tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43939369858530194592024-03-07T19:05:50.526-08:00The ParTea PlannerThe ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-63937784277947101982009-11-11T11:40:00.000-08:002009-11-11T12:06:18.279-08:00A Perfect Princess Tea Party<span style="color:#666666;">Time to dust off my keyboard and get back to blogging....</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Here are photos of Raina's "Perfect Princess Tea Party" to celebrate her 5th Birthday. Thank you so much to <a href="http://www.elegantvisions.com/">Elegant Visions </a>for the professional images, Dean is just the sweetest guy, and delivered the images so fast!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="http://romanzaevents.phanfare.com/4395241_4815225#imageID=84136789">Click Here</a> to view the entire photo gallery with music.</span><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/362.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="color:#666666;">I am so grateful to my good friend Carolyn of <a href="http://www.chscreativeproductions.com/">CHS Creative Productions </a>for coming over and setting up all the gorgeous pink fabric draping and the canopy over the tea table, and loaning me some of her props and silk trees. If it wasn't for her beautiful drapery, then it would have looked just like a normal drive-way. She created the perfect ambiance for the party! If you in the Los Angeles / Orange County area and need event, wedding or holiday decor or draping, she is amazing. Thank you Carolyn, I *heart* you so much!!!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Kelly, from <a href="http://perfectprincessparty.com/">Kelly's Karacters </a>was the perfect Cinderella princess to come and visit with Raina and her party guests! She conducted a princess coronation, sang beautifully, played games & dances, taught the girls tea table etiquette & manners, helped with the birthday cake and decorating cupcakes and just made the party so very magical! I can't imagine what the party would have been like without her talents, it would not have had the "sparkle" without her! Thank you so much Kelly for your graciousness and loveliness!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">It truly was a "perfect" princess party, but not without the help of true professionals! Thank you so much again, and I will forever treasure the memories.</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-26201310687711240132009-09-20T12:25:00.000-07:002009-09-21T00:33:43.239-07:00Forever In Our Hearts<div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Regina Melody Tan<br />9/19/99 - 9/20/09<br />Forever In Our Hearts</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyrFRnQwYhdiDER_Zl8yLQm9ZVwcmSSx15FawA-ucgXvvcj0Ly8bkiqqBZhZSp4Deg5OD6WiqQR707FoZWgoPJuuCatorJakd5P8WIqMSYGQDuyOrOquNK7yRkZtiKxfV8L6DrBI_3WQ/s1600-h/Regina_Buttons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383819524486246130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyrFRnQwYhdiDER_Zl8yLQm9ZVwcmSSx15FawA-ucgXvvcj0Ly8bkiqqBZhZSp4Deg5OD6WiqQR707FoZWgoPJuuCatorJakd5P8WIqMSYGQDuyOrOquNK7yRkZtiKxfV8L6DrBI_3WQ/s400/Regina_Buttons.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Please feel free to leave a comment on Diana's blog (her mom)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">she appreciates your kind words:</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.diana78.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#666666;">http://www.diana78.blogspot.com</span></a><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-21822153066822189812009-07-30T13:37:00.000-07:002009-07-30T13:58:32.067-07:00Mari Robeson Style's Newest Launch & Give Away!<span style="color:#666666;">My fellow blogging friend Mari is having a</span> <a href="http://marirobeson.squarespace.com/journal-old/2009/7/24/give-away-starts-this-monday-july-27th-party-with-me-next-fr.html">Give Away </a><span style="color:#666666;">to celebrate the new launch of her fabulous fabric line! I am so proud of her and her newest venture!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><span style="color:#666666;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCsCr9fQd-jLKd1T3VoJfsnRnMFScWZEzYOZolcGHp9Dep9FQW7wep26U_V-13Li7994XE128K05i57oxEghn7c9ukjwRLQkrSa4IqP9V6bWFPXNjwHnZzaH3S6lhLuFG9qXJmx_3ZmA/s1600-h/Strawberry%2520Give-Away.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364355944395888210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 366px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCsCr9fQd-jLKd1T3VoJfsnRnMFScWZEzYOZolcGHp9Dep9FQW7wep26U_V-13Li7994XE128K05i57oxEghn7c9ukjwRLQkrSa4IqP9V6bWFPXNjwHnZzaH3S6lhLuFG9qXJmx_3ZmA/s400/Strawberry%2520Give-Away.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#666666;">To refresh your memory, Mari is the one who painted and gifted me the gorgeous "ParTea Time" banner for the <a href="http://theparteaplanner.blogspot.com/2008/02/photos-from-photo-shoot.html">photo shoot</a> I did for TeaTime Magazine. And I have to tell you.....I received more emails from tea lovers requesting info on how to get their own painted banner than anything else regarding the feature in the magazine! She is one very talented and sweet lady.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="color:#666666;"></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSuJNDUsJE852VR-_r7_RpEUL5lj4hlsd5sEBA2e6Uqkx7O0C5SY1xkFffhFWQxu9HS0sBCWv5jfbQ-eammT7PM2DQB4OZ-76XFwLfyQgcgsiamsYv1Ovvvx8ghwFPJe58af54NH5OBA/s1600-h/Heart%2520Set%2520Pleated%2520Poppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364359680821613746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSuJNDUsJE852VR-_r7_RpEUL5lj4hlsd5sEBA2e6Uqkx7O0C5SY1xkFffhFWQxu9HS0sBCWv5jfbQ-eammT7PM2DQB4OZ-76XFwLfyQgcgsiamsYv1Ovvvx8ghwFPJe58af54NH5OBA/s400/Heart%2520Set%2520Pleated%2520Poppy.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#666666;">So please take a moment to view her new textile line, leave a comment and you might win! Or stop by her boutique if you are in the Central Coast area of California.<br></span><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#666666;">Mari, best wishes to your launch party and much success with this newest venture! I wish I could be there to congratulate your efforts in person!</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><span style="color:#666666;"></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-64838471413896394822009-05-06T16:34:00.000-07:002009-05-06T17:08:58.016-07:00D.I.Y. Simple & Cost Effective Centerpieces<span style="color:#666666;">For our upcoming MOPS Tea Party this week, I needed to make centerpieces for the mom's tables that I am contributing. Since we are on a budget, fresh flowers were not an option. Besides, I can use them over and over. I purchased the supplies from <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/">Dollar Tree </a>(we finally have one close by! yay, before I had to drive way far to the nearest one!). </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Sometimes with silk flowers it can be tricky to get a nice arrangement, because let's be honest - some silks look really cheesy-tacky, especially from a dollar store. So I just spent time pulling different bunches and putting them together to see what worked. <br /></span><span style="color:#666666;"><br /><br /></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6305-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><span style="color:#666666;">You can see the tin containers were originally an ugly green and orange brushed-on color. So I just sprayed painted the outside of the tins with my all-time fave spray paint white Kilz to get rid of the uglies. </span><span style="color:#666666;">Keep that in mind when searching for cost-effective containers - "Can it be spray painted, if it needs a makeover."