I LOVE hosting parties, showers and events. And really really love it if I can make them really pretty. I don’t know if it’s the creativity, or how people love it, making someone feel special or having pretty pictures in the end (I actually think it’s a combination of all of those things!) but I don’t usually spend nearly as much time or money on these things as people usually think. I’ll be sharing more as time goes on, I may actually go back in time and post some of the kiddos past birthday parties, because I’m pretty proud with how they turned out.

So onto this shower. I wasn’t technically hosting, I was just having it at my house and asked if I could make it pretty. I am always fairly frugal and have no problem using my beg borrow and deal skills when it comes to putting something pretty together. I had pinned a few ideas that were all blush and gold and rose, but then I was late getting to the flowers shop and they didn’t have a lot of these colors of blooms left so I changed gears. More gold and greenery was going to be the theme. I didn’t have as much as I wanted in this style, and wanted to do something other than the bud vases I tend to rock, so I borrowed (and then ended up buying) terrariums from the flower shop, picked up a candle holder that I would use as a vase.

Place settings can make a table, which can make an event just stand out. You can rent China, or chances are you have a friend, aunt or mother who wouldn’t mind lending you theirs. Get some silver while you’re at it! (I used The Wedding Vogue’s gold flatware the China and Crystal from my mother. I wanted a full table so I used water glasses, champagne flutes, and Martini glasses. I bought a piece of linen looking cotton from Walmart as a table runner (it was the exact right length!) but when I was picking up from Karla (the wedding vogue) she had these new rose gold runners that I just had to use! We also had to add a few people kind of last minute ish and they wouldn’t all fit at our main table, so I borrowed a champagne table cloth to cover a card table we have.

I had a shoot with Lupin Design Studio Saturday morning and kind of set the table for that and realized it wouldn’t be as full as I would like, and also that I forgot Strawberry Jam to make my pancake cake. SO Addy and I made a trip into Bayers Lake and made a quick stop to Michael’s for a can of gold spray paint and then to Value Village to look for some candle holders for tapered candles (not so common these days) and Papa came to the rescue with his amazing strawberry jam! When we got home Daddy went out and Addy, Finn and I played in the backyard. I spray painted some of our findings, some other random things that I found in the house (a bucket, box and some old tea light holders) and then decided I needed some matching artwork to hang on the wall at the head of the table. Alex thought that I was taking on too much but it needed to be done.

I found some paints I had purchased for the Blossom Bliss shoot I did with Elegant Productions a few years ago, grabbed a few ferns I had attempted to spray paint (#fail) and some old paint brushes and let the kids work with me on painting an old watercolour style print that I used to hang at my wedding show booth. It was actually turning out pretty well, but I do have to say that I did lose my cool pretty seriously when Finn sprayed everything with the hose! It was not so good! But we salvaged it all pretty well. I got the muchkins settled with a show and my friend Allie came over to help me with the set up! She said she’s not so creative but she certainly did an amazing job! Ironing linens, setting place settings, washing berries and blowing up balloons for the mimosa and beverage bar. (Thank you Allie!!)

We got pretty much set up Saturday night and then Sunday morning I put on the finishing touches (like the hand lettered and water colored personalized place cards that I finished Saturday night) and assembled my Pancake Cake. Becky’s mom and sister came to put their touches on the day as well while I showered and then tidied up the mess I had made setting up. I took a few photos and then our beautiful bride arrived! I’m not usually a huge fan of shower games but these weren’t too bad and the prizes they put together were really cute!

I’ve learned it’s ok to not have full control of everything so we pot-lucked the brunch and I made a very tasty crock pot casserole along with the pancake cake and punch but there were muffins and waffles, hash brown casserole, bacon, fruit and cheese. We sat down and ate together and enjoyed great conversation about child birth around the table. Lol.

A few ladies stayed and helped clean up and I was ready for a nap!
I loved how everything turned out!

In the end I bought:
Flowers from The Flower Shop **swoon**
A few odds and ends from Value Village
The gold wire candle holder/vase
Gold spray paint and some balloons
The terrarium.