InvitingSmiles Blog

Politics are all over the television, radio, and newspapers right now, so take this opportunity to discuss with your children the importance of voting. They may become irritated with their favorite shows being interrupted, as I do, but it is still important that they understand what voting is all about.

While the topics and points of view of our current candidates may be too much for your young one to understand, you can set up examples in your child’s every day life to help them better comprehend the reasons for debates, campaigns and voting. They will find this more interesting and can have fun pretending to run for president! (more…)

If your baby’s nose is always red and stuffy you may be witnessing allergy symptoms. Other symptoms are itchy red watery eyes, a clear runny nose, sneezing, and/or a dry cough.

There are numerous items that could be the cause of these allergies. Some items to consider are pollen, mold, dust mites, pets, foods, and cleaning products. During the holidays a Christmas tree may set off allergies. To narrow the cause, start by determining when you first noticed the allergy. (more…)

If you want to turn heads at a party, dress it up a little. You have heard the comment “Dress for Success” well the same is true for parties, you “Dress for Party Success”. This will not only impress other guests, but will give you confidence to be more social and command the attention of the room.

You should also be gracious to your host/hostess and other party guests by paying attention to details. Always RSVP if the invitations request that you do so. Make sure to ask permission if you plan to bring additional guests with you, don’t assume it is OK. Etiquette also entails bringing a small gift for the host/hostess. Maybe a bottle of wine, some candles, or bath products; these are always appreciated gifts. (more…)

For any of you who have not yet experienced your child’s first day of kindergarten, it can be as hard on the parent as on the child. As much as some kids can’t wait to go to school and be a big kid, they may be apprehensive about the unknown. Give them confidence and reassurance that all of the other kids in their class feel the same way. This will help them feel that they are not alone.

Making the upcoming day special will help detour from the anxiety. Plan a special outfit and take pictures before school. Help pack their backpack the night before. Plan to drive or walk your child on their first day. Walk your child to their classroom, introduce them to the teacher and assure them that you will pick them up right after school. You may need to do this more than one day until they are comfortable getting to their class on their own. (more…)

Do not stress over burping your newborn. It is something that takes a little patience while you learn some helpful techniques. Here are some things that may help relieve a little of the tension you may feel while trying to burp your baby. Start by putting a burping cloth or a cloth diaper over your shoulder when burping, this way if the baby spits up you will not ruin your clothes.

The most common way to burp your baby is over the shoulder with the baby’s head resting on your shoulder and their stomach pressed against your chest.  Gently patting the baby’s back or rubbing their back in a circular motion should induce a burp. (more…)

One of the most common causes of anemia in pregnancy is iron deficiency. When you make your first prenatal appointment your OBGYN will most likely check your iron levels. If you do not show signs of anemia at this time, it does not mean you are home free. You may still develop iron deficiencies at any time during your pregnancy. In fact, your baby will start to draw on your iron heavily around your 20th week.

Some of the common symptoms with anemia are being tired, feeling weak, pale skin, palpitations, breathlessness and fainting spells. You should inform your doctor if any of these arise. A simple blood test will tell if you have become anemic. (more…)

You always hear about pre-wedding parties, but most people aren’t aware of the wedding breakfast. Usually there will be a bridal brunch, a rehearsal dinner, the bachelor party and the bridal shower. The breakfast is for all of those who have traveled from out of town to be here to witness the marriage.

The wedding breakfast is held on the day of the wedding and is usually hosted by friends or neighbors of the bride. The bride, groom and family are not required to attend, but it is fine if they do. Usually they are too busy on the day of the wedding to participate. The purpose of the breakfast is to make sure your guests feel welcome and their needs are taken care of. (more…)

Once you have learned the protocol for invitation etiquette you will want to send invitations for all of your parties. Your invitation should set the tone for your party.
You can choose an invitation to represent a theme such as western, dance or a pool party. Once you have chosen the type of invitation you want to send, be sure to include all of the vital information. An informal invitation might only require minimal information such as date, time, location, RSVP and phone number.
For a more formal invitation include an opening line such as: Please join us as we celebrate. Spell out the formal names of the hosts and write out the date and time, such as Friday the twentieth of July, Two thousand and seven at Eleven o’clock in the morning. Consider including a response card so your guests may reply in writing.

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Your infant may show signs of cradle cap as early as the first few months of life. Cradle cap is very common and is completely harmless. Doctors are not sure of it’s cause, but believe it is somehow related to the hormones a mother passes to her infant in the last days of pregnancy. This hormone could over stimulate the baby’s oil producing glands and cause the cradle cap. There has been no proof of the cause.

Cradle cap can look like dry flaky skin or dandruff. It can also be thick, oily and yellowish or brown in color, producing crusty patches on the scalp. What is known is that it is not contagious, it is not due to poor hygiene or allergies and it probably will not bother your baby in the least. (more…)

If you have ever had Charlie Horse leg cramps during pregnancy, than you know that it can pull you out of a dead sleep in excruciating pain. If you have never had one, but are heading toward your second trimester of pregnancy, brace yourself because you may be in for a rude awakening, literally.

Charlie horse cramps can be caused by a lack of calcium and potassium during pregnancy. You could be cramping due to the extra weight you are carrying as your pregnancy progresses. The extra weight you are carrying causes your uterus to expand, which puts pressure on your blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart. This affects the nerves flowing back down to your legs. You could also be getting too much phosphorus in your diet, caused by eating junk food, sodas and processed meat products. (more…)