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.

Tea-Ball

So my whole blog thing, is, obviously about tea stuff and all. But I'm sure you all know that I have a ton of other interests and activiTeas going on. That's why the lil' pink tag on my banner header says "And Risa's Other Lovies". So I don't have to talk tea all the time, y'know.

Lately, it is baseball.

My two sons are in Little League and I am, of course, the Team Mom.

For both teams.

I know. I know. Classic over-doer. So as you can imagine, I've been busy with that, especially since the the season is almost over and I've been planning their End of Season Party(s).

Anyhoo, I wanted to get the coaches some cool personalized gift(s) and starting plugging away with graphics and other baseball sayings, etc. and got carried away. The over-doer that I am.

So, if you or someone you know are baseball fans and would like any cool baseball gear/items or a neat-o gift for Coach (or Team Mom, don't forget her!), check out my Cafe Press Store. If you would like items personalized with a name or a different saying, email me with the info and I can upload it for you.

A percentage of the proceeds will go to help support our community's Little League. Thank you for visiting and PLAY BALL!

Batch Number Deaux

Here's my second batch of mini faux cupcakes, but this time with *SPARKLE*

I love that word.
Sparkle.

Say it with me now.
Sparkle.

Vanilla Buttercream

Pink Buttercream

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They look much more sparkly and fairy-ish in person.

Now, what to do with two dozen of these?

There's a cute shabby-chic consignment shop downtown.
Maybe my friend there will sell them?

Later that day......

This is the first time I've made REAL cupcakes in a loooong time.
I usually use one of my amazing bakery vendors.

But with making all those faux cupcakes, it inspired me
to try frosting with tips on the real thing.
This is the first time I've used decorator tips.
In the past, I would just slap the frosting on with a butter knife.

It's not so difficult...

UPDATE: YOU CAN GET THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE FAUX CUPCAKES FROM THIS EBAY SELLER. CLICK ON "ITEMS FOR SALE". USE THE BUY IT NOW FOR "FAKE FOOD".

Please do not email me for instructions.

ThrifTea Finds

Here are some of my latest thrifty finds from the past couple of weeks.

It was a good silver day...

I'll use these for flowers on tea tables (after I polish them).

Pretty candy dish (?) I think that is what it is.
I liked the shape.

UPDATE

Here's the candy dish (?) all polished and shiny.

This was so tarnished it was beyond black
-almost purple- to get beneath the surface!
My fingers are crippled.
But it was worth the instant gratification!

Even better with flowers!
*sigh*

So if any of my antique friends know anything about silver,
the bottom of this piece is stamped
"ARGOSY 1847 Rogers Bros. 00669".
Be interesting to know a lil 'bout it....

Small silver tea set for Raina to play with.

Just. Because.
They are hot pink!
Probably never to be worn
(not by me at least, not with my bunion).
But they will make for a very hip floral centerpiece.
Someday.

Knick-knacks.
I love this kind of lime colored moss.
The frames I shall paint white and distress,
put a floral print fabric back to it and attach a
small china plate in the middle.


I want to give it a try at some of the neat-o tags
and paper ephemera stuff,
so here is my first purchase of sheet music.


I love retro jewelery...


And the pièce de résistance.

I had five minutes to squeeze in and visit one of the thrift stores
I frequent and spotted this cutie right away! It made my day.

Love the font style for the word COOKIES.

So, until the next episode of thrifty goodness......ThrifTea On!

Creative Diversion

For some reason the photos of my faux cupcakes was not showing, so I uploaded it again.

I think I reached my blogger cache limit or something(?).

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom, Sandra, was born in Tennessee on this day in 1944.

Her dad was an officer and was in Europe fighting in WWII. He led a battalion in the Battle of the Bulge and later did administrative duties for Gen. Patton. He returned home in 1946. I have a night gown that my grandmother made out of real raw silk that they used as parachutes when they parachuted into battle.

Mom grew up in the epitome of a baby boomer's world and had a dream childhood. Her grandmother lived next door, and she tells me tales of her wonderful grandmothers suthun cooking and baking. And growing up in the country (even though they were considered "city folk" back then - they were the first ones on their street to have a television!) hearing tales of catching fireflies and taking care of small farm animals.

In high school she loved Elvis, Dean Martin and played on the basketball team - ahead of her time for such a sport and she fell in love her junior year with blue-eyed and sweet mannered boy, Lloyd. He used to be her high school's most popular football player, but had graduated and joined the Army. When he came back to visit and went to a game that's when she took her chance to go talk with him. At the age of 17 they married in August, right before she started her senior year in high school. He was then stationed in Goose Bay Labrador, Canada. She continued to live at home with her folks for that year.

Then they moved as dad (Lloyd) was stationed in Lubbock, TX then in Wyoming. When he was done with his military service they moved to Los Angeles so he could go to Pepperdine Univ. to get a degree in missions. Mom was one of the campus secretaries. They lived on the campus housing apartments for the married couples. And were poor.

At age 22 and after several infertility tests, they had no luck with having children. Then one of the Professors who knew Sandra from her secretary job (he was also a minister) had met a woman who was pregnant and wanting a Christian family to adopt the baby. He approached Lloyd and Sandra with the opportunity. They had two weeks to prepare for a newborn and somehow they were able to come up with the $356 for the adoption and legal costs. This is where I come into their lives. Mom quit her secretary job and took care of me as a SAHM until my older elementary school days.

I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but I just want to wish my wonderful mom a birthday wish.

I wish that I will be the kind of mom and wife the way you are.....

to be patient

how you taught me how to read a recipe and to cook (I stink at it, but you did your part!)

how to sew

how to plan and make wonderful home-cooked meals (that I still remember to this day)

to keep a home clean (well.......)

to read books

to respect and support your husband like you do

the list goes on...

I love you mom and wish you the Happiest of Birthdays!

It does a heart good....

To see tea time photos in magazines....*sigh*

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Lahv these photos from Country Living and the tablescapes.
Second page is tealicious.



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These are pictures from my favorite mag, TeaTime with a wedding theme.
One is a reception, the other a bridal shower. Very pretty.
A tad on the traditional side. I dare say, predictable.

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Love the funkalicious and kitsch tea party look of Adorn Mag's layout with the crafTea how-to's.

Overall it was a good mag month for tea sheets (tear sheets).

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