Downton Abbey Party

A few days before Christmas I was browsing Pinterest, and I saw a few pins about a Downton Abbey party.  I love the show and I know that several of my friends watch it so I thought it would be fun to dress up and have a party.  We have lots of parties for our kids, but it would be nice to have one for moms occasionally:) I mentioned the idea to Landon and he looked at me like, "Are you serious?"  He wasn't thrilled about it, but I'm thankful he will go along with my madness most of the time.

I wasn't sure exactly who all watched it so I sent random text messages that said, "Do you watch Downton Abbey?"  It was an odd question for most and completely out of the blue, but I wanted people who had seen the show to come.  It wouldn't be as fun if they were clueless about the show.

I found lots of treasures at Goodwill for the party.  I got the mugs for .50 each and the saucers for .25 each.

I painted their names with an oil based paint pen so it would be dishwasher safe.  (Yes, I know that proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized.  I read a comment about that from some pictures that were posted.  haha)

Lots of tea choices.  I know nothing about tea.  I had to ask for help. 

Everyone pitched in with some English food choices.  

Jamie's beautiful serving dishes from her grandmother made it look fancy.

I adore how these turned out!!  The idea was found here.

Ashley Brandes made the scones.  That was a little intimidating.  She has made them before and has also been to England, so she was the most qualified:)

I loved everyone's attire!

I found all the candelabras from Goodwill as well.  I spray painted them all to coordinate.  It was a cheap decoration.

Since I was having a party on a Sunday night, I felt guilty.   So we read some Scripture together and had a devotional.  

There is a great deal of fascination about the classes from this show.  It makes it appear so wonderful and elite.  The truth is that very few people actually belonged to the upper class.  In all likelihood if I were there and living in this era, I'd be a maid instead.  But according to what Christ has done for us all on the cross, as a believer in Him,  I am royalty.  

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."  1 Peter 2:9-10

I also read another scripture from James about not showing favoritism.  This show is filled with this.  Even though she is a beloved character, the Dowager Countess of Grantham often looks down on people because they are middle class.  She doesn't want herself or her family to be associated with some people because of their class. 

I have often laughed at her attitude, but can we not have this same kind as well?  I see it happen regularly, and I have been guilty myself.  I was reminded of a very convicting passage from James...

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude ofpersonal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this worldto be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."  James 2:1-9

We played a trivia game.  Lori and Christina tied.  They were good!!

Tea Time!

Gretchen loves tea!

I feel certain Julie was saying, "SHUT UP!"  haha.  It's a common thing to hear her say and that's what it looks like anyway:)

Rebecca came over early and fixed my hair.

Rebecca also made these amazing raspberry thumbprint cookies.  I ate a ridiculous amount of them.  They were so GOOD!  Leanne fixed my tea for me because I didn't know how.  Who knew?  I love tea!!!!  I've never had hot tea that I liked.  This was Earl Gray with sugar, honey, and a little milk.  Delish.

These were made with tiles with Downton artwork decoupaged on them.  The girls got to pick them out in order of the amount of questions they got correct from the trivia questions.  Julie didn't do so well and was moaning that she was going to get stuck with the O'Brien one.  haha.