Garden party 2018

I took some of my garden flowers out to my parents to add to their tea party....

dad and I chilling....


Helping my mom in the kitchen.  I am helping with the lemon curd tarts.


I have chocolate pudding cups... I want them to look like chai cups.  I know that they don't- but they are cute and the kids like them.



Amazing food!!!








mom and I using our favorite sets of dishes and drinking tea.



It was a great day for a tea party.  It was just gorgeous out!!!  I love tea party day!!!





My mom goes all out with the food. I love love love the things she makes.  I would hire her for my tea shop any day!!!



The queen is in!!!  I also had this flag made my my parents for the party.  I had it made on groupon for less than $10!!  If I find the company makes the flags, I will add it here.






I love this tea set!!!!!!

The Carpenter’s Cup- cold chai latte

I live in Orrville, about 10 minutes from Smithville.  I have heard several people talk about The Carpenter's Cup- and I had yet to try it.  I had a weekday off and was in the area, so I decided to try it.

https://b-m.facebook.com/The-Carpenters-Cup-510927768928193/

The shop is really cute from the outside.  The landscaping is really nice and impressive.  I love what they have going on here.







It was warm out, so I went with a cold Chai latte. It was very refreshing and very tasty.

The gal who waited on me was very friendly.   I also really enjoyed the Christian music playing in the background.  I was very pleased with the shop.



I wish my town had a tea shop- have I mentioned that before, hahaha!!  This is a really nice home town coffee/tea shop.  I am glad I discovered it.

Kombucha at work

I love my kombucha.  I drink it all the time.  I have several co-workers who have really enjoyed it as well.  I love bringing in new blends for them to try.

I love playing with the blends and trying new flavors and sometimes seeing if the guys can guess the flavors inside!

These are just two of my favorite taste testers....

Here are Doug and Scott.  They were doing a taste testing and seeing if they could guess the kombucha flavors.  Doug has an amazing pallet and he was able to figure it out.  He realized it had lavender in it...I knew there was lavender in the kombucha and I could barely taste it.

English Tea Shop Green Tea Tropical - iced tea

 

http://www.healthyfoods-online.com/english-tea-shop-green-tea-tropical-16-pyramid-tea-infusers-32g.html

 

Don't be confused with English Tea Store

 

Don't be afraid to try new teas.  Don't be afraid to buy teas at places like TJ Maxx, Home Goods,  Outlet stores, markets or any place you see tea.  Tea doesn't have to be super expensive, yes, sometimes you get what you pay for...but if you don't pay much, then it is okay to try it a couple of times and realize it might not be for you.  But, you may realize you love it!!!  Try it hot, try it cold and if you still don't like it- maybe a friend will.  We all have different taste buds.

 

I love to make tea in my Iced Tea Maker.  Super easy and super quick. Add 4-5 tea bags, a little sugar and some water...and BOOM!  you have a gallon of tea!

I decided to make this tea into an iced tea and I loved it.  Again, I can not say it often enough, play with your tea!!!!  In the summer especially, I love to make iced tea with all kinds of different teas.  The teas I love hot, I love cold.  It is fun to play!!!!

Energy Boost Blast, Kae Apothecary

My pod pal, Lesley, from work brought in some loose leaf tea for me to try.  She got it from her sister in law in Iowa.  I tried it and I really liked it!!!  The flavors in the tea are super - I am a huge fan of hibiscus!  This tea has peppermint, hibiscus, ginger, ginkgo, and red raspberry leaf.

I am a fan of these tea!!!

http://www.kaeapothecary.com/

June monthly Sips by shipment

https://www.sipsby.com/

I received my June shipment from Sips by.  After looking at all the items and reviewing what I received, I decided that it was just not worth the price for me.  I cancelled the subscription.   I did some checking and there are some other monthly tea subscriptions that I may try and review for you.

I do like that that they send you a note about each tea,

I will try each tea and let you know what I think of them.  There are some fun looking teas and I am excited to try them.  I just can't justify the price.

https://www.motionmatcha.com/

I am going to go out on a limb and say I predict this one to be my favorite.  I will let you know when I try all these teas!!

https://www.motionmatcha.com/

I laugh at the several kinds of matcha I have collected over the last few years...I think I have 4 or 5 kinds of matcha- but I have NEVER tried any of them.  I have never taken the time or had the nerve to make them.  I may discover I love them.  I just need to do it!!! If you read this and know me, and want to try matcha with me- come over and we will have a taste testing party!!!

This was the only company I was familiar with...and I like to try new companies, so that part of this monthly shipment is fun!
https://www.teapigs.com/

I will admit I am scared of this tea....it may be the first one I try!!!
https://teeccino.com/

Quince Pumpkin scones

 I am a huge fan of Quince and their homemade scones. Well, all of their food!! 

But, on a fall say these pumpkin scones hit the spot.  I ate it so fast I did not have time to enjoy it with tea!!!

 

https://quincebakeryandcafe.com/

So delicious!!!! 

Sips By- tea of the Month Club

I decided to try a tea of the month club.  They were offering a special for $10, normally $15.  And for $10 it was very nice.   I am not sure I would normally pay $15 for the tea, maybe that is the frugal person in me.  I love to try the variety and the free shipping-  I am just not sure I can justify the price. 

I filled out a few questionnaires about what teas I enjoy and don't enjoy and then they match me up with what they think I will enjoy.  That part was super fun.  I would love to know the science behind all of that!

I received four different kinds of tea and some reusable bags.  I will write about each tea as I try them.  

https://www.sipsby.com/

Tea with a friend

So much fun when a friend stops in for tea.  And on a hot tea I opted for cold while my friend, Nikole, enjoyed some hot Teavana tea.

Tea is always a good idea!!!!

Builders Tea- what do you think?

Anyone ever tried this?  My cousin says her husband calls it "Man Tea"

 

http://www.makemineabuilders.com/

Let me know what you think of Builders Tea!!!!

 

My cousin and her husband at our favorite Christmas tradition place- Pine Tree Barn in Wooster

http://www.pinetreebarn.com/

 

I mean, why should we not match???  I had my vest on one Christmas and low and behold my mom gave me one as a gift that year too!!  So our course Brian had to try it on!  Then a few years later I picked up a black one at Goodwill. I had to let Brian try it on :)

 

My cousin and I at her house in MI.

Scratch and Dent tea goodies

I love a good discount- especially when it comes to teas!!!  There are several good scratch and dent stores in the area.  There is one on the Kidron Road  and then one in Canton that are my favorites. 

I was at the one on the Kidron Road the other day.  And they had some great deals on tea items!!!!


Country Salvage Bent-n-Dent Groceries
Discount & salvage groceries, cleaning supplies, pet foods, paper products 9420 Kidron Road, Apple Creek, Ohio 44606,

I am using this one to try to make some Kombucha. I also think it would make a good iced tea.

I would normally not drink this, it does not sound remotely appealing to me- if I am being honest.  But, for a $1.00 I can not wait to try it and blog about it!!!!

And some teas from Russia??  So excited to try these too. Normally $7.29, I got them for $1.00.
 

And these were great deals too.

Check and see if there are any local scratch and dent stores near you.  You never know what you will find!!