Welcoming a new life is always a cause for celebration, and what better way to do so than be surrounded by family and friends in the beauty of The Historic Seven Sycamores outdoor space. During spring their beautiful venue lights up with bright white flowers blossoming on the grounds and the beautiful golden hills as their backdrop. Our Garden Baby Shower was the perfect blend of elegance and enchantment, offering a unique way to honor the mother-to-be amidst the serenity of a natural garden setting. This event was more than just a baby shower, it was a special chance to reconnect with people we rarely get to see since we moved out of state, and also an experience that intertwines the growth of a new life with the blossoming beauty of spring flowers and beautiful pastel colors. With our Garden Baby Shower, we embraced the spirit of growth and new beginnings in the most literal sense. The outdoor space transformed into an oasis of pastel decorations of balloons, stuffed animals, and flora-related themes. Thanks to a variety of garden accents, we created a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Starting with a few well-placed garden accents, we set the stage for an unforgettable day. The floral arrangements, each carefully put together to match the baby shower's color palette, adorned tables and served as beautiful centerpieces. Fresh flowers are not just decorations but integral to the event's theme, adding pops of color and scent throughout the space. They also lined the seating area where we opened gifts and the dessert carts. They were sprinkled everywhere, because what is a garden party without florals! Pastel-colored balloons and delicately crafted stuffed animals hung above. These details really brought the baby shower to life and were what I had envisioned for 10 years while we patiently waited and prayed for our sweet blessing.

The food areas were more central points then after thoughts. Food is very important around here and we wanted it focused on and our guests well fed. No garden party is truly complete without the perfect menu that complements the setting. For Our Garden Baby Shower, we made sure that every bite was a reflection of the vibrant outdoor environment. Light and refreshing, the food selection was a clear nod to the bounty that a garden provides. When coming into the baby shower you were greeted with delicious charcuterie cups that were easy to grab as you made your way to your seats.

The lemonade drink station had colorful glasses and many options for everyone to choose from! We couldn't forget about cake and desserts and made a very fun cart with an array of delectable cakes and candy jars. Lastly, our favorite hometown taco truck company came to make delicious tacos with all their tasty fixings!!

Our garden baby shower invitations set the entire tone for the event. Adorned with adorable animals to represent that Jellycat stuffed animals that were all throughout the shower and hanging from the lights. Along with the animals, the cards beautiful pastel colors were of course matched by the party's balloons and flowers. Picking the right invitation for a shower sets the stage nicely for a lovely event and gives guests a little taste of what's to come. Dogwood Hill made us custom menus to also match the invitations for the drink stations and charcuterie cups, along with a menu at each seat to let guests know what exactly was to come. A carefully selected design featuring greenery and florals extended an early glimpse of the garden party. Details such as the event's date, location, and where the mom to be is registered are just a few things you need with everything they needed to know.

As the party gets going many baby showers opt to play many games. These are often whimsical, engaging activities that are great icebreakers. We chose not do games at our shower, but if you are looking for some to add to yours you can combine the beauty in nature of the venue with the much-loved shower traditions. Games can create a suite of activities that have everyone from grandparents to friends smiling and laughing together. Fun games can blossom like the garden around you. A few examples of fun garden games can be "Guess the Baby Herb," engaging your guest's senses and guessing fragrances from small pots of herbs. You can also play "Baby Flower Potting," where guests could actually pot seedlings to take home. This fun game is meant to be a living reminder of the new life to be celebrated. This obviously doubles as a great favor for any garden party.

In the end of our shower, we felt this party was more than just an event, it was a much needed gathering of family and friends we hadn't seen in a long time and a celebration of life's new beginnings. The balance of thoughtful planning, great company and food, and the grace of the outdoors created not just a day to remember for the expectant mother but a delightful experience for every guest. It proved that the best beginnings are those rooted in love and nature, ready to bloom just like the life we came together to celebrate.

