Potty Power!

For the last three days, Reagan has been wearing "big girl panties"--except for when sleeping--and hasn't had an accident yet! This is quite an accomplishment, since she had just about given up the whole potty training thing, deciding it was better to just let someone else do the work of changing her diapers. The renewal in interest came with a DVD we got at the public library. It's called "Potty Power" and it has lots of songs and stories about going to the potty. Reagan was very sad when it had to go back to the library, but she is still keeping up the good work and using the potty like a big girl!

My Latest Obsession: English Tea

As I mentioned in my Disney post, my friend Nori and I had afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort while we were on vacation. I have had an interest in traditional English tea rituals for years, and I have even hosted several tea parties with my friends. But now, having experienced all the delicate details in the tea itself, the food that accompanies it, and all the dainty accoutrements required, I have gone beyond interest to obsession.

For the last few days, I have spent hours on the Web, searching for just the perfect tea strainer. (Did you know that they are as inexpensive as around $2 for a plain stainless steel one and as much as thousands for an antique silver one?) I have suddenly decided that herbal teas in bags are for tea "wimps" and only loose-leaf English varieties will do for my collection in the future. I have even started doing something I just never thought I would do--drinking my tea with cream! The very thought--scandalous!

My next venture? Finding a friend who is willing to try out some tea rooms in the area with me. There are a few nearby, but the most noteworthy is all the way in Dickson. Someday, I will make the trek--even if I have to drag Reagan there with me. (On second thought, she doesn't even use silverware, so I doubt she has the social graces to sit down to afternoon tea.)

In the meantime, I am beginning preparations for my Second Annual Mother/Daughter Teddy Bear Tea. Since this is a kid-friendly event, I probably won't get to truly explore all the nuances of traditional English tea. But perhaps, if I find a nice tea shop around town, I can at least premiere a few new tea "gadgets" and a nice blend of loose-leaf English tea leaves!