Baby Shower Continued

So Sunday, September 25, 2011 finally arrived and I was ready.  I had so much adrenalin pumping through me, I thought I was 20 again......yeah, after going non-stop for 12 hours, my body remembered, I am definitely not 20 anymore. LOL  The day was stunning, just as I order, and it didn't rain, just as I ordered, and there was a breeze, although kicking up just when I was putting the table decorations, wasn't what I had in mind and it was a bit gusty, but all in all it worked out fine. The temperature was rather warm though.....okay, it was down right hot and before the shower was over, all the goodies were melting but that didn't slow anyone down, they all said they were still wonderful. LOL   The Dessert Table was the last "project" that I worked on and the table looked just as I imagined it would.  I was very pleased with it.  Here is a photo of it.

I made the cake pops, the cupcakes, and the iced decorated cookies....there will be better photos of them later....and added gumballs, sixlets and candy sticks all in the shower color scheme......for my first big party....I think it turned out rather well.  The Mom-to be was so excited, she cried and cried....tears of joy of course.....here she is, Vanessa....

I color coordinated the tables as well and at each place setting there was a chocolate covered pretzel rod and a chocolate covered marshmallow on at stick, all color coordinated of course.....here are some of those photos...

I made the floral arrangements on each table as well as the diaper centerpieces.  The centerpieces were three cloth diapers rolled up and then tied together with a ribbon and added a flower and lolly-pop.  The parents-to-be took those home as gifts as they will be needing those for burp towels and such.  ....it's hard to see them, but here is what they looked like before I added the flowers and lolly-pop to them at the site....

The floral arrangements were mason jars wrapped with a bandanna that was in shower colors and tied with a ribbon at the top and then silk flowers were added.  Floral arranging is not my thing....my eldest daughter makes the most beautiful arrangements, but she's in Texas so, I was on my own with this. LOL  They weren't bad considering these were my very first arrangements. :-)

The plastic silver ware was wrapped up nice and neat and tie with a ribbon to just add that extra touch to the entire table decor, I found the paper place mats in coordinating colors at a local Cake Supply store.....they really have everything you could want for a party.  http://www.dandgoccasions.com/  If you're ever in Orlando and you need things to decorate with or supplies to bake stuff with.....this is the place to go!

I will go into the diaper cakes I made and better pictures of the goodies with some step by step photos another day.  In my opinion the shower was a great success.....everyone was smiling and laughing and I even played games that had the men involved.  Several of the men told me later that they'd never attended a shower before but they had a really great time......to me, that was one of the highest compliments I could have gotten.

Vanessa and Wil could not stop thanking me and they said it was the best shower they'd ever seen, so....mission accomplished!  YAY!!!!

The Baby Shower

Now, I realize that my Blog title is the Trials of Baking , but it seems whatever I do, I seem to include baking in some form.  I have been working on the biggest baby shower since April.....hence the reason for no posts.....Oh, I've done some stuff and even taken step by step photos but just have not had the chance to post anything.  The baby shower, although is not a complete surprise, the majority of what's going on with it is a complete surprise to the parents to be.  I love this couple like they are my own children and even before they got married, I knew that when they had a baby, I wanted to do a shower for them.  Now, that being said, I envisioned 10 - 12 ladies at my house having a sweet little baby shower.   Never in the wildest reaches of my mind, did I see a baby shower with almost 100 people!!!  I know, right, what WAS I thinking!!!  LOL  I am happy to do this shower though and have had a lot of fun.  The shower is this Sunday and while I am so excited.....I'm ready for it to be finished. My house looks like party city and my cat is beginning to think we are moving since I have things in boxes to make getting them to the shower easier.  Since the shower morphed into such a large group, I rented a pavilion at a local park and that's where we will have the event.  I have not posted one picture of anything yet as I wanted the whole thing to be a complete surprise to the new parents.....they have no idea even what the color scheme is......and while it may lack some of the cutesy traditional baby shower elements, I think it's going to be a blast.

Last night I started some of what I have been referring to as the "sweet/dessert", as they don't even know what I'm bringing along the lines of sugar creations. LOL  They have tasted my work before and trust me to handle it all.  Well last night, I was VERY frustrated.......one of the projects was just not cooperating.....thank goodness I started early.....but at this rate, between working full time and trying to finish up all the last minute details, I probably won't be able to sleep again until after the shower! LOL  It will be all worth it in the end though.  It's going to be a fun filled day, with their family and friends, good food and lots of fun and games and hopefully they will also get lots of nice things for their little bundle of love, Xavier.

So, I hope you'll all check back in the next couple of weeks as I start posting all the projects that went into this shower.  Lots of crafty stuff and then of course baked goods as well.

I now know.....I CAN throw a huge party.....I forced myself out of my comfort zone and I feel a lot more confident in what I am capable of achieving.....it's been a great year so far!