On the (baby) shower carousel again...

Stop, I want to get off! 

My friend, who just got married (I posted about doing her shower, rehearsal dinner and wedding back in May), is to become a grandmother for the first time! (In case you're scratching your head about the timing, it was her second marriage, and her 5 kids are now grown up!) I did this daughter's bridal shower a few years ago. Apparently, she liked that and the stuff I did for her mother, so she told her mother that she wanted me to give her a baby shower! That's a new one!  Uhhh, I think you're sort of supposed to wait for someone to offer to give you a bridal or baby shower!   I'm delighted to do so, but, since she's due in January, and last winter was very bad here, which started the first week in December, we need to have it in either October or November--which just happen to be the busiest months of the year for me, and particularly busy this year. I have a lecture to give at work on a Saturday in November; we have Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, etc., and the event I did the graphics work for is in late October. (I'm seriously tempted to give her a Halloween baby shower  , but she doesn't approve of Halloween.) Can you imagine a Halloween baby shower???? Think of Rosemary's Baby...seriously, this year has been insanely busy, but in a nice way. It would be nice to get to bed before midnight, though!

Can anyone post pics of baby showers they've hosted or been to? I could use some ideas. Thanks.

Oh dear!  It's a compliment on one hand isn't it?  Maybe she can offer a friend or two to help!  Plus your friend!

Baby showers are something I'm experienced with attending it seems. lol  My first was due in January and we had the shower in late October i think.  Or early November.  My in-laws were able to come from out of state for it.  My Mother hosted it at our church and the theme was "Carousel."  She hung crepe paper streamers from the ceiling over the tables; starting at a center point and radiating outward like spokes.  That was to mimic the top of a carousel.  She was able to find some decorative ones to display also.  

I went to a shower last year where they did everything in pink and white (expecting a girl).  The Aunt-to-be made a display out of the desserts.  She did all pink and white things on pretty glass platters and in decorative clear glass containers.  The only thing that wasn't pink or white on the table were some very yummy cookies.    I will see if I have some pictures.  I don't remember taking any at this point. 

Good luck with that! I have no idea about baby shower themes. I haven't been to a baby shower in quite some time.

All I ask is that you don't ask me to make the cake!!  LOL

My brother is getting married on Saturday and he put me in charge of making the cake. I didn't want to!  And I wanted to say NO!!!  But he's my brother and he told me that they weren't going to have a wedding cake, but then remembered that I took cake decorating and thought I might like to make it, and then added, "You don't have to. We don't really need a cake!"  Like what could I say to that, but "Yes, I'll do it!"  LOL

Just don't stress out about it like you did the last event you planned.  Ask for help.  Enlist the girl's friends and family to help.  Make it a potluck where everyone brings something to eat: pinwheel sandwiches, pickles/olives, cheese, cold cuts, desserts.

And research some party games.

I had never heard of someone asking someone to do their baby shower or any shower for that matter before.  I guess we are old fashioned but I thought it was something that others did for them, either family or close friends.

The last two baby showers Rick and I attended were for my nieces (one is a niece-in-law). My sister had both of them at a local restaurant and they did a fabulous job. We had a room to ourselves, a full meal, plus dessert, plus wine, and the cake. There were games and prizes and both showers were very nice. I'd say maybe 30 people at each shower, including spouses....we always include spouses whenever we can (although they'd probably come along even if they weren't invited!). 

Thank you for the replies and great ideas!

I was in Dollar Tree yesterday, and saw these cute terry-cloth stuffed things:


They also play Twinkle, twinkle little star. I will sew them together, point-to-point, to make a banner that she can later use in the nursery. So...the theme will be, you guessed it:

   Twinkle, twinkle little star! 

I've already designed an invitation, which is a bookmark (people love these!) It's a cartoon crescent man in the moon; I'll add yellow stars in the sky next to him. It's an elongated oval. The shower info will be on the back:

Twinkle, twinkle Sarah the star,

You don't know how happy we are!

Sarah Jones is expecting,

and we're over the MOON  about it!

Please join us for a baby shower, etc....

I'll punch a hole in one end, and thread a blue ribbon through it, with a tiny, yellow star attached to it.

I'm asking everyone to wrap the gifts in blue, yellow and white, with a celestial theme.

Oh what a fantastic idea! That banner is going to be adorable!

That's going to be adorable! The next time I need ideas for any kind of shower at all, I'm coming to you! You do wonderful work!

Winchester said:

 
That's going to be adorable! The next time I need ideas for any kind of shower at all, I'm coming to you! You do wonderful work!

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Thanks, Pam!

Oh, and she just sent me the guest list: with 37, yes, 37, names. There is NO way I can host 38 people (37+me) in our house, nor can I afford to rent a venue (plus, you often have to take their nasty food). Nor can I afford to feed that many. I can't really ask most of those invited to bring something, as I don't know them. What gets me is that she has been in our house 3 times, the last 2 were in April and May, for her Mom's events. She should know that we can't fit that many people easily downstairs (anyone ever laid out a buffet in their upstairs bathroom??? LOL). Never mind the parking situation. Twenty is our limit, and that's crowded, if using tabled seating. I could just switch it to folding chairs, as we're only having finger foods, but there goes the idea of the 4 cute centerpieces I made (1 for each card table). Also, I bought the favors yesterday, 24 of them, and can't get any more in the color I like. I bought those net bath pouf things, in light blue. They have a tinge of white, so they look like clouds. I had planned to stand up a yellow paper star in each one, with the person's name written on it, to use as a place card at each plate.  I figured that everyone could use one, and if they left them here, I'd use them (I replace mine twice a month), so I didn't mind buying so many. They really are cute! 

Now, I have to tactfully tell her to whittle down the guest list. I feel awful doing so, but I just can't handle that many guests. 

You are taking this very well.  To be honest I wouldn't be very happy about this.  You were asked to do this by someone for whom you wouldn't normally be doing a shower for, now they are inviting more guests than you have room for.  I wouldn't feel one bit guilty about asking, no telling them, that they need to whittle down the guest list.

I had no problem getting her to pare down the list. She thought many of those invited wouldn't be able to come, but thought they should be asked. I understand how she felt!  

Denice said:

 
I had never heard of someone asking someone to do their baby shower or any shower for that matter before.  I guess we are old fashioned but I thought it was something that others did for them, either family or close friends.

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Brides and expectant parents are becoming more and more bold!

Where I live in Manitoba Canada there is something unique that we do for brides and grooms to help them raise money to offset the cost of their wedding.  It's called a "Social", and it's typically planned by the best man in the wedding.  A hall is rented, a DJ is booked, booze if purchased.  Tickets are sold. Drinks are sold at the event, and prizes are given away by purchased raffle tickets.  The profits go to the bride/groom.

Several girls I work with when they were planning their wedding, also planned their own fund raising social event.
 

Even expectant mother's are getting more and more in people's faces about their showers, giving input and wants/wishes etc. instead of arriving and being surprised and grateful that someone took the time out of their lives to do this for them.

I chalk it up to greed

I understand how she feels about omitting somebody and possibly the hurt feelings, but geez. 37 people is ridiculous if it's to be held in somebody's home. I'm so glad she was willing to pare down her guest list....and I'm sure you're breathing a huge sigh of relief. I will say that you're a whiz, Barbara. I think it's just wonderful that you're willing to do this.

I'm really glad she was so willing to cut back the list a bit!