There are afternoons you schedule, and there are afternoons you actually live. On July 26, the La Vita Ladies did the latter — fascinators and all — at Tea Time at Monarch.
The Monarch Club set the scene: pink-and-gold china stacked on brass shelves, tiered trays that meant business, and a handwritten welcome easel that made it clear this was not a networking event with a lanyard problem. This was tea done properly, with a twist only this community could pull off.
The spread. Finger sandwiches worth writing home about — pear, walnut, and blue cheese; cucumber and dill; egg salad; strawberry and basil — alongside macarons, meringues, cupcakes, and cookies (with gluten-free options, because everyone gets a seat at this table). Tea poured from checkered teapots into china that deserved its own photographer. Fortunately, it had one.
The work — and yes, there was work. The theme of the afternoon: Show up. Stand out. Shine. Between sips, the ladies dug into a “Becoming Magnetic” conversation — what actually draws people to you when you stop performing and start being present. The flip chart filled up fast: smile, laughter, positivity, personal style, authenticity. Pens came out. Cards were written. A few truths were told out loud that had probably been waiting a while for the invitation.
That’s the thing about a room like this. Magnetic isn’t a mask you put on — it’s what’s left when you finally take one off.
The finish. Glasses raised (the Living La Vita Ladies stemless glasses made their debut), a toast to showing up for yourself, and every guest went home with a succulent planted in a vintage teacup — a small, living reminder that growth looks good on everyone.
To the ladies who came in florals and left En Fuego: this is what an afternoon fully lived looks like. No inbox. No autopilot. Just tea, real conversation, and women choosing to be exactly where they were. #oooll
Want in on the next one? Check the events calendar — your seat (and your teacup) is waiting.