A Valentines Tea

When I was a little girl, the dearest possession in my world was my American Girl Doll Felicity. Oh how I loved Felicity so much- her hair, her lovely Colonial clothes, her canopy bed (which to this day still looks most dreamy and wonderful to me).

Felicity and I did everything together. Half of my real wardrobe matched hers- nightgowns, dresses and such, courtesy of my very talented grandma. There are even studio photos of us hanging at my parents house.

American Girl was the pinnacle of cool in my childhood world. No barbies for me. I was way too immersed in American girland playing out Felicity's or Samantha's or Molly's stories with friends or pretending Felicity and I were orphans together (why on earth was that so fun as a child??), or having tea.

For as long as I can remember my mom and her friends held Valentines Tea Parties. These parties were HUGE events, very well-orchestrated and fanciful and at the post-toddler age of four, daughters were allowed to attend. It was a defining moment- becoming one of the "older girls" and attending the Valentines Tea!

The best part: this tea was not just for women and girls. It was also for their dolls. And the dolls loved it. They all got to sit together and eat mini tea crumpets and cucumber sandwiches and when it was gift time they too, participated.

All the daughters are grown now, and over the years Valentines Tea has scaled back much. But still as lovely as ever, I give you A Valentines Tea:






My sweet little Felicity was not there (however, she is waiting for me to come pick her up from her grandmother's house). But I couldn't help but smile as I looked to the table next to me and saw the next generation of little girls and their dolls, giddy to be at this most wonderful occasion.

A Little Princess Tea

A couple of weeks ago I received this invitation in the mail:

Sara Crewe has returned from India, but Miss Minchin has her locked up in the attic. Please come to her birthday tea to see if Sara is still a little princess.

And so I did.

What a lovely evening it was! Full of all sorts of yummy food from India and England. I loved this story when I was a little girl- the movie was my favorite! I still remember my favorite line:

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags. Even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us."

I present A Little Princess Tea:








To all the princesses out there, may everyone have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

A Witches' Tea.

Last night I was lucky enough to join my mom and sister for A Witches' Tea- an annual event put on by some good friends who love tea parties and know how to do them in style!

These tea parties are a big deal and were a HUGE part of my childhood and growing up. All kinds of occasions were celebrated with tea parties- Valentines Day (my favorite), babies, weddings, and (my not-so-favorite when it was for me) periods. Yes. That's right. We had a tea party when somebody started their period. It was called a coming-out party and they were celebrated with all kinds of yucky, yummy things associated with entering womanhood. I was worried for years about mine before it was my turn.

Alas, that time has passed.

On to bigger things like Witches Tea. I don't know if I could ever pull off something this snazzy- I honestly felt like I had walked into a magazine spread.



Try these donuts from Beyond Glaze! It's our friends business-the one who threw the party- and they are seriously delicious.