Evy's Deals Are So Good, It's A Little Freaky!

By Katie M

Halloween is just around the corner (scary, I know!), and Evy’s is prepared - at both of its locations (in Greensboro and Kernersville). From cool to creepy, bats to brooms, Evy's has the Halloween decor to brighten any room. And for Greensboro Evy's fans: Enjoy 20% off all Halloween items, and 70% all items in the front of the 2925 Battleground Ave store location!

At either location, you can expect a minimum of 20% off select items. And every week Evy's has category specials or tables with even deeper discounts. How do they do it? I don't know but it's not just freaky - it's fabulous!


Plus, Evy's is still celebrating its Moving Sale now through the end of October - with 70% off select items at both its locations (Greensboro and Kernersville). If you haven't heard, Evy's Battleground location is moving to New Garden Road/Bryan Blvd at Jefferson Village Shopping Center near Fresh Market. When the move is complete, Evy's will continue to maintain two great locations - both with fantastic gifts and decor at amazing price points.


To get you started on your shopping, visit Evy's Kernersville location at 126 South Main Street for a Wine Tasting on Saturday, October 9 from 2 pm to 5 pm. If you have a passion for wine, shopping and helping others, then this event makes for a great time out for you and your friends. A large selection of exclusive award-winning wines will be available with proceeds from bottles of wine sold going to charity. So, come out and enjoy great shopping incentives and a good time!


Don't forget to sign up for Evy's newsletter, and "Like" them on Facebook, so you can be in-the-know on all of Evy's fantastic deals happening weekly.

And guess what the staff did this past week? Unload new Christmas items! It never hurts to start your holiday shopping early. And with deals like these, who's waiting?

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Move over sillybandz, Squinkies are in the house!

By Jen P, Charlotte Smarty Pants

silly bandz are still a hip trend for kids of all ages. But there is a new collectible that I think will overpower the silly bandz frenzy by Christmas. Squinkies are squishy and adorable mini animals/figures inside of a plastic bubble that are pencil toppers or just fun little things to play with and collect. Squinkies remind me of when your child BEGS for a toy out of those vending machines that have cheap toys in plastic bubbles just as you're running out of the grocery store - only Squinkies are way cuter and cooler!

Squinkies come in packs of 16 or you can purchase the playsets and bracelet sets. The 16-packs retail for $9.99 and the playsets generally cost around $20-ish. Retailers and online sites can't seem to keep these little surprises in stock so the online prices seem to jump around alot. I found this gumball playset for $33.12 - I have a hard time believing that is a true price in stores. Squinkies are for kids ages 4 and up and personally I think they are geared more towards girls, but boys can like them too. My girls are 9 and 7 and they L-O-V-E Squinkies. This is their new go-to for a hip birthday present.

Word has it Squinkies can be found at Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us. They sell out just as soon as they hit the shelves, so you just need to check every time you shop. Good luck finding them, but know that your kids will love you when you do!

Have you heard of Squinkies? What do you think?

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Don’t Miss This Sale at Evy’s!!

By Katie M

After you drop the kids at school, head over to Evy’s at either location (Greensboro or Kernersville) and enjoy 60% off select items as part of this Smarty Sponsor's big “Moving Sale.” You may have read about this sale in our newsletter last week, but we thought we’d mention it again because we don’t want you to miss out! Between now and the end of October, Evy’s is celebrating its upcoming move in GSO - from its Battleground location to New Garden Road/Bryan Blvd at Jefferson Village Shopping Center near Fresh Market. So hurry in and start stocking up – for the holidays or just for yourself!


It’s no secret that we love us some Evy’s! Both Rachel and I have blogged about this one-of-a-kind gift store in the past. Not only is it fun for moms (and kids) to shop there, but it truly has everything imaginable in store: from flags, collegiate memorabilia (perfect for those starting college this fall!), home décor, wind chimes, lawn and garden décor, pet toys, figurines, Disney collectibles, garden accessories, wine accessories, seasonal decorations, corporate gift items, flip flops, jewelry, mugs, flowers,yard art, lamps and so much more!


