This afternoon finds me on my back deck with the temperatures in the low 80s. The children are occupied, the neighbor’s sprinkler and birds mask the barking dog, and the butterflies and dragonflies occasionally flit by to see what I’m up to. It’s easy to be thankful today for life as a stay-at-home mom.

But that is not always the case. And as I have often shared here at Tea Party Girl, two simple comforts I’ve relied on through the ups and downs are quality tea and plenty of books. Recently, a number of new Tea Reads have been added to my ever-growing library including a new favorite:

An elegantly illustrated book, The Gentle Art of Hospitality provides simple and beautiful ideas for hosting others in our homes. As I read through it, I felt like the ideas were new and fresh, not typical. I felt like it was a chance to learn from a Southern lady who had a few more decades of experience welcoming other into her home under her belt. Here’s one of my favorites that helped my perspective:

“A simple glass of water with a slice of lemon on the rim is a wonderful presentation if our heart are in the right place.”

Add a slice of lemon. What a simple and beautiful idea!