droolicious : chocolate

25 Fabulous and Useful Baby Shower Favors

AmandaHill — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pregnancy seems to be in the air: Almost everyone I know is either pregnant or trying for their first baby. As a seasoned baby shower attendee, baby shower favors can go two ways: the fabulous or the terrible. My personal preference is fabulous. Something useful or edible is usually best, and there are great favors for all budgets. This list covers them all, and if you are throwing a baby shower in the future, you should be able to find nearly everything.

Click behind the fold to check out the awesome list of baby shower favors.

The first favor, pictured above, is the World's 'Gratest' Mom cheese grater. It's a stainless steel grater with three different hole sizes. The packaging makes the handle of the grater appear as the pregnant mommy's belly. Not only is it a unique favor, it's also useful in the kitchen. You can click on over to ABCFavors to check it out.

Next on the list is the 'Take A Note' Sticky Note Block. It looks like a typical baby block, but serves as your average block of sticky notes. It's both cute and useful. It would be a great favor to give to guest. It's multi-hued and crafted from heavy paper stock. Click on over to La Petite Favor Boutique to check it out.

The classic mini gum ball machine is a fun favor for everyone. They can easily be personalized with hanging tags or ribbons. They are cute and playful. If you aren't a gum person, I'm sure the gum could be easily replaced with jelly beans. Click on over to Beau Coup to check this favor out.

The 'Bun in the Oven' scented candle baby shower favor comes in a cute little box shaped like an oven. The scented candle could be useful in anyone's home. The candle has a nice cinnamon scent and comes with 'Bun in the Oven' written across the stove. Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

The Rocking Pony Book mark seen above would make a really useful favor. Everyone needs a bookmark, and the guests to the shower can remember the bundle of joy everytime they use their bookmark. Click on over to Amazon to check them out.

Wristlet Keychain holders are so handy. If you don't have one yet, you are missing out. They are particularly handy for mothers, because our hands are always full. So what better gift to give out at a baby shower? Everyone could use a wristlet keychain. They come in an array of gorgeous fabrics from the Jimmy Pickles Etsy shop.

I question the integrity of people who claim to dislike chocolate. Giving out decorated and personalized chocolate bars would be a great baby shower favor. Who doesn't love chocolate? They can be decorated according to your preferences. Check them out at Dizzee Lizzee's Etsy shop.

A monogrammed mirror compact would make a fantastic favor. You could easily have them monogrammed for guests that have RSVP'd, and you can keep a few blank ones on hand for those that didn't. A spare compact is always nice to have around, and it is quite the useful favor. Click on over to My Little Cuddle Bug's shop to check them out.

Personalized lip balm makes a great favor. The label can be personalized to fit the details of the shower. Not only are the lip balms sweet and useful, they are also the perfect size. Click on over to Tearrific Favors to check them out.

You can also have bath salts personalized for the shower. They would make a great addition to the tub, and as always, a useful party favor is appreciated. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

Personalzied candy jars are another great Baby Shower favor idea. The lid can be personalized and a cute ribbon or tag added if necessary. They can be filled accordingly. The guests can later use them to hold more candy or paperclips or whatever they want to shove in the tiny, yet handy, jar. Click on over to Beau Coup to check them out. You could always fill them with the favorite childhoold candies the expecting mother.

Matchbook mints are a tiny gift that can go along way. Each matchbook contains mints to give as favors, the books can be personalized for the event. Matchbook mints make a useful and unique gift. Click on over to Lily Elle's Etsy shop to check them out.

The 5 piece "She'll see her feet soon" Pedicure set would make another fabulous favor. The comes in the adorable flip flop case with the attached Thank You tag. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

This smart looking Chocolate Cake Towel Roll would make another great gift to give to the guests at any Baby Shower. The best part? It's a calorie free cake, and you get a nice towel to take home. Check them out at Coco Pastry.

The 'Baby is Brewing' Teapot timer is another cute Baby Shower favor. Cathy did a great feature on it earlier this week. The box says 'baby is brewing' and the tiny teapot serves as a timer for your kitchen. Click on over to ABC Favors to check this timer out.

If you don't want to go the way of traditional showers and give baby themed favors, this Stiletto bottle opener is always a great option. You can't ever have too many bottle openers. Not to mention the fact that the packaging is adorable. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

Another possible favor is the 'A Star is Born' bottle stopper. The Bottle Stopper keeps the baby shower theme going with the 'A Star is Born' engraved into the star. It is another unique and useful gift to give shower guests. Click on over to Bellisimo Favors to check it out.

Monogrammed cosmetic bags are another shower favor that keeps giving. It's easy to have them monogrammed for guests that RSVP, and you can also keep a few blanks bags on hand for those that didn't. This would make a fantastic shower favor. Check them out at Avannabel Baby.

At first glance, this favor looks like a tiny baby bottle. It's actually a candle in disguise that could be quite useful for your guests. It is available in pink for impending girl or blue for the impending boy. Check this favor out at Avannabel Baby.

The 'Baby is Blooming' carriage above looks like a normal card or piece of paper. However, it is actually a template made with wildflower seeds. The shower guests can take this favor home and plant it. The pram comes in a lovely cream colored envelope. This great favor is available from Avannabel Baby.

The heart keychain above would be another great, useful Baby Shower favor. It can be engraved with a simple 'Thank You' for all of your guests. The silver finish makes the key chain lovely, and the guests would be sure to remember the nice time they had at the shower. Check this out from Favors Direct.

