Have A Holiday Tea Party This Year!

Teatime! It's as if it's just part of being a girl ...simple and resources and books abound on the
hats, little teacups, beads and bracelets. Girls of alltopic. Here are some easy steps to plan your first
ages love a fabulous tea party!holiday tea.
There are so many great reasons to join up with1. Keep it small. Invite only your daughter's closest
our friends across the Atlantic and begin thefriends and limit it to just a few for this first tea.
tradition of afternoon tea EVERY day, butIf you're inviting moms and daughters and can
especially at the holidays, creating the tradition ofenlarge your dining room table, plan for a
a special holiday tea will provide a fabulouscomfortable space between guests at the table.
memory for our girls that will last a lifetime! Some2. Set your date. The typical English teatime is in
of the benefits of planning a holiday tea:the afternoon but that doesn't have to be the
1. It's fun! As I said above, girls of all ages LOVErule for the holidays. Find a time that works best
the ritual of tea. Picture young ladies dressed infor you and your guests, and limit the time to
their holiday finery ... soft Christmas tunes playingabout a two-hour slot so the time in itself doesn't
in the background. There is something aboutcreate stress for your guests.
pouring the liquid out of the pot into lovely cups...3. Plan your menu. Again, simple is best. Scones,
it's just a little slice of heaven.cucumber sandwiches, and a nice array of holiday
2. It's peaceful. Be honest! This time of the yearcookies would make for the perfect tea menu.
can be downright nutty at times and throughoutWe always have some back up peanut butter
most of the holiday season life is anything butand jelly sandwiches too, just in case for the
peaceful. Provide a respite from the craziness ofyounger ones.
the holidays around a cup of tea. You'll see...4. Send your invites. Keep them simple as well.
peaceful.... ahhhhh, this is how the holidays shouldPrint them out with a fancy font on your
be!computer and stamp with a poinsettia or other
3. It's memory building. Think of years from nowholiday image. Or use the wonderful clip art
when your girls will be recounting the fondavailable online. Or, even better, if your girls enjoy
memories of your holiday tea together. Betterdrawing and you have time, make handmade
yet, imagine seeing your girls start the sameinvitations.
tradition with their girls.5. On the day of the tea, set an elegant table.
4. It's enriching. There is really no easier way toThis is the only part of our holiday tea where I'd
teach your young ladies manners than at a lovelysay go elaborate rather than simple. Use your
tea table. Opportunities abound in teatime to showfinest plates and teacups, cloth napkins and napkin
your little ladies how to be kind, quiet and caring,rings if you have them. Have your girls make up
as well as how to use a fork, sip without slurping,place cards for each guest so as they come in
etc.they can be seated immediately. Turn on the
5. It encourages conversation. What a great timeholiday music and start the tea water to boiling as
to set aside and reminisce about old familythe guest arrive so it will be at it's freshest when
traditions and memories of the holidays. Talkyou all sit. Most of all relax and enjoy the tea with
about favorite holidays of the past or memoriesyour guests. This is not an event where you'll
of your grandparents' visits, etc.want to be getting up and down. Pour out and
Now the last thing I want to do is create morebegin sharing your favorite holiday memories.
stress for your holidays by throwing somethingStart with a holiday tea this year and you'll see... it
difficult on you. Relaxing tea parties can be verywill become an annual tradition not to be missed!