So you’ve decided to be a magician. Now you want to join a local
group to learn a lot of tricks of trade. You practice them every
night and now you think you’re ready to perform. What should you
remember to do? Here are some tips for a successful magical show.

Show it to Other Magicians

Before plunging straight to the stage, be sure to show it to
other magicians from your local group. They can spot mistakes
and give you advice you could use once you start doing your
show. This will be very important so keep in mind what they have
to say.

Remember to ask for help if you’re struggling with your tricks.
Ask them if you’re doing it right or ask what you are doing
wrong. Be humble enough to know there are others better than
you.

Plan Your Show

You can’t really barge in front of an audience without knowing
the order of how you’ll do your tricks. The key is to get their
attention, maintain it and at the end do something mesmerizing.

The first trick should be something that will catch attention.
Don’t call on an audience volunteer immediately. Try some simple
but effective sleights of hand to start things off. The second
trick should be better than the first. Then follow it up with
another trick. In between great tricks, try telling something
funny or doing funny tricks just to make them laugh. At the end,
mesmerize them with a spellbinding trick that will make them ask
for more.

Remember that all your tricks should flow from one trick to
another. It should be like a story where all the things
happening are related to one another.

Length of the Show

If you’re in front of an audience that is paying, give them
something that will not make them go to the refund window. Show
them something exciting. New tricks are preferable as old tricks
will just make them not want to watch your show.

If you’re doing it for kids, do something simple and short.
Remember that a child’s attention span is short so you should
give them something that will make them continue watching.

If you’re doing street magic, just give them one of the tricks
you’ve mastered. Just mesmerize them and leave them with their
mouths wide open showing appreciation to your magic.

Remember to practice, plan and time your show. A great show
doesn’t need to be long to be good. Just give them something to
remember you by.

by Rick Hendershot, Linknet Publishing Network

When you see Snoop Dogg in that Chrysler commercial along with Lee Iacocca, and you hear him say something like,

Fo shizzle ikeizlle!

…do you have any idea what he’s talking about?

Chances are, your reaction is the same as mine: “Hey, this guy is pretty good at coming up with nonsensical impromptu rhymes.”

But that just reveals my ignorance of where a guy like Snoop Dogg is coming from. It turns out these rhymes are not just nonsense, but actually part of a much more widely used dialect spoken by millions of African Americans — especially teenagers in “the hood”.

People like me and Lee just don’t get it. If you ask me to translate even a simple sentence into this kind of street talk, I have no idea.

In the popular media this dialect is known as “Ebonics” — from “ebony”
(black) and “phonics” (sound). The serious study of ebonics has been around for more than 30 years. In the 1970s linguists showed how most of African American dialects share many of the same grammatical features as other languages. They emerged when a hodge podge of West African languages melded together with English to form a language the captive Africans could use to communicate with each other. So many of the grammatical features of ebonics that we dismiss as just plain bad English

actually have roots in many West African languages.

The popularity of rap and hip hop music has given these unique ways of speaking tremendous exposure, and rejuventated the idea that ebonics is a serious study of a real and important dialect. In fact in 1996 ebonics was actually recognized by the Oakland School Board as a native language of over 50 million African Americans. And in 2005 it was also added to the curriculum by the San Bernardino School Board.

Now Bling Bling Inc. has launched Ebonic Persuit, a unique new card game that can teach everybody the basic vocabulary and syntax of Ebonics.

No more excuses.

In the words of Jack Hoffer its inventor, “Ebonic Persuit is a way to bridge a very palpable communication gap” for those of us who have no idea what all those rappers and comedians are talking about. According to Hoffer, “Customers have told me they have taken the game on cross country road trips and had a blast with it. And college kids have told me Ebonic Persuit is a big hit at parties…”

Hoffer calls it “a ghettofabulous card game that has, as the Rools of Play proclaim, no rules at all.” The cards test players’ knowledge with multiple choice questions in six different categories - Homeslices, Drug and Leizur, Sex and Natur, Ghettography, Flava and Literature, and Hip Hop Trivia. It is a satire of ebonics that succeeds at being eductional and entertaining without in any way being disrespectful.

Sounds like a perfect way to get up to speed on ebonics!

