As I mentioned in my last post, my little Rachel just turned 4. And though we already celebrated her birthday as a family, we are still in the midst of planning a "friend party" for her that is only a couple weeks away. It's her first "friend party" so she is very excited! She was my "shy girl" and hardly spoke a word to anyone outside of our family until this past year so until this birthday, the idea of throwing her a party for she and her friends was just plain mean. But she has come out of her shell! So this year will be the first time she has a few little friends over for a party and she has invited the sweetest little group of six little girls from her Sunday School and Awana classes, as well as her cousin. We talked at great length about what sort of party Rachel would like to have but she settled upon a theme we used for Emily's fourth birthday, as well: A Doll & Teddy Bear Tea PartyEmily's party like this was a grand succes as you can see from the photos. There was real tea cups and saucers (filled with apple juice!), a linen tablecloth and napkins, as well as a tiny table for the girls' dolls and teddies to sit at and "drink tea." Wish I had a photo of the doll table (which included our friend Bailey's "Dino," as well!). Since we are still in the planning stages of Rachel's Tea Party I am searching high and low for special touches and unique pretties that will make this occasion extra-special. And oh my gosh, Sweets! There are so many lovely things I can hardly believe it! It makes me wish I could give my OWN tea party and invite you and YOUR little ones! So....as you may have guessed from the title of this post, you are invited to a special Tea Party Edition of Monday Yummies today! Find your little girl, if you have one, and tell her to grab her dolly or bear. And Let's Party! YUMMY THING ONE: Pretty Vintage Teacup from The Rose Cottage I love vintage tea cups and saucers. I have a little collection that I started years ago. I've even started a collection for my girls and plan to give them a new cup and saucer at each birthday and for other special occasions. I think it would be so special for them to have a lovely collection of their own by the time they are grown! Here's a really pretty teacup and saucer that is just the sort I love....vintage, delicate and covered in roses, of course! YUMMY THING TWO: Tea Pot Picks by Pink Buttercreme You really must check out this seller. I just discovered her through a group of etsy cottage-style sellers that I belong to. These adorable "picks" would be lovely party favors. Wouldn't they be so charming mixed in with roses in a vase for a centerpiece at our tea party? YUMMY THING THREE: Rosey Potholders by Vanilla Rose I have some potholders from Vanilla Rose and I adore them! They are so well-made and so pretty in my pink and white kitchen! And one MUST have a pretty pot holder when one serves at a tea party, now musn't one? YUMMY THING FOUR: Tea Pot Necklace by Timeless Trinkets Isn't this precious? It would make a lovely hostess gift or birthday gift. YUMMY THING FIVE: Tea Party Cookie Cutters from The Queen's Treasures I do believe we need these, don't you agree? I can picture sweet sugar cookies with pink sprinkles cut out in these shapes and placed on a lovely platter for the tea party. YUMMY THING SIX: Pink Princess Cookbook This looks like a book that would be enjoyed in my house! YUMMY THING SEVEN: Cupcake Sugar Bowl from Tami's Attic O.k. this is totally me, dontcha think, Sweets???? YUMMY THING EIGHT: Dainty Tea Party Server EEEK!!!! Isn't this gorgeous???? I can picture this piled with petit fours or the aforementioned sugar cookies! YUMMY THING NINE: Child-Size Punch Bowl Set Oh my! My mother will DIE when she sees this. YUMMY THING TEN: Sweet Flowers Baskets by Perwinkle Vintage Wouldn't these make lovely party favors and/or decorations??? I've ordered a couple of these lovelies from Cheryl Miller and I can't wait to get them! I can picture these hanging on the back of each chair at a tea party or even the Easter table.... YUMMY THING ELEVEN: Rare German Tea Party Figurine This is just charming. Three little sweeties having a tea party in what looks like a Kate Greenaway painting!YUMMY THING TWELVE: Blank Girls' Hat for Embellishing I am working on some ideas for party favors and this may be just the thing. Wouldn't it be fun to have one of these for each girl and let them "decorate" them with pretty flowers and trims as an activity? I can just picture all the little girls sitting around the table in these hats....and they might be able to wear them again at Easter. I guess that depends on how much direction I give in the decorating of the hats, though, doesn't it?? :) YUMMY THING THIRTEEN: The Dress I'll Be Wearing ;) by Betsey Johnson from Dressaholic Therapy O.k. maybe at my DREAM Tea Party....totally scrumptious, right, Sweets???? Well Sweets....our Tea Party has been fun, hasn't it? The sun is shining again after a rather dreary weekend and this week is full of fun. Tomorrow I turn 31! I am going to go out to coffee or dinner or something with my good friend, Kim. And then Thursday my little mama and I are going to go shopping. AND I am hoping to meet the Sweet Analise for coffee, as well! We haven't ever met in person, even though we live in adjoining towns, and we decided it's high time to do so. I'm so excited to spend some time with her! Be sure and stop by her Sugar Sugar Shoppe for some yummy Spring supplies. I ordered a few things the other day and when they came Saturday I was just thrilled by all the crafty "candy" packaged in the yummiest fashion. Just DELICIOUS. Hope your Monday, as well as your week, is just lovely..... HUGS, Cheryl