It’s that time of the year again! If you’re lucky, the snow is gently falling outside your window! Christmas trees are being decorated and stockings are being hung. Shoppers are bustling and presents are being wrapped. Holiday cheer fills the air. And so does the rich scent of tea! It’s time for a Christmas Tea Party. If you are a tea party lover who would like to celebrate the season of giving, why not have
A few years ago I joined a women’s walking group in our local area. The idea was simple: several early mornings a week we’d walk a 5km loop around our suburb. Over time, the group has evolved and today we share a strong sense of sisterhood, supporting each other through thick and thin. After our weekend walks, we gather at my house for tea and coffee on the deck, always talking, often laughing, sometimes crying
Walking: A Path to Connection, Wellbeing and Community In today’s fast-paced world, the simple act of walking is often overlooked, despite its immense benefits for both physical health and mental clarity. Walking isn’t just about moving from one place to another; it’s an opportunity to connect—whether with nature, others, or ourselves. Regular walks can reduce stress, boost creativity, enhance problem solving and foster stronger social bonds. More importantly, walking together creates a sense of community,
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us begin to think about family, gratitude and the timeless traditions that make this holiday so special. While the food, football and festivities often take center stage, Thanksgiving also provides a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect and appreciate the connections we share with others. It’s a time for giving thanks, and what better way to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving than through stories? Great Thanksgiving Books to Celebrate the Season
Close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. Release it gently and slowly and answer me this… what is it that captures the essence of enjoying tea in solitude? Besides quality tea leaves and the tea’s flavor, of course. Tea lovers the world over know that drinking tea is not just for hydration. It’s about the whole tea drinking experience. So that implies we’re not drinking out of a coffee mug, then,
(Updated Edition from 2008 Original) Linda recently left me the following question: I hope you will answer this message and help me! My daughters are hosting a baby shower tea party for their sister in May. I want to know the best and most appropriate way to set a buffet table for 20 people. I have teacups for each guest and assorted teapots. There is a formal dining room table and a server in the
Last week I happened to drop in to a lovely little cafe in my nearby town to have a cup of tea with one of my sons. Without expecting anything different to come along, we ordered a pot to share. We were delighted when it was delivered in a cast iron teapot. A lovely squat, neat little teapot, with a beautiful intricate design on the outside. Although I had seen these kinds of teapots –
We are often asked, “Where can I find inexpensive tea cups?” That is a great question. There are several resources that you might consider if you want to add to your tea cups and saucers collection. Owning an assortment of affordable tea cups and saucers will come in handy for hosting tea parties for children, additional guests at an adults tea party, gifts, picnics, crafts and more. In addition, some people have grown a business
So, some of us just use the microwave (shock and horror!) to bring our hot water to the boil. Some of us use any old thing with a spout, sitting on the stovetop. (That’s the hob, if you’re British!) Some of us like fancy-schmancy digital electric kettles with pre set temperatures plus keep warm controls. And for some of us – only a whistle will do! A whistling tea kettle that is. Before the whistling
Do you remember your first tea set as a little girl? I certainly do! It was amongst my most treasured possessions. My tea set was very small and dainty and made of porcelain. It was white, with hand-painted pink flowers on it. I don’t imagine it was terribly expensive, but I thought it was precious! When it comes to idea gift ideas for a little girl, a tea set simply must be on the list!
… a special Christmas Tea Cup! Affiliate Disclosure It only comes out once a year, for a certain time, leading up to the special day and throughout the festive season. That one, beautiful piece that symbolizes this special time of year, when we celebrate – Christmas. Time with the love of family and friends, and time to remember absent loved ones. Each sip from our special vessel is a chance to close our eyes, reflect,
If it weren’t for our genes and other factors like nutrition, most of us would prefer a tall stature. Society looks upon the tall favorably and not so favorably on those that are a few inches shorter – it’s just culture. As a result, it is not unusual to see people trying one thing or another to be taller, and of course, avoid what is likely to reduce their height. Among the factors thought to
Herbal teas are something which everyone can enjoy — there are just so man of them out there. Different variations and ways of preparing tea make it a universal drink. All around the world, herbal teas are consumed and appreciated as a way to get a host of health benefits from different plants in a delicious beverage. 4 Herbal Teas for Your Health Though there are hundreds of herbs and plants out there, the following
Affiliate Disclosure It’s that time of year again! The time of year when pumpkins start being carved into spooky faces and put out onto the porch. It’s the time of year when delicious spices get added to your favorite teas or coffees and it becomes acceptable to eat candy before dinner. It’s a lovely time of year and is filled with a lot of fun! A great way to celebrate this wonderful holiday is to
Have you ever wondered if tea could be more than just a hobby for you? Could the passion you have for loose leaf tea change the world for the better? Monica Naples of Ar-t.com.au asked herself these very questions. Originally from Texas, her love for the leaf was discovered during her studies at University in Austin. A seed is sown “I started experimenting with herbals and progressed to sipping black tea for those late night
If you’ve ever wondered what Children’s Tea Party Food to serve at an occasion, then this article is for you. Today we are going to look at several options, each based on a particular constraint. These constraints are: Time Allergy Budget Use these ideas as a starting point to launch your menu and make it your own. Hosting a children’s tea party can be comfortable with a little bit of strategic planning. Quick and Easy
Every now and then you come across a brilliant recipe that you just know is going to be with you for a lifetime! These recipies suit different categories like treats, dinners or soups. And they just ‘fit’ with you. The ingredients are ones you like to work with. And more importantly, ones you always have them in your pantry! This vegan chocolate cake recipe is one of those “love at first sight” recipes for me!
Special Birthday Party Ideas Children’s parties are on the rise, and the most popular gathering of all is a special birthday party. The question is, does hosting a birthday party have any actual benefits for children? The answer may surprise you. Hosting a special birthday party offers many benefits. The key is teaching children celebrate and something greater than themselves. In Western society, we often think of a special birthday party as a self-centered gathering.
Stay at home moms know that extra income can be the difference between peace and stress in their household. Millions of moms are looking for ways to generate extra income and still be at home with their children each day. If you find yourself in this category considering your options, then this blog post about Children’s Tea Parties is for you! Children’s Tea Parties – What a Beautiful Way to Make a Living! Offering Children’s
Here is the full interview Tea Party Girl held with the lovely Monica Naples of AR-T the art of tea. We hope you enjoy it! About AR-T the art of tea, The Product How Would You Describe AR-T Teas to People Wondering if They Should Drink Them? AR-T tea blends are committed to producing unique and socially responsible teas. All of our ingredients are organic and the teas are from fair trade sources. Our
If there ever was a person in our lives who deserve to have a special teatime set aside for them, it’s our Mother (and/or Mother figures!) 364 days of the year, Mothers work harder than any other family member. Moms are often up at dawn. Their days begin with tracking down permission slips, packing snacks and folding clothes. Mom’s evening ends with straightening the house, finishing the dishes and double check homework. (While trying to
It’s that time of year again when we are constantly reminded that Mother’s Day is just around the corner! We’re reminded to buy a card and gifts, flowers even. Or should we give some thought to Mothers Day History, and why it exists at all? Mothers Day makes some of us appreciative, it makes some of us sad. It’s not a bad thing though – Mother’s day is a wonderful time to celebrate not only
In this special article, we bring you an independent TeaPartyGirl.com review of 10 different teas from Adagio Teas. The sample of teas chosen represents different continents, styles and strengths. Your only difficulty in reading the tea reviews will be deciding which Adagio Tea to try first! Who are Adagio Teas? The story of Adagio Teas is one of inspiration and truly honest and loving spirit. Born of one lady’s love of tea and the decision
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] To my mind, there’s nothing quite like using fruit and vegetable in cakes, slices, and other delectable morsels to enjoy with a cup (or pot) of tea. After all, we’re supposed to eat lots of fruits and vegetables each day, aren’t we? Why shouldn’t some of those be encased in chocolate and sweet syrup! Surely the beetroot in this gluten free chocolate beetroot cake must
A growing trend for Hen’s Parties, (also known as Bachelorette Parties or a Bridal Shower), is the very elegant and traditional High Tea Hen’s Party. Many women are marrying at a more mature age these days. With that added grace and maturity comes a greater discernment and different preferences. They may not want the more, let’s say, “conventional” hen’s party. You know the one. Big night out on the town, wearing a bridal veil
Tea is a Ceremony and Tea is for Drinking Tea is many things to many people. The purest tea drinkers and brewers believe in the benefit of brewing nothing but the finest long leaf tea. They adore the pure flavours, aromas and health benefits of the finest teas from around the world. For some people the daily ritual of brewing the finest tea has become a ceremony that is integral to the enjoyment of their
If you were to read a connoisseur’s review full of descriptions such as “strong body”, “delicious bouquet” and “lingering aroma”, what would you first thoughts be? And if the review included “superbly aged” or “delicately matured aftertaste”, what would your conclusion likely be? Possibly the words of an expert wine taster? One who is sampling the biggest and best selection of red wine from the world’s finest vineyard? Maybe so. These are certainly the types
Starting a tea business may seem like a “someday” dream. Perhaps each time you pour yourself a cup of tea you begin thinking of what could be. It’s time to stop dreaming! Today it is easier than ever to share your passion for the liquid leaf. Tea sales are soaring around the globe. Isn’t it time you got involved? In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the opportunities within the tea industry
Open nearly any cupboard and you will find teacups and saucers hiding inside. Even if you don’t use them these delicate tea cups you won’t want to miss their secret story few are aware of. In this article we will turn the tea cup upside down and expose the hidden truth behind their creation. Affiliate DisclosureOne Can Never Have Too Many Teacups and Saucers ! And, if you decide to start a tea cup and
Choosing the perfect children’s party music doesn’t have to take a lot of time. At Tea Party Girl we have created the ultimate go-to party music guide. Using our guide, you can easily choose appropriate music for your next kid’s event. Note: We have assembled a list of ideas for a variety of themed parties. If you don’t know how a song goes, use the song title provided and search for it on YouTube. YouTube
I will not claim to have created this recipe from scratch! I have adapted it from someone else’s inspiration, and given it a uniqueness in my own theme of simple, healthy and involving tea. I have used loose leaf tea to create this recipe, but the original recipe I adapted my creation from used tea bags – and for convenience, this might be a great option for some. It might also be a great idea
What I love and adore about tea is the subtle yet sophisticated range of delicate flavours that have something to offer every taste on pretty much any occasion you choose. A real tea – not tea bags, but delicious, healthy loose-leaf tea – is steeped in history and tradition which somehow enriches the experience of every last sip. It’s precisely because we normally associate tea with the rich traditions of China, India and Asia that
. Download Here : LexisNexis_and_Stop_the_Traffik_Tea_Report . “Everywhere around the world people drink tea. But how does this popular drink end up in your tea cup? Your supermarket or local tea shop will have bought their tea at the end of a long chain where pickers are trapped in the lowest employment positions on the plantation. The price of your cup of tea can be very high indeed.” A report by LexisNexis® and STOP THE TRAFFIK
Tea Health Benefits My current reading material is a book called “The Sugar Solution” by Sari Harrar and the editors of Prevention magazine. This is not a new book (my edition is 2004) and it’s not the latest available on this topic, but I read it all the same and am curious about what else is out there on the same topic. Part of my reason for loving tea is the health benefits it brings
Despite what popular culture dictates, your Christmas drinks do not have to be alcoholic to be delicious and fulfilling. Waking up feeling fresh, clear-headed, rested and invigorated after a joyous time and delicious food is so appealing to some people that they’re happy to forego the sparkling wine or other usual beverages for something a little bit more, well, modern day! And for those of us for whom Christmas would not be Christmas without a
When we purchase tea or coffee, many of us like to make sure our delicious beverage was produced with fair and ethical standards. Much of the tea we drink is imported, and it can be difficult to know if you are supporting companies with good standards, or companies who mistreat employees or dodge ethical practices. With words like “fair,” “ethical,” and “alliance” tossed around on virtually every package, it can be difficult to determine what
Lipton Tea company was founded in a rather unusual way. In 1878, five coffee plantations on the island of Colombo, (then) Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) had been taken over by a fungus and the businesses fallen subject to bankruptcy. Thomas Lipton sailed to the island and purchased the plantations. He paid local workers to rip up the existing plants, and elephants helped. Once the crops were pulled, however, Mr. Lipton decided to plant tea
In 1837, brothers Joseph and Edward Tetley were selling tea right off of the back of their horses, paving the way for what would soon become Tetley Tea company. The world watched as London quickly became the global center for tea trade. These entrepreneurial brothers took advantage of this by moving the company to the central location almost 20 years after the company’s humble beginnings in Yorkshire. Joseph Tetley soon became the business’s primary owner,
Tea For One Like You’ve Never Had it Before Hello, it’s Sonya Michelle, Tea Party Girl here, showing you a whole new way to take tea for one! I have something to show you today that I’m very excited about. It’s one of my treasures. The kettle has just boiled and I’m about to make a cup of tea showing you how I would make it with my special Chinese tea cup. You may have
Constant Comment – the top selling flavored black tea in the US Like most tea companies, Bigelow Tea has a unique history. Ruth Campbell Bigelow, one of the original founders of the tea company, is credited with creating the first specialty tea in the United States. The brew of “Constant Comments,” made famous by this trail blazer of tea brands, is named after the comments Ruth received when sharing the new brew with others. Ruth’s
Why I love Drinking Tea So Much Do you know I think the world would end if there was no tea? Maybe I should name that Why I Love Tea So Much. Hello, Sonya Michelle is my name. I’m from Tea Party Girl and I’m bringing you some realiTEAtv today! Tea is a very big part of my world and I’d like to tell you why. How do I love tea? Let me count the
“Choose a career you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life” says Fran Whalen of online specialty tea retail business, Doehi Tea (www.doehitea.com). One Woman’s Tea Dream Fran is the proud owner of this well known, online tea brand and runs the business from her location of Tellico Plains Tennessee, in the foothills of the beautiful Smoky Mountains, with the help of a partner. Although this is her first tea business
Twinings tea graces the shelves of stores in more than 100 countries throughout the world. You’ve likely seen it in just about every grocery store and health store, and it’s even a top favorite among restaurants, cafes and tea shops. So, how did this company begin its journey to taking over tea cups across the globe? It began in 1706 in London, England, with a man named Thomas Twining. Twinings was among one of the
Green tea weight loss is a popular trend all around the globe. Green tea weight loss supplements line the shelf of every pharmacy and grocery store, each promising that you will lose weight with their main ingredient: green tea. Green tea, however, is not only helpful in weight loss, but it naturally rids your bodies of harmful toxins, and replaces them with powerful antioxidants that can improve your body’s function from head to toe. But
The Le Creuset tea kettle phenomenon, though a recent trend, are made by a company who has been around almost an entire century. In 1925, Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq realized they could improve upon cast iron by coating it with a glaze of porcelain enamel. Their first product was a French oven, and the vibrant colors the company produced were soon very popular. Today, their iron is still cast in the same original foundry
If you are like most, immediately after reading the title to this post you wondered, “What on earth is Panda Tea?” Your imagination likely didn’t bring to mind any images of a panda’s digestive cycle. Often referred to as Panda Dung Tea, however, the tea’s very existence depends on just that. Said to be the most expensive tea in the world, this is a tea fertilized by panda excrement. While researching this tea, it’s tough
The Breville One Touch Tea Maker The Breville tea maker has tea drinkers everywhere talking. Tea drinkers have long awaited the day when we, too, like coffee drinkers, could wake up to a fresh cup of our favorite beverage, blended to perfection. Sure, Keurig has tried to make this possible to some degree, but for those of us who long for a “true” tea (freshly brewed to a temperature specific to the type of
Matcha green tea benefits your entire human being as a whole. It’s healthy, it’s calming and it’s easily available to you. Use your creativity to get cooking on some unique matcha recipes, and feel happiness wash over your life. This isn’t imagined. The Matcha green tea benefits you’ll experience are worth their weight in gold. Read on to find out how Matcha benefits your body, mind and soul. Matcha Green Tea Benefits Protect and fuel
No, the grinding in question isn’t a dance move; it’s how green tea leaves transform into Matcha tea. Make yourself the first in your group of friends to know about this ancient piece of Japanese culture and how to integrate it with what you already enjoy on a daily basis. Discover the mysteries of Matcha, and get ready to amaze with instructions on how to safely make your own! Mystery 1. What is Matcha
When you add tea dresses to your wardrobe, you give yourself a gift that enhances your whole life and lets The Elegant You shine. Days are long, and they’re filled with chores, work and a million other tasks that take up your energy. Recharge, and look great doing it. Read on to see how simple and beautiful dresses add elegance to your daily life. Simple Timeless Tea-length Dress Tea Dresses are Simply Simple You don’t
Tea has changed my life. It’s true. When I began to practice a lifestyle of tea, I literally bloomed like an oolong leaf releasing it’s liquor. Here are the top lessons that revolutionized my life. #1 You Can Pursue Your Passion AND Make Money For a long time, I thought it was either one way or the other. You either make money or you love what you do. When I began to research the
Looking for modern day tea party ideas? Let’s explore the tradition of tea, the social revolutions it caused, and ways to celebrate the delightful, healthy treat. Tea parties have long served the purpose of being a somewhat quaint gathering during times when a dinner party would be too troublesome, inappropriate or over the top. Tea itself has quite an interesting history. Thought to be an accidental discovery, (one story goes that) servants in 2737 B.C.
