Monday, October 19, 2009

reader question of the week


reader question of the week:

"I'm planning on throwing a baby shower for my best friend who is due at the end of December, so the shower will probably be in the beginning of December. I'm having a hard time coming up with any themes or colors that aren't Christmas colors, and aren't gender specific, but are still seasonally appropriate. Any ideas?! Thanks! -Adrian"

20 comments:

Liz said...

I would totally do a "kingdom of the sweets" theme! This way it celebrates the holidays but you can use pastel colors! Now I can't stop thinking about Ribbon Candy :)

Jenn said...

yellow is always a good standard color

bridgetwhoplaysfrenchhorn said...

I'm a fan of snowflakes or snowmen. The nutcracker is fun, too!

If the family ever collected Santa Bears, you could do that as a theme as well (stamp onesies with a bear shape and decorate, etc)

LAUREN O'NEILL said...

Perhaps something with snowflakes...especially with each being this unique, delicate, beautiful creation. When I was younger, my mom threw a snowflake party for my friends. She found this great snowflake pattern book full of really beautiful unique snowflakes. Some with silver and others with iridescent glitter, they were gorgeous. She still puts them up every year. From what I can recall, we also made snowflake soft pretzels (great for that salty craving). Kosher salt really makes them stand out too! Homemade frosties too...chocolate ice cream with toppings. Also good for those cravings. Good luck!

Karen said...

Perhaps a hunting-in-the-forest theme? Forest green and silvery grey (or winter white/cream). Of course, since it is a baby shower, you could focus on the animals side of hunting and less of the... hunting part.

Pine cones, riding caps, baby foxes, hounds, bugles!

jenniferhoiyin said...

I was going to suggest the snow/winter theme too. You could use light blues, silvers and whites. you could make little coconut cupcakes, with coconut on the frosting. I love making this larger coconut cake for parties too
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/coconut-cake-with-lime-curd-filling.html

jenniferhoiyin said...

just thought of a few more things: you could have everything mini. and have finger foods/treats like meringues, clear rock candy, white chocolate covered cake bites, white chocolate truffles, powdered sugar doughnut holes. hope this helps, good luck!

You Are My Fave said...

I'm doing a shower around the same time and I'm going to do an apple of my eye theme. I'm going to stick with granny smith apples and then do a green, dark gray, white and navy theme. I'm staying away from red.

NSMOM said...

Maybe you could still do something with green and red but use "off" shades like lime and magenta, or sage and pale pink or something like that. The combo of the green with the red shade I would think would keep it gender neutral.

TheMoncurs said...

I did a shower last November with kelly green, black and white and lots and lots of fall-y treats and candles. It was really lovely. We didn't do games or anything since that's not really my thing, but everyone had fun anyway!

Pictures, recipes, etc. can be found here if you're interested:

http://themoncurs.blogspot.com/2008/11/crystals-shower.html

(and yes, it was outdoors. We live in AZ)

ALM Chandler said...

I saw this Lollipop themed party a while back and thought it was the sweetest ever.

You could totally gear the colors to be more gender neutral.

Here is one link I found - http://projectnursery.com/2009/04/lollipop-party-sweet-success-2/

Good Luck!
ALM Chandler
ShopTots

Everyday Sparkles said...

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. How about sparkling stars in a silver and golden palette. Gender neutral with just a hint of holiday glimmer. And babies are our twinkling stars.

Whatever you select I'm sure it will be fabulous! Best wishes!

hollybulach said...

Even though red is a "christmas" color you could do a red and white peppermint theme:)

Amber said...

Maybe a snow fairy and crescent moon theme. Decorate with fake snow, use glitter, tuille, velvet, lace, basically what you would expect a fairy to wear used for tables, invitations etc.. The theme could be carried over to the food and make everything miniature and magical.
You can use red and green for a baby shower, just go with burgandy and forest or pastel pink and green or bright pink and green. These are all just variations of the first.

cori joyce said...

i am doing an "about to pop" baby shower it is red and white which incorporates the holiday colors and im sure it would make is easier to find thoes colors. if you google about to pop baby shower you will find the favor boxes they look like popcorn boxes and have a silouette of a pregnant girl. very cute. i am having a gourmet popcorn bar for the favors. i am using differnt apocathy jars with differnt flavors of popcorn and the boxes will be there for guests to fill and take home. i will be doing some paper lanters clusters around the party room. color "pops" i will post pictures once the party is over.

Erin Volante Floral said...

I did a baby shower last year at that time, turned out pretty cute! I went with a "nesting" theme... birds, snowflakes, wintery and sweet without being baby-ish in particular... it was more about the mama-to-be! I did robin's egg blues, pops of red, coconut "nests" on cupcakes, that kind of thing! Just a few pics here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=66173&id=619570777&l=b042408f7d

jeni penni said...

Have you seen the "snowbabies" collectables by Department 56? They are little babies wearing cream colored snowsuits doing winter activites. What about building the theme around that? Your colors could be cream and brown or gold with snowmen and snowflakes. Pottery barn kids even had a great cream colored organic cotton layette that would make a great gift.

Deborah said...

I always love to do something unexpected. Orange would be great. It's gender neutral, and you can use oranges as your centerpieces. (Oranges or clementines inside tall clear vases, or a long low bread board with oranges lined up on it.) You can have little cakes (or large petit fours) each with a gerber daisy on top for the guests. I think a bright color suggests new life so much more than the expected pastels. My sister made my baby shower bright lime green. Loved it! Good Luck!

Cupcakes and Cutlery said...

I did a shower last year and did a loose holiday theme but did white, green, orange and gray. It made it really sunny and light while still acknowledging the holidays. Turned out super fun and can be done pretty inexpensively.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33238687@N02/3098799368/

Brenna said...

I love the idea of white snowflakes... find 'em at the dollar store... lots of silver and white. I'm thinking rock candy sticks, white frosted cupcakes with silver sprinkles, etc. etc. Have fun with it!