Martie Knows Parties

Photo Credit: Arden PhotographyDoesn't it seem like there's always a new baby on the way? You can celebrate the new arrival in style and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Start by cutting back on expensive party decorations and use your food, beverages, dishes and serving pieces as your decorations. We used an adorable polka dot ducky cake as our centerpiece for this party. Break out your nice dinnerware to set a beautiful table. Your everyday dishes will usually work just fine. Add a colorful salad plate like we did here. You can even use plastic or melamine---- even paper! These days, there are no rules about using just one pattern. Mixing and matching patterns and textures are in!

Make or order a fun cake or cupcakes and incorporate a fun theme. This rubber ducky theme is adorable, no matter if your new mom is expecting a little boy or a little girl. Bright and colorful, this party theme is even fun for a little one's first birthday party. Add a pop of color with glassware or a signature beverage in party colors: pink like my favorite Pomegranate lemonade for a little girl or blue, like these Blue Breeze cocktails. Make sure to serve a non-alcoholic option also.

Send guests home with a rubber ducky of their own, along with a luxurious bath bomb (love the Lush bath bombs) as a party favor.

See our upcoming article in Birmingham Home & Garden magazine! Special thanks to Bromberg's, Arden Photography and Diane Olexa of Olexa's Cakes.

Update on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 10:46PM by

Martie Duncan

My friend from back in the day, Toni Graves Whitten passed along this too adorable idea for a baby shower and I wanted to share it with you. Here's what to do:

These are made with paper nut/mint cups and look like baby booties. Take two paper cups, a Kleenex, two jumbo cotton balls and a piece of ribbon for each bootie. Place one cup roughly centered on the Kleenex. Then place the two jumbo cotton balls side by side directly in front of the cup (this will make the toe part of the bootie.) Pull up the sides of the Kleenex up and tuck into the cup. Take the second cup and put inside the first to hold the Kleenex. Finally, take the ribbon and wrap it around the cup that is sticking up slightly and tie a bow with the ribbon. Use different colored Kleenex and ribbons to match your baby shower color scheme. Fill with nuts, candies, mints, etc. Enjoy!