Big Dot of Happiness wants to make everyday heroes out of everyday people so we’ve updated our parent company’s blog and made it all sparkly and new. From bridal showers to baby showers and everything beyond, BigDotOfHappiness.com has created your one-stop spot for ideas and inspiration. The remarkable design is easy to navigate and search, and features a quick link to all of the Big Dot Shops for when you have been fully inspired and are ready to shop.

Visit our Get Inspired section to view fun and creative ideas, and to gain some inspiration for your special celebration. If you need help deciding on a theme, use the search bar on the right which will search by a variety of parameters, such as category or tags. If you want to search by event, look directly below the search bar for buttons featuring our event categories, making it easy to navigate the Big Dot of Happiness Blog and tailor it to your needs.

And while you’re there, Big Dot’s videos are certainly a must-see. For tips and tricks mixed with a little bit of Big Dot humor, the video button will bring you to our video posts while the YouTube button below will send you directly to our YouTube channel.

Blog posts are updated frequently and are full of party planning ideas, so whether you need sensational decorating ideas and easy party recipes, or just want to be the first to know about new and original products, the Big Dot of Happiness Blog is exactly where you need to be.

If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Facebook fan for exclusive Hostess Hero coupons and offers. “Like” Big Dot on Facebook directly through the blog and remember to recommend us to all of your friends. You never know when the next Silly Sale will be!

Posted by Lindsey, a Dot-arilla blogger

There are big changes afoot in the Big Dot of Happiness world! Through the years, you’ve come to know us as THE place to purchase everything you need to host a great party…we’re your one-stop-shop for all your party supplies. Well, the Big Dot family is thrilled to announce we’re now also your place for party tips, ideas, and inspirations…

Introducing the Big Dot of Happiness Blog!

Now you can join TheShowerFoundry.com and the rest of our sister sites at the all-new Big Dot of Happiness Blog as we share and discuss our favorite party supplies, tips, projects, and recipes—and show you how to incorporate them into your next event, whatever the occasion. At the Big Dot of Happiness Blog, you’ll find all the party expertise you’ve come to expect from our company, brought together in one handy, accessible spot.

So come, be a part of the Big Dot community, and let us help you take your parties to the next level—the Big Dot of Happiness way!

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Great! Here you go: Personalize guest places with TheShowerFoundry.com’s Elegant Arc Photo Frame. But really impress the guests by taking it to the next level by placing a photo of the mom-to-be with the to-be-seated guest. Time consuming? Definitely. Impressive? Absolutely! The question is, are you up for the challenge?

Think of how much each of your guests will appreciate the gesture. And not only that, but they’ll have a much-loved favor to take home after the baby shower. Oooo! Wouldn’t it be great to track down a picture of each guest as a baby and place those in the frames? The ideas just keep rolling in people!

Another way to boost the admiration and praise for your impressive work as an event planner – have the guest(s) of honor write a note of appreciation on the back of the framed photo. It’ll be a fun surprise! As soon as one guest discovers the notes, the others will be quick to find theirs. Not only that, but conversations will ensue and the ladies will easily be able to bond by sharing their notes among the table. All in good fun!

So, how will you go above and beyond with your baby shower decorations? Inquiring minds want to know! What’s been your best baby shower favor – received or given?

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Drinking games at a baby shower? Only a Wisconsin-based company could get away with that! Well, maybe not only a Wisconsin-based company. But now I can’t help but imagine a baby shower with both TheShowerFoundry.com’s Bottles Up! game and TheShowerFoundry.com’s Who Smells the Stinky Doo? game. That would make for crazy memories my friends, crazy, crazy memories!

But let’s talk more about TheShowerFoundry.com’s Bottles Up! game, shall we? Bottles Up! comes with a 6-pack of empty baby bottles. And, as a special little notice, these bottles are only for entertainment – the bottles are not to be used by infants.

What you’re going to want to do is to fill each bottle up with your favorite beverage. Then, designate someone to be the official timer. Give the drinkers a “Ready-Set-Go” and see who can finish first! Yes, each drinker is sucking from a bottle. Are you picturing the amazing ridiculousness?

Bring a camera, you’re going to need it. Better yet, have your smart phone out and upload the pictures to Facebook immediately. The things we do for our friends and family

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Add one more fabulous game to the baby shower mix – Sweet Mess! Oh my goodness, if you’ve been to a baby shower, you’ve probably seen this game. But TheShowerFoundry.com takes it to a whole new level with the packaging and presentation. So what exactly is Sweet Mess?

Let me quote from the product description, “Oooeyyy gooeeyyy what is that pooeeyy??”. Figure it out? Well, here’s what happens. Brace yourself.

TheShowerFoundry.com’s Sweet Mess game comes with four fun-sized candy bars – Milky Way, Baby Ruth, Musketeer and Butterfinger and four disposable diapers. Each candy bar is placed into one diaper and then microwaved for 20 seconds.

After stirring around the diaper contents with a toothpick, each diaper is displayed. Guests are to figure out (without tasting!) which chocolate made the mess. The guest with the most answers right, wins!