If you’re looking for a way to de-stress your lifestyle, loose tea works wonders. It’s more than just a beverage. The entire process, from selecting and buying your preferred tea, to serving the final product, helps enhance your sense of calm and collective control over your life. Keep reading to learn how to add quality tea to your life and subtract stress in the same equation. Loose Tea Benefits Your Body, Your Mind and Your
Jasmine tea is made from green tea (rarely Oolong) infused with Jasmine flowers. This aromatic tea has therapeutic properties even simply in its aroma. The scent of Jasmine has a calming effect which can help with pains from headaches to muscle aches. Only 150 grams of tea per month can do wonders at preventing strokes. Consumed in Ancient Asia, the combined calming effects of Jasmine Tea increase these benefits. Origins This green tea dates back
Do you not even give your teapot(s) a second thought – you just make a pot of tea? Or do you have a favorite pot for a particular tea? Do you use what you’ve always known when you were growing up? Or do you change your teapots regularly? Do you have a collection? Or only one? So many questions! And here are some answers to questions we’ve had here at Tea Party Girl about the
If you have yet to become a tea connoisseur, it’s very likely you are picturing a hot cup of tea with added milk when you read the title of this article. Contrary to the seemingly ambiguous nature of its name, Cream Tea is actually a light afternoon tea meal or dish – originating from the South Western Counties of Devon and Cornwall in the United Kingdom – and it is comprised of scones, served with
A Favorite Green Tea – Click Here for Details Does Green Tea have caffeine in it? Yes, it does. If you’re someone conscious of your caffeine intake – or the intake of those in your care – the question of whether green tea benefits outweigh any green tea caffeine content is one you are wise to ask. For some, even a small amount of caffeine in their diet during the day can affect their ability
When you’re looking for original tea party ideas and want something simple, delicious and wholesome to serve alongside the traditional tea sandwich and scones, this all new Healthy Honey Summer Slice is the exciting new tea party food to include on the menu. And just because it’s called a ‘summer’ slice, it does not mean that it can’t be a winter favorite also! The honey and fruit and coconut combined are reminicent of the summer
Move aside, Green Tea! White Tea benefits are hitting the headlines, not least of all for the reports of its potential anti-aging powers. Never heard of White Tea? Don’t think it would be ‘your cup of tea’, even if you had heard of it? After reading through the following, you might give it a second thought. Recent Research on White Tea Health Benefits Early indicators from a recent research study are that white tea reduces
I adore drinking hibiscus tea for many reasons, not least of all the beautiful rich and deep crimson color it has. Hibiscus tea is best served in a glass mug or cup (preferably a pretty one) in my opinion, as that way this lovely vision is able to be enjoyed as well! Delightful Teapot and Cup and Saucer – Details Here Hibiscus Tea Benefits There is a lot of excitement in the air about the
It’s hard to believe that today has finally come. Today is the day I turn over my “hostess” responsibilities at Tea Party Girl.com to a special someone. I have loved owning and operating Tea Party Girl and I have so enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of it’s readers. (like YOU!) So without further adieu let me introduce to you, Sonya Michelle, the NEW, “Tea Party Girl.” I’m ready to bring you more
Recently, I was asked by a new TeaPartyGirl member if there was any information on our site about a Vegan TeaTime or Vegan Tea Party Treats. Since there wasn’t anything I could find, I decided to write one something for our Vegan Tea Loving Friends. This article may be helpful to those who are eating gluten-free as well. Just be sure to make substitutions where necessary. So, What is a Vegan? The term “vegan” was
This article was originally posted several years ago. The problem is, the issue seems to have gotten worse. Are we so self focused that we can no longer think of others? Read this post, and comment. I want to hear your thoughts +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Yes, this is my question, and I want to hear from you in the comments, especially if you are someone who doesn’t RSVP when invited to an event. I won’t hold
Let’s face it. Many of us already work really hard. And for some of us, hosting any kind of event sounds like a lot of work. Even more of us, especially independent Americans, rarely delegate for a number of reasons. I struggle to delegate because frankly, it’s often “easier” to take care of the responsibilities myself than try to communicate with others what I really want them to do. However, my mother, Anne
We love a good themed tea party and whether you are hosting a women’s tea party, a bridal tea party or a children’s tea party, using a mystery tea theme will add a unique touch. (It will also keep your guests talking for months to come!) So many mystery themes to choose from: Over the years we have hosted numerous mystery tea parties, with great success and enjoyment. We love customizing the tea party menu
The great thing about tea research is that new things come along all the time. And, every great discovery or new suggestion seems to spawn at least two new studies to go along with it. The following 3 discoveries are worth a closer look for any tea lover that is interested in building their overall health by drinking tea. Adding tea to your regular daily routine can not only increase your health, it
Ok. Detox is a huge buzzword but what does it really mean? Can detox and tea go hand in hand? If you want to start a detox what should you do? Each of these is a great question that deserves an answer! This article will teach you exactly how to incorporate detox and tea into an easy regimen for a 3 to 5 day process. Test it out and tell me what you think! -Dawnya
Need a simple idea? Why not host a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea? I am not talking about a lavish event instead I am suggesting an intimate affair for you and the one you love. Mother’s Day is May 11th this year, just a month away. Your typical Mother’s Day may be as simple as sending a card or flowers, or picking up the phone. Do you try to get together with your mom? If so,
Be Sure to Set a Pretty Table for Guests Use simple and elegant tiered, serving platters like we have and you can’t go wrong! For Ideas, Visit Tea Party Girl’s favorite picks here on Amazon! The Question is: How Do I Make Tea For A Large Group? It’s the beginning of the week and that means it is time for another Dear Tea Party Girl post. This week we answer a question that many of
Yes, You Can Wear a Hat by Laurie Nienhaus “The hat I was married in, will it do? White, broad, fake flowers in a tiny array. It’s old-fashioned, as stylish as a bedbug, but it suits to die in something nostalgic.” Anne Sexton As surely as we see sugar bowls on the tea table, we expect to see hats upon the heads of tea party guests. It’s not a requirement of course, but tea
Have you ever wanted to take tea with the queens of England? This party celebrates four Queens who ruled England, honoring each with her own table, where guests are served tea and refreshments going back to the time of her reign. Guests move from table to table in a slow, stately version of musical chairs. Every half hour, the hostess announces, in her most royal herald-like voice, “All rise, please, in honor of her Majesty
Teatime in London Like The Natives – On The Top of A Double Decker Bus (while moving!) The sun was partially shining through a range of menacing clouds in the distant sky. “Welcome to London in winter,” I thought, wrapping my scarf an additional time around my neck. We had just emerged from the underground tube station at Earl’s Court and were busily dragging our luggage behind us. Over the years, I have gotten quite
This post is the first in an upcoming series on afternoon tea in Great Britain. I will be traveling to Great Britain later in the month, and sharing my journey with you. I hope that you will participate with me through comments and on Facebook. Join our RSS feed and our email to be included in the full story. I love London. Always have. My first visit was during the summer of 1988 when I
If you don’t start a tea business now you may hate yourself later. Here are 10 reasons to make 2014 your year to start a tea business. #1 You Have A Dream Passions come and go but dreams stay in our hearts. If you have ever dreamed of a tea business now is the time. There are more opportunities to own and operate a tea company than ever before. You can run a
Downton Abbey fans rejoice! Season four is right around the corner. (January 5th 2014 in the U.S.) You can celebrate the series by hosting your own Downton Abbey Tea Party. Here are a few suggestions but be sure to leave comments and share your own plans (because I know many of you are already getting ready) ! Theme: Season 4 of Downton takes place in the early 1920’s (specifically 1922-1923). This was the
Let’s face it. Sometimes you need a gift in a hurry. Whether it’s Christmas, birthdays or just a special thank you gift, you need a “go to” list that you can count on. Consider it done! Below I have listed ten afternoon tea gifts that will keep your tea loving friends happy! Each of these gifts is available on Amazon.com so you can get super affordable, and super quick shipping. (thus the last minute crisis
Need a new Christmas tea party idea? Here are my top 7 favorite Christmas tea party concepts. Read them, pick one and then DO IT! We would love to see photos so be ready to share them with our readers. 🙂 Tea and Trimmings The Tea and Trimmings theme is designed for your immediate family and/ or close friends. Tea and Trimmings sets the stage for your holiday celebration to begin. Concept: Family, decorate house,
Thanksgiving Tea Party? Am I crazy? This article is very much a “Tea Party 101”. It very simply shows you how inviting an unfussy tea party can be! As far as party ideas go, Thanksgiving and the weekend after can be a great time to gather with your loved ones and unwind a bit. Why not give it a go! At the end of this article I have included a link to an awesome Crockpot
Tea parties and Christmas go hand in hand. The Joy of Baking is a great resource for holiday cookie recipes and I have chosen a few of their videos to share with you today. Under each video I have given a suggestion for the type of tea that might pair well with the featured cookie. Sugar cookies pair will with a variety of teas. Many people enjoy a spicy tea during the holidays.
Are you one of millions of Americans who are challenged to live a gluten free existence? If so, this article will help you discover how to make delicious gluten free scones. There are many gluten free afternoon tea adaptations for a variety of favorite foods. In this article I have included two of my favorite scone recipes. The first is from King Arthur Flour and includes a recipe for creating your own multi-purpose
It’s fall once again. (how did that happen?) Fall is the perfect time for cozy tea parties devoted to harvest related foods. This post is dedicated to afternoon tea recipes that work with a simple fall tea party menu. Below is my suggestion for an easy to follow menu. In addition to the afternoon tea menu I give you full access to the afternoon tea recipes and suggestions on activities. Pour yourself a cup of
Calling all students! What’s your cause? What do you care about? Would you like to raise money for an organization without the stress and strain of trying to do it yourself? PTA Church Groups Missions Community Needs Chamber of Commerce Rotary Boys and Girls Club or anything else you care about…. Our live webinar will be held September 30 and October 1st with replays available if you can’t join us in person. Here’s what
Afternoon tea parties require a full bodied black tea which will stand up to both sweet and savory fare. Tea Party Girl recommends Keemun by Fortnum & Mason. British Bliss is 100% pure Keemun tea which pairs well with nearly every food. You will love it with cheese, salmon or quiche as well as chocolate, brown sugar or lemon flavors. What else can you do with it? I am glad you asked. Fortnum & Mason
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “what is happening to the children of this world?” Do you feel frustrated with rude and inappropriate behavior at every turn? If so, it may be time for you to do something about it. YES YOU! You can do something about your community by adopting a child for afternoon tea. Over the years, numerous women have shared with me their tea journey. For many, after school tea with a
Digging through the Tea Party Girl archives I found this great article from our founder, Jenny Wells. Take a peek and get inspired! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Autumn is notoriously a busy time. Maybe we feel we need to make up for summer slothfulness, or something. We prep for the holidays, plan retreats and seminars, play sports (soccer moms, anyone?), try to tackle house projects before the winter comes, and teach our children well. So, my criteria for
Hi Tea Party Girl Lovers- Are there benefits to green tea? If so, what are they and how can we incorporate any green tea benefits into our daily lives? You may have heard that green tea is known as a super food and that it is highly recommended by people like Dr. Oz. but why should we drink it? In this posting I have included both videos and and article on the 7
Dear Tea Party Girl Readers, Today’s post will enable you to impress even your most difficult friends. The next time you are hosting afternoon tea, share the history of each part of your tea set. Jaws will drop. Eyebrows will shoot up. You will give the general impression of a person who knows all and is able to show it with class. Ready to be brilliant? Our guest post is from Joelle Grubb from Teatime
In Great Britain, every day is time for tea and there is nothing more elegant (or expensive) than taking afternoon tea in London. Today’s post is an ode to all British tearoom’s and a chance to do a virtual visit. First stop, the ultimate guide to British afternoon tea, http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/ On this site you can leisurely peruse the tables of tearooms all over the country. From the Muffin Man to the Lanesbourough and
How to Clean Tea Cups, Saucers and Teaposts Without Using Harsh Chemicals There is something truly wonderful about drinking tea out of fine china teaware. It can really add to the experience of drinking tea. Whether it’s an heirloom passed down in your family, or something you fell in love with and bought yourself, fine china teaware can hold a lot of personal meaning and is often treasured. It’s also perfect for using when you
Since its introduction into the Western world, tea has grown in popularity and is now the second most popular beverage in the world after water. Throughout its history tea demand has dramatically increased as a result of its good taste, health and medicinal properties and increasingly efficient channels of production and distribution. Perhaps the most important benefit for the consummate tea drinker is the aura of good feeling and stress reduction. Tea production and distribution
Tea and creativity go hand in hand like tea and milk or a teacup and a saucer. In honor of all those creative tea lovers out there, I have assembled a collection of unusual, tea related videos. From creative advertisements and short films to the most romantic proposal ever… you do not want to miss these video moments. I suggest you make a nice pot of tea, kick your feet up on your desk and
Do you long for a great cup of sweet tea? Here is a simple recipe to get you going. Need some inspiration? Let Anita Renfroe give you a great big laugh! Enjoy and share. Easy Sweet Tea 1 pinch baking soda 2 cups boiling water 6 tsp Keemun, Ceylon or Assam tea (placed in a disposable tea filter) 3/4 cup white sugar 6 cups cool
Are you a Pinterest fan? If so, you will love the new Tea Party Girl board. I am pinning new ideas each week so be sure to come back often and share the posts with your friends! You can follow the new Tea Party Girl board at http://pinterest.com/tpartygirl/tea-party-girl/ Here is a recent pin that really inspired me. Think hot, summer day with a great big pot of iced tea and a fresh fruit salad.
A well prepared “tea party” host or hostess, will always have scone mix on their shelf. But what is your party calls for a different flavor scone mix then then one you have on hand? What if you need a savory scone to go with that salad course? Never fear. Tea Party Girl is here. Tea Party Girl recommends always having at least two Victorian House Scones mixes, Oatmeal and Original recipe. Victorian House
Can’t travel to London today? No problem. In this post we bring a fine British gentleman to show you how to brew a proper pot of English tea. I know you will enjoy this demonstration straight from across the pond. Need some actual British Tea? I recommend ordering from www.EnglishTeaStore.com they have a great selection of teas and treats. My favorite treat is Hob Nobs. Those tasty oatmeal biscuits covered with chocolate are the
I recently watched Miss Potter for the first time. Enjoyed the movie, thoroughly (Ewan McGregor sings, how could I not?). A classic story of English aristocracy, this interpretation of Beatrix Potter showcased many of the values I hold dear. These included: a commitment to creative work despite the objections of others, even one’s own family. a love for farming and preservation of the land. living through heartache and coming out stronger on the
Recently, I experienced three deaths in my family. The loss of loved ones reminds you to consider the frailty of life and the honor of living side by side. As I have pondered life, I have also considered the artful mesh of tea and remembrance. There is something special about pouring a cup of tea and retelling tales of life’s little wonders. My grandparent’s loved to tell a story over and over again. Each
Dear Tea Fans, It is time again for a series of recipes. These recipes are designed for making simple tea lattes in your home. A latte is a term used for “coffee milk” but in this case we will be using tea and milk instead. Feel free to replace traditional milk for soy or even almond or rice. You will have to experiment and see what tastes best to you. Lattes can be served
If you happen to be unfamiliar with Keemun, then this article will inspire you. Keemun is a great tea of nearly every tea party menu and your friends will love it.. The first thing that you need to know about Keemun tea is that it is probably the most well-known black tea that China produces. Although it enjoys a huge amount of popularity, it is a fairly new tea. As the history of Keemun tea
Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Tea? NO! Dear Tea Friends, My drawers are currently FILLED with tea. I have been sampling tea till it comes out my ears, in order to write this article for you. Are you ready to try a new tea? Are you ready to support a small tea company? Do you need a special birthday, Valentine or St. Paddy’s gift? If so, this article is for you.
