It’s that time of year again, when the e-Vites and pastel-colored envelopes start arriving weekly – birthday party season. If you’re thinking, “Yay! How fun!” you obviously haven’t been to as many kids’ birthday parties as I have. Listen, I like small-talk with fellow preschool parents and garishly colored sheet cake as much as the next mom, but the part that stresses me out is the gift. Buying a present for a kid you don’t know that well is nerve-wracking.

Did you see the movie Date Night? Remember that scene where Steve Carell’s character offers to buy a kid’s birthday present to help out his wife with her to-do list? And Tina Fey says, “No batteries. And it can’t be made in China. And it’s got to be educational.” Welcome to my world.

I’ve decided that there are a few foolproof kids’ birthday gifts. Gender-neutral, always welcome, can be found at most every price point and for every age. Are you ready?

1. Water toys. Rubber duckies, toy boats, buckets, watering cans, a cute hooded towel – for the pool or beach in the summer or for the bath any time of year. Who couldn’t use an extra towel and some of those plastic squirty toys that have to be replaced regularly since after awhile they start to grow that yucky black stuff inside? The kids will love anything that’s new and cute and the parents will love that it’s practical.

2. Arts and crafts supplies. In our house, Play-Doh and markers are, sadly, pretty much disposable. Someone mushes it all together into a brownish blob or leaves the cap off and that’s the end of that. Crayons break, coloring books get used up. You can never have enough art supplies, if you ask me. Even the tiniest tot will enjoy age-appropriate stuff like finger-paints, colored pipe cleaners, stickers, etc. Just make sure they don’t eat them.

3. Personalized stuff. Every kid loves stuff with their name on it – placemats, water bottles, towels, T-shirts. Of course, that takes advance planning, unless you’re the DIY type. Another idea is to find a book with the child’s name in it. This works best if they have a common name. For instance, I plugged “Emily” and “Jack” into Amazon under children’s books and instantly came up with dozens of options for each. When in doubt, get toddlers and older kids a book about underpants. You can’t go wrong.

Anybody else have ideas for can’t-miss birthday gifts?

Plus, more from The Bump:

How to Plan Baby’s First Birthday Party

Birthday Cake Ideas for Tots

Hilarious Baby’s First Birthday Photos

We are always looking for simple and creative ways to go green – and here is one of our favorite “go green” ideas. We use it for disposable diaper users — and a great way to keep baby’s clothes organized!

Want to try it out? Here’s how:

1. Use the cardboard box packaging for diapers to store baby’s clothes when they outgrow them. For example, in the newborn diaper boxes store newborn clothes and any leftover diapers; in the size 1 boxes store clothes size 0-3 months; in size 2 diaper boxes store 3-6 months; in size 3 diapers store 6-9 months; in size 4 store 9-12 months.

Generally speaking, your baby will be wearing the clothes that match the diaper size at least through the first year. The boxes are usually very sturdy, stack nicely, and have easy grip handles to move them around. The boxes get bigger as the diaper size gets bigger too, so they are able to accommodate the clothes as your baby grows!

2. Use scrap paper to write or print out notes. This will help you keep track of what’s inside which box, so you can tape the information to the outside (ex. clothes, onesies, swaddles, bibs, burp cloths, hats, mitts, etc…). Try to be as specific as possible so that when it is time to use your stuff again, you can find it easily!You can use the boxes to sort smaller toys into specific age groups as well!

3. Donate old toys, clothes and baby accessories to charity (or a friend!) once you’re finished. Moms, it’s a breeze to stack the boxes in the car and unload at a friends house or a charity without worrying about bringing anything back home — and the recipient already knows which boxes to open when she needs them! Seriously — does it get any easier?!

How will you green up your baby storage? Share your tips below!

Plus, more from The Bump:

It’s Easy Being Green

Ways Moms Go Green

Eco-Friendly Baby Products You’ll Love

It was one year ago this week that I discovered I was pregnant.  Now, my almost five-month-old twins are laughing, smiling,  reaching and rolling over.  What they say is true — the time flies by! The first month in particular is a complete blur.

But I’ve found some ways to document my babies’ first year –  and here’s how you can, too! Check out these four whimsical ideas for re-purposing old calendars to celebrate some of baby’s biggest milestones.

1. Make a giftbox.  Fold a small paper box, origami style, out of the month your baby was born.  Embellish the date with doodles, adhesive baubles or whatever scrapbooking adornments catch your eye.  Use the box to keep something small and sweet in, like baby’s hospital bracelet or a tiny pair of booties.  (Tip:  The center of the calendar page will get the most attention.  Depending on the date you are trying to highlight, you may want to trim the page down, keeping the square shape.  This way, you can center the date as much as possible.)

