One of the happiest memories from our trip to California last week, of which there were many before the final day, was celebrating my older sister Rachel and her baby-to-be. Our mother lovingly planned the shower with my cousin-more-like-a-brother’s wife, Judy, and my father’s girlfriend Stephanie as co-hosts. We’ve been referring to Rachel’s baby as “Bean” since she was just in the early weeks of the first trimester, and it fits with the green and pink theme that my mother used for the shower. My sister isn’t into too much cutesy stuff (no cartoon characters or frilly pink), and the understated but sweet theme worked perfectly for her day. It was so amazing to see so many women celebrate my sister. She is a pretty incredible woman herself. ❤

My mom has a creative nature and came up with one of the sweetest ideas for a baby shower craft project for the guests to participate in. She provided supplies for the guests all to make Rachel and the Bean “wish wands,” (as I’ve been calling them), Here is what it’s all about:

The guests were asked to write messages of support, love, encouragement, or wishes and intentions for Rachel and the baby on the handmade pink paper (which I helped cut into strips). They would then wrap the paper around a wooden stick, and wrap a long strip of raw pink silk around on top of the paper. The silk was from our maternal grandmother, Shirley, adding to the sentiment of the craft. We cut long strips of pink ribbon and my mother got little silver baby themed charms from the party store, that could be tied with the ribbon to hold it all together. The purpose of these wish wands will be to give them to Rachel to either open all at once, or when she could use a pick-me-up, support and encouraging words over the course of the baby’s first year. It is really a very tender and supportive sentiment. Good job mom 😉

I can only imagine that a bucket’o support will come in handy on those late nights and early mornings with the baby bean!

Supplies you’ll need to make Wish Wands for the mama you love:

• Sticks (we used barbecue skewers)
• Paper for the messages (We used handmade paper with pretty details in it. Cut into long narrow strips)
• Fabric for wrapping the outer layer
• Ribbon to hold it all together
• Baby themed charms for decoration

For displaying the Wish Wands I suggest a small flower pot with florist foam or another hard foam to stick the sharper end of the sticks in to arrange them in the pot. Be sure to keep them out of reach of the new baby!