Queen's Guide to the Fabulous Tea Party...

"I'm late, I'm late! I'm very, very late!"

Poor Rabbit. It is his first time hosting a party. He was invited to create his own soiree by the lovely Vanessa at a Fanciful Twist, and now he is worried if he can pull off a fabulous tea party. I decided to create a "How To" list for this handsome hare, and he was so delighted, he asked me to share :) Obviously delicious treats and tasty tea are a must (and perhaps some Flamingo Croquet) but some other things to consider...


The Invitation List

Since conversation is just as important as to what tea to brew, it is crucial to invite interesting people who not only are witty, but can wear party hats with panache...
These gals know how not only how to rock their powdered wigs, but how to sip their tea without mussing their ruffles...



The Ambiance
Please note I did not say "decorations." One must create an ambiance, an atmosphere, a magical place that transports the party goers to a realm of wonder. Indoor or outdoor, you must find the perfect nooks to tuck in unexpected lovelies, and they should include flowers, fancy china, and linens...




Party Favors
Without pretty little gifties, your party may feel more like a simple snack time. Homemade favors are best, the more unusual and eclectic the better...
This is a paper teapot I created a few years ago - perfect for place settings!


Couture

One must throw themselves into her attire with reckless abandon. Large hats, layers of lace, and of course, as hostess, a fabulous apron...



And there you have it! Some simple guidelines to help you created a lovely tea party that will keep the party goers talking for months! So get your tea cozy ready, cut some flowers, and tie on that apron - and go visit the other party hostesses today!




Credits
All vintage photographs are from my collection of adopted ancestors. The Alice in Wonderland illustrations are from the Library of Congress. The watermarked images are of my creations and other pretties (such as the apron and stack of linens), and the fabulous photos of flowers and such are from http://www.countryliving.com/.

Flowers, some little boys, and the guilt of motherhood

A pretty glorious morning :) My little blog helpers are checking out the new laptop. Like the flowers?  One of the farmers at the market gave them to me on Sunday. Aren't they amazing? They fit perfect my old sap bucket/rusty pail and I love how they look. It is nice to have a pretty spot to blog - even if I have ten little fingers wanting to "help" me type.

Speaking of my little helpers...

The countdown begins... My little munchkin butts are heading to school next week. They have been in preschool, so this isn't like the first time they will be going to "school," but for some reason, because they are five and starting the full day thing, I am wigging just a smidge.  Mikey is headed to the full-day Autism program, and Johnny is going to the Young 5s at the elementary school. The Young 5 program is like  kindergarten, (in my day, I guess it would be the equivalent to what the school called Primary class. Since my boys were born in July, they are considered young, so Johnny was able to get a spot in this program). They were in the same building last year, but now the teachers tell me Johnny is ready to leave the special ed building and head into the land of elementary. Which is a good thing. Right?

 But now he is going to a "bigger" school, with lunch menus and lots of kids and bus stops... At his old building, I knew just about all the teachers, his class was small, I packed his little snack, the bus had like four kids on it and the bus driver would help get the boys to their seats, and Mikey was in the classroom next door... It felt homey and small.  Now they will be riding different buses, not to mention going to different buildings.  They never were in the same class - Mikey's autism is more pronounced than Johnny's - but I was comforted by the fact that they were right next to each other.  Next fall, most likely they will be in the same building. It will be a different building for both of them, but they will be together.

Mikey also has a new teacher this year. He has had the same lovely teacher for the last two years, and this year, his last at the special ed building, is with a new teacher. Luckily, I know her and she is a sweetie, but she is new to Mikey.  Mikey has a hard time with change, and I sometimes so do I. I get comfortable and like routine just like my Mikey.

And now here comes the other side of this whole back-to-school event. In some ways, while I am wigging out and feeling like my babies are getting too old, too fast, I am also soooo ready for them to be in school.  I am with these little guys pretty much every minute every day. So the idea of some alone time sounds so good - and makes me feel like a big fat mean shmuck for wanting that time. I am nervous about them being at school, excited and apprehensive, sad and at the same time guilty.

Being a mom is complicated.