A few months ago, my mom and sister asked how I wanted to celebrate life before Baby Haspel is born. In the jewish religion, you don’t typically have a baby shower, but I really wanted a chance to have all of my favorite women together in one room to catch up, eat, learn labor tips and bless me and my baby!
So, my mom and sister put together a “mama-to-be tea” party for me. They hosted it in the events space in my building on a crisp Sunday and it was so, so special.
Here are some photos to recap the memorable day:
I really wanted to wear a magenta or hot pink dress, but I couldn’t find one that fit my belly.
So, I ended up stumbling upon this tight black dress with fur sleeves and it turned out to be perfect! Super comfy, funky and not too, too fancy.
I decided to make the hot pink my nail color – but I chose a neon orange/pink by mistake. Looked different in the manicurist salon. Happy that it added a pop of color, but whoa – woops! All throughout pregnancy I’ve been using this brand of nail polish, which is apparently free of 10 toxins.
Of course, I wore my I Love Me ring, which brought me, my baby and all of my friends lots of love and good energy.
The day was so bright and clear and the view was stunning overlooking the Empire State Building and Madison Square Park.
My mom schlepped all of my Grandmother’s china from Florida and New York for the special day!
And Lov Organic sent over the prettiest and most gorgeous and delicious teas that my mom decorated on a cake stand with rose petals scattered around. How beautiful?
All of the guests enjoyed the tea – there was hardly any left at the end!
(My husband loves Lov Organic’s “Love is Pure” Green Tea and I’m in love with their “Love is Zen” tea and Almond Rooibos (both caffeine-free). And P.S Lov Organic and their sister brand, Kusmi just opened up a new beautiful tea shop downtown. )
The food, of course, was Be Well with Arielle approved! My mom set up a pretty yogurt parfait bar with organic grass-fed yogurt, grain-free granola, unsweetened coconut and organic berries.
And she also got gluten-free tea sandwiches catered by Le Pain Quotidien.
Some fresh crudite
And some sweet treats from Orwashers that she paired with Tate’s Gluten-Free Cookies
They also served blood orange mimosas with fresh segments of blood orange, and prosecco.
My mom set up the room just like a ladies-who-lunch tea. How pretty?!
The pink little sachets included a heart candle for each guest to take home.
When they find out that I’m in labor, they’ll light it up! Such a sweet idea, right? Not exactly sure how I’m going to notify everyone when I’m in labor but it’s a nice idea!
The silver sugar and creamer is also from my Grandmother’s collection, too.
It was so great seeing my girlfriends and having (almost) all of them in one room!
And I just love how all of my friends mesh. Below is my friend, Leigh from nursery school, Beth, my friend from the wellness world, Chessie, my husbands good friend’s wife and now my friend, too! And my friend, Cory from high school. All from different times in my life and all getting along so well!
Love when my best friend, Joanna talks to Baby Haspel.
We’ve been BFF since Kindergarten and she just had twins!
My friends from college made an appearance, too and it was so, so nice to see them!
Loved seeing my good friend Roni from middle school and her wife, Audrey – the owners of my fave clothing line, Generation Love.
It was such a special afternoon filled with so much love, support and feminine energy. Truly the perfect way to send me off into motherhood.
Since it wasn’t technically a baby shower and we wanted it to be a little more soulful and sweet, we didn’t do any of the typical shower activities. Instead, the activity was to make a “birth blessing necklace.” I got the idea when reading the book, Mindful Birthing. Every woman went around, said how they knew me and something sweet about me.
And then they added a bead to a necklace, which I’m going to bring with me to the hospital for labor. It was a really sweet activity (at least for me!) and (hopefully) it was special for the women to participate in something related to my labor, too!
Here’s a pict of me and my mama
My hubby, mother-in-law and me!
My cute mom and mother-in-law
My mother-in-law and me!
And me and the hosts, my sister, and my mama
And this cup my mother-in-law brought in from Long Island from her mother’s china collection – so special!
Thank you mom and Sarina for putting on such a memorable event!
Cheers to all of the supportive women in my life and continuing to be well with baby! (Hopefully) a few more weeks left of pregnancy!
be loving. be feminine. be you.
xo
be well,
arielle
Thank you Madeline Wolf Photography for capturing the afternoon so beautifully!