? Make sure your container isn't too big since it will have to be filled. </span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><br />Each silk bunch stem got bent in half to fit the height of the tin. Then I bunched them together moved some of the colors around and tied securely with a wire tie. You could use florist wire, pipe cleaner wire or a chenille wire as well. Then I bent some of the flowers forward, so they would hang over the container edge.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><br /><br /></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6306.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><span style="color:#666666;">Shoved it in the container, fluffed it a bit and boom, done. After the pic I did add some pink feather tufts that I cut-up from a boa. </span><span style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span style="color:#666666;"></span><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"> Total cost for each arrangement: $4</span></p><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6308.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I will show pics of the centerpieces at the tea party later!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-58187851653395273072009-04-30T13:24:00.000-07:002009-04-30T13:52:04.381-07:00Peppermint Cream Cheese Mints<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PeppermintCreamCheeseMints_RecipeCa.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">I made 200-something of these Peppermint Cream Cheese Mints yesterday for our upcoming MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Tea coming up next week, and will make each mom a favor consisting of three mints, and a mint teabag. I found cute favor boxes at the dollar store, and will attach a silk flower on the top of each one.<br /><br />The mints remind of what my mom used to make when I was a little girl.<br /><br />The mini-rose mold is just a candy mold from Michaels. I got three of them and just kept rotating them in & out of the freezer as I made them. Even Raina, my four-year old daughter could help me make these! These are <span style="font-size:130%;">SO MUCH EASIER</span> to make than chocolate favors! I always seem to scorch chocolate, and it is so messy. However, if you are good with chocolate then you can dip these minty babies into chocolate and make them like York patties!<br /><br />So try these for favors the next time you have a tea, shower or party! Copy and paste the above image, it is sized for 3½ x 5 for your recipe box. Enjoy! </span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-34935857637397874562009-04-27T00:28:00.000-07:002009-04-27T01:11:29.791-07:00Women are like tea bags...<div><div><div><span style="color:#666666;"><em>"Women are like tea bags, they don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water." </em></span></div><div><span style="color:#666666;">~ Eleanor Roosevelt<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is one of my favorite quotes. Not only because it is about tea, but it envelopes the tenacity of women.</span> </span></div><div><span style="color:#666666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#666666;">I have had several blog followers email me to express how they have missed my posts. Thank you to everyone who comes to visit me from time to time. I know I have been a terrible blogger and not very interesting, but sometimes life gets in the way of getting to do what we love.</span></div><div><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666666;">The past couple of months have been challenging. I have been having problems with my left arm since last May. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pinkie</span> & ring finger have been numb, my grip weakened to the point where I could not hold onto fingernail clippers to clip my right hand fingernails, or open up packages and I was losing muscle in the hand. But as most of us moms will do, we put our own health on the back burner until it gets so bad that you are forced to deal with it. </span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#666666;">So finally after many doctor visits, tests, MRI's, hand therapy, and more tests, the assessment is I needed to have surgery on my ulnar nerve for "cubital tunnel syndrome" which means the unlar nerve (your funny bone, even though it isn't a bone) was pinched and the doctor needed to move it. I did not want the surgery and tried alternaive methods such as accupuncture and chiropractic care, but it was just not going to relieve the symptoms.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">I had the surgery a couple of weeks ago and am still recovering. The feeling is coming back in my fingers and I can actually type better now and gradually getting the strength back. I now have a 5" scar down the back of my arm and elbow! Be glad I don't post photos of it here, even though I did on Facebook, it's kinda gross.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">But the teabag quote got me thinking after I saw this really cute craft. I will be providing my teacups and teapots for our upcoming "Tea & Testimony" at my <a href="http://www.mops.org/">M.O.P.S. </a>group in a couple of weeks. I wanted to find a cute rubber stamp set, and in my Google search efforts came across this cute craft tute to make a mini album from tea bags (click on link for tute):</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#666600;"><a href="http://paperblessings.blogspot.com/2009/02/tutorial-tea-bag-mini-album.html">Turtorial Tea Bag Mini Album</a></span></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4zX1gW0qB4N69wf8QU31Wuty9u5Tn16oy0nlYRMJjSmfoIsYsOfap5i2oUll7JprWCz7jZK8l5A3wa-nI4bmQqBEnoaijm1LZTNpdYryEY5lDFSlTg_KnZCRxM0aeeGe06weQY5VxGI/s1600-h/Teabag_Mini_Album1__1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329277302585583026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4zX1gW0qB4N69wf8QU31Wuty9u5Tn16oy0nlYRMJjSmfoIsYsOfap5i2oUll7JprWCz7jZK8l5A3wa-nI4bmQqBEnoaijm1LZTNpdYryEY5lDFSlTg_KnZCRxM0aeeGe06weQY5VxGI/s400/Teabag_Mini_Album1__1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW42E66bV5le7BpH01VWs_CkF0lYxg2o-T0-mqGOqW15-8enEDuKKOhQkbDz-pyjHZ-UBxGDGBxHYYq4hvOjMRG1zrZJChV1R0qRs6r06reafmKA2XfKnst7PTpsualcW7R10E9H4y0A/s1600-h/Teabag_Mini_Album1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329278343669806482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW42E66bV5le7BpH01VWs_CkF0lYxg2o-T0-mqGOqW15-8enEDuKKOhQkbDz-pyjHZ-UBxGDGBxHYYq4hvOjMRG1zrZJChV1R0qRs6r06reafmKA2XfKnst7PTpsualcW7R10E9H4y0A/s400/Teabag_Mini_Album1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IYrN4V_YhPyirUgm3ez3nBrAWVgWpr-Rzn8_2NfWL2S3KkY7AP8YmfXDeK-YXYmaXB79JJUKIrjI3fjpQD1oDy1roVnaURKL93Yk86zHs-gD6rdOO-Ufr0EiAgYGRxk3D2NDi-I58HQ/s1600-h/Teabag_Mini_Album2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329278593325022450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IYrN4V_YhPyirUgm3ez3nBrAWVgWpr-Rzn8_2NfWL2S3KkY7AP8YmfXDeK-YXYmaXB79JJUKIrjI3fjpQD1oDy1roVnaURKL93Yk86zHs-gD6rdOO-Ufr0EiAgYGRxk3D2NDi-I58HQ/s400/Teabag_Mini_Album2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#666666;">Thank you to <a href="http://paperblessings.blogspot.com/">Paper Blessings </a>for posting this very creative craft!