diapercakesbybecca.com Blog

 We’ve had a busy week with diaper cake orders!  We must admit we are glad the weekend is here so we can creatively recharge for the next round of cakes that will go out the door on Monday!  LOTS of baby boy cakes with a few baby girl cakes sprinkled in here and there.  We do enjoy making them!

This afternoon we are delivering a diaper cake to the baby shower!  It will be exciting to see the new mom’s face when we hand it over to her!  What a great job we have…making and creating baby gifts.  There is nothing negative or “downside” ‘about any of it!  We get to buy baby goodies, make something groovy from said baby goodies and then pack them off (or deliver them) knowing that they are going to, likely, make someone’s day.  Fabulous.

There will be some changes made to the site before May is over.  We are going to be simplifying things and re-vamping the design while we are at it.  We had some professional shots taken of our cakes and we are anxious to use those new shots in the new design.  Stay tuned…

Hoping everyone has a good weekend!

Ducky diaper cake month was a big hit.  Our clients love the duckies….so we are going to keep the momentum going through May, too!  Duckies are just too adorable at the baby shower.  We’ve got some great diaper cakes and you can also purchase the rubber duckies to decorate the tables and punchbowls at the shower, too!

Celebrate Baby!

So my cousin contacted me today (thanks Helen) and pointed out that there isn’t a good resource on the web that has a good list of songs that would be relevant to a baby shower.  So we spent a good hunk of our day compling a list (and then alphabatizing it) for our Baby Shower Guide.  The Baby Shower Songs page will, we hope, inspire hostesses to create soundtracks for the baby shower.  Download some songs, burn that CD and then hand it over to the new mom at the end of the shower (burn a lot of them and hand them out as favors to the guests, too!).  I know that I played music in my daughters’ nurseries all the time when they were babies (actually, we still play music in their room).  Nothing is as wonderful as music.

So….here are the songs we have right now.  We suspect this list will grow.  If you have any to add please comment and we’ll be sure to update our website!

100 Years–Five For Fighting

A New Day–Celine Dion
A River Flows In You (Bella’s Lullabye, instrumental)–Yiruma
All You Need Is Love–The Beatles

Baby, Baby–Amy Grant
Baby, I Love Your Way–Peter Frampton
Baby, Its A Wild World–Cat Stevens
Baby Love–The Supremes
Baby Mine–Alison Krauss
Be My Baby–The Ronettes
Beautiful Boy–John Lennon
Because You Loved Me–Celine Dion
The Best Day–Taylor Swift
Blessed–Elton John
Born In The USA–Bruce Springsteen
Born on the Bayou–Creedence Clearwater Revival
Born To Be My Baby–Bon Jovi
Born To Be Wild–Steppenwolf
Bridge Over Troubled Water–Simon and Garfunkel
Butterfly Fly Away–Miley Cyrus
Butterfly Kisses–Bob Carlisle

Can’t Get Enough of You Baby–Smash Mouth
Cat’s In The Cradle–Harry Chapin
Circle of Life–Elton John (The Lion King Soundtrack)

Daddy’s Hands–Holly Dunn
Danny’s Song–Anne Murray
Daughters–John Mayer

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face–Roberta Flack
For Baby–John Denver
Forever Young–Rod Stewart

God Bless The Child–Shania Twain
God Bless The Child–Whitney Houston
God Speed–Dixie Chicks
Golden Slumbers–The Beatles
Golden Slumbers–Ben Folds
Goodnight Sweetheart–The Spaniels
Greatest Love Of All–Whitney Houston

Halo–Beyonce’
Handprints On The Wall–Kenny Rogers
Happy Ever After–Ben Harper
Here Comes The Sun–The Beatles
How Do I Live–LeAnn Rimes

