The Rocco Report: 32 Weeks

We are coming down to the finish line, squeezers! And I am one anxious and supremely excited momma waiting in the wings! 32 weeks and we are down to the single digit countdown. It's all full speed ahead from here! 

We've been in New York now for the past two weeks (hence my post lateness) and I'm actually writing this week's post from the plane while Maya sleeps on top of me (two Disney movies in and she's down for the count). We've had an amazing time celebrating Gina and Guapo's wedding, Rocco's sprinkle, and even squeezed in Coco's 20 year reunion amongst all the sightseeing, family and friend visits, and the restaurant hopping we did. Because really, we did A LOT of eating on this trip. We checked off a ton of restaurants on our list and even managed to have date night at one of our favorite West Village spots- Buvette (http://www.ilovebuvette.com) (thank you tia Boni for babysitting)! The Buccios were everywhere- from Long Island to Brooklyn to Fire Island- we did a mini tour of NY! 

But I gotta tell you, I'm so ready to head back to Miami and get settled and sleep in our own bed and in our own place. We are so thankful for everyone's generous hospitality, and for those who gave us free room and board wherever we went, but six places in two weeks with 6 bags of luggage, is pretty exhausting! And as you can imagine, I'm ready to nest! 

I'm so happy to share with you a little recap of Rocco's NY sprinkle that my sister-in-law, Gina (also Rocco's godmother)  and my closest friends and family organized! And a big thank you to my friend and fellow hot momma (and cousin by marriage), Michele Vespi, for documenting the perfect luncheon. Because of her, I'm able to give you a sneak peek of such a special day! 

Table overview!

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and I love how the hints of blue in the flowers tie-in to the 'ready to pop' sign! 

Rocco's sprinkle was held at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, Long Island (http://northhillscc.com). The country club has special meaning because it's where Coco and his sisters grew up. His grandparents were one of the first members to join, so Coco's mom and aunt also grew up coming to the club. Coco was part of the swim team, he would play tennis, and many of his childhood friends were also from the club. So it meant a lot to him and his grandmother that we were able to do something nice for baby Rocco at a venue that has so much family history! 

I'm not big on surprises so I knew when and where we were having the sprinkle. However, I did give free range on decorations. My sister-in-law, Gina, took the lead in organizing the shower, which was extremely kind of her, considering she had her own wedding the week after. My BFF Javy, my other sister-in-laws, Coco's grandma, and some of my closest friends (Momo, Karla, Jenna, and Bonita) helped put together the cutest mustache-themed decor for the festivities! And the decor was all a big surprise to me, so seeing it for the first time really took my breath away! It was gorgeous and very much my style! 

I was literally that excited and happy to see all the details of the sprinkle for the first time. 

All the 'ready to pop' signage, and the Instagram cut outs, were courtesy of my friend Momo! She's based out of LA and couldn't be at the shower but her presence was surely seen and felt with her creative designs! (Shop her Etsy store here (https://www.etsy.com/shop/SincerelyMomo?ref=hdr_shop_menu) I love the whole concept and the personal details that were spread through out! 

Love these personalized Instagram photos made by one of my BFFs, Momo. Such a unique touch! 

Baby breaths and mason jars for any occasion.

I loved the aqua mason jars topped off with baby breaths and detailed with the mustache ribbon! It was such an adorable touch! I also had baby breaths at my Miami shower but I love how they offer a different feel and style at this sprinkle. We combined them with an assortment of hydrangeas throughout the main table and it was absolutely lovely! Hydrangeas command such presence. They are such exquisite flowers- for some reason hey remind of my lazy afternoons, fresh starts, and happy summer celebrations. They went perfectly with the sprinkle's theme! 

I present- the sweets table! Stocked with dessert and bubbles! 

Don't you just love those mustache toppers?! 

The Cookie Monster! 

No shower is complete without a sweets table and mine was definitely a hit with partygoers! I love sweets and I love bubbles and I got to have both at the sprinkle. I have must have had three of those sugar cookies (courtesy of Melanie's Sweets in Long Island) because they were to die for! I loved the light blue icing and fondant mustache detailing on them. It was so perfect! Even Maya got in on the cookie fun. We also had chocolate cupcakes with the mustache toppers (beware of blue icing that stains), and as favors, each guest got to take home a mini bottle of Freixenet for their personal enjoyment! I took home four- which 'll be taking with me to the hospital for celebratory purposes! 

Did I mention how much fun and how beautiful everything was?! We feasted on pasta, prosciutto and mozzarella paninis, salad, and veal Milanese and washed everything down with the most delicious champagne punch (of course I had to try one)! My sister-in-law and my 'sprinkle party planning committee' as I like to call them, did such a great job putting together a lovely affair for a very popular baby boy! Words can't even begin to express how thankful and how overwhelmed with love and affection I am that Rocco is already so loved and wanted by an adoring fan club. 

Blessed is the understatement of the century. I cannot wait to meet him in just seven weeks (seriously, cue the waterworks)! 

Rocco's godparents- Tia Gigi and Nino. 

One half of my party planning committee!

Bumping Love, 

Rocco's Mom 

The Rocco Report- 27 Weeks- Rocco's Miami Baby Shower

Hola Squeezers! Como están?! I'm 27 weeks and at the six month mark. It sounds cliche, but the time has flown! I just got back from a few days in New York celebrating my sister in law's bridal shower. It's always a treat to be in the city I call home and get to be with family and friends. Though short, I'm happy to be reunited with Maya and Coco. Maybe it's the extra surge of hormones that have taken over my pregnant vessel, but I'm highly emotional and missed them terribly. 

