Theme Idea 3: Everything Night-Night Shower
There are several ways to throw an Everything Night-Night Shower — as a retro slumber party (at home or at a hotel) or as a come-as-you-are surprise breakfast. Since the formula for sleeping baby is sometimes as elusive as the Holy Grail, why not turn the focus of celebrating to this all-important activity?
Girlfriend guests will love the idea of wearing pajamas and slippers instead of skinny jeans and stilettos. If a sleepover won’t work, consider breakfast-for-dinner or try the breakfast surprise version — enlist the help of the daddy-to-be and arrive on the doorstep to escort the mom-in-waiting to the shower site — in her pajamas. Make sure everyone else is similarly dressed — it’s comfortable and a great story for the baby book!
Menu Ideas and Options
Breakfast can be served anytime, especially if you do a little preparation the day before and make use of your grocery store’s frozen food section. Remember, you’re among friends — let everyone help and leave the worries at the door. Real men may not eat quiche, but girlfriends love it.
Save your sanity and hit the frozen food aisle for a bite-size version of the French favorite or try the crustless version listed here.
Essential
Every girl needs a little chocolate! Get a jolt from steamed chocolate shots instead of java. Try white hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, or Mexican hot chocolate (made with chili powder) for a twist on an old favorite. Have a tray of fixin’s like marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, peppermint sticks, shaved chocolate bars, and whipped cream.
Everything Night-Night Menu
- Cookie-Cutter French Toast (Dusted with Cinnamon and Served with Warm Maple Syrup)
- Crustless Quiche Lorraine (Featuring Chopped Smoky Bacon and Gruyere Cheese)
- Fresh Strawberries with Powdered Sugar
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
Color Palette and Decor
This shower is more about creature comforts than décor. Instead of table décor, try individual tables in the form of TV trays. Set up each tray like a breakfast-in-bed tray with a napkin, party ready with a pacifier-shaped lollipop attached with curling ribbon. Baby roses and baby’s breath in miniature bud vases and a pair of reflexology sleep socks (which is also the favor) complete the picture.
Grab gossip magazines and several seasons of Friends or other favorite television shows to watch while reminiscing about the days before kids. Crank calls and Ouija board optional.
The Perfect Baby Shower Game or Activity
The ancient art of reflexology is a therapeutic healing system that creates balance and well-being throughout the body. A gentle pressure is applied to specific points on the sole that tap into the body’s energy. Allow guests to experience the restorative powers of reflexology with a relaxing foot self-massage guaranteed to induce a restful night’s sleep. Use the reflexology slipper-sock favors to find your own pressure points.
Gifts That Work with This Theme
This is the easy part — anything that will enhance sleep for mommy or baby will work.
- Pajamas for baby
- Nursing nightgowns
- Nursery monitors
- Crib mobile
- Bedding
- Soothing music
- Night lights
- Custom painted “Do Not Disturb” door hangers
Favors
A pair of reflexology slipper socks, the kind that show a diagram of the foot’s pressure points on the sole, will work for both the suggested activity and as a favor. Other ways to say thanks for coming are with little night-night treats for the guests — sleep masks, a soothing lavender neck wrap, or an aroma-therapy spray all make great favors.