For more information about Ebonic Persuit visit the Ebonic Persuit website.
About the Author

Rick Hendershot is a writer and internet publisher. For promotional ideas visit the Linknet Advertising Network. See our Article Promo Program were we write and publish articles for you. There’s nothing else like it anywhere.

A summary of different concerns that young adults share
Amidst a myriad of political conferences, lobbying, fundraising and campaigning, our country’s leaders are engaged in a daily struggle to improve the lives of Americans. True, each Congressman, Senator, etc., has his/her own goals and opinions of how best to carry out these goals. For young adults, what are the issues most important to their personal future?

Education

According to a report published by the National Center For Education Statistics, 19.5% of Americans over the age of 18 enter college. For those who have the financial resources and discipline to finish their degrees, they must face the decreasing employment opportunities in many career fields.

However, in order to reach the education level necessary to attend college, and therefore obtain employment in higher paying positions, children must have a firm educational foundation. With the decrease of qualified teachers entering the education field, and the higher costs of private school, this foundation is difficult to obtain. For many children in urban schools, the opportunity to attend college is just a far-fetched dream. One example of this is the unfortunate fact that 20% of American adults read at or below a fifth grade level. Some educational bills that many politicians are campaigning for include: · School vouchers · Increase of funding for public schools · Stringent certification testing for teachers · Standardized testing for all students

Health

One of the top health concerns for young adults is the increasing threat of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy. Since the 60’s, also known as the “sexual revolution,” we have seen an increase of unexpected pregnancies and the introduction of AIDS into mainstream society. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 118,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 29 are living with AIDS. This is not an issue to be ignored, since 2/3 of STD’s occur in people 25 years old and younger, 1 in 10 teenage women become pregnant every year, and 1 in 4 teens are infected with an STD every year. Many politicians look to an increase of sex education in the schools to help solve this crisis, while others set their trust in abstinence till marriage education.

Another health issue gaining a large amount of media attention, is mental illness left untreated among teenagers. One particular mental illness, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating), affects millions of young adults every year. With children younger and younger considering their weight and ability to attract the opposite sex, eating disorders are increasingly prevalent in America.

Politics

Not many of us will soon forget the many political scandals of the past five years - Clinton/Lewinsky, Kennedy, or Condit/Levy. In all the money, power, and fame, are there actually politicians paying attention to the needs of the country and our concerns?

46% of young adults never volunteer for a political campaign because they do not feel that the candidates running address their concerns, or are trustworthy. Only 53% feel that our country’s leaders and institutions address their concerns.

Crime

Turn on the TV or radio and you’ll here about murder, robberies, and the occasional hostage situation. Yes, crime is an issue on the minds of many young adults today. Some of us may not live in high crime areas, but many live in areas where drive-by shootings are a fact of life. According to the FBI, every 19 seconds a violent crime is committed. An Associated Press report comments that children in the United States are nine times more likely to be killed by gunfire than all of the next 25 top industrial nations. Why?

Another increasing concern is the rise in hate crimes among young adults. One in three hate crimes are committed by people under the age of 18, with 75% under the age of 30. Another statistic by the FBI states: Of the hate crimes reported to the FBI in 1999, 1,411 incidents were attributed to prejudice against the victim’s religion; 1,317, against his or her sexual orientation; 829 against ethnic or national origin; and 19 against disabilities.

Economics

With the bombardment of commercials, sales flyers, telemarketers, and Internet ads, more and more Americans are falling into the cavern of debt. Millions of families have thousands of dollars in credit card debt far exceeding what they can possibly afford. Though most of us start out with good intentions of living by a budget, getting good jobs, and saving money, statistics show that few of us carry out our plans. The point…start now with a budget, save a percentage of every paycheck, and live within your means.

Environment/Overpopulation

The stereotypical environmentalist, with the “tree-hugger” mentality is slowing giving way to a mainstream concern for protecting our natural resources. Recently, a woman in our area was diagnosed with cancer. The cause - a pesticide used on their farm. In fact, according to The Sierra Club, 80% of all cancer is caused by environmental contaminants. It appears that our very existence depends on cleaning the chemicals and toxins seeping into our communities.

