My Best Friend’s Baby Shower

For me and this little e-space of mine, this is the summer of friendships, and it’s only fitting that I include a post about my best friend.  Megan and I began our connection as band nerds, and believe me when I say this: this is the best way to start a solid friendship.  A love of music, an insatiable appetite for card games, and a true skill for mocking the trumpet section (this is one’s duty as  a woodwind player; we are rivals after all) is what nurtured the first seeds of our camaraderie.

 

In college we maintained our friendship with the occasional meet up and the more frequent chats online.  She was the one that Brad met for coffee when he picked out an engagement ring.  She was the one that brought a bottle of red wine with a huge chocolate bar and let me cry when we found out about the miscarriage.  She’s the one I talk to about all the good and all the bad and all the weird.  I am forever grateful for the years we’ve laughed and cried and swore and sent ridiculous memes about bacon and dancing and the oddities of life.

 

 

So just a few weeks back I was honored with throwing a baby shower for her and her baby girl who will be arriving this fall.  I’ve gotta be honest: I was terrified I’d screw it up.  I mean, it’s my BEST FRIEND.  It needed to be perfect and lovely and awesome just like her.  Because while she’s been there for me, she’s also been there for my kids.  She is Auntie Megan to them, and I hope to be the same for her sweet babe.

 

 

First things first I needed a theme, and going for “random literary stuff” felt good.  This meant Harry Potter quotes, “book worms” as favors, and having guests bring a favorite baby book in lieu of a card.

 

 

 

Games were managed by her college roommate and long-time friend, Heidi, (yay! because I’m terrible with games!) and she aced it.  You’ll notice that many of the guests have random babies stuffed in their shirts – this is from one of the games; I promise.

 

 

For decoration, I took the Harry Potter quotes that I hand lettered and framed them in these cool shadow boxes, which were thick enough to stand on their own.  I also made two simple PomPom Garlands to drape around the room in the colors of Megan’s nursery (I actually have a tutorial here for you to follow if you want to make your own!), and it added just the right amount of festiveness without being over-bearing.

 

 

 

And then of course there’s the FOOD, which everyone knows is the most important part of any gathering.  Virgin Mimosas started off the party, and then it was an all out stuff-your-face-brunch-buffet situation.  It was fantastic.  Homemade waffles, this quiche, and another quiche, bacon, fruit… and coffee.  Lots of coffee.

 

 

Continuing with the book theme but adding a splash of nerdy, I made these fun cards for the guests to fill out in order to impart tidbits of wisdom to baby with a slightly (okay, heavily) nerdy twist.  What would your answers be?

 

And after all our bellies were full, and the games had been played, what really was the absolute best part of the gathering were the amazing women that celebrated this baby-to-be.  Megan truly has amazing friends, and the conversations and laughter and just LOVE that came out of this group of women was so uplifting.

 

 

 

It was a merry crowd, and I’d call the day a success.  All that’s left is to patiently await baby’s arrival, and love on her and her momma!

 

Thankful for friends,

~M

 

P.S.  Are you considering a book/nerdy baby shower?  Check out my pin board for some ideas!