A Bittersweet Tea Time

My folks will be moving away from San Clemente for about eight months (they are retired and full-time RV'ers), so I took my mom out for tea a couple of days before they left. She loves visiting tearooms (as do I, but find myself way too critical since I am in the biz) so we tried one I have not been to before.

This was also a brave test to see how my two-year old daughter would behave in a tearoom. She is used to being around china (lord knows it's all over our home), but I brought one of our own teacups just in case.

Once our pot of tea arrived, she poured the entire creamer of milk into her cup, along with I think three sugar cubes, I lost count. She stirred properly with the demi spoon. She's also a dunker and dunked her scone in it.

Apparently that was not enough. She added some leaves (see plant behind her) and stirred. By that point I removed it from her reach before she drank the leaves. Overall, it wasn't too bad having her there, and the owner of the tea room was very gracious and didn't mind her juvenile presence.

But like I said, it was a bittersweet tea time with the feeling of mom's soon-to-be departure looming over us.

Tea party video with Carol Burnett & Julie Andrews

This video is so funny! But it makes me miss the days of when I was a latch-key kid and would come home from school and watch reruns of the Carol Burnett Show while eating white bread spread with butter and topped with sugar. Back then I had no idea of how talented they all were and so darn funny....

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEaTLi9tGKk
also be sure to click on Part 2 to see it in its entirety.

I love the silver tea pot Julie Andrews uses to pour.

Beau-tea-ful Photos!

Received the link to view the beautiful professional photos from Bob Ortiz of the Assoc. of Bridal Consultants Fashion Show and Tea Party from last week.

Bob, you are so very kind for participating and you continue to show off your great talent.

Click here to view his slide show of the event.

A Tea-lightful Valentine's Day

Sometimes the mood strikes to do a last-minute tea. In this case, since I had some leftover sandwiches, scones & sweets from the Assoc. of Bridal Consultant's Tea Party & Fashion Show I decided to not let it go to waste on just a solo tea.

So I threw together this little tea table on my "porch" (we don't really have porches in So Cal - my dream house will have a wrap-around porch). I called some of my neighbor girlfriends to come join me, and luckily they were available!

Along with the leftovers I served hot Cream Earl Grey tea, sparkling pink lemonade, chicken salad sandwiches, fruit with pink whip cream, and pink cupcakes -"jolla" a Valentine's Day Tea!

We sat and chatted for quite a while. That's what I love about having tea - it forces you to slow down and enjoy good conversation and good friends. Sometimes the last-minute-don't-fuss get together's are the best!

Click here for photos.

T Cups and A Lines

The "Fashion Show & Tea Party" for the Assoc. of Bridal Consultant's Orange County chapter at the salon I Do Bridal & Formal Wear was a success.

It was a lot of work, and due to a limited budget, I was not able to have any servers/helpers, so I was definitely popping the Advil Geltabs! I'm getting too old for this kind of physical work. Anyone know of a reliable starving college student looking for some part-time work? *wink*

A couple of emails of thanks from the steering committee:

Hi Risa,

I can't thank you enough for all of your hard work on the beautiful tea on Tuesday. You really did over do yourself. Everything was just perfect. All the gals were so impressed with the great tables and food you presented. I am so appreciative. Thank you again, Melody

Thank you Risa, for putting on an amazing tea party! It was so fun for the coordinators, and we appreciate all of the work and time you put into creating a stylish affair. Cheers To You, Marla

We are waiting for the professional photos from Bob Ortiz but in the meantime, you can get an idea of the event from a few photos that I took.

Click here to view the photo gallery.