PopSugar

Heirloom Baby Shower: Theme, Guest List and Invitations

LilSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:00:45 -0700

lilsugar is celebrating mamas-to-be all month with extensive baby shower coverage that will help you plan awwwww-inducing, unique, socially relevant and hip fetes. This week we party hop from the darling sibling soiree to an inexpensive and nostalgia-inspired heirloom-themed baby shower bash.

The heirloom shower is all about cherished childhood memories and passing down treasured items or advice instead of consumer goods. It is a sweet, coin-saving incentive to gather friends to celebrate baby instead of a party focused on presents. Guests are asked to bring an heirloom or lightly worn hand-me-down item in lieu of a fancy new gift to this recession-friendly bash, and should be encouraged to recycle and re-gift the many expensive baby items some of us only use for weeks - if ever. These could range from larger items like a stroller or car seat (although this should be arranged in advance), to smaller items like a precious rattle, holiday photo outfit, handmade quilt or a stuffed animal. Those who don't have children or a closet full of goodies are encouraged to bring a memento from their own childhood like their favorite book or booties, or make a contribution to the party, such as a tasty dish or beverage.

Limit the guest list to family and friends who won't be uncomfortable sharing an heirloom item, but feel free to open up the list to a healthy number your venue can house given the low-cost focus of this bash. Stay tuned for all the details - from decor to food to downloadable party games - in upcoming posts this week. In the mean time, we've designed two breathtaking vintage, but mod invites fit for the occasion. To check them out, or print them out for free, read more!

You can select the blue or brown designs or both - they are free! The invitations are just two of our baby shower invitations we've created exclusively for pingg! pingg allows you to email invites to a guest list or print and mail, and send reminders via SMS, online, Facebook, Twitter and more! Just want this one? You can get the blue and pink PDF download of this invite here or the orange and brown here.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids!

Baby Shower Tip: It's the Sweet Little Gestures

LilSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:30:18 -0700

Whether you're planning a blowout baby shower bash complete with decadent diaper cakes or a simple sprinkle to shower a shy mom-to-be, always remember the biggest smiles can spawn from the littlest details. At a recent shower for a Sugar staffer expecting twins, the hostess dished out carefully selected candies and treats that fit with the multiples theme. She placed bowls of Twix and Kit Kat (they come in twos!), Double Bubble and Hershey's Hugs and Kisses around the office fete, which drew oodles of ohhhs and awws.

Do you have a treasure trove of sweet baby shower suggestions? Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community and share your tips!

Yummy Links: From Fried Chicken to Chef Empires

partysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:50:27 -0700

A roundup of the best fancy-pants fried chicken New York City has to offer. - Serious Eats
How to avoid dirty looks while working on your laptop at a coffeehouse. - Chow
Watch a woman throw her bra at Guy Fieri. - Eat Me Daily
Did the Washington Post spoil Top Chef 6? - Eater SF
Hosting a baby shower? Download these circus-themed decorations. - Hostess With the Mostess
Learn the best way to get a truly medium-rare burger. - The Epi-Log
The top 20 biggest chef empires. - Grub Street

Source: Flickr User delgaudm

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun With Twin Diaper Cakes!

babysugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:36 -0700

It's multiple mania here at Sugar! After sending queen Sugar on her way to deliver a healthy baby girl, we showered our own LilSugar in bright floral style. The only thing that could outdo those diaper cakes would be TWO of them. More babies mean more festivities and that includes the decorations. Instead of making one grand centerpiece, I opted to make a couple of smaller ones to send our ShopStyle girl off in, well, style!

To see more photos and a detailed explanation on how to make the pair of "pastries," read more.

The party hostess chose the theme and ribbons of pink and black as the mother-to-be is expecting twin daughters and works for our fab group, ShopStyle. Instead of stuffing the base full of diapers, I chose to build around two sparkling bottles of pink champagne that will give the mom some extra incentive to push through labor. Folding each diaper in half, I packed them in a circle and tied them with a thick black grosgrain ribbon. Next, I began to make the second layer and wrapped it with the fleur de lis ribbon. For the top of the cake, I took one diaper and wrapped it tightly around the neck of the bottle and cinched it with the last piece of pink grosgrain ribbon. Instead of a regular cake platter, we placed the cakes on basket weaved platters. To finish the look, take two yards of tulle and tie it up top with a bow. Mommy will be delighted that the twins are already keeping their own identities separate and she'll have twice as many diapers!

