Baby Shower: On the Farm

Over the weekend, my friend Marci and I hosted a baby shower for our friend Leanne who is due with her first in March. Her husband comes from a long line of farmers and she works in the farming industry as well.

What could be more fitting for a baby shower in the middle of Kansas, other than a "FARM" theme?!

It was so fun to get to come up with fun crafts and goodies for it.

The Menu:
"Farm Fresh" Chocolate covered Strawberries
Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Vegetable "Trough"
Ma"moo"sa Drink Bar: Strawberry Orange, Grapefruit, and Orange Juice Mimosas

chocolate covered strawberries displayed in an egg carton

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Carboard Animal Cutouts

Mason Jars tied with gingham and twine and a striped straws


The Decorations:

Kept them to a minimal. Some twine, burlap, and blue gingam ribbon here and there.

Her house had beautiful rustic details: stone fireplace, wooden ceiling beams and island bar, and wood flooring.

I drew some large farm animals and strung them with twine along the bar.

Poster Board Animal Prints

And decorations wouldn't be complete without a tractor and diaper "bails". I had to rescue this one from my son's garage toys and hose it down to look presentable. There is still a hint of dirt on the back tires for effect ;)

Tractor with "Diaper Bails"

The Party:

Guests entered and wrote down prayers or wishes they had for the baby and hung them on the tree so she can save and scrapbook them.

Prayer Tree

They were then lead to the Mimosa Bar and munched on snacks.



Grapefruit Mimosa.

We opened with each guest picking a baby quote to read after they introduced themselves.

We opted out of baby shower games and  instead each guest got to decorate their own onsie. We purchased some onsies and about 15 different fabric prints and cut out little boy themed icons (sailboats, trains, tractors, footballs, ties)

Decorate A Onsie

Supplies:
Onsies (Walmart)
Stencils Icon Cut Outs (silhouette images via Internet)
Fabric (12-15 different prints about an 1/8th yard)
Pencils (to trace images onto fabric)
THIS Fabric Glue via Amazon. It's a fabric glue you can wash!! (Cuts the time in half over iron on appliques)
Paint Brushes (to apply fabric glue)
Several pairs of scissors
Buttons, ribbon, string (extras)

 

 

They turned out super cute! And it was such a fun way for all the girls to mingle and get creative.

Most important, it was such a great opportunity to show her love and support during one of life's greatest moments in having a baby.

Everyday

The common and extraordinary happenings of our household as of late....

Coloring side by side for at least an hour every day usually in the middle of the kitchen floor. I LOVE watching them color together. These two best friends...

Christiana reading to Avila...her favorite books: Where's Spot, Good Night Gorilla, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and the Very Hungry Catipillar.

It is the few moments of harmony in between the many ALL OUT screaming tantrums Avila graces us with on the hour. We are hoping it is due to her teeth that are making a very late appearance.

Edible Valentines

If I had the gift of a beautiful voice, I would deliver musical telegrams to my friends. Well, maybe. I wish I had the gift of music to be able to play an instrument for my kids, but I don't have that either. Sometimes I wish I had the gift of touch to give stellar massages to my husband. Negative. I peeter out for lack of hand muscles and attetion span.

However....

I can make treats and sweets and wrap them up pretty. MyValentine gifts to my husband, my kids, and my friends are usually edible. So, here are a few simple heart themed delights, that are spruced up and ready to be delivered to a doorstep, desk, or date.

FOR FRIENDS, SISTERS, TEACHERS, AND
CO-WORKERS:

OREO CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

36 oreo cookies, finely crushed (approx. 3 cups)

16 oz. Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Red sprinkles (I found candy confetti lips and hearts.)

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.

Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min. Dip balls in melted chocolate, top with candy confetti, and place in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

They are divine!

(Adapted from this recipe.)

