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

Whether you are hosting a bridal shower or a baby shower, the one thing you are going to want to do is make sure your guests are entertained throughout the event! I am hosting my cousin and his bride-to-be’s wedding shower, and my husband is challenging me to no end in coming up with ideas to keep everyone entertained.

You see most of our family get-togethers are filled with small-talk and strained conversation. My husband and I want to change that. We love making events fun for everyone and go out of our way to make sure our guests are thrilled. This bridal shower will be my first opportunity since our wedding to do so.

The plans are just coming together, but so far we love the idea of doing karaoke out at my parents’ farm. It’ll get everyone out of there shell and it doesn’t hurt that Brian (my husband) and the groom-to-be (my cousin) happen to be a decent singers.

The bride-to-be is an avid scrap-booker, so I’m hoping to transform my mother’s kitchen table into a “make-the-bride-a-page-for-her-wedding-scrapbook” site.

Other than that, we’re looking at doing a BBQ, adding in some yard games and who knows what else! If you have ideas on how to keep guests entertained at baby and bridal showers, do tell!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Did you know that TheShowerFoundry.com has put together a Helpful Article bank especially for you? Articles include great tips and insight on both baby showers and bridal showers. So, just in case you’re looking for help and advice on all things baby shower or bridal shower TheShowerFoundry.com has you covered!

Let’s check it out. Currently there are seven articles relating to baby showers including “How to throw a baby shower like a celebrity”, “Planning a menu for your baby shower”, “Fun baby shower themes” and “Popular baby shower favors”. On the bridal shower side of things, TheShowerFoundry.com offers two articles – “Traditional bridal shower themes” and “Planning a memorable bridal shower”.

I encourage you to check out this resource as you’re planning your upcoming baby or bridal shower for lots of tips and know-how on creating the most fabulous shower possible! The great minds at TheShowerFoundry.com have helped countless baby and bridal shower planners pull together all the details for baby and bridal shower celebrations. Use their knowledge to help make your upcoming shower the best it can be!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

TheShowerFoundry.com now offers a FABULOUS way to customize bridal shower themes – they call it Custom Bride. What’s so great about TheShowerFoundry.com’s Custom Bride option is that it gives you so many options to choose from when creating a bridal shower theme.

With Custom Bride you’re able to select from 10 different bride looks as well as 30 different background options. Plus, you can personalize your invitations, placemats, banners – almost everything – with a few lines of text! In no time at all you’ll have put together a very personalized bridal shower theme, which will not only impress the guests but the bride-to-be as well.

Just imagine guests opening up their invitations and seeing a bride that looks like the bride-to-be that they all know and love! It’ll knock their socks off and have the guests looking even more forward to what you’ll pull together for the upcoming bridal shower. Whether you’ll need banners, guest favors or thank you cards, you know you’ll be able to find it all at TheShowerFoundry.com. Happy planning! 

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Just like the future Mr. and Mrs. Happily-Ever-After, TheShowerFoundry.com’s Perfect Pair – Scented Pear Soap makes a perfect pairing for your bridal shower guests! This adorably packaged sweet-scented soap is shaped just like a real pear. And not only that, the light-green soap is speckled with brown flecks – again, just like the real thing!

But there’s more elegance to be had. The fabulous Perfect Pair – Scented Pair Soap is carefully placed on a bed of white straw-colored raffia and set inside a stunning gift box. Yes ladies, even the gift box goes above and beyond the call of duty.

The textured gift box is two-toned and amazing! It has a chocolate brown base and a light-green (think pear-like green) colored top with a sophisticatedly simple line drawing of two pears. Beneath the pears reads, “The Perfect Pair”. Could the Perfect Pair-Scented Pear Soap BE any more adorable?

Yes. Yes, it can. The box comes tied with a lovely dark brown satin ribbon and bow. Perfection!

Posted by Sara, a Dot-arilla Blogger

In a time of Internet maps and GPS systems, a bridesmaid may forget that some wedding guests do not have access to these forms of technology. Make sure that you include directions with each invitation. Print out the directions using a standard home printer. Use a  colored printer paper that coordinates with your bridal shower invitation. Colored paper stands out and will lessen the chance of the guest misplacing the directions. A pale green paper would look fantastic next to the green bridal silhouette invitations. Fold the directions in half and slip them in the envelope behind the invitation. Do not forget to post signs at key intersections near the shower venue. Draw black arrows on the signs that point the way to the shower. A bridal shower banner, that coordinates with your shower theme, will also help to ensure your guests end up at the right place.

Posted by Amy, a Dot-arilla Blogger

History tells us that the first bridal shower was for a poor miller and his young bride-to-be. The miller was an extraordinarily generous man. He gave away all the money he made to the poor people of the village. When the bride-to-be told her father of her plans to marry a poor man, he would not give them his approval. The bride-to-be would have no dowry to begin her new life. When the villagers heard the news they showered the young woman with modest gifts for her home. The father saw the generosity of the villagers and eventually gave the couple his blessing. Today friends and family of the bride still come together to shower the bride-to-be with gifts. Do not forget to help out your bride-to-be by purchasing thank you cards for her to send out after the shower. The “love is blooming” thank you cards are the perfect reflection of the love between the poor miller and his true love.

Posted by Amy, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Send us pictures of your baby showers, birthday parties, baptisms, bridal showers and weddings, and we will post them on Facebook to share with everyone.

Pictures are great inspiration to other party planners. Send your event pictures to Smiles@BigDotOfHappiness.com!