In Pink, Blue or Sage

Naptime Productions has recently introduced several new designs for baptism which include a patriarchal cross design used in Byzantine, Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches. With lovely results, their customers can now choose between “plain” cross versions and the more detailed patriarchal version.

The history is vague as to the symbolism of this double cross. It has been suggested that the two upper cross bars may have been meant to symbolize the secular and ecclesiastic power of Byzantine emperors, or symbolize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lower, slanted foot-rest is said to be slanted to represent the two criminals crucified with Jesus… one repenting and ascending to heaven, the other ridiculing Jesus and descending instead.

The letters shown with the cross, IC XC, are an abbreviation for “Jesus Christ” in Greek. The longer version, IC XC, NI-KA is an abbreviation for “Jesus Christ conquers” in Greek.  Be sure to take a look at these new designs when planning your baptism.

Also offered are gold versions to use when celebrating golden wedding anniversaries. They make a beautiful way to invite guests to celebrate the long-lasting marriage.

Naptime Productions offers fast turnaround, real people to talk to and actually read over your invitation. You will love their customer service!

First: we do not treat New Year’s Eve as an expensive, adults-only event. Not only does this save babysitting costs, it also is tons of fun and pulls the family together. Our multi-age new year party tips:

Fun with the dress up box and duct tape guitars

• Don’t start the party too early. 8:00 works for us. Setup begins at 5:00. Some close family comes early to help set up and enjoy an easy dinner together.
• Offer special treats for all ages… from popcorn to baked brie. Make sure the snacks are self-serve for the children, and at their level. If everyone agrees to bring a snack and a bottle of bubbly, you will be well equipped.
• Set up a beverage station that even children can handle. Stack towels near it and everyone can do their own cleanup when spills occur. Adult beverages should also be self-serve, but up higher.
• Include a sparkling cider or juice in your midnight toast so that everyone can participate. Set the glasses onto large trays prior to the party so they are ready to fill. Choose a different color or style of glass for the non-alcoholic option.
• Make a ruckus at midnight! Bang pots and pans or have the kids run in circles in the yard with sparklers.
• Have a quiet place ready to lay children down. If they “Crash” early, you can move them to the quiet area complete with a nursery monitor so their parents can hear them if they awake.
• Check out this wonderful blog article for fun new years party activities.

Second:Include an activity table. Yours could be anything from decorating a new-years mask, making a new year hat out of newspapers, or using fabric markers on blank shirts. If the craft table is set up in advance, families can make use of it as it suits them, have something to create together, and create conversation pieces. Try to choose a craft that takes less than an hour to complete, and is ready to take home at midnight.

Third: Create a tradition. A few years ago my hubby decided to attempt creme brulé for new years eve. Since the kitchen is THE natural gathering place for parties, he has lots of helpers, and an audience when he torches the yummy creations. The children deliver the ramekins to interested guests. Our kids now look forward to this every year.

Years before we started a tradition making new years masks out of plaster cast material. Messy but fun. Creativity abounded!

A third tradition is the opening of the dress-up box. Funny dress up hats, boas, etc. keep the mood light and keep the adults and children interacting.

No matter what your tradition is… just keep it going! You will be surprised how much the kids (and adults) remember and anticipate the tradition.

Also available for baby cowgirls!

Whoa! These little doggies are cute! Our steady supply of western and cowboy baby shower customers will want to see these! From the store “Small in the Saddle” these cuties are an adorable gift under $30. Too bad they don’t have them in adult sizes for the Mama too!

Other finds for an easy cowboy baby shower are the Lil Cowpoke dinner dishes for toddler grub. Available in pink and blue, they are sure to be popular at the baby shower and with the baby himself.

Cowboy boots that work for babies allow the little cowpoke to step-out in style… or at least be carried out in style! These soft boots from mybabyclothes.com are cute for baby cowgirls and baby cowboys.

Baby’s vision develops slowly. High contrast images are easier for them to see in the first few months, making this horse mobile a hit hanging over the crib or changing table. The moving horse silhouettes carry through your western theme AND make all kinds of interesting shapes that baby can see. Beautiful wall decals are also available in many western designs. Check Etsy to find many varieties. Easily removable, they make for fast and flexible nursery decor.

Don’t forget to set the scene for the baby shower with cowboy or cowgirl baby shower invitations from Naptime Productions. These adorable invitations have matching baby gift bingo cards and “mom tips” cards to create easy activities at your shower, centerpieces and thank you notes to match.

White table clothes were topped with playful centerpieces made from kitchen utensils turned into flowers and creatures by the addition of paper petals and leaves. Spatulas and sponges became flowers. A pair of dusters to a veil and a bow tie. The scrub brush got a veil and eyes. All were arranged for height and tied with matching ribbon bows. Seating the centerpieces on blue kitchen towels helped to add color punch to the white tables. The balance of blue to green was about 50/50, which worked for a colorful party atmosphere, where the wedding decor and details were more blue with hints of green. The bride of course wore blue and looked fabulous with the decor! All the centerpiece kitchen tools and funnels were sent home with the bride-to-be.

The favors were earrings set at each place setting in a white box with blue and green filler. The guests enjoyed comparing and trading styles.

Recipe cards were sent out with the kitchen shower invitations and collected at the shower.

A gift bingo card matching the invitation was set at each place setting so the guest could fill it out prior to the gift opening. This provided some laughter during the gift opening, mostly by those who blatantly cheated. Every crowd need a couple rabble rowsers!

The delicious luncheon consisted of croissant sandwiches, a layered dip, a vegetable pizza and chips, a fruit tray and warm artichoke dip. The drink table use all clear glass to offer champagne punch, sweet and plain iced tea, water, lemonade and ice water. Offering the food and buffet style encouraged mingling and conversation by the punch bowl.

Side note: The Kitchen Shower theme was chosen to compliment the shower thrown by the other side of the family. Most guests followed the theme. The gift-guessing bingo was made more difficult by the kitchen theme-breakers! The bride seemed happy with it all!

Naptime's Butterfly Love Invitation with FloralTrims.com butterflies

There are many reasons that the butterfly is a popular theme for weddings, quince años celebrations and other parties. A butterfly, besides being bright and beautiful, is a new beginning. It is youthful beauty. Joy. The bloom of summer.

Placecard holders from BaloonsGalore.com

If you are planning your wedding or party with a butterfly theme, look no further! We have gathered together a list of butterfly decorations, picks, napkin rings and place card holders that will inspire you. Baloons-galore.net has lots of butterfly options including these place card holders and the napkin rings below.

Create stunning effects quickly simply by adding artificial butterflies to the cake and centerpieces. Butterfly decorations are available from many websites, allowing you to find JUST what you were hoping for. Artificial butterflies typically are made of paper, painted feathers or nylon or silk material. Small painted feather butterflies are an inexpensive and colorful way to add color.

Butterfly napkin rings

You can get these on clips or wires and add them to almost anything. Butterfly garlands can be added to entrance ways. Loose butterflies can “fly” over the tables. Wired butterflies can flit about above the floral arrangements. Small butterflies can perch on your favor bags, stemware or plates, or even

on the tops of chair backs. We found interesting butterfly picks, garland, and all sizes and colors at ChinaHandiCrafts.com, Balloons-Galore, and FloralTrims.

Nylon and silk butterflies, from simple to extravagant, are available in various sizes and colors. Some are painted with glitter or have rhinestones or pearls added. Some have multiple wing layers. You can add these more detailed butterflies to the cake, and suspend from the ceiling using transparent fishing line. ButterflyGrove offers large butterflies meant for hanging from the ceiling.

Butterfly Invitation from Naptime Productions shown with butterflies from ChinaHandiCrafts.com

Butterfly Cake featured on Mis Quince Magazine

From the ButterflyGrove.com

Monarch Butterflies made from various materials from the vendors listed in this article.

Inv "Dadchelor Party!"

Forget couples showers! The latest trend for baby showers is for the guys to have their own party. Can you picture it? Guys unwrapping baby booties and diaper bags. Maybe not. The ladies can have their own shower and ooh and ahhh over the gifts if they wish.
The new Dad version of the baby shower is more like a beer-bash with packs of diapers collected for admission. Some are calling it a Dadchelor party. The new Daddy may as well have one more night of grown-up fun before newborn-nights and exhaustion begin. (We are SURE he’d rather not go to a couples shower.)

