Hey guys, now that we're here, let's talk about 2nd time shower/sprinkles too. Lol
Oh good call cause I'm totes throwing myself a shower for this LO and I'm thinking a fun game will be "guess my weight gain" which is an uber fun spin on the old "how long should rope be to fit around mom-to-be's waist". Question... Do you guys think I should specify "cash only" on the invite or just list acceptable gifts instead?
I'm not having a shower. I'm just sending everyone I know a bill for their percentage if my baby-related expenses. It's much more efficient, and this way i won't get any gifts I don't want! I wrote how much they owe me in a cutesy poem, so it is totes good etiquette. Everyone told me they are happy about it.
Guys I'm throwing my own shower since I'm having a girl this time. I just want to reiterate that it's not about gifts. I'm not gift grabby I swear, but I am registered at 15 different places. like I said, it's NOT about the gifts, but go check out our registery just for funsies.
delujm0 DH's family ran a milkshake business at carnivals and fairs every summer. They sold the business last summer. I am mourning their milkshakes. After DD, they brought me three and I love them for life
delujm0 DH's family ran a milkshake business at carnivals and fairs every summer. They sold the business last summer. I am mourning their milkshakes. After DD, they brought me three and I love them for life
DH's family owns an ice cream place and it is awesome...unfortunately (for pregnant me, fortunately for regular me) they are in PA and we are in NC.
Hey guys, now that we're here, let's talk about 2nd time shower/sprinkles too. Lol
Oh good call cause I'm totes throwing myself a shower for this LO and I'm thinking a fun game will be "guess my weight gain" which is an uber fun spin on the old "how long should rope be to fit around mom-to-be's waist". Question... Do you guys think I should specify "cash only" on the invite or just list acceptable gifts instead?
Anyone that guesses under wins a prize!! Anyone that guesses correctly or over has to gift an additional book, diapers, a personalized onesie, and something Just For Mom!! Just kidding!! They have to bring that anyway...its on the invite and it rhymes so everyone loves it!!
Hey guys, now that we're here, let's talk about 2nd time shower/sprinkles too. Lol
Oh good call cause I'm totes throwing myself a shower for this LO and I'm thinking a fun game will be "guess my weight gain" which is an uber fun spin on the old "how long should rope be to fit around mom-to-be's waist". Question... Do you guys think I should specify "cash only" on the invite or just list acceptable gifts instead?
Anyone that guesses under wins a prize!! Anyone that guesses correctly or over has to gift an additional book, diapers, a personalized onesie, and something Just For Mom!! Just kidding!! They have to bring that anyway...its on the invite and it rhymes so everyone loves it!!
@ladylolly89 OMG can we discuss this for a moment. I HATE being told to bring a book in place of a card. A) Don't tell me how to spend my money. As if coughing up $5 for a card that will be thrown away isn't annoying enough, now you're asking me to spend $10 instead??? C) I hope the mom-to-be enjoys her 10 copies of Goodnight Moon. D) Did I mention that you shouldn't tell me how to spend my money.
My friend's family just did this for her upcoming shower on top of a diaper raffle. I bought a freakin big ticket item and now you want me to buy a box of diapers and a book instead of a card!?
@Elyse1384 I actually disagree, I hate buying cards and gift wrap( so expensive and so much waste!! gift bags can be re used, cards can not!) so this new trend I'm all about.
I also believe it's not a requirement, yet just a suggestion just like the registry. To me, there really no difference.
@Wino0920 Oh it was no suggestion sadly. They flat out said no cards - bring a book with a note written inside instead. My brain does not compute.
ETA: Here is the note sent - "We hope it's not too hard, but just bring a book - Please NOT A CARD. Write a note on the inside cover and your words will be cherished over and over".
@Elyse1384 My SIL's sister threw her a baby shower and requested books instead of cards. No one seemed to mind, but I supppse I might have been more annoyed if it hadn't been for my nephew (I was planning to buy him some books anyway).
So i don't like the books instead of cards thing, because telling people what to get you is super tacky, but my shower for dd was children's book themed, and my friend who hosted bought about a dozen books as her gift to me (in addition to, you know, the enormous generosity if hosting a shower) and used them in decorating. So she put them out and had other things themed with them, like Jamberry with a quote from the book and jam thumbprint cookies or The Runaway Bunny with a quote from the book and a veggie tray. It was super cute. Then she asked people to sign or write a note in a book before they left if they wanted to, so I ended up with a nice collection of books with little notes from people who were there, AND they didn't have to bring them themselves as an extra mandatory gift.
