Free Baby Shower Invites & Thank You Cards

As you know about Pure Hoopla – “Pure Hoopla is an online company dedicated to providing customers with the highest quality cards at a fraction of our competitors’ costs. They believe our cards are more than ink on paper – they’re extraordinary, because of the message they spread. When mom’s and dad’s announce the birth of a child, send out baby shower invitations, or write a thank you note, they are building a community to support their child through his or her lifetime. We think every mom should be able to afford it.”

Hello I like to share Ataractic‘s user experience wtih PureHoopla.

I posted this on a few groups – sorry if you’ve seen it before!

Someone (I think it was on the September BC) posted about a site called purehoopla.com where you can make your invitations free. I researched it heavily, and finally decided to order and I just wanted to share it with you guys. I just got mine in the mail and I couldn’t be happier with my invitations!

Basically, you add coupons to the back of your invitation and each one reduces the cost by a pre-set amount. They have a bunch of invite styles to choose from that are all super cute. You get white envelopes included – if you want a color you pay more. You do pay for shipping. I ordered 100 invites and 100 thank you cards (no, I probably won’t need that many, but they’re free so better safe than sorry!) and I was charged $8.95 for shipping.

I chose a folded card style, but most of them were the flat style. I also chose the exact same coupons and placement but you could switch it up if you wanted. The only thing I’m kicking myself about is that I switched DH’s and my names around on the invite from the TY card, but that’s my fault not theirs. Nobody will probably notice.

I’m not great at linking pictures but I uploaded pictures to a public album. Please ignore some of the bluish tinge – the colors are very accurate to what you see on your computer screen. I have a crappy camera phone. My dog is photoboming some of the shots! xD

Anyway, I was so happy with them and the price really can’t be beaten. I did contact their customer service because I loved this giraffe card but originally couldn’t fit all my info in it (we have RSVPs going to 2 people and they wanted to include their emails). They were so helpful and very quick to respond. I had a great experience! Source

4 Steps for Selecting the Perfect Baby Shower Invitation!

Just the words “baby shower” evoke memories of giggles, games and good times. Everyone looks back fondly on these chances to share in the arrival of a loved one’s baby, but they all forget how much work goes into creating a fun and fabulous event. A busy hostess often finds herself stressed out over finding the right theme, venue and style for the event. To top it all off, she even has to find perfect baby shower invitations

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But, although baby shower invitations might seem like a small detail in the party planning process, finding the right baby shower invitations can actually relieve a lot of stress. The perfect baby shower invitation can help inspire the rest of the party in a variety of ways, from color to theme and everything in between! So when shopping for baby shower invitations for your favorite mom-to-be, keep the following in mind:

1. Consider the mother’s taste. Since the baby shower is being thrown in her honor, select a baby shower invitation that reflects her personal style regardless of whether or not it matches yours!
2. Take care to remember your guests list. Are your baby shower invitations primarily going out to young, hip friends of the mom-to-be, or do her chic and sophisticated relatives dominate the guest list? If you have a lot of relatives on the list, an overly modern baby shower invitation might not receive the best reception. Keep the tastes of your guests in mind, and try to find a cute baby shower design that matches the future mother’s style without overwhelming any guests who might be more conservative or refined.
3. Keep the baby in mind. Has the mom-to-be announced the baby’s gender? If so, consider selecting a baby shower invitation accordingly. Let’s face it— boy baby shower invitations featuring tractors and airplanes won’t necessarily work for a cute little baby girl, and girl baby shower invitations won’t necessarily work for a boy (unless his parents are incredibly progressive!).
4. Think quality. Choose a baby shower invitation not just for the color, font and layout—think about how guests will feel when they open the envelope. Will that particular baby shower invitation give them goose bumps because it is so sweet? Will your baby shower invitations encourage everyone to put them up on the fridge or mantle because they are so beautiful? That’s the kind of reaction you need from your baby shower invitations in order to get everyone excited for your shower, so shop with an eye for excellent quality that will really make your guests list melt!

These four key guidelines for baby shower invitation shopping will help you impress both the mom-to-be and all her friends and family with your chic style as the hostess with the mostest!

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The 7 Most Important Things Kids Need From Their Fathers

Lately, I’ve been reading several studies about a father’s impact on his child’s life. This quote from Scientific American Mind accurately sums up the current research:

Kids who have stable and involved dads are better off on nearly every cognitive, social and emotional measure researchers can devise. For instance, high levels of father involvement are associated with children who are more sociable, confident and self-controlled and less likely to act out in school or engage in risky behaviors in adolescence. (Scientific American Mind. Volume 21, Number 2. “Family Guy” by Emily Anthes)

According to the article, fathers were spending a little under 3 hours per week on child care in 1965; by 2000 the figure had reached 6.5 hours. Based on my personal, not scientific observations, I would estimate that dads spend at least twice that amount today.

I’m pleased to see that people are finally starting to realize how much dads really matter. Children need their father’s influence, support, and love. In addition to fulfilling these basic needs, kids need their fathers to provide the following 7 things:

Time

Time is a valuable commodity. It is a resource that we cannot replenish. There are few better ways for a dad to spend his time than hanging out with his children. Don’t try to distinguish between quality and quantity. Any time you dedicate to spending with your children is quality time. Kids need to know that they are a priority in your life.  Show them how valuable they are by giving them the time they crave. Read a book, go fishing, eat dinner together, play a game, listen to their concerns. Make sure you are available when they need you most. You will never regret spending time with your children and they will always treasure those special moments with you.