</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-48534596016672409032009-03-17T22:36:00.000-07:002009-03-17T23:54:49.730-07:00A St. Patrick's "Irish Cream" Tea Time<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>Happy St. Patrick's Day!</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6191.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="color:#009900;">I had not planned on doing anything special for St. Patty's day. I ran to the grocery store for a few things for dinner, and the bakery had all their seasonal - and very cute - tempting green frosted cookies and cupcakes right there front and center. Dammit, they did it to me again! Well, actually they did it to Raina who zoned in on them immediately. So I said okay, she could put the clamshell container of the two-bite cupcakes (the label says two-bite, but uhm, it's really one-bite) in her mini-shopping cart, and that we would have them for dessert.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;">You know those children's books <a href="http://www.mousecookiebooks.com/indexSite.html">"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"</a> where one thing leads to another? I feel that is generally how my days just end up sometimes, all kooky and crazy and totally A.D.D. </span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">So......we have these cute cupcakes........why waste the cuteness on just dessert? Let's have them for a tea time instead! </span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Well, if we are going to have tea, then I will need to bake some scones. </span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">And if I am going to bake some scones, then I will need to look up my favorite scone recipe on my computer folder. </span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">While I am at it, I should organize my scone recipes from favorite to low-fat. </span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Now that they are all organized, I should print them and put them in page protectors.</span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Since we are having a tea with a theme, I should find any St. Patrick's day stuff to add to the cuteness. And on and on it goes.</span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">You get the idea.</span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">So here are the results of an impromptu "Irish Cream Tea"..........thanks to one-bite cupcakes.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Raina and Holly-Doodle ready for tea.</span> </p><p align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6203.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Very green Irish Cream scones (sprinkled with Lucky Charms ♣),<br /></span><span style="color:#009900;">and store bought cookies & cupcakes.<br />The cupcakes that started it all today.....</span></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6204.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;">She prayed for all the Disney Princesses. And Prince Phillip, whoever that is.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6209.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Pouring her "tea". Then she added three sugar cubes.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6222.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">What a poser.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">All the stains on her shirt are from some chocolate coins </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">someone gave her at pre-school. I thought about Photoshopping the stains out so you </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">wouldn't think I was <em>too</em> white trash. That thought lasted for a second. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">I'm over it.</span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">So, I hope everyone enjoyed their St. Patty's day and that the Luck 'o the Irish was with you!</span></strong></div>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-75034351354486647602009-02-13T12:39:00.000-08:002009-02-13T13:08:39.048-08:00Fake it till you make it<span style="color:#666666;">So a holiday - Valenine's Day - is coming up, therefore the proverbial sign-up sheets appear as you enter your child's pre-school for the upcoming Valentine's "Exchange" (translate - party). They come up with all these different words so it doesn't sound like they party all the time around holidays - why not just call it a party? No one really cares.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Why is it I become instantly delusional and always write my name next to the most difficult item on a sign-up list for my kids' class parties? So, I signed-up for a dozen plain heart shape cookies so they can frost and decorate them at the "exchange-aka-party".<br /><br />I do enjoy making real homemade cookies, really I do. Where I actually dust off my Kitchen aid mixer and find somewhere in my pantry flour, baking soda etc., pull out my Mom's beloved recipe for "Cookie Cutter Cookies" and appear somewhat June Cleaverish is a great feeling. And it is fun to roll out the dough, cut them out and try to get them to the perfect golden baked goodness with a hint of tan on the bottom signaling they are done.<br /><br />So these are the nano-visions that flash into my delusional, over-achieving, right-side of my brain whenever I see the (usually) blank line for something home made.<br /><br />But sometimes life takes over even when the best of intentions are sincere. So I got the flu, and really did not feel like digging in my very disorganized panty for all the ingredients. Our local Ralph's grocery store sells plain sugar cookies already in holiday shapes so I thought that may be my saving grace. NOPE, need to compromise. So it's time to "fake it till you make it" which is one of my creeds I live by.<br /><br />I just got a plastic clamshell of sugar cookies, took them home and got out my metal heart shaped cookie cutter and faked it. Took me five minutes. Really. How are a bunch of four year-olds going to know the difference? </span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Before:</span><br /><br /></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6021-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size:130%;">After:</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#666666;"></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6023.