My closest girlfriends and I get a natural high off of tea parties and dinner parties. It's how we ensure we get together in a quiet space where we can catch-up, eat, and drink to our own merriment. While my fortes are tea parties and fancy hors d'oeuvres, my friend and artist, Joelle, kills it with her full blown Summer dinner parties. At one such gathering this past season, she delighted us with a fruit and chicken poppy seed Summer salad, cold cucumber soup, grilled chicke

If you're like me, you're living in a post-Valentine's Day chocolate coma. I let myself indulge in at least half of the oh so satisfying truffles from that iconic heart-shaped box that Zach gifted me as my cheat meal this week. I regret nothing. But, I need to get back on track. I have a salty sweet tooth, which sounds contradictory. I crave salt and sugar the most when they are together. Peanut butter by the spoonful tops my list as the best snack or pre-workout munch. I of

Coffee shops are a haven for me. There's nothing like a fresh cup of chai latte or tea with a giant muffin, or a bacon & egg bagel. Especially if you have a good book, or good company, by your side. I dive into work with a cup 'o joe almost every morning. Today, sitting near the coffee pot was an assortment of sugary, fluffy muffins. Hard to resist. Bacon & egg bagels are easily substituted by toasted whole wheat bread topped with an avocado spread and an overeasy or sunny si

Photography by: Alison Mae Photography Instagram | Facebook As promised, here is the second recipe inspired by The Cake Bake Shop in Broad Ripple. Individualize or miniature items excite me. As does dessert. These pair well with a chai tea, in my opinion. A big thanks to my lovely friend, Joelle, for helping me make these while I was buttering up tea sandwiches! If you haven’t checked out my Part 1 post with more details & tea sandwich recipes, please do! Enjoy your tea! Serv

Photography by: Alison Mae Photography Instagram | Facebook I started hosting tea parties at the mere age of 5 or 6, and, well, I never quite stopped. It’s well beyond a girly girl hobby of mine. It stems from the special place in my heart dedicated to fancy dinner parties, old fashioned etiquette and historical lifestyles. I’m one of those weirdos who loved cotillion and those etiquette sessions they make you take in school. When my mom’s family came over for dinner in my el