Today we have a fantastic guest post sent to us from Eve Robins. Eve knows that Valentines is right around the corner and what could be better than giving the one you love tea and chocolate! Take a few moments to read this article, share it, post it, tweet it and comment! Tea and Chocolate: Turn Your Tea Into A Real Treat When we think about combining chocolate with a drink, our thoughts may
Hi Everyone, Did you know that January is Hot Tea Month? That means it’s time to make yourself a pot of tea and enjoy it each and every day! Here are a few of my favorite time saving ways to get tea done quickly WITHOUT using a nasty grocery store tea bag. Ways to Cheat: #1 Fill a large carafe or thermos with boiling water and use a large tea filter sock to brew your
by Jenny Wells I’m sure this problem of perfectionism does not affect all my readers, but statistically it applies to many of us. Perfectionism when planning a party is draining, indeed. Even without perfectionism, it still takes me four “days” (those are multiple children in the house days) to host an event in my home. One day to clean One day to cook/bake One day to host my tea event One day to clean-up
If you love baking for afternoon tea then this article is for you. Flour comes in a variety of types and can be incredibly confusing to the novice. This article gives you a run down on how to identify the correct flour for your tea time baking project. Personally, I use alot of pastry and cake flour when creating afternoon tea treats. This article explains the advantages and disadvantages in an easy
So you’re convinced. You’ve read “The Top Seven Mistakes Tea Drinkers Make“. You want to begin brewing looseleaf tea and develop your first real tea party menu. But where do you start? My article, “The Secret to the Simple and Quick Tea Party” talks about the first ten items I recommend purchasing in order to have what you need for a simple tea party for four. This article will give you the list of my
Dear Readers, It’s January. Have the cool, dark nights left you feeling blah? Do you need a good party? Elementary, my dear Watson! Combine a pinch of tea and a dash of mystery! The result is a Baker Street Tea Party that would make Sherlock Holmes proud. Here are some simple suggestions for a stimulating Sherlock Holmes tea: Invitations: Invitations stir the imagination and set the tone for your party. Don’t be afraid
Some thoughts about the beauty of tea….. Blind people can enjoy tea, of course, but as with the rest of their lives, they are denied a beautiful dimension–the visual. Forget about drinking tea for a minute. Let’s extol the drink for its delightful impact on the eyes. Tight cakes of pu-erh tea are beautiful in their own right, with the darkened leaves compressed into intertwined, unfathomably complex blocks. Aroma aside, each cake is
Dawnya is at it again! Yes, the original Tea Party Girl is out and about looking for inspiring ideas to get you excited about tea time. Afternoon tea need not be difficult. In fact, the goal is to LOOK difficult but BE simple. The following videos and recipe links should get you excited. Take 30 minutes and feel like you just completed an online class. Step by Step Tea Sandwiches. In this class you will
I recently ran into this creative video on statistics and tea. Watch it and tell me if YOU think you could perform this amazing feat 🙂
Gone are the days of the standard tea party. Today’s afternoon tea gathering can be as creative as you are. Need some help? A printable tea party may be all that you need. What is a printable tea party ? A printable tea party is a program which allows you to print custom paper designs and use them to create unique party setting. For example: using your home computer you can print out an unusual
Dear Tea Lovers, Are you looking for a crazy fun tea party that people won’t EVER stop talking about? If so, you will want to host a “70’s Tea Time.” The following post is filled with seventies themed ideas that you can customize for your own group. Invitations: Loud print paper is required. Print your invitations on your computer and send them off in yellow or clear velum envelopes for all to see. You can
Dear Tea Friends, I recently came across this “classic” post from the early days of Tea Party Girl. The founder, Jenny Wells, had some great thoughts on the time it takes to make tea and why it’s important to spend the time! At the end of this article I have some updates on ways to save time making tea. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see my personal list. ++++++++ As a tea
by Jenny Wells You’ve been asked to host an event in your home. Maybe it’s a girl’s night out, direct sales party, or bridal shower. “We’ll take care of everything,” you’re told. “We just need a place.” And you think, “Great! I can do that. It should be a breeze.” I have a question for you, Readers. Do you think this is realistic? One of the reasons I have been unable to post
There is a time and a place for every effort under the sun. At times, place cards will be appropriate on your tea table. With place cards you can: Relieve your guests from the guess-work of where to sit. Give your event a friendly but dressy and prepared-for feel. Show your thoughtfulness as a hostess, choosing the best for your guests based on previous relationships, personalities, and the possibility of new friendships. Your place
In recent years, “White Tea” has gotten a great deal of press. White tea is a lightly oxidized tea grown and harvested primarily in China, mostly in the Fujian province.. More recently it is grown in both Taiwan and now in Northern Thailand. White tea comes from the buds and leaves of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves and buds are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further tea processing. The name “white tea” derives from the fine
Dear Readers, Have you ever wanted to write a cookbook? You know, gather all those great tea party recipes you have collected and DO something with them? If writing a cookbook is something you would love to do this article will walk you through the steps. +++ 10 Steps To Writing A Cookbook by Denise Rutledge Anyone who loves to cook probably has a good cookbook trapped inside. The question is how to
Midsummers Night Tea Party On Midsummer’s Night, weird and wonderful things can happen. An ordinary garden can open doors into nature’s mysteries at night. Invite your guests to wear at least one piece of clothing they don’t usually wear—something too fancy or unusual for everyday life. Send out invitations with a hint of strangeness: an iridescent ribbon or a few bits of glitter inside the card. The party will start at sundown or
I’d like to share a new herbal tea discover. It’s called Busch Tea Recently, I tested Busch Tea. Busch tea is actually an herbal Rooibos blend from South Africa. As many of you know, I taste teas on a daily basis so I really wasn’t expecting much when I sampled Busch Tea. Wow, was I surprised. Busch tea has awesome, unique blends of Rooibos, Honeybush and Hoodia that taste great and have fantastic health benefits.
Summer is in full swing and the time for outdoor tea parties has come. Planning an outdoor event is simple if you have good suppliers. Today’s post focuses on Etsy and the many great tea party supplies these individual artists offer. Here are my top 6 summer picks for tea time fun. Do you have a favorite product or artist with a shop on Etsy? Add your picks to our comments area. (be sure they
Green Tea has many health benefits and is rightly now considered to be a superfood. Many reports and research show that there are some incredible properties contained in green tea, which can help to cure or prevent some serious health conditions. 1. Green tea can help to stop the growth and spread of cells that cause cancer. Research has also suggested that because Japan has a comparatively low rate of cancer, it could be
Life is busy. Between work, kids, house and spouse there isn’t much time to think about doing anything, “out of the ordinary.” Why then, should you use your precious time to host a tea party Here are 5 reasons you HAVE to host a tea party: #1 You Can Make A Difference If you think you are tired, you can be sure there is someone else even worse off than you! Hosting a
Summer is almost here and now is a great time to catch up with friends and family in a relaxed setting. Afternoon tea at home or in the garden is a great way to unwind, laugh, smile and catch up on the gossip. In this post I will be sharing some simple ideas for pulling a tea for two together. Personally, tea for two is one of my favorite ways to celebrate life. Let’s
Next week I begin teaching a totally new tea business class that has been in the making for 10 full years. It’s called “You CAN Open a Tearoom.” If you are interested in a sneak peek you can grab a free webinar below: http://attendthisevent.com/?eventid=29654319 In honor of the upcoming class I have posted this article. Enjoy! Lessons I Learned In The Tea Room Take two parts training and three
Grab it while you can! I just received 4 gourmet sets of Talbott Tea. If you haven’t heard of Talbott they are an up and coming rising star. Their teas were featured on the Oprah list and on the TV show Shark Tank. Surprise the sophisticated tea connoisseur in your life with a delightful gourmet tea gift set. Whether you’re looking for a unique housewarming gift or a thoughtful birthday present, our gourmet tea set
Let me be the first to admit that I love the whole “jar food” trend. To me it’s vintage meets modern day “busy.” If you are not familiar with this trend ,the concept is simple. Collect a group of mason jars in various sizes (the kind used for canning) and re-purpose them as creative food containers. In today’s blog post I want to highlight some of the clever ideas that other bloggers have brought to
by Linda Duverney Tea-infused spirits are making their way into the cocktail scene. I never knew a tea party could be so much fun…A friend invited a group of us over one evening for a “Tea Party Under the Stars”. The custom has certainly changed; tea time is no longer exclusively at 3:00 in the afternoon. So why not make your next party a tea party with an attitude that everyone will be
by Jenny Wells To begin planning your tea party event, no matter what the season or event you need start by answering a few questions: How many people will you invite? Who will they be? What is your budget? How much does that give you per person? When will your event take place? What will be your theme? Some ideas for your spring event are available through my post, Once you make these decisions,
Looking for a quick, easy and elegant dessert? An English Trifle is set to impress! This dessert is great for tea time or for after dinner. You can make it in a large trifle dish or in individual servings. Ok, you say. You like the idea but what exactly is trifle? Here’s the scoop: Trifle is a dessert dish made from thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or gelatin, and whipped cream. These ingredients
This week we have a new batch of questions sent in by readers just like you. Keep them coming. Your participation will keep Tea Party Girl alive. Today’s topic is how to serve Afternoon Tea. If you have had questions on the process here are a few answers that may help you start your own tea party traditions. Dear Dawnya- I have read so many different opinions on this subject…which is served first after
Dear Dawnya, What time of day is each type of tea best to drink for health benefits? Sincerely, Health Concerns Dear Health Concerns, Tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant and while it may take the form of white, green, oolong, black or pu erh, it is still from the same plant. The tea plant provides a huge variety of health benefits and I suggest you drink tea throughout your day for a
Hi Everyone! Keep your questions and comments coming. Your participation makes this blog possible. Dear Dawnya, Hi, I have read several books on having tea served with tea leaves for a tea party, but is it OK to serve tea from a tea bag? I also served tea sandwiches with 5 varieties which took me a long time to make. Would it be better to make fewer sandwiches? I have given several tea parties
If you find yourself staring in the mirror wondering what you can do about your sagging skin then this quick post is for you! Recently the researchers at Kingston University studied a variety of 21 different herbs and plants. They tested all the properties and low and behold. they found that white tea appears to have a high potential for fighting wrinkles and many of the negative effects of aging. WHY? White tea is high
Your friend just called and will be by in a half an hour. She needs to talk. You need to listen. Is now a good time for a tea party? Absolutely! If you follow these simple steps. Note: Afternoon tea does not need to be only for special occasions. You don’t always have to dress up. Yes, it’s more work than serving chips and soda, but with a little practice and some key items
This week our topic is Yerba Mate. A reader asks: Dear Dawnya, I was under the impression that Yerba Mate contains a natural stimulant, but is not caffeine. Then I heard that it Is caffeine. I do not want to misinform people about Mate. Please help. Thank you, Confused Dear Confused, Believe it or not, the information on Yerba Mate and it’s stimulant has changed in recent years. Originally Yerba Mate was
Shari Ingram has a tea dream. She is planning to start a tea room in Big Rapids, Michigan. She has found a location, completed her training and is about to graduate from Culinary College. Now Shari needs your help. She is selling tea packs on Kickstarter to try to raise funds to open her tea room. Will you help? Order some cool stuff and make her tea dream a reality. Please email this to your friends
Dear Tea Party Girl Readers, Today I am launching a new article series on Tea Party Girl called ,” Dear Dawnya. ” Each Monday I will post a new blog answering your questions about tea, tea parties and other related questions. YOUR PARTICIPATION is key. Please submit your questions to my email. I will attempt to answer all questions at some point in the series. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Dawnya, I am interested in hosting a tea party that
This morning, as I turned over the calendar page to my birthday month, I delighted in viewing the above picture. Thank you, Mary Englebreit. I remember a time in life when I scoffed at the simple life relishing quiet moments and uncomplicated beauty. I lived on adrenalin, sought the thrills, and disdained those who weren’t seeking to change the whole world. But then MY world changed unexpectedly, suffering entered (as it does to almost all
March 17th is just around the corner and on St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish! So grab your pen and paper and start jotting down notes on your next big tea event. An Irish tea party should feature many of the customs, flavors and sounds of the emerald isle. The following collection should give you inspiration for the big day! (oh, and yes. I am IRISH 🙂 Here are some things you should know:
Many of the readers of this blog are living the gluten free lifestyle. If you are just starting on this journey you may enjoy this article dedicated to helping you substitute gluten free flour into your regular baking routine. Many delicious gluten free treats can be devoured at tea time. So get creative! Send me your recipes and I would be happy to post and share them with our readers. How to Substitute With
HI Tea Party Friends, Tis the season for some Valentine inspiration. If you are looking for great recipes, fun table settings or other interesting Valentine themed ideas then you will love this post. Here are a few top picks from other websites that will supply you with an abundance of fresh ideas. Please share your thoughts and plans for the “season of love and friendship” by posting a comment. My Top Picks: Tea-Party-Circle
A Valentine Tea Party A Valentine’s day tea party can be a great thing to share with close friends, family or a special someone. Whether you want to create a surprise, or plan it together, there are many ways to ‘do’ Valentine’s tea. It doesn’t have to be twee or soppy either – well, unless you want it to be, of course! ‘Romance’ is a word with many different connotations and love takes many
It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to show affection to the one you love. A tea date offers a sweet, old-fashioned setting for sharing sentimental pleasures. Invite couples of different ages and stages in their relationships. The silver anniversary pair will inspire the twenty-somethings on their third date. The newlyweds will bring back memories to the busy parents. Let everyone know this is an occasion to dress up and wear the jewelry
Not only can we credit Victorian England for the popularization of afternoon tea, but also for the practice of exchanging elaborate valentines. Did you know this? Doilies, rosy-cheeked cupids, and embellishments added to love letters began during the “Golden Age of Valentines” of 1840-1860. I understand that it was a subtle way for men and women to communicate their real feelings to each other. Don’t you remember looking hard between the lines for a hidden
Adults, just as much as children, enjoy a tea party that celebrates any sort of occasion. Serving loose leaf tea is a healthy alternative to any party option, and with the wide range of teas available, you can incorporate any theme or celebrate any occasion. From birthdays to anniversaries or other events, tea is a fun, unique, and easy way to create a party. Use the event (is it a birthday or anniversary?) to
Votes For Woman If you are looking for a unique tea party theme consider the topic of women’s suffarage. This tea party idea combines both history and the chance for smart women to gather together to celebrate and learn! A suffrage tea party can delve into the history of a women’s right to vote by allowing guests to play games that help them to learn about the past. At the same time, participants
Finally! The Tea Party Girl (TM) Scones and Spreads recipe booklet is here. This recipe booklet contains 42 outstanding recipes and can be printed out on your own computer. You will love adding this booklet to your collection or buying and sharing them as gifts. Get all the details at https://teapartygirl.com/scones_spreads_recipe_book/ Remember each recipe book you purchase helps support Tea Party Girl’s blog to keep it running. (so every order counts!) Share this link with
This party is for women who love men who love to go hunting. Let the men go sit in the chilly woods getting their boots muddy. Fall hunting season is a perfect time to gather together indoors for hot drinks, warm scones, and girl talk at a cozy tea party. A few days before sending out invitations, press and dry vivid autumn leaves in a telephone book, so you can include one in each
Does the idea of spending time with friends and watching old movies sound enticing? Turn this activity into a tea party and invite your favorite guests to watch your favorite old movies. A few refreshments and some relaxing teas can make an old movie night one to remember. Base your party on a particular movie or around the classic movie theme in general. Depending on the time of year, you can choose a movie based
Did you know that Tea Party Girl has over 300 plus articles, videos and posts? Due to the sheer volume of this blog great information is being buried. In an effort to remedy this problem I will feature 10 articles you may have missed but will want to read this weekend. 1. Tea for Teeth – Discover How Tea and Dental Health Go Hand in Hand 2. Tea’s Role in Literature 3. Six Possible Party Themes For
The season of soup has arrived. As a tea lovers you may be unaware that soup can be elegantly served for afternoon tea. In order to inspire you I have posted a brief history of soup and then a personal homemade soup recipe perfect for afternoon tea. Generally, soup is served as a first course or with a salad with a luncheon tea or in afternoon tea. Creative cups such as glass punch cups or
If you have ever wondered what the most popular green tea is, wonder no more. It is known as Sencha. Ironically, the Japanese translation of Sencha is “common tea”. Yet, Sencha is anything but common. In fact, there are many different types of Sencha tea, which make it a very colorful, fragrant drink to experiment with. Because Sencha is often processed in a varying amount of ways, there are all different sorts of this
The Blue Mountains. If you are unfamiliar with this geographical area, this is the mountain range that towers over the south of India. It is the same mountain range that brings us Nilgiri tea as well as many of the world’s other fine black teas. But let us take a look at Nilgiri tea in particular. What makes this tea special? How does it taste? And what does it taste good with? First and
A Victorian tea party expresses elegance and grace. When hosting a tea party, whether a little girls birthday party to a bridal shower or even a wedding a Victorian tea party can fit into every budget. In the 1800’s one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting started having tea and petite sandwiches served to in late afternoon. Dinner in those days was served very late in the evening. Soon, Anna, Duchess of Bedford began
Invite a group for an afternoon or evening back in the magical world of the Wizard of Oz. This event is perfect during the halloween season when so many people are eager to wear costumes. Each guest should be encouraged to dress up as a character from the movie. In the promotions, remind people of all their choices: not just Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, but also the Wizard, the
Are you looking for a very exquisite black tea with impeccable flavor? Why not consider what the Chinese deemed only good enough for their emperors and noblemen: Yunnan tea. Throughout the centuries, Yunnan tea has earned the reputation as being China’s “noble” tea. With its soft, lush leaves and subtle, yet rich, robust, and peppery taste, your customers will find Yunnan tea irresistible. One whiff of its smooth floral scent will enchant anyone
Need a smile? This video is taken from a popular BBC comedy show. Today they are discussing How Teacups Changed China’s History. Pour yourself a cup of Chinese tea and enjoy this episode hosted by Steven Fry. Like this video? Watch More Paul McCartney Sings About Tea Custom Blend Teas Like The Experts Save
Tea Party Girl makes every effort to test new afternoon tea foods. Today’s review features Barista Break and Bake Scones now available in three flavors at Super Walmart. Break and Bake scones are located next to Nestle cookie dough products in the refrigerator section. Break and Bake scones sell for around $2.50 and make eight 3 inch by 2 inch mini scones. Scones come in chocolate chip, blueberry and almond flavors and take around 20
Bring the mystery of the orient into your living room with a creative tea party that will have your guests begging for more. Possibilities are endless when you host an Asian themed tea party, from presenting an overview of Asian teas to replicating a Japanese tea ceremony. Your presentation can vary depending on your guests and how formal or informal you would like the party to be. Either way, an Asian tea party
Tea parties are always a fun way to get together, but a Mad Hatters tea party is a different kind of fun. What a memorable way to create some end of summer fun for the kids. Nonsensical and silly are the goals of this party. All the tea etiquette rules and sophistication of a traditional tea party go out the window, or should I say go through the looking glass? If you remember, in
If you are looking for the champagne of all teas, then you will most certainly savor the light, sophisticated flavor and muscatel character of Darjeeling tea. For centuries, Darjeeling tea has been known as a black tea that has a near-perfect taste. It is not only known as the most exotic of all teas, but it is also known as one the most expensive and brilliantly flavored teas in the world. “Why is Darjeeling
Tea is good for you in more ways than one. This video walks you step by step through creating a simple green tea facial scrub. You could use this for your own skin, bottle it for a favor or create it at a tea for teens tea party. There are so many fun ways to use this tea party facial idea. You can purchase great green tea from http://www.TeaSource.com or http://www.SterlingTea.com Here is another type
There is still time for a tea time gardening party! Plan this tea party for a warm month when the garden is ready for a big round of planting, weeding, pruning, or harvesting. Make sure that there will be a reward for your tea garden party guests to take home in appreciation of their hard work, in the form of a treat from the garden or some homemade cookies or preserves. Invitations to your tea
Celebrating the seasons with tea is a natural way to transition from one cycle to the next. Teas were traditionally available as the seasons changed, and honoring the natural growth cycle of tea plants is a fun way to share seasonal teas with friends and family. It is also a great way to sample teas that you or your guests may not be familiar with. It is now possible to grow all types of teas
In a small theater in London’s West End, I discovered Agatha Christie. Her mystery play “The Mousetrap” has been running continually since it opened 1952. It’s surprise ending reminds the audience that a great writer can always surprise you. When the curtain closed.. I was officially a die hard Agatha Christie fan. The last 13 years my life has been devoted to all things tea. I quickly discovered that not only was Ms.