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><span style="color:#666666;">Anyone can sign-up for, and bring paper plates and cups. It takes determination to sign-up for the things that come from the heart </span><span style="color:#666666;">.... or at least a cookie cutter heart.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_6026-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><span style="color:#666666;">Getting ready for pre-school on the day of the Valentine "Exchange", Raina picked out the dress herself! I was shocked, since y'all know she rarely likes to dress-up. Did my heart good, though.<br /></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-69734836287144564262009-01-12T21:45:00.000-08:002009-01-12T21:58:23.444-08:00Romantic Adventure layout<p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Honeymoom_Gizacopy-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="color:#333333;">My friend Phyllis, at <a href="http://www.shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/">Shabby in the City </a>had a great idea for a project. She took a <a href="http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/01/ive-been-to-flea-market.html">pic of a book page</a> (scroll to the end of her post for the photo) then suggested we create something from it. So I added a couple of Photoshop brushes to it and a photo of hubby & me from our Honeymoon cruise.<br /><br />It was a lot of fun, thanks for the idea Phyllis!</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-55831126865902838292009-01-02T12:43:00.000-08:002009-01-02T13:23:46.462-08:00Happy New Year!<div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Holly_Teacup2_glitter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy New Year!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">from Holly, the ParTea Goldendoodle Girl<br /></span><br /><br />Our newest addition to the family. Santa brought her to us on Christmas morning. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">She is my BFF (Best Furry Friend).</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Here is her</span> <a href="http://doodleworld.ning.com/profile/Risa">Doodle page</a>, <span style="color:#666666;">if you or someone you know owns a Doodle.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I hope for you and your loved ones, that <span style="font-size:180%;">2009</span> will be filled with good memories, good health and gratitude for each and every day we have with our family and friends.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Enjoy some more pics from<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Holly's First Photo Shoot</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">(taken in my daughter's room!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Holly_Tiara_c.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#666666;">Holly, the Goldendoodle Princess</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Holly_Boa.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#666666;">Holly, the Goldendoodle Fashionista</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Holly_Teacup.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#666666;">Holly, the Goldendoodle Tea Party Girl</span></p>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-56875489206647574612009-01-02T02:01:00.000-08:002009-01-02T13:50:09.521-08:0012 Days of Christmas Tea & Cookie Recipes Swap<div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Finally I am getting around to uploading all the fabulous swap goodies that<br /></span><a href="http://www.eyecraft.blogspot.com/">Jeannie from "I Craft" </a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">sent me for the 12 Days of Christmas Tea & Cookie Recipes Swap.<br />Between making arrangements with Santa to get a Christmas puppy<br />and having family stay for the holidays it has be crazy 'round here.<br /><br />Here are the goodies! </span></div><span style="color:#666666;"><div align="center"><br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4969.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">A couple of items didn't make it in the group shot.<br />I think my daughter took it out to look at it (?).<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4970.jpg" border="0" /></a> A <span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">I love this mini pan for an ornament!</span><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4972.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">This darling house held a teapot ornament (see below).<br /></p></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4973.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Jeannie cracked me up with her cookie recipes! I showed my mom and she cracked up too. But this book is PACKED with awesome cookie recipes! It's a keeper for Christmases to come....<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#666666;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4974.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#666666;"> I've seen Jeannie's cupcake toppers on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5404539">her Etsy shop</a>, and was secretly hoping I would get some in the swap. YAY! Look at all the pink cuteness! Cupcake shnupcake. I'm putting them in my hair or something! Or making them into brooches. They are too cute for just cupcakes....<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_5106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">This cute little tree contained these vintage beautiful earrings.<br />Then I put the tree on my pink tree.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_5110.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Inside this awesome floral suitcase was filled with sugar-y mistletoe, a vintage ladies hankie and the cream teacup & saucer with more sugar-y goodness candy!<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_5113.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#666666;">Beautiful cream teacup & saucer with my fave colors - pink & green.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PC270144.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">This is MY TREE.<br />My beloved pink tree that is in the living room. On it I put all my favorite things.<br />Below are the wonderful goodies that Jeannie sent:<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PC270146.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Sugar-y, glitter-y teapot</span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PC270152.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Sugar-y mistletoe.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PC270151.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Darling tree box.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/PC270149.