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Throw an Unforgettable Elephant Baby Shower

Whether it’s the first baby or the fifth baby, every pregnancy should be celebrated in some way. These ideas for an elephant baby shower were sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.

Invitations

You can’t throw an elephant baby shower without a peanut gallery! I love the invites from Basic Invite. With over 180 different color options you can change every element of your pink elephant baby shower invitations to match the mom to be’s color scheme. How cute are these girl baby shower invitations!

use code 15FF51 at Basic Invite for 15% off your order

Probably one of the least favorite jobs when throwing a baby shower for friends is addressing the envelopes. With Basic Invite, you don’t have to anymore. Share a link via social media, and Basic Invite will print your guest’s address on the envelope for you. With the invites being taken care of, you can now spend more time prepping the rest of the party.

Party Decor

Now that the guests are being taken care of, the fun part begins! I’m all about being practical with the decor. Adding some themed wall art like this cute piece from Wayfair adds a nice touch to the gift table. It also doubles as a gift for the mama-to-be. Check out this no-stress no-fluff guide to new baby essentials for more gift ideas.

Speaking of doubling things up, by creating an Elephant Diaper cake, like this one from The Keeper of the Cheerios, you have another table decor and gift. Then scatter these washcloth elephants around the room for some cute fun that again will be something mom can take home at the end of the party.

Elephant Games

Elephant Memory – Grab this cute Elephant Print basket and fill it with all kind of baby items – diapers, wipes, toys, binkies, bibs, clothes, bottles, etc. Let your guests spend a few minutes looking through it, then cover it up and set it out of sight. See who has an elephant’s memory and can remember the most items inside the bin.

Guess the Peanuts – One of my favorite games is easy to put together and can last throughout the whole shower. It’s the classic guessing games, and it can be made to fit any party theme. For an elephant shower, count peanuts into a jar. Then have your guests all make a guess to the amount before the end of the party. The winner gets to take the jar of peanuts home.

Party Food

Don’t forget to feed your hungry guests! The Pint Sized Baker has instruction so you can make these super adorable elephant cake pops. Then add these Cinnamon Pecan Elephant Ears with some personalized bottles of water, and your elephant baby shower is set!

June 1, 2018
A Guide to Catering for Vegetarian Guests

We’ve all been there. Our vegetarian friend is coming to dinner, and we have no idea what to cook. Even if you haven’t faced this particular headache, with over 7 million Americans following a vegetarian diet, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. So, what do you cook for the main course when meat is “off the table,” so to speak? Instead of a roast or barbecue platter, you might have to get a little more creative when coming up with a meatless centerpiece of your meal. Here are some tips on how to Wow your vegetarian guests during your next dinner party.

Don’t Just Skip the Meat

One of the biggest mistakes that too many hosts make when cooking vegetarian is to eliminate the meat from their favorite dishes or to replace it with a safe alternative such as tofu. Unfortunately, this rarely ends well. Meat dishes are specifically designed to meld with the flavor of the main ingredient, whether that be beef, poultry, or seafood. You should stick to following recipes that are intended to be vegetarian.

Keep Things Simple

If you’re not used to cooking vegetarian dishes, it’s best to stick to simple recipes. Most veggies don’t need a lot of herbs or spices to bring out their natural flavors. A lot of times, simply adding olive oil, salt, and pepper to roasted vegetables is all you need to make a delicious side dish. Some veggies don’t even require cooking. A platter of dip and raw veggies makes a tasty appetizer for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

Cook More Veggies Than Just Side Dishes

It can be tempting to forego the hassle of coming up with a vegetarian main dish and just offer up safe side dishes for your friend, but this is a big no-no. No matter how tasty your side dishes are, they aren’t likely to give your guest a full and balanced meal. You should include a hearty meat-free main dish that’s made of something such as tofu, lentils, beans, or other protein-rich sources. If you have other non-vegetarian guests, you can always cook a second entree to offer a meat option.