Don't forget that Evy's is also open on Sundays, so if you get too swamped during the week, you can stop by on Sundays for a pick-me-up before the work week starts once again!


Now here's something you can do to help this local business continue to grow: Vote for Evy's as your favorite gift shop with Go Triad's Readers' Choice Awards. It's simple to do, takes two seconds, and it means the world to Evy's to have your support.

To vote for Evy's please follow these steps:
1.) Visit http://gotriad.news-record.com/readerschoice/ballot
(Click on Create New Account if you don't already have one with News-Record)
2.) Plug in your info and e-mail address to pre-register
3.) Go to the e-mail account used for pre-registration and click on the link sent by N & R to validate your e-mail address. After validation, that takes you to the password page.
4.) Plug in a password then hit Next
5.) Once Ballot is fully shown scroll down to the Paragraph with Title: "Shopping & Services," click on Vote button
6.) Type in Evys Gifts
7.) After 20 categories scroll down and click Save, then you can see the results.

All voters must be residents of North Carolina and Virginia.


And after you shop Evy's Moving Sale, you can continue to be in-the-know with product news, specials and offers by signing up for Evy's monthly newsletter here. Evy’s is also on Facebook –become a fan and get sneak peeks to Evy’s weekly sales and newly arriving items.

Can't wait to see you at Evy's, Smarties!

Reminder: Don't forget to register for our September giveaway. You could be one of FIVE lucky readers to win a $20 gift card from Invitations Only. Just click here to register. Contest will end at noon TODAY, September 10. Good luck!

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September Giveaway: Five $20 Gift Cards to Invitations Only!

By Katie M

Baby announcements, party invitations, holiday cards, personalized note cards - oh my! You can find it all - including amazing designs and prices - at Invitations Only, our favorite little gift and stationery store. With school back in session and the holidays just around the corner, not to mention milestones and celebrations that happen every day all year round, it's always a great time to shop here.

And now you have the perfect excuse. Smarty Sponsor Invitations Only is giving away FIVE $20 gift cards to five loyal TSP readers as a boost to your shopping spree. All you have to do is complete a short survey. All the details on registering are found at the end of this blog. Good luck, Smarties!


You may remember my blog about this Winston-Salem-based treasure chest. Well, I just can't say enough good things about this store. Not only does it have the cutest and largest selection of personalized cards (by top name vendors) and gifts, but the staff is truly one of the nicest, most accommodating team around. I feel like I'm always looking for a reason to pop in, and once I'm in, it's hard for me to leave. My mind starts racing for future gifts I want to buy and I always find something - that perfect purchase - every time I visit.

Although we won't announce the five winners until Friday, September 10, you need to know about some incredible deals happening now through the end of September at Invitations Only. Starting next week is its "Get Ready for Fall" blow-out sale. Every day, Invitations Only will announce a new holiday special to help you plan for the perfect holiday cards and gifts.

Here are some of the deals you you can expect this month:

• Free printing on all in-stock holiday photo & greeting cards

• 15% OFF Holiday Photo and Digital Cards by Boatman Geller

• FREE return address on Holiday invites, photo cards and greeting cards (black ink only) by Inkwell/Chatsworth Collections

• 10% OFF Holiday photo cards and greeting cards by Crane

• FREE printed labels when you order 75+ Holiday cards – Prints Charming

• 10% OFF Holiday Photo and Greeting Cards by William Arthur

Also exclusive to Invitations Only: Put a $50 down payment on your holiday photo or greeting card order next week and use ANY Holiday Special throughout the season regardless of expiration date! They will honor them ALL! Did I not say this store was amazing?


