Tea Time!

I've never been to a real "tea party" or Kentucky Derby party so I decided I'd have one of my own! I've always wanted to dress up and wear a cute hat so I discussed it with my bunco friends (to make sure it wasn't too gay, ha) and they were all thrilled to attend!

This idea originally started this past summer after I bought some pretty vintage china from an Antique store. Since I'm a FIRM believer in using everything you have (if you don't, why the hell do you have it?!), I couldn't wait to use it!

(Seriously, this really bugs me.. why do people register for china, Annieglass and all that other expensive stuff, then leave it boxed up or in cabinets. Its SUPPOSED to be used and not to mention, the person that bought if for you (probably for a wedding gift or whatever) would hate to know they wasted their money. So,,just for the record (in case any of you gave me any of this for a wedding gift), MONEY WELL SPENT! I can't count the number of times Nic and I have used our china. We  use it several times a month and then we pull it ALL out a few times a year when we have our families over.)

Ok, back to the Tea Party!

I got up early Saturday and went to the Farmers Market to get fresh flowers and vegetables. I LOVEEE the Farmer's Market. If you haven't been, you are truly missing out! They have fresh EVERYTHING. The sell food, jewelry, art, flowers and all types of other things.

The Farmers Market was introduced to me by my friend Jennifer several months back. We went early one morning to get fresh sunflowers for a shower we were hosting and I've been hooked every since. The flowers are grown locally and are BEAUTIFUL!! I LOVEE fresh flowers and these actually lasted over a week in my house=)

 

Check out these beautiful zinnias! They come in BIG bushels, I think I literally had flowers in every room of my house. LOVED IT!

 

 

 

Pretty flowers, eh? Now check out my pretty friends!

 I read through every cook book I own to determine what the perfect "Southern" tea party foods were. And I must admit....we nailed it=)

 

You really can't tell by the picture but that's burlap with Tea Kettle Fabric overlaying it. I fell in love with this fabric but its no longer of use to me so if anyone ever has a tea party...you can have it!

 Open Face Vicksburg Tomato Sandwiches (my moms homemade mayo made them delish)

 Open Face Cucumber & Dill Sandwiches

 

Cupcakes w/ cute toppers (thanks Etsy!)

Chicken Salad filo cups

Fresh Fruit

 Cupcake Cake Pops

 Some sweet marshmallow puff things that come in a cute little gourmet bag

 

The Spread

Chicken Salad Filo Cups (thanks Emma), Cupcake Cake balls (thanks Brooke) , Vicksburg Tomato Sandwiches, Cucumber & Dill Sandwiches, Cheese Straws (thanks Beth), Cupcakes & Fresh Fruit

 I love a colorful plate=)

When I decided to do a tea party, I wondered how I could get around serving hot tea but still use my tea cups. I don't really care for hot drinks (tea, coffee, etc), not to mention mid August=HOT as hell in Mississippi.   So, I figured since I was planning it, we'd drink cold tea and just fill the tea cups with something else. (cupcakes, perhaps?!)

 

Best Tea ever!!! 

"Iced Indian Tea" from "Easy Does It Entertaining" by Patty Roper 

 

 

The food was good, the company was even better!

 After the Tea Party, Brooke, Emily and I went for a stroll in the neighborhood and ended up crashing a party @ Beth's house for dinner! Beth had the entire MC football team over for dinner (her husband is a coach) I'VE NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE SEEN GUYS EAT THAT MUCH FOOD. They were making double stack hamburgers, eating BAGS of chips and drinking the entire pitcher of tea. Poor Beth made several runs to the store.

 Remi had to check things out too!