Mystery of the New Year

Well, here it is Dec. 31st, the last day of 2009. It's been a hard year for many, an interesting year to say the least. Don't you wonder what 2010 will bring? What the next ten years will bring? What would you like to be doing ten years from now?
What will you do now to bring that about?
Don't want this to turn into a sermon, so I'll just get back to today. Should I work on end of the year stuff or should I start working on the next mystery tea party plan? I've also got the idea for a one act play starting to take form, too. It's tempting to just do the fun stuff, but then the end of year stuff will keep nagging at me. Maybe I should get that done and then have clear sailing for writing the next fun mystery. I think you'll love it!
I hope your New Year resolutions include more fun tea parties. I am hosting two in January. One for my Red Hat group, and one for my Victorian Tea group. Going to do "Who Killed the Roving Romeo?" for my Red Hat group, and a regular tea for the Victorian group.
Please leave a comment on your thoughts for the New Year or anything else. Just click on comments after any post.

Mystery Tea Parties in Tea Rooms

The Camelia Rose Tea Room in Florida just purchased my newest mystery tea party plan, "Gone With the Breeze." They have now purchased every one that I have written, and are anxious for me to get going on another.

They feature them as an added venue in thier tea room, and they have been very popular with thier customers.

I have the plot for another new mystery running around in my head, so I can promise another one or two mystery tea party plans coming out in 2010.

Speaking of the New Year, I anticipate a new look in my newsletter, Tea Tips. It is always exciting to start a New Year, and wonder what it holds in store. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do so by clicking on www.mysteryteaparties.com.

Please leave a comment and tell us about your tea parties, decorating ideas, share a craft or recipe, or ask a question. Just click on the word "Comment" after any post. It's fun and easy and I'd love to hear from you.

What's your biggest concern about hosting a tea party? Leave a comment and tell us what it is.

Merry Christmas! The big day is almost here. The sun is shining through the window at my desk, there's a gentle wind blowing, and the mountains surrounding us are covered with snow. That's Christmas in Southern California. But it isn't the weather that makes it a joyful season, it's what's in the heart. My heart is filled with gratitude for all the blessings God gives, and especially for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation that He brings.
The mystery tea party business has been a blessing, and I love hearing from the ladies. They often send me emails and even pictures of thier parties. If you wish to leave a comment, (please do!) just click on the "comment" under any post, and it will open a box where you can tell the whole world about your party.
The newsletter will be out in January and will have a new look to it. If you haven't subscribed to the free online "Tea Tips" you can do so at
www.mysteryteaparties.com .

Mystery Tea Party Special Offer

There is a great special offer in the Jan.Feb. issue of Tea Time magazine that came out Nov. 25. Purchase two mystery tea party plan downloads and you will get one free! The offer expires Jan. 15, so don't put it off, order now at www.mysteryteaparties.com. After you order the two download versions of any mystery party plan, just send me an email telling me the name of the third party plan that you want to receive for free, and I will send you the link to download it.
Please leave a comment and tell everyone about your latest tea party, or share a recipe or ???

The Mystery today is where does the time go? This is the time of year when the days are shorter, the hours go faster and there's more and more to do! I hope you still take time to enjoy tea parties, and do take a look at the many changes on the website www.mysteryteaparties.com.
I came across this tried and true recipe for Spice Tea. The aromas of the spices are a treat to the senses, and it's so easy to make.
SPICE TEA RECIPE
2 27 Oz. jars of Orange Drink (like Tang)
12 oz. Lemonade dry mix (like Countrytime)
1 Cup Instant Tea
2 cups sugar (or sugar subtitute - amount will differ with brand)
1 tspn cloves
2 tspns cinnamon
Mix all ingrdients together. Add 2 tspns of tea mix to 1 cup hot water.
If you are using a mug, use 3 tspns of tea mix.
Be sure to store in an airtight container.
Craft idea: Fill a glass jar, like a canning jar, with the tea mix and cover with lid. Cut a square of fabric and place over the top of the jar. Wrap a piece of ribbon or twine and tie with a bow. Print the instructions on a gift tage and voila! You have a homemade gift!

New Mystery theme tea party plan

I'm happy to announce that "Gone With the Breeze", the 12th mystery tea party plan will be available on the website www.mysteryteaparties.com after Thankgsgiving. This was written in response to many of you who wanted a mystery theme party plan that would allow you to dress up in vintage costumes.

So, put on your best Southern drawl, hoop skirt and pantaloons, and have fun with Charlotte O'Mara as she tries to find out who stole her mortgage
money. You can order now by calling 951-301-7218 or visit the website after Nov. 25 to order online at www.mysteryteaparties.com.