On a recent drive to Topeka (about 110 miles from my Tea Events office) I decided to stop at Grandma Hoerner’s Food & Factory located just off the highway in Alma, KS. Grandma’s big red barn glimmers in the sun beckoning cars to “stop by.” Well, let me say that I was glad I did. Inside the big red barn is a small showroom filled with award winning foods along with samples galore. Through a
If you are looking for a clever idea then look no farther than Martha Stewart. This unique recipe would be perfect at an end of the summer soiree. It was featured on the Martha Stewart website. Martha has wonderful ideas so be sure to check her site on a regular basis at www.MarthaStewart.com I always search under the word tea and find a variety of recipes, favors, crafts and table settings. This is her
In 1773 the Boston Tea Party had a larger impact than just a political movement and regardless of your current policitical stance, the Boston Tea Party stands out as a momentous time of change. History students learn of the significant (though strikingly orderly) rebellion and spark of the Revolutionary War as the Boston Tea Party. Patriots, specifically the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians to protect their identities, boarded three ships and dumped tons of tea
The day has been long. Your washing machine broke. The phone won’t stop ringing. Your son put a plastic toy up his nose. All in all a hectic day. But good news! This tea party dessert is so simple and so delicious that your friends will think your whole day was spent preparing for them. What you need: 1 Box of Ho Ho’s or Swirl Type Cakes (Little Debbie or Walmart or Hostess)
A beautiful table is only complete when lovely napkins are hand folded and placed on display. Have you ever wondered HOW to fold napkins? If so you will love this series of videos on the topic. Remember that open a smaller luncheon style napkin is used for afternoon tea. In order to make an elaborate “display” napkin you will need to use a 24 by 24 inch cloth. A great source of affodable linen napkins
On a recent survey, I asked Tea Party Girl readers what they would like to read about. One of the requests was tablescapes and new table setting ideas. Great! I poured myself a cup of Ceylon tea and began to comb the internet for simple yet fun ways to make your tea table stand out at little or no cost. Here are the results: +++++ Is your budget tight and yet you want to
Flash back to a classic Tea Party Girl article from 2007 by founder Jenny Wells The beauty of tea lends itself to a daily ritual to counteract stress. Providing tranquility and balance, drinking tea at similar times throughout your routine will promote your well-being. Even if it is only for a few minutes, for example, drinking a cup of tea gives you permission to do nothing, except enjoy quiet and the scene outside your
There have been increasing requests for a gluten free recipes. Here is one from NourishingFlourishing.com Blueberry Scones Ingredients: 2 1/2 C. blanched almond flour 2 Tb. arrowroot powder (if you don’t have it, sub some coconut flour, chickpea flour, or extra almond flour) 3/4 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1 ethically sourced egg (I plan to try a vegan version soon — don’t worry! I just need to get some chia) 1/4
Dear Tea Lovers, I have been reading the results of today’s survey. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and interests as I press forward in this endevor. I want to make sure that I tailor this blog to your personal interests and believe me you are making what you want clear! Thanks. I look forward to announcing future projects and article focuses shortly. PLEASE NOTE: Many requested that I feature items on this blog focusing on the tea
HI Tea Lovers- If you missed the webinar called “Start A Tea Club for Fun and for Profit” you can catch the replay for the next 48 hours. This was a really well attended event and people are excited about the concept. I loved sharing real photos scanned directly from my picture albums. Here are the replay details: To listen to the replay, click this link: http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=21458775 The webinar is about 45 minutes. Grab a paper and a
Growing along India’s Brahmaputra River amid tigers, jungles, and one-horned rhinos, you will find it. You will immediately notice its body, its briskness, its bold color, and its malt flavor. It is Assam tea. Assam tea is a black tea that is grown in the Assam region of northeast India. Unlike India’s Darjeeling tea, which is grown at high altitudes, Assam tea is grown in the lowlands of the country. These lowlands make up the
Here in Kansas, it has been over 100 degrees for nearly 2 weeks. Summer is HERE with a vengence. If you are ready to plan some “summer fun” then you need some original ideas for an awesome tea menu. Here are some of my top picks for MUST HAVE tea books. If you don’t collect tea books let me encourage you that you should. Tea books give you inspiration to create and if you want to create
An etiquette school for children specializes in teaching a specific set of social skills to children. You can find an etiquette school in nearly every part of the country. Their lessons vary, but eventually, there is convergence between all of them. The best etiquette schools are capable of training even the youngest children in the proper way of behaving when in the presence of other people. The main advantage of such schools is that
When you think of the springtime, you may think of the freshness of new life encompassing all of nature’s divine beauty. What would make a more perfect green tea drink, then, than a tea made only with the earliest tea leaf buds of the spring harvest? The answer is: nothing. This is why those who love new beginnings, brightness, and serene happiness will be captivated by Gyokuro tea, which is made of these very pure
Despite the increasing popularity of tea, few good books exist on the history of tea trade. Roy Moxham’s book, Tea – Addiction, Exploration and Empire, offers an interesting examination of the subject. Moxham, author of several historical books, recently retired from the University of London. As such, the story is told from a British perspective. Since the British were so influential in the tea trade, this is a logical viewpoint. The story opens in 1960s
As time goes by, Jane Austen and tea never go out of fashion. In fact, they’ve both become almost trendy in recent years. So what better way to celebrate Jane Austen’s genius than with a tea party re-creating a few hours of her everyday life? Invite guests to bring along a favorite passage from one of Austen’s books. The invitation can include a pictures of typical costumes from the early 1800’s. Encourage guests to consider
Audra Lowe: A lot of people enjoy sitting down with a nice cup of tea, but have you ever thought about making your own? It turns out creating your own custom tea is a lot easier than you might think. Take a look. Female: Tucked into the bustling upper east side, the elegant SALONTEA might seem like a little cup of heaven. Tracy Stern: You can always come in. Everyone is dressed up. There’s
Fair trade in the United States is a system of product certification that enables customers to see that the products they are purchasing do indeed meet the government’s standards. Many products that must be certified are agricultural products such as tea, coffee, fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, cocoa, cotton, juices, nuts, oil, seeds, rice, spices, sugar, and wine. The Fairtrade Labeling Organization International, or FLO, is an international organization that audits the producers of
Hey Tea Party lovers! We have been working like mad behind the scenes at Tea Party Girl. Late next week we plan to launch a super cool product and collectable themed tea and recipe series. I am so excited about it. Plan now to watch your email and get involved. We will have a limited amount of spots and I know you are going to love this new program entitled “The Perfect Tea
Wanted: Hams, Drama Queens, Divas, Social Butterflies and anyone who longs to “Act Out” in a group. Theme:” Who Killed The Darling Duke of Darjeeling?” … a mystery tea time. Grab a group of your “gabbiest” girlfriends (6-8 will do) and host a mystery tea party they will be talking about for years to come. Follow this step by step article for a successful event. Step #1: Order the Instant Down-loadable Kit Who
If your tea party friends are looking for the freshest, most flavorful tea around, it’s time to introduce them to gunpowder green tea. Gunpowder green tea comes from the Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces of China. As you can most likely tell from its name, it is a tea that is made from leaves that are hand or machine-rolled into small pellets. Because of this, it tends to look similar to actual gunpowder! There is an
Did you ever watch a tea ceremony in person or on television, and wonder just how it came about? Or perhaps you wish to know about the ceremony to better explain tea to your customers. After all, it is very important to understand the past in order to fully grasp the present and the future. The traditional tea ceremony actually came from China, not Japan, as many people mistakenly believe. The tea ceremony was
Your best friend is raving about a great new tea she found online. She loves it. You on the other hand, have absolutely NO IDEA what kind of tea it is. No worries. Tea Party Girl has you covered. Here is our instant cheat sheet for figuring out what teas are what. Spread it around and make it viral. The internet could use a bit of help in this area! Assam-Like wines, teas
I was raised in a family of Beatles lovers. I know most of the Beatles songs and many of Paul McCartney’s post Beatles works due to my father. Our last name was “McCarthy” and that is pretty close to “McCartney.” It must have been meant to be. Since growing up I have drifted away from my musical roots but have to admit I love the song “English Tea” by Paul McCartney. I have been blessed
Pu-erh is a type of fermented tea that originated in Pu’er county in Yunnan, China. But don’t be fooled – Pu-erh is no ordinary tea! You see, most teas are consumed by teas drinkers soon after they are produced. But not Pu-erh. Pu-erh is typically aged at least one to four years before it is ready to drink. In some cases, Pu-erh can be aged for fifty or more years before consumption! “Why age
This week I hosted an awesome free webinar entitled “Start A Children’s Tea Party Business in 14 Days of Less.” I hope you were able to join me. Personally, I ran children’s tea parties for 7 years as part of my tea room. In the beginning I was really hesitant. I had nightmares about broken china and food fights but actually that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Within the first 6 months I developed
Alright. I know what you are thinking. How can I come up with some fresh ideas for my next tea party? Well, worry no more. The following videos will give you some great canape ideas. In case you are wondering: A canape is a little food, prepared and usually decorative, which is held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite. Because they are often served during cocktail hours, a canapé is often served
Tea and Etiquette. What is right and what is wrong? This simple video gives some great ideas and helps you feel confident at the tea table!
I had to share this article from the Wall Street Journal. It features a tea artist in Bangladesh, Mr. Gour. He has worked for years to create layered tea drinks and I am seriously impressed. The article is below: http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/06/07/the-secret-of-the-seven-layer-tea/# Enjoy! Dawnya
If you dream about the leaf and not the bean you are not alone. The tea industry is growing rapidly in the United States and around the world. Once thought of as a “lesser” beverage, tea is back with a vengence due in part, to its fabulous health and wellness benefits. So, what does it take to open a tea business today? Wisdom. If you apply yourself to wisdom, wisdom will take care of
It all started on Sunday. I woke up and realized I was bloated….AGAIN! Frustrated, I looked at my thighs, stomach and butt and thought.. “Something Has Got To Be Done!” Now, I don’t know about you, but for me, a spa wrap was out of the question. It was time to get creative at home. Here’s what I did: The first thing I did was research a basic coffee wrap. While I am known
Longing to Host a Springtime Afternoon Tea? Have you ever wanted to plan a special tea party but just had no idea where to start? Well, there is no better time to get started than today. In this article I am going to share my simple secret for creating a breathtaking springtime tea menu that will have your friends and family begging for more! Whether you choose morning tea or afternoon tea, the process will
“We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!”- Winston Churchill, June 5th 1940 Dear Readers, 60 + years ago our nation joined hearts and hands with that of the British people. In a daring attempt to bring freedom to the western world, Sir Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The first iced teas are said to have been made with Sri Lankan leaves during the World Fair in St. Louis, MO in 1904. Up until that time, America usually imported only green teas. In 1904. Sri Lankan tea growers sent a representative to show off their finest blends. Unfortunately the world’s fair was blazing hot and few people were interested in a steaming cup. Out of desperation, the salesman poured his hot
Hosting a little girl’s birthday party can be a big chore with alot of decisions. This article will give you a quick and easy guide to hosting a birthday tea party in 7 simple steps. If you follow the directions you are sure to give a party your friends, family and little one will remember for years to come. Step #1 – Choose a Theme and Order Supplies The easiest theme for
Imagine drinking a tall glass of naturally sweetened iced tea. Now imagine all of those antioxidants and healthy vitamins flowing through your body. Isn’t it great to know you are taking care of yourself even when you drink your favorite summertime beverage? Here are three easy ways to naturally sweeten a tall glass of tea: #1 Honey. Each and every year new studies prove that honey is good for us. So why
Iced Tea was created in 1904 in St. Louis, MO but believe it or not it is actually drunk in a variety of countries including; Austria, Canada, China, Thailand and Turkey. In the U.S. 85% of all tea consumed is in the iced or sweet tea form. Many of my Tea Party Girl readers are in warm locations and are requesting some help making iced tea. First off, let me start by saying the
Fundraising and tea time go hand in hand. Do you belong to a club or organization that presents a topic or entertainment each month? If so, why not help your club raise money for your favorite cause with a Mystery Tea Party plan? Raising money is usually unappealing but a Mystery Tea Party is fun and unique. Party themes adapt easily to lunch or dinner and would work whenever your group meets. Mystery
This “modern monkey” is the new PG Tips spokesperson. Tea and advertising goes hand in hand. In fact, Sir. Thomas Lipton helped develop the modern advertising world with his “It’s Brisk” Ceylon tea campaign. In Britain, PG Tips has had a unique and ongoing advertisement series for many years featuring the P.G. Chimps. The chimpanzees began appearing in 1956 commercials and often featured the voices of well known English actors like Peter Sellers
One of the keys to a simple tea party is quick and easy scones. To that end I am always hunting for great scone mixes. This week I tested Archer Farms brand scone mixes from Super Target. I tried their Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon Chip and Chocolate Chip. Here’s what I found. Pro: I love the fact that these mixes only need 1 cup of heavy cream. They are simple and easy to make plus you
Is there anything quite as comforting as curling up with a good book and a cup of tea? Doing it with a group of friends! Hosting a book tea party can be a great way to experiment with some cozy teas and share some great books. You can have a quiet party where guests can read, or combine a reading and sharing party, exchanging tea and book ideas, or conducting readings. There are a number
I admit it. I tend to like the television series that do not get picked up. You know, the 8 episodes that are pulled from the channel due to lack of interest. Yep. Those are my favorite. So it is no real surprise that I am in love with a short lived book series called “The Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries.” There were two books in this series published in 2004. “Dead as a
Are you searching for a type of tea to share with your tea party friend? Consider Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka. This tea has an amazing rich heritage and goes well with a variety of simple tea menus for all times of day. below you will find a great deal of information on this delicious drink. Produced in Sri Lanka, Ceylon tea is a black tea that is fully oxidized. It is grown all year
Baking for a tea party is half the fun. There is nothing I enjoy more than trying a new recipe for guests (especially when the recipes actually turn out!) The key to great baking is great ingredients and in this post I want to talk about a very important ingredient in most tea party recipes. The ingredient is Vanilla. How important is vanilla? How do you choose vanilla extract? Is it best to work with
As a serious Tea Party Girl, I have been given a ton of fantastic tea themed gifts over the years. If you are buying a gift for a hostess, friend or family member who is a tea lover, here are a few of my more creative suggestions. First off, know this…. your gift recipient simply cannot have enough tea related items! They love them, prize them, collect them, share them and find them adorable. It’s
So you’ve decided to throw a tea party for a crowd. Great! Let’s start by first, defining the term” crowd.” One of my tea mentors taught me that intimate is never more than eight. If you plan a sit-down tea party for more than eight (don’t forget yourself!) you will need more than one table. So some would say nine is a crowd. And some of you are here wondering if you can pull of
You’ve decided to host a tea party! Perhaps it’s your very first and you’re not sure where to start. (You’re in the right place) Or, you might be an ‘old hand’ at running such events, but just want to find out if there’s anything you can do a bit differently for this occasion. We think there is little that is quite like gathering together with friends over a pot of tea, some delicious scones, and
