Planning the perfect baby shower

Baby shower for a first time mum is a must!

Planning a baby shower may seem a little overwhelming especially if you are doing it on your own, but it doesn't have to.

Just relax and enjoy yourself.

Here is a little checklist that helped me create a wonderful day.

Decide who will be invited - Will it be just immediate family, or will it be couples, everyone or just women.

Pick a venue - Once you have decided who will be invited it will give you a rough idea on how many people will be coming, then you can pick a venue accordingly.

Restaurant, park, hired out hall or even at home.

Decide on a theme - whether it may be a spots theme, stripes theme or even a Cherry theme, pick one!

Pick a date - I had my baby shower when i was 34 weeks pregnant, but there is no right or wrong on when you decide to have it. Just don't make yourself uncomfortable!

Also picking a date is going to depend on your closest friends and families availabilities.

Invites - My rule was to send my invites out at least 3 - 4 weeks prior to the date so everyone had enough time to rsvp.

 Food - Make sure on your invites you leave a space for anyone to write if they have any type of allergic reactions to any type of food e.g gluten free.

Plan your menu i did my baby shower on a sunday after noon so it was like a late lunch, very simple just nibbles, fruits & lollies, also it makes it easy if you match the food to the theme.

Favours - before you go shopping decided on what your favours are going to be, this is one of the hardest parts. I did little jars labelled with guests names, filled with chocolate, homemade tea bags, a hand poured candle & and a handmade origami crane.

Shopping -  The fun part, although do go to the shops with a plan of what you are going to buy and stick to it!

I made all my baby shower decorations from the pom poms, to the lollies in mason jars tied in hessian and raffia. It made it more fun to organise. 

 Prepare games - don't stress these games can be whatever you want.

e.g - my water broke who can get the gummie bear out of the ice cube the quickest and yells "my water broke" wins.

Another good one is to get people to try different baby food and guess what thy are.

Don't forget about little prizes too - soaps or bath bombs.

organise how you want your cake to look

own image

Make a baby shower play list - very important

On the day make sure you take a camera with you!

TIP: if people ask you what you are in need of do not be afraid to ask for whatever it might be!

But most of all enjoy YOURSELF, before bub comes along. 

Andrea June 

all other images

What a year!

Feeling very refreshed and greatly inspired.

The past year has consisted of travelling  to some truly beautiful countries, falling pregnant and have the most amazing little Girl.

The past has been Jam-packed with excitement, but now it's time to get back into the swing of things.

I Am Back!

Andrea June 

From one great inspiration stems another

Inspiration

It's a pinch of creativity

It's motivation

It's a feeling

It's a lifestyle 

image

Andrea June

Inspiration over a coffee

Andrea xx

Trends

What is in?
Who is doing it?
What is the definition of a trend?

I thought I would like to share something.
I have been seeing slot of beige and ivory coloured clothing on racks lately.
Which is mean't to be the it colour for the moment-call me unfashionable but I wear colours that flatter my shape.
Same goes for decor and furniture, what colours are in?,what pieces are in?
My answer -whatever you like!
If you like deep blues and purples on your wall go for it, if you like coral and emerald coloured cushions go for it.
Trends are like a circle, things seem like they in and out of fashion but they are actually always there. You only realise them when it becomes a 'trend' again.
Here at Romantiques we are all about personalising. It's about what you like. What breathes your personality and what compliments your home.
No two women at the same table are alike are they? They have individual style, this creates a interesting creative world.
Bespoke,individual and unique sums up a home styled by personality and character.
Last night over a glass of white wine, I found myself engaged in a conversation with woman by the the name of Lauren. Lauren became entangled and infused at what we do here at the studio. Lauren was telling me about her newly furnished apartment. "we have very French style furniture, and for our upholstery on our chairs in the lounge room they are done in blue and
cream shades", Lauren also told me how she likes to travel and never fails to acquire a new treasure for her apartment based on sydney's northern beaches. Lauren said she feels like the treasures add a different feel to her home, she likes the feel to be different. Lauren asked me what I would think if I walked through the front door of an apartment and saw a tribal mask bought from Africa paired with a Louis commode finished in a linseed grey with an antique rub, and cushions that she purchased from italy in pewter and soft green paired with the French blue and cream upholstery. My reply, you guessed it "i would love it" I said. A few reasons why I love this look- firstly because the home becomes a open photo album, a living memory. Also because you create a bespoke style of your own. Lastly why I love this look is because it is nationless. We can categorise parts of this room, but by looking at it as a whole you can't- everything goes. Neutral painted walls to sharpen the contrast of all the tones like
the French blues and creams with accents of pewter and soft green, a Louis style commode paired with a hanging piece of tribal art. But from where is all this?, you'll never know , in this setting everything just goes together,even though it's different. Opposed to putting the tribal mask next to a deep chocolate coloured tall boy and a free standing statue of a giraffe with a zebra mink rug beneath.
Where do you get all this inspiration for a nationless look? Your imagination! It could be with any thing your Favourite styles meshed into one or just having one style but not feeling like one. But whatever it may be don't forget your individuality is the best investment.


