Baby Shower Idea - The Gift of Reading

This is the best idea I've heard in a while for a baby shower.  Rather than waste money on buying a greeting card to attach to the gifts, suggest that each person purchase a children’s book instead and sign the inside front cover.  Mom will be able to recall who gave it every time she reads it to her little one.  What a great way to remember a special day!

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE MOVE-IN DAY

                Whether you’re rooming with a friend from your hometown or a complete stranger, when you have to share a living space that’s probably smaller than a bedroom you had all to yourself at home, it can be a challenge.   To prepare for college dorm life you need to do your homework.  With some careful planning (and careful packing) you can arrive prepared to have a great college experience.

READ WHAT YOUR COLLEGE SENDS YOU

They have lots of experience with how to make move-in day as smooth as possible and they’ll help you avoid some of the mistakes that people before you have made.  Some of them are:

•  Waiting until move-in day to buy supplies – expect long lines and higher prices on campus for   computer and office supplies, storage and shelving units, etc.
• Taking your own desk chair, desk lamp, or wastebasket.  Don’t waste your money buying those color-coordinated items that are found in stores in abundance from mid- to late summer – if these items are already provided by the school they’re probably required to stay in the room.  Even though they may be somewhat industrial, you’re probably stuck with them.  To make them    more bearable, buy a brightly colored seat cushion and cover the wastebasket with removable contact paper.
• Bringing two of everything.  As soon as you get the contact information for your new roommate, get in touch with them and start talking about how to divide up the list of necessities  you will bring to the living space.  You won’t have room for two televisions, two microwaves,  two game systems, two area rugs, etc., so save yourself some money and space by working it out with your roommates ahead of time.

DORM ROOM DETAILS

Check the college website for room layouts. In a typical double occupancy dorm room, you can expect to have 24-36 inches of clothes hanging space with some room above or below for shoe storage or a laundry basket, 3-4 dresser drawers, a desk with a drawer or two, and possibly some room under the bed for a flat storage bin, and a couple of coat hooks.  Keep this in mind when packing. Measure out about 30 inches of hanging space in your closet at home, and don’t take any more that what will fit in that space.  If you have a floor to ceiling closet in your dorm room take advantage of hangers that will hold multiple pairs of pants or skirts. 

Hint – if your school allows lofting of the beds, I recommend doing it.  Taking advantage of the vertical space in the room frees up a lot of floor space.  This makes it more reasonable to entertain bringing some other comforts from home, i.e. a futon to sit on and to house overnight guests, a chair, television stand or shelving unit.  Check to see if your university has arrangements with a company that provides bed lofting equipment, usually for a low annual rental fee which includes set-up and tear-down.  It’s worth every penny!

THE BIG DAY

Plan to move in on the stated move-in day.  This is the day when the school is most likely to have modified traffic patterns to get you onto campus and get your vehicle as close as possible to your dorm.  Many schools will have a move-in squad, a group of students and volunteers that have been trained to help you get through the check-in process, get you to your dorm, help you unload and maybe even get your belongings to your room.

Plan to arrive at the prescribed time.  If the school suggests getting there between 9 and 11, try to make that window.  The school knows that by staggering student arrival times there is a better chance of avoiding bottlenecks on the streets and in the hallways.

Have a change of clothes ready – after you’ve arranged and rearranged the furniture, crawled under desks to plug in your electronics, and hauled boxes for what seems like miles, you’re going to want to have a fresh change of clothes before you head to a restaurant or bookstore!

Spin the Bottle at a Kid's Birthday Party?!? Read on...

Thanks to Rebecca P. for this alternative activity to the  typical opening of the presents at a children's birthday party:


"A fun variation on opening gifts for kids' parties is to turn it into a 'spin the bottle' game. This avoids a free-for-all of "open mine first!", lost cards, hurt feelings, and general mayhem. You have all the party guests sit in a circle and the birthday child spins a bottle in the middle. Whoever the spin lands on, gets to draw a piece of paper from a jar and perform whatever silly or fun task is written on the paper...for example 'sing the first verse of your favorite song', 'make your silliest face', 'say the alphabet backwards', etc....the possibilities are endless. After performing the task, that child gives his/her gift to the birthday child to open. After the gift is opened, the child who was 'it' gets to spin the bottle to determine who goes next. If the bottle lands on someone who has already given his/her gift it defaults to the person to the left of that child. Play proceeds until everyone has had a turn. This worked wonders at Anna's party last year...gift opening was calm, civilized, and fun for everyone. She wants to do it again next year. I just wish I had come up with the idea years ago!”

Valentine's Day Party Ideas

Familyfun.go.com has a ton of Valentine's day crafts, recipes, cards and party ideas for families and kids - if you're involved in planning a Valentine's Day party, this is the place to go!

Effective Scout/Club Meetings

Have you ever been in charge of a scout group, 4-H group, or other children's club or organization? What did you do to keep the kids engaged? What were some of the challenges? What resources did you use? Where did you meet? What are some tips you can give to someone considering this kind of leadership role?

Birthday Blues?

How is the economy changing the way you plan a birthday party or other gathering?  How are stretching a dollar when it comes to your party planning?

Gifts for Teachers, Stylists, Mail Carriers, etc.....

There was a thread not too long ago started by a teacher that basically said "Thank you for thinking of me, but no more coffee mugs PLEASE!" What gift ideas have you found that lets your teacher, stylist, party hostess mail carrier, paper carrier, pastor, etc. know that they are appreciated?

Planning a Fun Classroom Party

You've been asked to plan a Christmas party for your child's class - what do you do? Please share any fun games, crafts, or treats, as well as things to avoid.

Making a Holiday Gift Exchange More Fun

Seems that every holiday party includes some sort of gift exchange, whether it's for school, work, or family. What are some things you have seen to make gift exchanges more meaningful, fun, and/or inexpensive?

Unique Birthday Parties for All Ages

Tell me something fun and different you have seen or done at a birthday party. Be specific - was it a kids' party, adult party, or milestone party (30th, 40th, etc.)? Tell me about any interesting invitations, themes, food, games, venues, etc.