Little Birdie Baby Shower

Help the mom-to-be feather her nest with a hip and chic "Little Birdie" soiree. From colorful birdhouses to a favor your guests will love, this cheery brunch shower will get the mom-to-be super excited to meet her little chick.

Send out invitations that feature a modern bird motif. We love this one for either a boy or a girl. To up the wow factor, slip a few decorative feathers inside the envelope before sealing.

Colorful Birdhouses

Colorful wire birdhouses from craft supply stores make a stunning table centerpiece. Stagger the heights by propping some of them up on wooden blocks or books placed underneath your tablecloth. Add chunky candles or other decorative elements to the inside and dress up the area all around the base of the cage with feathers or bunches of curly willow.

Lead each guest to her seat with these sweet little nests, which you can fill with egg-shape candies like Jordan almonds or jelly beans. Make it even more personal by adding guests' names to the band of paper and wrapping it around the nest. At the mom-to-be's spot, slip a copy of the baby bird-themed children's classic Are You My Mother? under her plate.

Create light-as-air floral arrangements by weaving colorful ostrich plumes into a bouquet of flowers or by just displaying a few on their own in sleek white vases. Use smaller feathers to embellish napkins too; fold linens into rectangles then embellish with a band of ribbon and a single feather.

Serve an elegant but simple brunch of bagels, pastries, and quiches, all of which you can purchase beforehand. Pick a few items you want to serve hot (bacon, sausage, hash browns, etc.) and heat just before guests sit down. Make sure there's plenty of coffee!

For dessert, turn ordinary cupcakes into something special by frosting with white frosting, sprinkling on toasted shredded coconut, and topping with three malted milk "eggs."

We love this gift idea: Give the mama-to-be a modern birdhouse at the shower as a thoughtful token for her to remember the celebration by -- and also something to gaze at with her child in the years to come. Hang it over the dessert table and it can double as party decor.

Send your guests home with a wearable little birdie of their own. String these mod charms on a length of thin ribbon -- then create an arrangement of branches in a vase, and hang the necklaces in the branches for guests to take on their way out. We love it -- favors and decor in one.

Jennifer Sbranti is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of HostessWithTheMostess.com, and author of the HWTM Daily Blog.Copyright © 2008 Meredith Corporation.

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