Because African Zoo Themed Baby Showers are Fun!

This may come as a shock but *dramatic pause* 

Iamnotafanofbabiesorbabyshowers.  

There I said it.  I don't like babies. 

I like my own but baby girl has cured me of ever wanting another baby, wanting to hold another baby or even being within ear shot of another baby.  

I do, however, love that my friends are having babies because it means they can experience the joy of motherhood.  So, when a good friend from work became knocked up I knew that I wanted to do a baby shower in the office and that turned into a true blue baby shower afternoon at my co-conspirator's house.

I was a little naive thinking it would be cake and wine coffee water fruit punch.  My co-host had much better ideas like finger sandwiches, crudites (aka: cut up veggies) and a theme (African zoo animals).  

She is also way more organized than I am and as we plotted over wine and cheese I came up with a list of baby shower ideas that would make any shower fantastic - with or with out crudities - for anyone to do on a budget.

My Top 5 Baby Shower Ideas Guaranteed for Baby Shower Success

(from someone who has never thrown one before)

Cute party favors that go with your theme

Yes, I am starting with the thing you give away last but that is only because I almost forgot to get them! 

Since mom-to-be is having a zoo themed nursery and this is a zoo themed baby shower, animal crackers seemed best to gave at the end.

"Thank you for sharing this special day,
I'm sorry I had to stay away.
But I may be a little longer,
'Cos I have to grow much stronger.
Thank you for your love and wishes,
I'd like to shower you with kisses.
Love from the Baby."
(By Babbee.com)

Clever food presentation

A Game

I personally am not a fan of games but I am a fan of bingo and having something to do while the mom-to-be opens gifts is a bonus.

free printable here or click on image

Non baby related prizes!  

You can't have a game with out a prize!  I found the cutest scented candles at my local craft store and dressed them up with tinsel.  I bought ten and TEN different scents.

Cake

This goes without saying really but no matter what you have or don't have at any event you have to have a really great cake.

Needless to say that thanks to the co-host (and Grammar Hammer blogger) the afternoon was a smashing success and mom to be got showered with lots of love.  Heck, I even held someone else's baby.

And to prove that I am not really a baby hater...  my gift to the baby.  I made a fiddle blanket.

Word(less) Wednesday: The Difference Between My Sister and Me

soon to be grandma's crazy good cake

Don't you just love the games they make you play at baby showers...

My sister, full time nurse and author with adult children... 

And then mine, misspellings and all...

 

Our niece (or as she will be called shortly Grandma), was so sure we would not play (with good reason) she did not even come to our table.  I feel one of us would have won.


How would have you answered some (or all) of these?

What I Did in a Weekend? Or, How I Hand Sewed a Baby's Fiddle Blanket in a Weekend.

This past Sunday was my great niece's baby shower. 

Yes, great niece, which will make this my great, great nephew.  I don't feel that old, but alas, it seems that I am that old.  And, since I am saying that I am old - I will just blame old age on the reason that I put off making a blanket for baby until the weekend of the baby shower.  Its not like I procrastinated.

I am not sure how I can account for why the cord to my sewing machine is missing other then to say it was probably because baby girl likes to pretend she can jump rope with it but seeing as I waited to the weekend of the baby shower to make the blanket I will blame it (again) on old age and forgetfulness.

Anyway, I decided that despite not having a working sewing machine, I was still going to make a fiddle blanket for my soon to be great, great nephew.  What's a fiddle blanket?  Why it is a blanket that baby can fiddle with of course!  I suppose you may call it an activity blanket, regardless, this is the third one that I have made.

I have never sewn anything this big before. At least not by hand and I already had all the fabric cut out so there was no turning back.  I am not sure why I keep torturing myself with sewing other then to say I like the final outcome and I really love the way that this one turned out.

Fiddle Blanket made with cotton, flannel, t-shirt and denim materials.

In addition to all the different fabrics that make up the blanket, there is a swatch from an old pair of my jeans and my son's t-shirt. I used a pocket from a pair the Husband's old cargo pants as the center so baby boy can practice snapping the buttons, putting things in the pocket and pulling things out of it.  I'm thinking I will make a pillow out of the other leg of the husband's cargo pants for my son's bed, but, that is another post.

I debated about adding the ribbons and even the square that makes a crinkle noise when touched but I got pretty confident by day three of my weekend of sewing and threw caution to the wind.  How would it be a true fiddle blanket with out something to fiddle with and make noise?  It turned out great if I don't say so myself.


So... What did you do with your weekend?