Pretty in Pink Punch

This photo caught my eye for its pretty pink color. Then the recipe sounded just as good as it looked. This Pretty in Pink Punch would be great for a Girls night dinner, Baby Girl Shower, Bridal Shower, Bridal Luncheon, Child's Birthday, Mother's day and more! (I did a similar punch at a Bridal shower, themed colored pink and brown) The recipe includes instructions for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions so you can please everyone.

Pretty in Pink Punch


Makes about 9 cups

Ingredients
1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed (photo from southernliving.com)
4 cups white cranberry juice cocktail
1 qt. club soda, chilled
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Preparation
Stir together lemonade concentrate and cranberry juice cocktail in a large pitcher. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Stir in club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Champagne Punch: Substitute 1 (750-milliliter) bottle extra-dry Champagne or sparkling wine and 1/4 cup orange liqueur for club soda; proceed with recipe as directed

Pom Poms

Thought this a really cute decor idea for a baby or bridal shower. They're lightweight so you don't have to worry about them coming crashing down and are easy and inexpensive to make.
Over at marthastewart.com, there's instructions on how to make these tissue paper pom-poms with your own materials. Or, you can buy the kit with all materials included (at your local crafts store like Michaels or Joann fabrics).

Save the pom poms for the nursery of the Mommy to be.

Book Shower Templates

Book Shower Templates

I love the idea of a children's book-themed shower where guests are asked to bring a favorite childhood book of theirs as their gift. (or you can theme your Bridal shower to your preference and still ask each guest to bring a book). Sure, you may not end up with the bottle warmer you actually need, but you're certain to receive gifts that hold a certain amount of sentimental signficance from your guests.
A downside of the book shower? The person who will receive most pleasure from the books isn't yet born and will probably have a difficult time recalling who gave which book and why when thinking back on his or her in utero memories.
I found these Gifted Bookplates to go along with the books you'll receive as gifts. The bookplate serves both as a space to note who gave the book as well as a place for the gift-giver to leave a special message for the baby.
These bookplates can be printed on adhesive-backed or regular paper (try using colored paper) that you adhere with a glue-stick or double-stick tape.
If you're planning a book shower, you can choose to send off a bookplate or two as part of the invitation. Let the guest know that you'd love them to bring a favorite childhood book and for them to write out their message for the baby on the bookplate. Or, in the tradition of most showers, make the message-writing an activity during the event itself.
Not throwing or having a baby shower anytime soon? You can use these bookplates on any book you plan to give -- even ones directly from you to your little one.