InvitingSmiles Blog

Are you considering delivery by midwife for the birth of your child? If not, it may be something you want to consider. Many hospitals now have midwives deliver during normal pregnancies and deliveries, but will have a doctor around in case they are needed. These midwives are actually nurse-midwives.

Midwifery has changed quite a bit since it originated. The word midwife comes from Old English meaning “with woman”. Midwives started to become licensed around the 1500’s in Europe where midwifery is a common practice. When the practice was first picked up by the United States in the early 20th century, midwives were ignorant to the scientific advances for fighting infection. During this time, women were far more likely to die in the care of a midwife than under a doctor’s care. Much has improved since then. (more…)

A personal gift idea for the bride and groom is a wedding gift basket. These wonderful gifts can be personalized toward the new couple’s interests. If your creative idea begins to cost more than you had planned, then ask another friend to pitch in. The bigger the better! Following are some ideas to fill your gift basket full! (more…)

Hosting tea parties has become a new trend among those who are showing a renewed interest in the social graces. Throwing a tea party for a girlfriend’s birthday is always a huge hit, or you may just want to have a get together with your friends. First, you will want to pick the perfect invitation to reflect your party. As for a location, most towns have an antique mall or shop with a tea room for lunching or private parties. If you have the necessary items for your tea party, you could host one at your home. (more…)

Is your teen pressuring you into letting them wear contact lenses? There are many factors to consider. Do your homework and talk with your eye care professional before making your decision. Contact lenses can do much for a teenager’s self esteem, but do not let this be the determining factor. Make sure that contacts are right for your teen’s particular visual problems.

First make an appointment with your child’s ophthalmologist. A professional will know what’s best for their eyes. Daily disposable contact lenses may be the best option for a teen or even pre-teen starting out in contacts. Once they have established that they can be responsible with them, you can move on to extended wear and colored contacts if they want them.  (more…)

When there is a new baby on the way, making big brother or big sister feel special is very important. Here are a few ideas that may help.

o   Include them in picking out the baby’s bed and accessories. Try not to make this too monotonous for your little one as you want to send only positive signals when speaking of the new baby.

o   Allow them to choose toys for the baby. This will be a great learning opportunity on how important it is that the baby only be allowed safe toys. (more…)

It is a beautiful time of year to host a picnic party. You may want to utilize a nearby park and invite your guests to enjoy the great outdoors.

Check what the park has to offer ahead of time. Is there a grill? Are there restrooms in close proximity? How close is the water? If you have small children attending, you may not want to be too close to a lake, or you may want to be close enough to have a friendly fishing contest for your guests. Some parks require reservations for pavilions, or marked picnic areas. Be sure to check on this as to avoid last minute location changes. (more…)

It is that time of year again, grateful graduates will be sending out thank you notes for their many gifts. Why not make those thank you notes personal and unique!

Photo note cards are a great way to send your personal note of thanks and a photo of the graduate at the same time. You may choose a serious photo, a cap and gown photo, or a photo of the graduate and parents. Either way your friends and family will appreciate this special thank you and have a keepsake for their memory books. (more…)

Before you give birth to your baby boy the question arises, to circumcise or not to circumcise. For many this may be a religious issue, for some it may be determined by family traditions. Some people don’t really have a personal preference because they are unaware of how it could effect their child.

Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin covering the tip of the penis. Some may wonder why there is a need to remove it. You will probably want to talk with your doctor and make a decision that is based on your child’s needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the benefits are not conclusive and that it should be a decision made by the parents. Here are some benefits and risks that you may need to consider. (more…)

While you are pregnant, getting ready for the baby can be fun and exciting. You will enjoy buying your crib, baby clothes and all the needed accessories. There is one other item you can accomplish before the baby is born. 

Inviting Smiles allows an expectant mom to pre-order her birth announcements. We will send the envelopes ahead of time for the mom-to-be to address them. When the baby is born, simply call the Customer Service Department with the baby’s statistics and the processing of the announcement will begin. (more…)

Wedding planning can be fun, chaotic and overwhelming at times. Turning your dreams into reality always takes hard work and planning your wedding is no different. Keeping a positive attitude and being open for change is very important.

Here are some suggestions that may help you out:

• Delegate, delegate, delegate! Ask your friends and family for help. Ask your significant other and his  family for help as well. Find each person’s strengths, then allocate the workload. One friend may be  crafty, someone may be musical, or another may have connections for a reception hall. (more…)