Danielle's Baby Shower

 I forgot to take pictures before the shower, but I did snap a few with my phone as I was cleaning up.

 Danielle is expecting her first girl and I couldn't be more excited for her.  She was really liking purple and gray and little monkeys, so I tried to stay with that motif for decorations.

I made some garland out of pink, purple and gray scrapbook paper.  Lucy helped me make big tissue paper flowers.

I wanted to do a money tree, so I just spray painted some branches from the yard and put them in a Mason jar.  To clip the money to the branches, I decoupaged scrapbook paper to wooden clothes pins.  It turned out okay, but I wish I had more time to think that whole thing through better.

I made chocolate cupcakes and chocolate buttercream frosting and lemon meringue cupcakes.  I looked a few recipes online for the lemon meringue cupcakes, but most used an Italian meringue frosting, of which I'm not a fan.  So, I just used the meringue recipe I use for pie.

Lemon Meringue Cupcake Recipe

White cake mix

Lemon pie filling or lemon curd

Meringue-- 2 egg whites + 1/4 cup sugar

Make cupcakes according to box instructions, but slightly under baking them.  Cool and cut the core out of the center of each cake.  Fill the hole with lemon filling.  Make the meringue by beating the egg whites until soft peaks start to form.  Slowly add the sugar, while mixing on high until firm peaks form.  Top cupcakes with the meringue and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until the meringue starts to brown.