And here's a sneak peak at some of Invitations Only's every day specials:

• Save on Memo lists and Tablets $19.95 and Super Slabs $23.95 by Embossed Graphics

• 50 selected personalized notes/ cards with liners for $99 and receive a
$10 Gift Certificate with every $100 you spend on personalized stationery by Crane

• Personalized Note Pads $24.00 a set by Periwinkle Press

• 20% OFF entire wedding order when you order 100 pieces+ by Embossed Graphics

• 40% OFF birth announcements, thank-you’s, and more from keepsakes and memories album by Embossed Graphics

• 25 FREE personalized pieces of each wedding item when you purchase 75+ by William Arthur

• FREE engraving plates on stationery- includes name, monogram, and return address plates by Arzberger.

Invitations Only has also recently added Vietri, along with several other lines. New merchandise arrives daily, and that's why they are having this blow-out sale (always looking to make room for more)!

Invitations Only is located at 3301 Healy Drive in Winston-Salem. You can visit their newly designed web site here, and their Facebook fan page here (become a fan today to stay up-to-date on all these great specials). Its phone number is 336-768-9909, and they are open from 9 am - 4 pm Monday - Friday, Saturday by appointment.

You can't afford NOT to register for this giveaway! Just click here to take a short survey, and we'll announce the five winners after Noon on Friday, September 10.

Happy shopping!

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Smarty Alert: Great Xmas Deals from Ardmore Photography!

By Katie M

You might have the start of school on your brain, but it's never too early to start thinking about great Christmas deals too!! And Ardmore Photography can help with that. Now is the time to plan your session for holiday card pictures and gifts for family. Give Grandma what she really wants this year: pictures of your kids!

Sarah is offering these beautiful brag books for moms, grandmas, aunts and friends! These adorable accordion books are custom designed, come in sets of three, have several cover options, and the best part: They are FREE with the purchase of a combination package from Ardmore Photography!

There are only a few fall sessions still available, so contact Sarah at Ardmore Photography today at 336.408.4305 to secure your session in time for the holidays. You can also visit her blog here.

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Shop 'Til You Drop at Evy's Gifts

By Rachel H

If you've got an itch to shop, now is the perfect time to drop by Evy's Gifts! Not only is everything in the store 20% off, but in addition, Evy's will feature one collection each week at 40% off! Sign up to be a Facebook Fan here by clicking "like" on the Evy's Gifts page, and you will receive a post each week stating the new 40% off category sale!

The best part of having Evy's as one of our Smarty Sponsors is that they have two convenient locations for all our shoppers in the Triad. One store is on Main Street in Kernersville, which is an easy drive from High Point, and only fifteen minutes from downtown Winston-Salem. Their second location is on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro, so it is a quick stop for all our Burlington and Greensboro friends.

I stopped in Evy's this past week and could not help but take advantage of the 20% off storewide sale. I bought a few gifts, as well as some items for myself! I also chose a handful of items to highlight on Triad Smarty Pants today. I thought these items were very unique and would be great gift items for so many women!


Shown above is just one style of the Two's Company Reusable bags sold at Evy's. These are only $7.50 regularly, which is already a great deal, but even better if you stop in during the 20% sale! I thought these were affordable enough to buy for yourself or as a small gift item for a friend.


Are these button rings not the cutest things you have ever seen? I snatched one of these up as part of a gift for a special teen. There were so many bright colors and designs from which to choose. These are made by Refashioned - Renewed, Recycled, Remade Vintage & Recycled Buttons. Are you ready for the best part? The regular price of one of these rings is only $4.50! Can you say, "Give me ten?" Earrings and bracelets are also available.


The plates shown above are just a small sample of the beautiful Maggie Weldon Collection. Maggie is a local potter who calls her collection "Lace Pottery." Photos do not do justice to her pieces. The design and color on each piece is gorgeous. I thought her pottery would be beautiful on the walls, as serving pieces, candle dishes, etc. Her prices vary, but are very affordable.



The photos above are bags that are handmade out of candy wrappers and newspapers. The brand name is Nahui Ollin, and I thought these were a perfect gift idea for the woman who already has it all! I bought one of these as a gift for a teen as well. They range in price from $25-$55, but again, you can save 20% on these right now!




