Favorite Things Party
You know you’re itching to throw a party… this one was a TOTAL success!
Some friends of mine told me about this Oprah’s Favorite Things party idea, with the premise that we all get ideas for great products from our girlfriends. So the three of us threw a party to do just that. We each invited four people and told each guest to bring a friend {my favorite way to get a good mix of people at a party}. One of the hosts, Kim, told me about Paperlesspost.com for the invitations which proved to be super convenient and adorable; all sorts of digital stationary, fonts and colors to use, as well as reporting of which guests are attending and which guests are bringing friends.
Each guest brought their favorite thing x3. For example, one guest works in the sun and shared her ultimate favorite sunscreen for the smell and shimmer. She brought three bottles of the sunscreen to share. As each guest arrived, they received a number that would ultimately be the order in which they got to pick their favorite thing. We went through the numbers three times, each guest picking one item each time through. We had reusable bags lined up for each guest to pick so they could take home their favorite things in style!
Here’s a list of the things everyone brought. It was definitely a good mix of gifts and everyone was excited to try something new!
- Homemade Necklaces
- Orgins “Piece of Mind” serum
- “European Wax Center” Gift Certificate
- Donna Karen Cashmere Mist Deodorant
- Nalgene bottles w/ Luna Bars & Crystal Light
- Jillian Michaels Workout DVD
- Benefit Blush: Benetint
- Eucerin Moisturizer & Lindt Chocolate
- L’occitane Hand Lotion
- Pinkies Nail Salon Gift Certificate
- The best Tupperware “Rubber Maid Premier”
- Real Simple Magazine
- Paul Mitchell Hairspray
- Hawaiian Tropical Sunscreen: Shimmer Effect
- Forever 21 Jewelry
- “East of Eden” Book
- Nalgene bottles & she recommends the attachment
For this party, I used real dishes because it was a ladie’s-night-out “heels required” party. Seemed only right to have some fabulous dinnerware. The crystal plates were my mom’s from when she was younger and they are the perfect party plates. The silverware is both from my kitchen as well as some very cool pieces picked up at the Goodwill for 15 cents each. The goblets were mostly found at garage sales, with a few borrowed mixed in. I spent no more than $4 on the purchased goblets, which is easily how much I could have spent on throw-aways, but now I have dishes for the next party too!
Nutella-swirled cupcakes-in-a-jar were a hit. Vacuum sealed cupcakes in quilted jelly jars were the perfect compliment to the food. Recipe found here.
Free Downloads: Easter Goodie Bags
A quick trip to the store for Easter candies and a few pieces of cardstock later {regular paper works well too}, I came up with an easy-but-cute favor idea. Click the links to get free downloadable PDFs for the bag tags, prints 6 to a letter-sized sheet of paper. {bunny artwork from here, chick artwork from here}
Free Download {PDF}
Bunny Poop {used with Whoppers}
Bunny Babies {used with marshmallow bunnies}
Bunny Tails {used with cotton candy or marshmallows}
Chick-a-dees {used with Easter grass and peanut butter Easter M&M’s}
If you’re not a designer
When creating favors or labels or anything from scratch… think simple. Simple makes a statement, even with the irreverant “{bunny} poop” favors. Simple goes a long way.
Mama Love Play Date Sponsors
Last week I threw a little Valentine’s Day party for young moms in my area, and we had so much fun. It wasn’t a relaxing tea or a pampering pedicure, it was a rowdy toddler-chasing, cheerio and PBJ snacking unintentional cardio workout. Just the kind of party that would have given me a headache a year ago is the perfect fit now as my little one likes to get his wiggles out with his friends.
