Make Your Baby Shower Memorable!

So you have agreed to throw your friend, or sister, or cousin, a baby shower. And now you're freaking out because you don't have enough ideas for the food, decorations, or games. Never fear. Try these ideas for a fun, simple, memorable baby shower.

The first thing you need to do when planning a baby shower is decide on a theme. Once you have a theme established you will have something to work around when it comes to decorations, food, etc. The theme can be anything from rubber duckies to polka dots, specific characters (such as Pooh or Mickey Mouse), or just simply a blue or pink color theme. Having a theme running throughout your shower will make it much more memorable than if it were just a hodge podge of decorations.

Most showers have a buffet of appetizers and sweets, rather than a meal. If this is the case for your shower, make sure you plate your food well. Having your food on matching plates or trays make a huge difference in how it is presented. Don't run out and buy serving dishes, however. A great idea for creating serving platters is to take the glass lids that come with ceramic casserole dishes and turn them upside down. They have a knob on top of them so the platter is slightly elevated. Once it's covered with food no one can tell that it's a lid.

A great theme idea for the food for your shower is to make everything "baby." Serve a baby spinach salad, baby carrots with dip, baby back riblets, Baby Ruth candy bars, and Dutch babies. Or, going with a miniature theme is always a hit as well.

One of the easiest decorations for baby showers can be found right in your kitchen. Employ some pretty glass drinking glasses as vases. Fill them with water and using food coloring, dye them pink, blue, or both, depending on your theme (and if the guest of honor knows if she's having a boy or a girl of course!). Place one flower stem (daisies are nice) in each "vase" and place them around the eating area and gift opening area. This is very cost effective, and quickly and easily transforms an area.