spring baby shower inspiration

I helped host a baby shower for a good friend this past weekend, and I wanted to share a few photos with you, along with some of my resources for making the party happen without a hitch. While my official event planning days may be behind me, I do enjoy planning events from time to time, especially for something as special as a new baby on the way.

A paper invitation is a must, and I absolutely love the new Vera Bradley line available at Tiny Prints. Here's the one I chose for our spring/afternoon tea-themed shower. So pretty!

We held the shower in the community room of my building, and sufficed to say, the space needed a little jazzing up. Decorating with pom poms are so much fun, and I love the ones I found on Etsy:

About halfway through the planning process, I started to worry that I was going a bit overboard with "blush and bashful," to quote Shelby from Steel Magnolias. However, can there really be too much pink when a little gal is about to enter the world? I don't think so. I just love this gorgeous pink scroll runner from Hen House Linens:

Thanks to Pinterest, I'd seen the onesie laundry line decorating idea already, and thought it was super cute. I think ours turned out pretty nice as well!

Now, is it possible to set one foot in a Michael's and not envision yourself as the next Martha Stewart? I have to admit I'm not much of a DIY-er (though maybe if I had more free time on my hands??), but I am kind of proud of the sign I made to brighten up one of the walls:

We sent guests home with adorable onesie cookies from Mama's Custom Cookies. I just love how these turned out, and it was so nice to send guests home with a little favor from the afternoon. Mama's ships priority mail and they arrived in cellophane bags ready to be handed out.

We left a journal out so that guests could leave a special note for the Mama-to-be, whether it was advice, words of encouragement or helpful tips as she begins this new adventure known as motherhood.

The menu consisted of 2 types of sandwiches (cucumber and chicken salad), banana bread, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and lemon meringue pie. We had tea, coffee and punch (rasberry sherbert & 7 Up... easy!) on hand, too, and not surprisingly, we didn't come back with many leftovers!

The best part of the afternoon, however, was seeing the smiling face of the Mama-to-Be. Congratulations, Audrey!