It all started with these adorable invitations
by Gracie Girl Notes. This Pennsylvania shop has fun prints and cute shapes for invitations, announcements and thank you cards. I provided the wording, and Bevin came up with the adorable concept of the little elephants with heart cardstock and kraft paper invitations. They really were cute and professional, and even better – I didn’t have to spend ANY time on them! She sent a proof via email before she shipped them out, so I was confident I was getting the perfect invitation. {Plus anybody that packages with Divine Twine is alright in my book}
Then came the sponsors
Several items were donated from companies that got me through the rough transition into new-mommyhood. You know how moms talk – we know who’s pooping, who didn’t nap, and who’s cutting teeth. It used to drive me crazy when I didn’t have kids and the conversation would continue at-length on any of these subjects. But now I get it – we’re all trying to be the best moms we can and it takes experience from our peers and the help of quality products.
A few things I was able to share
We bought at least 6 different brands of bottles for my underweight one-month old. Some bottles came out too fast, others too slow and frustrating. Some had him swallowing too much air, making an achy belly and big spit-ups. With a baby with colic, anything that could lessen the symptoms was a lifesaver. Switching to a more sensitive formula combined with these Tommee Tippee bottles made such a difference. He was less gassy, happy with the flow, and less starving! 9 months later he still loves them, and they are easy to hold in his big paws. By four months, he was holding them on his own.
And with colic comes LOTS of tears. I’m a firm believer in Dr. Karp’s “Happiest Baby on the Block” method that can get any crying baby soothed as long as there is no medical problem. I’m having flashbacks as I type this. It seemed like a century, but with the three months of colic came nights in the laundry room with the dryer on, running water to soothe cries and many many swaddles. These Aden + Anais swaddle blankets were the only ones sufficiently big and stretchy to pull tight enough for him to be sufficiently womb-like. They are definitely on my ‘must-have’ list for new moms {I even took mine to the hospital from day one}. They just made such a huge difference in our baby when he was little. Now that he’s older, they stay around covering a sleeping baby in the stroller, or as a blanket to crawl on.
When people tell me their babies wouldn’t take a pacifier, it almost doesn’t register. I can’t even IMAGINE. I got Owen sleeping 10 hours consistently at 3 months old using his favorite thing in the world: his Nuk pacifier. He is still happily using his pacifier at night, or when he’s embarrassing me with his volume level at a restaurant. He will only spit it out for two things: his bottle or his toothbrush. My only regret is that I didn’t know about these sports ones. Owen came home from the hospital wearing my baseball outfit from my birth, and this baseball binky would have topped it off!
You might remember Nicole Hoxie Photography doing my newborn’s pictures. They turned out better than I could have imagined, and I’m so lucky to have such great pictures. It’s so fleeting, they only stay that tiny for such a short time! Nicole is so crazy talented, you’ll notice that if you visit her home. Quilts, clothes for her kids, decor – all handmade! This is a diaper clutch that she designed and created – a perfect fit for a few diapers and wipes, and other essentials. Just in case you don’t feel like lugging your entire diaper bag, or you can leave it with the sitter while you’re away. She has created so many beautiful diaper clutches and you can buy them here.
Also pictured is a Baby Carrier Cover by Kukuku. No longer in stores, but a lifesaver for a chilly baby while he’s in your front carrier {works great with Baby Bjorn, Ergo, and other similar baby carriers}. My baby never liked to sleep, but I’ve managed to lure him to sleep with the fuzzy fleece lining of this cover and a little back rub.
In light of the rough first months, a one-of-a-kind frame like this one found it’s way to my doorstop {You can see my post about it here}. This frame was created by Face to Face Framing using reclaimed barn wood. They have an impressive Etsy shop with really amazing woodwork and home decor. Brigitte sent me one of these frames with a photo of my little one and it has got to be one of my most prized possessions. You can’t bottle that new baby smell or hang on to that feeling when your baby cozies up to your neck for the first time, but my frame with my baby’s little toes is as close as it gets. {Also pictured is my ‘Love Print‘}
Also from Face to Face Framing is this fun burlap pillow. I’m so jealous that they create these fun pillows – I would LOVE to do this {read: I would love to procrastinate on my daily house-wifing and work-from-homing duties to get involved in yet another project}. So cute!
