Now I’ve been to a few showers in my day- bridal, baby, co-ed. I used to just look at the registry, find the cheapest gift that didn’t look cheap and go with that. But as time went on the showers became to be about people I cared about and loved so I started making gifts that were a little more personalized.
Disclaimer: This is going to sound super snooty.
My bridal shower and baby shower were not big parties. I had maybe 15 people at each of them and for the most part they were my mom’s friends from work (who I had known a long time because I went to elementary school and middle school there). I just don’t have a lot of friends from high school and college anymore, and all my current milspouse friends were on the west coast while my showers were on the east coast. But I didn’t care about that. It was just nice to have some sort of celebration and my mom and sister-in-laws did a great job setting up both showers.
One thing that did annoy me though was when people didn’t buy off my registry. I mean, hours are invested into these things and I was frustrated when I had a bunch of stuff I already had or didn’t need. I understand that people find stuff they think is cute or perfect for the occasion because I buy that stuff too. But dudes, I don’t need 27 aprons and 4 tea kettles.
I told you. Snooty.
So I vowed to always buy at least one thing off the registry, even if the rest of my gift was stuff that *I* thought was awesome. I’ve gone to two bridal showers in the past few months and I had a great time not only shopping for these girls who are family (one like family, the other actually family!), but also putting together a creative gift that I thought they would love and that came from my heart.
The first shower was for a friend of mine from high school. Although we don’t talk all that often anymore, every time we see each other it’s like we picked up from where we left off. We spent virtually every weekend with each other in high school along with cheering together from 5th grade through 12th grade. Like me, she had to travel to her bridal shower so I knew I couldn’t get her something that she would have trouble packing. I bought her a giftcard to a homestore that she suggested on her website, and then I made her this basket:
Ok so it doesn’t look like a basket from the photo but she was traveling so I couldn’t do some huge ellaborate thing that she could never pack. But inside the basket was filled with all sorts of candies and different objects related to the home. As she went through the basket she read this poem with each highlighted word corresponding with an object in the basket (I put the objects I put in the basket in parenthesis below):
Here are the words to the poem:
Marriage is a Basket Full of Surprises
Sometimes marriage can be difficult…
Some days you might feel like you want to whoop him. (Whoopers candy)
Other days you might feel like you don’t measure up. (tape measure)
There will be days when you feel like you need someone to throw you a lifesaver or two. (Lifesaver candy)
But, when those days happen just dust yourself off. (mini feather duster)
Because there are plenty of good times to be had. (Good and Plenty candy)
And let’s face it- when a couple of nerds get together, there are bound to be a few little runts running around eventually! (Nerds and Runts candy)
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She loved it! It was so fun to watch her open it and know it was something a little special and a little different than the traditional registry gift.
The second shower was for my cousin. Again, we don’t talk all that often but she has come to every single one of our family’s special events- graduations, weddings, showers, etc. She was also traveling for her shower so again, nothing could be too big to pack. My mom and I went in on this one together, so we got her a few things off her registry and sent them to her house. We also made this basket. The theme was “perfect pairs.”
We put things in there like a mini spatula and frying pan, a candle and a flame, paper and pens, and other things that “go together.” My mom also added an apron with an FBI badge and a picture of her, her brother, and my brother’s playing FBI agents when they were younger. She also added an order pad because since my cousin was the girl so she had to be the FBI waitress…awful, right?! Anyways, I loved that something personal like the picture was added into the basket. I wasn’t able to watch her open the gift though, and if you follow me on Facebook you know why- because the shower was FOUR FLUCKING hours long and I had E, so we were sitting in the car with her sleeping since she was a hot mess of exhaustion.
I love going to showers for all the obvious reasons- free food and alcoholic beverages.
I kid.
No, but seriously. Food and drinks. And dessert.
Even without the food, drinks, and dessert I love going to showers and hosting them. Hopefully in the next couple months I will be able to host a fun baby shower. I’m sure I’ll have some pictures and tidbits when that time comes too, but probably on my new site. So stick around and maybe we have some more fun in this place.
Barefoot and Boots 
great gift ideas! love them!
Thanks!