Guest Fits: A Running Themed Baby Shower!

Guest Post from Meggan (friend of Cool J in Minneapolis)

A few weekends ago, I was in Kalamazoo to visit my parents. Unfortunately, that meant I had to miss a friend's baby shower that was held that same weekend. I was sad to have missed the event, but fortunately, one of the hosts offered to do a guest post about the shower, so you (and I) can read about all the fun! 

Now, why would I want a guest post about a baby shower on a Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion blog? Because this special shower had a running theme! You might have a running friend who is pregnant, and you may be searching for a creative way to throw this fit momma-to-be a suitably themed shower.  Here you go!

I'll let Meggan explain:

"Since most of us met through running club or through running club friends, we immediately were drawn to a running theme for the shower. We couldn't find many runner themed baby showers out there- {hence this post- now all you runners can learn from these creative girls!} so we brainstormed, and built off of the few that did we find online. THIS LINK is to one of the most helpful examples that we used as a guide.

For this shower, we chose pink and green for the color theme. Pink was for the twin girls {yes, twin girls!}  and green is Amber's (the guest of honor) favorite color.

Organize your baby shower just like a race!

We came up with the idea to have "stations" at the shower {so cute!}

• There was a "Finish Area" with the food {just like at a race!}

• A "Water Stop" for beverages and a couple of sippy cups for kids

• A "GU Stop" for desserts {Got to get those sugars in during a long run- or a baby shower!}

• "Runner's Expo" for gifts

• "Family Meet-Up" for photos

...and of course, a "Porta Potty Stop" with diapers! {unfortunately, no pic of that one}

We liked the idea of race "bibs" but were too close to the shower date to order an official batch. Instead, we made our own using good old MS Word and Kinko's for printing. We made up the little signs for the stations and printed those at Kinko's too.

We ordered pennant flags just like those you see at races to decorate around the windows and front door. 

Amber (the guest of honor) is not a shower  game gal, nor are the hosts, so we did a couple little things in lieu of games and shower favors. 

We had people decorate a "race bib"!

We also had everyone self-address envelopes for thank you notes (saves lots of time for the guest of honor!). In one of the envelopes, we stuck a piece of pink ribbon, and whoever received the pink ribbon got a door prize of champagne. 

There was a tasty menu full of some runner's favorites:

Menu:

Chicken Curry sandwiches

Caprese sandwiches

Quinoa Salad

Fruit Salad

Cake Pops

Hummus/ Pita chips

Chocolates and cookies

Erin of Denim & Ink picked out some very fashionable clothes for the babies.

How cute is that whale sweater!

And of course, a nautical theme!

I think the girls were super creative in planning a shower that showcases part of the basis of their friendship, as well as something that is important to the mother-to-be. Great job ladies!