My Cozy Fall Themed Baby Shower

I mentioned last week that my mom and sister were throwing a baby shower for me this past Saturday.  I also explained that although I already had an amazing baby celebration party with my girlfriends in the city last month, and I'm not really one to feel the need for lots of parties to recognize life events, that this was an exception for me because it allowed me to celebrate with family and dear friends from growing up too. I have to say that I am so glad that we did this shower as well, because it ended up being incredibly special - full of memories and stories and emotions.  It sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. 

My mom and sis, along with the help of some friends, made almost everything themselves (a love for DIY runs in our family).  They decided to go for a cozy fall theme, with autumn flower-filled pumpkins and lots of gourds and leaves and warm autumn treats like hot spiced cider and spicy corn chowder.  There was a fire in the fireplace and pretty handmade fall candle jars for favors and decor in warm autumn oranges, reds, and yellows. 

Looking back, I wish I'd taken more pictures of all of the details (and people!).  But I made a promise to myself to focus on enjoying the day instead of worrying about capturing every moment of it on camera (a blogger habit that I'm trying to learn to break for occasions like this). 

In addition to the delicious corn chowder that my sister made (I'll have to get her to share the recipe on here because it was ridiculously good), there were all sorts of elegant homemade finger foods like mini sandwiches, a fresh berry salad (thanks Michele!), handmade baby girl themed chocolates (thank you Bernadette and Jean!), cheese twists, spiced crackers, and the most magnificent little cakes I've ever seen (thank you Dee and Jess!).  There was also fresh coffee with cinnamon, mimosas, hot cider, and bottles of water with yellow and grey paper straws.

Those of you who read about my shower in September may remember my friend Rachel's amazing Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag craft.  Rachel bought a few sets of blank flags, stencils, and markers, and each guest put special messages on them welcoming baby. I lived at at Tibetan Buddhist center for three years and Tibetan Buddhism holds a special place in my heart, and this was such a special way to bring a little bit of that into the nursery.  There were still some blank flags left, so my family and friends at Saturday's shower finished decorating them.  I'm so excited to hang them in baby's room. 

For favors, my mom wanted to do something inspired by the season that people could actually use and enjoy.  So she came up with the idea to fill short mason jars with strips of crinkled kraft paper and battery powered tea lights (best invention ever), then tie fall leaves around them with yellow ribbon.  They were so cute and everyone was thrilled to get to take them home.  Mine is currently sitting on my mantle with my other fall decor.

It was such a wonderful day, and I'm honestly still beaming from all of the love that was poured out in the direction of this little baby girl in my belly.  I can't wait to tell her all about it someday.  Thanks for letting me share some bits and pieces of it with you guys!