A Baby Shower for Shqipe

October 8, 2019

My personal executive assistant, Shqipa Lulanaj, and her husband, Zennel, are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child - a boy - due at the end of this month!

Last week, I hosted a special baby shower at The Bedford Post, a charming “Relais & Chateaux” property set in the heart of Bedford, New York, not far from my farm. The 1860s premises was originally restored by actor Richard Gere. It is home to an eight-room luxury inn, a yoga studio, and two restaurants serving sustainable locally grown farm-to-table fare. The event room was decorated in an autumn theme with lots of baby blue. The table flowers were picked from my garden - gorgeous dahlias in a variety of fall colors. Many of our decorations were made using my Cricut® Explore Air™ 2 Special Edition from Michaels. Our cookies came from Sweet Dani B - all displayed atop blue Mosser glass cake plates from One Kings Lane. And the wine was provided by Martha Stewart Wine Co. There were 23-guests in attendance including Shqipe’s sister, Joannie, her mother-in-law Nadziba, and her dear friends, Greta and Valentina.

It was a most memorable evening for all - enjoy these photos.

: We reserved a private room in The Bedford Post Farmhouse. A long table was set up for all our guests.

: All our decorations were delivered earlier in the day – lots of flowers, and wine personally selected by me from our own Martha Stewart Wine Co. https://marthastewartwine.com/

: Mini pumpkin gourds were glittered using my Martha Stewart Metallic Glitter from Michaels. https://bit.ly/2VrY1Hg

: My special events director, Heather Kirkland, and my executive manager, Dorian Arrich, decorated the room and table.

: All the dahlias were placed in clear glasses – some in small bunches of varying colors and forms. I have a garden just for dahlias at my farm – many flowers are still blooming.

: We decorated a t-shirt using my Cricut® Explore Air™ 2 Special Edition – also exclusively at Michaels. https://bit.ly/31WavcB

: Here’s the table – all dressed in cheerful fall colors and lots of blue. The banner on the mirror was also made completely with my Cricut® Explore Air™ 2 Special Edition.

: Shqipe and I were the first to arrive. I had just finished a very busy week-long television shoot at my farm.

: I welcomed everyone to the shower. Many of Shqipe’s friends and family joined us. Unfortunately, Shqipe’s mom, Hola, could not attend as she is currently in Europe.

: The Bedford Post provided a wonderful menu for our dinner prepared by Chef Christopher D’Ambrosio.

: The first course included this delicious market salad with greens, beets and burrata cheese.

: There was also a cauliflower turmeric soup.

: Marco Larsen, the newest owner of the The Bedford Post stopped by to greet us.

: The next course included baked clams.

: And crab cakes – these went very quickly.

: For the entree, three different types of pasta – squash tortellini, boar ragu garganelli, and linguini provencal tomatoes with pine nuts pesto.

: Here I am with Shqipe, her niece Enesa Berisha, friend Nysrete Kelmendi, sister-in-law Ardiana Berisha, and her sister Joannie Shala.

: Dani Fiori and her Sweet Dani B team made beautiful cookies in lots of baby shapes – some with favorite baby names. https://www.sweetdanib.com/

: The cookies were all arranged on these bright colored cake plates from One Kings Lane. https://www.onekingslane.com/

: We also had chocolate chip cookies.

: And blue frosted mini cupcakes.

: To add to the festivities, Heather and Dorian came up with a couple of games. This sheet asked everyone to fill out what each animal baby was called. Do you know what a baby squirrel is called?

: Shqipe’s niece, Ema, worked on the list with her mom, Joannie.

: Here’s Heather showing celebrity babies – everyone was asked to name the parents.

: And cards were provided to offer Shqipe well wishes and advice.

: A table in one corner was set up for all the gifts.

: Shqipe opened my gift first.

: I gave her a Google Nest Camera – great for looking after the baby from another room. https://rb.gy/850a4f

: Shqipe received lots of wonderful gifts – clothes, accessories, and toys.

: She also received books. This one is entitled “Albanian Children’s Book: Your Child’s First 30 Words” from CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.