baby shower photography

Enjoy Project | Making Banners

“what day is it?"
"it's today," squeaked piglet.
"my favorite day," said pooh.

aa milne  

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Before Janet had Edith there was a darling and refined Favorite Things Party thrown in her honor.
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Eight ladies enjoyed peach fizzy drinks, tilapia, quinoa with beans, and oven-baked green beans.  I felt like such a lady.  
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If you've never heard of a Favorite Things Party, let me introduce you!  Eight woman. Those eight women bring seven gifts each.  (My seven gifts were in the butterfly boxes! I gave some marker pens I adore.)  There is usually a price range of about $10 each gift ($70 total).  At the party, each woman gives her seven gifts away, and then receives seven new gifts!  It's like a grown-up white elephant meets Oprah's Giveaways.  You can see white serving platters in the picture - I love mine! And I also got a new chopping knife, some pretty darn cool soap, a reusable shopping bag, and more!  Each woman gifts one of her daily-life "favorite things" so everyone leaves with treats! Fun idea, huh?
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For today's "making things" post, I have to give props to Becca (the host of the shower/party) for her banner idea.  Flag bunting has kind of had it's day (in my opinion), so I'm always on the lookout for new banner/garland ideas.  Becca punched different colored craft paper with a nice big paper punch. She then stitched them together with a sewing machine! I was impressed ;) It'd be fun to get creative with different shapes and layering styles and colors! Oh my!
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I wish I could just take home an Edith. I am so in love.
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Jamulie {Maryland Engagement Photography}

yeah, the road gets harder
but it’s not much farther
it’s gonna be alright
you know that it ain’t easy
please believe me
it’s gonna be alright
needtobreathe | more time
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I don't know if you can quite understand just how afraid of the "M" word Julie used to be.  She would admit she had no reason to be fearful.  Her parents had a gloriously happy marriage until death they did part.  Her sister is having the time of her life being a wife and mother.  For some reason she just wasn't ready.  She needed more time. 

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After fifteen months of dating (where "eeeveryone" knew they were going to get engaged soon) Julie called things off.  I specifically remember stopping by her house on my way to a wedding the weekend "everything" happened.  She was so mopey.  "I've been playing NeedToBreathe on repeat." I need more time\ Cause I can’t figure out just what’s inside \ I hoped that you could understand \ That this is not what I had planned \ I need more timePhotobucket
She couldn't take down her pictures of them on the wall, or put away the presents he had made her over the past year.  She was numb.  She knew it was the right choice, but it didn't make it any easier. I also saw James that weekend.  Just for a few seconds.  He was as heartbroken as a boy in love could ever be.  My heart sunk for him.  The grey-ness, the ache, the mornings where you just want night to come so you can go to bed, and the nights you just want morning to come so you can wake up.  It's low.
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Then something really quite lovely happened.
They both dove into what was right in front of them -
the people, the sports, the activities, the trips, the Word of God, the education.
They both even "talked" with other people (an important part of getting over someone, I think.) 
Just a few months after the break-up I asked James how he was doing;
he looked me straight in the eyes and said "I literally am care-free and am doing so well."
I mean, he looked well. And he sounded well. And seemed well!
But somehow it just didn't seem done yet.
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Please don’t worry now \ It will turn around \ Cause I need more time \ Just a few more months and we’ll be fine


And as it turns out, there was more to come for James and Julie (also known as "Jamulie.")
It turns out time did help. 
(God's time is always perfect.)
They slowly started "being friends" again.  They started laughing together again, longing to see each other "a lot a lot." Perhaps it had never really left for either of them, after all.
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Before long these two were up to their necks in love.
Once I commented to Julie "You know, once you and James start dating again, you're going to fall in love so fast."
I think it was two weeks? maybe three? and Julie had been fully, totally and wholly carried away.
She was SO in love with James.
I think James had been in love for about three years ;)
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We’re off to new lands \ So hold on to my hands  \It’s gonna be alright \ It’s a whole lot brighter \ So stand by the fire \ It’s gonna be alright
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They are both very brave. They really are.  
I didn't understand it so well back four years ago, but it's a terrifying thing to date and then break up with and then date again your best friend. 
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But more then being brave, they are happy.
They are happy not because it's been easy. Oh no. Much of their happiness comes from knowing it's been hard.  They are not happy because now it's perfect.  Oh no.  Much of their happiness comes from accepting, loving and bearing with the imperfection.
They're happy because they are loved.
With no conditions.
No fears.
"Perfect love casts out fear."
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They are free to enjoy their funny, brave, motivated, visionary, devoted, funny, servant, cheesy, half-athletic, half-brilliant, close, real love.
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So they do.
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  I promised you the world again \ Everything within my hands \ All the riches one could dream \ they will come from me

Becca's Baby Shower {Event + Personal}

“How did it get so late so soon? 
Its night before its afternoon. 
December is here before its June. 
My goodness how the time has flewn."
dr. suess | a sweet quote becca is framing for her boy, due in december   Photobucket


I posted here about moving in with my friendly-friends Dre + pregnant Becca.
And I posted some pictures here of my friends Janet and Audrey, her daughter.
They are important characters in the story of this blog post.
Just so you know. Thweet.