For example, take a look at the following statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency: · 3 out of 10 Americans breathe unhealthy air even though the Clean Air Act was passed more than 20 years ago. · 20% of community drinking water systems get their drinking water from facilities that violate public health safety requirements. · 10 million children under the age of 12 live within 4 miles of a toxic waste dumpsite. Another concern that flows in and out of the media is overpopulation. The United Nations spends millions of dollars every year in providing birth control and abortions to women in third world countries. However, statistically, we are not in a situation of overpopulation but poor use of resources and land. “Human beings inhabit no more than 3 percent of the land surface of the earth. What’s more, the amount of habitable land is not limited. Singapore was once marshland. Much of Holland was once under water…. “To put the matter in perspective, if the world’s 5.4 billion people were put in Jacksonville, Florida, each person would have four square feet to stand in. In Texas each person would have at least fourteen hundred square feet, the area of a good-sized two-bedroom apartment.” Sheldon L. Richman, “Much Ado About Nothing: Population Growth as Promise, Not Problem,” The World & I, vol. 8, no. 6 (1993): 374-75.

In Closing…

There are so many issues that form our belief systems and guide our professional and personal lives. It is impossible to give a synopsis of each in one article. However, it is imperative that we search for the answers to our questions and understand both sides of the issues in order to find the truth hiding amidst the rhetoric.

About the Author

Tenille is currently a freelance writer and editor. She is a former professional ballet dancer and actress.

Chances are there 2 different routes to buying you next contract
mobile phone. The first one is a retail establishment and the
second online off the Internet, both of these options suit a
different type of shopper. The first option of buying your next
phone from a shop, suits someone who does not know much about
mobile phones or and impulse buy. The benefits are having a
trained assistant tell you about the phone, show you how it
works the monthly costs, and if there is a problem a personal
contact to return to. The second option is the Internet where
you can order you phone online at anytime of day; anywhere where
there in Internet access and in some cases have it delivered the
next day. There are benefits from both ways, but there is one
major benefit that clearly suits buying online and that is, it
is very rare that you will get a better deal in a shop than
online. In fact if you look hard enough we are not talking about
a few pounds but substantial money. That is because their
overheads are lower; not paying commission to salespeople and
most online firms only has one unit rather than hundreds around
the country. If you are unsure about your next phone, visit the
shops, see what you like but before you commit, check it out
online. My next bit of advice is to check out the spec of the
phone. It seems like an obvious statement but last year I
upgraded my phone to the newer model. It seemed like a good idea
as I had liked my previous phone and the newer model was more up
to date. After a few months I decided to look at the improved
spec of my new phone just to find it had a better camera in it
that the last. As I never use the camera in my phone and use a
separate digital camera, it then became apparent that my upgrade
was unnecessary. The killer for me was, had I kept my existing
phone my line rental would have been 75% cheaper than the new
phone. A while ago, upgrades went from having black and white
screens to colour or monotone to polyphonic ring tones. But in
recent times the advances have not been so great, so make sure
that upgrade really is worth the money. In fact if you look hard
enough you can find contract mobile phone deals that give you
back your line rental over the year to make your phone
affectively free. These phone are modern, have colour screens,
WAP, polyphonic ring tones the only difference is they are not
the latest model. So to summarise, if you see a phone you like
in a shop, take a breath and compare it to the same phone
online. I am sure there will be an exception somewhere but my
experience is, it will be cheaper online. Then make sure you
know what the phone does, if you don’t need it, then why pay for
it. Of course there will be some of you who will want the latest
model for no other reason than it is the latest model and that’s
ok. There are some of you who will still buy in a shop, but at
least you have had the choice.

It’s no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other. After all, it is the universal language, and we all participate in it to some degree from the cradle to the grave. It starts with our Mothers’ lullaby, ends with our funeral song, with a zillion other stops along the way.

But what is music, anyway? What makes it tick? We all love some form of it and dislike other forms of it.

The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin’ & grinnin’. And the jazz fan feels just the opposite.

And that’s as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of music, there just wouldn’t be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to children’s songs to Broadway musicals to gospel music to the blues.

Each has its place, and each seems on the surface to be drastically different than another form of music. The key word is “on the surface.” But beneath the surface of all music is a commonality that is organic to all forms and styles of music.

So what does all music have in common?