Not that you can ask someone hosting to do that for you, but I thought it was an awesome idea, and I will probably do the same if I host a shower for someone who wasn't at mine to know i stole the idea.
@meilay, Not that you are asking, but if you want books, I would just quietly spread the word that that is what you are hoping to receive as gifts or put a lot of books on your registry if you have one. Telling people to bring books instead of cards is basically demanding an extra gift, which is not great to do no matter how much you love books.
On a similar/same note as @ellie111227 , when I threw a shower for my SIL, I used a Dr. Seuss book as the guest book. Everyone just signed in either the front or the back blank pages. It was super cute and no one had to buy anything extra!
@meilay, Not that you are asking, but if you want books, I would just quietly spread the word that that is what you are hoping to receive as gifts or put a lot of books on your registry if you have one. Telling people to bring books instead of cards is basically demanding an extra gift, which is not great to do no matter how much you love books.
I feel like "quietly" spreading the word is an underhanded way of being tacky.
@Wino0920 It is different because a registry is like a list of suggestions, not saying YOU HAVE TO BUY THIS FOR ME! It is also different because it would indicate you can choose to get a book as your gift, not that you have to get one in addition to your gift. But I do know that even registries are considered tacky in some circles. @neludelu I mean quietly in the sense of "mention to your mom or bff that if anyone asks them what you are hoping for, they could say books" or "when specifically asked what you want, say you will be thrilled with anything but do hope you receive some books for the baby." I think that is ok.
I think you always have a choice, even when they demand something. I have seen only poems suggesting a book instead of a card. I don't think registries are suggestions. People only want the the stroller they picked or the high chair they picked, etc.. Some people don't follow the registry and get what they want, and I totally think that's ok.
I see how it can be seen as asking for something extra but considering most baby books don't cost that much more than a standard card, I saw it more as "if you were going to get a card we'd love a book instead." It's still up to the guest to make the choice and I don't think that request removes that choice. I did add a ton of books to my registry so people can absolutely choose to just get books and not make it something additional. However, I've never been the type of guest to care all that much if people ask for something specific. I've been invited to several weddings where the couple already lived together and didn't really need a bunch of sheets and towels so they asked people to contribute to experiences if they so desired. I didn't take it as "how dare you tell me don't spend my money on a knife set" but more as "great, I can contribute to this couple's celebration in a way that's meaningful for them," which is the whole reason I'm spending my money in the first place. If stating a preference for something I'll actually use with my baby instead of people spending money on something that will sit in a box is tacky, I'm ok with that.
Re: Asking for books. The one thing I always worry about is the duplication. My friend's family kindly suggested a book instead of a card (not the same family I mentioned above who demanded a book instead of a card) and I shit you not... the poor girl had duplicates, triplicates, etc. She sadly ended up having to donate many as she just didn't need 5 copies of Goodnight Moon or The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Kind of a bummer since friends and family spent money on the books for her LO's collection.
Ehhh I don't think it's a big deal, most cards and small baby books will be around the same price and I'd rather contribute to the future literacy of society than Hallmark. If someone would rather buy a card that should be fine too. I also wouldn't worry about duplicates honestly, my son loves books but loves them as in colors in them, rips them apart, chews on them etc. It def doesn't hurt to have duplicates.
Ehhh I don't think it's a big deal, most cards and small baby books will be around the same price and I'd rather contribute to the future literacy of society than Hallmark. If someone would rather buy a card that should be fine too. I also wouldn't worry about duplicates honestly, my son loves books but loves them as in colors in them, rips them apart, chews on them etc. It def doesn't hurt to have duplicates.
love this thread, you ladies crack me up. i like the book idea, but i don't like telling people what to gift. that said, most people know i'm a giant reader, so it wouldn't surprise me if people bring books regardless.
Oh @allybiery you would side eye my household haha. My kids are allowed one of each item to share (unless of course the toy/book/etc was a gift for one of them). For example, books are generally shared although admittedly I let each pick out a book or two at scholastic fairs to keep in their respective rooms. I'm a big advocate for reading. DS tore apart one of his favorite books (not by accident). He made that mistake once and hasn't since. He learned the hard way that if you don't take care of your things, Mommy won't replace it (I admit... i'm a jerk). I usually donate duplicate items to charities instead (duplicate puzzles, books, etc).
