All For Baby Cameron!
This is my first blog post and I could not think of a better way to launch than to share the celebration of the impending birth of my little nephew - Cameron.
My sister, and brother-in-law, Scott & Tonya, are expecting their first baby. I am so excited and can't wait. Just this morning I went to the Dr. with my sister and heard Cameron's heartbeat. What an amazing blessing. It has to be God. There is no other explanation.
The idea of this baby shower has been in my mind for months (almost as long as she has been pregnant). I wanted to do something special to really make it feel like a special event. I found some pictures online of events that used paper lanterns and I thought how great it would be for the pictures to have those hanging above the cake table and gift table. I ordered a dozen of all different sizes of brown, teal, and ice blue from http://www.lunabazaar.com/. My husband had the great idea of taking LED key chain lights and placing three in each ball. He found them on sale (a great deal). We hung them with fishing line and paper clips. Thanks to my uncle Glenn for climbing on the ladder and hanging them. He was a tremendous help.
Since the colors were chocolate and teal we decided to focus on chocolate snacks. With a double boiler of melted chocolate, we offered our guests strawberries, apples, pretzels, marshmallows, and good stuff like that. We also had dips and chips and crackers. All good snacks! We had the best punch - slush punch. Here is the recipe. It takes some preparation and planning, but it is so worth it.
Luscious Slush Punch
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups white sugar
6 cups water
2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin mix
1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 quart orange juice
2 (2 liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 1/2 cups white sugar
6 cups water
2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin mix
1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 quart orange juice
2 (2 liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, water, and strawberry flavored gelatin. Boil for 3 minutes. Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice. Divide mixture in half, and freeze in 2 separate containers.
When ready to serve, place the frozen contents of one container in a punch bowl, and stir in 1 bottle of lemon-lime soda until slushy.
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, water, and strawberry flavored gelatin. Boil for 3 minutes. Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice. Divide mixture in half, and freeze in 2 separate containers.
When ready to serve, place the frozen contents of one container in a punch bowl, and stir in 1 bottle of lemon-lime soda until slushy.
The cake was another unique element of the shower. I ordered three 10" round cakes from Sam's bakery (delicious). I told them to ice the cakes with butter cream frosting, but not decorate the cake like they normally would. I took Hershey's cocoa powder and a small sifter and duplicated the flower image from the invitation on the cake. I wrapped teal blue ribbon around the bottom edge and made it truly unique. I think it turned out great and several people thought I made and decorated the whole thing myself. I bought a really unique cake stand and stacked two cakes together. It turned out great and was yummo!
I would not have been able to pull any of this off without my hostesses. They were great sports with my ideas and were a great help, especially my cousin Amy and my aunt Debbie. Without their help I don't know what I would have done. And of course - my husband - my constant supporter. He is always game for my ideas and never complains. I am so thankful for his support and adoration.
It was great to see so many of my family and it was amazing to see my sister receive such an amazing show of love. She is my best friend and I can't wait to see her hold her baby for the first time and watch her grow as a mom. It was a success and have ideas for lots of others!
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