ParTea goodies from Heather

It's been so crazy the past few days, with school ending, and I helped out with the last day of school carnival at my sons' school. And this weekend we went to the Little League day at the Angels' game on Sunday. That was cool, as the Little League teams got to have a parade and walk around the Angels field and since I was Team Mom, I got to walk with them. Man, it is huge! And it is neat to see the "innards" of something - you know, like behind-the-scenes things. Like seeing the speed gun thingy that clocks how fast a ball is pitched. I saw the guy setting it up and adjusting it, up close. And it was very cool to see the dug outs, the camera crew area etc.

So today I was able to pick up my mail, and got to open up my swap package from Heather from Speckled Egg for the ParTea Time Swap. As soon as I opened it up, a waif of wonderful smells came out it! It was the tea that she included, it smells amazing. I can't wait to have a cuppa!

P for ParTea Planning stuff is a really neat book called "Wedding Showers" and a book I was not even familiar with! I love the photos, the ideas, the recipes. It's a great resource and I will definitely use it for my business! She also included a shabby chic notepad with darling floral tacks. I will use it in my home office.

A is for Aprons for Risa and Raina. I absolutely LOVE the polka dot aprons that has a pocket with potholders! I can't wait to get a picture of my and Raina baking in them. They are perfect: Pink and Polka dots - my favorite!

R for Really Yummy Tea does smell very yummy. Like I said, I can't wait to have a cuppa.

T is for Teacup & Saucer. Heather gave a very detailed cream colored butterfly t & s. It is so pretty - the butterflies are raised, the saucer has cut-outs and also a raised design.

E is for Extra Goodies. She included cute teapot & teacup cookie cutters, tealights in pink flowers, honey sticks, stickers and paper serviettes. All wonderful things I will put to good use!

A is for A Pretty Set of Tea Towels. I love the design of these towels! I will use them at the tea parties I do, sometimes I have a tea towel hanging from my apron to wipe my hands and these will be perfect for that!

So thank you so much Heather, I love, love, love it all!

ParTea Time Swap

These are the goodies I put together for my first swap, ParTea Time Swap. We swapped tea related things that began with the letters PARTEA. View the group's photos at Flickr.

My partner is Heather, from Speckled Egg, and she is like me - she loves pink and shabby chic. I hope she likes her goodies.

A big thanks to all the ladies who joined in on the fun. From the feedback I received, everyone really enjoyed the theme, made a new tea-loving friend and would like to do it again in the future. I will probably do another one in the fall, for a holiday tea theme. So check back!

P is for Pedestal plate for your goodies.

A is for Apron made from a tea towel

R is for Read a good book (and Tea Time magazine - my favorite!)

T is for Teacup & Saucer, of course.


E is for Eat scones with some yummy tea.

A is for Additional teatime goodies.
They are a little wire teapot, teabag holder, tea cup in a frame,
note cards all tucked into a small hat box.

I thought my idea to hang a chandelier crystal as a tea drip was kinda cute.

Attempt to make a teatime tote.

ParTea Time Swap!

Thanks Heather for being my partner!

Birthday Girl fun

So for my birthday, we spent the day at Legoland. We haven't been there since 4th of July last year, and we got our passes renewed and that is what I wanted to do for my birthday.

I just love Legoland, because the park is small enough and not stressful or overly crowded like the Mickey Mouse place, but yet there is plenty to do. Especially now that they added the Pirate Shores section last year, it makes for a lot of wet fun for the kids.

I wore a "Birthday Girl" tiara (see above) that I found in some of my event stuff I am sorting through, and hubby just shook his head and said "You sure do like the bling, don't you?" I corrected him and said "Bling to me is over the top, like to show off. Like what rappers do. I prefer to call it sparkle. So yes, I sure do like the sparkle."

It was a hoot wearing it, and so many passer-bys said Happy Birthday! to me and one of the Legoland workers gave me a Happy Birthday button. I highly recommend it for any gal who enjoys a lil' bit of sparkle.

When the park closed, we had dinner at a near-by Applebees. The servers sang that silly birthday song and I got a free sundae. Hubby said I should wear the tiara every time we go out. He said, "Heck, I'll even wear it if it gets me free dessert."

******A heartfelt thank you to everyone who left a birthday wish comment on my birthday post below. I really appreciated the kind words and loved the warm fuzzies ya'll gave me! Thanks again, you know how to make a fellow blogger gal feel lahved....

34 shots just to get at least ONE decent pic of all three! No kidding, 34!

Today is my Birthday

Even at a Season Finale Baseball Party....

.....I have to make a (cup)cake riser.

I am the Team Mom for my son's team.

To view all the cute photos from our baseball party,
click here.

Getting ready for summer

I thought this Watermelon Teapot would be a really cute centerpiece for a summer theme tea party!

Directions:

Using a round watermelon, slice off a piece approximately 1 ½ inches down on the stem end.

Cut the small, round cover handle out of the center of this piece by using a small round cookie cutter, or cut by hand. Place the remaining larger "ring" on the serving plate to act as a base and place the whole watermelon on top of it, cut side down.

Slice off approximately 4 inches from the other end of the watermelon and set aside. Scoop out the watermelon flesh using a melon baller, and set aside.

Slice the 4-inch thick watermelon piece in half, lengthwise, making two 2-inch round pieces. Use the round end piece for the tea pot cover. Make decorative cuts in the rind with a melon baller and fill holes with melon balls.

Lay the remaining melon slice down and cut in half, making the handle and spout out of each half. Scoop out the red flesh. Make decorative cuts in the rind of the handle piece with a melon baller and fill with melon balls.

You may need to trim the spout and handle pieces so they fit flat against the melon. Attach with sturdy, round toothpicks.

Source: Watermelon.org

Tea Party book review

I have been waiting months for this book to be available for purchase. Not because I need another book on tea, but because of the curiosity factor. Tea Party by Tracy Stern appeared to be something more up my alley, because I had checked out the author's website and was intrigued.

Yesterday the book arrived and I was planning on waiting to look it over and have myself a little tea time, and peruse the book with a cuppa. Yah right.

I couldn't wait and went ahead and looked through it.

This is a quote straight from a customer review off of the Amazon listing of this book:

"I was very disappointed in this book. I was hoping for beautiful pictures of the recipes and party settings. Content was OK, but minus the pictures, it was a total waste of money. "

My review of this book is what she said.

There are some very helpful ideas, and the recipes do look good enough to try, and not too complicated (but then how hard is it to make a tea sandwich?) to make. But I was just expecting more photos and detail shots. But there is only a couple of photos -if that- for each of the "20 Themed Tea Parties" as the cover states. And the images that were there, show exquisite china and not something that most people have or have access to.

So it left me underwhelmed and wanting more.

My book (if I ever could have one) would be real tea parties for real people and not something that is unattainable and obviously planned by a New York City socialite.