Sorry, Honey, it won't be anything like this

If I seem a little quiet as of late, it is because that two weeks after Christmas, I have to be ready to throw my oldest daughter a birthday party.

Two weeks sounds like plenty of time, but for some reason the week between Christmas and New Year's just evaporates, and I'm left staring at a birthday coming straight at me. And, so, I like to figure out the details like "where, when, who and what" at the same time that I am shopping online, running to stores, addressing Christmas cards, planning holiday meals and. . .well, you know.

Another thing to know: I almost always host the parties in home. For one, I'm a control freak. Second, I'm cheap. So even though an American Girl Doll store opened not a half-hour's drive from my home, the thought of spending $450 to usher my daughter and her friends into her 8th year just blows my mind.

So, we're now leaning toward another DIY event. And, I'm toying with the idea of hosting a good old-fashioned tea party for her and her friends. I'm a bit torn on this because, while I think I could make it fun, it does sounds a bit "quaint" in these days of diva parties. But, I'm pressing forward and looking at as many websites as I can.

Which leads me to the title of this post. I decided to search Google Images for "tea party birthday party" to see how people decorated their tables for these types of events. That was when this photo, from a floral and event decor firm called Botanica, came up:


Whoa. Holy Pink.

But, even better is the copy under the photo which reads:

An 8 year old's Tea Party at the Four Seasons Hotel. Our client wanted to celebrate her daughter's 8th birthday in an uncommonly spectacular way. The theme was a formal English Tea Party. When guests arrived, they were given all the materials needed to create their very own Tea Party hat. When the doors to the party were opened, a Harpist played "Happy Birthday". The table linen was an orange sherbert silk, with an overlay cloth of pink, hand painted silk with orange double faced satin ribbon border. The gold Chiavari chairs were upholstered in Orange Sherbert silk. The back of each chair featured a straw hat adorned with Roses, Hydrangea, and Cymmbidium Orchids. At each place setting, a custom gowned Barbi held her own straw hat covered with seasonal mixed mini flowers (to salute our guest of honor), standing in front of a Topiary of Hydrangea. Napkins were made of Orange Sherbert silk, and placed in a spring colored Manolo Blahnik shoe. The seven main floral arrangements on the guest table, were created off of wig forms which had been covered in hand tinted silk leaves. The hats were made of Ostrich and Maribou feathers, Roses, Hydrangea, Cymbidium Orchids, Peonies, and leaves. To compliment our hat themed floral arrangements, we added 8 hand bags made of woven branches, which had either Pave' Roses or Tulips. On the perimeter of the room, 8 dress forms were custom made as floral arrangements, in eight seperate floral vignettes which featured more Manolo Blahnik pumps, mini dress forms, and over 3,000 Pink Revel Roses. After Tea and Scones were served, a fashion show was held for each guest to model their hat creation. Each little girl was given a gift, and a "Diva in Training Survival Kit". We took children's jewelry, make up and hand bags, and customized the packaging into "Harry Winston", "Chanel" and "Judith Lieber". It was the grandest affair any 8 year old (or adult) has ever seen.

A few things come to mind when I read this:

1) I don't play the harp

2) Did the girls go home with just one Manolo Blahnik pump?

Please feel free to weigh in on any of the above. I'm too stunned to form an intelligent thought.