the baby bloomer
Can I just say that every time I sit down to write a post, it hits me all over again that I’ve created a place just for me to share all my joys, fears and everything in between? Like I really love it here so much. The fact that it gets as much traction as it does is definitely tea but this is really MY SHIT and that will always gag me, honey. This is success to me, and I’m so grateful to be in this stage of my journey.. there’s so much beauty in the beginning. Alhumdulilah, always
Now that we got that little confessional out the way, my sister finally gave me permission to share this post I had initially started back in December of 2024. Something some of you may or may not know about me is that I am really big on family.
This time last year, I was tasked with putting together a baby shower, from 1,500 miles away, for my sister (who’s closest in age to me and my first best friend) who was having her first child. A beautiful baby boy. To say I’ve dreamed of this day is an understatement. I was over the moon and then to top it all off, she appointed me HBIC?
You know you f*cked up because no one woman should have all that power.
I was fortunate enough to join forces with her best friends whom I’ve known for decades to help plan but I’m one of those “if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself” kind of people so I immediately got to delegating. Someone on baby games, someone on registry and a PA for mama bear— it was time to go to work.
Apparently finding people to do a service for you, with only Instagram and no direct contact information, is a nuisance worldwide. And here I was thinking only Seattle struggled with understanding what “DM to book” actually means.
I reached out to dozens of caterers, photo booths and decor companies but for two months I was unable to secure anything. I finally decided to reach out to my people in Minneapolis (which I should’ve just done to begin with, but being hyper-independent has its cons) in hopes of locking something down because I had about a month left at this point.
But you know how they say everything happens for a reason? I f*cked around and found out because the people who I did end up securing showed up in such a bigger way than I could’ve ever imagined. Our photobooth by Pose MN | @posemn_photobooth was the first service booked and baby.. I don’t think anyone is seeing her team in punctuality, professionalism or client care. Sorry, not sorry. The way she ate? Quick response times, immediate returns on investment, and just solid all the way through. That kind of class is caught not taught. 10/10, no notes. Just look at the material —
Next in line to be secured was decor. I went with Elegant Designs MN | @elegantdesignsmn and again, same situation. I waited less than a day to hear back, got on a consultation call and sent my deposit all within the span of about 10 days. Asma, the owner, was so insanely lovely.. words just don’t suffice. She came early, got straight to it and didn’t stop working her magic until the clock struck 12. I remember there being a miscommunication that was realized mid-event and she jumped on it instantly, fixed the issue and continued checking in throughout the night. Again, caught not taught.
My final booking and simultaneously the most difficult to secure, was catering. She was a tough cookie to crack at first but ended up, again, being so much more than I could’ve asked for. After meeting and getting to know her a bit more during set up, I realized she is mostly a one-woman show. Yet the food was impeccable and the drinks finished almost instantly. Anyone capable of feeding that many hungry africans got my respect because there were hardly any leftovers and it was A LOT of food. I’d also like to note that not only does she make the food, she beautifies it as well which is exactly what I’d imagined. I’m so glad it ended up working out with A & H Catering | @comeoverimcooking because she came through so clutch, like Kobe in the 4th.
I think my favorite part of all the services I booked was the fact that they were all Somali women-owned and operated, mostly running the business solo if not in a small team. It was such a beautiful thing to witness.
All prices + invoices of everything are shown below:
Pose MN Photobooth — $900 $650 (before tax)
Having friends in different cities (thank you Nawal<3) is a cheat code because the family & friends discount was everything.
We chose the Instant Print package
Elegant Designs MN — $1,300
Our package included two backdrops, balloons with florals, table decor, a custom welcome sign, a candy cart, a cake stand and more that I can’t remember. I assume most will see that number and think it’s high but for the amount of work she did mostly alone, I think she could’ve charged more, imo.
A & H Catering — $1,100
This included but was not limited to spinach dip, chicken shawarma wrap, chicken sliders, mini cheeseburgers and mocktails.
Overall, we spent somewhere between 3-3.5k on the entire baby shower which to me, in this economy, is pretty decent. But maybe I’m not the best person to ask because when it comes to convenience, I slam my card on the table.
I had, no scratch that, WE had the time of our lives. Getting to celebrate like that with your sisters, cousins, friends and family from all sides was the sweetest thing I’ve ever known. It’s so rare we all get together like that so it felt like one big family reunion. There was maybe two minutes before my head hit the pillow at the end of that night where I got emotional because like I’d mentioned earlier, this was something I’d dreamt of doing for my sister since we were kids and to see it come to life was something otherworldly.
My sister and I are about four years apart. She was my first best friend up until we both got our own friends, but always remained a source of comfort and belonging for one another. We are different in so many ways but you wouldn’t be able to tell when we’re in the same room. When we’re together she’s just my silly sister who I’d play dress up with and watch do her makeup for hours on end listening to Carrie Underwood’s x Before He Cheats (bc who hurt her, right?).
Sure we’ve had our moments but there is genuinely nobody I trust more in this world. No tea, no shade? She was the original hot girl (i’ll never admit this to her though) and now she’s a hot mom to literally the coolest kid on earth. I feel so fortunate to be related to someone who is regarded so highly by everyone she comes across. I don’t know anyone who does, but if anyone has anything bad to say about her, it often says more about them than it does about her because she is so easy to love. Also can you fight? Cuz I can. Jk.. (not really).
Once she reads this, I know I’ll never live it down but it’s all good. I stand ten toes behind everything I said and will always stand ten toes behind her (if you know you know) and now my nephew and in-laws as well.
Still, it wouldn’t be me without a good ole walk down memory lane with some baby pics ❤️
Aunty has gotten to have a lot of one-on-one time with the baby prince since my sister has been in town, and I fall more in love with him every day. The cherry on-top is that everyone thinks he looks like me as a baby and look at me, i’m ADORABLE!
On a more serious and loving note, it really is such a blessing that we often take for granted to be able to see our siblings grow into being wives/husbands, then parents to tiny perfect humans and eventually entirely new people that remain the same at their core. Being an aunt is healing and an unparalleled experience that I can’t use enough words to describe but will always remember to remain in gratitude for.
Ciao for now ~
with luv,
always, in all ways.