Price increase

I'm sorry to tell you that it has become necessary for me to increase prices. Paper, ink, internet services, advertising... everything has gone up, and I need to go up, too. The prices will change on the website by Nov. 25. You can still order now at the old price at http://www.mysteryteaparties.com/ It will be the first increase in almost five years.

Watch for a new and improved newsletter in January. If all goes well, it will have a new appearance. Haven't subscribed yet? It's a free online quarterly newsletter filled with decorating ideas, tea information, recipes, humor and anything else I think you'll find interesting. Just click on this link and sign up: http://www.mysteryteaparties.com/.

Mayehm on Maui Mystery Tea Party Plan

Here's an email I just received:

Hi Maxine
We had our Luau Murder Mystery Oct 8th and it was a big success. I got to be the murderess, no one guessed said it was to obvious. Of course the cast didn't know either.We plan to do another one next year so you will be hearing from me again.Thanks again for the entertaining play we had a lot of fun doing it.
Hugs
(I omitted her name)

Tea Tips Newsletter

Sign up for our free online newsletter! Tea Tips is a quarterly newsletter filled with tea information, entertaining and decorating tips, recipes, humor and inspiration. There's usually a special offer for newsletter readers only that helps them save money on the mystery tea party plans. You can subscribe by going to www.mysteryteaparties.com and signing up for the newsletter.

Victorian website

For all of you that love all things Victorian, there's a new website to check out. It's www.Mostly-Victorian.com. Lots of historical information, and fun things to see and do.

New Mystery Theme Tea Party Plan

The test party for my newest mystery "Gone With the Breeze" was a great success. The gals really got into the spirit of the Civil War Era with their costumes. One gal wore a vintage type dress with a full skirt and actually made a wire hoop for it, so she had a hoop skirt and pantaloons! Another had a beautiful vintage type dress with a bustle and cape. One of my best friends wore a wig that made her look so different I almost didn't recognize her. They all enjoyed playing the parts of Southern Belles.
I have to check out a few things yet, then the plan will go to my webmaster to be put on the internet.

We conversed via email about the Christmas Tea. I hope I am posting in the right place!
I own a tea party business but most of my tea parties are for little girls. I host tea parties for ladies as well, just not as much.
I do have your tea party mysteries listed on my site, but most of the ladies that are interested in your parties tend to host their own, and that's okay! I just want my customers to know that I am willing to host a tea party and provide the mystery if they choose to go that route.
My church had a Blue Hydrangea Tea Party last spring and we used your mystery 'Who's Missing From the Class Reunion', for the entertainment portion. This was a fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Research. We raised money for the Middle Tennessee National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. The mystery worked out very well. We split it into 3 acts and each act was performed during each course; Scones, Savories and Sweets. We served Cranberry-Blueberry Hibiscus, Vanilla Rooibus and Earl Gray. Everything was so yummy!Here is a link to a photoshow that we put together:
http://www.photoshow.com/watch/fK7fb7CW
Here is a link to the Blue Hydrangea Tea Party Site if you anoyone would like more information about hosting their own.
http://bhtp.org
I have also bought "The Red Feather Ladies Aboard S.S.Titantica", "Who Killed the Roving Romeo of the Red Father Ladies", "Who Killed the Duke of Darjeeling" I am planning to host one of these at a future Bunco Party.I love reading through all of the mystery parties, they are a lot of fun.
Sincerely,Vicki Arnold

It's a great day for a tea party! Today I am attending one, not hosting one. The hostess has invited guests to a Hawaiian theme tea party lunch.
We are to wear tropical attire, it sounds like a fun party.
I happen to know that this hostess struggles with tea sandwiches. In the past she has made them the day of the party, just before serving them. This meant a long time in the kitchen while her guests waited.
I have encouraged her to make them the day before, wrap them in plastic wrap or put in covered containers, as most hostesses do. I've been told you can even freeze most tea sandwiches, but I haven't tried that myself.
What do you think? Any hints about making tea sandwiches? Please leave a comment!

Mystery Tea Parties

The magazine "Country Victorian" has done a special article on the mystery tea parties. "Host a Whodunnit" is the name of the feature, and they headline "Who Killed the Darling Duke of Darjeeling" and "Who Killed the Roving Romeo of the Red Feather Ladies."
Hosting a mystery tea party for friends or family is a great way to entertain. The party plans also lend themselves to club programs and fund raisers. They have proven very popular with Red Hat groups as well as church groups.