her (and eventually her newborn) plus photos of everyone who graced her shower! Talk about lifetime treasure!
If you want to go the extra mile on the shower scrapbook, have each woman autograph it or submit a special writing in advance of the shower. Mom-to-Be will have hours of joyful private time going through her shower album!
Hot tip: Save the wrapping paper from Mom-to-Be’s gifts and use it for colorful background material behind pictures! Cut images from the paper like balloons, teddy bears and kitty cats to glue alongside fun photos of Mom-to-Be’s shower day!
Have someone on hand to count how many times Mom rips paper off her gifts! That total equals how many children she’s going to have! Adorable, or what!? Write that number in Mom-to-Be’s shower picture album!
Family Tree:
The Family Tree scrapbook is one you create over several weeks (or months!). It gets presented to Mom-to-Be at her shower! (Note - this is a great idea for brides, too!). Canvas Mom-to-Be’s parents and/or family members for photos. It would be great if each person could contribute one childhood and one adult photo they're fond of. They'll need time to get special family photos safely duplicated, so make room on the calendar for this project to develop. Make sure the album is large enough to contain Baby Shower photos and later photos of mom with her newborn!
The Family Tree album takes on a different meaning for a bridal shower. If the Bride-to-Be and the Groom-to-Be’s parents have photos of their own wedding to contribute, you've got another treasure! Grandparents' wedding photos as well as those of aunts, uncles, close cousins and siblings' would make this a book of generations!
If you're already an avid scrapbooker, you may be familiar with Creative Memories, one of the best scrapbook sites on the Internet. If you like the scrapbooking idea, but don't know how to begin, the Creative Memories website can get you started. Creative Memories also has an website devoted to the sharing of photos at Creative Memories site is “family friendly.” so people of all ages can enjoy shower photo viewing in this wholesome environment!
Don't forget Dad-To-Be!
Dads-to-Be can always use some TLC! If he’s accustomed to doing the yard work himself, how about hiring a crew to mow the lawn, take care of the weeds and do some light landscaping? If you don't want to go to the expense of hiring professionals, see if you can count on Mom-to-Be or Dad-to-Be’s father, brothers, or the husbands and boyfriends of the Mom-to-Be’s shower attendees. A Saturday or Sunday afternoon of communal lawn sprucing (especially when it gets close to Mom-to-Be’s due date) goes a long way towards calming Dad-to-Be’s anxiety! If there are any other projects, such as rearranging the garage or cleaning out the storage shed, let the guys get busy!
Natural pesticide tip: you can use a tablespoon of dish detergent per gallon of water as plant spray. The spray is enviro-friendly, but also healthy for Mom-to-Be, and for when baby is born. The wind bring all sorts of airborne particles into the home. Dish detergent pesticide is one easy way to cut down on unfriendly bio materials!
Birth stones Are a Winner:
If you know what month Mom-to-Be is expecting her bundle of joy, why not get her a jewelry item featuring her baby’s birthstone? This handy chart lists modern Birth stones as well as the Hebrew, Roman, Arabic and Hindu equivalents! Zodiac Birth stones are listed here so if mom is a star sign lover, you can bet zodiac jewelry will be a big hit with her too!
