Thankful for Tea!!!

Enjoying tea and working on my top 25 items on my bucket list. Do you have a list?!!  Well, why not?!  It is fun to dream.  I have been able to knock many things of other lists- I learned to knit, I rode an elephant in Thailand, I wrote and published my first book...actually four books and the fifth is ready to be published. I also have been to my first NASCAR race, I climbed a coconut tree in Africa, I've skinny dipped (or chunky dunked) in a lake, I started a tea blog, and some other cool things.  Dream, dream big!!!  

Or you can start out small or start by putting others first.  The items on your list don't even have to cost money. How about laughing everyday, writing down one blessing of your day, or encouraging one new person day.  This year I am working on reading through the Bible in chronological order - it doesn't cost a thing, and it's a super interesting way to read through the Bible. 

Working on my updated Bucket List:

1. Visit Russsia

2. Visit Prince Edward Island

3. Visit D.C.

4. Knit a sweater

5. Fly fish in Wyoming/Idaho

6. See a moose in Montana 

7. Take a cruise to Alaska

8. Go to an Ohio State football game in the shoe

9. Be on the Amazing Race

10. Take a pottery class

11. Ride a mechanical bull

12. Girls weekend away with Jodi Steiner Stallard, Monica Summers, and Kristie Shonk Luedemann

13. Visit a tea field in Asia

14. Attend an Olympic event

15. Go deep sea fishing 

16. Ride a camel 

17. Go to the C&MA National Office in CO

18. Meet my forever man

19. Get 1000 Geocaches

20. Win Publisher Clearing House and start my Tea Shop- or least have a tea truck 

21. Have dinner with Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmie Johnson, and Jim Thome

22. Visit my family's homeland in Grindlewald Switzerland

23. Become a tea sommelier  

24. Be a judge on Chopped, Iron Chef, or Beat Bobby Flay

25. Have my books be picked up by a big time editor

 

Drink some tea and enjoy the things and people in your life, don't take them for granted. This is not about not being satisfied with your life- but challenging yourself to be better and make the most of life.  Don't live on your couch and enjoy life through books and the TV. Get out and experience life!

Bluebird Tea - Fruit Salad

 

For the first time my family (my mom, dad, and I) traveled to MI to see my cousin and her family in their new house.  My cousin and her family have been coming to Ohio for Christmas.  When we were little we would travel to IL to see their family and they would occasionally come here to Ohio.

My cousin is now married and her family live in MI.  We decided to travel to the state up north for the weekend. My cousin said she had 49 years of blessings my parents to make up for, so she lavished amazing home made food on us.

Below is a french toast cake.  It was incredible!  Her family also has this adorable dog that I cuddled with a lot of the weekend!!!

The family enjoyed catching up, playing games, and eating.  I also enjoyed trying to coax her two cats to play with me!

While enjoying the all the good food, I tried some fun new Bluebird Tea.  I took Fruit Salad with me and I was not disappointed!  I am never disappointed by all the flavors they pack into their tea.

https://bluebirdteaco.com/us_en/

Love spending time with my cousin.  She's not only beautiful on the outside but on the inside too. She's an encourager.  She loves the Lord and sharing about what He is doing in her life.  She is a amazing woman, friend, mother, wife, and cousin!

Making Homemade Chai on Christmas Day

Don't you just love Christmas with friends and family. I love Christmas for those reasons, but also because as a Christian is the day I celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a baby through the virgin Mary.

 

I decided Christmas day to make some homemade chai.  I used almond milk as the base.  I added 2 Cinnamon sticks, 2 cardamon seeds, 6 or 7 pink pepper corns, a little fennel, 2 star anise, and some cloves

I used my mortar and pestle to crush all the items

Just waiting for the tea to be ready.  I watched so that the tea did not boil.  

taste testing!!!!

I used my mom's fine Christmas china tea cup to drink the chai and it was so amazing.

This tea was delicious!!!!

Ohio Tea Co Lavender Iced Tetley Tea

 

http://www.ohioteaco.com/

I purchased lavender flower from the Ohio Tea Co. I love the fragrant flower from France.  I added the lavender to my Tetley iced tea and made a wonderful iced tea. 

Remember to play with your tea!!!  I think it is important to try different flavors and different teas.  You never know when you find a wonderful mixture. One of my favorite mixtures with lavender is a good mint.