Beer and Diapers: The Ultimate Baby Shower

With only five short weeks left until I meet my daughter, it was essential that one of my baby showers needed to include my beer loving friends.  My last few months of pregnancy have been filled with love from every gamut: girlfriends, family, coworkers, and students.  It was time to include the group of friends that I have missed imbibing with.  Here is my guide on how to plan and execute the perfect co-ed baby shower.

1. Invitations

Parties and job interviews have one thing in common: the first impression is the one that sticks.  Take the time to find the invitation that fits exactly what you want.  I had great success on Etsy.com with ModernBeautiful out of Boise, ID.  Not only were they able to revamp one of their samples, they even matched the printing ink to the colors of my nursery.  Don't be afraid to ask the artist to taylor their design for your needs.  It is YOUR party after all!




2.  Contributions

Nobody likes to show up to a party empty handed.  Instead of leaving it up to your host to figure out the logistics, be clear on your invite on how the guests can help.  With beer drinkers, I thought it to be best to have them bring some of their favorite sippers, along with some much needed diapers for Baby Girl.  That way, guests are happy with their drinks and can share with others.   This helps break the ice in conversation before the ABVs kick in!


3.  Location

Step one: scout out the backyards of your friends.  Step two; pick your favorite.  Step three: con them in to hosting your shower.

4.  Recommendations

As a first time mom to be, I am a little unsure of what to expect.  While everyone's take on parenthood is different, I thought it would fun to call upon my experienced mom, dad, aunt, and uncle friends for some tips.  I had these advice cards printed out by the same great artists over at ModernBeautiful.  Hand out a writing assignment after a few beers and watch your friends squirm!

5.   Confections

Don't let anybody tell you differently, every party needs a good cake.  Pair that with a hoppy IPA, a refreshing Blonde, or a crisp Pilsner and your beer loving guests are in heaven.  For some added fun, make sure the frosting is brightly colored and stains your guests' lips and tongues.  The photo opportunities are endless!

Brewing Up Baby: A beer lover's guide to pregnancy

My 2015 came in with a bang.  Not only did my husband and I pull off a surprise wedding for all of our friends, we also found out that we were expecting a future homebrewer of our own.

Over the past few months, my happy hours have been replaced with afternoon walks and my nightly brewski is now a flavorful cup of tea.  While the adjustment has been...well...an adjustment, I have also noticed friends are a bit unsure of how to act.  Here are three steps on how you can support your favorite beer lover while they aren't able to imbibe.

1.  Include them.
Even though I can't drink, I still love to be a part of the beer scene.  Don't assume that you can't still offer up an invite for a brewer's dinner or tap takeover with your pregnant friend.  Keeping up on the new trends and styles is what every beer geek is about.  Just remember that they might not close the joint down like they used to.  I've found that my nose has become so fine tuned that I can smell off flavors a mile away.  Invite, geek out, and have fun!

2.  Find new hobbies to enjoy.
The reason why you enjoy your beer lover is because they are well versed in all things beer.  But don't forget, they also can probably school you at pool, get you by some strokes in golf, and maybe even be the best teammate for pub trivia.  While all these activities should include beer, it sure doesn't mean that they have to.  Saddle me up with an NA macro or pint of root beer and I'm a happy gal.

3.  Make plans for a post birth beer celebration.
Come August, I will be primed and ready to enjoy some beers after this span of dry months.  With an eye on beer travel and festivals, I can't wait to get back in the game.  Support your bumped buddy with some plans to look forward to.  Not only does it keep their spirits up, it also reminds them that there still will be a beer life after baby.

Don't worry friends, while my palete is resting and I'm growing a human, I am still the same beer loving girl that you love.  Hang in there, I'll be back before you know it!