LilSugar

Baby Shower Gifts That Will Wow the Crowd

LilSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

I love the element of surprise! That's probably why I didn't find out the sex of my children while pregnant or set up a baby registry. When invited to a shower, I like to give an unexpected gift and leave the swing, bouncer and crib sheet offerings to other guests. Here are a few of my favorite recent finds. Source: Flickr User clevercupcakes

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Baby Shower Tip: It's the Sweet Little Gestures

LilSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:30:18 -0700

Whether you're planning a blowout baby shower bash complete with decadent diaper cakes or a simple sprinkle to shower a shy mom-to-be, always remember the biggest smiles can spawn from the littlest details. At a recent shower for a Sugar staffer expecting twins, the hostess dished out carefully selected candies and treats that fit with the multiples theme. She placed bowls of Twix and Kit Kat (they come in twos!), Double Bubble and Hershey's Hugs and Kisses around the office fete, which drew oodles of ohhhs and awws.

Do you have a treasure trove of sweet baby shower suggestions? Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community and share your tips!

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun With Twin Diaper Cakes!

babysugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:36 -0700

It's multiple mania here at Sugar! After sending queen Sugar on her way to deliver a healthy baby girl, we showered our own LilSugar in bright floral style. The only thing that could outdo those diaper cakes would be TWO of them. More babies mean more festivities and that includes the decorations. Instead of making one grand centerpiece, I opted to make a couple of smaller ones to send our ShopStyle girl off in, well, style!

To see more photos and a detailed explanation on how to make the pair of "pastries," read more.

The party hostess chose the theme and ribbons of pink and black as the mother-to-be is expecting twin daughters and works for our fab group, ShopStyle. Instead of stuffing the base full of diapers, I chose to build around two sparkling bottles of pink champagne that will give the mom some extra incentive to push through labor. Folding each diaper in half, I packed them in a circle and tied them with a thick black grosgrain ribbon. Next, I began to make the second layer and wrapped it with the fleur de lis ribbon. For the top of the cake, I took one diaper and wrapped it tightly around the neck of the bottle and cinched it with the last piece of pink grosgrain ribbon. Instead of a regular cake platter, we placed the cakes on basket weaved platters. To finish the look, take two yards of tulle and tie it up top with a bow. Mommy will be delighted that the twins are already keeping their own identities separate and she'll have twice as many diapers!

* If you do not have a cake plate, you can use a cardboard box as the base. To make it more attractive, wrap it in tissue or adorned paper for an adorable and eco-friendly platter.

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When a Shower Isn't Appropriate, How About a Sprinkle?

LilSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:25 -0700

While every baby deserves to be celebrated, some mamas-to-be are uncomfortable with big bashes hosted for their subsequent children. I am one of them. Four fetes were thrown in my honor when I was expecting my daughter. Awaiting the birth of my son, a close circle of friends treated me to an unexpected, festive brunch. Now, nine months pregnant with my third child, I've again been spoiled rotten. First, my fabulous co-workers treated me a sendoff complete with one of BabySugar's incredible diaper cakes, and yesterday, a few friends threw me a surprise sprinkle!

A low-key alternative to a baby shower, a sprinkle is a casual get together. Three friends hosted the lil soiree for me, and the guest list rounded out at six as my daughter and a friend's baby also attended. We enjoyed mocktails and munchies - fruit salad, spinach dip, and miniature cupcakes - while chatting about the impending babe. I was gifted lovely presents from practical velvet space-saving hangers to postpartum hospital pajamas. If you want to make a mother-to-be feel special without all the hoopla of a formal affair, a sprinkle expresses the perfect amount of sentiment.

Source: Flickr User BL1961

A Sugar Shower to Send LilSugar Off in Style!

babysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:00:55 -0700

Before LilSugar welcomes her third bebe, we decided to throw a fete in her honor. Not wanting to mess with pale pinks and blues, we went for brighter hues to celebrate the sweet mommy. Orange and green were the colors of choice, which proved to be a fan favorite amongst the baby shower revelers. Also a big hit? Rice Krispie Treats on a stick and Arnold Palmers for everyone!

To see how I made the diaper cake and to see the rest of the fun photos, read more.

Like previously assembled diaper cakes, I started out with a large base of folded disposable nappies and held it together with a large navy grosgrain ribbon. I did the same for the second layer and tied a green ribbon. For the top layer, I used a vase for the centerpiece instead of the more common candy-filled bottle. I encircled it with the remaining diapers and tied the orange bow around it. Not wanting to get water all over the diapers, I filled the container by ladling cups of water until it was three-quarters full. Then I cut a bunch of peachy roses short and popped them in the vase. With the layers and flowers complete, I placed faux orange and yellow flowers sporadically around the cake anchoring them under the ribbons. A fan of the bubbly, I placed a toy popping champagne bottle front and center. Surely the docs will allow her to open this champers in the maternity ward.

