Party Planning - Monkey Baby Shower

A monkey theme is adorable for a baby shower.  You can use Curious George as some of your inspiration, or just stick with monkeys in general.  Here are a few ideas to get you started - 

• Serve these cute monkey cupcakes.
• For the rest of your food, try to keep your theme in mind.  Make things like banana bites dipped in chocolate, banana pudding, etc.  Use themed bowls or banana leave to serve the rest of your dishes.
• Turn your room into a tropical oasis.  Add artificial palm trees, woven mats, and vines around the room.
• Package candied banana chips in small clear baggies for favors.  Tie with a ribbon and add a monkey themed card.
• Fill a large jar with small banana shaped candies.  Have your guests guess how many are in the jar.  Give the winner a sock monkey as their prize.

Make sure to check out our other party themes too!

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Great Ideas - 8/27

• Masking Tape Letters - a great art project for your kids.
• Download free Animal Classification Cards here.
• These Clown Ice Cream Sundaes are adorable.
• These Butterfly Snacks would be great for your child's lunch.
• This Masterpiece Art Display is a great idea for your children's artwork.
• Looking for a cute back to school gift idea?  These DIY Candy Pencils are adorable!

This post is linked to Saturday Stumbles at Simply Staci.

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Fall Fun - It's Almost Here!

It may still be really hot in some parts of the country, but it's not too early to start thinking about cooler weather and making plans for fall.  Here are some of our ideas from last year -

• Roasted pumpkin seeds, leaf toast, and a few more fun ideas.
• DIY salt dough pumpkins.
• Decorating pumpkins, preserving leaves, and homemade caramel corn.
• Geocaching - a fun fall activity.

And here are a few more fun ideas that you can try with your family -

• Visit a corn maze.
• Pick apples (and make homemade applesauce or apple pie!).
• Pick your own pumpkins (and decorate them with some of the ideas above).
• Go on a picnic at your local park when all the leaves are changing color.
• Take a nature walk around your neighborhood or local park and see how many types of trees you can identify.

Check back soon for more fun activities and lots of great craft and decorating ideas!

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Image source

Decorating Ideas - Owl Themed Nursery

 

Baby Gear Owls Baby Blanket Pink White

This cute blanket makes a great inspiration piece for a fun and modern nursery.  Here are a few ideas to help you create a unique room for your child -

• Choose your paint color from this blanket.  Any of the colors would look great, and you can accent with a darker shade (on your trim, for example).
• Choose furniture with simple lines.  Dark toned wood would be a good choice for this color scheme.
• These owls have a simple shape.  Customize light switch covers, etc. by painting one onto it.  You could even make a pillow with similar details.
• Accessorize with owl themed pieces when possible, but don't take it overboard.  Keep the room modern with streamlined accessories and whimsical with child friendly pieces (such as a ground level mirror, stuffed animals, a tree and owl mural, etc.)
  

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Great Ideas - 8/22

Here are some of the cutest ideas we've seen recently.  Feel free to link up anything you've come across in the comments!

• This idea for fish bowl gelatin is adorable.
• School is starting back in a lot of places.  Check out these lunch ideas - space ship, Mater sandwich, and lots more here.
• These Toddler Sponge Blocks are a great idea. 
• Your kids will love this snack - fishing with celery.
• This recipe for Homemade Slime will be a hit too!
• And finally, this post is full of great ideas for pool noodles.

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Decorating Ideas - Skull Themed Nursery

Blue Skulls Stars Baby Blanket

Skulls have become very popular recently.  And while a skull theme might seem unusual for a baby's room, it can be really cute!  It's great for parents who don't want the traditional "cutesy" nursery theme.  Here are a few ideas -

• Choose your colors.  Just because you're using a skull theme you don't have to stick with black, white and gray (although that can be pretty too!).  In the blanket above the blue provides a pretty contrast.  Unless you have a really large room, it's normally best to stick with a brighter color for the walls and bring in deeper tones with accessories, bedding, etc.
• Keep it whimsical and playful.  It is still a child's room, after all.  Fun textures, child friendly artwork, and bright colors can keep the room from becoming too adult.
• Accessorize with black and silver (plus whatever other colors you've chosen) for a modern, coordinated look.
• Choose furniture with clean lines - you don't want anything too fussy for this room.  If you're sticking with the color scheme in the blanket above, black furniture would look great.  Add star shaped knobs for finishing touch.