At least 3 things – sometimes more, but never less:

1.Melody
2.Rhythm
3.Harmony

The melody is the part of a song or composition that you whistle or hum – in other words, the tune of the song. In one sense, it is the most visible of the 3 elements, because melody is what identifies a song. Without melody, it would be difficult to even conceive of a song or piece.

In musical notation, the melody is almost always written in the treble clef – also known as the treble staff. It consists of a horizontal line of notes that move up and down on the clef as the tune moves higher or lower.

Rhythm is the beat – the swing – the throb of the music. It happens in repeating patterns, depending upon the type of music. It is like a horizontal line of beats which occur at regular or semi-regular intervals. A waltz, for example, basically consists of a heavy beat followed by two lighter beats. So we say that a waltz is in triple meter – one strong beat followed by two weak beats, then repeated.

A march, on the other hand, generally consists of a heavy beat followed by a light beat, then another heavy beat followed by another light beat. (I’m simplifying, of course – there are many varieties…) So a march is in duple meter – as you might expect since we have two feet and we march in left-right-left-right patterns.

All rhythms are some combination of triple meter and/or duple meter, and the possibilities are endless – from boogie to R&B to mambos and sambas and bossa novas and….on and on.

Harmony, the 3rd aspect of music, is the musical background of a song – the chords, or intervals “behind” the melody. Without harmony, a song sounds empty – like a vocalist singing without an accompanist – or accapella. Music doesn’t HAVE to have harmony to function, but in actual practice it almost always does, even if it is just the interplay of two melodies, as in counterpoint.

You could spend a lifetime learning all the nuances of music, but it its most basic form, it is these 3 elements combined together; melody, rhythm, and harmony.

About the Author

Duane Shinn is the author of the book-CD-DVD course titled “How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!” which is used by pianists around the world and can be found at http://www.pianoplaying.com

String muting is another technique that can help you define your
own personal style. There are two types of string muting, the
palm mute with your picks hand and the string mute with your
fret hand. They serve very different purposes, but both are
important to good guitar playing.

Fret-hand muting is particularly important when playing chords
and power chord. The purpose is to use part of you finger tips
and fingers to mute the strings you don’t want to include in the
chord being played. For example the C majors chord is played
from the 5th string to the first, your are not supposed to hit
the 6th string. I use the tip of my 3rd finger that is holding
down the 5th string 3rd fret to rub up against the sixth string
thereby muting the string. I use this same technique with power
chords, but in addition I use the fat part of my index finger to
lightly lay across strings 1,2,3. with just enough pressure to
mute the strings. The beauty is if you get a little wild with
your pick it still sounds right. Fret-hand muting is used
extensively.

Palm muting is more commonly used in distorted rock songs. The
technique involves resting the heel of your pick-hand palm on
the strings as you pick. Most people rest it directly over the
bridge, but you can experiment with different positions for
different sounds. Also try different levels of pressure to
regulate the level of muting. This technique creates a
percussive, muffled or chunky sound. Combine fast down strokes
with palm muting in various patterns with moderate distortion
for sounds similar to Metallica or other metal bands.

Both fret hand muting and palm muting are very individual and
stylistic techniques. Incorporate practicing this technique
every time you pick up your guitar and before long you’ll master
this necessary skill.

The sun, that celestial body which has always fascinated the human species, which differentiates night and day, which when angry, produces the fascinating auroras, is father to us all: humans, animals and plants. The sun is the father of life on Earth! But similarly to giving life, it will also take it away. This will be life’s doomsday. No way can we escape from this if we stay put.

How do we escape? Where do we take refuge? Where will we start all over again? These are the main questions.
Ok, I admit! Earth is not going to be affected by the sun right now. This is true. But it was only an illustration I made! There are many other dangers waiting.

Forget about the sun taking life away for a minute and think of a simple piece of rock floating in space. Then suddenly, it decides to crash on Earth killing all its inhabitants. What do we do if an asteroid dives on us?

You may think that we have the required technology to avoid collision but I personally, am not so sure! To prove this let me inform you that only 90% of all these threatening objects are actually found by scientists. What about this other 10%? Nothing! No space agencies till now are trying to do anything. Do you think we are really prepared, now? Is life something we can play with?