Sadly book expectations among my circle don't put cards and books on an even playing field. God forbid I get the small paperback version of a book instead of the large print, hardcover copy. Ugh!
love this thread, you ladies crack me up. i like the book idea, but i don't like telling people what to gift. that said, most people know i'm a giant reader, so it wouldn't surprise me if people bring books regardless.
That is what happened to me! I didn't have books on a registry nor did my family suggest books as an option, but most every guest showed up with a book and a couple commented as i opened them "I know you're big on reading!"
Lol @Elyse1384! My son is only 15 months I should mention. He's a wild one though so not sure I will ever have a ship as tight as the one you described.
Lol @Elyse1384! My son is only 15 months I should mention. He's a wild one though so not sure I will ever have a ship as tight as the one you described.
My DD is 15 months too and boy is she my rule tester/breaker. She always looks at her brother like "chill the f out dude". He polices her thanks to my idiosyncrasies. DS nearly lost it the other month when she got a hold of a book that he loved with pop up pages and she was tugging a bit too hard at it. He screamed "No Kenzie don't rip it!!!" I told him to calm down and I would keep an eye on her, but he got so upset. "No she's going to ruin it and we will never have it again." Yeah... I probably would have bought a copy just for him as a gift cause #momguilt
The. best. thread. I totally took the bait and avoided clicking for the last 24 hours. Opening it makes me love this board all the more, thanks ladies!
I really dont mind when a shower invite suggests (not tells) books or diapers or any other special item. It does bother me when it suggests more than one of these. I had an invite once that said help fill babys library, and a diaper raffle, and a card to return with advice. Pick one thing people!
Speaking of being told what to bring the last shower I was invited too said bring a Huggies diapers for a diaper raffle. I was like What... If my Luvs aren't good enough for you then you don't get diapers at all!! And I secretly hope your kid is allergic to Huggies
I don't like the book as card thing just bc I think it's rude to ask for that, but it's standard in DHs family circle so for the shower they threw me they put that on the invite (I did not know they were doing this until it was done). I disagree with it but I can't lie...i LOVE how many books we got and DD is obsessed with her books. I bring books to every shower as part of my gift now bc she loves hers so much.
i also am a little late to the party in here .... my cousin did the book instead of a card AND the diaper raffle and to me that took away from the money i was going to spend on a gift so she ended up with one cheaper item from her registry instead of a bigger ticket item, my registry is full of larger ticket items that i would much more prefer than a book, however she didn't end up with any duplicates which i am surprised but i made sure to choose a good book that wasn't as popular.
also milkshakes......the chocolate shamrock is my love...baby likes it too
Re: Weight Gain-midway point check in!
In all honesty, I just drank two Slim Fast shakes. For the vitamins and the chocolate. Slurp.
Hey guys, now that we're here, let's talk about 2nd time shower/sprinkles too. Lol
My friend's family just did this for her upcoming shower on top of a diaper raffle. I bought a freakin big ticket item and now you want me to buy a box of diapers and a book instead of a card!?
I also believe it's not a requirement, yet just a suggestion just like the registry. To me, there really no difference.
ETA: Here is the note sent - "We hope it's not too hard, but just bring a book - Please NOT A CARD. Write a note on the inside cover and your words will be cherished over and over".
Not that you can ask someone hosting to do that for you, but I thought it was an awesome idea, and I will probably do the same if I host a shower for someone who wasn't at mine to know i stole the idea.
@neludelu I mean quietly in the sense of "mention to your mom or bff that if anyone asks them what you are hoping for, they could say books" or "when specifically asked what you want, say you will be thrilled with anything but do hope you receive some books for the baby." I think that is ok.
Sadly book expectations among my circle don't put cards and books on an even playing field. God forbid I get the small paperback version of a book instead of the large print, hardcover copy. Ugh!
BFP: 9/30/16, EDD: 6/9/17
Huggies diapers for a diaper raffle. I was like What... If my Luvs aren't good enough for you then you don't get diapers at all!! And I secretly hope your kid is allergic to Huggies
also milkshakes......the chocolate shamrock is my love...baby likes it too