More Nest Inspiration...

Just Thought I Would Share...

I am going through parents.com right now for baby shower ideas and found this...



Napkin Flowers
Turn silverware into a pretty pink bouquet by wrapping forks and knives in organic burp cloths.


What You'll Need

* napkin or burp cloth
* silverware
* rubber band
* scissors
* green ribbon
* hot glue


Make It

Fold napkin lengthwise to 4 inches wide. (This may take more than one fold.) Stack silverware at one end of the napkin with the base of the fork, knife, spoon nearly touching the bottom fold. Roll tightly to the other end. Fasten a rubber band around the base of the flower (where handle meets top of silverware). Tug and fluff out the folds in the napkin to create petals. Wrap ribbon around the rubber band twice and secure with hot glue. Wrap the same type of ribbon around the handle of the silverware; secure with a dab of hot glue at the bottom. Tie a short piece of the ribbon around the "stem" to make leaves. Arrange in a bowl or vase.

http://www.parents.com/fun/baby-showers/games-gifts/earth-mama-have-a-green-baby-shower/?page=5

Also, don't these just look delicious?! I might have to make these just so that I can taste them.
Chai Tea Cupcakes

Makes: 30 mini cupcakes Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 15 minutes

View Nutrition Facts
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup instant chai tea latte mix (such as Pacific Chai)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
3/4 cup softened (tub) cream cheese
1/4 cup instant chai tea latte mix
1/4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar Cocoa powder (optional)

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 30 indents of mini muffin pans (using 3 pans total) with paper or foil liners.

2. Into small bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, chai mix, baking powder and salt. In large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Beat in sugar until fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time.

3. On low speed, alternately beat flour mixture and milk into butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla. Divide batter among prepared cups; for ease, place batter in a large plastic bag, snip off a corner and pipe into the cups.

4. Bake at 350°F until tops spring back when lightly pressed, 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans to a rack; let cool.

5. Frosting: Meanwhile, beat together cream cheese, latte mix, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon milk, if necessary, until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to frost.

6. Once cupcakes have cooled, spread with frosting, about 1-1/2 teaspoons for each. Dust with additional 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder, if desired.

http://www.parents.com/recipe/chocolate-cakes/chai-tea-cupcakes/

APRC Shower Ideas

As you can see, I took the time to work on my blog (though it doesn't look perfect), and I am still trying to figure out how to make the sides next to the aqua (right now they're white) a different color or design.

I took the time this morning to make mini-collages of the ideas/pictures I have stumbled upon while planning this shower. I even made them in small "categories".
I needed to get some of this out of the way since I will have to be showing them to a friend who is also planning this shower (it was actually her idea to host this shower) and we're meeting tomorrow so I need to e-mail them to her today.
By the way, with this theme and Easter coming, it's the perfect time of year to buy candy since most everything is in the shape of an egg. I am also going to look at Michaels to see if they have any inexpensive bird houses or nests.















I did NOT create this mini-collage. I think it's from HWTM.






The favors (nest with little eggs in it), I LOVE that idea! However, instead of each individuals name, I want the paper to say, "Thank You".

I have a few items already that I can use for decorating, a few I will hopefully buy cheap somewhere else. We're trying not to spend too much on the shower because we're wanting to use most of our money on items for the boutique. That's our whole goal... to get things for moms in need. There is a garage sale this Saturday that we will be at (a huge neighborhood garage sale) and every time I go they all have pretty great stuff. That's where I got a lot of Miles' stuff as far as clothes, toys and a few other things. I don't remember exactly what but I know that I ended up leaving with an entire SUV full of gently used baby items that I loved. This weekend I will be looking for myself, Miles, Dana, Emma (my neice that's on her way), Miles' birthday and then the 2 showers. Heck, maybe even wedding stuff... who knows!
I will post pictures of the things that I end up buying.

Well, I need to go send the e-mail and get some things together for the shower meeting on Sunday (Julias shower).

Continued From Earlier... Baby Showers

For some reason I can't add any more pictures from my computer right now (Blogger won't let me) so I'll try again later.

I searched blogs for the word "Baby Shower" and stumbled upon a few.
I found this cake from http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/ and LOVE the flowers on it. CUTE!
I would love to have something like this for Julias shower except maybe with a butterfly or an "E" at the top, not a pig.


I have subscribed to an e-book that will come to my e-mail through 7 e-mails (a weeks worth) and one of the ideas was GREAT! For some reason, this hadn't crossed my mind yet. I guess that's part of being a planner... you learn new things and discover new ideas. I really want to create an inspiration board based on that just for fun!
Here is a link to the original page I found it on:
http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/baby-shower-themes-part-3.html

"If the mom-to-be is very hip, guests may be even encouraged to bring linens and clothing in wild patterns and prints".
Now, I had already thought of that when it came to a safari thing (like Miles' upcoming birthday party) but I didn't really put two and two together about Noahs Ark. I guess it is kind of the same as a safari party, except more animals, 2 of each kind and an ark are included in this one.

Busy, Busy, Busy & WAY Behind!

I haven't posted in over a month! Talk about neglectful!
Danas birthday party is over and I'm hoping to get pictures from Vance. As luck would have it, when I finally finished my projects the batteries in the camera died! I captured what I could and took a few pictures of everything after the party was over, but Vance should have more. I need to upload those pictures onto the computer and post them. Of course, my excuse for not having done it yet is... I have been extremely busy AND right now, I can barely keep my eyes open.

I do have a few things going on this week and a few projects that I need to tackle, but I will make myself upload the pictures. I also need to create a banner for my blog.

I have started working on my sister-in-laws shower. Her theme is the prints of the baby bedding she chose.

Paisley Splash by My Baby Sam (available at Babies'R'Us)
It has green, aqua, brown and yellow in it but she also wants splashes of raspberry pink. The prints are paisley, stripes and polk-a-dots.

I have also started working on another baby shower. A few weeks ago I started training to be a volunteer at the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center http://www.austinprc.org/ and I am part of a group of amazing women who will be working at a new location in South Austin. We are hoping to buy a place off of Ben White right next to an abortion clinic. Anyway, each center has a boutique that is full of stuff for moms-to-be/moms who are in need of baby items. Since our location will be new, we won't have anything to start off with for the boutique so we are going to host a baby shower. We are accepting new AND used items... we'll take what we can get! The major things are the big items such as a swing, bouncer, crib, etc. I am not able to donate A LOT from Miles' stuff since Julia & Melissa are both due and need baby stuff. What Julia doesn't take is offered to Melissa and then what she doesn't take will go to the boutique. I do plan to go through everything and even purchase more items.
Anyway, we have started planning the shower and the theme is going to be "Baby Bird". There will be nests, birds, etc. Here are some pictures I have gathered together. They have accumulated over time so I may not know exactly who to credit so if I don't give credit where credit is deserved I apologize, just let me know. I will remove your picture upon request.