Apart from asteroids, there are also other menacing-to-hit-Earth objects including comets. Remember the comet Shoemaker-Levy9? It wanted to obtain a better view of Jupiter. The result: engulfed by the planet that is, the comet simply crashed into Jupiter. This may happen to Earth too. If a comet were to hit Earth, it would be a real disaster. Extinction of life quasi-instantly! And humans for sure do not have the technology to avoid a comet impact.

If we do not want to be extinct, we will have to flee. We have to go elsewhere. But where? Where next?

K.A.Cassimally is the editor in chief of Astronomy Journal and Astronomy Journal Ezine. He is also the co-founder of the RCPL Astronomy Club. K.A.Cassimally is best known for his article ‘Harry Potter and the Moons of Jupiter’.
He is also Senior Columnist at BackWash.com where he writes ‘Not Scientific Science’.
Website: http://www.rcplastronomyclub.zik.mu
http://www.backwash.com/content.php?id=358
Email: kcassimally@rcplastronomyclub.zik.mu

Amber, the gem of a stone that’s not really a gemstone at all, is actually fossilized pine sap. People have collected, traded, carved, and coveted amber for more than 10,000 years. Yet despite our fascination with it, much about the smoky yellow stone — the history of amber — remains a mystery.
The price for amber stones varies widely, in the right price range for Average Joe’s (and Joannas) who can spend as little as $20 for amber and silver jewelry, and also for high-rollers ready to spend $40,000 or more for a “slice of sunshine” in amber jewelry crafted in gold, platinum, and featuring other gemstones. And although it not an official “birthstone — a designation reserved for actual gemstones — amber is often presented to those born under the sign of Taurus (April 19-May 19).
History of Amber
Amber is found in Myanmar home to the largest piece of transparent amber in the world (33.5 pounds and 40-50 million years old), as well as Lebanon, Sicily, Mexico, Romania, Germany, and Canad. The two main sources of amber on the market today, however, are the Dominican Republic and the Baltic states.
Once highly regulated, Baltic amber has become more widely available due to more liberal economic policies in Eastern Europe. Today, the whole world enjoys amber minded from the Baltic region, where the largest mine is in Russia, west of Kaliningrad.
Baltic amber may also be found in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia. Baltic amber has even washed up on the shores of the Baltic Sea in Denmark, Norway, and England. Baltic amber is the oldest geological specimen to be used in jewelry. Archeologists digging near the Baltic Sea have found evidence of Baltic amber jewelry that is approximately 40,000 years old.
Green Amber is a completely natural variation of Baltic Amber. The green color is a result of plant interaction with the resin. While green is a more valuable color of amber than brown, the best quality of amber remains clear, transparent, and flawless.
Slightly softer than Baltic amber, Dominican amber is prized for its coloration, including yellow and deep red, as well as the distinctive (and rare) blue and smoky green hues that come exclusively from that area.
Shocking Information about Amber
The ancient name for amber was “electron,” the root word of electricity. Around 600 B.C., it was discovered that if an amber stone was rugged vigorously, it became electrically charged. Believed to carry a negative electrical energy charge, amber was used to draw power and energy into its bearer.
In addition to its ability to attract energy and power, amber was believed to aid the intellect. It was prescribed for memory loss; eccentric behavior; anxiety, and indecisiveness.
The Joy of Amber
Amber jewelry is said to help one be joyful and happy. The cheery yellow stone is believed to lighten the burdens of life.
Healers say that amber activates our altruistic nature and helps us realize the full power of our spiritual intellect.

About the Author

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Deciding which of all of the comic characters is the best is a
difficult task that in itself, might be a heroic deed. They have
to be amazing, which all of them are, they have to be strong,
which all of them are, and they have to be a staunch defender of
good principles. This is a tough task. Might I suggest three
comic characters for your consideration: Mr. Incredible, Buzz
Light-Year and Superman? Each not only possesses super powers
that aid them in saving the world, they are absolutely committed
to the betterment of society.

Mr. Incredible is, well, incredible. He’s the strongest and
toughest comic character that I have ever seen. He can withstand
being thrown by a giant robot and the threatenings of his wife.
He is not perfect by any means. He gets in fights with his
family, he chases bad guys when he’s not supposed too and has a
small weight problem. Not withstanding these imperfections he
always works things out and finds a way to stay united with his
family. I think the fact that he has a family and a life outside
of hero work adds to his believability and lovability as an all
time comic character.

