DIY Welcome to the World Baby Shower

One of my dearest friends is expecting her little one in the next few weeks. She is a wonderfully creative woman, so we wanted to throw her a shower she would love. She enjoys traveling, even incorporating postcards into her wedding, and she talked about decorating their new home with maps. With the help of my co-host, the incredibly talented Katie, we came up with a “Welcome to the World” travel theme. 

Her little one’s nursery was going to be decorated like an English garden, so we tried to incorporate flowers into things she could reuse for the nursery. We covered cardboard letters with floral scrapbook paper. Then, using a leftover pallet board, we covered it with white-dotted craft paper and “Welcome to the World” vinyl letters cut with my Cricut. Katie put a few paper flowers here and there which added the perfect touch. 

For the fireplace screen, we hung plain Gerber onesies printed with a “We Love Lucy” heart, pearls, “Welcome to the World” around a globe, “Birth: Nailed It,” and “Keep Calm and Carry Me” using iron-on transfer paper. Throughout the room, we used vintage suitcases that Katie’s momma collects (my favorite part of the decor!) and globes gathered and borrowed from our homes and friends. 

Delightful bites were provided with the momma-to-be’s dairy allergy in mind to include fruit cups, Daiya cheese sausage balls, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, vegan cupcakes, cucumber sandwiches, and vegetables and hummus. To sip, we served raspberry lemonade in mason jars with green-striped paper straws.

While snacking, guests could leave messages for momma on diapers.

For games, I created three stacked cards as a “passport” for the evening. We asked each guest to bring a baby photo of themselves which we clipped to a memo board Katie made with chicken wire and fabric flowers for a “Guess the Baby” game. Meredith loves “Scattergories,” so we had to play that of course, and then the classic “What’s in Your Purse?” 

To get out of our seats, we played “Tinkle in the Pot” which I found when searching for games online. Everyone divides into teams, and each person has a balloon (in our case, pink!) and a coin. With a tub or “pot” of some sort on the opposite side of the room, the teams relay 1) putting the coin between their knees 2) blowing up and tying the balloon 3) putting the balloon under their shirt 4) waddling to the cup keeping the coin between their knees and 5) dropping the coin in the pot with no hands. If you drop the coin or don’t make it in the pot, you have to go back to the start. It may sound silly, but it was a lot of fun and got everyone moving and laughing! 

Guests brought books instead of cards, and I absolutely loved the Downton Abbey-obsessed momma’s reaction to a “Mouseton Abbey” book.

I sure do love these ladies. And so glad we were able to celebrate this amazing new part of our friend’s life. Can’t wait to meet you, Lucy!

XO,

Mad

P.S. These are the electronic invitations we created on Punchbowl with maps and pink accents. Check out my Pinterest board for more ideas.

Super Bowl Sunday Prop Bet Tradition

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. Lots of people have their traditions–jersey wearing, grilling, office pools, creative finger foods, and parties. Our Super Bowl tradition is making prop bets. Since we’ve been married, we’ve watched all of the Super Bowls together, and many times it’s been just us. To make it fun and interesting enough to easily watch for four hours, we started a tradition of going out to dinner the night before or breakfast the morning of, coming up with prop bets and betting on them, and then preparing food for and watching the Super Bowl together.

First, we look at the prop bets they’re making in Vegas. For example, one year, there was a bet on what color wig Madonna would first come out in during half-time. From the Vegas lists, we choose and write down 15 bets, including ones we create on our own, and designate a point value for the bet loosely based on its Vegas odds. This year, we brunched at Cracker Barrel and picked these bets:

At the end, whoever has the most points wins. Our stakes this year are winner’s choice of one home-cooked gourmet meal, including dessert, and choice of date night. You could bet anything. Perhaps in a group, the loser has to wear the winner’s choice of a temporary tattoo on their forehead or the loser goes on the winner’s choice of food/drink run to be paid for by the loser. Copy and paste into a word document to print for your own use! It makes the less entertaining parts of watching the game more entertaining (like listening to the announcers), gives you an excuse to really pay attention, and adds a competitive edge with multiple ways to win instead of just your team winning or losing. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Go Broncos!

XO,
Mad

P.S. Did you see that Philip Seymour Hoffman died today? So sad. He was truly a great actor. If you haven’t seen Almost Famous in a while, go watch it. Matt had not seen it before, so we watched it earlier this month. It’s still one of my favorites.