Are you about to have a tea party? If so, you have the opportunity to captivate your guests with display teas. If you are a very serious tea drinker, you will know what display teas are. These specialty types of teas are also known as artesian or flowering teas. Meant to enhance the experience of the wonderful drink of tea, display teas provide entertainment at tea parties all around the world. The art of display
Recently, I did a survey of our Tea Party Girl readers. One of your requests was a bit more information on me. So here’s my full bio. Hope you enjoy it. +++++++ Dawnya Sasse was raised on the road, the child of musicians and quickly gained from a young age, a unique and creative perspective on entertaining. In 1988 Dawnya began traveling to Great Britain, leading tours throughout the United Kingdom. Her passion
Click Here for a 60 Second Recap: Need more? Watch these videos and celebrate with the couple and the world. If you missed the action you can watch replays via the series of videos above. Enjoy it with a cup of tea, toast, a scone or even a piece of wedding cake. Raise your teacup in a toast to the newest Royal Couple. Tea Party Girl is up, at em and has her teacup in
This post is dedicated to a whole new generation of Tea Party Lovers. Ok, so its a bit edgy. A bit, rock your world BUT none the less it is a tea party. Recently the song Tea Party by Kerli gave us a MTV version of Alice In Wonderland meets Lady Gaga over tea. Here is the video and the lyrics. I have got to admit I found the tune catchy! “Tea Party” Welcome
This is THE WEEK! If you are planning to watch the Royal Wedding of William and Kate you need to get cracking on planning your celebration. Consider that many people will not be able to enjoy the full wedding event due to the fact that it falls on a weekday here in the states so get creative! DVR the event from start to finish and plan a party around it anytime afterwards. Most women won’t
If you are hosting a tea party large or small you must consider giving your guests a “favor.” A “favor” is a small token or gift given to those who attend your event. This serves as a special reminder of your time together and often the favor will reflect the theme of your tea party. This post will share some ideas for creating your own favors, buying tea favors and baking favors that will keep your
Tea Party Girl wants to introduce you to the most important yet often ignored ingredient of a successful tea event. Since entering the business of teaching afternoon tea in 1997, I’ve become surprised how often an afternoon tea party is planned without thought to the beverage that will be served, the tea! I believe this is because so many Americans have never experienced the properly brewed cup of loose-leaf tea. After all, the majority of
If you are planning a tea party then you are probably considering tea sandwiches for part of your menu. A tea sandwich is a small prepared sandwich meant to be eaten at afternoon teatime to stave off hunger until the main meal. The tea sandwich may take a number of different forms, but should be easy to handle, and should be capable of being eaten in two bites. It may be a
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between various kinds of teas? The answer is: their production methods. The very same fact holds true for Oolong teas – there are several different types, all with various ways of being made. The flavor differences in Oolong teas vary according to the length of time the leaves were given to ferment. Oolong teas are traditional Chinese teas, primarily made in China and Taiwan. They fall into
If you are a tea lover who happens to be on a gluten free diet you may be frustrated. It can be hard to find the right combination of taste’s great goodies for your next tea time menu. Never fear! Tea Party Girl is here. Here are a few Gluten Free Options that I personally recommend to make your tea time menu shine! 1. Coconut Sugar- Ok, I have to tell you upfront
You knew it had to happen right? At some point I was going to hoop and hollar about the upcoming Royal Wedding. Let’s start it off with a bit of fun from Stephen Colbert and his ode to all things British including our favorite, TEA TIME. Stephen takes us to Tea and Sympathy in New York and works with Hugo Vickers, the Tea Time know it all 🙂 So take notes ladies and gentlemen. We
As an avid Tea Party Girl I am always on the lookout for something “new and fun.” Today I want to share with you a new website and etsy store called Tea Party Whimsy. Tea Party Whimsy is the brainchild of Hannah Cotton. Hannah is a tea specialist, a ceramic student and a crafter of the whimsical. She is a graduate of Start A Tea Business.com Her etsy store is filled with fun tea party
As a lover of afternoon tea, and the official “tea guru” to your friends you will want to be informed on water’s contribution to good tea. The good news is I have done all the work for you and here are some simply tea tips about how quality water enhances tea’s flavor. That way, when someone asks you this question, you can provide them with the information that they need, as well as establish an
Here at Tea Party Girl we get to talk about all tea related beverages and Kombucha is no exception. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is often drunk for medicinal purposes. There is limited scientific information supporting any health benefit and few studies are being conducted, although there are several centuries of anecdotal accounts supporting some of the health benefits attributed to the tea. Kombucha is available commercially and can be made at home by
Over the years I have been pretty open and honest about my life and especially my tea story. Those of you who have followed me online have seen everything from pictures of my swollen feet (after the World Tea Expo) to my kitchen and favorite Kitchen Aid mixer. (which I wouldn’t want to go without.) But I have been challenged to list 5 things that few people know about me so here we go:
The tea of South America is the tea of friends. Yes, Yerba Mate has become a cultural norm throughout such South American countries as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Southern Brazil. Sitting and sipping on Yerba Mate is a social pastime. What better way to pass the day than to sip on some tasty Yerba Mate and reminisce old times with friends. However, nowadays, Yerba Mate isn’t just a South American drink. People all over the
Always be prepared! It’s time to make that your tea party motto! It’s not hard to get ready for a tea party but many people don’t bother because they never take time to prepare. This classic Tea Party Girl article will give you the basics for getting ready for your big day! Gather everything you need and store it in one place. I store mine in a large plastic storage box. Here’s a
The older I get the more I realize there are season’s in life. There are season’s to start new things, season’s to move to new places, times to focus on home, a time to expand and time to cut back. That is life. I am not sure why I thought otherwise but I am finally starting to “get it!” (as they say) Today is a new season for the Tea Party Girl blog. This blog
This post is a “classic” from Tea Party Girl in 2007. The same concept holds true today. A place of respite amidst the storm is a necessary in todays world. Jenny Wells shares her personal journey into creating a “Tea Space” of her own. Can you relate? Comment, tweet it, Facebook share and send it viral. There are so many women that need support! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We all need a corner of our own
Somehow, teas and faeries just seem to go together, so why not host a whimsical tea party based on a fairy theme? Kids of all ages will love this type of party, and it gives everyone a chance to sample some wonderful floral teas that they may not drink on a regular basis. You can create a magical party with a lot of imagination, and who knows? Maybe the fairies will make an
A pleasant and mild taste. A sweet aroma, reminiscent of honey. These phrases describe South Africa’s most extraordinary tea. It’s known as Honeybush tea. Honeybush tea is over three hundred years old. It was first used by South African indigenous people as a medicinal tea. Honeybush tea is extremely rich in antioxidants and nutrients. It has anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral characteristics, which make it very valuable to health-conscious people. Honeybush tea is known to have
Scones. They go with just about everything. But they are at their best when enjoyed with a cup of nice hot tea. Whether your preference is regular, time tested and true old-fashioned scones or you are into adventurous new exotic flavors, The Scone Lady has the perfect scone for you! The Scone Lady is Debbie Anderson, owner of Victorian House Scones. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy! Lady Dawnya: Hi, everyone. Welcome to
Spring is a time to celebrate the gifts of new life like babies, brides, mothers, and graduations. But even if you and yours are not celebrating a milestone this spring, warmer sunshine makes the flowers and our souls begin to explode with color. And when we experience warmth and color in our souls, we often want to share with others. Are you planning a spring tea-related event? Here are some ideas for you.
Are you at ease with human-made items of beauty? I recently heard a story about a woman with her future groom registering for their wedding. They exclaimed over the price of a stainless steel flatware place setting to the salesperson. “Forty-four dollars? How many people can eat with this setting?” “One.” “One!?” And they walked away shaking their heads. Now, I am sure there were a number of facets involved in their decision. And my
This guest post features Donna Collins. She has been planning special events for over 20 years. Her children’s party planning business, Party Wishes, is located in Santa Clarita, CA. Check out her website at www.partywishesscv.com. Being a children’s party planner, I have the pleasure of introducing children to the wonderful ceremony of having tea. Of course, a child’s tea party is slightly modified from an adult tea party but the elements are basically the
You DO know cupcakes have become very popular, don’t you? And wouldn’t they be a fabulous addition to a tea party? I sure think so. I enjoyed finding the photo-rich blog, Cupcakes Take the Cake, filled with inspiration for these diverse little cakes. It amazes me how creative and some turn out. I especially enjoyed finding these pirate (for girl and boy mateys) and Alice-in-Wonderland themed cakes. Through the cupcake blog, I learned about
Can the elegance of the tea party mix with rural horses? It isn’t easy, but it can be done! I experienced it in action last Saturday at a birthday party for a friend of my daughter’s. With guidance straight from Let’s Have a Tea Party!: Special Celebrations for Little Girls anyone can combine two of little girl’s favorite loves: the teapot and the horse. Not every horse tea party can start as this one did,
Your guest’s invitations have arrived in the mail. On the front of the card is a black and white picture of a young girl with her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. They are all smiling, and standing next to each other. Inside the card, the announcement is for a tea party at your home – but not just any tea party – a generations tea party. If you’ve never heard the term before, a generations tea
What is Chai? Chai is a spiced milk tea drink from India that is centuries old. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular throughout the entire world. What is in Chai? Chai is made up of rich black tea, heavy milk, several spices, and a sweetener such as sugar. Depending on your particular taste or even upon the geographic region in which you live, you may use different spices in your Chai than
Flash back to the golden age of T.V. and radio by offering guests of any age a 1950’s tea party. A 1950’s theme will easily lend itself to creativity, but needn’t cost a lot or take a great deal of preparation. To help set the tone, encourage guests to dress accordingly. If you plan to host a variety of themed tea parties, you may want to visit the local thrift shop or antique store
Do all of your tea cups and saucers have to match perfectly for a tea party? Marie asked today: “I was just asked this past Sunday to host a tea party for the ladies at our church. I came across your website via Google and very glad I did! I have no experience whatsoever with tea parties and your tips are very helpful. But what if I don’t have tea cups and saucers for 20
Luticia (no url), recently left a comment here at Tea Party Girl I thought might be helpful to others: Hello! Love your site – just found it today! My question is: can you brew your tea in the pot or kettle the water was boiled in? Or are they supposed to be only for boiling the water? I’ve just wondered if a teapot was always necessary. Thank you! No, Luticia, a teapot is not always
Maybe you’re already able to easily transport yourself to the relish the gifts of summer. I’m sure someone somewhere has already said that summer is a state of mind. If I had to only rely on my childhood memories of summer, I would remember 7am swim practices at the local pool, eating dozens of plums off my friend’s backyard tree while lounging more by her pool and talking about our latest crushes, and
You are Celtic (over one in ten Americans are) and Elizabeth Knight‘s written a book published this year for you. > I spent some time with her book this afternoon (accompanied by a cup of Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold loose leaf tea). Not sure what to expect, I enjoyed finding not only thirteen new themed tea party ideas, but learning about Celtic history and how it relates to the tea culture. With Irish and
Don’t get caught with an empty table! This post comes during the process of preparing my family’s wardrobe for a semi-formal Saturday evening wedding. It’s taking a lot of work! Not only do I need to gather all the items for all five of us (“hmm…I guess Plays with Fire can’t wear his hiking boot socks with his suit”), but I need to make sure the items that we rarely pull out of the closet
If you received this month’s copy of Teatime Magazine, you were treated to the article, A Fine Legacy, filled with pictures and descriptions of each of the ten teacups representing the past ten decades of Royal Albert China. Royal Albert is part of Royal Doulton, with Old Country Roses as probably its most famous pattern. Personally, I went nuts over one of the decades’ cups. I thought the pattern was perfectly “me”. I’ll tell you
I write a tea party-related blog, while tea and books tend to go together. It’s been argued that in our digital/information age, the days of hardback books and the traditional publishing industry will become a thing of the past. Have you heard about/ordered an Amazon Kindle? What do you think? Do you read more books or blogs? Can you ever imagine a time when traditional books become a thing of the past? Tea Party Girl
Last night I listened to a powerful speaker, Steve Chalke, and learned about Stop the Traffik; an organization committed to the abolishment of human trafficking, the second most lucrative crime worldwide. Chalke reminded me that when people asked William Wilberforce what they could do to help move Parliament’s hand to abolish the slave trade in England, he told them to stop taking sugar in their tea. In other words, government listens when consumers affect the
If you could only afford to buy one looseleaf tea to have on hand, which would it be? This year, I stopped purchasing tea to resell for a number of reasons, and my stash of black tea has dwindled down to my last few pots. This of course means I have to begin purchasing tea again at retail prices (!) and become a little more choosy about what I decide to drink. My mother brought
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 think I might start a new American reality show. Maybe I call it “America’s Next Worst Habit”. Or how about, “So You Think You Have Good Manners?” But I’m not convinced anyone (present readers excluded, of course) would watch it. Now, don’t get me wrong. Traveling my favorite state refreshed me with its breathtaking beauty (Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey) and quaint oases (i.e. Balboa Island). And for the most part,
Alice continues to share great information at Tea in My Cup, including this month’s Don’t Panic Tea (a personal favorite) and a helpful post on Tea for Large Groups. See her archives for the Don’t Panic Tea Plan. Will you be taking part in the Global Tea Party on June 28th? I think these butterfly touches would be welcome at a spring or summer tea party, don’t you? I’ll be honest, this tea blog totally
I shared this poem in May 2007 and wanted to repost it. This is still the most common misunderstanding about afternoon tea. Google sends me a daily email alert of all tea-related news stories. Community groups announce “High Tea” often. And those of you from the search engines, please take note! High Tea vs Afternoon Tea High Tea (essentially It’s Supper) Beans on toast and leftover roast, the last meal of the day. Jeans and
Did you know that you can host a tea party in your home with minimal work and cost through hosting a direct sales party with the company Set to a Tea? I recently had the chance to talk with Kathleen Rogers, the company’s founder. In this interview you will learn: How Kathleen’s passion for afternoon tea led her to start a tea party-based business. What Kathleen recommends for those wanting to replicate an afternoon tea
This guest post was written by Amy Puetz. A homeschool graduate, she loves history, sewing, and working as a computer graphic artist for her company A to Z Designs. In her spare time she enjoys traveling to different historical eras via books and movies! A columnist for Homeschool Enrichment Magazine, she also writes for her series of e-books, Heroines of the Past. Visit her website at www.AmyPuetz.com. “You can ask Diana to come over and
Measure and boil four cups of water. Measure out 3 scant tablespoons of looseleaf tea into large T-Sac Tea Filters. Brew leaves for four minutes. Remove leaves and pour hot tea over 4 cups of ice. Add 1/4 cup of sugar. (optional) Chill. Friends, there is no reason to buy a powdered mix filled with chemicals or sweeteners. There is no reason to buy bottled iced tea (that’s expensive water and high fructose corn syrup
Remember, I don’t bake. But guess who brought the homemade cake to the bridal shower over the weekend?
Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare Poetry has been around much longer than afternoon tea in Western Civilization. But in the honor of the Bard’s birthday and April being National Poetry Month, I wanted to share with you one of my recent favorite finds that helps me celebrate Beauty. Simplicity. Classically. Besides, I wasn’t invited to Suri’s tea party, so I can’t blog about that. (Oh, to just have five minutes surrounded by
Because I must believe I’m not the only one. You see, many of you are perfectly content with and competent putting together darling, theme-appropriate, and within budget crafty items for your parties. You don’t mind the time you spend scouring the dollar bins and hunching over your glue gun. A little ribbon, a gauzy bag, and voila’! You create magic. HOWEVER. Out of sheer necessity, I have had to come up with different options for
Or why Tea Party Girl knows more than the ‘O’ Magazine’s editors. I continue to be amazed how often I hear people tell me brewing looseleaf tea is too much work. I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me in an age of microwave popcorn, baby carrots, and tubes of minced garlic. But just like most of our products grown from the earth, when we let technology take out the prep work, the quality diminishes. And while
Today I spent some time flipping through the Stash Tea catalog and found myself asking, “What would I recommend for my readers to purchase?” The catalog is only one example of a listing that includes some basic items the tea lover might want to have on hand. I offer these recommendations as a starting point for the tea drinker who wants to serve tea to themselves and others. Tea Party Girl’s Everyday Teapots The Teapot–Do
“My dear, if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head I should better understand your affairs.” –Charles Dickens I think I’m going to start quoting this to my husband who gets up each morning before me. “For if I could please myself I would always live as I lived there. I would chose always to breakfast at exactly eight and to be at my desk by nine,
Now that you’ve learned about how to find what you really like on eBay, maybe you have some older items you need to clear out. Last week, I received an email from Deborah Bonelli explaining that she was organizing a tea for wounded soldiers, their family members, and caregivers at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. Could I let my readers know about their need for donated tableware? Absolutely! Here’s more information. Annual
Instead of answering this question for you myself, I approached a fellow tea blogger, Angela McRae at Tea with Friends. As a regular reader of her blog, I know Angela finds many tea treasures through eBay. I wanted to learn more about how she does it and believed it would benefit you, my readers, as well. In this 30-minute interview, I asked Angela questions you will want to hear her answers to including: Her top
This week’s theme at Gracious Hospital-i-tea (click the image above to meet our hostess and learn more) is to share tea from a perspective of literature or to share a favorite tea book! If I didn’t write a blog about the tea party, I would probably write about books. I read, A LOT. More than I clean my home, go to the movies, or even (sometimes) interact with family and friends. Tea and books naturally
“Beauty cannot be deeply appreciated until a soul has been touched by deformity.” “Spring warms us because winter has chilled us.” For so many, the deformity of life is denied or avoided. But like early spring weeds, if left unchecked, ugliness eventually takes over. It doesn’t just go away. But we are tempted to ignore it, because somehow we know, we’re often powerless on our own against the brokenness that can be our reality. God
I thought my girlfriend and I were visiting a local tea room to mark the last year I’ll spend in my 30s (!), but these ladies had a better plan! Nine dear friends surprised me with a birthday tea yesterday! Carleen is my number one tea student and friend–she was our hostess. I laughed and cried with these ladies as they presented me with flowers, gifts, and words of affirmation. We were so happy to
Mary Cassat’s The Cup of Tea, 1879, oil on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Can you BELIEVE Easter is next week? I can’t either. If you are planning to prepare a special meal, be sure to see what Alice at Tea in My Cup suggests for an Easter Brunch Tea Party. There’s a complete menu with recipes. And be sure to plan your tea well. I provide suggestions for food and tea pairing
Every niche has its experts and tea is no exception. In the tea world, certain names that are mentioned bring immediate recognition. I’ve covered four of these tea personalities in past entries: Jane Pettigrew, Elizabeth Knight, Dorothea Johnson, and James Norwood Pratt. Recently, James Norwood Pratt stated in the Fresh Cup article, The Whole Leaf, that “…nobody learns tea or the tea business in a hurry”. I want to introduce you to a lesser known
“Christopher Robin was home by this time, because it was the afternoon, and he was so glad to see him that they stayed there until very nearly tea-time, and then they had a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards, and hurried on to Pooh Corner, so as to see Eeyore before it was too late to have a Proper Tea with Owl.” –The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (quote
photo credit: code poet Where I live in Northern California, clumps of daffodils trumpet spring’s arrival everywhere we look, walk, and drive. This morning I took two of my children to an abandoned nursery by our home filled with these flowers now growing wild. We picked two dozen for Grandma since it’s her birthday today. We added a simple ribbon around the stems and our simple gift was ready for its recipient. Do you include
In the last few weeks, I’ve held conversations and learned of tearooms that are closing or struggling. One closed after eight months. Another’s experiencing a massive drop in numbers served since its opening five years ago. My Google tea news search leads me to articles like this one: Tea shop packs its bags after 3 years. Could the recent surge of tearooms opening in America be a passing fad? Will the tearoom survive the economic
What am I supposed to serve at a tea party? Afternoon tea is traditionally served at low tables and consists of three courses: dainty sandwiches, scones, and a selection of bite-sized desserts. A luncheon tea is more like a meal and often includes soup, salad, and or quiche. And don’t forget to serve tea, one of the most often overlooked ingredient to a successful tea party. My article, “The Steps to Creating Your Tea Party
“The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread.” –D.H. Lawrence Do you believe it? Will you make time for it? Does it surround you or slip into your peripheral vision while you plow through the to-do list? Can you take just a minute and appreciate it? Google searches on beauty bring up countless options for improving the physical beauty of the female and all the products and ways to accomplish it. But the gift
If you ever break bread with others outside of your immediate family, it is possible you have been offended by others’ table manners, or they have been offended by yours. In the age of eating in the car, while standing up, and on the couch one might argue table manners are obsolete. But this is far from the case. Do you think about your table manners when you eat with others? In restaurants,
I stumbled across Tea in My Cup the other day and wanted to be sure to let you know about it. Alice from Pennsylvania provides step-by-step themed guides for planning an afternoon tea, focusing on “Afternoon Tea Party Menus, Tea Party Themes, Tea Party Recipes, and Tea Party Ideas.” This week, her blog focuses on a Chocolate Fantasy Fund Raising Tea Party. Now who wouldn’t buy a ticket to that!? I especially appreciate Alice’s site
But does it matter? Lovers of the tradition of afternoon tea mimic a custom that began with Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford. Faced with a fainting feeling mid-afternoon because of England’s late dinner hour, she is said to have asked her butler to bring her bread, butter, and tea around 5pm. She then asked her friends to join her and the social practice spread among the upper-class until its practice was widespread. What may
Many of you looking to the web for tea party ideas end up here at Tea Party Girl. The top five search terms of all time resulting in over 4200 views to TPG are: tea party tea parties Christmas tea party tea party food tea party menu Now, I find this important for a couple of reasons. First, one of the ways I’ve chosen to address this need is to provide step-by-step seasonal tea party
First, thank you for the comments! I’d love to hear from more of you. Please keep them coming, and let me know the number one struggle you have taking care of your home. Last Tuesday, Dawnya Sasse of Start a Tea Business dot com interviewed me on a live call with her students for her Online Tea Business Class. It was a thrill to talk about what it’s been like to build this blog and
Just in case you’re either one (rich and/or famous) and read this blog, consider purchasing from this incredible New York company, MarieBelle. And no, I don’t receive a cent for promoting them (yet!). But if you celebrate Valentine’s Day and ever give chocolate, wouldn’t you just love to give works of art as pictured on their homepage? I found the picture of their chocolate at Adagio Teas‘s website and Christine Rillo’s article, “Love, Tea is
Has a set table become a lost art in your home? How far do you take setting the table on a daily basis? If you eat with children or alone, do you not bother? During January, the number one viewed article on this site was viewed over 900 times. More than anything else, my visitors want to know How to Set the Table for Tea. And this got me thinking. Do we know how to
This isn’t quite the view we’re enjoying today, but close. School was canceled, the children went sledding, and I made a few discoveries and wanted to pass them along. First, in light of yesterday’s post about a valentine-themed tea party, there’s a picture at Susan’s T-Cozy of what her Connecticut tearoom will serve for desserts at their valentine tea. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post. The desserts look simple, pretty, and
I certainly hope not. Stereotypes of tea and the people who drink it abound. I picked up a girlfriend for tea over the holidays and her husband said good-bye to us by imitating lifting tea to his lips while sticking his pinkie out awkwardly. “Isn’t that how you’re supposed to drink tea?” my innocent friend asked. “Not unless you’re making fun of tea drinkers,” I replied. Here’s a list of the most common tea stereotypes
Does your to-do list keep you up at night? Do you fall into the comparison trap on a regular basis? Do you fight habits only known to you and feel discouraged at your lack of progress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you and I hold something in common. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap that our successes and failures are all dependent on us. In fact, in my
Note to regular readers of TPG: I use the same party-planning format each time, so some of what you see below will be familiar. But I’ve highlighted the material I’ve changed to reflect the new season, including recipes, music, and decorations. Enjoy! To begin planning your tea party event, no matter what the season or event you need start by answering a few questions: How many people will you invite? Who will they be? What
I’m asked this question often. The simple answer? Yes and no. Someday I may sell my own line of tea from this website. But I need to choose to jump through the health department’s hurdles first, and I’ve chosen not do that. Some teas I purchase in bulk at wholesale prices and sell locally to friends and family to pay for my habit of drinking multiple pots per day. These are not teas, however, I
Every Sunday evening for the next three months, your local PBS station is airing new and old adaptations of Jane Austen’s work plus a biopic on her life. I just needed to make sure you knew. Visit the main site to learn all the ins-and-outs of schedules, stars, etc. If it’s not enough to feed your Austen-adaptation obsession, be sure to visit the Becoming Jane blog for all the You-Tube interviews, previews, trivia, etc., you
If you came to Tea Party Girl because you are planning a tea party and need more info, I recommend you start with the question I answer in this article: Is it a Party with Tea or a Tea Party? . For the following article, I offer up some ideas for Parties with Tea. Winter is a time to celebrate the gifts only winter brings. It’s often a time to take stock and focus on
Today my son’s grammar lesson involved handwriting a snail-mail letter. As we went over the process, I showed him how to address the letter he had chosen to write to his grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. Male-Name Evans). Now, my mother is not the least offended being called Mrs. Husband’s Name. But plenty of my college friends would be. And I couldn’t help thinking, am I teaching my son something that is obsolete? What role do
It’s been two years since I hosted my first in-home tea party. I look back on the experience with a wry smile, remembering some of the mistakes I made and what I’ve learned since then. Maybe you’ll be able to relate to some of these, whether planning for a tea party or other kind of event. I need to communicate exactly what I want when I delegate. I asked my friend to do the baking.
What if you haven’t? If you were to ask me this question today, I’d have to sheepishly admit, not really. In fact, between storms, New Year’s, lack of Internet, and other demands, I blinked and the double-digit days of January arrived. Tomorrow I welcome one of my college roommates and her two children for a few nights and host our homeschooling moms group here Friday evening. And I can’t say I feel quite up to
Still sitting out the effects of last Friday’s storm. Powerful winds rocked the West Coast last weekend and knocked out power all over my beloved state of California, including my Internet. I am writing to you through Plays with Fire’s fingertips while I dictate over the phone. I can’t tell you for sure when I’ll return, but I promise it will be ASAP. After all, I’m living through my fourth full day of no Internet!
I don’t know about you, but when I reach the end of the holiday season, I feel like the marathon runner who collapses after crossing the finish line. Every year I think I’ll do a better job of staying balanced, saying yes to the right things, and keeping the season simple. And it’s true: over time and with experience, I’ve learned a great deal about these things. But in reality, December’s magic-making of Christmas, birthdays,
Oh, that you could knock on my door and enter. The fire would be lit with a set tea table in front of it. The house would smell like gingerbread and we could talk heart-to-heart with our feet curled under us on the couch, holding our steaming cups of tea. We could laugh or cry or both depending on where the conversation went. I’ll play some Vince Guaraldi to add to the mood and turn
Breathe, Jenny, Breathe. Breathe, Readers, Breathe. Seriously. Take a minute and breathe deeply from your gut. Six times if you can. I’ve been going strong for the last nine hours and that’s what I’m doing as I sit down to write to you. ‘Tis the Season. And the pressure’s mounting. Can you feel it? Even if you work hard to keep the holidays low-key, it’s in the traffic, the stores, and the calendars of others
Books and tea go together. I know this and I’m guessing you do, as well. Celestial Seasonings has also figured it out, with their multi-million dollar ad agency learning that 70% of tea drinkers consider “reading books” as a favorite pastime. In fact, part of their new marketing includes giving you a book club guide and providing a website for a virtual discussion if you purchase their teas and Random House books. Hmm…I bet they
Today during my online perusals, I found a few items I wanted to pass on. Celestial Seasonings seems to be working hard to stay competitive as the specialty tea market grows. Regular readers of TPG know I’m not a big fan of grocery store tea bags. I went to their website today and found an interesting claim: A Bold New Look for Celestial Seasonings We are proud to present our new tea packaging, with a
Or, here’s an even better title. “Why I took a twelve-year old boy to The Nutcracker, but told the six-year old girl she couldn’t be in it.“ My six-year old danced in the womb. I’m not exaggerating. She skips and sings through life. And this is her first year officially taking dance. What a thrill when her class was asked to be the Bon-Bons in the local ballet production of The Nutcracker! She pranced home
I write this post today with two eager children on either side of me and two strange men pounding the floor above my head (it’s carpet installing day). It’s Daddy’s birthday and our family Christmas shopping day. I’m still in my pjs and haven’t cleaned the kitchen since making the birthday brunch. My living room looks like a laundry basket of mattresses, sheets, and pillows from last night’s family slumber party. This is today’s reality.
With Christmas and winter just around the corner, our longings for a cozy home increase. Shorter days and colder nights invite us to really nurture ourselves and others within the walls of home. Most likely, sometime in the next month, you will find time to host yourself and others within the place you’ve been given to sleep at night. What are the elements that most speak home to you? Hopefully, it’s more than the blue
My regular readers may have noticed a few slight changes that have taken place here at Tea Party Girl the last few weeks. Since the beginning of July, I have written around 50,00 words, the most consistent writing I’ve ever attempted. This is because of a commitment I made to write an entry every weekday of around 500 words. The last few weeks, however, I have only published an average of three posts/week. You may
Do you have a home where people stop by unexpected? How do you feel about that? Do you wish people stopped by more or does it really fluster you when they do? Are you limited geographically or do others now know you do not want unannounced visits? If it bothers you when people stop by unannounced, why is that? Let me ask you one more question. If you enjoy your home and it’s a place
What do you do where you find yourself completely lost and transported from responsibility and distracting thoughts? My children memorize poems in their grammar program. This is one of them. Work Anonymous Work while you work. Play while you play. This is the way to be happy each day. All that you do, Do with your might. Things done by halves are never done right. The work of hosting events takes all our might. From
If you’re anything like me, your hosting-for-the-holidays anxiety might begin in August. Our reasons for anxiety might be different. Maybe yours involves family dynamics, money, other responsibilities, or just knowing you’re going to have to clean-the-house-for-real that causes you to fret. Struggling with anxiety has been one of my lifelong battles. And having people over has been one of my lifelong loves. For the most part, the love has outweighed the battle and I’ve forged
From my current read, Rebecca, a Gothic Romance written in the 1930s. The heroine, banished from her former life for reasons still unknown, reminisces about the rituals of old. “Here I think of half-past four at Manderley, and the table drawn before the library fire. The door flung open, punctual to the minute, and the performance, never-varying, of the laying of the tea, the silver tray, the kettle, the snowy cloth. Those dripping crumpets, I
A gracious hostess learns how to roll with the punches. My question is not to advocate expressing horror TO our guests or possibly, family members. But with Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas on the near horizon, I thought I’d provide an opportunity for my readers to say what they really think. Here at TPG and with the “privacy” of the Internet, there’s no need to be shy or even polite. I am here for
If you weren’t the host this weekend, did you thank the one who opened their home to you? Even if you brought lots of food, the one who cleaned the bathroom deserves the thanks, I think, especially on this weekend of all weekends. On the drive home from my parents last night, one of the topics of discussion with Plays with Fire was the holiday party we want to host this year. I have hosted
I like to think America’s classic holiday is not just about relishing in our riches. That in the midst of our ‘fullness’ we know how different our life would be if there had not been a band of religious idealists seeking freedom to raise their children without the shadow of the politicized Church of England. I am particularly connected to this small band of pilgrims as only four of their married women survived the first
My own personal reference librarian, my mother of Teaching Tea, pointed me to a child’s tea set the company confirms is safe for use. With so many toy recalls this year, and the stores filled with so many items, “Made in China”, it can be difficult to know you’re making a wise choice. Thanks to three safety tests listed ‘passed’ on the packaging, and a follow-up phone call to the company, choosing a Schylling tea
Children delight in the tea party. They fill their plastic tea sets with tap water, throw a few goldfish crackers on the plates, and invite every friend and animal (stuffed or not) to the event. My favorite part of those early tea parties with my children included trying to fit in the little chairs they provided! Therefore, it’s not surprising that many of my new visitors to Tea Party Girl are looking for information to
What does tea have to do with the expectations we all face at the holidays? Remember the tea lifestyle. Taking time for tea is about stepping back and nurturing yourself and others. It’s about choosing creativity and simple beauty over adrenaline and productivity. And there’s no time like the present to keep these goals and values in the forefront of our minds and lives. I want to tell you through a story how this will
I first learned of Jennifer Sauer’s book subtitled: “Your Adventure Guide to San Francisco Tea Culture” days after returning from my own San Francisco walking-tea tour. I would have really enjoyed using this book as my guide instead! Ms. Sauer’s book adds to the needed portrayal of the best tea culture has to offer, especially in the United States.
