Oprah began the 60th annual Emmy awards Sunday night, but Don Rickles stole the show.  With his amazing humor, he had guests on their feet.  Have the same fun in your living room.

With the ease of Apple computers making videos just got easier.  Create a baby shower theme that will make your guest of honor get her 15 minutes of fame. 

Collect video from guests of what they think the new baby will look like, act like, and grow up to be.  Add childhood pictures of the new parents-to-be among the video and play at the shower.

Enhance the theme by having guests walk in on a red carpet.  Have a camera set up to capture the event and add that to your video as a gift to the new parents.

Have two or three guests arrive early and give them use fake microphones to interview guests as they arrive.  Have questions prepared.

Pictures of the event can easily be slid into prepared frames and given as favors.

Enjoy the fun of fame!

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There is no better gift you can give a mother than to make her children happy.  If the expecting mommy already has children, find ways to involve those children in the celebration of their growing family.

Consider a pinata if you have an older sibiling expecting a new sister or brother.  Fill with small pacifers, plastic safety pins, tiny baby dolls, bottles, candy and tiny toys found at most party stores.

Make sure you have plenty of room for this event.  If you are concerned about a swinging bat or stick purchase a pinata version that strings can be pulled to release the goodies.

The new parents will appreciate that you thought about getting their ENTIRE family excited about the new baby.  It will also allow children to get their energy out playfully.

Here are some great sources to purchase your pinata:

http://www.buycostumes.com/Baby-Carriage-Decorator-Pinata/30947/ProductDetail.aspx?REF=SCE-bizrate

http://www.celebrateexpress.com/celebration/pages/products/product_ce.aspx?SKU=E6295&TabID=4294967232&keycode=VSM-008

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Creating a moment that last a lifetime can be as simple as a bowl of soup.  With a good conversation between loved ones, and warm advice and support that will sooth the soul your next baby shower can be one to remember.

This creamy delight can be made quickly to allow you plenty of time to decorate.

Serves: 8

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1  onion
• 2 potatos, peeled and diced
• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
• 1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 2 tsp dried tarragon
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• scallions (optional to slice thin and sprinkle on top and garnish)

STEP 1:  Boil chicken with bouillon cubes until you get a rich broth, about 1-2 hours.  Check every 30 minutes after 1 hour.

STEP 2:  Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken with fork into small bite sized pieces.

STEP 3:  Collect 6 cups of broth and add onion, potato and corn. Simmer 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.

STEP 4:  Add chicken, add cream and milk and raise temperature to medium.

STEP 5:  Combine flour and butter in small sauce pan on medium low heat.

STEP 6:   When soup is once again at a slight boil, add butter and flour. Stir until thickened.

STEP 7:  Add parsley, tarragon, salt and pepper stir and serve.

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Simple goes a long way in party planning.  Create an all white baby shower theme to honor the new mommy and baby.  The color white signifies innocence and purity which beautifully describes the event taking place.

Follow these easy steps to create an elegant, beautiful shower:

Begin your theme by sending guests simple white invitations with an attached white ribbon.

Decorate a living room or dining room with:

• White table clothes
• White streamers and balloons
• White tiered cake as the centerpiece
• White rose petals spread around the tables
• Use glass cake platters to display treats
• Use white porcelain serving plates
• White unscented candles

Favor suggestions:

• Package favors in white tulle
• White rock candy
• White candy covered almonds
• White truffles or white chocolate
• White soaps or spa accessories
• White scented candles

 Food suggestions:

• Caprice salad (mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic dressing)
• Create a cream soup
• Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and create turkey sandwiches to serve
• Serve vanilla ice cream with your cake

Gift ideas:

Instruct guests to wrap in white hues, and soft white laces and ribbons.

• Crocheted blankets
• White baby booties
• Handprint and Footprint Keepsake Kit
• A Mother’s Message Keepsake
• Baby to Bride Bracelet
• Nursery Clock
• Boy Keepsake Piggy Bank
• Keepsake Footprint Memory Box

Enjoy your elegant, simple theme by following these easy steps and create a memorable baby shower to honor mommy and baby.

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Where in the world are Gwen and Zuma?

The big announcement came last week that rock family, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale had welcomed another son into the world. Adorable pictures have surfaced of Gavin and 2 year old son, Kingston playing on the beach at their Malibu home.

But . . . we are all dying to see Gwen and the new baby!!!

Mama Gwen, and new son Zuma Nesta Rock were said to be happy and healthy. When do we get a peek?

Has Ok Magazine offered the rock star couple the multi-million $$$ deal yet, because we don’t have much patience.

With the songs of both Gavin and Gwen playing everywhere I can’t help the desire to see the family of four posing for their debut. Hope we don’t have to wait three months like Suri. The anticipation to see the choice of their artistic shoot is killing me.

With Gavin appearing to be Mr. Perfect with his incredible talent as rock star, supportive husband, and loving, active father we are all a little more in love!

It’s refreshing to see some couples having a healthy, happy lifestyle.  With celebrity babies popping out left and right lately, a new appreciation for women is surfacing as more and more famous dads show their respect for the exhausting task of carrying and delivering a child.