I Could Not Ask For More–Edwin McCain
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing-Aerosmith
I Got You, Babe–Sonny and Cher
I Hope You Dance–Lee Ann Womack
I Knew I Loved You (Before I Met You)–Savage Garden
I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song–Jim Croce
I’m Proud Of The House We Built–Brooks & Dunn
In My Daughter’s Eyes–Martina McBride
In My Life–The Beatles
Isn’t She Lovely–Stevie Wonder

Jump Jive and Wail–Brian Setzer Orchestra
Just The Two Of Us–Will Smith

Leader Of The Band–Dan Fogelberg
Little Baby–Buddy Holly
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)–Billy Joel

Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys–Willie Nelson
Miracle–Celine Dion’s Entire Miracle CD Is Great!
The Mommy Song–Rick Penn-Kraus
Mother And Child Reunion–Paul Simon
Mother Machree (Irish Song)
Mr. Mom–Lonestar
My Father’s Eyes–Eric Clapton
My Front Porch–Lonestar
My Girl–The Temptations
My List–Toby Keith
My Wish–Rascal Flatts

Original of the Species–U2

The Prayer–Celine Dion
Puff The Magic Dragon–Peter, Paul and Mary

Rainbow Connection–Sarah McLachlan
Return To Pooh Corner–Kenny Loggins
The Riddle–Five for Fighting
The River–Garth Brooks

She’s Everything–Brad Paisley
Somebody’s Hero–Jamie O’Neal
Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Wonderful World–Israel Kamakawiwo Ole’
Sweet Baby James–James Taylor
Sweet Child of Mine–Guns and Roses
Sweet Child of Mine–Sheryl Crow

Teach Your Children–Crosby, Stills & Nash
These Are Days–10,000 Maniacs
There Goes My Baby–The Drifters
There Goes My Life–Kenny Chesney
Time In A Bottle–Jim Croce
Time Of Your Life–Green Day
Times Of Your Life–Paul Anka
Tiny Dancer–Elton John
True Colors–Cyndi Lauper
Twist And Shout–The Beatles

Unforgettable–Natalie and Nat King Cole

When You Say Nothing At All–Alison Kraus
Willian Tell Momisms–Anita Renfroe
Wind Beneath My Wings–Bette Midler
With Arms Wide Open–Creed
The Wonder Of You–Elvis Presley
Wonderful World–Louis Armstrong

You Are Loved–Josh Grobin
You Raise Me Up–Josh Grobin
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life–Stevie Wonder
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby–Johnny Mercer
You’ll Be In My Heart–Phil Collins
You’re Gonna Be–Reba McEntire
You’re Having My Baby–Paul Anka
Your Mama Don’t Dance (And Your Daddy Don’t Rock ‘n Roll):  Poison

Zion–Lauryn Hill

So we have several videos on Youtube and Google that actually get a surprising amount of traffic (who knew a custom diaper cake photo gallery could be so popular?).  Our favorite video, though, is the “How To Make A Diaper Cake” video. 

These are tough times we are living in and a lot of people would LOVE to be able to buy a diaper cake but we understood that not everyone had the budget for a professionally made diaper cake.  I applaud thriftiness in a time such as this so the video was made to inspire those that are living on a budget (we applaud thriftiness….we are quite thrifty, ourselves!)

So, I thought I would share the video with anyone who happens to be reading my blog.  If you want to make your own this should help.  (Of course if you don’t have the creative inclination we would be delighted to do one for you, too!)

Celebrate Baby!

So I just asked my husband what I should blog about….and he told me to blog about the Rhode Island issue (ha ha).  I truly enjoy this guy I am married to.  He’s been here with my business since it started back in 2006.  He’s my original backer and my silent partner.  Although I think he is afraid to admit it…he likes the diaper cakes (shhhh, don’t tell him).  I think he is also amazed that this career-oriented hotel management woman he met 9 years ago is now a work-from-home-mom with five kids and a small business (that isn’t doing too bad, thank you very much).

