Oink! the blog of Piggy Bank Parties: {real parties} all pigs are beautiful baby shower

It's time to open our PIGGY BANK and share our first "official" DEPOSIT with you! I'd like to introduce you to Jenny Dixon of...

Don't you just love the name of her blog? Jenny submitted a party that I know you'll love! Here's what Jenny had to say about her "All Pigs Are Beautiful" Baby Shower...

I had the pleasure of throwing a baby shower for my future nephew! We traveled 10 hours to get there the day after New England got hit with 24 inches of snow! Luckily the roads were plowed and ready for us and we made it there safely. The shower was so much fun.

I wanted the party to have a farmer's market and country feel where guests felt welcome and comfortable. A family of metal pig silhouettes greeted guests outside as they arrived (forgot to take a picture!). I handmade "Pigs Welcome" and "Welcome to the baby shower" signs from scraps out in our woodpile. Candle holders were made out of Mason jars wrapped with fabric and I created fabric rag garlands with twine.

We hung my son's recycled newborn onesies as a bunting in front of the gift opening area. Guests were asked to bring a book for the parents-to-be rather than a card. A matching bookplate was included in the invitation for guests to sign and place inside their book.

We made most of the food ourselves and the menu included carrot onion soup, minestrone soup, salad, chicken salad, mini pumpkin loaves, croissants, homemade country fair bread, cupcakes and bon bon cookies. I splurged on some fun cake pops and cupcake toppers. The cake pops were a huge hit! We repurposed picnic baskets as pie stands for homemade apple pie. Beverages were served in Mason jars with paper straws.

Favors included homemade pig shaped gingerbread cookies tied with twine and a matching thank you tag. I set up a children's table with personalized place mats and party poppers. I created the poppers using toilet paper tubes and added a farm animal stamp for the little ones to take home.

Didn't Jenny do a T-E-R-R-I-F-I-C job? I LOVE everything about this shower and not just 'cuz PIGS are part of the theme! {wink!} The Mason jars, the piggy banks, the picnic baskets, the blue ribbon cupcake toppers, the pumpkin loaves, the rag garlands, the onesie bunting, the placemats...and the party poppers! GENIUS!

I wanted to get to know Jenny a bit better so here's my lil' interview with her...

Do you do this as a full- or part-time job or is it just for fun? I am a stay at home mom of two boys. I became hooked on parties while planning my son's first birthday. Parties provide a creative outlet for me. I love the aesthetics of a gorgeous invitation or beautifully displayed dessert table. Each party is a fresh palate and new adventure. For right now party planning is a hobby worth exploring and I will just have to see where it takes me.

What penny pinching ideas/tips went into your event? This was a very budget friendly shindig. I worked with Jennifer from Social Butterfly Ink to develop some DIY printables. I was able to make the invitation, bookplates, and party favors myself. We used repurposed items like picnic baskets, mason jars and scrap wood. I made the decor with fabric, twine, recycled onesies and toilet paper tubes. We made most of the food ourselves and splurged on a couple of items. In lieu of cards, I had the guests sign bookplates which was less waste since cards are just thrown out!

I hope you are INSPIRED by Jenny's party. I am thrilled that she shared it with us and proves that anyone can create an EXTRAORDINARY party on a PIGGY BANK budget!

I'm a bit hungry for some homemade vittles now!

Stay tuned to Oink! for more inspiration...