Here's a couple ideas for you... The link I'm sending you has your palm trees of many styles for centerpieces. You will love this website-it's full of ideas, etc. On the home page, click on 'theme decor'on the sidebar-when that comes up-click on Tropical/Luau. Don't know how many tables you have to decorate-but you know the bamboo roller blinds? You could get them in narrower sizes & cut them to fit as table runners-probably would get 2 per shade. Another centerpiece idea might be to get the sheets of green styrofoam & cut into 12' squares-1 per table..as the base. Then cut 1/8 or 1/4' wooden dowels as the 'posts' for a tiki hut that would secure into the 4 corners of the styrofoam. You could cover the foam w/silk palm leaves (as flooring) and then use more of the bamboo shade cut & glued on the top of the dowels as the roof of the tiki hut. Then place your sand/shells on the leaves & maybe 1 larger baby. I would surround the styrofoam's edges (either by poking them in or hot glue)..with tiny orchids. Here is a link that might be useful: STUMPS

I have two friends who wanted to give me a shower for my third child. I insisted very strongly to them that I did not need a shower, nor did I want one. Where I come from this is just not done! I thanked them profusely for wanting to, but I insisted on them not giving me a shower. Well, they surprised me with a shower, a lovely little dinner out with about 10 people, neighbors and friends who weren't around when we had the first two, since we had lived in a different state then. I was overwhelmed with emotion. So grateful that I had friends who wanted to do this for me, who wanted to celebrate my third child in this way. They went to a lot of trouble for me and I will never forget it. Let them throw you the shower. Amy

Since everyone was so helpful, I wanted to pop back and share the final plan! Things have become even more hectic than I spoke of before.. so took a deep breath and decided to order almost everything from a local coffeehouse/bakehouse. I had planned to make muffins but I just don't have the time to do it. I trust this place and while it isn't cheap, it's very low stress. The team nixed yogurt -- we did talk about a sweet Pongal but opted to nix that also. Someone else is handling decorations and was *very* excited to get blue Gatorade. Not my choice but I have decided I am too much of a control freak and I can roll with it :) BTW my suggestion for drink was iced butterfly pea flower tea -- a beautiful indigo blue with no artificial colors! I'll save it for the 4th of July! Here's the menu.. Asparagus Leek Quiche Mini Croissants with apricot nut chicken salad Mini savory bagels shipped in from NYC + butter/cream cheese Scones - two flavors: blueberry lemon ginger and apricot almond with a citrus glaze raspberry coconut thumbprints (a team favorite-- and they really are amazing!) fruit platter - I will do this piece but will keep it super easy and casual .. like this The team requested cake instead of cupcakes. I intend to order a cake similar to this and add a "welcome baby boy" cake topper thingy: Thanks again for all your help-- I am sighing with relief now. My food order is complete and the gifts have arrived. All I need to do is order the cake!

Lyban, those are great considerations. I have been group texting with the three women who will be co-hosting and we'll be doing a zoom meeting next week. It feels like a group effort so far, but it would be easy for me to want to do it all myself. I'll ask them to create a menu (I'll pay) and figure out decorations and anything else. Maybe one of them should be the RSVP contact? Arcy, you're right, this will be more than a shower, it's more like a , I don't know what to call it! There is now a thing called a "babymoon" which, as i understand it is a trip for the parents right before the baby is born. So is this a Slumberpartymoon? At most, we will have 12 people. Probably less so I'm not too worried about my dd getting too many elephant-themed gifts.I If it was to be a huge gathering, I would probably do something less animal specific. As far as food goes, well, new, more accomodating me is willing to see what my co-hosts come up with. But Annie, your menu does sound delicious!