Every year I aspire to be one of those homemakers who prepares for the holidays all year long. And every year, I do nothing about this time of year until August. In August I start to worry and roll ideas around in my head. But mostly I worry. Then I blink, and Halloween passes. Now it’s November, and I know it’s time to get serious. What kind of planner are you? If, like me, you’re
What is the number one piece of advice you would give someone to help December stay beautiful AND simple? I find December a magical time. I love the changing weather, the shorter days, the smells, and white lights everywhere. The children’s anticipation provides so much tangible joy. If I make the time, baking cookies, giving gifts (and wrapping them!), and attending a local chorale production all add to the season. We’re a family of advent
Christmas and the tea party naturally go together. The weather finally settles down to a consistent chill and the days are short. Christmas helps us celebrate all the cozy gifts of winter. When planning your Christmas tea, keep your favorite treats and gifts of the winter season in mind. Affiliate Disclosure But first, here’s a few key tips for decorating in general. Pick a focal point in the room and on your table. It can
Last night, I crawled into bed close to 11:30pm. I curled up with my book-light and latest Tea Read, Tea Celebrations by Alexandra Stoddard. Mrs. Stoddard’s written many books about personal style, beautiful living, and the art of everyday graces. Here’s a few of my favorite quotes from her chapter on tea parties. “Just as a friend is a gift we give ourselves, so is tea. It is good to turn our attention to beauty
Just in case you need some interpretation, TMI these days means Too Much Information. Now, mainly because my New England-bred mother reads this blog, I’m not REALLY going to tell you about my PMS struggles or the last time my toilet was cleaned. But I WILL tell you I’m fully aware my posts have been light on the tea and heavier on the personal the last few days. The main reason for that is I
So every year it seems Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Reformation Day, or Harvest (depending on your particular theological bend) seems to sneak up on me. This year I’m patting myself on the back for at least working with the sewing grandmother so that two of the three children can wear fabulous costumes. I, on the other hand, have never been much in the spirit this time of year. I’m not one to celebrate a holiday
So last weekend, as many of you know, I played hooky with Plays with Fire for our anniversary. Now I’m sure many of you can relate to the coordination effort it takes to cover all the details of five different family members living four different places for a couple of days. Personally, I arrived at our romantic weekend without a hairbrush. (I think it ended up in Pink Dancer’s suitcase instead). Even without getting away
While I was gone this weekend, MzRita asked a great question: “I know I will probably make someone gasp when I ask this question, but I am planning a huge tea party at Christmas, with over 30 ladies in attendance, and I am wondering if it’s ok to brew the tea in one of those 50 cup coffee makers? I could dispense the tea from the big coffee maker directly into the tea pots. Will
One of my favorite bloggers is Brocante Home Chronicles and this week I discovered her list of puttery treats, what she calls “a scrumptious little collection of ideas”. Though some of her language needs a Brit to interpret, you will definitely find some homemaking inspiration. And like me, you may be so inspired you choose to enter her Puttery Treats Challenge this autumn. Take the BrocanteHome Puttery Treats Challenge Today! Plays with Fire and I
Do you remember the scene in Finding Neverland when Peter Pan asks the question? Who claps the soonest with great vigor? It’s the grandmother, the one who disdained J.M. Barrie’s childlikeness, the one whose frown was permanently etched on her face from taking on so many responsibilities. But now she was losing her daughter and desperately needed to believe. And the door of wonder opened for her ever so slightly. I never used to believe
Children, boys and girls alike, enjoy the tea party. And a children’s etiquette tea party is no different. However, the window to capture their hearts on beauty, grooming and etiquette is actually quite small. We recommend between six and ten years old. My eleven-year old boy is still going strong because I started him young. My friends and I hold tea parties for our children once a year. We invite their friends, choose a theme,
I read a book this week to my two youngest children (ages 6 and 9) with illustrations that took my breath away. Even with the limitations of blogs when it comes to sharing art, I wanted to share some of it with you. I found the illustrations in the book Cupid and Psyche by M. Charlotte Craft and illustrated by Kinuko Y. Craft. Here’s an example of one of them, used at the end of
My definition is food that: is seasonal. smells great. warms me in winter and cools me in summer. only has one or two ingredients not on my staples list. This way I don’t spend too much and feel too guilty to enjoy it. This week my five planned dinners are: Black Bean Soup Pork Chops with Apples and Shallots Pasta with Sausage and Roasted Peppers Chicken and Pear Turnovers A Nacho Bar (since I’m feeding
Sometimes I step back, look at my work here at Tea Party Girl and cock my head. Why is a woman with my intense personality writing about the tea party? Honestly? Part of it’s because I’m afraid, I’m very afraid. This post is my entry in Scribbit’s October Write-Away Contest. Because it’s October, the topic chosen was “Things that Scare Me”. Now, this is the truth. One of the reasons I want to teach others
The list is available at the bottom of this post. But first, I want to share with you where some of my inspiration came from. Last Thursday, I attended a class at one of my local tearooms on “How to Prepare for Your Holiday Tea”. I continue my education so I can continue yours and stay inspired. Amy Lawrence, Afternoon to Remember’s owner led our class of around fifteen ladies. I never counted, I was
Read the book by Kim Wilson or Take the Tea in London Tour with Denise LeCroy Granted, Austen did not live in London but her brother did and this allowed Jane to take advantage of London’s shopping! You could do the same. Denise LeCroy, the tour’s director, having lived and worked in London herself, has designed an eight-day tour incorporating many elements of the tea culture and history one can only find in London. Be
Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic guest-blogged this recipe at Simply Recipes this week and I didn’t want any of you to miss it. ‘Tis the Season! I love biscotti because it has no fat (unless you dip it in chocolate, of course) and is full of crunch, a fabulous choice for “a little touch of something” to go with your cup of tea. I enjoyed finding Garrett’s blog especially because he’s a food blogger from
Do you really believe it? Do you live like this is true? My Personal Battle for Simplicity: One of my biggest struggles as a parent is to balance my children’s youthful energy with my older needs. (Almost) everyday my children hit the ground running, full of anticipation with what the day will bring. The last question one of my children in particular asks me before he says good night is, “What are we doing tomorrow?”
With digital camera photos. Will you be able to bear it? Do you know what you love? Once you find it, you’ll be ready. I’ve been making a home for fourteen years and have never owned a sofa table or buffet. Now I do and I love it. It was worth the wait. It’s worth it to make friends with creative people. My friend, Tammy, takes rejects and makes them beautiful. When she told me
Here in the Northern California, leaves and rain fall, a pumpkin patch was visited yesterday, and I’m bringing tea to a number of gatherings of friends. Friday night, eighteen of us gathered around a friend’s kitchen counter assembling spring rolls and sipping Watson’s Nutty Green out of Asian gaiwans. We laughed and celebrated a friend joining us for the first time since her stroke almost a year ago and wept over another friend’s recent breast
Want a Halloween-specific theme for a tea party? You can find it here at Double, Double, Toil and Fun. Why it’s at TradingMarkets.com, I couldn’t tell you. It’s a little buried but if you visit the link for this description of a Literary Tea and scroll down, you will find an article by Brenda Shipman. She incorporates Pride and Prejudice, which I recommend everyone try as a tea party theme at least once. The theme
I’m not a good writer. But writing everyday greatly increases the possibility I might be someday. Gaining traffic is a ton of work. I have to write consistently AND reach out to other bloggers/traffic sources. Only writing doesn’t work. Blogs are prolific, but ones worth visiting consistently are rare. I’m still figuring out if I can be one of them. Blogging provides an incredible outlet to be creative with words and relationships, probably two of
One of the incredible pluses of schooling my children at home is taking the time to read novels aloud. I try to incorporate them with the time of history we’re studying, but feeling a little tired of Ancient Egypt and Greece stories, we decided to switch gears and read The Hobbit together. And as Tea Party Girl and a writer, I cherish the opening scene. Many of you may already be familiar with the early
September’s number one read article/post on Tea Party Girl was Six Possible Party Themes for Your Autumn Event. This post won by a landslide! But the post didn’t specifically tell you how to plan an Autumn Tea Party. This one will. It’s been uploaded to my articles page and reprinted here as I dash off to the afternoon’s activities. Please let us know in the comments if you are hosting any autumn tea party events.
In the first article of this series, I wrote about choosing a tea based on the time of day you most want to brew a pot of tea. Today I want you to consider what flavor of tea you enjoy or want to try. This will also be helpful when choosing tea for your party or event, as the flavor of the tea is important to consider if you want it to coordinate with the
Choosing a tea can be like choosing a wine. The choices, origins, personalities, and prices seem unlimited. Granted, the tea aisle in the grocery store isn’t quite as extensive as the wine aisle…yet. But especially if you decide to invest in loose-leaf tea, visit a tearoom, or tea bar with so many choices, where do you start? Like wine, choosing a tea can simply be based on what you like. Always ask for sample if
ArtsyMama Scribbit Brocante Home Chronicles In lieu of more info from me today, consider a visit to one of these three blogs. ArtsyMama and Scribbit do a great job of building a community around their blogs. They provide fun, creative ways for the bloggers to connnect. I love Brocante Home Chronicles pictures, humor, and style. From England, she sometimes provides unique perspectives, often with tongue-in-cheek. All three of these women help inspire me to live
Dear Readers of Tea Party Girl, I admit I am trying to hang on to the transporting I experienced 48 hours ago watching Becoming Jane, the biopic about one of our favorite women and writers of all time, Jane Austen. We need another post about tea and the movies, don’t you think? Truthfully, I personally found myself transported most by the musical score and found myself humming it as I walked to the car. It
Yesterday, James Norwood Pratt taught me to call tea the most affordable luxury. You may not be able to purchase much from Beverly Hills, but the boutique tea importer, The Art of Tea, provides organic, specialty teas “while ensuring the employees and the teas are treated with great respect.” I’m glad to hear it! Art of Tea contacted me and asked which particular teas I would enjoy sampling. I asked for dessert teas. They are
It’s been a while since I worked on this series, but this one cannot be missed. If you’re interested in the other three tea experts I profiled, here they are: Jane Pettigrew, Elizabeth Knight, and Dorothea Johnson Remember yesterday’s study setting with the leather wingback chairs? I invite you in to take tea with one of the most revered tea experts in the tea community, James Norwood Pratt, from his leather wingback chair. Mr. Pratt
whom would it be? Think about it for a moment. Whom would you most like to sit down with for an uninterrupted hour or two? Imagine the setting. Is it a sun-room with upholstered wicker chairs and daisies in a vase? A front-porch swing with a painted railing to put up your feet? Or maybe you would set the tea table up next to a roaring fire in a mahogany-paneled study with leather wing-backs and
How much time do you spend online or sitting at your computer? Do you sit in a room with windows? What do you see outside your window? Are the shades drawn to prevent glare? What do you do when you start to nod off during your work? Do you sip room-temperature Diet Pepsi? Throw down a handful of sugar for a quick pick-me-up? Is it getting harder to ignore that nagging voice reminding you your
The Proper Tea Party “In serving tea, the table should be arranged before any visitors arrive. Its cover may be a linen tea cloth embroidered or trimmed with lace, while the cups a nd saucers, with the spoon resting in each saucer, the thin slices of lemon, the small wafers, cakes or sandwiches on plates or pretty doilies, should be artistically arranged upon it. The tea kettle should be in its place, the teapot just
Leisure by William H. Davies (1871-1940) What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And
Since discovering my love for tea, like many new hobbyists, I set out to learn who else loved tea. My exploring led me to discover tea houses, events, retailers, and publications. This included the publication, The Tea House Times. The Tea House Times and its proprietor, Lady Gayle stood out to me for two reasons. First, if you visit the website and sign-up for the e-newsletter, it is sent consistently. Information often includes tea-related interviews,
Life is full, my dear friends, very, very, full. I need breaks for tea more than ever. It didn’t happen today except early morning, but time for tea at three remains my plumb-line. If too many pass by without time for tea, I know life is definitely “beyond the boundaries”. Before I left to experience the miracle of Calaveras Big Trees last Friday, I made a few tea discoveries worth sharing. AND, I may have
This month over at Scribbit, the September Write-Away Contest theme is Learning. I’ve spent a lot of time on this site working to provide content to my readers, but this is the entry where I commit to work on learning what I don’t know well: the source of the tea I love and how my decisions affect others. Seemed the entry to enter. Be sure to visit Scribbit and enter one of your own, if
Many of you ask me for a concise, easy guide about how to brew looseleaf tea. Here it is! I’ve added it to my Articles page and a link in my “Best of Tea Party Girl” sidebar, as well. I trust it is helpful! And to check in with my faithful readers: Thank you for continuing to visit, comment, and encourage this Tea Party Girl. As so many of you fellow bloggers and self-employed know,
This morning I awoke at 6:30 am, hit the snooze button (twice) and ran out the door with the three children, lunches, backpacks, full stomachs, shod feet, and relatively clean faces by 8:30 am. Every time I do this, I am in awe of the mothers and fathers who do this every day. We arrived twenty minutes later to our twice/month homeschooling families co-op. Moms, a dad or two, and swarms of children milled around
Traditionally, the day after America’s Labor Day was the first day of school. Now, more and more schools start earlier (our county schools began August 16th), go year-round, or like our local college, don’t start until the END of month. Nevertheless, September brings the anticipation of shorter days, cooler nights, and changing leaves, along with the smell of crayons and newly sharpened pencils. If you are a Southern Hemisphere reader, do tell us, what does
Do you like to shop? The female stereotype says women LOVE to shop. We’re the gatherers, not the hunters, and we shop for the sheer pleasure of it. I’m not so sure. More and more, I meet women who tell me they HATE to shop. And I theorize it’s because we are overwhelmed by the amount of choices, prices, and places that shopping involves. After all, we might enjoy downtown boutiques, but our budget is
I found a few treasures the last couple of days I wanted to be sure to share with you: Tea Guy Speaks is giving away a utiliTEA kettle by Adagio Teas. It’s very ideal if you want to brew green tea in the morning without having to watch the kettle. All you have to do to enter is send him your info, which he promises will be used for no other purpose. I believe him.
Sunday afternoon found me without a cup of tea in over twenty-four hours. Oh, the price of knowing how to properly brew tea! In the past, at the beginning of my tea love affair, I packed my tea, disposable filters, and even a small teapot. You might run into me bleary-eyed, walking through hotel hallways carrying a teapot on a search for hot-enough water and hoping it tastes better than the bathroom tap. After drinking
Well, I guess it was meant to happen sometime. I just spent 90 minutes writing you a glorious article about How to Serve Tea Food to a Crowd only to lose it during editing. My stomach is in a knot! It was a good article, too! I just don’t have the heart (or the time) to rewrite it today. Meet me for tea at three. A few tears will be mixed in my brew today,
Tea crops up (no pun intended) and plays an important role often throughout history. Are you aware of the role tea played in the following historical events? The Opium Wars The invention of the Clipper Ships Marco Polo’s travels to and from the East (ever wonder why Lapsang Souchong tastes so smoky?) America’s Independence This morning I learned another role tea played in history, thanks to my favorite history teacher, Susan Wise Bauer. Also a
Little inspires me more to take the time to plan a tea party than reading beautiful books about the tea party. One of my earliest blogging favorites, Sherry of Semicolon, loves to read and write about what she reads. Her question during my comment contest was: “My question is, however do I find time to plan a tea party type event?” Well, Sherry, you won’t hear from me that you need to read and write
Last month during the comment contest, Anonymom asked a number of very good questions. Here was one of them: “When we were in London 10 years ago, we ordered tea but I suppose it was not “high tea” time because when we also asked for a platter of finger sandwiches and sweets to go along with our Earl Grey, the concierge replied to my father, “Sir, you want tea…with tea.” Can you explain that? “
Do you recognize any of your tea drinking habits in the following list? Learn how to take your tea drinking to the next level with a few simple adjustments. Many tea drinkers commonly… Think grocery store herb “tea” bags are drinking tea. While the trend is S.L.O.W.L.Y. changing, the majority of tea sold in the grocery store is not tea, but the “dust and fannings” of herbs. Tea bags were invented 100 years
Note: Saturday evening, PST, I added the link to Laura Williams’ story. Thanks, Laura! Yes, Steph, I clink my teacup with yours and offer cheers to all of you who took the time to write some of your story! As of 3pm PST, four of you entered a link for us to visit over tea at three today. I thank you and so look forward to reading them thoroughly after I brew a pot of
Alright, readers, I know you’re out there. The stats prove it! 😉 Is my first tea party going to be very small? I’ve sat here a few minutes thinking how I might spur you on…without begging, heheh. In reality, I’m so aware all the feelings and thoughts that we go through when we consider sharing our stories. After all, I embarked on this series at the guidance of my mentoring program, Blog Mastermind, with a
The links are trickling in! Excellent. There’s still plenty of time to join our virtual tea party and share your story with us! Sign up any day this week (sign-up located at the end of each of my posts) and on Friday at 3pm PST, I will share everyone’s links in my post and continue to add to it over the weekend. It will be a great time to pour yourself a cup of tea
Yesterday I announced our first virtual Tea Party for this Friday, August 17th. I’m sharing my life story this week and would really like to hear at least some of yours as well! Since we can’t meet over a cup of real tea (yet!), I decided to sponsor a virtual afternoon tea instead. If you are a blogger, this is a great chance for us to double our connections with others and hear from you.
Announcing Our First Virtual Tea Party! This week features a five-part series on Tea Party Girl’s Tea Time-line. If we could sit down over tea in real life and share our stories, this is what I would share with you. Everyone’s living a story, you know. Living in the tea world means finding the time to listen to each other’s stories. If you’re a blogger, consider joining me this week. Tell us your story on
*My apologies for the title if you are one of my international readers. If your country provides similar information to the following links I provide, please let us know in the comments! We would love to hear. If you don’t know the answer to this question, you need to find out! I live by at least three and it’s always a treat to visit them. I especially enjoy wooing soon-to-be fans of Afternoon Tea by
A friend told me once that coffee equaled real-life to her, while tea represented an escape from life–filled with frills, china, and hats. While I disagreed with her description of taking tea, which I addressed in “Aren’t Tea Parties for Retired Ladies Wearing Red Hats?”, I also disagreed with her description of real life. Is your life characterized on a daily basis by what you produce or what you create? Do you spend your time
Kari at ArtsyMama is serving up some cake and a tutorial while linking artful bloggers together from all over the world for the Artful Blogger Party. You must pay her a visit! If you consider yourself an artful blogger, absolutely join the party, and share your work and talent with the rest of us. Now, I feel on the edge as an artful blogger. I certainly don’t spend much time on handicrafts. But I emailed
“My question would be when throwing a tea party how do you best accommodate those that favor decaf over traditional teas? I love to include children at my teas, but prefer to offer them a decaf tea due to their ages. How can I accomplish this without making it obvious that the grownups are enjoying different varieties?”-Pam (no url) Pam, I don’t think you need to worry about children knowing they’re drinking something different. In
Sea-Spa Tea Table #1 As mentioned before, I do not take great photographs. Nor do I live with anyone who does. But we did snap a few. Sea-Spa Tea Table #2 We used one three-tiered server for five women. This ended up crowding the plates too much. I wish I had used two. Hence, the sandwiches filled the bottom two layers and the scones the third. We never captured the desserts on film, unfortunately. When
“When planning the tea party events what sort of ready to go inventory should one need to have on hand….ie: vases, tableclothes,dishes etc….?”–Judy Mazuren (no url) Judy, be sure to see my article, “The Secret to the Simple and Quick Tea Party“. I outline the contents needed for a “tea-tote” so you can serve tea at a moment’s notice. “What is the best kind of tea party to have on a hot day?”–Kayla Chick (again,
Last week I received comments from Rachel and Kristin (no urls for either) about how to throw a tea party on a very strict budget. In a future post, I plan to address this question specifically. This post, however, is to share about an experience of mine from the last twenty-four hours where I needed to throw my budget boundary away. Yesterday, I visited a nail salon I had never been to. I planned to
How many of you can relate to the panic, guilt, worry, or fret that go along with deciding whom to invite to an event? If you are a woman over…well, come to think of it, my six-year old daughter already goes through this… “But if I don’t invite her, she might not invite me!” “No, I HAVE to invite everyone in the class!” “But if I don’t invite her, she’ll find out and hate me!”
In case you’re tuning in late, we’ve been talking at Tea Party Girl about the Sea-Spa Birthday Tea, the theme for the August Tea Party-themed event. Invitations were sent, the budget set and the theme chosen. Be sure to see previous posts for details. The details are for your benefit. Some people really want the “how-tos” outlined step-by-step, which is why it is written like it is. Feel free to skip down to the disclaimer
Taking time for tea means taking time for: Balance Beauty Elegance Your health Hospitality (even if only for yourself) Slowing down Stress reduction Tranquility Your well-being Quiet Here’s some previous posts you can enjoy that will help~ Taking Time for Tea Starting a Daily Tea Tradition The Advantages of a Daily Tea Ritual So many of you who I’ve met this week through my comment contest are hard-working mothers. Some of you have very limited
And Wow~ Wow, oh wow. It is great to hear from so many tea lovers and explorers! Thanks for your comments! I will get to your questions step-by-step. In the meantime, the contest runs until 1pm PST on Friday. Anyone who leaves a comment on any post this week will be entered into the drawing. It’s not too late! Now. Where were we? Oh yes, we were planning the August Tea Party Event. Here’s what’s
Instead of forging ahead with planning the August Tea Party Event, I thought I’d take a short break and answer the above question. (Thank you for all the comments yesterday! I am thinking through some menu adjustments and I’ll be sure to let you know what I decide.) I’m meeting professionals in both arenas who are watching me out of the corner of their eyes wondering what I’m up to. I think some tea professionals
I recently wrote an exhaustive article on the Steps to Creating a Tea Party Menu and confessed that despite loving Tea Parties, I don’t relish time in the kitchen. Currently, I am sharing the process of planning for my August Tea Party Event. The day to plan the menu is upon me. With high standards and a limited budget, I am determined to find The Lazy Baker’s Way to Plan a Tea Party Menu. Using
Tea Party Girl receives a lot of search engine hits from people trying to plan an event with a tea party theme. Now, the tea party can be a novel enough theme for your event, but why not kick it up a notch? Tea parties do not need to be stuffy, pink (thought I personally love the color) or include doilies. The theme of a tea party event can change with the seasons, be based
I finally decided August’s Tea Party Event at The Wellspring will be an intimate backyard afternoon tea for eight. Two friends are celebrating birthdays in August. As full-time mothers, they both relish time for uninterrupted conversations among friends. One in particular loves afternoon tea in all its beauty. I look forward to hosting it and plan to chronicle this process at Tea Party Girl. Hopefully it can help you plan your tea party event step-by-step
Did you know there was a book entirely devoted to the etiquette of taking tea? It’s true. It was written by our third tea party expert, Dorothea Johnson. Founder of The Protocol School of Washington, she wrote a book in 2000 called, Tea and Etiquette: Taking Tea for Business and Pleasure. She also writes the monthly column, Tea & Etiquette, in a favorite magazine of mine, Tea Time. Her most recent book release focuses completely
Remember the first couple times your in-laws shocked you? Interestingly, one of my memories surrounds instant tea. I delegated to a new family member to “bring the drinks” to an event I planned at my new home. When they arrived, two Cost-co sized cans of instant lemonade and instant iced tea were plunked down on my counter moments before the event started. I swallowed hard and chose graciousness (but never forgot it 😉 ). Mei
My goal at Tea Party Girl is to keep the focus on all the aspects of Afternoon Tea or The Tea Party. However, when I published the article on Steps to Creating Your Tea Party Menu, I talked about tea and food pairings. And since I believe that the tea is The Tea Party’s Most Important Ingredient, I want to provide some basic tea knowledge. As I’ve mentioned before, there are many sites devoted to
Lara (no url) left an encouraging comment this morning after reading Steps to Creating a Tea Party Menu with a few questions. Here’s a copy of the comment: Great job! That was a wonderful, comprehensive article and exactly what I think a tea party menu should consist of. However, I’m curious what you think of the tea parties in Tracy Stern’s “Tea Party” book. Personally I thought her ideas had very little to do with
I have uploaded the article, The Steps to Creating a Tea Party Menu, to Tea Party Girl here. Most technical problems that kept me from working at home the last few days are fixed, except that I still can’t send e-mail. Until this is fixed, I will respond to any comments you leave here on-site and at your blog if you leave a url. My next article will provide simple definitions of the different tea
This age of technology promises one can live anywhere and work on-line. Well, that works until the small-town Internet monopoly goes down. After over twenty-four hours of no Internet access and communicating with the no information customer service reps multiple states away, I’m starting to feel a little testy. To help with this, I spent yesterday working on a solid article about planning your tea party menu. Please look for it ASAP~for the moment Internet
Elizabeth Knight–Ms. Knight calls tea “the original comfort food” and her website Tea with Friends is a delight to visit. She is worth looking up if you are in the New York area, as her latest book: Tea in the City: New York (co-authored with Bruce Richardson) has led to guided walking tea tours of the city (see her website for additional details). The lover of the tea party with a minimum number of friends
May your day be filled with touches of beauty, a little elegance, strength for hospitality, connection to traditions, a moment to slow down in the midst of celebration, and tall glasses of iced tea shared with family and friends. And thank you, dear Patriots, for sacrificing your tea and your lives.
In my articles section, you’ll find “A Tea Party’s Most Important Ingredient“. If you read it, you’ll learn that I believe the beverage you serve is more important than the food you serve. HOWEVER, the food runs a close second, especially if serving tea is your business. Over vacation, I read the story of Alice Waters and her Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse. (If you’re in the food business, this is a must-read). Her philosophies have
No! Not a’tall! In reality cultures around the world for thousands of years have held tea parties, or traditions surrounding the taking of tea. This is true for men and women alike. The Chinese kept tea secret for three thousand years, but once tea began to be traded, its consumption spread like wildfire. Japanese geisha and the daughters of English nobility were trained to serve tea with elaborate ceremony and decorum. In fact, did you
When you host a tea party or similar event, do you think about where your guests will sit? Some hostesses believe place cards/name cards are presumptuous. In reality, a gracious hostess helps their guests with this decision. A guest who finds a place card feels a place was prepared for her. It also avoids the inevitable discomfort and shuffling that takes place (especially among women!) when guests have to decide where to sit. As a
While spending time at the lake today, I spoke with a woman who gave up coffee starting last weekend. She shared with me her need to completely get off caffeine. I told her about my four best-selling herb blends and offered her some samples. Approaching forty years old, I often find myself in conversations about diet and health with other women. While some of us battle our weight more than others, the older I get
When I host an event, I’m inevitably asked by one or more of my guests, “Is there anything I can bring?” Often, these are the very guests who did not RSVP in a timely manner and we’re holding this conversation only a few days or hours before the event. I understand that for many in our culture, especially here in California, gatherings are casual, last-minute, and free-flowing. I believe everyone needs close friends and family
In one day! As I ran off to beautiful Sierra County last Friday, I received not one, but TWO packages filled with surprises for Tea Party Girl. The first came as a result of participating in my first swap through The Partea Planner. My new blogging friend, Robin of Pensieve, was my partner. She sent me a box filled with treats, each individually wrapped. The presents were based on the swap’s theme in honor of
Tea Party Girl married Plays with Fire Boy. This means he knows what it is like to be the only man at afternoon tea and I pack life into the woods every now and again. Now that the baby is six-years old, I expect family camping to happen with even more frequency than before. I find myself wrestling through an interesting exercise of letting go of typical comforts as I pack for the weekend. Now,
While some of you may differ on my choices, (and I would love to hear your input!) every industry has it’s pioneers and experts and Afternoon Tea is no different. This list can’t include the many, hardworking tea room owners out there nor those who are not as widely published, but possibly just as knowledgeable. But if you are learning about tea, hosting teas, learning to love tea, going to tea parties and wanting to
Karen formerly of Sweet-Necessi-Teas started a Conversation about Tea today. She writes of sometimes being questioned about her choice of pursuit~devoting her shop to tea clothing and accoutrements. After all, there aren’t clothing and accessories shops for just for drinking many other beverages. She explains it very well. “Tea is a way to bring elegance into every day life.” A girl after my own heart! Karen, if people question your darling shop~imagine starting a tea
The more you learn about tea, the more products you will find that call themselves a tea. However, all true teas come from the tea plant, the camellia senensis plant. It only grows in one part of the United States at the Charleston Tea Plantation, but almost all tea comes primarily from the five following countries: China, Japan, Taiwan, India, and Sri Lanka. Their climates are conducive to the success of the camellia senensis plant~higher
This week brings the longest day of the year. Where I live, the weather-people predict it will reach the mid-90s. Does this mean it is not the season for the tea party? On the contrary! “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors,” Alice Walker said. The spirit of the tea party and picnics DO go together. The flavors of summer burst out of our gardens, produce stands, and BBQs. Why place the beauty
Yesterday’s tea party for Pink Dancer went very well (except for the 95 degrees part). I will post pictures of the tea table very soon. Each of the six children were served a dessert plate filled with: two tea sandwiches, one cut like a heart and one cut like a teapot with cookie cutters. one celery stick with peanut butter and raisins one small ramekin filled with ranch dressing with six petite carrots sticking up
Before I share this week’s tip with you, I’d like to raise my teacup and say Thank You to all my recent visitors and comment-ers! My first ten days of blogging on WordPress has been wonderful thanks to all of you. I hope we continue to get to know each other over the virtual teapot as we meet tea party lovers all over the blog-o-sphere. Tomorrow Pink-Dancer, my only daughter will turn six, and of
Over the life of this blog, my plan is to gather some of the best tea party recipes from many sources here at Tea Party Girl and organize them into menus for your use. I personally, do not enjoy baking, as explained here~but many lovers of tea do bake and are quite good at it. (In fact, it is my personal opinion that you cannot be in the traditional tea room business and NOT love
Most of us who are involved with tea have a passion for all-things-tea. There are lots of blogs and websites about tea the beverage. A lot of people compare tea to coffee when it is more accurate to compare it to wine. (The reason for this involves another post). Tea Party Girl loves tea, the beverage, and loves the tea party most of all. Meaning, the focus of this site is the hospitality of the
Where do you spend the majority of your days? Is it a place of beauty? Where, even in an office cubicle, can you set aside a corner of beauty for a spot of tea? Mine depends on the season. Currently, I take my cup of tea to the back deck in the quiet of the warm morning, sit on the Adirondack chair and listen to the chorus of baby birds ask for their breakfast. My
I love tea parties. But, I don’t like to cook and I REALLY don’t like to bake. AND I’m a food snob (from California, love Alice Waters, you get the drill). If you read my article, “A Tea Party’s Most Important Ingredient” you’ll learn the answer is the tea. HOWEVER, the food’s role at the tea party is also crucial and as someone who doesn’t like to bake and is picky about what she puts
This picture was taken at the then “Teddy Bears and Tea Cups” on Balboa Island. It’s a yearly event. My mother of “Teaching Tea” fame (now closed), on the left, was introduced to tea by her grandmother and my daughter, on the right (yes, that’s me in the middle) is learning quickly. She obviously enjoys the dress-up part! The first time we visited two years ago (the shop was under different ownership), my daughter was
I thought of entering, but they obviously want you to use their tea. Don’t have a lot of experience with any tea that can be purchased at the grocery store. HOWEVER, Bigelow tea deserves great kudos~they are doing a lot of things to upgrade from the tea bag. After all, they’re responsible for bringing the only US tea plantation back to life. Their website includes an active tea blog AND you can purchase their teas
Eighty-five percent of the tea drank in the US is of the iced variety, commercialized since 1904 when a tea business man iced it at the World’s Fair in Saint Louis in order to sell it in the hot weather. Many different recipes for iced tea exist~here’s Tea Party Girl’s: Brew 8 tsp. of looseleaf tea of choice in four cups of water (water temp based on the tea leaves you are brewing). Add 1/4
Now I can’t claim this is the most flattering picture of me, but I posted it none-the-less. Look past my beach hair quickly stuffed under the hat to attend afternoon tea and notice the chair I am sitting on. Vintage Tea Leaf of Long Beach ~your chairs are the most comfortable chairs any tea room has ever offered us! My darling 60-plus mother thanks you and I do, too! Visiting Southern CA meant there were
I write, I’m not a great or even a good photographer. But tea at the Ritz needed to be remembered and I wanted you to see something! Halfway through our afternoon tea, Plays with Fire, as I affectionately call my main squeeze, snapped a picture. Now, it is my belief that the Ritz understands the concept of “a little touch of something” very well. For two hours we didn’t gorge, but nibbled on works of
Americans tend to grab and go in a culture where productivity is valued often even above our own health and well-being. However, other cultures take time to nurture themselves and one another, often through taking time for tea. England’s ritual began in the early 1800s when Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, needed to eat before England’s customary late evening meal and asked her butler to bring a little bread and butter along with her
Ooooh~I am so tempted to steal some bandwidth this morning and show you why I am traveling 500 miles for afternoon tea! Instead you’ll have to stop by yourself to the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on the coast of Southern CA and take the dining photo tour. They serve the best afternoon tea I have ever had the privilege to attend. Last year I imbibed with my mother and sister-in-law, but this year I’m taking my
When planning a tea-themed event, think through your guest list. Will your event be a sit-down event? If so, remember that intimate is never more than eight and four can be a little too small, unless your guests really know one another. Use place cards. Sometimes hostesses feel uncomfortable making the decision of who sits where. But for the comfort of your guests, it is best to make this decision for them ahead of time.
This weekend finds me exploring the City by the Bay and of course, all things tea it offers. While the Asian theme of afternoon tea is not my personal decorating style, visiting the Samovar Tea Lounge and reading their menu proved an education. With two locations, Samovar provides your choice of cultural tea experiences and the menu to go along with it. And I do love Asian food. Chinese 15 Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong
Are you prepared to serve tea to yourself, a friend, or guests at a moment’s notice? On a consistent basis? Is it only a box of teabags from the cupboard or break room that you can’t serve with confidence? Tuesday’s Simple Tea Tip is to find a loose-leaf tea you love and always have it on hand. Tea can be like wine in its nuances and available choices. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the
When our family chose to begin home-schooling full-time four years ago, my number one concern over curriculum choices, legal concerns, or character education was preventing burn-out. Burn-out was something I became intimately acquainted with during my 20s, culminating with postpartum depression after our second child was born. If I took on the primary responsibility of educating our children, I had to take care of myself on many levels or this would never work. Preventing burn-out
In California, cherries come into season during the month of May. This is the month my favorite local orchard, Machados, opens its doors through November, the season for mandarin oranges. In between we’ll dine on drippy, juicy peaches, white nectarines, mouth-staining blackberries, and before we know it, crisp fall Fuji apples. In honor of cherry season right around the corner, today I placed my first order for our top-selling Cherry Iced Tea! It will be
When I visited my first afternoon tea room I realized as a 36-year old, I had never before experienced the beauty of a true afternoon tea. Despite tea parties as a child and with children of my own, I knew nothing about how to host an afternoon tea. I set out to learn everything I could so I could repeat this transporting experience in my own home among family and friends. I quickly learned that
I recently read the auto-biography of Starbucks’ CEO, Howard Schultz. While the flavors and nuances of the tea leaf are closer to the culture of wine than coffee, I continue to mull over one theme of the book. Starbucks began in Seattle by the same current owners, I believe (something may have changed since the book’s publication), as Peet’s, which means something to those of us on the West Coast. Howard Schultz is the one
Here in California, the children asked for iced tea last weekend. Our spring in Northern California enters in fits and starts, but seventy-degree days have already arrived. Their vivid memories of last year’s pitchers of peach- and cherry-iced tea excite me to introduce these Wellspring flavors to you. Bottled iced tea choices abound, and Americans consume bottled iced tea more than any other available tea source. Granted, it is convenient and often better for us
Friday, my best tea friend and I served tea to sixteen children, ten boys and six girls ranging in age from five to fourteen. Some of them definitely dressed for the occasion. The handsome Mr. Darcy on the left served as host, sitting at the head of the table and offering a blessing over our time. As the “etiquette expert”, I asked each child to find their seat, based on the predetermined seating arrangement, and
Yesterday, Valentine’s Day being only a coincidence, my husband and I visited the dentist. Because of insurance changes, etc. our appointments were delayed a number of months. Both of us walked away with excellent check-ups. If your dentist measures your gums, as they’ve gotten in the habit of doing the last couple of years, “having no 4s or 5s” means something to you. All my husband’s numbers was 2 or 3 and I registered all
Health fads come and go in America. Yet China and Japan hold on to their commitment to green tea. Recently, green tea in all forms flood our alternative health care options in the form of extracts, tea bags, even pills. It’s possible the surge of the pills and extracts is because Americans are really not enjoying their cups of green tea, except in the Asian restaurants. Many are brewing their cups from grocery store tea
