Furnish a New Apartment: Apartment Shower

Many people schedule and plan wedding showers for newly engaged couples and after the wedding comes the baby shower for newly expectant mothers. For those that are fresh out of High School or College and starting a new life outfitting an apartment can be an expensive and stressful task. Why not help that friend out and plan an Apartment Shower. If the recipients family is financially unable to help with furnishing the new apartment an Apartment Shower can be a fun and easy way to help out the recipient and his or her family. An Apartment Shower can be a fun and relaxing event for both the giver and the recipient.

Planning the Event
Approaching the recipient with this idea is the best start. Ask the recipient of the Apartment Shower to make a wish list of items needed. This list could include furnishings, such as a dresser, futon, tables, chairs, etc. The wish list could also include items needed for the kitchen such as a coffee pot, crock pots, blender, dishes, kitchen towels or even canned goods or prepackaged foods such as ramen, macaroni and cheese or spices for the kitchen pantry. The wish list for the bath may include bath towels, hand towels, rugs, bath soaps, etc. Spend time with the recipient talking about things they already have and colors of those items. Create the wish list with items in mind that will help the recipient be more comfortable in her new home. The Apartment Shower wish list should contain mostly essential items and few extravagant items. The wish list should also state if the items should be new or if used items would be just as appreciated. A date and time for the apartment shower should be agreed upon. Planning refreshments and a home tour should also be considered. The refreshments could be as simple as a cake and punch or as extravagant as a brunch or afternoon tea with finger foods, a fruit bowl or wine and cheese. The hostess of the shower may consider gifting the recipient a set of dishes to be used at the shower or paper plates, cups and napkins could be decided upon. The hostess should be willing to supply the refreshments and thus may need to place a limit on how many guests can be invited. If the recipient is from a large family or has a large circle of friends the hostess may need to ask another to co-host the Apartment Shower.

The Invitation and Guest List
Creating an invitation using a computer program such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher can be loads of fun for the hostess and recipient. The invitation should contain the purpose for the event ,the recipients name, the hostess's name and the date and time and location of the apartment shower. The hostess's phone number should also be included. Create an insert containing the recipients wish list to be included with each invite. To prevent duplications ask guests to RSVP to the hostess with the item or items intended to be supplied. The hostess and guest could even do a registry at Walmart and this information could be included on the wish list. The hostess should ask the apartment shower recipient to give her a list of names and addresses of friends and family members she would like to see at her apartment shower. Include parents, grandparents, aunts, siblings and cousins as well as friends on the list. If the recipients best school chum has moved the hostess should consider sending an invite to this person also as a surprise. The invites should be sent out no less than 3 weeks before the date of the apartment shower.

The Big Day
The hostess should offer to help the recipient with any straightening up or cleaning of the apartment the morning of the event, the day before if it is to be a breakfast or brunch affair. Consider decorating to help give the somewhat bare apartment a homier feel. Scarves, candles, flowers, streamers and balloons could be spread about throughout the home. The hostess should assure the recipient that all apartment shower duties will be handled and she is just to meet and greet her guests and have a good time.

Once the apartment shower is over a good hostess will stay to help clean up after. All packages should have been opened during the party so there will be gift wrap and boxes to be discarded. Decorations may need to be torn down and put away or discarded also. Leftovers from apartment shower refreshments should be packaged and placed in the refrigerator for the recipient. The hostess may even offer to help the apartment shower recipient put things away, however the recipient may feel overwhelmed at this time and need to be left on her own for deciding where to put her newly acquired belongings.

Gift Ideas
If you have been invited to an Apartment Shower here you will find some wonderful gift ideas. Why not purchase a large pot and all the non-perishable items needed to prepare a spaghetti dinner. Place the items inside the pot and wrap with clear cellophane securing the wrap with a large bow at the top. Another great idea is purchasing a laundry basket and washday supplies. Purchase a few bath and hand topwels and arrange all items inside the basket. Wrap a wide ribbon around the basket in both directions and secure with a big bow. If you are able to purchase a larger imore extravagant item for the recipient why not purchase a radio/cd player with built in alarm clock and nestle it in a basket full of soothing cd's for that evening relaxation. Practically anything you decide to purchase or any unused item you decide to give away can be creatively wrapped and presented inside another much needed item.