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 because she puts a lot of thought and time into planning the tea party food and outlining a schedule for its preparation. The last tea party she outlined completely, the “Winter White and Spring Green” theme offered nine different recipes with photos. The Lime-Filled Cupcakes in particular woo me as a reluctant baker.
And Mrs. Fussypants, you are just so fun! Are you REALLY pregnant with your fifth boy? Do I understand that correctly? I entered her “Fight the Frump” last Friday with my article, “How Often Do You Set the Table?” and received a nice boost of traffic ever since.* She just announced today the release of her FOUR new sites, including Blissfully Domestic and Homeschool Hacks each with corresponding social communities. Blissfully Domestic sounds right up my alley, and I will keep my eye on this site for a week or two to see what they offer. You may want to, as well. So far as I can tell, it’s Fussy’s humor that will help them stand out from the many other SaHM-type sites. This will hold my interest for a little while, but I will stay if they provide great content. I need all the encouragement on this journey I can get, but not just another social community to keep up with. I hope Mrs. Fussypants and her crew can differentiate themselves from the rest.
*My article about setting the table is turning out to be one of my most commented on articles ever; I find this interesting since it was written as an off-shoot of one of my most-read articles ever. When I wrote over the weekend about expanding this blog’s focus, I meant articles such as this one, not articles about coffee! Sorry that was confusing for some of you! I’m still toying with the direction to take this blog. I will either concentrate even more on the tea party niche or widen the blog focus to all that defines simple and classical beauty to me. We shall see. Opinions always welcome.
Thank you so much for mentioning my blog. I’ve certainly enjoyed reading yours. I blog only for the fun of it and to meet new people. One of my friends has a saying I love, blogging without obligation. I try to follow that philosophy.
True hospitality has been lost in our modern culture. By hospitality I don’t mean entertaining, although it does include that. Hospitality is the idea that we take care of other people’s needs–whether that be a hungry tummy, a weary body, an overwhelmed soul. It’s unheard of now, with all the emphasis on distrusting people, cocooning, isolating ourselves from the communities we’re in in favor of spending virtual time with others via the internet. We need each other in the flesh to be interdependent, not independent. Anything you can offer to help us reconnect in our isolative society, to meet our needs and others’ needs for support and community, to demonstrate hospitality to those familiar and new.
Your blog has been part of what encouraged me to become the “social director” of my Sunday School class (appropriately named “Connections”). Starting with hosting a Christmas Tea, a Christmas Party, and a Super Bowl Party, my vision has been to develop community within our group through fun and relaxing activities. It has resulted in class members getting together on their own for lunch, dinner, and so forth and really developing that community we all crave in this world. I’m excited for what’s next for us!
I think your ideas of branching out from tea but not ignoring will do us good–we need encouragement to keep on reaching out to others.
I enjoy everything about your blog. This is the first time I have participated in blogging. I am look forward to what come up everyday. I am like a little child bursting with joy when I read or see pictures of tea parties/etiquette. Everyone please pray that I find a place soon to host my tea parties and etiquette classes. Keep up the blogging whatever course you decide to take.
To your list of Bad Manners, I’d like to add using a cell phone at the table. Most of us are tolerant of a brief phone conversation to confirm meeting time or location, especially when someone is lost or running late. But everyone in earshot cringes when some people conduct conversations about private matters in a public space, especially when accompanied by tears or curses.
It isn’t pleasant to be forced to listen to lengthy business meetings conducted over the phone, over a meal, either. The table is a place to gather for pleasant conversation with others at the table.
If you feel you must keep your phone turned on, as a consideration to others, switch it to vibrate and walk away from the table and well out of earshot to take that urgent call.
How does one get invited to read the blogs at Tea in my Cup?
When I followed to link I had to log in but didn’t see a spot to sign in.