Last, but not least, I spotted this jewelry under the counter at Evy's and thought it was all so much fun! The leather flower bracelets are made by Two's Company and retail for only $18.75. The silver bracelets not only make a bold statement, but most of the ones shown above are only $11.25. How fun would it be to throw one of these on to jazz up a summer sundress?

Keep your eyes open for more fabulous finds from our Smarty Sponsor, Evy's Gifts. Be sure to stop by soon to take advantage of the 20% off storewide sale! When you checkout, you will receive a fun reusable Evy's Gifts bag as well!

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Smarty Sponsor: Invitations Only

By Katie M

If you are looking to create that one-of-a-kind birthday party invitation but are worried about price or hours of work involved, then consider Invitations Only in Winston-Salem. You won't find a better selection of quality invitations (or stationery), and the friendly staff makes the entire process of printing custom invitations a cinch!

I mentioned how much I love this store last winter when I blogged about Goslen Printing (Invitations Only is a division of Goslen Printing) and I am excited to share more information today about Invitations Only. I was referred to Invitations Only by a friend when I was looking for a business to create a party invitation for me, and after one trip to the store I was hooked. Not only do they have thousands of options (and that is not an exaggeration) and a super cute gift shop with some of the hippest items around, but the staff is incredibly courteous, helpful, professional - and fast. They can turn your most involved order around in three business days. That's faster than any specialty printer and the prices are good too!

Invitations Only is a company started by two sisters (one of whom is Robyn Goslen) who lived miles apart but kept in touch by writing letters and notes to each other. After many years of doing this, they realized that they were unable to find the unique, creative and fun invitations, note cards and stationery they desired. Thus the idea for Invitations Only was born. It's obvious these two sisters did their research, because at Invitations Only you'll always find great selections that will create a lasting impression for any party or event!

The founders of Invitations Only went on to create a web site to give everyone across the United States a way to keep in touch with each other in a fun, unique way! So even if you don't live in Winston-Salem, you can still shop their great warehouse of products! At www.BuyInvitationsOnly.com, you can customize your message and review the actual image on line. All you have to do is select one of its invitations or notecards, customize your message and place your order…and they'll ship your personalized stationery and invitations to you within 3 business days. How cool is that?

Invitations Only is also running specials right now - some of which are great deals for Father's Day too! You can get free printing on all in-stock note cards for Dad, plus 25% off all in-stock Skyros Pottery. In the shop, all in-stock school pottery is 40% off, and you can get free printing on all collegiate note sheet trays, pads and notes. Embossed notes and cards are just $24.95 per set of 50, and memos, lists, tablets and super slabs are just $19.95. Buy 25 of any Whitney English note cards, calling cards or pads and get an additional 25 for free.

And every Wednesday all summer long is Gourmet Day. Come visit and get a taste of some of their new gourmet items!!

You can also find Invitations Only on Facebook. Fan them today and start learning about all their specials as they happen!

Invitations Only is located at 3301 Healy Drive in Winston-Salem. The phone number is (336) 768-9909. And their hours of operation are M-F 9 am to 4 pm, Saturday by appointment only.

I hope you get a chance to check out my favorite gift and stationery store in the Triad - either in person or online. It's definitely smarty-worthy of your time and dollar for your next party invitation!

Our June Giveaway ends TODAY at Noon! Register to win a free birthday party for your child at Funigan's! Please be sure you are first a newsletter subscriber (enter email address in the box in the upper right corner). Then you can click here to read about the giveaway and register!

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May Giveaway: A Salute to Moms!

By Rachel H
We are just a few days away from Mothers' Day, so we figured what better way to honor moms than a Giveaway brought to you by moms who are running their own businesses! Below you will read about 10 fabulous businesses who are being managed by moms right here in the Triad. After reading about each, you will see a link to register yourself for this month's giveaway. Get this - we will have FOUR winners this month and each winner will receive $250 worth of gift cards! Each winner will be rewarded with a $25 gift certificate to use on a purchase of your choice from each of the businesses below!