2. Use old calendar dates to make a handmade envelope. Fold an envelope out of each month’s calendar page.  Don’t forget to make a note on each day where baby did something remarkable, like her first smile, laugh, or babble.  (Tip:  An easy way to make a nice envelope is to unglue a regular envelope and use it as a template to trace it onto the calendar page.  This way, you can customize which part of the design or which dates you want to feature).

3. A decorative paper bunting is a festive touch for baby’s first birthday party. Triangles or flag shapes cut from the months of the calendar can alternate with patterned scrapbook paper chosen to match the color theme of the party.   There are plenty of tutorials available online for both sewn and no-sew versions.

4. Make a shadowbox:  Gather up some mementos from baby’s birth like the hospital announcement, first pair of booties, and maybe a tiny t-shirt or onesie.  Use the calendar page from baby’s birth month as a background and decorate with your favorite embellishments.

How are you celebrating baby’s first birthday?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Cool Birthday Cake Ideas for Tots

How to Plan Baby’s First Birthday

Hilarious Baby’s First Birthday Party Photos

Happy spring (finally)! We all love a great party- — especially one to celebrate a baby! Planning or expecting a baby shower this season? Our Bumpies on the Baby Showers board shared some fun themes you’ve got to try for your shower!

“Traditional spring colors are pastels, obviously, but you could choose to mix it up! For decor you could do pots of tulips/daffodils, or vases filled with cut tulips or hyacinths. You could also utilize spring branches such as forsythia or Cherry blossom!” — sphinx24*

“For cake ideas, maybe try a fun flavor such as a lemon or strawberry, or even cupcakes with a variety of fun, colorful flavors.” — unicorn2342

“I am having a spring themed shower, and my hostess is planning on focusing on baby animals, specifically birds and bunnies! So cute.” — allisonmar546

“Tulips/Daffodils/Hyacinths make great centerpieces that could double as favors!” — NariaDream

“I’ve thrown a spring shower with the theme ‘A baby is blooming!’ Everyone loved it.” — Winginit

“You could do a “He brings me Sunshine after a Rainy Day theme.” That way you could do a lot of cute plays still on the whole SHOWER part that you would have done for a girl but then instead of the ‘flowers’ do “Suns” because that’s what he will be to you… a bright beautiful Son!” — britsknit

“My cousin just had a rubber-ducky themed shower — it was so adorable and super colorful!” — SpitsNGiggs

“Have a bumble bee theme! Yellow and black are easy to work with. You can have honeycomb decors, make some fresh lemonade and your give away souvenirs could be bear shaped bottles of honey with personalized labels on them.” — kayeseth

 *Some names have been changed.

Tell us: What would you theme your spring baby shower?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Wonderfully Wild Nature-Inspired Baby Shower Ideas

Beautifully Vintage-Themed Baby Shower Ideas

Baby Shower Idea: Bright ‘n Sunny Days!

Everyone knows that lots of pregnant women experience the nesting instinct, right? The urge to cook, clean, or decorate the baby’s nursery that kicks in as she approaches her due date? Well, that’s not exactly how it happened with me.

Apparently my nesting instinct turned me into a senior citizen, because I found myself very pregnant and completely obsessed – for the first time in my life – with knitting, sewing, and scrap-booking.

I didn’t get very far with the knitting, despite my mother-in-law’s best efforts to teach me. The click-clack of the knitting needles was comforting, but I kept zoning out and forgetting what stitch I was on, resulting in all sort of knots and dropped stitches. I ended up with one very skinny scarf and something that could be a potholder… for a doll.

Sewing went a little better. My mother, a skilled quilter, would have loved to teach me but she lives in another state. So I stopped by a local fabric store and found someone to show me the ropes. Er, threads. Do you know who hangs around fabric stores during the day? Senior citizens.

Luckily for me this one lady, Irene, was willing to take a break from sewing her granddaughter’s princess costume to help me make a quilt for my baby. Three colors, three rows of squares — nothing fancy. I could tell Irene was disappointed I didn’t go for any embroidery or tufts or pleats or anything but truth be told, I found sewing kind of boring. I was happy to let Grandma take over.

Next, I moved on to scrap-booking. Or rather, designing my baby’s birth announcements. I’m more comfortable with paper and ink than yarn and fabric, anyway. So I set about gathering card stock and pastel ribbons and hole-punches shaped like baby footprints. Martha Stewart had nothing on me!

I didn’t know my baby’s gender or name yet, so that put a slight damper on the project, but no matter. That didn’t stop me from designing a half-dozen different baby announcements with the name (and date and weight and photo) left blank. Then once the baby was born I could barely find the time to stamp the envelopes.