I'm excited for this week's post because I get to share with you some behind the scenes of Rocco's Miami Baby Shower from last weekend. Ricky Iglesias from Simply Captivating (www.simplycaptivating.com) captured all the joy, the love, and the bohemian feel of this magical occasion held at Love is Blind in Coral Gables. I can't even begin to put into words the gratitude, the big bang of love and appreciation, I have for my family and friends. I may sound like a Hallmark card when I say this, but I'm graciously reminded everyday how blessed and fortunate I am to be surrounded by an incredible support system that has done nothing but be there for me through every milestone, every heartache, and every accomplishment, that I've experienced in life. I can honestly say without contention, that I have the best group of girlfriends that ever walked this earth. 

If I could live in flower crowns all day, it would be in this one made especially for me by the folks at Sprout Miami. 

Boho babe in Pea in Pod Maternity. 

It all started with a theme, an idea that had been lingering in my cranial mood board. I knew I wanted something that reflected my style and my personality. I knew I wanted flower crowns. I knew I wanted everyone to wear shades of white or ivory and I knew that I wanted an assortment of field flowers to decorate the tables. I wanted to be a boho babe and I wanted the ambiance to be casual and free-spirited. I wanted it to be an intimate gathering of all the special women and mothers in my life and with the help of my party planning committee made up of my closest girlfriends and aunts, my vision for Rocco's boho luxe baby shower came to life. Walking into the shower and seeing everything as I had dreamt it, left me speechless- in a good way. 

Burlap wrapped letters made by my friend, Krizia. 

DIY Flower Crown Stations.

 One of the things I really wanted at the shower, was a DIY Flower crown station. I wanted the guests to have a little fun and step out of their comfort zone and make their own flower crowns using pre-made flower bunches Krizia, my aunt, and I had put together the day before. We tied baby breaths, poms, baby carnations, and some fillers using tape, to make things easier for the guests. We laid out wired rope stems as the 'crowns' to tie the bunches to, and then looped the ends to add the ribbons, which would then tie at the back of the neck. A few simple steps and voila! You have yourself a flower crown (thanks You Tube)! It was so great seeing everyone channel their inner gypsy girl and getting into the hippie spirit. The flower crown station became a little spot for conversation, for laughs, and an unofficial meet and greet hub for guests who had never met each other.  It was definitely a conversation starter- call it a 'team building' or in this case, a 'baby building' exercise! 

Invitations by Minted. Burlap Bow by my Tia Barbie. 

Cookies and Cream cake by Bake Bar. I'm still dreaming about this cake. 

The restaurant's chic entry room with its mosaic tiles, communal seating, and vintage accents, was the perfect back drop for Rocco's ethereal baby bash. It's exactly what we were looking for when we started scouting locations. Special accents like the mason jars with lace trims, the burlap and rope detailing, complimented the eclectic boho vibe of the party. 

I requested for the shower to be kid-free because I wanted everyone to enjoy an afternoon of relaxed conversation and lady dining (which included lots of mimosas and wine) without having to stress about keeping kids entertained. It was all about the women! 

Daddy to be, made a cameo with Maya at the shower, to say his hellos and see the final product. 

Blessed to call all these wonderful women my friends. 

Friends that are family. These girls are so special to me and have been with me since high school. Whenever I need them, I can always count on them. They are part of my party planning committee. 

Friendships by way of Manhattan. 

We jokingly call ourselves 'The Real Housewives of St. Pats.' Though we have only been friends a short while, they have become a big part of my life. This shower wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for them. 

Memories to last a lifetime. 

She's been my best friend since I was 16. She's my Maid of Honor, my honorary sister,  my chuch. I am blessed to have her. 

My aunt Barbie always outdoes herself. She has a heart of gold, she is talented beyond words, and will do everything to make me happy. All those flower arrangements and favors are her doing. I am so lucky to have her. 'Abuela Betty' as Maya calls her, is my dad's wife. She adores Maya and the feeling is mutual. Not pictured: My tia Liza. She lives in Canada and was unable to come to the shower. But she was there in spirit and helped put together this beautiful day for me. The only thing missing was her. 

I spy some natural born hippies! So impressed with everyone's flower crowns. 

Flower crown amazingness. My cousin, Beba. 

Not only was the conversation and chatter flowing, but so were the food and drinks. There was never an empty glass of wine or mimosa on hand. The food was delicious and everyone was raving about the Serrano ham croquettes, a Love is Blind must-have. Crispy spring rolls, a strawberry summer salad, creamy gnocchi, and caramelized mushroom pizza, were served family style for everyone's foodie pleasure. 

I have never been in a room filled with so much love and joy. It is something that is so positively overwhelming, I cannot even begin to describe it. To  know that Rocco is already loved to such an explosive and grand capacity, fills my heart with happiness and gratitude. There are a gazillion 'thank yous' that keep floating in my head. There are not enough thank you cards in this world to show my appreciation to everyone who came out to celebrate with me! The anticipation of new life coming into this world is one of those beautiful moments that bring people together. I am so blessed to be so loved and to be able to share this journey with some one-of-a-kind ladies. 

Our tiniest guest, Charlie Castro.

A special thank you to - Krizia, Vivi, Tia Barbie, Tia Liza, Sole, Rebeca, Chris, Vittoria, Adriana F, Jessie, and Jenise for making my coronita shower a dream come true. I love you. 

Peace and love from all these gorgeous gypsy girls! Rocco, you are very much loved. 

Photos by: Ricky Iglesias of Simply Captivating.

www.simplycaptivating.com

Location: Love is Blind 

http://www.loveisblindrestaurant.com/main.php

225 Altara Avenue

Coral Gables, FL 33146

In Style, 

Rocco's Mom