This will be a fabulous Mothers' Day gift for four of our lucky readers, and for the rest of you, we encourage you to drop a hint or two to your loved ones about some of these businesses below or even treat yourself to a special gift! We know you are going to love what they have to offer! Take a peek ...

Meg Brown Home Furnishings
Since we opened in 2006, Meg Brown Home Furnishings has been a destination for people seeking well-designed, fashion-forward furniture at a great value. With an eye for the uncommon, we seek out sophisticated, surprising furniture and accessories that will enhance our customers’ homes. Our ability to choose and combine colors also sets us apart, as does the personal service you’d expect from a local owner. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your home; we look forward to seeing you soon in ours. Visit us at the website above. We are also on Facebook under megbrownhome.


GoosiePie Monograms
While spending six years as a stay-at-home mom, I began embellishing clothes and making items for my three daughters. I realized how passionate I was towards my creativity. With the nudge and support of my loving husband to move forward with a dream, I started GoosiePie Monograms. I was born and raised in Winston-Salem. The youngest of 4 children and a “daddy’s girl”, so who would be a better person to name my business after than my dad? His friends call him Goose, his grandchildren call him Goosie and occasionally my girls think it is cute to call him “Goosie Pie”! I strive to create a selection of unique personalized items with the highest quality. Please check the site above from time to time for new products and services.



BE Creative
Welcome to of BE Creative goods! We are your online source for Unique and Affordable Personalized Gifts. Stationery, Notepads, Jewelry and More. We might not have everything, but we have the VERY thing! Owners Stephanie Billings and Laura Ellison enjoy helping others acknowledge life's special moments in extraordinary ways. BE Creative also provides contract marketing and administrative services to small businesses in need of innovative solutions. Please contact info@becreativegoods.com if you need more information about any of our products or services.



Simply Meg's
Bringing you the latest in fashion trends for all the facets of your life - whether it's work, play, casual, formal, or just plain stylin'! Come on by to meet Meg and all the girls, receive unparalleled personal attention as you develop and enhance your own style with clothing, shoes, and accessories. Meg is a new mom herself so she loves to help other Moms look and feel their best for any event. The personal & friendly customer service really sets them apart from other women's boutiques, and this is key for busy Moms.


Kelly’s Kids
If you haven't yet seen a Kelly's Kids outfit up close, you are missing out! Kelly's Kids is a unique and high quality children’s apparel clothing line. Our commitment to classic, quality clothing has made us the largest home party company specializing in children’s apparel. Ashley Miller, a triad-area sales representative, is now in her second season of selling Kelly’s Kids. To learn more about how to earn free clothes or to place an order, contact her at ashleywithkellyskids@gmail.com or call 336-402-3616. Time is running out to order from the exclusive spring 2010 line and to preview the fall 2010 line, so be sure to visit the website above and choose your favorites now!


If It’s LETTERS
Who does not love giving that perfect gift? The gift that has their name all over it. Literally!! Here at If It’s LETTERS we think every gift should have their name...or monogram...or initial all over it. If It's LETTERS is a Triad based business that specializes in vinyl wall monograms, vinyl car monograms and all gifts personalizable. We have searched high and low to find just the right gifts - unique, fun, fabulous and of course, personalizable!! Visit us online or shoot us an email at info@ifitsletters.com if you have any questions!


Jennifer Kaye Designs Salon and Day Spa
You will fall in love with this luxury downtown day spa featuring a hair salon, nail spa, brow shaping, eyelash extensions, event make-up, skin treatments, massage therapy and spray tanning. Owner and head stylist Jennifer Ferree has been successfully serving clients for over 17 years. She and her husband, Stephen, have been blessed with three beautiful children - Duke(6), Piper(5), and Ruby (3). Jennifer understands the importance and struggles of balancing her time as a business owner with the care of her children. When asked what she likes most about her job, she says, "Making my clients happy and making them feel good!" She truly is a blessing to all who come in contact with her.



