Seventh Tea Bar

I heard great things about the Seventh Tea Bar and wanted to check it out. We had a friends birthday coming up so we thought it would be fun to take her to Seventh for a Grand Service. It was gorgeous! They have an amazing selection of tea! We decided on the jasmine pearl green tea and oolong, both were wonderful but I'm a sucker for jasmine. Our server even brought us a timer so we could steep our tea to perfection. 

This place is so cute! Both indoor and outdoor seating are available -- marble tables, bright chairs and industrial looking chandeliers on the inside or tiny cafe tables under a vine covered pergola on the outside. Very charming and relaxing, exactly the place you would hope to drink your tea. 

We were served shrimp rolls with fresh dill, creme fraiche, avocado, and diakon sprouts; fluffy pretzel bread with pesto, house-made apricot jam and ricotta; earl grey truffles; a mini citrus chamomile tart with tangerine curd and chamomile cream and salted caramel mousse cup... all handmade from the Seventh kitchen. Wow! Such a fun experience.

Pictures Via: A Bit of Bees Knees, Seventh Tea Bar Banner, SOCO {last picture}

Feeling Frenchy

I'm feeling a little Frenchy after posting the Macaron recipe.
So purdy. Gaaaaaaw

Biyan beaded lace cocktail dress / Ethan Allen ivory throw pillow / Chronicle Books 'Polaroid Love' Note Cards / Scented candle / Eiffel tower home decor / Silver Tray / Teacup 

Gifts For Her

 

Olive Wood Bread Board / Capri Blue Paris Candle / Black + Blum Thermo / Royal Doulton Espresso Cup / Milk Marc de Champagne Truffles / Lavazza Super Crema Italian Espresso / Toast wool socks / Clinique Black Honey Lipstick / Kai Perfume Oil / La Compagnie de Provence Truffles / Aveda 'Comforting' Tea Bags / Essie Nail Polish in Bordeaux / Sabon Body Scrub / Lamy Safari Calligraphy Fountain Pen

Sugar Lace & Butterflies For Your Tea And Coffee

I love these adorable sugar decorations by SweetDejaVu. They are so beautiful and fun -- they will make ordinary treats such as tea or coffee extra special for your guests.

Surprise your guests with a sophisticated and delicate embellishment in their cup of coffee or tea. Let it float on the surface of a freshly made cup... it will melt within 1-2 minutes, just enough time to enjoy the look of it!

It has a creamy, melt-on-the-tongue, not-too-sweet, pleasant flavor.

Sugar veil lace can also be placed be placed on top of a buttercream, chocolate ganache, or fondant covered cakes.

These delicate little butterflies add a charming touch to any drink or sweet dessert!

You can attach them to any cup or dish with a dab of syrup.
- cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate or cocktail glasses...
- cakes, petit fours or custard dishes...

Picture: SweetDejaVu Lace,  SweetDejaVu Butterfly, Butterfly 2

A Baby Shower For Lyssa

My friend Lyssa (also one of my beautiful bridesmaids this August) is expecting her first child with her husband Chase next month! Here are some fun pictures of the baby shower we threw her last week. The girls and I decided to do a tea party theme with scones and devonshire cream, jam, cookies, brownies, sandwiches, salads and strawberries with whipped cream etc. Shanny brought her mothers tea cup collection and Lyssa's sister brought a bunch of great stuff, including honey crystals for our tea. It was a cute get together.

We are all so excited for Lyssa and Chase! Praying for a save delivery and a healthy wee one. Three more weeks Lyssa! You are going to be fabulous parents! What a lucky kid.

Scones, devonshire cream and jam with "wishes for baby" cards.

Meyer lemonade, mango iced tea and cucumber water

with pictures of Chase and Lyssa when they were young.

Baby boy clothes line

Yummmm!

Mo's awesome cupcakes.

Are You My Mommy Game: Match the animal names to their baby names. It's harder than you would think...

Lyssa's party favors -- Fresh sprinkled doughnuts and a personalized earl grey tea bag.

Lyssa, Mo, Kelsey, Me and Shanny.

Plum + Thyme Iced Tea

Serves 4                                    

Ingredients

• 2 tea bags (black or herbal)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 plums, sliced
• 8 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, bring 3 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, and let steep for 10 minutes. Discard the bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
2. Stir in the honey, plums, and thyme. Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until cool, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve over ice.
3. For an instant cocktail: Stir in 1/2 cup bourbon before serving.

photo by Yunhee Kim, recipe by Sara Quessenberry for Real Simple

Wild Sweet Orange Tea

I had a cup of Tazo Wild Sweet Orange herbal tea the other day...I am hooked! Oh, it is beyond good. I don't know what it is, but I feel so clean after drinking it.

Here's how Tazo describes it:
Imagine the invigorating bite of a succulent orange in a Marrakesh market, and you get a sense of the taste of Tazo Wild Sweet Orange: Multilayers orange flavors with exotic hints of spice and a distinctive, floral finish. It's a blend of blackberry leaves, lemongrass, spearmint, orange peels and ginger that is quite wild indeed.

Picture:1

Girl's Tea Party

Every year, my friend Lyssa hosts a girl's tea party.

We all bring a little something to share...cookies, scones, tea cakes, jam etc.

Lyssa brings out her collection of beautiful vintage spoons and her Grandmother's tea set from India!