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1.25.2012

parties: A Baby Shower.

Oh boy, do I have something fun to share with you.  Last weekend, I had the privilege of helping to cater a baby shower in Dallas and oh, what a privilege it is when you are working with friends who put so much love and work into the party.  My friends Abby and Katie (with the wonderful help of sister Hannah, mother Karen and Katie's mom Barbara and her wonderful home) threw a lovely shower for Abby's sister, Emily.  These girls know how to throw a party, but more importantly, how to decorate. I happen to meet sweet Emily this summer on our trip to Italy and let's just say that I could have never imagined I would be helping with this darling shower for a baby that will be born exactly nine months from the week I met her {Oh, Italia}.  I put together a few shots of the food, but every detail of the party is worth mentioning so here it goes...
(scroll to the bottom for notes about the menu)

This January Shower was a mix of comfort food + bright pops of color.

menu collage
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soup and grilled cheese
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The photo booth captured everyone's predictions as to whether a baby girl or baby boy was in the works.  The mom to be is unsure, but grandmothers have good instincts and this one is going with boy. 
photobooth collage
There was a table with packets of sweet peas for guests to plant for favors and a jar to shower the mom-to-be with advice. 
baby picture
And by the end of a lovely shower, the three of us had a little fun with the photo booth. 
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Menu Notes...
  • Click here for the tomato basil soup.  
  • The grilled cheese were made with buttermilk sourdough bread from Central Market with sharp cheddar cheese and olive oil to crisp the bread. 
  • Click here for Avocado Chicken Salad. 
  • Click here for Pesto Pasta Salad recipe.  I substituted these marinated mozzarella balls for the feta ... not sure I will ever go back to feta. It was delicious.
  • Click here for chocolate chip cookie recipe.
  • And the Oatmeal Cake Cupcakes with buttercream frosting were amazing! I am going to do a little begging to see if I can get the grandmother to be to share this perfect recipe.  

28 comments:

  1. I am ABSOLUTELY bookmarking/pinning/saving every one of these pictures. This shower belongs in a magazine - so ridiculously adorable. Did you write those cards, or have them printed? If you wrote them, you have amazing penmanship! And the photo booth is too cute! I love everything about this party!

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    Replies
    1. Yay! So glad you like it. I did not write the cards, but my extremely talented friend Abby did (loveydoveydesign.blogspot.com) . Aren't they amazing??

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  2. I agree! Oh my gosh this is SO cute. Where did you get those glasses that the soup/sandwich and milk/cookies are in???

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    Replies
    1. The glasses are from Amazon. Check out the veggie shooter post for the link to the exact ones I bought. So glad you like it!

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  3. This is too adorable and now I have a lot of questions! I would love to know where those glasses came from too, but also where are the trays from? I feel like I have recently seen them, but cannot place them. Was the soup and grilled cheese hot? Can I ask one more? :) Tell me about those pom pom balls!!!

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    Replies
    1. The glasses are from Amazon. Check out the veggie shooter post for the link to the exact ones I bought. So glad you like it! The trays are from West Elm. They come in so many great colors. I will be buying myself a set! We kept the soups and grilled cheeses in the oven on warm until right before they were served and it worked great. I made the sandwiches at the last minute so they were fresh.

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  4. What a fun party! The milk and cookies shooters are so cute.

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  5. So amazing. I love everything about this. That photo booth is so charming and what a gift for the mom-to-be to have all of those pictures. The menu looks perfect for January. Amazing!

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  6. Did you guys make those pom poms????

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    1. Yes, they were the idea and creation of Abby (www.loveydoveydesign.blogspot.com). She is going to post a tutorial soon. So easy!

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  7. Oh my goodness how amazing. What a fun bright and colorful shower to brighten up January. I love it and would love to know about the pom poms too.

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    1. Tutorial coming soon on www.loveydoveydesign.blogspot.com. Easy to make!

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  8. What a beautiful shower! And the food all looks amazing!

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  9. Hi Ashlea, I met you at Emily's shower! Thrilled to have found your blog and so happy you've shared photos and recipes; thank you so much. Everything was wonderful and I love how the party was every bit as colorful as our mother-to-be!

    I don't see your follower button; I'd love to keep up with you and your great blog...am I missing it?
    Take care, Angela

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    Replies
    1. It was lovely to meet you! I currently do not have the followers button set up, but you can click on Subscribe at the top and have emails sent to you with all updates.

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  10. Oh what a gorgeous shower! I LOVE the photobooth idea, and the signs are especially brilliant, I so wish I can just download the font on it!

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    Replies
    1. I know, my friend Abby has the best handwriting!! I wish I could do that too.

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  11. I love all of the colorful outfits! Where is that turquoise necklace from?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Emily. The necklace is the J. Crew bubble necklace. (a little secret... look on ebay)

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  12. What a happy shower! How did you do the photo booth? I love that fabric with the bright color pops!

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    Replies
    1. My friend Abby bought the fabric at Ikea and hung it over something that was already hanging on the wall. They have those great stripes in a bunch of colors. She is going to do a tutorial soon on the pom poms (www.loveydoveydesign.blogspot.com)

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  14. I still can’t understand how you guys really plan out such amazing parties and get-togethers. I too want to throw a surprise baby shower for my sister. Planning to hire one of local Los Angeles event venues for the party and hope to do everything within budget.

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