Winter Wonderland Tea Party

Tea parties are a great way to bless others - whether to celebrate a birthday or a holiday they can be so enjoyable. You don't need to spend much money or have a fancy home to host a tea party - just a few tea cups and some creativity!

I wanted to thank some special ladies in my children's lives, so I invited them to a Winter Wonderland Tea Party! I used scrapbook paper and other materials that I had on hand to make the invitations and place cards. I was able to borrow tea cups and a couple tea pots from my sweet mother-in-law, and it all came together!

The Invitation

Going with the Winter Wonderland theme, I used snowflake ornaments that I hadn't used for Christmas and placed them around on tables, near picture frames and hung them on the large mirror in our living room! I also found some large crystal clear snowflakes at the Dollar Tree (that were half off - score!) and used them on the table underneath trays of food.

 

Spray painted tree branches bring the feel of winter indoors!

 

A framed menu for all to see what's to come!

Two teas were offered - Chai Spice and Blackberry Pomegranate

As well as hot cocoa fixings

 

The spread

I served a homemade veggie quiche for the ladies and peanut butter jelly stars for the kids.

I also included meat, cheese, and crackers, carrot stick and ranch dressing, and chocolate pudding for dessert along with some fruit!

PB&J Stars (a favorite around here)

 

Christmas napkins and candy canes left over from the holidays

 added a touch of color and winter feel.

The younger tea party guests enjoyed a simple craft - creating a winter wonderland landscape with white crayons and sparkles! Then after we ate and visited for a while we played a fun game with tea bags. We all laughed together and got to know one another better! After all the sweets that the little girls ate it was time to get our shoes on and head outside into the sunshine. What a great way to end the party!

Me and my Minnie Mouse girl at the party!

(she wanted to wear her new dress up clothes that she received for Christmas)

Whatever the occasion, even if it's just to have a few friends over to visit, I hope that you enjoy a tea party soon. Little girls love the chance to dress up and practice being little ladies.

Foot Pumice "Lollipops" - a take home treat for our grown up guests!



May God bless this last day of 2011 and pour out His joy and peace in your life in 2012!

Blessings,

Melting Moments - Easy Christmas Cookies

My sweet momma gave me this recipe and I share it when I can. These cookies are so simple to make and turn out delicious, they MELT in your MOUTH (not in your hand :o).

Made with love...

Hope you enjoy making and eating these! Not the healthiest cookie, but hey - it's the holidays!

I've got all my ingredients together to make another couple batches of these sweet treats to give to our neighbors for Christmas. I just need the self control to get them out of the house! They are so good :o)

Melting Moments

(this is doubled - which is rarely even enough for my family to enjoy and to share!)

Ingredients:

2 cups butter (softened)

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup cornstarch

2 2/3 cup flour

red or green sugar crystals (or any color)

 

Directions:

In medium bowl, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add cornstarch and flour, beating until blended.

Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375*.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in colored sugar. (great job for the kids!)

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12-15 minutes, until edges are golden.

Cool 2-3 minutes and remove to cookie rack.

***These freeze very well! Great to make ahead.***

My little girl LOVES to help roll the balls of dough in colored sugar.

It's a fun job for a 2-year-old  :o)



ENJOY and many blessings!

I'm linked up with:

 

Decorating for Christmas With What You Have!

Around Thanksgiving I began to daydream of the lovely ways I could decorate my home for the next holiday - Christmas! Of course I imagined the pristine silvers and blues of a perfect living room straight from a magazine. I then began to realize that a perfectly decorated living room wouldn't reflect the homey peace and joy that I want for my family... and it would cost me a lot of money to buy new decorations. So, I decided to look in my craft containers and see what I had.

An invitation above our couch

I found quite a bit that I put to use!

• 12 x 12 scrapbook paper
• tape
• paper cutter
• white card stock
• hot glue gun (my best friend :o)
• letter stamps
• ribbon
• lots of frames not being used

Each time the kids were down for a nap or busy wrestling with Daddy on the floor, I would get out my paper cutter, stack of paper and stamps. Slowly, slowly it all came together!

Hand-stamped "Joy" with rolled fabric flower!

My point of inspiration came when I saw this FREE holiday print out at Inviting Printables. The colors popped from the page and encouraged me to be BOLD this Christmas! So the color scheme I went with was bright blue, green and red (along with black and white).

I love to decorate with real greenery!

Picked up some xmas tree clippings from our local Walmart for free.

I found those same colors in my scrapbook paper collection and had fun putting together framed words and black and white pictures that we took last winter. I moved around the regular decor and added a bit of color to the kitchen and bathroom just to liven the place up.

The only additional items I bought to add to the decorations were four candlesticks (red and blue), a few new glass ornament balls in silver and blue, two poinsettia plants, and some colorful material from the scrap bin at Hobby Lobby.

So colorful!

Little white lights... my favorite

Our advent "house" and red galore!

Now I can say that I'm decorated for Christmas and feel cheery when I walk into my home. Peace and joy are here, because the One who gives us these precious gifts dwells in my home. He is welcome here during the holidays and always!

"Jesus" and my family

I pray that you enjoy this Christmas with your family and friends and most of all with Jesus Christ - the TRUE reason we celebrate Christmas.

And be encouraged to use what you have when decorating for the holidays!

Blessings,



PS - Can't wait to share my favorite Christmas cookie recipe with you later this week!

I'm linked up with: