Blue, Bears, Boys, Baby Shower...

Baby Boy's Baby Shower done in Blue and Brown with lots of baby bears.

This was a baby shower I did with a few girlfriends for one of my best friends before the birth of her baby boy, Maxim. We had discussed several ideas -- games, food, location -- the usual for a baby shower -- but I wanted some kind of cute theme or color scheme to really pull it all together. Blue and brown was such a cute color combination for a baby boy and my mom suggested the idea of incorporating teddy bears and the party just seemed to pull itself together. It was a larger shower and a sit down lunch -- so we thought menus and place cards would be a nice touch -- to add some elegance and formality to the event. I made little teddy bear magnets that each person could take home using a mold I located at the craft store and hand painting each one. I made chocolate lollipops and placed them into several tins I'd spray painted blue and filled with grass. The tins were then placed throughout the long luncheon tables and centerpieces. Finally a larger centerpiece was made for the mother's table that I hand painted baby block letters and filled with little bears and flowers -- that could later be used in the baby's nursery. My mom pulled together a gorgeous gift basket where each item was wrapped in different blue and brown paper and ribbon and adorned with little rattles and teddy bears. The final touch was that every gift was also blue and brown -- outfits, pacifiers, shoes, etc. -- really adorable and the basket was also reusable -- also to include in the nursery.

Wine Tasting Birthday Bash!

Wine Tasting Party.

Unfortunately I didn't take nearly enough photos of this event -- but this was a super fun night -- one I would highly recommend you try yourself. My sister threw the wine tasting party as a birthday celebration for me. The event was done with an Italian theme -- so only Italian wine and food were served, and she decorated the entire house with decorations and played music with an Italian flare. She filled a bowl with wine corks and red grapes, purchased white table cloths and chardonnay and red wine colored candles. She purchased mini Italian looking statues and artwork. We filled a pitcher with water and lemon -- a great touch to cleanse the palette throughout the tasting. We served crackers and fruit to cleanse the palette as well and paired it with cheeses, meatballs, bruschetta and a bean patte.

The actual wine tasting was done first by dividing the group into two teams. Then each person would take a turn displaying the wine (the label was covered) -- and pouring for the group. Each person had a numbered sheet where they would list the flavors and notes they tasted, a food pairing and price range. The label was then uncovered and underneath were the wine tasters' notes for that particular wine (which my sister had downloaded online and attached to each wine bottle). The members whose description, price range, etc. closely matched the wine tasters' notes won that round.

Queen... Soon to be King Cupcakes

Mini cupcakes with pink crowns made from fondant.

These mini cupcakes were made for a wedding shower -- the soon to be bride's last name was King -- so we made tiny crowns to top each cupcake to go with the theme of the event.

Thanksgiving in Gold

Thanksgiving table setting in all gold and white.

I spray painted small pumpkins in gold as well as a larger pumpkin that was placed as the centerpiece along with a handmade wreath also in gold. I purchased gold chargers, candles for each place setting and napkins tied with a sheer gold ribbon. The table is kept simple with white placemats, table cloth and chair covers.