So busy...

A great number of this and thats have been keeping me from the excitement of the blogosphere lately. Tea parties, road trips, birthdays, and returning to school and work, it's enough to drive a girl batty!

So where to start?

Well, the first item on the list was the tea party, so let's start with that.

A number of factors played a role in my decision to throw a tea party. One of those was the unfortunate fact that I had hosted one in January to much acclaim, but two of my good friends missed out on it due to attending a university located on the other side of the country. With both of them home, and one of them working the local tea circuit during the summer, it seemed only too appropriate to make it up to them.

Another reason was that I found this incredible handmade spearmint candy-coloured ice-cream parlour party dress at the thrift store, which needed a little bit of alteration but more importantly an occasion to be proudly displayed. Such handiwork shouldn't be so lightly cast away to the bins. Although I'm fortunate it was.

Third, I came across this post by effervescent baker and blogger Bria of These Peas Are Hollow, which refers to yet another blog, that of the creator of these marvelous, ridiculous, and delicious concoctions, Bakerella. The topic: Cake Pops. Yes, that's right. Cake, on a stick. A sinfully simple idea, transformed into an unimaginably complex and time-consuming process with Bakerella's countless adorable designs. Bria seems so far to have maintained a simple, elegant look for her pops, but added her own gourmet flare by experimenting with different homemade cakes and frostings (not to mention food colouring!). I knew I needed an occasion to try these as soon as I saw them, and what better place to serve such sweet morsels than alongside cups and saucers?

Speaking of sweet morsels... who ever heard of tea and quackers?

First things first, the alteration of the dress. I didn't do too much to it because it fortunately fit me quite well to begin with. It was just a bit too "Little House on the Prairie." I ripped off the top buttons and flattened out the panels into a sort of lapel, fluffed up the skirt with a few meters of net-like organza and threw on a few accessories. The waistline was just a bit higher than my natural waistline, which was slightly unflattering, but a thick belt over top seemed to do the trick. Someday I'd like to shorten it a bit and have a few layers of pink organza peeking out of the bottom and adding more *pouf*, but for now I'm leaving it as is.

Different options for accessorizing!

So when that was all taken care of, it was time to start thinking about what to serve at this party. As usual, I came up with a far-too-long list of appetizers and miniature desserts and managed to lock myself in a constant state of befrazzlement for a week as I tried to prepare.

Due to this, I decided that my first attempt at cake pops would employ the most rudimentary method to success, involving a boxed cake and canned frosting. I chose Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Chocolate Fudge cake and Betty Crocker's Buttercream frosting. But, as Bria shows us, the possibilities are almost endless.

I won't waste too much time going over what others have already explained so well, but in a nutshell: Bake cake. Cool cake. Crumble cake into a bowl. Add frosting. Roll cake into small balls and place on wax paper. Chill. Dip lollipop sticks in Candy melts before securing sticks in cake balls. Chill/freeze for several hours.

When pops are sufficiently hardened, melt 1 package of Candy Melts as per the package directions. Take out pops, a few at a time, and gently dip them, tapping off the excess.

The result will be a taste sensation unlike any you have experienced before. Your taste buds won't know what to make of it.

In addition to those, I also made miniature cupcakes, Portuguese custard tarts, a fruit tray with chocolate fondue, jello kebabs, some boxed appies, cheese and crackers, a veggie tray, and some wraps. And tea. Most of which was supplied by David's Tea. If you live in Canada, go get some. If not, order some online and get your friends to do the same; big orders mean free shipping!

This was the final spread. Or just about, anyways. Threw on some jazzy tunes, opened the door, and I think everyone had themselves a darn good time! I did, anyways. Clean up went right into the a.m. and then I was up a few short hours later for some road-trippin' excitement! Perhaps I'll get into that next time.

Until then!