So I have this friend…a very smart friend, I should say….that lives by the motto, “if you have your health, you have everything”.  When we first met, I used to just nod my head and agree with her when she’d say it to me, not really grasping what that meant.  In the six years that I’ve known her, unfortunately, I’ve gained a true understanding of it, and the week before both my Canandaigua and Boston baby showers, I was reminded again of how true that statement is.  Life IS short.  And it made getting to celebrate this new little life that’s about to come into this world with my family and friends, all the more important to me.
My mom and I spent many hours planning and preparing for my New York shower and it was so much fun to collaborate with her (and I FINALLY got the woman on Pinterest!).    Knowing how much I love it there, my mom booked The Rabbit Room in Honeoye Falls as the venue.  If you’re in NY and you haven’t been, it’s a must: so much character, delicious food, all nestled in an adorable little village. My mom made and designed the invitations.  Loved the mint and gold theme.   We love jelly jars….they are actually the only thing we use to drink out of at our house, so when I saw these adorable ombre jars, I had the idea to adapt and use as our centerpieces.  The gold blocks were a last minute addition since we realized we didn’t actually have anything “baby” on the tables.  A big thank you to my amazing co-worker for donating them to me! So my mom.  She has this amazing talent to make everything she touches perfect.  Last time I came home, we decided to try making French macaroons.  I had internally decided that I wanted this to be my “signature” dessert…you know, the kind you bring to parties when you get invited and everyone would oooohhh and ahhhh over them and love them so much they’d invite you to their parties solely so they could get a taste of the sweetness of the treat you were going to bring?  So off we went, gathering the ingredients to make these cookies.  Unfortunately…when I helped make the macaroons, they came out flat as pancakes.  I drove back to Boston completely defeated and figuring I’d have to resort back to the good old boxed brownies as my signature treat, when two hours into the trip I get a picture text of a perfectly baked macaroon that my mom had magically whipped up while I had been on the road.  So maybe the macaroons will be her signature dessert…but regardless, I’m glad I get to reap the reward because they are absolutely delish!  The day before the shower, my mom spent the afternoon baking these little goodies for all the guests, while I stayed far away from the kitchen, and we put them in jelly jars for everyone to take home.  (In addition there was Godiva chocolate bars because one dessert isn’t enough for my good old fashioned Italian mama!) I fell in love with this cake topper from Etsy, but was not in love with the price.  With some glitter paper and some Starbucks drink stirrers, I think I got fairly close.  We gave a picture of this cake to the baker at Rabbit Room.  I’d like to thank that baker for making the cake big enough for me to take back to Boston and for the 15 pounds I think it added to my already pudgy self.  And of course we needed a rag banner, which Etsy sells for way more than they are worth!  I followed these instructions to make my own. We named each table after a nursery rhyme, and guests found their table numbers on the old shutter doors my dad found in our garage. And thanks to my sister for creating the Mad (Libs) for Baby Bruno.  We will read these each year on the babe’s birthday…whenever that may be! My favorite girls! Mom…thanks for all you did for baby and me!  I cannot wait to plan parties with you when this little thing is finally here!

Alex’s mother, grandmother, and aunts threw me a fabulous shower in Boston, which was so fun because every detail was a complete surprise.  Actually, I may have had a slight inkling that the theme may have had something to do with ducks, but had NO idea there would be duck hats and rubber duckies and duck-tinis galore! It was so much fun to walk in the room and be bombarded by bright yellow! Because what’s a good party without a duck hat?  Here is most of the gang at the Boston bash!

A very special thanks to Nan, Andy, Cheryl, & Linda for always putting the fun in a party.  We feel like “lucky ducks” (sorry…I couldn’t resist to) to have you in our lives!

To everyone that has helped us celebrate this little peanut, both at our showers and in other ways, we cannot thank you enough!  We feel so blessed to be surrounded by you all!

Now baby…come on out!  We cannot wait to meet you!