baby shower extravaganza!
I just threw a baby shower for my friends L. and M. and am reporting back with tidbits and a request for your baby-shower-giving tips and stories. Some background: the baby’s sex is a surprise and the shower was co-ed. Re: the latter, I Googled “co-ed baby shower” for ideas and found hilarious comments online like, “If men are attending, don’t serve tea sandwiches. Men don’t like tea sandwiches.” Ha, ha. Here’s the scoop:
Invites: They were a twist on children’s alphabet books. (No, I’m not a talented designer; that would be my friend Jenene, who created them for me.) The booklet’s first page said “P is for Party” and so on until P-A-R-T-Y was spelled out.
Favors: I bought lunch bags at nearby Winn Discount and ribbons (also used for the invites) in blue, gold and orange (I’ve been wearing the leftovers in my hair), put a mini notebook and colored pencil in each, and stamped each bag with the guest’s initial.
Games: One was a kids’-book quiz. The other: I gave the mom- and dad-to-be a list of qualities and physical attributes, like “eyes” or “intelligence,” and asked them each to say whether they hoped their kid would inherit the attribute in question from Mom or Dad. Guests guessed which qualities were picked by whom.
Food: My friend L.W., who is an amazing cook, came over with deviled eggs, artichoke dip (incredibly fattening and delicious, featuring cheese and mayo) and…tea sandwiches!
Decorating tip: I bought a couple yards of oilcloth in floral and toile patterns, cut them up, and put them under the drinks and food areas. Makes cleanup easier, looks good and can be reused. Want how-tos on any of the above? Let me know! — Bunny W.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I love the game ideas! That always seems to be the hardest part for me & my friends when planning a baby shower. We’ve got the favors down pat - a mini bottle of champagne for each guest to pop at home when we get the baby news. Easy-peasy and who doesn’t like champers?!
May 14th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Oooh, that’s a great favor idea! Filing it away…
My favorite shower activity is onesie-decorating. Get some fabric markers from Michaels and a bunch of Gerber onesies from Target in various sizes, and let guests go to town. I find it works best to leave everything out on a table and let people float over to it as the mood strikes them; not everyone will want to do it, but most will eventually at least write something clever.
I also like moving the present-opening part away from being a spectator sport; I know some people love it, but if you hate being the center of attention, it’s torture. At one party I threw, we set up a present table, and the mom and dad opened each gift as soon as the guest arrived, and then set it on the present table so people could come over and look at all the cute widdle things. That worked great and it’s going to be my standard MO from now on.