Celebrate life's simple pleasures with Tea

Show & Tell Monday:Certified Santa Helper Week 5

   Photo by Country Living Magazine

I've always wanted to have a well stocked pantry! To have a cute one, as in the photo is a dream to shoot for.

But where to begin?

 This week's Certified Santa Helper can start you off on the path to create a well stocked pantry this holiday.  Print out this page, plan your holiday meals (and Tea parties) now while the grocery stores have what you need and then relax next week! 

 Imagine how easy it would be to grab a box of tartlet shells, open a jar of lemon curd and presto, 2 dozen bite size treats ready to take to the party-in 15 minutes! Now that's a dream come true! :)

Download Certified Santa help5 cook

And, please do hop over to Flylady.net for more helpful ideas to live clutter free~

Just had to share this wonderful pantry! http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/notes/the-farm-chicks/christmas-pantry/197221232372

Show & Tell Monday- Certified Santa Helper -Week 4

 

It's week 4!I can't believe it!

Thanksgiving week is a joyful week, a time to celebrate our blessings. Time to enjoy family and friends, share traditions and plan for the next holiday.

Our Certified Santa Helper is aimed at helping you plan and stay on track. Sometimes planning for the season can be a juggling act. Let's try reduce the stress by NOT keeping track of everything in your pretty head! It's just too much, we both know it, we swear each year that we'll do it differently, yet we fall back to the old ways.  So, here's a nice neat chart to print out and get all the planning down on paper to post where everyone can see and help you stay on track.  Enjoy and pour me a cuppa, no sugar please. :)

Download Certified Santa help4 plan

PS- I'd love to hear how you're flying through your preparations for the holidays! Which "Helper" has been your favorite?

Tea Party Dreamin' Fridays! Williamsburg!

One of my all time favorite vacation spots is Williamsburg, Va. I just love roaming the village, visiting the museum and of course hitting the shops and taking tea!

This year I'm trying to squeeze in a visit to Christiana Campbell's Tavern for Holiday Tea.

Here's what the official invitation states:

"Join Mrs. Campbell and her contemporaries for an afternoon tea, chocolate fancies, melodies played on harp to set the holiday mood, and lively discussion about 18th-century holiday traditions." 

Doesn't that sound divine?!

I haven't been able to tour the streets during the Christmas season, have you?

 

Wouldn't it be delightful to sit by the fire, listen to the pianist playing Christmas music while sipping tea?

Let's meet for tea!

 
 

Show & Tell Monday! Certified Santa Helper Week 3

Photo courtesy of http://blog.christmaslightsetc.com/

 The Holiday season is upon us, Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and I bet your Christmas decorations are around the corner too! In fact, I bet that you had to crawl over the Christmas Decorations to get to the Thanksgiving decorations!

This year I am trying to begin my Christmas decorating early. My youngest son's birthday is Dec. 8th and we have always tried so hard to just do birthday decorating at the beginning of the month and not let Christmas intrude on his special day.

Well, while shopping last year he and I had a talk about it. Last year we had a snow storm that made it hard to get the Christmas decorations up in time. He didn't like that at all! I explained to him how we wanted to make his birthday special and he replied that the best part of having a December birthday was that "There are decorations everywhere!"

This week's Certified Santa Helper is a page to help keep the decorating simple! Make your home festive, fun and comforting. Comforting is a relaxed atmosphere that is shared by the family. Select the decorations that you love and follow the traditions that make you smile! 

This is the busy season for my business and I find that if I don't pay attention, I go to bed late saying "I forgot to do this or put out that!".  Peace of mind and time with family is more important than vacuuming the carpet or filing the invoices or blogging. :)  Enjoy  the Helper for week 3 and keep it simple!

Download Certified Santa help3 decorate

and visit www.flylady.net, you'll be glad you did!

Show & Tell Monday- Certified Santa Helper week 2!

This is the second of our 5 part series to help you sail through the Holidays this year.

Photo credit/Country Living Magazine

Last week, we began thinking of gifts and getting organized-shopping on-line to save time and money. Starting now means that you don't have to panic when the gift is back ordered or just plain gone! It also saves you money on shipping, because when you have time to wait you have more money in your pocket!

This week, we are still focused on gifts- now we can get going with the gifts to make and the others to purchase as we are out and about shopping. Keep track of those items, don't stash them away before you log them onto your list and WRAP them. Yep, you heard me- wrap the item as it comes into the house.

So, enclosed are two lists that will keep you on track and fly through the Holiday prep! I think a nice cup of Ceylon Chai tea, good and strong and yummy will help you relax-and don't forget some nice music!

Download Certified Santa help2b gift list/ gifts to make

Download Certified Santa help2 gift list/ gifts to purchase
 

Tablescape Thursday- Autumn Fest with friends!

Last week I set up a corner all for myself and used my Autumn colors and had so much fun that I put this table together this afternoon. I invited a few friends over to the shop for lunch! I just love the soft chocolate tones of this set! Well, how can you go wrong with chocolate? I named this the Bloomsbury Truffle Collection. I just love the fun flowers on the tea cosie and did I mention that the chocolate tones just whisper to me? :) Okay, they scream at me! :)

 

Here are the little friends stopping in for tea on their way south for the winter! (from Micheal's Craft Store)

I just love this plate with the quote along the rim and the gardening theme! (from Portmerion) I'm getting good use from my flatware purchased at Tar-get! And what do you think of the napkin tucked under the plate?

Thanks for stopping in for my fall fest! I hope that you enjoyed the setting! And do stop in at Susan's to vist with the other talented tablescapers!
 And please do visit all the talented tablescapers over at Susan's blog!

 

Happy Birthday, Marie!

I'm joining the celebration this week and enjoying all things wonderful about Marie Antoinette!

I just love, no -ADORE all things Parisian and Marie is at the top of my list! What I wouldn't have done to be on the set of the movie and just be an extra having tea and pretty little petit fours with Kirsten!

Maybe today I'll just pretend! I'll be on the phone all day, checking in with my TEAm but I always enjoy a pot of tea while I do this-so today I'll set the table and dream of having a princess take tea with me!

I know that pink was one of her favorite colors, and also that she loved little dogs! If you look closely you'll see her photo in the background and of course the glittery Eiffel Tower! I just love the swags and garlands on this fabric! If you want to take a peek at the collections and set a table for Marie, please click here.

Have you checked out this magazine yet? Lots of ideas to just set me pink with envy! I did come across a talented lady and just wanted to share her lovely Marie Madness with you! I think that we are kindred spirits- now I just have to meet her!  Please visit Joy, www.cupidscharm.com, you'll be happy you did. And I'm sure you need to "suggest" a gift idea or two for that hubby of yours to put into your stocking!

I'd like to try the Mr. Linky and share all the wonderful sites and blogs that enjoy Marie Antoinette as much as I do!
 <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/easylink.php?owner=settoatea&postid=04Nov2009"></script>
 

Show & Tell Monday! Launching our Certified Santa Helpers!

One of my goals this year is to get on track and "fly through the Holidays" without the stress of last minute shopping and decorating!

As a business owner, mom, and woman with many plates spinning in the air I need a helping hand! Several years ago I found www.flylady.net, and with her program I was able to smile and enjoy the peace that the season is meant to bring to us.

So I wanted to share this document with all our Fans, Followers and  TEAm members.It was created with your peaceful holiday preparations in mind! Print this out, pour yourself a nice cup of tea and fly through your holidays!

Download Certified santa helper week 1

Tea Party Dreamin' Fridays- Autumn Fest for One

I wanted to post my cute vintage tea party set in it's new winter home for you!

And a quick little Tablescape for my Thursday followers!

I even partook in a quiet Autumn Fest for One, savoring the hour of being home alone!

I've tucked up in the loft for a nice spot of tea, using my fall cloth-I just love the big cabbage roses!

 
The view from the window is one of my favorites!

 
When in Philly, PA, I found a fabulous market, Di Bruno Bros.! The stuffed pumkin was out of this world!

I've set my place with my favorites, the lunch plate from Target(sorry, it's 5 years old). The flatware is Tar-get too, just last week-on clearance!!!

Ah, told you the pumpkin was scrumptious! Happy Autumn and Halloween to All!

And please don't miss all the wonderful ideas at Susan's!

Happy Halloween! Sharing a little "treat" with you!

 I do so love the fall, the changing of the seasons! And I love that I still have a child (the youngest of 3)who adores Halloween!

Here's a recipe for a Scone"Treat" sure to make the goblins in your life smile at Tea Time.

 
So easy!

*  Bake 1 package Sweet Creme/Vanilla scones as directed. (Remember, our scone mix only needs one ingredient! :)

*  Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream and sandwich between two scones.

*  Roll in your choice of sprinkles or candy halloween confetti.

Enjoy with a cup of cranberry harvest tea or cold fresh apple cider with your goblins!

**This would be yummy with eggnog icecream for the next holiday!

Happy Halloween!