The list of vendors we used for this event and made my dream shower come to life:

Venue: Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch

Florals: Emerald Grace Florals

Balloons: Simple Designs

Lunch: Tacos San Marcos

Photos: Courtnie Junio Photography

Invitations & menu’s: Dogwood Hill

Charcuterie: Fig & Olive Company

Cakes & Dessert Bar: Williams Sonoma

Drinks: Splenda

Rentals: CT Event Rentals

Cheese: Truly Grass Fed

Blueberries: Family Tree Farms

Olives: Mezzetta

Dress: Pink Blush Maternity

Other Party Planning & Hosting Blog Posts:

Mom's 60th Birthday Party

Creating a Beautiful & Memorable Mother’s Day Table & Celebration with Evite

Bringing the Joy of Easter to Your Table: Creative Ideas for Easter Spring Table Decor

Creating the Perfect Father's Day Picnic with Table Decor Ideas

Creating the Perfect Summer Tablescape

Do you have a craving for a savory and delicious sandwich that you can make at home and feel like you got a famous deli experience? Look no further than this Buttery Italian Croissant Sandwich! This sandwich is the perfect combination of Italian flavors, buttery croissants, and fresh ingredients, making it the perfect lunch time meal. Whether you’re looking for that perfect lunch or a great dish to bring as an appetizer, this sandwich will satisfy your cravings. Keep reading to find out how to make this buttery Italian croissant sandwich and why it’s so delicious!

Buttery Italian Croissant Sandwich is a unique twist on the classic sub sandwich. The buttery croissant roll adds an extra crunch and flavor to the sandwich, making it different from a classic roll taste, and just truly irresistible. Topped with a ranch butter, this yummy croissant it's a surefire hit. Adding in a variety of Italian deli meats, cheeses, and condiments to choose from, you can customize your sandwich to your heart's delight. It's a great choice for any lunch or party. I will be serving them at my Superbowl party, but these are perfect for summer parties or the office potlucks. Trust me, they will be gone before you know it. These sandwiches are so easy to make and are perfect for picnics and outdoor gatherings. Serve them up with a side of chips or fresh fruit for a complete classic meal.

INGREDIENTS

12 croissants (I did mini ones for a perfect grab size for Superbowl)

1/4 cup melted butter

3 teaspoons ranch seasoning

4 oz. Pepperoni

4 oz. Hard Salami

7 oz Ham

7 slices provolone cheese

2 cups cut iceberg lettuce

1/2 red onion

1/4 cup pepperoncini's

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1/3 cup mayonnaise

3 teaspoons ranch seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While heating whisk together butter and Italian seasoning and butter tops of croissant rolls. Place in oven for 5 minutes or until golden. This helps the butter to melt into rolls and toast slightly.

2. While rolls cook mix together lettuce mixture of chopped iceberg, sliced red onion, pepperoncini's, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise and ranch seasoning. Stirring to evenly coat.

3. Cut rolls in half and start filling with provolone, pepperoni, hard salami, ham and lettuce mixture.

4. Insert toothpicks in middle to hold together and serve! You can make ahead to refrigerate as well. Enjoy!

If you're a sandwich lover, you simply must try these Buttery Italian Croissant Sandwiches. You won't regret it! The crunchy roll, savory meats, and tasty condiments come together in a delicious combination that will leave your mouth watering. Plus, with the ease of customization, you'll be able to make the perfect sandwich, with the perfect meats, cheeses, and vegetables that you crave each and every time.

As always I love to share some easy substitutions to every recipe I post. Some easy subtle changes to this recipe would be to change the cheese to a mozzarella, or any other favorite of yours. Changing meats to your liking is easy as well. Prosciutto is a great addition to this one as well. If you want to use a bigger sandwich size croissant you can add other additions like bell peppers, avocado, tomatoes, or any other of your favorite tastes. Depending on the crowd size you are serving you could even custom cater each sandwich to the wants of your crowd, with the same basic idea for each.