My dear friend Kate is having a baby boy! You may remember Kate from the Italian adventure Jacinda and I had last summer attending her wedding. I’m so excited!
Our friend Erin and I decided we had to throw a shower with a theme fit for one of Kate’s passions: fresh, local, organic food. We all live near the original Los Angeles Farmers Market and that inspired our theme: Made in California, just like her baby! Isn’t that cake just stunning? I ordered it from the lovely proprietress Danielle, of local bakery Bittersweet Treats. It’s wild rose flavored. I love that it’s not overdone, just perfect. Everyone oohed and awwed. You know we usually like to make our own cakes here at Pretty Prudent, but I’m so glad I ordered this one!
Another friend of ours offered up her abosolutely stunning home, so we were able to focus our energies and budget on quality catering, though if you are doing a local “Made in YOURSTATE” themed shower, you could easily potluck or make your own local delicacies (note: Can someone please invite me to a “Made in New Orleans” party?). We had a spread of fresh, local, organic California salads, beef, and vegan portobellos from Whoa Nellie Catering – it was the freshest, most delicious spread I have experienced in a long time.
And Erin brought these adorable chalkboards that we used to make menus over the buffet.
At the entrance to the home, we set up this welcome station using one of my vintage wooden crates and all that jam I’ve been making, gussied up with labels Jacinda design that say “MAde in CA”.
These were also the favors that people were invited to take as they left.
I am not one for silly baby shower games, but we did want to have an activity that would leave Kate with some memories from the party. Erin hunted down these stunning oversize postcards featuring vintage pictures of local Los Angeles landmarks, and everyone wrote a letter to the baby.
Kate’s sister lives far away, but really wanted to help plan Kate’s shower, so she offered to do a onesie station. We were so glad, but we had no idea how awesome it would be until she arrived with a whole slew of onesies, tees, and kimono tops in all different sizes that she had appliqued with different fruits and veggies! Everyone was invited to use paint pens to write something on the outfits. I chose a peach and wrote “You’re a…” but this one by my friend Sherri was the absolute winner by far.
A few fun details that always jazz up a shower are to gussy up your mason jars with colored bakers twine to use as water glasses,
and to chill wine in a tub using balloon ice. You just fill a balloon with water and freeze the night before, and they become perfect little ice packs that don’t turn into a puddle of water!
We had so much fun planning, attending, and eating everything at this shower!
Now I can’t wait to munch on that baby’s cheeks!
How lucky am I to have such great friends and family? What an amazing day!!