tea time

It seems to be a tradition to have high tea with my mom sometime during the winter.

Oten we go with a group of ladies and sometimes it's just us two. There are almost always Kir Royals involved.

This year, for the first time ever, we went with our sweet heats. The four of us dressed up and lifted our pinkies while we sipped Earl Grey at the Biltmore in Montecito.

The Biltmore is so fancy that's it's definitely just for special occasions. But oh boy do they make tastey treats. This year they added macaroons to menu.

That's my dad asleep behind the strawberries. He's more of a coffee guy.

Hats by Arturo

Would that I had an occasion to wear one of these hats by L.A. designer Arturo Rios. Maybe if I were going to a tea party in the movie Brazil. If you have such an occasion, you can shop for one of Arturo's hats in his Etsy shop.

{images from Arturo Rios on Etsy}

Valentine Baby

Saturday we went to hight tea at the Montecito Biltmore for my mom's birthday.

It's becoming somewhat of a tradition to celebrate there (you might remember last year's post). Rather than birthday cake, we have divine little sandwiches, kir royals and, of course, tea.

I had the peach & ginger loose leaf. And for desert...

... a 3 tiered tray of the most beautiful sweet treats.

It seems fitting to celebrate the birth of a Valentine Baby with such an elegant affair. We always get dressed up in our fancies and valet park. It's such a luxury, but one that I know my mother really and truly enjoys.

High Tea

We celebrated my Mom's birthday with tea for two at the Biltmore in Montecito. It is only a special special occasion that brings us to high tea at this beach front resort. But oh my is it lovely, complete with fresh baked scones, clotted cream and kir royals. It's afternoon perfection.