InvitingSmiles Blog

Many of today’s brides are making their own traditions, but for those of you that still love the old fashion weddings….this is a guide to planning a traditional wedding.

Here are some of the roles and responsibilities for the bride and groom:

Prior to getting married, the bride and groom need to make many decisions.
First and foremost, they should work together to make the decisions. This will make everyone happy. Set a budget on the entire wedding cost. Decide on the how, when and where. Choose the person who will officiate the wedding.
Purchase the wedding bands (make sure the groom pays for the brides and the bride pays for the grooms).
Decide on the wedding invitations, photographer and flowers. 

(more…)

Food ideas for a pint-size party can be a challenge.

There are a few key things to remember that can guide you through your food choices when you are preparing for a toddler/pre-school birthday party.

• Birthday cake is not always a must. You can have cupcakes, cookies or pie.  Birthday cake used to be the staple of the party, but times are changing, so go along with whatever the honoree would like.

• The more color you have in the food choices, the better the kids will eat.  Kids love to eat “fun food”.  A fun food is something easy to manipulate with small fingers and something that is visually stimulating.

• Have temperature variation in your foods… cold foods, room temperature foods and even some hot foods. This will keep the children interested and will make them want to try it all.

(more…)

Regular exercise helps prepare your baby for walking. You can begin exercising your baby from birth. 
This is a wonderful time for Mom and/or Dad to have fun bonding time.

While your baby is completely immobile, you can move his/her arms and legs around, stretching them easily.  Also have lots of tummy time so your baby can build good head and neck control. (more…)

When is the right time for your baby to begin dental visits? 

The general consensus is around your child’s 1st birthday. However, it is important to remember that your child’s first teeth are present at birth, though they haven’t come through the gums yet. These primary teeth will soon be the guide for their permanent teeth, so it is important to take care of these precious “baby teeth”.

You should brush your baby’s first tooth with a soft tooth brush so that you do not  irritate their gums. Begin flossing once two teeth have come in side by side. There are many flossing options on the market, so choose the one that works best for you.  Be creative and make brushing and flossing a pleasurable experience, so your child will not have a negative feeling about dental hygiene.                           

www.invitingsmiles.com

(more…)

Drinking six 8 ounce glasses of water daily has many health benefits during pregnancy. Fluid carries all of the nutrients through the blood to the baby. 
It also flushes out the urinary tract to help prevent infections which can be common during pregnancy.
Drinking water during pregnancy combats water retention, makes for healthier skin (less acne) and it washes away unnecessary sodium.

Invitingsmiles.com

A lot of the water you intake is used in the amniotic sack.  Approximately 1 cup of water per hour is needed to replenish the amniotic fluid.  

Invitingsmiles.com

This will protect the unborn baby within the womb.
Staying well hydrated can also prevent pre-term labor and miscarriages, prevent morning sickness and promote better bowel movements.
So drink up…water is the key to good hydration leading to a healthier pregnancy.

As soon you know the wedding date and location, a Save the Date card can be ordered and sent out long before the invitations.  Approximately six months ahead is a good rule of thumb.

Your save the date cards will be the first thing people see regarding your wedding, so make them fun and unique.  Get an engagement photo done and incorporate that into a really great Save the Date card that you can treasure forever.
Just remember to make them unique to you and your fiancé, so that your guests cannot possibly forget to ”Save the Date”.

Who gets a Save the Date Card?

You do not need to send Save the Date cards to everyone you are inviting but, every guest that receives a Save the Date Card must also receive the actual wedding invitation.

What do we include on Save the Date Cards?

The only things that are a “must” on a Save the Date card are your names and the wedding date. However, it is helpful to include information about where the wedding will take place (or at least the city and state) so that people can get a jump on
travel planning.  If your wedding will be out of town for numerous gusts, it is a good idea to include a separate insert regarding hotels, airfare and transportation.
After guests receive their save the date cards, they should be able to make travel arrangements, if needed.

Remember, these should be unique keep-sake memories for you as well as your guests!

Invitingsmiles.com

 How do you plan children’s parties and determine whether to have a meal or munchies?  Well…here are some ways to determine which will be the best plan of action:

• If the party is within one hour of a typical breakfast, lunch or dinner time, you need to provide a meal.

• If the party is going to be held at a children’s gym/party zone where they provide a meal at a small additional price, it is normally worth the money.  Feeding the children usually will calm them down for a while….and it is a great time to get birthday photos of all of the children together.

• If the party is going to last for 1 ½ hours or longer, you need to at least provide heavy appetizers. (We will have some pint-size appetizer ideas coming soon)

• If the guest list is mostly family, you have the luxury of doing either a meal or munchies.

The main entrée at most children’s parties is pizza.  Feel free to try something different and order (or make) a chicken nugget platter, small sandwiches or even grill some hot dogs* if you are partying at home.
*Please be certain to cut the wiener in half before serving, if your child is under 3.
These can be a major choking hazard. Be safe, plan a great time and don’t wait too late to get your invites!

Order your Birthday Invitations at

Invitingsmiles.com

Your child is approaching their first birthday, and you want to know, “When should I expect my baby to begin walking?” While there are all kinds of charts and development milestones that each child is put into to determine if they are “on track”…we, as parents, all need to keep in mind that each child is different. Do not buy into the myth of: Babies will be walking around their first birthday.

Have you ordered the birthday party invitations?

That just wasn’t the case for my children and many other families that I know. Instead, those are the children that are held by every family member and do not want to hit the floor because it is just not as warm and cozy as the arms of loved ones. So, don’t be upset when the first birthday rolls around and your child is not walking. (more…)

Recently I visited a local health food superstore, where I was amazed to see that baby products have gone organic.  There was a variety of earth-friendly, chemical-free and organic products designed for your baby.

Have you ordered your birth announcements, yet?

There are chlorine-free diapers and diapers that are flushable aimed at saving the landfills. There were also baby wipes, diaper creams, talc-free powder and petroleum-free baby oil. In the homeopathic remedy aisle I found products to treat colic and ease teething pain.  They also offered liquid and chewable vitamins, as well as baby dental care. (more…)

It’s summer, you’re pregnant but not yet glowing, so you want to know how to get rid of that winter pale color. Even though there is a definite link between sun exposure and skin cancer, many people still look for ways to have that toasted, just-spent-a-week-in-Aruba, sun-kissed look. The solution for many people is regular visits to a tanning salon.

Visit InvitingSmiles

You want to know if it is safe to tan? The short answer is “No.” Tanning in the sun or tanning bed can raise your body’s core temperature and could be dangerous to the developing baby.  (more…)