Baby Shower and Destroy
Posted by BakeandDestroy on May 19th, 2010. Filed under: cupcake recipes, giveaways, savory stuff, supplies.
My beautiful sister
This past week end my mom and I set out to prove something to the world: baby showers do not have to suck. Now, my baby shower was attended by members of Sweet Cobra and one of my gifts was a breast pump wrapped in a Budweiser box, but that’s not really the kind of gal my sister Nina is – and anyway, as much as I hate to admit it, baby showers should be less mosh parts and more cute.
But there’s cute-cute and then there’s lame-cute. We were determined to avoid the latter. We started with a general theme based on the way Nina is decorating the baby’s room – pink and brown and birds. I did a quick Etsy scan and found a shop called Paper & Pigtails that offered up adorable customizable, printable invites, thank you cards and other favors. A few email exchanges later and we had our stationery needs taken care of, along with cupcake decorations, favor details and custom-designed water bottle labels. Shop co-owner Kori was super accommodating to our requests and had designs in our hands within days. I credit custom-made invites and favors with at least 60% of why this shower was so successful. Stay tuned til the end of the post to find out how you can win customized printable invites and party circles for your party from Paper & Pigtails!
My mom obsessively hunted down pink and brown polka dot balloons, plates and napkins while I zeroed in on the snack situation. We had about 20 guests coming so we decided to make a few quiches and salads – and to ask my aunt Cindy to make her apple salad that I go gaga over at every family function. As far as cupcakes were concerned, my sister mentioned she’d been craving fruit through her whole pregnancy. So we put our heads together and decided on lime, strawberry lemonade and chocolate raspberry cupcakes. Our friend Tara carved a watermelon baby carriage and filled it with fruit – that kicked up the food table cute factor at least 20%. (Do you like all these percentages I’m pulling out of my ass? More to come.)
Macarons from Fritz Pastry
We decided Jordan almonds are the grossness, but wanted to send guests away with something little, cute and sweet. So my mom found these great little 2″ square favor boxes
My mom worked on the party playlist (Foo Fighters, Green Day, No Doubt and other stuff she and my sister jam out to) and we scoured the Earth for non-lame shower games. Nina is a fan of the candy bar poopy diaper game so that was a must. If you’re unfamiliar, you get a variety of chocolate candy bars and melt one of each into a clean disposable diaper. Pass them around at the party and watch with delight as your guests sniff – and even taste- the “poop” to guess what candy bar it is. I swept the contest at my sister’s first shower by being the only fatso to identify a melted SKOR bar. After choosing a handful of other games we settled on bubble bars from Lush and SIGG water bottles as prizes. Every time a guest won a prize, my sister won a prize as well. (I gave her the matching thank you cards as one of the prizes, along with a book of stamps.)
Not a complete waste of time & plastic after all!
The planning part was relatively easy – so the day before the shower I went to my mom’s and got started on execution. There were buttercreams to make, cupcake toppers to assemble, water bottles to label – lots to do. I’m pretty anti-bottled water, but it’s tough to round up 20+ reusable bottles and glasses to serve your guests on a hot day. So I spent about 45 minutes pulling the labels off bottles, sticking our custom labels on and then tying each one with pink or brown ribbon. At one point my little brother watched what I was doing and gave me the “ooooooh kaaaaay” look only a little brother can give you when you’re doing something stupid. Truth be told, those water bottles were the talk of the party. People seriously thought those were so cool and they were so simple to do. Well, I should say they were one of the wow factors – the other two were the quiche and the lime cupcakes.
My Mom’s Perfect Quiche
- 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
- 3 eggs, slightly beaten
- 1 cup light cream
- 1/4 cup dijon mustard
Sprinkle cheese and green onions evenly on bottom of pie crust. Whisk together eggs, cream and mustard in small bowl. Pour evenly over cheese mixture. Bake at 375°F for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in filling comes out clean.
We did a few variations – one with spinach, a plain and one with bacon. And yes, you could make a crust but we made five of these things in about an hour and people raved about them so… why bother?
The lime cupcakes took me by surprise because I’ve never made them before and I really didn’t think it would be the flavor people went for of the three I made. But it was!
Craving cupcakes for my sissy
Lime Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 and line your pan with cupcake papers. Whisk both flours in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then next 3 ingredients (the batter will look curdled). Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions. Spoon into pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until tops spring back when touched lightly with finger. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely. I topped mine with lime vanilla buttercream – which is just a simple vanilla buttercream with lime zest and fresh lime juice.
My sister loves the way cupcakes look when you “rim” them in colored sugar. So each cupcake got a roll through pink sanding sugar from Bake It Pretty.
My mom made a giant noodle salad and stuck it in the fridge to get delicious overnight and we ordered a spinach and garlic deep dish to celebrate an honest day’s work. I’m turning into a Golden Girl, so I was in bed by about 9:30pm and up again at 6am Sunday to get started on the real, actual fun stuff.