Think you’re mom-to-be is up for it? Have you played the Sweet Mess game at a baby shower? What was the reaction? I can only imagine!!!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

I thought I’d check out TheShowerFoundry.com’s baby shower games in order to get some inspiration for my cousin’s upcoming bridal shower. Yes, I fully understand that baby shower games and bridal shower games are not one in the same, but I’m always up for thinking outside the box!

That said, as I was perusing the baby shower game selection on TheShowerFoundry.com, I actually laughed out loud when I saw Who Smells the Stinky Doo? This was one that needed to be looked at closer – really!

So it turns out that Who Smells the Stinky Doo? is a scratch-and-sniff game. Scratch and sniff! Oh my. (And now I’m trying to picture my very proper aunt’s face as this game is explained.) You’ll receive 20 cards – 19 baby powder scented and one stinky card. FYI ladies – the stinky card is the very top card in each pack. Careful what you do with it!

The “winner” is the person who scratches the stinky card! Be sure to have a fabulous gift lined up for the winner of this game. Maybe something yummy smelling like a great candle or a bouquet of flowers?

Have any of you played TheShowerFoundry.com’s Who Smells the Stinky Doo? game? If so, were you the “winner”? I can only imagine!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Looking for an amazing centerpiece for your guest tables? Look no further than TheShowerFoundry.com’s Mommy Silhouette It’s A Girl – 1 Tier Baby Shower Diaper Cake. Isn’t it fabulous? I absolutely LOVE the 1-Tier Baby Shower Diaper Cake as a centerpiece.

Why?

First, the diapers making up the cake are things that the mom-to-be will obviously be using with a newborn on the way!

Second, going with a 1-Tier Baby Shower Diaper Cake allows you to stretch your budget (as compared to purchasing a multi-tiered cake) while providing your guests with a clear line of sight across the tables.

Third, how adorable is the theme-specific ribbon running around the cake? And adding a themed lollipop to the top just makes the look! Don’t you think? If so, be sure to check out TheShowerFoundry.com’s Lollipops – Personalized Baby Shower Favors.

And let’s not forget to dwell for a bit on the cuteness that is the Mommy Silhouette It’s A Girl theme! Isn’t the pink, brown and white color combination just stunning? So understated, yet right on point for a young mom-to-be!

 Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

There’s nothing cuter than opening up an adorable baby shower invitation and TheShowerFoundry.com has some of the most fabulous baby shower invitations out there! With more than 78 designs to choose from, you’re sure to find a baby shower invitation perfect for your upcoming event. I honestly can’t decide which one I like best, but here are a few of my favorites:

• Silhouette Couples Baby Shower – It’s A Baby – Squiggle Shaped Baby Shower Invitation. This design comes in three colors: blue, pink and (my favorite!) Tiffany Blue. What I love most about this baby shower invitation is that it features a modern young mom-and-dad-to-be making it perfect for a couples baby shower. Fabulous!
• Puppy Dog – Squiggle Shaped Baby Shower Invitation. Like the Silhouette Couples Baby Shower invitation, the Puppy Dog invite is offered as a Boy Puppy Dog and a Girl Puppy Dog, in blue and pink respectively. Granted, I fell in love with this invite because I’m a dog person. How can your heart not melt when you see an adorable little puppy?

Like all things TheShowerFoundry.com, their baby shower invitations can be personalized – making them all the more fun to open! Happy planning!!!

 Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Want that warm and fuzzy feeling of doing something good for the world? Then consider asking your guests to donate to a charity on your behalf instead of showering you with gifts!

The idea of asking for charity donations in lieu of gifts is a novel approach and may be the perfect solution for the bride and groom who already seem to have everything. Perhaps you’re celebrating a second-marriage, simply combining two mature households, or you just like the idea of giving. Whatever your reason, you’ll be sure to experience those warm and fuzzy feelings and maybe even inspire a few of your guests to do the same at future celebrations.

Is your bride-to-be an animal lover? Then consider donating to your local humane society. Is she more about helping kids? Consider Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Looking for a way to end poverty? Check out One Day’s Wages. There are amazing charities doing work in every field. Just ask your bride-to-be what she’s most passionate about and strike out to find a charity that means the most to her.

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

TheShowerFoundry.com’s It’s a Baby Helpful Hints – Baby Shower Game is a great way to break the ice among guests and get the conversation going for the rest of the baby shower. The It’s a Baby Helpful Hints – Baby Shower Game card reads: “I’m a new Mommy-To-Be… Please give some helpful hints on how to raise a new baby!”

As a woman without any children (aside from our two fur-babies, Raja and Loki), I can only begin to imagine how helpful and hilarious this advice would be to an expecting mom and dad! That said, I’ve had a few friends who have shared some “interesting” ways of doing things with me already and I can easily see how TheShowerFoundary.com’s It’s a Baby Helpful Hints – Baby Shower Game will get people engaged and connecting with each other. 

Not only that, the design of It’s a Baby Helpful Hints – Baby Shower Game is absolutely adorable. With a modern and simple baby belly profile, there’s plenty of room to share a few of your best hints! Enjoy!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger