Here comes baby!

As I dabble for the next 3 1/2 years as a beloved "twenty-something" I have no doubt that I will be surrounded by babies-a-plenty spawned from friends, family and former classmates. Just in the past year alone the number of babies in my life has grown exponentially...it has now reached the point where my womb trembles in fear by the simple utterance of the word "preggers....".

As an event-treneur n: ee'vont'tre'nur I cannot help but think of all the lovely welcoming parties that are held in the name of these precious babes. Having attended a few of these functions in my lifetime, I realize that baby showers aren't only a great way to gather good friends, food and family, but that quite frankly, it's a great way for the parents to get useful free stuff for the new baby. Any new mother knows (or will soon learn) that babies are VERY needy and VERY hungry and grow like ivy on an old stone wall...QUICKLY! This fact is what makes the "free-stuff-fiesta" more palatable and now just part of the norm for moms-to-be. It's simply..necessary :)

What should a baby shower look like? Is it a party for the mother or for the baby? Should this influence the decor, the activities, the location and the guest list? For many, this varies. I've been to baby showers where it seemed more like a "bash" for the parents complete with DJs and full meals and then to others that were filled with pastel colors, stuffed toys and cupcakes. Either is fine, depending on the taste and size of the expecting parents' entourage.

Traditional baby showers however tend to all follow a similar pattern. It is restricted to women only, there are poopie games, there are toilet paper bonanzas and there is finger food. However, there are some sophisticated twists that can be levied upon these traditional showers to make it a wonderful representation of an adult celebration for an innocent's arrival.

A few weeks back, I came across this adorable baby shower that was created by Head of the Table. The first thing they established was a theme, which is something I would always recommend, as opposed to doing "everything baby". Themes help with creating a more focused and cohesive event. Kim from Head of the Table used an adorable yellow and gray "alphabets & elephants" theme for her expectant client who did not know the sex of her baby. The decor is simple and an easy DIY project. Kim used a significant amount of handcrafted elements in the party which not only cuts down on costs, but also allows for personal touches.

Here are a few tips for your own baby shower:

1. Money should be spent on the food, the drinks and keeping the guests happy, decor is a little less important in the grand scheme. If money is tight, stick to a simple theme; balloons, teddy bears, ducks or even flowers and create a few simple key decorative pieces so that you can put the money saved to use elsewhere.
2. Invitations should be sent at least one month before the party to your family and friends. Your guests will need time to participate in the gift registry as well as they will need time to put it in their calendars as a priority. No ambush baby showers...please... :)
3. If you don't know the sex of the baby, try to use neutral colours. Like the example above, yellow is a neutral hue. Green, Purple and Orange could also be used for either sex.
4. Think of ways to keep your guests entertained. Try new activities; create a quiz about the mother, have everyone create a "welcome baby" note to accompany their picture in a keepsake album. The sky is the limit! Think outside the box!
   

Here's a look at some of the elements of the alphabets & elephants party...It certainly is inspiring to see what a little imagination and creativity can produce... Poopie games optional o_O