How can you get men to want to come to a “shower?” The fastest way to a man’s heart… through his stomach. Barbecue, pizza (add your own toppings?), a taco bar and subs are all popular. Don’t forget the beer and munchies.

For best results, plan your party around a group activity:

• Barbecue and Hoops
• The Big Game at home and assemble-your-own subs
• The Big Game at a sports bar
• A Golf outing, then steaks on the grill
• A Bowling Tournament
• Poker Night with top-your-own pizza
• Touch Football game and BBQ at the park
• Lawn games, tacos and margaritas

We informally polled 20 men and found out their favorite baby shower games:

• Are you kidding?
• No.
• Shirley you jest.
• Basketball

When we asked what their favorite shower favors where, well, we can’t repeat what they said in mixed company. (tee hee) Lucky for us, the only thing we need for a Diaper Party is friends, food and a reason to party!

Fun gift ideas for the anticipated Army Brat…

Camoflage infant onesies are a must! Camo infant sets are available on several sites, including the pink camo set with matching camo booties and the “commander of the playground” shirt shown here. (Click to go to their store.) A personal favorite: the Army Kid shirt, which also comes in other branches. Simple and adorable.

A patriotic diaper cake, like this sweet sample from www.babygiftstocherish.com can use camoflage or a flag theme. The “I love my soldier” bear is a great nursery addition, especially for bedtime when baby’s service dad or mom is deployed.

The cutest of all may be the outfit complete with “boots” for baby. Find this one at www.mysweetdreamsbaby.com.

Read more navy or army baby shower ideas in this article including army baby shower decoration ideas.

Ensure that schedules are free for your celebration by sending save-the-date cards out prior to your invitations. When you have confirmed the date of your celebration, send out save-the-date cards to “reserve” your guests.

Save-the-date cards include only the most basic information about the event. You will want to include the date, and general location of the upcoming anniversary party, along with the names of the anniversary couple. All other details of the party can be provided later with the actual invitation. Most save-the-date cards conclude with the phrase, “invitation to follow,” or “details to follow.”

Save-the-date cards are crucial for occasions with guests who will travel to the event, or events which will encompass several days. Include a R.S.V.P. with your save-the-date card to gather an early list of attendees for destination events, such as a group vacation, family reunion, or Caribbean wedding.

Naptime Productions offers many save-the-date cards for anniversary parties, milestone birthday parties and weddings. Choose from popular themes, like western or tropical, or select a design to match the invitations you plan to send later. Either way, you will help to ensure the success of your big event!

Claddagh rings continue to be symbols of love and loyalty, and also as a sign of pride in Irish heritage. They are often used for friendship, engagement or wedding rings, and as family heirlooms passed down from mother to daughter. Wearing the ring’s heart pointing toward the arm symbolizes being romantically involved.

Christian symbolism attributed to the ring assigns crowning love (heart and crown) and faith (hands) to representing the glory of Jesus Christ.

• Serve a garden tea menu with tea and coffee, lemonade, small gourmet sandwiches, salad, fruit and pretty desserts.
• Since your party will be outside, be sure to include “outdoor garden shower” on your shower invitation with “casual attire”. You may even want to include a rain date.
• Set up a potting table to allow your guests to build their own container gardens favor. Have several planters pre-made made for these who don’t like to get their hands dirty.
• Have a garden professional come to the shower to give a brief talk about planning a flower garden. Or, perhaps the speaker could demonstrate how to make the container garden. Set up chairs to that guests can choose to sit and listen if they wish, or mingle if they don’t.
• Use name tags with different flowers and have each guest pick their flower.
• Set up a gift display table so that guests do not have to sit and watch the gifts being opened. If you wish, you can indicate “display shower” on the invitation and let your guests know to only wrap their gift with a bow.
• Set colorful seed packets out for guests to choose from as they leave the shower. Attach a note to each packet thanking them for attending the bridal shower.