Christmas Tea!

If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that a few times a year I get together with two girlfriends and host tea parties for our little group of friends.

Our annual Christmas Tea was last Sunday. For this event there were a total of four of us who put this tea together. The Christmas Tea is the biggest tea party of the year!  We open up the guest list to include our daughters!

My self and the flea market friend alternate years hosting and this year it was my turn.

The invitations were sent and we had twenty four ladies attending!

I set three tables of eight......I used our dining room/kitchen table, and put two more tables in the living room.....I move out my couch, end tables, and side chairs in order to make room for the tables. The furniture all gets moved into the master bedroom....no peeking in there during the tea party!

When it comes time for the gift exchange we head upstairs to the family room.

We started off with a salad, and served five different types of tea sandwiches. Of course, no tea is complete without scones, lemon curd and devonshire cream!

I use my Christmas dishes to set the tables...and my red glassware on two of the three tables....one of my best garage sale finds.....eight each of white and red wine glasses, champagne, and water goblets for $20.00!  

My Spode Christmas dishes and glasses were used for this table... I also found an unopened pack of 8 Spode Christmas napkins at a garage sale this summer for $1.00!

We tried to keep the centerpieces simple since we put cake stands in the middle of the table to serve the tea sandwiches.

 And of course we have dessert too!

I move a bench seat from my hallway and set up a table for desserts.......

There is so much happening during the holiday season that during the Thanksgiving weekend I make a list of things I have to do during the holidays.....I realized many years ago that I can't do it all....making a list helps me focus on what's really important....family and friends.

One thing that is always at the top of my list is Christmas Tea with my girlfriends!

chris