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="color:#666666;"><div align="center"><br />"I love you for your pink cadillac" ~ Bruce Springsteen</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br /><br />THANK YOU SO MUCH JEANNIE, for giving such pinkalicious Christmas goodies. And not just the goodies themselves, but how you wrapped and decorated everything was just DIVINE. I didn't want to open them, it was so darn cute! You are very talented, and I appreciated every bit of hot glue and glitter that you did!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am still waiting to hear back from others who participated. I know it is a crazy time of year to try to add on tasks to do, such as blog swaps. So those of you who played, please send me the links of your swaps and I will update this post. Thank you to everyone who enthusiastically and joyfully signed up!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:180%;"><div align="center"><br /><br />Swaps: </div><div align="center"><br /></div></span><div align="center">Lady Katherine received her <a href="http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/2008/12/lady-jane-christmas-tea-cookie-recipe.html">swap goodies </a>from Lady Jane</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Lady Jane received her <a href="http://ladyjanesemporium.blogspot.com/2008/12/lucky-mecards-and-teaand-of-coursetommy.html">swap goodies </a>from Lady Katherine</div><div align="center">Phyllis, from Shabby in the City received her <a href="http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/2008/12/antique-toys-and-swap-goodies.html">swap goodies </a>from Erin</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Looking forward to seeing the rest of the swaps!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"></div></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-35502367761637674302009-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:002009-01-03T00:02:16.731-08:00New Year Greeting<p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/1450016891_64e0ef725e_o.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-10342382721782775752008-11-17T18:30:00.000-08:002008-11-18T13:04:42.967-08:00Need prayers for my dad<span style="color:#666666;">To all my e-friends:</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Please keep my dad, Lloyd, in your prayers on the morning of November 18 (PST) as he will be having major shoulder reconstructive surgery. His ligament has completely torn apart, with another almost torn apart, and we are hoping the surgeon can re-connect the ligament successfully.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I fully believe in the power of prayer, and I know there are some prayer warriors who read my blog. It is now that I humbly call on you to send healing thoughts and prayers his way.....</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Thank you in advance.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">xoxox</span></span>,</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Risa</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#999900;"><strong>UPDATE:</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#999900;">Thank you so much for those who posted a prayer comment or who prayed for my dad and his surgery. It was a success, the surgeon was able to re-attach the ligaments. He has a long road of tough re-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hab</span> awaiting him for the next few months. Again, I appreciate your kind hearts and kind words! It really means a lot to me knowing there are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">e-Friends</span> out there who genuinely care about others....<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#999900;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">xoxoxxo</span></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#999900;"><strong>Risa</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-55953042168767424622008-11-13T01:38:00.001-08:002008-11-15T23:07:28.787-08:0012 Days of Christmas Tea & Cookie Recipes Swap<p><span style="color:#006600;">Join me and others who LOVE tea time and want to have some fun with a Holiday Swap! At the last swap I hosted, there were many ladies asking about a Holiday Swap, so here it is: </span></p><p><span style="color:#006600;">The theme is <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">"12 Days of Christmas Tea & Cookie Recipes"</span></strong> </span></p><p><span style="color:#006600;">The swap is to consist of 12 items, all individually wrapped:<br /></span><span style="color:#006600;">* A Christmas or Holiday print teacup & saucer.<br />* 3 of your absolute favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes on a 3x5 or 4x6 card.<br />* The other 8 items should be holiday and/or tea-related items.<br /></span><span style="color:#006600;">For instance: (this is only for inspiration, you can choose whatever you like) Your favorite tea, a scented votive candle, a linen napkin, a silver spoon, decorated sugar cubes, a cookie cutter, an ornament, a tea towel, etc. - try to keep it tea time related! At least one homemade or handcrafted item(s) should be included as one of the items (i.e. a tag, a paper crown tiara, pinwheel etc).<br /></span><span style="color:#006600;"><br />Your Swap Sister may choose to open one gift a day leading up to Christmas, or she can open them all at once...it's her/your choice.<br /><br />The t&s (teacup & saucer) may be vintage or new, one that is in your personal collection or a purchased one. Please swap a t&s that is functional (no cracks) and one that you would appreciate receiving (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ie</span>. no chips, crazing, fleabites). The spending limit is $20 (not including shipping cost). </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><strong>Deadline to sign up by:<br />~ December 1, 2008<br /><br />Parcels mailed out by:<br />~ December 12, 2008</strong></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><a href="http://www.parteatimeswap.blogspot.com/">Click here</a> for all the details and <span style="font-size:85%;">*ahem*</span> "rules".</span></strong></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">UPDATE:<br /></span></strong>I've been getting requests to sign-up for this swap either at my regular email or through the comments box on this post. In order for me to keep all the requests organized please send your request along with your NAME, EMAIL ADDY and BLOG ADDY to this email: <strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">parteatimeswap</span> [at] <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">gmail</span>.com</span></strong> (you do not have to have a blog to play).</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Thanks a bunch!</span></p>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-48930388658258964172008-11-12T12:06:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:14:04.841-08:00Easiest Pumpkin Muffins<p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_4304.