When It Rains

First of all, let's talk about the above roses. THEY'RE MADE OF PAPER. Specifically, "cona coffee filters" (which I had no idea existed until today). They filled the tables of the baby shower I attended this weekend for my friend Cristina. (Two showers in a row! Babies everywhere babies.) Cristina's sister made them by hand using directions from this blog post from the folks at Martha Stewart.

It was a personal touch that obviously took her sister ages to complete--no surprise given all the thought she gave to this sweet celebration as a whole. And although her sister hosted the event, Cristina's entire clan was in on the action. From her brother helping measure her waist for the "How Big Is the Mother-to-be's Belly?" game and her nephew stealing our hearts at every turn, to her husband watching on in amazement as Cristina opened Bjorns and bottles and an endless array of girlie-girlie-ness, it was a full-out family affair.

The room was filled with so much love. Just as it should be. Congratulations, Cristina and Carlos!

Another Sweet/Chic Shower

I've been to loads of baby showers in my time, and I may be biased, but I must say this: hands down, Southern girls throw the best ones. Even when they're throwing those showers in NYC.

This weekend, I attended a lovely lovely celebration for my lovely lovely friend Margaret, a fellow Southerner-in-the-city. It was an intimate, personal affair thrown by her two sisters (also transplants) and it offered up all the things I dig: fabulous food (check out that cake by Magnolia Bakery--BRILLIANT), beautiful flowers, champagne, slight Southern accents, and tiny clothing with the power to make the whole room coo in unison.

What warmer way to spend a winter's day? Congrats, Margaret and Norm!

(Yup. The bow is back.)

Hey, Baby

I haven't met my first niece or nephew yet, but I sure am having a good time celebrating his or her upcoming October arrival. I hosted a family baby shower for my lovely (and could-she-be-cuter?-pregnant-lady) sister-in-law over the weekend, and since we don't know the sex of the little one, the theme was good ole green and yellow.

With help from my mom,  youngest brother, his girlfriend, my middle brother the dad-to-be (who helped take some of these shots when I was busy running around before the festivities), and a good man named Trader Joe, we pulled it off without a hitch. (Just like my bro and sister-in-law will pull off being amazing parents. Congrats, you two!)

Taking a Shower

Bite-size grilled cheese sandwiches with shots of tomato soup. Chunky chicken salad on baked mini-pitas. Nutella-infused ravioli. And goodness gracious, homemade lollipops so pretty you almost don't want to eat them (my new obsession!).

If baby showers could receive awards, the one I just attended in North Carolina would be polishing its gold medal right about now. It was in honor of one of my best friends--a woman who is near and dear to my heart for a thousand reasons. And after this weekend, I am counting among those reasons the fact that she has other best friends who can throw a mean--and I mean MEAN--party for a lovely lady who's about to have a baby.

Now, this was a chic shower that meant serious SERIOUS business. But want to know the most gorgeous part of the whole shebang? Every morsel of the food, every inch of the decor--every ribbon on every gift--was prepared with love. And that made this shower one that surrounded my friend with reminders that she really does have everything she needs to raise a little one: family who will travel any distance to support her, friends ready and excited to lend a hand, access to people who've been there before, and a not one, but two, brand-spankin'-new diaper genies.