Valentine's Tea

'Tis the season for chocolate!!! This morning, I'm enjoying some hot tea and a couple of sweets while puttering around the house.

Take a peek at my kitchen hutch...decked out for Valentine's.
I found this cute little "Be Mine" banner on Etsy last year.

Little love sentiments on place cards being held by silver teapot place card holders.

Sequined hearts in the apothecary jars...

My tea...'Valentine's Blend' from Harney Tea. It's a chocolate tea blended with rosebuds...perfect for the season! I chose the tagalong container with tea sachets.If you are not familiar with tea sachets, you must know that they are my favorite. What is the difference between loose tea, tea sachets, and teabags? High-quality loose teas are made from the whole tea leaves and retain the distinctive flavors of the plant. Teabags consist of smaller pieces of the tea leaves or tea fannings and lack the full flavor of loose tea leaf teas. Think of tea sachets as the ultimate teabag, ensuring the convenience of a teabag without compromising flavors and benefits of tea.

This is the 'Valentine's Blend' tea sachet.
Chocolate tea for two...this tea is fabulous y'all!
How to use a tea sachet:
The little white teapot is holding hot water...ready to steep the tea sachets. If you are served hot water and a tea sachet {or teabag}, place the sachet into the teacup. Pour the hot water into the teacup and allow the sachet to rest in the water for approximately five minutes {or the strength you prefer}. Do not dunk the tea sachet or wrap the string around your teaspoon to drain it. Place the used tea sachet on a separate saucer.
I use these little teabag rests for my used sachets...
Thank you for stopping by to visit. Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway. The deadline to enter is Friday night, Feb. 10th, 2012 at midnight!

Friendship Gifts

Hello y'all! How can it be February already? My garage is still a mess from Christmas! I'm dropping in to say hello and show y'all my February "Friendship Gifts."

The cute little red scalloped boxes are by Martha Stewart. I found them after Christmas at Michael's for practically nothing!

The little compartments are lined with red polka dot tissue paper and I filled them with some Valentine sweets...

I tied some of the boxes with "Happy Valentines Day" ribbon, some with red-heart ribbon, and some with red gingham ribbon. These will be great "Friendship Gifts," Valentine tokens of love, or sweet hostess gifts!

I'll be back soon to participate in Laurie's Valentine Party and Barb's Tabletop Tuesday. Thank you for stopping in to visit with me.

Tea and Red Velvet Cupcakes

Welcome to "Tablescape Thursday," hosted by Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch. Today, I'm featuring a sideboard tablescape to celebrate the romantic season of Valentine's Day.

"Tea and Cupcakes"...absolutely! Nothing sweet could be more Southern on Valentine's Day than a Red Velvet Southern Belle Cupcake. Pair these with chocolate and hazelnut-infused black tea--"Florence Tea" from Harney Tea for a wonderful afternoon treat.

A romantic sideboard setting...

There's nothing more Southern than red velvet cupcakes...and a cup of tea!

Here are some packages I will be giving as small tokens of love: A cupcake in a "to go" box, chocolate truffles in a small gold bag with a cherub applique' and cherub-motif tissue paper, and a wine-color toile print gift bag to hold a sweet gift of chocolate tea.

Sweet Treats...

If you are into American Idol, you might like the tablescape from my previous post on Tuesday of this week.

Thank you for stopping by and please join in the fun! Stop by Between Naps on the Porch and visit with all the other bloggers who are participating today in Tablescape Thursday.