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GREETINGS
======= I apologize for the delay in this month's newsletter. This month's featured tea room is Teacups and Tiaras located in historical Valley Junction. Hopefully, everyone has seen their advertisement for their May Day & MoonBeams Jewelry Girl's Night Out for tomorrow night and made your reservations in time! This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 11th and is fast approaching. Have you made your reservations yet? Tulip time in Pella is this weekend as well. There are just so many things coming up in May and the next few months, so just keep checking back for any updates here. Check out May's newsletter for I have the author, Laura Childs, writing a guest column along with some scrumptious recipes! Author Laura Childs has written several Tea Shop Mystery Books, including Shades Of Earl Grey, that you see featured here and on the website. Her upcoming book, The Last English Breakfast, is due in August 2003. For more information, you can also go to her website at http://www.laurachilds.com/ Until the next newsletter, have a wonderful Spring!
 Warm wishes,
Annette
TeaRoomsOnLine.com
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=============================== TEACUPS & TIARAS TEA ROOM & GIFTS
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 If you haven't been to Teacups & Tiaras Tea Room & Gifts in Valley Junction, then you're in for a treat! This tea room is not only cozy and intimate, but the interior decor is certainly something to talk about. I won't spoil it for you but let's just say that with the floppy red hat that I chose to wear, while sipping tea and enjoying a freshly made scone served with clotted cream and raspberry jam with my girlfriend, it felt frivolous, silly and timeless all at once. I imagined myself being in a garden room, and looking at the painted window on the wall, with a view that just seemed endless.  The owners, Connie Bandstra (left) and Kitte Noble (right), both came from two very different backgrounds. After living in California for almost 18 years, Connie and her husband decided to move back to Iowa to "retire" as she laughingly explains. Kitte used to work for the Valley Junction Foundation. Their paths crossed and friendship sprouted between the soon-to-be partners. The idea of opening a tea room in Valley Junction evolved from lunch discussions between the two. They both agreed and wanted a tea room that would be different from the traditional Victorian type English tearoom.
Today, what you see in this tearoom was inspired from a lot of creative effort and imagination that the two owners put into the planning and design of the tea room. With the help of a local interior decorator, Donna Eddy, whose son also happens to be the tea rooms' full time chef, the owners came up with this unique tearoom unlike any other. They proudly opened the doors to their tea room in July of 2002. The owners also take the time to choose their specialty gifts that they wanted to carry within their tea room. For your information, they have put for display only, a selection of vintage evening and bridal wear, dating from the 1940s, 50s and 60s era. Other items are various types of hats, of course and bags, jewelry etc.
The menu selection is seasonal. Currently, they have their Spring Menu and you can check out their website for their current menu as well. The tea room can easily seat up to 50 people when all 3 rooms are used. The tea room serves lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and afternoon tea. Only Full British Style tea is served on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. By that I mean, they serve 4 types of teas, i.e. the Royal Tea priced at $18.95 per person, the Noble Tea priced at $14.95 per person, the 1,2,3 Tea priced at $10.95 per person and the Teddy Bear Tea for children 10 and under priced at $8.95 per child.
The tearoom can cater to almost any type of parties. Bridal showers, rehearsal lunches, office parties, girlfriends' get together and not to forget, the Red Hat Society! Monday through to Thursday, they can also cater children's birthday parties, from ages 4 to 10 as well. Before being seated at your table, for ladies, you are given a choice to wear either a hat or a tiara, which I thought was a fun idea and for men, the tearoom is planning to provide top hats so that they won't feel left out at all. For those that are watching their calories, you can request for either Connie or Kitte to wave away the calories with their magic wand, which they will gladly do!
Upcoming May events are their May Day & Moonbeams Jewelry, Girl's Night Out on Thursday, May 1st, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Hopefully you've seen their ads in the newspapers about this since tomorrow is May 1st! Cost is $25.00 per person and that includes food and MoonBeam Trinket. Jewelry designer Gail Lindgen will be doing the honors. Also on the menu is their upcoming three course Mother's Day Special Tea on Saturday, May 10th. Two seating available, 11:30 am and 2:00 pm. Cost is $15.95 per person and there's still time to make your reservations.
Teacups and Tiaras Tea Room & Gifts is located at 304 5th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265. Their telephone number is 515.277.8400. Fax number is 515.277.8405. For more information on the tearoom, please check into our website at www.tearoomsonline.com.
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PRODUCT REVIEWS
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Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs
 When an antique wedding ring disappears from the hand of a dying bridegroom, then a priceless sapphire necklace is plucked from its display at the Heritage Society, Theodosia Browning, owner of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop, is convinced this is no mere coincidence. In fact, she's of a mind that a very dangerous breed of cat burglar is prowling the quaint cobblestone pathways of Charleston's historic district. Urged on by her friend and fellow shop owner, Delaine Dish, Theodosia decides to lay a trap for this wily burglar, even as she's frantically busy building her tea shop business and launching her new tea-based bath product line. Luckily, Theodosia has Drayton and Haley, dear friends and tea shop helpers, who are also world-class schemers. And then there's Earl Grey, her mixed breed Dalbrador, who's just won his certification as a therapy dog. As Theodosia tries to sort through a cast of likely suspects, she finds herself playing cat and mouse with a very slippery - and dangerous - opponent.
New Product at Culinary Cafe - currently 10% OFF!
 Mother's Day is coming fast and what a perfect gift! This Tea Chest with an Inlay Lid is not only beautiful but a perfect way to serve tea bags. You can get it filled with her favorite teas or empty and ready for her to fill.
TRASAN's PRODUCT LINE
Bringing you the best!
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