The road we wind up on is often so different than the road we map out.  However, sometimes, I think if you stop and look at the similarities between things that seem so different….they wind up being not so different.  I used to be the guest service GURU back in my day…I could turn a bad guest-experience around on a dime and I could wow them like no other.  Now I try to do the same thing with my diaper cake clients.  There is nothing better than sending that photo reveal out knowing that your client is going to be wowed when they see it……and then knowing they are going to be even more amazed when the diaper cake arrives on their doorstep several days later!  I enjoy making people happy and that is what hotels and diaper cakes have in common, for me.

I often wish that more people knew about my small business.  We don’t live at #1 on Google.  We’re buried a little bit and people have to come looking for us.  Referrals, repeat clients and choosy shoppers find us and they are always pretty darn happy they did!  I know, with all of my heart, that our diaper cakes are really top notch.  Each client is a person….a person with one particicular baby to celebrate.  That is important.  Important to them, the guests at the shower, the parents and very important to us. 

I left my “path” in hotel management because of my kids.  I had no idea that I would ever be the kind of woman to do that.  You simply don’t know how having children will change you until you have had them….until you have held them, interacted with them, watched them sleep, heard them coo and gurgle, thought about their own path.  I changed my path because of my children and, now, I get to help other people celebrate the important children in THEIR lives.  We get it.  Really.  This isn’t just a business, folks.  This is a calling for us.  This is a daily delight and it brings US so much joy to make these diaper cakes.  Some might say they are silly….we like to call them whimsical.  Everyone needs a little whimsy, we think…..everyone needs to know that their baby IS that special.  We actually think of each cake as a little piece of art…whimsical art that the new parents will enjoy and use and remember.  That’s nice.  (For our client, for the parents and for us!)

So, back to that Rhode Island issue.  I think I may go google the origins of the name for that state.  Then I am off to pick up items for this week’s cakes!! 

Celebrate Baby

Beautiful photographs of your growing family are a great treat, I know.  There is nothing better than having a professional session that results in some fun prints that will adorn your walls in the years to come.  However, finding someone who is fun to work with and talented enough to pull it off might be a bit tricky.  So, for those of my readers who happen to live in the Phoenix area I am going to share a referral.

Amy Castro Photography is great!  I know Amy, personally, and she took some pictures of my family and my extended family that, seriously, rock.  I wish I had a tenth of her talent with a camera.  She is great with kids and can get even the most grumpy of children to smile beautifully and she will re-schedule, at no cost to you, if she can’t (because, hey, sometimes kids just don’t do what we want them to, right?)!  You can check out her work on her website and email her to start the appointment ball rolling.  We found her to be very reasonably priced, generous with her time and energies and truly delivered some shots that will be hanging around on our coffee tables and walls for years and years to come.

So I whole heartedly recommend her to any of my readers here in Phoenix. 

This is our youngest daughter....and Amy captured her personality PERFECTLY in this shot!

The dynamic between the boys was so beautifully captured in this shot. This is definately one of my favorites from our session!

  So you’ve got a good friend or family member who is on their way to becoming a mom or dad and you have offered to host the baby shower.  What fun!  The key to a great baby shower is being organized.  We’ve created a great Baby Shower Guide at Diaper Cakes by Becca that features a lot of great ideas and resources for conquering this wonderful celebration.

   The first stop should be our baby shower checklist.  Here you will find a simple timeline of setting up the baby shower.  From there you can check out our recipes, activities and games, themes, prize and favor ideas and even some etiquette advice!!

   We’ll get you going here with our checklist…..feel free to stop on by the baby shower guide for some more fun ideas!  And don’t forget that a diaper cake is a great centerpiece at the baby shower that also does triple duty as a game (how many diapers in the diaper cake…..OR what was on the diaper cake?) plus it is a great gift to the new parents that the hostess(es) can hand on over once the last guest has departed.  Diaper cakes, quite simply, ROCK (especially ours…even if we say so ourselves!)

