A Country Baby Shower

The Saturday before my niece was born, we gave my sister-in-law a baby shower at our home. My SIL's sister was in charge of the food, I was in charge of the decor.


I collected mason jars of all sizes before the party and by the time the day came I had a pool table cluttered with jars.

I had a vision in mind of a country, shabby chic party and I wanted pale shabby chic roses but couldn't find them. So I went with a country pale pink mix and loaded up the mason jars.

For the centerpieces, I grouped three different sized mason jars and filled them with flowers. I then took pictures from the maternity session I did for my sister-in-law through Bumble Photography and tied them with ribbon the largest jar.

I added a little country doily accent on the edge of each picture to give it that country look.

We didn't want the traditional cake or cupcakes so my mom baked up a storm with her delectable creations. We had cookies, spiced breads, apple cakes and an assortment of pies.

I made these little stick with the pictures at the last minute that morning. Used some vintage scrap book elements and glued them on scrap paper and them dirtied the edges with my vintage ink. Added it to a dowel and they were now an added decoration for the arrangements on the food tables.

I didn't get very many pictures of the food, but it was yummy:

• Sliders
• BBQ Pork Sliders
• baked beans (my grandmothers decades old recipe)
• Salad
• Potato Salad (my mom makes the absolute best!)
• Homemade Mac n' Cheese

For the guestbook, I purchased this childhood favorite of my brothers. Growing up this book was past to each of us and I believe to this day it's all our favorite childhood story.

Guest signed the front and back and someday when baby girl's mom and dad read her this book it will have more of a meaning.

-frazzled mess-

I woke up this morning frazzled, not quite all there and had to stop for something strong enough for me to wake up. After leaving Star*bucks I remember I'm the one opening up the office today... nice. Walk in, everyone's in the hall waiting. Not a good way to start my day. So I put on some music, sipped my Caramel Machiatto and tried to forget the morning disaster.

In preperation for this weekends baby party - I'm making something like this tonight... fingers crossed that it comes out looking like this and not like a five year old craft project. I have no backup.

It's all in the centerpiece

My mind has been swarmed with party decor ideas... baby shower decor. I am not a fan of the normal baby shower - streamers, paper plates and balloons.

I think more along the lines of fresh flowers, candles clear cutlery and chandeliers... I had the idea of go country/shabby chic for my sister-in-law's baby shower: gingham tablecloths, white lights hanging across the patio into the trees handmade paper streamers and centerpieces made of old boots as vases with shabby chic roses. That was the initial plan... but things have changed and gone more shabby chic than country. I cannot wait to show pictures because I think it's going to be gorgeous! But for now, here are some of my favorite centerpiece ideas for any occasion...

My favorite... I love the white vases clustered together... clean lines and modern.

The below is similar to what I'm doing at the baby shower... I love it!

Be'be' Time

Paris has been on my mind. Paris and Babies.
We have a little bundle on the way, the stork is sure to drop by any day now...
A couple of weeks ago (I'm late in posting), My aunt and I planned a baby shower for my cousin Eileen. As I've said before, Eileen is like my sister so this had to be a special one since she was packing up the baby making machine and throwing away the key.

The shower had to be girly, all pink and feminine. I found a tea rental service in our area and put in an order for tea cups, tea pots, tea spoons, creamer and sugar bowls/pots and food stands

The Tea menu consisted of Raspberry Green Tea and Ginger Peach Tea. I think I drank 10 cups of the Ginger Peach Tea it was that good.

The Food - Fruit was skewered, tea sandwiches made, cookies purchased, cheese tray assembled and salad mixed. The highlight was my mom's homemade baked potato soup.

I pulled out my craft skills and made little signs for the food and last minute Parisian cards from an old calender I had.

The Favors were little teapot measuring tapes with a little message from Eileen and baby.

The Guest Book was a children's book I found at Target. It was called Fancy Nancy Tea Parties and shows little girls how to do their own tea parties. Each guest signed a little note for mom and baby girl.
I procrastinated (not unusual for me) so I was like a crazy woman trying to put this together. I ran to Michael's (our craft store) and had a big idea to make topiaries. I have never attempted to make topiaries and just bought what I thought I would need.

• Styrofoam balls (way to expensive if you ask me)


• Stems of pink silk hydrangeas


• Green moss


• Long Dowels (which were cut in half)


• Clay pots

Purchased the following last minute:

• Ribbon


• Pink tissue paper

Pulled out the hot glue and my mom and I tackled the job. A massive mess later, this is what came out...
Everything came together so beautifully. I was so happy with the outcome and was told several times that I should do party planning... sparked a little idea in my head and I quickly put it out.

Here are a few of my favorite parts of the shower...

Full view (this was at a friend's house)

Gorgeous tea pots and little cards I made

(you'll notice I mixed up the pot tops... oops.)

One of the outfits I bought for my niece. I want this sweater for myself! :)

Mom's incredible Baked Potato Soup

The Baby Girl will be here any day now!

Cherry Baby Shower - "Oh Baby"

This past weekend our family hosted a baby shower for my cousin, Stacey. My aunt has a beautiful home with a view of the ocean and hills in Laguna Niguel. We didn't need many decorations which was a good thing since there is nothing out there for a cherry themed party. Any type of party. I decided to make cherries and little "Oh Baby" signs that my sister added a nice touch to. I somehow became the coordinator of this shower since my sister is busy planning her wedding and day dreamin' of someone far far away, lol. So, I took it over and ran with it. Hectic, stressful and unorganized until the last minute. I thought it turned out great in the end and it was exactly what my cousin wanted. The family chipped in with food, sandwiches and salads. My aunt got some games together and we were ready to go.

The mommy-to-be

The most scrumptious cherry cupcakes. I made these with my own rendition of cherry cupcake and Paula Dean's Cherry frosting recipe.

There was a sweet treat in one of the cupcakes...

My grandma found the sweet treat... a little plastic baby.

What a perfect setting, right?

The tables, not very baby showerish which is exactly what I wanted! =)

I got the "Oh Baby" from a stamp that I used on the invites. We carried the theme throughout...

Onesie section that my aunt setup. My sister and I made the cutouts with the baby's name.

The spread!

This is my aunt who is 89 years old and acts like she's 55! ;) My beautiful Grandma is to the right.

**DISCLAIMER**

The following picture is so gross, but this should help those that love the poopy diaper game.

Please, please, let's put this game in the past... I think it's run it's course. Especially now since the new fad is co-ed showers. Men can't help themselves!

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It was a perfect day! Family makes it exciting and it's even funnier to see people that are not in your family watch the antics.

Do you want to know a secret? I hate cherries. There cute, but they taste... ugh. =)