Pink Ivey

In a matter of weeks, I will become an aunt for the seventh time. My brother's wife will be bringing a [no doubt] beautiful baby girl into the world and her name will be Ivey Carolina. 

Over the last several months, there has been a lot of preparation for Ivey's arrival; and I could not be more pleased to share with you some of the celebratory details. The above image is the stool that will go down as the first gift I ever made for my niece. I would love to say that I carved the creation by hand, but instead I will tell the truth - I merely painted it, applied hot glue, and wrapped it in kraft. 

Last weekend, my family and I threw a baby shower for Ivey at Sun in My Belly. Prior to the shower, WYWH had the great pleasure of designing the invitations. Below are a few details from the project.

I particularly loved these invitations for a few reasons: (1) I had been craving #10 kraft envelopes for a while, so I was happy to finally have an excuse to use them, (2) I heart vellum, and (3) finally - when was the last time you used a brad? For me, it must have been third grade, so I was pleased to bring the ole' accessory back to life. 

The shower venue could not have been more perfect. First, the name, Sun in My Belly. (It really doesn't get better than that.) Secondly, the decor - I couldn't have accessorized a private space better myself! Sun in My Belly did a lovely job and we hostesses could not have been happier.

Now, for this shower, I did a bold thing. About a week prior to the event, everything was handled. The menu was secure, the guest list was finalized, and the cake was just about ordered... and then... Pinterest got the best of me. In a flash of DIY inspiration I decided that I was going to make the cake myself. And it wasn't going to be just any cake - it was going to be a cake covered in fondant. Keep reading if you would like to witness the chaos that ensued. 

Yes, I decided that I would make the fondant from scratch (primarily because pre-made fondant is really expensive and it tastes bad). Little did I know that this would jeopardize my sanity, my relationship, and my overall sense of well-being. Think long and hard before you ever attempt fondant, people. With all of that being said, know that the final product was not a disaster. I survived, and guests said that the cake was moist. (I did not have the nerve to taste it myself.)

In keeping with celebrating all things Ivey, I will be attending a shower next weekend for my sister-in-law as well. Luckily, all I had to do was RSVP for this shower. I did, however, manage to put the pink spray paint to work one last time. As a homage to my brother, whom I am expecting will need a break from all things frilly, I purchased the below print from HomeGrown in Decatur, GA, by artist, Dante DeStefano. I love her work and think that Ivey should love it, too. However, I knew it needed a girly touch - so I bought a white frame and defaced it. 

Not bad, right? I am usually not a fan of pink, but Ivey has really inspired me to embrace the blush tones. They aren't all bad. I've actually found myself day dreaming about the various ways I could use the rest of my pink spray paint, imagine that! 

Here's to celebrating the coming of a new baby, a new chapter for my brother and sister-in-law, and a good excuse to think pink.