| Baby showers have really become a big deal! Once | | | | everyone talking. Great examples: the salt & |
| upon a time, they were modest events that took place | | | | pepper shakers shaped like hatching chicks, "Baby on |
| on a kindly friend's couch over tea and bingo cards -- | | | | Board" expandable pens, or "Baby is Brewing" kitchen |
| but these days they can be grand celebrations, bringing | | | | timers shaped like mini teapots. These types of favors |
| together family scattered over thousands of miles (not | | | | typically come with great packaging, and they're |
| to mention a hundred or more of mom's closest | | | | guaranteed to get your guests smiling. |
| friends). Of course, any family event this important | | | | Fourth most popular: Cake Towels. The presentation is |
| deserves a life marker, and baby showers are no | | | | fabulous on these zero-calorie favors, designed to look |
| exception! | | | | like jelly rolls or strawberry cheesecake slices. Yum! |
| Which brings us to the favors. Not only are baby | | | | Plus, the festive colors really liven up your table, and |
| shower favors a sweet little grace note reminding us | | | | guests can use these long after the event. |
| of a kinder era, they also solve the concrete problem | | | | Third most popular: baby-themed votives and candles. |
| of how to thank guests for devoting a whole | | | | There's something about the timelessness of a candle |
| afternoon to you (given that free time is a rarer and | | | | that makes it oh-so-apropos for important occasions |
| rarer commodity in this world). And, they're one of the | | | | like this one. Possibly, that's why highly designed |
| best ways to really have fun with your shower theme! | | | | candles with baby themes remain one of the top |
| You won't be surprised to hear that just like everything | | | | choices for shower favors, whether it's a pink votive |
| else in design and entertainment, baby shower favors | | | | bedecked with a sparkling teddy bear design, or a |
| go through trends and style changes. And this year, | | | | poured-mold type of candle such as a sparkly baby |
| several types of favors were serious standouts. | | | | carriage in a gift box. |
| So which particular favors led the charge? Well, | | | | Second most popular: Choice Crystal favors. These |
| personal-care items for purses were hot, such as | | | | favors just keep reigning at the top of the list! Favorite |
| personalized mini lip balms, or small portable hand | | | | choices include Choice Crystal booties, pacifiers, and |
| creams. Baby showers also saw a lot of | | | | angel figurines, all with a pretty gift box. Weighty and |
| chocolate-dipped fortune cookies (perfect for that chic | | | | dazzling, these favors really rise to the level of |
| Asian-fusion theme). | | | | keepsakes, despite their inexpensiveness. |
| Also popular: spa items, like mini containers of bath | | | | And the most popular favor of all? Plantable favors. |
| confetti. And finally, that timeless drawer-sweetener, | | | | We all know going green and being eco-minded is |
| the herbal sachet, graced plenty of showers with its | | | | huge in entertaining, and that includes baby showers! |
| satiny fabrics and adorable shapes (like baby bibs and | | | | And among the eco-friendliest are the plantable favors, |
| bloomers). | | | | which give your guests a little one-on-one time with |
| But even these much-loved items weren't the top of | | | | Mother Earth. Of course, these favors come in bright |
| the tops this year -- five types of baby shower favors | | | | and cheery shapes like sunny daisies, and month after |
| were even hotter. Which ones? We'll tell you -- read | | | | month, they fly off the shelves -- maybe because |
| on for the countdown! | | | | they're the most powerful reminder around of how |
| Fifth most popular: novelty favors. Baby showers are | | | | your new little treasure will bloom! |
| prime time for these types of favors, which keep | | | | |