And lastly, who knew it would be so hard to get back on the wagon? I went without a hairbrush and mascara for probably a good month after baby. So much feeding, diaper changing and soothing, all I ever wanted to do in my spare time was SLEEP. But the pieces had to be put back together, and if I was going to wear a pony tail, I was at least going to throw on a pair of earrings! :) These cute hoops are from a local brand, Twisted Silver. I’m seeing their cool jewelry more and more and my friends and family grow their Twisted Silver collection!
The baby food was provided by three great companies that I LOVE. How did anyone raise children without this stuff? He may have his sleeping faults, but Owen is an exceptional eater. I always have a few of these food pouches in my diaper bag in case our errands run long or he’s just a hungry dude. His legs start squirming at the very sight of these, and he loves that he can suck it out of the top all by himself! Plum Organics, Revolution Foods {who has the CUTEST website} and Ella’s Kitchen all have a version of these baby food pouches and they are a lifesaver. It’s organic {don’t roll your eyes}, it’s sneaky {crammed with veggies, but you’d never know it!} and fun for the baby’s to eat {Look ma, no spoon!}.
And lastly, just a few party details
Raffle tickets made using Just Something I Made‘s Vintage Frame graphics {Fun to use for quick projects like this}, and napkin flowers from Design Editor’s Tutorial here.
Brought a rug {Pottery Barn – circa 2009} and some toys for little crawlers.
Penants made from a less-than-favorable book and some scrapbook paper {Sorry for the backlighting here, you can see great penants from the Crafting Chicks here}
Food for kids and mommies {Weight Watchers Chicken Salad recipe here – I added slivered almonds and Fuji apples}
A little something extra for the mommies {when they’re hands aren’t full}
And the guests of honor!
Owen all dressed up for the event {hang on little buttons!}
Hunger Games Party
My turn to host the monthly book club party last night and we reveled in my dorkiness. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to do a theme party, and the Hunger Games had the perfect material.
If you haven’t read the book, this will look cookoo-balls to you. But just to clarify: the main character’s favorite dish was lamb stew. I just couldn’t do it {bleck}, so I made chili instead. “Tracker Jacker” brownie bites, “District 12 Bread” and “Sleep Syrup {homemade root beer}” were on the menu, served with “Cornicopia weapons” for spoons. And who could forget the “Sponsor Gift” of “Deadly Berries” for a party favor.
My inner dork THRIVED.
Cute As A Button Baby Shower
I just threw my girlfriend a “Cute As A Button” themed baby shower. I came up with the theme when I saw these adorable cookies. Now remember, I don’t bake, so I didn’t actually make these – it just gave me the idea. I rounded up a bunch of buttons from my personal collection and from friends {free} and grabbed all my scrap fabric {free} from a black and white quilt I had made to make these invitations {how-to here}.
Then I found an adorable button mold via Bake It Pretty and created these little desserts {$4 to make the candy buttons} {how-to here}
I made candy kabobs for the favors using the buttons and scrap fabric {$4 for the skewers and pretzel bags + candy}
More scrap quilt fabric cut with pinking shears for tabletops {free} and a collection of jars for candlelight {I cleaned out my fridge and got 9 jars – embarrassing! The others were from family that I asked to save their jars, and my sister found some very cool ones at a garage sale for cheap}.
Scrap fabric to decorate $1 large water bottles
Hanging hooks on the railing let the guests’ gifts become part of the decorating {$3 for 9 “S” hooks}.
It was a hit!
Cute As A Button Desserts
This is all going somewhere – my “Cute As A Button” themed baby shower post is coming up next. But these were the main attraction – little button-topped desserts. All the supplies needed to make these little buttons are at Bake It Pretty – and for cheap cheap! {Super cute baking supplies available here – even ready-made sugar buttons!}
These are tubes of candy! Mmmm… To make the buttons, all you do is melt the candy writer {$1.75} in some warm water…
Squeeze the candy into the button mold {$2.25}, tap out the air bubbles and set in the freezer for a minute before popping the buttons out.