BABY SHOWER CHECKLIST

AS SOON AS YOU DECIDE TO HOST THE BABY SHOWER: 

Talk to the Mommy and Daddy!!!
Ask the mommy-to-be (or daddy-to-be) what their feelings are about the baby shower.  Unless you are planning a surprise party, it is always a good idea to ask the mommy ahead of time what she envisions for the shower.  Take notes and ask her for a list of guests that she would like to be invited. Encourage her to register if she has not done so already.   Discourage her from helping out beyond giving ideas and a guest list….let her sit back and relax, instead!!

AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE THE BABY SHOWER:

TEAM WORK MAKES IT MORE FUN!!!
Enlist co-hostesses.  Planning a shower is always less stressful when you have others that want to help you with the festivities.  Two or three hostesses can get a lot accomplished with much less stress than one!!  Divide up the tasks and plan to get together a few times to discuss progress.  Let one hostess take charge of the menu (typically the one whose house is being used), let another take charge of the activities, and let another take charge of decorations and invitations!!

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LOCATION!!!
Pick a location.  If this is a small shower choose one of the hostesses’ homes for the baby shower.  If this is going to be a relatively large affair….consider rentiing a banquet hall, hotel meeting room or throwing the shower at a favorite restaurant that offers party hosting!!

CHOOSING THE DATE
Pick a date and time.  Try to pick a non-holiday weekend when most of the guests will be able to attend. If you are an older relative or childhood friend throwing the shower….call a few of the same-aged and newer-friends to make sure there isn’t a wedding or another baby shower going on that day that would cause many of your invited guests not to be able to attend!!

PICK A THEME
A theme is always fun at the baby shower.  You can pick one that centers around the gender of the baby, the types of gifts you are looking to be given, that matches baby’s layette and nursery decor, or just a really cute one that you think would be fun to put together!!  Make sure you can find the accesories to go with this theme….plates, cups, invitations, favors and decorations.  Many people choose their theme based off of the decorations and party-ware that they find!!  There are a lot of great choices online AND in department stores these days!  (I have a page on our website with ideas for themes….if you are stumped check here for baby shower inspiration!!)

SEND OUT THE INVITES
About four weeks before the baby shower you will want to send out the invitations.  Make sure you send invitations to all the people the mommy-to-be wanted as well as out-of-town friends and family.  Even if you know someone can’t attend, it is always nice to include them in on the invite so that they do not feel left out or excluded.  It is also not neccesary to include the registry information in the invitation as guests will ask about the registry when calling to RSVP.  Make sure that the grandparents, aunts and uncles and closest friends know where the new parents are registered so that they can let people know if they are asked by those invited!!  

AT LEAST THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE BABY SHOWER:

ORDER THE CUSTOM ITEMS
About three weeks before the big day you will want to order any custom items.  This includes diaper cakes, baked cakes, banners, lawn storks, party favors and prizes, printed balloons or anything else that will require “custom” work by your vendors.  It is always better to have items arrive early than a day late!!

CHOOSING THE FOOD
About three weeks before the big day you will want to have the menu set up. Plan your menu according to the time of day.  Some showers require more food than others because they are during a time of day where it will be considered “lunch” or “dinner”.  Make sure to pick middle-of-the-road foods that all your guests will enjoy….and some foods that the mommy-to-be is craving, too!!  Steer clear of foods discouraged for pregnant folk (shellfish, alcohol, undercooked meats, some seafoods).  Click here for some baby shower recipes.

TWO WEEKS TO GO!ACTIVITIES
About two weeks ahead of time you will want to start thinking about activities.  Choose enough to fill the time and keep in mind that you may not get to ALL of the activities.  The best parties are the ones where people lose track of time…because it means they are having fun!  Purchase any supplies you may need for these activities at this point so that you don’t find yourself facing an empty shelf at the store at the last minute!!

ENFORCING THE RSVP
About ten days ahead of time you may want to call those invited guests that have not yet RSVP’d….especially if you have a few of them on the list.  Just a quick call will work….reminding them that you hadn’t heard and you were hoping they were going to be able to attend.  Leave messages if you get the voicemail but don’t call a second time!!  Plan on those you didn’t hear from to attend….but don’t, neccesarily, expect them to!