* If you do not have a cake plate, you can use a cardboard box as the base. To make it more attractive, wrap it in tissue or adorned paper for an adorable and eco-friendly platter.

View 11 Photos ›

How to Host an Office Baby Shower

partysugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:15:01 -0700

On certain occasions, say when someone is getting married or having a baby, it's fun to throw them a small sendoff celebration in the office. With a few simple decorations, you can easily transform any conference room. Recently, a baby shower was hosted for Lisa Sugar, here at Sugar headquarters. In less than 15 minutes, the room was ready for a party. Here's how you can achieve a similar effect:

Spread a large pink paper tablecloth across the table.
Arrange plastic champagne glasses in neat rows and fill with three kinds of sparkling Martinelli's.
Add streamers, confetti, and a baby girl sign. Don't forget themed napkins.
Purchase cupcakes from a local bakery (ours were from Kara's Cupcakes) and take them out of the box. Place on plastic or glass cake stands.
A homemade diaper "cake" is a focal point and centerpiece for the tablescape.

Voila! Instant office baby shower. Have you hosted a party in your office? Share your tips and ideas below.

To check out a bunch more photos of the decor, read more.

View 19 Photos ›

Sip and See Baby Shower: Decor

LilSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:00:13 -0700

We’re continuing to celebrate mamas-to-be this month with our extensive baby shower planning guides. This week, we fete the mama and newborn who were not ready to be the centers of attention before the birth with a sip and see shower. Now that you've downloaded your free invites for the festivities, it's time to plan your décor. Given the fact that we are planning this shower as a co-ed open house, we used our invitation colors and event’s theme as inspiration for our decorations. We incorporated orange and robin’s egg blue, as well as a variety of cups, to communicate our theme and create a festive mood. For additional suggestions for setting a fun, gender-neutral setting, read more.

Sip:
Baby and sippy cups make great vessels for a variety of décor options for this event. Whether they are filled with flowers, strategically placed in potted plants or hung from banners, the cups will not only reinforce the theme of the shower, but will spark conversation among guests. We added a few silver baby cups to a homemade pennant banner, but if you are short on time, similar ones can be customized and purchased online.

See:
The shower is many people’s first opportunity to meet the baby and congratulate the family in-person. By scattering photos of the guest of honor throughout the room, attendees can see the baby in his earliest moments and see how much he has grown since birth.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and/or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids!

Multiples Baby Shower: Décor

babysugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:00:17 -0700

For lilsugar's last week of extensive baby shower coverage, we're celebrating the birth of multiples! While twosomes seem to be more normal these days, celebrating their arrival should be anything but common. You've already downloaded the free invites for the soiree so let's get started planning the décor!

Newborn twins or triplets often mimic baby birds and are smaller and more delicate than their single counterparts. They also tend to gravitate to one another like sweet little songbirds. You can create a springy centerpiece using tree branches with birds strategically placed on the twigs. The cheerful display will bring life and a central theme to the festivities.

To see more ideas for creating a winsome aviary affair, read more.

Birdcages:
Use wire bird cages (often found at antique fairs or home stores) and fill them with baby booties, heirloom pieces, or just plain birds. Hang them if you have the appropriate hooks or simply put them around the home for discreet accents.

Eggs:
What goes hand-in-hand with birds? Eggs and nests, naturally! I swiped a package of pastel beaded eggs from Pottery Barn at their post Easter bargain price of $6. Perfect for my bird themed shower, I hung the ornaments in pairs from the pink dogwood centerpiece. Using some raffia, I quickly wound up a few nests to hold the remaining eggs and positioned them around the fete for eye catching pieces.

Flowers:
While any fresh bloom will do, I prefer to use seasonal tree branches for a dramatic display. The sturdiness and height they provide make it easy to perch the birds and eggs. I found three sparsely glittered birds at a local shop and positioned them among the branches. An added bonus, you only need to splurge on the one spectacle as it will take up most of the table space. Some recommended tree choices: dogwood (as shown), cherry blossoms, plum, and green berry.

If the gender of the babies is known, one may decorate according to those colors. Regardless of sex, I adore the pastel palette with hints of brown and green as they bring out the natural side of the flowers and a bird's environment. Because we want this mama to be as relaxed and pampered as possible before the multiple mania strikes.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and/or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids! And, check out the baby shower invitations we've created exclusively for pingg! pingg allows you to email invites to a guest list or print and mail, and send reminders via SMS, online, Facebook, Twitter and more!

