My Super Rad Baby Shower Party

This past Sunday, my friends threw me a baby celebration party at my dear friend Rachel's gorgeous downtown apartment.  I've helped Rachel throw showers for a couple of our other friends, and let me tell you - she is one crazy talented party planner.  So when she approached me about hosting one for me, I was both touched and thrilled.  My family is planning on throwing a more traditional shower later this month, but getting to have a special party with just my girlfriends meant the world to me.

Walking into Rachel's place and seeing the beautiful fall-themed shower decor, the delicious array of food and treats, and so many of my closest friends gathered to celebrate our little girl brought me to tears.  (Tears may or may not have happened on several occasions throughout the day, if we're going to be totally honest here.) We listened to music, ate the yummiest food and treats, talked, laughed, told stories, opened gifts, had craft time, and just hung out.  It was a super rad party (hence the title of the post) and such a memorable day, and I just had to share some bits and pieces with you guys.

The attention to detail was impeccable when it came to the decor - everything was warm and inviting and perfect for the season.  There were fresh flowers (including sunflowers, one of my very favorites) placed throughout the apartment, along with gourds, mini pumpkins, and fall candles.  Pretty handmade tissue poms in autumn shades hung from the ceiling.  There was even a blown-up, framed picture of baby's most recent ultrasound.  So, so sweet. 

The food was vegetarian and homemade by Rachel and other friends, and featured everything from a to-die-for zucchini and ricotta galette, to quinoa and corn salad, to individual glasses filled with hummus and veggies, to ridiculously decadent mini organic pumpkin doughnuts (yes, they were as good as they sound).  There were apple cider mimosas and orange sparking water drinks too. 

My dear friend Melch (you might remember her from the surprise baby shower we threw for her back in April) couldn't make it out from Charleston (she has a new baby of her own now!).  That didn't stop her from helping with some of the details of the shower though, including these clever favors: colorful nail polishes with ribbons tied around them.

One of the coolest parts of the party was the DIY craft activity.  Rachel bought a few sets of blank Tibetan Prayer flags, stencils, and markers, and each guest put special messages on them welcoming baby.  This idea is so unique, and is also very sentimental to me.  I lived at at Tibetan Buddhist center for three years and Tibetan Buddhism holds a special place in my heart (and on my body in the form of tattoos!), and this will be such a fantastic way to bring a little bit of that into our baby's nursery.  One top of that, the colors are perfect - we are doing the nursery in white and grey with details in the same vibrant colors of the prayers flags. 

It really was an incredible day that I'll never forget.  I am so, so grateful to have such a wonderful group of friends, and to have such a special memory to be able to share with my daughter someday.  Thanks for letting me share some of it with you too!