You put them on delicious homemade cupcakes or cookies, but I {“she who does not bake”} put them on Safeway’s yummmmmy frosted brownie bites that my mom found.
$4 to make these buttons, and you can keep reusing the mold. I LOVE when beautiful things are also cheap and easy!
Cute As A Button Invitations
Here are the invitations for a shower I’m throwing tomorrow: “Cute As A Button”
Here’s how I made them
1. Grabbed a Sharpe and drew the “Cute as a Button” and the little buttons.
2. Scanned the drawing and finished the invitation in Photoshop, printed and rounded corners
3. Cut scrap fabric using rotary cutter
4. Sewed random buttons on fabric using my sewing machine {if you haven’t done this, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is! I’ll never hand-sew a button again!}
5. Sewed two pieces of fabric together with contrasting thread to make pocket and trimmed edges with pinking shears
I’m Sharing: Thank You IOU Cards
After my shower a few weeks ago {I’ll share when I’ve got pics}, I wanted to make sure my thank you cards were special, but didn’t need to spend a lot of money on them. I came up with an “IOU” idea, and created these in Photoshop. They print out 3 to a letter-sized piece of paper and fit in a standard number 10 envelope. Click here to download my free PDF to use these cards for yourself!
My Baby Shower Invitations
Most of my friends are creative. Some of them are flat out duds. {kidding}. ALL of my friends are creative in their own right: teaching, nutrition, numbers, crafting, and the list goes on. Nicki, however, really sets the bar. {when you get a chance, look at the wrinkly babies on her photography blog here}.
She created these invitations for my baby shower, and her attention to detail is inspiring! Thanks Nicki!
April’s Shower: The Ice Cream Party Details
I know, it took everything I had not to do an “April Showers” theme… had I known the weather we’d be having, it would have been perfect!
The party was this weekend, and we had a fun time. We have a great room at my complex that I rent out often. It’s free to use, and always roomy for plenty of guests.
We did an ice cream parlor theme with a light lunch. My rules for party planning are: borrow when you can, and if you have to buy something, make sure it’s something you can reuse. I don’t like spending money on decorations if they are just going to be tossed, so I try to be extra careful about the things I buy. I’ll either use them as decorations in my home, or know I’ll use them again for parties in the future.
Here’s a super-quick video of the room before the guests arrived:
April’s Shower from Brooke Hall on Vimeo.
And here are the pictures of the details:
{any tips for taking pictures in a yellow room? Change the white balance?}
{you may recognize this ‘tablecloth’ from the panel behind my desk. It was a great start for a color theme and didn’t cost a thing.
I made a couple of signs in illustrator using the same fonts from her invitations. The rice paper lanterns were $1 each at my local party store. I’m thinking about hanging them above the crib, so I know I’ll be using them again.
I made little tags for all the toppings… certainly not necessary, but I wanted to make sure you could tell the difference between the Reeses pieces and the M&Ms. But, they’re cute, easy to make, and add a little personality. My mom had purchased the little card holders for my sister’s wedding, and we’ve used them multiple times since.
The scoops were a splurge at Wal-Mart in their cooking aisle. $3 for three scoops. Spoons would have worked, but I know I’ll be using these again.
I used styrafoam cups from Smart & Final, scrapbook paper and a $1 stamp from Michaels for the ice cream cups. Luckily April and I share the same last initial, so I know I’ll be using the stamp again, too.
Borrowed cake stands and brownie bites were the perfect centerpiece for the two tables. Even the tablecloths were borrowed. You could easily buy flowers or make a centerpiece, but using the food or drinks you’ll be serving makes no extra cost. I made the little ruffles with pink fabric and elastic. I’ll be adding them to a table runner for Valentine’s Day.