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><span style="color:#666666;">This post may be a little belated, but the muffins would be great for a Halloween or Thanksgiving tea:</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I just made these mini-muffins for the first time for my son's class Monster Mash party and they are mucho yummy! Even my one kid who doesn't like pumpkin gobbled them up. They are very moist. Got it from AllRecipes.com but did a bit of my own thing. Here is the recipe:<br /><br />Easiest Pumpkin Muffins<br /><br />1 box of spice cake mix<br />1 can (15 oz) can pumpkin puree<br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />Mix both ingredients until smooth (do not add the egg or oil like the cake box says).<br />Spoon equal amounts of batter into greased muffin pan or paper cups.<br />Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, until a toothpick comes out clean.<br /><br />I added some dashes of ground cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves in the batter. </span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Then I sprinkled brown sugar and some orange colored sugar I had on hand on the tops before putting into the oven.<br /><br />This is great for classroom treats - especially since no eggs are in the recipe. Also a sneaky way to get some protein in the kiddies! Can also be frozen and defrosted when needed.</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-78455950489796774392008-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:002008-11-12T11:08:45.725-08:00What's in YOUR Portable Studio?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLJcoNmPQQkhyphenhyphensEn4qTiuvpY8VAIY4ohqCHBX7k6JHr5CRV6KvmlWEbH0W2xKl0hwYX9beZCtPep70iBkC2q_C_UVzNLnvC2smXeXZH7nGTjTHbZNxQSE0Iir1QPbkCgnZhEI6TfSCOQ/s1600-h/portablestudio_1.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267849406810456866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLJcoNmPQQkhyphenhyphensEn4qTiuvpY8VAIY4ohqCHBX7k6JHr5CRV6KvmlWEbH0W2xKl0hwYX9beZCtPep70iBkC2q_C_UVzNLnvC2smXeXZH7nGTjTHbZNxQSE0Iir1QPbkCgnZhEI6TfSCOQ/s400/portablestudio_1.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">My friend Phyllis at Shabby in the City is having a challenge and giveaway. For more info go to her blog at</span> <a href="http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/">http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Here is a snippet from her blog:</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">So there is the challenge...fill your vintage pieces with your wonderful craft items and let's take it on the road. Show me your craft destination with photos of your carrier/caddy,box or basket, loaded down in vintage crafty goodness. Well say November 25th is our share day...exactly one month before Christmas (easy to remember, huh?) Please take the banner and post it in your sidebar, blog about it whatever....the more participants...the more fun!<br /></span><div></div>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-75068263129816665232008-11-11T22:12:00.000-08:002008-11-11T22:19:03.671-08:00They just don't get it<span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Hubby: What's that sound?</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Me: My new clock on my blog. And it even chimes!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hmpf</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Me: What? You don't like it?</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Hubby: Sounds like Chinese water torture to me.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Me: Well, I like it. It sounds soothing to me.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hmpf</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Sometimes we are like oil & water....</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-36484481400980555102008-11-11T10:39:00.000-08:002008-11-11T11:11:35.507-08:00A Birthday Tea for My BFF<a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/?action=view&current=IMG_3689_1gb.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/IMG_3689_1gb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I took my BFF, the divine Mrs. M. out for an afternoon tea to celebrate her birthday at the Posh Peasant Tearoom. Mrs. M and I share a love for tea and all things <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff99ff;"><strong>PINK</strong></span>. I think I met my match when it came to being a pink aficionado freak when we became neighbors and friends.</span> <span style="color:#666666;">Oh, and she has depleted my personal stash of Cream Earl Grey loose leaf tea. She kept running out, I'd give her more, until I realized I'm all out! Have to place an order with my supplier....I don't mind, I'm just glad to be able to support a teaholic's habit.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">In this pic, I brought my hats for us to wear. The one I have on is from the <a href="http://albums.phanfare.com/theparteaplanner/2251999">Mary Poppins Tea Party</a> I produced a while back and haven't had a reason to wear it since. And I love the thick turkey feather boa the tearoom had! Boas are great for covering up your tummy when taking photos, huh?</span><br /><p><span style="color:#666666;">If you would like to view all the photos from our tea, <a href="http://albums.phanfare.com/theparteaplanner/2980460_3256381">Click Here</a> to go to my photo album (don't worry, you don't have to sign in or anything).</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. M!</p></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-1940667262540166002008-11-10T11:14:00.001-08:002008-11-10T12:24:58.261-08:00New ParTea Blog Header<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">What do you think of the header makeover?</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Figured it was time to make some changes 'round here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">They are images from the <a href="http://theparteaplanner.blogspot.com/2008/02/photos-from-photo-shoot.html">photo shoot for the TeaTime Magazine article</a>. I can't believe it was almost a year ago when we did the staging for it!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Did I ever mention some of the behind-the-scene drama that took place while preparing for the photo shoot? I'll try to remember some of it:</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">*I knew for a while that TeaTime wanted me to do a feature. So I waited. But when they were ready to rock 'n roll with it, I had five days notice to put it all together. I was informed a couple of days after Thanksgiving.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">*While I was collecting all the items I wanted to use for the shoot, I had to move mountains of totes of china I have. I finally found the teacups in my favorite pattern, Homer Lauglin's Marilyn floral pattern. I don't have that many and they are hard to come by on eBay. So when I found them, because I was at an awkward position (you know - mountain of totes), one of the saucers slipped from my hand, bounced off the chair and broke on the floor. Mind you, I was also PMS'ing at this time. When I saw the saucer fall in slow motion and then break, I got off the chair and screamed at the top of my lungs. For like two minutes. Then started bawling. Hubby thought I was losin' it.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">*I was going to go with my signature pink & green color theme design, since this was going to be in their Spring issue. But the DAY BEFORE the photo shoot, I received <a href="http://www.marirobesonstyle.com/">Mari's</a> gorgeous custom hand-painted banner. She had stayed up until the wee hours to get it finished for me in time. When I saw how she painted the darling songbird in an aqua blue hue, I knew I had to add the aqua accent color to the table decor. My linen rental company would not have time to deliver any runners or overlays in time, so I needed to make my own. So the night before - when I should be loading up everything into the van - I'm heading over to JoAnn's to get aqua fabric and ribbon. I was also bending the forks late at night, and putting the glitter on the place card flowers at around 2:00am.</span><br /><br /><p><a href="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Banner_wm.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 504px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 800px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Banner_wm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">*I had brewed hot tea and had put in a vacuum pump carafe. It fell out of the van when my assistant opened the door and shattered the internal glass. So we had to ask the cafe near the photo shoot venue to make us some tea. It was so brewed too long and was so dark it looked like coffee.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">*My caterer that I use for most of my tea parties and events is a great guy. But a little on the busy side, so he misses a lot of details. I ordered petits fours in pink. My other assistant picked up all the food since it was on her way. So she didn't know what I had ordered. When I opened up the bakery box of the petits fours they were decorated in red & green CHRISTMAS motifs! Augh! I was livid and said a select few cuss words (forgive me Lord)......remember I am still PMS'ing.....</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">*The handle on my silver bride's basket broke, so I tried to use clear duct tape to hold it down.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">*I did not have any jewelry, forgot to pack anything with all the hoop-a-lah going on. So one of my friends, Kathy (in the tea party scene) had some pearls in her purse and put them on me. She <em>IS</em> a true Southern lady, being from Georgia and all. </span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">*We were losing the sun and FAST. So we had to run around - click, click, click - get the photos </span><span style="color:#666666;">done before the sun went down. And what was also strange was that we were doing everything all spring looking, but there was Christmas music playing from the <a href="http://www.theclifflagunabeach.com/">The Cliff Restaurant </a>above us! Just seemed odd...</span></p><span style="color:#666666;"><p align="center"></span></p><br /><a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/?action=view&current=Risa_wmcopy.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Risa_wmcopy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">But all in all, it was a great experience! It wouldn't be memorable if there wasn't any drama, eh?</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-47679666322186086732008-11-03T23:58:00.000-08:002008-11-04T00:43:53.266-08:00The Prodigal ParTea Planner<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">It made me literally laugh out loud.<br /><br />I got an email from Phyllis of <a href="http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com/">Shabby in the City</a>:<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#666600;"><strong>Risa!<br />Did you DIE after your birthday???<br />I hope not! Check in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sistah</span>!</strong></span></em></span><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#666600;"><strong> </strong></span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">So, here I am. "checking in".</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I have no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">excuse</span> or reason why I stopped blogging.......</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><br />~Life gets in the way sometimes?<br /><br />~Sometimes our interests sway (you know us right-brained, creative, types that just hop from one thing to the next....) so I've been doing a lot of <a href="http://www.colorfulfaceart.blogspot.com/">face painting</a>. </span><br /></span><p><span style="color:#666666;">~I discovered <a href="http://www.facebook.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span></a>. Need I say more? Now that's a whole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lotta</span> fun! </span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">~I re-discovered my love for reading (after having three kids - forget it) and read Twilight & New Moon in four days and just got Eclipse today from Amazon. You know where I will be on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/">November 21st</a>! Yup. I've become a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Fanpire</span>.</span></p><span style="color:#666666;">~Since this past Spring, I have had to be in physical therapy for a pinched nerve somewhere in my back/neck. No relief. So I've just dealt with the arm weakness, tingling, discomfort and numbness in my left hand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pinky</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">~Tried to clean out the garage and get all my event stuff organized. Really. Do I need 200-something settings of china and teacups and totes of silver, silver and silver? Really! So I will be selling some things just to lighten the load from my tea hoarding years. Hubby would like to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">eventually</span> claim his workbench side of the garage. I think there is a in perfect condition, barely used treadmill in there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">somewhere</span> too.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">~I took a break from doing tea parties (in order to do the previous). Therefore, since my whole blog genre is about tea related stuff I guess I assumed that I had nothing to blog about. But I am finding out that <em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">I was wrong</span></strong></em>. I made some wonderful e-friends from blogging in the past. And the e-mails I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">received</span> due to my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">absence</span> asking where was I, is everything okay etc., was very humbling and heart-felt. So thank you to everyone who sent a What Up? inquiry. I really appreciate your concern and the time to drop me a e-mail!