Cooking for vegetarian friends doesn’t necessarily have to be a hassle. With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can create the perfect menu to impress your guest. Just remember to keep it simple and be considerate of your guest’s needs.

April 17, 2018
Nonni’s Hot Chocolate Bar
This Hot Chocolate Bar was made possible by Nonni’s. All opinions are 100% my own.

It’s just not winter without at least one hot chocolate bar. This year we had ours during Thanksgiving, however, it’s so easy to put together you can do it any day of the week for any reason you feel like it!

When the high is 29F but the “feels like” temp is 9F, you know it’s time for some hot chocolate! Of course everyone likes their cocoa a little differently. That’s what makes a hot chocolate bar the perfect accompaniment for entertaining – whether it be adults or children.

So what do you need to make the perfect hot chocolate bar? Something for everyone, of course. I start with slow cooker recipe for the actual hot chocolate. Use your favorite recipe, or store bought packets, and whip it up in the slow cooker. This makes it easy to keep hot, and serve with a ladle.

Here’s a list of what else I add, to make the perfect spread for all to enjoy.
- Creamer or Whipped Cream
- Torani Syrups
- Straws
- Marshmallows
- Nonni’s Biscotti
Those are the basics. From there you can truly become creative. Add crushed peppermints, chocolate chips, or more! I discovered Nonni’s Biscotti last year, and fell in love. It’s far from the hard non-chewable biscotti I’ve tried in the past. With Nonni’s you get a nice crunch, that then melts in your mouth. They are perfect for dipping in hot chocolate, and the kids absolutely love them. Yes I hid half my boxes just so they wouldn’t clean me out before our next hot chocolate night!

Find Nonni’s on Social – Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

Right now you can get Nonni’s seasonal Biscotti, which truly are perfect for a hot chocolate bar. Flavors include Gingerbread, Dark Chocolate Pumpkin, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, and Pumpkin Spice. There really is something for everyone with these dippers. My personal favorite right now is the Dark Chocolate Pumpkin. Yummy!
December 8, 2016
Tea Party Birthday

Princess R turned 5 last week. She’s such a doll! Her only request was that she get watermelon. I thought it would be fun to throw her a little tea party with a few friends, and of course, some Watermelon.

We started by using these adorable tea party invitations Mark drew with charcoal. The kids are pretty lucky to have such an artistic Dad. Knowing they were hand drawn, to me, adds a perfect touch of class to the invitations.

DOWNLOAD Tea Party Invites

When the girls arrived, we put on our favorite matching Lemon Flirty Aprons (affiliate link). The girls loved matching while keeping their fancy clothes clean.

For tea time, Princess R requested Watermelon, peanut butter sandwiches, and Princess brownie bites we found in the When Life Gives You Kids cookbook. We’re totally loving the recipes in here this spring! Little Prince has requested the mud cookies because there is a worm and a dump truck in the photo….but I digress!

Tea Parties, especially the birthday sort, should always be a bit more fancy don’t you think? So although the Princess wanted watermelon, I felt they should be fancy watermelons. Turns out, cutting shapes in watermelon is easier than I imagined, and perfect to get the kids involved with.

Cut your Watermelon in 1/4-1/2″ slices. Then grab your cookie cutters, and make some cute shapes. The bunnies were a favorite, especially with the thicker slices, since then they could stand up. We, of course, did this pre-tea party so fancy dresses would not become sticky. The fun shapes were then easily and cleanly devoured by 3 small Princesses and a little Prince.

You may be wondering about the tea in the party here – well we don’t actually drink tea here. So Princess R chose green Koolaid and our fancy Disney glass cups – the ones I only allow for special occasions. It worked for us, and our guests.

After the food, I let the girls play whatever suited their fancy. I find at this age, having a specific party plan and activities are kind of moot – they’re happier when they can do their own thing. We pulled out dolls, books, and coloring. The coloring won out over everything, and everyone went home with their own picture.

Planning a Tea Party soon?

Check out Mumfections Mothers Day Tea Party

or

This Collection of Perfect Tea Party Recipes

May 1, 2015