View 15 Photos ›

Sip and See Baby Shower: Food and Beverage

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

We’re continuing to celebrate mamas-to-be this month with our extensive baby shower planning guides. This week, we fete the mama and newborn who were not ready to be the centers of attention before the birth with a sip and see shower. We've created our guest list and downloaded free invites, and decorated our space so, now its time to map out a little sustenance for our guests. Keeping the theme and guest list in mind, we've created a menu that involves a lot of sipping throughout the shower.

Open houses tend to run for long periods of time with guests coming and going so serving a hot meal isn't really an option. Instead, opt for food that is easy to eat while standing or while balancing a plate on your lap.

View 5 Photos ›

To see our entire menu, read more.

Spread: Serve a "make-your-own" caesar salad, with a platter of grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon available for a more filling main dish. A large bowl of chilled gazpacho can be self-ladled into accompanying mugs to help bring the "sip" concept to the buffet bar.
Drinks: Given that very concept, offer guests a wide variety of beverages. For non-alcoholic drinks, consider Jones Soda Company's colorful and fun flavors that complement the shower's blue and orange color scheme. Their blue bubblegum and orange and cream flavors look great on the table. Be sure to have some coffee and tea available for those arriving later in the day. For those looking for a little more punch in their cup, offer up white wine and champagne in some beautiful glasses.
Treats: Continue to celebrate the guest of honor with a selection of sweets featuring the lil one's monogram. From petit fours and mini cupcakes decorated in the blue and orange color theme to mugs filled with pudding and fruit.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and/or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids!

Heirloom Baby Shower: Décor

LilSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:00:32 -0700

lilsugar is celebrating mamas-to-be all month with extensive baby shower coverage that will help you plan awwwww-inducing, unique, socially relevant and hip fetes. This week, we are planning an heirloom themed party that takes the phrase "something borrowed, something blue (or pink!) and something new" from marriage to the baby carriage. Now what you've downloaded your free invites for the festivities, it's time to plan your décor. I was inspired by a party held in honor of soon-to-be mom Nicole Balch, the owner of a store called Pink Loves Brown. Balch's friends found beautiful linen baby dresses and onesies and clothes and pinned them to twine hanging in the living room. The result is a delicate and cost-free banner that pays homage to forgotten treasures. For additional suggestions for setting a vintage, unassuming ambiance, read more.

Pictures are worth a thousand words:
If you don't have oodles of heirloom clothes at your disposal consider asking guests to bring photos of themselves, their children, their children's ultrasounds or family members as babies and pinning those up around the room or party area. The pictures will not only create a nostalgic vibe, but will also spark conversation among guests.

Dressing up the rest of your space:
The aim of the heirloom shower is to keep things inexpensive and elegant, so don't worry about balloons or extravagant signage. Spruce up your table with fresh flowers from your garden or the farmers market and light a few delicate candles to set the romantic mood. If you are a stickler for details use teacups as candy dishes for old-timey treats and sprinkle them throughout the party. You might also float single gardenias in teacups of water in the bathroom or on the coffee table. Pick a specific color palate, like orange and brown or blue and pink like your invites - or take inspiration from the heirloom garments and keep things muted in creme, white, baby blue and pink.

Rock-a-bye baby:
Bust out the record player from grandma's garage and serve up some warm, classic tunes. If you don't have the ability to spin, make a sentimental playlist on your iPod and rock it over your speakers. Of course, talk to the mom-to-be about her musical preferences. There's nothing worse than having to listen to music you don't enjoy at your own party.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids! And, check out the baby shower invitations we've created exclusively for pingg! pingg allows you to email invites to a guest list or print and mail, and send reminders via SMS, online, Facebook, Twitter and more!

Source

Four Fabulous Fetes: Complete Baby Showers

LilSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:00:00 -0700

lilsugar is celebrating mamas-to-be with our extensive baby shower coverage. From a sibling soiree to one meant for multiples and a sip and see fete to an heirloom event, our unique themes reflect the state of the economy and societal trends. So without further adieu, we will kick off the festivities with these planned events which offer the host options of everything from free downloadable invitations, party games and favor tags as well as menus and decor ideas to honor impending babes!

Multiples Baby Shower	The Sip and See Shower
Sibling Shower	Heirloom Shower