Little Women Tea Parties: Carrie Fullerton

Carrie Fullerton found a fun way to teach young girls in the Rio Grande Valley about respect and manners.

Fullerton, originally from Baytown, is the founder of Little Women Tea Parties.

Little Women Tea Parties is a service that Fullerton provides mostly for children’s parties. She sets a table complete with themed table cloths and tea place settings for party guests and entertains children with hands-on activities and games.

Fullerton started the business in 2000 as a way to be a work-at-home mom. Fullerton and her husband had struggled for six years to have a child and when they finally had a daughter in 1998, Fullerton said she wanted to be able to spend as much time as possible with her baby.

Fullerton makes all kinds of tea for the children from regular black tea, to raspberry tea and sometimes even pink lemonade, she said.

“It’s just something girly,” Fullerton said. “Girls like to feel pretty, and drink out of pretty things.

“It’s so elegant and prim and proper,” Fullerton added.

Fullerton, a teacher at Calvary Christian Daycare, said before she started the tea party business, she used to host tea parties for her students’ mothers at St. Joseph’s Academy where she taught before moving to Harlingen, just for fun.

It wasn’t until her mother-in-law suggested that she do some research and look at the possibilities of starting a business, Fullerton said.

Fullerton said she recently hired someone to dress up according to the requested tea party that she puts on. Fullerton said she can theme parties after characters like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and now even Hanna Montana.

Sometimes, at her client’s requests, Fullerton also teaches children at the party about etiquette.

But Fullerton said she hopes that through these tea parties she can also teach girls about a more meaningful lesson.

“I want to be able to teach girls to feel good about themselves and learn that they have to be treated with respect, and to have self-esteem,” Fullerton said.

Her tea party business also gives Fullerton a chance to be a “girly, girl” herself.

“(Growing up) I wasn’t a girly girl,” Fullerton said. “I didn’t get to be in Girl Scouts or do all the girly stuff. I guess it’s because I have three brothers and I’m the only girl.”

Fullerton said she has been invited to speak to Girl Scouts before about etiquette and respect and hopes her business will lead her to more of these opportunities. She also hopes to have her own tearoom some day.

Fullerton is also involved with the Rio Grande Valley Assembly of God Girl’s Ministries and leads the women’s group at her church, First Assembly.

“I want to continue doing what I’m doing but bigger and better,” Fullerton said.

Submit Slice of Life suggestions to Managing Editor Lucio Castillo or City Editor Charlene Vandini at 430-6244 or charlenev@valleystar.com.

Photo Cutline:

Carrie Fullerton is the founder of Little Women Tea Parties, a business she started in 2000 as a way to be a work-at-home mom. She provides services mostly for children’s parties. She sets a table complete with themed table cloths and tea place settings for party guests and entertains children with hands-on activities and games. Her tea party business also gives Fullerton a chance to be a “girly, girl” herself.

FYI

For more information about Little Women Tea Parties visit www.myteaparty.net or e-mail Carrie Fullerton at carrie@myteaparty.net.