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">~When I heard Karin of <a href="http://creativechaos.typepad.com/">Creative Chaos </a>was just <a href="http://creativechaos.typepad.com/creative_chaos/2008/10/i-dont-call-this-blog-creative-chaos-for-nothing.html?cid=137602738#comments">diagnosed with breast cancer</a>, it hit me and realized how much I admire meeting such strong, fabulous, funny as heck, tenacious, down to earth and creative ladies I have had the pleasure of getting to know. Just from blogging. We need each other to hold each other up during the fun times and challenging times. Karin, you are in my pink prayers during this tough time.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I do have some photos from some recent adventures and will blog about those later. But for now I just wanted to say Hi and that I look forward to dusting off my kettle, polish my tarnished silver teapot, and getting a teacup out of storage and visiting with my friends again.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">xoxox,</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Risa</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-59539510415371399172008-06-16T09:30:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:01:40.653-08:00Today is my Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG13J45DPP0O-Kcsczjg8upYtXmB4PH-0OGk6i8xr30j-OT5N9mmNu2OLN769vYYMvBPkqenrNh6YJg3TsAXxBG7h_ToVw-JLcUt6_rYdpAphmi4_TpoT_gdPGD9ARwl-4TzMbsjIAw0/s1600-h/HappyBirthdayTeacup_Re.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076701832276993570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG13J45DPP0O-Kcsczjg8upYtXmB4PH-0OGk6i8xr30j-OT5N9mmNu2OLN769vYYMvBPkqenrNh6YJg3TsAXxBG7h_ToVw-JLcUt6_rYdpAphmi4_TpoT_gdPGD9ARwl-4TzMbsjIAw0/s400/HappyBirthdayTeacup_Re.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-56905770138503951772008-05-11T08:40:00.000-07:002008-05-11T08:44:58.145-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Happy Mother's Day to all the "Real Moms"</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">For those of you who are great moms, those of you who plan to be great moms and those who have great moms...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">REAL MOTHERS </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpets.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mom to Mother...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">The Images of Mother </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">For all the Mother's of the world, have a blessed day - you deserve it!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">From Risa, The ParTea Planner</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-62135300922499392432008-03-24T09:40:00.000-07:002008-03-24T09:41:01.663-07:00Happy Keester!<div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Sorry, I am BEHIND on posting a Happy Easter wish!</span> </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee148/colorfulfacepainting/?action=view&current=HappyKeester.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee148/colorfulfacepainting/HappyKeester.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-79421999043711703242008-03-20T20:38:00.000-07:002008-03-20T21:14:14.612-07:00The ParTea Planner's First Day of Spring Tea Party<p align="center"><a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/?action=view&current=Montage_FirstDayofSpringTeaParty_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/theparteaplanner/Montage_FirstDayofSpringTeaParty_1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">I cannot believe that it has been one year already since the first time I joined in on a blogging tea</span> <span style="color:#666666;">party!</span> <a href="http://theparteaplanner.blogspot.com/2007/03/spring-fling-tea-party-and-abandoned.html">Click here </a><span style="color:#666666;">to view that post. Wow, it has flown by!<br /></span><span style="color:#666666;"><br />We had a really fun time at our First Day of Spring Tea Party. My daughter was so excited about being picked-up from pre-school today because she knew that afterwards was "her tea party". She even wanted to wear a dress!! My lil tomboy is growing up....<br /><br />Well, just for description's sake I had to K.I.S.S. (keep it simple silly) because I have a lot going on right now with a wedding and some events and I've been slightly overwhelmed to say the least. So I made the sandwiches - consisting of egg salad, chicken salad, cucumber & cream cheese, and strawberry cream for Raina. Everything else was store bought. I can't seem to get away from my beloved pink & green combo, especially since we had the party in Raina's pink & green room! For the centerpiece I used the darling ribbon topiary that I received from <a href="http://frauleinh.blogspot.com/">Heidi</a> last year at a <a href="http://theparteaplanner.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-goodies-are-here-new-goodies-are.html">Spring Sweet Goodness </a>swap. It was perfect!<br /><br />My mom (Grammie) came over to celebrate, and it was so nice to have her be a part of it. In a couple of weeks she and my dad will be moving back to Tennessee so I've been pretty sad about that. There was even a moment when I wanted to cry, because I will truly miss having her near by. But I held back the emotion, as I didn't want it to be a buzz kill. </span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">Our other guest was "Puppy" who is Raina's lovie. We've always referred to Puppy as a he, so I guess by putting a dress on him for the tea party, he was in drag today. And the main reason I put on a hat for a photo was because I've been so busy I am way overdue on getting my hair colored! I think the last time I had a weave was before the <a href="http://theparteaplanner.blogspot.com/2008/02/photos-from-photo-shoot.html">photo shoot </a>for TeaTime! Pathetic.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">So I am still getting some emails and comments from all the hosted tea parties, so I will post the link list of everyone's posts very soon. I can't wait to see them all!</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">Thank you to everyone who participated, took some time for yourself to enjoy the rewards of a tea party, and then to post it to your blog. I absolutely love the kindred spirit that is amongst those of us who enjoy tea time!</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">Here's to a wonderful Spring! *clink*<br /><br /><br /></p></span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4393936985853019459.post-68690163467717192512008-03-20T10:52:00.000-07:002008-03-20T10:55:51.718-07:00Welcome First Day of Spring! Tea Party<span style="color:#666666;">I've been so busy getting things ready for our little First Day of Spring Tea Party that I forgot to provide a post for Comments.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">So, please leave your comment here with a link to your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blog's</span> post about your spring tea party. Then later I will put together a link list.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Thank you in advance to everyone who is participating and enjoying their First Day of Spring!</span>The ParTea Plannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704066450099995389noreply@blogger.com24