Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Valentine's Tea

I had a Valentine's dessert tea today for 3 of my dear friends from our local civic Women's Club. One of the ladies is the founder of the club (and also a neighbor.) The other two are the lovely ladies who took over Hospitality when I "passed the baton."

This little tea was just my way of telling them "thank you" for taking over and for doing such a wonderful job......it is not an easy task to do well.

I used a sweet simple rose and grey-green leaved china set and pink Depression glass plates and matching goblets. For visual illusion of "chargers" I used die-cut scrapbook paper - to give a nice look of having more layers without the bulk. I didn't use dinner plates for this simple dessert tea, so chargers would have been out of place and much too large. This did the trick perfectly!



A beautiful small heart-shaped server my friend Deb gave me fits the occassion perfectly!







Dessert teas are such an easy and fun way of entertaining (and great excuse to use your pretty china!)Plan on serving a minimum of three sweets - or just one big Wow 'Em Splurge such as a big tall piece of cake, a fancy-with-all-the-bells-n-whistles cheesecake or an amazing pie a la mode. 

For today's tea I simply provided frosted brownies, raspberry jam almond tea cookies (heart shapes in the cookie for the jam portion) and mini red velvet cupcakes with whipped buttercream icing. Serving finger foods eliminates the need for forks, thus making it even easier to host a tea! (I did end up grabbing dessert forks after we began because of that extra high buttercream icing required a fork, haha.) I am just glad the forks were recently shined, so it was a fast save!



Last year I was struggling with trying to get my heart shapes to work for these cookies. Next thing I know here comes my DH with a wooden "punch" he made with two different sizes for the hearts depending on what size cookie I was making. He amazes me.


I served Red Roobios tea with pink heart decorated sugar cubes in keeping with the red and pink theme. When the sugar melts it takes the little pink heart a little longer to melt. It's fun to watch my guests' faces when they have a sweet pink heart floating in their red tea. It is quite festive!





I used a pretty tea cosy to keep our tea piping hot.


For favors I gave them each rose petal soap flakes in a heart shaped box.



I *highly* encourage you to host a first tea or coffee social............or have yourself another soon if it's been a long while. Ladies just love an excuse to get together, and we absolutely need one another for the "sisterly" love and support only another female can understand and give. We love our sweets, we love using pretty things like fine china, and more than anything we love keeping our friendships alive and growing. One of the best ways to keep an old friendship dear, nurture and encourage a budding new friendship, or even to mend an injured friendship  is to have a tea!

So plan to slow yourself down just a little,  put your kettle on - and invite a friend or two over, and keep your precious friendships alive!

***********************************************************************************

Heading on over to visit Bernideen for her Tea Party Link Fest!

Joining Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday!

21 comments:

  1. That is such good advice and such a pretty tea you provided for your friends.I love the 'chargers' and the pretty tea cozy too -oh! and the depression glass is lovely too.Your sweet treats look very tempting!!!

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE this darling tablescape. Great advice, too. I think we all could stand to slow down, disconnect, and REconnect in real life with those who we love, treasure, and value. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it! I love it all the china the food all of it! Enjoyed this beautiful post. I came on over from Hibiscus House and am so glad you paid me a visit. It enabled me to find you thanks!
    Dolly

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Michele,
    Your table looks scrumptious! I LOVE the pretty tea cozy! The pink goblets and plates are o-la-la too. Such a pretty setting with your 'chargers' and I'm sure your friends loved it too. I know I would!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele,

    Your tea table is exquisite! Everything looks scrumptious and I love your rose china and gorgeous tea cozy. I'm sure you had a wonderful tea with your friends.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Michele,
    Your Valentine's Day tea looks so beautiful and scumptious, too! I love the pink depression glass - my mother used to collect it, so it always reminds me of her. Everything looks wonderful! I'm sure your friends really appreciated all your efforts!
    Hugs, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a pretty table for a ladies tea! The paper chargers really enhance everything! What a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful job Michelle! Absolutely gorgeous! Love the pink glassware, the lovely goodies, your rose favors and the tea cozy is terrific. A beautiful setting. Your guests must have felt pampered! Well done! Wish I had been there!
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just scrolled your blog and see you are a new blogger. These posts are lovely and your tea cozy really sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful table. I love the pink depression glass plates and stemware. A perfect way to enjoy time with special friends. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just beautiful, the tea cosy is stunning! Love the favor too! What a lovely tea party!
    Here from Tablescape Thursday. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. ..."keep your precious friendships alive": we all must always remember that! Thank you darling, and also thanks for your kind comment
    Silvia

    ReplyDelete
  13. such a decadent post; wonderful! (Your dove soaps are beautiful for sure, and the bathroom sure sounds like a great place for them)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so sweet....literally AND figuratively!!! I'll bet you and your guests are still experiencing a sugar high!!! :-) This is so beautifully presented and so feminine...I can't think of any woman who wouldn't feel absolutely pampered and loved while sitting at this table! The die-cut "chargers" are a great idea!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a perfect post...both the beautiful table and wonderful sentiments! Love all of the pink and all of your sweets look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a wonderful way to express thanks to the women of your Civic Club! The sweets tea is a great idea and so pretty on your three tiered plate stand. The china is lovely for a Valentive's tea and the pink tea cosy is my favorite. Happy Tea Party! Pam

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is just so pretty1 Everything looks so lovely. What a beautiful job you did and a wonderful treat for your guests! thank you for sharing with us at TT!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your table is just lovely. I would love to be a guest at your girly tea. I have been thinking about hosting a tea for a while; I think you just convinced me! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. LOVE this darling tablescape. Great advice, too.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you, friend, for taking the time to comment! I read each and every one of them. Your thoughts are appreciated!