Buckingham Teacups by Noritake

This week, I'm sharing two special teacups that a friend gave me a few months ago. She owned these teacups for years, but had never used them. She knew that I would enjoy these teacups so she passed them on to me!

 

I was beyond delighted to give these beauties a new home! The simple, but elegant look is so versatile.

 

Buckingham Gold by Noritake

 

 Buckingham Platinum by Noritake

This teacup would be perfect for celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee next month!

Tea-themed Christmas gifts

I was grateful to receive some fun tea-themed gifts for Christmas.

A crafty friend knitted these two purple tea cozies for me. They fit my teapots perfectly!

How cute are these "Afternoon Tea" socks?

I love this beautiful tea set by Scott Barnim Pottery.

Tea-infused gummies for my sweet tooth!

A Perfect Tea Spoon in rose gold.

The Milk Cafe will come in handy for making tea lattes and hot chocolate!

Some cool new teas to add to my stash: purple matcha (top left), purple tea (top right), and DavidsTea faves.

Now it's time to announce who won Monarch Tea Co.'s London Fog Lover's Gift Set!

And the WINNER of my 7-year blogiversary is...(DRUM ROLL):

Congratulations to GINETTE!

Please send me [teainthevalley (at) gmail.com] your mailing address by January 12th so the prize can be mailed out to you.

Seven

 Happy New Year!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 2022!

My first cup of tea this year: Salted Caramel Matcha latte by DavidsTea

My December tea empties

What's already been restocked:

1) Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea (Celestial Seasonings)

What I may repurchase in the future:

1) Secret Santa black tea (DavidsTea)

2) Winter Earl Grey black tea (DavidsTea)

Photo credit: Monarch Tea Co.

This week, Tea in the Valley is celebrating its 7-year blogiversary! 

To thank each and every one of you for sticking with me over the years, I'm hosting a giveaway. The prize is from Monarch Tea Co., one of my favourite Canadian tea companies!

 The giveaway winner will receive the London Fog Lover’s Gift Set:

1) 50g bag of Monarch Tea Co.'s Cream Earl Grey black tea;

2) Cream Earl Grey tea infused handmade soap;

3) London Fog lip balm;

4) Cream Earl Grey organic soy & coconut wax candle.

Eligibility:

The giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and U.S.

How to enter:

Drop an "Enter Me" comment and e-mail address below

(if I don't already have your contact info).

Entry Deadline: 

5:00 pm Eastern Time on Sunday, January 9, 2022

The winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on: 

Monday, January 10, 2022

If the winner doesn't contact me within 48 hours, a new name will be drawn.

Good luck everyone!!!

2021 Wrap-Up

 I sipped my way through 2021!

My "Drink What I Own" Tea Advent Calendar: Days 19-24

January to June tea empties

July to November tea empties

I finished tons of teas in my collection...

...but I also bought a lot of new blends (and restocked my faves) from Canadian tea companies!

 

A new tea company that I tried in 2021: Teamancy is a woman-owned tea company from Nova Scotia.

Unexpected plot twist: I started liking lavender teas!

Thank you all for your visits and comments throughout the year.

 

The second pandemic year was filled with high highs and low lows. 

 

But I'm still here!

Gingerbread teas and decor

I'm really leaning into the gingerbread this holiday season.

 

My gingerbread tea station

 

Top (L-R): Clearview Tea Co.'s Gingerbread Pear Cake green tea (a holiday fave); Dessert by Deb's Banana Gingerbread Waffles black tea

Bottom (L-R): DavidsTea's Gingerbread matcha; Celestial Seasonings' Gingerbread Spice herbal tea
 

 

These gingerbread cookie ornaments look very realistic!

 I also love the adorable little gingerbread house.

 

My kitchen rug and gingerbread scone.

 

 

"Drink What I Own" Tea Advent Calendar: Days 13-18

Wishing you all a safe and joyful Christmas!

DIY: Tea-themed ornaments

The crafty YouTubers have influenced me to DIY my own tea-themed ornaments this year.

 

O Christmas Tea!

I painted these wooden tree ornaments from Dollarama and decorated both sides with teapot and teacup stickers.

 

More wooden ornaments

 

 2015 DIY Decoupage Disaster

I didn't have proper decoupage glue, so I improvised and used watered-down glue which resulted in these sad baubbles. They got trashed!

 

This year, I found Mod Podge at Dollarama and decided to give it another shot.

These Christmas baubbles turned out MUCH better!

 

 

My curiosity got the better of me: I tried Justin Bieber's timbits with a cup of DavidsTea's Merry Mistletoe white tea. The Sour Cream Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate Fudge "timbiebs" were just okay.

 

My "Drink What You Own" Tea Advent Calendar: Days 5-8

 

 

My "Drink What You Own" Tea Advent Calendar: Days 9-12

 

I can't believe that we're more than halfway through Advent!

 

2021 Tea-Themed Trees

I'm an early Christmas decorator so my halls are all decked out by the end of November.

 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

How lovely are thy teawares!

My ornaments are a delightful mix of whimsy and elegance!

 Some ornaments were thrifty finds.

Some ornaments were gifted to me.

 

It's fun hunting for tea-themed ornaments!

This year's additions to my tree: These adorable holiday ornaments from Dessert by Deb!

My tabletop teabag tree

My "Drink What You Own" Tea Advent Calendar: Days 1-4

 

Sweet dreams of teapots and teacups!