Package: Cellophane treat bags, Raffia(Red or Chocolate), Heart Punch, Tag Punch, Stamps and Cardstock: Stampin Up

FOR PLAY DATES AND CLASSMATES:

"A Little Yummy For Your Tummy" Treat Bags

I hosted a Valentine Playdate (which was really an excuse to bake and do valentine crafts and pretend my kids wanted to do them). These are simple sugar cookies with pink icing and sprinkles. (Must give credit to my daughter, Christiana, for the decorating.) Add a simple tag and ribbon with the phrase: "A little yummy for your tummy."

What you need: Decorated sugar cookies, cellophane treat bags, cardstock, ribbon, and stamps (via Stampin Up or Etsy)

FOR YOUR LOVE:

Make: Make a batch of the last recipe I shared, Go Go Granola and get ready to gift. Maybe unconventional and unromantic, but every guy loves homemade treats....so I take that back, it is romantic...

Package: Cellophane gift bags, Raffia (Red or Chocolate),

gift box (Re-used Christmas gift from Anna ;)

I think I love Valentine's becuase it's a great excuse to package and bake and add some color and life into the dead of winter. Gifting, giving and sharing always makes my heart a little happier.

Happy hearts ♥ Maria

My Food Philosophy: Because the effort to make good food is a gift to those around me, it's happy memories, togetherness, the living part of life.

The Surprise Visit

Oh my heart swelled when I got a call Friday from my mom to say they were going to stop in and visit on their way back from Colorado.

It was like an 80 degree sunny blue sky day in the middle of January to my heart.

There was a big brunch, coffee talks, games, races in the backyard, a big dinner, smoothies and a movie....mostly there was FAMILY.

Nothing could be sweeter.

Signs of Life

It was Sunday Brunch, I got back from Mass and was starving from skipping breakfast. I dreamt up a glorious garden vegetable bacon Swiss omelet. Yes, I'm often lead by the baser appetites of all things food.

I came home and found three hungry baby birds peeping for their lunch.

I dove into the kitchen making everyone eggs and bacon while making Andrew and I omelets.  I ran and rushed and was octo-mom serving juice, handing out napkins and plates and forks and buttering toast....then juice spilled, Avila screamed, and the kids need salt and pepper, and my omelet is cold.

Gritting my teeth...I just wanted a hot breakfast, the thought of just one uninterrupted meal in peace brushed over me.

I laugh now, I can't believe those reactions went through my head. Did I forget that I am a mother of three?

Imaginations on Display
How I wish I heard what was going on here.

It was a piece of selfishness that hasn't died yet. I guess for each mother, there are those pieces that cause us to loose sight of the beauty and grace of the NOW. For some it's sickness, or a no nap day, or a stubborn child.

I can get so caught up in trying to solve the problem or avoid the issue that days or weeks could go by and I couldn't see past the end of my nose.

I could wake up and they are grown and out of the house and would I really care about a quiet meal? I'm sure it will be all too quiet then.

A friend mentioned to me over the weekend when we were talking about our weddings and said, "Someone gave me the best advice for my wedding day, 'Don't get so caught up in the details of your wedding that you don't remember what your husband's face looks like when you walk down the isle."

I think that's a good philosophy for life. I don't want to fret about things that do not matter, for I do not want to forget these faces and these wonderful times. 

I'm sure graces of getting to confession the day before and Mass that morning helped me to "see".

I needed to see things in a more supernatural perspective, to stop and take a bird's eye view.  I looked across the table into their little faces, and realized I was so lucky to be sitting there with them at breakfast. To have the presence of mind to ask them what they wanted to do that day and did they like big Sunday breakfasts, to BE with them, and enjoy them.

I thought about the story of Ann, loosing her 2 year old sister who got hit by a car and the grief their family experienced. We were praying for another Ann whose newlywed husband went into a coma and she is due with their first born in three weeks.

What if I were to loose one of them, I would embrace their screams and their smiles and nothing would matter. I don't know what God has in store for me, but I do have today.

Here we were as a whole family, healthy, and alive. They are 5 and 4 and 1, and perfectly little. Our family life is in its wonderful small beginnings. Days right now are simple and predictable.

I proceeded to thank God for my cold omelet, because that cold omelet meant I had healthy, screaming, clumsy children in my home....a home full of peace, but not quiet, and joy and LIFE.