Andrea xx

The price of quality

An interesting thing to take into consideration...the relationship between price and quality. It's an issue that a lot of businesses have had to face in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, and an issue that's basically been around since currencies were invented. Here at the studio, we've got a point to prove. But before we get into that, it's necessary to look at the general concensus.

Most consumers perceive that a relatively high price is a sign of good quality. Sometimes this is true, but sometimes it isn't. And it has a lot to do with expectations. Take this for example...one doesn't walk into Louis Vuitton on Park Avenue expecting to spend ten dollars. But then, change the setting to one of a small business, and the same person expects to recieve their product for what we call 'peanuts'. Expectations, you see? But consider this...what if the small business actually provides an exceptional service, something you wouldn't dream of receiving anywhere else, what if the product you're left with is one entirely on par with what you would receive at a 'name brand' store, and still, the customer is dubious. A paradox.

When discussing the issue, I came across the idea that pricing in general is a black art that is based more on what people are prepared to pay than on the actual cost of what is being sold. If you took this idea and used it, you'd be getting whatever you purchased for cheap...but then everybody would be in ruins. The system, no matter how much some resent it, just doesn't work like that. Whatever happened to the negotiation of a reasonable price based on labour, materials and a profit geared towards the betterment of the whole enterprise? And then, what about the product you'll receive in the end...the product you'd hoped and expected? You'd get it, that's what. And you'd be satisfied.


People seem to forget that cheap lasts forever. It will always be on your mind. What we're all about promoting here at Romantiques is the idea that your piece should work for you, not against you. What are you looking for, in the end? Quality. The question is, are you willing to receive it?

To conform or not to conform

I happened to be perusing the Sunday Telegraph recently, and I came across a segment in the lifestyle section on the cliche's of interior styling. While it addressed some good points, it also brought up the idea of 'trend' colours. The writer wasn't exactly sympathetic to those of us who like to keep up with colour trends.

It got me thinking. While I'm all for choosing colours according to personal taste, and going by one's own example, not conforming to other's ideas of what will look good...all that jazz...doesn't this idea put a lot of people out of business? Just think of all those wonderful magazines we love to pore over on a lazy afternoon, all the contributors, the research that goes into them, and not to mention the sense of inspiration we receive from viewing all the new products- whether they be items of furniture, lighting, or colours- on the market.

But when considering these ideas...another one occured to me. Why do we look to magazines and 'trends' in the first place? To refine our own sense of style, that's what. It all comes back to the element of inspiration, after all, and where we find it. It could be from a magazine, or it could be (when considering colours specifically) from a historical period, a treasured object, the sunrise...you name it. The beauty of inspiration is that it is completely personal. And if you're intent on gearing your inspiration towards a goal...an interior design project, a piece of art, or buying that perfect piece of furniture, then your goal will envariably turn out to be personal and unique, too.

Coming back to those colour trends...I've come to a conclusion. If trend is what you fancy, then by all means go for it. That's your, personal, inspiration. If you prefer to dance to the beat of your own drum, that's just as valid. When it comes to personal inspiration, anything goes.

Something to Inspire

I absolutely adore these pictures so i had to put them up, i don't know about you but they inspire me.. These pictures are of the Beaux Arts mansion Ralph Lauren built on the upper east side of Manhattan.The grand Beaux-Arts store is designed after architecture of the early 20th Century. The Beaux Arts styled limestone building was a collaboration between Weddle Gilmore and architect Thomas Hut of HS2 Architecture. This mansion is said to be a elegant tribute to French style from vintage jewellery to chinoiserie wallpaper. I love every inch of this and how it's been decorated from the marble floors to the amazing crystal chandeliers. From crisp classic to chic and sleek.  What more can i say take a look for yourself..

 

 

 

images and information from http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2011/02/ralph_lauren_grand_gesture_slideshow#slide=9
information from http://ralphlaurendiscountclothing.com/archives/laurens-new-beaux-arts-store-888-madison-72-street