Another great choice for favors is seen above. Personalized muffin mix of the flavor of your choosing to send home as a favor. Muffin mix is definitely useful, and it is quite the memorable favor. You check this option out at Beau Coup.

Another great favor, if you aren't keeping with the baby theme but reaching outside of the box, is the purse valet. A purse valet is a perfect gift. They come in so handy at restaurants and even at the office. It would definitely be a unique and useful gift for shower guests. Check the Purse Valets out at Beau Coup.

The box of baby themed cookie cutters seen above is just another great unique and useful favor option. Cookie cutters are extremely handy and would make a fantastic favor. Check these out at Beau Coup.

Last, but certainly not least, on this list of fantastic Baby Shower favors is the two peas in a pod salt and shaker set. It comes in a cute box, and every guest leaves with something handy and cute. This favor and many others can be found at ABC favors.

A Pint of PJs, Please

Cathy Hale — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Looking for a sweet treat for that special new baby in your life? How about a scoop of PJs with a cherry on top...

Baby Aspen brings you this adorable 2-piece pajama gift set. Applique on PJ suit features "Sweet Dreamzzz" in a variety of pastel colors. The matching night cap looks just like a sundae, featuring sprinkles and a cherry on top! The ice cream pint gift box coordinates with the PJ set. Available in size 0-6 months and lots of yummy flavors too like chocolate, strawberry and lime. Retails for $20 at Brea's Baby Boutique.

Crack Open a Chocolate Dinosaur Egg

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:30:00 GMT

With Valentine's Day upon us, what to get the kiddo who's totally over chocolate hearts? If your playroom looks like the set of Land of the Lost, this Chocolate Dinosaur Egg from HearthSong could be a good starting point.

Not only is the egg really honkin' big, but when you crack it open, you're treated to an assortment of Jurassic goodies: 10 white, dark and milk chocolate baby dinosaurs that, along with their home, weigh in at just under 11 ounces of yummy.

Oh, and this probably goes without saying, but it'd also make a great Easter gift.

$16.98 from HearthSong, and only available within the contiguous 48 states.

Put Your Own Photo on Candy with My M&M's

Chris Ford — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:20:00 GMT

Looking for a party favor or birth announcement gift that you've absolutely never seen before? The melt-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hand candy M&M's has recently launched "My M&M's," the customizable, printable chocolate. And it just might be that perfect party favor.

The process itself is pretty simple. You upload a photo to the web site, enter a message (if you want one) and it gives you a rough approximation of what the candy will look like. Then apparently a "graphic specialist will work with the photo(s) you uploaded to provide the best reproduction quality possible." Which means that it's more than a computer that will decide how the candy will look, which makes me trust the whole process a lot more.

It's not cheap, but it's not incredibly expensive either. They have all sorts of packaging options from gift bags, glass boxes to teddy bears, but the minimum order seems to be three 7 oz. bags for $12.99 each ($38.97). You can also get a five pound box for $162.50 or a ten pound box for $312.50, which seems like a lot, but for something like a wedding might be one of the less expensive things in the party budget.

Check out all the options at MyMMs.com.

Best Mother’s Day Present Ever: John & Kira’s Chocolates

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Real people, really good chocolates: John and Kira’s delicious confections are organic, local, fairly traded, and insanely delicious.

We’re making our way through the Every Flavor Box in our house. Favorites include the Lavender Honey (filled with caramelized honey from Draper’s Family Apiaries and subtle lavender flavor from Purple Pastures organic lavender farm) and the Drew Elementary Garden Mint (fresh cream infused with garden mint from an urban school garden program).

Kids will especially love John & Kira’s Magical Ladybug Gems or Caramel Bees—quite a buzz.

Photos courtesy of John & Kira's

Toilet Training: How to Sweeten the Deal

Sarah Verdone — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:31:00 GMT

The toilet covers are available in milk, white or semi-sweet chocolate for $13. Just make sure the kids brush their teeth really well afterwards.

Chocolate Snow Critters

Meredith Broussard — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Every year, I seem to spaz out about what should go in my family's Xmas stockings. Worst case scenario: everyone ends up with a stocking full of dollar store crap and 50 packs of chewing gum.

This year, I am thinking ahead. This year, I am buying the world's most adorable chocolate truffle animals ~~to stuff into the stockings~~ for Santa to stuff into the stockings. Oregon-based Moonstruck cafe & chocolate shop offers a six-pack of chocolate animal fun: a Mocha Polar Bear, Cinnamon Almond Snow Owl, Extra-Bittersweet Seal and Penguin, and Milk Chocolate Arctic Hare. The best part? All of the animals can hang out in the Toffee Igloo, included. They'd also be adorable on the "lawn" of a gingerbread house.

Insanely cute chocolate winter animal set, $35 at Moonstruck Chocolate

Gourmet Gelt

Meredith Broussard — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:02:00 GMT

Chanukah gelt is fun to play with, and it is delicious. The only problem is, sometimes it tastes a bit stale.

It's probably too late to mail-order Lake Champlain's gourmet gelt for Chanukah this year, but you may be able to find some of their fresh, all-natural handmade Vermont chocolate coins at your local schmancy foodery.

Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, or Dark Chocolate Peppermint coins, $10 and up for a bag of 26-ish at lakechamplainchocolates.com. Order in bulk and save: 240 assorted coins are only $85.