Hi - I want to create a baby shower invitation from my pictures on my computer. Can anyone give me some direction for this??? Thank you all. Please email to purplegard4me@aol.com ***** tina_2

Myfampg, it was I who was referencing "always buying a gift" - and maybe if I explain further you'll understand. I was not talking about showers for close friends and family, but rather the constant onslaught that I went through in my twenties and thirties of showers for co-workers (held at work), neighbors, long-lost friends from high school. I'm talking about being invited to a shower for my boss' fiancee, whom I had barely met, and the least expensive thing on the registry was $150. I'm talking about the sense of entitlement that some people have regarding showers. I started to lose some of my happy feelings regarding showers the first time that I happily spent all of my "fun money" for the week on a bridal shower gift, and the bride to be (who still lived with her parents, by the way, and had few bills of her own), proceeded to complain about how she'd been hoping to get more, and of all of the things that she was still "going to have to buy" for their new house - said house being a wedding present from her parents. Apparently she was under the impression that getting married entitled her to a free start in life? I went to a shower once to hear one of the other guests, whose shower I had also been to, explain in all seriousness how she felt that everyone should get to have a five year anniversary shower because her sheets and towels were wearing thin. I found out years later that, at least here with some of the various ethnic groups, one of the reasons that I was invited to so many showers of people I barely knew was tradition. For some people here, for bridal showers hostess invites close friends and family only, except for never-married women - where hostess invites pretty much every never-married woman the bride knows. Apparently the theory is that then when I got married, I'd "get my turn" to do the same. I've got to say that this tradition would have been great if I'd gotten married at age twenty - but tends to become a bit pricey after twenty years of being invited to showers for next-door neighbors' niece whom I'd met twice. (Yes, I did have a small shower but only family and close friends of years standing.) So perhaps I am just jaded. I still love showers for friends or family, and I actually don't mind showers for new mothers who really need and will appreciate some help, even if I don't know the women all that well. But best believe that unfortunately there are plenty of women out there who are more than happy to receive a gift given out of "obligation".

I guess I'm the odd one out on this subject. First of all, I really dislike showers, and only go if I feel it is a "have-to", like a family member. But personally, I think the diaper raffle is a wonderful idea! The only time I've seen it done it was definitely a volunteer type request, very obviously the hostess and Mommy-to-be did NOT feel bringing diapers was necessary. I think it was worded something like "A small package of diapers will 'buy' a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to Bed Bath and Beyond". One of the things I intensely dislike about showers is the stupid 'games' and the dumb (and usually useless) prizes. So I do like it when the 'prizes' are a little nicer, useful things that are then given to the guest of honor. It makes a lot of sense to me, and certainly beats getting a bunch of 'stuff' that are duplications and/or neither needed or wanted, which is so often the case at bridal showers, especially. Rusty

Well, these may be too "much" for you, but I use Dogwood Hill for holiday cards and invitations and have been very happyt with their products. I've also used Etsy with good results. Dogwood The shower sounds like such a fun and intimate celebration! This little block print one is cute: https://www.dogwood-hill.com/products/blue-harvest-block-print-baby-shower Or this adorable chinoiserie: https://www.dogwood-hill.com/collections/baby-shower-invitations/products/chinoiserie-garden-baby-shower