Rock Baby, BaBy-Q Shower

This shower was a challenge. Our son didn't want us to go all out, but my daughter and I just can't seem to do anything simple. You may remember that we started collection our inspiration and planning out the party. This week you have also seen some of the DIY projects we worked on before the shower. Here is your first look at how everything came together.

The Candy Buffet was my favorite as it was with all the kids in attendance. The kids were all really good about not putting their fingers in the candy jars. I can't say the same thing for my sons! As we started setting up where the candy buffet would be set up I thought I was running out of table space. Then I remember this 2 tiered corner table my husband made me. It fits perfectly under the three windows in the corner of my dining room. It was originally made for my Christmas village, but it is the perfect table for our candy buffet.
For the back drop behind the table I used the comforter from the nursery bedding's the mom to be had picked out. I also used dollar store table covers to drape the table. (Goal-to someday make covers for this table that can be used over and over again)

We started prepping the candy jars and the treats between other family events during the 3 days before the baby shower. I love how the chocolate marshmallow's came out.

Amber made all the candy labels that coordinated perfectly with the invitation she designed.

I also love the record bowls that held the pop rocks.

One thing I would have changed is the size of my table. We had it extended prior for all the family dinners. I think if we had taken out the leaf, the table would have looked a bit better.

I love how the diaper cake came together and was the perfect centerpiece on the sweets table.

I can't say I am in love with our outside table. I love the album place mats. Amber made both the record labels and water bottle labels (she is so talented). I had planned to add raffia, rolled utensils and a few other embellishments but the wind was not working with us. Plus, for the first time in all my party planning, I didn't create a centerpiece. How did that happen?

I loved how the beverage table turned out though. This arch has been used for Amber's wedding, our 1st annual Halloween Boo Bash and now the baby shower. It is so simple to change out the flowers for any occasions. Something we will be using again this Halloween and for a friends 25th Birthday a few week before.

Parties from the Past: Princess Party for Two

My daughter Ellie and her cousin Lillian are only 6 weeks apart, so for their 4th birthday we decided to have a combined birthday. We chose a date in between both birthdays to have the party at Grandma's house. The girls wanted it to be a Princess Party. Grandma got busy doing what she does best and transformed the dining room into a Princesses Palace.


There was a Princess dressing room, with a rack of play clothes, a table full of jewelry and tiaras and of course a great big mirror to admire their new attire.

Grandma commissioned Grandpa into making a large kids sized table. It has been very useful in the many years since. No plastic tablecloth in this royal setting, Grandma decorated with real linens, fresh flowers, and silverware.

The invitation had instructed our guests to come dressed in their best princess attire, but we also had extra's just in case. After the guests had all arrived and transformed into princesses they sat down to work on their craft. I had found a set of photo frames shaped like a carriage. We had pre-sorted all the pieces into individual kits for each princess. While the girls were busy making their masterpieces, a special guest arrived. One of my recently married friends arrived dressed in her wedding gown to be our Princess.

When Princess Justine arrived the girls were so excited. We cleaned up their crafts and got ready for our snack. Then Princess Justine read them the "Princess and the Pea" while we served the girls snacks on Grandma's china.
We had a simple menu:

• finger sandwiches (PB & J cut into hearts)
• fruit tarts (mini graham cracker pie shells with strawberry yogurt and berries)
• fresh fruit

We even served the punch in champagne glasses!

When the girls finished eating we moved over to the sitting area to open gifts. Grandma had created two thrones buy covering two of the dining chairs with beautiful ivory chair covers and made a backdrop that attached to the window and draped down behind the chairs. Ellie and Lillian each sat on their throne and everyone was able to watch them open the gifts.

After gifts we let the girls play a little with the dress up stuff while we cleared the table and got ready for cake, I had baked each of the birthday girls their very own cake. While researching princess parties we had found this photo of the perfect cake on cake central:


Each cake was topped with a real tiara, and each of the birthday girl's got to blow out their own candles. The birthday girls had helped me make cupcakes for the guests the night before so that we didn't have to cut into their cakes right away. Each cupcake was topped with either a mini candy tiara or a princess wand.

All our princesses had a fabulous time, I only wish we had taken more photos!

Home Is Where The Heart Is: All Set Up

Home Is Where The Heart Is: All the Little Details

Home Is Where The Heart Is: Ceremony