Lola & Lily check out our handywork
In the morning my dad blew up balloons – I should mention that he mowed the lawn for SEVEN HOURS on Saturday – and my mom and I cut lilacs and arranged them in mason jars for the tables. The yard came together pretty quickly – aside from the SEVEN HOURS my dad spent on the grass – we threw the table cloths on, strung two clothes lines, set up the chairs and rolled out the drink cart. My mom has been buying baby clothes since my sister announced the pregnancy, so we strung about 25 outfits from one line, including some hand-embroidered onesies she made and some hats she knitted. The bottom line was for the bibs. We put a few buckets on each table containing fabric paints, bibs and clothes pins. While Nina opened gifts we asked the guests to decorate a bib for Quinn.
About an hour before people were supposed to start showing up we threw the quiches together and stuck them in the oven. My dad made sangria and my parents argued about whether or not they should have bought a beverage dispenser for the occasion. I personally think it would go perfectly with the chocolate fountain they bought for my wedding reception and the helium tank they now own, but what do I know?
Guests started rolling in and it’s all really a blur from that point forward. We made bibs, played games, ate a lot of food and did a lot of talking about lesbians as soon-to-be-married family friends Jen and Lauren were in attendance. Once I posted the pictures and started hearing from people “I’m stealing that idea” and “those water bottles are adorbs!” I realized how much impact those little details really had – so I’m glad my mom and I are both OCD enough to have cared about them.
How could I not?
And now, because you managed to survive an entire post about a baby shower and not kill yourself, I have a little something for you. Kori at Paper & Pigtails is offering a set of customizable printable invitations and matching printable circle designs (for cupcake toppers, gift tags, etc) to one of my readers! Expect to increase the fanciness of your party by at least 75% if you win. To enter, leave a comment with one piece of advice for soon-to-be-born Quinn. Instead of leaving it up to Random.org I’m going to pick my favorite comment as the winner so put some thought into it! I’ll choose a winner on 5/26.
If you must get your hands on some colorful sprinkles, baker’s twine, brown baking cups or any of the other sweet little baking details we used for the shower you can find them at Bake It Pretty. And between now and 5/25 you can take 20% off your order of $20 or more when you enter MAYDAY20 at check out.
Bye bye, baby!
May 19th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
ok, i know i’m a dork, but it was sooo much fun! and from this day forward, the pioneerwoman’s favorite asian noodle salad shall be referred to as “giant noodle” salad. love you!
May 19th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Quinn-
Never be afraid to be yourself. Rock out, cook, join academic team or 4-H or the circus. Do what makes you happy.
May 19th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
OMG! I love this post! I recently found your site through Bake It Pretty and I think it’s awesome. So first of all…thanks for sharing and for being OCD and watching the “details” because they are important and were amazing.
To Baby Quinn, just remember…nothing is true but all is possible. Reach for the sky and if that’s where you wish to be, work hard and make those wishes realities. But keep in mind, dreams come true, not free.
And to the parental units to be…brace for impact!!!
May 19th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
what a sweet party! i just placed an order with bake it pretty
May 19th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I’m years away from the baby world (my littlest is now 6) but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. Now I just need someone to have a baby so we can have a party like yours. (I’ve always thought “shower” was a dumb word for what it is.)
Quinn, don’t beat yourself up over mistakes. That’s the only way we learn. Be true to yourself. And be honest; the truth will always set you free.
For Quinn’s parents: I highly recommend Kids Are Worth It by Barbara Coloroso. The premise is to teach your kids to be able to handle anything life throws at them. Amazing book!
May 19th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
What a fun baby shower! Love all the ideas.
May 19th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Loving the owls!!!!
May 20th, 2010 at 5:32 am
Quinn… If MY mom would have told me this when I was a wee child I would have been a lot happier. and not had so much teenage angst. yeah right, I was always emo
OK-
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
truth
May 20th, 2010 at 5:54 am
I don’t really want to win anything, I just wanted to say that this shower is fucking adorable. It almost makes me want to get knocked up again to have one this cute (instead of the excuse for day-drinking my shower actually was. Well, *I* wasn’t drinking. Duh.) So instead I’ll encourage my friends to get knocked up, and steal some of your ideas. (I’ll fully credit you, of course.) Fantastic job, and congrats to your sister!
May 20th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Always treat people how you want to be treated, go out of your way to be kind and polite. Don’t obsess over what people think if you truly believe in something, but respect their right to disagree.
I always tell people not to tell my daughter she is pretty, tell her she is smart, brave and strong. Who wants your kid to be proud of being pretty?!
May 20th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Fantastic party!
Advice: Kids are just miniature adults with less wisdom/life experience and they should totally be talked to as such.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:11 am
This was ridiculously adorable! Aaaand, I’m having my own baby shower in a month or two so I’ll be emailing this link to my darling sister!
Dear Quinn,
Three things:
1. Just as you don’t want to like something because it’s popular, you don’t want to NOT like something because it’s popular. George Michael’s “Faith” is still perfect no matter how many people love it.
2. A great way to avoid traffic tickets is to drive the speed limit. I recently discovered this and have saved both money and stress.
3. Have tons of fun!
May 20th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Okay, this is adorable. Seriously.