Wine & Cheese Hen Party

My friend Rachel is getting married this weekend and was not having a bachelorette party. No bride should go without one! So I threw together a casual hen party as classy as the bride with wine and cheese. I love wine—all kinds, but I do not know a whole lot about pairing wine and cheese. I sure got an education in the last week! Thankfully, my friend Autumn went along on the ride with me.

Tips

• Serve 5-6 different cheeses with about 1 ounce per person per cheese
• Serve a variety of cheeses made from goat, cow and sheep’s milk
• Organize cheeses from mildest to strongest
• Take cheeses out of the fridge about one hour before serving
• Place a separate knife for each cheese and serve them in different ways ie. as a spread, cubes, slices
• Serve with complimentary foods such as dried cherries, walnuts, crackers, grapes, and french bread

For wine glasses, I scoured thrift stores for a variety of sizes and styles instead of a single kind (great deals on crystal for only 99 cents!). I even ran across a set of Wine Lines by Fred, a beautiful picture frame made in New York, and some bud vases to hold a bouquet of flowers.

Not living near a Whole Foods or Fresh Market, our cheese selection was limited to those offered at local grocery stores. We chose French Camembert, Roquefort, garlic & herb goat cheese, aged Gouda, Asiago, Cheddar, and Muenster for some grilled cheeses. We purchased a bottle of six different types of wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rose, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio Champagne, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Small signs gave two pairing suggestions for each cheese, and foods were mingled throughout (I provided Granny Smith apple slices, sun-dried tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, crackers, french bread, walnuts, dried berries, and prosciutto).

Little details included small spreader knives engraved with “Love Blossoms” that I got in a grab bag at Michael’s, and my new beverage dispenser from the Target Threshold collection (!!!). 

For a bit of fun, I blew up a picture of the groom’s face, and Autumn cut out moustache shapes from adhesive foam for a game of “Pin the ‘Stache on the Groom.” It was lovely to have a grown-up hen party/bachelorette enjoying great company without the wildness that typically ensues. A wine and cheese party is perfect for any occasion, and there will definitely be another one in my future!

XO,
Mad

Party Favorites of the Week

This weekend, I will attend my first wedding shower of the season, and I will go to my first baby shower in a few short weeks. I have reached a point where I can say, with complete sincerity, that there is a season of my year in which I attend showers, both wedding and baby, frequently. Oh, to be an adult! Planning them is a lot of fun too. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to their adorableness. These are five of my favorites for baby showers:

1
I love the Ready to Pop baby shower theme. You can serve popcorn, decorate or play games with balloons, and give mini champagne bottles or bottles of soda as favors.

2
Nail polish is a fun and useful favor.

3
One of my favorite things to do for baby showers is to give an inscribed book instead of a card. You can take that one step further and plan a Build a Library shower.

4
I’ve been waiting to throw or attend a shower where each guest is assigned a different letter to bring. Then the nursery can be decorated with a colorful alphabet.

5
As a granddaughter of bee keepers, a beehive cake, bumblebees, and anything Mom-to-Bee themed makes my heart swoon. Think: honey bear favors. Eek! I can’t handle the cuteness factor.

XO,
Mad

Garden Party Ideas

It’s that time of year when the weather is nice, the bugs aren’t out yet, flowers are blooming, and there’s a gentle breeze—the perfect time to host a garden party or outdoor get-together! Here’s a little inspiration for you.

Invitation

DIY Tissue Paper Flowers

Terracotta Pot Utensil Holders

Apple Martini in a Jar (click for the recipe!)

DIY Pigeon Placecard

Eco-Friendly Bird Candles

Eco-Friendly Seed Bomb Favors (you could also do seed packs)

Beautiful way to display flowers in a Paper Bag Vase

Straw Flowers from baking cups

Happy planning!

XO,

Mad

Party Ideas of the Week

It will soon be the season of weddings, barbecues, and pool parties.  I absolutely love the planning that goes in to events like this and spend many an hour pinning ideas, so here are some of my favorites from this week:

Baby Shower Cloud Straws

 

Bunny Cupcake Topper

Sign for Guests

 

Washi Tape Tag

CSI Party

1. Cloud straws. Simple details that add to the clever, gender-neutral theme.
2. Bunny Cupcake Topper. A perfect, lovely Easter treat.
3. Treat Yo’self. Makes your guests feel at home and without hesitation.
4. Washi Tape Tag. Pretty and easy identification for glassware.
5. CSI Party. For the moms out there, what a fun party idea!

XO,
Mad