Stay in with your girlfriends and have a kid- and husband-free night

Instead of the same old dinner out with friends, get together at home — yours or a pal's:

Wine tastings. The hostess picks a wine (say, merlot) and everyone brings a bottle, plus cheese and crackers. Parenting staffer Lisa Bain and her friends set a price limit — no more than $15. "It's a fun way to learn more about wine," she says. For some guidance, check out Winemag.com's free database of 35,000 reviews, searchable by rating, price, and varietal or blend. (Registration's required, but avoid e-mail by declining updates.)

Clothing swaps. Everyone brings a bag full of clothes they no longer want (nothing ratty or stained) and goes "shopping" among their friends' stuff. Whatever's left over at the end of the night goes to charity. If you don't all wear similar sizes, include accessories such as purses and costume jewelry.

 

So, you're throwing a baby shower. The date is set and the invitations have been sent. The anticipation is brewing. But what are you going to do once you get everyone to the party? Baby showers are thrown all the time, but how can you make yours a memorable one? One that the parents-to-be and the guests will remember always? Plan some fun games. Games are great for entertaining your guests and creating a comfortable and fun environment for everyone to interact and loosen up. Here are just a few popular baby shower games:

 

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Guess the Mother-to-be's Waistline

Popping fresh berries into your mouth is one of summer's greatest pleasures. But they deliver more than just a juicy burst of sweetness. Brightly colored power packs of nutrition, berries continually impress researchers with their ability to prevent disease and promote health. Although experts hesitate to say which berries are best — "We're just scratching the surface of berries' health benefits," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson David Grotto, R.D. — check out the current contenders. Blueberries 83 calories per cup Loaded with free radical-fighting antioxidants — no other berry has more — blueberries are one of nature's best protectors against cancer and heart disease. They're brain food as well, says James Joseph, chief neuroscientist at the USDA's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. "They increase communication between neurons...and turn off oxidative stress and inflammation, which may promote Alzheimer's." Raspberries 64 calories per cup