May 20th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
aw, thanks to all for the sweet words about the shower. i could seriously quit my day job and do this for a living. i love planning and the details are what drive me.
May 20th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Very VERY cute ideas. I too, am planning my sister’s baby shower (this sat) and was happy to see that I wasnt the only one who thinks they can be a little BLEH. I love the fruit flavored cupcakes, they made me think of Trix! The bibb is too cute. Great post!
May 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
[...] Baby Shower and Destroy | Bake and Destroy [...]
May 20th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I love how it all turned out, I just found out I’m expecting my 2nd. I am totally going to steal the bib idea.
Quinn: Remember this always, when you think you are pulling off the biggest sneak fest of your life, your mom knows and has already done it herself
May 20th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Great shower ideas! Just started browsing for cupcake inspiration for a shower I’m hosting and came across those lime cupcakes. Yum.
Dear Quinn, be your own awesome self all the time and surround yourself with those who do the same.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:00 am
This was a great post . . I kinda love baby showers and weddings (even more if they are super edgy and awesome)! Love the info. on your breast pump in a beer box! Ha, lol. Anywhoo . .
Quinn: You already have rockin’ name and I am sure a rockin’ mom and grandma and a kickass aunt so feel comfortable in the fact that you are surrounded by strong, beautiful women that have your best interests at heart. I will tell you what I am going to tell my daughter when she is old enough: You will make the mistakes, you will cry, you will laugh your “butt” off and you will evolve all within the murky understanding that life is crazy and gorgeous and super confusing. Break a leg . . . (hopefully on skateboard!)
May 21st, 2010 at 10:37 am
Dear little-soon-to-be-born Quinn,
Always remember that life is crazy, fun, tragic, amazing, bittersweet, glorious and beautiful! You, yourself have the power to make it what it is and don’t ever let anyone tell you different! Your priorities in life should be family, compiling as many kick-ass girlfriends as you can, music, watching every single episode of “My So-Called Life” on DVD and doing something you absolutely love! Put boys last. Because in my experience- when you’re not looking, the best ones fall right in your lap out of no where! Make sure to also take a page right out of your Aunt Natalie’s book- “Bake and Destroy!”
And most importantly- remember, (in the words of the one of the classiest broads I’ve ever read about)- “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” ~Coco Chanel
May 21st, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Great post, Natalie! II, too, am OCD about the little details and I’d say everything you and your mum creative came out so cute and perfect!
Dear Quinn- Don’t ever be afraid to make mistakes! Nobody ever achieved anything without trying something new.
May 21st, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Quinn, two words; no tequila.
This post was great. It gave me hope for the future! Knowing that my baby shower (whenever that is) does not need to be lame!!
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:14 am
Totally the cutest and coolest baby shower yet. Love all the details – an esp. the cupcakes!
May 22nd, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Fabulous and Funny!
Little Miss Quinn:
You can do anything your little heart desires. Dream big and don’t ever not do something because you might be afraid of failing, you’ll never know what you can accomplish if you don’t try.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’s all small stuff.
May 23rd, 2010 at 8:34 pm
That shower definitely doesn’t look lame cute! And it sounds like maybe the 20 acre yard you guys have was a large task for one man.
My advice from a young mom to a new mom:
Don’t let people set mile stones for your kid… all children grow and learn at different stages, and each is special in their own way.
Just because their 3 month old can read doesn’t mean he is going to be the next Einstein, he might buckle under the pressure and shoot up a mini mall.
May 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 pm
What a great post!! My own baby shower is coming up in about a month, so I’ll make sure to forward this link to my mom and sister. Oh, and as adorable as everything was here (especially the macaroon party favors), I think I’d laugh my ass off and thoroughly enjoy it if I got a breast pump wrapped in a Budweiser box!
For Quinn: Never take yourself too seriously, but know that you can do what you set out to. Remember to love large, laugh loudly, and rock out with your cock out!
May 24th, 2010 at 5:23 am
Dear little Quinn,
Never be afraid to be yourself. Who cares what people think!? In the end, you’ll be way more awesome and happy than everyone else. =)
<3
*angie*
May 24th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
To little Quinn: Know that you are awesome and exceptional exactly as you are! Don’t ever change, hide or compromise who you are for anyone or anything because you are unique for a reason! Have faith in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Whatever you can dream, you can do! Remember to smile every single day, no matter what you’re facing – and always try to find the best in every situation and every person! Welcome to this world and get ready for the ride of your life – it’s gonna be a good one!
Kudos to you and your mom on throwing an amazing baby shower! I would really LOVE to win this giveaway because my older sister, who means the world to me (just like your sister does to you!) is pregnant with her first child and I would love to be able to throw her a chic shower like the one you threw for your sister! It would mean SO much to me! Thanks in advance for this awesome giveaway!
May 24th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Can I add one more bit to my piece of advice for Quinn?
Quinn–Always thank your aunt for the delicious treats she’s sure to give you, and make sure to have her teach you how to bake like she does! Then you’ll be set for life!
May 29th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
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