Kirstin’s Baby Shower: All Aboard!

Sunday, April 3, 2011
 
I am always so honored and excited to help plan an event. This time, I was even more honored and excited since it was for my sister. Two of my mother’s friends were planning a small intimate baby shower for my older sister, who flew in from out of town, and they asked if I would help them. They had the theme picked out (trains) in baby blue and green, so I simply went and played it up. I dug through the toy bin and found wooden train tracks, then I bought some cute Chinese takeout boxes in blue and green, glued some buttons on the bottom to make wheels and voilà, railroad cars.
PS: Those takeout boxes also worked as my favors for the guests. I also made a cross roads sign that I hung on the front door, a banner that said Schuyler, and then found my baby blue luggage and my mom’s green luggage and set it out as more décor. Then I added some wooden train whistles, some train engineer hats and some white flowers to the mix, and the decorations were done. Add some punch, coffee, desserts and fruit, and you have a lovely baby shower. The fact that my nephew was there to charm all those women was the cherry on top.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Pony Party

I think my sister in law could give me a run for my money when it comes to planning a party. Let it be known that this is something I hardly ever say about anyone. But Amy is the rare person that really can plan a party. So, when I am able to get the time, I fly out and help her.
 
This time I flew out to Colorado to attend my niece’s 5th birthday. Last year I couldn’t make it out for my niece’s 4th birthday party, but it was a little girl’s dream come true: a Pony Party. This year, she wanted another pony party and when you put two women (who go over the top) together, all sanity goes out the window. Thankfully we had a lot of help to get everything done and Amy is a rock star.
 
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First Comes Love

I was approached by my mother for some help. She and 2 of her church friends were throwing a shower for their friend’s daughters… and she needed my help. The shower was for 3 sisters, 2 of which were pregnant and 1 of which was getting married. My job was to basically make a way that each girl felt honored and special, but to also make the shower cohesive. Once I figured all that out, I had to make the invitations and decorations.
 
Let me just say I was honored to be able to help my mom and her friends. Her friends are so kind and I’ve known then all since I was a baby. So, when my mom asked, I gladly accepted.
 
However, I had no idea how I was going to go about planning the shower when I couldn’t even figure out how to get baby and marriage to mesh. I was sitting by my computer, looking at my past events, and all of a sudden it clicked. You know that old kissing song from kindergarten, “Suzie and Bobbie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. 1st Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes Baby in a Baby Carriage.” Perfect. The invites and decor played up this theme with hearts, diamond rings, and baby carriages, all in white and silver. I had a lot of fun making the decorations (although, there was a lot of paper scrunching and gluing): there were hanging mobiles, white topiary’s, lots of scattered gems and rings, and white flowers.
 
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the actual shower, but I heard it was a lot of fun. Congrats Lindsey, Kimberly and Stephanie!
 
Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Love Is Sweet

Sweetheart Cupcakes

2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 cup milk
red food coloring
1 16oz tub of frosting
 
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 1 muffin pan and 1 8x8in pan.
2. In a medium bowl, blend together the sugar and butter until creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
3. Combine the flour and baking powder together and then add to the creamed mixture; mix well. Finally, stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pans.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick is inserted into it and comes out clean.
5. Let the cupcakes and cake cool completely. Then using a heart shaped cookie cutter, make cut outs from the 8×8 in cake. Frost the cupcakes and then put a heart on each one.
 
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Christmas Dessert Gala

November 29, 2010
 
I had the lovely opportunity to help with the decorations, desserts and hosting at a local event. The event is a Christmas dessert gala at my church for women who come to fellowship, eat dessert and hear a great speaker. This was my first year and I had a lot of fun. Over 300 women attended, my mom and grandma included, and the event was a big success. Below, I will post pictures of the decorations I did, as well as the desserts I made. At my purple table: each plate was hand painted and unique, each guest received hand made favors, and I used my grandmother’s Fostoria China.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner
Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner