1. Guess That Baby: The perfect icebreaker at the beginning of the shower! Everyone loves looking at baby pictures and this is a way for everyone to get to know each other a little more. For this activity, you will need:

• A baby photo from each guest
• Tape
• Pens
• Paper

Directions: Collect all of the baby photos and tape them against the wall randomly. Label each photo with a number and ask everyone to guess who’s who in 5 minutes.

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2. Stroll Away: If you’re planning to have your baby shower outdoors, then this action game is for you! This is a great way to get your guests up and moving. For this activity, you will need:

• Baby dolls
• Strollers
• Anything that can be used as an obstacle course (cones or any large objects)
• Two large sticks for marking the start and finish lines
• Stopwatch

Directions: Set up the start and finish line and mark the area of land for this race. Set a few obstacles in the area. Each guest will stand behind the starting line holding the baby doll and standing next to the stroller. When the race begins, they will strap the baby into the stroller and push stroller to the finish line without hitting any obstacles. If the stroller hits an obstacle, the guest has to start again. The guest is disqualified if the baby falls out of the stroller!

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3. A Quilting Bee: The baby’s first handmade blanket is a memorable gift which comprises the blessings from your guests – something any parent could cherish. This is nice way for everyone to remember the day and interact with each other! For this activity, you will need:

• Uniform size cotton squares of fabric (preferred size: 6 square inches) – determine the number of squares based on the sized blanket you want in the end
• Fabric Pens/ Paint
• Other fun things to decorate with like felt and ribbons
• Someone to sew it together at the end

Directions: Distribute squares and decorating tools to each guest. After everyone completes their squares, they can be sewn together.

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There are many baby shower games and activity ideas out there and what’s nice is that they can work for traditional shower, but also co-ed showers and showers to welcome adopted children. To make your baby shower unique, you can always find an existing activity and change it up a bit. Let your creativity flow!

TELL US: What baby shower activities have worked well for you?

When tragedy strikes and hardships befall the people we love, we sometimes don’t know what to do. Often we are filled with fear and uncertainty, especially when those hurt are children or young people who can’t afford to pay for medical treatment, making it even harder for them to live their lives as normally as they can.

Rising to the challenge of helping out her one-of-a-kind nephew and his parents, Monica Beyer created a registry for Austin Jones, who developed muscular dystrophy at a young age, leaving him wheelchair-bound and in need of intensive care. Austin is a fun, smart, and inquisitive boy who loves hunting with his Dad and going to see ball games.

The registry has options to donate towards a car lift and a new wheelchair, as his old one is falling apart. Without them he won’t be able to do all the fun things he usually does. His thoughtful aunt wants to raise $12,000 in order to pay for an Action Track Chair, which will give him mobility and reduce the stress on his parents.

We loved Austin’s registry, not just because he’ll be getting the new wheels he needs, but also because it shows how the Internet and Deposit a Gift can connect people who would otherwise have never heard about each other. One user who contributed to the registry wrote “My father-in-law had muscular dystrophy. I hope you are able to get your chair and have more mobility. Hugs.” So sweet.

If you know anyone suffering from a physical handicap, autism or any debilitating disease that has left them in need of financial aid, Deposit a Gift is here to help raise those funds and connect people who care deeply about helping others.

If the cost of your wedding is planning is threaten your joy on the perfect day, then it might be time, like many couples, to consider celebrating your nuptials at a private residence. The generally limited capacity and space might seem like a problem, but it can actually make wedding planning much simpler and the whole event much more cost-effective.

Just because you’re planning a wedding in a private residence doesn’t mean it can’t be a spectacular experience for everyone involved. In fact, intimate home weddings can be as or even more enjoyable than lavish ones if planned properly.

Image Courtesy of Flickr

Plan the Basics

The most important part of having a wedding in a private residence is planning. If you want the wedding to go smoothly, every detail must be planned in advance to avoid confusion. When you first start planning, use the guidelines below:

• How many guests can you fit in the space?
• Formal or casual?
• Indoors or outdoors?
• Will the reception be held at the residence? Will the reception be inside while the ceremony is outside or vice versa?
• What’s the budget?

Décor

Planning your wedding’s overall look seems overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. At this point, you should know if you’re having the wedding indoors or outdoors since it’ll make all the difference in your décor style.

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, nature will take care of the scenery for you. You’ll still need all of the basics like chairs, tables and a tent or large canopy. You may also want to have an altar constructed with flowers or other decorative materials. Optional items, like ice sculptures or trees rented from a local nursery, can help set a romantic mood.