I’m not sure if Buzz Light-Year actually counts as a super hero
because he doesn’t actually have any super powers. However, he
is a comic character. He’s a man who falls with style. He is
intensely loyal to whichever cause he sees as just. Whether it
be star command, or to his friends: Woody, Rex and Hamm. Buzz
Light-Year is a hotshot with his laser light and karate chop
action. When things get tough he can come up with a way to
defeat any enemy. Buzz has an uncanny ability to lead, but is
intensely loyal to his owner Andy, whose name he bears on his
foot. Buzz Light-Year is a man of action and he is a hero
without powers.

The mild mannered reporter has struck wonder in the hearts of
all men and women as to whether or not there are ordinary nerds
among us who really have extraordinary powers. Superman is
perhaps the most well known and widely recognized comic
character of all time. He is more powerful than a locomotive,
able to leap to buildings in a single bound, and faster than a
speeding bullet, yet he still has a life full of social
awkwardness. He spends his life chasing a love that loves his
alter ego. Superman inspires mankind to be something better and
nobler than what it already is.

Each of these comic characters is super in their own right.
Each has his own strengths and weaknesses. Each deserves honor
in one form or the other. Each has made a great contribution to
the society were they live. How do you choose the best super
hero comic character? That is easy. You don’t. I salute all of
the comic characters and their writers.

1. Who will plan the Baby Shower

Baby showers can be hosted by anyone for the new "parents to be." It can be a
family member, a friend, or a co-worker. If it is a surprise shower, then the family can help out with the guest list and gift items.

2. Baby Shower Budget

To determine how much the shower will cost, you will need to know the number of guests, the location of the shower, the menu, what type of party favors, and how many game prizes you will need.

3. Guest list

Organize your guest list by asking the parents-to-be who they would like to have at the shower. Usually this includes friends and family, but a few close co-workers may also be invited. Get address, phone numbers, and email addresses. Decide if it will be a "girl’s only" shower or "couples".

4. Baby Shower Theme

Baby showers are fun when having baby shower games! Be a kid again with teddy bears and stuffed animals for decorations. Or, invite couples and do a buffet or outdoor party. Whatever theme you choose, remember this will be the baby’s first party. Baby shower party favors are fun to hand out at the end of the party.  Have fun!

5. Selecting the menu

Although your menu should reflect your theme, the time of day is as
important - as well as the number of guests. Make this a day of celebration for the Mother-to-be or parents-to-be, her guests, and yourself. Consider the amount of time and room available for the shower, as well as any special dietary needs of the Mother-to-be and her guests.

6. Location of the Baby Shower

Choose a location that is easy to get to and will accommodate the needs of the party. Generally, baby showers are held at the home of the host. Have an idea of how many people you expect before arranging any final details.

7. Select the Baby Shower date

The baby shower is normally around six weeks before the due date of the
baby’s birth. However, some mothers are electing to have the party after the baby is born. Showers are held on weekends and during the week. Try to make the time and day convenient for everyone including any out-of-town guests.

8. Selecting the time

If most of the guests attending the shower work, then an evening or weekend shower will work best. Consider a weeknight for a change of pace if everyone lives near each other. If you choose a weekend date, plan your shower early enough in the day for all who must travel to attend. Be sure to keep in mind the Mother’s schedule (naps, doctors appointments, etc.).

9. Baby Shower Invitations

Baby Shower Invitations can range from the casual (a phone call) to the most formal (printed invitations). You decide what will work for your shower. Be sure to include all necessary contact information. Consider also including your email if you check it every day.

10. Entertainment

As guests arrive, introduce them to one another. As a unique conversational item, ask your guests to wear a small photo of their child on their shirt. Who doesn’t love to brag about their child?!? Another way to break the ice is to provide name tags with a small note, such as, "I attended grammar school with Susie." This is a sure way to start conversations. Make sure to offer your guests liquid refreshments and whatever else you have provided. Printable baby shower games are a blast!  Set the mood with lighted candles, flowers, and baby shower decorations. You want your guests to enjoy the day (or evening) as much as the guest of honor.

About the Author

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on giving the best possible party, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts.