tea party

In case you haven't noticed, I've been talking about tea all this week in order to mentally prepare myself for the afternoon-celebration spring-tea party that I am hosting tomorrow. I'm not a skilled tea brewer, I have much more experience mixing cocktails, and this evening I am going to practice brewing a few pots of tea to ensure that I don't pour out anything too bitter or strong at mañana's fiesta de te. Emily is going to come over and act as my drink tester and to reward her for sipping the teas, I thought I could stir together a drink that uses up the fresh brewed tea. A mixture of pomegranate juice, iced tea, and vodka, this sounds like it might even be good enough to serve at the party! To look at the recipe, read more

I'm a little tea pot short and stout, here is my handle here is my spout, when I get all steamed up hear me shout, tip me over and pour me out. A preschool song may not be the best selection for the chic afternoon tea party I am hosting tomorrow, but it certainly fits the theme. The floral invitations have been sent, the sweet and savory baked goods have been prepared, my patio is the perfect picture of spring in full bloom and all I have to do is brew the tea and hit play on the stereo. Only I haven't compiled a playlist... it's a party where the conversation is more important than the music, so a soothing, relaxing, gentle background noise is what I am looking for. To see my contemporary classical musical suggestions for the tea party, read more

This week I am putting together a tea party plan for you to follow when you want to host an afternoon tea sipping soirée. Contrary to popular belief, tea parties can be a great, contemporary way to celebrate the arrival of Spring (or a baby or a marriage). My fingers are crossed in hopes that this Saturday will be a glorious sunshine-y day and that we will be able to sit outside in my courtyard while we drink tea and nibble on finger foods. I invited a small group of girlfriends earlier this week with pretty little floral invites. The buffet will be set with a dazzling array of sweet and savory classic tea snacks and I'll pour several pots of freshly brewed tea as well as offer a green tea martini to those friends who are in the mood for a cocktail. To see how I'm turning my house into a spring haven, creating a lady-like look with lots of fresh flowers and tea inspired accents, read more

It's tea time! This week I'm planning an afternoon tea party. On Monday I sent out beautiful floral invitations to my girlfriends and yesterday I put together a menu full of scones, tea sandwiches, and shortbread cookies. Now it's on to the drinks, the tea of the tea party. Start by picking out which teas you will offer your guests. You could make several pots of the same kind, or a few different kinds. I am a fan of options and will brew a couple different kinds of tea. At all of my parties I like to offer an alcoholic beverage, so for those who are in the mood for an afternoon aperitif, I'll shake up a green tea martini. For my tips on brewing the perfect cup of tea and the recipe for the mar-tea-ni, read more

Today I am putting together a menu for an afternoon tea party. I've invited over some of my girlfriends and am praying that Saturday afternoon will be beautiful and sunny so we can sip tea and eat finger sandwiches in my courtyard patio. Tea parties, which until recently were reserved for old ladies and little girls, are making a huge comeback and modern makeover for 2007. Tea bars and tea tastings are all the rage so a tea party is timely and appropriate. Tea parties are also a sophisticated way to host a bridal or baby shower: if you are throwing one in the future, bookmark this plan to help you organize your event. I'm doing my event buffet style with an assortment of savory and sweet treats. Scones and classic tea sandwiches, puff pastries filled with chocolate and shortbread cookies round out the light, nibble-friendly menu. For the sweet appetizer recipes, read more

To celebrate the arrival of Spring I am planning an afternoon tea party this weekend. After guzzling down way too many beers last Saturday during the St. Patrick's Day festivities, I felt it was time for an elegant afternoon of relaxed entertaining. While a stuffy image of little old ladies in oversized hats may come to mind when you think tea party, my tea time is going to be modern, chic, and youthful. To set the mood I sent a floral present shaped invitation to my friends requesting their presence and asking that they sport floral prints. Whenever I plan a party after I'm done with the invite I move on to arranging the menu. Food is an integral piece of any party and I'll be offering my guests classic tea time snacks. To see my scone and tea sandwich recipes, read more

Spring has sprung! Well almost - the official first day is this Wednesday, but the weather has been so amazing here in California that it feels like it has already arrived. To celebrate, I'm hosting a tea party this weekend. This isn't going to be stuffy ladies in pastel suits at a formal table with antique china, it's going to be modern, fun, and fabulous. My fingers are crossed that the warm weather will last until Saturday so I can host the tea in my courtyard. I want everything about the party to scream spring, starting with the invitation. The invitation is an integral and essential tone setter for the party, so it should reflect the arrival of spring in the design and color scheme. To see the tea party invite I've made - that you can make too if you follow my step by step instructions - please read more

It's tea drinking season and you can't have a steaming cup of heart warming tea without a cute little teapot, right? As I was looking through the Yum Market I noticed that you gals have found some pretty cool pots. Here are a few that are worth sharing:

If you have an old fashioned or country style kitchen this cast iron mustard teapot saved by ForgetMeNot will sit gracefully on the top of your stove.

This teapot doesn't really coincide with the look of your kitchen? Check out these two teapots and read more