How To: Plan a baby shower when you're not cute and creative.

I'm going to be an aunt!

When I found out the news, I was thrilled.  I have been claiming to be an aunt to all of my cousin's kids.  Now, I am the THE aunt.  I am going to take her shopping, bake cookies, and try so hard to be a cool aunt that I probably will embarrass myself (cue Amy Poehler on Mean Girls).  Being an aunt is probably the best job in the world and I seriously contemplated quitting school to take it on full time, but Mother Elizabeth didn't go for that.

Oh... by the way... that's what I call my mom, "Mother Elizabeth" it started off as a joke and I never gave it up.

Anyway, babies mean baby showers.  So me being in one of the hardest classes of my life, Pathophysiology, my sister took it upon herself to send out the invitations for me!  That's what older sisters do.  When their younger siblings are not getting ish done like they should, they make a list and start taking names. That was a HUGE help that she did that because I was drowning in my tears over finals (I'm not dramatic at all).

Once the class was over, I got to planning.  Or putting off planning...honestly I felt a little overwhelmed and intimidated.  I am not crafty and decorations are not my thing.  I finally got my act together and started with Pinterest (that's what every girl does right?)

After about two hours of going through photos and trying to design a shower, I hit up Hobby Lobby for the first time in my life.  

Can we just talk about Hobby Lobby for a second? Oh my goodness crafts on crafts on crafts.  Fifteen minutes in the store and I was convinced I was going to knit a baby blanket, cross-stitch, and paint a still life along with planning this baby shower.  THEY HAVE EVERYTHING.  Plus, everything I needed had some sort of sale, which was awesome. (Poor girl, remember?)

After a full day of my (amazing) roommate Cassidy and I making the decorations (RJ supervising of course) we created the final product. I am so grateful for Cassidy's help, she in no way had to cut tissue paper for hours on her day off, but she did. I am also grateful for my sister who was patient and appreciative of my little make shift baby shower.  I have seen her be the best big sister all my life and I am so excited to see her as the best mother.  Here are some pictures from the day:

 The sign hanging from the island says "cravings"

Twine: Hobby Lobby

Colored construction paper: Hobby Lobby

The "Cravings" letters were just a printable 
The mother-to-be herself!

Frame: Hobby Lobby 50% off

Printable quote: Pinterest

Diapers: Walmart

Markers: Walmart

I made the sign myself and used scrapbooking

tape to hold onto the bag.

Tissue Paper Garland

Tissue paper: Hobby Lobby 

Twine: Hobby Lobby

Flowers: Trader Joes

Vases: DI, yes I said it, the DI! for $1

I love you... Printable: Pinterest

Frame: Hobby Lobby

Picture Frame: Hobby Lobby

Baby bottles: Walmart

Game: fill up baby bottles with water and have guests drink for 4-5 minutes.  Whoever drinks the most wins the prize! (My prize was the baby bottles filled with candy) I like to keep the games simple and fast because personally, I would rather socialize.

You can't see them as well in this picture, but this is my brother-in-law's family.  They are the nicest people ever and they are all gorgeous.  The Crandall's provided all of the food for the shower!

The Baby Mama herself, my beautiful sister!  Probably not too happy with me taking a picture at that moment...

Activity: Write out about 10 questions and have the father record himself answering these questions.  An example of some questions are, "Who do you think will be the fun parent?"  "What kind of person do you want your daughter to grow up to be?"  Make a video and have the mother answer the questions first at the shower and then play the recording of the father answering the questions after.  This was nice because we could laugh and talk about the answers, but it didn't require full participation like a game.

S/O to my amazing cousin, Jessie, for making the video!  She is so busy with work and preparing her classroom for fall, but she was still willing to take the time to make it!

Twine: Hobby Lobby

Letters: Hobby Lobby

Gold spray paint: provided by Cassidy (my roommate)

Flowers to glue on letters: Hobby Lobby

So there it is!! My advice after the shower is:
1. Don't procrastinate
2. Grab an awesome roommate or friend (in my case Cassidy) to help talk you through purchases ("No Rebecca you do not need to buy the decorative mirror")
3. Do not buy your cake frosting decorating kit at Hobby Lobby, buy it at Walmart
4. Delegate some responsibilities even if you're like me and want to do it all yourself. My brother-in-law's family was so helpful and so were my cousins!
5. Use a hot glue gun
6. BUY EXTRA!! You can always return what you don't use
7. Keep the receipts
8. Keep it simple
9. Don't act stressed at the shower, just be happy
10. Most importantly, reward others (and mainly yourself) with delicious Krispy Kreme donuts!!! 

 Note: this is mandatory and crucial to a successful baby shower!!!