Gavin said, “Whatever I can do to help, I’ll do, but the guys get off light. We get to have the fun, then nip off, and the girls have to carry the physical burden of making a human, which is phenomenal.”

Matthew McConaughy is adoring his new son Levi, and made very similar emotional comments about the new mommy of his baby.

Happy to hear Gwenny is doing well, excited to see new Zuma. With Gwen coming from a family of four, and Gavin being the “super dad”, wonder if they will have more?

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Make a list of all the guests you would invite to a party. Have them participate in showering the expecting family with meals after the birth of their new bundle of joy!

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Tiger Woods at the age of 32 has won three U.S. Opens and 14 Majors. That last U.S. Open he had us all at the edge of our seats after a long tie breaker in which he played after recovery from knee surgery and in obvious discomfort.

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• 2 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
• 8 ounces finely ground almonds
• 12 tablespoons fresh egg whites (approx. 6 extra-large eggs)
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• Your choice of macaroon filling

•   Cassis:   Add 2 drops of purple coloring to egg whites after they are whipped. Add cassis jam for the filling.

• Pistachio:  Add 2 drops of green food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. Combine ½ cup macaroon filling with 1 tablespoon pistachio paste for the filling.

•  Raspberry: Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. Add quality raspberry jam filling.

• Chocolate or White Chocolate:   Add 2 drops of brown food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped or leave plain for white chocolate. Add slivers of chopped chocolate or white chocolate for filling.

• Coffee(watch caffeine, not allowed during pregnancy): Add 2 drops of brown food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. Blend ½ cup macaroon filling with 1 ½ teaspoons espresso powder dissolved with ½ teaspoon of warm water.

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Many women dream about enjoying the wonders of motherhood.  For some, there is no greater life experience, however, this seemed a bit crazy.

My heart went out to Christina Applegate when hearing she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Having breast cancer in my family and watching someone you care and love go through something so treacherous is difficult to say the least.

Reports came out, that Christina was going to put off a rigorous course of chemotherapy to conceive a baby with musician Martyn Lenoble, whom she has dated for "several months",  claiming she would start treatment after the birth.

Feeling that her biological clock was ticking she made a baby her first priority.  She didn’t want to expose her body to chemo or radiation until after the birth.  An ample concern, however the concerns of having a child with cancer stirred up controversy, concern, and surfaced a good question. 

• Is it safe to conceive and deliver a baby while having cancer?

• Does anyone have any advice they can give to women who have had children after cancer treatments?  

• Has anyone had a baby with cancer that can relate and give advice?

After all it would be devastating to have a new child with so much weight on it’s shoulders.

Now, Christina is cancer free after undergoing a double mastectomy, a very difficult decision.  She appears to be excited with a positive attitude.  She will return to "Samantha Who?" in September as scheduled, and undergo reconstructive surgery over the next several months.

I’ll have cute boobs until I’m 90, Christina says.  Go Christina!

Be sure to tune in September 5th to see Christina and many other celebrities on ABC, NBC, and CBS for a telethon to support STAND UP TO CANCER.

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Many outlets for free baby shower invitations are popping up to drive traffic to baby sites.  The fierce competition of over 3 million websites on this topic are struggling to make sense of their web traffic.

You the baby shower party planner or buyer benefit.  The web world is better than Wal-marts controversial strategies, and cheaper . . . free.  

Google really made an impact on the internet in 2003 when it forced those who are in business to supply information for free or get out of the competition.  So here is a small effort.  Enjoy!

If you have a creative idea to make your own baby shower invitation, here are clever poems, and writings to include at the top or inside of your invitation:

Rattles and diapers . . . bottles and pins . . . This is were the fun begins!

Tiny fingers, tiny toes, little itty-bitty clothes.  Dresses, dolls, bows and curls . . . guess what? It’s a girl!!!

  Twinkle, twinkle little star how wee wonder what you are?

Of all of life’s miracles, the biggest ones come in the smallest packages . . .

   Bottles, booties, bibs, and more . . . Let’s shower the baby with gifts galore!

A baby is on the way so please save this special day!

When you wish upon a star . . . a baby (boy/girl) may not be far.

Each of these invitation can conclude by using words such as Join us, Come celebrate, Please join us for a baby shower honoring, in celebration of —, a baby shower honoring, etc.

Here are a few sites that offer easy ways to print baby shower invitations in minutes with no subscription or fees:

 http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/baby_invitations.htm

http://www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com/free-printable-baby-shower-invitation.html

http://blog.angelicbabyshowergifts.com/2008/06/free-baby-shower-invitations-in-minutes/

http://perfect-printables.com/documents/freeprintablebabyshowerinvitation.html

http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com/free-printable-baby-shower-invitations.html

http://blog.angelicbabyshowergifts.com/2008/05/free-baby-shower-invitations-general/

http://www.officialbabyshowerguide.com/printables.html

Be sure to include important information to inform guests so they can prepare and maximize enjoyment of your party.

• Guest of Honor’s Name

• Date

• Time

• Place (Include directions if necessary)

• Who to call for questions

• Sex of baby (if important to theme or gift giving)

• Events (Will there be food?  Games? Etc.)

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