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July 30, 2014

Giveaway #23 – The Perfect Baby Shower + Pink Lining Changing Bag

Giveaways 417 Replies

It wasn’t that long ago that baby showers were just for the rich and famous. Now they’re as much a part of having a baby as hen do’s are an obligatory precursor to getting married. A baby shower is your send off into motherhood, whether it’s your first time or you’ve already popped out a few babies.

If you’re organising a baby shower for a friend or even yourself there are a few questions to ask before you even book a venue:

  • Is the Mum to be needing her bed at 9pm every night? The end of pregnancy can be exhausting for some so think about a weekend daytime party if she’s in her PJs by the Eastenders credits every night.
  • How does the Mum to be feel about others drinking alcohol? For some, giving up the booze can be the worst part of pregnancy, so watching others enjoy it is torturous. For others, even the smell makes them feel nauseous. Bear this in mind when booking a venue and remember that most sober Mums to be will have less tolerance for loud noise. A private room in a bar/restaurant, a tea room or even someone’s house are likely the best options.
  • Who are you inviting? If it’s a surprise for the Mum to be, consult with a couple of her closest friends and her partner. In my experience smaller gatherings of really good friends can work better than inviting everyone on the Mums Facebook friends list.

If you’re inviting lots of people who don’t know each other well, you might need a game or two to help break the ice. Guessing the weight, gender and birthday of the baby is a good starter. Or buying some cheap white baby gros and some fabric pens and setting everyone to work creating a masterpiece fit for a princess or prince gets everyone chatting too.

Presents can be a tricky one. Some people are superstitious and prefer to only buy for the baby once he or she arrives. My advice is to keep present buying Mum focused. All too soon every gift she receives will be baby related. What about a voucher for a relaxing foot massage and pedicure (I’m assuming she find reaching her feet difficult by now!), a delicious smelling candle or some super soft PJs for making those night feeds a little more enjoyable? For the Mums who already have children practical help is often what they crave most; maybe some IOU vouchers for babysitting, making an evening meal or doing a load of washing and ironing? Just make sure she uses them.

Last, but in my opinion, most importantly, the food and drink. An afternoon tea party is a treat whether pregnant or not so it’s a great place to start. Perhaps kick things off with a mocktail like a virgin mojito and follow with fine leaf tea served in beautiful china tea cups with saucers.

Bear in mind any cravings the Mum to be might have had and try and incorporate them into the catering if they’re not too weird and wonderful. (Gherkin ice cream anyone?) Small, dainty bites like tiny crustless finger sandwiches filled with ham and mustard, slivers of cucumber or poached salmon and mayonnaise always go down well. Follow them with miniature scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, little fine French macarons, heart shaped lemony shortbread biscuits and of course, a chocolately treat. Like these brownies.

Lucky for readers of the blog I have a giveaway from Pink Lining for those looking for a smart changing bag used by normal Mums and also celebs too. They have a fine selection of baby shower gifts if you find yourself organising or invited to one.

There are 2 Woodland changing bags worth £79 each up for grabs. There are lots of ways to enter – see the Rafflecopter form below. The first way is just to leave a comment on this post. Easy peasy. Closing date 12th September 2014. How to enter:

  • Complete the Rafflecopter form below to confirm your entries made via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook etc.
  • This giveaway will close on 12th September 2014.
  • Please read the rules below.
  • Winners are announced on the Rafflecopter form after the prize has been claimed by the winner.
  • First timers: Please watch how Rafflecopter works (video)! It is 46 seconds long. It explains everything.
  • If no form is showing, hit refresh and it should appear.
  • Complete the form – or your beloved entries will not go into the draw. And that would be such a waste of time.
  • Mandatory entries need to be completed first – so leave a blog comment before you try and complete any of the other methods of entry.
  • Want more chances to win? Come back daily after tweeting about the giveaway and fill the form in again.
  • If you are viewing this by email you will need to click through to enter.

Rules and things:

  • Open to anyone over the age of 18, all of UK. Sorry to anyone younger or further afield.
  • There are two Woodland changing bags worth £79 each up for grabs as seen in the picture. There’s no cash alternative to the prize and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
  • Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 7 days then another winner will be picked so check your emails and your spam! The goodies will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have sent me your delivery address.
  • I am running this giveaway on behalf of Pink Lining who will be responsible for sending the prize to you by post should you win. Their decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • This is where I get all stern – please don’t say you have liked the post and followed me on Twitter and Tweeted away like a Tweety thing if you haven’t as guess what? If you win I will check you did do the things you said you did. It’s only fair after all. And I do like fairness.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

NB: Sponsored post. 

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417 comments

  104. I love the bags from Pink Lining they are so pretty and practical too! Thanks for the giveaway x

  115. Fantastic, always wanted one of these, and still about 2 more years of nappies to go with my youngest ;)

  127. Nappy changing bags have come a long way designer ways since I had my first baby, this bag is gorgeous.

  149. I am getting a Granddaughter in December…I have two sons and two grandsons so we are eagerly awaiting this little one to spoil.

  164. Thanks for the giveaway. I’ve been quite lucky with rafflecopters, so fingers crossed for this one too.

  165. I don’t have any children but would love to win this prize for charity, to go to Romania.

  166. I would live to win this bag! I am not a girly girl but need a nice bag to carry stuff around for two young boys so would be nice to have something just for me.

  168. I love these bags but have never been able to afford one. Currently using my overnight bag which is way to large to carry around but needs must

  173. Oh we are expecting a baby in December….my grandson is almost 11 and so this baby is so much hoped for and loved already. This would be a lovely gift for my daughter i law…the daughter I never had !

  186. Wow such a cute bag, perfect present for my sister-in-law as she’s due early Sept! Thank you!

  188. Those bags look lovely, so much better than the bag I had with my 2 girls.

  190. I love these bags! Hubby wouldn’t let me spend that much on one, so I need to win one, simples!

  197. Wish I’d got onr of these in the first place! Thanks for the chance to win one!

  198. I am organizing a baby shower for a friend – the food is definitely the most important!

  200. My best friend had her baby shower on Saturday. We made her toffee crispys which is melted toffees, marshmallows and butter mixed in with rice crispys and we made little pink chocolate bottles with chocolate moulds to stick on top. She had a brilliant time and asked me to be god mother when baby Roma is here :) I would love to surprise her with this bag when baby Roma arrives xxxxx

  210. We love Pink Lining and have given many as gifts as well as using them ourselves, to win one would be great

  211. I am throwing a baby shower for one of my very good friends & would love a bright & shiny new PL bag to give her as part of her shower gift! x

  212. My gorgeous Mummy organised my baby shower for me. We had tea and cake and lots of conversation – although I’ve organised silly games for other people I really didn’t want silly games. I had a lovely time and my Mum even snapped lots of pictures of the guests, the food and the presents.

  216. I’d love a shower, don’t think I’ll be having one tho as we don’t live near enough people we know!

    Loving these bags they’re on my baby list.

  236. Would love to win, seems like everyone I know is having babies so would make a lovely gift :)

  274. Been eyeing up these bags all my pregnancy. My baby is two week old now and i still want one. Out of my price range so would absolutely love to win one.xx

  276. Love the bag. Just had a baby a month ago and would love a new bag. I am using my old one from my first child.

  279. Love the bag. I just had twins and my change bag from last time is just not big enough for two!

  291. I love Pink Lining bags !! I currently have red butterflies and Blue Butterflies as I have two toddlers (boy and girl) xx

  298. Just found you thanks to a post from Pink lining on FB. look forward to reading some fab recipes and tips on looking after a mad house! x

  299. Great points to consider for baby shower. Love PL bags would be amazing to win this beauty!

  306. Love this! I am expecting my 2nd at the end of the year and a new changing bag would be brilliant!

  311. Gorgeous bag andi could really do with a new one as the long strap has gone on mine

  316. Some helpful tips on throwing a mama a baby shower! A lot of folks forget the mama needs some pampering. Growing a baby is some rough work!

  317. I’ve not had a baby shower, but its lovely to go out with the girls for a nice lunch before baby arrives. Due baby #2 in Nov, so this bag would be fab x x

  319. Beautiful bag I had a baby shower with both of my kids and was lovely to get together with the girls before my bubs was due and found I had no time z x

  321. Always felt bag envy when I saw Pink Lining somewhere. Would love one of my own for my new baby due in November :)

  326. I would love this! Am having a really tough pregnancy and still over 3 months to go! Hoping I will have the energy to bake something to accompany y bake-off on Wednesday! Loving your book, have made at least half a dozen recipes.

  340. Great giveaway, my daughter’s expecting her baby in November so this would ideal for her

  347. Would love to win this prize for my daughter who has just given me my first grandchild.

  352. Thanks for the competition, I’d love to win one for my son’s girlfriend!

  363. Pink lining bags are gorgeous and I’d love to win for my friend. *fingers crossed* :) x

  370. My sister in-law is expecting her first baby! would be a gre
    at gift at the baby shower! x

  372. Very pretty bag my cousin had her 2nd son on Monday wouldnt this be a nice gift!

  376. Lovely blog, some recipes ive bookmarked to make :) thanks for a fab giveaway x

  379. Twins on the way, and our previous changing bag is a bit shabby – this would be very useful!

Comments are closed.

Holly Bell
I’m a mum of 3 boys, a cookbook writer and also a finalist on the 2011 Great British Bake Off. I’ve decided to record the recipes I use, partly to save them somewhere and partly in case someone else might like to use them... [Read more]

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