A few comments from our customers...

"My daughter still talks about dressing up with her friends and having tea. 'Teacups and Friends' took some wonderful photos of the girls and she has them in her bedroom as a reminder of her special day. Oftentimes, when I am in her classroom at school, one of her friends will come up to me and say, "I want to come over to your house, put on pretty clothes and have tea". As a working Mom, I appreciate the fact that I was able to have a relatively stress-free special occasion with my daughter. Teacups and Friends arranged the entire day for us. The details were all attended to and all I had to do was enjoy the day! Thank you Teacups and Friends!" - Lori, Simi Valley

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Tea for Tykes
Article Appearing in Los Angeles Times, Our Times - Simi Valley / Moorpark Edition
Monday, May 15, 2000

Moorpark Moms Connection hosts a tea and dress-up party for kids.
By KATRINA DEAN

It was more than just an afternoon tea for Marcey Pascual. It was a special opportunity to celebrate Mother's Day with the friends who helped her battle through chemotherapy.  "This was something nice for mothers and daughters to do together, just in time for Mother's Day," Marcey Pascual said of the Moorpark Moms Connection's tea Friday.  Pascual, mother of Jordan, 5, and Sarah, 2, has been a member of the nonprofit group for the past five years.  During that time, she has found the network of moms-to-be more than just supportive; they have become close friends she can count on.  "I was diagnosed with cancer last year," she said. "The group has been a life support for me. They came around when I was going through chemo and brought meals, watched my kids and were just there for me."

While munching snacks and heart-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, kids ranging in age from newborn to 5 gathered around an old wardrobe trunk to play dress-up. "I liked the white dress the best," Jordan Pascual said, pointing shyly at a lacy dress with blue flowers on the front. "It's special because it's a princess dress."  Donya Krystkowiak likes to think of the Moorpark Moms as an extended family. "They make you feel like you're a part of a really small community," Donya said.  The tea was just another opportunity for local moms to get together and watch their little "princesses" play dress-up and eat finger foods while snapping shots for their photo albums.

"Donya has been playing dress-up since she was 3 years old," said her mother, Denise Hawkins. Her business, "Teacups & Friends," sponsored the party. "She's always adored costumes. The whole imagination of being someone different."  And that's exactly what prompted Krystkowiak to throw a tea party.  "It's hard when you're a stay-at-home mom and you don't know any other moms," she said. "The club is geared toward inexpensive activities to do with your kids on a regular basis."

The idea of a party complete with tap shoes, frilly dresses and hats appealed to the little girl in all the moms who participated.  "These kids are pretty savvy if they know which hat to put on with which dress," Hawkins said.

The group, which sponsors activities for families and even a moms' night out, only charges $24 a year for membership.  With an annual budget of about $1,000, these moms really know how to make their money go a long a way. "We have about 133 members right now," Julie Liebert said. "Everyone contributes to the activities. Being a mom, you need to have balance in your life, and it's nice to have planned activities for the kids."  For more information on the Moorpark Moms Connection, call 529-8600.

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