ONE WEEK AND COUNTING!

With a week to go you will want to start gathering all the items you still need to get.  This would include balloons, decorating items, cleaning items, and menu-items that can be bought a week out.  You will also want to go ahead and secure any serving dishes, linens, tables or chairs that you need to borrow from friends and family.  If the shower is held on a weekend you may want to do the heavy cleaning the weekend before if that is effective for your situation (ie: YOU don’t have small children that will undo any deep cleaning in the next seven days!), this way you won’t have to do all that cleaning the night before the shower!!

TWO DAYS AND COUNTING
With two days left to go you will want to start preparing the food for the shower….the menu items that can be made this far out!!  You will also want to go ahead and make any banners, signs or props for the shower! 

THE NIGHT BEFORE
The night before you will want to do the last-minute cleaning of the location.  Pick up the ordered cake the night before and double check on any deliveries you have scheduled for the next day (flowers, diaper cake, balloons, etc.)  IF you are planning on presenting flowers to the mommy-to-be or grandmothers….you will want to pick those up the night before, as well, and just store those in your fridge overnight.  You will also want to prepare any menu items that can be made the night before….leaving only those foods that have to be prepared the next day on the list!!  Go ahead and decorate the night before, too, if you can so that the sight of the decorated house will inspire you to get going the next morning!!  Make sure to have a place set aside for the gifts to be placed that is close to where you intend the opening to occur (a large coffee table is nice….or a pack-n-play if table space is an issue!!).  Set your favors out in a place close to the door so you don’t forget to hand those out to your departing guests the next day.  You will also want to have a place to hang coats if weather will call for cold or rainy skies!!  If you are having children at your shower….set up a special place all for them that has plenty of pillows, non-messy games (no small parts for the itty bitties in attendance!!), and videos for the wee ones to watch!!

THE BIG DAY
Before your guests arrive you will want to prepare the last of your menu items.  Set out all the food and do a walk-through on your serving line to make sure the items are placed well.  Set the drinks apart from the food so that the two lines move quickly!!  Do any last-minute cleaning (towels in the bathroom, vacuuming, dishes in the dishwasher, etc).  Set out the activity props in the appropriate locations.  Get yourself ready…..and make sure to give yourself a few minutes to relax before the first guests arrive (usually about 15 minutes early!!)

We have declared April to be Ducky Diaper Cake Month.  We are spotlighting all of our ducky diaper cakes over in the diaper cake store.  All of our pre-designed ducky diaper cakes will be priced low this month.  (We’ve got a lot of them, too!) 

We will also be selling Yellow, Green,  Blue and Pink Rubber Duckies this month so that our clients can stock up on these for their Ducky Baby Showers!  These are great for decorating at the baby shower!  You can use them to float in the punch bowl (make sure to wipe them down with alcohol first!) Line them up along the buffet line, decorate a mantle with them, put them beside the handsoap in the powder room.  They also make great favors for the guests!  Everyone loves rubber duckies. 

Order as many as you need, with or without a diaper cake,  and we’ll get them shipped out ASAP!

We want to thank everyone that entered the “WIN A CUSTOM DIAPER CAKE CONTEST”.  We have randomly chosen our winner and they have been notified, via email, of their winning status.  We will give them through the holiday weekend to respond and we will post their name and winning number once we have heard back from them.  If, for some reason, we do not hear back from them we will choose another number.

We hope to run several more of these giveaways this year and, perhaps, make this a frequent occurence.  So if you didn’t win this time we hope you’ll come back and enter next time……or come order a cake from us (and if you are on a budget we always have a good cake or two on sale each month!)

Keep on celebrating those babies….and thanks, again!

Becca

Our “Win a Diaper Cake” contest is ending Wednesday night…..so get on it!  We’ve got 55 entries so far and everyone can enter up to FIVE times!!  We’ll post the winner by Friday morning.

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