This last Saturday I threw Zoe her first birthday party (well, it was really MY party, I mean, come on). I decided to do the theme of "afternoon tea" and did loads of research for about two months. I had no idea it was going to be SO MUCH work, but in the end I think it turned out fairly satisfying. But not before a few unsightly disasters. I couldn't find the things I needed (teapots were next to IMPOSSIBLE to locate, and cheap party favors were the hardest to figure out because of the type of party it was and the fact that men were also going to attend). For a long time I almost gave up. I had also not immediately gotten all the teacups I needed when they were in plentiful supply and when I went back to the Goodwill I could find practically nothing. Who in the world buys a bunch of unmatching teacups anyway?? Well, then favors were a nightmare. Every idea I came up with cost a furtune. I spent more gas driving around to find dead ends ideas and more frustration than anything else. By the week of the party, I was fit to be tied and ready to start running through the woods screaming. Two days before the event I suddenly stopped and prayed and asked God to just take the whole dang thing. Whatever happens from here on, happens, I said as I stalked into another Goodwill, looking for two more teacups. They didn't have them, of course, and to top it all off I had forgotten my wallet anyway, so off home I raged (even after "giving it to God"), determined to not lose my mind, but also at a loss. What if I didn't have enough?? That would be so embarrassing...When I got home, however, I made the decision to cut out most of my "brilliant ideas" and just settle for second best on some of the stuff I wanted to do. Instantly, it felt like a thousand pounds had been lifted off my shoulders. I though, perhaps this is what God really wanted me to do? Just stop being a raving lunatic and think it through more clearly? Decide to get only what is really necessary and stop trying to impress people? The impress people bit really got me. I was wanting to do certain things because I knew it would impress some of the guests. God had allowed alot of things to go wrong for me so I could see that. I'm such a dope.
The funny part is that after I counted the teacups I had already, I ended up having exactly what I needed anyway. I didn't even need to "stalk" into every Goodwill in Dallas. Go figure.
So when it was all over, and everything had turned out rather perfect after all, I saw clearly that it wouldn't have mattered if the candles were from a certain store, or that the streamers and balloons hadn't even gotten put up because I ran out of time, or that the favors weren't exactly as I wished (especially since I forgot to give them away to the first four to six guests who left anyway). Zoe was happy, I had pictures and had gotten to be with people who are really rather cool and unconcerned with fancy candles and other stupid things.
So next year it'll be sloppy joes and hot dogs, needless to say.
But just because I want to share, this is what I did...
The menu included:
3 Types of finger sandwiches: cucumber, curried chicken salad, and pimento cheese,
Raisin and whole wheat scones with butter and strawberry jam,
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes,
Raw strawberries with whipped cream (sugar free),
Strawberry tea bread (NOT sugar free by any stretch),
Ham and cheese dip with crackers and veggie sticks, and...
Lots and lots of tea, iced and hot with all the fixings
The great part is also that I served 15 people for around $75, including the purchases of the teapots and teacup sets.
For a good "Americanized" Afternoon Tea (on a budget):
- Teapots are almost impossible to find, I found out very quickly. Finally, I found what I needed at Ross, but only after going to several differnt ones over a month's period of time. See if you know someone who would be willing to let you borrow one.
- Since I was serving SO MANY people, it wasn't cost efficient AT ALL for me to try to purchase a new matching teaset. Instead, I went to Goodwill and picked up unmatching china cups and saucers. It was fun and I actually found a lot more matching sets than I expected. It was also super C-H-E-A-P.
- Make your own food. I saved SO much money. The only thing I didn't make was the bread. It was alot of work, but worth it.
- I had alot of trouble with party favors. I mean, it was a disaster, really. In the end, I decided to pick up .20 cent packs of flower seeds, use the sugar cookies I was going to serve at the party, and a single tea bag and place them all nicely in clear favor bags. It turned out brilliantly and saved me LOADS of money. All in all, I think I spent like .50 cents on each.
- Delegate. My stepmom made flower arrangements that were perfect and saved my life, not to mention money.
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