One of our ah-mazing teammates took the time to whip up 80 Rice Krispie Treats and wrapped them with coordinating streamers. We draped the room with crepe paper and handed out "Wishes For Baby" that every guest filled out and stuffed into the diaper cake for safe keeping. (You can download a similar version we created for free here!) Though it was a fabulous affair, it has us missing our LilSugar already!

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Katherine Heigl Hosted a Fabulous Baby Fete For Ellen Pompeo

LilSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:45:00 -0700

It was no breakroom baby shower for Ellen Pompeo! The Grey's Anatomy star, who is expecting a baby girl in October, was feted by her friends and castmates with a backyard party at her costar Katherine Heigl's home on Saturday. According to reports, the expectant mama received a bounty of gifts, including "a Sleep Sheep toy mobile, Sleepy Safari stacking toys, organic hooded towels and a Kiddopotamus organic swaddle wrap," but none of the items from our recent favorite finds. Other guests included Kate Walsh, Sandra Oh, and Rebecca Gayheart. Who hosted your baby shower?

To see more of the shower's attendees, just read more.

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Get Your Shop On: All the Best in Baby Shower Gifts!

LilSugar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:58 -0700

Shower the mama-to-be with good wishes and gifts! If you are invited to a fete for an expectant mama, think about what tone you want to set with your present. From crowd pleasers to practical items and economical options to gag gifts, we've got a fabulous list of shopping options including some clever ideas for the big sister or brother. Check them out!

Very Basic and Budget Friendly Baby Shower Gifts	Incredibly Practical Baby Shower Presents	Baby Shower Gifts to Wow the Crowd
Sibling Baby Shower Gifts	Interesting to Ridiculous Baby Shower Gifts	Baby Shower Gifts For Subsequent Infants

A Sugary Sweet Baby Shower For the Sugar Family

babysugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:00:20 -0700

Here at Sugar HQ, we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby Sugar #2. Lisa, the queen of all things Sugar, has developed a perfectly round bump and big sister Katie is ready for her lil sister's arrival. To honor the sweet family, we decided to use the obvious - confections galore.

For the centerpiece of the soiree, I provided the expectant parents a diaper cake chock full of delicious delights. Since we don't want to leave the sibling out of the celebration, I made a miniature version for her. To keep the guests from attacking the decor, we provided Kara's Cupcakes and sparkling apple cider.

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To see what the diaper cake is made of, read more.

Using Pampers Swaddlers, I formed the base of the cake. Around each layer, I tied a piece of twine and covered it with a pink gingham ribbon. Atop of that, I used a hot glue gun to apply Bubble Gum tape. To add a bit of color, I glued on Necco wafers to each layer. Since most everyone loves a Dum Dum, I placed one in every other diaper. For the cake topper, I took a bottle, filled it with Skittles and tied a bow on top. To keep it all stacked together, I created columns with bamboo skewers and then wrapped it up with pink tulle and a puffed out ribbon.

For the smaller sibling cake, I made one layer with the same diapers and tied a ribbon around it. Instead of hyping wee Katie up on candy, I used four fake flowers for the centerpiece and limited her faux pastry with one Dum Dum and a candy necklace. More than anything, it was a treat for us to watch her open her own gift.

If you want to place a bet on when the Sugar baby will arrive, click here!

Baby Cakes: Crazy Creepy or Crazy Cute?

babysugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:05:35 -0700

"What's my baby doing on the cake platter taking a nap?" Oh snap! That's a cake! Every baby shower deserves a special dessert but these er... take the cake? Forget the diaper cakes or the diabetic friendly flower pastry. Shower hosts can serve up a frosted newborn on a silver platter.

On the hilarious and ubercreative blog spot Cake Wrecks, we found some unsettling baby confections. What could be creepy about a baby cake? Well for starters, some of them have a doll buried under icing making it look more like a deathbed than a bassinet. And what happens when it comes time to eat the dessert? No guest wants to see the sugary lil toes sliced off for their nibbling pleasure. The bakers are certainly skilled in the decorating department, but maybe a crib full of stuffed toys would have done the trick.

What do you think about these babylicious cakes?

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Interesting to Ridiculous Baby Shower Gifts

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:05:16 -0700

One woman's gag gift is another mother's treasure. While baby showers are a fun way to fete the expectant mama, they also help her load up on loot like practical baby necessities. Though most guests gravitate toward the basic and budget-friendly items on a mom-to-be's registry, others try to wow the crowd with the most outlandish gifts they come across. From garish clothing to utterly ridiculous items, we've rounded up some interesting selections.

To see our entire list of unique baby shower gifts, read more.

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