DIY Bridal Shower Gift

Let's cut right to the chase. It's wedding season, and whether you are in the wedding party, or a guest, it means that there's a certain amount of effort put forth. We attendees have it pretty easy. Wear something nice, be on your best behavior, and share in the joy of loved ones saying "I do". Oh yeah, and then there's the small matter of picking out a gift. Okay, maybe that's not so easy. I mean, you walk into a department store and are immediately hit with options. Your head might start to cloud up over sheer number of plate designs offered.

Things have gotten easier as far as the wedding gifts go. A lot of couples register at a certain store, so you can be confident in knowing that whatever you get from that list, they'll be sure to like. So that's taken care of. But then there are the added events and parties, especially the Bridal Shower to think of. It's usually expected to bring a gift, which can be tough if you have no idea what to get. That's where I come in, together with my mum, to bring you a DIY Bridal Shower Gift idea. 

Step 1: Evaluate the Couple

It really isn't as complicated as it sounds. Are they outdoorsy? Are they artsy? Movie Buffs? Younger? Older? Determining who they are and what they like can be a real help. Another thing to consider is whether the gift you give is going to be solely for the Bride (ex. A Mani Pedi kit) or for both to enjoy.  Once you get a basic idea, you're good to go. For us, we decided to go for one that is suited for both.

Step 2: Pick a Theme, any Theme! 

Now that you know the couple and what kind of things they like, it's time to pick a theme. This can be simple, like "Pamper" for the Bride-to-be or "Cooking" for the chef. We decided to go for a "Date Night" theme. At this point, you may also want to set a budget, as you can quickly get caught up in the fun of picking things out (like we did). You don't want to break the bank!

Step 3: Get a Container

To hold your little "Goodies". We chose one that has kind of a rustic, outdoor feel to it. 

Cute, and farm-ish, right?

Ours was a little big, just because of what we were putting into it, and what was available. You can also choose a bag, basket, jar, anything!

Step 4: Fill that Container!

This is where the fun comes in. Depending on your theme, you will be choosing different things. Here are some ideas for "Date Night": 

We wanted to give them an easy yet romantic and fun meal, and spaghetti is both!

To go with such a meal, wine and wine glasses seemed to be the obvious choice, but we decided to make it a bit more fun.

Hope they aren't Pepsi people!

And for dessert, still going with a fun, half picnic, half campfire feel, we went for....

You can always buy the supplies separately, but this was in a nice little kit.

And what is date night without a movie and popcorn?

I mean, how perfect is it to get a movie called your very theme? 

Okay, so here are all the supplies, and now all that's left is to arrange it in a nice way, add a card, and give it to the happy couple to enjoy. After all, even when you're married, that's not reason to stop dating!

 

Step 5: Give it to the Couple

Pretty self explanatory :) 

Hope you enjoyed and got some ideas of your own. I am really happy and excited about this gift. I think it's one they will really enjoy!

 Happy Wedding Season, whether you are getting married or not!

A "Genius" Review

It's time for another book review (imagine me doing a funky little dance on your desk, or wherever you are). I have been reading lots, and today I thought I'd share some of my thoughts and opinions. 

Without further ado, let's go:

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable 

by Dan Gutman

Rating: 3/5 stars 

"The Genius Files" was recommended to me by a friend of mine; the same friend who first recommended what is now one my all-time favourite series. With that in mind, I thought I'd give this one a shot. The summary in a nutshell is this:

Twins Coke and Pepsi are geniuses, even if they don't know it yet. They live ordinary lives in California, with their somewhat eccentric parents. As the school year draws to a close, and their family gears up for a cross country road trip, the twins are suddenly involved in a life-threatening, top-secret government program: The Genius Files. So amidst crazy and bizarre family road stops in their RV, the twins must not only figure out how to stop an attack on America, they also have to somehow manage to stay clear of the people trying to kill them, All without telling their parents anything.

This book is filled with random, some may say useless, facts about the weird and wonderful world of US toys, gadgets, largest balls of twine, and anything else you can think of. Being someone who enjoys learning such facts, that was a little added bonus, and I think both children and adults alike would enjoy how strange and random some of them are.

Another fun aspect to the book is that it includes online links so you can follow along with the twins' journey via google maps. There are also a couple of pictures, some fun illustrations, and ciphers to crack. All of this, plus the action and adventure involved, would probably entertain and interest for both boys and girls in their "tween" years.

Personally, despite the fun an exciting plot and clever mix of sarcasm and sincerity, I found the ending to be a bit disappointing in that it seems very open ended. This is most likely due to the fact that there are at least three other books that follow. Still, I would have liked a more "complete" ending. For the most part, however, I did enjoy reading it.

All in all, I would say this is a fun, easy, "read-in-a-weekend" book, and might be perfect for a "stay cation". It might not have drastically changed my outlook on life and society, but I can say that it made me want to visit the States and have my own cross country road trip, visiting some of the places the characters go or mention. Who knows, maybe it will just spark your family's next summer vacation!



A few other recently read books:

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (4/5 stars, very good read!)

Ava and Pip By Carol Weston (3/5 stars, cute story)

Sisters by Raina Telemeier (2 and a half/5 stars, sweet story, but somewhat bland in my opinion)

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George (4/5 stars, interesting, and imaginative)