Hey Diddle Doodle
At Hey Diddle Doodle we create personalized one of a kind décor and furniture. All of our pieces are hand painted upon order so each and every one is as unique as your child. Our products are all solid wood or canvas and are topped with a clear acrylic finish for added durability. We can custom paint anything to match your own fabric and paint samples. Our personalized items make wonderful gifts. Choose from canvases, wood plaques, picture frames, step stools and much more!
Visit the website above to see the unique variety of products we design!


Journey Lockets
Journey Lockets are handmade necklaces & bracelets. The double-sided glass lockets used in the designs are a new and modern twist on a classic and timeless piece of jewelry. You choose your favorite style locket, and pair it with one of the many interchangeable necklace or bracelet options to create a truly unique keepsake piece of jewelry. The glass lockets can be opened easily to change out the inserts inside. Each locket purchased includes the creation two photo inserts using your photos! We also offer many more custom made inserts. You can order inserts and update your locket frequently!


Southern Living At HOME
Southern Living at HOME offers a unique and beautiful line of decorative home accessories, iron works, pottery, candles, gifts and kitchen goodies in the tradition of Southern Living magazine. Our products are sold through home shows with catalogs printed each year in the spring and fall. Hostesses earn free product, and each month brings new customer and host specials. I welcome the opportunity to meet new people, so if you’re interested in learning more or hosting a show, email me at dwattleworth@triad.rr.com. I also offer a monthly e-newsletter to share monthly specials and product ideas with my customers. View our current catalog at www.southernlivingathome.com.

To register for this giveaway, simply click here! This giveaway will continue until noon on Friday, May 14th. We will then choose our four lucky winners at random and will contact them to claim their prize. Good luck!

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Smarty Find: momAgenda.com

If you're looking for a unique Mother's Day gift, or a hint to offer your husband, be sure to check out this recent Smarty Find by TSP loyal reader Ryan Leigh Runyon:

I’m a pen-and-paper girl when it comes to my calendar. I’ve spent many years calendar-hopping, rarely using any type of calendar more than once. I been using a momAgenda for nine months now, and I’m ready to order my next one for 2010-2011. I have the Desktop style, a 17-month calendar that runs August-December, and I’ve added a momAgenda pocket inside the front cover to hold tickets, invitations, blank note cards, and stamps. It has plenty of room for all of my “to-dos” and appointments, the details of my kids’ school events and activities, and my husband’s work and on-call schedule – without looking cluttered. Just one more of the many reasons I love my momAgenda - it still looks nearly as good as the day I bought it! There are no bent corners, no stains from spilled drinks, and no torn-out pages. It’s sturdy, functional, and wrapped in a pretty package. I think I’ll get turquoise next! - RLR

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Baby Shower Gifts to Make Momma Smile!

By Rachel H

When your first friend finds out she’s pregnant, it creates a snowball effect. Before you know it, everyone is having babies, which also means everyone is having baby showers! Whether you are attending a shower for a first-time mom, a veteran mom, or a mom of an adopted child, you want your gift to be one that is not only appreciated, but remembered!

I have gathered an assortment of unique baby shower gifts that I wanted to share with you. I also emailed a few friends, and want to thank to Ann, Sally and Angie for telling me about your favorite gifts that you received at your showers!

Readers, please add your favorite gifts at the end of this post!

The Ultimate Crib Sheet
I never had one of these, but I must have missed out. The sheet snaps on so that you don’t have to pull everything apart when you change the crib sheets. And we all know that the changing of the sheets happens way more often than we would like! No need for a mattress cover when you use this.


The Floor Nanny
We did a giveaway with this product last summer and it is still one of my favorite things for new moms! This is a great group gift. We gave one to a friend of mine who had twins, and I cannot tell you how cute those little babies looked all snuggled up in this Floor Nanny. It is a safe place for babies to sleep, play, and explore while Mom gets things done!