If you’re planning to have your wedding inside a private residence, you may be limited to seating for the ceremony and an altar, therefore, you’ll probably need another separate area for the reception. Small touches, like a carpeted aisle for the wedding ceremony and fresh flowers, can make a huge difference in the overall mood of the event.

Food

No wedding would be complete without a reception that includes food. Start by speaking with local catering companies in your area. If you don’t have personal experience with any in your area, you may need to set up a meeting and a time to sample their offerings. Don’t forget to talk about pricing and what’s offered during your first meeting. If you don’t, you may find that you’ve wasted time on a catering service you love, but simply cannot afford.

Another thing to consider at a wedding is whether or not to serve alcohol. Many weddings on a budget choose to make their offerings simple – champagne and red and white wine. That greatly lowers alcohol costs since you won’t have to stock a full bar.

You’ll also want to offer non-alcoholic options. Mineral water, flat water, tea, coffee and soda are common choices.

Image Courtesy of Flickr

Hiring a Wedding Service

Most people assume they simply can’t afford a wedding planner. While you may not be able to hire a wedding planner like you’ve seen in the movies, there are companies that specialize in helping couples on a budget with weddings.

Using a wedding service that can help you with catering and rental items, like chairs, tables and even altars, can make everything much smoother. In some cases, you may even find that hiring a wedding can be cheaper than hiring multiple companies. Just make sure you shop around and compare prices.

Making your own wedding party favors can also save you even more money when planning. There are plenty of great ideas for favors, gift bags and treats to give to your guests. Search online to find an array of affordable wedding favor ideas.

Your wedding will likely be one of the best days of your life – if you can actually enjoy it. Planning a small intimate wedding can make the overall experience much simpler, and if you do it right, you won’t have to settle for something less-than-special.

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Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer an online entrepreneur in the Los Angeles area whose writing specializes in family budgeting, DIY, travel and technology. As a business owner, she is always looking to save money wherever she can, especially when it comes to party planning.

About Seedco And Their Strong Fathers, Stronger Families Program

Founded in 1987, Seedco is a national nonprofit organization that advances economic opportunity for people, businesses, and communities in need, with extensive experience in the areas of workforce development, benefits access, and small business services.

Strong Fathers, Stronger Families helps low-income fathers in New York City tackle their personal and economic challenges.  The program helps them get jobs and find their places in the working world.  At the same time the program helps fathers develop stronger relationships with their children and their children’s mothers.

Positive role models are vital for the emotional health and overall well-being of children. But all too often personal and economic struggles make fatherhood difficult for some men.  Both father and child suffer, but it’s the child who suffers the most.

So far this year we’ve helped over 600 fathers reach economic stability and make a real difference in their children’s lives.

How Your Contribution Will Help

Your generous, tax-deductible donation to Strong Fathers, Stronger Families will support fathers as they become the role models their children need.  Additionally, on our contribution page, various activities of the program are featured should you like to give in a more specific way, for example, like helping a family build trust and unity during a weekend of expeditionary learning or bolstering a father’s employment prospects with an interview suit and a month of transportation.

Please donate now to positively impact the interpersonal, academic, and professional futures of the next generation.

Handmade party hats with different patterned papers.

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More than just balloons…ice cream cone balloons.

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The perfect treat after a slumber party.

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Really simple goodie bags with a special touch! Fill them up with whatever you please.

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When we’re grieving, the last thing we need is the additional weight of having to worry about money. Sadly, loss is often accompanied with various fees like funeral costs and medical bills. When this occurs, monetary help from those close to you and your lost loved one can be a huge help.

Monetary contributions can also be made for a variety of things in honor of the person who passed. Some may choose to contribute toward a fitting memorial; others may decide to commemorate the person who passed by donating to a college fund for their surviving children.

For those simply wishing to show their emotional support in a difficult time, Deposit a Gift’s Message Board is the perfect place for friends and family to leave messages of love and condolence. Family members can also choose to keep friends updated on their situation and anything else that may be important.

Losing a loved one is an immensely painful experience, and an In Memoriam fund can be a great tool in a time of need. To see some examples, take a look at Ron’s registry, the Thomas Cameron Memorial Fund, and Grandma Sawyer’s fundraiser.

Create. Not sure where to start? We have a myriad of example fundraising projects to give you inspiration, from raising money to volunteer abroad to business expansions to nonprofit projects. Users have already created projects of their own, like this one that promotes literacy for all and another to raise money for a service dog.

Customize. You want your page to be unique to attract as many supporters as possible. With 150 unique designs, your Deposit a Gift campaign will take on a personality of its own. We give you extensive control of your fundraising site so you can express exactly what your fundraiser is about. Write up your story, personalize with images and videos, and let people know what they’re contributing towards — easy!

Share & Raise. With a decked-out fundraising site, you can seamlessly spread the word about your fundraising project by sharing it on a variety of social media platforms. Encourage people to contribute by explaining what this project means to you and giving them frequent updates about your progress. Look for excuses to share: You just got your 1st contribution, you’re 25% of the way there, you only need 10% more to hit your goal. Get it?! This way you can stay ever-present without appearing shameless.

Cash-out. Whether you’ve reached your goal or not, you can cash out any time you’re ready. All funds collected on Deposit a Gift are kept safe in an FDIC insured bank, so you never have to worry about where your money is. You can redeem through ACH direct deposits or personal checks, both of which are free and easier than having to collect cash and checks yourself.

With these simple steps, it’s easy to raise funds with Deposit a Gift! Let us be your online fundraising component. We are Crowdfunding Made Simple.

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Use References

A good babysitter is caring, responsible, levelheaded, and patient. But how do you know someone who has these qualities the first time your meet them? When talking with another parent about a potential sitter, ask specific questions. Did the sitter arrive on time? How did the sitter handle stressful situations? Discipline? Crying? How do the children feel about the sitter? These questions will help you make an informed choice about how reliable and responsible your potential sitter may be.

Age

Age isn’t always an indication of maturity or comfort with kids. A 20-year old may seem like a safer bet, but the right 13-year old can be very responsible, and might be more fun for your kids. Many parents find that sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders make ideal sitters. They don’t have the same social distractions as high schoolers, and are “grown up” enough to handle younger children and emergencies.

Where to Start

After speaking with friends and relatives, look to neighborhood middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Students are always looking for jobs and schools often have newsletters or bulletin boards where jobs can be posted. Colleges that specialize in early childhood education are a great place to start because students there are most likely to be genuinely interested in working with children. You can also look at your local senior center since some retired citizens are looking for part-time work. We like Care.com, where you can sign up for a membership to find the best sitters around. There’s also Urbansitter.com, a website to book babysitters, full-time nannies, and last minute help recommended by people you know.

“You’re engaged! Congrats. Where are you going to have the wedding?” Those are often the first words of your friends and family after learning you are engaged.  Well, take time to think about the venue as it’ll be about half of your wedding budget. So how do you even get started? Here are some tips!

How Many People Are You Having?

You could easily just think up a number you imagined and start your search, but when the time comes to actually write out the invitations you may realize you left out 40 relatives that your mom wanted you to invite. You and your partner need to come up with a serious list of who you want to invite to your wedding before you start looking for a venue. Ask for your mom’s input, ask for your dad’s input, ask anyone you think deserves a say as you come up with the list. A comprehensive list – and a final number – before you start the venue searches assures that there won’t be any panic add-ons later on in the process when your venue just might not even have room for the extra guests you want to invite!

What Is Your Budget

Once you know exactly how many people you are going to invite, you can start to figure out your budget. How important is it that all of these people come to your wedding? Do you want to have a picnic outside with 200 people or a reception in a mansion for 75? The amount of guests and the budget obviously go together so think long and hard about this before you come up with a number. Many venues post prices (and many do not) so make sure to ask if the price includes a service charge, state and local taxes, if tables and linens are included, etc.

Do You Have Any Specific Needs?

A lot of people think that if they don’t need specific food, like kosher catering, then they don’t have any special questions. You likely do have a special request that you’ve forgotten. Think about your most important guests. Does your grandpa use a wheelchair? Make sure your venue is handicap accessible! Are you interested in a museum? Many museums and mansions do not allow red wine so make sure to inquire about that. Do you want a room to get dressed in before the big event? Not every venue has a separate room for the bride and the groom so make sure to ask. Outdoor weddings are amazing but what if – gasp – it rains? Make sure that the indoor space the venue provides is pretty awesome as well. And does the indoor area have air conditioning? Make sure to ask – even if you assume it does!

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Lauren Wolfe is the CEO of Partyista. Partyista allows you to find the perfect venue for your big day with just a few clicks. Be sure to follow Partyista on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

A royal purple tie with a light gray suit. 

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Cool mint and tieless…perfect for summer.

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A pop of yellow to make this look stand out.

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Contrasting black and gray – the definition of dapper.

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