I am so grateful and lucky to have been apart of the Operation Shower that took place back in January during the PGA tour stop at Torrey Pines.  I have been wanting to work with Operation Shower for a while and when this opportunity came up I jumped at the chance.  The cool part about this particular event was that each table was to be designed by a different party designer or blogger.  How fun is that!?!  The other extra special exciting part was that Pottery Barn Kids had just released a new line of decor and we got to see it before it got released to the public and use it in our table decor!

 

Set up day was absolutely miserable.  It was super windy and rainy and as you can tell from our table placement, we were pretty much getting soaked and had to keep setting up the table after the wind continually blew it over.  We finally had to store it all under the table and reset it the morning of the event.  It was super fun to have Dez and Tam there taking pictures of all the set up and getting acquainted of new and old friends. So in carting all of this stuff down to San Diego from Orange County, I forgot to bring my camera along!  I used my iphone and borrowed Tori’s camera to get detail pics of our table.  Thanks, Tori!!!  We were all given the theme for the shower and given custom party printables created by Paper and Cake for the event.  From there it was up to us to decide what the table looked like.  Lauren and I set out to keep the table pretty neutral with pops of fun colors.  I love how our table turned out.  There were tons of diy elements to it but I think the overall look was still really classy.

We used tons of painted safari animals throughout our design.  We knew it had been done elsewhere but gosh dang is it SO fun to do!  Lauren made this insanely ridiculous cake cake-type stands with them.  I would have drilled a hole through my hand if I had tried.

We used a pattern that Abigail had created for the event and made it in to a placemat that my pal, Ryan printed on foam core for me.

Here are some of the other fun ways we used the Paper and Cake safari set.  The set is now available for purchase in her shop!

A favor was not mandatory, but we wanted to do one.  We decided a First Birthday Party kit would be super cute.  The wooden spindle held a cute tiny little triangle flag banner that would be just enough to fit around a high chair.  I am really fond of how they turned out.

I am sparing you tons of pictures of myself with all the fantastic ladies that were there.  I’m not sure why I don’t just take a picture of them and always end up in it!  Amy, from Operation Shower, is with me in the picture on the left.  This whole event goes off without a hitch because of her amazing planning and people skills.  She never shows stress, has a fantastic sense of humor and handled an event with major sponsors and a ton of scatter brained (mostly me) designers with absolute ease.  On the right I am with Jenn of Hostess with the Mostess.  I finally got to meet her in person and am even more fond of her than previously.  She is a true talent and an all around good person.  I think I want her to run for president.

This is the adorable and talented Jackie Culmer of Jackie Culmer Photography.  She, along with Nicole Benitez, photographed the day of the event.  You simply HAVE to see all her amazing photos!

Here are just a few of hers of things I forgot to take photos of.  That giraffe in the bell jar delighted me all day and was styled by Tori of Thoughtfully Simple.  My pal, Kristin of Meringue Bake Shop supplied her delicious Push Cakes which were displayed on the dessert buffet by Sweets Indeed.  Marie not only styles and designs in such a fun way, but she also sources the most delicious, unique treats to serve.  I found out about Firefly Confections from her once I tasted their Salted Caramels.  Mind blowingly good.  And it is always fun to see the amazing designs of The Marshmallow Studio!!!  And I have a total couple crush on Marie and her husband.  I want them to be my neighbors.

Please go check out all the recaps!

My post on CBS LA about Operation Shower in general and how you can get involved.

Like Operation Shower on Facebook and check out all the galleries!

Wrap ups by:

Sweets Indeed

A Blissful Nest

Thoughtfully Simple

Tom Kat