Another sign for the gift table, and the white posts were made for my wedding by my sister’s boyfriend seven years ago. My family and friends have reused those beautiful posts a million times over, and they always add so much.
Water bottles with scrapbook paper and strawberry crush for drinks. The straws were $4 at Party City, and they are REUSABLE! Seriously – dishwasher safe. Love this. Paper plates were also from party city, and napkins from Ikea. The metal baskets and little white basket were from my home.
Here’s me and my pregnant friends. Each about a month apart.
The food was enjoyed, and the shower was great. In case you missed the invitations for this little ice cream party, here they are again:
Baby Shower Invitations
I’m hosting my friend April’s baby shower next weekend, and although I’m dying to share the details as we plan them, I don’t want to spoil it! :)
Here are the invitations I made and sent out a few weeks ago… designed in photoshop, printed one side on heavy paper and the other on a shiny thin paper, and sandwiched together over a popsicle stick using a xyron label maker. We’re having an ice cream party!
Inspiration for the invitation from the Imprintables Blog.
Easy & Cheap Gift Wrapping {FREEBIE}
I made some labels that you can put on any bag you have, or you can grab these cute kraft paper bags using your Michael’s coupon {Makes them about twenty-five cents each}. Grab this PDF, print them out on label paper, or print and glue them to the bags. Use scrap ribbon or any scrap fabric you have {ALWAYS wanted a use for those!} for personal and cheap gift wrapping. {I think you could also cut up Christmas cards and use them as a tag or label instead of throwing them in the trash.}
{ohbaby} Shower
Because she lives in Chicago, we haven’t actually “met”, but Jessica and I have talked on the phone and emailed frequently. She is the mastermind behind many of my favorite pieces of jewelry, JessLC.com, and we all love her Make Under My Life blog.
Thank you Jess for the ohbaby shower!
Many of you have left comments that have been encouraging, thoughtful, and outright funny. I have loved every one of them, and am delighted as I get these little gems in my email throughout the day.
Here is what I received at the ohbaby shower:
From Jess, an adorable letterpress print {from See Saw Designs} that matches the nursery perfectly. I love this!
Whitney, maker of all things paper-crafts and colored bakers twine, sent me this note of “practical advice” {it’s perfect!}:
The eloquent and beautiful Julieta sent over this cute note… probably the first time I realized that I’ll be having a BOY! {a real teach-him-how-to-pee-standing-up BOY!} Oh, and if you haven’t read how her blog got its name, read here, and you’ll love her as much as I do!
And Natalie, whose talent never ceases to amaze me, made a print with her advice. And she should know… she has three girls, two of which are TWINS!
Guest Post: ohbrooke Baby Shower
Good morning, ohbrooke readers! My name is Jess of MakeunderMyLife, and I’m a blog friend of Brooke. I’m so excited for her and her new baby! Since we live all over the world, coordinating a blogging baby shower in California might be unrealistic (read: impossible). So I had the idea to have a little party for her here on ohbrooke. This way all of us blogging “besties” and readers alike can share in her new adventure.
To participate in Brooke’s baby shower, send your wishes, advice, or tokens of affection for Brooke and her baby. Wishes can take the form of a jpg or comment sent to brooke@ohbrooke.com with the subject title “OhBaby! Shower”. Or, if you’d like to send a snail mail letter or gift, please download and print the address label below and send her your wish (so she doesn’t accidentally peek). Over the next few weeks, Brooke will collect the emails and thoughts that arrive. And on Saturday October 17, she will open all of our wishes at once – and post about them with links to our sites.
Again, congratulations, Brooke! I am excited for you and your husband. And I know your baby is going to have the coolest nursery on the block.
{To download the mailing label, click the thumbnail below and print!}
Great Invitation Idea
Brilliant Whitney!
Those of you who know me, are aware that I don’t “do” dogs. But, this is adorable, nonetheless.