From the Archives: Baby Lunch! (2015)

Since I have always been a planner, I made sure that all the baby equipment we acquired for Baby Girl was in a neutral color palate.  That meant other than diapers and boy clothing, we had everything we needed for a second baby.

To throw a baby shower when we didn't need gifts seemed tacky, but I still wanted to celebrate the new baby.  I also wanted to have photos so that his second-born baby book would be as nice as the first-born baby book.  And I wanted the opportunity to do something special with my Baby Girl, something that would help her prepare her little heart and mind for the new arrival ;)

So we decided to host what we called the 'Welcome Baby Lunch'.  Baby Girl and I worked together looking at Pinterest ideas, planning a menu and decorating.  It was a lot of fun!  Our theme was snowflakes, with baby items added in here and there.

We kept the party very small by limiting the guest list to the two Grandma's, one Great-Grandma, my Sister and one Sister-in-Law.  We also noted on the invitation that no gifts were needed, we just wanted to celebrate!

Note:  I took these photos before I started blogging, so the intent was to capture the emotions/ memories of the day as opposed to the 'how-to'.  You can see the difference as to what I usually post, but I think you should still be able to get a good feel for the overall design.  Enjoy!

Dining Table

I used a white table cloth and layered on white holiday lights.  To make the lights softer looking, I tied on many strips of tulle fabric (thank you Pinterest!)

The next step was to add cylinder vases that were filled about an inch high with faux snow.  On top of the snow I placed a single baby bottle.

Then I added in a few glass jars filled with creamy white crushed velvet poinsettias.  I wanted some sort of floral decoration, but I didn't want the table to look 'flowery'.  I also wanted something that could be recycled into my yearly winter decor.  The poinsettias worked perfectly.

I wanted candle light as well and used vanilla scented votive candles in my vintage juice glasses.  These pretty glasses were a gift from my Husby, who found them while mushroom hunting of all places! ....Something about a farm, a house being torn down and a man with a tractor burying trash.  Husby saw the glassware and asked if he could have them, then brought them home to me.  Yay!

Want to see how I made 'snow balls' with faux snow?  Check out my Winter Decor post here.  There you will also see how I currently use some of the left over white poinsettias.

*This was not a dark candle-lit party, I just had the lights off for the scrapbook photos :) 

Another view of the dining table.

Table Scatter

I used miniature plastic snowflakes as confetti throughout the party.  I found these in the holiday section of Wal-Mart before Christmas.  I think they were around $1.

(I saved all of the snowflakes to use as embellishments for the coordinating scrap book pages.  Hello glue gun!)

I also added in a few pacifiers for the cuteness.  I didn't have to buy these either, they were all left over (still brand new) from Baby Girl.  She would never take a pacifier, so I had a bunch in storage.  Guess what?  The Little Man would never use one either.  At least I used them for something ;)

You can't see from these pictures, but in addition to the table scatter there was a miniature white snowflake ornament at each place setting.  I found the ornaments at Wal-Mart, and each guest got to take theirs home.  I also made sure to have enough left over so that Baby Girl and I each have one as well.  Now when we decorate our Christmas tree, we remember the party that we hosted together :)




Dessert Table

Since we were eating in the dining room, I used the kitchen table as a dessert station. 

A white table cloth served as a snowy backdrop for the yummy treats.  I used blue snowflakes as confetti to break up the sea of white and layered the napkins.  I always layer out my napkins this way, even if they are all the same color.  It looks so much prettier and is also a great space filler.  Full displays are always much more appealing!

Hershey's Chocolate

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest.  Color in specific letters to end up with chocolate bars that spell out 'he' or 'she'.

I used two different colored Sharpies for the lettering and nestled the chocolate bars into a milk glass pedestal bowl.  An aqua colored napkin helped to provide contrast so the tiny snowflake ornaments could pop.

Snowflake Cake

I cannot remember what kind of cake this is!

I do remember that It is a double layer with the bottom layer being round and the top is snowflake shaped.  I also remember that when I iced the cake it didn't look so much like a snowflake anymore :D

I used miniature white marshmallows to help define the snowflake a little bit better and added some white pearly sprinkles too.  To achieve the snowflake shape on top, I used a cookie cutter as a stencil for the sprinkles.

I had absolutely no intentions of using marshmallows for this cake, but it ended up turning out really cute.  That's the way it is in design, creativity and flexibility are keys to success!

....It's ok to have a bit of a freak out though, I was rummaging through every cupboard trying to figure out how to fix that cake! :D :D :D

Cupcakes!

These cupcakes were baked with Devil's Food mix and iced with chocolate frosting.  On top I sprinkled chopped up Andes mints.....They were super yummy, a total pregnant ladies dream! 

I baked the cupcakes in white silicone wrappers and displayed them on my three tiered glass cupcake stand.  I also sprinkled a bit of white snowflake confetti here and there on the glass for added visual interest.

It was such a fun party, and I could go on forever,  but right now I need to get pack to planning a First birthday party for a certain Little Man - birthday posts coming soon! In the meantime, if you would also like to read about my shower for Baby Girl, you can click  here.

Happy designing and thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

© Jennifer Adams Flowers 2014