Whale Decor and More!

Happy Wednesday!  If you have been following the blog the last few days, you have likely read the first two posts about the whale-themed baby shower I hosted this past weekend!

Today's post will show some of my favorite decorations from the shower!  Really, we had too much fun with this one!

The "Welcome Baby Banner" was displayed

above the lunch buffet tables!

This banner read, "Brady" and set the tone

for the punch table's blue and green decor!

Do you rememeber the "whale" faucet cover that I bought for Baby Brady from yesterday's post?  {It held the white cakepops on the dessert table.}  This is the matching toy caddy that we bought to lend to Brady's bathtime adventures!  While it will probably hold toy boats and rubber ducks in the future, I used it on the buffet to hold napkins and forks!  It was the perfect size!!!  Once again...a functional present doubles as a stylish table decoration....always nice!

The prizes for our two {very funny} shower games were blue and green colored antibacterial soaps from Bath and Body Works! I am always finding a way to fight those germs away... ha, ha!  Just kidding...though I do love these soaps!

Yesterday's post covered the dessert table, so I am not sharing much about it today...but this is the banner that was displayed at the front of the table.  It read, "Sweet Baby."  Get it?  Sweet...dessert table...???

Check out these sweet baby socks with tiny little whales!!!  Precious!  I added these to the dessert table display.

Ribbon topiaries added to the color scheme and the table decor!  I made ribbon topiaries for a week...5 small for {every other} guest table and 2 large topiaries

for the edges of the dessert table!   


 

 I alternated the ribbon topiaries on the guest tables with these decorative pick centerpieces...a staple in my etsy shop...if ever you are in need!!!

Notice the ribbon backdrop on the dessert table!   Maybe you saw it yesterday but I thought it deserved it's own shout out, today!  See more about the dessert table in yesterday's post!

I truly enjoyed hosting this whale-themed baby shower!  It was a special day full of special people!  Now I am ready to meet Baby Brady!!!  We just can't wait to hold him! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday, readers!  I hope you are blessed and find opportunities to be a blessing to those around you!  Spread a little joy today!!!

A Whale-Themed Dessert Table

I've heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child.  Perhaps that is true.  Many special people take part in the nurturing and education of our sweet babies in those early years!  Along with parents there are: grandparents and other significant family members, friends, teachers, caregivers, church families, and often many others willing  to walk with us as we raise the tiny lives that God has graciously  entrusted us with.  How true is that saying?!

I suppose it is no wonder that it took a village to throw this baby shower!  Amy is much loved by friends, family, and church members.  A multitude of folks {seriously... many, many people} asked me if they could help in some way in this celebration for Amy and Baby Brady!  I worked with a great team of friends and family members to plan this shower!

What a party it was!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday's post introduced the Mommy-to-be behind today's post!  This whale themed shower was a "splash" of fun to style and to host!  There is simply too much fun to share in one post, so today I am going to focus on my favorite aspect of Baby Brady's shower!  Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to The Dessert Table!!! 

This was one of my projects for the shower and I had a "whale of a time!"  Ha, ha, ha!  {Not a good joke???}

I enlisted Kaleigh from Lotte Lu and Brother Too to design and bake these incredible whale sugar cookies!  She did not dissapoint!!!  They were exactly what I had hoped for.  She's so talented!  Check out her blog to see what she can do.  You're in for a treat...I assure you!!!!

 I had to show the cookies as they were when I picked them up on this little platter and tied in tulle!  How cute are they??

Kaleigh took the pictures I sent her of the color scheme, the vision I had for these cookies, and totally ran with the idea!

She made whales, a "B" for Brady, and various other shapes and designs to match the ribbon I was using.  They tasted incredible, as well!  These cookies completely rocked out the whale theme!!!  Shout out {and a huge thanks} to Kaleigh!

The cake was too sweet as well!  B's Cakes Bakery did a fabulous job making my dreams for the shower cake come true!!!  Shout out {and a special thanks} to B's Cakes!  Brandy of B's Cakes was creative and wonderful to work with!  Thank you, thank you, thank you

for this darling whale creation!!!

The cake is shown here with the cake topper I made!  The cake and cupcake toppers read, "Sweet Baby Brady." 