Now for the setting.
A windy, sunny October afternoon in a spacious, window-ed home.
Why were we there?
To celebrate a little, long-awaited boy, to provide him and his family with all they will need practically,
and to make Becca feel special, because we love her so.
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When Janet (Becca's "BFFAE") found out Becca was pregnant, she pretty much started planning right away.  Janet is somewhat known for her amazing parties.  I'm always game for creative ideas, and I'm especially game for doing anything for Becca.  So Jan and I became the official Baby Shower Party Planners.
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After a number of meetings, brain-storm sessions, Pinterest-searches and e-mails, 
we had a grasp on our plans.
We had a location.
We had a color scheme.
We had a finalized invitation.
We had some craft ideas.
We even had a pretty detailed menu
(the menu theme morphed over time... 
started as "Becca's Favorite Foods" which became "Comfort Food" and we ended at a happy place of
"Made from Scratch Self-Serve Delicious Food." Good theme, huh? ;) haha)
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We knew we wanted the shower to be consistent in look and color from start to finish.
Inspired by the lines in the invitation, Jan thought it'd be great to make a "real life" copy of those lines at the house, everywhere we could.

So after the hours of crafting, shopping, creating and assembling, we are pleased to welcome you to:
Becca's Baby Shower:
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| entry way |
When guests arrived they were met by a thrifted + re-painted desk.
They were asked to leave their best baby advice on a clotheslines,
and to write their full address on an envelope so Becca doesn't have to when she does thank-you's,
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I found another Pinterest-lifesaver in the form of these clothespin + popsicle stick airplanes.
Airplanes have been a big part of Dre + Becca's story thus far
(Dre recently got a job with air traffic control,
but had to fly to New York, Chicago and Oklahoma... up to four months! to apply and receive the job.)
It was nice to include such a personal element, without it being "WELCOME TO THE AIRPORT HANGER SHOWER! AIRPLANE WORLD! AAAH!" Subtle, sweet and not over-kill.)
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| drinks |
Using baker's twine, gift tags and Mason Jars, we had the guests use "real" cups... which is much nicer then paper or plastic. Can I get an "Amen!"?
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They also got to make their own drinks! Ginger-ale or Lemon-Lime Soda :)
Just add a spoonful of the pre-made concentrate to a glass of seltzer water and wa-la! 
(the concentrate was simply lemon and lime juice, honey and zested ginger.)
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| food |
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Everyone ate up, which is a great sign!
Especially at a shower with 45 women ;)
Women and their appetites are so hard to plan for!
But with so many healthy, tasty, dairy + gluten free options, we had happy campers.
Praaaaaise the good Lord.
(ps. Love these bamboo silverware sets we sniped!)
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Kinda see the invitation inspiration? Maybe? :D
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| desserts |
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We had some yummy desserts made by our lovely friends.
These pretzels were my FAVE, but we also had amazing rice krispie cupcakes, chocolate bars and more!
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(I got those bingo cards printed the day before the shower on cardstock.  Last minute decision, but they worked great!  Guests filled in the squares with presents they thought Becca might receive.  First five with five in a row won!  It was a great game that wasn't too cheesy or weird, helped guests stay interested in the present-un-wrapping part and didn't take up an extra time. Big fan.)

| the peoples |
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| favors |
Jan had the great idea to give the ladies a little bundle of fresh picked flowers as they left.
It was super cute and everyone loved them.
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But most important, more then any any any other part of this shower, we wanted Becs to know how much we love her and how happy we are to share in her joy.

"The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. 
The friend of the bridegroom, 
who stands and hears the him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. 
Therefore this joy of mine is now complete."
john 3:29
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It'd be appropriate to say that Becca has been "the friend of the bridegroom" for a long time.
She stands by her friends,
hears and listens to their excitement about jobs, houses, babies, travel, etc
and she rejoices greatly.

Becca is the kind of friend you want to tell everything.
I mean that.
Becca is one of the first people I go to when I'm excited. 
She is happy to listen, happy to talk, happy to carry your joys or your sorrows,
happy to wait, happy to go.
She'd be the first to say that change scares her, 
and that there have been tears in the past, present and surely in the future - for herself and her friends. 
But she's also the first to practically, emotionally and spiritually be there for us.
Whether it be through e-mails, cards, advice, prayers, laughs, meals or her own personal time,
she is so happy loving on those she loves.
It's her turn to be the "us." 
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Becccccaaa.
This joy of ours is so complete.
To stand with you taping and painting Baby Boy's room.
To hear with you that perfect heartbeat.
To listen to your voice as you dream about meeting him.
We rejoice greatly.
Especially Audrey ;)


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Shower Design: Janet Remsnyder + I'm Kristen
Photography: Ellie B + I'm Kristen
Dessert: "Aunt" Jess
Chalkboard design: Lydia Jane
Invitation + Paper Good design/printing: I'm Kristen + FedEx Office + inspired by this invite
Pinterest Inspiration Board: Right here!