Nothing Happens Here That Doesn't Happen There: Tea for Two

...or really for almost 30 guests. My boss, Chantel, had a women's English tea party today. Jen, Amy, Kim M., and I all met at Kim H.'s house and drove down in one car.

Kim H., Amy, me, Jen, Kim M.

Cocktails started at noon and we were offered drinks as soon as we walked through the door on one condition--we had to get our picture taken first. Chantel's son, Kaleb, and his two friends were the butlers, complete with tuxedo....t-shirts. We had an offering of mimosas, bloody marys, spiked lemonade, and there could have been something else too, but I stuck with the mimosas.

Me, Naymar, Jen, Kim H.

Although weather.com was calling for rain, it was sunny the whole time and the tables set up outside on the patio were gorgeous. Chantel has a perfect backyard for a gathering like this.

Carrie, Kirsten, Melanie, who are all pregnant.

Carrie and Melanie have about a month left.

After everyone arrived, we sat down and ordered from a list of teas. Everything was homemade. We were served little finger sandwiches with everything from egg, cucumber, and salmon. They were delicious. Next we had four different varieties of scones, but the one I tried first, basil and tomato, I stuck with. The desserts they brought out looked amazing, but I was so stuffed that I didn't have anything but a piece of chocolate. I think I saw homemade angel food cake and that's my favorite, but I couldn't even bring myself to get a piece of that.

There was a contest for the best bonnet and for best "tea outfit." I voted for Naymar and apparently there was a 4-way tie, so the butlers got to weigh in, but chose someone else. It was a lovely day and just as we were leaving it started to rain. We were lucky it held off for the afternoon.