April Showers Bring - A New Baby!

I recently hosted a ladies luncheon and shower honoring my best friend , Doreen’s expectant daughter. Her baby boy is due in May and will be Doreen’s first grandchild. A tale of new beginnings like this one inspired us (my co-hostess was another best pal) to create a backyard Spring tableau. The setting was my South Florida back deck, newly planted with flowering vegetation and young hibiscus. With springtime in mind, I designed tablescapes meant to come alive: there were whimsical watering pitcher sculptures, sunflowers and brightly colored linens. The guests’ favors (multi-colored flower pots stuffed with fresh bouquets) were integrated into the tablescape for a blooming-centerpiece effect. The outcome was stunning.

I chose a menu that featured old and new. A simple array of home made chips and flatbreads were the foundation of the appy table. Caramelized onion dip (a sort of kicked-up Lipton’s Onion Soup Dip!!) was just perfect for white potato chip dipping. Home made sweet potato chips plunged into “a really rich blue cheese dip” and thyme infused flatbreads surrounded my “Not Your Mama’s Guacamole” guac. It was really yummy!!

Luncheon plates featured a bowl of ice cold gazpacho soup, a tart filled with smoked cheese, caramelized onions, crisp bacon and spinach, as well as my favorite girly (because it’s so delicate) salad of mixed greens, strawberries and brie cheese. A platter of assorted home baked goodies was passed around (and around) each table until it was time to open gifts.

The theme of the shower was “Bed Time Stories”. Each guest was asked to bring her favorite sleepy-time story book for the new mom to read to baby. We hostesses sent personalized book plates with the invitations, so that each guest could inscribe a special note inside her book. We also arranged for a hand-painted book shelf to hold the treasures. Each story unwrapped memories of special times shared with sons, daughters and grandchildren. It was a wonderful way to get ready for a new baby, who is sure to be as well-read as he is well-loved!!