Wisdom

You have plenty of hard earned wisdom to share with your kids. By being open and honest about experiences, you can prevent your children from making the same mistakes that you made. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t always follow your advice. They will recall your wise words as they mature. They may even pass down your wisdom with their own children.

Guidance

Kids need their dad’s guidance to effectively navigate all of the things they will encounter in life. The world is full of harmful influences that threaten to usurp your parental influence. That’s why is so important for fathers to instill values, set expectations, and guide their children down the right path. Even when your children go astray and make poor decisions, it is your job to lead them back on track.

Encouragement

Your words have power. They can affect your child’s self-esteem, confidence, and emotional well-being. However, many dads withhold the words that their children need to hear. Be generous with your words and encourage your children as often as possible. Even when they fail, your children want to know that you still believe in them. Hearing his dad say, “I’m proud of you” means so much to a child.

Protection

The world can be a scary place and kids need to know that their dad is a source of protection and strength. Defend them against harm and they will learn to trust the safety of your presence.

Patience

Patience is a virtue that is difficult to master. Our children have a way of testing our patience. Sometimes their behavior causes us to react in a negative manner. As dads, we must learn how to control our emotions and respond to our children with patience and love. If you master this skill, you and your children will reap huge benefits and develop a closer relationship.

Hugs and Kisses

Kids crave affection from their fathers. Your hugs and kisses comfort them and make them feel secure. When you withhold affection, children feel unloved and neglected. Shower them with affection so they will always know how much you love them.

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Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Here is a dilemma: I have four friends who are pregnant. What are some unusual and popular baby shower gifts? I’d like to get something new and different if possible.

Here are a few helpful tips from moms and dads all over the US:

• From Pam Goldberg in Chesterfield, MO: Try a subscription to a parenting magazine. It makes a great gift. I buy the latest issue and wrap it up and write in the card that they will be receiving this for a year. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! It’s also something most new or first time parents sometimes forget.

• From Bette Saulino in Sequim, WA: I write a $25.00 check and place it inside the card. I designate it for the baby’s education and offer the suggestion that the parents open up a saving account in the baby’s name. By the age of eighteen, it will have earned enough interest to possibly help in beginning their college adventure. The best part is that for birthdays and other gift giving opportunities, family and friends can add to the account and it will grow. As a widowed mother, this plan assured my daughter a college education.

• From Jodi Marvin in Oswego, NY: I created a Childcare Journal Gift Pak. It includes a one-year childcare journal to track the well being of children while at childcare, a daycare tote to carry the journal and a matching slipcover to preserve the journal as a keepsake when it is filled up. This is a great gift for the moms-and-dads-to-be that must return to work after maternity leave.

• From Tim Smith in San Francisco, CA: Oneshare allows adults to purchase one share of a named stock for the baby, child or person. They even offer the certificate in a frame of various choices to hang on the wall. The stock is hand picked by experts in that field.

• From Charlotte Fowkes in Arvada, CO: A Baby Diaper Cake is a great idea for a baby shower gift. It can double as the table centerpiece if you are the one giving the shower. It is made from disposable diapers and covered with useful baby items, like receiving blankets, hooded towels, baby clothing, etc., and a bottle at the top.

• From Darcy Volden Miller in Austin, TX: I am the founder of a site that offers tons of great ideas for baby shower gifts and even gifts for mom. We have reasonable prices and give away prizes around the clock. We have been featured on The Rosie Show and Oprah, and featured in Parenting Magazine in April, 2002. Please come to my site, which I share with 60 other moms. See the website for awesome choices.

• From Jodie: Another unique idea came in the form of a present given to a mom of a new baby with three other kids: a paid for one year housecleaning gift certificate. This is a great idea for a useful and helpful gift a new mom could receive that would be a welcome surprise. If a group of friends or relatives would all contribute to this endeavor, it would probably only cost each individual what they would have spent anyway. Even if it could only be arranged every other week for 6 months, it would be worth its weight in gold and very much appreciated.

Jodie Lynn is a nationally syndicated family/parenting columnist, author and parent educator. Her column, Parent to Parent, is available in over 350 newspapers throughout the United States and Canada. Her latest book, “Mommy-CEO (Constantly Evaluating Others) 5 Golden Rules,” (Revised Edition) 2001, is available.

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The baby thank you cards are created by women and mom’s for moms

Knosas ltd, an Irish web2print company is entering into the Irish baby thank you card market. The company, started by John and Melissa Minahan will launched their first website, http://www.purehoopla.ie on June 1st.

The site offers creative new styles and themes. The baby thank you cards are created by women and mom’s for moms. Pure hoopla has a selection of several hundred cards to choose from is various categories, including baby thank you cards, Birth Announcement Card, christening card, birthday cards, and personal stationary.

The purehoopla.ie site was designed for simple and easy card selection and creation. A new mom should be able to find a baby thank you card, or any card, that matches their style and color within a minute using knosas’s unique filtering system. Once a card is selected, they can easily add photos, edit text, select fonts and colors and place the order. The goal of the site is to offer great cards and a fun experience at a great price. Customers can also post their cards before they buy to their Facebook account to instantly share their experience with friends.

The quality of the cards is of the utmost importance as well as the shipping time. Once an order is placed, they are shipped and received within five days. “My wife Melissa is extremely focused on customer service. She is eight months pregnant herself with our second child so we know how important sharing this experience with friends and family is.” Purehoopla.ie will ensure that the customer is always taken care of.