The cakepops for the shower were from my very own kitchen!  {Though they would not have made an appearance had I not pulled a crazy college-like all-nighter Thursday into Friday morning!} Safe to say that I won't forget these cakpops anytime soon!!!  They aren't perfect...but I've said it before...I'm very humble about my culinary skills for a reason!  Ha, ha, ha!

 My favorite detail of the whole shower....drumroll, please...

Look at the whale below {actually a faucet cover that we bought for Baby Brady} with the white cake pops coming from them!  What's that you say?  Functional  baby gift meets stylish shower detail?  I think so!!!

 The rock candy was a big hit with the little girls at the shower!  Rock candy...who would have thought?  They loved it and kept coming back for more!!!  Kids are funny!

I think that sums up the dessert table!  It was a wonderfully fun summer project for a very sweet Baby!

  I'll share more about the details of the shower {decorations,etc...} on the next post!!!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!  Spread a little happy today...everywhere you go!  Love to you!!! 

A Time to Celebrate!

To everything there is a season and
a purpose under Heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Saturday, I was able to throw a baby shower for one of the most incredible women I have ever known!  I have anxiously awaited the day we could celebrate in her honor and it was{for me, at least}...an absolute blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy with her husband, Austin at a Bulls game this past winter

You see, I have been truly blessed with good in-laws.   Each of them is special to me in their own way and I recognize that some people are(how should I put this???)...well...not as fond of their spouse's family!  I am very fortunate and I don't take that for granted.  Today, however, I am writing about my hubby's older sister...who is undoubtedly 
one of my best friends!

Amy and I at the baby shower she threw for me {Gavin} a few years ago

I did not have a sister growing up.  I had a few close cousins who were much like sisters...but no one to share shoes with, you know?  I consider it no coincidence that God gave me a sister-in-law with the same taste in clothing and the same shoe size.  Maybe that sounds silly to you.  To me, it is just another example of God's divine timing in our lives...because my sister-in-law is a truly special person.

"Aunt Amy" and Gavin always make a good team for board games!

Amy is the kind of woman that is loved by all!  She is compassionate, giving of herself, strong, and resilient!  So, while I do love to throw a good party...this shower was completely for her...her turn to be celebrated!!!

And boy...did we celebrate!  I am going to spread out the various details of this shower over a few posts.  Stay tuned and watch the party unfold!  Happy Monday, sweet readers!

Gender Reveal Parties

I just read a charming blog post about Kate Landers' gender reveal party.  Many of you are likely familiar with Kate Landers Event, LLC.  If Kate is new to you, you won't want

to miss this delightful post about the party she

styled for close family and friends.  Too sweet!

Kate Landers' "Make Way for Duckling"Gender Reveal Party

Can you guess what they are having?  I'll give you a hint.  Kate's party went much like the gender reveal

party we had for Kaden last summer. 

Speaking of...

{I've never posted these pictures!}

In celebration of gender reveal parties,

here are a few memories of our very own!

Disclaimer:  Our party was a last minute idea and was literally planned in the thirty minute drive home from

our ultrasound.  It was a happy {and humble} little event

with 13 guests {close family and friends that weren't busy

in the half an hour that we gave them to arrive!} 

I was not gifted in the area of "playing it cool" so we told our guests that they couldn't show even a minute early...

we weren't about to let them "figure me out."  Ha, ha!

My mom and friend, Stephanie were very persistent!  

Notice the sign I posted on the front door. 

First things first!  Our fam and friends were asked to post their guesses on the fridge.  Even the preschoolers voted!

We let big brother, Gavin cut the cake!  He looks so tiny in this picture...where does the time go?

Please overlook the {very ugly} icing on the cake...yikes!  The hubby was trying to conceal the bright blue cakemix that we could see right through the white icing.  As stated before, this was a last minute shindig...an idea that came to us that very afternoon on the way home from the doctor's office. 

Oh dear...not a pretty cake...but a great memory!

Blue Cake!!!  It's a boy!  We were excited to know that Gavin would have a baby brother to share his childhood with and we would have another precious little boy to love!

That day began the longest naming process ever known to man!  We discussed a new name nearly every day!  For longer periods of time, we called our sweet guy, "Cooper," "Hudson," and "Blake" {which almost stuck forever}...

 and finally landed on the keeper...

We love you, Baby Kaden!  Our sweet snugglebug!!!