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Party Tips - Circus Theme Baby Shower

A circus themed baby shower is great because it can be used for a boy or a girl and even for a couple's shower.  This is a really adorable theme that all the guests will love.  Here are a few ideas to get you started -

• Serve "circus" food - popcorn (in striped boxes, of course), animal crackers, snow cones, cotton candy, peanuts, hot dogs, etc.
• Set up a balloon arch at each entrance (you can make your own).
• Turn the food area into a small version of the big top - drape tulle or inexpensive fabric from your ceiling down around the back of the tables (you can also use something like this).
• Make clown cupcakes.
• Have a balloon animal contest (great for a couple's shower).
• If you want more of a carnival feel, set up a few games - pin the nose on the clown, bean bag toss, etc.

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Product Spotlight - New Items (8/12)

We've added new products!  Here's a sneak peek - head over to our website to see the rest! :)

Carter's Blue Green Brown Musical Plush Elephant

Carter's Blonde Braids Plush Doll Just One You

 Little Taggies Sunny Day Clouds Ribbon Security Lovey Blanket

 Blankets Beyond Blue Monkey Lovey and Baby Blanket

 Blankets Beyond Pink Minky Swirl Bunny Rabbit Baby Lovey

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Party Planning - Sports Themed Baby Shower Party Favors

We recently gave you ideas for a sports themed baby shower.  Today, we're focusing on party favors for a sports themed baby shower.  Here are a few ideas -

• Ice and decorate cookies to look like various sporting equipment - footballs, baseball bats, soccer balls, helmets, etc.  Package them in a small clear bag and tie with ribbon.
• Fill small plastic football helmets with small candies (the helmets are available at party supply stores or online).
• If you know all the guests that are coming, personalize water bottles for each one.  You can buy the type that have a customizable paper insert at most craft stores.  Have a couple extras on hand for unexpected guests.
• Give out key chains with a particular sports team's logo or football shaped ones (or baseball shaped, etc.).

Check back soon for more baby shower ideas!

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Recipes - EASY Homemade Biscuits (Tasty Tuesday)

Everyone loves homemade biscuits, but most require too much work and don't turn out consistently amazing.  Our Homemade Dairy Biscuits are different - they're fast, easy, and always taste great.  Plus, they use only 2 ingredients and they're simple enough that your kids can help make them!

Homemade Dairy Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream (the small container)
• 2 cups of self rising flour

Directions:

1. Mix the flour and whipping cream in a medium size bowl.  You may need to add more flour depending on the humidity outside.  Just add enough flour to keep the dough from being too sticky.
2. Roll out the dough to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.  Use a glass or biscuit cutter to cut out your biscuits.  
3. Place the biscuits a couple of inches apart on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 400* for 10-12 minutes or until the biscuits are starting to brown.
5. Serve with butter and jelly.

This post is linked up to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.  Head over there for more great recipes!

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Party Planning - Sports Themed Baby Shower

Sports themed showers are great for a couple's shower, especially if the parents to be are expecting a boy.  There are all kinds of cute things you can do to make the shower great.  Check out these ideas -

• Make these cute sports themed cupcakes.  
• Use leftover Superbowl serving dishes - football shaped bowls, etc.
• Serve "game day" food - wings, chips and salsa, homemade pizza rolls, etc. 
• Send the invitations on football or helmet shaped postcards.
• Decorate with sports memorabilia.  
• Make homemade pennants with the baby's name. 

Make sure to check out this post for sports themed party favor ideas!

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

10 Fun Baby Shower Theme Ideas

Baby showers are a lot of fun to throw.  But, it can be hard to come up with the perfect theme.  Here are some of our favorite themes -

1. Ladybugs
2. Monkeys
3. Luau
4. Jungle/Safari
5. Circus
6. Beach
7. Sports
8. Ducks
9. Fairy Tales
10. Trains

Click on the links for a post with ideas for that theme.  The ideas without links are coming soon, so make sure to check back! :)

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Product Spotlight - Children's Aprons

Today we're featuring aprons for your children.  They're perfect for a budding chef and will encourage your kids to help in the kitchen.

 Girls Apron Bunny Chick Flowers Embroidered Appliqued

Boys Little Guy Apron Blue White with Pocket

Make sure you check out our recipes - your kids can help with all of them!  Plus, we have recipes for your child's Easy Bake Oven that your whole family will like.

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Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!