Personalized Items
You can choose an item off the registry, or pick up a blanket, bib, burp cloth, onesie, etc. to have it monogrammed. This adds such a special touch to a gift and makes mom smile the first time she sees her baby’s name written on something! A few of our favorite places to have outside items monogrammed are Designs N' Stitches in Greensboro, The Logo Shop in High Point, Patti McCormick in Winston www.mimismonograms.blogspot.com (Pmccormick@triad.rr.com), Monogramming Momma Melissa Maltzahn in Winston (mamaltzahn@gmail.com), and Harry Smidgepodge on Main Street in Jamestown (336-254-8328). PLUS, I got a sneak peak at the Buckhead Betties sale, which starts tomorrow, and they have the most adorable bibs and other baby items that can be monogrammed on the spot at the sale! Stock up on some shower gifts while you are there!

The Padalily
I mentioned this in my show and tell blog a few weeks ago. This is a carseat handle pad that keeps your poor arms and hands from hurting while toting around your bundle of joy. They are adorable and come in an assortment of patterns. You can check them out on the website above, or they are also sold all over the Triad in boutique shops like Hip Chics, Gazoodles, Polliwogs, Splurges, and Taji Baby.

Childcare
This is a great gift for moms who are having a second or third child. You can make a coupon book with coupons for babysitting from you, or pick up a gift certificate from an hourly child care center like BiziKidz, KidSpot, or Drop-N-Play. We reviewed a few of these in this blog. * Note that the W-S BiziKidz is now KidSpot, but the GSO and Burlington BiziKidz are still available.

Meals
Homemade meals from friends are great once the baby arrives, so at the shower you can choose to have guests sign up for meals and dates to deliver. Another option is gift certificates from Dream Dinners, Sociale Gourmet, or Let’s Dish.

Spooneez
These are the coolest way for moms to tote spoons, and other feeding accessories without leaving a huge mess in the bottom of a diaper bag! Spooneez come in travel size (which are even great for toothpaste and brushes), mini size, and even matching bibs! You can read more about Spooneez on the website above or our previous blog here.

Stationary
If mom already knows the sex and/or name, personalized stationary is the way to go! Calling cards, thank you notes, note cards, tags, etc. are all available at local stationary stores. I also loved the "Notes for Babysitter" notepad with our last name on it. So cute!

Coming home basket
This is a fabulous idea from the group. Each guest is asked to bring one specific item baby needs...Vaseline, cotton balls, alcohol (rubbing), teething ring, outlet covers, diaper rash cream, comb, tylenol, ibuprofen, baby vicks, clippers, travel wipes, disposable baby spoons, nursing journal, formula travel dispenser, sunscreen, car shades, the list goes on and on. These are all combined into the “coming home basket” and presented to mom at the shower. It saves a ton of money for the mom to be and she will already have the emergency stuff you didn’t know about!

1-800-diapers
Why not schedule a delivery for the mom to be? You can never, ever, have too many diapers! If you have used this service below, let us know what you thought about it by commenting below.

A Big Ol' Tub of Jelly Bellies
Costco is one of my favorite places ever, and they carry this huge tub of Jelly Belly candy. What could make mom happier than a sweet treat to satisfy those cravings? You can also play a "guess the number of jelly bellies" game with this and give a prize to the winner at the shower.

Of course gift cards for the store where the mom-to-be is registered are always much appreciated. If you are currently expecting your first child, scroll down the left side of our website and click on the “pregnancy,” “age 0-1” or “gear” categories for links that will give you more great ideas of baby items that are must-haves! We have some fantastic ideas to put on your registry.

We would also love to run a few blogs on unique and creative baby shower ideas. Have you thrown a shower that was truly unique? Have you come up with different games other than the usual measuring the belly with toilet paper or taste-testing baby food? If so, we would love for you to be a guest blogger on TSP! Email us at triadsmartypants@gmail.com and we'll get you started!

And of course, tell us about your favorite baby shower gifts by leaving a comment below!

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