It’s a good thing my baby was finally born – 10 days late – or I don’t know what project I would’ve taken on next. Making elaborate Jell-O molds? Macramé? Shuffleboard? Whatever it was, I’m sure Irene and her friends could have taught me a thing or two.

Did you experience an out-of-control nesting instinct?

Plus, more from The Bump:

10 Ways to Get Ready for Birth: A Must-Have List for Soon-to-Be Moms

Nesting: Is It a Dad’s Worst Nightmare?

Why Women Nest

Today’s nursery spotlight is brought to you by one of our very own Bumpie mamas! We are loving the simplicity of the theme and the beautiful, touching and thoughtful wall decals that mom and dad picked for their adorable baby-to-be!

Pairing basic, neutral colors and light pinks really makes the exquisite chandelier pop. It’s luxurious enough to give the room a touch of elegance and vintage charm, but young enough that the room still feels innocent and fun. Bravo, mom and pop!

Check it out:

Want to be featured in our Real Nurseries series? Send your submission to communty@thebump.com with the subject line “Real Nurseries.” Make sure to include your nursery-inspiration! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Shabby Chic Nurseries

Flower-Themed Nurseries

Baby Girl Nursery Inspiration You’ll Love!

Picture this: you’re standing in the cleaning aisle of your local grocery store, eying down all 886 cleaning products that line the shelves and asking yourself What the heck did I need again? And then you’re also thinking, Isn’t there anything I can use at home to clean up with spending all this cash? We know, we’ve been there, too — and yes, there is! To solve your cleaning woes — we tracked down 9 products that women swear by — and never clean without! Added bonus? They’re all found in your home!

We’ve got the every day household items (bet you didn’t know vinegar could do this!), the specialty cleaners (they don’t call it a magic eraser for nothing!), and then there’s the products that you didn’t even know could be used for cleaning — but work wonders (swear!). Yup, we’ve got ‘em all right here!

Ready to take a look? Head on over to TheNest.com to snag the best nine home products you never knew you couldn’t live without!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Nursery Tips on a Budget

21 Inspiring Wall Decor Ideas

Stuff We Love: Design Tricks on a Budget

Looking for a fun way to get the kids involved this Valentine’s day? Check out this curated group of crafts from around the web!

Which craft do you love?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Cutest Valentine’s Day Crafts for Toddlers

How to Make Valentine’s Day Decorations

Valentine’s Day Crafts for Your Little Tots

Congratulations, mama, we made it to the weekend!

Even though Saturday and Sunday are meant for total relaxation and time away from work, we know you’ve got a to-do list a mile long and barely any time to get to all of it. Whether you’re expecting, thinking of getting pregnant, or already mom to a beautiful babe (or two! or three!), the weekends often turn into one big haze of family time — and even though that’s totally fine, we’re here to help you get a few things done. Instead handing the list of weekend projects off to your partner, make it a family affair. Give your little ones fun chores to take part in, like cleaning up the playroom for a treat, or having them help you collect the laundry all over the house. If your in-law’s are in town, as them to take the kids out for a day of play while you tackle all the to-do’s you’ve pushed aside. Time is of the essence and we’re ready to make it work for you!

So before you throw in the towel on your household revamps, try these simple redecorating tips. Head on over to The Next and check out their 10 easy weekend DIY projects. These easy-to-tackle tasks will give your home the makeover it needs, minus the bill!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Nursery Tips on a Budget

21 Inspiring Wall Decor Ideas

Stuff We Love: Design Tricks on a Budget

Maybe you’re nesting, maybe you’re getting your home ready for baby, or maybe you’re already enjoying life at home with your little one. Whatever your reason, we know that spending all that extra time inside has got you thinking one thing: Decor!

Instead of harping on all of the things you can’t change about your home (either you don’t have the time, the money, or the stomach to handle all that renovation!), or daydreaming about the DIY projects you’ve been endlessly pinning on Pinterest, focus on the simple tips you can use to punch up the personality in your pad. A few easy tricks will give your space all the feelings of a full-on makeover minus the hefty bill. (We can see you waving your hands in delight!)

So, how can you give your home a revamp that won’t suck up all your time or all your spare change? Our girls at The Nest have 10 ways you can give your sacred space some TLC for UNDER $50. (Yup, we said under. This is real.)

Dying to see how to do it? Head on over to The Nest to check out these 10 accents you can add to any room of your home.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Nursery Tips on a Budget

21 Inspiring Wall Decor Ideas

Stuff We Love: Design Tricks on a Budget